Why Does My Heart Keep Doing This?

The walk from school was mostly quiet—except for Jiho, who was anything but quiet.

"Why are you dragging me to your house?!" Jiho whined, dragging his feet like a sulking child. "I'm not some stray cat you picked off the street, Minjae!"

Minjae didn't even look at him, just kept walking while gripping Jiho's wrist gently but firmly.

"You said you didn't want to go home," he said calmly, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Jiho snapped, puffing his cheeks in frustration. "I said that because I didn't want my Eomma to worry! Not because I wanted to move in with you!"

Minjae stopped and turned around with that frustratingly unreadable expression. "It's okay", he said with a slight shrug. "Come to my place. You won't worry your mom that way. Problem solved."

Before Jiho could respond, Minjae grabbed his hand again—and this time, their fingers accidentally interlocked.

Jiho's heart did a full-on triple axel in his chest.

He wanted to yank his hand back. He really did. But he didn't.

Instead, he stared at their joined hands and let Minjae pull him along like he was some lovesick middle schooler.

Inside his head, Jiho was a full-blown romcom mess.

Why does he always do stuff like this?.....

One second he's acting like we're dating, and the next he's all 'let's end this fake relationship' like it means nothing to him.

I tried not to fall harder for him, but at this point, I'm practically digging my own emotional grave.

I want us to be real… like an actual couple. But what if he doesn't feel the same? What if I tell him and he laughs or worse—pities me?

Aigoo...This is killing me! Why am I like this? I need a brain reboot!

---

The Apartment

They finally reached Minjae's apartment.

Jiho slipped off his shoes nervously at the entrance, looking around. It was clean but smelled faintly like laundry detergent and something citrusy—very Minjae.

"Jom swieo" (Rest a bit), Minjae said, tossing his bag onto the couch. "I need to talk to you about something… but later. First, you need to lie down. Just sleep here like a good boy, okay?"

Jiho short-circuited on the spot.What do you mean 'good boy'?! Why would you say it like that?! My heart can't handle this kind of fanservice—this isn't a BL webtoon!!

His ears turned a violent shade of red.

"I-I don't want to sleep!" he blurted out, waving his hands frantically.

Minjae raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Then just wait for me. I'll be quick." He patted Jiho's head gently,then disappeared into the bathroom.

Badump.

Jiho stood there, stunned, like a character who just got kissed in a K-drama freeze-frame.

"…I'm dying ", he whispered to himself before dramatically flopping onto the bed like a sack of overcooked noodles.

Then the rolling started.

Back and forth. Side to side. Blanket half-tangled, one sock coming off, hoodie bunched up around his waist—Jiho looked like a literal football rolling across Minjae's mattress.

What does he want to talk about?! Is he finally gonna say it? 'Let's end this'? No no no, I can't—don't say it, Minjae-ya!

Why did I even agree to come here? I should've just lied and gone home to cry into my pillow like a normal heartbroken boy!

Ughhhhhh he called me 'good boy.' He patted my head.Why is he like this?!

Does he like me? Or is he just naturally infuriating?!

He let out a long dramatic sigh and buried his red face into the pillow.

"Nan gwenchana aniya" (I'm not okay), Jiho mumbled into the fabric. "Minjae, you stupid handsome jerk… I'm gonna lose my mind because of you…"

From the bathroom came the sound of running water—and Jiho froze.

What if Minjae comes out shirtless?!

"…I need holy water."

---

The bathroom door clicked open.

Jiho immediately pulled the blanket tighter over his head like it was some kind of anti-embarrassment shield.

Don't look. Don't look. Just be a normal person for once, Jiho. It's just Minjae. In a towel. Maybe. Oh no, WAE IREONI?! (Why is this happening?!)

"Ya," Minjae's voice called out casually, "I thought you weren't gonna sleep?"

Jiho peeked out like a scared hamster.

Minjae had a towel over his head, rubbing his hair dry, fully dressed in a fresh t-shirt and shorts, looking all cozy and annoyingly cute.

Jiho let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. "Y-you changed clothes fast."

Minjae raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Were you expecting something else?"

Jiho immediately dove under the blanket again. "ANIYA!" (NO!)

Minjae laughed softly and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You're acting weird, he said, tugging at the blanket. "Come out. I said I wanted to talk."

"Nope," came Jiho's muffled voice. "I'm busy dying."

Minjae chuckled, leaning back. "You're so dramatic Seriously..!" "You could win an award."

Jiho peeked out again. "You said you wanted to talk. Is it… about… us?"

Minjae looked at him, then gave a small smile. "Yeah. It is."

Jiho's heart stopped. Before he could panic again, Minjae suddenly said, "Come with me tomorrow", "I want to take you somewhere."

Jiho blinked. "Mwo? Eodiro?" (Huh? Where?)

Minjae smirked. "Don't ask. Just trust me."

Jiho's heart stuttered. "…Does this mean it's another—"

He stopped himself mid-sentence, face going red again.

Minjae laughed. "So you wanted to go on a date again?"

"No! I didn't mean it like that!" Jiho shouted, flailing a pillow at him.

Minjae caught it easily and grinned. "You're so adorable, seriously..."

He stared at Jiho for a second too long. His gaze landed on Jiho's face—his wide eyes, his red-tipped ears, his slightly parted lips.

Aish... He's too cute. Don't look at his lips. Don't think about kissing him. Control yourself, Minjae.

He jumped up suddenly. "Okay,Come on! Let's sleep!!..."

Jiho frowned. "Wait—was that all you wanted to talk about?"

Minjae turned away, flustered. "Y-yeah. What else would it be? Just sleep. You're not okay and… I'm tired too."

---

They both laid down, backs turned, awkward silence filling the room. It wasn't their first time sleeping in the same space, but somehow tonight felt… different.

After a minute, Jiho whispered, "Minjae-ya?"

Minjae replied immediately, voice soft. "Eung?" (Yeah?)

Jiho hesitated. "Can you tell me… what happened between you and Hyunwoo?Why aren't you friends anymore?"

Minjae turned his head slowly. Their eyes met. Faces close. Too close.

But this time, it wasn't Jiho who blushed.

It was Minjae.

He looked away quickly, turning to face the wall.

Why is my heart beating so fast...?

"…It's nothing", he mumbled. "You don't need to worry. That friendship's been over for a long time."I'm fine."

Jiho looked at his back, frowning slightly.

"Why won't he tell me? I just want to understand him…"

Still, he said softly, "Okay… I just wanted to say thank you again."

Minjae's voice was muffled by the pillow. "You don't have to say thank you every time."

"Okay. Good night."

"Yeah Good night, Jiho-ya"

Silence settled between them again.

But Minjae's thoughts refused to sleep.

What's happening to me…? Why am I like this around him? I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. But when he's close, I can't think straight.

He's so cute when he blushes… but this time, I was the one who couldn't breathe.

---