Would You Like to Know a Secret?

Part 7

  Most people's nerves were all over the place. Jeno and Donghyuck decided to take a walk around the halls to calm themselves down.

  "Are you ready?" Jeno asked.

  "Yeah, I think I am. We've practiced a bunch. I'm just nervous."

  "Uh, I've heard of a way to get rid of nerves," he said, playing with his thumbs. The two stopped at the end of the hall and looked at each other.

  "Really?"

  Jeno shyly nodded. He grabbed Donghyuck's hand and pulled him into a hug. The younger boy was surprised but hugged back just how they'd done many times before. Except this time, there were unspoken feelings between them.

  "Are you still nervous?" he said in a hushed voice.

  Donghyuck copied the quietness of his voice and said, "Yes."

  Jeno pulled back just enough to hold eye contact with his friend, best friend. The two found out about their mutual crush on Jaemin and started getting closer through that. They shared things they wanted to do, like walking on the beach or having a corny picnic date with him. Slowly, they were drawn more and more to each other. And eventually, they talked about kissing. How would it be to kiss? They didn't want to upset Jaemin if they ever had the chance to do such a thing (although that had dreamed of it).  So, they decided to practice on each other. That led to where they were now. Full up hope and desire.

  "Really?"

  "Yeah," he said, now looking down in embarrassment. Jeno staring directly at him made him even more nervous than he previously was.

  "Hyuck, I feel like there's something. There's something I need to get out before the concert."

  Donghyuck looked up at him with confusion and hope. A mixed emotion that Jeno couldn't read in the moment. "Jeno?"

  "Yes?"

  "Tell me."

  The older boy paused and broke away from the hug. He gently held Donghyuck's shoulders and took a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure I like you. No. I'm positive I like you," he confessed, dropping his hands to his side immediately. He searched for any reaction on Donghyuck's face, but the boy was totally in his own world.

  They stood there for a bit, and Jeno started to panic. His heart felt heavy, and he wished he could take back all the words he had just said. Grab them, put them back in his mouth, and swallow them. He wished.

  "I'm honestly surprised," he started. Jeno tensed up. It wasn't worth the rejection. He shouldn't have done this. "Well, we did kiss. It does kind of make sense." The older boy looked at the ground. He really hated himself right now. "I don't know what to say."

  "I'm sorry, Donghyuck. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry."

  "No, don't be. Jeno," he took his friend's hand in his, "recently, I've had this weird feeling inside my chest. When we're all alone, I desperately want something to happen. That's the feeling I get. I'm not rejecting you. Not at all. I'm just surprised you feel the same way."

  Jeno looked up at him with an expression of extreme relief. He thought this would be the end of their friendship forever. Donghyuck nervously bit his bottom lip, and Jeno hugged him tightly again. "You seriously scared me, Hyuck."

  Donghyuck rested his head on his shoulder and smiled while he tightly held him. "Gosh, I'm relieved. I seriously like you, Hyuck. I like you a lot."

  "You're making me more nervous, and it's almost time for the performance."