Walking to someones place was never this nerve wrecking to yeonjun, he knew the guy for 5 years now what else could go wrong to them. looking at the door infront of him, he's hesitating either to knock or just wait for the door to magically open. he was already counting down in his head, motioning his hands to knock when the door made a creak sound showing the taller inside "you're finally here" soobin smiled, guiding him inside the flat "sorry, if it's quite small for two. i only live alone for now" soobin added as he was preparing snacks they can dig on while practicing

Actually the condo isn't that small, it was a lot spacious for one living in it. an L shape couch, inches of tv displayed with it. soobin's kitchen even has an island, "is this what you call 'small'? you can definitely build a family here" yeonjun jokingly said as he get comfortable in the couch feeling in the softness and the comforting smell of the newly sprayed freshener, he heard soobin chuckle in the other side. "do you like spicy food? i have chips here" soobin asked looking at yeonjun's direction "anything would do, anyways we're here to memorize lines and not to lay around" the older guy answered

Yeonjun got his tote in his lap getting all the materials the other gave him last time, before going to soobin's he already did some annotations with his lines. dissecting the right emotions and tones he could deliver, while they were practicing in the back stage he somehow had a glimpse of soobin's paper, it was full of highlighter and extra notes in the side— a sign of the younger's dedication with his character, so he thought why not do the same. if the other is giving all his effort for this why not him too

This would be his first play, he was always behind the curtain watching the actors move around. if he's not waiting and watching, he's back there with his compact powder, blush and brushes ready to touch up actors when they have quick changes. this would be a new game to him, being out there and actually experience the eyes of the crowd, watching him. "Mind getting your thoughts out here" yeonjun jump a little when soobin said that. the other sat beside him, putting bowls of chips in the coffee table with two glasses of iced tea

"Ohh I'm sorry, i was a lil worried. this would be my first time you know, i've always been behind the play" he cheaply smiled holding the script tighter "you don't have to think too much, you have me here. i'll guide you" soobin reassured, yeonjun never look at the younger in any other way but only as a co-worker. being this close to him for a short while is actually relaxing at some point, no awkwardness and just genuinely act of help. he also gave the other a smile now finally looking at their own materials "I think we should start now" he said

⏩⏩⏩

The two have been practicing for an hour now, the ray of sunshine is already fading in  soobin's window. they are reciting the rising action part of the play, already memorize and only showing the right acting they need to do

(Yeonjun stands by the window, holding the glass of iced tea as a prop. Soobin lounges on the couch, eyes fixed on him.)

SOOBIN
You always pace when you're trying not to say something.

YEONJUN
No, I pace when someone’s staring at me like that.

SOOBIN
Like what?

YEONJUN
Like you’re trying to undress my thoughts.

SOOBIN
(Low)
What if I said I was trying to undress more than that?

(A beat. he doesn’t move, but his grip on the glass tightens. he turns, slowly.)

YEONJUN
You always push it right to the edge.

SOOBIN
Because you never say stop.

(He walks toward him — slow, deliberate. Stops just out of reach.)

YEONJUN
Maybe I like the edge. Maybe I like the almost.

SOOBIN
The almost?

YEONJUN
(Whispers)
The space before it tips. Where it all hums. Like static in the air.

SOOBIN
You think this is static?

YEONJUN
I think if I touch you, something explodes.
(They stand inches apart. Breaths shallow. Eyes locked. he leans in as if to kiss him—then stops.)

SOOBIN
You're not going to do it, are you?

YEONJUN
(Smiles, cruel and soft)
Not tonight

The two stopped for a while, back at their sitting position when soobin suddenly stand up "I'll just go to the bathroom" the guy said walking away from the couch, disappearing through the hallway "what was that?" the older asked himself getting his phone and not realizing the time, he waited soobin to come back only to take him 15 minutes to do so "took you long big guy" yeonjun joke getting back with their script "should we memorize all before we act again" yeonjun asked innocently enjoying their progress for just an hour, what they did there was so good for him. looking at soobin felt different, like he was into the character so much "yep, i think we should do that. we only have 6-8 more scene to go" soobin answered but can't seem to look at him in the eyes

