Chapter Text
Today’s good weather put him in a good mood.
Jungwon sat cross-legged on the cold metal bleachers, the sharp scent of grass and sweat clinging to the air as he watched Jay run across the field like it was the only place he was ever meant to exist.
“Left, Jay! Pass left!”
Jay didn’t even look tired. If anything, he looked alive—hair damp with sweat, shirt clinging to his back, eyes bright with focus and fire. Jungwon found himself smiling without realizing it, fingers digging into the sleeves of his hoodie as he leaned forward with every movement Jay made.
When practice ended, Jay jogged over, breathless and grinning.
“You stayed the whole time?” Jay asked, grabbing his towel.
Jungwon shrugged, trying to act casual. “I didn’t have anything better to do.”
Jay laughed, the sound warm and careless. “I’m grabbing water and heading to the locker room. Wait here, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Jungwon said, even though he’d already been waiting for much more than that.
Jay disappeared into the building, the heavy door slamming shut behind him.
And then—
“You’re seriously hopeless.”
Jungwon didn’t have to turn to know who it was.
Niki dropped down beside him, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket, eyes scanning the emptying field. “One day, your staring is gonna burn a hole through his jersey.”
Jungwon huffed. “I don’t stare.”
Niki leaned in closer, voice dropping like he was revealing a national secret.
“You know people can see you, right?”
Jungwon frowned. “See me doing what?”
“Staring,” Niki deadpanned. “Softly smiling. Sometimes sighing. Once, I swear you actually whispered his name like you were summoning him.”
Jungwon choked. “I did not—”
“You did,” Niki cut in, counting on his fingers. “Three times last week. Once when he stretched. Twice when he laughed.”
Jungwon buried his face in his hands. “Please pass away.”
Niki laughed, bumping their shoulders. “I’d love to, but I have to witness this slow-burn tragedy unfold in real time.”
The field grew quieter as the sun dipped lower, painting everything in soft gold. Jungwon stared at the entrance Jay had disappeared into like it might open just because he wanted it to.
Niki followed his gaze and smirked.
“You’re gonna end up doing something stupid.”
Jungwon glanced at him. “Like what?”
“Like going to the dark magic club and buying a love potion.”
Jungwon froze.
“It’s funny because they actually have one–”
Niki blinked. “…Wait. That was a joke.”
Jungwon’s smile was small. Guilty.
Niki stood up so fast he almost tripped over the bleacher.
“You’re INSANE.”
Jungwon laughed mischievously “Thanks for the idea!” He said, unsure himself if it was sarcastic.
“You’re actually going to try it?!” Niki says, hands raising up.
“You never know.” He replied, shrugging his shoulders.
Niki blinked. Once. Twice.
“You’re terrifying.”
Jungwon hummed, unfazed. Then frowned slightly and leaned back.
“Wait. Why are you even here?”
Niki paused, finger halfway through pushing his hair back. “Oh.”
He squinted toward the field, like he could summon the memory by force.
“I forgot— oh!” He snapped his fingers. “To look for someone.”
Jungwon raised a brow. “Who?”
“Sunoo.”
The name sat oddly in the air.
Jungwon stiffened just slightly. Sunoo. Jay’s best friend. Always laughing, always bright, always surrounded by people who seemed to orbit him naturally. The kind of person who felt… unreachable.
“Haven’t seen him,” Jungwon said, shrugging. “Why?”
Niki looked away too fast, kicking the metal bleacher lightly with his foot. “Just… needed to talk to him.”
Ah.
So that’s what that was.
Jungwon bit back a smile.
They were both completely hopeless, apparently.
The door to the locker building creaked open.
Jay stepped back out, hair still damp, duffel bag slung over one shoulder, looking unfairly good for someone who’d just run laps for an hour.
“Sorry,” he said, jogging over. “Coach trapped me in a lecture about hydration.”
Jungwon huffed out a soft laugh. “Sounds serious.”
Niki straightened instantly.
