In the days following Jaehyun's birthday, the memory of Woonhak's unexpected kiss lingered in Jaehyun's mind. He replayed the moment repeatedly, questioning its significance. Did Woonhak's affectionate gesture hint at... did he... feel the same way as Jaehyun? The possibility both intrigued and confused him, leading to restless nights filled with contemplation.

As the week progressed, Jaehyun noticed subtle changes in Woonhak's behavior. The younger boy, once openly affectionate, now seemed to withdraw slightly. Their usual touches -playful nudges and casual closeness-became less frequent. Woonhak's smiles appeared more restrained, and he often seemed lost in thought, creating an unspoken tension between them.

***

By Sunday evening, the atmosphere had grown noticeably... awkward. Jaehyun sat on his bed, engrossed in a text conversation with Sanghyuk, when Woonhak entered the room. The younger boy hesitated in the doorway, his demeanor unusually apprehensive.

"Hey, Woonie," Jaehyun greeted, looking up with a warm smile. "Ready to call it a night?"

Woonhak shifted uncomfortably, avoiding direct eye contact. "Actually, hyung, I was thinking... maybe I should start sleeping in my own room from now on."

Jaehyun's smile faltered, confusion knitting his brows. "Why? Did I do something to upset you?"

"No, it's not that," Woonhak replied quickly, his voice tinged with unease. "I just feel like... I should try sleeping alone for once."

The explanation felt hollow to Jaehyun, lacking the conviction he was accustomed to in Woonhak's words. He studied the younger boy's face, searching for clues, but found only a guarded expression.

After a moment of contemplation, Jaehyun nodded slowly, masking his hurt. "Okay, if... that's what you want."

Woonhak lingered briefly, an unreadable emotion flickering in his eyes, before turning toward the door. "Goodnight, Jaehyun. See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Woonie," Jaehyun responded softly, watching as Woonhak left the room.

Alone, Jaehyun's mind raced with unanswered questions. Had he unknowingly done something to drive Woonhak away? The uncertainty gnawed at him, and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Part of him wanted to confront Woonhak, to demand an explanation, but he restrained himself, choosing to respect the younger boy's space.

That night, sleep eluded Jaehyun. His thoughts remained fixated on Woonhak, the empty space beside him a stark reminder of the sudden growing distance between them. The warmth that once filled his bed felt replaced by a cold void, mirroring the uncertainty now shadowing their relationship.

***

Woonhak closed Jaehyun's door behind him, the soft click of the latch sounding louder than it should in the stillness of the night. He stood there for a moment, staring at the wood grain of the door, his heart pounding in his chest. His hand hovered over the doorknob as if he might turn it again, go back inside, and pretend everything was fine. But he couldn't. Not with the way his chest tightened whenever Jaehyun looked at him, smiled at him, or simply was.

He took a deep breath and turned away, shuffling down the hall to his own room. Pushing the door open, Woonhak hesitated on the threshold. His room was nice, warm, and filled with the things Jaehyun had helped him pick out. But tonight, it felt empty. Lonely.

He walked over to his bed and sat down, running a hand through his hair. The silence pressed down on him, heavier than he expected. He glanced at the nightstand, at the framed photo of him and Jaehyun laughing together during their cupcake fiasco. His throat tightened. That was before everything got so complicated. Before these feelings began to consume him.

Woonhak's fingers curled into the blanket on his bed, his breaths uneven. He didn't want to feel this way. It was terrifying -this whirlwind of emotions that twisted his heart whenever he thought of Jaehyun. At first he didn't really see the problem, but now... what if Jaehyun found out? Woonhak found it hard to keep his feelings to himself. That night on Jaehyun's birthday, when he kissed Jaehyun on the cheek, he shouldn't have done that. It was an impulsive move, he wasn't thinking. What if Jaehyun would push him away if he found out? Woonhak couldnt let that happen, he needed Jaehyun.

He wanted to just be normal, to go back to how things were before. But even then, a part of him knew there was no going back. Not now.

"What am I supposed to do?" he whispered into the silence, his voice trembling. His vision blurred with unshed tears, and he quickly wiped at his eyes. The thought of confessing -to tell Jaehyun the truth- sent a jolt of fear through him. What if it ruined everything? What if Jaehyun looked at him differently? What if he lost him entirely?

The fear of losing Jaehyun was unbearable. And yet, staying like this -hiding how he felt, pulling away- was hurting them both. He buried his face in his hands, the weight of it all crashing down on him.

He didn't sleep much that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he pictured Jaehyun's worried face, the warmth of his smile, the way he always made Woonhak feel safe. And every time, it hurt a little more.

---

Word count: 865

Sorry, I very randomly felt like writing some angst...
But it won't last that long, don't worry :)