It didn't happen suddenly.

No big fight. No dramatic explosion.

Just... distance.

Slow. Quiet. Intentional.

-

Dohoon stopped reaching first.

No more late-night texts.
No more waiting outside practice rooms.
No more "accidental" touches.

At first, Hanjin thought it was just schedules.

Then he realized—

It wasn't.

-

The breaking point came in the practice room.

Music stopped. Members left one by one.

Until it was just them.

Again.

Always like this.

"Are you avoiding me?"

Hanjin didn't sugarcoat it.

Dohoon didn't answer immediately.

"...We should stop."

The words felt wrong the second they left his mouth.

But he didn't take them back.

Hanjin laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because it hurt.

"Stop what?"

Dohoon's jaw tightened.

"You know what."

"Say it."

Silence.

Then—

"Us."

That was it.

One word.

And everything cracked.

-

"Why?" Hanjin's voice dropped.

Dohoon looked away.

"It's getting risky."

"That's not new."

"It's different now."

"You said that before."

"And I was right."

Hanjin stepped closer.

Eyes searching.

"No. You're scared."

Dohoon didn't deny it.

"...Yeah."

That honesty made it worse.

"I thought we were past this," Hanjin whispered.

"So did I."

"Then why are you doing this again?"

Dohoon finally looked at him.

And there it was—

Fear.

Real. Raw. Unfiltered.

"I can't lose everything."

Hanjin's voice broke.

"...Am I included in that 'everything'?"

Dohoon couldn't answer.

And that—

Was the answer.

Hanjin nodded slowly.

Like something inside him just... gave up.

"Okay."

Just one word.

Quiet.

Final.

"No, wait—" Dohoon stepped forward.

But Hanjin stepped back.

For the first time.

"You made your choice," Hanjin said.

"And now I'll make mine."

He walked out.

Didn't look back.

And Dohoon—

Didn't follow.