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

Chapter 73: Confessions

"He loves you."

Steven looked away. "Don't say that just to be nice."

"I'm not. I wouldn't bother." Woongki sighed. "You were his first kiss. And his second. He still gets pink in the ears when he talks about it. When you walk into a room, he straightens his spine like you're the only one who sees him."

Steven's throat worked. "And Han?"

Woongki hesitated.

"...He loves him too, huh."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

Woongki set the drink down.

"He loves you both," he said softly. "In completely different, completely real ways. And that's the truth."

Steven stayed quiet for a long moment.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low. "Is it bad that I saw them and felt like the ground dropped out under me?"

"No," Woongki said. "It means you care."

Steven's jaw clenched. "I don't want to be jealous. I don't want to feel like I'm second. But -- "

"You're not," Woongki interrupted. "He doesn't rank you. You're not first or second. You're... different. And I think that might be worse."

Steven exhaled slowly. "So what do I do?"

Woongki looked up at him -- really studied his face.

"I don't know," he said honestly. "But whatever you decide... just make sure you're not waiting for him to choose. Love isn't a contest."

Steven nodded. "Thanks."

He turned to leave -- but then paused.

"...Did he kiss Han?" he asked.

Woongki didn't answer right away. He didn't look smug. He didn't look amused. Just... conflicted.

Steven's chest tightened. "Woongki."

Woongki didn't meet his eyes. "Twice, like you."

Steven blinked.

It hit slow. Like water through a crack in the dam.

"...Right."

He nodded again. Once. Then stepped back into the villa.

Behind him, Woongki whispered, to no one at all:

"God, I hope one of you survives this."

NIGHTFALL

Darkness had settled in the villa. Han had been standing in the hallway so long he forgot why he'd come out.

He just couldn't sit still. Not after what happened. Not after the kiss. The look on JL's face. The sound of the door shutting behind him like it meant more than just a goodbye.

He was pacing now. Shirt messy. Hair tousled. A man coming undone.

Woongki leaned against the far wall, sipping from a juice pouch like he'd been waiting the whole time. His hair was tied back with a chopstick.

"You do realize," he said casually, "you're wearing the universal expression for 'I got kissed so hard I forgot my name.'"

Han looked at him, jaw flexing. "For once, I agree with you."

Woongki studied him. "That's it? Just kissed?"

Han didn't reply.

Woongki gave a low whistle. "Damn. You got the deluxe package."