“Oh!” he said, far too loudly. “That’s my cue to leave.”
Jay snorted. “You just got here.”
“Yeah well,” Niki backed down a step, pointing vaguely behind him, “I remembered I exist somewhere else.”
Jungwon’s shoes clicked softly against the empty hallway as he made his way to the fifth floor. He paused in front of the second door on the left, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.
The room was darker than he expected, lit only by a few flickering candles that cast long shadows on the walls. Shelves lined the edges, cluttered with jars of strange powders, books that looked older than anyone should touch, and bottles that rattled faintly when the floor creaked.
He stepped inside, careful not to knock anything over, his eyes scanning over everything in a mixture of awe and nerves. Spellbooks stacked in uneven piles, curious trinkets dangling from hooks, and strange symbols drawn into the floor made his chest tighten with fear—and a little excitement.
“Looking for anything?”
The voice was low, smooth, and a little teasing. Jungwon jumped, spun around—and froze.
Standing near the far corner, leaning casually against a shelf with a small smirk, was a boy with dark hair and eyes that seemed to see right through him.
“Fuma,” Jungwon whispered, half-relieved, half-alarmed.
The boy’s grin widened. “Going shopping, huh? Or… something a little more personal?”
Jungwon swallowed, suddenly aware of how exposed he felt in the quiet room, surrounded by the scent of herbs and the faint metallic tang of something… magical.
Jungwon cleared his throat, trying to act casual but failing spectacularly. “Uh… I—um… I heard this club… sells… potions.” His words stumbled over each other, and he immediately regretted them.
Fuma’s smirk deepened, eyes glinting in the candlelight. “Potions, huh? That’s… a very specific request. Especially for a quiet little fifth-floor visitor.” He stepped closer, letting his fingers trail along the edge of a cluttered shelf as if testing Jungwon’s reaction.
Jungwon swallowed. “I… I need one.”
“Need one?” Fuma echoed, tilting his head, amused. “Love troubles?”
Jungwon froze. How did he know? How could he possibly know?
“I—maybe,” he admitted, cheeks heating. “It’s… for someone.”
“I—maybe,” he admitted, cheeks heating. “It’s… for someone.”
Fuma leaned back against the shelf, crossing his arms, clearly enjoying the moment. “Someone, huh? Longing, unrequited feelings, a crush you can’t stop staring at… I get it.” His tone was teasing, almost mocking, but not unkind.
Jungwon’s heart thudded painfully in his chest. “Yeah… that’s… exactly it.”
Fuma’s grin turned sly, and he clapped his hands once. “Well, lucky for you, you found me. Love potions aren’t for amateurs… but I might just be able to help.”
Jungwon’s eyes widened. “You… you can?”
God this was a punch to his dignity
Fuma shrugged, walking over to a dark wooden cabinet and pulling out a small, opaque vial that glowed faintly in the dim light. “Of course. But everything comes with a price. Nothing’s free in this world, little visitor.”
Jungwon stared at the vial like it was the answer to all his prayers—and a warning all at once.
“Price? What is it?”
“One day, you’ll owe me a favor. And I’ll decide what it is.” Fuma replies. “And you, however, cannot deny it no matter what.”
“Woah– hold on, how am I so sure you won’t tell me to jump off a cliff or something?” He replies, taking a step back.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill ya.”
Fuma held up the vial, thumb-sized, glowing faintly in the dim candlelight. “This,” he said, letting it catch the light just so, “is your love potion. Tiny, but potent. Mix it carefully to a drink—too much, and things get… unpredictable. Too little, and it’ll barely do a thing.”
Jungwon stared at the vial, heart thumping so hard he was sure Fuma could hear it.
“Whoever drinks it,” Fuma continued, leaning casually against the shelf, “will… like you. For sure.” His grin was sly, teasing, knowing. “Guaranteed.”
Jungwon blinked. “…Guaranteed?”
Fuma raised an eyebrow. “Yeah! For sure.”
