You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 9

Little did Seungcheol know, Jeonghan was going through a whirlwind of emotions himself.

From the moment they started spending more time together, Jeonghan had noticed something shifting within him. At first, he brushed it off as curiosity—after all, Seungcheol was different from anyone he usually hung out with. But over time, that curiosity grew into something deeper, something that stirred every time Seungcheol was near him.

Jeonghan had always been surrounded by people—Mingyu, Seungkwan, and all the others who gravitated toward his easy charm. But Seungcheol was different. He didn't care about Jeonghan's popularity or his looks; he was real with him, genuine. Jeonghan found himself drawn to Seungcheol's quiet intelligence, his shy smiles, and the way he focused so intensely when they worked together.

It was subtle at first. A lingering glance, a playful touch on the shoulder, but soon Jeonghan couldn't deny that his feelings were more than just friendly. It surprised him, honestly. He had never thought he would fall for someone like Seungcheol—the computer geek, the boy who was more comfortable behind a screen than in the center of attention. And yet, here he was, thinking about Seungcheol constantly, finding excuses to be around him, to hear his voice and make him laugh.

Jeonghan hadn't told anyone, not even Mingyu or Seungkwan, who usually knew everything about his life. He wasn't sure how to process it himself, let alone explain it to someone else. But every time he caught Seungcheol's eye or made him smile, something in Jeonghan's chest tightened in the best way possible.

It was becoming harder to hide it, especially when they were alone together. Like now, in the convenience store, as Seungcheol awkwardly shuffled beside him, picking out snacks in his usual quiet way. Jeonghan found himself watching him again, the way Seungcheol absentmindedly tapped his fingers on the shelves as he decided what to buy.

Jeonghan smiled to himself, biting back the urge to say something more, to push the conversation into deeper territory. He didn't want to make things weird, but at the same time, he couldn't keep pretending that his feelings weren't real.

As they headed to the checkout, Jeonghan caught a glimpse of Seungcheol's nervous expression. There was something off about him today, something more than his usual shyness. Jeonghan had noticed the way Seungcheol had been acting a little more distant, more hesitant. It was subtle, but Jeonghan had a keen eye for these things.

Once they stepped outside, Jeonghan finally worked up the courage to speak. "Seungcheol, can I ask you something?"

Seungcheol looked over, surprised by the sudden shift in Jeonghan's tone. "Uh, yeah. Sure."

Jeonghan hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. His heart pounded in his chest as he considered how to approach this. "Have you... been okay? You've been kind of distant lately."

Seungcheol blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. "I-I'm fine," he stammered, though his voice betrayed him. "Why do you ask?"

Jeonghan tilted his head, watching Seungcheol closely. "I don't know... it just seems like something's been on your mind."

Seungcheol averted his gaze, clearly uncomfortable. "It's nothing, really."

But Jeonghan wasn't about to let it drop. "Come on, you can talk to me. If something's bothering you, I want to know."

There was a beat of silence, and for a moment, Seungcheol looked like he was debating whether to open up or not. Jeonghan's heart raced, hoping that maybe—just maybe—Seungcheol felt the same way. But before he could push further, Seungcheol shook his head, offering a weak smile.