Melodious Fate

Part 17

Present

Namtan:
Nong you are really good

Joong:
Thanks phi, umm can i drop you it's late

Namtan:
No, you go my driver is waiting bye good night

Joong:
Good night na phi

When Joong entered the dorm, the soft hum of the lights and the quiet of the space were a welcome change from the buzzing activity of the day. He walked down the hallway toward their shared room, thinking about how Dunk had acted earlier—how distant, how guarded. The memory of their conversation replayed in his mind, and he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d somehow made things worse.For a moment, Joong stood there, watching him. Dunk didn’t know he was being watched, didn’t know how his soft features and the steady rise and fall of his chest had such a profound effect on Joong

Joong moved closer, his steps quiet, careful not to wake Dunk. He didn’t know why, but something drew him to Dunk—something beyond friendship, beyond the teasing and the casual touches.

He sat down gently on the edge of the bed, looking down at Dunk’s peaceful face. His breath caught in his throat as he reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from Dunk’s forehead. The touch was soft, barely a caress, but it sent a shiver down Joong’s spine. Dunk stirred slightly, a soft hum escaping him

Joong smiled to himself, his heart swelling with affection. Dunk was unaware of how much he meant to him—how much he had started to mean to Joong. In this moment, Joong’s earlier confusion about his feelings faded into something clear and undeniable. He was more than just his manager. Dunk was someone Joong cared for deeply—someone he didn’t want to lose.

Joong’s fingers hovered over Dunk’s hand, and without thinking, he gently took it in his, holding it for a moment, feeling the warmth of Dunk’s skin against his own. It wasn’t much, just a simple gesture, but it felt significant.

Joong leaned in slightly, his gaze tracing the delicate curve of Dunk’s jawline, the way the soft light of the room cast shadows on his skin, highlighting the sharp, elegant features that Joong had come to admire over time. His eyelashes were long and dark, a contrast to the pale skin of his face, and Joong found himself mesmerized by the way they fluttered in the quiet of the night.

Dunk’s lips—those soft, full lips that had smiled, teased, and joked with him countless times—were now the source of Joong’s restless thoughts. The urge to lean in, to feel the warmth of Dunk’s skin against his, to finally cross that line between friendship and something more, was overwhelming. Joong’s fingers twitched at his sides, the impulse to reach out and touch him almost too much to resist.

Joong:
No no this isn't right
Joong told himself, shaking his head slightly as if to clear his thoughts

His breath caught again as Dunk’s lips parted slightly in his sleep, and for a fleeting moment, Joong imagined what it would feel like to kiss him. Just a soft brush of their lips, just a quick, innocent moment of connection. But that thought made Joong’s heart race even faster, his pulse pounding in his ears. He had no idea why he was feeling like this, but the urge was so strong, so undeniable, that it felt impossible to ignore.

The silence in the room seemed to stretch on forever, and the more Joong fought against the urge, the stronger it became. His chest tightened, his thoughts a jumbled mess. He had to leave before he did something stupid. He had to walk away, had to get some space to think clearly

Dunk groggily sat up in bed, reaching for his phone to check the time. But then he noticed something strange—Joong wasn’t in the room. The sheets on Joong’s bed were still undisturbed, and the space beside him was empty