:ㅤ(⌖)ㅤ𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 ⸻

• CHARACTERS 𓈒 ࣪ ִ   Noh Haerin & Jang Jaewon
•TIMESTAMP 𓈒 ࣪ ִ   June 16, 2025 [ post comeback ]
•W/C 𓈒 ࣪ ִ   1.2K words
•WARNINGS 𓈒 ࣪ ִ   Themes of self-denial and uncertainty about feelings, Jaewon's relentless teasing and flirting, Haerin struggling with his emotions and identity, Some emotional vulnerability and quiet tension, Slow-burning romantic confession between close friends, Mention of group dynamics and personal boundaries
• SYNOPSIS𓈒 ࣪ ִ  They'd spent months skirting around the truth — two guys who thought they were straight, caught in a confusing web of teasing, stolen glances, and unspoken feelings. Jaewon, the mischievous roommate and constant flirt, pushed boundaries with his casual charm, while Haerin wrestled silently with the emotions he never expected to feel. One summer night, after a celebration for their comeback, the facade finally cracks. On the quiet balcony, with the city lights casting shadows, confessions surface — shifting their friendship into something neither of them saw coming. Because sometimes, the hardest truth is the one closest to home.

—

The night air buzzed with leftover laughter and the faint smell of grilled chicken still clinging to Haerin's clothes. The five of them—Noa, Jaewon, Seonghwa, Seonghwan, and him—walked lazily down the block, feet dragging slightly, full from food and beer and the kind of bone-deep fatigue that only came after finishing promotions.

It was supposed to be a relief. A celebration. One last night to laugh and loosen up before their brief break officially started. It should have felt good. But Haerin's jaw ached from how hard he was clenching it.

Jaewon was the problem. Walking ahead of him now, too relaxed, too loud, doing that stupid impersonation of Seonghwa's failed high note at karaoke. Grinning over his shoulder, lips curled smug like he knew Haerin was watching him. Like he wanted him to watch. And Haerin did. He hated that he did. Ever since March—his birthday—something had shifted.

That moment where Jaewon leaned in and licked frosting off his cheek like it was some joke. Like it was harmless. But nothing about it had felt harmless. Not the way Jaewon's eyes lingered afterward, not the weight of that moment that Haerin had carried for weeks.

Jaewon hadn't said anything about it. Of course not. Just kept on being the same Jaewon—annoying, smug, too casual about everything. Too flirty, too close. And Haerin let him. Because what the hell else was he supposed to do? He liked girls. He always had. He still did. Probably.

But whatever this was—it wasn't going away. The pull between them felt magnetic, sickening, impossible to fight. And he was tired. Tired of pretending it didn't bother him. Tired of trying to decode what any of it meant. Tired of being left to drown in feelings Jaewon refused to even name.

They reached the dorm, and Noa punched in the code. Jaewon slowed beside Haerin and leaned in close, voice smug and low. "Spacing out again? What's got you so deep in thought, birthday boy?" Haerin stiffened. The nickname. The tone. He didn't reply. Seonghwa groaned as they filed inside.

"God, just kiss already." "Shut up," Haerin muttered, too sharp. "Whoa," Seonghwan mumbled, "touchy tonight." Jaewon just laughed like none of it touched him. "He's tired. Big day of pretending not to like me." It was a joke. Ha-ha. Always a joke.

The dorm was quiet once they all peeled off into their rooms. Seonghwa and Seonghwan claimed the bathroom, bickering over who got to shower first. Noa muttered something about checking emails, disappearing down the hall. Jaewon followed Haerin into their shared room, the tension thick as wet cement. They didn't speak. Didn't need to. Haerin changed quickly, back turned, hoodie pulled up too fast.

Jaewon sat on his bed, scrolling his phone like he hadn't just thrown Haerin's stomach into knots with a single comment. It was unbearable.

He couldn't take it. Haerin slipped out of bed, as quiet as possible, hoping—praying—Jaewon was asleep. He padded to the balcony, cracked the door open, and stepped out. Cool night air hit him like a slap. He leaned against the railing, palms flat, trying to breathe. What was he even doing? Why was he so angry? It wasn't like Jaewon had done anything. He hadn't kissed him. Hadn't confessed.

