The Grapevine

Chapter Nine

Sean was sitting in his apartment, a book open in his lap, but his thoughts were miles away from the story. He had tried to distract himself with reading, but his mind kept drifting back to Eric—specifically, to Eric's unexpected offer to perform with him at the festival.

It would be crazy, he knew that. A huge risk for both of them, especially after everything that had already happened between them. The rumors about them being a couple, the tutoring sessions that had everyone talking—hell, even Mingyu teasing him. The attention they would get if they performed together was almost overwhelming to consider.

But then again, there was a part of him that was drawn to the idea. The way Eric had looked at him during their jam session... it wasn't just playful banter. Eric's gaze had been soft, warm, almost inviting. Sean had felt the sincerity in it, and in his own way, he knew that Eric was interested in more than just their music.

Sean wasn't oblivious—he could tell that Eric had feelings for him. He wasn't the type to openly admit anything, but he could see it in the little things. The way Eric blushed when their hands brushed. The way his voice softened when he spoke to Sean. Even the fact that Eric had never needed tutoring in the first place—Sean had caught that hint of amusement in his eyes when he had been helping him study.

It wasn't lost on him that Eric had been making moves—subtle, but clear enough that Sean couldn't ignore them. And for once, Sean wasn't sure how he felt about it. It was new. He'd never had someone pursue him so confidently before. He was used to keeping things controlled, keeping things quiet, but with Eric, there was no hiding it. The music, the moments, the way their personalities clashed and aligned—it made Sean's head spin.

It wasn't that he wasn't interested in Eric—he was. Eric was smart, funny, and undeniably passionate. He had this confidence that Sean couldn't help but admire. But Sean had always been careful, always kept a certain distance from things like this. He wasn't the type to jump headfirst into something without thinking it through.

But the way Eric had looked at him today, the way their music had flowed so effortlessly, made it harder to keep up the walls he'd built. For the first time, he wondered if maybe he wasn't the only one who was afraid to take a leap.

He exhaled deeply, trying to focus on the textbook in front of him, but it was impossible. Every time he thought about performing with Eric at the festival, a rush of excitement and dread swirled inside him. It would draw attention, no doubt. But it would also draw people closer, closer to the truth of whatever was developing between them. And Sean wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

But there was something undeniable there. He could see it in Eric's eyes, hear it in his voice. It wasn't just about the music anymore.

Eric's band practice dragged on, but his thoughts kept returning to Sean. He couldn't help it. The way Sean had smiled, the way they had shared something more than just notes in that music hall—Eric wasn't sure if Sean even realized how much he was affecting him. But Eric knew. He could feel it.

When practice finally wrapped up, Eric lingered, staring at his guitar for a moment before picking it up again. "You guys can head out," he said, his voice distracted. "I'll catch up later."

Felix glanced at him curiously, but didn't say anything, just giving him a knowing look before the band left the practice room.

Eric sat alone for a while, strumming absently as his mind replayed every moment with Sean. And though he had no idea what Sean was thinking, the fact that Sean had agreed to meet him again made his heart beat just a little faster. Maybe this was the start of something more, something neither of them had expected.

But for now, all he could do was wait, and hope that when the time came, Sean would be ready to take that leap too.

The next day, between classes and the buzz of campus life, Sean found himself still thinking about Eric's offer to perform together. The idea lingered, both exciting and nerve-wracking, and he couldn't shake the strange thrill it brought. Sharing the stage with Eric, especially knowing it would be his last year at the university, felt like a chance he didn't want to miss—but it also meant opening himself up in a way he wasn't used to.