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I write slash for KPOP. For fic recs, go to my other blog, datficrec. Read the rules before you request. PROMPTS: OPEN

[thepageofapillow]

Between His Fingers

Summary: It’s party time for the EXO frat, and there has been an insistence for party games Sehun doesn’t really care for. Especially when that asshole, Baekhyun, is involved. He just hopes nothing bad comes of this night.

Pairing: Sehun/Baekhyun

Word Count: 3.6K

Read on AO3!

A/N: Wanted to write some smut, and I’m working on some larger projects, so I pumped this lil guy out! I might make this longer, but who knows? Hope you like it! 

If Sehun could sum up his life in one word, he wouldn’t be able to, because it’s peer pressure, and that’s two words. The only reason he even joined the EXO frat is because of Chanyeol, at his drunken insistence at three in the morning. And yes, Sehun never lets him live down the video he has of Chanyeol crying big blubbering tears and scrunching up his chin and bottom lip into a pouty face. In fact, whenever Sehun’s down, he checks that video for a good laugh. But that’s beside the point. He’s always detested fraternities in general, thought they were a waste of time, and for the most part, he was kind of right. He had no idea of the brotherhood-like bond he’d make with the other members of the frat, and for that reason, he completely writes off his old opinion as ludicrous.

There’s only one problem. Of the twelve pledges he got inducted with, there’s one of those guys that just gets on his nerves without having to do much. Byun Baekhyun, aka the loudest, most obnoxious, egotistical person Sehun has ever met. He walks around like he owns EXO and it irks Sehun to the point where all he sees is red, and Chanyeol has to point out that his ears are burning with anger. Speaking of Chanyeol, Baekhyun likes to act like he owns him, too, when in reality, Chanyeol is Sehun’s best friend and he should lay off. It may be jealousy, but he’d never tell Baekhyun he feels that way. In fact, he’d rather not talk to Baekhyun at all if he had his way, but that guy has so many ways of worming into a conversation with Sehun that it’s scary.

It happens way too often. Especially at a party that Sehun is trying to be a wallflower at. He’s kind of required to attend these things to make his standings with the elder members a bit better since he accidentally drained the funds from the frat last month. He gets shivers just thinking about the look Eunhyuk gave him after he found out. Baekhyun sees this and saunters over, his holographic shirt buttoned only at the bottom so his whole chest is showing. His black jeans are way too tight and he walks around the place like he’s the sun. In reality, all that look does to Sehun is make him barf. The light is hitting his skin just right and making him glow, and that’s pissing Sehun off. So he scoffs, sips his way too much alcohol saturated drink and stares at the wallpaper. It doesn’t help.

“Sehunnie~” Baekhyun calls. He’s doing his best to get Sehun’s attention. Why does he even try?

“What?” Sehun gets out through gritted teeth. Baekhyun snickers and leans on Sehun’s right shoulder, causing him to shift his drink to his right hand. It’d be the end of the world if he spilled another drink on Baekhyun. He doesn’t want to get slapped in the face the third time this semester.

“You’re no fun. Why don’t you live a little? Actually finish the drink you got at the beginning of this party for once.” Baekhyun adjusts his hair so it frames his face just right. Jerk.

Sehun feigns a smile. “You know, you’re right. Maybe I’ll actually start having fun once you leave me alone.”

Baekhyun laughs. It’s genuine, but all it feels like to Sehun is mockery. “Sure, tiger, whatever you want. No one likes hanging around a Debby Downer anyways.” Baekhyun toasts his drink to Sehun and Sehun cringes, giving him the evil eye as he walks away.

Sehun shakes his head and takes another sip of his drink. Usually, he’s more lively, but tonight, all he wants to be doing is finishing his midterm paper due in two days so he doesn’t have to cram tomorrow. Sadly, that isn’t going to be the case tonight. He huffs, turning his attention over to the rest of the partygoers. He can’t see Chanyeol, but he can see Junmyeon and Yifan talking in the corner, occasionally giggling to one another like schoolchildren. They always rely on each other for the gossip around campus, and it looks like they’re engaging in one of those exchanges tonight.

Luhan looks like he’s chasing Minseok with a toilet paper roll, and Sehun isn’t super curious to know why, because he knows it’s gonna be a 35-minute story about something dumb. There’s a huge circle of people and in the center is the one and only Byun Baekhyun, laughing animatedly and slapping his knee. Sehun didn’t notice until now that Baekhyun’s jeans are ripped in the knees, and he wonders for a second if that’s deliberate or part of the design. Baekhyun always liked to tamper with his clothes to make them quote-unquote “trendier.”

Among the circle of people is most of the rest of the frat, accompanied by some of the girls of the GG sorority. They look like they’re formulating something sketchy, and to that, Sehun wrenches his eyes away and downs the rest of his cup. He has a feeling that something is gonna go down and he’s not gonna like it. He retreats to the kitchen and asks their resident amateur mixologist, Jongin, to whip him up something strong.

Jongin’s eyes widen. “What’s got you so excited, Sehun? You’re never usually a heavy drinker.”

Sehun’s eyebrows widen, and he leans against the countertop. “Well, I have a feeling I’m gonna need it tonight, so I’m gonna need that stat, Jongin.”

Jongin only nods, still shocked by what Sehun asked for. While he’s waiting, Sehun spots Chanyeol, and his smile grows bright. “Hey, dude!”

Chanyeol looks around and finds Sehun’s voice among the crowd. He comes into the kitchen and gives Sehun a half-bro hug. “Hey, dude! I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Look, a bunch of girls from GG wanna play a party game with us, and I wanted to invite you. I feel like it would be fun! We really haven’t played a party game since the Red Velvet girls were here!” Sehun rolls his eyes. He remembers that night. Strip poker. He never wants to see Zitao undress ever again.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea? If we’re playing the same game, remind Zitao to change his underwear. Really don’t wanna see him wearing a thong again, I saw too much of him last time.”

Chanyeol full-on belly laughs but continues pressing Sehun. “I promise you, dude, we’re not playing strip poker. Although, stripping may be involved, depending on the situation.”

Chanyeol winks, and Sehun has never been more confused in his life. “I have no idea what the fuck that means, and it only makes me more scared.”

Chanyeol pats Sehun on the shoulder and at the same time, Jongin hands him his drink, nodding once. “Your liquid courage, monsieur.”

“What’s in it?” Sehun looks down in the cup. It’s oddly murky.

“It’s strong, that’s all you need to know. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t willingly poison one of my boys!” Jongin laughs, and that only makes Sehun more uneasy.

“Please, Sehun? It won’t be any fun without you there.”

“He’s right, you know,” Jongin adds.

 The puppy dog eyes come out and Sehun caves. He chugs the cup, which was filled all the way to the brim and throws it away in the nearby trash can.

“Fine. Let’s go.” Sehun says, rolling his eyes. At this, Chanyeol jumps up and down and claps excitedly like a little girl.

“I’ll be there soon, guys!” Jongin calls out as Sehun and Chanyeol walk away to the large living room, where the couches have been pushed back and everyone is sitting criss-cross applesauce in the middle of the room. By the visual, Sehun could’ve sworn he was about to be read a storybook, but unfortunately, that image deteriorates the more he sees cups scattered around and a large wine bottle in the middle of the circle. Oh, no.

By some unfortunate spacing, he gets placed right next to Baekhyun, but at least he has Chanyeol to his left. Chanyeol pokes Sehun’s cheek lightly, a thing in their friendship they do to help the other person calm down from nerves. It works to a degree, and Sehun smiles at Chanyeol, gaining a dimple in return and poking him back.

Once Jongin joins, Taeyeon speaks up. “Okay, so, we’re going to play 7 minutes in heaven,” she pauses to pick up the bottle, “bottle edition! You’ll spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on, you have to spend 7 minutes in this closet with them. You can’t be let out until the 7 minutes are up, so don’t try and pick the lock from the inside.” She says the last part looking at Tiffany, and there’s some unspoken story between them that probably won’t be shared. Tiffany just rolls her eyes and laughs.

After explaining the objective of the game, Taeyeon goes first, and it lands on Baekhyun. Baekhyun looks giddy, and from the snippets of conversation he’s heard from the guy, he knows that Baekhyun has had a thing for Taeyeon since forever. They might even be dating, but Sehun can’t give two shits enough to find out for sure.

“Have fun, you two,” Sunny calls out, starting the timer. In between the time, all of the frat and sorority people present converse and start-up some general banter. Once the time is out, Taeyeon comes out with her hair all messed up and Baekhyun’s shirt completely unbuttoned. The smile doesn’t leave Baekhyun’s face for a while, but he has enough focus left to re-button his shirt up to where it was before. Sehun is feeling uncomfortable.

The next couple of rounds come out kind of uneventful, but still fun to see the result of; Jongdae spins and it lands on Yoona, Tiffany spins and it lands on Kyuhyun, and some others that Sehun forgot. However, it’s when Junmyeon spins and lands on Yifan that Sehun laughs because he knows all they’ll do there is gossip for seven minutes. When they come out, nothing is askew, and everyone sighs. Then, it’s time for Chanyeol to spin, and it lands on Kyungsoo, who looks the most disinterested in the game.

“Good luck bro,” Sehun says, patting his knee, and Chanyeol nods. Kyungsoo’s always been kind of quiet, with a gigantic case of resting bitch face, so he hopes by the time Chanyeol comes back out that he still has all his fingers and toes.

During the time that goes by, Baekhyun tries to talk to him. Sehun instantly tenses up the moment Baekhyun taps on his shoulder. “So, who you wanting to score with tonight? Yuri looks kind of hot,” Baekhyun helpfully supplies. Her crop top is cut low, and she looks like she’s ready to pass out from being tired or being drunk, Sehun doesn’t know. But if Sehun wants to be honest, he didn’t come to this party to hook-up with anyone, and whoever he spins this bottle on, he’s not going to do anything with them. So, instead of actually answering Baekhyun’s question, he quips back.

“I don’t know, but I know the last person I’d want to do anything with is you,” Sehun says this without even looking at Baekhyun, picking at his cuticles, trying to look very uninterested. Baekhyun cracks up and slaps his knee. Annoying.

“Well, don’t get too overzealous, buddy. You’re up next, and it’d be absolutely dreadful if it landed on me and you weren’t ready to get your world rocked.” Sehun turns around, looks Baekhyun in the eye, and watches him snicker, tongue trapped between his teeth. A white-hot flash of something courses through Sehun, and he shakes his head to regain his focus.

“Yeah, whatever. Even if I do end up in that room with you, there’s no way in hell I’d ever let you put your hands on me unless I’m fighting you.” 

Baekhyun keeps laughing, a sound like nails on a chalkboard to Sehun’s ears. It’s frustrating. “Don’t you think we’ve fought enough, Sehunnie? I think it’s time to kiss and make up.”

Sehun knows he’s only talking like this to get a rise out of Sehun, make him angry. However, it’s doing something else to his body and he’s not sure he wants to go through a crisis in the middle of a party right now. He ignores Baekhyun and doesn’t answer him, just hops into a conversation with Seohyun and Yixing to take his mind off of what was said. In the back of his mind, though, the image of Baekhyun snickering replays over and over like a mantra.

Chanyeol and Kyungsoo emerge from the closet, visibly unaffected, and the girls sigh very loudly. Taeyeon speaks up, louder than before, and probably with a little more drink in her system. “Sehun, you’re the last one to go. I need to see something interesting or I’m going to die from boredom!”

Sehun rolls his eyes as he spins the bottle. “Didn’t you already get enough excitement when you shoved your tongue down Baekhyun’s throat?”

Taeyeon sneers at Sehun, looking down at the bottle as it stops spinning. “I wouldn’t have spoken so soon, because it looks like that’s what you’re going to be doing.”

Sehun freezes, unwilling to accept what she says as truth. His blood runs cold when he looks down to see the bottle perfectly pointing at the one and only Byun Baekhyun, who looks like he just won the lottery. Sehun swears the universe is jinxing him, ruining his life. Three hours at a party is already enough of Baekhyun, he’s not sure he can take an enclosed space with Baekhyun in it for more than two minutes right now.