Jungwon chewed on his bottom lip, shaking his head. “Wait… hold on. Before I owe you a favor…” He gestured vaguely at the glowing vial. “…we don’t even know if this is going to work. And even if it does… What if it goes wrong? What if it doesn’t do what I expect?”
Fuma shrugged, as if it were obvious. “That’s the risk of magic, little visitor. Everything comes with uncertainty. You want results, you pay the price.”
Jungwon swallowed, staring at the potion like it might solve all his problems—or ruin everything. His chest felt tight. He could feel the weight of what he was about to do.
“And the favor?” he asked quietly, almost to himself.
Fuma’s grin widened, eyes glinting. “Oh, that… you’ll know when the time comes. But,” he added, lifting a finger like it was an important warning, “the potion only lasts three days. After that… well, the magic fades, and feelings… settle back to whatever they were before.”
Jungwon’s stomach twisted. A favor owed, a potion that might work—but only for three days—and a crush he couldn’t stop thinking about. And yet… somehow, despite all of it, he was dangerously close to nodding.
Fuma reached for his hand, opening his palms before putting the small vial on his hand.
Jungwon stared down at the tiny vial in his hands, the candlelight glinting off its smooth surface. Three days. That was all. Three days to make someone feel something real—or at least… real enough to matter.
A favor owed. Magic he couldn’t fully trust. And Jay. His stupid, infuriating, impossible crush.
He took a deep breath, sliding the vial into his pocket. “I’ll figure it out,” he muttered under his breath. Not now. Not here. But soon.
Fuma’s eyes glinted in the flickering candlelight, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “Of course. Just remember… the magic doesn’t wait forever, Jungwon. Neither do feelings.”
Jungwon nodded stiffly, clutching the vial like it was both a promise and a threat. Without looking back, he left the darkened room, the door creaking softly behind him.
The hallway was quiet as he made his way down the fifth floor, each step heavy with anticipation and fear. Outside, the world looked the same as it always did—but in his pocket, the tiny vial seemed to hum with possibilities, dangerous and thrilling all at once.
When he finally reached home, he placed the potion carefully on his desk, staring at it as if it could answer all his questions. He wasn’t ready yet. Not to mix it, not to use it. But having it in his possession felt like the first step toward something he wasn’t sure he should want… and couldn’t stop wanting anyway.
.
.
.
.
Jungwon gripped the bottle tighter, red liquid glinting under the cafeteria lights. He took a step toward Jay’s table, heart hammering. Jay, laughing with his friends, hair slightly damp from practice… This was it.
But then his chest tightened. His stomach turned. And suddenly, he couldn’t do it. Not today. Not like this.
He turned on his heel, taking a few hurried steps away, telling himself it was fine, that he could wait. That he’d figure out another way.
And then—
“Red Gatorade? Can I have a sip?”
Jungwon froze.
Sunoo.
Walking casually toward the same area, tray in hand, eyes scanning the tables. Before he could stop him, before he could even think of a plan, Sunoo reached out and took the bottle from Jungwon’s hand.
The liquid touched his lips.
Jungwon’s heart nearly stopped. No, no, no, no—
Sunoo took just a sip, and that was enough. His eyes widened slightly, and he stumbled back, sleeve coming up to cover his mouth.
And then… his gaze locked onto Jungwon’s.
“Red’s my favorite,” he murmured, voice low but clear, a small, almost shy smile tugging at his lips.
And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving Jungwon frozen, heart hammering, and a very, very big problem sitting squarely in his lap.
Jungwon’s eyes followed Sunoo as he walked away, a ridiculous little smile still plastered on his face. And then reality hit him like a ton of bricks.
He drank it. He actually drank it. The potion.
“No, no, no, no, no!” Jungwon hissed under his breath, clutching his head like he could think harder and somehow undo what had just happened. His heart was hammering so fast he was sure it was audible over the cafeteria chatter.
