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The gentle hum of computers and the rhythmic clacking of mechanical keyboards filled the practice room. Han "Peanut" Wang-ho adjusted his headset, trying to concentrate on the game in front of him, but his mind kept wandering. It wasn’t the scrim game, already second one fot that day, that was on his mind. It was his teammate, Park "Viper" Dohyeon, that was just few chairs away from him, making it so easy for Wangho to just turn his head and look at him, laser-focused as always, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to his aggressive playstyle on the rift. But it was the combination of the two that made Wangho engrossed in this teammate of his.
Wangho found himself glancing over more than he’d like to admit, watching the way Dohyeon’s fingers glided effortlessly with his mouse and across his keyboard. Ever since he had joined Hanwha Life he had admired Dohyeon’s skills—his precision, his intelligence and calm demeanour. But lately, that admiration had shifted, deepened into something more intense, Wangho wasn’t sure what it was yet, but he knew it was more than what a teammate should feel to another. Something that made Wangho’s chest tighten when Dohyeon spoke to him, or when their eyes met during brief breaks between games.
It was stupid, really. They were teammates, roommates, friends. But as Wangho’s eyes met Dohyeon’s after a successful gank, he couldn’t help but wonder if there could be more. Because he wanted it. And he was going to try everything to get it.
After they finally finished up another one of their scrims with a definite victory, the team slowly filed out of the room, Hyeonjoon and Geonwoo rushing to the cafeteria and Hwanjoong saying something about a nap. Normally, he would be with Hyeonjoon and Geonwoo, rushing to cafeteria, but today Wangho lingered, pretending to look over some replays. He knew Dohyeon was still there, reviewing his own perfomance as usual. Wangho had seen him do this countless times, always striving for perfection even after a long day of scrims.
"Hey, Dohyeon-ah," Wangho called out, leaning back in his chair, trying to look nonchalant "Wanna grab something to eat? It’s been a long day."
“Yeah, I’m going to the cafeteria in a while” Dohyeon said, not even looking up from the screen.
Wangho bit his lips, he wanted to have some alone time with him and cafeteria wasn’t going to cut it. That’s why he spoke up again: “I mean just the two of us…”
Dohyeon finallt looked up this time, slightly surprised by the invitation. He wasn’t used to Wangho asking for one-on-one time, but he nodded. "Sure, that sounds good. Where do you want to go?"
Wangho stood up, stretching with a big grin on his face. "There’s that ramen place nearby. My treat."
Dohyeon grinned as he heard that he was getting a free dinner and quickly collected his things.
“Let’s go?”
As they walked out of the gaming house and into the cool evening air, Wangho felt his nerves bubbling up. This was supposed to be casual—just two teammates grabbing dinner—but the quiet walk felt charged, like there was something unspoken between them. Wangho glanced over at Dohyeon, who walked calmly beside him, hands in his pockets, looking completely at ease.
"How do you stay so calm all the time?" Wangho asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Dohyeon looked at him with a puzzled look and a small confused smile (Wangho felt his heart clench): “Should I not be calm right now?”
Wangho laughed and quickly corrected himself: “No, I mean in general. Even when we were in the game 5 of LCK finals…”
Dohyeon turned his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "I don’t know if I’d call it calm. I just try to focus on the game, nothing else. It’s easier that way."
Wangho laughed softly. "Meanwhile, I’m over here making plays that could get us all killed. But I guess that’s why we work well together, right? I jump in, you make sure we don’t lose."
Dohyeon chuckled. "Something like that. Your crazy plays are part of what makes you so good. I just try to keep up."
Wangho grinned, feeling a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the conversation. It was moments like this—quiet, private moments—where he felt like there was something more between them. Something deeper than just friends, teammates. But he didn’t know how to bridge that gap.
After a while they both arrived to the ramen shop.
The ramen shop was quiet, the atmosphere cozy with soft lighting and the scent of broth wafting through the air. They found a table in the back, and Wangho immediately started talking, filling the space with stories and jokes, trying to keep things light. But every time Dohyeon smiled or laughed, it made Wangho’s heart race just a little faster. Wangho tried to ignore it, but at this point it was no use resisting the fact that he did feel something more than what friend feel for his ad carry.
"Have you ever thought about what you'd do if you weren’t a pro player?" Wangho asked, halfway through his bowl of ramen.