Regardless, he looks to Chanyeol for help. “If it makes you feel better, you can just stand there and ignore him. You don’t even have to do anything, Sehun.” Sehun nods, swallowing nervously, all protests dying in his throat as Taeyeon drags Sehun to his feet and leads him over to the closet.

Baekhyun saunters over willingly, being the first one inside. “Remember boys, don’t get too rowdy. Seven minutes: no more, no less.” Taeyeon snickers. “Have fun.” She punctuates her statement by shoving Sehun in and closing the door, locking it from the outside. It’s stuffy inside, and very warm. A constant influx of bodies has been in and out of the room, so it only makes sense.

The closet isn’t very spacious, and if Sehun took even a step forward, he’d be flush against Baekhyun. The very thought disgusts him. Baekhyun senses this and takes that step forward. Sehun can feel Baekhyun’s bare skin against the fabric of his shirt and he immediately is kicked into fight or flight, looking anywhere but Baekhyun.

This only gets worse when Baekhyun lifts Sehun’s chin with his index finger, initiating eye contact. Sehun’s breath almost hitches at the depth of Baekhyun’s pupils, at how sultry he looks up close. There’s a black choker hugging his neck, and his lips look incredibly inviting. He can’t even shake his thoughts away from the shock of even thinking that, because Baekhyun is speaking, and it’s so low and tender that Sehun might melt.

“So, are we doing anything? We don’t have to. I know you kind of hate me, but let go for once. I really did mean it when I said we should kiss and make up. Maybe a little more than that, if you’re willing. Just let me know.”

Baekhyun’s gaze is a silent invitation, his body heat magnetizing the space keeping Sehun’s face apart from the other’s. Sehun doesn’t know why he does it, maybe thinks it’s his drunkenness for a moment before his lips come on top of Baekhyun’s. Baekhyun immediately reciprocates the kiss, at first making it as soft as an innocent peck. Sehun senses he’s not going to go any farther without more consent, so as a reply to his unspoken decree, deepens the kiss, tastes blue raspberry vodka as his tongue collides with Baekhyun’s.

Baekhyun, in response to this, slides his right hand down to Sehun’s ass and squeezes. Sehun’s mouth separates from Baekhyun’s for a moment, groaning at the boldness of his companion’s actions. “Always wanted to touch, your ass is so gorgeous,” Baekhyun says, instantly latching his lips onto Sehun’s again. The room feels more stuffy and humid than before, evidenced by how sweaty Sehun feels.

They kiss for what seems like hours until Baekhyun pulls away, kissing down Sehun’s neck and nipping at sensitive spots, a quiet question waiting for approval. Sehun’s common sense and thoughts of the repercussions of this scenario are way at the back of his mind, so he nods fervently, allowing Baekhyun to suckle and leave as many marks as he pleases. Sehun feels ten times more turned on when Baekhyun finishes marking him and sees the look of dominance in his eyes, a declaration of showing off what is his.

Sehun plays with the charm on the end of Baekhyun’s choker and slides his hands down Baekhyun’s chest, unbuttoning the previously fixed buttons and feeling out his abs. “Taeyeon touch you like this?”

Baekhyun smirks, an insufferable smile that Sehun’s rational side of his brain waves off as gross. “Why, you jealous? Want this all to yourself?”

“I wouldn’t mind,” Sehun finds himself saying, feels the thrum of alcohol buzzing at the base of his skull. For some reason, Sehun doesn’t feel drunk on whatever Jongin gave him, but instead the intoxicating scent of Baekhyun, all blue raspberry vodka and cheap cologne.

Baekhyun looks like he got the biggest ego boost in the entire world, and licks his lips. “Right answer. For the record, I wouldn’t mind either. But since you were so good, I’ll make you feel good just this once.”

He drops to his knees, and Sehun thinks he’s about to have an aneurysm, because Baekhyun’s hand is unzipping his jeans, shoving them down and palming his cock, which is already almost fully hard at this point in time. Sehun mewls, panting hard and biting his lip. “Don’t tease me,” he manages to say.

Baekhyun mouths at the wet spot in Sehun’s boxers and shakes his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it, baby. It’s only fair that I show you what you’ve been missing out on.” With that, he yanks Sehun’s boxers down and licks the underside of Sehun’s dick. Sehun jerks forward in surprise, feeling the urge to cum like a thirteen-year-old, but he doesn’t. Instead, he threads his hand in Baekhyun’s hair, swallowing away his anxiety and willing himself not to make a complete fool of himself.

“Fine. Go for it,” Sehun replies, willing his voice not to crack in excitement.

With Sehun’s consent, Baekhyun lowers his mouth down on Sehun, engulfing the whole of his length and locking eyes as soon as he nosed Sehun’s pelvic area. Just the sight alone, could, again, make Sehun cum in an instant, but he refrains himself. Rides this out just to see where it goes. Sehun’s never gotten a blowjob before, and he’s not about to surrender just yet.

Baekhyun isn’t either, because he’s going about this with such ease. It makes Sehun think he’s done this many times before, and that makes something bad wriggle through his heart. He doesn’t get a chance to think about it too much before he feels Baekhyun bobbing up and down rather fast, catching Sehun off guard and tugging Baekhyun’s hair rather hard. In reply, Baekhyun moans loudly. Sehun tests this again, yanking his hair with the same amount of force, and Baekhyun moans louder than he did before. Does Baekhyun like pain?

Unfortunately, he doesn’t get to test this much more, because the moans from Baekhyun vibrate his whole shaft, and with Baekhyun keeping up at the speed he’s at, Sehun is clawing at Baekhyun’s scalp, so close. He signals Baekhyun by grounding his nails down into his scalp, and Baekhyun groans, drawn-out and would practically be like a yell if it weren’t for his mouth being occupied. With that, Sehun jerks forward, panting and moaning rather loud, shooting his load. Baekhyun doesn’t move away however and pops up from Sehun’s cock right after he milked it dry, swallowing all of his load.

Baekhyun tucks Sehun back into his boxers and re-dresses him. He stands back up, licking his lips of anything remaining of Sehun’s seed. Sehun watches him do this and dives in to capture those lips again, tasting less like sweet fruit and more like something salty. Not that he’s tasted cum before or anything.

The door abruptly opens, and Sehun at the sound of this, pries himself regretfully away from Baekhyun’s lips, looking like a deer in the headlights to the one and only Taeyeon. She looks shocked, hurt, even, and then her expression morphs into something sinister. “You guys are not gonna believe this shit!”

Sehun, not worrying about the moment, whispers low to Baekhyun, gesturing to his tight pants that sport a hard-on. “What about you?”

Baekhyun looks surprised that Sehun would ask, but looks at him with hooded eyes, whispering right back. “You know where I live. Can always swing by.” He bites Sehun’s earlobe delicately and walks away winking, re-buttoning his shirt for the second time tonight. The swagger in his step exudes satisfaction and confidence, the latter of the two that Sehun has always admired begrudgingly and secretly found irresistible.

As the whole crowd observes the marks littering Sehun’s neck, he finally feels the weight of the situation crashing down on him. What the fuck is he going to say to Chanyeol?

[thepageofapillow]

Tiger & Sunbeam

Summary: I’M PRETTY SURE MY SNAKE GOT LOSE IN YOUR APARTMENT. PLEASE DON’T PANIC. HE’S REALLY NICE. 

Pairing: Dongwoo/Sunggyu

Word Count: 1.6K

Read on AO3!

A/N: Heya! This was a prompt I found, but I took it too cute and too fluffy. Here you go, lol.

Downtime. May as well been Sunggyu’s middle name these days. He’s been busy with work, a “thriving” social life, and trivial adult things, but he’s always been able to sneak by a bit of relaxation into his schedule. Thank the heavens, truly, Sunggyu thinks, as he plops down onto his sofa, tucked into his fluffy robe and head covered with a towel turban after a warm, steamy shower. This is the life.

He picks up the remote on the coffee table in front of him and props his legs up. He presses a few buttons and turns on the tv, surfing through channels until something catches his eye. When it does, he lays lethargically with his head tipped back, one arm supporting his neck. He needs this. Definitely. Work was stressful this week and he’s grateful it’s Friday night. An office job can be such a hassle.

He shuts his eyes for a second just to absorb the moment. The only things that can be heard in his apartment are the sounds coming from the tv and the whir of electrical appliances running in the background, including his refrigerator and washing machine. He’ll pretend to forget about the massive load of work clothes he threw in there earlier.

It’s kind of ironic that Sunggyu is home on a Friday night. Usually, he’d get a call from Myungsoo, most likely with Sungyeol’s laughs in the background, asking him to go out. What a bother, Sunggyu thinks, as he recalls all the memories of those calls. But honestly, sometimes it’s the only constant in his life that keeps him sane. Work is the kind of constant Sunggyu is used to. Myungsoo and Sungyeol’s shenanigans always involve themselves but are always different. He needs a little variety and excitement in his life sometimes.

But sometimes, on the other hand, excitement is the least he needs. Especially when he’s stressed. And looking at a computer all day for nine hours isn’t exactly the best supplement to that either. So, he turned down Myungsoo and Sungyeol tonight. It’s been the first time in awhile, but he’s happy they understood. What kind of friends would they be if they didn’t, right?

Sunggyu sighs, but it’s a happy sigh. He’s happy he can take time out of his day to relax. Not many people get to. He’s grateful because he feels at peace with himself in this current moment. 

He opens his eyes and thinks for a moment. He needs a snack. Brainstorming for a bit, he remembers the packet of chips he’d been dying to try since he bought them the other day on Woohyun’s recommendation. They better be good. I could die for something spicy right now, and he promised they were.

Just as he is about to get up, he looks down at his fluffy slippers and spots a line. A thick line. And it’s slithering near his foot and trying to wrap itself around it. 

Sunggyu leaps off the couch and stumbles to the ground, frightened. He hides behind the couch and a flurry of thoughts fly through his mind. How the fuck did that get in here!? Who just has a snake in the apartments!? What the actual hell!? 

He looks towards his front door and eyes the gap under his front door. Yep, big enough to fit a snake. Goddamn apartment complex and their lack of maintenance. He huffs and puffs, immediately angry at the reptile currently slithering down the hallway and into Sunggyu’s bathroom because the gaps don’t just stop at the front door. No, all the doors are like this.

“Why, when I always get a chance to relax, does something go wrong!?” Sunggyu isn’t talking to anyone, but it’s as if he is because the response to his statement is rewarded with a frantic pound on his front door. He snaps his head to the door and narrows his eyes. This better be good. Because in this panicked state, he isn’t sure he can take much more of any future turmoil. 

He picks himself up off of the ground and practically stomps towards the door. He’ll have to remember to apologize to his neighbors in the morning or something. He opens the door and spots a man who is sweating profusely, with a container in his hands. He looks frantic and very worried.

“Hey, so, uh, I’m pretty sure my snake got loose in your apartment. Please don’t panic, though! He’s really nice!”

Sunggyu furrows his brow, leaning against the doorframe. He expects this to be a long conversation for some reason.

“Yeah, I know.”

The man swallows hard and bites his bottom lip. He’s cute.

“I’m sorry if he caused you any trouble. I didn’t mean to let him out, I was gone for one second! But I left the case open! I was just about to feed him!”

The man gestures to the container in his hand and Sunggyu raises a brow.

“What do snakes even eat? And why do you have a pet one?”

“Long story about why I have him, but, I feed him dead mice.”

Sunggyu recoils. “Don’t tell me you’re about to bring a dead mouse in a Tupperware container into my apartment.”

The man frantically shakes his head and waves his free hand. “No, no! I would never! I can leave it outside if you’d like, but do I have permission to come in and get him?”

Sunggyu swallows. Hard. This guy is really cute.

“Sure. Uh, last I saw, he went into my bathroom. And that’s the door on the right next to the painting of the ocean.”

The man smiles, and oh god, Sunggyu’s gone. It’s like a sunbeam of happy. 

“Thank you so much! I won’t be long, and I promise I’ll show you I got him before I leave, okay?” 

He makes the okay symbol with his hand and Sunggyu returns it, shuffling awkwardly to the couch to avoid being in the man’s way.

