FATE

23.

EN- bustled into their company's elevator, the usual pre-practice jitters buzzing through them.

Leader Won, ever the composed one, held the door for the last straggler. Just as the doors were about to close, a hand shot in. They held their breath as the doors slid open to reveal a familiar face - Hyuri sunbaenim, a popular idol known for his charismatic smile and killer dance moves.

"Oh, excuse me!" Hyuri squeezed in, flashing his signature smile. A chorus of nervous greetings erupted from EN-.

"Oh, EN! You guys are practicing today too?" His gaze lingered on Won, a curious glint in his eyes. "You have a very striking leader there."

The rest of the elevator ride was filled with Hyuri's friendly questions, most directed towards Won. Jeong couldn't help but observe the interaction with a prickle of unease.

The next day, EN found themselves back in the studio, the exhaustion of practice a pleasant ache in their muscles. Jeong and Won walked out together, Jeong slipping his arm casually around Won's waist – a silent declaration only they understood.

Suddenly, a voice boomed, "Well, well, if it isn't our handsome leader Won!" They turned to see Hyuri, a playful grin on his face. "Hi there," he winked, his gaze lingering a beat too long on Won.

Won stumbled back. Jeong felt a cold possessiveness coil in his gut. He didn't like the way Hyuri was looking at Won, the way he stared at him longer.

He placed a gentle but firm hand on Won's shoulder, subtly pulling him closer. "Hyuri-sunbaenim," Jeong greeted, his voice polite but firm. "Nice to see you again."

Hyuri's smile faltered for a moment, surprised by the unexpected possessiveness. He quickly recovered, though. "Ah, Jeong! Didn't see you there. Taking good care of your leader, I see?"

Jeong's grip tightened ever so slightly. "Always," he said, his gaze unwavering. The air crackled with unspoken tension.

Won met Jeong's gaze, a flicker of apology and something deeper, something possessive, mixing with the blush on his cheeks. Hyung.. The elevator ride continued in a charged silence, the weight of Hyuri's encounter leaving a trail of unspoken emotions in its wake.

JEONG couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over him like a shroud. It started subtly, a flicker in Hyuri's eyes whenever Won, their leader, was near. At first, Jeong dismissed it as simple curiosity, but then came the lingering stares. Jeong noticed Hyuri lingering near Won, their leader, a shade longer than necessary while discussing about choreography. A possessiveness, raw and unexpected, flared in Jeong's chest. Won, his secret lover, oblivious to the undercurrent, smiled warmly at Hyuri.

But then, he caught Hyuri's gaze flicker to him the moment Jeong reached out to touch Won's shoulder in passing. The playful gesture hung suspended in the air. Hyuri's eyes narrowed for a fleeting second before he schooled his expression back into a neutral mask.

Jeong knew then, with a chilling certainty, that Hyuri suspected something. Jeong met Hyuri's gaze head-on. A silent war erupted between them, a battle waged with narrowed eyes and clenched jaws. It was a cold, clear message: back off. No words were needed; the air crackled with unspoken tension. Jeong wouldn't allow Hyuri, or anyone else, to come between him and Won. Their secret love, nurtured in stolen moments, was precious, and he wouldn't let some unspoken rivalry jeopardize it. This silent war had just begun, and Jeong, fueled by a potent mix of possessiveness and love, wouldn't back down until Hyuri learned his boundaries.