#pink theme

Your older brother, Ohyul, had always been your person.

Before his debut, the two of you were inseparable—late-night talks, shared meals, stupid jokes that only the two of you understood. If anyone asked, he’d say you were his favorite person without hesitation.

But things changed after debut.

Not in a bad way… just different.

His schedule became packed, his time limited, and the easy, everyday moments you used to share became rare. Still, Ohyul never let that distance settle completely. He tried—really tried.

He’d text you whenever he had a break, send random updates, sometimes even voice messages when he was too tired to type. And when he could, he’d call.

Like tonight.

It was just past midnight when your phone lit up with his name. You had just finished your day, sitting in front of your mirror, gently wiping off your makeup. You didn’t think twice before answering, propping your phone up nearby so he could see you.

On the other end, Ohyul looked exhausted—hair slightly messy, hoodie half-zipped—but he smiled the moment he saw you.

“Hey,” he said, voice a little raspy. “I just got back from practice.”

You smiled softly. “You look dead.”

“I am dead,” he laughed. “But I’m trying to make something and it’s not working.”

Of course he called you for that.

Soon enough, you were walking him through the recipe step by step, occasionally glancing at the screen while continuing your skincare. It felt… normal. Comforting. Like a small piece of how things used to be.

Then suddenly, a figure passed behind him.

You barely registered it at first—until the person came back into frame, leaning slightly to look at the phone.

You paused, hand mid-motion.

The member looked directly at you through the screen, curious.

“Who’s this?” he asked.

Ohyul glanced over before his face lit up in realization. “Oh! That’s my sister, Y/n.” He turned the camera slightly. “Y/n, this is Louis.”

So this was one of the members you’d heard so much about.

You gave a small wave, a little caught off guard. “Hi.”

Louis smiled and waved back, his expression easy and friendly. “Hi.”

You couldn’t help but giggle softly before looking away, a bit shy, returning to what you were doing.

Louis didn’t leave, though.

He stayed in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, casually talking with Ohyul while he finished cooking. Their conversation flowed naturally, and you found yourself listening in, the background noise oddly comforting as you went through your routine.

After a bit, Ohyul finally finished the dish.

He took a bite—and immediately lit up.

“Okay, that’s actually good,” he said, clearly impressed.

Louis grabbed a bite too, nodding in approval.

Ohyul suddenly picked up the phone and brought it closer to his face, still chewing. “Thanks, Y/n, for the help.”

You laughed at the sight. “Anytime. Night, Yul.”

“Night,” he said softly.

Then, without warning, he turned the camera toward Louis.

Louis blinked for a second before smiling again. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight to you too,” you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips.

There was a brief moment—just a second—where he held your gaze through the screen before you ended the call.

The line went quiet.

Ohyul slipped his phone into his pocket, grabbing another bite of food, but he noticed Louis hadn’t moved.

He glanced over. “What?”

Louis hesitated for a second before leaning slightly closer, lowering his voice.

“How old is your sister?”

Ohyul raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk forming on his face. “She’s a couple months older than you. Why?”

Louis immediately shook his head, scratching the back of his neck. “No reason.”

The answer came out way too fast.

“Okay… goodnight,” he added quickly before turning and heading off toward his room almost immediately.

Ohyul watched him go, the smirk still lingering.

Yeah… sure. No reason.

He chuckled quietly to himself before heading to his own room, already knowing this probably wouldn’t be the last time your name came up.

From that point on, it became a pattern.

Every time Ohyul called you… Louis just happened to be there.

At first, it felt like coincidence.

A quick wave in the background. A casual “oh, hey” as he passed by. Maybe a short comment before disappearing again.

But then it kept happening.

And happening.

Soon, it wasn’t unusual for you to see him leaning against the counter beside Ohyul, or sitting just out of frame but clearly listening. He’d greet you like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Hey, Y/n.”

Sometimes he’d even join the conversation—throwing in small jokes, asking random questions, reacting to whatever you and Ohyul were talking about.

