Gotak loiters in the living room, without purpose. He stares at the floor. At the far wall. He even opens the fridge for no reason, just to feel the cold on his face for a moment before closing it again. It’s pathetic, really. He doesn’t even know what he’s waiting for.

When Suho emerges again in his sleepwear, towel slung over his head, he catches Gotak pretending to drink water. “Go sleep,” Suho says gently, voice soft from across the hall. Gotak hesitates, then gives a slow nod.

Something is still sitting heavy in his chest, some slow burn in his gut that’s been there since the night before. He starts walking to his room. Suho’s still there, standing near his own door, towel draped around his neck now as he rubs at his hair absently.

“Night,” Gotak mutters, voice just loud enough to be caught. Their eyes meet. There’s something flickering in Suho’s gaze. Hesitation, maybe. A held-back word. Something almost spoken. And Gotak waits for it. Heart heavy, he waits. (Please just say it.) But Suho doesn’t.

There was only silence. Gotak turns away, lips pressed thin. He heads into his room, gets into bed, yanks the covers over his body like they can smother the heat curling in his gut. And then he tosses. And turns. Again.

That feeling crawls up his chest like something alive. He hasn’t slept right since last night, and it doesn’t seem like tonight’s gonna be any better. It’s not about whether they made up or not. That’s not what’s eating him.

It’s not about whether they made up. That isn’t what’s clawing at him. It's not even about who said what, or how it ended. It’s that something opened between them and never fully closed. No. He’s going fucking insane.

Without thinking. No. Before he could even think, he flings the blanket off and sits up, breath heavy. His pillow is in his arms before he knows why. His legs move like they’re acting on someone else’s orders, carrying him through the hall with each step louder than it should be.

He stops in front of Suho’s door. He knocks without thinking. He just needs… something to make this stop. An itch he can’t scratch, a thought he can’t kill. The door opens within seconds.

Fuck fuck fuck. He stares at the floor. Suho’s slippers come into view. Gotak refuses to look up. He’s fucking losing it. Really.

Hyuntak stands there like a fucking idiot. The door clicks shut behind him, and Suho stays quiet. That silence only sharpens the thudding in Hyuntak’s chest. This is the first time he’s actually been in Suho’s room. Only Sieun has a double-sized bed. Well, for obvious reasons.

Hyuntak is more of a cuddler, so he usually stays in Sieun’s room to do that. Sometimes Suho’s there too, and they all huddle up together. It gets awkward sometimes when their skin grazes, him hugging Sieun and accidentally brushing against Suho. But he doesn’t really dwell on it

Not much, anyway. Suho, on rare occasions, will intentionally reach for him when he sees Hyuntak hugging Sieun just to get on his nerves, always smirking like a little shit when Hyuntak flinches. Also, not that it matters, but when they do do it, it’s always in Sieun’s room.

Hyuntak, for starters, isn’t exactly crazy about sex. He likes doing it with Sieun, sure, but he’s far more satisfied just having him close. Cuddling, kissing a bit, nothing too intense. Sieun’s kind of the same. They’re both... normal about it. Well. Unlike Suho.

Whenever the three of them are together, Suho never really stops after one round, or two. Probably has something to do with him being an alpha. Hyuntak always taps out early. Sometimes, he feels sorry for Sieun. But it’s not like he has much say in it.

Okay. Fuck. It’s not like he came here to fucking do that. He’s not thinking about that. He’s just... spiraling. He’s saying it to prove a point or something. His mind is short-circuiting, overheating despite the heavy fog of sleep already weighing on his limbs.

And Suho, still quiet, just makes it worse. “You’re gonna stand there all day?” Suho finally says behind him, voice amused. Hyuntak almost jumps. He wills his body to stay calm, though his fingers twitch around the pillow he’s still holding.

He wants to smack himself. Why is he making this a big deal? They’re just sleeping together. Like actual sleep. There’s no fucking intention here. He hasn’t even thought about that. Not once.

He tries to focus instead on Suho’s room. There’s a handful of posters on the wall. Some athletes, a band he vaguely recognizes. A tall shelf stands in the corner, full of books and half-tucked magazines. The bed is a semi-double, just like Hyuntak’s.

