#leehan ff

‘💬’ ─ why are my screenshots like that now. Apple. MemiMessage. Someone Speak Up.

He blinked up at you lazily, already smiling. “That doesn’t sound very comforting.”

“Shh. Beauty is pain.”

“You say that whilst holding blush.”

“Exactly.”

And somehow, despite fully knowing you were about to mess with him, he still let's you.

He always let's you.

You stood between his legs while he looked up at you with that patient little smile of his, hands naturally finding your waist as if they belonged there.

At first you pretended to take things seriously, lightly dusting blush across his cheeks, but the second you realized how cute he looked with pink cheeks, all self-control disappeared.

“Wait,” you whispered dramatically, leaning closer. “Oh my god.”

“What?”

“You’re adorable.”

“That’s concerning.”

“No, you don’t understand.”

You kept adding more blush, ignoring his increasingly suspicious expression until his cheeks looked permanently flustered. He laughed every time you squinted at him like a perfectionist artist, trying to “blend” makeup you had absolutely no intention of blending properly.

Then came the stickers.

Leehan should’ve known the moment you disappeared into your drawer that things were about to get worse.

When you came back holding sheets of tiny pastel stickers, his eyes widened slightly.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

You started covering his face with them immediately — tiny stars near his cheeks, little hearts under the corner of his lips, sparkly flowers under his eyes. The entire time he just sat there laughing softly while your tongue poked out in concentration.

“You’re treating my face like a notebook.”

“Mhm.”

“I can literally feel the glue.”

“Mhm.”

“You’ve gone mad with power.”

You ignored him completely, pressing one final heart sticker onto the tip of his nose before taking a step back to admire your work.

And honestly?

You almost melted on the spot.

The blush made his cheeks look all warm and squishy, the stickers somehow making him look even softer than he already did. Combined with the way his hair kept falling into his eyes, he looked so unfairly pretty that your chest physically hurt a little.

“Wait,” you breathed.

Leehan laughed nervously. “Why do you sound emotional?”

Instead of answering, you leaned sideways to grab one of your cute hair clips off the vanity. He watched curiously while you carefully clipped one side of his hair back, fully exposing his face to you.

Big mistake.

Because now he looked devastating.

Pretty wasn’t even enough of a word anymore.

His cheeks were pink, lips curved into the softest smile, tiny glittery stickers decorating his skin while he sat there holding your waist.

You stared at him for a long moment before the words escaped you without warning.

“I’m so gonna wife you up.”

Leehan immediately burst into laughter.

Like full-body laughter.

His head dropped forward, his grip on your waist tightened, and you could feel him shaking against you whilst you frowned dramatically.

“Why are you laughing? I’m serious.”

He looked back up at you, eyes crinkled into crescents. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how that works, my love.”

You grabbed his cheeks instantly.

“Shh. Don’t ruin this for me.”

“I’m just saying—”

“In my world,” you interrupted firmly, holding a finger against his lips, “it absolutely works like that.”

His smile softened immediately.

“And right now,” you continued, squishing his cheeks together slightly, “you look like you’d be a very pretty wife.”

The blush on his cheeks somehow looked even darker after that.

“You’re unbelievable,” he mumbled, trying to hide his face by leaning into your stomach.

You laughed victoriously, threading your fingers through his hair. “But am I wrong?”

Leehan stayed quiet for a second before mumbling into your shirt, “You used too much blush for me to answer objectively.”

“That’s not a no.”

He looked up at you again, stickers still covering half his face, eyes warm and impossibly fond.

“You know,” he said softly, thumb rubbing against your waist, “this is probably the weirdest way someone’s ever confessed they want to marry me.”

You gasped. “Probably?”

“Mhm. There’s still time for someone to top it.”

You narrowed your eyes before leaning down and kissing the sticker on his nose.

“Not happening,” you whispered. “You’re stuck with me forever.”

Leehan smiled so softly it nearly killed you on the spot.

“Good,” he whispered back.

© All rights reserved @gigisnextdoor 2026.

the morning light filtered through pale curtains, casting soft shadows across your bedroom wall. you could hear your mother's footsteps downstairs, the sound of her preparing breakfast, the clink of dishes, the whistle of the kettle, the scrape of a chair against kitchen tiles. these sounds had become your morning alarms, repeated in seven different houses over the past twelve years.

the desk had been positioned by the window in every house you'd lived in. your mother insisted on it. "you need natural light," she would say, arranging your things just so. "it's good for your eyes, good for your spirit." you never had the heart to tell her that what you really needed was what lay beyond that glass, a world you could only observe, but never truly be a part of it.

you had stopped hoping for friends by the time you turned sixteen. what was the point? your world only existed inside your house, doctor's appointments and pill schedules. you'd grown comfortable with solitude, found peace in the predictability of homeschooling and the books that never judged your pale complexion or the way you tired so easily. your illness had been your longest companion more than any friend could ever be.

leehan's life couldn't have been more different. moving houses for him was an adventure, new neighborhoods to explore, new coffee shops to discover, new routes to memorize. this was house number seventh for his family, if he'd counted right. he'd grown up thinking everyone lived this way, boxes always half-packed. it wasn't until high school that leehan realized how unusual his family was, how other kids talked about childhood bedrooms they'd had for years, friends they'd known since kindergarten. but he didn't mind. change kept things interesting.

the cardboard box was heavier than it looked. leehan adjusted his grip, feeling the rough texture against his palms as he carried it up the front steps of their new house. inside, he could hear his mother directing the movers.

the house next door caught leehan's attention as he paused on the front steps. it was similar to theirs, two stories, white siding, a small front yard, but something about it seemed quieter. the curtains were drawn even though it was the middle of the day, and the garden looked like it had been tended to but not truly cared for, if that made sense.

"you coming in, sweetheart?" leehan's mother called from inside.

"yeah, just looking around." leehan said, shifting the box as he head inside.

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by evening, leehan's room was starting to look like home. his mother had helped him arrange the furniture, and he'd insisted on putting his desk by the window.

"are you sure you want it there?" his mother had asked, hands on her hips as she surveyed the room. "it might be distracting when you're trying to study."

"i like being able to see outside," leehan had replied, running his hand along the smooth surface of the desk. "besides, the light is perfect here."

leehan was arranging his books when he first noticed the light. a warm, amber glow had appeared in the window across from him, and as he looked closer, he could make out the shape of someone moving around inside. leehan's curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself leaning slightly forward, trying to see more clearly.

the person, a young woman, he could see now, was sitting at a desk just like his. her head was bent over what looked like textbooks, and often she would reach up to push her dark hair away from her face. leehan should look away, he thought. this felt like intruding, watching someone in their private space. and as if sensing his gaze, she looked up.

the moment stilled between them like a held breath. it was awkward. her eyes met leehan's through the two panes of glass and the space between their houses, and leehan felt his cheeks warm with embarrassment. he should definitely look away now, apologize somehow, pretend he hadn't been staring.

instead, leehan found himself raising his hand in a small, awkward wave.

you blinked, clearly surprised and didn't know how to act. for a moment, leehan thought you might close your curtains or turn away. but then your expression softened, and the corners of your mouth lifted in a shy smile that transformed your whole face. slowly, as if you weren't sure you were doing the right thing, you raised your own hand and waved back.

a sudden idea struck leehan, and before he could second-guess himself, he reached for the spiral notebook beside him. his pen moved quickly across a fresh page, the black ink bold and clear in a text. when he finished, he held the notebook up against the window, pressing it flat so you could read it clearly.

"what's your name?"

leehan watched your face change as you read the words, eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise. for a moment, leehan worried he'd been too forward. maybe this was weird. maybe normal people didn't communicate through windows like this. but then you reached for something on your desk, a notebook with its edges slightly worn. leehan watched your arms move as you write. when you turned it toward the window, he could see a writing on it.

"na dami"

the name suited you somehow. leehan found himself mouthing it silently, testing how it sounds, "dami" he whisper to himself. without waiting for you to ask the same question in return, leehan flipped to a clean page in his notebook. his handwriting was messier than yours, but he wrote large enough that he was sure you could read it from your window.

"kim leehan"

when he held it up, he saw you nod, and that small smile returned to your face. you seemed to be repeating his name the same way he did to yours. lips moving slightly as if trying out the sound.

leehan then wrote another message. "nice to meet you"

your response came quickly, as if you'd been hoping he'd continue. "nice to meet you too"

"are you new here?" you wrote again.

"yes, just moved in today. we move a lot." leehan wrote, then added below it. "you?"

"been here 3 months" appeared in your window. then, after a pause, you added more. "we move a lot too."

something about that admission comforted leehan. he wasn't the only one who lived in temporary spaces, who knew the feeling of boxes and empty rooms that never felt permanent.

"where did you live before?" leehan wrote.

"gyeonggi," came your answer, followed by "you?"

"busan," leehan wrote back, then grinned as he added. "much warmer here."

leehan saw you chuckle at that, your shoulders shaking slightly as you nodded in agreement. the sight of your genuine amusement made his chest flutter. when was the last time he'd made someone laugh just by being himself?

the conversation continued to flow like that. "what are you studying?" led to you showing leehan your biology textbook, holding it up so he could see the cover. "are you in college?" he asked, and you shook your head, writing "homeschooled." in response.

