Hidden Love [WilliamEst]

Chapter 10

As the days went on, LYKN’s schedule continued to get busier. The demand for performances, interviews, and photoshoots only seemed to increase, and the members were constantly juggling rehearsals and promotional events. William was exhausted, but his dedication to both his group and his solo career never wavered. He knew how important it was, but it was starting to take a toll on him—and on his time with Est.

Est, on the other hand, was no stranger to a packed schedule himself. With his acting projects taking up most of his time and filming demands constantly pulling him in different directions, he found himself missing William more and more. But, despite everything, they were determined to make their relationship work, even if it meant sneaking in moments when they could.

One morning, with a rare window of free time before the evening event, William and Est decided to meet at the gym. It had been a while since they had done anything together, just the two of them, and the thought of spending even a small part of the day side by side brought a small sense of relief to both of them.

Arriving at the gym, Est looked at William, who was already tying his shoes, his tired eyes betraying his exhaustion from the night before. But despite his fatigue, there was a warmth in his smile when he saw Est. “Ready to get this over with?” William teased, playfully nudging Est as he stood up.

Est shot him a teasing smile. “I think I’m more ready for our next date than for this,” he said, but he knew William was right—gym time was probably the only time they could have a bit of normalcy in their hectic lives.

They moved to the cardio machines first, working through the routine in comfortable silence. William, though visibly tired, kept up with the exercises, making occasional glances toward Est as he did. The early morning sun filtered in through the windows, casting a soft glow over the gym. It was quiet, the perfect escape from the noise of their schedules.

Est felt his phone buzz in his pocket, but he ignored it for now. He’d much rather focus on the moment with William, even if it was just exercising together. After a while, they finished their cardio and moved on to weight training, taking turns at the machines, occasionally exchanging lighthearted banter.

William, despite his exhaustion, couldn't help but notice how beautiful Est looked this morning. There was a glow to him, the way his muscles moved as he worked out, and his hair was tousled in the cutest way. It was almost like he hadn’t seen Est in so long, he forgot how much he could miss him—even in a gym setting.

As Est finished his set on the bench press, he sat up, wiping sweat from his brow. He noticed William was watching him, and a smirk curled on his lips. “What’s wrong? You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”

William chuckled softly, moving closer to him. “I’m just watching you. You look good, you know?”

Est’s eyes widened, but he couldn’t help the small blush that spread across his cheeks. He shot William a playful glare. “Oh, so now you’re flirting during a workout?”

William leaned in, his tone more serious, but still full of warmth. “I always flirt with you, baby. You know that.”

Before Est could respond, William leaned in closer, his lips brushing against Est’s for a quick, stolen kiss. It was brief, just a small peck, but it sent warmth through Est’s body. It felt so normal, so right, even though they had to be so careful about how they showed affection these days.

Est blinked, his lips tingling from the kiss, and then, with a soft chuckle, he pushed William gently. “We shouldn’t—”

“I know,” William murmured, leaning in again, but this time letting their lips meet again in a slower, more deliberate kiss. This time, it lingered, a sweet, quiet promise shared between them in the middle of the gym, far from the prying eyes of the world.

Est’s heart raced in his chest, his hands moving to wrap around William’s neck, pulling him in closer. His breath hitched as they deepened the kiss, the only sounds in the gym being their soft exhales and the rhythmic pounding of their hearts. For those few moments, nothing else mattered. They didn’t have to worry about schedules, or fans, or media—they were simply together, holding on to the fleeting moments they could steal from their chaotic lives.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, smiling up at each other. Est’s eyes softened, his hand resting against William’s chest. “You’re going to get us in trouble,” he whispered, though there was no trace of reproach in his tone.

William grinned, brushing his lips against Est’s forehead. “I don’t care. As long as I’m with you, we’ll find our way around it.”

Est chuckled softly, pressing a quick kiss to William’s cheek. “We’ll be fine. We always are.”

After a few more moments, they gathered their things, both of them reluctantly knowing they had to leave soon to prepare for the evening event. But for those stolen minutes, they had found a brief escape from their demanding lives. And for now, that was enough.