...Right?

But something told him this subway ride wasn't going to be the only thing he'd overthink today.

By the time they stepped out of the subway station, Jake finally let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of the day settle on his shoulders. That had been way too close.

Sunghoon, still typing away on his phone beside him, seemed unfazed by the entire ordeal. The two of them had managed to shake off the excited fans who'd been trailing them, but Jake still felt like he was being watched. The paranoia was real.

"Who're you texting?" Jake asked, trying to distract himself from the lingering anxiety.

"Our manager," Sunghoon replied, locking his phone with a swift swipe before shoving it into his jacket pocket. "Told him about the little incident. He's handling things, making sure no one follows us to the restaurant."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "And that actually works?"

Sunghoon smirked knowingly. "You underestimate his power."

Jake had to admit, Sunghoon was probably right. By the time they arrived at their destination, the streets were blissfully empty—no fans, no cameras, just the quiet hum of the city at dusk.

What did surprise him, however, was the place itself. They were a little farther from the city now, and the restaurant in front of them looked like something out of a cozy movie.

It was small, tucked away between buildings like it was trying to blend into the background. The sign was old, the windows fogged from the heat inside. It wasn't fancy or upscale—it was simple and warm, like a hidden gem that had been around for years.

Sunghoon pushed open the door, gesturing for Jake to enter first. Jake hesitated for a moment, looking at the worn-out sign above the door that read, Miyeon's Kitchen , before stepping inside. Immediately, he was greeted by the scent of something delicious—a combination of broth, garlic, and herbs that made his stomach growl.

The restaurant was just as unpretentious inside as it was outside. Wooden tables were scattered about, some occupied by lone customers lost in their own thoughts, others chatting quietly.

And behind the counter stood a sweet-looking old woman who was watching them with a wide, kind smile.

"Oh, how lovely!" she beamed, clasping her hands together. "You two are such a cute couple!"

Jake's eyes widened, and for a split second, his mind went completely blank.

"Ah—" he stuttered, about to correct her, when Sunghoon jumped in without skipping a beat.

"That's right," he said smoothly, slipping an arm around Jake's shoulders casually. "I'd like a table for me and my boyfriend."

Jake's brain short-circuited. His jaw went slack. "Sunghoon—what—"

The old woman clapped her hands, delighted. "Oh, wonderful! Right this way."

Jake was still staring at Sunghoon in utter shock, his mouth opening and closing as they were led to a quiet table by the window. As they sat down, he hissed under his breath, "Are you insane?"

Sunghoon just shrugged, unbothered. "What? It was easier than explaining."

Jake opened his mouth to argue, then closed it, realizing Sunghoon was kind of right. Still, the tips of his ears were burning with embarrassment. He picked up the menu and buried his face behind it, trying to ignore how hot his cheeks felt.

"You're ridiculous," Jake muttered, still processing what had just happened.

Sunghoon chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair with an easy, relaxed smile. "It's not the first time someone's thought that, anyway."

Jake shot him a glare over the top of the menu. "I'm serious."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "Remember McDonald's? Before we debuted?"

Oh. Oh, right.

The memory came rushing back—sneaking out for fast food, ordering their meals, and then—

"Couples eat for the price of one meal today. You are a couple, right?"

They'd been so flustered, neither of them knowing how to react. They exchanged a glance, then shrugged, played along, and paid for one meal because, well—better to save money. Also, they had been living off instant ramen and whatever they could find in the dorms for the past weeks.

But that had been a joke. A funny memory to laugh about later.

But this? Jake glanced at Sunghoon, who was casually flipping through the menu, completely at ease, like it was no big deal.

This felt different.

Jake's fingers tightened around the menu. His stomach did this odd flip, and he couldn't explain why. Why did it feel like his heart was hammering in his chest? They'd been friends for years—surely, this was just a bit of playful nonsense, right?

Sunghoon tilted his head, his gaze flicking over the menu. "You like beef stew, right?"

Jake blinked, snapping out of his spiral. "Uh, yeah?"

Sunghoon hummed in acknowledgment, then turned to the old woman, ordering effortlessly. "Two bowls of beef stew, please."

