I Just Need You to Know

Lego crossed his arms, still thinking.

“But you and Hong don’t even talk that much, right?” he said. “So how are you going to confess?”

Nut didn’t answer.

Before he could, William leaned closer to Lego and whispered,

“He already decided he’ll never tell him. Idiot, right?”

“Hey—” Nut glared at him, but it only made William smirk.

Lego looked from Nut to Hong, who was still practicing near the mirror.

“I think he’s single…” Lego muttered. “Let’s just ask Tui. He’s closest to him since trainee days.”

Nut froze instantly.

“Wait—don’t,” he said quickly. “Don’t ask him anything.”

Both of them looked at him.

Nut tried to act normal, but his voice gave him away.

“Tui’s smart. He’ll figure it out…”

William raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

But Lego just shrugged. “Relax. I’ll be careful.”

Before Nut could stop him again, Lego walked straight toward Tui.

“Hey—Tuiii,” he called.

Tui looked up from his notes. “Yeah, what?”

Lego hesitated for a second, then asked casually,

“Hong is single… right?”

Tui didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he looked at Lego—really looked at him—eyes narrowing slightly, like he was trying to read something deeper.

Then he said slowly,

“Why? Don’t tell me you like him.”

Lego blinked, caught off guard. “Huh? No, no—I don’t like him. There’s someone else… you know.”

Tui kept staring for a moment longer… then finally looked away.

“Yeah,” he said, calm again. “He’s single.”

Lego leaned forward a bit. “That’s it?”

Tui added, his tone more serious now,

“But he’s not interested in a relationship anymore.”

Lego frowned slightly.

Tui continued, without looking at him,

“So whoever likes him… should stay away.”

Across the room, Nut felt his chest tighten.

Tui didn’t know.

He had no idea that the person he was warning about…

Was standing right there.

Lego walked back toward them, hands in his pockets, acting casual.

“Hm… he’s single,” he said lightly. “So that’s great.”

Nut immediately grabbed his arm and pulled him slightly closer, lowering his voice.

“I heard everything,” he whispered. “So don’t say anything.”

Lego blinked. “Relax, I wasn’t—”

“And…” Nut hesitated for a second, then added under his breath,

“I think Tui likes Hong.”

William choked slightly. “What?”

Lego’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?!”

Nut nodded, trying to sound sure even when he wasn’t.

“Didn’t you see the way he answered? And what he said… ‘stay away’?”

William frowned, glancing toward Tui.

Tui was standing calmly, going through his notes like nothing had happened.

Lego crossed his arms, thinking. “That… actually sounds possible.”

William didn’t look convinced. “Or maybe you’re just overthinking because you’re jealous.”

Nut went quiet.

That hit too close.

Across the room, Tui looked up for a brief second—

His eyes landing exactly on them.

Like he already knew they were talking about him.

Nut quickly looked away, his thoughts getting louder again.

If Tui really liked Hong…

Then he didn’t stand a chance at all..

A few days later, the music video was finally ready.

They were all gathered in the company’s screening room, waiting for the official release. The screen lit up, and their debut song started playing.

For a moment, no one spoke.

They were all watching themselves.

Then Hong’s part came.

The lighting, the angle, the way he moved—

Nut couldn’t look away.

How is he so…

He didn’t even finish the thought.

Just kept staring.

“Woahhh, Hongggg!” Tui suddenly said loudly. “So handsome, man.”

Nut snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Tui.

Then back at Hong.

Hong was already slightly shy, rubbing the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.

Nut felt something tighten in his chest.

“…Yeah,” he said, trying to sound normal. “So handsome. Dude, seriously.”

Hong glanced at him, surprised for a second.

“Uh… thank you,” he said softly, a small smile forming.

Before the moment could settle—

thak!

Tui lightly hit Hong on the head.

“Hey! I also complimented you,” he said, pretending to be offended.

Hong laughed a little, finally relaxing. “I know, I know.”

Nut looked away again.

But not before noticing—

Hong smiled a little more after looking at him.

And for some reason…

That made everything even harder..

The video kept playing.

After Hong’s part, Tui’s section came in—his voice smooth, controlled, blending perfectly with the beat.

“Woahhh,” Hong said immediately, impressed. “Your voice, man… so nice.”

Tui gave a small smile but didn’t say much.

Then William’s high note hit.

“Okay—wow,” Hong added, eyes widening slightly. “That was amazing.”

William grinned proudly. “Of course.”

Lego’s part followed, his voice and movement syncing perfectly with the track.

“This is combining so well,” Hong said, nodding.

Then suddenly, Lego leaned forward a little, eyes shining with mischief.

“Yeah… and wait till you see this part,” he said.

Everyone looked at him.

Lego pointed at the screen just as the next scene played.

“There—you and Nut,” he said. “You’re rapping, and he’s singing.”

Nut stiffened.

Lego smirked.

“That part matches so perfectly,” he continued, glancing at Nut with a teasing look. “You guys really make a good match.”

For a second, the room went quiet.

Nut tried to stay normal, but his expression gave him away just a little.

Hong, on the other hand, just smiled softly.

Not teasing.

