Heartstopper (Woosan)
content warning: fluffy af
Masterlist
word count: 3300
Today
Wooyoung tugged at the strap of his backpack, walking down the familiar corridors of their high school. The hum of voices, the shuffle of shoes against the tiled floor—everything felt routine, like he'd lived this day a hundred times before...because he had. He sighed, glancing at the walls lined with club posters, trying to find something exciting in the monotony.
That's when he saw San.
He wasn't new; San had been in his grade for years. But Wooyoung had never really seen him, not in the way he did today.
San was sitting on the bench near the entrance to the gym, adjusting his sneakers, the sunlight spilling through the window and casting a soft glow on his dark hair. He looked focused, eyebrows slightly furrowed as he tied his laces. There was something effortlessly cool about him.
Wooyoung slowed his pace, feeling something strange stir in his chest. Why hadn't he noticed before?
"Hey, Wooyoung!"
The shout jolted him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see Yeosang waving him over. Wooyoung forced as normal of a grin as he could manage and jogged up to his friend, trying to shake off whatever weird moment he'd just had.
But as he glanced back, just for a second, his eyes found San again. This time, San caught him staring, and for the briefest moment, their gazes locked.
Wooyoung felt a flutter of nervous energy pulse through him. He quickly looked away, his face heating up as he tried to focus on what Yeosang was saying.
The Next Day
Wooyoung didn't expect to think about San so much. In fact, he tried to push him out of his head entirely, but the image of San sitting on the bench kept popping up in his mind—uninvited, yet persistent.
It was during gym class that they finally crossed paths properly. The gym teacher had assigned them to play basketball, splitting the class into two teams. Wooyoung found himself in the unfortunate position of being on the opposite team from San.
Great, he thought, more opportunities to make a fool of myself.
San, however, seemed unaware of Wooyoung's internal panic. He moved across the court with ease, the ball flowing through his hands like it was second nature. There was something captivating about the way San played…calm, focused, almost serene. Wooyoung couldn't help but watch, mesmerized by how natural San seemed in motion.
"Wooyoung!" Yeosang's voice snapped him out of his trance again. "Are you gonna help us or just stare at San all day?"
Wooyoung blinked, realizing too late that the ball had been passed to him. He fumbled, and before he knew it, San was right there coming toward him—smoothly intercepting the ball from his grasp and driving it down the court for a perfect shot.
The gym echoed with applause as San's team cheered. Wooyoung stood frozen for a moment, his heart racing, and not just from the game...San's hand had grazed his.
After the match, as everyone was packing up, Wooyoung grabbed his water bottle and tried to calm his nerves. Just as he was about to head out, though, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Hey, good game."
Wooyoung turned, and there was San, standing closer than he expected, with a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Oh, uh... yeah, you too," Wooyoung stammered. His palms felt sweaty, and he mentally cursed himself for not being cooler.
San chuckled, the sound soft and warm. "You've got potential, you know. You just gotta keep your head in the game."
Wooyoung smiled back, his nervousness fading just a little. "I'll try."
For a second, they just stood there, the awkwardness thick between them. Wooyoung wasn't sure what to say next, and San seemed equally unsure.
Finally, San broke the silence. "You ever think about joining the basketball club?"
Wooyoung blinked. "Me? Oh, I don't know... I'm not exactly... you know, good."
San shrugged. "Doesn't matter. We could always use more people. Besides, it's just for fun. You should come check it out sometime."
Before Wooyoung could reply, San gave him a friendly nod and headed toward the locker room. Wooyoung stood there, feeling a strange mix of exhilaration and confusion. Did San really just invite him to join the basketball club? And why did that make his heart feel like it was about to leap out of his chest?
Observer
Over the next few weeks, Wooyoung found himself drawn to the basketball club, though not necessarily for the sport. He would drop by after school, watching San practice with the others, always trying to stay unnoticed. But somehow, San always spotted him.
It started with casual conversations—brief chats after practice or between plays. They weren't close, but there was an ease between them, something that made Wooyoung feel comfortable around San, even though he barely knew him.