Jake watched as Sunghoon made the order, his heart giving another weird little skip. It wasn't unusual for Sunghoon to take charge like this. They'd always done that, ordering for each other without a second thought. It was just... natural.

So why was Jake's stomach still doing somersaults?

"Something wrong?" Sunghoon asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Jake cleared his throat quickly. "Nope. All good."

Sunghoon didn't look convinced, but he let it go, returning his attention to the window, the dim city lights flickering outside.

The food arrived soon enough, and Jake didn't even try to hold back a groan as soon as he took a bite.

"Holy—this is so good," he murmured, his eyes closing in bliss as the rich flavors of the stew warmed him from the inside out.

Sunghoon smirked from across the table. "Told you."

Jake didn't care about whatever weird crisis his brain was having anymore. All he cared about was the warm, comforting stew, and the way it made everything feel just a little bit better.

They ate in companionable silence, the only sounds the clinking of spoons and the occasional hum of approval. For a moment, just a moment, Jake let himself relax, sinking into the coziness of it all.

This was nice. He could get used to this.

Sunghoon finished his bowl first and set his spoon down, stretching his arms above his head. "Come on. We're going somewhere."

Jake froze mid-bite, staring at him in confusion. "...What?"

Sunghoon stood up, his eyes glinting with that usual mischievous sparkle. "You heard me."

Jake blinked, feeling like he had missed a step. "What do you mean we're going somewhere?"

Instead of answering, Sunghoon grabbed Jake's wrist, yanking him up out of his chair.

"Sunghoon—what are you—"

"No questions," Sunghoon cut him off.

"What—"

"No hints either."

"Are you kidding me—"

"Just follow me."

Jake's brain stopped working entirely as Sunghoon dragged him toward the door. He was going to combust at this rate.

The journey to the mystery location felt like a blur.

Every time he glanced at Sunghoon, who was completely engrossed in his phone, a new wave of frustration hit him. Jake could practically feel the smirk on Sunghoon's face even though he wasn't looking.

"You do realize I'm two seconds away from jumping off this subway, right?" Jake grumbled, his arms crossed tightly as they stood side by side, swaying slightly with the movement of the subway.

Sunghoon didn't even flinch. He just gave a nonchalant shrug, his fingers continuing to type rapidly. "You'd never."

Jake's eyes narrowed. "Oh yeah? Try me."

Sunghoon finally glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "Okay. Jump."

Jake opened his mouth to argue, then promptly shut it. He couldn't help the deep sigh that escaped. Damn it, Sunghoon was right. He wasn't about to just jump off the subway like some kind of crazy person.

Sunghoon chuckled, nudging Jake with his elbow. "Just be patient."

"Fine," Jake huffed, but patience was not his strong suit. Especially when there was an air of mystery hanging around Sunghoon's every word.

The rest of the train ride passed in a blur of silent annoyance on Jake's part and complete calm on Sunghoon's.

The anticipation was eating at him. Every second, his mind buzzed with questions he couldn't answer, and the more Sunghoon refused to give him anything, the more his curiosity grew.

By the time they finally stepped off the train and onto the pavement, Jake was on the verge of losing his mind.

And then—

He stopped dead in his tracks.

In front of him, gleaming under the bright overhead lights, was—wait, was that an ice-skating rink?

Jake stared, unblinking, as if the sight would disappear if he blinked. He glanced to his left, but Sunghoon was already looking at him, an almost smug little hum escaping his lips.

"Wait," Jake managed, still trying to process what was happening. "Why are we here?"

Sunghoon's expression remained unreadable, but the corners of his lips curled into a small, mysterious smile. "You'll see."

Jake raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "No, seriously, Sunghoon—"

Sunghoon turned to him fully this time, face serious in a way that made Jake feel suddenly very small under his gaze.

"Jake," he said, voice low, "do you trust me?"

Jake's brain momentarily shut down, caught in a loop. His heart skipped in his chest at the question, and for a second, he couldn't even remember how to breathe. Trust? Of course he did.

Without thinking, he swallowed hard, then sighed in resignation. "Yeah. I do."

Sunghoon's smirk returned, like a light turning back on after a long blackout. "Good."

Before Jake could even comprehend what was happening, Sunghoon had already handed him a pair of skates.

