OAO | Chapter 4

This was a rather typical Lee Kangyoon-like response. During his idol days, one might have thought he managed his image meticulously, but that wasn’t it. It was simply his personality. He didn’t take even the smallest matters lightly or do anything half-heartedly. In that vein, his current remarks made sense.

“Is there no other reason?”

I intentionally turned to look at him and asked with a smile. Kangyoon looked back with an expression that seemed to say, What more could there be?

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“No matter how much of a pretense it is, if we’re supposed to be a couple starting today, wouldn’t telling you to just pack up and move in stir unnecessary feelings?”

“…”

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“Living together.”

He pronounced the short phrase clearly. I watched him closely, curious about how he might react, but Kangyoon’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest. It was obvious he saw this as mere cohabitation between team members rather than between lovers.

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How boring.

I let out a brief sigh and sat back, facing forward. His complete lack of reaction made it all too clear that he had no interest in me whatsoever.

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Maybe it’s hopeless. Perhaps there really isn’t even the slightest possibility.

I forced myself to halt the negative spiral and composed my thoughts.

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Even if it’s bound to fail, I’d rather try and fail than regret not trying.

This was only the first step. It was far too soon to feel defeated.

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🎥🎤

When Kangyoon came out after his shower, Jaeyoon was sitting on the living room sofa, engrossed in something with a serious expression. Thinking it might be a movie script, Kangyoon approached, only to find a stack of A4 papers. The shabby state of the papers, unlike a script’s usual formatting, caught his attention. Sensing Kangyoon’s gaze, Jaeyoon looked up.

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“Finished showering?”

“What’s that?”

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Figuring it couldn’t be a drama or film script, Kangyoon asked, and Jaeyoon gave a playful smile.

“Curious?”

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Jaeyoon’s sparkling eyes and teasing tone gave Kangyoon an unexplainable sense of foreboding.

“Not really.”

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He responded indifferently and headed to the kitchen, opening the fridge out of habit. Pulling out a can of beer, he asked Jaeyoon if he wanted one, but Jaeyoon declined.

“I’ll take a quick shower too.”

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Kangyoon assumed Jaeyoon had already used the bathroom attached to the living room while he was showering, but it seemed he had been too absorbed in reading the A4 papers to do so. Jaeyoon placed the papers on the table and headed to the bathroom.

Kangyoon, beer in hand, sat on the sofa, and his eyes naturally fell on the table. The mess of unstapled A4 sheets was bothersome. He decided to organize them properly and staple them together.

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-Kangyoon pushed Jaeyoon against the wall, his fierce gaze bearing down as if ready to devour him. Jaeyoon’s trembling eyes looked back at him.-

While organizing the papers, Kangyoon’s eyes caught on a particular sentence, making him pause. Was it a coincidence, or were their names actually written there? Curious, he leaned back against the sofa and began reading through the sentences properly.

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A heavy silence hung between the two as they locked eyes. The prolonged silence seemed to weigh on Jaeyoon, who eventually turned his head.

“Don’t look away.”

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Kangyoon grabbed Jaeyoon’s chin, forcing him to face him again. As he gazed into Jaeyoon’s quivering brown eyes, uncertain of what to say, he slowly tilted his head forward. Unable to bear the closing distance any longer, Jaeyoon shut his eyes tightly, and in that moment, Kangyoon’s lips descended on his, consuming them.-

Kangyoon exhaled sharply and put the papers down. He knew exactly what this was. Although he hadn’t encountered it in recent years, back during their On&On group days, he had frequently seen fanfiction. Fanfiction featuring him and Jaeyoon, to be specific. Jaeyoon and Gyuho used to bring them in, laughing as they read them, likely to Hanjun’s horror and dismay.

