"I thought love was the sun, warm and golden, something to reach for in the cold darkness. But when I flew too close, I learned that love can burn, sear, and destroy, leaving only the ashes of who I once was. I am Icarus, who mistook the flames for...
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As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow through the living room, Wooyoung and Yunho sat side by side, controllers in hand, deeply engrossed in a video game. The vibrant colors of the screen flickered across their faces as the sounds of gunfire and explosions filled the air.
“Dude, watch out behind you!” Wooyoung shouted, his excitement palpable as he maneuvered his character across the screen, trying to save Yunho from an impending ambush.
“I see it, I see it!” Yunho replied, focused yet amused. “I don’t need saving. I’m a pro at this.”
“Pro? More like a noob!” Wooyoung laughed, but there was a lingering tension beneath his playful banter. His thoughts kept drifting back to the confession he had almost made the last time they hung out. He had wanted to tell Yunho how he truly felt, but as always, doubt crept in. What if Yunho only saw him as Seonghwa’s younger brother? What if their friendship was destined to remain just that?
Yunho noticed the slight change in Wooyoung’s demeanor. He paused the game, setting his controller down, turning to face him. “Hey, you okay? You seem a bit out of it.”
“Yeah, I’m fine!” Wooyoung replied quickly, forcing a smile. But he felt the weight of Yunho’s gaze, the way his brow furrowed with concern. “Just… thinking about stuff.”
“Stuff? Or someone?” Yunho pressed gently, his eyes searching Wooyoung’s.
“Just… life, you know?” Wooyoung deflected, shrugging it off. But the truth was, the thought of Yunho filled his mind, the way he had always been there for him, supporting him, making him laugh. Yet the fear of what that meant was suffocating.
Yunho could sense the unspoken words lingering in the air. He knew Wooyoung needed someone right now, someone to lean on, and he couldn’t deny him that. If Wooyoung thought he was the right person, Yunho wasn’t about to kill that spark of happiness.
“Wooyoung,” he started, his voice softening. “You can talk to me about anything. I mean it. I’m here for you, always.”
Wooyoung looked up, meeting Yunho’s earnest gaze, feeling a warmth spread through him. “I know… it’s just—”
“Just what?” Yunho urged gently, sensing the hesitation in his words.
“I guess I’m worried about how you see me,” Wooyoung admitted, the words spilling out before he could stop them. “I don’t want to be just Seonghwa’s younger brother to you. I mean, I like spending time with you, and I can’t help but feel… something more. But what if you don’t feel the same?”
Yunho blinked, taken aback by Wooyoung’s confession. He had known there was something deeper in their connection, but hearing Wooyoung articulate it made his heart race. “Wooyoung… it’s not like that for me. I care about you, a lot. You mean more to me than just Seonghwa’s brother. You’re important to me in your own right.”
