Chapter Text
The HLE dorm was unusually quiet that morning.
On most days, mornings inside the dorm were a mixture of screaming to wake up someone, half awake voices, and someone inevitably complaining about early schedule. But today was different. Today was one of those rare days that every pro player treasured, a free day.
No scrims. No review sessions. No coaches knocking on doors. Just a day to go home, sleep longer, or go meet friends outside the rift.
Lee Minhyung was already awake. Not unusually early, but earlier than most of the others in the dorm. Sunlight slipped past the thin curtains of his room, spreading a pale gold glow across the floor. The quiet hum of the air conditioner filled the space as he sat on the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone.
A small smile appeared on his face when he opened his group chat.
It was the same chat that had existed for years now, friends he had known since middle school. Some were classmates, some from church, but all of them belonged to a time long before streaming schedules, interviews, or people recognizing him as Gumayusi.
To them, he was just Minhyung.
Whenever he went home, he always tried to meet them at least once. Today was supposed to be that day. The plan was simple: leave the dorm around late morning, meet them for lunch, spend the afternoon catching up, then go home to sleep for the night before returning to the team dorm the next morning.
He had done this many times before.
Minhyung typed a short message into the chat.
“I’ll be there around noon.”
Replies immediately started popping up.
Finally our mvp is going home
Are you feeling better? I mean i don't want getting infected by your long cough and runny nose ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Pro player too busy for us?
Minhyung chuckled quietly. Some things never changed.
He set his phone aside and stretched slightly, already imagining the relaxed day ahead of him. At least, that was the plan.
A soft shuffling sound came from the other side of the room.
Minhyung turned his head and saw Kim Geonwoo sitting on the edge of his bed, hair messy and eyes still heavy with sleep. His oversized t-shirt hung loosely on his shoulders as he rubbed his face with both hands, trying to wake himself up.
Minhyung watched him for a moment.
Even after all this time, there was still something oddly soft about seeing Geonwoo like this first thing in the morning. No stage lights, no cameras, no serious match expression. Just Geonwoo, half asleep and quiet.
Geonwoo finally looked up. Their eyes met.
“Minhyung,” he mumbled, voice still thick with sleep.
“Mm?”
“You’re going out today, right?”
Minhyung blinked. “…Yeah.”
Geonwoo didn’t say anything else. Instead, he stood up slowly and walked over, stopping beside Minhyung before leaning slightly against him, resting part of his weight on Minhyung’s shoulder.
The gesture was so casual that Minhyung barely reacted.
Then Geonwoo sighed.
A long, dramatic sigh.
Minhyung raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“The dorm is going to be boring today,” Geonwoo said after a moment.
“Well… it’s a free day.”
“Everyone already went home.”
“That’s normal.”
Another sigh followed, even heavier this time. When Minhyung glanced sideways, he saw Geonwoo staring at the floor, lips slightly pouting.
Ah….
Minhyung knew that expression.
It meant Geonwoo wanted something but didn’t want to say it directly.
“You’re going to be out all day?” Geonwoo asked.
“Probably.”
“Like All day?”
Minhyung couldn’t help the small smile forming at the corner of his mouth. Kim Geonwoo, mid laner for HLE, feared by opponents on stage, apparently could not survive a quiet dorm for one day.
“You’ll live,” Minhyung said lightly.
Geonwoo looked at him with mild betrayal. “That’s easy for you to say.”
“You could go out too.”
“With who?”
Minhyung opened his mouth to answer, then paused.
Right.
His Geonwoo is too introvert…
And suddenly something clicked in Minhyung’s head.
His friends had been asking the same question for months now.
When will we meet your boyfriend?
Minhyung had always brushed it off.
But now…
He glanced at Geonwoo again. His boyfriend was still standing beside him, clearly unhappy about the idea of spending the whole day alone.
Minhyung tilted his head.
“…Do you want to come with me?”
Geonwoo blinked. “What?”
“To meet my friends.”
There was a brief moment of silence before Geonwoo’s expression changed completely. The sulky look vanished instantly, replaced by bright surprise.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re serious?”
Minhyung nodded.
That was all it took.
“Yes,” Geonwoo said immediately.
Not just yes.
“YES!!.”
Minhyung laughed quietly.
Five seconds ago Geonwoo had looked miserable. Now he looked excited.
“You wanted to come that badly?”