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Why was Jaeyoon suddenly reading fanfiction again? Kangyoon chuckled softly. Jaeyoon must be trying to use it for reference, given all the talk about his upcoming film. It was endearing in its way. While Hanjun used to scoff that Jaeyoon’s popularity was solely due to his looks, Kangyoon knew better than anyone how hard Jaeyoon worked. Especially since transitioning to acting, Jaeyoon had been determined to shed the “idol-turned-actor” label, tirelessly practicing more than anyone else.

The image of Jaeyoon furrowing his brows as he seriously read fanfiction made Kangyoon laugh quietly. It was such a Yoon Jaeyoon thing to do.

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Kangyoon neatly arranged the A4 papers, stapled them together, and placed them back on the table. About 20 minutes later, as he was finishing his can of beer, the bathroom door opened. He turned to see Jaeyoon stepping out with a towel wrapped loosely around his lower half, using another to dry his hair.

“I told you to dry your hair properly.”

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Droplets of water fell from Jaeyoon’s wet hair, tracing down his shoulders and chest.

“Hmm.”

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Jaeyoon hummed softly, his gaze fixed on Kangyoon, and walked closer to the sofa. Assuming Jaeyoon was about to ask him to dry his hair again, Kangyoon looked up. Instead, Jaeyoon’s delicate face lit up with a gentle smile.

“Does nothing else faze you?”

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Leaning forward, Jaeyoon placed a hand on the sofa’s backrest, bringing his upper body close to Kangyoon’s face. The sweet scent of body wash filled the air, mingling with the sight of droplets gliding down his smooth chest.

Grabbing Kangyoon’s hand with his free hand, Jaeyoon guided it to his chest.

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“Don’t you feel like touching it?”

Kangyoon silently stared up at Jaeyoon for several seconds.

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“Ah, seriously.”

Jaeyoon sighed, releasing Kangyoon’s hand. Expecting Kangyoon to react to his nakedness had been futile from the start. After all, during their shared dorm life, they had gotten used to each other’s bare bodies.

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This was truly difficult. In many ways, everything was so familiar that there wasn’t anything left to feel excited about. Swallowing a sigh, Jaeyoon plopped onto the floor.

“Dry my hair.”

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Might as well just do what he usually did. Handing over the towel, Jaeyoon watched as Kangyoon silently accepted it and began drying his hair.

“Did you see that?”

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Jaeyoon pointed at the neatly stacked fanfiction on the table, prompting Kangyoon to respond lightly from behind him with a simple “Yeah.”

“What did you think?”

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“What about it?”

“How does it feel seeing a scene where you’re, you know, pinning me down?”

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There was no immediate answer. At least Kangyoon didn’t outright reject it with disgust or scorn, which was a small relief.

“You’re using it for reference for the film?”

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Rather than answering the question, Kangyoon asked another.

“Yeah.”

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Jaeyoon nodded, turning fully to face Kangyoon, looking up at him.

“Which is why…”

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Maintaining direct eye contact with Kangyoon, Jaeyoon flashed a bright, mischievous smile. His eyes curved charmingly as he grinned, and perhaps sensing trouble, Kangyoon’s face subtly stiffened.

It was better than brushing it off entirely—at least it showed some awareness.

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“That.”

Jaeyoon’s eyes flicked to the fanfiction on the table, leading Kangyoon’s gaze to follow naturally.

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“I plan to try it out.”

His tone was as light as if he were casually suggesting grabbing coffee. The meaning of his words didn’t seem to sink in right away, but when it finally registered, a faint furrow appeared on Kangyoon’s brow.

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“You’re not saying…”

“Yep. With you and me.”

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Jaeyoon made a point of physically gesturing between himself and Kangyoon with his fingers, all while maintaining that mischievous grin.

🎥🎤

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3:00 p.m. Front gate of OO Land. Let’s go on a date.

Kangyoon exhaled shortly as he read the brief message on his phone’s screen. Just a few days ago, the day he brought Jaeyoon home with all his luggage, Jaeyoon had mentioned trying out a “real” relationship—and it seemed he was serious.

