The Deep End

Unexpected feelings

The days that followed were a blur for Leehan. His heart, once a fortress of fear and hesitation, had begun to soften. The walls he had built around himself were crumbling, and he found himself letting Taesan in—slowly but surely.

He couldn't help but notice how much of an impact Taesan had on his life now. His presence was everywhere— in the way Taesan's messages made his heart race, in the way his smile sent warmth through Leehan's chest, in the way Taesan's gentle teasing made him feel like he was the only person in the room.

Leehan found himself missing Taesan when he wasn't around. He had never thought he would feel this way about someone, especially someone like Taesan, his former bully. But now, every time their eyes met, there was something more—something deeper. Leehan couldn't explain it, but he wasn't going to question it anymore. The fear had faded, and he was allowing himself to feel, to experience whatever it was that was happening between them.

But of course, their story wasn't without complications.

It was another morning in the class when Taesan walked in, looking as confident as ever, yet there was a tension in the air that Leehan couldn't ignore. Something was off.

"Hey," Leehan greeted, forcing a smile as he looked up from his work. "Everything alright?"

Taesan paused for a moment, his gaze shifting from Leehan to the floor before meeting his eyes. There was a flicker of something in his expression, something unreadable. It made Leehan's stomach twist with unease.

"Yeah," Taesan said, his voice betraying the lie. He forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Just... thinking."

Leehan's heart skipped a beat. He knew that tone, that familiar uncertainty that Taesan wasn't quite willing to let go of. He leaned back in his chair, studying Taesan carefully.

"What's on your mind?" Leehan asked, his voice softer than before.

Taesan didn't immediately answer. Instead, he walked over to Leehan's desk and stood there for a moment, his hands tucked into his pockets. The silence stretched between them like a tightrope, pulling them closer but also keeping them apart. Leehan could sense that Taesan was battling something within himself.

"I've been offered a transfer," Taesan finally spoke, the words heavy, like they weighed a ton. His gaze flickered briefly to Leehan, but he quickly looked away again.

Leehan's breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded against his chest. A transfer? Somewhere far away? His mind immediately filled with the worst possible scenarios. Was this it? Was Taesan leaving? Was this the end before it had even begun?

"You... You're leaving?" Leehan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Taesan's eyes met his, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was something vulnerable there. Something raw.

"I don't want to go," Taesan admitted, his voice low. "But it's a great opportunity, and I can't ignore it. I've been thinking about it for a while now."

Leehan felt the weight of his words hit him like a ton of bricks. The idea of Taesan leaving, of losing him before they even had the chance to really figure things out, terrified him. He had just started to open up, just started to trust Taesan. The thought of losing him now felt like the floor was being ripped out from under him.

"I don't want you to go," Leehan said, his voice cracking slightly. He didn't care about the vulnerability in his tone anymore. He couldn't hide his feelings—not now. Not when the possibility of losing Taesan felt so real.

Taesan took a step closer, his eyes softening. "I don't want to go either, love," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "But I have to think about my future. This is a big opportunity for me."

Leehan swallowed hard, the lump in his throat threatening to choke him. He nodded, trying to keep his emotions in check. He understood. He really did. But the fear of being left behind, the fear of losing something he had only just begun to realize was important, made his heart ache.

"Will you stay?" Leehan asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn't know if he was asking for himself or for Taesan, but it was the one thing he needed to know.

Taesan's gaze softened even more, and he placed a hand on the edge of Leehan's desk, leaning in slightly. "I don't know, love," he said. "I'll have to think about it. But no matter what happens, I want you to know one thing."

Leehan looked up at Taesan, searching his eyes for any sign of what was to come.

"No matter where I go," Taesan continued, "you're not getting rid of me. Not that easily."

Leehan felt a rush of relief wash over him, though there was still a lingering fear that gnawed at him. He didn't know what the future held, and he couldn't control it. But the promise in Taesan's voice— the unwavering certainty that they weren't finished yet—gave him hope.

Taesan pulled back slightly, his eyes locking with Leehan's. "You're not alone in this," he said, his voice firm. "I'm not going anywhere just because of a transfer. I promise."

Leehan nodded, trying to hold back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He wanted to believe Taesan. He wanted to believe that no matter what happened, they would find a way to make it work.

But as Taesan turned to leave the office, Leehan couldn't shake the feeling that their story was far from over, that this was just the beginning of something even more complicated. And yet, for the first time in a long while, Leehan wasn't afraid to see where it would take him.

Because, as much as he tried to fight it, he had already fallen.

And now, all he had to do was trust Taesan.

The next morning, Leehan arrived at the school early. He hadn't been able to sleep the night before, his thoughts racing over the conversation he and Taesan had. What did it mean? Could they really make it work, even with all the complications?

When Taesan walked into the office, his usual confidence was back, but there was a glimmer of something more in his eyes. Something that made Leehan's heart skip a beat. Without a word, Taesan walked over to him, leaned in close, and whispered, "I'm still here, love."

And for the first time, Leehan believed it.