The living room of their shared apartment was unusually quiet. Normally, it was filled with banter and the clatter of video games or the rustling of snack bags, but today, tension hung in the air like a thick fog.
Jay, leaning against the kitchen counter, shot a sharp glare toward Sunghoon, who sat too close to Sunoo on the couch. Jake, sprawled on the floor, clenched his jaw as Heeseung handed Sunoo a cup of tea with the gentlest smile. Jungwon, sitting cross-legged near the window, sighed deeply, noticing the subtle but very obvious competition brewing.
Then there was Niki, who wasn't even trying to be subtle, openly scooting closer to Sunoo every chance he got, flashing that mischievous grin he always used to charm his way out of trouble.
And at the center of it all was Sunoo, blissfully unaware-or perhaps playing dumb-as he laughed softly at the awkward silence that followed his attempt to spark a group conversation.
"Is something wrong?" Sunoo asked, his angelic voice laced with genuine concern. His doe-like eyes scanned the room, stopping briefly on each of the six men who admired him more than they dared to admit.
Heeseung was the first to crack. "Nope, nothing's wrong," he said, too quickly. He offered a reassuring smile, but the glare he sent Jake's way said otherwise.
Jay scoffed, crossing his arms. "Oh, I think there is something wrong. Some people just can't seem to respect boundaries."
Sunghoon raised a brow, his voice cool but cutting. "What boundaries? Sunoo's not yours to claim, Jay."
Jake sat up straighter, throwing his two cents in. "Yeah, and he's not yours either, Sunghoon. Just because you're good at skating doesn't mean you get to skate right into his heart."
"You're just jealous because Sunoo likes my cooking better," Jay shot back.
"Cooking isn't going to win his heart!" Niki chimed in, his face scrunched in annoyance. "He laughs at my jokes the most."
Jungwon, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "You're all being ridiculous. Sunoo isn't some trophy to be won."
The room fell into an even heavier silence, save for Sunoo, who was now staring wide-eyed, the realization slowly dawning on him.
"You're all fighting... because of me?" he asked softly.
The room erupted in chaos. Everyone spoke at once, trying to deny it or explain themselves, but their excuses overlapped into incoherence.
Sunoo raised a hand, silencing them with a gentle smile. "You don't have to fight. I care about all of you, and there's no need to rush anything. Let's just enjoy our time together, okay?"
Heeseung smiled softly, feeling a spark of hope. Jay and Jake exchanged wary looks, silently agreeing to dial it down-for now. Sunghoon leaned back, crossing his arms but keeping quiet. Jungwon's expression remained unreadable, while Niki grumbled under his breath but ultimately relented.
As Sunoo stood to fetch something from the kitchen, the six of them exchanged looks, each silently declaring war.
The battle for Sunoo's heart wasn't over-it had only just begun.
The moment Sunoo disappeared into the kitchen, the tension erupted again, this time in hushed tones.
"I'm just saying," Heeseung started, leaning forward with a smirk, "if anyone's got the best chance, it's me. I've known him the longest, and we're naturally in sync."
Jay rolled his eyes. "Being first doesn't mean being best. It's about who understands him more, and that's clearly me."
"You?" Jake laughed mockingly. "Please. I'm the one who makes him laugh when he's upset. You're just all talk."
