ā Ā Ā Ā Ā .˳āŗā Ā Ā Ā Ā šš”ššØššØš«š Ā Ā .
Ā and Ā just Ā like Ā that, Ā the Ā icy Ā animosity Ā between Ā the Ā two Ā had Ā gradually Ā began Ā to Ā thaw Ā out Ā into Ā a Ā mild Ā temperature. Ā not Ā that Ā teddy Ā ever Ā had Ā much Ā to Ā hold Ā against Ā hanseul Ā to Ā begin Ā with, Ā aside Ā from Ā an Ā unsettled Ā and Ā curious Ā passing Ā thought Ā as Ā to Ā why Ā they Ā hadnāt Ā put Ā more Ā effort Ā into Ā getting Ā to Ā know Ā one Ā another Ā outside Ā of Ā their Ā mutual Ā friends. Ā teddy Ā liked Ā being Ā the Ā center Ā of Ā attention, Ā and Ā itās Ā possible Ā he Ā felt Ā threatened. Ā āthatās Ā true⦠ and Ā i Ā wouldnāt Ā say Ā i Ā find Ā it Ā the Ā worst Ā thing, Ā but Ā iām Ā definitely Ā taking Ā it Ā as Ā a Ā challenge. Ā which Ā really, Ā is Ā only Ā going Ā to Ā be Ā inconvenient Ā for Ā you Ā in Ā the Ā long Ā run,ā Ā teddy Ā tells Ā him, Ā an Ā arched Ā brow Ā raising Ā with Ā a Ā small Ā smile, Ā worrying Ā his Ā bottom Ā lip Ā between Ā his Ā teeth. Ā
Ā itās Ā almost Ā as Ā time Ā stands Ā still Ā and Ā holds Ā itsā Ā breath Ā for Ā a Ā brief Ā moment Ā after Ā teddy Ā asks Ā that Ā question, Ā while Ā the Ā man Ā himself Ā begins Ā to Ā wonder Ā if Ā heād Ā already Ā pushed Ā too Ā far Ā too Ā soon, Ā applied Ā pressure Ā to Ā the Ā wrong Ā jenga Ā block Ā to Ā send Ā their Ā clumsily Ā constructed Ā friendship Ā tower Ā tumbling Ā down. Ā the Ā reply Ā has Ā his Ā pursed Ā lips Ā parting, Ā high Ā points Ā of Ā his Ā cheeks Ā coloring Ā as Ā he Ā lets Ā out Ā a Ā nervous Ā laugh. Ā he Ā has Ā the Ā urge Ā to Ā do Ā something Ā like Ā pat Ā hanseul Ā good-naturedly Ā on Ā the Ā back, Ā do Ā something Ā to Ā dispel Ā whatever Ā weird Ā tension Ā has Ā settled Ā in Ā around Ā them Ā but Ā heās Ā worried Ā itāll Ā have Ā the Ā opposite Ā effect.
āyeah? Ā youād Ā better Ā have Ā me Ā eating Ā my Ā words, Ā then. Ā mr. Ā joy Ā to Ā be Ā around. Ā iāll Ā eat Ā mine Ā as Ā well Ā if Ā you Ā come Ā to Ā decide Ā that Ā i Ā really Ā am Ā boring Ā and Ā no Ā fun,ā Ā he Ā offers, Ā head Ā tilting Ā to Ā the Ā side Ā with Ā an Ā easygoing Ā grin. Ā when Ā hanseul Ā agrees, Ā he Ā makes Ā a Ā move Ā to Ā snatch Ā the Ā hotelās Ā room Ā service Ā menu Ā to Ā peruse Ā through. Ā teddy Ā nods, Ā fingers Ā beginning Ā to Ā dial Ā the Ā number Ā before Ā the Ā words Ā register Ā and Ā he Ā hangs Ā the Ā receiver Ā on Ā his Ā shoulder, Ā watching Ā hanseul Ā with Ā a Ā pensive Ā look Ā on Ā his Ā face. Ā brow Ā creased, Ā he Ā clears Ā his Ā throat. Ā
āyou Ā know Ā i Ā like Ā men, Ā right?ā Ā awkward, Ā but Ā necessary, Ā because Ā heās Ā been Ā operating Ā under Ā the Ā assumption Ā that Ā hanseul Ā doesnāt Ā ā Ā teddy Ā is Ā closeted, Ā because Ā of Ā his Ā family, Ā because Ā he Ā has Ā to Ā be. Ā the Ā confession Ā is Ā risky, Ā another Ā carelessly Ā plucked Ā jenga Ā block, Ā another Ā reason Ā for Ā hanseul Ā to Ā subtract Ā points Ā off Ā some Ā imaginary Ā abacus. Ā āiām Ā not Ā hitting Ā on Ā you.ā yet. āi Ā just Ā thought Ā itād Ā be Ā good Ā to Ā avoid Ā any Ā more Ā misunderstandings⦠ and Ā also Ā in Ā case Ā i Ā uh, Ā unknowinglyĀ thwarted Ā some Ā attempt Ā at Ā courtship? Ā not, Ā not Ā you Ā courting Ā me Ā but.. Ā iāll Ā stop Ā talking,ā Ā teddy Ā finishes, Ā face Ā red Ā with Ā embarrassment Ā as Ā he Ā ties Ā the Ā phonecord Ā around Ā his Ā neck Ā in Ā a Ā half-assed Ā attempt Ā to Ā asphyxiate Ā himself.
