Mischief Managed (Stray Kids Oneshots)

Stolen Glances | Hwang Hyunjin

The room was buzzing with chatter, a mix of voices and laughter filling the air. The crowd had gathered for the end-of-year party, an annual event that brought together everyone from work, friends, and acquaintances. You had tried to lose yourself in the chaos, blending into the background, but somehow, your gaze kept drifting back to him.

Hyunjin.

He was across the room, standing with a group of people, his animated gestures matching the excitement in his conversation. His laughter rang out clearly over the noise, a sound that always seemed to draw people in. You couldn't help but notice how he stood, effortlessly charming everyone around him, his bright smile never faltering.

But it wasn't just his smile that caught your attention—it was the way he seemed to stand out in a crowd, the way his presence had a gravitational pull that drew you in. His long fingers gestured passionately as he spoke, his hair messy in the best way, his sharp features lit up in the warm glow of the lights. He was stunning, as usual, but there was something else. A sense of calm, of focus, that you couldn't quite shake.

You looked away, trying to mask the blush creeping up your neck. It wasn't the first time you had caught yourself staring at him. If you were being honest with yourself, it happened more often than you'd like to admit. But he was Hyunjin, and every time your eyes met his, you found it hard to look away.

When you dared to glance in his direction again, you caught him. His eyes were already on you.

For a split second, your heart stopped. He was staring, and for a moment, neither of you moved. His gaze held yours, steady and soft, as if he were studying you in that way he always did when he thought no one was watching. But this time, the intensity in his eyes made you feel exposed. Your breath caught in your throat.

You quickly looked away, your pulse quickening. Were you imagining things? Did he really just stare at you like that?

It wasn't like you hadn't noticed before—Hyunjin had always been the type to steal glances when he thought no one was paying attention. It made your heart race every time you caught him, but you could never bring yourself to ask him why. Maybe it was just your imagination, or maybe it wasn't.

But now, it seemed like the moment had arrived—the moment where you couldn't pretend anymore.

The music shifted, and people began to move in different directions, some heading to the dance floor, others toward the food tables. You turned to your drink, trying to push the image of his gaze out of your mind, when you felt someone approach you.

A shadow fell over your space, and when you looked up, there he was. Hyunjin, standing in front of you with a slightly crooked grin on his lips.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice a mix of amusement and something else you couldn't quite place. "You look like you're trying to hide from me."

Your heart skipped again, but you masked it with a playful smile. "I'm not hiding from you. Just... trying to take a break from all the noise."

His smile widened, his eyes locking onto yours once again. This time, there was no mistaking the depth of his gaze, the way it lingered just a bit longer than usual.

"You know, you're really bad at pretending," he said, leaning in slightly, his voice lowered, almost teasing. "I saw you looking at me earlier."

Your face flushed a deep shade of red, and you quickly turned your attention back to your drink, attempting to regain some sense of composure. "I wasn't looking at you," you muttered, but the words felt weak even as you said them.

Hyunjin chuckled, the sound light but laced with something more, something warm. "Yeah, you were. And I couldn't keep my eyes off you either." He said it so casually, but there was no mistaking the sincerity behind it. He took a small step closer, the proximity between you both causing your pulse to race.

Your eyes darted around the room, as if the answers you sought could be found in the crowd of people dancing and talking around you. But there was only one thing you could focus on now—his gaze, unwavering and full of quiet intensity.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, unable to hide the vulnerability that crept in.

He smiled, a hint of shyness now creeping into his expression. "Because I can't help it." His words were simple, but there was an honesty in them that made your heart thump harder in your chest. "You're always so... captivating. You don't even have to try. You've got this quiet way about you, and I don't know—every time I look at you, I just can't seem to look away."

You swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond to that kind of admission. Hyunjin, the one who always had so much confidence, the one who lit up a room with his presence, was standing in front of you, vulnerable in his own way.

"I..." You didn't know what to say. Your mind was spinning with thoughts you couldn't seem to catch.

He gently lifted his hand, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face, his touch light and careful. "You're beautiful," he said softly, almost as if it were a secret. "And I've always thought so. Even when I'm not saying anything, I'm always watching, always noticing."

The quiet sincerity in his words took your breath away. The way he looked at you, so openly and yet so softly, made your heart swell. It was in that moment that everything clicked—the stolen glances, the lingering looks, the quiet moments where you'd catch him watching you when you thought no one was paying attention.

"I didn't know," you whispered, your voice barely audible as you met his gaze.

Hyunjin smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and there was a softness in his expression that made you feel like you were the only two people in the room.

"I've been trying to tell you," he said with a wink, his voice low and intimate, "but I wasn't sure if you'd believe me."

You could hardly breathe, your heart thudding against your chest as his presence seemed to fill the space between you. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The room around you continued on, but in that instant, it was just you and Hyunjin—two people who had been sharing stolen glances for far too long, finally admitting what had always been so obvious.

"Well, I believe you," you said softly, a smile tugging at your lips.

Hyunjin's smile widened, his eyes softening in that way only he could pull off. "Good," he whispered, "because I can't keep my eyes off you."