As he promised, he sets the container outside Sunggyu’s apartment and meanders his way into Sunggyu’s bathroom. 

“Gotcha!” 

It didn’t take very long at all. Sunggyu only heard the crinkle of his shower curtain being moved.

The man emerges from the bathroom, holding the white and orange snake gently, his palms and fingers open so the snake can weave in and around them. He thinks the snake is a nice accessory to the man.

Sunggyu gets up and walks with the man to the door. He feels saddened somehow that he wouldn’t see him again after this.

“I’ve never heard any complaints about a pet snake so far. You must be new.”

The man laughs and smiles again. Sunggyu’s insides are melting.

“Oh yeah, I just moved in. It’s been about a week, so I’m just getting settled in. But I think Spike’s at home already. He loves his new enclosure.”

“You named the snake Spike?”

The man shrugs. “Well, yeah. I wanted his name to be intimidating enough so that before you meet him, you’re kinda spooked. But when you see this little guy up close, you can’t help but think he’s adorable!”

Sunggyu laughs. “Yeah, we didn’t exactly get acquainted too much up close. He was too busy discovering treasures around the complex, and apparently, I was too important to pass up.”

The man smiles and chuckles fondly. “Guess Spike’s got a good eye. Because I definitely agree with him.” The man has a glint in his eye that Sunggyu definitely picks up on. 

Sunggyu blushes like a schoolgirl. He chews on the inside of his cheek.

“Well, Spike did inform me of a cutie that lives here now, so I guess I can’t be that mad at him. Just wish he’d tell me his owner’s name, though so I could get him settled in, finally.”

The man lets Spike slither in between his index and middle finger gap on his left hand and up his arm. He does this to free his right hand and present it to Sunggyu. “I’m Dongwoo. And it’s a pleasure to meet you and learn that you think I’m cute, because I think you’re cute. And I’d definitely like to take you up on that getting acquainted thing.”

Sunggyu grins and takes Dongwoo’s hand between his. “I’m Sunggyu. And I think I would really like to as soon as you’re free. Maybe I can learn all about how you got Spike and why you have him.”

Dongwoo raises his brow and digs in his pocket for his phone. “Put your number in and I’ll definitely tell you when I’m free. Sound good?”

Sunggyu tips his head down and laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. He takes out his own phone and trades with Dongwoo. “Sounds good to me.”

They exchange numbers and Dongwoo scrunches his nose up and laughs when he gets his own back. “Spike’s getting antsy. I think he really wants his dinner. But I’ll text you. Or you could text me. Either way.”

Sunggyu laughs once more. “You’re so nervous. It’s so cute. But yeah, I’ll text you since you seem to have your hands full, here.”

He walks Dongwoo up to his door and watches as Spike slithers between both of Dongwoo’s hands now. 

“Thanks for not freaking out and killing him.”

Sunggyu bursts into heavy laughter and reels back. “Now you gotta tell me that backstory, too.”

“One thing at a time, tiger. See you around.”

“See you.”

Sunggyu closes the door gently, turning around and pressing his back up against it. His heart swoons with the promise of a possible romance. 

Downtime. He didn’t know it could be that good.

[thepageofapillow]

i stare down the sun, i part every sea.

Summary: For years, Jaehwan has been a medical mystery. He’s had thousands of needles prick him and cotton swabs touch his tongue. The reason for this is because of one boy: Jung Taekwoon.

Pairing: Jaehwan/Taekwoon

Word Count: 7.6K

Also on AO3!

A/N: I wrote this completely at work because my computer decided to stop working lol. Inspiration just struck and I had to. But now the computer has returned from the dead and I can post this and edit it! Hope you enjoy!

Jaehwan has always took life with a grain of salt. Everyone says life is hard, that it’ll eventually get tough and unbearable. Jaehwan takes this ideal and flips it upside down a few times, making sure to have as much fun as possible, even when he is upset or going through hard times.

This idea he’s had since he was a child is still going strong. Though it’s dwindling as every year passes with no answer.

You see, Jaehwan is a medical mystery. Ever since he was a boy, he got sick often. In first grade, he got frequent hives and often had to go to the doctor to get them treated. They never went away. As the years went by, his symptoms gradually got better, but that only came in middle school. He still got sick often, but the hives were gone forever.

Eventually, it led him to just having occasional sneezes and coughing bits. He times them. They’re one every half an hour. And why is that?

Jaehwan has played detective on himself for the past 10 years and deduced that he is definitely allergic to something. Well, that’s what the Google searches he did at 3 AM told him.

All his symptoms lined up with one key event: meeting Jung Taekwoon. He was allergic to his friend.

Jaehwan knows it sounds crazy, and that’s exactly what his other friends said when they found out, but he has this gut feeling that it could be a definite possibility.

He recalls the first time he got symptoms. He was six.

The playground is so big these days since they added a new swingset and jungle gym. Jaehwan is ecstatic. He knows he’ll be able to impress the other kids with his climbing skills. He’s practically a monkey.

The one kid he wants to impress, though, looks uninterested. Come to think of it, Jaehwan doesn’t even think he knows this kid’s name. He really wants to be his friend.

He’s one of the quieter ones, and never speaks unless spoken to. Jaehwan likes that he’s kind of mysterious, and he wants to gather clues that he’s a really cool person. Maybe he should be a detective when he grows up!

He wanders over towards the boy swinging his legs back and forth on the blue bench. Jaehwan hates that he’s all alone every day. All the other kids avoid him. Maybe because his eyes are kind of scary and blank all the time. But Jaehwan can get past it. He’s positive this boy is really nice. He just has a good feeling about him.

The boy’s black hair flops in his face the same way Jaehwan’s does, and his eyes point at the ground as he attempts to kick the gravel over to the other side of the playground. Unfortunately, his feet dangle from the bench and he isn’t able to touch one pebble. Jaehwan knows the feeling. Hopefully he’ll get taller in the future.

Jaehwan plops next to him and gives him a smile that would rival the sun’s rays. The boy looks back at him, those feline eyes boring into Jaehwan’s own. His aura screams boredom and part anger, which Jaehwan doesn’t pick up.

“I hate seeing you here all alone every day. Don’t you want someone to play with?”

The boy shakes his head no, looking back down at the ground. Jaehwan thinks the gesture is the saddest thing he’s ever seen.

He scoots closer to the boy and keeps smiling as he grabs his hand. The boy’s eyes widen as he helplessly looks at Jaehwan, almost as if he’d been burned.

“I’m Jaehwan. I want to be your friend. Will you let me?”

The boy thinks it over for a while before sheepishly nodding. “My name is Taekwoon. I’m in third grade.”

Jaehwan opens his mouth, widening his smile. There are some missing teeth, leaving gaps in his mouth. He only has one adult tooth coming in. It’s one of the bottom ones. Jaehwan thinks he’ll look better if the whole tooth grew in already. It’s only a tiny white sliver at the bottom of his mouth.

“I’m in first! That’s so cool, I have an older kid as a friend! Yay!”

Taekwoon is about to reply when he looks down at the hand entwined with his own. He feels it grow hot all of a sudden. When he looks down, he sees Jaehwan’s skin erupt in flaming red, almost like someone dumped a bucket of paint on his arms. He immediately lets go of the boy, running to go grab a teacher.

Jaehwan doesn’t know what’s going on until the stinging starts and the tears roll down his cheeks.

Jaehwan recalls this went on until he got to third grade, and he was constantly tingling and hurting in class. The doctors did everything they could to find out the cause and try to treat it, but it was no use.

It wasn’t until Jaehwan had met Hakyeon that his symptoms started going away.

Right now, it’s reading time, and Jaehwan picked the perfect book to assert his dominance as The Smart One™. He’s picked out a fifth grade reading level book, and he’s currently studying the seventh page like his life depends on it. He totally knows what the word ‘clairsentience’ means. Yep. 100%.

He doesn’t notice a pair of blue and white sneakers stomp up to him until his book is being plucked from his hand and a head is thrust in his face. “Whatcha reading!!?!?” The face says.

Jaehwan stumbles backwards and is fearful. Turns out, it’s a kid from one of the upper grades. Jaehwan thinks he’s in fifth grade like Taekwoon. He hasn’t seen much of Taekwoon, lately. He never really does. But come to think of it, doesn’t he see Taekwoon with this kid!?

Jaehwan’s little eight year old heart swells with jealousy. How could Taekwoon ignore him and hang out with this kid!?

Said kid pops his gum as he studies which book Jaehwan was reading. He rolls his eyes.

“You do know this book was upside-down, right?”

Jaehwan scoffs, snatching the book out of the older boy’s hands. “Of course I did. I’m not stupid!”

The boy nods and pops his gum again. “Riiight,” he says sarcastically.

“Anyways, Taekwoon says he knows you, and you looked pretty pouty over here. Do you wanna hang out with us!? It’ll be so fun! We could be like the three musketeers!!”

“Three Musketeers?” Jaehwan asks as he tilts his head.

The older boy sighs. “Listen, I just really wanna be your friend since Taekwoon says you’re so nice. I’m Hakyeon. What’s your name?”

“I’m Jaehwan,” Jaehwan says, sticking out his hand for a handshake and smiling brightly.

Hakyeon returns the handshake, albeit hesitantly, along with a smile. He holds onto Jaehwan’s hand as he drags him over towards where Taekwoon is sitting. Jaehwan thinks it’s been years since he’s properly seen him up close. He changed his hair. It’s longer now, but it still flops in front as it did when they first met.

Jaehwan’s smile grows as he sits in the library chair in front of Taekwoon. The older boy is reading a book right side up. It’s called Holes.

The last thing Jaehwan sees before he passes out is Taekwoon looking up at him with interest.

———————————————————-

It turns out, that day was when he got too lightheaded from a bad cold.

From then on, doctors took this more seriously, and tried to get Jaehwan to think of things that could cause something like this. They start to think of it as an allergic reaction, and asked some pretty interesting questions on one of Jaehwan’s more crazy visits.

On the first day of fourth grade, Jaehwan is pretty sad. He just came back from a sleepover at Taekwoon’s house, and he made a new friend. Well, he was pretty much introduced to one of Taekwoon’s friends on accident because they had both made plans with the boy and he could not refuse both of them. His name is Wonsik and he’s a boy from the third grade. He’s the youngest in their friend group.

Jaehwan’s colds got more manageable and less frequent, but unfortunately, he was sick when he met Wonsik, and he was very worried he would get him sick. Also, he really wanted to hang out with him again. He was really funny. He also got Taekwoon to laugh for the first time since they’ve been friends!

But now, he’s sitting on this uncomfortable bed with weird paper on it, waiting for tons of test results to come back. They’d swabbed his mouth, stuck a wooden stick down his throat, checked his ears, squeezed the life out of his arm with the air pumping thingy, and the rest of the normal doctor things he got done to him, including the stethoscope thingy. Yeah, he knows what that is. His teacher talked about it last week.

But now, his actual doctor walks in instead of the really nice nurse lady. He hopes he can go home soon.

Instead of flipping through his papers like he usually does when he comes in, the doctor disregards the clipboard on the counter in favor of sitting in his spinny chair and rolling right over to Jaehwan. He gives him a warm smile.

“Say, Jaehwan, do you have any friends?”

At the mention of his friends, Jaehwan starts talking a mile a minute with a wide smile on his face. “Oh yeah, Mr. Doctor! I have a lot of friends, but I hang out with Hakyeon and Taekwoon most often! I made a new friend yesterday! Wanna hear about him?”

The doctor laughs and shakes his head. “That’s nice you’re making new friends, but can you tell me about Hakyeon and Taekwoon? What are they like?”

If it was even possible, Jaehwan lights up even more. He’s like a lightbulb that never goes out. “Hakyeon is a little mean, but he likes to tease everyone, so I’m kinda used to it. He’s really funny, though! Taekwoon is super nice, but he doesn’t like to show it. He doesn’t talk much, either. When I met him, he didn’t talk to anyone!”

The doctor raises his eyebrows, sending Jaehwan a signal with his eyes to keep going on. He doesn’t pick it up, so he asks instead. “When did you meet Taekwoon, Jaehwan?”