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And of all things, he’d suggested mimicking the fanfiction scenes verbatim.

“Neither of us has any dating experience, right? Even if we’re just pretending to date, I wouldn’t know where to start. But look! We’ve got the perfect example right in front of us. Might as well use it.”

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Kangyoon hadn’t been able to find a solid argument to counter him.

“With your personality, there’s no way you’d come up with anything remotely romantic on your own. So at least pretend, follow the fanfiction, and make it believable. That way I can actually practice acting properly.”

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He couldn’t deny Jaeyoon’s point. Kangyoon was well aware he wasn’t the thoughtful, romantic type people expected of an ideal boyfriend.

When Kangyoon suggested they just use the actual movie script instead, Jaeyoon had oddly shaken his head.

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“Reading lines from a script is just surface-level. You need to understand the emotions first. And besides…”

Jaeyoon’s gaze had briefly lingered on the script left on the table. After a moment, he shook his head again, saying that the fanfiction, with their real names, made emotional immersion much easier.

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There wasn’t much Kangyoon could do as Jaeyoon steamrolled the conversation, leaving him with no real room to say no. And now, this message was the result.

A few quiet days had passed, and Kangyoon had thought Jaeyoon might’ve forgotten about it. Clearly, he hadn’t.

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“I heard you finished recording with the rookie group yesterday?”

This morning, Jaeyoon had casually asked this while putting on his shoes to leave. Kangyoon had nodded absentmindedly, only realizing now that Jaeyoon had probably been waiting for him to wrap up his work.

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A theme park, of all places. Kangyoon chuckled dryly at Jaeyoon’s choice of venue. When was the last time he’d been to a theme park? Probably back during his idol days, filming a variety show. Back then, he’d spent the entire time running around searching for hidden items.

Dating at a theme park felt foreign. His memories of theme parks were all about breathless exhaustion, so the idea of a date there didn’t sit quite right.

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Bzzz.

His phone vibrated again, revealing a new document Jaeyoon had sent him.

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“Read this before you come.”

Even without opening the file, Kangyoon could guess what it was. Sure enough, it was a scene from the fanfiction: Jaeyoon and Kangyoon’s first theme park date.

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Was he really expecting Kangyoon to reenact this word for word?

Kangyoon frowned slightly at the absurdity but opened the file anyway, skimming through it carefully.

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🎥🎤

After parking in the lot, Kangyoon walked toward the main gate and spotted Jaeyoon waving at him from a distance. Annoyed by Jaeyoon’s conspicuous actions, Kangyoon stiffened slightly, scanning the surroundings. Thankfully, there weren’t many people around—it was a quiet weekday afternoon.

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“Have you eaten lunch?”

The first thing out of Jaeyoon’s mouth was about food.

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“It’s 3 o’clock.”

Kangyoon pointed out the time, making Jaeyoon laugh sheepishly.

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“I haven’t.”

Jaeyoon’s response prompted Kangyoon to stifle a sigh. He wondered how someone who couldn’t even manage to eat meals on time had the nerve to suggest a date at an amusement park.

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“Let’s go in first. They probably sell food inside.”

Perhaps fearing Kangyoon might suggest heading back, Jaeyoon quickly produced the tickets he had already purchased.

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At the entrance, after showing their tickets, an employee secured wristbands for them.

“Have a fun—”

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The staff member, initially cheerful, trailed off mid-sentence. Her eyes widened in recognition.

“YoonYoon…!”

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Recognizing the nickname that combined Jaeyoon and Kangyoon, Jaeyoon responded with a soft smile, pressing a finger to his lips.

“We’re sneaking out on our day off.”

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His gesture for discretion was met with an excited nod as the staff member hurriedly covered her mouth.

“Thanks,” Jaeyoon added, flashing an even more radiant smile before walking past the gate.

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Once inside, Kangyoon let out a deep sigh.

