The only one │ Enhypen x reader

The walk back to the dorm was quieter than before.

After the chaos of the truth or dare game, the group had split into smaller conversations. Ni-ki and Sunoo were up ahead, still laughing about the dramatic compliment he had given Jay. Jungwon and Heeseung trailed behind, discussing tomorrow's schedule, while Sunghoon was lazily strolling next to them, scrolling through his phone.

That left me walking between Jake and Jay...

The tension from earlier hadn't fully disappeared. Jay's hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his jaw set tight, while Jake seemed unusually quiet, his gaze flickering toward me every so often. Neither of them spoke, and I felt stuck in the middle of something I didn't quite know how to handle.

When we finally reached the dorm, Sunoo stretched with a loud yawn. "That was fun. I think I'll knock out early tonight."

"Same," Jungwon said, already heading toward his room.

One by one, the others followed suit until it was just me, Jay, Jake, and Sunghoon left in the living room.

Sunghoon flopped onto the couch, stretching out his legs. "I don't feel like sleeping yet. You guys up for a late night snack?"

Jake nodded. "I could eat."

Jay, however, shook his head. "I'll pass."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "Not in the mood?"

Jay's gaze flickered toward me briefly before he replied, "Just tired." Without another word, he turned and walked toward his room.

Sunghoon watched him go before turning to me. "What's up with him?"

I hesitated. "I don't know."

Sunghoon hummed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was jealous."

Jake, who had been scrolling on his phone, suddenly looked up. "Jealous of what?"

Sunghoon smirked. "You tell me."

Jake didn't respond, but I noticed the way his grip tightened slightly around his phone.

.

After grabbing snacks from the kitchen, Jake and I sat at the dining table while Sunghoon rummaged through the fridge, looking for something more filling.

Jake opened a bag of chips and slid them toward me. "You seemed out of it tonight."

I picked at the chips, avoiding his gaze. "Just tired."

Jake leaned back in his chair. "It's Jay, isn't it?"

I froze for half a second before forcing a casual shrug. "What about him?"

Jake exhaled, tapping his fingers against the table. "You know, you don't have to pretend like you don't notice it."

My stomach twisted. "Notice what?"

Jake gave me a pointed look. "Come on, Y/N."

I stayed silent, unsure of what to say.

Sunghoon, finally emerging from the fridge with a sandwich, plopped into the seat across from us. "Wow. You two look way too serious right now."

Jake sighed, shaking his head. "It's nothing."

"Sure," Sunghoon said, unconvinced. He took a bite of his sandwich, watching me with a knowing expression.

I quickly changed the subject, but the weight of Jake's words lingered.

<uh oh>

Later that night, I stood on the balcony, letting the cold air clear my mind.

The dorm was mostly silent, the others having already gone to bed. I exhaled, staring at the city lights, when I heard the door slide open behind me.

I turned to see Jay stepping outside, his expression unreadable.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

I shook my head. "You?"

Jay exhaled, leaning against the railing beside me. "Too much on my mind."

We stood there in silence for a moment, the only sound the distant hum of traffic.

Finally, he spoke. "Back at the café... when Sunghoon asked you that question, why didn't you answer?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

Jay turned his head to look at me, his gaze steady. "Who do you think is the most attractive?"

I swallowed, my heart pounding. "You seriously want to talk about that now?"

Jay's lips curled into a small, humorless smile. "Why not?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "It was a dumb question."

"Maybe," Jay admitted. "But you still hesitated."

The air between us felt heavier than before, charged with something I didn't know how to handle.

Before I could say anything, Jay sighed and pushed off the railing. "Forget it. Get some sleep, Y/N."

He walked back inside, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

And for the first time, I wondered if avoiding my feelings was only making things worse.