Geonwoo rubbed the back of his neck, a shy habit Minhyung knew well. “…Maybe.”
Minhyung shook his head with amusement and picked up his phone again. If Geonwoo was coming, he should probably warn his friends first.
He typed another message.
By the way, I’m bringing Geonwoo with me today.
Three seconds passed.
Then the chat exploded.
WAIT.
ZEKA???
THE ZEKA???
Isn’t he huge?
Why does he look so intimidating in photos T_T?
Minhyung stared at the screen and started laughing.
Because the person they were describing sounded completely different from the one standing beside him.
When Minhyung looked up again, Geonwoo was peeking at the phone with quiet curiosity. His eyes were still a little sleepy, and when he noticed Minhyung looking at him, he gave a small smile.
That familiar smile.
The one where his eyes curved like soft crescents.
Intimidating?
Minhyung almost scoffed.
In his eyes, Kim Geonwoo was many things.
Big, maybe.
But mostly…
Just a big baby.
Getting ready turned out to be a much bigger event than Minhyung expected.
Geonwoo opened his closet, pulled out a hoodie, paused, then put it back. He grabbed another one, held it up for inspection, frowned slightly, and then reached for a third.
Minhyung watched silently for a moment before speaking.
“Geonwoo.”
“Mm?”
“You’re meeting my friends, not attending a job interview.”
Geonwoo looked at the two shirts in his hands with serious concentration. “That’s not the same.”
“It kind of is.”
Minhyung leaned back against the bed frame, amused. On stage, Kim Geonwoo looked calm and composed, someone who could handle pressure. But right now, he was debating between two hoodies like the decision might change the course of his life.
Eventually Geonwoo turned around.
“Which one looks better?”
Minhyung barely glanced. “They look the same.”
“They do not.”
“They do.”
Geonwoo narrowed his eyes.
Minhyung raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. The blue one.”
Geonwoo studied it again. “…Are you sure?”
Minhyung laughed. “You’re overthinking this.”
Geonwoo sighed but finally pulled the hoodie on.
A few minutes later, as Minhyung grabbed his jacket, Geonwoo spoke again.
“…Minhyung.”
“Yeah?”
“What if they don’t like me?”
Minhyung walked over and flicked his forehead lightly.
Geonwoo blinked. “What was that for?”
“For thinking nonsense,” Minhyung replied.
“They’ll like you.”
“You sound confident.”
“I am.”
Geonwoo looked at him. “Why?”
Minhyung smiled.
“Because I like you.”
Geonwoo froze, his ears turning red almost immediately.
Minhyung laughed as he grabbed his bag. “Come on.”
The ride to the restaurant was quiet.
At first Geonwoo had been talking normally, pointing out random things outside the window as they drove through the city. But the closer they got, the quieter he became.
Minhyung noticed.
When he glanced sideways, Geonwoo was staring out the window, lips pressed together slightly. The reflection in the glass showed the tension in his expression.
He was overthinking again.
Minhyung knew that look.
“You’ve been quiet for a while,” he said.
“…Have I?”
“Yes.”
Geonwoo hesitated before looking down at his hands. “…I’m just thinking.”
“That’s dangerous.”
Geonwoo let out a quiet laugh.
Soon the car slowed.
They had arrived.
Geonwoo stepped out and looked up at the restaurant building, warm light glowing through the windows. It was just a normal place, comfortable, casual, nothing intimidating.
Still, Geonwoo reached for Minhyung’s hand.
“…Geonwoo,” Minhyung said.
“Yeah?”
“Are you nervous?”
“…A little.”
Minhyung laughed.
“Why are you nervous meeting my friends?”
“They’re important to you.”
Minhyung squeezed his hand lightly before pulling him toward the entrance.
“You should save that nervousness for when I ask your parents permission to marry you.”
Geonwoo’s entire face turned red.
“Lee Minhyung!”
Minhyung burst out laughing.
“You can’t say things like that here!”
“Why not?”
“We’re standing in front of the door!”
“That makes it funnier.”
Still flustered, Geonwoo followed as Minhyung opened the door.
The room immediately grew louder.
“Minhyung!”
“Finally!”
“Look who decided to show up!”
Several heads turned toward the entrance, but the moment they noticed the person standing beside him, the room went quiet for a second.
“…Wait.”
“That’s really him?”
“Wow he’s huge.”
