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The city was alive with sound — cars honking, footsteps rushing, voices blending into a low hum of weekday chaos. The afternoon sun painted everything gold, soft light bouncing off glass buildings and coffee shop windows.
Kihyun hummed quietly to himself as he crossed the street, his mind already ahead of him — picturing Minhyuk and the others waiting at the café, probably planning to tease him for being late again. His phone buzzed in his hand, Minhyuk’s name flashing.
> Where are you, drama queen?
He rolled his eyes, smiling as he typed back,
> Two minutes. Don’t start gossiping without me.
He didn’t notice the light turn green.
He didn’t notice the black car speeding a little too fast around the corner.
But someone else did.
“Watch out!”
The world blurred — a rush of wind, a sharp tug, a body pulling his out of the car’s path. Kihyun gasped as strong arms wrapped around him, his feet leaving the ground for a moment before landing hard against a chest that felt warm, solid, and—
safe.
The car screeched by, horn blaring into the air, then vanished down the street.
But Kihyun didn’t notice it.
Because the world had just… stopped.
Literally.
The sound faded, replaced by the faint, surreal melody of something that might as well have been playing in the background of a K-drama — soft piano and the quiet thump of two hearts beating too fast.
Kihyun blinked up — and met a pair of eyes that made his breath catch.
The stranger was taller, his dark hair falling slightly into his face, his expression both startled and calm at once — as if pulling someone out of danger was as natural as breathing. His hands were firm at Kihyun’s back, holding him just enough to keep him steady, their faces barely inches apart.
Time slowed.
The air between them felt alive — like static before a storm.
Kihyun’s heart forgot how to beat properly.
Oh no.
He could see every detail — the sharp jawline, the stranger’s doe eye, the soft curve of his lips. Beautiful, Kihyun thought helplessly. Painfully beautiful.
Meanwhile, Hyungwon — because that was his name, though Kihyun didn’t know it yet — was quietly losing the ability to think.
He’d been walking across the same street, headphones in, when he noticed the blur of danger — and acted before his brain caught up. Now he was holding someone — someone whose eyes were the exact shade of late afternoon sunlight, soft and warm and devastatingly pretty.
He’d never seen anyone like him.
For a heartbeat — or maybe a hundred — they just stared. The sounds of the city faded completely. Even the breeze felt like it was waiting for something to happen.
Kihyun swallowed, suddenly aware of how close they were. “I—uh—” His voice came out too small. He tried again. “You—you saved me.”
Hyungwon blinked, as if the words broke a spell. “You weren’t watching where you were going,” he said softly. His voice was deep, calm — the kind that could make ordinary words sound like confessions.
“I—yeah, I was texting—” Kihyun stopped mid-sentence, realizing Hyungwon was still holding him.
Their eyes met again.
Five seconds.
Ten.
A full minute.
Neither moved.
Kihyun’s cheeks started heating up. Hyungwon’s fingers flexed slightly against his back, as if his body hadn’t yet gotten the message that the danger was gone.
This time, Kihyun swore he could hear the slow instrumental of a romantic OST in his head.
And maybe, just maybe, Hyungwon could too.
They might’ve stayed like that forever — two strangers caught in an unintentional embrace in the middle of a busy street — if not for the very loud, very obnoxious voice of one Lee Minhyuk.
“KIHYUN!”
The shout broke the moment like shattered glass.
Kihyun flinched so hard he almost tripped backward — only for Hyungwon’s grip to tighten again, keeping him steady. Minhyuk was running toward them, one hand holding two iced coffees, the other dramatically pointing like he’d just walked in on the finale of a romance drama.
“Oh my god!” Minhyuk gasped, grinning like the world’s happiest audience member. “Did I just interrupt a slow-motion love scene?!”
Kihyun’s face turned the color of a ripe tomato. “M-Minhyuk—shut up!”
“Oh, come on,” Minhyuk said, setting the drinks on a bench and crossing his arms. “The mysterious tall guy with hero reflexes? The fall? The eye contact? The lingering hand on the back? This is literally the start of every romantic drama ever!”
Hyungwon blinked, and for the first time, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Kihyun looked up at him, flustered beyond saving.
