The days after their interrupted match felt different. Euihyun found himself distracted, but not by lines of code or the puzzles he usually obsessed over. It was Taejoo—his words, his smile, and the way he so effortlessly saw through the walls Euihyun had built around himself.
It was unsettling. Annoying, even. But no matter how much Euihyun tried to push it aside, thoughts of Taejoo slipped back in like a virus he couldn't get rid of.
Another late night found Euihyun back in the underground hacking lab, his fingers moving restlessly over the keys. He had work to do, systems to crack, but his focus wasn't there. Taejoo's last words echoed in his mind: "It's okay to let people in once in a while."
Euihyun shook his head, annoyed at himself. He didn't let people in. He never had. It was easier to keep his distance, to focus on what he could control—hacking, code, the cold certainty of numbers. But Taejoo had a way of slipping past his defenses, and that made him dangerous.
Another message popped up on his screen, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Taejoo: Hey, you alive?
Euihyun's fingers hovered over the keyboard. He hadn't spoken to Taejoo since their last encounter, trying to give himself space to cool off. But Taejoo had other ideas. He always did.
Before he could reply, another message followed.
Taejoo: I'm serious. Don't tell me I scared you off.
Euihyun scowled, typing back quickly.
Euihyun: You wish. What do you want?
Taejoo: Coffee.
Euihyun blinked, staring at the screen in confusion.
Euihyun: What?
Taejoo: You, me. Coffee. Now.
Euihyun's eyebrows shot up. He wasn't expecting that. But something about Taejoo's casual request—so direct, so nonchalant—made it hard to say no. It wasn't a challenge, it wasn't a game. It was just... Taejoo.
Euihyun: Fine.
**********************************************************************
Half an hour later, Euihyun found himself sitting across from Taejoo in a quiet, dimly lit café near campus. It was late, almost too late for coffee, but that didn't seem to bother Taejoo, who sat back in his chair, casually stirring his drink.
"You look tense," Taejoo commented, his teasing smirk in place.
Euihyun shot him a withering look. "I didn't come here to chat about how I look."
Taejoo chuckled, his yellow hair catching the light as he leaned forward. "You're always so serious. Relax, Euihyun."
Euihyun didn't respond, instead taking a sip of his coffee and letting the silence stretch between them. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was thick with unspoken things. He could feel Taejoo's eyes on him, watching, waiting. The tension between them wasn't like before. It wasn't just about competition. It was something else, something that made Euihyun's pulse quicken in a way he wasn't used to.
"You've been avoiding me," Taejoo said after a while, his tone softer now.
Euihyun glanced up, surprised by the sudden shift in Taejoo's demeanor. "I've been busy," he replied, though it felt like a weak excuse.
Taejoo tilted his head, his gaze steady. "No, you haven't."
Euihyun tensed, the directness of Taejoo's words hitting him harder than he expected. He had been avoiding him, but not because of fear. It was because of how Taejoo made him feel—off-balance, exposed. And Euihyun didn't like feeling exposed.
Taejoo's eyes softened, the teasing gone for once. "You don't have to be on guard all the time, you know," he said, his voice low. "Not with me."
The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Euihyun wasn't sure how to respond. Taejoo had a way of cutting through his defenses, like he could see right through him. It was unsettling, but also... comforting, in a way Euihyun hadn't expected.
He set his cup down, his fingers tracing the edge of the saucer. "Why are you doing this?" Euihyun asked, his voice quiet but direct.
Taejoo raised an eyebrow. "Doing what?"
"This," Euihyun gestured between them. "The games, the challenges. Pushing me."
Taejoo leaned back, his eyes never leaving Euihyun's. "Because you're interesting," he said simply. "You're not like the others."
Euihyun frowned, not sure what to make of that. "The others?"
"The people I've met. The ones who either want something from me or are too intimidated to challenge me." Taejoo's gaze softened, his teasing smile turning into something more sincere. "You're different. You don't care about my reputation. You just... fight back."
Euihyun didn't know how to respond to that. No one had ever spoken to him like that before, like they saw something in him beyond the surface. He wasn't used to people pushing past his cold exterior. But Taejoo... Taejoo wasn't afraid to push.
The silence between them grew heavier, more charged, until Taejoo leaned forward again, his voice low. "You can let your guard down with me, Euihyun."
Euihyun's breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding against his chest. Taejoo's words were disarming, cutting through the walls he had carefully built over the years. He wanted to push back, to say something snarky, but the truth was, he didn't want to fight this time.
"I don't know how," Euihyun admitted quietly, the vulnerability in his voice surprising even him.
Taejoo's expression softened, and for a moment, the playful, laidback hacker was gone, replaced by someone who understood. "You don't have to figure it out all at once," Taejoo said, his voice gentle. "I'm not going anywhere."
Euihyun looked down at his cup, his fingers tightening around it as he tried to process the strange warmth Taejoo's words stirred in him. He had spent so long keeping people at arm's length, convincing himself he didn't need anyone. But Taejoo... Taejoo was breaking through, and Euihyun wasn't sure if he was ready for that.
But part of him wanted it. Wanted to let Taejoo in, even if it scared him.
Finally, Euihyun met Taejoo's gaze, his expression softening just a fraction. "You really are annoying, you know that?"
Taejoo's grin returned, his eyes lighting up with that familiar teasing spark. "I know. It's part of my charm."
Euihyun rolled his eyes, but there was no bite behind it this time. Instead, he felt a strange sense of relief, like the weight of keeping Taejoo out had been lifted, even if just a little.
As they sat there, the conversation shifting back to lighter topics, Euihyun realized something he hadn't before. This wasn't just about hacking anymore. Taejoo wasn't just a rival. He was someone who saw him, really saw him, and Euihyun wasn't sure what that meant.
But maybe, just maybe, he was ready to find out.
To Be Continued ...
Hope you really like this chapter....❤️❤️❤️
