Our Love | Jeongcheol

seven

Day by day, Seungcheol couldn't help himself, feeling even more protective of Jeonghan than before.

Jeonghan noticed but let him be; it was almost endearing, seeing how their baby became something they cherished rather than feared.

Seungcheol's concern showed in small ways. He'd bring Jeonghan snacks during practice or linger a little longer when Jeonghan looked tired.

"Do you want oranges again?" Seungcheol asked one afternoon, holding up a bright orange, a smile teasing at his lips.

"Yes!" Jeonghan replied, a small grin forming as he accepted the fruit. Seungcheol took a segment for himself first, making sure there were no seeds, and handed it over.

Jeonghan chuckled softly, grateful for the little gestures. "You always know how to make my snacks perfect."

The fridge was constantly stocked and filled to the brim with whatever Jeonghan craved since he'd finally been able to eat a bit more despite losing a lot of his sleep with back pain and constant mood changes.

Seungcheol had suggested taking a hot bath once, and the younger hadn't gone back since. He'd take a bath every night before bed, soothing his nerves and relaxing his muscles.

Despite being only 11 weeks along, Jeonghan's toned stomach was long gone, now soft and more round, the difference visible. Seungcheol had noticed the weight gain and couldn't help but coo at his boyfriend, who just rolled his eyes and blushed, muttering something along the lines of "It's your fault I'm getting fat."

Jeonghan sighed, looking at his reflection with a faint frown as he struggled more than usual to button his pants.

"A few more weeks, and it'll all show, no matter how hard I try to hide it," he thought, frowning.

"The pants are a little suffocating," he muttered under his breath, and the stylist, who had pins in a cushion wrapped around her wrist as a bracelet and a measuring tape, heard him.

"Everything okay?" she asked a finger on her chin, studying Jeonghan's figure, looking not so happy.

Jeonghan glanced up, a hint of discomfort in his expression as he adjusted his pants. "Um, my pants feel a bit uncomfortable..." he admitted, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

"She can't know. Just stay calm"

"That's weird. I'm pretty sure we took new measurements last month. Maybe they mixed yours with someone else," the stylist said thoughtfully.

"Did you check the tag? Maybe it's The8's pants?" she suggested lightly.

"No, it's definitely mine. I double-checked," Jeonghan replied quickly, shifting uncomfortably.

The stylist tilted her head, still puzzled. "I should check your measurements again later," she murmured, mostly to herself.

Jeonghan's heart skipped a beat. "No, please, no more measuring" He forced a casual smile, nodding slightly as he held back the words.

He could feel his body tense, wanting nothing more than to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.

"Try Joshua's pants then. You two are close in height," the stylist handed Jeonghan the extra pants and walked away, giving him privacy to change.

The size wasn't all that different. It was still tight, but since Jisoo had a bulkier build compared to Jeonghan's lean figure, the pants fit a bit better than his smaller ones.

Jeonghan had initially decided not to wear a belt, but then another stylist noticed and started fussing over him not wearing one, forcing him to put it on. And being the professional idol he was, he had to do it, not wanting to make his uneasiness too obvious or his image to falter.

Seungcheol noticed, his eyes lingering on Jeonghan a little longer as he watched him shift and adjust his belt with an irritated expression.

Seungcheol sighed quietly to himself, hating watching Jeonghan struggle. He held back from letting his distaste show, not wanting to frustrate him more.

"How much longer can they go on like this before someone else notices?" was the question that lingered in their mind.

Jeonghan had always adored the excitement of his secret relationship with Seungcheol, holding close the stolen moments filled with laughter and whispered promises.

However, having a secret baby was very different. He felt the weight of it looming over him. He needed to find the right moment to reveal the truth, rather than risk it coming out by accident.

Jeonghan started to fear his pregnancy would be revealed not by his weight gain, but by his frustration, wondering if his tongue might slip and expose his secret.

"Hannie," Seungcheol called softly as he approached his boyfriend, resisting the urge to touch his shoulder or playfully ruffle his hair.

"Woah, what's with the face?" the older commented, startled at the odd expression of Jeonghan's face. The younger didn't look very happy.

"Don't ask. I'm done with this. I wanna get it over with already," Jeonghan rolled his eyes, voice laced with thick frustration as he adjusted the watch on his wrist.

"Are you talking about the shoot? Because we'll be done before you know it. I'll massage your shoulders when we get back if it makes you feel better," Seungcheol said, his voice light as he nudged Jeonghan with his elbow, trying to soften the younger's edges.

He's under so much stress; anything to make it better and Seungcheol was the best at making Jeonghan better.

Jeonghan's reaction only further proved that point.

A small smile tugged at the corners of the younger's lips as he considered the sweet offer from his boyfriend. He responded, "You better keep your word," before turning to walk away.

Seungcheol watched him leave, a wave of pride and affection washing over him as he bit his lip in delight. He then ran up to him, catching up and bumping their shoulders teasingly.

Jihoon watched the whole scene unfold ahead of him. To outsiders, there wasn't anything suspicious. Just Seungcheol comforting his close friend, Jeonghan, and trying to make him feel better.

But Jihoon saw the way Seungcheol's eyes turned into hearts when he looked at his best friend. Or the way he'd feed him forcefully at the dorm. The way he'd get Jeonghan's bath ready by making sure the water wasn't too cold or too warm.

Was it truly nothing more than a friendly gesture with Jihoon mistakenly overanalyzing the situation? Was there more to the exchanges they shared, or were Jihoon's suspicions reality, hinting at something deeper beneath their casual interactions?