“I—um—thank you,” Kihyun said quickly, pulling away just enough to regain some distance — and, hopefully, dignity. “I really—uh—owe you.”
Hyungwon tilted his head slightly, studying him — that soft, bewildered beauty still painted across Kihyun’s face. “You don’t owe me anything. Just… be more careful.”
Kihyun nodded quickly. “I will. I swear.”
Minhyuk leaned toward him, whispering loudly enough for Hyungwon to hear, “He’s totally your type.”
“Minhyuk!”
“What? He is!”
Hyungwon chuckled quietly, watching Kihyun’s ears turn red. “I’m Hyungwon,” he said gently.
Kihyun froze for half a second before stammering, “K-Kihyun.”
“Nice to meet you, Kihyun.”
There it was again — that voice. Deep, smooth, like it was made to be whispered in candlelight.
Minhyuk elbowed Kihyun. “You’re welcome, by the way. For bringing you here. If I didn’t, you wouldn’t have met your destiny in HD quality.”
Kihyun smacked his arm. “You’re unbelievable.”
But the damage was done — because when he looked back at Hyungwon, the stranger was still there, hands casually tucked into his pockets now, his smile a little shy, a little knowing.
“Be careful next time,” Hyungwon said again. “I might not always be around to catch you.”
Kihyun blinked, caught off guard by how naturally he said it — as if it wasn’t just a warning but a quiet promise.
And before Kihyun could reply, Hyungwon nodded once and began walking away, the sunlight glinting against his hair.
Kihyun stood frozen for a long second, watching his back disappear into the crowd, his heart still beating like it hadn’t gotten the memo that the danger was over.
Minhyuk, of course, didn’t miss a thing.
“Oh my god,” he gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. “You’re gone. Like completely, head-over-heels, gone.”
“I am not!” Kihyun protested, far too quickly.
“You’re blushing.”
“It’s hot!”
“It’s 25 degrees!”
“Minhyuk!”
Minhyuk just laughed and handed him his coffee. “Come on, lover boy. Let’s go tell Hyunwoo you met your soulmate via near-death experience.”
Kihyun groaned, hiding his face in his hands as they walked toward the café. “I hate you.”
“No, you love me. But not as much as you already love tall-dark-and-handsome, huh?”
Kihyun elbowed him so hard that Minhyuk almost spilled his drink.
But even as he scolded him, his thoughts kept drifting back to those eyes, that voice, and the feel of those arms catching him just in time.
And when he looked up, across the street, he caught sight of Hyungwon once more — standing by the crosswalk, hands in his pockets, a faint smile curving his lips when their eyes met again.
Kihyun froze.
Hyungwon raised his hand — not waving, just a subtle gesture that said we’ll meet again.
And somehow, Kihyun knew they would.
Because even as the crowd moved, the cars passed, and Minhyuk kept teasing beside him — everything else felt like background noise to the simple, impossible truth blooming in his chest:
They had fallen in love — just like in the dramas.
Only this time, it was real.
---
Two weeks.
It had been exactly two weeks since Kihyun almost got hit by a car and was saved by the most ridiculously handsome stranger in Seoul.
Two weeks since the slow-motion, heart-stopping moment that lived rent-free in his head.
And no matter how many times he tried to convince himself it was just a coincidence, just a moment — his heart disagreed entirely.
He sighed as he carried a tray filled with five iced coffees across the busy café, trying his best not to spill anything. Minhyuk had dragged him here again, insisting the office needed “good coffee and better gossip,” and of course, Kihyun got the job of coffee carrier.
Minhyuk had grinned when handing him the order slip earlier “You know what’s wild? This café’s near where you met him. Maybe you’ll see your tall savior again~” before he retreated to a bakery nearby
Kihyun rolled his eyes. “This isn’t a drama, Minhyuk.”
But a tiny, traitorous part of him hoped.
Now here he was — five drinks, full concentration, trying to weave through the crowd.
The bell over the café door jingled as a new customer walked in. Kihyun didn’t look up.
He really should have.
Because as fate would have it — fate, who clearly had a flair for the dramatic — the man who entered was none other than Chae Hyungwon himself.
