Ch 13

Haein is just as tense, his body rigid as he processes the sudden closeness. He can feel Minho's hand still gripping his leg, his fingers digging into his flesh. He wants to lean into the touch, to melt into the sensation, but he also wants to bolt and run away from the intensity of the moment. The movie continues to play, but neither of them is paying attention to it anymore. The air around them is charged with electricity, filled with the weight of unspoken words and unfulfilled desires. Finally, Haein's body relaxes against Minho's, his head dropping onto Minho's shoulder. The position is both too intimate and not intimate enough. Minho wants to wrap his arms around Haein, to hold him close and never let go, but he's frozen in place. They stay like that for what feels like an eternity, neither of them speaking or moving. It's as if time has stopped, and they're suspended in this moment of tension and anticipation. Finally, Minho breaks the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "Haein," he says, his heart in his throat. "Yeah?" Haein's response is equally soft, but there's a tremble in his voice that wasn't there before. Minho takes a deep breath, steeling himself to say what's been on his mind for so long. "Can I ask you something?" His hand is still gripping Haein's leg, clutching it like a lifeline. "Of course." Haein's voice is steady, belying the nervousness that Minho can feel radiating from him. "Anything." Minho hesitates, his mind racing. There are so many things he wants to say, so many things he wants to confess, but all of them catch in his throat. Finally, he manages to speak. "Have you ever... wondered what it would be like... if we..." He trails off, the words getting stuck again. Haein seems to understand what Minho is trying to say, though. He lifts his head from Minho's shoulder, looking at him with those damn wide, innocent eyes. "What it would be like if we...what?" he prompts, his voice barely more than a whisper. Minho's heart is pounding in his chest as he meets Haein's gaze. He feels suddenly vulnerable, all of his fears and desires laid bare. He takes a deep breath, gathering every bit of courage he has left. "If we...kissed..." He says the word softly, unsure of what response he expects. Haein's eyes widen in surprise, his cheeks flushing pink. For a moment, he's silent, as if trying to process the words Minho just spoke. Then, slowly, he nods. "Yeah...I've thought about it," he admits, his voice barely above a whisper. Minho feels as if all the tension in his body has evaporated in an instant. He can't believe he finally said it, and even more, he can't believe Haein is agreeing. "You have?" he breathes, unable to hide the surprise in his voice. Haein nods again, his gaze dropping away from Minho's face. "I have..." He's silent for another moment, his fingers gripping Minho's tightly. "I've wanted to...for a long time." the words are so quiet that Minho almost doesn't hear them. Minho can't believe what he's hearing. All this time, all those moments spent together, the looks they shared, and now he learns that Haein has been feeling the same way he has. It's almost too much to process. "Why didn't you say anything...?" He asks, his voice trembling with emotion. Haein glances up at him again, and there's a vulnerability in his gaze that makes Minho's heart ache. "I was scared," he says softly. "Scared of ruining our friendship, scared of losing you, scared of my own feelings...I didn't know if you felt the same." Minho feels his heart melt at the sight of Haein's vulnerability. "Of course I feel the same..." he whispers, reaching up to gently touch Haein's face. "I've been inlove with you ever since that kiss we shared for the movie. I just didn't know how to tell you." Haein's eyes flutter shut at the touch, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "I was so sure you didn't feel the same...I convinced myself I was just being delusional..." He opens his eyes again, meeting Minho's gaze. "I thought it would be better to keep it all bottled up than risk losing our friendship."