He hadn't promised anything. But it still felt like he had taken something from him. His peace. His sense of certainty.

It was 11:50 PM. Almost a new day. And he was outside on the balcony like some idiot in a drama, trying to calm down from something he couldn't explain. The door creaked behind him, and he didn't turn. "I figured you'd be out here," Jaewon's voice was quiet, careful. "Can't sleep?" Haerin's jaw locked. He didn't move. "Don't." Jaewon hesitated. "Don't what?"

"Don't do that thing where you act like everything's fine. Like you don't know why I'm pissed off."

There was a pause. The wind blew between them. "Okay," Jaewon said. "Then talk to me."

Haerin turned slowly. His face was tight with frustration, eyes sharp, breath uneven. "You've been messing with me for months, Jaewon." Jaewon's brows furrowed. "I wasn't—"

"Yes, you were," Haerin bit out. "You touch me more than anyone else. You say shit like 'you like me' and then laugh like it's a joke. You flirt with me like you mean it—and then you pretend like you don't. You don't get to do that."

Jaewon looked taken aback, like he hadn't expected it to boil over like this. But Haerin was already unraveling, months of restraint slipping through his fingers. "I've been trying so damn hard to ignore it. To tell myself it's just how you are. That it's not real. But it feels real. And I hate it. I hate that I notice every time you touch me. I hate that I wait for your stupid comments. I hate that you look at me like I'm more than your roommate and then act like it never happened."

"I never meant to—" Jaewon tried, but Haerin didn't let him finish.

"Then how did you mean it?" he demanded, stepping closer. "Because it didn't feel like nothing when you licked frosting off my face. It didn't feel like nothing when you told me you liked watching me sleep. Or when you stayed up with me just to talk about nothing. You don't do that with the others." Jaewon was quiet, his shoulders tense. "I didn't mean to confuse you," he said. "I didn't know how to bring it up."

"Bullshit," Haerin said, voice low. "You knew exactly what you were doing. You just didn't think I'd say anything. You thought I'd keep quiet and play along."

"I thought you'd hate me," Jaewon confessed. "I thought you'd figure it out and push me away." Haerin's eyes burned. "Then why do it at all? Why act like this meant nothing? You said things. You made me question everything."

"I didn't think I had a chance," Jaewon said. "I thought... maybe if I stayed close enough, it'd be enough." Haerin took a step closer, jaw clenched. "Well it's not. It's not enough. I've been losing sleep over this. You made me feel like I was going insane." Jaewon looked down, ashamed. "I'm sorry."

"You should be."

Then, without warning, Haerin grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward. Jaewon barely had time to react before Haerin's mouth was on his—angry, desperate, furious. It wasn't gentle. It wasn't sweet. It was everything Haerin had been holding back all this time, poured into a single moment of release. Jaewon gasped against his lips, but then he kissed back just as hard. His hands found Haerin's waist, holding tight, grounding them both.

The world spun.

It slowed eventually, breath heavy between them. Jaewon's forehead rested against Haerin's, their chests rising and falling together. "I didn't mean to hurt you," Jaewon whispered. "I just didn't know how to say it."

Haerin's voice cracked. "Say it now."

"I like you," Jaewon breathed. "I've liked you for a while now."

Haerin's eyes burned. "Then don't flirt with me like it's a joke anymore. Don't act like it's funny."

"I won't," Jaewon promised. "Not if you'll let me actually mean it this time."

Haerin swallowed hard. His hands were still fisted in Jaewon's shirt. He looked away, cheeks flushed, eyes raw. "You drive me crazy."

"I know."

"And I still want to punch you."

"You probably should."

But he didn't. He kissed him again instead—quieter this time. Slower. Less fury, more ache. And when they pulled apart again, the clock inside blinked past midnight.

A new day had started. And for once, Haerin didn't feel like he had to keep pretending.