Hyungwon looked just as Kihyun remembered him — tall, effortlessly elegant in a long coat, dark hair falling perfectly into place. But now there was something softer in his expression, like he was searching for something — or maybe someone.
Kihyun, meanwhile, was too busy trying not to drop everyone’s caffeine supply.
He didn’t even see the person rushing past him until it was too late.
A shoulder slammed into him hard. The tray tilted. The drinks wobbled.
“Oh no—!”
Kihyun braced himself for impact — for cold coffee splashing all over him, for the floor rushing up—
—but instead, just like last time, arms caught him.
Strong, steady, familiar.
The tray fell, but Kihyun didn’t.
He blinked, stunned, as the now-familiar scent of something crisp and warm — cedar and faint coffee — surrounded him.
His heart skipped. Once. Twice.
Then the voice that had been haunting his dreams murmured against his ear, low and gentle:
“Careful. We really have to stop meeting like this.”
Kihyun froze. His breath hitched. Slowly, hesitantly, he looked up.
And there he was.
Hyungwon.
Holding him again, exactly the same way — one arm around his back, the other steadying his shoulder. Their faces were close enough for Hyungwon to count the moles on Kihyun’s face
Time slowed again.
The café noise blurred out. The world faded.
All Kihyun could hear was the rush of his own heartbeat and the sound of Hyungwon’s calm breathing.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
It felt like déjà vu — no, more like a continuation of something unfinished.
Hyungwon’s eyes softened. “You okay?”
Kihyun nodded weakly. “I—uh—yeah. I think you’ve got… impeccable timing.”
Hyungwon chuckled — a low, warm sound that made Kihyun’s chest tighten. “Seems like it. Though at this rate, I’m starting to think the universe is out to get you.”
Kihyun’s lips twitched, almost smiling. “Or maybe it just really wants me to owe you a lifetime of coffee.”
“I’ll take that deal,” Hyungwon said easily.
It was said like a joke, but the look in his eyes — soft and sincere — made Kihyun’s stomach flip.
Around them, a few customers stared, whispering things like “Wow, are they filming something?” because honestly, it looked like a K-drama scene — spilled drinks, slow eye contact, perfect lighting, and a stranger who caught you twice.
Kihyun finally straightened, pulling away slightly — but Hyungwon’s hand lingered at his waist for just a second longer, steadying him until he found his balance.
“Thanks,” Kihyun murmured, cheeks already warm. “Again.”
“Anytime,” Hyungwon replied. “Though maybe next time, we should meet on purpose.”
Kihyun blinked. “What?”
Hyungwon tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting with quiet amusement. “You know — coffee, without the near-death experience or spilled drinks?”
Before Kihyun could answer, Minhyuk’s voice cut through the moment like a fire alarm.
“Oh my god, no way. AGAIN?!”
Kihyun groaned, closing his eyes. “Not again…”
Minhyuk appeared out of nowhere — dramatic as ever — and pointed accusingly at Hyungwon like he’d caught him red-handed in a romance scene. “You! The tall destiny man!”
Hyungwon blinked, startled. “...Tall destiny man?”
“Yep!” Minhyuk said brightly. “That’s what we call you now. You know, after you saved him last time.”
“Minhyuk,” Kihyun hissed through clenched teeth. “Shut. Up.”
Hyungwon tried not to laugh but failed — a quiet chuckle escaping as he scratched the back of his neck. “I’m starting to feel like a character in your friend’s imagination.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Minhyuk said with a grin. “He’s been thinking about you enough for both of us.”
“MINHYUK!”
Kihyun’s voice rose an octave as his entire face turned crimson.
Hyungwon’s smile softened, and his gaze lingered — not teasing, not mocking, just fond. “Good to know I wasn’t the only one thinking about it.”
Kihyun blinked, startled. “...You what?”
Hyungwon shrugged, feigning nonchalance, though his tone carried warmth. “I came back here a few times. Guess I was hoping I’d run into you again.”
It was Kihyun’s turn to forget how to breathe.
“You— You came back here?”