Geonwoo bowed politely.
“Hello. I’m Geonwoo.”
Within minutes everyone was talking to him.
They offered him a seat, asked him questions, and commented on how different he seemed from what they imagined. Geonwoo answered politely at first, still slightly shy, but little by little he began to relax.
And then it appeared.
That smile.
The one Minhyung knew so well.
Geonwoo’s eyes curved into that soft crescent shape as he laughed quietly at something someone said.
“Wait,” one of them said immediately. “His smile is really cute.”
Another friend nodded.
“Minhyung, how did you hide this from us?”
Minhyung blinked.
Hide what?
But the conversation had already moved on.
Two of them were now talking to Geonwoo about solo queue stories while another asked about tip for midlaner players. Geonwoo answered politely, occasionally laughing again when someone said something ridiculous.
Minhyung picked up his drink.
And waited.
Surely someone would talk to him too.
Right?
A minute passed.
Then another.
And suddenly Minhyung realized something strange.
No one was talking to him.
At all.
Every single one of his friends was focused on Geonwoo.
Someone asked about his champion pool. Someone else joked about how calm he looked compared to Minhyung.
And Geonwoo
Geonwoo was smiling again.
Minhyung stared.
Then took another sip of his drink.
Wait.
Why was everyone talking to Geonwoo?
Across the table someone laughed at something Geonwoo said.
“That smile again.”
“You’re too cute.”
Minhyung set his glass down slowly.
Excuse me.
Since when were they allowed to comment on that?
That smile…
Minhyung looked at Geonwoo again.
The soft curve of his eyes.
The quiet laugh.
The shy way he rubbed the back of his neck when someone complimented him.
Minhyung’s expression slowly flattened.
That smile belonged to him.
He had seen it countless times, after games, late at night, first thing in the morning.
It was supposed to be his.
Not something everyone else got to enjoy.
Minhyung mentally made a new rule.
That smile?
Only Minhyung gets it.
No one else.
By the time lunch ended, the sky outside had softened into late afternoon.
After saying goodbye to his friends, Minhyung and Geonwoo climbed into a taxi together.
For the first few minutes neither of them spoke.
Minhyung sat by the window, resting his elbow against the door as the city slowly passed outside. The late afternoon sunlight reflected against the glass, painting soft streaks of gold across his face.
Beside him, Geonwoo glanced at him quietly.
Something felt different.
It didn’t take long for Geonwoo to notice.
Minhyung wasn’t talking much anymore. Normally he would make some small comment about the food, or joke about his friends, or tease Geonwoo for being nervous earlier.
But now he was just staring out the window.
Quiet.
Geonwoo tilted his head slightly.
…That’s strange.
He studied Minhyung’s face for another moment before slowly reaching for his hand.
Minhyung glanced down briefly as Geonwoo’s fingers wrapped gently around his. The touch was soft, careful, almost testing, like Geonwoo was trying to see how he would react.
When Minhyung didn’t pull away, Geonwoo relaxed a little.
His thumb began to rub lightly across the back of Minhyung’s hand in slow circles.
Still no reaction.
Minhyung continued looking outside the window.
Geonwoo frowned slightly.
No way…
A small thought formed in the back of his mind.
Did he get jealous again?
Geonwoo almost laughed quietly to himself.
It wouldn’t be the first time.
Minhyung could be surprisingly possessive sometimes, especially when other people paid too much attention to Geonwoo.
Geonwoo glanced at him again.
Minhyung still looked calm, but there was a small tension in his expression that Geonwoo knew very well.
Yeah… he definitely did.
The realization made Geonwoo’s expression soften slightly.
He shifted closer in his seat until their shoulders touched, then gently rested his head against Minhyung’s shoulder.
Minhyung froze for a second but didn’t move away.
Geonwoo pretended not to notice.
Instead he continued holding Minhyung’s hand, slowly rubbing small circles across his fingers like he always did when he wanted to calm someone down.
After a moment he lifted his head slightly.
Then, without warning, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss against Minhyung’s cheek.
Minhyung finally turned.
“…What are you doing?”
Geonwoo looked completely innocent.
“Nothing.”
“You just kissed me.”
“Did I?”
Minhyung narrowed his eyes slightly.
Geonwoo simply smiled.
That same soft crescent shaped smile.
Minhyung immediately looked away again, clearly trying to stay annoyed.
