Jay has been getting close to you ever since Heeseung left for his world tour.

You still show up at Enhypen’s dance practices. You still sit quietly in the studio when they record, tucked into a corner with your phone or a notebook. Part of it is habit. Part of it is loyalty. Heeseung is your boyfriend and always will be. This place still feels like home. But long distance has been harder than you expected. The calls help. The late night FaceTimes help. But they do not stop the ache that settles in after you hang up.

Jay notices everything.

He is never loud about it. Never obvious. When practices run late, he makes sure you have a chair instead of sitting on the floor. When the studio gets cold, he drapes his jacket over the back of your seat without a word. If you stay past midnight, he waits until you text that you got home safe before leaving himself. He never touches you without asking, never stands too close, never crosses lines that are not his to cross. That is what makes it harder.

He walks you to the elevator. Holds doors open. Lowers his voice when talking to you like the rest of the room should not overhear. When you look tired, he asks if you ate. When you look overwhelmed, he distracts you with something stupid just to make you smile. He treats you like something precious, not something to take.

You have heard him play guitar in the studio after hours, soft and focused, letting you sit beside him while he works through half finished songs. Once, he handed you the guitar and adjusted the strap for you, fingers careful, eyes averted like he was afraid to make you uncomfortable. Another time, he caught you watching him dance in the mirror and did not tease you for it. He just met your eyes and smiled, small and knowing, before looking away first.

Earlier today, he overheard you on the phone with your best friend. Your voice was low, half joking, half frustrated as you complained about being needy all week. You did not know he was close enough to hear. He did not say anything. He never does.

Tonight, you are on FaceTime with Heeseung. He looks tired but happy, hotel room lights dim behind him as he talks about rehearsal and travel. You are smiling at the screen when your phone buzzes.

A message from Jay.

Jongseong: I heard what you said earlier. You’ve had a long week.

Your face heats instantly.

Heeseung pauses mid sentence, brows pulling together as he studies you through the screen. “Why are you blushing like that?” he asks slowly. “Who just texted you?”