~~~
Heesung's voice trembled slightly as he spoke, his eyes filled with sincerity. "Dan, I prepared these as my way of expressing how much you mean to me," he confessed, his voice laced with vulnerability.
"I've realized that my feelings for you go beyond friendship... I've fallen in love with you."
As Heesung confessed his love, Dan was taken aback, his mind struggling to process the unexpected revelation. He had never entertained the thought that Heesung might have romantic feelings for him, and it came as a shock.
Over time, Dan had moved on from any previous attraction he may have had toward Heesung, and their friendship had settled into a comfortable rhythm. He had thought that their bond was strictly platonic, and the idea of Heesung harbouring romantic feelings caught him completely off guard.
Stunned and searching for words, Dan finally responded, "Heesung, I honestly didn't expect this."
"Dan, you don't have to respond."
"Heesung, before I respond, I need to tell you something."
"Heesung, I'm deeply touched by your confession, and I appreciate your sincerity. But I can't date you because I'm already in a committed relationship with Jaekyung."
His heart aches for the pain he knew Heesung must be feeling. He understood the disappointment and longing that accompanied unrequited love and wished he could spare Heesung from that.
Dan's mind flashed back to a memory from their high school days. He remembered the Valentine's Day when he had mustered the courage to confess his feelings to Heesung, only to be interrupted by Ella, who had confessed her own feelings to Heesung before he had the chance to speak.
A sense of déjà vu washed over Dan, the memories of that past moment intertwining with the present. He couldn't help but feel a strange combination of surprise and irony as if history were unexpectedly repeating itself.
Feeling a mix of emotions, Dan found his voice and said, "Heesung, it's strange. I actually had feelings for you back in high school."
Heesung's eyes widened his expression a mixture of surprise and realization. "Dan, I had no idea," he confessed, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and regret.
"I was planning to confess on that Valentine's Day, but then Ella confessed to you before I could talk to you. It feels like déjà vu, but things have changed since then."
"I wish I had known back then. Things might have turned out differently."
Dan shook his head, a bittersweet smile on his face. "It's in the past now, Heesung," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "I have moved on from that time. Heesung, I honestly didn't expect this. I've moved on from any romantic interest I had in you, I may have had in the past, and I value our friendship a lot. I'm sorry if my actions or behaviour led you to believe otherwise."
Dan's emotions overwhelmed him, and tears rose in his eyes. He understood the depth of Heesung's emotions and the courage it took to express them so honestly.
Heesung's expression shifted from hope to disappointment, but he nodded understandingly. "I understand, Dan," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "I misread the signals, and I apologize for any confusion I caused."
As Heesung and Dan continued their conversation, Heesung mustered the courage to express his thoughts more explicitly. "Dan," he began, his voice filled with sincerity, "there's something I need to say. The reason I said yes when Ella proposed on Valentine's Day in our 11th year of school was because I felt pressured by the expectations and the people surrounding us. I didn't want to make her feel bad by rejecting her on the spot."
Dan's eyes widened slightly, taking in Heesung's words. He could sense the weight of Heesung's confession and the vulnerability behind it. He paused for a moment to process the newfound information before responding.
"Thank you for sharing that with me, Heesung," Dan replied, his voice gentle and understanding. "It takes a lot of courage to admit something like that. I can see now how the pressure and concern for Ella's feelings influenced your decision."
Heesung nodded, relief washing over him as Dan showed understanding. "It was a difficult situation, and I didn't want to hurt anyone," Heesung continued, his voice filled with remorse. "But looking back, I realize that it wasn't fair to Ella or myself. I should have been honest from the beginning."
Heesung continued to share the aftermath of his confession," Ella and I had broken up just a month after the Valentine's Day confession. Our relationship had taken a tumultuous turn, leading to an ugly fight."
Despite the breakup, they had managed to salvage their friendship, choosing to remain in each other's lives.
"So, even though we broke up, Ella and I managed to stay friends," Heesung explained, his tone tinged with a mix of relief and sadness. "But because we remained close, people assumed that we were still dating."
Dan nodded, understanding the complexity of the situation. "I can see how that would create confusion," he acknowledged, his voice filled with empathy. "It's not easy when others make assumptions based on appearances."
Heesung sighed, appreciating Dan's understanding. "Exactly," he replied, a touch of frustration evident in his voice. "We tried to clarify the situation, but some people just couldn't seem to grasp that we were no longer together romantically."
"I have to admit, Dan," Heesung confessed, his voice filled with a mix of regret and longing, "I think I might have had feelings for you even before everything fell apart between us. But I never realized it until I lost our friendship."
His voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "It took me a long time to understand and accept these emotions. I went through a lot of self-reflection during my time in Singapore for university, and I couldn't shake off the thought of you."
Dan listened attentively, his own emotions becoming more apparent. Heesung's confession was unexpected, yet it stirred something within him as well. He couldn't deny the bond they had shared, nor the impact Heesung had on his life.
"I didn't come back to Seoul just to confess my feelings. I missed our friendship, and I wanted to reconnect with you, regardless of where our paths may lead."
Heesung was an old friend, and they had shared many memories. However, Dan couldn't deny that his heart now belonged to Jaekyung, and their relationship had blossomed into something beautiful and meaningful.
Heesung's expression softened, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. "Dan, I appreciate your honesty and respect for your commitment to Jaekyung," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "I knew deep down that this might be the outcome, but I had to take a chance and express my feelings. I don't want our friendship to suffer because of this, though. Can we remain friends?"