Geonwoo leaned his head back onto Minhyung’s shoulder, still holding his hand.
Outside the taxi window, the city lights slowly began to appear as evening approached. Cars passed by, buildings sliding past in quiet motion as the taxi continued toward Minhyung’s house.
Inside the car, Geonwoo stayed close.
He didn’t ask anything else.
But the small smile on his face made it clear he was already waiting for the moment they would finally be alone.
Because if Minhyung really was jealous again…
Geonwoo knew exactly where that conversation was going to happen.
Upstairs. In Minhyung’s room.
By the time the taxi finally stopped, the sky had already begun to soften into early evening.
The area felt noticeably quieter compared to the busy streets near the restaurant. Tall apartment buildings stood along the road, their windows glowing softly as people returned home for the evening.
Minhyung paid the driver before stepping out first.
Cool evening air brushed against his face as he closed the taxi door behind him. A moment later Geonwoo stepped out as well, stretching slightly after sitting in the car for so long.
Minhyung’s apartment building stood just ahead of them, familiar and unremarkable in the way places you grow up in often are. The warm lights from the lobby spilled out through the glass entrance, and the quiet hum of the building made it feel calm after the busy city streets.
Geonwoo followed just a step behind him.
He had been here before.
But somehow it still felt a little strange every time.
Minhyung rang the doorbell.
A few seconds later the door opened.
“Minhyung?”
His mother appeared first, looking mildly surprised.
Her eyes landed on him for a brief second.
Then immediately shifted to the person standing behind him.
“Oh! Geonwoo!”
Her entire expression brightened instantly.
“You came too!”
Geonwoo bowed politely.
“Hello, auntie.”
Minhyung blinked.
“…Hello to you too.”
But his mother had already stepped aside, gesturing for them to come inside.
“Come in, come in! You must be hungry.”
Geonwoo stepped inside first, carefully removing his shoes and placing them neatly near the entrance.
Minhyung watched the scene with narrowed eyes.
Inside the house, his father looked up from the living room.
“Geonwoo is here?”
Minhyung frowned.
“I’m here too.”
“Oh,” his father replied casually. “You came as well.”
Geonwoo tried very hard not to laugh.
Minhyung stared at both of them.
“Unbelievable.”
His mother gently patted Geonwoo’s arm.
“You must be tired. Sit down, I’ll bring some fruit.”
“I’m not tired,” Minhyung said.
“No one asked you.”
Geonwoo finally let out a small laugh.
Minhyung sighed dramatically before turning toward the stairs.
“I’m going to my room.”
“Take Geonwoo with you,” his mother called from the kitchen.
“He knows the way,” Minhyung replied.
And sure enough, Geonwoo followed him without hesitation.
Minhyung’s room looked almost exactly the same as it always had.
Maybe a little cleaner than the dorm room, but otherwise unchanged. The desk where he used to spend countless nights playing games was still there, along with a few old shelves and posters that hadn’t moved in years.
Geonwoo quietly closed the door behind them.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Minhyung sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning slightly forward with his elbows resting on his knees.
Geonwoo watched him for a second before walking closer.
“…Minhyung.”
Minhyung looked up.
Geonwoo hesitated before speaking again.
“Minhyung-ah.”
“Hm?”
“…What’s wrong?”
Minhyung frowned slightly.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
Geonwoo stepped closer and sat down beside him.
“…Were you jealous?”
Minhyung blinked.
“Jealous?”
Geonwoo tilted his head slightly, watching his reaction.
“With your own friends.”
Minhyung immediately looked away.
“That’s not what it was.”
Geonwoo didn’t move.
He simply waited.
After a few seconds Minhyung sighed quietly.
“I mean…”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“…I basically wasn’t there the whole time.”
Geonwoo looked surprised.
“They were all talking to you.”
“You were smiling the whole time.”
Minhyung paused before adding quietly,
“And they kept saying you were cute.”
Geonwoo stared at him for a moment, clearly unsure whether he should laugh or apologize.
“…Minhyung.”
“What.”
“That’s because they’re your friends.”
Minhyung didn’t answer.
Geonwoo continued softly.
“I wanted them to like me.”
Minhyung finally looked back at him.
Geonwoo’s expression had become calmer now.
“They’re important to you,” he said quietly. “So I wanted to be friendly.”
Something in Minhyung’s expression shifted.