Dohyeon looked thoughtful, twirling his noodles with his chopsticks. "I’ve never really thought about it. I’ve never really done anything but league so it’s hard to imagine doing something else. I’m glad this career worked out though"
"Yeah," Wangho agreed, though his mind was on something else entirely. He swallowed, gathering his courage before asking, "What about… you know, outside of the game? Like, relationships and stuff?"
Dohyeon looked up from his bowl of ramen, raising an eyebrow. "Relationships?"
Wangho’s pulse quickened and breath hitched. This was the moment, wasn’t it? The chance to say something. Anything. Everything. His mind raced and before he could stop himself, the words spilled out.
"Yeah, like… have you ever thought about dating? Or, uh, being with someone? "
Dohyeon’s expression softened, and he set his chopsticks down, leaning back in his chair. "I guess I’ve thought about it. But it’s hard, with how much we travel and practice. It’s not exactly the easiest lifestyle for that kind of thing. I guess it would also be unfair to.. that someone."
Wangho nodded, but there was a tightness in his chest now, a burning question at the tip of his tongue. He had to ask. He had to know. He had to try.
"What if…" Wangho hesitated, his hands gripping the edge of the table, his heart hammering in his chest. "What if it was someone who understood that? Someone… close?"
Dohyeon studied him for a moment, his gaze steady. "What do you mean?"
Wangho swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. "I mean, someone like me. What if I liked you?"
The silence that followed felt like an eternity. Wangho’s pulse roared in his ears, his palms sweaty as he waited for Dohyeon to respond. He felt like he had just thrown himself off a cliff, and now he was waiting to see if he would crash or if Dohyeon would catch him.
Dohyeon didn’t look away. He didn’t seem surprised, not really. If anything, his expression softened, his eyes warm and understanding. He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. He still looked calm. Calm, which was everything Wangho wasn’t at the moment.
"You… like me?" Dohyeon asked, his voice soft, but with a hint of something deeper underneath.
Wangho nodded, his throat tight. "Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it for a while. And I just… I couldn’t not say something."
For a moment, Dohyeon didn’t speak, but his gaze didn’t waver. Finally, he let out a soft breath and smiled, just a small, almost shy smile that Wangho had never seen before.
"I like you too, Wangho," Dohyeon said quietly. "I just didn’t know if you felt the same way."
Wangho blinked, his heart skipping a beat. Did he just-. Is this actually happening?
Dohyeon chuckled, nodding. "Yeah. I guess I didn’t know how to bring it up either. I didn’t want to make things weird between us."
Wangho stared at him, a slow smile spreading across his face as relief and happiness washed over him.
Dohyeon smiled back at him, a little wider this time.
Wangho let out a breathless laugh, his heart soaring. He reached across the table, hesitating for only a second before his hand found Dohyeon’s. Dohyeon didn’t pull away. Instead, he turned his hand over, fingers lacing with Wangho’s.
It was such a simple gesture, but to Wangho, it felt like everything. Sitting there, hands entwined, a quiet understanding passed between them. They didn’t need words. They didn’t need to figure out the details right now. All that mattered was that, in this moment, they were together.
The air between them felt lighter now, as if confessing had broken a barrier they didn’t even know existed. Wangho’s heart was still racing, but this time it was from excitement instead of anxiety. Sitting there, hand in hand with Dohyeon, he felt something new—something comforting.
Neither of them were the type to rush into things, well Wangho a bit more rush-y than Dohyeon, but that didn’t change the fact that their careers were built on long hours, dedication, and trust. Wangho knew how to be patient and he also that navigating this new relationship would take that same level of care. But for the first time in a long while, he wasn’t worried about what came next.
"I can’t believe we’ve been playing together for months and we never said anything," Wangho mused, giving Dohyeon’s hand a small squeeze.
Dohyeon’s lips curved into a smile. It seemed like the smile just kept on appearing. And Wangho was absolutely obsessed. "I guess we were both too focused on the game. But… O can’t say I haven’t noticed anything …I’ve noticed little things. The way you’d always check on me after a match, or how you always seemed to find a reason to sit next to me in the cafeteria."
Wangho’s cheeks flushed at that, and he laughed, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. "Was it that obvious?"
"Not at first," Dohyeon said, his voice soft, "but after a while, I started to wonder. I didn’t know if it was just because we were getting closer or if it meant something more."