“Yeah.” Hyungwon’s eyes flicked down, then back up. “Didn’t expect fate to cooperate this perfectly.”
Minhyuk gasped dramatically. “I ship this so hard.”
Kihyun groaned. “Please stop existing.”
Hyungwon laughed softly, then crouched to pick up one of the fallen cups. “Let me help you with these. I owe you a replacement.”
Kihyun hesitated, then crouched beside him. “You don’t owe me anything. I keep running into danger, and you keep saving me — we’re square.”
Hyungwon’s lips curved. “Maybe I just like being there to catch you.”
The sentence was simple — but it hit Kihyun’s heart like a direct hit.
When they stood again, the air between them was charged, full of something warm and unspoken.
Hyungwon gestured toward the counter. “How about I buy you another coffee? You look like you need it after all that.”
Kihyun wanted to say no — to be calm, to not look like he was waiting for this exact thing to happen — but his heart betrayed him. “Okay,” he said softly.
Minhyuk, from the background, whispered loudly “Oh my god Kihyun—you actually said yes. I’ll leave you to date. Don’t forget to send me pictures. Bye!”
Kihyun shot him a death glare that promised eternal suffering, but Hyungwon was laughing again — bright, low, and honest.
They sat by the window while waiting for the new drinks. The sunlight filtered through the glass, catching in Hyungwon’s hair and turning it golden.
Kihyun found himself glancing at him every few seconds, pretending to look elsewhere whenever their eyes met.
Hyungwon noticed, of course.
“You’re staring,” he said with that small, teasing smile.
Kihyun choked on his own coffee. “I—was not!”
“Sure,” Hyungwon said gently. “You did the same thing last time too.”
Kihyun opened his mouth to protest but stopped — because the memory flashed again: the car, the fall, the first time those eyes met his.
He looked down, cheeks flushed, fingers curling around the warm cup. “Maybe I was just… making sure it was real.”
Hyungwon’s smile softened. “It’s real.”
The words were quiet — sincere enough that Kihyun looked up again.
And in that small moment, everything else — the sound of coffee machines, the city outside — disappeared once more.
It was just them.
Two people who’d met twice by accident — or maybe not accident at all.
Hyungwon leaned slightly forward. “You know, I’ve always thought fate had a sense of humor.”
Kihyun tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
Hyungwon smiled faintly. “I spent weeks trying to find a reason to see you again. Turns out, I just had to walk into a café.”
Kihyun’s heart fluttered — fast and unsteady.
“Maybe fate likes you,” he whispered without meaning to.
Hyungwon’s eyes sparkled. “Maybe fate likes us.”
And just like that — the soft piano music might as well have started playing again, because Kihyun felt it — that same slow-motion pull, that same quiet certainty that something had begun the moment they met.
---
After their fateful second meeting at the café, Kihyun spent the next three days replaying it in his head.
Not that he wanted to.
It just happened.
Every time he looked at his reflection, he could still see the way Hyungwon had smiled at him — that easy, quiet confidence that made his stomach twist into knots.
It was annoying.
It was distracting.
It was also… dangerously addictive.
Minhyuk, of course, noticed immediately.
“Still thinking about your tall savior?” he teased, sipping his iced coffee with that signature smirk.
Kihyun glared at him over his computer screen. “No.”
Minhyuk leaned closer. “Then why are you smiling while denying it?”
“I’m not—!”
But Kihyun was.
And that was all the confirmation Minhyuk needed.
“Just admit it,” Minhyuk said, voice full of mischief. “You’ve got it bad, sunshine boy.”
Kihyun threw a paperclip at him.
Minhyuk dodged it with a grin. “At least tell me you gave him your number this time.”
Kihyun froze.
“...You didn’t.”
“I panicked, okay?!” Kihyun groaned, covering his face with both hands. “He offered to buy me a coffee, I said yes, and then Minhyuk, you started spamming me asking for pictures!”
“Oh come on, that was quality entertainment.”
“Entertainment?!”
“You’re welcome.”
Kihyun groaned louder. “Ugh. I’ll never see him again.”
Except—
Two hours later, when his phone buzzed, the universe once again proved it had a sense of humor.
