The next day, Hyukjae arrived at the agency and went straight to the practice room, all hyped up to start rehearsing and to see Donghae. As expected, Donghae was already there, busily doing something on his laptop. On the chair beside him are two tumblers, one blue and one red. Hyukjae smiles, knowing that one of those is for him. 

“Did you sleep well?” Hyukjae asked as he took the seat beside Donghae and placed the two tumblers on the next chair instead.

“Too well. My alarm wasn’t even able to wake me, so I missed exercising again today.”

“That’s fine. You’ve been too tired lately.”

Donghae shook his head. “No, I really need to exercise again. My body is feeling weird, having skipped so many days.”

“Hmmm. How about you dance with us today? That would be great exercise.”

Donghae looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Come on, Hyuk. I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Hyukjae asked as he was opening a packet of biscuits from his bag.

“Because it’s your choreography and I’m just a staff?”

“Well who said anyone else can’t learn the choreography with us? Besides, Kyuhyun won’t be here so it would be great to have someone stand on his spot and take his formations. Might as well you learn the entire arrangement then.”

Donghae was speechless, still surprised with Hyukjae’s suggestion.

“What? Do you hate dancing or something? It’s great exercise too, you know.”

“I actually like dancing. I’m just surprised at your suggestion,” Donghae said as he opened his mouth for the biscuit that Hyukjae was feeding him.

“Well I have the final say for choreography matters. And I say that you take Kyuhyun’s spot for now and learn the choreography with us.” 

With that, Hyukjae fed Donghae another biscuit and then stood up to greet the choreographers and other staff present, leaving Donghae speechless.

They started with This Is Love, and at first Hyukjae was looking at Donghae through the mirrored wall to see if the younger one was flustered or uncomfortable. He was ready to take back his decision because he does not want to force Donghae to practice with them if he doesn’t like it. But then Donghae just looked uncomfortable and shy for the first five minutes, then when nobody was paying attention to him that much, he went on to dance so well that Hyukjae wanted to smack himself for suggesting Donghae to dance with them because now he has another reason to like the guy.

As if he’s not perfect already!

Hyukjae was really surprised. Donghae learned the steps quickly (even quicker than Yesung, but of course he would not say that to his hyung), and he danced with a gracefulness that Hyukjae finds very attractive. And honestly, there is that sensuality in the way he moves his body, and even in the way he caresses the microphone stand that’s part of the choreography.

An hour later, they were having a break. The choreography wasn’t too demanding but of course they’re now all sweaty after the repetitive rehearsal. 

“You didn’t tell me you can dance well,” Hyukjae said as he sat down next to Donghae on the floor. 

“I told you I like dancing,” Donghae said with a bashful smile.

Hyukjae scoffed. “Liking something and being good at it are two different things, Hae.”

Donghae didn’t respond and instead just leaned on the wall behind them. Hyukjae took a clean towel from his bag and held it out to Donghae, but the latter just tilted his head and looked confused.

“I know you didn’t bring a towel because you did not expect to dance. Here,” Hyukjae said as he wiped Donghae’s forehead. 

Surprisingly, Donghae bit his lower lip and looked down. And if Hyukjae isn’t mistaken, there’s a hint of red in his cheeks.

“Are you blushing?” Hyukjae teased, hoping that he’s not overstepping a boundary by wiping Donghae’s sweat. He honestly did not know why he did that, he just felt compelled to do so as if it was a natural thing, like when he fed Donghae earlier.

“N-no. It’s just warm!” Donghae exclaimed, then proceeded to take off his sweater, revealing a fitted white shirt underneath. 

And Hyukjae gulped because holy . 

“D-donghae. You….wow, you’re built.” Hyukjae can’t help but say.

Holy he’s been hiding that body under all his sweaters and loose shirts??

“Ah, I told you I love spending time at the gym and exercising in general.”

“Yeah but I didn’t expect this. I… I thought you’re cute little Hae, but you’re actually a buff baby?”

Donghae laughed heartily while hitting Hyukjae. “What did you say? ‘Cute little Hae’? ‘Buff baby’? Hyukjae you’re so funny!”

Hyukjae tries to dodge Donghae’s hits and ends up holding both the latter’s forearms instead. “What’s funny with that?” 

“What am I? A kid?”

“I told you repeatedly that you’re like a kid. Sometimes childish, and cute and innocent. That’s why people coddle you a lot and want to baby you.”

Donghae has stopped laughing at this point, but there’s still that bright mirth in his eyes. “Does that include you?”

Not even thinking twice, Hyukjae answered honestly. “Yes.”

Donghae smiled so brightly it’s like Hyukjae got blinded for a second.

"But seriously, you really look small in all your oversized sweaters, hoodies, and shirts. I did not expe