"me too sometimes" leehan wrote back. "when we travel too much"

the questions and answers came easier now. leehan found out more about you, that your favorite color was blue, that you've never had a pet, but if you did, you would like a cat. you learned leehan took photographs like his father, that he collected postcards from every place he'd lived, and that he has a pet fish.

as the evening wore on, leehan's writing became more relaxed, and less formal. he started adding little doodles to his messages. a smiley face, a small sun, a tiny drawing of a camera. you began doing the same, your artistic skills clearly better than his. when leehan drew a stick figure cat that looked more like a mutated spider, your laughter was visible even from across the way, and he found himself laughing too.

"you're funny" appeared in your window, and leehan felt warmth spread through his chest.

"you're kind" leehan wrote back, and watched you duck your head slightly, as if the compliment had embarrassed you.

the night grew deeper around, but neither of you seemed ready to end the conversation. leehan's desk lamp created a small circle of warmth in his room, and across the way, yours did the same. when leehan glanced at his phone and saw it was nearly eleven, he couldn't believe how quickly the time had passed. his parents were probably asleep already. they'd always been early to bed after the exhaustion of moving day.

"i should go to sleep" leehan wrote, though he didn't really want to.

"me too" came your response, but you seemed to hesitate before showing it, as if you didn't want this to end either.

"same time tomorrow?" leehan found himself writing, his heart beating a little faster as he held it up. the smile that spread across your face was answer enough, but you wrote back anyway "yes, goodnight leehan."

"goodnight dami" he responded, and for a moment, you both just sat there, smiling at each other through your windows.

finally, you raised your hand in a small wave, the same gesture that had started this whole conversation. leehan waved back, and then watched as you carefully slid your curtain close and turned off your desk lamp, your room falling darkness.

leehan sat there for a moment longer, looking at the now dark window across from his, his notebook still open on his desk. the pages were filled with your conversation. as he finally prepared for bed, he found himself already looking forward for tomorrow.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

the morning sun was still low when leehan opened his eyes, and the first thing he did was look toward the window. your curtains were drawn, your room still dark. he smiled to himself as he got ready for the day, wondering what time you usually woke up.

it was around nine when leehan saw movement in your window. he was sitting at his desk, sketching in the margins of his journal, when your curtains pulled back and there you were, hair still messy from sleep, rubbing your eyes as you settled at your desk with what looked like a cup of tea.

leehan grabbed his notebook quickly, writing "good morning" in cheerful letters and holding it up.

you spotted him immediately, as if you'd been looking for him too. your sleepy expression brightened, and you reached for your own notebook. "good morning leehan" appeared in your window, followed by "did you sleep well?"

"yes :), you?" he wrote back.

"better than usual" you replied.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

the days began to follow a happy routine. sometimes leehan would catch you studying, and he'd quietly work on his own things so as not to disturb you. other times, you'd see him reading and would show him whatever book you were working through.

one evening, he noticed you writing in your notebook but not showing it to him. instead, you seemed to be working on something longer, occasionally glancing up at leehan and then back down at your page. your brow was furrowed in concentration, and every so often you'd erase something and start over.

"what are you working on?" leehan finally wrote.

you hesitated, then wrote. "about how strange it is to talk to someone every day but never hear their voice"

something about that observation made leehan's heart skip. he'd been thinking the same thing, wondering what your laugh actually sounded like, whether your voice was as gentle as your expressions.

"do you want to hear mine?" he wrote.

"yes" came back immediately with no hesitation.

leehan pointed to his phone and mouthed "call me," then wrote his number on a piece of paper and held it up to the window. he watched you carefully copy it down, then disappear from view. when his phone rang a few minutes later, his hands were actually shaking as he answered.

"hello?" his voice came out smaller than usual.

you slipped out of the window's view the moment you heard his voice, hopping on your toes in the corner of your room, grinning from ear to ear as you covered your phone's speaker and cleared your throat before speaking. "leehan?" your voice was soft and low, that made the corner of leehan's lips curve into a smirk. "is this... is this weird?"

"no," leehan said quickly, still smiling, looking across at you through the window as you went back to sit on your desk. "well, maybe a little weird, but good weird."

he could see you smile at that, and hearing your quiet chuckle through the phone while watching your shoulders shake with laughter felt like magic.

"your voice is exactly what i imagined," he said.

you raised a brow, looking at him through the window. "what did you imagine?"

"clear," he said simply. "like the sky."

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁. 

the phone calls became part of your routine too. sometimes you'd talk while looking at each other through the windows, other times one of you would lie on the bed while the other stayed at their desk.

"do you ever want to go outside?" leehan asked you one evening during a call.

there was a long pause. leehan could see you through the window, phone pressed to your ear, looking down at your hands as you think of what to respond.

"sometimes," you spoke. "but it's complicated."

"how complicated?"

your sigh can be heard through leehan's speaker when you shifted on your seat. "my parents are very protective. they worry about me eating the wrong things, being around... i don't know, germs, i guess. they think i'm fragile."

"are you?" the question slipped out before leehan could stop it.

"i..." you seemed to struggle with the answer. "i have to be careful about some things. they don't let me eat most foods, just very specific meals my mom makes. no sweets, no snacks, nothing processed. they say it's not good for my health."

something about the way you said it made leehan frown. it sounded less like health consciousness and more like serious stuff.  "that sounds really restrictive," he said gently.

"i'm used to it," you replied casually, though your voice was wistful.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

that night, after you'd said goodnight and ended the call, leehan stared at your darkened window for a long time. then, quietly, he crept downstairs to the kitchen.

leehan's family had grabbed takeout for dinner, thai food that had left them with leftovers and a bag of snacks his mother had picked up at the grocery store. he selected a few things. some cookies, a small bag of chips, a chocolate bar that had caught his eye earlier.

back in his room, he found one of the plastic bags from the moving boxes and carefully placed the snacks inside. then he looked around his room until his eyes landed on the detachable curtain rods, long, thin, and detachable.

leehan opened his window as quietly as he could and extended the rod, the plastic bag tied securely to the end. it just barely reached across the gap between their houses. he reached for a small pebble in his flower pot and gently threw it on your window, enough for you to hear a low thud.

after a moment, your curtains parted and your face appeared, eyes wide with surprise. leehan pointed to the bag and mouthed "for you."

leehan could see you looking around your room, probably searching for something long enough to reach. you disappeared for a few minutes, then returned with what looked like a long-handled hook, maybe something for opening high windows.

the transfer was careful work, both of you trying to be quiet while maneuvering the bag from leehan's rod to your hook. when you finally pulled it safely inside, your expression was a mixture of excitement and worry. you opened the bag and examined each item like you were discovering treasure. then you looked up at leehan through the window, mouthing "thank you" with such genuine gratitude that leehan felt his chest swell with joy.

leehan watched you carefully open the package of cookies first, taking a small bite. your eyes widened, and then you were smiling so bright it's blinding. you held up one finger, asking leehan to wait, then grabbed your phone.

his phone rang after a minute. he swiped right as he pressed the phone on his ears. your voice coming out low and breathy, careful not to make too much noise. "these are incredible..!" you spoke. "i've never tasted anything so sweet."

"really, never?" he answered.

"never" you confirmed. "my mom only makes very plain food. rice, vegetables, simple proteins. she says anything else will make me sick."

as leehan watched you savor each small bite of the snacks like it's five star, questions flooded in his mind. what kind of condition required you severe dietary restrictions? and why did you seem so normal and even healthy, despite whatever was supposedly wrong with you?

"you don't have to tell me" leehan spoke carefully, "but what kind of health problems do you have?"

you stayed silent at his question for a minute as your chewing slowed down. so long that he started to worry he'd overstepped, pushed too hard too fast. but then you cleared your throat, about to say something.

"i'll tell you someday" you just said "when i'm ready."

"no pressure," leehan replied back quickly. "i just worry about you."

you blinked, feeling your stomach flutter with his words. "you worry about me?"

"of course i do."

the smile that spread across your face at those was soft and wondering, like you couldn't quite believe what you were hearing.

"thank you for the snacks," you said. "and for worrying about me. no one except my parents has ever worried about me before."

"well now you have me" he replied. "and i worry a lot, so get used to it."

your laugh was visible even through the glass, and leehan found himself smiling despite the questions that still nagged at the back of his mind. whatever was going on with your health, and whatever reasons your parents had for keeping you so isolated and restricted, he was glad he'd found you.

as you both finally prepared for bed, leehan watched you carefully wrap the remaining snacks and hide them somewhere in your room. the care you took with them, and how it drew a bright smile on your face made him determined to find ways to bring more happiness into your life.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

saturday morning came with a hope that made you feel restless in the best way. you'd been sitting by your window since dawn, watching leehan's house for any signs of movement. no school today meant no schedule, and you found yourself hoping he might be free to talk longer than usual.

around ten, you saw his curtains pull back. he appeared at his window, already dressed, hair slightly tousled but neat. when he spotted you, his face lit up with that smile you'd wore over the past two weeks.