@hyungwonchae
You forgot to give me your number.
Kihyun’s jaw dropped.
“Minhyuk.”
“Yes?”
“He found me.”
Minhyuk grinned. “See? Fate ships you two.”
---
Three days later, Kihyun was standing in front of his closet, having a full-blown crisis.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered, staring at the mountain of shirts he’d rejected. “It’s just a date. Not a royal banquet.”
Minhyuk’s voice came from the doorway. “A first date, sunshine. You only get one shot at this.”
Kihyun scowled. “You’re not helping.”
Minhyuk grinned. “Wear something soft. Something that says, ‘I’m effortlessly adorable but could also ruin your life with one glare.’”
Kihyun threw a pillow at him.
---
When Hyungwon arrived at the café where they’d agreed to meet, he looked as if he’d stepped straight out of a romance commercial — black turtleneck, long coat, that graceful posture that made everyone turn to look.
And then he smiled when he saw Kihyun — and Kihyun forgot how to exist.
“You look amazing,” Hyungwon said softly.
Kihyun blinked, flustered. “You too. I mean— you always do. I mean— hi.”
Hyungwon’s laugh was low and warm. “Hi.”
The way he said it — like it was just for him — made Kihyun’s heart flutter.
The date started perfectly.
Hyungwon had planned everything — a quiet walk by the Han River, a stop at a book café, and then dinner at a rooftop restaurant that overlooked the city lights.
It was gentle, unhurried — every moment filled with soft laughter and lingering glances.
When they walked, Hyungwon made sure to stay on the outside of the path, shielding Kihyun from the crowd.
When Kihyun laughed at something dumb, Hyungwon’s eyes lit up in that quiet way that said this is exactly where I want to be.
It was perfect.
Until the wind decided to join the plot.
One strong gust came out of nowhere and sent Kihyun’s coffee flying — straight onto Hyungwon’s pristine turtleneck.
“Oh no—!” Kihyun gasped. “I’m so sorry!”
Hyungwon blinked down at his chest, then at Kihyun’s horrified face — and started laughing.
“Are you— you’re laughing?!” Kihyun exclaimed.
Hyungwon nodded between chuckles. “You just looked so panicked, I couldn’t help it.”
Kihyun huffed, pulling tissues from his bag to dab at his shirt. “You’re impossible.”
Hyungwon smiled, still laughing softly. “Maybe. But now I’ve got proof this date actually happened.”
“Because I ruined your shirt?”
“Because you’re here.”
Kihyun froze, the tissues still in his hands, and Hyungwon’s voice softened.
“I’ve gone on plenty of dates, Kihyun. None of them made me feel like this.”
Kihyun’s heart did an entire symphony.
“Like what?” he whispered.
Hyungwon smiled faintly. “Like I don’t want it to end.”
The wind quieted, almost respectfully. Kihyun stared up at him, face warming, voice barely audible.
“You’re too smooth for your own good.”
Hyungwon tilted his head. “Is it working?”
Kihyun looked away, flustered. “...Maybe.”
Later, they sat side by side at the rooftop restaurant, city lights stretching endlessly below them.
Kihyun was quiet for a long time — watching the skyline, the stars barely visible above.
Hyungwon glanced at him. “Penny for your thoughts?”
Kihyun hesitated, then sighed. “I keep thinking how weird this feels.”
“Weird?”
He nodded. “Like… it’s all too easy. Like maybe this is all just a dream and I’ll wake up and Minhyuk will be yelling at me for being late to work again.”
Hyungwon smiled softly. “If it’s a dream, then I’ll make sure you never wake up.”
Kihyun blinked. “That’s… dangerously romantic.”
“Only dangerously?”
Kihyun snorted. “You’re hopeless.”
“And you like it.”
Kihyun tried to hide his grin but failed miserably.
Dinner ended with laughter — and Hyungwon insisting on walking him home.
It was quiet between them, but not awkward. It was the kind of silence that felt full — like words weren’t necessary.
When they reached Kihyun’s building, neither wanted to say goodbye.
Kihyun turned to face him, hands in his coat pockets. “Thanks… for today.”
Hyungwon smiled. “For what part? The coffee incident or the shirt tragedy?”
