Sunoo, a rising idol, was at the peak of his career, balancing music and fans, all while trying to keep his personal life out of the limelight. One evening, at a private gathering with friends, Sunoo met Heeseung and Jay. They were both pilots, successful and composed, and they radiated an aura of confidence that intrigued him. But Sunoo’s thoughts kept returning to one thing—Jake.
Jake was a dear friend, and he’d always been there for Sunoo. He was also the one who introduced Sunoo to Heeseung and Jay, though neither of the latter two had revealed their past connection to Jake until much later. When the truth came out—Jay and Heeseung had once been suitors of Jake—it hit Sunoo like a ton of bricks. The idea of falling for his best friend’s past suitors made him uncomfortable, almost guilty. Was it wrong to want them, to feel drawn to them when they had once shown affection toward Jake?
To Sunoo, the situation was delicate. He tried to rationalize his feelings, but the guilt consumed him. He spent more time pushing Jay and Heeseung away, pretending there was nothing between them. Despite his best efforts, their presence lingered in his thoughts. They were gentle with him, always kind, and their compliments made his heart flutter.
Heeseung, ever patient, smiled when he saw Sunoo tense up. He knew the truth about why Sunoo was keeping his distance but couldn't help the way he felt. He loved Sunoo—there was no other way to describe it.
Jay, on the other hand, had his own struggles. He understood Sunoo’s hesitation, but it didn’t make it any easier. “Is it really so wrong to like someone, even if they’re connected to our past?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper one evening when the two of them were alone.
Sunoo looked at Jay, his heart racing. He wanted to deny it, to push back the emotions that were building up, but something in his chest felt heavy. The weight of Jake’s friendship mixed with the allure of Jay and Heeseung was a storm he couldn’t fight.
“I’m sorry,” Sunoo whispered, his voice faltering, “I don’t want to be the one to break a boundary that shouldn’t be crossed.”
But Jay’s fingers gently brushed against Sunoo’s, a silent promise that they would wait—no matter how long it took.
Heeseung, ever the soft-hearted one, simply sighed. “We can wait for you, Sunoo. You don’t have to worry.”
Sunoo closed his eyes, letting the warmth of their touch melt away his reservations. He had never imagined that love could be so complicated, yet here he was, caught in a tug-of-war between his feelings and his sense of right and wrong.
In the end, Sunoo realized it wasn’t about the past or the boundaries of friendship. It was about the present, the connections they shared now. Perhaps there were no sins in love—just people learning how to follow their hearts.
Sunoo felt a knot tighten in his stomach as he walked toward Jake’s apartment. He had spent days overthinking the situation with Jay and Heeseung, and now he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He needed to talk to Jake, to clear the air. Deep down, he expected Jake to be upset, even angry—after all, falling for his ex-suitors might feel like a betrayal.
When Sunoo knocked, Jake was quick to answer, his wide grin instantly putting him at ease. But the unease still lingered in Sunoo’s chest.
“Hey, you okay?” Jake asked, stepping aside to let Sunoo in.
“Yeah, I just—” Sunoo began, but before he could finish, Jake wrapped him in a bear hug, his voice suddenly loud and filled with excitement.
"Finally!" Jake screamed, his tone dramatic and over the top as always. "The one who is scared to fall in love... finally fell in love!"
