Eunwoo spent the next few days in a haze. His mind was clouded with thoughts of Minjae, of the things left unsaid, the feelings he couldn't suppress any longer. It was impossible to ignore the way his heart reacted whenever Minjae was near-how every glance, every touch, felt like a spark in the dark. But still, Eunwoo kept his distance, just as he had for weeks, unable to let the walls he'd built around himself crumble.
School was no better. Every time Minjae smiled at him or even glanced in his direction, Eunwoo felt a pang in his chest. His thoughts raced-was Minjae aware of the way his feelings had shifted? Did he sense the change between them? Or was Eunwoo just imagining it all?
It wasn't until one afternoon, after school, that Eunwoo couldn't avoid Minjae any longer.
They had both stayed behind to finish some last-minute homework, and as Eunwoo packed his things, he felt Minjae's presence behind him. The weight of the room suddenly shifted, and Eunwoo could feel Minjae's gaze on him, even though he hadn't turned around.
"Eunwoo," Minjae's voice was quiet but clear, cutting through the silence like a blade. "We need to talk."
Eunwoo's heart skipped a beat, and he froze, his hand mid-motion as he tried to gather his papers. He knew this moment was coming, but that didn't make it any easier. The truth was already hanging between them, just waiting to be spoken.
"I don't think we do," Eunwoo replied, his voice shaky despite his attempt at calm. He stood up quickly, grabbing his bag and moving toward the door. But before he could escape, Minjae's hand shot out and grabbed his arm gently but firmly.
"Eunwoo," Minjae said again, this time with more intensity, "stop running away from this."
Eunwoo felt a jolt of electricity shoot through him at the contact. His body tensed, and he pulled his arm out of Minjae's grip, but not fast enough to escape the feeling of being tethered to him.
"I'm not running," Eunwoo muttered, not meeting Minjae's gaze. "I just... don't know how to deal with this."
Minjae didn't respond right away. Eunwoo could hear him take a deep breath, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost tender. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable. But I can't keep pretending either."
Eunwoo's head snapped up at that, his eyes wide, though he couldn't find the words to speak.
Minjae took a step closer, his presence almost overwhelming now. "I'm not blind, Eunwoo. I know you've been avoiding me. I know there's something between us, something we've both been pretending isn't there. But the truth is..." He paused, looking down at the floor as if gathering his thoughts. "The truth is, I don't want to ignore it anymore. I don't want to pretend I don't care about you. Because I do."
Eunwoo's heart pounded in his chest, the room suddenly feeling smaller, the space between them collapsing. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Minjae had just admitted something that Eunwoo had feared for so long-that the tension wasn't one-sided. But the weight of their situation hung over him like a dark cloud.
"You're my brother's best friend," Eunwoo whispered, though the words felt hollow. He didn't even know why he said it-he knew Minjae understood the complications better than anyone. "This... this can't happen."
Minjae's face softened, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding but also something else. A flicker of sadness. "I know. But I can't pretend like I don't feel the way I do. I'm not asking you to say anything right now, Eunwoo. I'm not asking you to make a decision. I just... needed you to know."
Eunwoo felt a lump rise in his throat, and he fought to keep his emotions in check. "But if you know it can't happen, then why... why are we talking about this?"
Minjae stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His voice was steady, but there was an underlying vulnerability. "Because I need you to know the truth. I don't expect anything from you. I just want you to understand that I can't hide it anymore. And maybe... maybe I'm asking you not to hide from it either."
Eunwoo felt like the world around him was shifting, the ground beneath him starting to feel unsteady. Minjae's words had cracked something open inside him, something he hadn't been ready to confront. The truth, once spoken, could never be taken back.
"Minjae..." Eunwoo began, but his voice faltered, too heavy with emotion to continue. He felt the tears pricking at the corners of his eyes, but he fought them back, not wanting to let Minjae see him so vulnerable.
Minjae reached out then, his hand brushing lightly against Eunwoo's cheek, his touch warm, almost comforting. "Eunwoo, you don't have to say anything. I'm not asking you to make a choice now. But just... know that I'm here. I always have been."
Eunwoo closed his eyes at the gentle touch, his heart torn between the desire to pull away and the desperate need to lean into it. For a moment, he felt like he was drowning in the weight of his emotions, his heart thundering in his chest, and his breath shallow.
Minjae's voice broke through the silence once more, a quiet plea. "Eunwoo, please don't push me away. Not when we're so close to the truth."
But the truth was too much to bear, and Eunwoo knew it. The space between them was no longer just physical-it was the weight of everything they couldn't say, everything they couldn't do.
And yet, despite the turmoil inside him, Eunwoo couldn't deny the pull, the undeniable desire to be close to Minjae. He just didn't know how to make peace with it or with the impossible position he was in.