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā whileĀ itĀ mightāveĀ takenĀ oneĀ painfullyĀ awkwardĀ confrontrationĀ toĀ getĀ toĀ thisĀ pointĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā hanseulĀ feltĀ likeĀ aĀ weightĀ hadĀ beenĀ liftedĀ offĀ hisĀ shouldersĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā asĀ ifĀ allĀ theĀ negativeĀ energyĀ andĀ feelingsĀ heādĀ bottledĀ upĀ regardingĀ teddyĀ couldĀ finallyĀ beĀ expelledĀ andĀ itĀ wasĀ aĀ fuckingĀ refreshingĀ feelingĀ toĀ haveĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā heĀ feltĀ youngerĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā freerĀ andĀ moreĀ likeĀ himselfĀ thanĀ theĀ nastierĀ versionĀ heādĀ constantlyĀ presentedĀ toĀ theĀ otherĀ outĀ ofĀ jealousyĀ andĀ spiteĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā ifĀ youĀ wantĀ toĀ takeĀ itĀ upĀ asĀ aĀ challengeĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā whoĀ amĀ iĀ toĀ standĀ inĀ yourĀ wayĀ Ā Ā Ā ?Ā Ā Ā Ā byĀ allĀ meansĀ goĀ rightĀ aheadĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā heĀ challengesĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā toneĀ differentĀ toĀ howĀ itĀ hadĀ beenĀ beforeĀ andĀ perhapsĀ wantingĀ toĀ eggĀ himĀ onĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā ifĀ onlyĀ toĀ seeĀ howĀ farĀ heādĀ goĀ toĀ tryĀ andĀ amuseĀ himĀ goingĀ forwardĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā itādĀ definitelyĀ meanĀ thisĀ wasnātĀ toĀ beĀ theirĀ lastĀ conversationĀ Ā Ā Ā .
theĀ youngerĀ hadĀ toĀ laughĀ Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā genuineĀ laughterĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā theĀ kindĀ thatĀ couldĀ fillĀ aĀ roomĀ andĀ shouldĀ definitelyĀ beĀ bottledĀ upĀ andĀ keptĀ toĀ replayĀ againĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā somethingĀ heĀ neverĀ thoughtĀ heādĀ beĀ capableĀ ofĀ aroundĀ teddyĀ butĀ apparentlyĀ heĀ wasĀ andĀ heĀ hasĀ aĀ smallĀ inklingĀ itĀ wouldnātĀ beĀ theĀ lastĀ timeĀ heĀ foundĀ himselfĀ enthralledĀ byĀ theĀ otherĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā iĀ promiseĀ youĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā iāllĀ haveĀ youĀ eatingĀ yourĀ wordsĀ inĀ noĀ timeĀ atĀ allĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā iādĀ giveĀ myselfĀ aĀ timeĀ deadlineĀ butĀ iĀ reallyĀ donātĀ thinkĀ iĀ needĀ oneĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā thatāsĀ howĀ confidentĀ iĀ amĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā heĀ boastsĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā selfĀ assuredĀ thatĀ heĀ couldĀ getĀ mostĀ peopleĀ toĀ enjoyĀ hisĀ companyĀ andĀ whyĀ wouldĀ teddyĀ beĀ anyĀ differentĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā theyĀ mightāveĀ hadĀ aĀ rockyĀ beginningĀ butĀ theĀ mainĀ partĀ ofĀ theirĀ storyĀ wasĀ justĀ startingĀ andĀ itĀ beganĀ withĀ changingĀ theĀ impressionĀ heādĀ givenĀ himĀ forĀ allĀ thisĀ timeĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā andĀ asĀ forĀ youĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā iĀ lookĀ forwardĀ toĀ yourĀ attemptsĀ ofĀ showingĀ meĀ justĀ howĀ funĀ youĀ canĀ beĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā playfulĀ smileĀ formsĀ easilyĀ asĀ heĀ shootsĀ aĀ glanceĀ overĀ toĀ theĀ otherĀ rightĀ beforeĀ heĀ dialsĀ theĀ phoneĀ Ā Ā Ā .