One day, after a particularly long practice, San walked over to where Wooyoung was sitting on the bleachers.
"You should join," San said, plopping down beside him.
Wooyoung laughed. "You keep saying that."
"I mean it," San replied, his eyes serious but kind. "You've been watching us for weeks. Don't you want to play?"
Wooyoung hesitated. "I don't know. I guess I'm just... not confident."
San tilted his head, studying him for a moment. "You don't have to be. It's just about having fun, really. Besides..." San paused, his gaze softening. "I think you'd be good. And, you know, I'd help you."
Wooyoung's heart skipped a beat. There was something in the way San said it, something that made Wooyoung feel like maybe, just maybe, there was more to this than basketball.
That night, Wooyoung couldn't stop thinking about San's offer. But it wasn't just about the basketball…it was about San himself. The way he smiled, the way he made Wooyoung feel seen in a way he hadn't before.
Wooyoung wasn't sure what was happening, but he knew one thing for sure: he was falling for San.
And the scariest part? He wasn't sure if San felt the same way.
Basketball Club
The rhythmic bounce of the basketball echoed through the gym. Wooyoung stood at the edge of the court, sneakers squeaking faintly as he shifted nervously from one foot to the other. It was his first official practice with the basketball club, and despite San's encouragement, his nerves were getting the better of him.
San jogged over, his usual easygoing smile in place. "You ready?"
Wooyoung nodded, though his stomach churned with uncertainty. "Yeah... I guess."
San tilted his head. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just stick with me, okay?"
There was something about the way San said it that instantly put Wooyoung at ease. San always had that effect on him. And as they began practicing, Wooyoung found himself following San's lead, moving through the drills with more confidence than he expected.
About halfway through practice, after missing an easy shot, Wooyoung groaned in frustration.
"I'm so bad at this," he muttered, dropping his head in defeat.
San jogged over, bouncing the ball lightly between his hands. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing great for your first time."
Wooyoung gave him a skeptical look. "You're just saying that to be nice."
San grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Okay, maybe a little. But seriously, you're not bad." He tossed the ball to Wooyoung, who caught it clumsily. "You just need to trust yourself."
Wooyoung huffed but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. San made it sound so simple—like everything would be fine as long as Wooyoung kept trying. And maybe, with San around, it would be fine.
Boys and Basketball
As practice ended, the two of them lingered behind, the rest of the group having already packed up and left. San shot a few more hoops, effortlessly sinking the ball every time.
Wooyoung watched from the sidelines, feeling something unfamiliar bubbling up inside him. It wasn't just admiration for San's skill…it was something deeper, something he didn't quite understand yet.
"Why do you like basketball so much?" Wooyoung asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
San caught the ball and paused, leaning against it. "I don't know. It's kind of freeing, I guess. When I'm on the court, I don't have to think about anything else. It's just me and the game."
Wooyoung nodded, though he couldn't quite relate. Sports were never really his thing. But watching San play... it was different. San looked so alive when he played, so full of energy and light. It made Wooyoung want to be a part of it, even if he wasn't good at it. Actually, Woo zoned out of the world watching San play the same way San did while playing.
"You should stay after practice more often," San added, casually tossing the ball in Wooyoung's direction. "We can work on your shots. I'll help you get better."
There it was again—San's effortless kindness, the way he always made Wooyoung feel like he belonged. Wooyoung caught the ball and smiled. "Yeah, maybe I will."
San walked over, grabbing his water bottle from the bench. For a moment, they stood there, side by side, the air between them feeling charged with something unsaid. Wooyoung's heart pounded in his chest, louder than it should have been, and he couldn't figure out why.
"Wanna grab some food?" San asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Wooyoung blinked, his mind still reeling from the tension he felt. "Oh, uh, sure."
They walked to the small café near their school, chatting about random things…classes, music, the latest episode of some show San had been watching.
But the whole time, Wooyoung felt a strange pull toward San, like there was an invisible string tying them together, drawing him closer in ways that made his head spin.