Jake stared at the skates in his hands as if they were about to bite him.

"Wait," he managed. "What is—what am I supposed to do with these?"

"You're gonna skate," Sunghoon answered casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Jake's eyes widened in panic. "You could've at least warned me about this, you know?"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "Would you have come if I did?"

Jake opened his mouth, then immediately shut it. He hated it when Sunghoon made a valid point.

Sunghoon laughed, a light, carefree sound that only made Jake feel more on edge. "Come on, let's get you laced up."

The moment they sat down on a nearby bench, Jake tried to prepare himself for the challenge ahead. He eyed the skates, the laces looking deceptively simple. All it took was some loops and a few knots, right?

Except—why was the lace already slipping out of his hands before he could even get started?

Jake huffed in frustration, yanking on it. He tightened the laces—then they slipped again. "Oh come on!" he muttered under his breath.

Sunghoon, still calm as ever, must have noticed the growing mess. In an instant, he was crouched in front of Jake, his hands hovering near Jake's feet.

Jake froze, heart skipping a beat. What—what was happening?

Then, as if it was the most normal thing in the world, Sunghoon reached for Jake's skates, effortlessly beginning to tie them for him.

Jake blinked, his entire body going stiff at the sudden closeness. Sunghoon's fingers were nimble, moving quickly, pulling the laces in smooth, practiced motions.

His face was focused, the slightest frown of concentration on his brow, but still somehow handsome. Why was this... kind of intimate?

"Relax, Jake," Sunghoon said without even looking up, voice amused. "You're overthinking again."

Jake flushed a little, snapped out of his haze, and muttered, "Am not."

Sunghoon didn't answer. He just finished tying the final knot with one last, swift tug, then patted Jake's ankle lightly. "There. All set."

Jake blinked, unsure of how to feel about the entire situation. The fact that Sunghoon was kneeling in front of him like that still felt strange. His head was swirling with thoughts he didn't know how to process.

Was this just friendly? Was this something more?

Sunghoon stood, brushing himself off, and held out a hand to Jake. "Alright, let's go."

Jake hesitated. His heart was still trying to catch up with his thoughts. This whole day had been so unexpected—an invitation out of nowhere, a weirdly romantic restaurant, and now this. Was this just another one of those casual, joke-filled outings? Or was this... different?

Was this the date? Was that what Sunghoon was getting at?

He wasn't sure, but as he looked at Sunghoon, his hand still outstretched, Jake realized one thing: he wasn't about to let the moment slip away.

With a deep breath, he grabbed Sunghoon's hand.

Sunghoon's smirk returned, warmer this time. "Good choice."

Jake, completely unaware of just how doomed he was, let himself be pulled along, following Sunghoon with a racing heart and a mind full of questions he wasn't quite ready to answer. But for now, he was okay with that.

Jake was struggling.

Not just physically—but emotionally, mentally, and existentially.

Sunghoon? Moving like the damn professional he is. Smooth, effortless turns, his balance perfect, cutting through the ice like it was second nature. His movements were sharp but graceful, every glide looking infuriatingly easy.

Jake, on the other hand? Not so much.

His legs felt wobbly the second he stepped onto the ice, arms flailing like a newborn deer, trying—and failing—to find his balance. It was like his body had forgotten how to function on solid ground, let alone something as slippery as ice.

"I thought you've skated before," Sunghoon said, smirking as he skated backwards with zero effort, watching Jake struggle. "I thought you'd have improved since I taught you guys in that one En-o'clock episode...guess I was wrong."

"I have!" Jake shot back defensively, trying his hardest not to look like a complete mess. "I'm doing just fine—"

And then—immediately tripped.

He barely managed to catch himself, arms flailing wildly as he skidded forward, somehow avoiding total disaster.

Sunghoon—being the annoying menace that he was—laughed.

Jake scowled. "Shut up."

"This is amazing," Sunghoon grinned, casually skating literal circles around him. "You're practically a comedy show."

Jake ground his teeth together. "I hate you."

"No, you don't," Sunghoon said smugly, gliding past him effortlessly again.

Jake glared at him, considering just chucking his skates at Sunghoon's back. But instead, he took a deep breath and tried to regain some semblance of dignity.