Sunoo was still walking, humming softly, completely oblivious to the fact that he’d just fallen under a love spell for Jungwon—someone he barely knew.
Jungwon looked down at the red Gatorade bottle in his hands, now empty except for a few drops. How—how could I be so stupid?
He stumbled toward the nearest table, collapsing into a chair, head in his hands. “This… this is not supposed to happen! It’s not supposed to—”
A voice in the back of his mind reminded him, mercilessly: the potion worked instantly, and now, for the next three days… Sunoo was going to like him. Of course it had to be the one person who wasn’t his crush.
Jungwon groaned, leaning back, staring at the ceiling. “What the hell am I going to do?”
Because he knew—oh, he knew—there was no simple way to fix this.
And somehow, in the chaos of it all, the only thing he could think about was that small, shy smile Sunoo had thrown over his shoulder as he walked away.
.
.
.
.
Jungwon burst into the dark magic club room like a storm, cheeks flushed, hair sticking to his forehead.
“Fuma! You have to help me!” he begged, voice cracking. “Sunoo—he drank it! The potion! This isn’t supposed to happen—I didn’t even—”
Fuma leaned back against the shelf, arms crossed, watching him with an unreadable expression. “Calm down, Jungwon. There’s no easy way to fix this.”
“What do you mean ‘no easy way’?” Jungwon’s hands shook.
Fuma sighed, like it pained him to be the bearer of terrible news. “The potion lasts three days. There’s nothing you can do now but… wait. Carefully. Strategically.”
Jungwon groaned, dragging his feet as he trudged toward the school gate, rain already beginning to spit down. His hoodie did little to keep him dry, and the cold droplets made him shiver with frustration.
He was about to break into a sprint through the rain—desperate to —when suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.
“Hey! Wait.”
He looked up. Sunoo. Rain dripping from his hair, a small, exasperated smile tugging at his lips.
“You’re not running off in this,” Sunoo said, voice calm but firm. He held up an umbrella and, before Jungwon could protest, shoved it into his hands. “Share this with me.”
Jungwon’s heart stuttered. “Uh… I—”
“No arguments,” Sunoo said, tugging him closer so the umbrella covered both of them. “You’re not allowed to get soaked.”
They walked in awkward silence for a moment, the sound of rain pattering around them filling the gaps. Jungwon’s mind was a chaotic swirl of panic, guilt, and… something else he couldn’t quite name.
Finally, they reached the bus stop. Sunoo glanced at him, expression unreadable, but the faintest spark of a smirk lingered.
“Pay me back for this,” he said casually, tapping the umbrella against Jungwon’s shoulder, “I’m taking you somewhere with me tomorrow.”
Jungwon’s stomach flipped. “o-okay.”
Sunoo smiled, small and victorious, and pulled the umbrella a little closer as the bus lights flickered in the distance.
And just like that, Jungwon realized—his life had officially spiraled into chaos. And he had no idea how he was going to survive the next three days.
.
.
.
.
Jungwon sat on his bed, hoodie still damp from the rain, staring at the small vial on his desk. Red Gatorade. Potion. Disaster.
What have I done?
He ran a hand through his hair. Sunoo. The way he’d grabbed his wrist. The way he’d smiled, small but victorious, telling him to “pay him back” tomorrow…
Jungwon groaned. Tomorrow?! What am I even supposed to do?
He imagined it over and over: walking next to Sunoo, holding an umbrella together, trying not to panic while Sunoo looked at him with those bright, infuriating eyes… eyes that now, thanks to the potion, liked him. Liked him.
What do I even do?
He surely can’t tell Sunoo that the gatorade he just sipped on so casually was actually a potion for his best friend. No way in hell.
Because now… Jungwon realized he wasn’t just panicking about a potion gone wrong. He was panicking about being around Sunoo, who was under the potion, who liked him, and who had no idea how much trouble he was about to be in.
And somehow, that thought made his chest tighten in a way he didn’t entirely hate.
.
