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25. Lee Daehwi | Sleepover

https://prettywordsyouleft.tumblr.com/

Summary: Sleepovers weren't new in your childhood friendship with Daehwi, but tonight, it was hard to understand why you felt so uncomfortable.

Characters: Lee Daehwi x reader

Genre: fluff, best friend to lovers

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Your idea had made more sense to you before the lights were turned out, and now you laid there wondering why you had even suggested such a thing to the boy next to you in your bed.

It wasn't as if you had just met, Daehwi had been your childhood friend since you were four, and had always been there for as long as you could remember. As you learned how to share toys, started and went through school, and survived through the turmoil of puberty, he had been doing the same at your side. You had done everything together, laughed, argued, played, cried and encouraged each other. Your parents had bathed you together; you had spent countless hours at his house and Daehwi at yours. Even your first kiss had been with him, when you both didn't understand what kissing truly meant.

In fact this was far from the first time your best friend had shared a bed with you, for as long as you could remember, sleepovers had been a regular element to your friendship. Even as teens you had often fallen asleep in each other's company, from hours of study or playing games.

But this was different.

You stared up at the ceiling fiddling with your fingers under the blankets. Why had you asked him to stay? It wasn't as if Daehwi couldn't walk himself home, it wasn't that late at night. Normally it was more natural, one of you falling asleep and so the other would simply make themselves comfortable as well, and in the morning you would laugh it off together, teasing one another for being too old for sleepovers now.

But when Daehwi had mentioned he should leave you had stopped him, the reason not quite clear in your mind yet.

What was it that made you not want to let him leave you?

Things had been different between you both; you had noticed a distance growing between you. At first you hadn't thought too much about it, Daehwi was busy with preparing for his idol debut, and you were in your last year of high school, swamped with exams and impending adulthood. But the more time went by, the more you missed having your best friend at your side, his sassy behaviour absent from making you laugh each day. His supportive words encouraging you forward when you felt like you had no energy left. Holding his hand and leaning on him for comfort. You had craved it all. Your days soon blended into missing the boy who was the focal point of your whole life, and attempting to tell everyone you were alright about it.

Messages on your kakao chat became infrequent and soon you were second guessing what to write to him, wondering if he would view you as burdensome or not. Of course when you finally messaged him, it would be as if no time had travelled between you, making you feel foolish for even hesitating.

Only to fall into silence once more, or messages unanswered because he was busy.

You wanted to support his upcoming transition into an idol; you had told him his whole life that he needed to pursue being a performer. Yet you had always imagined yourself at his side, not left behind. You realised you were bitter, you wouldn't have ever left him for your dreams, because he was always a part of them.

"You're thinking too hard," his voice softly said, interrupting the constant stream of thoughts you were having, and you squeaked in fright, clamping your hands onto the blankets. "Maybe I should go?"

"No," you replied instantly, your cheeks flushing with colour. "You can stay here, just like the old times."

"The old times," he repeated distantly, and it was your turn to realise the blonde haired boy held a similar position beside you in your sheets. Was it that uncomfortable to be around you now? You sighed.