One step to the heart, 9th member of straykids

Untold Hard Feelings

While the other members were beginning to see Y/n as a friend, Bang Chan found himself feeling something deeper. He admired her determination and the way she always treated everyone with kindness, even when they didn't reciprocate.

One evening, the group decided to have a movie night at the dorm. Y/n ended up sitting next to Bang Chan on the couch. As the movie played, she leaned over to ask him a question about the plot, her face just inches from his.

His heart raced.

"Uh... yeah, it's a flashback scene," he stammered, barely able to focus.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Bang Chan stayed up, replaying the moment in his mind.

"I can't," he muttered to himself. "She's part of the group. It would be too complicated."

The feelings grew stronger each day. He could feel his heart racing whenever she was near, her laughter sending a warm ripple through his chest. Y/n had a way of lighting up even the darkest corners of his mind, but he wasn't ready—not yet. He wanted everything to be perfect. A special moment, just the two of them, where words flowed as easily as the stars filled the night sky.

It had to be a place where the world paused, leaving only him and her to savor the stillness. For weeks, he had been planning, scouting spots after practice and scrolling through endless photos online. He didn't want ordinary. No crowded cafes or bustling parks. This had to be something she'd never forget.

That's when he stumbled upon it, a hidden rooftop garden in the heart of the city. Tucked away above a quaint bookstore, it was the kind of place that seemed plucked from a dream. Twinkling fairy lights draped across trellises, an open view of the city skyline, and the faint aroma of lavender drifting through the air. He knew this was it.

Now came the hardest part, asking her to come with him without giving away his intentions. He practiced in front of the mirror, ran through the words during his morning jogs, and even wrote it out in his notes app. But every time he saw Y/n, her smile disarmed him, and he'd end up saying something awkward or changing the subject entirely.

One evening, as the group hung out at the dorms, she plopped down next to him on the couch, her curious eyes studying him. "You've been acting weird lately," she teased, poking his arm. "Got something on your mind?"

His heart stuttered. Was this it? Could he finally ask her? Or would his courage fail him yet again?

Finally longer!