Running to You | Park Han + JL + Steven | Haneulz + Stejay AU

Chapter 31: You Know He Loves You

Han got to the gym early. It wasn't as though he wanted to see them.

He told himself it was about routine. Warm-ups. Focus. Regional Qualifiers weren't going to wait for his feelings to sort themselves out.

But he kept checking the entrance like it owed him something.

And then they walked in.

JL in his KNSU jacket, hair damp like he showered late. Steven beside him -- hoodie slung over one shoulder, gym bag in hand. Casual. Too casual.

They weren't touching.

They didn't need to be.

It was in the space between them.

How they moved like they already knew what the other would do. How JL's shoulders weren't hunched like yesterday. How Steven didn't smile, but looked softer somehow. Settled.

Han looked away before they got close enough to see his face.

Didn't matter. He'd already felt it -- like a punch under the ribs.

JL didn't say good morning.

Steven did.

Han nodded.

The usual choreography. But everything was off.

JL went to stretch near the windows. Steven followed. Not right next to him, but not far either.

And Han?

He watched them from the mirror. Not directly.

Because directly would make it real.

He told himself it didn't matter. That the night before -- the fight, the yelling, the burn in JL's voice -- that was the worst of it.

But it wasn't.

This was.

This quiet, nothing-moment where everything had changed and no one said a word.

* * *

Woongki saw it.

He saw everything.

JL walking in like he hadn't cried into Steven's clavicle last night.

Steven doing the casual bro walk, but with that glow -- the post-emotional-connection one, not the skincare one (though also valid).

Han? Looking like he'd been drop-kicked by God.

And everyone else?

Oblivious.

Except for Woongki. The only one with his eyes open. The only one brave enough to say what needed saying.

So he opened the group chat.

[Team Chat]

Woongki: not to alarm anyone but steven and JL are giving "we shared an emotional secret and now my hand itches to touch your shoulder" energy
Jeongwoo: ...what?
Chih En: I noticed
Shuaibo: You ALWAYS notice
Juwon: Are they dating now or
Woongki: NO BUT THEY SHOULD
Woongki: like are we all just gonna pretend Han isn't literally glitching in the corner
Shuaibo: Please focus on your stretches
Woongki: I am stretching. Emotionally.

JL bent to retie his shoelace and Steven bent down with him. Like they were synchronized. Like a couple.

Woongki clutched his bottle of Pocari Sweat and hissed into it like it was a crystal ball.