Wangho leaned forward, his grin mischievous. "Well, now you know it definitely meant more."
Dohyeon chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah. I think I figured that out tonight."
They both sat back, a comfortable silence settling between them as they finished their ramen. Wangho felt a warmth growing in his chest, not from the broth nor the ramen, but from the simple fact that he and Dohyeon are finally what he had wanted for a long time. They’re still not that far as he would’ve wanted but with time….
As they stepped out of the ramen shop, the cool evening breeze greeted them. Dohyeon pulled his jacket tighter around him, while Wangho stuffed his hands into his pockets, fighting the urge to grab Dohyeon’s hand again. They walked side by side, the streetlights casting long shadows as they headed back toward the team house.
"Do you think… the others will notice?" Dohyeon asked after a few moments, his voice quiet but not uncertain.
Wangho considered it. "I mean, we don’t have to tell anyone right away. Let’s just take things slow, see how it goes. No need to rush into it."
Dohyeon nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I like that. Slow is good."
Wangho nudged him playfully with his elbow. "Look at you, always the careful one."
Dohyeon gave him a sidelong glance, his smile widening. "Well, someone has to balance out your reckless side, right?"
"True," Wangho said with a laugh. "But you gotta admit, my recklessness keeps things exciting."
Dohyeon didn’t respond immediately, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes. There was something deeper there, something Wangho hadn’t noticed before. It was like Dohyeon was seeing him differently now—not just as a teammate, but as someone he genuinely cared about.
"You always do keep things exciting," Dohyeon finally said, his voice soft but sincere.
Wangho’s heart skipped a beat at the way Dohyeon said that—like it was more than just a comment on their in-game synergy. There was a closeness now, one that wasn’t there before.
Back at the team house, the atmosphere was quieter than usual. Most of their teammates were already in their rooms or practice room, preparing for bed or playing solo queue. Wangho and Dohyeon made their way upstairs, the comfortable silence from their walk lingering between them. Wangho stopped outside their door, as he still needed to finish up some soloq games, leaning against the frame as Dohyeon fumbled for his keys.
"Thanks for coming out with me tonight," Wangho said, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in his stomach.
Dohyeon smiled as he unlocked the door. "I had a good time. And, you know… I’m glad we talked."
"Me too." Wangho’s voice was softer than he intended, but he didn’t mind. This felt real, and it felt right.
They stood there for a moment, neither of them moving, the air between them charged with something new. Wangho could feel the pull, the magnetic tension that had been building all night. And before he could stop himself, he took a step closer.
"Dohyeon-ah…" he began, but before he could finish, Dohyeon leaned in and kissed him.
It was gentle at first, cautious, like they were testing the waters. But the moment their lips touched, everything fell into place. Dohyeon’shands found their way to Wangho’s waist, pulling him closer, while Wangho’s fingers lightly brushed the back of Dohyeon’s neck. The kiss deepened, and for a few seconds, the world outside the door melted away, leaving just the two of them, caught in the warmth of the moment.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing a little heavier, and Wangho’s heart was racing faster than any game had ever made it. He looked into Dohyeon’s eyes, seeing a mix of emotions—relief, joy, and something that looked a lot like contentment.
"That…" Wangho said, his voice barely above a whisper, "was even better than winning a game."
Dohyeon chuckled, his forehead resting gently against Wangho’s. "Even better than finals?"
Wangho grinned, his heart full. "You might have to work harder for that"
"I definitely will," Dohyeon confirmed, his smile soft and warm.
They stayed like that for a few more moments, just holding each other, neither of them wanting to break the spell. It wasn’t about rushing into anything—it was about savoring the beginning of something new and beautiful. Wangho knew that they had a long road ahead, both as teammates and as something more, but for the first time, he wasn’t worried.
He had Dohyeon, and that was more than enough.
As they finally said goodnight and Dohyeon slipped into his room, Wangho made his way to the practice room, his mind buzzing with everything that had happened. He flopped onto his seat, staring up at the ceiling with a stupid grin on his face.
“What are you thinking about?” Suddenly Hyeonjoon’s voice broke out, Wangho didn’t even realize he wasn’t the only one in the practice room.
“You know… love.” Wangho said as he sat up straight and opened up League client.
Hyeonjoon just stared at him for few seconds with a weirded out look and continued playing.
Life has never been so good to Wangho before.
The End (for now)