"good morning," appeared in your screen as a notification lits it up. you looked at his window, smiling before picking your phone up. it then rang again with another message "no school today!" he sent.

"i know! feels different" you replied, then added "what are you doing today?"

you looked at leehan through the window tilt his head in thought, then he typed "would it be weird if i asked to visit?"

your heart skipped for a second. "visit? actually come over?" you replied as you stared at his message, then at his face through the window. he looked nervous, hopeful, and slightly embarrassed all at once.

"well, not weird you followed up quickly. "i'd like that"

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twenty minutes later, you heard the doorbell ring. and you could hear your mother's footsteps echoed from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she walked to the door. you stayed by your window, suddenly nervous.

"oh, hello there," you heard your mother say, as you sneaked by the stairs, her voice tinged with the pleasant surprise tone she always had with unexpected visitors.

"good morning, ma'am," came leehan's voice, clearer and much more handsome than it sounded through the phone. "i'm leehan, from next door. i brought these for you."

you couldn't see the front door from the stair, but you could picture the scene of leehan standing there with whatever he'd brought, probably looking as nervous as you felt.

"how thoughtful! these look delicious. are they from the bakery on main street?" your mother asked.

"yes, ma'am. i wasn't sure what you might like, so i got a variety."

there was a pause, and you could hear your mother's curious smile in her voice. "and what brings you by today, leehan?"

"i was hoping to visit dami, if that's okay. we've been... well, we've become friends. i live right there." you imagined him pointing toward his house.

"friends?" the delight in your mother's voice was unmistakable. "oh, how wonderful! dami hasn't mentioned. well, she doesn't usually-" your mother caught herself, probably realizing she was about to reveal too much about your situation. "she'll be so happy to see you. come in, come in! dami!" she called up the stairs. "you have a visitor!"

your hands were trembling slightly as you quickly stood up, brushing invisible dust on your shirt. you could hear your mother chattering to leehan about the weather, the neighborhood, asking if he wanted something to drink. when you reached the bottom of the stairs and saw him standing in your living room, your heart did a little flip which turned your ears bright red.

he was taller than you'd expected, and seeing him without the barrier of glass between you felt surreal. he was wearing a gray sweater that brought out his eyes, and his bleached hair fell naturally across his forehead in a way that made you want to reach up and brush it back. when he saw you, his conversation with your mother stopped mid-sentence.

"hi," he said softly, lifting a small awkward wave like he did when you first met.

"hello," you replied, equally quiet.

for a moment, you both just stood there, looking at each other while avoiding eyes every second. then leehan seemed to remember himself and stepped forward, extending his hand. "it's really nice to finally meet you properly, dami."

you looked down at his outstretched hand, then back up at his face. he had the same gentle expression you'd seen through the window, but now you could see every single details of his face, the way his eyes crinkled slightly when he smiled, the tiny line under his eyes, the dip of his nose, and how his lips twitched slightly while talking to you.

slowly, you reached out and took his hand. his palm was warm, slightly callused from whatever hobbies he have, and the contact sent a small thrill through your skin. you'd never held someone's hand before, not someone your age who'd chosen to seek you out, especially a handsome guy's.

"nice to meet you too," you said, surprised by how steady your voice sounded despite your stomach flipping into somersaults.

"well, this is just lovely," your mother said, beaming at both of you. "sit, sit! i'll bring some drinks and we can try those pastries you brought, leehan."

you settled on opposite ends of the sofa, suddenly aware of how different this felt from your window conversations. here, you could see all of him, the way he sat with his hands clasped politely in his lap, how he glanced around your living room with genuine curiosity, the way he kept stealing glances at you as if he couldn't believe you were real either.

"this is so strange," you said after a moment with an embarrassed chuckle, then immediately worried that sounded rude. "i mean, good strange. it's just-"

"i know," leehan said quickly. "i keep wanting to hold up a notebook." you laughed hearin g that making your shoulders shake, and leehan's face lit up at the sound.

"i was so nervous coming over here," he admitted. "what if we ran out of things to talk about? what if it was awkward?"

"we've never run out of things to talk about before," you pointed out.

your mother returned with a tray laden with a pitcher of fruit juice, cups, and the pastries leehan had brought, an assortment of croissants, danishes, and what looked like cinnamon rolls. she set everything on the coffee table between you.

"i'll leave you two to chat," she said, but you could tell she was reluctant to go. having a friend visit was probably as new for her as it was for you. "leehan, you're welcome here anytime. it's so nice to see dami with a friend." after she left, you and leehan sat in silence for a moment, both reaching for the pitcher at the same time and nearly colliding hands over the handle.

"sorry," you both said simultaneously, then laughed.

"this is ridiculous," leehan said, settling back with his cup. "we talk for hours through windows and on the phone, but now i'm acting like i've never had a conversation before."

"maybe it's because we can see each other's reactions to everything now," you suggested. "like, i can see that you're nervous because you keep adjusting your sweater." leehan looked down at his hands, which were indeed fiddling with the hem of his sweater, and laughed. the tension broke then, and you found yourselves falling into the same comfort you'd developed over the past weeks. leehan told you about his morning, how he'd spent minutes picking out pastries and rehearsing what he'd say to your mother. you shared how you'd been watching from your window since dawn, too excited and nervous to do anything else.

"i keep thinking i'm going to wake up and this will all have been a really good dream," you admitted, selecting a small danish from the tray.

"which part? me being here, or just having a friend?"

the question was casual, but it hit something personal in you. "both, i think. i've been alone for so long that sometimes i forget what it feels like to have someone care about whether i'm okay."

leehan set down his cup and looked at you directly. "you're not alone anymore, dami. even when i go back to my house, and even when we're just talking through windows." 

the sureness in his voice made your throat tight with emotion. you'd never had someone speak to you like that, like your wellbeing mattered to them just because you existed. "thank you," you said quietly. "for coming over. for being my friend, and for making me feel like i'm part of the world, even when i can't really be in it."

leehan just nodded, wanting to ask more about what you really meant, but chose to keep his questions to himself instead. you spent the rest of the morning talking, sharing stories you'd never told through notebooks, laughing at things that were funnier when you could see each other's expressions. and when leehan finally said he should probably head home for lunch, you found yourself reluctant to let him go.

ashe gathered his things and prepared to leave, he glanced toward the kitchen where your mother was washing the plates. you were still sitting on the sofa, carefully wrapping the leftover pastries in napkins.

"mrs. na?" leehan called softly. "could i speak with you for a moment? before i go?"

you looked up, curious, as your mother dried her hands and walked over to where leehan stood by the hallway. they moved just far enough away that their voices became low mumbles, too quiet for you to make out the words. you tried not to stare, but something about leehan's earnest, and slightly nervous posture made you wonder what he could possibly need to discuss with your mother.

"i was wondering," leehan began, his voice careful and respectful, "if maybe... if i could take dami out tomorrow? just for a little while. somewhere nearby, nothing strenuous."

your mother's eyebrows rose slightly. "out? you mean, outside the house?"

"yes, ma'am. i know she doesn't get to leave very often, and i thought maybe it would be nice for her to see a little bit of the neighborhood. i promise i'll take good care of her. we wouldn't go far, and if she gets tired or feels unwell, i'll bring her straight home."

your mother was quiet for a long moment, her gaze drifting from leehan to where you sat in the living room, still pretending not to watch their conversation. you could see the conflict drawn across her face. "she's never..." your mother started, then stopped. "i mean, she hasn't been out for anything that wasn't a medical appointment in years. i worry about her overexerting herself, or being around too many people, or-"

"i understand," leehan said gently. "but maybe that's exactly why it would be good for her? she seems stronger than you might think. and she talks about wanting to experience things too."

your mother carefully studied leehan's expression, taking in his sincerity, and the way he spoke about you. you held your breath, though you still couldn't hear exactly what they were discussing. there was something about their body language, your mother's thoughtful expression, leehan's hopeful but respectful stance, that made your stomach flip with anticipation.

finally, your mother sighed softly. "maybe you're right. maybe it is time for her to experience a little more of life outside these walls." she looked at leehan seriously. "but you have to promise me, if she seems tired, if she's having trouble breathing, if anything seems wrong at all-"

"i'll bring her home immediately," leehan said. "i promise."

"and nowhere too far. and not too long."

"yes, ma'am."

your mother nodded slowly, lips pursed as if convincing herself. "alright, but leehan? she's everything to me. please keep her safe."

"i will," he said solemnly.

the conversation seemed to settle between them, and you saw your mother's expression soften completely. whatever worry she'd had were melting away in the face of leehan's obvious devotion to your wellbeing. they walked back toward the living room, both wearing expressions that were trying a little too hard to look casual. you looked up expectantly, but neither of them said anything about their conversation.

"well," leehan started, "i should probably head home. my parents will want to know where i've been all morning."

"of course," you said, standing up walking with him to the front door. "thank you for coming over, and for the pastries. they were really good."

"i'm glad you liked them." he paused at the door, looking like he wanted to say something else but wasn't sure how. "actually," he said, glancing briefly at your mother, "maybe i'll send you a message later. i have something i want to ask you."