And every single time, he’d brush it off the same way.

“I was just walking by.”

“I was getting water.”

“I didn’t even know you were on the phone.”

Right.

You weren’t sure if Ohyul noticed.

But you definitely did.

Still… you didn’t mind.

If anything, you found yourself expecting it—glancing at the screen a little longer, waiting to see if he’d pop into frame. And when he did, it always pulled a small smile out of you.

One night, after another long day for both of you, Ohyul called again.

It wasn’t a long conversation this time—just a quick check-in. Making sure you ate, asking how your day went, the usual.

And, of course, Louis was there.

Leaning casually against the counter, nodding along as you talked, occasionally chiming in with a comment that made you laugh.

It felt… easy.

Like he’d always been part of these calls.

Eventually, Ohyul checked the time and sighed. “I should sleep.”

“Yeah, you look like you’re about to pass out,” you teased.

“Wow. Thanks.”

You smiled. “Goodnight, Yul.”

“Night,” he said softly.

Louis leaned closer to the camera slightly. “Goodnight, Y/n.”

“Goodnight,” you replied, your voice just as soft.

The call ended.

The dorm fell quiet again, the faint hum of the kitchen lights filling the space.

Right on cue, Woojin stepped out of his room, running a hand through his hair as he headed toward the kitchen.

He slowed when he saw Louis still standing there.

“…Louis,” he started, squinting slightly. “Why are you always in Ohyul’s phone when he’s calling his sister?”

Louis didn’t even look at him.

He just rolled his eyes, grabbing a glass like the question didn’t deserve an answer.

“I’m not,” he muttered.

Woojin gave him a look. “You literally are.”

Silence.

Then, from behind them, Ohyul spoke up—voice laced with amusement.

“You know…” he said slowly, watching Louis with a knowing smile. “If you like her, you can just meet her.”

Louis froze.

Actually froze.

His eyes went wide as he turned to look at Ohyul. “Really?” he asked, the surprise in his voice just a little too dramatic to be believable.

Ohyul let out a small laugh. “Yeah. Next time we have a day off, I’ll take you over.”

He shrugged like it was nothing.

Like he didn’t just flip a switch in Louis’s brain.

“Oh,” Louis said, quickly trying to recover. “Yeah. Sure. Cool.”

But he couldn’t hide it completely.

Not from Ohyul.

Not from Woojin.

Because the moment Ohyul looked away, Louis turned slightly, biting back a grin—something bright and uncontrollable building in his chest.

Because the truth was…

From the very first time he saw you on that screen, he thought you were stunning.

But it didn’t stop there.

Not even close.

Through those “accidental” calls, he’d started noticing everything else—the way you laughed at your own jokes, how easily you talked, how you made even simple conversations feel warm and alive. You were creative, quick-witted, effortlessly yourself in a way that pulled people in without trying.

And somehow, without meaning to…

He’d started looking forward to those calls.

Waiting for them.

Finding reasons to be there.

Now?

Now he had an actual chance to meet you.

For real.

And suddenly, that felt a lot more nerve-wracking than just watching you through a screen.

Soon, the time finally came.

It was a Friday, and you had just finished a long day at school. You sat on the bus ride home, half-zoned out as you scrolled on your phone, when a notification popped up.

From Ohyul.

I’m coming over today with a surprise.

Your tired expression immediately softened into a smile.

You didn’t even hesitate, quickly typing back a short reply, your excitement already building. You had a feeling you knew what the “surprise” was—but even the possibility made your chest feel a little lighter.

The ride home suddenly felt way too long.

As soon as you got home, you didn’t waste any time.

You headed straight to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the exhaustion from the day. Afterward, you changed into something comfy—but still cute—without overthinking it too much.

Still, you caught yourself fixing your hair just a little more than usual before heading out to the living room.

And then you waited.

You tried to distract yourself—scrolling on your phone, flipping through channels—but your attention kept drifting back to the door.