“You’re way too reckless in a place like this.”

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It was a reproach directed at Jaeyoon’s lack of caution. Despite being a recognizable celebrity, he was wandering around without much thought to keeping a low profile. Kangyoon, for his part, only wore a hat pulled down low—not exactly much of a disguise.

“You’re the one people would notice, Hyung,” Jaeyoon retorted with a casual laugh. “What’s the harm? At most, people will just think it’s nice that we’re on good terms.”

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“I don’t care, but it’s different for you.” Kangyoon’s tone was serious, emphasizing the disparity in their public statuses.

“Hyung, you really don’t know your own worth. Just having the title ‘Lee Kangyoon, producer’ changes how people view album sales.”

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“Don’t exaggerate. It’s not that big of a deal,” Kangyoon dismissed the praise flatly.

“Do you even know that the ‘Blanche’ OST you wrote has the highest download count of all time for drama soundtracks?”

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“Blanche” was Jaeyoon’s drama debut. Although it was a supporting role, the character was solid and appealing. The drama production team had approached Jaeyoon’s agency with the condition that Kangyoon compose one of the OST tracks if Jaeyoon were cast. Initially reluctant at the idea of a “bundle deal,” Kangyoon had agreed without hesitation—for Jaeyoon’s sake.

The OST became even more famous than the drama itself, securing Kangyoon’s reputation as a sought-after composer and lyricist.

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“That’s ancient history for me,” Kangyoon deflected. “I don’t deal with public recognition anymore.”

“No, you’re just avoiding it,” Jaeyoon countered lightly. He had heard that Kangyoon still received numerous offers for appearances but turned them all down, preferring to focus on his music.

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“Go in there,” Kangyoon interrupted, motioning towards a family restaurant nearby.

“You could’ve at least packed a meal for yourself.”

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Jaeyoon simply grinned sheepishly, earning a rebuke about skipping meals until 3 PM.

“I don’t like eating alone,” he admitted.

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As a solo actor, unlike the days when he moved with a group, Jaeyoon often had to eat alone, whether in his car or between filming breaks. Kangyoon, while grumbling, ended up ordering food for both of them. Despite having eaten only two hours prior, he joined Jaeyoon so he wouldn’t have to eat alone.

This kind of Lee Kangyoon was impossible not to like.

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🎥🎤

“Are you seriously going in there?”

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Kangyoon pointed at the large sign that read “Horror House.” Jaeyoon swallowed hard but nodded resolutely. The fanfic scene he had sent Kangyoon included a part where the two visited a haunted house together.

“Think again,” Kangyoon advised with a deep sigh, but Jaeyoon insisted on going in.

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Kangyoon glanced at Jaeyoon, whose expression had already gone pale despite his attempt to look brave.

“It’s fine. It’s all just people pretending,” Jaeyoon reassured, forcing a smile and stepping forward. Kangyoon, resigned, followed him.

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Inside, the darkness was almost absolute, with only faint red lights marking the way. Jaeyoon occasionally glanced back to ensure Kangyoon was still there, his tension evident.

A sudden eerie sound—somewhere between wind and a woman’s sobbing—echoed, prompting Jaeyoon to yelp and grab the hem of Kangyoon’s shirt.

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“Want me to take the lead?”

With no option to turn back, Kangyoon offered to guide the way to the exit, but Jaeyoon shook his head furiously.

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“The back’s even worse. Something might jump out at me.”

The bravado Jaeyoon had shown earlier had completely vanished. Kangyoon noticed Jaeyoon’s trembling fingers gripping his shirt.

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Jaeyoon had insisted on going inside, so why was he pushing himself so hard now? All for some fanfic?

“Then walk beside me.”

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The path seemed a bit narrow for two men to walk side by side, but as soon as Kangyoon suggested it, Jaeyoon moved to his side as if he’d been waiting for permission. Tense and glancing nervously left and right, Jaeyoon’s actions struck Kangyoon as oddly endearing, and he let out a small laugh.