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

later that evening, your phone buzzed with a text message. you glanced at it, expecting maybe a goodnight message from leehan like he sometimes sent. but his message made your eyebrows crease, putting down the towel you were rubbing on your hair as you sat down.

[leehan] dress up tomorrow with something comfortable, whatever you want to wear :)

[you] dress up? why? what for?

[leehan] just do it. trust me.

[you] stop being all mysterious :/ dress up for what?

[leehan] you'll see, just pick something nice that you feel good in.

you sat there holding your phone, completely bewildered. this was so unlike your usual conversations. leehan was never mysterious or vague. he always explained things, always made sure you understood what was happening.

[you] this is confusing but okay, i guess?

[leehan] nice, see you tomorrow then :)

as you set your phone aside and prepared for bed, you found yourself standing in front of your closet for the first time in months, wondering what leehan could possibly have planned. your hands were shaking slightly from anticipation as you ransacked your closet for decent clothes, eventually leaving everything piled up on your chair until you drifted to sleep.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

sunday morning light filtered through your curtains earlier than usual, but you were already awake. you'd been lying in bed since dawn, staring at the ceiling and trying to process what might happen today. leehan's mysterious text message had kept you tossing and turning all night.

by seven, you slipped out of bed and padded to the bathroom, deciding that whatever leehan had planned, you'd rather be ready for it than caught off guard. you stood in front of your bedroom mirror, running a comb through your damp hair, overthinking what you should wear.

your closet had never seemed so inadequate. years of staying inside meant your wardrobe consisted mainly of comfortable clothes. soft pajamas, loose sweaters, and pants. you had a few nicer things from the gifts you've received from relatives, luckily.

after twenty minutes of staring at hangers, and the pile on your chair, you finally settled on a light blue hoodie that you'd always loved the color of. you paired it with a simple black skirt that hit above your knees, something you'd worn to a doctor's appointment once and felt confident in.

standing in front of your mirror, you pulled your hair back into a ponytail. the style made your face look more open somehow. you applied a thin layer of lip balm, the only makeup you ever bothered with, and stepped back to assess yourself.

curious about whether leehan was awake yet, you moved to your window and peered across. his curtains were still drawn. you glanced at your phone, 8:30 am. maybe he was still sleeping, or getting ready himself.

you waited for a while, book in hand to pass time. then, at exactly nine o'clock, you finally heard the doorbell rang dowsntairs.

your heart jumped into your throat. you rushed to your other window and vaguely saw leehan's figure standing at the front door, but from this angle, you couldn't make out details. the sound of your mother's footsteps echoed from downstairs, and you heard the front door open.

"good morning, leehan! you're right on time." her voice echoed.

"good morning, mrs. na. is dami ready?"

ready for what? you blinked, hurrying to the top of the stairs, curiosity overwhelming your nerves. when you looked down, you had to grip the banister to steady yourself.

leehan stood in your entryway wearing a light blue hoodie that was almost identical to yours, paired with white jeans and a striped blue scarf. his usually tousled blonde hair was combed neatly, and he looked up at you with that smile that never failed to make your stomach flip.

when he saw you, his eyes widened slightly, and he raised his hand in a small wave. "hi,"

"hi," you replied, slowly making your way down the stairs. you looked down at your own blue hoodie, then back at his, and couldn't help but smile. "did we plan this?"

"i just figured you'd like the blue," he said, his grin widening.

your mother beamed at both of you, her hands clasped like a mom sending her daughter off to prom. "don't you two look lovely. are you ready for today?"

"for today?" you looked between your mother and leehan, confusion clear in your voice. "what today? what are we doing?"

leehan stepped forward slightly. "we're going out. just around the neighborhood. maybe to the park nearby. i thought it would be nice for you to see some of the world up close."

"going out?" your eyes widened as your foot starts to subconsciouly tap from excitement. "you mean, outside? like, walking around outside?"

leehan nodded, his smile widening seeing you brighten up with joy. "your mom said it was okay. we won't go far, and we can come back anytime you want. i just thought..." he paused, searching for the right words. "i thought you might like to see what's beyond your window."

you turned to your mother, eyes wide with disbelief. she was supposed to be the one who restricted you, who reminded you of all the reasons why staying inside was better. but she just nodded with an encouraging smile.

"go on, sweetheart. you should hurry up and get your shoes before i change my mind." she teased, giving you a gentle nudge toward the coat closet, then disappeared back into the kitchen.

the happiness hit you like a wave. without thinking, you launched yourself forward and wrapped your arms around leehan in an impulsive hug, bouncing on your toes with excitement.

"i can't believe this is happening!" you said into his shoulder. "i can't believe my mom said yes! i can't believe you planned this!"

leehan went very still for a moment, clearly caught off guard by your sudden hug. you could feel his heart racing against your cheek where it pressed to his chest. then his arms came up slowly to hug you back, his hand patting your back gently.

"i'm so happy," you whispered, and you felt him smile against your hair.

after a moment, the reality of what you'd done hit you. you were hugging leehan, not just the polite handshake from yesterday but an actual, full embrace. you could smell his soap and the scent of his hoodie's fabric softener. embarrassment flooded through you, and you pulled back quickly with burning ears. neither of you could seem to look directly at each other, suddenly fascinated by your shoes, the floor, anything but each other's faces.

leehan cleared his throat. "so, um. should we... should we go?"

"yes," you said quickly, grateful for the change of subject. "let me just get my shoes."

your hands were shaking slightly as you slipped on your sneakers. when you straightened up, leehan was watching you with an expression you couldn't read.

"ready?" he asked.

"let's go." you nodded with a smile.

the moment you stepped outside, the world felt impossibly vast. the clear, blue sky stretched overhead in a way that no window could capture, and the air moved against your skin with a freshness you'd forgotten existed. you paused on the way, momentarily overwhelmed.

"you okay?" leehan asked softly, noticing your hesitation.

"yeah, it's just bigger than i remembered," you admitted, taking a tentative step forward.

leehan fell into step beside you as you began walking along the sidewalk. your neighborhood looked completely different from ground level. houses that seemed distant and anonymous from your window were now real places with gardens you could smell, mailboxes you could read, driveways where actual cars sat waiting.

"this is the route i take when i go for walks," leehan said. "i always wondered if you could see me from your window when i passed by your street."

you looked around, trying to orient yourself. "i think i can see that yellow house from my room. and that one with the red door."

your legs felt slightly unsteady at first, months of limited activity had left you less confident in your physical abilities than you'd expected. but as you walked, the rhythm came back to you, and you found yourself naturally matching leehan's pace.

the neighborhood park appeared around a corner, and you stopped short. you'd seen it from your window many times, a distant patch of green, but being here was entirely different. there were families with children, joggers passing by, an elderly man feeding pigeons by a fountain you hadn't even known existed.

"there are so many people," you whispered, suddenly aware that you were now part of this world you'd only observed from afar.

"are you uncomfortable?" leehan asked immediately. "we can go somewhere quieter if you want."

you shook your head. "no, i like it. it's nice to see that the world is full of people living their lives."

you made your way to the swing set, where two swings hung empty. as you settled onto one, the metal chains creaking softly under your weight, you couldn't help but smile. when was the last time you'd been on a swing? years, probably.

"wait here for just a minute," leehan said, already backing away toward the park entrance. "i'll be right back, i promise."

before you could ask where he was going, he was jogging toward a small convenience store visible just beyond the park's edge. you sat there alone, gently rocking back and forth on the swing, watching the world happen around you. a mother pushed her toddler on the swing across you, and the little boy waved at you with sticky fingers. you waved back, feeling like you were part of something larger than yourself for the first time in years.

leehan returned within minutes, slightly out of breath and carrying a small plastic bag. "i thought you might want to try some things," he said, settling onto the swing beside you and pulling out two chocolate ice cream bars and a small bag of chips.

your face lit up as you recognized the same brands he'd smuggled to you through your windows weeks ago. "you remembered."

"of course i remembered. i wanted your first real time outside to include all your favorites."

you accepted the ice cream with cold hands, not from your condition, but from pure happiness. the cold sweetness was just as wonderful as you'd remembered, made even better by the fact that you were eating it outside, in the sunshine, like a normal person.

for a while, you just swung gently back and forth, eating your ice cream and sharing the chips while talking about everything. leehan told you about the different people he'd seen in the park over the months, creating little stories about their lives. you shared what you'd observed from your window, comparing your distant impressions to the reality of being here.

"this is perfect," you said, licking the last of the chocolate from the wooden stick. "i don't think i've ever been this happy."

leehan looked at you, his expression soft and thoughtful. "actually," he said, "there's something else i wanted to show you. if you're feeling up to it."

"what is it?"

"my university. it's not too far from here, and i thought you might like to see where i spend my days when i'm not talking to you through windows."

the idea sent a thrill through you. leehan's university was part of his world that you'd only heard about in stories. "really? you'd show me?"

"if you want to see it. but i'll need to get my bike first, it's a bit far to walk."

you nodded eagerly, and leehan jogged back toward your neighborhood, returning surprisingly quick with a well-used bicycle. he wheeled it over to where you stood, suddenly looking a bit unsure.