Every little sound made you look up.

Until finally—

Knock knock.

You were off the couch instantly, practically running to the door.

The second you opened it, your face lit up.

“Ohyul!”

You threw your arms around him without hesitation, pulling him into a tight hug as he laughed, stumbling slightly as you dragged him inside.

“I missed you too,” he said, his voice warm and familiar.

You pulled back, looking up at him with a grin. “What’s the surprise?”

Before he could answer, you heard footsteps behind him—the soft sound of the door closing.

You leaned slightly to the side, peeking around him.

And there he was.

“Louis?” Your smile widened instantly.

He stood there, a little more reserved than you’d expected, giving you a small, slightly shy wave. “Hi.”

For a second, you just looked at him—really looked at him.

Then you blinked.

“You’re… way taller than I thought.”

Louis let out a small, nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah… I get that a lot.”

Ohyul snorted softly beside him before lifting a bag in his hand. “I brought food.”

That immediately grabbed your attention.

“Awesome!” you said brightly, already turning and heading back toward the living room.

The three of you settled onto the couch, the food spread out on the table.

Most of the conversation flowed between you and Ohyul at first—catching up, talking about school, his schedule, random little things you’d both missed.

Louis sat beside you, quieter now, occasionally chiming in but mostly listening.

Ohyul noticed.

Of course he did.

After a few minutes, he suddenly stood up.

“I’ll be back.”

Before either of you could question it, he was already walking off—too quickly to be casual.

You blinked.

“…Okay?”

And just like that, it was just you and Louis.

The room fell into a quiet, slightly awkward silence.

Louis shifted beside you, adjusting his posture, then his hands, then looking anywhere but directly at you.

You watched him for a moment.

Then you couldn’t help it—you let out a small laugh.

“You okay, Louis?”

You scooted a little closer, your tone light and teasing rather than concerned.

He straightened immediately. “Y-yeah. I’m fine,” he said quickly, nodding with a small smile.

You tilted your head slightly, studying him.

“That’s funny,” you said. “You seemed pretty eager to talk to me over the phone.”

Louis froze for half a second.

You noticed.

Of course you did.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck again. “I’m sorry…”

The reaction only made you laugh a little more, softer this time.

“It’s okay,” you said, reaching over to pat his shoulder gently. “I’m not complaining.”

That seemed to ease him—just a little.

You leaned back into the couch. “So… how’s your day off been?”

And just like that, the tension began to melt.

The conversation slowly shifted—softer, more natural.

Louis started answering more fully, then asking questions of his own. About school, your hobbies, the things you liked to do when you weren’t busy.

And the more you talked, the more comfortable he became.

Still…

There was something different now.

Being here, sitting next to you like this—close enough to notice the small details he’d never been able to see through a screen—it made his heart race in a way he wasn’t prepared for.

The way you smiled when you talked.

The way your eyes lit up over small things.

It was overwhelming.

In a good way.

He tried to act normal, but his heartbeat was so loud he was almost convinced you could hear it.

And maybe you couldn’t hear it—

But you definitely noticed something.

The faint redness creeping across his cheeks.

The tips of his ears turning pink.

You glanced at him for a moment, a small smile forming.

You didn’t say anything.

But you definitely thought it.

Cute.

After a while, you started to notice something.

Ohyul still hadn’t come back.

You frowned slightly, glancing down the hallway before looking back at Louis.

“…Is he taking a shit or something?” Louis muttered under his breath.

You blinked—then immediately burst out laughing.

“Probably,” you said, covering your mouth as you giggled.

“I’ll be right back.”

You got up from the couch and made your way down the hallway, your curiosity getting the better of you.

The bathroom door was wide open.

Empty.

You raised an eyebrow.

“…Okay.”

You continued down the hall, stopping when you noticed your bedroom door closed. That alone was weird enough to make you pause.

Slowly, you pushed it open.

And there he was.

Ohyul, sprawled across your bed like he owned it—completely passed out.

You stared at him for a second.