He hadn’t thought about it like that.
He was simply trying to fit into Minhyung’s world.
The room grew quiet for a moment.
Then Geonwoo reached forward and gently took Minhyung’s hand again.
“You know,” he said softly, “that smile you were staring at earlier…”
Minhyung narrowed his eyes slightly.
“…What about it?”
Geonwoo leaned closer.
Then he kissed him.
Slow.
Warm.
When he pulled back slightly, his eyes curved into that familiar crescent shape again.
“That one?”
Minhyung stared at him for a second.
Then he grabbed the collar of Geonwoo’s hoodie and pulled him closer.
“…That one is mine.”
Geonwoo laughed quietly before leaning against him, resting comfortably against his chest.
Minhyung wrapped his arms around him without hesitation.
Outside the room the house was peaceful, filled with the distant sounds of evening.
Inside, Geonwoo’s breathing slowly relaxed as he settled against him.
Minhyung rested his chin lightly on top of Geonwoo’s head.
After a moment he muttered quietly,
“…You still smiled too much today.”
Geonwoo chuckled softly against his chest.
“Only because you were watching.”
Bonus chapter
Morning came quietly.
Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains of Minhyung’s room, slowly lighting up the floor and the side of the bed. From the kitchen, the faint sound of dishes could already be heard.
Minhyung’s mother wiped her hands on a kitchen towel as she finished setting the table.
Breakfast was ready.
Which meant it was time to wake the two boys.
Minhyung’s mother wiped her hands on a kitchen towel before walking toward his room. She already knew how this usually went. Minhyung had always been terrible at waking up when he came home, and Geonwoo wasn’t much better whenever he stayed over.
Still, breakfast had to be eaten.
She stopped in front of Minhyung’s bedroom door and knocked lightly.
“Minhyung? Geonwoo? Breakfast is ready.”
No answer.
She waited a moment.
Still nothing.
With a small sigh, she turned the handle and pushed the door open slightly.
“Minhyung, you…”
Her words stopped.
Inside the room, the morning light revealed the two of them still fast asleep on the bed.
Or rather…
Not just asleep.
Minhyung was lying on his back, one arm loosely wrapped around Geonwoo. Geonwoo had practically buried himself against Minhyung’s chest, one hand gripping the fabric of Minhyung’s shirt while the other rested across his waist.
They were tangled together in a way that made it very clear neither of them had moved much since falling asleep.
Minhyung’s face looked peaceful.
Geonwoo looked even more comfortable.
Minhyung’s mother leaned against the doorframe quietly.
Then a small smile appeared on her face.
She had noticed it last night.
The moment they walked through the door, something had felt slightly off between them. Minhyung had been quieter than usual, and Geonwoo had stayed very close to his side.
But now, seeing them like this…
Sleeping so soundly, holding each other without even thinking about it…
It didn’t look like there was any problem anymore.
“Well,” she murmured softly to herself.
Looks like they made up.
For a moment she considered waking them anyway.
Breakfast was ready after all.
But then she looked at the way Geonwoo’s fingers were still curled lightly into Minhyung’s shirt, and the way Minhyung’s arm instinctively held him closer even in his sleep.
Her smile widened slightly.
Maybe breakfast could wait.
She quietly stepped back and gently closed the door again, careful not to make a sound.
“They probably need that more,” she muttered under her breath as she walked back down the hallway.
Inside the room, the quiet returned.
Except one of them wasn’t actually asleep anymore.
Geonwoo had woken up a few minutes earlier.
He hadn’t moved though.
Because Minhyung was still sleeping.
Geonwoo lifted his head slightly, careful not to disturb him. From this close, he could see the faint rise and fall of Minhyung’s breathing, the relaxed expression on his face that only appeared when he was completely at ease.
A small smile formed on Geonwoo’s lips.
Last night had ended much better than it started.
Slowly, Geonwoo wrapped his arms around Minhyung a little tighter, pressing closer against him.
Minhyung made a small sound in his sleep but didn’t wake up.
Geonwoo chuckled quietly.
Then he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against Minhyung’s cheek.
“Good morning,” he whispered softly.
Minhyung didn’t respond.
But his arm tightened around Geonwoo slightly, pulling him closer without waking up.
Geonwoo’s smile widened.
Maybe they could stay like this a little longer.
After all…
Breakfast could wait.