Hidden Love [WilliamEst]

Chapter 2

It was one of those rare evenings when the members of LYKN could finally relax and just be themselves, away from the bright lights and constant buzz of their fans. William had invited Est to join him and the guys for a casual night out. They were all sitting in a cozy corner of a trendy rooftop bar, laughing, talking, and enjoying the night breeze. The city lights twinkled below them, creating the perfect atmosphere for unwinding.

Est sat beside William, close enough that their knees brushed under the table. William smiled at him, his heart fluttering the way it always did when they were together. He was the main vocalist, known for his stunning voice, but whenever he was with Est, it felt like all the world’s noise faded, and the only song that mattered was the quiet between them.

Nut, Lego, Hong, and Tui were their usual selves, chatting loudly and sharing stories from their hectic schedules. Nut, in particular, had been telling a funny story about something that happened during rehearsal. Everyone was laughing, but William noticed something—Nut’s eyes kept lingering on Est just a bit too long.

At first, William thought he was imagining it. Nut had always been friendly and charming, but tonight there was something different in the way he interacted with Est. He kept leaning in closer to him, flashing that disarming smile of his. Nut was tall and handsome, the kind of guy who could easily steal the spotlight in any room. But what bothered William more than Nut’s looks was the way he seemed to be trying to get Est’s attention.

“Hey, phi Est, you ever think about acting in a music video?” Nut asked suddenly, shifting closer to Est on the couch. His voice was smooth, almost too smooth.

Est blinked, looking a little surprised by the question. “Uh, I haven’t really thought about it.”

“You should,” Nut grinned, his eyes twinkling with interest. “You’d be perfect. You’ve got that look, y’know?”

William felt a knot tighten in his chest. Est, oblivious as always, just laughed it off. “Thanks, but I think I’ll stick to acting for now.”

Nut wasn’t deterred. “Well, if you ever change your mind, let me know. I’d love to see you on set with us.”

William’s jaw clenched slightly. He glanced at Est, hoping he would pick up on the vibe Nut was giving off, but Est just smiled politely, completely unaware. Of course, Est wouldn’t notice. He never saw the way people admired him, the way they were drawn to his sweet, unassuming charm.

Nut, though, was clearly noticing more than just Est’s talent.

“William, why don’t you sing for us?” Lego piped up suddenly, breaking the tension that only William seemed to feel.

William snapped back to reality, forcing a smile. “Sure, what do you want to hear?”

“Anything,” Tui said. “Your voice is magic, man. Whatever you sing, it’s gonna be great.”

Est’s face lit up at the mention of William singing. “Yeah, sing for us. You know I love hearing you sing.”

William couldn’t resist the look on Est’s face. No matter how jealous or frustrated he felt, Est always managed to calm him with a single glance. He nodded, pulling out his phone to find a song.

But as he started to sing, his voice filling the space with its usual warmth and beauty, William couldn’t help but notice how Nut kept sneaking glances at Est. And even worse, how Nut shifted just a little bit closer to him, casually resting his arm on the back of the couch, just behind Est’s shoulders.

William’s voice didn’t falter, but inside, the jealousy burned hot.

When the song ended, the group erupted into applause, with Nut being the loudest. “Man, you’ve got the voice of an angel,” Nut praised, though his attention was still annoyingly fixed on Est. “Don’t you think, phi?”

Est nodded eagerly. “Always. His voice is my favorite.”

William’s heart should’ve swelled at Est’s compliment, but instead, he felt a surge of possessiveness. His fingers itched to reach out and pull Est closer, to remind Nut who Est belonged to—even if no one else could know.

But Est was too innocent to notice the tension building in William. Instead, he leaned forward, completely oblivious to Nut’s lingering gaze. “That was amazing, William. You’re seriously the best.”

William smiled, but his mind was racing. Nut’s interest was clear now, and Est was too naive to see it. As the night went on, Nut continued to find little ways to talk to Est, to inch closer, and it was driving William crazy.

At one point, Nut casually brushed his hand against Est’s arm, and William couldn’t take it anymore.

“Phi Est,” William said suddenly, his voice a little sharper than usual. “Come with me for a second. I need to show you something.”

Est blinked, confused, but nodded. “Uh, sure.”

William stood up, grabbing Est’s hand a bit more firmly than necessary as he led him away from the group. He could feel Nut’s eyes on them, but he didn’t care anymore.

They ended up near the rooftop’s edge, away from the others. William didn’t let go of Est’s hand, his heart pounding as jealousy swirled in his chest.

“William?” Est asked softly, concern lacing his voice. “What’s wrong?”

William hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “I don’t like how Nut’s been acting around you.”

Est blinked in surprise. “Nut? What do you mean?”

“He’s been flirting with you, phi Est,” William said, his voice low but intense. “And you’re not even noticing.”

Est’s eyes widened. “Flirting? With me? No, he’s just being nice…”

William shook his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “No, phi, he’s interested in you. I can see it.”

Est stared at William, processing his words. “I… I didn’t realize.”

“Of course you didn’t,” William muttered, softening as he saw how confused Est looked. He stepped closer, his hand still holding onto Est’s. “But I noticed, and I don’t like it.”

Est bit his lip, his eyes looking up at William. “You’re jealous.”

William sighed, looking down at their intertwined hands. “Yeah, I am.”

A small smile tugged at Est’s lips, and he gently squeezed William’s hand. “You don’t have to be. I only want you, William.”

The tension in William’s chest melted at those words. He pulled Est into a tight hug, resting his chin on top of Est’s head. “I know. I just… I can’t stand the thought of someone else trying to take you away.”

Est leaned into him, wrapping his arms around William’s waist. “No one’s going to take me away. You’re the one I love.”

William smiled, pressing a soft kiss to Est’s temple. “Good. Because I’m not letting anyone else have you.”