𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲

long way

Relieved to have finally escaped the bright flashes of cameras pointing at him from every direction, Jihoon settles inside the van with his bag on his lap.

As much as he liked seeing the faces of fans that have come all the way to the airport to see him, he would rather rest at the hotel for now. After all, they were to have a concert the following evening and he needed to have at least a couple of hours of private time.

Being a performer was absolutely no easy task. He had always known that.

There would be days wherein the group goes the full 24 hours without proper rest, surviving through short naps and light snacks to keep their energy levels where it should.

Sometimes he would be so tired to the point where he reaches deep sleep in seconds, impossible to wake up without a hard shake or a few slaps on the shoulder.

It's the life he chose.

The very moment he was accepted into his entertainment company was when he realized that this burning passion he had for creating music will come at a cost---a hefty price he would have to continuously pay without complaints.

And he wouldn't dare trade it for anything else.

Jihoon was so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed someone sit next to him. He then felt the other's hand slowly take his own off the bag's strap and have their fingers loosely intertwined.

Looking away from the window, Jihoon now focuses his gaze on yet another important choice he had made a few years back.

"You okay?" Seungcheol asks, doe eyes hinting that he felt worry.

Jihoon just hums in reply, reaching up using his free hand to pull down his mask. He knew too well that the taller preferred seeing his full face. He used to get nagged before when he keeps it on in the car, hearing the same words over and over: "There's no point in that, you know. No one else is here but us!"

Up to now it still echoed in his head and the producer just wants to roll his eyes. But what he feels for Seungcheol greatly outweighs the annoying things he says and does so Jihoon it doesn't pay it much attention.

"There we go. Much better," Seungcheol smiles. When Jihoon starts grumbling something incoherent, the older just sneaks in a kiss or two to shut him up. (It usually works though Jihoon doesn't like how red he looked afterwards.)

This relationship they have is founded on an unbreakable bond that was once nothing short of platonic. Being around each other everyday since the day they met does something to a person.

To Jihoon, it made him a fool who fell in love despite having little to no experience.

He's had his crushes before, girls that make him shy and mumble words that don't make sense. But somehow, even though he just can't wrap his head around it, it was a fellow male idol trainee who fully captured him simply by being his stupid goofy self.

From the night Jihoon confessed, his life was never the same. He and Seungcheol are currently six years in, very much contented and happy. It's a road that keeps going but is never perfectly smooth.

More than a few of times they've gone through fights, even some two or three break ups but they always get back together, unable to look at anyone else like how they did to each other.

What only persists is that what they have should be and would always be kept secret from the public. They have an image they can't afford to destroy.

It would just lead to all sorts of problems that would mean bad for the company, even worse for the group, and the worst for the two of them. It's a challenge that they had to face every day.

But it wasn't like they didn't have thoughts of finally being honest with fans or with family and other friends. They both dreamed of the day where they'd stop lying and be free to show off their relationship without a problem. But that was just it.

It's a dream that can't be reached.

"Jihoon-ah? I thought you said you wouldn't do anything work tonight?"

"Eh? What?"

The producer doesn't remember when they reached their hotel nor when they settled in their respective rooms. He doesn't remember writing lyrics in his small notebook or his lover leaving to take a shower.

It was like he was suddenly snapped out of a trance and just found himself sitting on his bed with his legs tucked under him.

Seungcheol chuckles at his confused expression whilst he continued to dry his own hair with a towel. Once he was completely finished getting ready for bed, he sits right next to him, wrapping his arms around Jihoon's petite frame.

He nuzzles his face into Jihoon's neck and the shorter could smell the minty scent of shampoo and the peach fragrance of soap.

Then he sighs.

"Is there something wrong?"

Jihoon took it as a chance to give the other a short yet loving kiss. He then reached up to place his hand on the side of Seungcheol's face, the pad of his thumb brushing over the apple of his cheek.

"I just love you."

Seungcheol's cherry red lips curl into a soft smile. Then he gently presses them on Jihoon's forehead, causing the shorter's eyes to briefly fall shut.

Contentment.