Yuho closed the internet window with a deeply disappointed face. Clicking on the post out of curiosity was the root of the problem.
“We connected,” he’d said. None of Inhan’s answers clearly referred to Yuho.
In the sense that only Yuho had one-sidedly chosen Inhan, it really was unrequited love, just as Inhan had said.
“Going to the practice room?”
Knock knock. The one who entered the room with a knock was Inhan. Though he’d said he would rest at home, judging by his practice clothes, it seemed he intended to accompany Yuho to the practice room.
“No.”
“You said earlier you were going?”
“I’m not going. I changed my mind.”
It was clearly a sulk. It was spite, and perhaps even jealousy. Whatever the type, Yuho was openly showing his displeasure.
“Then we’ll go without you.”
But Inhan wasn’t taking Yuho’s whim seriously. “If I feel hurt, you should be sad.” Yuho felt even more upset that Inhan wasn’t recognizing his feelings.
“Okay.”
With Yuho’s answer, Inhan disappeared and the door closed firmly. Yuho sat quietly, blankly staring at the laptop screen where no windows were open.
“This really does make it seem like unrequited love.”
But Yuho didn’t take his feelings toward Inhan seriously.
* * *
– 2 years before 7SPOT’s disbandment discussions –
From his third year after debut, Inhan began spending busy days without a moment to spare due to his individual schedules. Since he mostly just stopped by the dorm to sleep, encounters with Yuho could be counted on one hand.
“If you finished early, why did you come here instead of going home to rest?”
“Because you’re here, hyung.”
It had been about a month since they last saw each other.
Due to weather pushing back filming, Inhan finished his schedule earlier than usual, and instead of going straight to the dorm, he sought out the practice room where Yuho was alone.
“Then you should have just told me to come to the dorm.”
“I wanted to be alone with you for a bit. I also have some things to tell you.”
Inhan, unable to overcome his fatigue, collapsed on the sofa.
Yuho turned off the music he had been playing and leaned against the wall to catch his breath.
“Hyung. Come here.”
Inhan, unable to even open his eyes, tapped the spot at his head with his hand.
Yuho obediently went and sat where Inhan indicated. Inhan changed his position to lay his head on Yuho’s thigh.
“Give me your hand too.”
“You’re really making yourself at home, aren’t you?”
Despite his words, Yuho willingly offered his left hand to Inhan. Inhan promptly took Yuho’s hand, interlocking their fingers.
“Why have you become so prickly lately, Mr. Seon Yuho?”
Inhan brought Yuho’s hand toward his mouth and started nibbling on it. It didn’t really hurt, but the ticklishness in his chest kept making Yuho’s toes curl.
“Because I’ve grown up as much as I’m going to.”
At Yuho’s answer, Inhan couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing with a “pffft.” At the obvious mocking tone, Yuho flared up and opened his eyes fiercely.
“Ah, so this is fully grown? What should I do? You’re still so cute even when fully grown.”
“Want to die?”
“If I die by hyung’s hand, that’s fine with me.”
Yuho, annoyed, pulled at his hand that Inhan was holding. With the intention of painfully biting Inhan’s hand, he brought his face close with his mouth wide open. But that attempt ended without seeing results.
“Hyung. I got a girlfriend.”
Yuho closed his mouth just as it was.
The two interlocked hands lost strength and fell onto the sofa with a thud. Inhan pulled those hands toward himself and planted a kiss on the back of Yuho’s hand.
Why are you saying such things while kissing my hand?
Yuho was genuinely perplexed and at a loss for words.
“Aren’t you going to respond?”
Inhan shook Yuho’s hand, urging an answer. Yuho looked at Inhan with a dazed face.
“I don’t know what to say first.”
“Start with congratulations.”
“Yeah. Right. Congratulations.”
“Then ask who I’m dating.”
“Who are you dating?”
“You should also ask how long it’s been.”
“How long has it been?”
“You say you’ve grown up, but how can you not know all these things?”
Saying that, Inhan let out a happy laugh. Yuho was still unable to produce an appropriate reaction.
“Jia noona.”
“…Jia noona?”
“Yes. My goddess.”
Ah. That Ahn Jia noona. The female solo singer you’ve been singing about meeting and marrying all this time.
“I told you on the phone two weeks ago that I met her. I’m dating that noona. It’s been a week.”
The voice of Inhan making a big fuss about appearing on the same variety show was vivid in Yuho’s ear. He had thought Inhan was just a successful fan meeting his idol, but he hadn’t realized that Inhan could also become Jia’s favorite.
“You finally did it.”
“I finally did it.”
It was just like Jung Inhan, who accomplishes whatever he sets his mind to. Though Yuho was surprised anew that this extended to dating as well. Perhaps Yuho had been preparing for a day like this.
“Are you surprised?”
“Ah, yeah. …I thought you were interested in Yeoul noona.”
“What are you talking about? It’s been only Jia noona for me from the beginning.”
“I see.”
Right. It was only Jia noona for you from the beginning. I knew that too.
Yuho had difficulty managing his expression as his mood continued to sink.
“I was dying to sleep, but I didn’t even go to the dorm because I wanted to tell you this first.”
