Chapter 6: The Unspoken
The days that followed the practice session were a whirlwind of confusing emotions for Ju Ha. It felt like the ground beneath his feet was constantly shifting, and every time he tried to steady himself, something else would happen—another look, another word, another touch from Do Yoon that sent his heart into overdrive.
He couldn't avoid it anymore. It was impossible to ignore the way his body reacted to Do Yoon. The way his pulse quickened whenever the younger boy was near, the way his thoughts became hazy and unfocused whenever Do Yoon flashed that mischievous grin at him. It wasn't just attraction; it was something deeper, something raw.
But Ju Ha couldn't let it show. He was the hyung, the older brother figure. He was supposed to be the strong, composed one. And yet, every time Do Yoon's eyes found his, it felt like the walls he'd so carefully built around himself were crumbling down.
That night, they were supposed to be practicing together again, but Ju Ha's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't concentrate. His fingers kept slipping on the strings, his mind constantly drifting back to the earlier moments with Do Yoon. The way the younger boy's hand had brushed against his shoulder during their last practice, the way his breath had come faster when they'd played in sync.
Ju Ha couldn't help but replay the moment over and over in his mind. Every time he tried to brush it off, to act like it didn't matter, it only grew more intense.
"Hyung?" Do Yoon's voice broke through his thoughts, soft but tinged with something deeper—something Ju Ha couldn't quite place. "Are you okay?"
Ju Ha looked up, meeting Do Yoon's eyes. There it was again: the pull, the tension. He swallowed hard, forcing a smile to hide the chaos inside him.
"I'm fine," Ju Ha said, but even to his own ears, it sounded unconvincing.
Do Yoon didn't seem convinced either. He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving Ju Ha's. "You sure about that?"
The air between them thickened. Ju Ha could feel the heat radiating off of Do Yoon, and it made his heart race. He wanted to take a step back, to distance himself, but something inside him told him to stay. To let himself feel whatever this was.
"You're... distracting," Ju Ha muttered under his breath, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
For a moment, there was only silence, but it wasn't awkward. No, it was the kind of silence that hung heavy, filled with meaning. Do Yoon didn't respond immediately, but his gaze softened, and the corner of his mouth twitched upward in a knowing smile.
"Good," Do Yoon said, his voice quiet but confident. "I like distracting you."
Ju Ha's breath hitched at the words. His mind raced, but before he could gather his thoughts, Do Yoon was already stepping closer, closing the distance between them. It wasn't a fast movement; it was deliberate, as if he were savoring every moment. Every inch that brought him closer to Ju Ha.
"Hyung," Do Yoon said, his voice low, almost a whisper, "I think you like it too."
Ju Ha froze. He couldn't speak, couldn't think. His mind was a blur of emotions, and his heart was beating so loudly in his chest that he was sure Do Yoon could hear it. His lips parted, but no words came out. He was caught in the moment, trapped between the need to pull away and the desire to pull Do Yoon even closer.
Do Yoon seemed to sense the hesitation, but instead of pushing further, he gently reached out and placed a hand on Ju Ha's shoulder, his touch light but firm. "We don't have to rush it, hyung," he said softly. "But I'm not going anywhere."
It was the way he said it—like it was a promise. Like he was waiting for Ju Ha to catch up, to meet him halfway. Ju Ha wanted to say something, to respond, but his words felt stuck in his throat. What could he say? What could he do?
Instead, he just nodded, a silent agreement to the unspoken tension that had built up between them. His eyes never left Do Yoon's as the younger boy slowly pulled away, but the air still felt charged. Like something was going to snap at any moment.
"Let's practice," Do Yoon suggested, his tone light but with an edge of something deeper that Ju Ha couldn't quite place.
Ju Ha nodded again, still unsure of how to handle the situation. He picked up his guitar, trying to focus on the strings, on the music, but it was hard. Do Yoon's presence was like a magnet, pulling him in even when he tried to resist. The younger boy was sitting next to him now, his drums set up and ready to go.
They began to play again, but this time, it was different. The music was still good, still sharp and tight, but there was something else now. The way they moved together, the way their eyes met every so often—it was like the music had become secondary to the unspoken connection between them.
Ju Ha tried to focus, to push everything else out of his mind, but the way Do Yoon kept glancing at him, the way his lips curled into that teasing smile, made it impossible to concentrate.
"You're still distracted," Do Yoon remarked playfully, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Ju Ha glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Maybe I'm just getting used to it," he replied, his voice steady but with a hint of something deeper beneath the surface.
Do Yoon's smile widened at that, and Ju Ha couldn't help but feel a small flutter in his chest. There it was again—that pull, that attraction he couldn't deny. And for the first time, he stopped trying to fight it.
Maybe, just maybe, he didn't need to.