Dan nodded, his tears slowly subsiding as he took a deep breath. "Of course, Heesung," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "Our friendship means a lot to me, and I don't want this confession to ruin what we have. We can navigate this together and support each other through it."
Heesung managed a small smile, his eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and acceptance. "Thank you, Dan," he said softly. "I value our friendship too, and I'm glad we can continue to be there for each other. You and Jaekyung are lucky to have each other, and I want to be a supportive friend to both of you."
Dan smiled softly, his heart touched by Heesung's vulnerability and understanding. "I believe it's important for us to explore our own paths and find happiness, Heesung," Dan expressed, his voice gentle but firm. "I hope that you will find someone who truly appreciates and cherishes you."
In response to Heesung's confession, Dan let out a small chuckle, trying to ease the tension in the air. "Well, Heesung," he said with a hint of humour in his voice, "I appreciate your honesty, but I think it's best if you drop me off at home now."
Heesung looked puzzled, not expecting such a response. "Wait, why? Is everything okay?" he asked, a mix of concern and confusion in his tone.
Dan smiled and reassured him, "Oh, don't worry. It's just that we've had quite a surprising conversation, and I need some time to process it all. It's not every day that a friend confesses their feelings, you know? So, I think it's best if we take a little break for now."
Heesung nodded slowly, understanding Dan's need for space. "Yeah, I understand. Take all the time you need, Dan. We can talk about it later when you're ready."
As Heesung dropped Dan off at his house, Dan thanked him for the ride and made a request. "Heesung, since things are a little complicated right now, I think it's best if you return the gifts you bought for me. I appreciate the gesture, but it's just not the right time for me to accept them."
Heesung appeared slightly taken aback. "I... I don't have the receipt," he admitted, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I didn't expect this, so I didn't think of keeping it. I'm sorry, Dan."
Dan paused for a moment, considering his options. "That's alright," he replied, a hint of resignation in his voice. "I understand it's not your fault. I'll keep them then. Maybe I'll find a way to give them a purpose."
As they began walking together, their conversation was interrupted by the unexpected encounter with Yoongu, Jooha's younger brother.
Heesung recognized him coming back from high school and his face lit up with a smile. "Hey, Yoongu! How's school been?"
However, instead of a warm and friendly exchange, Yoongu seemed to give Heesung a subtle side-eye, his expression filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Heesung noticed the change in Yoongu's demeanour and felt a twinge of unease.
Yoongu responded with a nonchalant nod, his gaze shifting between Heesung and Dan. "It's been okay," he replied curtly, his tone somewhat guarded. "What are you guys doing here?"
Dan sensed the tension and decided to step in, attempting to ease the situation. "We were just catching up, Yoongu," he interjected, offering a friendly smile. "Heesung was kind enough to drop me off."
"Okay, alright."
As Heesung handed the bags back to Yoongu, the younger brother's expression remained guarded, and his response carried a bitter undertone. "Thanks," he muttered, his voice laced with bitterness as he took the bags from Heesung's hands.
Sensing the tension, Dan stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Yoongu, is everything okay?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.
Yoongu looked at Dan briefly, his gaze softening slightly. "Yeah, everything's fine," he replied curtly, his bitterness still evident. "I'll take these inside. Goodbye."
Understanding the strained atmosphere, Dan and Yoongu made their way up to their house together, leaving Heesung standing there, slightly bewildered by the encounter.
Dan smiled at Heesung and said a quick goodbye.
Concerned, Dan approached Yoongu cautiously. "Yoongu, something seems to be bothering you. Is there something you want to talk about?"
Yoongu let out a sigh, his frustration was apparent. "It's Heesung," he confessed, his voice tinged with resentment. "I'm still angry with him from your high school days."
"It's alright Yoongu, I already moved on."
"Hey, Yoongu," Dan greeted warmly, his voice reflecting a hint of anticipation. "I wanted to talk to you about something important."
"Yeah."
Dan took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Well, I wanted to let you know that I'm dating someone. His name is Jaekyung," he revealed, his voice laced with a mix of happiness and nervousness.
"Really?" Yoongu's eyes lit up.
"Yup."
Yoongu's eyes widened in surprise, a smile slowly forming on his face. "That's great, hyung!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine joy. "I'm happy for you."
After they had dinner, Dan went for a shower.
As Dan stood under the warm water of the shower, his mind wandered through the events of the day. He couldn't help but reflect on Heesung's confession and the impact it had on him. Surprisingly, though, Dan felt a sense of clarity and assurance about his own feelings.
Amidst the steam and the soothing scent of the Vanilla and Cinnamon soap gel, memories of Jaekyung flooded Dan's mind. He remembered the moments they had shared, the laughter and the deep connection they had developed. He realized that his affection for Jaekyung had grown into something much deeper—it was love.
The realization washed over Dan, filling him with a mix of happiness and vulnerability. He allowed himself to feel the depth of his emotions, acknowledging the strength of his attachment to Jaekyung. The thought of Jaekyung made his heart flutter and brought a smile to his face even in the solitude of the shower.
As the water cascaded over him, Dan considered the potential implications of his newfound love for Jaekyung. He pondered how this might affect his friendship with Heesung and hoped that things wouldn't become awkward between them. But at the same time, he couldn't deny the overwhelming feeling of happiness that Jaekyung brought into his life.
"Jaekyung," Dan whispered to himself, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I have fallen in love with you, deeply and completely."
~~~
Thank you so much for all the messages and comments, I actually do read a lot of them when I have time. I might have to go on hiatus later in December for around three weeks because I will be having my final exams for this semester. Until then, I will be uploading weekly. Thank you!