Jaehwan thinks about it, putting his index finger on his chin. “Mmmm….when I was in the first grade! Oh yeah! He was in third. I remember I really wanted to talk to him because he had no friends and he never played with anyone. I really wanted to be his friend back then. And I still do! He’s so nice!”

The doctor looks over at Jaehwan’s mother and purses his lips. He looks back to Jaehwan and nods, sending him another smile. “Well, does your friend have any pets?”

Jaehwan nods his head frantically. “Yeah, yeah, yeah! He has a really cute cat named Butterscotch! I love her!”

“I see. Well, thank you for waiting so patiently. If you go outside and see Nurse Soyeon, she’s got a surprise for you.”

“Oh boy, is it a sucker!?!??!”

“It might be,” the doctor promises with a tilt of his head. At this, Jaehwan hops off the bed and practically runs out the door, trying to locate his favorite nurse.

The doctor gets out of his chair, and looks straight at Jaehwan’s mother. “The thing we talked about might still be a possibility, but I’d go take him to an animal shelter and see if he has any reactions, so we can rule out the allergy possibility.”

Jaehwan’s mother nods and takes her and her son’s coat outside, where she finds him enthusiastically licking a lollipop like his life depended on it.

She smiles. 

Shortly after that visit, Jaehwan’s mother took him to the animal shelter, disguised as “just a visit to make sure you know about the animals in need.”

However, as time went on, the things the doctors were concerned about voicing went away. Eventually his colds got better as he started high school and now he was here, at the end of his sophomore year. That previous little quartet is now a sextet.

In Jaehwan’s freshman year, he met a friendly boy with dimples by the name of Hongbin. It’s safe to say he’s the most sane in their friend group and Jaehwan is lucky to have him. They have nice, intellectual conversations, something he and someone like Hakyeon wouldn’t be able to have.

Hakyeon’s grown into being the most self-absorbant twink that Jaehwan has ever seen. He bats his eyelashes at any cute guy that passes, and it’s only kind of disgusting and pathetic. Jaehwan rolls his eyes whenever something like that happened at lunch or in a class they shared, but that was never too often.

In the beginning of Jaehwan’s sophomore year, he met a timid freshman by the name of Han Sanghyuk. At the start, he was quite cute and took life with uncertainty, watching what he said in front of elders because he was the youngest in their friend group. Eventually, though, the sweet baby angel he started out as turned into a bad apple.

As he started to hang out with Hakyeon more, he became more fearless and violent. But maybe the violence was learned from Taekwoon. Those two are really the bad influential parents they’re made out to be.

They took on the parenting role early on because they’re same age friends. It all started back in the fifth grade, when Hakyeon offered his hand to Jaehwan back then. Ever since, the two have been inseperable best friends. Jaehwan’s only kind of jealous, because that’s really all he’s ever known since a young age, but since he’s matured, he realizes that’s all he wanted with Taekwoon.

Or so he thought.

Recently, it’s been really tough to think of Taekwoon as only a friend.

Jaehwan isn’t even sure when it started, but he’s been thinking about what it’d be like to be Taekwoon’s boyfriend.

He knows he sounds crazy, but isn’t there a time in every teenage boy’s life where he has to fawn over someone? For Jaehwan, who’s sworn he’s liked girls for forever, it’s kind of tough to imagine.

People say, well, at least girls say, there’s always a time where you question the platonic boundaries. He hears that from his friend Wendy all the time, who shockingly reminds him so much of Hakyeon for the fact that they both have fixations with candy in their mouths. Hakyeon with gum and Wendy with her cherry suckers.

He’s currently staring at the back of Taekwoon’s head in chemistry class, and Wendy is heard scoffing at him to his left.

The teacher is lecturing in the front, and Wendy pulls away from her love affair with her lollipop to whisper in Jaehwan’s ear. She can do so because of the tables. They’re lab partners.

“So, like, why don’t you just ask him out?”

Sneeze. Jaehwan wipes his nose. He’s used to it. “Even though we’re close, I can’t just go 'hey Taekwoon hyung, you’re really cute, do you wanna make out’?”

Wendy shrugs. “Worked for me.”

“That’s because your boyfriend is a loser, no offense.”

“Oppa, that’s mean. Junmyeon is nice!”

“And also too old for you,” Jaehwan says as he purses his lips. “What’s he doing, you think? Applying for some old man job?”

“Who, Junmyeon or your man?”

Wendy laughs and Jaehwan rolls his eyes. She /really/ reminds him of Hakyeon. They’d both be going at him if Hakyeon knew.

The thing is, Jaehwan is way too scared to tell any of his other friends. All of them are shady and not to be trusted. Especially Sanghyuk. He is the biggest blabbermouth there is. But he’d probably find some solace in Hongbin, maybe. But he can’t.

Because he’s scared of this too. Ever since he researched what he was going through all these years, he’d be afraid that he would actually die if he was around Taekwoon 24/7. Because he’s allergic somehow.

Jaehwan had no idea you could be allergic to a person, but it was possible and it’s crazy to him.

Since they’ve grown close, though, the crazy hives and colds have gone away. He usually sneezes in intervals and coughs a bit, and that’s it. Speaking of coughs, here they come. Always in sets of five. Everyone’s used to it by now.

Not Taekwoon. He always has this concerned look in his eye, like Jaehwan is made of glass and he could shatter each breath he took, each cough he let out.

It was crazy, really. He hated seeing Taekwoon worried about him.

But it also flattered him, because he never saw that look directed at anyone else. He felt special.

Whenever Sanghyuk was sick, the others would coo at him and bring him gifts and wait for him to get better like doting mothers. With Jaehwan, they were used to it, so they never took the time to treat him the same. Except for Taekwoon. Wonderful Taekwoon.

The same glint that was in that third grader’s eyes are still there to this day. When he saw Jaehwan break out in sweltering hives, he was really concerned and scared. He thought he wasn’t going to make it if he didn’t do something. It’s great that he hasn’t changed.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is his ability to articulate the feelings into words. Jaehwan has no idea what he’s thinking about 90% of the time, and when he does, it has nothing to do with him, but with cats, babies, or coffee. That boy sure does love his coffee. Especially lattes.

Jaehwan is a very affectionate and skinshippy person, and he especially wants to hear what the other is thinking. Maybe that’s why he feels the closest to Wonsik or Hongbin, because they take the time to do that. Sanghyuk is the Hulk and will actually kill you if you so much as look at him the wrong way these days, and once you start skinship with Hakyeon, you’ll never be able to stop. He’s the touchiest in the world.

But Taekwoon is a nice middle ground. He lets Jaehwan place playful touches every now and then, but he tells Jaehwan when it’s enough. They know the ins and outs of each other, almost like best friends. All six of them are best friends, but Jaehwan feels somewhat distant from Taekwoon more than the others.

He’s too scared to say anything, scared to shatter the illusion that everything is fine and that nothing needs to be fixed. It’s always been that way. Always joking, always teasing. He doesn’t want to be the one that ruins it.

But at the same time, he has to say something, right? Nothing’s gonna change if no one takes the initiative.

But Taekwoon really isn’t making it easy to stay away from him.

He’s just so ethereal, so beautiful, that Jaehwan cannot take his eyes off of him. Puberty has treated that boy right.

Back in the day, Taekwoon would never take striped shirts off. Now, he wouldn’t be caught dead with any of those things on.

He’s like a fashion god without even trying. When Jaehwan told him this, he blushed and fanned himself. He doesn’t take compliments too well. He’s getting better, though. Steadily.

He’s trying to express himself more, Jaehwan sees, but he laughs and smiles more, which Jaehwan is grateful for. Most of it is from his jokes, after all.

Taekwoon is gorgeous when he smiles. His whole face lights up and Jaehwan can never take his eyes away, or adopt the smile. It’s contagious.

Even when he laughs, Jaehwan has to laugh along too. He’s just such a pure human being, too selfless for his own good. Even though sometimes he gets taken advantage of, he likes to see the good in people.

Jaehwan doesn’t realize how much he’s fallen until he actually thinks about it just now.

It’s over. Game set.

Wendy looks over at Jaehwan as he fawns. The teacher is turned around again.

She pulls away from her candy confection and whispers to him again. “What are you waiting for, though? For him to make the first move?”

Jaehwan shakes his head, somber. “I don’t even know if he likes me back. Or likes dudes, for that matter.”

Wendy snickers, taking a lick before speaking again. Her tongue is always permanently stained red. “You’re kidding, right? He always hangs around Hakyeon. They’re practically glued at the hip. He’s gotta be at least a little gay up in that noggin of his.”

Jaehwan laughs at this, which gains the teacher’s attention. He gives Jaehwan a look and Jaehwan smiles sheepishly back at the teacher. With a shake of his head, he continues. But the whole class looked at Jaehwan when the teacher stopped. Including Taekwoon. Jaehwan would have been safe if he hadn’t met his eyes and furiously blushed, looking down like Taekwoon looks down after he’s been complimented.

Taekwoon turns around and Wendy coos and snickers. “Aww, you embarrassed baby,” she says, pinching his cheek. Jaehwan gives her a blank stare, but it’s of pure annoyance via eye communication. He briefly wonders if Taekwoon can communicate like he and Wendy do. Oh god, did he notice!?

Jaehwan doesn’t speak for a good ten minutes. He’s just thinking. He blurts out something in the quietest voice he can manage whilst leaning over towards his younger friend.

“I’m also afraid that if I kiss him, I’ll die. You know, like how when kids eat peanuts and then their throat closes up? What if I kiss him and my throat closes up!?”

Wendy laughs again. It’s almost like Jaehwan is a stand up comedian by this point to her, but he’s actually genuinely worried.

“You know that story about the kid that always wanted to try a Reese’s peanut butter cup, so he ate it and then stabbed himself with an epipen? I mean, you don’t have a Taekwoon epipen, but what I’m trying to say is that you gotta take a risk. If he’s gotta take you to the hospital for a liplock, so be it. If not, be happy. And be even happier if he returns it,” she ends with a smirk.

Jaehwan purses his lips and looks on to the rest of the lesson with sadness in his heart. He had no idea what to say to Wendy’s story, because he exactly knows the feeling. But there’s always that what if, and that is what Jaehwan is deathly afraid of.

At the lunch table, it seems like drama is ensuing when Jaehwan walks up with his tray of lukewarm rice and chicken. Hakyeon is yelling at Sanghyuk as he picks at his cubicle of green beans on his tray. Jaehwan walks up slowly and sits in the middle, next to Hongbin and Taekwoon.

“What the fuck is going on?” Jaehwan half-whispers to Hongbin. It’s really loud in the lunchroom, so that’s about as quiet as Jaehwan is gonna get.

Hongbin rolls his eyes at his question. “It’s really stupid. Something about Hakyeon being able to romance everyone at the table. Sanghyuk doesn’t believe it.”

“Shit, I wouldn’t either.” Jaehwan stops whispering and spoons a mouthful of chicken and rice into his mouth as he thrusts his fist in the air. “I’m rooting for you, Sanghyuk! Fighting!”

Sanghyuk sends Jaehwan a wink and a thumbs up, and Hakyeon scoffs dramatically.

“I cannot believe this. The blatant betrayal. Have I not raised you kids right!?!?”

Taekwoon ignores them. He’s used to the quarrelling. Jaehwan doesn’t know how he does it; that is, eating his peas in silence. Jaehwan could never do this. He’s too much of a loudmouth. A contrast to Taekwoon’s nature. Add that to the list of cons to confessing.

“What’s this about you being the god of flirting or something?”

Wonsik spits out his milk and Hakyeon scolds him with his eyes. Seems like other people can have communication via eyes, too.

“Yeah, I could make anyone at this table fall in love with me, no problem.”

“Okay hotshot, try me,” Jaehwan challenges. Taekwoon flashes him a look. Jaehwan doesn’t know how to decipher it.

Jaehwan thinks it won’t be a problem to deny Hakyeon’s advances at all. After all, he’s had his eyes on only one person these days.

“Fine, I will,” Hakyeon declares, kicking Hongbin out of his spot and switching to sit over by Sanghyuk. He doesn’t seem angry. Looks like Hongbin and Sanghyuk are having fun together these days. They mimic Hakyeon and Taekwoon.