Of course. They’re all tall and the apartment’s small, so space-saving beds made sense. Still, now that he’s looking at it, fuck. How the hell are they supposed to fit? Maybe it’s not too late to suggest sleeping in Sieun’s room instead. Or in their own beds. Separately.

Suho walks past him then, bumping his elbow lightly as he drops onto the bed and looks up at him, that annoying grin creeping onto his face. “You’re gonna stand there all day?” he says, looking up at him with that half-lidded grin.

Hyuntak forces his limbs not to flinch, tries to play it cool despite the way his throat tightens. Fuck. Get a grip. He still doesn’t answer, trying instead to act interested in Suho’s shelves. Maybe if he looks long enough, the awkwardness will disappear.

“It looks weird, you being here,” Suho adds, squinting at him dramatically, like he’s sizing him up. Hyuntak frowns. “Why?” “You’re so out of place,” Suho says, grinning now.

Hyuntak groans, fingers tightening around the pillow. “How are we gonna fit?” he mumbles, avoiding his gaze altogether. Suho looks at the bed, then spreads his arms out across it. “We fit just fine on the couch,” he replies, infuriatingly casual.

Hyuntak wants to throw something at him. Just an instinct. Or self-defense. That smug, teasing tone is so irritating it makes his palms itch. “Come on,” Suho drawls, patting the mattress. “I’m tired.” Hyuntak narrows his eyes, inching closer warily.

Suho flops down properly on the bed now, back against the wall, elbow propping his head. Then the fucking bastard makes a pspsps noise like he’s calling a stray animal. Hyuntak throws the pillow at his face. Hard.

Suho bursts into laughter, catching it midair and using it as a prop to laugh into. His shoulders shake, his grin widening. “You should’ve seen your face,” he wheezes. God. He’s fucking insufferable. Suho always knows how to get under his skin but damn if it doesn’t work.

The tension breaks. He sighs, finally stepping forward and sitting at the edge of the bed, still not knowing how to lie down naturally. Before he can figure it out, Suho yanks him down by the stomach, hand retreating right after like he didn’t just manhandle him into place.

“The sun will rise before you lie down,” Suho mumbles, amused. Hyuntak grumbles but doesn’t argue. His back hits the mattress and he stares at the ceiling, trying not to focus on the fact that Suho’s right there. The bed’s not small, but it’s not not small either.

They’re not touching, but he can already feel Suho’s warmth, the way it radiates even without contact. They lie in silence for a moment. It’s not bad. It’s not tense either. Just quiet. Hyuntak risks a glance. Suho’s lying on his back, eyes closed, breathing slow.

And he speaks before he can stop himself. “Do you remember the second night… when you mentioned our situation?” Suho hums, eyes still closed. "Which part?" Hyuntak sighs. “About how we’ve lived together for six months but barely talked until Sieun left.”

Suho shifts slightly but doesn't respond. "It was probably my fault,” Hyuntak says, and his voice sounds weird in the quiet room. Suho still doesn’t say anything, letting the silence stretch.

Hyuntak clenches his jaw. “No,” he corrects himself, muttering under his breath. “It was because of me.” Another sigh, heavier this time. “I never hated you or anything. I just… I didn’t know what to do with you.” Suho shifts a little beside him, turning slightly.

“I didn’t know how to approach it,” Hyuntak continues, eyes on the ceiling. “Everything about our situation felt… complicated. I wanted to clear up, first of all, that I was never upset or mad about Sieun choosing you. That’s not what any of this was.”

“I know that,” Suho says softly. “Yeah, but we never really said it. I love Sieun. I know you do too. And as long as he’s happy, that’s all that matters to me. I mean that. His happiness comes first, and I figured you understood that too.”

“That’s why.. that’s why I’m actually relieved he has you too, beside him.” Suho is quiet, waiting for him to go on. Hyuntak presses his lips together, then admits, “I was… not good around you. You got on my nerves.” That gets a chuckle out of Suho.

Hyuntak continues before he can comment. “You seemed okay at first,” he says, glancing at him briefly. “But the way you fucking teased me? It ticked me off. It still kind of does. I mean—before,” he corrects quickly, in case Suho takes it the wrong way.