Late Night Almost Confessions
Later that evening, after they'd finished their food and were walking back, Wooyoung's phone buzzed with a message from Yeosang, but he barely registered it. All he could focus on was how close San was walking beside him, their arms brushing lightly every now and then.
"Thanks for coming to practice today," San said quietly, his voice softer than usual. "It was fun."
Wooyoung smiled, though his heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest. "Yeah, it was."
They walked in silence for a while, the cool evening breeze rustling through the trees. It was peaceful, yet the air between them felt heavy with unspoken words. Wooyoung wanted to say something, but he didn't know what.
"Can I ask you something?" San's voice cut through the quiet.
Wooyoung glanced at him, suddenly nervous. "Uh, yeah. Sure."
San stopped walking, turning to face Wooyoung. His eyes, usually so calm and playful, were now more serious. "Do you... ever feel like there's something you don't quite understand about yourself? Like, something just waiting to make sense?"
Wooyoung froze, his breath catching in his throat. The question hit him harder than he had expected. He looked away, suddenly feeling exposed, as if San could see right through him.
"Yeah," Wooyoung replied softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like that a lot."
San nodded, his gaze not leaving Wooyoung's face. There was a silence that stretched between them, thick with meaning. Wooyoung could feel his heart pounding, and he didn't know if it was from the question or the way San was looking at him…so intently, like he was searching for something.
"I feel like that too," San admitted after a moment, his voice just as soft. He shifted slightly, his hands fiddling with the strap of his bag. "Especially lately."
Wooyoung's breath hitched. His mind raced, trying to figure out what San meant…if he meant what Wooyoung thought he meant. But before Wooyoung could say anything, San smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes this time.
"Anyway," San said, clearing his throat and looking away. "This is your place."
Wooyoung wanted to say something, wanted to reach out and close the gap between them, but the words stuck in his throat and his legs stuck to the ground. Instead, he just nodded, feeling the weight of everything they hadn't said settle heavily in his chest before turning and walking inside.
Unspoken Feelings
That night, as Wooyoung lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind wouldn't stop spinning. San's words kept replaying in his head…do you ever feel like there's something you don't quite understand about yourself?
Wooyoung knew exactly what that feeling was. He just didn't know what to do about it. But there was something in the way San had looked at him tonight, something that made Wooyoung think... maybe he wasn't alone in this.
Maybe they were both trying to figure it out.
And maybe, just maybe, they could figure it out together.
The days following their late-night conversation were filled with a strange, almost electric tension. Wooyoung could feel it every time he and San were together.
1 Week Later
It was Friday, and Wooyoung was sitting in the cafeteria with Yeosang, trying to focus on their conversation, but his eyes kept drifting across the room to where San was sitting with his basketball teammates. San hadn't noticed him yet, but Wooyoung couldn't stop glancing in his direction.
"Earth to Wooyoung?" Yeosang waved a hand in front of his face, breaking Wooyoung's concentration.
"Huh?" Wooyoung blinked, snapping back to reality.
Yeosang raised an eyebrow. "You've been staring at San for, like, five minutes."
Wooyoung felt his face heat up. "What? No, I wasn't."
Yeosang gave him a knowing look, leaning back in his chair. "Dude, it's kind of obvious. What's going on with you two?"
"Nothing!" Wooyoung said quickly, maybe too quickly. "We're just... you know, friends."
Yeosang didn't look convinced. "Uh-huh. Sure. Look, I'm not saying you have to tell me anything, but... if there's something more, you can talk to me, you know."
Wooyoung hesitated, unsure how to respond. He wanted to tell Yeosang, wanted to let it all out, but the truth was, he didn't even know what was going on himself. How could he explain something he barely understood?
"Thanks," Wooyoung said finally, giving Yeosang a small smile. "I just... I don't really know what's going on. It's complicated."
Yeosang nodded, offering a sympathetic smile. "Feelings usually are. But, for what it's worth, I think you two look good together."
Wooyoung's heart skipped a beat at the comment, but before he could respond, he saw San stand up from his table, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Wooyoung. He waved, and Wooyoung felt that familiar flutter in his chest.
