𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 | 𝗝𝗶𝗞𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗩 ✓

8

A month had passed since Eun-Woo began tutoring Tae-Hyung, and in that time, their bond had grown stronger, deeper, and more complicated than either of them could have anticipated. They’d become close friends, sharing everything with each other, laughing together, and learning from one another. But for Eun-Woo, this newfound closeness was both a blessing and a curse. He had fallen for Tae-Hyung, something that weighed heavily on his heart, knowing that the younger boy’s heart belonged to someone else.

Tonight, they were once again in Eun-Woo's room, the sound of their laughter filling the air. Tae-Hyung giggled uncontrollably as Eun-Woo tickled him. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his breath short from laughing so hard. Sweat formed on his forehead as he tried to wriggle free from Eun-Woo's grasp, but the older boy was too strong.

"Stop, hyung!" Tae-Hyung managed to say between giggles, but his words were weak as he squirmed in an attempt to escape.

"No way! You started it first. Instead of studying, you decided to tickle me, so now it’s my turn to get revenge," Eun-Woo teased with a playful grin, digging his fingers into Tae-Hyung's sides.

Tae-Hyung gasped for breath, his laughter erupting uncontrollably. "Stop it, hyung! I’ll die from your tickles!" he exclaimed, his voice high-pitched from laughter, though he was clearly enjoying the moment.

In a burst of energy, Tae-Hyung grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at Eun-Woo's face. The soft thud of the pillow hitting his face was enough to stop the tickling assault, and both boys collapsed onto the bed, laughing and catching their breath.

"Look at me now, hyung. I’m all sweaty," Tae-Hyung said, still chuckling, his hands running through his disheveled hair.

Eun-Woo chuckled along with him, but there was a part of him that couldn’t help but feel the familiar flutter in his chest. The way Tae-Hyung looked in that moment, so carefree, so natural, only made his feelings for the younger boy even stronger. He quickly pushed the thought aside as Tae-Hyung stood up, walking toward the large mirror hanging on the wall.

Tae-Hyung checked his appearance in the mirror, adjusting his shirt and running a hand through his hair as he inspected his reflection. Eun-Woo couldn’t help but stare, a warmth spreading across his face as he admired the younger boy. It had become a regular sight over the past month—watching Tae-Hyung fix his hair, or noticing the way he moved, always with such fluid grace, but tonight, it hit Eun-Woo harder than usual. Tae-Hyung looked perfect in every way, and Eun-Woo had to fight the pang in his chest, the longing that always crept up when he saw him like this.

"Hyung, I should go now," Tae-Hyung said, breaking Eun-Woo from his thoughts. His voice was casual, but there was an almost apologetic tone to it. "It’s 9:30 pm already, and I promised Ji-Min I’d sleep over at his place."

Eun-Woo nodded, trying to hide the disappointment that rose in his chest. "Okay, I’ll drop you off," he said, grabbing his bike keys from the table.

Tae-Hyung smiled at him, his eyes bright. "Thanks, hyung." He slung his bag over his shoulder and glanced at Eun-Woo.

"What’s the occasion for the sleepover?" Eun-Woo asked, trying to keep his tone light, though his heart felt heavy. He didn’t want to be too obvious about how much he wanted Tae-Hyung to stay a little longer.

Tae-Hyung shrugged, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "No special reason, really. Just a sleepover with Ji-Min. But… actually, I’m going to propose to Jung-Kook hyung tomorrow, and Ji-Min’s helping me with the plan."

The words hit Eun-Woo like a ton of bricks. For a moment, he stood frozen, as though the world had stopped spinning. His mind refused to process what he had just heard. The sudden rush of emotion flooded his senses—pain, loss, a quiet, aching hurt. His chest tightened, and he felt as though he couldn’t breathe. Tae-Hyung was going to confess his feelings to Jung-Kook, the very person Eun-Woo had known Tae-Hyung had a crush on all along.

Eun-Woo swallowed hard, trying to push the tears that were threatening to form away. He blinked rapidly, doing his best to maintain a composed expression. "Oh… wow. All the best," he said, his voice coming out softer than he intended.

Tae-Hyung grinned widely, completely unaware of the turmoil in Eun-Woo’s heart. "Thanks, hyung. I really hope he’ll accept me," he said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Eun-Woo smiled, though it felt forced. "I hope everything goes well for you," he said, his heart breaking with each word. He meant it—he truly did want Tae-Hyung to be happy—but knowing that it would never be with him hurt more than he could bear.

"Thanks, hyung," Tae-Hyung replied, his voice full of gratitude. "Now let's go,"

Eun-Woo nodded, his throat tight. "Okay," he managed to say.

They walked to the door in silence, the weight of the moment hanging between them. Eun-Woo’s mind was racing, thoughts spinning as he fought to keep his emotions in check. Tae-Hyung was so excited, so hopeful about tomorrow. The thought of him confessing to Jung-Kook made Eun-Woo feel like he was being torn apart from the inside out. But there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t tell Tae-Hyung how he truly felt. He couldn’t risk ruining their friendship.

Once outside, Eun-Woo hopped on bike, and Tae-Hyung followed him, still talking animatedly about his plans for the proposal. Eun-Woo nodded along, offering encouraging words whenever he could, but all the while, his heart ached. Every step they took, every word Tae-Hyung spoke, seemed to drive the knife deeper into Eun-Woo’s chest.

As they reached the street corner, Tae-Hyung hopped off the bike and turned to face him. "Hyung, thank you for dropping me off," Tae-Hyung said with a bright smile. "You’ve been such a good friend to me."

Eun-Woo forced a smile, though it felt like his face was frozen. "I’m happy to help," he said softly, his voice betraying the sadness he was trying so hard to hide.

"Good luck tomorrow," Eun-Woo added, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I’m sure everything will work out for you."

"Thanks, hyung," Tae-Hyung said, flashing him a smile that made Eun-Woo’s heart ache even more. "I’ll text you later."

Eun-Woo nodded, watching as Tae-Hyung walked away, his figure growing smaller in the distance. His heart felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on his chest. He turned around slowly, heading back to his home, his mind swirling with emotions.

One heart was full of hope for the future, while the other was breaking, knowing the person he cared for the most would never feel the same.