ANGEL ☾ winwin one shots.

jumping through that rose. [taewin]

a/n: can you believe I got this idea, sat down and wrote it, AND finished it on the same day? wild. all to neglect my homeworks.

~

the studio feels too hot today.

it's not even summer. not to mention it's freaking seven p.m., but it feels like it's forty degrees outside. even the air-conditioner isn't much help.

maybe it's sicheng. maybe he's restless because of the dance.

it's nothing, really. he's danced with a partner multiple times. any types of them – you name it. and as intimate as they can be sometimes, sicheng never cared.

this time it's different. his partner is taeyong.

the dance itself isn't very intimate – except for the climax. the part when the music slows down as taeyong holds sicheng by the waist and they have to make eye-contact. when they're in that position, time seems to crawl yet flies so quickly. sicheng is tied between wanting to stay that way forever and wanting to get away as soon as possible.

like right now. sicheng can barely keep his calm when they're this close. even in his sweat-stained shirt and sweatpants, taeyong looks like an angel.

taeyong's hand is on his back, a cautious touch like he's afraid to hurt sicheng. their chests are slightly touching. sicheng's breathe hitches when he looks up into taeyong's eyes.

this is fine. he's a professional. he's done much worse before.

their dance teacher claps over the faint background music. at once taeyong lets go of sicheng's waist and sicheng backs away. it's a reflex; every time the music stops, they create a distance between them, as big as possible.

they only exist as long as the music plays. as long as they're on stage.

sicheng shakes the thoughts away. he focuses back on reality, on whatever his teacher is saying right now.

" good work as always. that's all for now ," she gives them her one-millisecond smile. " sicheng, watch your steps. you almost tripped twice. we don't want another injury. the show is in two months ."

sicheng only nods. she excuses herself and sicheng watches as she disappears from sight.

a small voice in the back of his brain curses him mentally. should've done better. should've practiced more. should've been perfect. the show is in two months, don't you realize you're lacking?

a pat on his shoulder startles sicheng back to reality.

" good job today ."

sicheng smiles, barely, and nods. " thanks, hyung ."

" don't be too hard on yourself, cheng. you're doing well ."

taeyong's words soothe sicheng just a bit. he smiles, genuinely this time. the older returns it and ruffles his hair.

their little moment doesn't last long as the door clicks open. seconds later ten emerges, two plastic bags in his hand.

" tyong !" he calls out with a smile that can put the sun to shame. taeyong grins.

" tennie ."

ten runs into his boyfriend's embrace and taeyong laughs. sicheng averts his gaze from them. his chest constricts at the view.

it's an ugly feeling. it's like someone took his heart and clenches it in their hands, unclenches, and the circle repeats.

" I've missed you ." ten says as he pulls back.