"have you ever ridden on the back of a bike before?" he asked.

you shook your head, eyeing the narrow space behind his seat with some trepidation. "it looks unsteady..."

"i'll go slow," he promised, steadying the bike while you approached. "and i'll make sure you don't fall. do you trust me?"

"yes," you said simply. the same burning red painting on your ears. "i trust you."

carefully, you climbed onto the back of the bike, your legs dangling on the side of the rear wheel. the seat was narrow and the position felt unstable, making you acutely aware of how dependent you were on leehan's balance and control.

"you'll need to hold on," he said over his shoulder. "around my waist is probably safest."

heat flooded your cheeks even more at the suggestion. slowly, you placed your hands on his sides, then gradually let your arms encircle his waist. through his hoodie, you could feel the warmth of his back, and the sculpt of his abdomen.

"is this okay?" you asked, your voice smaller than you intended.

"perfect," he said, and you could hear the smile in his voice. looking down, you saw your own smile reflected. "hold on tight," leehan added, placing one foot on the pedal. "here we go."

the bike lurched forward slowly, and you tightened your grip around his waist as the ground began to move past you in a way you'd never experienced before. the wind caught your ponytail, and you found yourself laughing as you rode through the street and beyond.

the bike ride to the university was like traveling through a living painting. you'd never experienced the world rushing past you at this speed, close enough to smell the honeysuckle climbing garden fences, to hear conversations from open windows, to see dogs wagging their tails as their owners walked them along tree-lined streets.

your arms tightened slightly around leehan's waist as you passed through a particularly beautiful stretch where cherry trees formed a canopy overhead. people jogged past in the opposite direction, and you caught glimpses of their faces. some focused and determined, others smiling and chatting with running partners.

"look ahead," leehan called over his shoulder as you crested a small hill.

the university spread out before you like something from a movie. the entrance gates were impressive, tall, wrought iron, with stone pillars. beyond them, you could see manicured lawns, and pathways lined with trimmed bushes.

leehan slowed as you approached the bike parking area, bringing you to a careful stop. your legs felt slightly wobbly as you climbed off.

"this is beautiful," you breathed, taking in the scene around you. students your age moved along the pathways in small groups, backpacks slung over shoulders, some deep in conversation, others walking hand in hand. it was like seeing a version of life you'd only read about in books.

"do you like it?" leehan asked, securing his bike to the rack. you nodded, unable to take your eyes off the bustling weekend campus life.

as you walked through the main pathway, you found yourself observing the other students. some looked stressed, hurrying to extracurricular classes with coffee cups and heavy bags. others lounged on benches, laughing with friends or reading under the shade of large trees. there were couples walking together, their intimacy making something flutter in your chest as you glanced at leehan beside you.

"leehan!"

you both turned to see two young men jogging toward you from the direction of the main building. they were both grinning widely, and you could see the moment they noticed you, their expressions shifting to amusement.

"hey guys," leehan said as they approached. "riwoo, jaehyun, this is dami. dami, these are my friends from class."

you watched, fascinated, as leehan's entire demeanor changed. he was still the gentle, thoughtful person you knew, but there was confidence here now. he gestured and laughed in ways you'd never seen through your window conversations.

"so this is the pretty neighbor," jaehyun said with a teasing smirk, looking between you and leehan. "finally decided to bring your girlfriend around to meet us?"

"she's not my- we're just friends," leehan said quickly, but you caught the faint pink in his cheeks.

"sure you are," riwoo added with a grin. "nice to meet you, dami. we've heard absolutely nothing about you."

"that's not how that works," leehan protested, but he was laughing despite his embarrassment.

you found yourself smiling at them. it was wonderful to see this boyish, and playful side of leehan surrounded by people who clearly cared about him.

"we were just heading to grab lunch," jaehyun said. "you two want to come?"

leehan glanced at you questioningly, but you shook your head slightly. as much as you enjoyed meeting his friends, the thought of sitting in a crowded cafeteria felt overwhelming.

"maybe next time," leehan said smoothly. "we're still exploring."

riwoo nodded in understanding. "well, don't let him bore you with the history of every building. see you later, leehan. nice meeting you, dami!"

as they walked away, still chuckling about something, you turned to leehan with a playful smile. "so," you said, falling into step beside him, nudging his shoulders "they said they've heard absolutely nothing about me, which means you talk about me constantly."

leehan's cheeks flushed pink. "that's not- that's not how it works."

"what did you tell them about me?" you pressed gently, enjoying his flustered expression.

he rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture you'd noticed he did when he was embarrassed. "i... well, the first day i saw you through the window, i thought you were really pretty. and i guess i mentioned that to them."

your own cheeks warmed at his admission. "you thought i was pretty?"

"i still do," he said quietly, then cleared his throat. "but it's more than that. i told them about you because i wanted the people in my life to know that you're part of it now too."

"that was nice," you said softly, biting your lips to suppress a grin.

"i want to show you all of it," leehan said suddenly, stopping to face you. "all my sides, all the places i go, all the things i do. because you're part of my world now, dami. you're part of everything."

your heart raced at the intensity in his voice, you never expected him to suddenly tell you all of this now, but hearing it made you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

"come on," he said, taking your hand without seeming to realize he'd done it. "let me show you the library. it has these huge windows that i always thought you'd love."

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

the rest of the day passed with new experiences. after the university, you rode to an arcade where leehan taught you to play games you'd only heard about. your coordination was terrible from lack of practice, but leehan cheered for every small victory like you'd won the olympics. then there was the park with the pond where you fed pigeons with bread leehan had bought from a nearby bakery. the birds flocked around your feet, and you couldn't stop laughing with how ticklish it felt.

you walked through a small arts district where street musicians played on corners and vendors sold handmade jewelry. leehan bought you a simple bracelet with a small blue charm that matched both your hoodies.

by the time you were riding home, the sun was already hot from late afternooon, and your body was sending clear signals that it had been pushed further than it was used to. but instead of the panic you expected from exhaustion, you felt a deep, satisfying tiredness.

this time, when you wrapped your arms around leehan's waist for the ride home, there was no hesitation anymore. you settled against his back naturally, your head finding a comfortable spot between his shoulder blades. through his hoodie, you could feel his breathing, the warmth of his body comforting you as the nearing streets of your neighborhood came into view.

"thank you," you said softly as he pedaled slowly, in no hurry to end the day.

"for what?"

"for today, you know."

his free hand came up to briefly cover yours where they were clasped around his waist. "you've always belonged in this world, dami. i just helped you remember."

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

morning came too quickly. leehan's alarm went off at six-thirty, and he groggily reached over to silence it. his first instinct, as always lately, was to look toward your window. your curtains were still drawn, your room dark. you were probably still sleeping after yesterday. your body would need the rest.

he got ready for class mechanically, his mind already on when he'd see you again. maybe tonight through the windows, or maybe he could visit again tomorrow. the thought made him smile as he grabbed his bag and headed out.

you woke several hours later to sunlight streaming through your curtains. for a moment, you just lay there, basking in the residual happiness from yesterday. your body ached slightly from all the activity, but it was a good ache, you convinced yourself.

you looked toward leehan's window, curtains drawn, room empty. he was probably already at university, sitting through lectures or hanging out with with his friends. the thought made you smile. you could picture him there now, instead of just imagining it.

slowly, you got out of bed and made your way downstairs. the smell of breakfast greeted you. your mother had made your usual bland but nutritious meal, the same thing she'd been preparing for years.

"good morning, sweetheart," she called from the kitchen. "how are you feeling after yesterday? not too tired?"

"i feel great, actually. a little sore, but in a good way."

"i'm so glad. it was wonderful seeing you so happy. come sit, breakfast is ready."

you moved toward the dining table, but as you pulled out your chair, something pierced in your chest. not pain exactly, but a strange tightness that made you pause and grasp the chair beside you. then, a sharp, crushing sensation that stole your breath hit. your hand flew to your chest as you gasped, trying to pull in air that wouldn't come. the room tilted sideways, and you heard the chair clatter as you stumbled.

"dami!" your mother's voice was muffled and panicked in your ears. "dami, what's wrong? talk to me!"

you tried to speak, but no words came. just a pain radiating from your chest, squeezing like a vice, making black spots float across your vision. your legs gave out, and you felt your mother's arms catching you before you hit the floor.

"no, no, no," your mother said frantically. "stay with me, baby. stay with me."

the next minutes were static. your mother half-carried, half-dragged you to the car, not bothering with an ambulance. the hospital was only ten minutes away and she couldn't bear to wait. you were vaguely aware of the car speeding, of your mother's voice talking to you to keep you awake.

the hospital emergency entrance appeared through your dimming vision. hands, so many hands lifted you onto a gurney. bright lights flashed overhead made your head numb as you were rushed down corridors. voices shouted medical terms you couldn't process.

"bp dropping-"

"get her to icu-"

"possible cardiac arrest-"

then there were tubes and machines, the cold press of monitors against your skin, and your mother's tear-stained face hovering above yours before someone gently moved her away.

