02; (2/2)

Dongwoo remembers looking straight into the mirror right at the moment, remembers seeing how Howon’s all melted into him from behind, remembers seeing his flushing face and feeling the loud thumping of his heart.

He spends the rest of that day sorting out all his feelings and emotions and he tried- so damn hard- to push those feelings away, to convince himself that liking your best friend and bandmate is going to screw you up so bad, walk away, but then night falls and they’re back in the dorms, and Dongwoo’s the last one to return after practicing on his own in the dance studio when he sees Howon’s figure curled up on the small couch, obviously asleep.

A rush of something warm and sweet and sticky like honey- love, affection, Dongwoo really doesn’t know- surges through his body, and he drops his bag softly on the floor and moves to the younger boy, carefully slipping both arms under his lean frame and lifting him up before padding over silently to his shared room with Sungyeol and Sungjong.

And then it’s that shy, groggy voice again, “Dongwoo hyung?”

Dongwoo pauses before he manages to push the door open, “Yes, Howon-ah, it’s me.”

Howon shifts a little in his arms and Dongwoo’s heart goes into overdrive as the younger boy buries his face slightly into his chest and murmurs softly, “You’re back. I was- I was waiting for you...” Howon trails off tiredly.

Dongwoo fights the urge (barely) to lean down and kiss the boy’s tender pink lips, and instead prays for all the self-control in the world as he gently lays Howon down against the mattress. Tentatively, Dongwoo cards his fingers through Howon’s hair and his heart all but bursts at the feeling of the silky tendrils slipping through his fingers.

“Sleep, Howon-ah. I’m back,” Dongwoo whispers finally.

Howon hums, mumbles something unintelligible, and falls back asleep.

And Howon’s stolen his breath and heart away ever since that balmy spring day.