A raw sense ofwant—a want to win, a want to come out on top, a want to succeed at all costs. A want he recognized in her because it burned within him too.
Her dark hair, usually pulled back in a neat bun, had come loose, cascading down her back in a tangled wave. Beads of sweat glistened on her skin, highlighting the delicate curve of her neck, the graceful line of her shoulders. He found himself drawn to those details, his gaze lingering on the way her muscles flexed and shifted beneath her skin, the way her breath quickened with exertion.
A strange warmth spread through him, a sensation that had nothing to do with the stuffy air of the practice room. He felt his cheeks flush involuntarily. He felt a pull toward her, a desire to reach out, to touch, that surprised and confused him. He'd known Yesoh foryears, had seen her as a friend, a confidante, his younger sister's companion. But in this moment, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moonlight, she was something else entirely.
A woman who both intrigued and intimidated him, who awakened something within him that he couldn't quite name.
He realised, with a start, that he'd been holding his breath, his body tense with a mixture of longing and apprehension. He took a step back, retreating into the shadows, as Yesoh finished her practice, her chest heaving as she came to a stop, her gaze fixed on some distant point, lost in the world she'd created with her movements.
He knew heshouldleave, to slip away unnoticed. But his feet remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on her. Allhe could see was Yesoh, a woman transformed, a woman who both captivated and challenged him in ways he was only just beginning to understand.
He thought he knew her before, but no, he had barely brushed the surface.
Wynter had spent the entire morning on the phone with his father who spoke to him about Bae’s visit. It’d completely slipped his mind, and he’d spent the afternoon cleaning the apartment with Cahya.
He had one singular mission, tocleanandconceal.
Music blared through the small apartment, a familiar wave to earth track that usually had both Wynter and Cahya singing along with exaggerated dance moves. That day, however, Wynter found himself scrubbing at a stubborn stain on the kitchen counter, his movements more functional than carefree. Cahya, perched on a stool, idly flicked through a music sheet, humming along but his brow furrowed with concern.
“Bae’s arrival got you transforming into Mr. Clean, huh?” Cahya remarked, peering over the top of his sheet music. “Didn’t know a little sister’s visit warranted this level of domesticity.”
Wynter shrugged, not quite meeting his friend’s gaze. “Just trying to make a good impression,” he muttered, scrubbing a little harder than necessary. “She hasn’t seen the place since I moved in.”
Cahya closed his music sheet with a sigh, knowing that something else was afoot. He and Wynter had a bond that went beyond friendship, a kind of unspoken understandingforged through years of shared experiences, both joyful and heartbreaking.He could sense Wynter’s internal struggle, the way he held himself tight, his usual easygoing nature replaced by a quiet tension that radiated through the room.
“I’m not buying what you’re selling, friend,” Cahya warned him.
“Didn’t expect that you would,” Wynter responded nonchalantly.
“Wyn, come on," Cahya began, his voice softening. “Spill it. What’s really going on?”
Wynter paused, leaning back against the counter, a tired sigh escaping his lips. “It’s nothing, Cahya. Just…pre-sibling visit jitters, I guess.”
“Don’t give me that,” Cahya scoffed, hopping off the stool. “You’ve never been one for ‘jitters’. You practically run on ice, for God’s sake. This is something else.”
Wynter knew he couldn’t hide it from Cahya forever. His friend had a way of seeing through his carefully constructed walls, of sensing his emotional state with an uncanny accuracy that both comforted and frustrated him.He just wasn’t ready to share the truth, the tangled mess of emotions that Yesoh’s presence had stirred within him. The memory of him watching her at the ballet studio, her fierce grace, the way her body moved with a sensuality that both captivated and unnerved him, flashed through his mind.
“Just... things have been complicated lately,” he admitted, hoping that would be enough to satisfy Cahya’s curiosity. “Do you ever feel like you know something for certain and then…everything changes?”
“That’s life isn’t it, we’reallowedto change our thoughts and opinions, that's kind of how we evolve as humans,” Cahya explained.
“This is different,” Wynter convinced himself.
“What is this, some life or death change? Are you part of the CIA?” Cahya chuckled, “You and my sister have that in common—you both have such a flair for the dramatics.”
Cahya studied his friend, his brow furrowed with concern. He could tell that Wynter was holding something back, something significant. He knew better than to push, though. Wynter wasn’t the kind of person you pushed, Beck had warned Cahya of that before. There were some things, some wounds, that ran too deep, that needed time and space to heal.
“Alright,” Cahya relented, picking up a discarded duster and giving a dramatic flourish. “Operation Bae-Friendly Apartment is back on track! We've got work to do, my friend. Let’s transform this bachelor pad into a haven before Bae walks in and declares this a biohazard.”
Wynter couldn’t help but chuckle, Cahya’s theatrics easing the tension that had settled over him. He was grateful for his friend’s understanding, for the way he could lighten the heaviest of moods with a well-timed joke and a shared purpose. He grabbed a cleaning spray, joining Cahya in his mission to create a space worthy of Bae’s visit.
As they worked, they fell into a comfortable rhythm, years of friendship allowing for a comfortable silence punctuated by bursts of laughter, shared memories, and the occasional teasing remark. Wynter found himself relaxing, the weight of his secrets easing slightly as he focused on the task at hand.
He knew he couldn’t avoid his feelings for Yesoh forever. He’d have to confront the truth, both within himself and with her. But for now, he’d allow himself this moment of reprieve, this shared space of friendship and normalcy, knowing that the complexities of his heart would have to wait. Bae’s visit was a reminder of the importance of family, of the bonds that held them together, even when life threw its curveballs. And as he glanced over at Cahya, a smile playing on his lips, he realised that friendship was justas vital, a lifeline in the storm, a source of strength and support when he needed it most.
He wondered how on earth he could possibly explain to his best friend that his sister had ignited a fire deep within him that could not and would not be tamed?
Wynter paced his small New York City apartment, the aroma of cinnamon rolls a feeble attempt to mask the underlying scent of cleaning products. He glanced at the clock for the tenth time in as many minutes. Bae was due any minute, and a knot of apprehension tightened in his chest. It wasn’t the usual pre-sibling visit jitters; this felt different.
