when opposites fall.

pushing and pulling

the days following that playful flirtation with woonhak left riwoo in a state of heightened self-awareness. he found himself reflecting on his feelings, particularly as he noticed woonhak putting in effort to impress him—whether it was through his choice of clothing or the way he carried himself. there was a new air of confidence about woonhak, one that made riwoo's heart race, yet it only fueled the internal conflict within him. 

despite the undeniable chemistry crackling between them, riwoo felt an overwhelming urge to avoid any direct confrontation. deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone else would be a better match for woonhak, someone worthy of his affections. this thought gnawed at him, leaving him restless and anxious.

one evening, during a cozy sleepover in his dorm, riwoo found himself lounging on his bed, surrounded by sungho and leehan. the atmosphere was relaxed, filled with laughter and the warmth of friendship, but riwoo's mind was elsewhere. he cleared his throat, trying to sound casual as he broached a topic that had been weighing heavily on his heart.

"so, hypothetically," he began, shifting slightly to catch their attention, "what if a friend of mine has a crush on someone they shouldn't? like, someone totally off-limits?"

sungho and leehan exchanged knowing glances, but they kept their expressions neutral, playing along with riwoo's scenario. 

"oh really? what's wrong with that person?" leehan asked, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

"um, well, they're just... complicated, you know?" riwoo continued, trying to maintain his composure. "my friend thinks they'd be better off with someone else, but they can't help how they feel."

"sounds tough," sungho replied, his tone sincere. "if your friend really likes this person, they should think about what they want. is it worth the risk?"

"yeah, but what if they think the other person deserves someone better?" riwoo pressed, glancing between them. he felt exposed, as if they could see through his thin veil of pretense.

leehan shrugged, offering vague advice that only left riwoo feeling more confused. 

"sometimes, it's not about who's better. feelings are messy, and you can't really control them. just tell your friend to figure it out on their own."

"right," riwoo muttered, his heart sinking. that wasn't the clarity he had hoped for. 

sungho, however, seemed to sense his frustration. 

"look, riwoo," he said, leaning forward, "if your friend really cares, they should be honest about their feelings. it's better to express those emotions than to keep them bottled up. they need to weigh the importance of their friendship against how much they like this person."