When Hakyeon takes his seat, he tries to do The Eyes™ on Jaehwan, but Jaehwan knows where he’s seen this look before. He’s gotten it, but he’s also watched it being done from the sidelines. More often than not, he’s trying to do this look at Taekwoon, to get him to crack. Taekwoon never fell for it. Jaehwan never understood why, since they seemed the most compatible back in the day until now.

Jaehwan chuckles. It has no affect on him.

“Did it make your,” pause for dramatic effect and cheesy head turn, “heart flutter?” Bats of the eyelashes. These are Hakyeon’s oldest tricks in the book.

“As if. You can’t make someone fall in love with you if they’re already in love with someone else, Hakyeon hyung.”

And then Jaehwan realizes what he said, and he and Wonsik cover their mouths in sync. He word vomits his way into denying it once Hakyeon starts smirking.

“N-No, that’s not what I meant, I-”

“So who is it, Jaehwan!? It’s me, isn’t it. I can just tell when people have the hots for me.” Dramatic hair flip.

“As if. You’re too twink for me, honey,” Jaehwan jokes, mimicking Hakyeon’s hand gestures. The eldest boy flares his nostrils in annoyance.

Hakyeon puts his hand under his chin and stares at Jaehwan. Jaehwan feels like this is an interrogation. Is this what it feels like to be questioned when you’ve stabbed eleven people!!?

“Fine. Is it someone at this table, then?” The whole circle exchanges glances. Taekwoon has been interested since the whole Hakyeon and Hongbin switcheroo. His head hasn’t gone down since.

Jaehwan burns bright red. He can’t escape the natural bodily response of knowing something the others don’t. Hakyeon picks up on it even before Jaehwan says no.

“Knew it. Go ahead, confess. One of us might like you, whoever it is. Wanna play guessing game?”

“I’d rather not,” Jaehwan says. It’s probably the most nervous his voice has ever come across at. He feels like he’s trapped in a box and he can’t escape unless he confesses. He wasn’t even ready for this.

Just then, someone slams down their utensils, and by a glance, Jaehwan can see it’s Taekwoon. He’s alarmed.

“If he doesn’t want to tell you, don’t force him. Okay? Sometimes you can be so annoying…” Taekwoon then picks back up his spork and picks at the beef piling on his plate. Sanghyuk sneaks his spork in there to steal the pieces since Taekwoon doesn’t seem to want to eat at all. Looks like he doesn’t mind.

Jaehwan is flattered that Taekwoon stood up for him. His heart skips a beat when they meet eyes after Hakyeon is at a loss for words. Hakyeon is never at a loss for words.

Hakyeon and Hongbin silently communicate to switch back, and the atmosphere is tense. Jaehwan doesn’t want it to be this way. This was the very thing he was afraid of.

“I’m sorry,” he blurts out. The whole group looks up at him.

“That’s what Hakyeon should say, not you,” Taekwoon says. He sounds angry, and when he says it, he looks at the black haired boy out of the corner of his eye with a mean glint.

Hakyeon sighs. “I feel bad. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that, but y'know, I just want you to be happy.”

Jaehwan nods. “I’m just not ready,” he peeps before sneezing twice and coughing about seven times. He gets that look from Taekwoon again.

The rest of the lunch goes smoothly, and by smoothly, it means Sanghyuk and Hakyeon getting back into their argument, Jaehwan and Wonsik chatting about whatever with Hongbin chipping in, and Taekwoon staying silent. But Taekwoon’s eyes never left Jaehwan the rest of the lunch. 

After school, Jaehwan plans on plopping on his couch with his one true love, a bag of cheese puffs, before he is unexpectedly grabbed by someone and dragged around to a secluded spot. Jaehwan knows this grip. It’s Taekwoon.

“Yes, hyung? What is it? Something important?”

Taekwoon nods. “I guess you could say that. Do you want to hang out after school, like a sleepover or something like old times?”

Funny, Jaehwan hasn’t slept over Taekwoon’s house since the Fiasco of Seventh Grade when Jaehwan, Hakyeon and Wonsik almost not-so accidentally concocted something they called The Gloop and spilled it all over the basement’s carpets. Jaehwan bets it still stinks like perfume and vomit. He’s gonna check it out when he gets there.

At the same time, though, it’s the first time he’s slept over whilst having these weird feelings. He started to question the border between wanting to touch one of your best friends innocently and not-so innocently on the brink of eighth grade. Wow. Hard to believe it’s been three years already, almost. Not that Jaehwan’s counting the exact day. Not at all.

Jaehwan adjusts his backpack strap nervously, unfortunately a nervous habit Taekwoon knows about. What doesn’t this kid know about Jaehwan, though?

“Yeah, is Hakyeon and the others coming? Why did your mom even say yes, honestly? Does she not remember what we did last time!?” Jaehwan doubles over in laughter, but Taekwoon does not laugh along.

“No, they’re not. Hakyeon said he was busy, but I don’t know what for. Wonsik is locking himself up again, and Hongbin and Sanghyuk are going out. So it’s just going to be you and me.”

That’s probably the most Jaehwan’s heard Taekwoon talk all week. It’s crazy, though. Him and Taekwoon. Alone. In the back of Jaehwan’s mind, it’s screaming in turmoil and excitement all at once.

“Sounds good,” he says, despite his growing tendril of nervousness wedging itself in his stomach. “I’ll come by around 4 ish if that’s okay with you?”

Taekwoon nods and waves as he walks away. Oh, brother. This is gonna be fun. And not the good kind. 

Later on, when Taekwoon’s house looms in front of Jaehwan’s very eyes, he really understands the meaning of the phrase 'their legs were like jelly.’ Because that’s how he felt. Like one step closer would make him collapse onto a plate and be served at family gatherings and stuck in fridges. Made him cringe on the outside just thinking about it.

He gulps quite dramatically, even though there’s no one there to see. He’s long gone being scared of Taekwoon’s family and breaking everything in the house, because Taekwoon’s family is super nice and they know his clumsiness is part of the 'ol Lee Jaehwan package when it comes to getting to know him.

He steps up to the porch and knocks, even though Taekwoon has told him many times he can just walk in. Usually it’s Mrs. Jung that opens the door, but this time, it’s just Taekwoon himself, in the same long-sleeved shirt he saw him in at school today. Only he’s wearing shorts. Why are his legs so long and graceful!?

“I never thought 4 ish would mean almost 5 o'clock, Jaehwan.”

His tone is stern, but also playful sounding. It makes Jaehwan’s stomach fill with butterflies as he shrugs, walking inside and plopping his backpack on the couch.

“I thought I could get some last minute studying here, if you don’t mind?” Jaehwan asks, whilst turning around to gauge Taekwoon’s expression.

“Sure, it’s fine. But I do want to talk to you for a little bit when you’re done. Just let me know,” Taekwoon says, backing away from the door after he locked it.

Jaehwan flashed him a smile and watched the boy retreat to the kitchen to go and find Butterscotch and drinks for the both of them.

He finally exhales loudly and stretches. This whole crush thing puts stress on him. Maybe he should go see a massage therapist to work out these kinks in his back.

Really, though, Jaehwan? Studying???? 

He really did have to study, but usually he would study with Hongbin, because when it came to the math test that was next week, he was the only saving grace to go to. Science was Sanghyuk’s game, and that test was this Friday, so he prioritized that as well. But since both of them have gone onto the magic fairy land that is hanging out together, they’ve left Jaehwan in the dust with the most gorgeous male he’s ever seen. (Not an exaggeration, all of Jaehwan’s previous crushes have been lackluster compared to Taekwoon in the looks and personality departments)

Nevertheless, he’s never studied with Taekwoon before, and it looks like the older boy wasn’t planning on doing so as he waggled his finger at Butterscotch. That cat is pretty old. Jaehwan wonders when she’ll kick the bucket, but she never does.

Taekwoon then unexpectedly scares Jaehwan out of his nail-biting thinking episode with a bottle of water. He waves it in Jaehwan’s face. “Want it?”

“Yeah,” Jaehwan says, taking the water gingerly from Taekwoon’s hand. Their fingers touch together. Is it just Jaehwan, or were there some spooky tingly sensations going on there!?

Jaehwan pulls his hand away quick and opens the cap like he’s been dehydrated for a day or two and gulps down as much water as he can before the word vomit threatens to come out.

As soon as he stops drinking, he sneezes. Coughs a few times. Always on the agenda, never going away. Always a reminder that pursuing whatever kind of infatuation this is, is totally a bad idea.

Taekwoon usually sits next to Jaehwan, a few inches apart, but this time, he sits really close, almost sufficatingly so. It doesn’t bother Jaehwan, but it does make him wonder what’s on Taekwoon’s mind.

“Can we just talk now? I have everything in my head and I don’t want to forget.”

Jaehwan nods slowly, putting his water down on the ground. “W-What are we talking about, exactly?”

Taekwoon brushes away the bangs from his face and raises his eyebrows. He puffs out, rattling the fringe once more. It looks like he’s….nervous? Anxious? Something in between?

“I want to talk about what happened at lunch today. About Hakyeon, I’m sorry he asked you those invasive questions. It wasn’t the time or place to do something like that. I’ll hit him more than usual if you want,” Taekwoon says with a shrug.

Jaehwan waves his hands rapidly in protest. “No, no, it was okay! I….was just really nervous being put on the spot. Just….confess? Just like that? In front of all of your closest friends, so you can be made fun of, or even worse, be rejected.”

Taekwoon laughs then, and it’s the sweetest sound Jaehwan has heard today. It kind of lifts his spirits and makes him feel less nervous and jittery around the other.

“I doubt whoever the person is, they won’t reject you. That’s another part of what I wanted to talk about. If you don’t mind me asking, do you like any of the younger ones? Like Hongbin or Sanghyuk?”

Jaehwan makes a gagging sound and laughs. “Oh my god, no way! Hongbin’s a really good friend, I would never. Also, Sanghyuk is a brat. No way I’d date that.”

Taekwoon sighs in relief. “Good. Because they both like each other, and I’m planning on setting them up.” A small smile appears on his face.

Jaehwan’s eyes nearly pop out of his skull. Hongbin and Sanghyuk? Angel and Devil? Math Nerd and Science Nerd? No way in hell.

“You’re joking, aren’t you!?”

Taekwoon shakes his head. “Nope. They do like each other and I want them to be happy. I made them go out with each other alone today to just….I don’t know. Kindle some sort of romantic moment. Get the fire going.”

“I swear I’ve never heard you talk so much in my entire life,” Jaehwan says incredulously. “And I’ve pretty much known you for most of my life!”

Taekwoon laughs at that too, and Jaehwan’s brain is screeching. He’s really glad that people cannot pick up on that at all.

“I’ve never been good with words, but I rehearsed what I was gonna say. I thought a lot about the main topic, but this was just one hour’s worth of thinking.”

“Yes, son, father is proud of you,” Jaehwan jokes, patting Taekwoon’s head. Taekwoon’s laugh grows louder and that smile that makes his nose crinkle up appears. It’s so cute.

“Anyway….this part is kind of serious. And I’m only asking because I’m kind of selfish.”

Jaehwan’s jaw drops to the floor. “You? Selfish? That’s really funny, Taekwoon hyung. You got me going there for a second…”

In reality, that statement was partly anxiety and partly word vomit. It formed such a nervous sounding jumble of words. He’s not even sure if Taekwoon understood what he was trying to say since he stumbled through the whole sentence.

“But it is selfish….” Taekwoon sighs. He thinks something over in his head, but then decides to get on with the conversation.

He looks dead into Jaehwan’s eyes and says something in the most sinister tone of voice in the world. “You don’t like Wonsik, do you?”

Jaehwan isn’t sure how he’s supposed to take a question like that, but it sounds laced with…jealousy? Oh, god, does Taekwoon like Wonsik!? Is that why he’s asking!? Or….no way, he couldn’t be jealous if Jaehwan liked Wonsik, could he? Crap, what should I do!? Jaehwan thinks.

Instead of answering, Jaehwan is silent, thinking that the dead skin in between the nail of his thumb in the cuticle is more interesting than a boy sitting in front of him who could easily be a human Adonis.

