Between Two

Chapter 22 : If I Had You First

Maki didn't mean to overhear.

He wasn't trying to eavesdrop.

But when he passed Jo's room and heard Harua laugh—that laugh—he froze.

Then Jo's voice. Soft. So soft.

"Still sore?"

A breathless giggle. "Shut up."

Jo again. "You're cute when you're flustered."

Maki's heart dropped.

There was a beat of silence. Then:

"Last night... meant everything to me."

Maki stepped back like he'd been slapped.

He didn't wait to hear more.

⸻

Later that day, Harua found him on the practice room couch—alone.

"Maki," he started, walking over. "Are you okay?"

Maki didn't look up.

"Did you love him?" he asked quietly.

Harua blinked. "What?"

"Before me." Maki's voice trembled. "Did you love Jo even back then?"

Harua swallowed. "I didn't know how I felt—"

Maki looked up now. His eyes were glassy.

"But I knew. I've always known what I felt for you."

Harua sat beside him. "I never meant to hurt you."

Maki's voice cracked. "But you did."

There was silence.

Heavy. Icy.

"You could've chosen me," Maki whispered. "You almost did. Remember?"

Harua remembered.

That night after the trainee showcase. When Maki held his hand behind the stage. When he almost kissed him.

Almost.

But he didn't.

Because Jo had been waiting outside. In the rain. With an umbrella. And a smile.

And Harua had walked straight into Jo's arms.

"I didn't want to lie to myself," Harua said, voice small.

Maki looked at him like he was breaking.

"Then why did you let me fall?"

⸻

By evening, the group was buzzing.

"Harua's acting weird," one member whispered in the kitchen.

"He's literally glowing," another said. "Like... post-date glowing."

"And Jo's been feeding him grapes," someone added.

"Wait, no—didn't you see Jo helping him stretch yesterday? He was basically massaging his thighs."

"His thighs, bro."

The room erupted in chaotic disbelief.

They all turned to look at the two boys sitting by the window—Jo resting his arm lazily behind Harua's chair, Harua pretending not to lean into it.

Too close.

Too comfortable.

Too obvious.

"Are they... dating?" someone finally asked.

"No way."

"Okay, but also... maybe?"

⸻

Back in Jo's room that night, Harua sat cross-legged on the bed, head in his hands.

"I feel horrible."

Jo looked up from where he was folding laundry. "About Maki?"

Harua nodded.

Jo came over, kneeling in front of him.

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"But I still broke him."

Jo took Harua's hands in his. "You loved me with your whole heart. That's not something to be ashamed of."

Harua looked down, eyes filled with guilt.

Jo gently tilted his chin up. "You were always mine, Harua."

A pause.

Jo leaned in, kissing his forehead.

"And I'll spend every day proving I'm worthy of that."

⸻

Meanwhile, Maki sat in the practice room.

Alone again.

Looking at the photo on his phone.

A picture of the three of them. Jo, Harua, and himself. Smiling. Younger.

Back when everything was still okay.

He pressed delete.

Then closed his eyes.

And finally let the tears fall.

_________