"we need to run tests," a doctor was saying somewhere beyond your line of sight. "it looks like her heart is failing. we'll need to get her stabilized and start looking for a donor immediately."

hearing these, you thought of leehan, sitting in class somewhere, not knowing that the person he'd shown the world to yesterday might not get to see it again. you thought of everything, and all the things you wish you had said before.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

the afternoon sun was already slanting low when leehan finally made it home from campus. his last class had run late, and he'd stayed after to work on a group project, but all day his mind had kept drifting to you. he wanted to tell you about the funny thing jaehyun had said, about how the professor had mentioned something that reminded him of your conversation last night.

instead of going straight to his house, he found himself walking toward yours. it had become instinct over the past weeks, checking your window first, seeing if you were at your desk, maybe holding up a quick message before he went inside.

but your house looked dark. all the curtains were drawn, and there was no glow from any of the windows. it was strange, it was barely six o'clock, it's too early for everyone to be asleep.

still, he approached the front door and rang the doorbell. the sound echoed inside, but there was no response. no footsteps, no voice calling "just a minute," nothing.

he waited, then pressed the doorbell again, listening intently, but it was another silence. a small knot of unease formed in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. you and your mother were probably just out somewhere. maybe at a doctor's appointment that ran late, or maybe your mother had finally taken you on another outing after seeing how well yesterday had gone.

leehan headed back to his own house, trying to shake the worried feeling that bugged to him.

"you're home late," his mother said as he walked through the door. "how was class?"

"tiring." he set his bag down. "mom, have you seen dami or mrs. na today?"

his mother's expression changed, concern flashing across her face. "actually, yes. this morning, mrs. na was carrying dami to the car. dami looked like she could barely stand. they drove off so quickly, i didn't even have time to ask if everything was okay. i've been worried about it all day."

the knot in leehan's stomach pulled back tight as his worries are slowly getting the confirmation. "what time was this?"

"around nine, maybe? why? is something wrong?"

but leehan was already moving, dropping his backpack on the sofa. "i need to go. i think- i need to check the hospital. i'll call you!" he shouted over his shoulder, already running toward where he'd left his bike.

his heart pounded as he pedaled faster than he ever had before. the hospital wasn't far, but every second felt like an hour. his mind raced through possibilities, each one worse than the last. you'd been fine yesterday, tired, but happy. what could have happened in less than twenty-four hours?

the hospital parking lot appeared, and he barely remembered to lock his bike before sprinting toward the entrance. the lobby was busy with people coming and going, and leehan stood there feeling lost, not knowing where to even begin looking.

then he spotted a familiar man near the reception desk, someone he'd never met but recognized from the photos in your living room. it's your father, talking urgently with a staff member.

"excuse me," leehan said, approaching cautiously. hir breathing still heavy. "mr. na?"

the man turned, his face drawn with worry. "yes?"

"i'm leehan. kim leehan. i live next door to you, i'm dami's..." he hesitated. "i'm dami's friend."

recognition dawned in your father's eyes as he nodded. "leehan. yes, she's mentioned you. my wife told me about you." he glanced back at the receptionist. "i just got back from a business trip from a different city. i came straight from the airport."

"is she okay? what happened?"

your father's expression crumbled slightly. "her heart gave out this morning. they have her in the icu." he turned back to the receptionist. "room 304, icu ward. thank you."

they walked together through the sterile hospital corridors, neither speaking. leehan's legs felt numb, moving on autopilot as they navigated turns and passed through double doors marked "intensive care unit."

room 304 was at the end of a long hallway. through the small window in the door, leehan could see your mother sitting in a chair beside a hospital bed, her head bowed.

your father entered first. "i'm here," he said, and your mother looked up with red-rimmed eyes before standing and falling into his embrace.

leehan stood awkwardly in the doorway until your mother noticed him. "leehan," she said, her voice hoarse. "you found us."

"my mom saw you this morning. i got worried." he couldn't take his eyes off the bed where you lay, so still among all the machines and tubes. "is she..."

"she's stable for now," your mother said. "but she needs a heart transplant. they're searching for a donor."

the words hit him like a truck speeding. heart transplant, the dietary restrictions, the limited activities, the way your parents kept you so carefully protected, it all suddenly made horrible sense now to him. but have no time nor the energy to be disappointed with why you didn't tell him.

"can i...?" he gestured toward the chair beside your bed.

"of course," your father said. "we'll be right outside if you need us. we need to talk about arrangements."

they stepped out, leaving leehan alone with you. he sank into the chair, his hands trembling as he reached for yours. your hand was cold, and there were so many tubes and wires, but underneath it all, you were still you.

"dami," he whispered. "i'm so sorry. i shouldn't have taken you out yesterday. if i'd known-"

your fingers twitched in his, and your eyelids fluttered. when your eyes opened, they were cloudy with medication but focused on his face. "leehan?" your voice was barely audible.

"i'm here. i'm right here." he squeezed your hand gently. "how are you feeling?"

you managed a small nod, which he took to mean you were okay, or at least as okay as you could be under the circumstances.

"are you going to be okay?" the question came out broken, and leehan felt tears burning behind his eyes that he desperately tried to hold back. it's followed by another small nod from you. "heart transplant," you whispered. "soon."

leehan nodded, trying to be strong for you even though everything inside him was crumbling.

"dami..." he held your hand tighter, leaning closer so you could hear him clearly. "you're really important to me. more important than i knew how to say before. i love you, not just as a friend, but... i really love you. and whatever happens, i'm going to hope for the best. i'm going to believe you'll be okay."

through the haze of medications, your expression softened into something that looked like joy. "i love you too," you whispered back, each word clearly an effort.

the tears leehan had been holding back finally fell, but he was smiling through them. "you're going to get through this. you showed me yesterday that you're stronger than anyone gives you credit for. you're going to get your transplant, and then we're going to have a thousand more days like yesterday. i promise."

you smiled, your grip on his hand weakened. "tell me about today, about class."

so he did. he sat there for hours, talking about random things, with stories about jaehyun's terrible jokes and the professor who'd spilled coffee on his notes. he told you about the sunset he'd seen on his bike ride home, about the dog that had chased him down the street.

he talked until visiting hours were nearly over, until your eyes grew heavy and your responses became slower. your parents returned eventually, your father looking slightly less shell-shocked, your mother managing a grateful smile for leehan.

"you should go home and rest," she said gently. "it's getting late."

leehan looked at his phone, it's 11:04 pm. he'd been here for hours and it felt like minutes.

"i'll come back," he said, looking at you. your eyes were closed now, but he could see the slight rise and fall of your chest. "tomorrow morning before class, and after class too. every day until you're better."

"she'd like that," your mother said with a grateful smile.

leehan stood reluctantly, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to your forehead. "see you tomorrow, dami. i love you."

as he rode his bike home through the dark streets, the world felt different than it had that morning. heavier, and even more fragile like every second is on the edge. but also more precious, because he'd finally said the words he'd been afraid to say, and you'd said them back.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

the morning light was still soft when leehan arrived at the hospital, a thermal bag in one hand and daisies wrapped in brown paper in the other. he'd woken up at six to make rice porridge, bland but warm, the kind your mother said the doctors would allow.

when he pushed open the door to your room, you were already awake, staring at the ceiling. the monitors beeped their steady rhythm beside you.

"you brought breakfast?" your voice was still weak, but better than last night.

"the hospital food looked sad." he unwrapped the daisies carefully, arranging them in the vase on your bedside table. "your mom told me these are your favorite."

"they are." you reached out slowly, your fingers trembling slightly as you touched one of the soft white petals. the simple move seemed to tire you out.

leehan pulled the chair as close to your bed as it would go and opened the container. he tested the temperature of the porridge against his wrist the way he'd seen his mother do when he was young, then lifted a spoonful to your lips.

you ate slowly. between bites, he told you about his bike ride here in the early morning, how the streets were empty except for a few joggers, how he'd passed an old man by the park fountain feeding ducks. the ducks had waddled after the man adorably.

"i wish i could see that," you said quietly.

"when you're better, we'll go feed them together.".

before he had to leave for class, he pulled a worn paperback from his bag and set it on your bedside table. the cover was faded, the pages soft from being read too many times. "the little prince," you said, recognizing it immediately. "your copy."

"so i'm here even when i'm not." he squeezed your hand. "and text me anytime, okay? even during class. especially during class."

"you'll get in trouble." you looked at him with a concerned expression.

leehan just held your hand tighter, shaking his head. "i don't care."

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

the next two days moved like that. every morning before his first class, leehan would arrive with something, food you were allowed to eat, flowers that changed each day. chrysanthemums one morning, their petals curled tight. tulips the next, yellow ones that reminded him of sunlight. on the second day, he brought wildflowers he'd picked from a field near campus, their stems still damp with dew.

he'd sit with you while you ate, reading passages from books when you were too tired to hold them yourself. your hands would shake if you tried to lift anything heavier than a spoon, and he pretended not to notice the way you'd get breathless just from sitting up. then he'd have to leave, and the hospital room would feel colder without him in it.

but every afternoon, after his last class ended, he'd come back. sometimes with fruit smoothies. sometimes with small pastries your doctor had approved. once, he brought you sketches he'd drawn during a boring lecture, clumsy drawings of the two of you riding his bike, standing at the university gates, sitting on the swings.