.
.
.
It was the first day of the potion’s effect.
Jungwon sat alone on the bleachers, legs dangling, fingers wrapped around his water bottle. The field stretched out before him, empty except for stray soccer balls and the faint echo of distant voices. He was trying—and failing—to calm the chaos swirling in his mind.
“Jungwon?”
He jumped slightly, looking up to see Niki standing a few steps away, arms crossed, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.
“Hey,” Niki said, walking closer. “How are things going… with Jay?” His tone was casual, but the way his eyes twinkled gave him away.
Jungwon hesitated, shrugging. “Uh… fine, I guess.”
Niki leaned against the rail, smirking. “You didn’t actually put a potion on him, did you?”
Jungwon froze for a split second. Then he shook his head. “No. Of course not.”
“Really?” Niki’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t look convinced.”
Jungwon forced a small smile, hoping he didn’t look guilty. “It’s… complicated.” Half-lie. Half-truth. Niki didn’t need to know about Sunoo.
Before Niki could press further, a familiar voice interrupted.
“Sorry for cutting in on your little chat.”
Jungwon’s head snapped up. Sunoo. Standing a few steps behind Niki, giving a sheepish grin, hands shoved casually into his pockets.
Niki’s face lit up instantly. “Sunoo! What are you doing here?”
Sunoo waved a hand, and Niki practically melted in his presence, talking faster, laughing louder, clearly smitten.
Jungwon, meanwhile, felt his chest tighten. And then Sunoo’s gaze landed on him.
“So… are you ready for our… date later?” Sunoo asked, a playful glint in his eyes.
Niki’s jaw tightened. His eyes widened in disbelief. “…Date?” The word hung in the air, heavy, unspoken questions lurking beneath it. His shoulders slumped slightly, a faint frown forming.
“Date?” Jungwon’s voice cracked, and he practically choked on the word. “I.. you didn’t even tell me where we’re going.”
“You’ll see,” Sunoo replied smoothly, smiling that infuriating, knowing smile that made Jungwon’s stomach do weird flips.
Niki blinked, voice low and uncertain. “I… didn’t know you guys were… close.”
Jungwon’s face heated. “Ah… a little?” He forced a shrug, trying to act casual, though his heart was hammering.
Behind Jungwon’s internal crisis, Niki’s fingers curled tightly around the metal railing, his gaze dropping for just a second too long before he looked away.
.
.
.
.
The bell echoed through the hallway, and Jungwon stepped out of the classroom with his bag slung over one shoulder, mind still hazy from everything that had happened that day.
He headed toward the school gate, he didn’t expect to actually be going to this– date?
But then he saw him.
Sunoo leaned casually against the wall, one foot propped up behind him, arms crossed loosely over his chest. The late afternoon light hit him just right—soft, warm, unreal. And for the first time, Jungwon really looked.
He’d been so focused on Jay for so long that he’d never noticed how pretty Sunoo actually was. How his smile lingered. How effortlessly bright he looked just standing there, waiting.
Sunoo caught him staring.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
“You’ve fallen for me already?”
Jungwon’s face heated instantly. “You—no.”
He walked up to him anyway, trying to act normal. “You’ve been waiting long?”
Sunoo shrugged. “Ten minutes… give or take.”
Jungwon blinked. “You waited?”
Instead of answering, Sunoo stepped closer and, without asking, gently took Jungwon’s phone from his hand. His fingers were warm. Familiar, somehow.
Jungwon froze. “Hey—”
Sunoo tapped quickly, then handed the phone back.
On the screen, his contact list now had a new name.
Jungwon stared. “…Why is it a sun emoji?”
Sunoo tilted his head, amused. “What? Tell me next time when your classes end, okay?”
Jungwon blinked up at him. “Next time?”
Sunoo pushed off the wall, smile soft but certain. “Yeah. Next time.”
And just like that, he walked past him, leaving Jungwon staring at the tiny sun icon on his screen like it had completely rewritten his brain chemistry.
