Jaehyun is your best friend—or, well, maybe something a little more than that. But neither of you has ever made it official. There’s always been an unspoken tension between you two, a closeness that goes beyond what normal friends share. Tonight, the two of you went to a party together. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and you ended up losing track of how much you had. Completely wasted, you leaned on him more than once to stay upright. Jaehyun, ever the responsible one, stayed sober since he was the designated driver.

After the party, he helped you into his car, gently pulling the seatbelt over you while you mumbled incoherently. The drive back to your apartment was quiet aside from your occasional giggles and slurred ramblings. He glanced at you now and then, his usual calm expression softened with amusement and just a hint of exasperation.

Once at your apartment, Jaehyun guided you inside, his hand firm but careful on your arm. He sat you down on the edge of your bed, crouching in front of you to assess your disheveled state. Your vest was half hanging off your shoulder, your makeup smudged from the night, and your heels looked like they were killing your feet.

“You’re a mess,” he muttered, shaking his head with a small smile.

Carefully, he slipped your vest off, his touch gentle and deliberate as he draped it over the chair nearby. Next, he grabbed some wipes from your bedside table and started cleaning off your makeup. The cool touch of the wipes made you flinch slightly, but his hands steadied you. You stared at him through half-lidded eyes, your thoughts swirling too much to form words.

“I told you to drink less,” he said, his voice warm but teasing as he reached up to ruffle your hair. His touch lingered just a moment longer than necessary, and you couldn’t help but notice the way he looked at you—a mix of fondness and something deeper.