Ben had a weird night, to say the least.
He was used to strange dreams lately, but this time his subconscious had taken Daniel and... made choices. Choices that Ben, in the full clarity of morning, was too ashamed to admit, especially knowing that Daniel had the romantic and sexual experience of a particularly sheltered daisy.
But even before the dreams drifted into territory best left in the dark, Ben lay wide awake, his mind buzzing. His thoughts circled back to Sean, to that moment on the pedestrian route. The way Sean had gripped his waist, pulled him closer, leaned in, and stopped only a breath from his mouth. His heart gave a sharp jump at the memory. He'd tried to frame it as a simple concern, but the way it felt… wasn't exactly friendly.
Did that moment mean something, or was he overthinking like usual?
"It's just in your head," Ben told himself, rolling over and willing sleep to come. "You barely know the guy. It's only been five weeks. He's probably just an intense guy with strong opinions on unrequited love."
Convinced, for now, that his imagination had gone rogue, he finally fell into a restless sleep.
***
The next day, Professor Song looked like he was in the mood to hand out emotional damage.
"Your individual project was solid," the professor said, flipping through Ben's presentation with a frown that meant trouble. "But your group participation is nonexistent."
Ben opened his mouth to protest, but Professor Song raised a hand.
"No excuses. For your next assignment, you'll run a survey on the Korean labor market and youth employment, focusing on what influences young people to choose large corporations over SMEs. I want at least fifteen completed surveys and your own conclusion on the topic. Talk to people and actually engage with them. It requires legwork, which happens to be your strength. If you submit anything less, don't bother turning it in."
Ben stared at him in horror. "Gyusonim..."
Professor Song stared back, eyes like steel.
Ben sighed and bowed low in surrender. "I'll do my best, Gyusonim."
"Good." The professor turned back to his laptop, already done with him.
Ben left the class like a man walking out of his own funeral.
***
Dragging his feet to the dance studio, Ben felt like he was entering a war zone. This round of NDC wasn't just a challenge; it was a personal nightmare. He had no idea how to make Daniel understand desire, let alone dance to it. It was like teaching an alien about jazz music.
He opened the door, and there Daniel was, in a tank top, soaked in sweat, looking like he'd just come out of a workout video titled How to Ruin Ben's Sanity in 4k Ultra HD. Ben tried not to stare but failed. He forced himself to focus.
"When did you get here?" he asked, voice hopefully neutral.
Daniel, panting and looking a bit like an exhausted golden retriever, said, "I skipped my last class. I was trying to, y'know, dance on our theme, desire."
"You skipped class for that?"
Daniel nodded with an expression of exaggerated suffering. "I'm in emotional agony, Ben-ah."
Ben groaned. This was going to be another exercise in futility.
"Hyung," he said, rubbing his forehead. "How do you expect to dance about an emotion you literally do not understand?"
Daniel gasped theatrically. "How could you say that? I do understand desire! My entire life is fueled by desire!"
Ben raised a brow.
"I mean it!" Daniel cried, slapping a hand over his heart like a knight pledging loyalty. "Dance is my one true love and my ultimate desire!"
Ben nearly threw himself out of the window.
"Not that kind of desire," he said, trying to stay calm. "It's about wanting a person, craving someone. Have you ever felt that for anyone?"
Daniel scratched the back of his neck, looking genuinely troubled. "I don't think so."
Ben squeezed his eyes shut in defeat.
"That's why you're struggling," he said, sighing deeply. "How can you express something you've never even felt?"
Daniel chewed on his lower lip before muttering, "Maybe technicality can save us?"
"No!" Ben snapped. "This isn't about choreography or precision. It's about chemistry and raw emotion."
Daniel groaned. Then, as if possessed by chaos itself, he said, "Okay, then teach me! You know how it feels. You said you desire me, right? So how did you know?"
Ben's entire body froze. His breath caught. His face ignited in flames. His palms started sweating. The room suddenly felt a thousand degrees hotter.
He looked at Daniel, who was peering at him with those big, innocent eyes, utterly unaware of the nuclear bomb he had just dropped into the middle of their conversation.
Ben averted his gaze, face burning. "Trust me. You don't want to know."
There was a terrifying, soul-shattering pause before,
Daniel's brows furrowed; his voice came out hesitant. "Wait, are you saying you've… thought about me like that?"
Ben saw his entire life flash before his eyes.