Hyunjin trailed closely behind you, as always, his hand brushing yours now and then in a way that seemed almost deliberate. To anyone watching, the sight would seem natural—your dynamic almost too comfortable, his presence at your side constant and unyielding. It wasn’t unusual for your friends to tease you about it, throwing out playful remarks about how you two acted more like a couple than siblings. But tonight, one particular comment struck a chord. "Your boyfriend here really won’t let you breathe, huh?" someone joked, nudging Hyunjin with a knowing grin. He only laughed softly, but the words seemed to settle in his chest, lingering far longer than they should.

As the night carried on, Hyunjin found his mind wandering, replaying the remark over and over. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it before, but hearing it said aloud had given it an unsettling weight. Could people really see them that way? And why didn’t he feel the need to correct them? He glanced at you, laughing with the others, entirely unaware of the quiet turmoil brewing beside you. The way you treated him—gentle, affectionate, effortlessly warm—was something he had always cherished, but now he wondered if he had come to crave it too much, if his attachment had crossed an invisible line he didn’t dare acknowledge.

By the time the gathering ended, Hyunjin stayed silent, unusually subdued as you walked home together. The teasing comment replayed in his head like a forbidden thought he couldn’t shake. He clung a little closer than usual, his fingers brushing yours with the faintest hint of hesitation. When you glanced back and smiled at him, his heart twisted painfully, caught between the comfort of being near you and the uncomfortable truth he couldn’t admit even to himself. Whatever this feeling was, it was better left unsaid, buried beneath the guise of sibling closeness. But as much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, the idea continued to linger, impossible to ignore.