The days after their conversation felt like they were moving in slow motion for Eunwoo. He couldn't shake the weight of Minjae's confession nor the tension that lingered in the air between them. Despite everything, he found himself drawn to Minjae more than ever, but the guilt and confusion weighed heavily on his heart.
School had become a blur. Every glance, every passing moment with Minjae felt like it carried more meaning than it ever had before. Eunwoo kept telling himself it was just the heat of the moment, that maybe Minjae had been caught up in his own emotions. But deep down, he knew that wasn't true. Minjae's feelings were real. And so were his own.
He found himself replaying their conversation over and over in his head, each word echoing like a haunting reminder that nothing between them could ever be simple. And yet, the desire to be close to him, to let the distance between them disappear, was almost too overwhelming to ignore.
One rainy afternoon, after school, Minjae stopped by Eunwoo's house to check on him. It wasn't unusual—they had always been close, even before the tension had started building. Minjae had always been the one to show up unexpectedly to make sure Eunwoo was doing okay, even when Eunwoo hadn't needed him to. But today, there was something different in the air, something that neither of them could deny.
Eunwoo had been sitting at the kitchen table, staring at the empty mug in front of him, lost in thought, when he heard the front door creak open.
"Hey," Minjae called softly from the doorway, his voice warm and inviting. "You alone?"
Eunwoo didn't turn to look at him right away, the ache in his chest growing with every passing second. "Yeah," he replied, trying to sound casual, though he could feel the weight of his own emotions pushing against him. "Just getting some things done. What's up?"
Minjae didn't respond right away, and Eunwoo could hear his footsteps getting closer. He felt the presence of Minjae before he even looked up, and when he did, Minjae was standing just a few feet away, his gaze unreadable, his expression tight.
"I need to talk to you again," Minjae said, his voice soft but serious.
Eunwoo swallowed, trying to steady his breathing. "Minjae, we've talked enough. I don't know what else we can say."
Minjae stepped closer, the space between them shrinking, but Eunwoo didn't move. His hands were gripping the edge of the table, trying to keep himself steady, trying to stop the whirlwind inside him from taking over.
"I know this is hard for you, and I don't want to pressure you," Minjae said quietly, his eyes searching Eunwoo's face. "But I can't keep pretending like I'm okay with just being your brother's friend. You mean more to me than that, Eunwoo. I can't keep standing in the background while this... this thing between us keeps growing."
Eunwoo's breath caught in his throat. He knew exactly what Minjae was saying, but the words felt like they were crashing over him, drowning him in a sea of emotions he wasn't sure he was ready to face.
"I don't want to hurt Hyunwoo," Eunwoo whispered, his voice barely audible. The weight of his brother's friendship with Minjae was a burden Eunwoo couldn't shake. "If I let this happen... if we let this happen..."
Minjae's hand reached out, gently resting on Eunwoo's. "You're not betraying him. You're not betraying anyone by being honest about how you feel. If anything, Eunwoo, you're hurting yourself by denying what's in your heart."
Eunwoo shook his head, feeling his chest tighten. "It's not that simple. You're my brother's best friend. He'll never understand. He'll never forgive me."
Minjae sighed, his thumb brushing over the back of Eunwoo's hand, sending shivers down his spine. "Eunwoo, you can't live your life in fear of what others might think. You can't keep pretending that you don't want something more, that you don't care about me the way I care about you."
Eunwoo felt the words like a punch to his chest. They were too much to handle, too overwhelming. His heart was racing, his thoughts scattered. How could he possibly say the words back to Minjae? How could he admit, out loud, what he had known deep down for so long?
But as Minjae's eyes locked onto his, something inside him snapped. The floodgates opened, and before he could stop himself, the words spilt out.
"I want you," Eunwoo breathed, his voice shaking with the weight of his confession. "I've wanted you for so long. But I can't... I can't have you. Not when it would ruin everything."
Minjae's eyes softened, and without another word, he moved closer, his presence all-encompassing, like a pull that Eunwoo couldn't escape. He cupped Eunwoo's face gently, his touch warm and reassuring.
"You don't have to choose between me and your brother, Eunwoo," Minjae whispered, his lips hovering just inches from Eunwoo's. "I'm not asking you to betray anyone. I'm asking you to let me in. Let me be the one who's here for you, the one who stays."
Eunwoo's heart was racing, his body frozen in place, but every fibre of his being screamed to close the distance between them. He wanted this. He needed this. But could he really take that step? Could he really risk everything for something that might destroy the delicate balance of his world?
"I don't know if I can," Eunwoo whispered, his voice raw with emotion.
Minjae didn't respond right away, but he leaned in slowly, closing the space between them until their lips brushed, a soft, hesitant kiss that lingered for only a moment, but felt like it lasted an eternity.
When they pulled apart, Minjae's eyes were full of understanding. "I'm not going anywhere, Eunwoo. I'm not giving up on you."
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Eunwoo allowed himself to breathe, to let go of the fear and the guilt, just for a moment.
The future was uncertain, but in that moment, Eunwoo knew one thing for sure—he didn't want to face it alone.