⏩⏩⏩

The older yawn for a moment "what time is it? i think we've done the memorizing part already" yeonjun said finally touching his phone after that long hours of just memorizing with soobin. "its past midnight" soobin answered looking at the round clock just above the television in front of them "ohh gosh can i still catch the train at this hour?" yeonjun worriedly said "I can't stay the night, its not like we're close and i didn't bring any extra clothes for me" he also whispered enough for soobin to here "you don't have to worry about that, my clothes can fit you. i can sleep here in the couch. you can use my room for tonight" the younger said standing up again ready to prepare him what he needed

"That's too much, you sleep on your bed. i'll stay here in the living room" Yeonjun said pulling soobin a little "hey it's fine, you're my guest and we've been practicing for I don't know how long. you deserve to have a good rest" the other smiled again going to his room

"Here's some clothes, take a shower in the room while i'll prepare our late dinner" Soobin let him stand up and push him to the last door of the hallway "I already prepared some towels inside, if you want to relax in the tab for a while it will be nice. i'll cook for us for the mean time" the younger said "thank you soobin" yeonjun shyly said "no worries, for you" the other answered leaving him in the room

Yeonjun can't stop himself to look around, the room radiate Soobin so much. polaroid picture scattered in his table, theater play trophies he won over the last years and even behind pictures of the late shows were there. He didn't even expect to also see his face in the room. It was him and soobin, basically him doing the other make up. so close to each other as he was fixing soobin contact lenses. "why would he keep this?" he laugh a little, maybe soobin likes to take this small interaction with everyone. he didn't mind it too much as he saw their other co-worker in the board full of pictures "i shouldn't be wandering around in the first place" he said again to himself finally entering the bathroom door

⏩⏩⏩

"Why don't you make a move, his finally there in your territory" Taehyun said in the other line "Hyun please you know I can't bare to do that, we're always been professional. this is beyond work you're asking" Soobin nibbles with his finger, looking at the dish he made waiting for the older to get out of the room "You've beein pinning for him for the last few years hyung, you are so slow" the other guy said again "It's him, that's why" soobin whispered

"I can't with you, if i were in your position i would have taken it as a chance to do more than WORK" the guy said emphasizing his point "if you are in my position, you would even their. when you look at him, he's just to pure for me to ruin" the older answered "he's to oblivious to even notice what happened to me in the afternoon" he continue "I can't still believe you had the audacity to do such thing, i thought you can control yourself" taehyun laugh at the story he was told through text message

"I can't help it, we were memorizing, that act was spontaneous. he said he wanted to try that scene, i didn't realize the tension it will create to the character. his lips was so near me, i just can't suddenly pull him towards me and said it was on the script when obviously it was not. i just did what i have to do, i could never bare to do the next scenes with him of i didn't finish myself" soobin said not noticing the shadow in his back quietly listening to the conversation"whatever you say hyung, this is your only chance to escalate things with him. i've been watching you two for so long, it also kills me when you just let all the opportunity slips to your hands" taehyun said again

"I just need to talk to someone now, don't pressure me. i'm already stabbing myself too" soobin dramatically replied "i have to pressure you, you taking this long is too much for me to handle too. i already saw our other co-worker do things behind those isles in the back stage but you and yeonjun hyung is slower than a tortoise" soobin can feel the irritation in taehyun voice when he suddenly look at his room direction again only to see the older man starring at him

"Hyun i have to end our call" soobin nervously said, tapping the red button in his screen still looking at yeonjun who's finally walking towards him “...how much did you hear?” soobin asked, yeonjun quietly, unreadable “enough.” a long silence. the kind that stretches uncomfortably across the condominium.
Soobin forcing a chuckle, nervous "well, that’s… humiliating.” yeonjun was still calm, voice low “no, it’s not.”

Soobin meets his eyes. There’s something new in yeonjun’s gaze, softer than usual, but sharper too. “yeonjun, you don’t have to say anything. I get it. you’re just being professional. you’re here to help, and I’m—” voice falters “i’m just catching feelings I shouldn’t.” yeonjun walks closer, doesn’t sit. just stands across from him in the soft light, the younger didn't move either. his fingers are curled tight in the fabric of his shirt. yeonjun voice become softer “i didn’t realize how much I was reacting to you—not the script. how I’ve started to… wait for your lines, like I need them to get to mine.”

Soobin’s breath hitches “don’t say that if you’re just—confused.” he said, “i'm not confused.” a beat “I’m hesitant.” yeonjun continued “why?” the other asked “because the minute we let this become something, we can’t pretend it’s just acting anymore.” the older answered. a silence stretches—taut, electric. they’re only a few feet apart now. close enough to notice the flush rising on soobin’s neck. the way his breathing changes. yeonjun gently said
“i don’t want to hurt you by not knowing what this is yet.”