.
.
.
.
The passenger door shut with a soft click, and suddenly it was just the two of them inside Sunoo’s car.
Jungwon fidgeted with the strap of his bag, glancing around. The interior smelled faintly of something sweet and clean—like candy and new fabric.
“…Where are we even going?” he asked, finally breaking the silence.
Sunoo started the engine, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting casually near the gearshift. He glanced at Jungwon out of the corner of his eye.
“Shh,” he said, a small smile playing on his lips. “It’s a secret.”
Jungwon huffed. “That’s not comforting.”
The car pulled out of the parking lot, and the silence slowly grew heavier. The kind that made Jungwon hyper-aware of the sound of his own breathing.
Sunoo tapped the screen of the stereo lightly.
“Play something,” he said. “It’s getting awkward.”
Jungwon blinked. “Me?”
“Yeah,” Sunoo nodded. “Pick a song. Something you like.”
Jungwon scrolled through the playlist, fingers hovering nervously before tapping on a song he didn’t even overthink.
The opening notes of Electric Love filled the car.
A beat of silence.
And then—
“Oh. Oh.” Sunoo’s eyes lit up. “You like this song?”
Jungwon blinked at him. “You do too?”
Sunoo let out a soft laugh, already nodding to the rhythm. “It’s literally one of my favorites.”
Something in the air shifted.
The awkwardness melted into something warm and easy as they both started lightly bobbing their heads. Sunoo tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, and Jungwon found himself smiling without meaning to.
By the time the chorus hit, Sunoo turned the volume up just a little.
They didn’t sing.
They just… vibed.
And for a moment, Jungwon forgot about potions, and stress, and crushes that weren’t supposed to exist.
It was just music.
And soft laughter.
And the quiet feeling that maybe this wasn’t going to be as terrible as he thought.
.
.
.
.
Jungwon woke up slowly.
The car was still.
The seat was reclined.
And something warm was draped over his shoulders.
He blinked, confused, when he realized it was a hoodie — the one Sunoo had been wearing earlier. It smelled faintly like laundry detergent and something sweet.
He shifted slightly, the movement small, careful.
Click.
That tiny sound was enough.
Sunoo looked up from his phone. “You’re awake already?”
Jungwon pushed himself up a little, sleepy eyes blinking against the fading light. “I—” He froze, realizing he’d fallen asleep. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I said we were going to go out together and now the sun’s about to set and I just—”
Sunoo’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Hey. It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
Jungwon paused. “…Really?”
“Really.”
Something felt… different. Quieter. Safer.
Something felt… different. Quieter. Safer.
Jungwon blinked again, finally registering the faint noise outside the car. Laughter. Distant music. The low hum of voices.
He turned toward the window.
There were lights. Warm, golden lights — strings of them — glowing somewhere beyond the trees.
People moving. A crowd.
He frowned slightly, still half-asleep.
“…Where are we?”
Sunoo glanced out the window too, phone slipping face-down into his lap, a subtle excitement flickering in his eyes.
“You’ll see,” he said.
And somehow, Jungwon believed him.
Sunoo got out of the car first, moving around to Jungwon’s side and opening the door before he could even think about it.
“Come on,” he said, holding out a hand.
Jungwon blinked at him, still wrapped in Sunoo’s hoodie, and took it.
The moment he stepped outside, the world opened up.
Lights.
So many lights.
Warm, golden lanterns strung across booths. Paper banners fluttering gently in the breeze. The soft hum of music mixing with laughter, chatter, and the smell of street food in the air.
“A… festival?” Jungwon breathed.
Sunoo hummed beside him. “Mhm.”
Jungwon turned slowly, taking it all in, eyes wide like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time.
It was beautiful.
No—it was magical.
He looked… genuinely happy.
And Sunoo noticed.
He always did.
Sunoo watched him quietly, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets, a soft smile forming at the way Jungwon’s eyes sparkled under the hanging lights.