“All of it,” Kihyun said, rolling his eyes fondly. “It was… nice.”
Hyungwon took a small step closer — close enough that Kihyun could feel the warmth radiating from him even in the cool night air.
“I’d like to see you again,” Hyungwon said quietly.
Kihyun’s heartbeat quickened. “You will.”
Hyungwon smiled, relief flickering across his face. “Good. Because I already planned our second date.”
Kihyun blinked. “You what?”
“Fishing village. Sunrise. Breakfast by the pier.”
“Are you secretly a drama writer?”
“Just inspired,” Hyungwon said. “By someone who keeps falling into my arms.”
Kihyun groaned, covering his face. “You’re never letting that go, are you?”
“Never.”
They both laughed — the sound soft and unguarded.
When the laughter faded, Hyungwon’s voice turned quiet again.
“Goodnight, Kihyun.”
“Goodnight, Hyungwon.”
And as Kihyun turned to go, Hyungwon called after him, voice warm:
“Don’t forget — next time, I’ll be the one falling for you.”
Kihyun froze mid-step, heart hammering, before glancing over his shoulder with a helpless smile.
“Too late,” he whispered.
And as the door closed behind him, Hyungwon’s grin widened.
---
“Are you sure you want to come?” Kihyun asked as he adjusted his shirt in the reflection of a cafe’s window.
“Positive,” Hyungwon replied, standing next to him. “You said Minhyuk invited us.”
Kihyun gave him a look. “That’s the thing. Minhyuk never just invites people. He sets people up.”
Hyungwon smirked. “Then maybe it’ll work in my favor.”
Kihyun blinked. “What?”
“Nothing,” Hyungwon said with a serene smile that made Kihyun’s heart skip and his suspicion grow.
Inside the café, chaos already reigned supreme.
“Over here!” Minhyuk shouted, waving both arms like a man trying to flag down a helicopter. Jooheon and Changkyun were already there, surrounded by drinks and snacks.
Kihyun smiled and waved back. Hyungwon followed, a quiet contrast to Minhyuk’s dramatic energy.
“Finally! The lovebirds are here,” Minhyuk teased.
Kihyun groaned. “We’re not—!”
Hyungwon cut in smoothly, “Nice to see you too, Minhyuk.”
Minhyuk grinned. “See? He’s polite. You could learn something, sunshine.”
“Polite doesn’t mean putting up with you,” Kihyun retorted, sitting down.
Hyungwon chuckled and sat beside him, a natural ease in his movement that drew a few glances from nearby tables. He didn’t notice — or maybe he did, and just didn’t care. Kihyun, on the other hand, was oblivious to the fact that people were also glancing at him.
An hour passed, filled with laughter and teasing — and then it happened.
Kihyun got up to order another round of drinks. As he waited at the counter, two guys sitting nearby started whispering, glancing at him.
One of them finally stood and walked over.
“Hey, you’ve got great style,” he said with a grin.
Kihyun blinked, surprised. “Oh— uh, thanks.”
The other guy joined, smiling too easily. “And that smile could start wars, you know that?”
Kihyun laughed awkwardly. “That’s… dramatic.”
“Can I buy you a coffee?”
“I already ordered, but thank you—”
At their table, Hyungwon’s jaw tightened.
“Uh-oh,” Minhyuk murmured, leaning forward like a man watching a live soap opera. “We’ve got movement.”
Hyungwon’s eyes narrowed. “Who are they?”
“Probably his admirers,” Minhyuk said innocently. “Kihyun’s pretty popular, you know.”
“Apparently,” Hyungwon said, his tone deceptively calm.
“Oh, this is good,” Minhyuk whispered gleefully. “Should I get popcorn?”
Jooheon kicked him under the table. “Stop provoking him.”
Changkyun leaned closer to Hyungwon and whispered, “Are you jealous?”
Hyungwon’s eyes stayed on Kihyun. “I’m observant.”
“Observant?” Minhyuk echoed, smirking. “Right. Observant with clenched fists.”
Back at the counter, Kihyun had just received his drinks. “Thanks for the compliment,” he said politely, turning to leave. But one of the guys lightly touched his arm.