"you're terrible at drawing," you'd said, letting out a weak chuckle.

"tell me about your day," he'd say, settling into the chair that was starting to have a permanent dent from where he always sat.

and you would tell him. about the kind nurse who always warmed her hands before checking your pulse. and about the physical therapist who'd helped you stand for thirty seconds today, which felt like climbing a mountain.

"how was yours?" you'd ask.

he'd then tell you everything too. jaehyun had spilled coffee on his notes during philosophy class, and the professor had used it as a metaphor for chaos theory. a ginger cat had followed him around campus, meowing insistently until he'd shared his sandwich. riwoo had asked about you, wanted to know when you could all hang out together.

the conversations weren't rushed. they'd pause around silences, around times when you'd drift off mid-sentence and he'd just sit there, holding your hand while you slept.

when visiting hours ended at nine and he had to leave, he'd call you from his room. though you were apart. still, he'd stay on the line, just talking to you, about the stars he could see, about a movie he wanted to watch with you, about all the ordinary future he was building in his mind.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

surgery day arrived too fast and too slow. the sun came up the way it always did despite the importance of this day. leehan woke at five, his stomach in knots. he got ready in the dark, his hands clammy as he picked out clothes. he stopped by the florist that opened early, the one near the hospital. white roses this time. for hope, the florist had said.

when he walked into your room, you were already awake. you looked so small in the hospital gown, your hair spread across the pillow. they'd stopped letting you eat or drink hours ago, and your lips were dry.

"hi," he said, and his voice cracked on that single word.

"hello." your hand reached for his immediately, gripping tight. "i'm really scared."

"i know." he sat down and held both your hands in his. "but you're going to be okay. i know it."

you talked about small things to avoid the big thing. the white roses, the chapter of the little prince you'd read last night, a weird dream you'd had about flying. neither of you said the word "surgery," as if not speaking it might make it less real. and when he finally had to leave for class, you didn't let go of his hands right away.

"i'll be back right after," he said. "the second my last class ends, i'm coming straight here."

you nodded, then pulled him closer. he leaned down and wrapped his arms around you, careful of all the tubes connecting you to machines. you smelled like antiseptic and underneath it, faintly, like the lavender soap your mother brought from home.

he pulled back just enough to press a gentle kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment. then he cupped your face in his hands, his thumbs brushing gently against your cheeks.

"listen to me," he said quietly, his eyes locked on yours. "when you wake up from this, not if, i'm taking you on a real date. a proper one. we'll go somewhere nice, maybe that little café near the university with the outdoor tables. the one with the blue awning. you can order whatever you want, and we'll sit there for hours just talking. no hospital rooms, no windows, just us."

your eyes were getting glassy, but you smiled with the hope it gave you. "that sounds perfect."

"and after that, we'll go everywhere. the beach, maybe. or that bookstore downtown you mentioned once. we'll make up for all the time you spent inside, i promise. we'll have so many days together that you'll get tired of seeing my face."

"i could never get tired of you." your voice cracked as you close your eyes.

he kissed your forehead again, then your temple, then rested his forehead against yours. "you're going to be okay. you have to be, because i have so many plans for us, and i need you here for all of them."

"i'll try my best," you whispered.

"that's all i need. your best has always been more than enough." he held you a moment longer, then reluctantly pulled away. "i love you so much, dami."

"i love you too," you whispered against his shoulder.

he looked at your face one more time, before reluctantly stepping back. "see you soon, okay?"

you nod. "okay."

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

sitting in class was torture. the professor's voice was just noise. leehan stared at his notebook, his pen hovering over the page without writing anything. his leg bounced under the desk. he checked his phone every thirty seconds even though he knew the surgery wouldn't start until two, wouldn't be done for hours after that.

"you okay, man?" jaehyun whispered during a break.

"dami's surgery is today."

jaehyun's usual grin faded. "shit, that's big. you want to leave?"

"i can't. she'd want me to stay." leehan rubbed his face. "she'd want me to keep going."

he forced himself to focus. to copy down the notes on the board even though none of it made sense. to nod when the professor asked if everyone understood. every minute felt excruciatingly long, but he stayed because you would want him to.

at two in the afternoon, they wheeled your bed down the long corridor toward the operating room. the lights overhead were too bright, blurring together as you moved. your mother walked beside you, holding your hand. your father was on your other side.

the operating room was cold. there were too many people in masks and blue gowns, too many machines beeping and humming. someone adjusted the iv in your arm.

"we're going to put you under now," a woman's comforting voice said. "count backward from ten for me."

"ten... nine... eight..."

as the medication pulled you under, your mind filled with your happiest memories. leehan's face the first time you saw him through the window. the way he'd awkwardly smiled when you waved. the notebook conversations, the smuggled snacks, the first time he'd visited your house.

you relived the feeling of the wind in your hair as you rode on the back of his bike. the university campus, alive with people and life. his hand in yours at the arcade, the way he'd laughed when you'd beaten him at a game.

his voice when he finally told you he loves you in this very hospital room, your parents, who'd spent twenty years keeping you alive, who'd sacrificed so much to give you every possible chance to live.

you'd lived. maybe not in the traditional way, but you'd lived. you'd known love and friendship and joy. you'd seen the world beyond your window, even if only for a day, and if you were very lucky, you'd get to see so much more.

the darkness pulled you under completely, and your last conscious thought was a simple hope. let me wake up, let me have more time, let me live.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

the moment leehan's last class ended, he was out the door. he didn't wait for jaehyun or riwoo, didn't stop to pack his bag properly. he just shoved everything and ran, his backpack bouncing against his shoulders as he sprinted to where he'd locked his bike.

the ride to the hospital was hazy. the streets passed in streaks of light, and he barely registered the traffic or the other cars. his heart pounded so hard it hurt, and his hands were slick with sweat on the handlebars. what if something had gone wrong? what if the surgery failed? what if he got there and you were- he shook his head, pedaling harder. you were fine. you had to be fine.

he abandoned his bike in the first spot he found and ran through the hospital's automatic doors. the fluorescent lights overhead felt too bright, the antiseptic smell is too sharp. his shoes squeaked on the polished floors as he navigated the hallways toward the icu.

each step closer to your room made his chest tighter. he turned the final corner, and his breath caught when he saw the nameplate still there beside the door, na dami.

he stood there for a moment, his hand hovering over the door handle. he was terrified of what he might find on the other side. but he'd promised he'd be here when you woke up.

he knocked gently, then pushed the door open.

the first thing he saw was your mother sitting in the chair beside your bed. and the second thing, the thing that made his knees weak with relief was you, lying there with your eyes open. alive, and okay.

"leehan," you said, and your voice was hoarse from the breathing tube they'd removed.

he crossed the room in three steps and took your hand in both of his, gripping it like you might disappear if he let go. his eyes were burning, and he could feel his throat closing up with the overwhelming mixture of emotions.

"hi," he managed, and then he laughed because it was such a stupid thing to say, but he couldn't think of anything else. he breathed as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"hi," you said back, smiling weakly.

your mother stood up, touching leehan's shoulder gently. "i'll give you two some time. i need to call her father anyway." she leaned down to kiss your forehead. "i'll be right outside if you need me, sweetheart."

when the door closed behind her, leehan sank into the chair she'd vacated, still holding your hand. he brought it up to his cheek, closing his eyes. "you scared me," he said quietly.

"i'm sorry."

"don't apologize. just don't hide everything from me next time." he said, caressing your hands against his face.

you laughed, which turned into a small cough. "i'll try my best."

he opened his eyes and looked at you properly. you were pale, and there were new tubes and monitors. you looked exhausted, but you were smiling at him without looking too sickly anymore, and that was enough forhim.

"how do you feel?" he asked.

"tired." you paused. "but different, i think. like something that was broken is fixed now."

his vision blurred with tears he'd been holding back all day. "i'm so glad you're okay. i couldn't- i didn't know what i'd do if-"

"hey," you tugged at his hand, pulling him closer. "i'm here. i'm okay. we're okay."

he rested his forehead gently against the side of your bed, next to where your hand lay. "i kept thinking about what i said this morning. about the café with the blue awning. about taking you everywhere. and i was so scared i wouldn't get to."

"well, now you have to," you said. "you made promises. can't back out now."

he lifted his head, wiping at his eyes with his free hand. "you're really going to hold me to that?"

"every single one." you nodded. "the café, the beach, the bookstore. all of it."

you were quiet for a moment, just looking at each other. the monitors beeped steadily, and outside the window, the sky was turning pink and orange with sunset.

"i was thinking about you," you said finally. "when they put me under. about the first time i saw you through the window. about all the moments between then and now."

"yeah?" leehan perked up.

"and i kept thinking how lucky i am. that we moved next door to you. that you looked up and waved back. that you cared enough to bring me snacks and flowers and your favorite book." your voice got quieter, on the verge of crying from joy. "that you loved me."

"love," he corrected gently.

"love," you repeated, smiling. "of course."

he stood up carefully, leaning over the bed rail to press a kiss to your forehead, just like he had this morning. "i'm going to be here every day while you recover. before class, after class, whenever they'll let me, and i'm going to be with you too after you recover and wherever time takes us."

