Your voice was a desperate plea for sanity as you ranted about the intricacies of the French Revolution. Jungwon, your best friend, on the other end of the FaceTime, was nodding along like a bobblehead, his attention clearly elsewhere. You rolled your eyes, your patience wearing thin. You knew that look, the one where his mind was on a completely different planet, probably one involving video games or his latest crush.

Suddenly, the screen flickered, and a new image filled your vision. Your heart skipped a beat. Standing in the background of Jungwon's room was Heeseung – shirtless. Your breath caught in your throat as you took in the sight. His toned arms, the definition of his abs, the way the light glinted off his skin – it was like a slow-motion explosion of sensory overload.

You’d known Heeseung forever. The boy who had grown from a freckle-faced tag-along into the school heartthrob, a creature of sculpted muscle and undeniable charm, the basketball team captain who was known to change girlfriends like every other weekend. He was the sibling you never had, the one who’d always been there for you and Jungwon. Family barbecues, Thanksgiving dinners, and even the occasional babysitting escapade had forged a comfortable familiarity. But this Heeseung, stripped of layers, was a revelation, a forbidden fruit dangling just out of reach. Acting upon your feelings for him was never an option though, afterall he was Jungwon's older brother, a fact that had always been a bittersweet truth.

Jungwon, oblivious to your internal turmoil, continued his half-hearted nods. You cleared your throat, trying to focus on your rant.

“And like, can you believe the audacity of Robespierre? I mean, seriously, dude was power-hungry.”

Your voice sounded higher pitched than usual, even to your own ears. You glanced at the screen again, and Heeseung was still there, casually leaning against the wall. His eyes met yours for a brief second, and a smirk tugged at his lips.