"I'll be right back," Wooyoung said, standing up quickly and heading toward San.
Invite
San greeted him with a bright smile, though Wooyoung could see the slight tension in his posture.
"Hey, wanna hang out after school today?" San asked.
Wooyoung nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, sure. What's up? Want to shoot some hoops?"
San hesitated for a moment, glancing around as if to make sure no one else was listening. "I was thinking... maybe we could go to the park instead? Just the two of us."
Wooyoung's heart pounded in his chest. Just the two of us. The way San said it made Wooyoung's stomach flip with nervous excitement.
"Yeah, that sounds good," Wooyoung replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
San smiled, but there was something behind it, something uncertain. "Cool. Meet me by the gates after practice?"
Wooyoung nodded, watching as San walked away, his mind already racing with what this meant. Was this just a regular hangout? Or was there more to it? He couldn't tell, and the not knowing was driving him crazy.
At the Park
The park was quieter than usual, the fading light of the afternoon casting long shadows across the grass. Wooyoung and San walked side by side, the cool breeze making Wooyoung shiver slightly, though it wasn't the only reason he felt on edge.
They had been walking for a while, neither of them saying much, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. Wooyoung kept glancing at San, trying to figure out what was going on in his head, but San's expression was unreadable.
Finally, San broke the silence. "You ever wonder why some things feel so hard to say?"
Wooyoung's heart skipped a beat. He looked at San, who was staring straight ahead, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
"Yeah," Wooyoung said quietly. "I think about that a lot."
San nodded, still not looking at him. "It's like... the more important something is, the harder it is to put into words."
Wooyoung felt his pulse quicken. He didn't know where this conversation was going, but he could feel that they were standing on the edge of something big, something that could change everything.
San stopped walking, turning to face Wooyoung. His eyes were filled with something Wooyoung hadn't seen before…vulnerability, uncertainty, and maybe... hope?
"There's something I've been trying to figure out," San said softly. "Something I haven't been able to say out loud because... I don't know how."
Wooyoung's breath caught in his throat. He felt like the world was holding its breath with him, waiting for what would come next.
San's eyes searched Wooyoung's face, as if looking for some sort of sign. "Do you ever feel like... maybe you're not sure about how you feel about someone, but at the same time, you're kind of afraid of what it might mean?"
Wooyoung's heart pounded so loudly he was sure San could hear it. His mind raced, trying to process what San was saying…what it meant.
"Yeah," Wooyoung whispered, barely able to get the words out. "I feel like that a lot lately."
San's eyes flickered with something…relief, maybe? He stepped a little closer, his voice even softer now. "I think I've been feeling like that about you, Wooyoung."
Wooyoung's breath hitched. His chest felt tight, like he couldn't get enough air. He had imagined this moment a hundred times, but now that it was happening, he didn't know what to do.
San's gaze held his, intense and searching. "I don't know what this is, or if it's just me, but... I had to say something. I couldn't keep pretending I didn't feel it."
Wooyoung felt a surge of emotion…fear, excitement, hope, all swirling together in a dizzying mix. His mouth felt dry, but he forced himself to speak. "You're not the only one."
San's eyes widened slightly, his expression shifting to something softer, more vulnerable. "Really?"
Wooyoung nodded, his heart racing. "Yeah. I've been feeling the same way... but I didn't know how to tell you. I was scared of...I'm not really sure."
For a moment, they just stood there, the weight of their confessions hanging in the air between them. Wooyoung's heart was pounding, but for the first time, he didn't feel afraid of his feelings...he felt relieved by their being returned.
San smiled, a real, genuine smile that lit up his whole face. "So... what do we do now?"
Wooyoung laughed softly, the tension in his chest finally easing. "I don't know. But maybe we can figure it out. Together."
San's smile grew wider, and without thinking, he reached out and took Wooyoung's hand. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like the most important thing in the world at that moment.
As they stood there, hands intertwined, Wooyoung felt something shift inside him…like a weight had been lifted, and for the first time, things finally made sense.