“…Don’t laugh.”

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A faint woman’s voice echoed from somewhere.

“Ahhh!”

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Startled, Jaeyoon pressed himself closer to Kangyoon.

“Did you hear that? A woman’s voice.”

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“It’s just part of the attraction.”

Kangyoon replied nonchalantly. Jaeyoon bit his lower lip as if trying to suppress his fear.

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“Something’s going to jump out, isn’t it?”

“Well, it is a horror house, so of course…”

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Before Kangyoon could finish, a woman in a bloodstained white wedding dress suddenly glided toward them from behind. Her face was streaked with what appeared to be black tears, possibly smeared mascara, adding a grotesque touch to her eerie figure.

Jaeyoon, following Kangyoon’s gaze, turned and saw the ghostly bride. Letting out a bloodcurdling scream, he collapsed to the ground in fright. Taking advantage of his reaction, the ghost bride extended a hand toward him.

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“Please… don’t leave me…”

Her distorted voice, likely modulated, sent shivers down Jaeyoon’s spine. He recoiled as far as he could to avoid her outstretched hand, his whimpering evident. The ghost lingered momentarily, staring at him, before turning to Kangyoon. But his calm and unaffected gaze seemed to catch her off guard. Looking almost sheepish, she eventually disappeared into the shadows.

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“You okay?”

Kangyoon extended a hand to the still-frozen Jaeyoon. After a deep, shaky breath, Jaeyoon took his hand and stood.

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“I just got a little startled…”

Embarrassed by his overreaction, Jaeyoon scratched the back of his neck. Yet even now, every faint sound made him flinch.

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“Your hand…”

Kangyoon tried to pull his hand away, but Jaeyoon clung tightly to it. Kangyoon sighed and held on tighter.

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“Let’s keep going like this. I’ll let go once we’re out.”

He started walking, leading Jaeyoon by the hand.

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“Ah…”

Jaeyoon seemed about to say something, but a sudden unsettling noise cut him off. Flinching, he silently walked alongside Kangyoon, gripping his hand tightly. Though he continued to scream at sudden movements—hands reaching out or ghostly touches brushing his ankles—he managed to avoid collapsing again. Instead, he clung tightly to Kangyoon’s hand, squeezing so hard it hurt.

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“Hyung.”

A child’s voice called out from somewhere, and Jaeyoon froze in place.

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“D-did you hear that?”

His voice quivered now.

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“A kid’s voice?”

“Yeah. Why is there a kid’s voice here?”

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Despite the horror theme, Jaeyoon frowned, saying it seemed inappropriate to use a child in such a setting.

“It’s probably a recor—”

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“Ahhh!”

Before Kangyoon could finish, Jaeyoon let out another scream and leaped onto him, wrapping both arms around his neck. Kangyoon glanced ahead to see a pale child’s face, weeping blood, projected right in front of them. It was just a hologram, but explaining that to the terrified Jaeyoon seemed pointless.

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A sweet scent tickled Kangyoon’s nose, utterly at odds with the spooky atmosphere. Looking for the source, he realized the fragrance was coming from Jaeyoon. Had he changed his cologne? Kangyoon wondered briefly but focused on calming the trembling man clinging to him.

Without a word, Kangyoon patted Jaeyoon’s back. Gradually, the trembling subsided.

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“Is it gone?”

Jaeyoon asked, his face buried in Kangyoon’s shoulder, too scared to look around.

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“Yeah.”

Only then did Jaeyoon lift his head, glancing around cautiously before letting out a deep sigh of relief.

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For someone so easily scared, he sure had insisted on coming here. Kangyoon recalled a similar incident during a summer special filming at an abandoned house for a variety show. Jaeyoon had pretended to be fine but had noticeably talked less and stopped smiling as much. Off-camera, sweat glistened on his forehead. Even after the shoot, he hadn’t been able to sleep properly.

