#ju jihoon

It was a game you had both been playing for months.

The lingering glances. The teasing remarks. The almost-touches that never quite happened.

Baek Kang-hyuk had a way of getting under your skin like no one else. He was arrogant, effortlessly skilled, and far too good at making your heart race at the worst possible moments.

And the worst part?

He knew.

Every time he smirked at you across the trauma center, every time his hand lingered just a second too long on your wrist, every time he leaned in too close just to see you react—he knew.

It was infuriating.

It was intoxicating.

And it was going to break you.

It started with little things. The way he’d brush past you in the hallway, just close enough that your shoulders grazed. The way he always had a comment ready—sharp, teasing, just enough to get a rise out of you.

"You look exhausted," he’d say, smirking as you rolled your eyes. "Try not to pass out on me, yeah?"

"Worried about me, Kang-hyuk?" you’d fire back, arms crossed.

"Hardly," he’d reply, but his eyes told a different story.

Then there were the moments when the teasing softened—when he’d find you after a difficult case, standing in the supply room with your head pressed against the cool metal shelves. When he’d linger just long enough to ask, voice quieter than usual, "You good?"

And it was those moments—the rare glimpses of something unspoken—that made your pulse stutter.

Because it wasn’t just a game, was it?

Not anymore.

The shift had been brutal.

An accident on the freeway had flooded the trauma center with critical patients, and you’d been running on pure adrenaline for hours. There was no time to think, no time to breathe.

It was only after the chaos settled that you realized—

You were bleeding.

A deep gash ran across your arm, likely from a sharp edge on a gurney, and you hadn’t even felt it.

"You’re an idiot."

The voice came from behind you, low and too familiar.

You turned just in time to see Kang-hyuk standing there, arms crossed, his gaze flickering to your arm with something dangerously close to concern.

"It’s nothing," you muttered, brushing it off.

Kang-hyuk’s jaw ticked. His expression darkened in that way that always meant trouble. "Sit down."

"I’m fine."

"Sit. Down."

There was no room for argument in his voice, and for once, you didn’t fight him.

You sank onto the nearest chair as he grabbed the first aid kit, kneeling in front of you.

His fingers were careful as he cleaned the wound, his touch surprisingly gentle. But the problem wasn’t the wound—it was him.

The way his hands felt against your skin. The way his expression softened, just slightly, as he focused. The way his thumb brushed against your wrist, sending a slow, deliberate heat crawling up your spine.

You swallowed hard. "I can do it myself."

Kang-hyuk smirked, but there was something else in his gaze now—something unreadable. "Sure you can."

Neither of you moved.

The tension had been there for months, simmering beneath the surface, but now—right now—it was unbearable.

Your pulse was hammering.

And he knew.

Because of course he did.

"You keep staring," Kang-hyuk murmured, not bothering to look up.

You scoffed. "I am not staring."

He glanced at you then, slow and deliberate, the corner of his mouth curving. "Mm. Sure."

You were going to kill him.

Or kiss him.

Probably both.

And then, just to make it worse, he leaned in—so damn close you could feel his breath against your skin.

"Are you blushing?"

That was it.

That was your breaking point.

"Shut up and kiss me."

The words were out before you could stop them, before you could think.

And for a single second, Kang-hyuk froze.

Then—

His lips crashed against yours.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t tentative. It was desperate. Like months of tension had finally snapped, and neither of you could hold back any longer.

His hands slid to your waist, pulling you against him, and you barely had time to gasp before he deepened the kiss. It was dizzying, overwhelming, the way he kissed—like he had been waiting for this just as much as you had.

Your fingers tangled into his hair, and he let out a low sound that sent heat curling in your stomach.

This was dangerous. This was reckless.

And you didn’t care.

Because Baek Kang-hyuk was kissing you like he never wanted to stop, and you were absolutely, completely gone.

You didn’t realize you had an audience.

Not until—

"Oh my god."

You jerked away from Kang-hyuk just in time to see Jang-mi, Gyeong-won, and Jae-won standing in the doorway, looking way too entertained.

Jang-mi beamed. "I KNEW IT!"

Gyeong-won smirked. "Well. That escalated quickly."

Jae-won crossed his arms. "I feel like we should be charging admission."

Your face was burning. "You—how long have you—"

Jang-mi waved a hand. "Long enough."

Kang-hyuk, the asshole, just smirked. "Enjoy the show?"

Jang-mi gave him a thumbs-up. "Ten out of ten. Would watch again."

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. "I hate all of you."

Kang-hyuk chuckled, low and amused. Then he leaned in—voice dropping just enough for only you to hear.

"You didn’t hate it that much."

And damn him—

Because he was right.

taking a short break from writing code blue, heart stolen, anybody want to be in my permanent taglist? let me know!!