I can't live without you.. || Chanmin

Hidden in plane sight

The gentle hum of the café had returned to its usual rhythm, but for Bang Chan and Seungmin, everything felt slightly different. Even after their hands parted, the warmth of that moment lingered in the space between them, unspoken but undeniable.

Bang Chan sat back in his chair, his mind spinning quietly with the weight of what had just happened. It wasn't as if either of them had declared anything concrete, but there was a shift now-something new simmering beneath the surface of their friendship. And for the first time in a long time, Bang Chan didn't feel the need to overthink it.

Seungmin's fingers traced the rim of his coffee cup absentmindedly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He glanced at Bang Chan, catching his eye for just a second before looking away, the blush still faint on his cheeks. Bang Chan couldn't help but smile too.

"So," Seungmin said finally, his voice light but not quite as casual as usual, "what happens now?"

Bang Chan shrugged, leaning forward on the table, his hands resting in front of him. "I guess... we just take it slow. See where it goes?"

Seungmin nodded, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Yeah. That sounds like us-slow and steady."

They shared a small laugh, but beneath it, there was something else-a quiet understanding that this wasn't just a fleeting feeling. It was something deeper, something that had been building for a while, hidden beneath late-night conversations, quiet moments in the studio, and the way they always seemed to understand each other without speaking

Bang Chan sipped his coffee, glancing out the window. He didn't know what the future would look like now-how this would fit into the world they lived in, where the pressures of the industry and the ever-present gaze of fans loomed over every aspect of their lives. But for now, he was content to just be with Seungmin, to let things unfold naturally, without forcing answers.

After a moment, Seungmin leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly. "We should probably head back. The others are going to wonder where we disappeared to."

Bang Chan groaned playfully, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, we're going to get an earful from Changbin if we're late to practice again."

Seungmin laughed. "Not if we blame you."

"Me? You're the one who dragged me out here!" Bang Chan protested with a grin, but he knew Seungmin wasn't wrong. Changbin loved teasing him about being late, even if it was just by a few minutes. Still, it was all in good fun, and the rest of the members always played along, knowing that Bang Chan's perfectionism wouldn't let him stay off schedule for long.

As they stood up to leave, Bang Chan hesitated for a moment. He glanced at Seungmin, wondering if things would feel different once they were back with the others. Would there be an awkwardness between them now? Or would they just fall back into their usual rhythm, like always?

Seungmin seemed to sense his hesitation. He paused too, looking at Bang Chan with that same steady gaze, the one that always reassured him. "Hey," Seungmin said quietly, his voice soft but sure, "nothing's changed, hyung. It's still us."

Bang Chan felt a sense of relief wash over him at those words. He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. You're right."

They left the café together, the air between them still warm with the unspoken shift in their relationship, but it didn't feel heavy. It felt like something natural-like a continuation of what had always been there, now just acknowledged in a new way.

The walk back to the dorm was filled with their usual banter, Seungmin teasing Bang Chan about his messy hair and Bang Chan firing back about Seungmin's obsession with perfection in his singing practices. The lightness between them was familiar, easy, and despite the new undertone, nothing felt forced.

When they reached the dorm, the rest of the members were already gathered in the living room, scrolling through their phones and half-watching some variety show on the TV. Changbin was the first to notice them walk in.

"Ah, look who finally decided to show up," Changbin said, raising an eyebrow. "What, were you two having a secret date or something?"

The comment was playful, but it hit closer to home than Changbin knew. Seungmin shot Bang Chan a quick glance, and for a split second, Bang Chan's heart skipped a beat. He could feel the heat creeping up his neck, but Seungmin, always the quick thinker, rolled his eyes dramatically, immediately taking control of the situation.

"Secret date? Please," Seungmin scoffed, tossing his bag onto the couch. "If I was on a date, you think I'd take him?

The room filled with laughter as Bang Chan clutched his chest, feigning hurt. "Wow, Seungmin. Way to break my heart."

Felix, who had been lying upside down on the couch, chimed in with a cheeky grin. "You guys argue like an old married couple anyway."

Bang Chan shot Seungmin a playful glare, but Seungmin just shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That's because I have to put up with him 24/7."

As the teasing continued, Bang Chan couldn't help but marvel at how natural it all felt. They fell back into their usual dynamic seamlessly, the playful jabs and easy camaraderie flowing as if nothing had changed. And yet, there was a subtle shift in the air between him and Seungmin-a quiet current that only the two of them could feel

Practice soon took over, the group falling into their routine, perfecting the choreography and working on their new songs. But every now and then, Bang Chan would catch Seungmin's eye during a break, and they'd share a fleeting smile-small, private moments that no one else noticed.

Later that night, as Bang Chan sat at his desk in the studio, working on the track they had been stuck on, Seungmin slipped in quietly. He didn't say anything, just grabbed a seat next to Bang Chan, watching him work. It wasn't unusual for them to share this space-Seungmin often joined him late at night, offering quiet support when Chan needed it the most

But tonight, the air between them was a little different.

After a while, Bang Chan leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh. He glanced at Seungmin, his fingers drumming lightly on the edge of the desk. "It feels good, right?" he asked, referring to the track, but somehow it felt like he was asking about more than just the music.

Seungmin nodded, his gaze soft. "Yeah. It does."

Bang Chan turned back to the screen, but his thoughts weren't on the music anymore. Instead, they were on the boy sitting next to him, the one who had always been there-steady, supportive, and now something a little more.

It was still new, still uncertain, but one thing was clear: this was just the beginning.

And Bang Chan was ready to see where it would lead.