Before Kihyun could react, a hand slid around his waist — firm but gentle, pulling him slightly back.
“Excuse me,” Hyungwon’s low voice said smoothly from behind him. “You’re touching my boyfriend.”
The two strangers froze.
Kihyun’s brain froze.
The entire café might as well have frozen.
Hyungwon gave them a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “If you’ll excuse us.”
Then he steered Kihyun away with that same calm composure, leaving the two strangers to awkwardly retreat into their drinks.
Minhyuk’s voice rang out across the café. “Ladies and gentlemen, possessive boyfriend alert!”
Jooheon groaned. “Hyung—!”
Changkyun clapped slowly. “That was smooth, though.”
When they sat down again, Kihyun still hadn’t said a word. He was red — everywhere.
“I… I… what—Hyungwon, you—what was that!?” he finally sputtered.
Hyungwon took a calm sip of his drink. “That was me saving you from uncomfortable conversation.”
“By—by calling me your boyfriend?!”
Hyungwon looked at him evenly. “It worked.”
Minhyuk choked on his drink laughing. “Oh my god, it did.”
Kihyun turned even redder. “You could’ve just said we were friends!”
Hyungwon tilted his head, pretending to think. “But we’re not just friends, are we?”
Kihyun gaped. “Wha— we— what—!”
Minhyuk was practically crying from laughter. “I live for this. This is better than television.”
Kihyun buried his face in his hands. “I can’t believe this.”
Hyungwon’s voice softened. “Hey.”
Kihyun peeked through his fingers.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Hyungwon said. “But when I saw them touching you, I… reacted.”
Kihyun’s heart fluttered despite himself. “You didn’t have to react like a K-drama lead.”
Hyungwon smiled faintly. “Maybe I’ve been watching the right ones.”
---
Later, after the group disbanded (with Minhyuk gleefully vowing to tell everyone about “The Boyfriend Incident”), Kihyun and Hyungwon walked together down the quiet street.
For once, Kihyun didn’t know what to say. The air between them was charged — not tense, just different.
Finally, Hyungwon said, “You really didn’t notice they were flirting?”
Kihyun shrugged. “I thought they were just being nice.”
Hyungwon sighed. “You really have no idea how magnetic you are, do you?”
Kihyun blinked up at him. “Magnetic?”
“People can’t help looking at you,” Hyungwon said, tone calm but honest. “You smile, and the world pauses. You walk into a room, and everything shifts.”
Kihyun’s mouth fell open slightly. “That’s… really cheesy.”
Hyungwon smiled. “You like cheesy.”
“...Maybe.”
They stopped at the corner near Kihyun’s home. Streetlights bathed them in a warm glow. Hyungwon hesitated, then said softly, “I’m sorry if I crossed a line.”
Kihyun smiled faintly. “You didn’t.”
“Are you sure?”
Kihyun looked at him for a long moment before saying, “You were jealous.”
Hyungwon didn’t deny it. “I was.”
Kihyun chuckled softly. “You didn’t have to be.”
“I know,” Hyungwon said. “But I couldn’t help it.”
Kihyun looked away, trying to hide his smile — but Hyungwon caught it anyway.
“Next time,” Kihyun said, “you could just tell me instead of declaring me your boyfriend in public.”
Hyungwon smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
They stood there, the night quiet around them, the city lights reflecting in their eyes.
Then, softly, Hyungwon added, “For the record, I wouldn’t mind if it was true.”
Kihyun’s heart skipped a beat. “...You mean?”
“I like you,” Hyungwon said simply. “Not just because you’re beautiful. Because you make everything feel easy.”
Kihyun’s breath caught, the warmth in his chest spreading fast. “You’re really bad at giving warnings before saying things like that.”
Hyungwon smiled, stepping back slightly. “Then I’ll give you time to think about it.”
As he walked away, Kihyun called after him, voice soft but teasing:
“Hey, Hyungwon?”
Hyungwon turned.
“You’re paying for coffee next time, boyfriend.”
Hyungwon’s grin spread slow and wide, warm as the sunrise.
“Gladly.”