He looked good like this. Relaxed. Bright.
They walked a little farther until they reached a small open space overlooking the festival grounds.
The sky above them was painted in deep shades of orange and gold, the sun slowly sinking behind the horizon. The lanterns below mirrored it, flickering like tiny stars fallen to earth.
Jungwon leaned slightly on the railing, looking out.
“This is… really pretty,” he said softly.
Sunoo glanced at him.
“Yeah,” he replied.
But he wasn’t talking about the festival.
They didn’t rush.
They didn’t need to.
They wandered.
They stopped to watch a small band performing near the main stage, the music floating through the air while people clapped along. Sunoo leaned in and explained what was happening when Jungwon looked confused, and Jungwon laughed louder than he usually ever did.
They tried the little booth games — tossing rings, popping balloons, aiming tiny darts at cheaply painted targets.
Jungwon missed completely.
Sunoo didn’t.
He handed Jungwon the tiny shark plush that he won from the game like it meant something.
They walked with warm paper trays of food balanced carefully between them — sweet pastries dusted with sugar, skewers still steaming, cups of soda that fizzed when they tilted them.
Sunoo insisted Jungwon try everything.
Jungwon didn’t say no.
They bumped shoulders when they walked too close together. Their hands brushed and didn’t pull away fast enough to make it awkward.
And somehow… it wasn’t.
It was easy.
Like they’d known each other longer than they actually had.
Every glance was softer. Every laugh stayed longer. Every moment stretched just enough that Jungwon forgot what he’d been worried about before.
By the time the sky had turned deep blue and the lights looked brighter than before, Jungwon realized something.
He was having fun.
Real, honest, unforced fun.
And when he looked at Sunoo, he found him already looking back.
Not because of the potion.
Not because of anything magic.
Just because.
They didn’t talk about it.
They didn’t have to.
They just kept walking, shoulders brushing, laughter echoing around them like they fit perfectly into each other’s quiet.
The crowds were thinner when they finally slowed down.
The music was softer in the distance. The lights above them glowed warmer, gentler.
Jungwon sat on the edge of a low stone wall, swinging his legs slightly while Sunoo stood beside him, eating the last bite of cotton candy.
And that’s when it hit him.
He was too comfortable.
He was laughing too easily. Sitting too close. Forgetting to feel guilty.
Because everything was fake. It was all because of a potion.
It was never supposed to be this.
Jungwon stared at the ground, fingers curling against the fabric of the hoodie he was still wearing. Sunoo’s hoodie.
He swallowed.
This isn’t real, he told himself.
It’s the potion.
But the warmth in his chest didn’t feel fake.
Sunoo noticed the shift. He always did.
“You got quiet,” he said gently.
Jungwon nodded, not trusting his voice.
He looked up at Sunoo.
Really looked at him.
The soft way the lantern light caught in his hair. The way his eyes curved when he smiled. The way he leaned closer without thinking twice.
Jungwon’s heart hurt.
Because for the first time, he wondered — painfully and frighteningly —
What if it wasn’t the potion?
What if he was the one starting to fall instead?
Suddenly, Sunoo gently reached out to his hand.
A loose string in his sleeve.
“Hold still,” he murmured.
Jungwon froze.
Sunoo’s fingers brushed over his wrist, warm and careful as he fixed the thread, movements slow like he was trying not to scare him away.
“There,” Sunoo said softly.
Jungwon swallowed. “You didn’t have to…”
Sunoo shrugged, small smile on his lips. “I wanted to.”
The words landed heavier than they should have.
They stood there in silence, close enough that Jungwon could hear Sunoo’s breathing, close enough that it made his chest ache.
Then, quietly—
“Did you have fun today?”
Jungwon hesitated.
He wanted to lie.
But he didn’t.
“…Yeah,” he admitted.
Sunoo’s smile turned softer. Realer.
“I’m glad,” he said. “I was worried you’d hate it.”
Jungwon frowned. “Why?”