thereāsĀ aĀ comfortableĀ silenceĀ betweenĀ theĀ pairĀ asĀ hanseulĀ standsĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā alreadyĀ movingĀ toĀ pickĀ outĀ clothesĀ thatĀ wouldnātĀ makeĀ himĀ scratchĀ atĀ hisĀ skinĀ orĀ overlyĀ irritatedĀ beforeĀ heĀ turnsĀ backĀ roundĀ toĀ teddyĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā noĀ longerĀ immersedĀ inĀ findingĀ hisĀ favouriteĀ t-shirtĀ butĀ insteadĀ movedĀ byĀ theĀ confessionĀ heĀ throwsĀ outĀ thereĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā heĀ shouldāveĀ saidĀ somethingĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā acknowledgedĀ itĀ inĀ someĀ wayĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā perhapsĀ evenĀ offeredĀ someĀ formĀ ofĀ reassuranceĀ orĀ thanksĀ butĀ heĀ doesnātĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā optingĀ insteadĀ toĀ sayĀ theĀ firstĀ thingĀ thatĀ cameĀ toĀ mindĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā ouchĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā youāreĀ bruisingĀ myĀ egoĀ hereĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā immatureĀ andĀ jealousĀ menĀ arenātĀ yourĀ typeĀ iĀ presumeĀ Ā Ā Ā ?Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā itāsĀ aĀ jokingĀ jibeĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā notĀ atĀ allĀ intendedĀ toĀ beĀ takenĀ seriouslyĀ butĀ ratherĀ itĀ wasĀ hisĀ ownĀ sillyĀ littleĀ wayĀ ofĀ appreciatingĀ whatĀ teddyĀ hadĀ chosenĀ toĀ tellĀ himĀ inĀ theirĀ firstĀ realĀ conversationĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā andĀ watchingĀ himĀ growingĀ evenĀ furtherĀ flusteredĀ fromĀ hisĀ ownĀ stringĀ ofĀ wordsĀ leavesĀ hanseulĀ moreĀ amusedĀ thanĀ everĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā findingĀ theĀ wholeĀ sceneĀ unravellingĀ ratherĀ fuckingĀ adorable Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā youĀ sortĀ ofĀ spiralledĀ thereĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā huhĀ Ā Ā Ā ?Ā Ā Ā Ā itāsĀ cuteĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā heĀ addsĀ casuallyĀ beforeĀ turningĀ hisĀ focusĀ backĀ toĀ hisĀ clothesĀ andĀ eventuallyĀ findingĀ whatĀ heĀ wasĀ afterĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā heĀ throwsĀ theĀ itemsĀ onĀ theĀ bedĀ besidesĀ teddyĀ beforeĀ undoingĀ theĀ buttonsĀ onĀ hisĀ shirtĀ Ā Ā Ā ,Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā doĀ youĀ wantĀ toĀ changeĀ tooĀ Ā Ā Ā ?Ā Ā Ā Ā feelĀ freeĀ toĀ borrowĀ somethingĀ ifĀ youĀ wantĀ orĀ thereāsĀ aĀ robeĀ inĀ theĀ bathroomĀ Ā Ā Ā .Ā Ā Ā Ā entirelyĀ upĀ toĀ youĀ thoughĀ Ā Ā Ā ...Ā Ā Ā ā