“Please answer me, Jaehwan. This is really important to me,” Taekwoon pleads. He looks up and stares into Taekwoon’s eyes. He’s really worried for some reason. Jaehwan’s always known how to read Taekwoon’s emotions….it’s strange.

Sneeze. Coughs. An answer.

“N-No….I don’t…” Not exactly the confession Jaehwan was planning to make, but now it’s out there. Yup. He’s gonna be flayed alive by the rest of the group if Taekwoon tells them.

Taekwoon sighs, a little happy noise coming out. Wait, what does that mean!?

“Thank god. I probably should have said something, then, shouldn’t I?”

“What do you mean, Taekwoon hyung?” Sneeze.

Taekwoon hides his face with his forearm. He’s burning red. Whatever he’s about to say must be very hard for him.

“I really, really like you, Jaehwan. Like a lot. I’m just….I can barely talk around all five of you at once. It took me a year to come talk to you about this alone..”

It was Jaehwan’s turn to burn scarlet and be embarrassed. He looks down at the rip in his kneecap from his jeans. He wonders if he should get new ones. He thinks they’re fashionable, though.

“I….uh….I really like you a lot too. For a long time. Since seventh grade,” Jaehwan says.

Taekwoon’s eyes widen. “Shit, now I feel bad. I started liking you last year….thinking about it a year before.”

Jaehwan laughs then, timidly taking Taekwoon’s hand and smiling widely. “It doesn’t matter when. I’m just….I’m just so happy you like me back, that’s all…”

Taekwoon laughs, running his thumb over the top of Jaehwan’s hand. The touch is calming and everything Jaehwan needed to calm his nerves right now. He feels grateful that the universe aligned the stars for him.

“You’re so cute,” Taekwoon peeps. It’s barely above a whisper, but Jaehwan can still hear it. He laughs and thunks his forehead against Taekwoon’s.

“I don’t know why, but my heart feels like it’s a bird high in the sky. You know, soaring! Like…everything is complete and everything feels right. Oh, I know! I feel like a completed puzzle. The feeling when you finish it!”

“Me too,” Taekwoon says. He looks up into Jaehwan’s eyes, and the younger follows suit. Immediately, all the nerves and fear come rushing back into Jaehwan’s bloodstream like pouring molten lead. It’s suffocating. “Can I kiss you?”

Jaehwan’s eyes widen and he pulls away from every touch. He shakes his head furiously. Taekwoon’s eyebrows furrow together. He looks….hurt.

“Why not? You said you liked me, right? Or was I hearing things?”

“I do, it’s just….I think I’m allergic to you.”

Taekwoon is blank-faced one moment, and then the next, he’s laughing so hard he’s clutching his stomach, crying, and having a hard time breathing. He stops after a sneeze comes from Jaehwan and he snaps his head up.

“You’ve had that sneeze since….high school or something. And before that, the colds, and the hives….”

Taekwoon thinks for a moment, thinks of all the moments he’s had to be Jaehwan’s knight in shining armor when he got sick or painted red. He then drags Jaehwan over to the computer and types things in so fast Jaehwan can’t even keep up.

He clicks on several articles and reads them faster than any human Jaehwan has encountered. Maybe Taekwoon’s an alien. Maybe this is all a prank and Ashton Kutcher will pop out from behind Mrs. Jung’s armchair and yell insults at Jaehwan. Yeah, or maybe he’s dreaming!

“SS, or Soulmate Syndrome,” Taekwoon reads from the computer, “happens when the infected meets their soulmate. They develop symptoms regarding their state of relationship at the time. It starts with hives when they first meet, and further advances positively as both of them grow closer platonically and romantically. If the uninfected soulmate pushes the other away forever, they will die. But symptoms will go away forever if the uninfected soulmate kisses the infected. This is passed on through genetics.”

That is the longest paragraph Taekwoon has ever read, and they’ve been in classes together plenty of times. And Jaehwan thinks it’s bullshit.

“You….really don’t think I have that, do you?”

“It’s worth a shot to find out, isn’t it? That we’re soulmates? Like we’re the puzzle analogy?”

Crap. Jaehwan did say that.

Nevertheless, Jaehwan is still scared out of his mind. He tries to back away like the girl in the horror movie who found out her husband turned into a sickly creature, and only gets so far as the back wall before he’s trapped. Caged in by the beautiful monster.

Taekwoon boxes Jaehwan in with both of his arms, and Jaehwan tries to duck under, but comes up unsuccessful when Taekwoon locks his wrists against the wall with his hands. He then leans in, their lips connecting almost perfectly, like they were molded to be together.

Tingles spread across Jaehwan’s entire body as he melts into the kiss, Taekwoon letting go of his wrists. Jaehwan immediately wraps his arms around Taekwoon’s neck and tries to memorize the feeling of Taekwoon’s lips against his own like death is upon him soon. It feels so right. Why didn’t he do this sooner?

What does he do? He doesn’t have an epipen.

Taekwoon pulls away. “If you do die, I’ll be your Romeo and go with you,” Taekwoon says earnestly, resting his forehead against Jaehwan’s. Every touch brings an electric feeling from head to toe, and it makes Jaehwan feel invincible.

Jaehwan doesn’t die a dramatic death. He stays planted on the ground along with Taekwoon, his arms still around the other’s neck and smiling brightly, almost as if he were the Sun.

“Crazy to think that your lips were the poison I drank, supposedly. Juliet here, feels fine. I can’t believe it. Y-You’re my soulmate.”

“I think I’ve always felt it. When you approached me that day. I knew you were really special. Couldn’t expect this, though,” Taekwoon says, chuckling and pecking the corner of Jaehwan’s mouth.

“God, what is Hakyeon gonna think?” Taekwoon then says, with panic evident in his voice.

“Who cares?” Jaehwan daringly asks, dipping in for another kiss. “We’re soulmates. Fuck him.”

EPILOGUE

Hakyeon spits his juice all over the table at lunchtime. Good thing Taekwoon isn’t sitting across from him today. Most of it lands on a pissed off Sanghyuk.

“You wanna run that by me again!?”

“We’re soulmates, and also, we’re dating,” Jaehwan chirps up, smiling ear to ear and poking Taekwoon’s cheek. The older boy seems annoyed at the gesture, but allows Jaehwan to do it anyways.

Hakyeon sighs dramatically, placing his index and middle fingers on his temples. “This is so disgraceful. You and Taekwoon, Hongbin and Sanghyuk, all dating! Now I’m just left with Wonsik! What a pitiful fate...” Cue the fake tears.

Wonsik’s eyes widen and he points his chicken finger covered in barbecue sauce at the eldest boy. “Hey, being single is fun, too, Hakyeon hyung. Once you’re done fucking everything that moves, you’ll find the right guy!”

Hakyeon pulls away from his fake crying spell and cradles Wonsik’s free hand in between his own. “Y-You really think so, Wonsik?”

Wonsik looks at Hakyeon, then at their hands. “I know so. But that right guy is not gonna be me. I’m married to my music.”

Hakyeon scoffs, ripping away his hand and turning his head away. “Yeah, okay, Mozart.”

The rest of the group laughs and Jaehwan sticks his tongue out at Hakyeon. Taekwoon kisses his cheek.

Life sure is good.

[thepageofapillow]

Putting Disaster In Charge

Summary: JJ Project is away for a comeback and Jackbam have responsibilites. Taken from the starter meme, “Do you think it’s cooked all the way?”

Pairing: Jackson/Bambam

Word Count: 2.1K

Also on AO3!

A/N: This was the last fic I fully finished while I was in high school. Also, I wrote this before I knew JJ Project was having a comeback. I must be fuckin psychic.

Sometimes when Jaebum is away, it gets hectic; that just means Jinyoung has to serve as the Authorative Adult™ for the day and everything is fine.

It’s never okay when both Jinyoung and Jaebum are gone.

In the GOT7 dorm, there’s a hierarchy of sorts. It wasn’t established right away, but no one knows how it got this way. Jinyoung and Jaebum instantly took on the role of mom and dad of the dorm. Partly because they were perfectly suited for it, but most of the reason was because they were practically married already.

So when they’re both gone, it’s up to the next couple in charge to take on those roles. So it’s safe for Jackson to say that the rest of the members are totally fucked.

Because his boyfriend is Bambam, the loudest memelord nuisance of the century. Jackson finds those qualities to be quite charming and endearing, but apparently the rest of the dorm doesn’t think so. Mark mocks him as he pecks Bambam on the cheek, making gurgling noises as he pretends to stick his finger down his throat.

“Dare I say it, but you two are being way grosser than Jinyoung and Jaebum,” Mark sneers, cranking up the volume on his phone. Jackson has no idea what he’s listening to, but the beat is thumping and slightly vibrating the couch they’re all sitting at. Yugyeom is in the corner with Youngjae, no doubt flirting with him, and Mark is chilling on the couch with the loudest couple in the dorm.

“Good. We’re way cuter than them anyways, right?”

Jackson turns to his boyfriend as he slings his arm harshly around the boy’s shoulders. Bambam chuckles obnoxiously. Jackson thinks it’s barf-inducing and cute all at the same time. 

“Right. At least I had the guts to ask Jackson out, unlike a certain someone.” Bambam emphasizes his point by snapping his head over to Yugyeom and Youngjae. They both stay silent and burn bright red on the cheeks.

“Riiight. So, what are we having for dinner anyways? I’m hungry as fuck.”

Jackson’s eyes widen as he gently removes his arm around Bambam’s side. He gets up dramatically and points towards the kitchen. “There’s food in there, go make it yourself!!”

“See, I would, but I have no idea how long to cook chicken for. That’s what Jinyoung planned to make tonight. And since one of you is mom for today, you can make it. Maybe it’ll be good experience in the future so you don’t burn your house down.”

Jackson turns pink as he daydreams of living together with Bambam, maybe in a cottage with cute flowers and a hammock in the backyard hanging from a large oak tree, that is, until Mark leans on his knees enough for his hand to waver in Jackson’s face. He snaps several times, snapping Jackson out of his fantasy. He’s a little sad it’s gone.

“Go. You know damn well we’re not gonna let Yugyeom go cook, and Youngjae looks like he would faceplant onto the stove if he even tried.” At that statement, Jackson looks over at Youngjae, who is mid-conversation with Yugyeom, his eyes drooping and shallow breaths threatening to even out soon. He’d probably fall asleep sitting up again. Hopefully he doesn’t drool on Yugyeom this time.

“Sure thing, hyung,” Bambam says with a pleasant face. Bambam gets up, patting Jackson’s shoulders and steering him into the kitchen. He leans into Jackson’s side and whispers, “We’re fucking screwed. I really hope you know how to cook chicken.”

Jackson looks helplessly at his boyfriend as he steers him to the counter. A recipe is posted to the fridge, Jinyoung’s attempt to be somewhat helpful to whoever the kitchen duty fell upon. In the corner at the end of the recipe reads, good luck, losers, in bigger print than the rest of it. Jackson sighs, moving the magnet off of the piece of paper and attempting to decode Jinyoung’s writing like he was reading hieroglyphics. He sighs audibly, thunking his head against the fridge door.

“It isn’t totally hopeless,” Bambam replies, smiling at his boyfriend who was currently trying to become one with the fridge. He plucks the paper from Jackson’s fingers and reads it. “I know what a lot of these spices are, so I can season pretty well, probably.” Bambam leans up against the counter, tilting his head so he can get a better look at Jackson. “Just cook the chicken. I can handle the rest, probably.”

“Stop saying probably! You’re making me more nervous than I probably need to be!” Jackson stamps his feet, creating the illusion that he’s about to throw an adult tantrum. However, Bambam sees through the charade and he laughs. He pokes Jackson’s cheek and turns around, opening cabinets to obtain the right pan for the right job. When he turns back around, Jackson is still pouting.

Bambam opens the fridge and gestures toward the plate on the top shelf. “Chicken isn’t gonna walk out of the fridge on its own, you know.” Bambam flashes a blinding smile and Jackson sighs, taking it and unraveling the plastic wrap settled on top of it. He figures he should probably be cleanly about this since he’s feeding several mouths. 