"Why did I agree to this," Jake muttered under his breath, nearly slipping again, his skates making a terrifying squealing noise against the ice.

Sunghoon hummed, tilting his head like he was actually thinking about it. "Because I told you to."

Jake shot him a glare, but Sunghoon's smile didn't even flicker. He was having too much fun at Jake's expense.

"Want help now?" Sunghoon offered, raising an eyebrow, a little too entertained by Jake's distress.

Jake scoffed, a burst of pride flaring up. "I don't need—"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow again, and Jake promptly almost ate the ice.

"...Fine," Jake grumbled, defeated.

Sunghoon snorted, skating closer. "Come here."

Jake narrowed his eyes, unwilling to look like more of an idiot than he already did. "Why?"

Sunghoon looked at him like he was stupid. "Do you want to fall on your face again?"

Jake had a very strong urge to say yes, just to spite him.

But before he could come up with anything clever, Sunghoon suddenly grabbed his wrists, tugging him forward—too fast—and before Jake could even process what was happening, he was right up against him.

Jake's brain malfunctioned.

Because damn. Sunghoon was close. Like— really close.

Jake could feel the warmth radiating off him despite the cold. Sunghoon's grip was firm but gentle, steadying him effortlessly, like it was normal. Like this wasn't affecting him at all.

Meanwhile, Jake was having a crisis. He could feel every little detail—the way Sunghoon's fingers were lightly wrapped around his wrist, the faint scent of his cologne mixing with the cold air, the way his chest brushed against Jake's arm as they steadied each other. And—gosh—his heart was beating way too fast for someone who was just learning how to skate.

"...Better?" Sunghoon asked, voice way too casual for someone who had just sent Jake into cardiac arrest.

Jake swallowed, trying very hard not to look at his face. "Y-Yeah," he lied.

Sunghoon smirked, not believing him for a second.

Jake wasn't sure what was worse—the fact that Sunghoon was so effortlessly good at this, or the fact that his heart was still racing.

Sunghoon took a step back, keeping a hand on Jake's waist just long enough to make sure he wouldn't topple over, his touch surprisingly gentle. "Okay. I'm letting go now."

Jake panicked. "Wait, I'm not ready—"

Sunghoon ignored him, hands slipping away.

Jake's arms immediately flailed for balance, but somehow, he didn't fall.

Sunghoon crossed his arms, watching with a lazy smirk. "See? You're fine."

Jake let out a breath, trying to ignore how his legs still felt unstable, but at least he wasn't eating the ice anymore. That was progress, right?

Sunghoon's grin widened as he skated backwards again, gliding smoothly like he was born with skates on his feet. "You're not completely awful at this."

Jake huffed, finding a little bit of pride in the backhanded compliment. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is," Sunghoon shrugged, skating further away, still watching Jake with a small, knowing smile.

Jake scowled but couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. He steadied himself on the ice, watching Sunghoon move with such ease, and for a second, he wished he could just glide like that—effortlessly, free from the ridiculous tension in his body.

"Don't get too cocky," Jake warned, suddenly finding his balance a little better. "I might catch up to you."

Sunghoon scoffed. "Not a chance."

Jake narrowed his eyes, determined. "Watch me."

And just like that, the ridiculousness of the situation hit him all over again.

Here he was, in a public ice rink at night, barely staying upright on skates, and yet... he didn't feel as embarrassed as he should.

There was something about Sunghoon's presence—his ease, his quiet confidence—that made it all feel less awful.

And maybe, just maybe, that was the most confusing thing of all.

Jake was focused.

Which, honestly, was a miracle considering how the rest of the day had gone. He'd been dragged into this ice skating thing with zero warning, zero preparation, and absolutely no clue what was happening.

But now? Now, his competitive streak had fully kicked in, pushing aside the confusion and chaos that had been circling in his brain since that morning.

Right now, all he cared about was winning.

And then, of course—Sunghoon had to ruin it.

"Okay," Sunghoon grinned, slowing down beside him, clearly not breaking a sweat. "Let's race."

Jake blinked. "NO???"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this a little too much. "What, scared?"

Jake exhaled sharply through his nose. This smug little—

"I hate you," Jake muttered under his breath,