Ben took ages to return to his dorm that night.
His legs worked on autopilot, but his mind was a complete mess.
Why was he feeling like this? It wasn't even a kiss! It was just… a cheesy drama moment. A drunken mishap. A ridiculous accident.
So why the hell couldn't he get it out of his mind?
As soon as he reached his dorm, he flung himself onto his bed and buried his burning face into his pillow.
Forget it. Forget it. FORGET IT.
But his brain, the absolute traitor, refused. Because every time he closed his eyes, he could feel it. The accidental brush, Daniel's warmth, the scent of his shampoo—WHY DID HE EVEN NOTICE THAT?!
"GET A GRIP, BEN." He groaned into his pillow.
***
To absolutely no one's surprise, Daniel woke up the next morning with a headache from hell.
A dozen or so girls and a handful of guys immediately swarmed around him in concern as he stumbled into the studio. One girl handed him a water bottle with a practiced toss of her hair, another offered a towel, fluttering her lashes with subtle precision.
Daniel, ever oblivious, took the water and towel with both hands and gasped dramatically, "An angel! You've saved my life. Such kindness still exists in this cold, cruel world!"
A few girls giggled. One bold girl leaned in with a smile. "You know, I make great haejangguk. You could come over, and I'll take care of you 'properly'." [hangover soup]
Terrence raised an eyebrow, clearly clocking the subtext. Kai glanced nervously at Daniel, looking like he was bracing for disaster. Ben, who was trying valiantly to ignore all of it, narrowed his eyes.
Girls are scarier these days. Honestly terrifying.
But Daniel just sighed and shook his head mournfully. "Alas, I cannot. I mustn't miss practice. But thank you for your noble concern."
A guy nearby piped up, "You should chug a Pocari Sweat. It works every time."
Daniel flopped a hand in the air. "Too sweet. My body deserves only the purest hydration."
Eventually, the buzzing crowd thinned, retreating with a mix of sighs, giggles, and lingering glances.
"Ughhhh…" he whined, dramatically throwing himself onto the studio floor. "I think I'm dying."
"No, you're not," Terrence deadpanned.
"Yes, I am. Kai, I raised you as my own—"
"Please stop." Kai looked genuinely exhausted. "You're not my father."
"But you took care of me this morning like a dutiful son, you gave me pain killers and even caring words," Daniel sniffled dramatically. "Unlike this brat—" He pointed an accusatory finger at Terrence.
Terrence didn't even look up from his book. "I hope your headache lasts all week."
Ben should have laughed at the usual chaos; he really should have!!
But all he could focus on was the fact that Daniel didn't even remember.
That entire night: Daniel's drunken antics, his ridiculous flirting with street lamps, him fighting his own reflection, the near-kiss moment… he didn't remember a damn thing.
Meanwhile, Ben was suffering.
So he did what any rational person would do.
He avoided Daniel like the plague.
***
Unfortunately, avoiding Daniel was practically impossible when they shared the same studio, classes, and friends. And it wasn't long before his plans crumbled completely.
Because within two weeks of barely surviving semester exams, Ben found himself seriously considering taking dance as an elective, mostly for the sacred right of studio access. Practicing only after hours and on weekends was starting to feel like bootleg training. If he timed it right, he could sync schedules with Terrence, Kai, and Daniel, forming a chaotic little quartet. That also meant seeing Daniel more often.
And then, as if by divine intervention, the next week came The Announcement.
The National Dance Competition - NDC
As soon as their instructor mentioned it, the room practically vibrated with excitement.
"Guys, do you get what this means?" Kai asked, eyes wide. "This is the real deal. People get scouted here."
"The best dancers in the country will be competing," Terrence said, stretching his arms behind his head. "Since it's being held in Seoul this year, pretty much everyone's showing up. Each university can send a maximum of ten dancers, but only if they survive the audition."
Daniel was practically glowing. "This is our chance to prove ourselves. To show the world what we're made of!"
Terrence scoffed. "Which, in your case, is pure arrogance."
Daniel ignored him and turned toward the rest of them. "We're all doing this."
Kai groaned. "I already know I have zero chance."
Daniel immediately smacked the back of his head. "Shut up. You're doing it."
Ben swallowed hard. He knew Daniel and Terrence were on another level.
But still…
Something inside him whispered.
You want this, too.
***
That night, the studio emptied one by one.
Kai and Terrence were the first to leave, and Ben saw the perfect opportunity to slip away unnoticed—
Until Daniel's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Stop."
Ben stiffened. Slowly, he turned around. Daniel was standing there, arms crossed, his usual playful energy replaced with something more serious.
"You've been avoiding me."
Ben forced a scoff. "No, I haven't."
"Yes, you have." Daniel narrowed his eyes. "You won't even look at me during practice. Did I do something when I was drunk?"
Ben's stomach twisted. "Do you really not remember?"
Daniel blinked, looking genuinely confused. "No, should I?"
Something inside Ben, something a little petty, a little wicked, wanted to make Daniel sweat. So he took a slow step forward, tilted his head, and said,
"You tried to seduce me."
A deafening silence fell.
Daniel's face went ghostly pale. "I—WHAT?!"
Ben shrugged, completely unbothered. "Yeah. You were all over me, and kept saying weird, flirty things, and even almost kissed me."
Daniel looked like he was about to pass out. "That can't be TRUE."
Ben sighed dramatically. "Tsk, tsk. And to think, I was so innocent, completely defenseless—"
Daniel nearly choked. "Defenseless?! I was dead drunk. You could've shoved me with a finger."
Ben smirked. "That's beside the point."
Daniel's brain short-circuited. His mouth opened, closed, and opened again. He looked like a dying fish.
Ben took way too much satisfaction in his suffering.
Just as Daniel's soul was about to leave his body, Ben clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Aigoo," Ben sighed, shaking his head. "Babo, relax. I'm kidding." [Idiot]
Daniel nearly collapsed. "Jinjja, NEOMU SHIREO!!" [I hate you, seriously]
Ben grinned. "You should've seen your face."
"ARE YOU INSANE?! I NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK."
Ben shrugged. "Maybe don't drink like an idiot next time?"
Daniel groaned dramatically, clutching his chest like he had aged twenty years.
Ben finally felt at ease. But somewhere, in the back of his mind, a thought lingered.
That almost-kiss shouldn't have meant anything.
So, why did it still feel so damn real?