Jaeyel stood frozen, heart pounding as he listened to the persistent knocking on his door.

“Jaeyel,” Bo’s voice came through, followed by another knock. “Come on. Talk to me.”

Jaeyel squeezed his eyes shut, face still burning. He had just slammed the door in the man’s face, why was he still here?

The doorbell rang. Then again. Then again.

Jaeyel groaned, running a hand through his hair. At this rate, Bo was going to disturb the whole damn building.

With an exasperated sigh, he stomped over to the door, yanked it open, and before Bo could react, grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him inside.

Bo made a surprised sound, stumbling slightly as Jaeyel shut the door behind them.

Now standing in the middle of Jaeyel’s apartment, Bo blinked down at him, lips parting. “Well, that was aggressive.”

Jaeyel glared. “What is your problem?”

Bo tilted his head, looking at him with that same infuriating amusement. “What’s your problem?” he asked softly.

That tone.

That damn soft tone.

Jaeyel felt the heat rush back to his face. He cleared his throat and quickly turned away. “Sit down. If you’re gonna be here, at least sit.”

Bo, still smiling, made his way to the couch, his gaze sweeping over the apartment as he did.

Jaeyel watched him from the corner of his eye. Bo was… here. Suddenly in his space. After a whole week of thinking about him, frustrated by his absence. And now, he was just sitting there, casually.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Jaeyel grabbed a glass of cold tea from the fridge and walked over, handing it to Bo.

Bo took the glass, eyeing it curiously. “Cold tea?”

Jaeyel frowned, watching his reaction. “What…? You don’t like it?”

Bo looked up at him, then tilted his head. “No, I do.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “But how did you know?”

Jaeyel froze for half a second before quickly looking away. “I… saw you order it. Twice. At the bar.”

Bo blinked, then his lips curled into something softer, something far too pleased.

“You noticed that?”

Jaeyel’s stomach flipped.

Oh.

Oh, shit.

His mind replayed what he just said, and the realization hit him like a brick.

He’d been watching Bo enough to pick up on something like that.

His entire face went red.

Panicking, he turned away, about to bolt to the kitchen or anywhere that wasn’t near Bo, when a hand wrapped gently around his wrist.

Bo’s fingers were warm against his skin.

Jaeyel sucked in a sharp breath.

“I won’t tease you,” Bo said, though the smile on his face completely contradicted his words. “I just really want to talk.”

Jaeyel swallowed. Slowly, he pulled his hand away and, still flustered, sat beside Bo—but made sure to leave some space between them.

---

Bo leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and unwavering. “Earlier… You said you were angry because I disappeared after saying I was interested in you.”

Jaeyel’s breath hitched. The way Bo said it, so casual, so teasing—made his entire face heat up.

He scowled, crossing his arms. “You don’t have to say it again.”

Bo chuckled, clearly enjoying how flustered Jaeyel was. Then, his expression softened as he explained, “I had to rush back to Seoul for work. I tried to reach you through the app, but… the account was deleted.” His gaze flickered with something unreadable.

Jaeyel swallowed. Right. He had deleted it out of frustration.

“I thought about going to your parents’ place, but I figured it was better to find you myself.” Bo’s lips curled into something sly. “Though, I didn’t expect you to be waiting for me all week.”

Jaeyel snapped out of his thoughts, his embarrassment flaring up all over again. “I wasn’t waiting for you!” He grabbed a pillow and threw it at Bo.

Bo caught it easily, but instead of laughing, he moved swiftly, smoothly, grasping Jaeyel’s wrist, pulling him in by the waist.

Jaeyel gasped, his hands instinctively landing on Bo’s chest. “W-what are you doing?”

Bo didn’t answer immediately. He just held him there, gaze dark and searching. The air between them thickened.

Then, in a low, serious voice, he said, “That night… I was disappointed.”

Jaeyel blinked, confused. “What?”

The moment I saw you, I was already interested,” Bo admitted, his voice a little rougher now. “I had fun with you, even back at the bar… everything.”

“So when you got drunk, I tried so damn hard to hold back, because I wanted to take you seriously.”

“But, Jaeyel…” Bo exhaled, his fingers tightening just slightly around Jaeyel’s waist. “You were too damn cute. I couldn’t help but give in.”

Jaeyel’s face burned. “S-stop saying unnecessary things.”

Bo just smiled, his hand sliding a little lower, resting against the small of Jaeyel’s back. “I’m being serious, You don’t know how happy I was to see you again back then at the flower shop.” he murmured. “I want to take this seriously.”

Jaeyel swallowed, his pulse racing. The weight of Bo’s words settled in his chest. He could see it in his eyes, this wasn’t a joke.

Bo tilted his head, his voice softer this time. “Is it okay if I like you?”

Jaeyel felt like he was suffocating under Bo’s gaze.

He tried to look unaffected, turning his head away as he muttered, “I’ll think about it.”

Bo’s lips twitched. “Are you playing with me?”

Before Jaeyel could react, Bo started tickling him. Jaeyel yelped, squirming as laughter escaped despite himself. “S-stop! You—ah!—you’re so annoying—”

Their movements slowed. Their breathing grew heavier.

Jaeyel found himself caught in Bo’s gaze again.

Then—

Bo kissed him. Just a soft press of lips.

A test.

Jaeyel froze, eyes wide. His heart pounded.

Slowly, hesitantly… he leaned in.

And kissed Bo back.

Bo’s breath hitched, surprised—but then his grip on Jaeyel’s waist tightened.

Their lips moved together, slow at first, then deeper, more intense.

The heat between them ignited.

Bo inhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around Jaeyel’s waist as if to keep him from slipping away.

But Jaeyel wasn’t going anywhere.

Not this time.

He wasn’t thinking anymore. He wasn’t overanalyzing or questioning.

He was just feeling, just letting himself sink into the warmth of Bo, into the way their bodies pressed together, into the way the kiss consumed him whole.