And yet, here he was in a haunted house. Was this all for some fanfiction? It felt excessive.

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“Let’s go. The faster we get out, the better.”

Gripping Jaeyoon’s hand firmly, Kangyoon resumed walking. He suggested Jaeyoon close his eyes if he was too scared, but Jaeyoon protested, saying that would only make his imagination run wild. Over the next ten minutes, Jaeyoon screamed and clung to Kangyoon multiple times. Kangyoon silently thanked the darkness of the horror house for hiding Jaeyoon’s identity—no one would recognize the idol-turned-actor making such a commotion.

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🎥🎤

“Feeling better?”

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Kangyoon handed Jaeyoon a bottle of water from a vending machine. Jaeyoon, too drained to speak, simply nodded.

“Well, that was a failure.”

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Jaeyoon looked up at Kangyoon’s muttering. He wondered what he had failed at, but then Kangyoon casually responded with “following the fanfic.” Only then did Jaeyoon realize, and a soft sound escaped his lips.

In the fanfic he had sent to Kangyoon, Jaeyoon was indifferent to the ghost, while Kangyoon, who usually seemed cold and aloof, was the one startled by the spooky events. Jaeyoon laughed at seeing Kangyoon act tough while secretly scared, and Kangyoon, annoyed, pulled him in for a kiss.

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Jaeyoon hadn’t expected Kangyoon to pull him in for a kiss as in the fanfic. He had just hoped for some “shaky bridge” effect in the dark, alone together. Instead, all that had happened was that his awkwardness had been on full display. Kangyoon’s words confirmed it: it had been a failure.

Still, it hadn’t been entirely pointless. Holding a bottle of water in one hand, Jaeyoon looked down at the other. This was the hand that Kangyoon had tightly held as they walked through the horror house. Even now, he could still feel the warmth from it.

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“What are you doing?”

Kangyoon noticed Jaeyoon staring at his hand and asked with some curiosity.

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“Just trying to recall what it felt like.”

Still confused, Kangyoon furrowed his brow. It took a few moments for him to realize, and then he said, “Is there really anything to recall? It’s just holding hands.”

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Jaeyoon laughed weakly at the casual remark. It might have been “just holding hands” for Kangyoon, but for Jaeyoon, it meant something. Even though they were in the same group, moments like this, where they actually held hands, didn’t happen often. They would joke and hug, but they never held hands. Occasionally, during concerts, they would line up and hold hands while singing the last song, but that was different—it wasn’t just the two of them.

“It feels… different,” Jaeyoon mumbled, still staring at his hand. Kangyoon’s hand had been larger, rougher, but it had held Jaeyoon’s tightly. Even amidst the eerie sounds and the racing heart in the dark, Jaeyoon could feel his pulse racing for a different reason.

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“Really?” Kangyoon asked, leaning down and getting closer to Jaeyoon, who was sitting on a bench. Jaeyoon instinctively leaned back, but there was nowhere to go since the backrest of the bench blocked his escape.

“Shouldn’t the hug earlier mean more than just holding hands?” Kangyoon asked, though his expression and tone were indifferent.

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Jaeyoon hesitated. “That was just a reflex to the fear, so it doesn’t count.”

Honestly, Jaeyoon couldn’t even recall the hug properly, just the sensation of a big hand patting his back.

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“Want me to hug you again?” Kangyoon asked with no change in his expression.

Jaeyoon could hardly believe it. If Kangyoon had said that with a soft smile, Jaeyoon’s heart might have exploded, but Kangyoon was as indifferent as ever. It reminded Jaeyoon that he was just going along with it for the sake of the “movie,” not because of any real emotion.

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“Maybe later,” Jaeyoon said, waving his hand. He was still drained from the experience and knew that even if Kangyoon did hug him, he wouldn’t feel much right now.

