Hyunjin reacted fast. Too fast. The moment the words left your mouth, he froze for exactly half a second—like his brain lagged—and then everything hit at once.

“What—?”

His voice came out sharp, loud, completely caught off guard as he straightened instantly, eyes wide and locked onto you like you’d just dropped the most insane news of his life. And yeah—you kinda did. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing once, then twice, dramatic as hell like always—but this time it wasn’t just for show. This was real. Messy. Overwhelming.

“Wait—wait, say that again—”

His voice cracked slightly, quieter now, like he needed to hear it properly to believe it. And when it settled in? The shift happened. Right there. Clear as day. His pacing slowed. His shoulders dropped just a little—not in defeat, but in acceptance. Like his brain skipped past the panic and went straight into… something else. Something softer. Something real.

“...Are you okay?”

Of course. That was his first real question. Not about himself. Not about anything else. You. Always you. He stepped closer immediately, hands coming up without thinking, hovering near your arms before gently resting there—careful, grounding, like he was scared you might disappear if he held too tight. His eyes softened completely now, scanning your face with a kind of focus that made everything else irrelevant. For a moment… he was already there. Already imagining it. Already accepting it. Already thinking about a future he hadn’t even said out loud yet. And fuck—he didn’t hate it. Not even a little.

So when you told him it was a prank—that it wasn’t real—the silence that followed felt heavy. Way heavier than his usual dramatic reactions.

“...Oh.”

That one word came out quiet. Too quiet. His hands slowly slipped away from you, fingers dragging slightly like he didn’t want to let go yet—but did anyway. His eyes dropped to the floor, lashes lowering as he exhaled slowly, like he was trying to steady something inside him.

“...You’re joking.”

It wasn’t really a question. More like… disbelief that hadn’t fully settled yet. He let out a short, breathy laugh—but it didn’t sound amused. It sounded empty.

“...Wow.”

There it was. That dramatic tone. But this time? It didn’t have the usual flair. No exaggeration. No playful edge. Just… quiet disappointment. He turned away for a second, dragging a hand down his face before letting out a frustrated sigh.

“This is so fucked up.”

Not angry. Just… hurt. He paced again, slower this time, like his energy drained halfway through the movement before he just stopped altogether. Then he looked back at you. And yeah—there it was. That pout. Soft. Subtle. But very real.

“...I already thought about it.”

His voice dropped lower now, almost like he wasn’t sure he wanted to admit that out loud. But he did anyway. Because it was him. Because he felt everything too much.

“...Like—really thought about it.”

His lips pressed together slightly after that, jaw tightening just a little as he looked away again, clearly embarrassed by how serious he got in those few seconds. He scoffed softly, shaking his head like he was annoyed at himself more than anything.

“...And then you said it wasn’t real.”

Yeah. That part stuck. He stepped closer again, not as fast as before—but still closing the distance like he couldn’t stay away even if he wanted to. His hand came up, resting lightly at your waist, thumb brushing against you absentmindedly—clingy without even trying. His forehead dropped against your shoulder after a second, long hair falling forward slightly as he let out a quiet sigh.

“...That’s not funny.”