The breakup changed everything.

Not loudly.

Quietly.

That made it worse.

The dorm became unbearably silent.

Not actual silence—

there was still laughter, late-night gaming, Youngjae yelling over nothing.

But between Dohoon and Hanjin?

Nothing.

No more soft conversations in hallways.
No more unconscious touches.
No more looking for each other first in crowded rooms.

It felt unnatural.

Like breathing wrong.

Dohoon realized how much space Hanjin occupied in his life only after losing him.

Every corner of the dorm reminded him of something.

The couch where Hanjin used to fall asleep beside him.
The kitchen counter where they stayed up talking quietly at 2AM.
The balcony where their first real kiss happened.

Everything hurt.

And Hanjin?

He looked fine.

That was somehow even worse.

He laughed during schedules. Talked normally with the members. Smiled for cameras.

But Dohoon noticed the small things.

The way Hanjin stopped lingering near him.
The way he avoided eye contact during interviews.
The way his smile faded slightly whenever they accidentally brushed shoulders.

Hanjin was hurting too.

And Dohoon caused it.

One evening after practice, the members left in pairs for dinner.

Except them.

Again.

The universe felt cruel lately.

Hanjin grabbed his bag immediately.

"I'll go later."

Dohoon spoke before thinking.

"Hanjin."

The name alone felt dangerous now.

Hanjin stopped walking.

Didn't turn around.

"What?"

Dohoon stared at his back for a long moment.

There were a thousand things he wanted to say.

I miss you.
I made a mistake.
Please come back.

But fear still wrapped around his throat.

So instead, he said nothing.

Again.

Hanjin laughed quietly.

Small. Broken.

"That's what I thought."

Then he left.

And Dohoon finally understood something terrifying:

This wasn't temporary anymore.

He was actually losing him.

The realization destroyed him slowly.

Sleep became difficult.

Practice felt empty.

Even performing felt wrong because his eyes still searched for Hanjin automatically.

And every time Hanjin looked away first—

it felt like punishment.

The breaking point came during a live broadcast.

Fans asked them to pair up randomly for a game.

Youngjae grinned while reading the result.

"Ohhhh— Dohoon and Hanjin!"

The members cheered immediately.

Didn't notice the tension.

Didn't notice the way both of them froze.

They stood beside each other awkwardly.

Too close.

Not close enough.

"Okay!" Jihoon laughed. "Compliment each other!"

Hanjin went first.

Professional smile.

Controlled voice.

"Dohoon is a dependable member. He works hard and takes care of everyone."

Safe.

Careful.

Distant.

Then it was Dohoon's turn.

His throat tightened immediately.

Because suddenly, under all the lights and cameras, he realized something horrible:

He didn't want careful anymore.

"Hanjin..." he started quietly.

Hanjin finally looked at him properly for the first time in weeks.

And Dohoon forgot every safe answer.

"...stays."

The members burst into confused laughter instantly.

"What does that even mean?" Youngjae wheezed.

But Dohoon couldn't look away.

Because Hanjin understood.

Of course he did.

You stayed when I was scared.
You stayed when I pushed you away.
You stayed longer than anyone else would have.

Hanjin's expression cracked slightly.

Just slightly.

But Dohoon saw it.

Hope.

Pain.

Love.

Still there.

And suddenly—

for the first time since the breakup—

Dohoon realized he might still have a chance to fix this.