The Deep End

Uncharted Territory

Leehan spent the next few days doing everything he could to avoid Taesan. He went into class early, left early, and found excuses to stay away from the class, the canteen and anywhere Taesan might be lurking. But despite his best efforts, Taesan was always there, a constant presence that he couldn't shake.

And every time their paths crossed, it was like Taesan had perfected the art of getting under his skin. A lingering glance here, a teasing smirk there—always finding some way to keep Leehan on edge, to make him question himself, his decisions, everything.

But today, things took an unexpected turn.

Leehan had just finished an exhausting meeting and was about to leave the class room when he felt a familiar presence behind him. Before he could react, Taesan stepped into his path, effectively blocking his exit. His expression was unreadable, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made Leehan's pulse quicken.

"Going somewhere, love?" Taesan asked, his tone soft yet laced with something that sent a shiver down Leehan's spine.

Leehan tensed, the nickname hitting him harder than usual. "Move, Taesan," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I don't have time for this."

Taesan didn't budge. Instead, he took a step closer, and Leehan's back hit the wall behind him, trapping him in a way that was all too familiar. It was as if every encounter with Taesan was part of some twisted game, and no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to escape it.

"I don't think you're being honest with yourself," Taesan murmured, his gaze unwavering. "You keep running away, but I know there's a part of you that doesn't want to."

Leehan clenched his jaw, frustration simmering in his chest. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"Because I don't want to," Taesan replied smoothly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And if you were honest, you'd admit that you don't want me to, either."

Leehan's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as he struggled to find a way out. But the worst part was that some part of him—the part he tried so hard to ignore—was drawn to Taesan's intensity, to the way he looked at him like he was the only thing that mattered.

"I can't do this with you," Leehan managed to say, though his voice sounded weaker than he intended. "You're just playing games, Taesan. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Taesan's expression softened, just for a moment, and Leehan caught a glimpse of something almost vulnerable in his eyes. But it was gone just as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same arrogant confidence.

"You think this is a game?" Taesan's voice was quiet, almost contemplative. "Maybe it was, at first. But you...you're different."

Leehan's breath hitched, his chest tightening as he processed Taesan's words. There was something in the way he said it—something that felt genuine, raw, like a crack in the armor Taesan always wore.

"What do you mean by that?" Leehan asked, unable to keep the curiosity out of his voice.

Taesan hesitated, his gaze flickering to the side for a brief second before meeting Leehan's eyes again. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "All I know is that I can't stop thinking about you. No matter how hard I try."

The admission left Leehan speechless, a wave of conflicting emotions crashing over him. He wanted to reject it, to push Taesan away, but the vulnerability in his words held him captive. For the first time, he saw a side of Taesan that wasn't just cocky or manipulative.

It was real. And it terrified him.

"Taesan..." Leehan began, but the words caught in his throat. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to process the sudden shift in their dynamic. But the sincerity in Taesan's eyes made his resolve falter, made him question everything he thought he knew.

But before he could respond, Taesan reached out, his fingers brushing gently against Leehan's cheek. The touch was soft, unexpected, and it sent a surge of warmth through Leehan's body, breaking down his defenses even further.

"I know I've been...difficult," Taesan said quietly, his thumb grazing over Leehan's skin in a way that was almost tender. "But you...you make it impossible for me to be anything else. I don't know how to handle this."

Leehan's heart raced, the sincerity in Taesan's voice stirring emotions he'd tried so hard to bury. Part of him wanted to give in, to believe that there was something real beneath Taesan's rough exterior. But another part of him was terrified—terrified of letting his guard down, of letting Taesan in.

"What do you want from me, Taesan?" Leehan's voice was barely more than a whisper, laced with vulnerability he couldn't hide.

Taesan's hand dropped to his side, his expression softening as he took a step back. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice almost vulnerable. "But I do know that I don't want you to hate me. Not anymore."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and raw, and for a moment, all of Leehan's defenses crumbled. He wanted to believe Taesan, wanted to let himself feel something other than anger and frustration.

But it was too much. Too soon.

"I...need some time," Leehan said finally, his voice trembling with emotion. "I can't just forget everything."

Taesan nodded, a hint of understanding in his gaze. "Take all the time you need, love. I'll be here."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Leehan alone in the empty conference room, his heart pounding and his mind racing with questions he didn't have answers to.

As the door closed behind Taesan, Leehan took a deep breath, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. Taesan's words echoed in his mind, his voice filled with a vulnerability that had shaken him to his core.

For the first time, Leehan wondered if there was more to Taesan than he'd ever realized. If, beneath the arrogance and the teasing, there was a part of him that was just as lost and confused as Leehan felt.

And despite everything, despite the anger and the hurt, a small part of him couldn't help but hope.