Heeseung had always known Sunoo was a magnet for attention. His radiant smile, warm personality, and gentle heart made it impossible not to fall for him. It wasn't just strangers—Heeseung noticed the way even his own members seemed to light up when Sunoo was around. It was a constant reminder that Sunoo could have anyone he wanted.
But Sunoo chose him.
Heeseung didn’t take that for granted, not for a second. He knew how fragile love could be, and the mere thought of losing Sunoo to someone else—especially someone close—left a knot of dread in his chest.
Late one night, they sat in the dorm’s living room. The glow of the TV played across their faces, but neither was paying attention. Sunoo leaned against Heeseung’s shoulder, humming softly to himself, his fingers laced with Heeseung’s.
"Heeseung," Sunoo whispered, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Hm?"
"Why do you always try so hard?" Sunoo tilted his head, his curious eyes meeting Heeseung’s.
Heeseung froze, unsure how to answer. How could he explain that his effort wasn’t just love—it was fear?
"I... I just want to make you happy," Heeseung said, squeezing Sunoo’s hand.
Sunoo frowned slightly. "You already do that by just being you."
Heeseung felt his heart swell, but the insecurity still lingered. "Sunoo, you don’t understand. You could have anyone. Guys, girls... even the members look at you like—"
Sunoo’s laugh interrupted him. "You’re being silly. Do you think I’d ever leave you?"
Heeseung’s throat tightened. "I know you love me now. But what if one day... I’m not enough? You deserve someone perfect. What if someone better comes along?"
Sunoo sat up, his gaze firm. "Heeseung. Look at me."
Heeseung obeyed, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
"You are my lifeline," Sunoo said, his voice steady. "No one else could ever make me feel the way you do. I don’t care who looks at me or who might like me. I chose you. And I’ll keep choosing you, every single day."
Heeseung’s breath caught. Those words were all he ever wanted to hear, yet they hit him harder than he expected.
"I don’t want to lose you," Heeseung admitted, his voice trembling.
"You won’t," Sunoo said softly. He cupped Heeseung’s face, his thumb brushing against his cheek. "But if you keep worrying, you’ll make yourself miserable. I’m not going anywhere, Hee. Trust me."
Heeseung nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I trust you. I’ll just... keep trying to be worthy of you."
"You’re already more than enough," Sunoo murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Heeseung’s lips.
At that moment, Heeseung realized he didn’t need to compete with anyone. As long as Sunoo loved him, he had already won. And that was more than enough.
Heeseung melted into the kiss, his worries momentarily drowned out by the warmth of Sunoo's lips. The soft press of Sunoo's hands on his cheeks anchored him, reminding him of everything they had together—everything he had to protect.
As they pulled apart, Sunoo rested his forehead against Heeseung’s, their breaths mingling in the quiet.
“You know,” Sunoo began, his voice light, “you don’t have to keep proving yourself to me. I see all the little things you do—the way you always save the last bite of your food for me, how you secretly fold my clothes even though I say I can do it myself, or how you stay up late just to make sure I’m okay when I’ve had a bad day. Those things mean more than you know.”
