The night air was warm as the four of you stepped onto the quiet Orlando street. Neon signs flickered in the distance, but your focus was on the three boys walking beside you, each quietly trying to process this unexpected triangle—or maybe square—of emotion.
You broke the tension with a smile. "Alright. Gallery first. Hyunjin, you're up."
He grinned softly, leading the way down a quieter street. "I promise you'll love it."
The gallery was quiet—dim lights casting soft shadows across rich canvases. You followed Hyunjin deeper into the space, the world outside slipping away as he led you to a painting nestled in the back.
Stormy blues and smoky charcoals swirled across the canvas, pierced by a bold, brilliant streak of gold slashing diagonally through the middle. He stopped in front of it, folding his hands behind his back.
"This one," he said softly. "It reminds me of you."
You turned to him, eyes curious. "How?"
His voice dropped lower, almost like a confession. "At first glance, it's calm. Controlled. But if you look closer, there's depth. Chaos. Purpose." He paused. "And that gold? It's the part that surprises you. The part you can't stop thinking about."
You blinked, his gaze holding yours with quiet intensity.
"I haven't stopped thinking about you since you sat down at our table," he added.
Your heart fluttered. You opened your mouth, searching for something to say—but before you could, Hyunjin leaned in, slowly, deliberately, and pressed a soft kiss to your cheek. His lips lingered—just for a second. Warm. Intimate. Undeniable.
When he pulled back, his voice was barely above a whisper. "I had to."
You stared at him, cheeks flushed but lips curled into the faintest smile. "I'm not mad."
He smiled too—gently, a little shy for once. "Good."
Just then, a quiet voice broke the moment.
"Not trying to interrupt," Chan said, walking up with his hands in his hoodie pocket, "but we should keep moving before it gets too late."
Hyunjin stepped back, but you could feel the heat still clinging to your skin from where his lips had been. Chan's gaze flicked between you and Hyunjin, subtle but knowing.
"Riverwalk's next, right?" he added, his smile warm... but his eyes sharp with curiosity.
You nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. "Yeah. Let's go."
And as you left the gallery, surrounded by soft lights and rising tension, you knew one thing: The night was only getting more complicated... and more unforgettable.
The gallery's warmth faded into the cool embrace of the night as you and the boys made your way toward the Orlando riverwalk. Streetlamps reflected off the water, creating shimmering trails that danced with every ripple.
After a few minutes of walking, Lee Know subtly slowed down beside you, glancing at Chan and Hyunjin walking ahead.
"Mind if I steal you for a bit?" he asked, voice soft but intentional.
You smiled. "I was hoping you would."
He nodded and gestured to a quieter off-path section closer to the water. The two of you walked slowly, the sound of lapping waves mixing with the distant city hum.
"I figured you'd ask," you teased, nudging his shoulder. "You've been watching me all night."
He didn't smile. Not this time. Instead, he stopped walking, hands tucked into his jacket pockets. "Yeah," he admitted. "I have."
You paused with him, your gaze meeting his under the soft glow of a nearby light.
"I wasn't trying to be weird or intense," he continued. "It's just... the way you carry yourself—it caught me off guard."
You stayed quiet, giving him space to say what he needed.
"I saw you talking with the guys. Making everyone laugh. Making Chan loosen up, making Hyunjin feel something. But it wasn't that," he said, shaking his head. "It was the way you never tried to take up space. You just fit. Like you belonged. Like we already knew you."
Your heart thudded quietly.
He looked at the ground, then back at you with more vulnerability than you'd seen from him all night. "And then I realized... I wasn't just looking at you because you were beautiful. I was looking at you because for the first time in a long time, someone made me feel seen, and it scared the hell out of me."
You stared at him, stunned by the honesty—and the rawness behind his normally composed face.
"Lee Know..."
"I don't expect anything from you," he added quickly. "I just needed you to know what that look meant."
He turned his body toward you fully now, the cool night brushing between you both. "It wasn't curiosity. It was... hope. And maybe something more."
You felt it—the weight of his words, but also the way your heart responded. You didn't know what to say just yet. So instead, you reached out and gently laced your fingers with his. He looked down at your hand in his, visibly surprised—then let out a quiet, shaky breath.
"Thank you," he whispered.
You gave his hand a small squeeze. "I saw you too, Minho."
He smiled at that—small, real, and different from the rest. Then behind you, you heard Chan's voice, light but teasing.
"If I don't get my turn soon, I'm filing a formal complaint."
You laughed, and Lee Know slowly let your hand go, though his touch lingered.
"Go," he said softly. "But don't forget this moment."
"I won't," you promised, before walking back toward the boy who was waiting patiently beneath the stars.
You walked toward Chan, who leaned against the railing overlooking the river, arms crossed over his chest. The lights of the city lit the edges of his face—soft shadows, sharp jaw, eyes watching you like he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment.
"Took your time," he said, his voice low but laced with warmth.
You stepped beside him. "Didn't realize I needed to prepare myself for a final boss battle."
He chuckled at that, gaze shifting from the water to you. "You've been... incredible tonight."
You raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
He pushed off the railing, standing in front of you now. "You walked into our world like you've always been part of it. No pretending. No pressure. Just you. And watching the way you connected with them—Hyunjin, Lee Know... I'd be lying if I said it didn't mess with me a little."
You felt the shift in the air—he wasn't holding back anymore.
"I wanted this time with you," he said, stepping closer, his voice barely above a whisper now. "From the second you looked up at me, coffee dripping down your shirt... I haven't wanted to be anywhere else."
Your heart pounded, the space between you shrinking with each slow breath.
"I don't usually get to want things for myself," he continued. "But tonight... I want this. You. Even if it's just for now."
He reached up, fingers gently brushing your jaw, thumb tracing your cheek. It was tender—but the way he looked at you? That was heat, restrained only by respect.
"Say something," he whispered, voice tight, as if he was holding everything back.
You leaned in slightly, just enough to let him feel your breath. "What if I don't want it to be just for now?"
That was all it took. He closed the distance—not with a kiss, not yet—but with his forehead resting gently against yours, his hand now at your waist, warm and firm.
His lips hovered near yours, not touching, just teasing.
"Careful," he murmured, "I might not be able to hold back if you say things like that."
You smiled, eyes closing for a second. "Who said I want you to?"
His breath hitched—then his lips brushed the corner of your mouth, lingering at the edge like a promise half-fulfilled. Not a kiss. Not yet. But it was loaded—hot, slow, intentional. He pulled back just enough to look at you, pupils blown and jaw tense.
"Tomorrow," he said, voice rough, "you're going to be in the front row."
Your breath caught.
"And if I look down and see you there," he added, hand still at your waist, "I won't be able to pretend this didn't happen."
You looked up at him, heart pounding. "Then don't pretend."
He smiled—devastating and warm—and finally kissed your forehead. Gentle, protective, and full of everything he wasn't ready to say. Yet.
As the night was drawing to an end and the city slowed around you, you realized something: This wasn't just a night of chance. This was the start of something real—spicy, sweet, and utterly unforgettable.