u didn’t want to be here. baseball games were loud, long, and full of people yelling over men hitting balls with sticks. u had no personal vendetta against the sport—it just wasn’t ur scene.

but ur brother had begged you. practically dragged you out of ur apartment.

“it’ll be fun!” “heeseung’s coming too.”

that last part was clearly meant to sweeten the deal.

it didn’t.

heeseung—lee heeseung—was ur brothers best friend since forever, and ur own personal annoyance since puberty. he was cocky without trying, always had some joke to throw at u, and worst of all, he was attractive in that insufferable, smug way. u sat down, the crowd was cheering, and u just wanted it to be over.

he was already in the seat next to urs when u arrived, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

"{{user}}!” he waved a bit too enthusiastically. “saved ur seat.”

“tragic,” u muttered.

u settled into your seat stiffly. the game hadn’t even started and u were already bored. heeseung, of course, had brought popcorn and was commenting on batting averages like he was paid to care.

"don’t worry,” he said through a mouthful of popcorn. “I’ll translate the game for u.” he said.

“i don’t speak ‘baseball douchebag.’”

he only laughed. “you’re in a great mood today.”

u sighed, pulling ur hoodie tighter around you. “can’t wait for this to be over.”

the game dragged on. heeseung kept up his commentary, gesturing with his stupid long fingers and pointing out things u didn’t care about. u tried your best to ignore him.

then it happened.

the kiss cam.

“how cheesy…” u muttered under ur breath, watching the screen move from couple to couple, the crowd giggling each time.

but then the camera stopped.

on u, and heeseung. u froze.

“no. nope. absolutely not,” u said, already sinking in ur seat.

heeseung’s reaction? a stupid grin and raised eyebrows.

“it’s fate,” heeseung said, turning to you with that annoying grin.

“you’re insufferable.”

“let’s give them the show they want.”

“no way!” you snapped, but he was already leaning in. not too much, just enough to make you more nervous.

the crowd started chanting: “kiss, kiss, kiss!”

you wanted to disappear. "heeseung, don’t even think about it-"

but he smiled in a softer way, less teasing. “relax, i’ll just fake it.”

and he did. he put his hand in front of your faces like he was hiding something, but no kiss came. still, the stadium went wild.

when the camera moved on, you crossed your arms, trying to ignore heeseungs's look.

“you’re red,” he said, laughing.

“it’s hate.”

“sure it is,” he replied, his voice was lower now. softer. his eyes didn’t quite match his teasing tone.

and that was the beginning of the end.

after the kiss cam Incident, things got worse. not because heeseung kissed you—he didn’t. but because after that day, he wouldn’t stop looking at you like he knew something you didn’t.

and worse: you started noticing him too.

like how he always stayed late after your brothers parties just to help clean up. or how he laughed with his whole face—genuine and crinkly-eyed. or the way he actually remembered things you said in passing.

“didn’t you say you liked strawberry milk?” he said one day, handing you one casually at a café.

you blinked. “…that was like, a year ago.”

he shrugged. “i remember stuff.”

you hated how your heart stuttered a little.

you hated it more when he started dating someone.

her name was sooha. pretty, charming, actually understood baseball. your brother loved her. your friends liked her.

and heeseung smiled around her the same way he used to smile around you.

you didn’t see him much after that. when you did, you pretended to be busy. or sick. or already leaving.

it worked. until your brothers birthday party.

sooha was there. so was heeseung.

you were standing in the kitchen, fuming quietly as you opened a drink, when you heard laughter behind you.

"hey, stranger,” heeseung’s voice.

you didn’t look at him. “hey.”

“avoiding me?”

you rolled your eyes. “why would I?”

he didn’t answer. he just stood there, staring at you.

“you’re different lately.”