Inhan wrapped both arms around Yuho’s waist while complaining.
Why? What am I to you? Yuho held back the question that was rising to the tip of his tongue.
He wouldn’t be Inhan’s best friend or a hyung he could rely on. So he couldn’t understand why he had to be the first person to know Inhan’s secret.
“Why bother? You didn’t need to.”
Yuho was surprised at the gruff words that came out unconsciously, and he looked at Inhan. Inhan, who had opened his eyes at some point, was staring at Yuho.
“No, I mean… because you must be tired.”
“Still, I wanted to tell you first, hyung.”
“Why?”
“Because you’d probably feel hurt if you heard it from someone else.”
“Me?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
“No. I’m not the kind of person who gets hurt over that sort of thing.”
Once again, Yuho denied Inhan’s words.
He truly wasn’t hurt. Rather, he wished he could have remained ignorant. He also thought it might be less painful to hear it from someone else. He didn’t want to be by Inhan’s side feeling this exposed.
This makes me look like I really am having an unrequited love.
Yuho didn’t want to know that pitiful feeling.
“I would feel hurt if I heard about hyung from someone else.”
Inhan showed a hint of hurt as he spoke to Yuho.
Yuho deliberately pretended not to know his own feelings and changed the flow of the conversation.
“Have you told Yeomin?”
“Min hyung already figured it out.”
“What about Raulie?”
“I’m planning to tell the other hyungs a bit later. It’s too obvious how much they’ll tease and lecture me.”
“Shouldn’t you at least tell Taylor hyung?”
“Ah. I’m already scared.”
Finally, it felt like the relationship was being properly defined. To Inhan, Yuho was just a comfortable member, nothing more, nothing less. Yuho bit his lower lip as he realized this.
At the same time, Inhan looked up at Yuho and asked.
“You’ll support me, right, hyung?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Yuho forced a smile and answered. He was worried if he had managed a proper expression, but fortunately, Inhan didn’t notice and closed his eyes again.
“As expected. I only have you.”
Perhaps having reached his limit of fatigue, Inhan fell asleep just like that.
Yuho, still sitting, stared at his own feet for a long time.
In the spacious practice room, only Inhan’s steady breathing filled the silence.
Soon, tears fell drop by drop onto Yuho’s thigh.
“Ah. Why am I crying?”
Yuho hurriedly wiped his tears with the back of his hand. Holding his breath, afraid that Inhan might notice, he wiped his eyes vigorously with his sleeve. Fortunately, Inhan was still sound asleep.
“What’s wrong with you, Seon Yuho?”
After saying you’ll congratulate him. After saying you’ll support him.
He felt disgusted with himself for not being able to keep those words.
What’s the big deal about a close younger brother getting a girlfriend? It’s not like his position was taken or his relationship with Inhan would change. Yet Yuho couldn’t control his tears of sadness.
Just like that day long ago when his heart raced and his face heated up even without running.
Yes. It was love. In the end, it was love.
It would have been better not to realize it. Yuho had been harboring that useless emotion all along.
He just realized it now. And he had come too far to turn back.
When Inhan opened his eyes again, Yuho was nowhere to be seen.
“Inhan. Let’s go to the dorm and sleep.”
“Where’s Yuho hyung?”
Inhan asked Suhyung, who was shaking him awake, about Yuho’s whereabouts.
“I don’t know. I didn’t see him.”
At Suhyung’s answer, Inhan quickly sat up and called Yuho on his phone. He was still in a half-asleep state.
– Hello. Inhan.
“Yuho hyung. Where are you?”
– I’m in the piano room.
“Aren’t you going home? It’s late.”
– Yeah. I’m going to stay a little longer.
“Just come with me now.”
– No. You go first.
“Hmm. Alright.”
That’s how their phone conversation ended.
If it had been the usual Inhan, he would have insisted on waiting and gone home with Yuho. But Inhan at that time was too tired to have that luxury.
If Inhan had gone to Yuho and faced him crying in the corner of the piano room, what would have been different?
But Inhan headed to the dorm, and Yuho didn’t come out of that small room for a long time.
The next day.
From early morning, Inhan went to Yuho’s room. But Yuho was nowhere to be seen.
“Min hyung. Where’s Yuho hyung?”
“Yuho hyung? He went to the practice room early this morning.”
“Already?”
“He said his eyes opened early today.”
“Ah. Is that so?”
Inhan didn’t think much of that fact.
* * *
Profile – Jueon (7SPOT)
Real Name: Hwang Jueon
Age: 27 years old
Birthday: March 7
Height/Weight: 180cm/67kg
Position: Main Vocal
Nicknames: Jjun, Jueonie, KingJjun, HwangEldest, Middeut-eon, HwangJeEon, HwangBoEon, OnionHwang
Hobbies: Music appreciation, Gaming, Soccer
Special Skills: Swimming, Piano
Sibling Relationship: Has a younger sister
Characteristics: Oldest in the group, currently on leave from Practical Music Department, included in the top 10 male idol vocalists selected by experts, Grand Prize at the 21st Suwon Student Song Festival, Silver Prize at the 15th Korean Youth Song Festival