Not denying.

Just… smiling.

But then—

Hong’s gaze shifted.

From the screen…

To Tui.

And Tui noticed.

Of course he did.

But this time, he didn’t smile.

Meanwhile, Nut looked away, his thoughts starting to spiral again.

Because for him…

That one sentence—

“You guys really make a good match”—

Meant a little too much.

Later, when the room had emptied, only Hong and Tui were left.

The noise was gone.

Just silence.

Hong stood there for a moment, like he was deciding something… then finally spoke.

“Stop me,” he said quietly.

Tui looked up. “What?”

Hong hesitated, then added,

“If I try to like someone… or if someone tries to like me… just stop me."

Tui’s expression changed slightly. “Why?”

For a second, Hong didn’t answer.

Then, slowly, he told him.

Not everything in detail—

But enough… you already know I’m not ready for a relationship. That was the reason.

Enough for Tui to understand the fear, the past, the reason behind those words.

When Hong finished, the silence felt heavier than before.

Tui stepped closer… and pulled him into a hug.

“You’re strong,” he said softly. “You’ve already gone through it once.”

Hong didn’t react at first.

Then slowly… he relaxed just a little.

“Try to let go of the past,” Tui added quietly.

At that exact moment—

The door opened.

William, Lego, and Nut walked in.

And stopped.

Nut froze.

His eyes landed on them—on Tui… holding Hong.

Something felt… wrong.

Tight.

Before anyone could say anything, Nut turned slightly, about to walk out.

Lego noticed immediately and grabbed his arm.

“Hey—wait,” he whispered quickly. “Act normal.”

William stepped closer too, placing a hand on Nut’s shoulder.

“Yeah,” he added under his breath,

“It’s just a friendly hug. Don’t overthink.”

Nut forced himself to stop.

To stay.

To breathe normally.

But his eyes…

They didn’t leave them.

Across the room, Tui slowly pulled away.

And Hong—

Hong noticed.

Nut.

Standing there.

Looking at him like something had just changed.

And suddenly, the air in the room felt heavier than before.....

The room didn’t go back to normal.

Even when William started talking again and Lego tried to joke, something in the air stayed tight.

Nut couldn’t ignore it.

Not anymore.

A few minutes later, he stepped out of the room quietly.

He didn’t say anything.

He just… left.

Tui noticed.

Of course he did.

He waited a second—then followed him outside.

Nut was standing near the hallway window, looking out but not really seeing anything.

“Tui,” he said without turning.

Tui stopped a few steps behind him. “Yeah?”

There was a pause.

Then Nut spoke again, voice low but sharp.

“What was that?”

Tui knew exactly what he meant.

“A hug,” he replied simply.

Nut let out a small, humorless laugh. “Yeah, I saw that.”

Silence.

Nut finally turned around, eyes filled with something he couldn’t hide anymore.

“You told someone to stay away from him,” he said. “Was that for me?”

Tui didn’t react immediately.

Nut stepped closer.

“Or…” he added, his voice tightening,

“was it because you like him?”

For the first time—

Tui’s expression changed.

Not shocked.

Not angry.

Just… serious.

“You’re overthinking,” Tui said calmly.

“Am I?” Nut shot back.

Tui held his gaze. “Yes.”

Another pause.

Then Tui added, softer but firm,

“I don’t like him like that.”

Nut didn’t relax.

Not completely.

“Then why say that?” he asked.

Tui looked away for a second before answering.

“Because I know what he’s been through,” he said quietly.

“And I don’t want anyone hurting him again.”

That hit something.

Nut’s expression shifted.

“But I wouldn’t hurt him,” he said, almost immediately.

Tui looked back at him.

“I know,” he replied.

A pause.

“Do you?”

The question stayed in the air.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Tui stepped a little closer now, lowering his voice.

“Liking someone isn’t just about what you feel,” he said.

“It’s also about whether they’re ready to receive it.”

Nut looked down slightly.

For the first time…

He didn’t have an answer.

And somewhere behind them—

The door opened again.

But neither of them turned.

That night, the room felt unusually quiet.

No music. No laughter.

Just silence.

Nut sat on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor.

Tui’s words kept replaying in his head.

“If you like him… then tell him.”

He let out a slow breath.

“Tell him…” he whispered to himself.

It sounded simple.

Too simple.

His mind started running in circles.

What if he says no?

What if everything changes?

What if I lose what we already have… even if it’s just this distance?

Nut closed his eyes for a second.

Then another thought came—

What if I don’t tell him?

He imagined it.

Days turning into months.

Standing beside Hong on stage, laughing, performing, acting normal…

While never saying anything.

While watching someone else maybe come into Hong’s life.

That thought hurt more.

Nut leaned back, staring at the ceiling now.

“I’m tired of hiding,” he admitted softly.

His chest still felt heavy—but also… clearer.

For the first time, it wasn’t just fear.

There was something else.

A small kind of courage.

He slowly sat up again.

“I don’t need an answer…” he said under his breath.

“I just need him to know.”

Because maybe…

Confessing wasn’t about winning.

It was about being honest.

And for the first time—

Nut wasn’t running away from his feelings...

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