"promise?" you blinked, cradling his warm cheeks against your still cold palm.

"i promise you, dami. i'll be with you through bad or better days."

Sungho

Originally he invited you over to try out a new video game he got but neither of you thought that it will be so entertaining that you'll be at it for hours. First you were very calm about it, still figuring out how everything works but after you got into it, there was no stopping. You tried to accomplish more and more together in the game and playfully scolded each other when someone made a mistake. You had so much fun together that you didn't even realise how much time passed since you started. The sun slowly switched places with the moon and stars appeared on the dark sky one by one. When you noticed the time your were shocked about how long ago you started this game, but you didn't want to go home yet. So at the end you decided to turn this afternoon and evening spent together into a sleepover because you just didn't want to leave your boyfriend's side. Not tonight.

Riwoo

You planned a movie date for the evening at your place. What you didn't calculate with was the huge storm that decided to start right after he arrived and soon the electricity went off in the whole building thanks to that. So the movie date became impossible. You lit some candles to have something light up the place, it actually turned out pretty romantic. You ended up eating all the snacks you guys bought for the movie while waiting for the power to come back. After an hour or two everything went back to normal, the lamp working again, the tv turned on and the internet connection came back. However, Riwoo and you had so much fun doing nothing in the dim lights of the candles that movie night already became forgotten, you didn't want anything else than to just be with, and focus on each other. And maybe a little bit more snacks.

Jaehyun

Jaehyun is a weird guy. Everybody and their mother knows that. Therefore when he plans a date you never know what to expect. But something that you actually didn't expect was for him to put together the most romantic dinner ever known to mankind at his place. He put candles on the table, gave you your favourite flowers and cooked a delicious male by himself (or at least that's what he claimed). When you finished you didn't want to leave yet. It was a gesture that showed you how much he really loves and adores you and you didn't want this moment to end. So you just kept sitting at the table talking, really opening up to each other for hours straight. This was probably the point when both of you realised how serious you are about this relationship. And another thing that you realised that night was that Jaehyun can actually stay calm for more than an hour long.

Taesan

You were at his place, laying in his bed, cuddling. He hugged you so softly but still so close, your head on his chest. You could hear his heartbeat. It was calm. You made it calm. The same way he calmed you down. At that moment it didn't matter how stressful of a day you've had, how angry you were at the whole world just hours ago. But as soon as you were with him everything seemed to suddenly get better. And there you were, laying down with him as a calm melody was playing on his vinyl player. Words weren't needed in that moment. You were planning to lay there for a few minutes, but minutes soon turned into an hour and then more and more hours. "It's getting late" Taesan whispered to you "shouldn't you go home?" You looked up at him, right into those beautiful eyes of his, and said "right now all I want is to be with you"

Leehan

You know how much Leehan loves watching his fish even for hours straight. At first you didn't understand; how can someone be so entertained by some fish? they're not even doing anything special, just swimming around, how can someone just stare at them non-stop? But it seems like tonight you finally understood. Today was not just long but also really stressful for you and you didn't want anything else than just some comfort so you came over to your boyfriend's. After eating something the two of you just settled in front of his fish tank watching as the little animals swim around in the water. Your head resting on his shoulder, calmly breathing in and out, non of you breaking the silence. You didn't know how much time has passed since you sat down there but honestly, you didn't care. You felt closer to him than ever before, it gave you so much comfort, and all you did was watching some fish in the dim light.

Woonhak

‘💬’ ─── i always treat my long smau oneshots like a mini smau series wth 😭

There’s no space left.

No air.

Just heat.

Leehan’s hand slides into your hair, tilting your head to the side as his mouth finds your neck. He doesn’t ease into it this time. His lips press hard, teeth grazing before he sucks a mark into your skin like he wants it to last. A broken sound slips from you immediately, and Sungho’s chest rumbles with a low hum of approval behind you.

On the other side, Sungho’s mouth claims your throat with slower precision. He doesn’t rush, but he doesn’t hold back either. His lips drag downward, open and warm, before his teeth scrape lightly along your pulse point. His hands settle on your hips, fingers digging in just enough to make you gasp.

You’re caught.

Held.

Completely owned in that moment.

Leehan lifts his head only to capture your mouth, and the kiss is brutal in its hunger. His lips crash against yours, tongue sweeping in without hesitation. It’s messy, desperate, almost feral. His hands grip your waist and pull you hard against him, and the friction makes your knees threaten to buckle.

Sungho doesn’t let you fall.

His arm snakes around your stomach, holding you upright as his other hand slides higher, spanning your ribs. His mouth finds your jaw, then your neck again, biting softly before soothing the sting with his tongue. The contrast between them is dizzying—Leehan taking, Sungho claiming.

You can’t breathe properly.

Whenever Leehan pulls back, Sungho steals your mouth. The second Sungho releases you, Leehan is there again. They don’t give you a second to think. Your head spins as their kisses overlap, clash, consume.

Leehan’s hands wander boldly, gripping your thighs and dragging you closer, forcing your hips to roll against his. The movement pulls a helpless moan from you, swallowed instantly when Sungho turns your face and kisses you deep, slow, suffocating. His tongue moves with maddening control, like he’s savoring the taste of your desperation.

Your fingers claw at them—one hand fisting into Sungho’s shirt behind you, the other gripping Leehan’s shoulder. It’s too much. Their mouths, their hands, their bodies pressing in from both sides. Heat coils tight in your stomach, sharper now, heavier.

Leehan breaks the kiss only to trail his mouth down your throat, sucking bruises into your skin without apology. His hands slide up your sides, thumbs brushing deliberately over sensitive spots that make you arch forward.

Which only pushes you harder into Sungho.

He exhales against your ear at the contact, low and satisfied. His hips press forward slowly, deliberately, and the friction makes your legs tremble. His hand leaves your waist to cup your jaw, tilting your face back so he can watch your expression unravel.

“Look at you,” he murmurs, voice dark.

Leehan groans softly at the sight too, his forehead pressing briefly against yours before he bites your lower lip and pulls. You whimper, breath stuttering, and they both react instantly—tightening their hold, closing in further.

You’re completely surrounded.

Their hands grow more demanding. Leehan grips your hips and rocks you against him with more force now, controlled but unrelenting. Sungho’s fingers trace slow paths along your torso, dipping just enough to make your breath hitch, then sliding away before you can chase the touch.

It’s deliberate torture.

They know exactly where to touch.

Exactly where not to.

Your thoughts blur entirely. There’s nothing left but sensation—the drag of lips over your skin, the scrape of teeth, the press of their bodies boxing you in. The room fills with uneven breaths, quiet groans, and the slick sound of kisses that are far too deep.

When you whisper their names, it comes out wrecked.

Leehan kisses you again, slower this time but somehow even more intense. His tongue moves against yours in a rhythm that makes your stomach twist painfully. His hand slides lower, squeezing your thigh hard enough to make you gasp into his mouth.

Sungho’s lips trail down your neck to your shoulder, biting, sucking, marking you as if he wants proof of this later. His hands roam with heavy confidence, thumbs digging into your hips to hold you steady while he grinds against you from behind in slow, punishing strokes.

Your legs shake openly now.

You press back into Sungho, forward into Leehan, chasing more without even realizing you’re doing it. You’re desperate for friction, for pressure, for something to snap the tight coil in your stomach.

“Please,” you breathe, barely coherent.

Leehan laughs under his breath—low, almost cruel. “Please what?”

You can’t answer properly. You just whimper.

Sungho’s fingers tighten at your waist. He leans down, lips brushing your ear. “You’re so sensitive tonight.”

The words alone nearly undo you.

Leehan’s hand slides up your side again, teasing, hovering, never quite giving what you need most. His mouth moves to your throat, sucking harder this time until you gasp sharply.

The tension spikes so suddenly it almost hurts.

Your body feels like it’s vibrating, every nerve lit up and straining. You’re right there—balanced on the edge, ready to fall.

And then—

They stop.

Completely.

Leehan’s mouth lifts from your skin. Sungho’s hands go still. The friction disappears so abruptly you nearly stumble.

They hold you for one suspended second longer, just enough to let the loss sink in.

Then they step back.

The cool air hits your flushed skin, and the absence of their touch feels louder than anything that came before. You sway slightly, breath ragged, lips swollen, neck marked in blooming shades that will darken by morning.

They look at you like they’re proud of the destruction.

Leehan runs his thumb lightly over your bottom lip, almost gentle now. Sungho’s gaze drags down your body, slow and assessing, like he’s memorizing every tremble.

You’re still shaking.

Still aching.

And they know it.

Leehan presses one last soft kiss to the corner of your mouth, deceptively sweet. Sungho leans in to brush his lips against your neck again, right over the most sensitive spot, making your breath hitch one more time.

Then they pull away fully.

Leaving you burning.

Leaving you wound tight enough that the tension hums under your skin like a live wire.

They don’t need to say anything.

The promise lingers in their eyes.

Later, when they finally decide you’ve had enough, they’ll finish what they started.

For now, they leave you trembling in the aftermath, every inch of you alive with need, knowing they’ve turned you into something desperate and breathless—and that they’ll make you beg for the rest.

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