Soobin’s voice is barely audible “but you do feel something?” yeonjun nods, gaze steady. “i don't know, i'm not sure.” the taller looks down for a second, then back up, voice trembling just slightly. “i’ve felt it for years. quietly. like it might break if I looked at it too directly.” the other exhales through his nose, the tension cracking faintly around the edges. “i see it now. I think I’ve been feeling it too.” they’re both still. neither moves forward. neither pulls away. It’s not time yet. the make up artist soft, almost a murmur “let’s not rush this. let’s let it breathe.”

“Okay.” Soobin can only say back, finally understanding what the other wanted. the both of them ate their food quietly, taking chances to look at each other from time to time. making sure the feelings they have said a while ago was felt, yeonjun now can finally feel the tension in his skin how soobin put extra effort to be mindful when his moving like the other wanted to be there in his back, support him all the time. "You can sleep at the bedroom, i'll stay here" soobin finally let out a sound when they finished cleaning up the dining

"Do you want to sleep together" yeonjun softly asked, this is just to unfair for him. it's feels like he's benefitting too much of soobin's liking of him, the both of them did the same thing today. soobin can't just tell him he's more tired than the younger "Yeonjun you don't know what you're asking, i'm trying to behave here" the guy answered not looking at him and making himself comfortable in the couch "I just want you to be comfortable too, i'm not inviting you to do things" yeonjun whispered "please soobin" he softly asked the other, walking towards the younger, pulling his arm to go with him

Soobin only looked at him in the eyes, calming his nerves with the older's request. how can he resist such eyes, he said he's not inviting but those looks are insinuating. he really need a lot of control tonight. He finally stand up and followed the other in his room, yeonjun laying in the right side of the bed while soobin positioned himself in the left side, he's supposed to just face the bedside lamp convincing himself not to face the other guy when yeonjun spoke "binnie how can i sleep if you're turning back at me?" the guy softly asked, pulling the taller's shoulder to face him "hyung lets sleep" soobin finally answered closing his eyes.

⏩⏩⏩

The crowd’s thunderous applause is fading in the background, the bouquets and stems of flower are scattered in the stage, as the curtains of the stage went down. all of the actors hand in hand still in their bowing position, when everything went down Soobin and Yeonjun are still onstage. still in character. still caught in that last moment—eyes locked, breath heaving, chests rising and falling in sync.

Their final scene ended with a near-kiss. and now, the scene is over. something hasn’t ended. they stay there, in that breath, while the others begin to step back. everyone is already minding their business, fixing themself up. the back up are collecting everything whats left in the stage as both of the actor still in dazed of what's finished in them "are you alright?" soobin asked finally letting go of yeonjun hands and looking at him straightforward, yeonjun only shake his head. holding in to soobin's arm still catching up his breath "don't leave" he whispered "we're not done yet" he continue now also looking at the tallers eyes

"I can't bare with this anymore" soobin said, pulling the older's waist. they're centimeters away from each other still hesitating "I can't bare letting all this be done without knowing how both of us will end up" the younger continued looking through the other's eyes asking for permission. hands in the others nape wanting to pull the older closer "please let me have this hyung" soobin softly whispered, closing his eyes— tilting his head and then they kissed

the older let out a small yelp not wanting to back down until he felt the other massage his nape a little, eyes still open seeing everyone not present at the moment he finally put down his guard. pulling soobin closer as the other insisting his tongue inside, seconds after the both of them let go but still holding on to each other

"i love you for so long hyung" soobin catching up to his breath, hugging the older tighter. putting his face toward yeonjun's neck "i'm sorry if i didn't control myself" he softly said. yeonjun didn't do anything but to caress soobin's hair "i understand" he whispered giving the taller a small kissed in the head "you waited for so long, i understand" he repeated, he pulled the other chin to face him again "Off-stage. no script, no spotlight. Just us." he said giving the other another kiss

⭕⭕⭕⭕

there you go my lovies, hope you enjoyed this shot after so long. might as well share your thoughts too~ a vote is very appreciated

a lil survey for everyone: 2 soobin or a 2years old soobin???

i'm not saying what this is for but write to you again, bye~