“But I never really gave us a chance, you know. I thought just coexisting was enough. We live together, sure, but I never tried to know you. Not really.” Suho hums. “Maybe I didn’t try hard enough either.”

Hyuntak scoffs, elbowing him lightly. “I had walls up. Around you. So even if you did try, it wouldn’t have worked. That’s on me.”

“That’s true,” Suho grins. “The only times you ever talked to me were either to ask about Sieun or when you’d throw me a half-assed thanks if I cooked something.” Hyuntak laughs in spite of himself. “I was an asshole, huh.”

“You were,” Suho teases. “Do you know how much it pained me when you wouldn’t even look my way? I thought I was invisible sometimes.” Hyuntak’s head snaps toward him. Suho’s already looking, smiling, amused.

“Well,” Suho shrugs. “A little. I got used to you ignoring me. You’re kind of cute when you’re annoyed.” Hyuntak rolls his eyes and glares at the ceiling again. “You’re a fucking asshole too. But yeah, well… I’m sorry. ‘bout that.”

Suho hums again, quieter. “It must’ve been confusing for you.” “What was?” “You’ve known Sieun longer,” Suho says. “Then suddenly he’s got a mate you’ve never seen before. Me. I figured it threw you off.”

Hyuntak shakes his head. “We started dating at the same time. It wasn’t about who came first.” “But your feelings for him,” Suho pauses. “They go way back, don’t they? You’ve been with him longer.” Hyuntak stays silent.

“Sieun cried over you, you know,” Suho continues, voice lower now. “He felt guilty. Said it wasn’t fair what he was doing to you.” “Why?” Hyuntak asks, his throat tightening at the thought of Sieun blaming himself.

“You know how bonds work. You can’t explain it. It’s a pull, an instinct. Alpha and omega mates don’t choose it. It’s just there, growing inside you whether you want it or not. I know you love him. But it’s okay to admit that all of this probably felt unfair.”

“Okay,” Hyuntak says at last. “Yeah. I did. For a moment. But it didn’t last. As long as Sieun’s happy… that’s enough for me.” Suho doesn’t reply right away.

“I was envious, too,” Suho says. “Of what you had. Even without a bond. That connection? That was real to me. That’s so awesome, you know. Maybe even more.” Hyuntak frowns. “Yah, what you and Sieun have is real too.” Suho just smiles at the ceiling.

That unsettles something in Hyuntak, makes him speak again without thinking. “You know, Sieun’s nose? It’s terrible with pheromones. Has always been. Your bond, it wasn’t because of that. You get that, right?” “I do.”

“Bond’s just… a bonus. Special in its own way. But not everything. You know how much he talks about you? If I had a coin for every time he praised you, I’d be rich. He’s fucking obsessed.” Suho snorts. “He said the same about you. Said you’re cute.”

“Cute?” Hyuntak scoffs. “Not amazing or cool?” “Yup, cute. Adorably annoying. He said that too.” Hyuntak gives him a glare, disbelieving. “I should be mad, but if it’s Sieun, then I’ll allow it.” “I do, too.”

Hyuntak wanted to flim him off but he scoffs instead. “You’re an asshole who gets off annoying me.” “Your reactions are fun.” “Jerk.” They fall into an easy silence. Hyuntak notices the strange lightness in his chest.

Six months of unspoken words finally spilling out. It feels like something loosened inside him. Suho’s voice breaks through the quiet, a little slower this time, like sleep is tugging at the edges of his mouth. “Aside from calling you cute… he also said you’re a kind soul.”

Suho sighs, softer this time. “Seriously, though… I’m glad we’re talking. Finally. Getting to know each other. If you’d told me months ago we’d be lying next to each other like this, I’d laugh.” Hyuntak doesn’t answer right away.

He’s too busy watching the ceiling blur, his eyes stinging with sleep. But he means what he says when he finally mumbles, “Yeah… I’m glad too.” It’s quiet again. Their breathing is steady. It almost feels like a dream.

Suho shifts slightly, rolling to his side. He presses his back gently against the wall, body turned to face Hyuntak now. His gaze is soft, eyes half-lidded, like he’s watching him through the haze of sleep.