The Deep End

Current connection

Leehan couldn't shake the memory of Taesan's words from his mind. The confession, the vulnerability—it was like he'd seen a completely different side of Taesan, one that didn't align with the image he'd clung to for so long. As much as he tried to push it away, the conversation kept replaying in his head, challenging everything he thought he knew.

That afternoon, as he was heading down the hallway toward his class he saw a familiar figure leaning against his doorframe. Taesan looked casual but focused, his gaze softening when he saw Leehan approaching. There was no arrogant smirk, no cocky grin. Just...Taesan, waiting.

"Hey," Taesan greeted quietly, stepping back as Leehan reached his desk.

Leehan forced a nod, willing himself to keep it together. "Hey."

They stood in silence, an unspoken tension hovering between them. Taesan looked as if he was weighing his words, trying to find a way to bridge the fragile truce they'd established.

"Want to grab lunch with me?" Taesan finally asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Just...lunch."

Leehan hesitated, his heart racing with an odd mixture of anticipation and reluctance. Normally, he'd have brushed off the invitation without a second thought, but today, something felt different. Maybe it was Taesan's quiet sincerity, or the memory of their last conversation, but he found himself nodding.

"Alright," Leehan replied, keeping his tone even. "But just lunch. Nothing else."

Taesan's expression softened, a flicker of relief in his eyes. "Just lunch," he promised.

They walked to a small café near the school,after finding they dont have classes for another 1 and half, the silence between them surprisingly comfortable. Taesan ordered for both of them, remembering Leehan's preferences with an ease that caught Leehan off guard. He hated how much it affected him, how his heart betrayed him by beating just a little faster.

As they settled into a booth, Taesan leaned back, his gaze never leaving Leehan. "You know, I think this is the first time we've ever actually just...talked."

Leehan smirked, keeping his tone light. "Yeah, usually you're too busy tormenting me."

A ghost of a smile crossed Taesan's lips, though there was a trace of guilt behind it. "I know. I was...stupid. Trying to figure things out in all the wrong ways."

Leehan felt a pang of something he couldn't quite define. He wanted to cling to his anger, to the pain Taesan had caused him, but every sincere word chipped away at the resentment he'd carried for so long.

"Why are you telling me this?" Leehan asked, his voice softening.

Taesan looked down, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup. "Because I want you to understand that I regret it," he murmured. "I know an apology doesn't erase what I did, but...you deserve to hear it. You deserve better."

The raw honesty in Taesan's words made Leehan's chest tighten. He wasn't used to this side of Taesan—vulnerable, regretful, and almost...gentle. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond, didn't know what to do with the warmth spreading through him.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I...didn't expect that."

Taesan looked up, his gaze steady and intense. "I meant it."

They fell into a comfortable silence, and for the first time, Leehan felt the weight of their past begin to lift, just a little. It was strange, almost surreal, to sit across from Taesan without anger or resentment clouding his mind. He found himself relaxing, letting his guard down in a way he hadn't expected.

When their meal was over, Taesan stood up, offering Leehan a hand. Surprised, Leehan hesitated before taking it, the warmth of Taesan's touch sending a shiver down his spine.

As they walked back to the school, Taesan's hand lingered just a little too long, his fingers brushing against Leehan's. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but it made Leehan's heart race all the same.

"See you around, love," Taesan murmured, his voice soft but carrying an unmistakable fondness.

Leehan felt his cheeks flush, his usual composure slipping as he struggled to find a response. But Taesan was already walking away, leaving Leehan standing in the hallway, his mind a chaotic mess of emotions he couldn't fully understand.

As he watched Taesan's retreating figure, he felt the tiniest glimmer of hope—a fragile thing, but real. It was as if the walls he'd built around himself were finally beginning to crumble, bit by bit.

And for the first time, he wondered if letting Taesan in might not be as terrifying as he'd thought.