joong hadn’t stopped thinking about dunk. no matter how much time passed, no matter how hard he tried to focus on his studies or spend time with aou, dunk lingered in his thoughts like a ghost. his absence was unbearable, and the memory of dunk walking away from him replayed over and over in his mind, tearing him apart.
he wasn’t ready to let go. he couldn’t.
one evening, after another restless day, joong decided he needed to try again. he didn’t care if it made him look desperate or foolish—he needed to talk to dunk. he deserved answers, and dunk deserved to hear the truth.
joong found him sitting alone on the small art campus courtyard, his sketchbook in hand, his brows furrowed in concentration. the sight made joong’s chest tighten. dunk looked so peaceful and yet so far away, as if he had built a wall around himself that no one could break through.
joong didn’t hesitate this time. he walked straight up to him, his footsteps heavy but determined. dunk glanced up as he approached, his expression shifting to one of surprise and then guardedness.
“joong, what are you—”
“we need to talk,” joong interrupted, his voice firm but not harsh. he stood in front of dunk, towering over him, his gaze unwavering. “i can’t keep doing this. i can’t keep pretending like you don’t mean everything to me.”
dunk’s eyes flickered with something—guilt, maybe, or fear. he closed his sketchbook and stood up, facing joong but keeping a careful distance. “joong, you don’t have to do this.”
“yes, i do,” joong said, stepping closer. his heart was pounding, but he didn’t let it show. “you need to hear this. and you need to stop running from me.”
dunk looked away, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “i’m not running,” he mumbled, though his voice lacked conviction.
“then why won’t you let me in?” joong demanded, his voice rising slightly. “why do you keep pushing me away? is it because you don’t care? or is it because you’re scared?”
dunk flinched at the last word, and joong knew he had hit a nerve.
“i’m not good enough for you, joong,” dunk said finally, his voice breaking slightly. he looked up at joong, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. “you shouldn’t want someone like me. you’re… you’re everything. you’re smart, driven, *perfect.* and i’m just—i’m just me. i’m not enough for you.”
joong’s heart ached at the words, at the raw vulnerability in dunk’s voice. he reached out, gently grabbing dunk’s wrist and pulling him closer. dunk didn’t resist, though his eyes stayed fixed on the ground.
“don’t you ever say that again,” joong said, his voice low but full of emotion. “don’t you dare think you’re not enough for me. you’re more than enough, dunk. you’re everything i’ve ever wanted. everything i didn’t even know i needed.”
dunk’s breath hitched, and he looked up at joong, his eyes wide and watery. “you don’t mean that.”
“i do,” joong said, his grip on dunk’s wrist tightening slightly. “i mean every word. you’re kind, talented, funny, and you make me feel like I can breathe for the first time in my life. i don’t care about the things you think make you unworthy. i just want you.”
dunk’s lips trembled, and a single tear slipped down his cheek. he quickly wiped it away, shaking his head. “i’m scared, joong. i’m scared i’ll mess this up. i’m scared you’ll regret choosing me.”
joong stepped even closer, his free hand gently cupping dunk’s face, his thumb brushing away another tear. “you won’t mess this up. and i could never regret choosing you. you’re the only person i want, dunk. no one else could ever make me feel the way you do.”
dunk let out a shaky breath, and before joong could say anything else, dunk wrapped his arms around him, burying his face in joong’s chest. his body shook with quiet sobs, and joong held him tightly, his own eyes stinging with emotion.
“okay,” dunk whispered after a long moment, his voice muffled against joong’s shirt. “okay. i’ll try. i’ll be your boyfriend. just… don’t let me mess this up.”
joong smiled softly, his heart swelling with relief and joy. he pulled back just enough to tilt dunk’s face up toward his, their eyes meeting.
“you won’t,” joong said firmly. “because we’ll figure this out together. no more running, okay?”
dunk nodded, his lips curving into a small, tentative smile. “okay.”
joong held onto dunk, with a promise he knew he could keep.
YOU ARE READING
inches : j&d
Фанфик"theres just- inches in between us." joong and dunk? they were fire and ice. but once dunk melts and starts boiling, then they both are on the same team of hot, arent they?