He washes his hands in the sink next to his boyfriend. He flashes him a mock smile, but it quickly turns into a real one when Bambam presses a wad of suds to the tip of Jackson’s nose. For the first time since they decided to embark on this cooking adventure, Jackson laughs. And it’s loud. He and Bambam fight with soap suds until Mark gets annoyed.

“I don’t think washing your hands for ten hours is gonna make kimchi jjigae!”

Jackson sticks his tongue out at Mark and dries his hand on the towel near the sink. He sincerely wishes that they could use pork belly for the kimchi jjigae, but Jaebum pulled out his disgusting aegyo and convinced Jinyoung to get chicken instead for tonight’s meal. Jackson fondly remembers throwing up a little in his mouth at the scene. He feels it now as he stares at the chicken breast, knife now in hand. He gulps and holds one side as he attempts to cut away the skin and fat, per the request of one troublesome maknae. He wishes he could strangle the kid and get away with it.

On the instructions now, it says to cube them. Next to Jackson, Bambam is steaming vegetables in a large pot. He’s pulled out Jinyoung’s signature baby blue apron, and it usually looks bad. But on Bambam, it makes him look strangely hot. Jackson gulps again.

He looks away and finishes cubing up all the chicken that was piled on the plate. He wipes at the nonexistent sweat on his brow, satisfied with his hard work. He huffs as he sets the knife down carefully. He goes to retrieve the rice to start steaming it, in the process stealing a piece of kimchi from the giant container. It’s almost empty.

Bambam smacks Jackson on the arm as he gets out the rice cooker, and Jackson smiles. He starts to walk away when Bambam yanks him back by the collar of his shirt. “Don’t think you’re getting away too easy. Remember, you have to cook that,” Bambam says, pointing towards the cutting board full of chicken with his wooden spoon. This situation is the definition of domesticity and Jackson drools at the sight.

He slumps his shoulders, lifting up the board and pulling out a pan. He greases it and waits for it to heat up, watching Bambam stir the broth with all the vegetables. He wonders if they should add tofu to it when he hears the sizzle of the pan beckon him. He throws the chicken in, moving it around with a spoon that matches Bambam’s. He has no idea when this should be done.

He peers at it after a good five minutes, tapping Bambam on the shoulder. “Does this look cooked all the way?”

Bambam leans over and peers at it as well, narrowing his eyes. “Uh, you could cut it and see if it is.”

Jackson shrugs, taking a cube of meat out of the pan and twisting his spoon to cut through it. “What color is it supposed to be?”

“White, I think.”

Jackson picks up the cut piece of chicken and closely examines it. “It’s still a little pink in the middle. Should I wait a bit longer or is this considered rare?”

Bambam laughs, putting the top back on the pot he is manning. “I think that might be dangerous, so I’d wait.”

Jackson nods, putting the piece he cut back into the pan. He stirs it around some more and waits a few more minutes to check it. When he cuts through it this time, it’s white all the way through. “All done, I think!”

Bambam nods, taking the end of the pan and dumping the chicken into the pot. Last time Jackson checked, there was only vegetables in the pan, but now all the proper seasonings and pre-made broth have been added, and it smells divine. Jackson opens a drawer closest to the rice cooker and attempts to dip a spoon in to taste, but Bambam smacks his arm. “No tasting until the kids can taste it.”

Jackson puffs out his bottom lip, shuffling from side to side and whining. “But you’ve tasted it like twenty times!”

“That, my friend, is because I am the chef of this creation. I need to make sure it is perfect,” Bambam enunciates, pulling off an abysmal French accent.

“First of all, I’m not your friend, we’re dating. Second of all, the accent was horrible. third of all, this is so unfair!!!” He stomps his feet again and crosses his arms. Bambam just laughs at him.

“Okay, piss baby. I know you won’t ever leave me alone if you don’t get a taste, so here.” Bambam dips his spoon into the broth, putting his hand underneath so none of it drips on the floor. He blows on it a little before thrusting it in front of Jackson’s face, and the older boy’s eyes light up as he sips from it.

“Ooh, it’s really good!!” He does a little shimmy and smiles with all of his teeth. “Ah, I’m so excited!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now go over there and get the rice out, dearest wife.”

Jackson rolls his eyes and reaches the rice cooker just as it beeps.  He also pulls out several pre-made side dishes out of the fridge and heats them accordingly. Bambam had also put him to the task of setting the table. When he goes out of the kitchen, he finds an appalling sight before him. Mark has since abandoned the couch and is blasting music in his shared room with Youngjae. 

But that isn’t the worst part. Jackson is gonna need to bleach his eyes for the rest of his pathetic life.

Yugyeom is straddling Youngjae, and they’re making out. Jackson makes a noise that one would make before hurling, and they pull away from each other. 

“Look, I’m happy for you and all, but please don’t play tonsil hockey right before we eat. I don’t want to lose my fucking appetite.”

“Sorry, hyung,” Yugyeom shyly repies. How he can go from dominating sly maknae to shy maknae is beyond Jackson’s comprehension, so he ignores it. Bambam brings over the giant pot of kimchi jjigae and all those worries fade away.

“Time for dinner, kids!!”

“I’m coming, mom,” Mark yells from down the hall, turning off the music. Jackson scoffs and gets started eating already, piling rice into his bowl and licking his lips. He’s so excited.

“You’re going to enjoy this, my children. Dad whipped it all up. But listen, I cooked the chicken!!” 

Youngjae laughs, picking up his chopsticks and sitting next to Yugyeom.

“Enough of this, please, it’s disgusting. I didn’t think I’d be able to see another couple as married as Jinyoung and Jaebum are, but here you two are, being even more skin crawlingly gross as before,” Mark explains, popping a piece of kimchi between his lips.

Bambam laughs, pouring some of the broth on his rice. “What can we say, we’re the fill-in for your regularly scheduled program!”

Just then, Jinyoung walks in, hand in hand with Jaebum.

“Wow, Jaebum hyung! Fancy seeing you here!” Jackson exclaims sarcastically.

“Seems I came at the right time,” Jinyoung says, rubbing his hands together enthusiastically. “How’d they do, kids?”

“It’s really good, Jinyoung hyung! Come try some!” Youngjae says, covering his mouth with his hand.

“Well, if you insist,” Jinyoung says. He and Jaebum sit down. He pats Jackson on the shoulder and smiles. “Thanks for not fucking it up.”

Jackson furrows his brows, about to yell at Jinyoung, but Bambam stops him with a hand on his arm. Bambam shakes his head and motions towards Jackson’s rice bowl expectantly.

Jackson sighs. He could never say no to Bambam. So, he and the rest of the gang continue eating.

The pan is empty by the time the night is over.

[thepageofapillow]

you better run, run, run, cause here he comes.

Summary: All Hongbin wanted to do was drink so much he forgot his own name, but he ended up with a whole lot more.

Pairing: Hongbin/Sanghyuk

Word Count: 2.8K

Also on AO3!

A/N: This is based 100% on a dream can you believe it???? This is also really sloppy so I’m sorr y. Also they’re American for some reason I guess. Also if you can get the song reference in the title lmk because if you do you’re a real MVP. 

When it comes to Hongbin’s character, you would usually know where he would hang out at his college. Most often he’d be in the library studying and getting assignments done early, and if he wasn’t there, he’d be in his dorm, dicking around on his computer. You would never guess a photography major like him would be at a frat party that started at 11PM. 

Hongbin would have went to bed by that time, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. Hey, midterms were stressing him the fuck out, and all he wanted to do was to drink so much he forgot his own name. Right now, the mission is about 50% complete. He figures he’d just have to down two more of these red solo cups and he’ll be good. He ambles around, spotting a huge crowd of sorority girls whooping and cheering as loud as the bass of the speakers, if not louder. 

Two guys were in the center of the circle kissing before one backed away and declared the other the winner. The girls laughed and then looked around with their piercing gazes. Hongbin guessed this was a game of some kind, probably something he’d know the name of by his occasional all-nighter delirium searches on Google. One girl with obscenely choppy blonde hair pulls at his bicep, pointing at him obnoxiously. “How about this guy!?!??” 

The girls cheer and she pushes him into the circle, while a guy from another part of the crowd pushes in the one person Hongbin really didn’t want to see tonight. Han Sanghyuk, confused and obviously drunker than anyone else Hongbin has seen the entire night, is pushed into the circle as well. The same guy who coaxed Sanghyuk in is whispering in Hongbin’s ear now. “You’re playing gay chicken, you know what that is?”

Unfortunately Hongbin’s eyes widen at the guy’s proclamation, while Sanghyuk looks completely oblivious on the other side. Hongbin knows what this game is, and Han Sanghyuk is the farthest person that he’d ever consider playing it with. A giggle escapes Sanghyuk’s lips as he tries not to fall over. Man, this kid is hammered. Hongbin didn’t even think freshmen were invited to these kinds of parties, especially ones with such a nerdy major like physics. 

But gay chicken is something that Hongbin has never played, well, simply because it’s usually the straight guys that end up laughing and pulling away and saying, ‘Okay I quit, you win, you win, ew!’ It’s not usually commonplace for a gay guy to be tied up in this weird straight game. But maybe it’s because someone here knows that Hongbin wants to eliminate Han Sanghyuk from the Earth so he can never see his stupid glasses glint in the hallway or his impolite speech patterns in math class. 

However, those glasses are nowhere to be found as the guy grabs Hongbin’s arm, shouting over to the crowd as he pushes Hongbin somewhere new. “I got a feeling this one will be interesting, girls! They’ll be in a room!” Hongbin’s eyebrows furrow as he tries to fight the muscly guy holding him by the arms and pushing him up the stairs. Both boys get thrown into a bedroom with a gigantic king size bed. The guy dusts off his hands and places them on his hips. “Condoms and lube are in the top drawer on the right. Have fun and let me know who comes first!” 

Hongbin is about to hyperventilate when he hears this, but he makes sure to back out at the last opportunity possible. “Wait!” 

The guy stills, sighing in annoyance and quirking a brow. “Yeah, what’s up?”

“I’m not doing this!” Hongbin stamps his feet like a child throwing a temper tantrum and crosses his arms. There is no way in hell he would be doing anything remotely sexual with the impolite little shithead sitting on the bed with faraway eyes. 

“500 bucks. Take it, or leave it. All we hear about is your disgust for the kid, so make up.”

So they did know. Hongbin was in a dilemma. He wanted to hate Sanghyuk for the rest of his life, detest him so much that his ego would be reduced to the size of a pea. But on the other hand, he was so broke right now. His bank account was crying. He needed new equipment for his new course next semester and his parents were dry too. With that realization, he had to do it. He could even back out after one kiss, just to make them satisfied! 

“Fine. But money up front,” Hongbin says, making his hand produce a come hither motion. The guy steps up with a sigh, placing 5 crisp bills in his hand and smiling like he knew something Hongbin didn’t. Now his digust was replaced by nerves for some reason.

“Bye bye, kids! Have fun, use protection!” 

And with that, the door slams shut, being locked from the outside with the jangle of a key. How convenient, Hongbin thinks. But after that thought, his sass is evaporated when he makes eye contact with the one being he would rather throw out a window than kiss. Sanghyuk chuckles cockily as he tilts his head.

“I’m gonna win, you know,” he tosses out, fixing his hair with his left hand. Hongbin is shocked by the steady speech and seemingly sober movements. He narrows his eyes.

“You’re not even drunk, are you?”

At this, Sanghyuk chuckles again, checking the dirt under his fingernails. “Completely 100 percent sober, my dude. Did you know that I’m a really good actor? Maybe I should have majored in that instead.” 

Hongbin growls at him. This kid, he’s so annoying. He’s about to speak up before Sanghyuk starts talking again. Yet another bad trait of his, Hongbin thinks.

“Think about it, though. I kiss you once and you back out. That’s just in your nature. Even after that handout that you just got, you’d back out in no time. I’m not stupid, I know about your petty little mind-feud with me. It hurts me, really,” Sanghyuk says, mock-sadness coating his voice.

Hongbin scoffs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Oh yeah, whatever. I’m only here for the money.”

Sanghyuk gets closer, grasping the right side of Hongbin’s neck and whipping him down to Sanghyuk’s level. “You a prostitute, now? How much for a good time?” Sanghyuk whispers, cackling seductively into Hongbin’s ear. 