Kangyoon just smiled faintly and sat next to him. “So, what do you want to do now?”

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Unlike when Jaeyoon had first joked about visiting an amusement park, Kangyoon now seemed genuinely interested in doing whatever Jaeyoon wanted.

“Should we ride the carousel?” Jaeyoon suggested.

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There had been a scene with a carousel in the fanfic, and at first, he had planned to recreate it, but as he imagined sitting next to Kangyoon on it, he felt it would be awkward, so he shook his head.

“Looks like you gave up on copying the fanfic,” Kangyoon said with a faint smile, his lips curling up slightly.

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Jaeyoon’s heart skipped a beat at that smile. Despite everything, it made him happy just to be here with Kangyoon, away from the everyday, sharing this moment. He had plans to make Kangyoon feel the same way eventually, but for now, there was no rush.

“Then can I do what I want?” Kangyoon asked, standing up.

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Jaeyoon nodded in agreement, and Kangyoon gestured towards a sign that read “Safari Tour.”

Jaeyoon laughed, finding the situation absurd, but as he followed Kangyoon, his expression turned more serious. There was no sweet scent lingering around Kangyoon anymore. Jaeyoon hadn’t realized it at first, but now that it was gone, he felt an odd unease, as if he had missed something important.

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🎥🎤

They had ended up having a great time. After the safari tour, they rode every ride and before they knew it, the sky had turned dark. What had started as a date had morphed into an adventure, feeling like they had traveled back in time ten years.

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Jaeyoon had never gotten to enjoy his youth fully, so he cherished every moment now, laughing and playing freely without worrying about anyone watching.

“Let’s go over there. I think there’s a light garden, like a luminaire,” Jaeyoon said, looking at a large map of the amusement park.

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When he looked up, their eyes met, and Kangyoon’s smile shone brighter in the dimming light, surrounded by colored lights reflecting off the buildings and gardens. Jaeyoon froze, realizing he had been staring a little too long. He quickly cleared his throat and turned his head, but Kangyoon continued walking ahead.

“Are you coming?” Kangyoon asked, looking back.

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Jaeyoon hurried to catch up and stood beside him as they walked, noticing the colorful lights everywhere. They didn’t even need to go all the way to the light garden; the whole park was already illuminated.

Suddenly, a loud “bang!” sounded, and Jaeyoon turned to see fireworks in the distance.

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“Looks like there’s a fireworks festival too. What do you want to do?” Kangyoon asked.

Kangyoon checked Jaeyoon’s intentions. He was suggesting that it would be better to go see the fireworks festival, as many people were walking toward that area to get a better view of the fireworks.

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After thinking for a moment, Jaeyoon shook his head. He knew the area near the fireworks would be crowded. He didn’t really want to head into that kind of crowd.

“I just want to go where we were going.”

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The path leading toward the Light Garden, away from the fireworks festival, was quiet. As they walked further, they barely saw anyone around. In the distance, there was a building shaped like a castle made of light. Even though many people had gone toward the fireworks festival, it seemed like there would still be people there.

“Kangyoon Hyung.”

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Jaeyoon deliberately slowed his pace and called out to him. Kangyoon turned around, as if wondering why. When their eyes met, Jaeyoon smiled and reached out his hand. Kangyoon, unsure of what to do, looked at his hand silently.

“Can you hold my hand again?”

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Since they had come this far, Jaeyoon thought there should be some progress. His smile grew warmer as he looked directly at Kangyoon. It was the kind of smile that could make anyone pause and be captivated if they saw it.

Kangyoon, who had been a couple of steps ahead, turned around and came back to Jaeyoon. He calmly looked at Jaeyoon’s hand before taking it. His large hand closed around Jaeyoon’s, and it felt different from the Horror House. The sensation of their palms touching was ticklish.

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“Wait a second.”

Jaeyoon pulled his hand away from Kangyoon’s grip and interlaced their fingers. Then, he looked at Kangyoon and grinned.