Sunoo looked away, just for a second. “I just… wanted to make you smile.”
That did it.
That stupid, gentle sentence.
Because it wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t dramatic.
It wasn’t magic.
It was real.
And it made Jungwon’s heart hurt in a way that felt dangerously close to something he wasn’t ready to name.
The air between them was quiet, soft, almost electric.
The air between them was heavy, soft, but tense.
Sunoo’s eyes slowly closed, his head tilting slightly as he leaned closer. His breath was warm, a quiet invitation, and for a brief second, Jungwon felt like he could forget everything else—the potion, the chaos, the guilt—and just… be here.
Jungwon’s own eyes fluttered shut. He leaned in too, heart pounding, chest tight with a mix of longing and panic.
But then… reality hit him.
The truth he’d been trying to ignore. Sunoo didn’t like him for him—not really. Not fully. This closeness, this soft warmth, it was… tainted. Magical. Fake.
Jungwon’s eyes snapped open mid-lean.
“I… let’s… get going,” he whispered, voice trembling.
Sunoo’s eyes opened slowly, confusion and hurt flickering across his face. The small, almost imperceptible recoil of his shoulders said more than words ever could.
“…Oh,” he murmured, voice barely above the hum of the festival. No anger, just a quiet, aching disappointment.
Jungwon swallowed hard, heart twisting. He wanted to explain. To fix it. But he couldn’t. Not yet. Not while the potion still hovered over them like an invisible barrier between truth and desire.
They stepped apart, a little too quickly, shoulders brushing lightly but without the warmth that had just been there.
The festival lights flickered around them, bright and cheerful, mocking in their vibrance. And for the first time that night, Jungwon felt the weight of what he’d done—what he’d caused—pressing down on him.
Because even though Sunoo was smiling faintly again, it didn’t reach his eyes.
The car doors shut with a soft click, enclosing them in quiet.
The engine was off. The world outside hummed faintly with the distant sounds of the festival—the music, the laughter, the chatter—but inside the car, there was only silence.
Jungwon’s fingers fidgeted with the strap of his bag. He swallowed, heart pounding, unsure if he should speak or just stay frozen in the tension.
Finally, he muttered, barely above a whisper, “I… I’m sorry.”
Sunoo glanced at him, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “I’ll wait for you.”
Jungwon blinked, heart hammering, looking down at his hands. Wait for me? But even as relief tried to seep in, guilt gnawed at him like fire.
None of this is real, he thought. It’s the potion. Everything… everything you feel… it’s not true. And I—
Sunoo’s quiet confidence anchored him. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t upset. He wasn’t leaving.
“I’ll wait for you,” Sunoo repeated, voice soft, certain. “No rush. No pressure.”
But the ache in his chest didn’t fade. Because while Sunoo could wait, Jungwon couldn’t stop thinking that every laugh, every smile, every brush of their hands had been… magic.
But for now, all he could do was stare at the faint glow of the dashboard, letting the silence stretch between them.
The drive was short, yet every second felt impossibly long.
When they arrived at Jungwon’s home, Sunoo parked and didn’t immediately let him leave the car. He opened the door and walked beside him up to the front porch.
“See you tomorrow?” Sunoo asked, leaning casually against the railing, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets, eyes bright and expectant.
Jungwon swallowed hard, voice catching slightly. “…Yeah.”
Sunoo nodded once, smiled softly, and then turned to leave.
Jungwon’s hand lingered on the doorknob for a second longer than usual, taking a shaky breath before stepping inside.
And the moment the door closed behind him, his knees went weak.
He sank against it, sliding down slowly until he was sitting on the floor, heart hammering.
This… this is only day one.
The thought hit him like a tidal wave. One day. One… single, magical, chaotic day. And he was already smiling at someone who liked him—because of a potion.
Jungwon pressed a hand to his chest, eyes closing.
I’m screwed.
And the worst, most thrilling part? He couldn’t stop smiling.