𝙁𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 : 𝙃𝙚𝙚𝙟𝙖𝙠𝙚

3.

Jaeyun's pov :

[Pamungkas - To the bones]

Heeseung and I were walking back home. The wind was chilly but all i could feel was warmth inside me, my ears and cheeks were burning from the effect of his stupid comments. We reached our apartment building pretty quick and he then started walking with me towards my apartment even though I was reluctant he insisted to do so.

"Good night, Jaeyun" he smiled bashfully before leaving me at my doorstep. I entered our apartment and found my younger brother Jaehan sitting on the living room sofa watching something on the television.

[A/N : Jaehan is Riki, y'all don't be confused 🤩😘🥰🤩😘🥰]

As soon as he noticed my presence he started attacking me with dozens of question all involving that "bambi eyed boy". " My god hannie!! can you wait till I catch my breath jesus!! " .
Jaehan noticed his brother's flushed ears and cheeks and started smirking.

Jaeyun knew his annoying brother wouldn't leave him alone. So they sat together on the living room sofa and Jaeyun started reciting all the events from the evening to Heeseung dropping him at their doorstep.

It seemed that Jaehan was having the time of his life listening to his hyung's awkward encounter with his "not the love of his life" as Jaeyun liked to deny countless times. And of course Jaehan was as annoying as it can get and who is he if he doesn't tease his hyung.

After smacking Jaehan with the small pillows on the sofa Jaeyun trudged back to his room, the weight of the night pressing down on his shoulders. The awkward encounter with Heeseung replayed in his mind on an endless loop, each cringe-inducing moment magnified in the solitude of his thoughts.

He closed the door behind him with a soft click, leaning against it as if it could shield him from the memories. The room was dark, lit only by the soft glow of his bedside lamp. His bed, usually a sanctuary, now felt like a stage where every embarrassing detail was spotlighted.

Jaeyun sank onto the edge of his bed, burying his face in his hands. He could still feel the heat in his cheeks, the stammering words that tumbled out of his mouth, and the pretty smile of the boy who made his heart race and his palms sweat.

The tears came slowly at first, a few drops sliding down his cheeks. But then the dam broke, and he was sobbing, the sounds muffled against his palms. He hated this-this vulnerability, this helplessness.

He hated how much power Heeseung had over him, how a single awkward moment could unravel him completely.

Jaeyun curled up on his bed, clutching a pillow to his chest as if it could hold him together. The room felt too small, too confining, and his thoughts raced, each one sharper and more painful than the last. Why did he have to be so awkward? Why couldn't he just be normal around Heeseung?

3 days later

Jaeyun and Sunghoon were sprawled out on the floor of Sunghoon's bedroom, textbooks and notebooks scattered around them. The room was a comfortable mess, a testament to their long afternoon of studying.

Jaeyun liked coming over to Sunghoon's place; it was cozy, familiar, and most importantly, it was where Heeseung lived. He wouldn't want to admit it but his heart did want to see him again .

"Hey, pass me the algebra book," Sunghoon said, not looking up from his notes. Jaeyun handed it over, his mind wandering. He couldn't help but think about Heeseung, the older was everything Jaeyun admired: smart, kind, effortlessly cool.

Jaeyun was aware about the tension between the brothers, an unspoken friction that made things awkward sometimes.

Just as Jaeyun was about to dive back into his Physics assignment, the door creaked open, and Heeseung stepped in. He looked casual in his hoodie and jeans, but there was an air of authority about him that made Jake's heart skip a beat.

"Hey, Jaeyun didn't know you were here!" the older smiled sweetly.

"you guys need any help?" Heeseung asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Sunghoon's expression darkened instantly. "We're fine, Hyung," he said, his tone colder than usual. Jake glanced between the two, feeling the temperature in the room drop.

Heeseung sighed, clearly used to this response. "Come on, Sunghoon. I'm just trying to help."

"We don't need your help," Sunghoon snapped back, eyes still fixed on his notes. Jake shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to get caught in the middle of their sibling spat.

Seeing Jaeyun's discomfort, Heeseung softened his approach. "What about you, Jae? Do you need help with anything?"Jaeyun felt a blush creep up his neck hearing that nickname.

"Uh, actually, yeah. I'm stuck on this calculus problem." He hesitated, glancing at Sunghoon for approval, but his friend's expression remained stormy.

Heeseung walked over and sat down next to the younger, close enough that Jaeyun could smell his cologne, a mix of pine and something else that made his head spin.

Heeseung looked over the problem, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Okay, this one's tricky, but here's how you can approach it..."As Heeseung explained the solution, Jaeyun found it hard to concentrate.

He was hyper-aware of every move Heeseung made, the way his fingers tapped lightly on the notebook, the way his voice had a soothing cadence.

Sunghoon, meanwhile, sat in brooding silence, clearly unhappy with the situation.

"Thanks, Heeseung," Jaeyun said when they finished, genuinely grateful."No problem, and you can call me hyung too like Sunghoonie does. " Heeseung replied with a smile that made Jake's heart flutter.

"You know where to find me if you need more help."As Heeseung left the room, Sunghoon let out a frustrated sigh.

"Why do you even bother talking to him?"Jaeyun hesitated, unsure how to navigate this minefield. "He was just helping with the homework. It's no big deal.""It is to me," Sunghoon muttered, looking away. "He acts all nice now, but he's a jerk, yunnie". Jaeyun could see that Sunghoon was hurting.

He wanted to understand what was going on between the brothers, but he also didn't want to push Sunghoon.

---------

what do y'all think?? is it worth continuing???