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The party continued to buzz around them, but Hao and Hanbin stood off to the side, taking a breather. Hao had calmed down a bit after drinking the water, his usual cheerful demeanor softened by the alcohol still in his system. Hanbin stayed close, his arm lightly brushing against Hao's as they leaned against the bar.
Hao glanced up at him, his expression thoughtful despite his slightly dazed state. "You're always looking out for me, hyung," Hao said, his voice quieter now, the playful edge gone. "You know, for someone who pretends to be tough and all... you're actually really sweet."
Hanbin raised an eyebrow, turning to face Hao fully. "Sweet?" He scoffed lightly. "I think the drinks are messing with your head."
Hao giggled, the sound light and unguarded. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm just seeing the real you."
There was a brief pause, the air between them charged with something unspoken. Hanbin wasn't used to being called sweet, especially by someone like Hao, who seemed to see through his tough exterior more often than Hanbin liked to admit. He tried to brush it off, but the look in Hao's eyes-soft and earnest-kept pulling him in.
Hao blinked up at him, still leaning a bit too much for balance, but there was something sincere in the way he gazed at Hanbin. "Thanks for coming with me tonight," Hao continued. "I don't think I'd have had this much fun without you."
Hanbin's smirk faltered for just a moment, replaced by something more genuine. "You're welcome, I guess." He looked away, his usual confidence wavering for a split second before he quickly masked it. "Just don't make a habit of dragging me to these things."
Hao laughed, the sound making Hanbin smile despite himself. "No promises, hyung. You're a pretty good time."
Hanbin shook his head but couldn't suppress the small smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. He opened his mouth to say something else, but before he could, Hao straightened up, wobbling slightly before he leaned back into Hanbin's space.
"I'm serious," Hao said, his tone suddenly soft. His eyes flickered with something more intense, more focused now. "I'm glad it was you."
Hanbin felt a strange pull in his chest, the familiar tension that had been building between them over the past few weeks rising to the surface. For a moment, it felt like the noise of the party had faded away, leaving only the two of them standing there, their breaths mingling in the space between.
Without thinking, Hanbin reached out, his hand hovering near Hao's arm. He hesitated for a second, unsure if this was the right move. But then, Hao leaned in, his breath warm against Hanbin's neck as he whispered, "You're not as bad as you think you are, you know."