“Are you serious?” you whispered, disbelief clear in your voice.

A quiet laugh slipped out as you shook your head, stepping back and gently closing the door behind you.

Unbelievable.

When you walked back into the living room, Louis immediately looked up.

He caught the smile on your face.

“What?” he asked.

You tried to hold it in—but failed.

“He’s asleep.”

Louis blinked. “Actually?”

“Yup.” You dropped back onto the couch beside him with a small shrug. “So… it’s just you and me for a while.”

There was a small pause.

Then Louis smiled.

And even though he tried to keep it subtle, you could tell—he was way happier about that than he was letting on.

The two of you fell back into conversation easily.

Easier than before.

The awkwardness from earlier was completely gone now, replaced with something softer… more comfortable.

At some point, that turned into playing games together.

You ended up on Roblox, sitting side by side, your shoulders occasionally brushing as you leaned closer to see each other’s screens.

Louis laughed when you died—loud and unapologetic.

“You’re so bad at this,” he teased.

“Oh my—okay, Mr. Adopt Me, explain why all your pets are trash,” you shot back.

“HEY—”

The banter went back and forth, light and easy, both of you laughing more than actually focusing on the game.

Time passed without either of you noticing.

Eventually, the games faded into a movie.

You both settled into the couch, the room quieter now, lit only by the soft glow of the screen.

It was calm.

Comfortable.

You glanced over at him.

At the exact same time—he looked at you too.

For a second, neither of you spoke.

Then you broke the silence.

“Can I get your number?”

Your tone was casual—like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Louis, however, nearly short-circuited.

“What—? Oh—yeah! Yeah, of course—” he fumbled, already reaching for his phone, his movements just a little too quick.

The blush came back instantly—stronger this time, spreading across his cheeks and up to his ears.

You giggled as you exchanged numbers, watching him try to play it off.

“You’re adorable, Louis,” you said, shaking your head lightly.

He froze.

Completely caught off guard.

How were you this confident?

Right on cue, footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Ohyul appeared, dragging his feet, hair messy, eyes half-lidded from sleep.

He took one look at the two of you.

“…Have you guys kissed yet so we can go?”

“HYUNG—!” Louis practically yelled, jumping up from the couch in embarrassment.

You laughed, leaning back into the cushions.

Ohyul just smirked.

“But we do have to go,” he added, rubbing his eye. “Our CEO’s been waiting outside for a bit.”

Louis’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?!”

He scrambled to grab his things, nearly tripping over himself as he rushed to the door. But just before leaving, he paused—turning back to you.

For a moment, he looked less nervous.

More… genuine.

“It was really nice meeting you, Y/n,” he said. “I’ll text you later.”

You smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”

That was all it took.

He turned quickly, slipping on his shoes and hurrying out the door.

You and Ohyul shared a small laugh before you walked him out too.

You pulled him into a quick hug.

“See you,” he said, ruffling your hair.

“Ugh, stop,” you groaned, lightly punching his shoulder.

He just grinned before heading out.

The door clicked shut.

The apartment fell quiet again.

You walked back to the couch, dropping down into your spot, your phone already in your hand.

You stared at his contact for a second.

Then smiled.

He was different in person.

Still confident in his own way—but softer, more nervous… more real.

And honestly?

It made him even cuter.

You leaned back, letting out a quiet laugh to yourself.

Yeah.

You were definitely going to talk to him more.

Meanwhile, outside—

Louis sat in the car, staring down at his phone like it held all the answers to life.

Your contact.

Your name.

Your number.

He let out a quiet breath, running a hand through his hair.

You were nothing like he expected.

You were better.

Brighter. Bolder. Impossible not to notice.

And the way you looked at him—

He shook his head quickly, a small smile breaking through despite himself.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” he muttered under his breath.

But even as he said it, his thumb hovered over your contact.

Because if this was just the beginning…

He really hoped it didn’t end there.

And maybe—

Just maybe—

It wouldn’t.