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“This feels more like a couple, doesn’t it?”

Kangyoon’s gaze shifted to their interlaced hands, but he didn’t say anything about letting go or making fun of the situation.

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“Let’s go.”

They continued walking, still holding hands. It felt like all his attention was focused on their joined hands. For that reason, there was no idle chatter. They simply walked, enjoying the cool breeze that had started to blow as the sun set.

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The tingling sensation that started in Jaeyoon’s palm seemed to travel up to his heart. It felt like a flutter, almost like a throb.

So, this is what it’s like to hold hands with someone you like.

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He felt a little, just a little, regretful that he hadn’t experienced such a simple, everyday sensation until now, at this age.

“The photo really turned out well, didn’t it?”

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Jaeyoon saw a couple walking toward them, appearing to be a couple. The moment he heard their voices, he quickly tried to pull his hand away from Kangyoon’s. But Kangyoon gripped their joined hands tighter, and Jaeyoon couldn’t pull free.

“Hyung, the hand.”

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“Why?”

Jaeyoon asked him to let go, but Kangyoon instead asked why they should. Jaeyoon subtly gestured toward the couple walking toward them, but Kangyoon’s expression didn’t change.

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“Let it go. No one cares.”

“But you never know.”

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Kangyoon had often reminded Jaeyoon to be aware of being a celebrity. If anyone saw them walking hand in hand, it might create rumors.

“You’re in a relationship, right? Then why worry about what others think?”

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Jaeyoon was left speechless at his calm response. He had underestimated Kangyoon’s character. This person wouldn’t care about the opinions of others once he was in a relationship. That was very much Lee Kangyoon’s style. Once he committed to something, he would be fully focused on it.

“It’s not real, though. Let go, please.”

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Sadly, since it wasn’t a real relationship, Jaeyoon didn’t want to make things difficult for Kangyoon by accidentally sparking any rumors.

“If you’re going to pretend, you should do it right. It’s an experience too. The feeling of worrying about being caught.”

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Kangyoon looked back at Jaeyoon and smiled faintly. It wasn’t clear whether he was teasing him or encouraging him to catch the emotions needed for the film, but Jaeyoon couldn’t focus on that. His heart was already racing, and just trying not to show his nerves was overwhelming enough.

The couple walking ahead passed by them.

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“Told you so.”

Kangyoon lifted their joined hands, as if proving his point. As he said, the couple walking by was too focused on each other to pay any attention to Jaeyoon and Kangyoon. Jaeyoon felt a sense of relief but was also amazed by Kangyoon’s composure.

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“Hyung, you’re definitely not the type to hide your relationship.”

Jaeyoon added with a sigh, and Kangyoon chuckled.

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“I told you I’ve never had a relationship.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

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“This is the first time, whether it’s a fake relationship or just pretending.”

Kangyoon added nonchalantly as he looked ahead, still holding Jaeyoon’s hand tightly.

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First. It was the first time for both of them. Kangyoon was the first for him, and he hoped it would be the last. Maybe it was a bit selfish, but he couldn’t help feeling that way.

His heart was full of excitement, anticipation, emptiness, and resignation. It felt like his heart was going to burst; it even started to ache.

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🎥🎤

On their way back, after having a late dinner, they arrived home around midnight.

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“Hyung.”

Jaeyoon called Kangyoon, who was taking off his shoes. Naturally, Kangyoon turned to look at him. Jaeyoon grabbed his jacket collar and pulled him toward him. Kangyoon’s upper body leaned forward, closing the distance between them. His eyes widened in surprise.

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“Thanks for today.”

Jaeyoon whispered, so close that his breath brushed Kangyoon’s cheek. They were close enough that if either of them moved just a little, their lips would touch.

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In the fanfiction, Jaeyoon would have kissed Kangyoon lightly here, then shyly turned away and run off. But this wasn’t fanfiction; this was real life.