and just like that, the icy animosity between the two had gradually began to thaw out into a mild temperature. not that teddy ever had much to hold against hanseul to begin with, aside from an unsettled and curious passing thought as to why they hadn’t put more effort into getting to know one another outside of their mutual friends. teddy liked being the center of attention, and it’s possible he felt threatened. “that’s true… and i wouldn’t say i find it the worst thing, but i’m definitely taking it as a challenge. which really, is only going to be inconvenient for you in the long run,” teddy tells him, an arched brow raising with a small smile, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.
it’s almost as time stands still and holds its’ breath for a brief moment after teddy asks that question, while the man himself begins to wonder if he’d already pushed too far too soon, applied pressure to the wrong jenga block to send their clumsily constructed friendship tower tumbling down. the reply has his pursed lips parting, high points of his cheeks coloring as he lets out a nervous laugh. he has the urge to do something like pat hanseul good-naturedly on the back, do something to dispel whatever weird tension has settled in around them but he’s worried it’ll have the opposite effect.
“yeah? you’d better have me eating my words, then. mr. joy to be around. i’ll eat mine as well if you come to decide that i really am boring and no fun,” he offers, head tilting to the side with an easygoing grin. when hanseul agrees, he makes a move to snatch the hotel’s room service menu to peruse through. teddy nods, fingers beginning to dial the number before the words register and he hangs the receiver on his shoulder, watching hanseul with a pensive look on his face. brow creased, he clears his throat.
“you know i like men, right?” awkward, but necessary, because he’s been operating under the assumption that hanseul doesn’t – teddy is closeted, because of his family, because he has to be. the confession is risky, another carelessly plucked jenga block, another reason for hanseul to subtract points off some imaginary abacus. “i’m not hitting on you.” yet. “i just thought it’d be good to avoid any more misunderstandings… and also in case i uh, unknowingly thwarted some attempt at courtship? not, not you courting me but.. i’ll stop talking,” teddy finishes, face red with embarrassment as he ties the phonecord around his neck in a half-assed attempt to asphyxiate himself.
◟ while it might’ve taken one painfully awkward confrontration to get to this point , hanseul felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders , as if all the negative energy and feelings he’d bottled up regarding teddy could finally be expelled and it was a fucking refreshing feeling to have . he felt younger , freer and more like himself than the nastier version he’d constantly presented to the other out of jealousy and spite . ❛ if you want to take it up as a challenge , who am i to stand in your way ? by all means go right ahead , ❜ he challenges , tone different to how it had been before and perhaps wanting to egg him on . if only to see how far he’d go to try and amuse him going forward . it’d definitely mean this wasn’t to be their last conversation .
the younger had to laugh — genuine laughter , the kind that could fill a room and should definitely be bottled up and kept to replay again . something he never thought he’d be capable of around teddy but apparently he was and he has a small inkling it wouldn’t be the last time he found himself enthralled by the other . ❛ i promise you , i’ll have you eating your words in no time at all . i’d give myself a time deadline but i really don’t think i need one . that’s how confident i am . ❜ he boasts , self assured that he could get most people to enjoy his company and why would teddy be any different . they might’ve had a rocky beginning but the main part of their story was just starting and it began with changing the impression he’d given him for all this time . ❛ and as for you , i look forward to your attempts of showing me just how fun you can be . ❜ playful smile forms easily as he shoots a glance over to the other right before he dials the phone .
there’s a comfortable silence between the pair as hanseul stands , already moving to pick out clothes that wouldn’t make him scratch at his skin or overly irritated before he turns back round to teddy . no longer immersed in finding his favourite t-shirt but instead moved by the confession he throws out there . he should’ve said something , acknowledged it in some way , perhaps even offered some form of reassurance or thanks but he doesn’t . opting instead to say the first thing that came to mind . ❛ ouch , you’re bruising my ego here . immature and jealous men aren’t your type i presume ? ❜ it’s a joking jibe , not at all intended to be taken seriously but rather it was his own silly little way of appreciating what teddy had chosen to tell him in their first real conversation . and watching him growing even further flustered from his own string of words leaves hanseul more amused than ever , finding the whole scene unravelling rather fucking adorable . ❛ you sort of spiralled there , huh ? it’s cute , ❜ he adds casually before turning his focus back to his clothes and eventually finding what he was after . he throws the items on the bed besides teddy before undoing the buttons on his shirt , ❛ do you want to change too ? feel free to borrow something if you want or there’s a robe in the bathroom . entirely up to you though ... ❜
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