When Sparks Fly

Breaking Walls

The following days of the retreat were a whirlwind. Team-building activities, group challenges, and late-night talks around the fire kept everyone busy. But amid all the fun, Jeonghan and Seungcheol found themselves treading carefully around the new dynamic that had sprung up between them. The kiss in the woods had left them both reeling, but now, with the whole team watching, there was no easy way to address it without raising some eyebrows—or hearts.

Despite the lingering tension between them, there was an odd comfort in the way they worked together now. It was like something unspoken had shifted in the air. It wasn't just teasing anymore; it was real, something they couldn't quite define but that neither of them wanted to ignore. But with every subtle glance or accidental touch, the walls they'd spent so long building began to crumble, piece by piece.

The morning after the kiss was... complicated. Jeonghan woke up feeling a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. He had convinced himself that he'd be able to brush it off, but there was no denying it now—things had changed. It wasn't just a kiss. It was them. And Jeonghan wasn't sure what exactly that meant.

As he walked into the mess hall for breakfast, he saw Seungcheol standing by the counter, his back turned, casually chatting with Wonwoo, who was clearly teasing him about something. Jeonghan couldn't help but smile to himself, but when Seungcheol turned around and caught his eye, his heart skipped a beat. The way Seungcheol smiled at him—warm, soft, and just a little bit secretive—made Jeonghan's stomach flutter.

"Good morning," Jeonghan said, trying to keep his voice steady, but it came out just a little too bright, a little too eager.

Seungcheol's smile widened, and he leaned in a bit closer. "Morning," he said, his voice dropping a few tones, just enough to make Jeonghan's breath catch in his throat. "Sleep well?"

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "Better than I expected."

Seungcheol chuckled, the sound deep and soothing. He gave Jeonghan a wink before turning back to Wonwoo, who was clearly trying to hide his amused grin.

Jeonghan rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the blush creeping up his neck. This is insane, he thought to himself. I'm acting like a teenager with a crush.

The team gathered around a long table, sharing breakfast, the morning light streaming in through the windows, casting everything in a warm glow. Jeonghan felt like he was walking through a dream—light, weightless, but also buzzing with that same energy he had felt last night. He couldn't look away from Seungcheol, who was sitting across from him, his focus on his food but his eyes always subtly shifting toward Jeonghan.

"Stop staring at him," Mingyu teased, nudging Jeonghan with his elbow.

Jeonghan looked up, startled. "I'm not staring at him," he said quickly, but Mingyu only raised an eyebrow.

"I'm pretty sure you are." Mingyu grinned mischievously. "And I think it's cute."

"Cut it out, Mingyu," Jeonghan said, half-laughing, half-exasperated. "We're just—well, we're just figuring things out."

Mingyu leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Figuring things out? Jeonghan, it's pretty obvious you've already figured it out." He glanced over at Seungcheol, who was looking down, his expression unreadable. "And from the way Seungcheol's been acting around you lately, I think he's figured it out too."

Jeonghan felt his heart flutter, but he quickly pushed the thought away. "Stop. You're making me feel weird."

Mingyu just smirked. "I'm just saying, you two are ridiculous. You've got all this unspoken tension, and it's getting too obvious. The rest of us are starting to wonder who's going to make the first move."

Before Jeonghan could respond, a voice cut through the banter.

"Make the first move? I'm sitting right here," Seungcheol said, his tone playful, though there was a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Jeonghan froze. The conversation had taken a turn he wasn't prepared for. "I—I didn't say anything about making moves," Jeonghan stammered, trying to play it off.

"Oh, I know," Seungcheol said, his gaze never leaving Jeonghan's face. "But Mingyu's not wrong. There is something going on between us, isn't there?"

Jeonghan felt a warm flush spreading across his face, but before he could respond, Mingyu chimed in again. "Oh, I love this. You two are adorable." He dramatically placed his hand over his heart. "The tension, the teasing, it's all so romantic."

Seungcheol chuckled softly, clearly amused by Mingyu's antics. But there was a glimmer of something in his eyes that Jeonghan couldn't ignore. It was real. It wasn't just a game. They had moved beyond that.

After breakfast, the team headed out for the day's activities. It was time for another round of team-building exercises, and this time, the challenge was a bit more physically demanding. The group was split into teams for a relay race through the woods. Jeonghan and Seungcheol were on opposite teams, but the competitive energy was undeniable. Jeonghan couldn't help but laugh as Seungcheol shot him a smug look before the race began.

"Prepare to lose," Seungcheol called over, a teasing grin on his face.

Jeonghan crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "We'll see about that."

The race was fast, fun, and full of unexpected mishaps. Jeonghan's team was doing well, but Seungcheol's team was relentless. At one point, as they crossed the finish line, Jeonghan found himself face-to-face with Seungcheol, the air between them charged with something neither of them was quite ready to admit.

"You're really fast," Jeonghan said, trying to catch his breath.

Seungcheol shrugged nonchalantly, though his eyes twinkled with a glimmer of pride. "I've been known to have a few tricks up my sleeve." His gaze lingered just a little longer than necessary.

Jeonghan felt his heart skip a beat. Was this really happening? Was Seungcheol this close to finally letting down his walls?

Before Jeonghan could respond, Seungcheol leaned in just slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll admit, you keep me on my toes."

Jeonghan's breath caught in his throat, and he felt something shift—something real, undeniable. They had both been playing it cool, pretending that everything was just casual and fine. But now, standing there, sweat on his brow, chest heaving, Jeonghan realized it wasn't casual anymore. And neither of them wanted it to be.

That night, after a long day of games and challenges, the team gathered around the campfire again. This time, it was quieter, a little more intimate. The group was laughing, but Jeonghan couldn't keep his eyes off Seungcheol. He had no idea what was going to happen next, but he felt like he was standing at the edge of something big.

As the fire crackled and the others continued their stories, Jeonghan found himself moving closer to Seungcheol, almost without thinking. Seungcheol glanced at him, an amused expression on his face.

"Can't stay away, huh?" Seungcheol said, his voice low, teasing.

Jeonghan grinned, his heart pounding. "You're impossible to ignore."

Seungcheol's expression softened, and for a moment, there was no teasing, no walls between them. Just two people, sitting by the fire, acknowledging the undeniable pull they had toward each other.

"You're right," Seungcheol said quietly, his hand brushing against Jeonghan's. "I can't stay away either."

Jeonghan's breath hitched. It wasn't just playful anymore. It was real, and it was happening. Slowly, carefully, like breaking down walls—one touch at a time.

"I think," Jeonghan said, his voice shaky but full of certainty, "we've already crossed the line."

Seungcheol met his gaze, his eyes dark with something Jeonghan couldn't quite name. "Then let's stop pretending we haven't."

And just like that, all the walls that had been built between them crumbled to dust, leaving nothing but open space, filled with promise and anticipation.