Hongbin whips back and retches in mock-disgust as Sanghyuk keeps laughing. “What the fuck are you on about?”

“Tell you what, pretty boy,” Sanghyuk starts, crossing his legs as he gets himself comfortable on the bed again, “if you lose, consider that 500 dollars you just got, gone. You know how fast I am. You’ll be dazed enough to forget those bills on the counter and I can just snatch ‘em up, just like that.” For emphasis, Sanghyuk snaps his fingers and smirks. Hongbin’s convinced this kid is an incarnation of Satan himself. 

“But, if you win, I’ll leave you alone. Forever. Unless,” Sanghyuk ambles closer again, dancing his fingers on the skin on Hongbin’s neck once more. “you want strings attached.”

Hongbin removes Sanghyuk’s hand calmly from his neck and shuts his eyes, exhaling in annoyance. Having Sanghyuk ignore him forever sounded amazing right about now. No more constant jabs at his photography, or snarky remarks about how bad he did on the math test, or tripping him in the middle of the hallway. He’d be free from Freshman Hell™. Forever.

“Deal,” he says, without even thinking of the event to come. Sanghyuk smirks, pulling Hongbin down on the bed by the cuff of his shirt. He lands on the pillow underneath Sanghyuk. The younger boy licks his lips. This is war, Hongbin thinks.

He realizes it’s  war even more so when Sanghyuk dips down to capture Hongbin’s lips between his own. At first the air is tangible, easily decipherable emotions ebbing off the two as they started their game of gay chicken, just nipping at each other’s lips like curious schoolchildren. 

Sanghyuk’s lips are soft and pillowy, even when he’s pressing them insistently against Hongbin’s mouth like he’s low on something he needs to survive. Hongbin doesn’t understand it, but kisses back anyways. He doesn’t feel super disgusted by the kiss, because he thinks all kisses are nice, so he really isn’t feeling the need to pull back like he originally thought. That, coupled with the fact that he might lose 500 dollars and might let Sanghyuk go away from him forever is amazing for his motivation. 

What started out as a simple press of lips stopped abruptly as Sanghyuk pulled away. Hongbin thought he won for a second before Sanghyuk dove in again, licking a seam across Hongbin’s lips and biting harshly on the bottom one when Hongbin wouldn’t open up. When Hongbin did open his mouth in shock, Sanghyuk’s tongue dipped inside and invaded Hongbin’s mouth with certainty. Kisses grew more frantic and deep as both of the boys’ breathing picked up speed. 

Hongbin feels groans bubble up in his throat and he tries his best to suppress them. Sanghyuk catches on and harshly rips Hongbin’s arms from his sides and pins them above his head by the wrists. He pulls away from the kiss and Hongbin is scared by the insistent need to whine from the loss of Sanghyuk’s lips on his own. “I want to hear everything. Don’t push it down,” Sanghyuk commands. Hongbin, for some reason, can’t open his mouth to retort, so he finds himself nodding. 

Sanghyuk smirks and Hongbin’s insides melt like a chocolate bar in scorching heat. What the fuck is happening? Sanghyuk dives in for another kiss as he moves one hand away from Hongbin’s wrists to slide underneath his shirt. His fingers ghost over the planes of Hongbin’s abs and moves one hand to one nipple, tweaking it. Hongbin moans like a pornstar then and Sanghyuk chuckles into Hongbin’s mouth. 

“Fuck, I can’t wait to hear you beg,” Sanghyuk says, mouthing at Hongbin’s jaw and leaving light kisses there. Hongbin breathes heavily as his stomach churns with anticipation and another foreign feeling he’s not used to. He honestly can’t believe he’s liking this, and right now he’s blaming it on the fact that he’s gay and any boy can make him feel like this. But something nagging in the back of his mind is contesting that idea.

Sanghyuk nibbles on Hongbin’s neck, prompting the older to try and weave a hand into Sanghyuk’s hair. The boy lets him, and Hongbin tries his best not to pull too hard as Sanghyuk marks him harshly all over his neck. Hongbin bites his lip as Sanghyuk tugs at Hongbin’s shirt. “Off,” he commands, and Hongbin lifts it up with ease and lays back down eagerly, much to his own chagrin. It’s like two sides of Hongbin’s subconscious are battling it out as Sanghyuk kisses down Hongbin’s abdomen, and it’s kind of crazy.

Sanghyuk licks in the dips between Hongbin’s abs and Hongbin tugs harshly at Sanghyuk’s hair. Sanghyuk removes Hongbin’s hand and grinds down roughly on Hongbin as a punishment. “We play by my rules, pretty boy,” Sanghyuk says as he unbuttons Hongbin’s jeans, pulling them off quickly and leaving the boy only in his boxers. Sanghyuk removes his own shirt and pants and stays in the same state. Only now does Hongbin realize that they’re both hard and that this could very well go in the direction the guy earlier was pointing to.

But at the same time, Hongbin finds himself feeling that he doesn’t mind. That he would definitely like Sanghyuk to fuck him into next week. He really hasn’t gotten laid in an awfully long time, and he’s trying desperately to make that the reason to justify his extreme want for Sanghyuk, but it’s crumbling as soon as Sanghyuk’s hand dips down into his boxers and palms his erection ever so teasingly. 

Fuck it, he decides. I’m attracted to Sanghyuk.

He lets himself go, then, letting every sound threatening to escape go and his resolve with it. Sanghyuk, relishing in those sounds, does not let up on the tentative teasing stroke of his hand and light feather touches on Hongbin’s inner thigh. It’s almost as if he’s coaxing something out of the older boy, and Hongbin’s pride is dangling on the tiniest little thread.

“Please,” Hongbin peeps, almost inaudible over the sound of their heavy breathing. Sanghyuk hears it, though, and smirks.

“Might want to be careful, Binnie. Whoever comes first loses,” Sanghyuk whispers, taking off Hongbin’s boxers ever so slowly along with his own. Hongbin can hear his heartbeat quicken ever so slightly at the pet name, and keeps it together as best as he can as Sanghyuk digs in the drawer to unearth the two things that were established early on. Sanghyuk opens up the cap on the lube and drenches his fingers in them as he begins to prep Hongbin.

Hongbin had no idea he could become even more whiny until two fingers abruptly entered him. Usually it started with one, but Hongbin could tell Sanghyuk was getting as impatient as Hongbin was. He thrusts them quickly in and out, scissoring them and opening Hongbin up as quickly as he can. He tries to find the magic spot and succeeds rather quickly, making Hongbin louder than he ever was before. He reckons the whole house can hear them. Sweet.

Sanghyuk adds another finger and opens Hongbin up a little more until it reduces the older boy to a squirming mess, toes curling in and all. He pulls them out, and then grabs a condom and rips it open with his teeth. “You ready?” Sanghyuk asks, rolling it onto his dick as he positions himself. Hongbin gulps and finds himself nodding. He was so close to orgasm when Sanghyuk was fingering him that he needs to hold on a bit longer. He wants to experience it with the younger.

Sanghyuk kneels and lifts Hongbin’s legs up onto his shoulders as he slides in, making sure to give the boy time to adjust as he keeps his hold on the boy’s legs. When Hongbin gives the okay, Sanghyuk begins to shove himself roughly into Hongbin. Hongbin’s moans become broken and more frequent as Sanghyuk hits him right in the prostate like he was meant for it. Sanghyuk dips down to kiss Hongbin, and it isn’t as rough as before. It’s tender and loving, and Hongbin can hear his heart beat in his eardrums and his stomach churn with that same weird feeling. 

He holds on for as long as he can, but eventually he finds himself nearing the edge as Sanghyuk pulls out, soiling the condom. He comes then, spurting thick ropes of cum on his belly as Sanghyuk ties up the condom. For the most part, he came untouched. He hasn’t orgasmed that hard in his life.

“You won,” Sanghyuk says. Hongbin is exhausted and a sheen of sweat covers his body. He just wants to cuddle with Sanghyuk and sleep for eternity. He then realizes the conditions of the game and turns to Sanghyuk, who is now next to him on the pillows and shutting his eyes. He panics. He realizes he’d like to do this more, and also cuddle with Sanghyuk.

“You were right. About the whole strings thing. I mean, I can put all the petty bullshit behind me if you can.” Hongbin is nervous. What if this was just a meaningless fuck for Sanghyuk? What if Hongbin is reading the situation wrong and he was the only one who felt like that last kiss meant something? What if he’s just a big dumb idiot!?

Sanghyuk opens one eye and laughs. “You fucker. I wanted to be the one to confess first.” 

Hongbin furrows his brow, lifting himself from the laying position and looking at Sanghyuk incredulously. “What do you mean, confess first?”

Sanghyuk laughs again, shaking his head. He has has arm propped up on the pillow. “I like you, moron. I thought it was obvious from all the teasing, but you interpreted it as this weird grudge I had against you. You’re cute and I like your personality and your photography. There. Happy?”

Hongbin feels betrayed by his own brain. “This whole fucking time I could have been having great sex like that and you didn’t even tell me!?!?”

Sanghyuk can’t hold in his laughter anymore and he bursts out, holding his stomach and kicking the covers at the end of the bed. “I can’t breathe, oh my god, this is too hilarious!!” 

Hongbin hits him on the shoulder harshly and Sanghyuk’s laughter dies down. He runs a hand through his hair and smoulders. “So, I was that good?” 

“Shut the fuck up and cuddle with me until I pass out,” Hongbin says, laying down again. “I don’t have time for this talk yet.”

“Okay, boyfriend, whatever you say. You’re the little spoon though.” Sanghyuk says with a wink. Hongbin groans and rolls over.

“You’re a dick.”

“I know.”

[thepageofapillow]

Would You Like Fries With That?

Summary: Ken and Hongbin go to McDonald’s for the first time together. They get kicked out in twenty minutes.

Pairing: Ken/Hongbin

Word Count: 1.1K

Read on AO3!

A/N: I’M BACK FROM THE DEAD CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???? But I got this idea randomly out of the blue mixed with a lil prompt, so I hope you enjoy it!

Hongbin’s idea of romance is quite cliché, but he likes to think it’s the way to go. He would love to go on romantic walks in the park, hand in hand and maybe have a picnic next to the pond where the little ducks swim. He would like to come home to rose petals scattered on the floor leading to a big surprise. He would even adore even getting a bouquet of flowers, for Christ’s sake.

Hongbin would take anything over Jaehwan’s idea of romance in a flash, but he’s not that blessed.

And that’s how he finds himself hand in hand with his boyfriend at a McDonald’s for the first time. Granted, Hongbin has been here plenty of times before back in the ‘ol college days, but after that, he promised to never step foot in another one. But when your boyfriend tells you to close your eyes and that your date night would be a secret rendezvous, you expect something whimsical and fun, not a trip to the nearest fast food restaurant.

They stand in line and Hongbin gazes at the menu. It seems like it’s gone even more downhill to Diabetesburg than Hongbin had realized. Jaehwan eyes the menu like he’s just won millions of dollars on a lottery ticket and Hongbin doesn’t get it. Any other fast food place would be so many steps in front of this place, yet Jaehwan gets excited over it. 

It doesn’t make sense.

Eventually it’s their turn to order, and Jaehwan steps up to the counter enthusastically. “I want two Big Macs, no onions, lots of sauce, a large fry, a large drink, and an Oreo McFlurry. What do you want, babe?” 

Hongbin chuckles nervously. “I’ll just have a quarter pounder with cheese. Thanks.” 

Jaehwan puffs out his lip in mock disappointment. The look kind of reminds Hongbin of a kicked puppy. 

The cashier tells Jaehwan the total and he pays for it. Since they’re planning on eating inside, they go stand over to the left so other people can order, waiting for their tray. Meanwhile, Jaehwan snatches up the drink cup and peddles over towards the self-serve beverage station, loading up on ice and picking the drink choice. Hongbin swears that if it’s root beer again, he’s going to strangle someone.

Jaehwan waddles back over, giving Hongbin the drink with an expectant smile. Thankfully, it isn’t root beer. It’s Sprite. To make his boyfriend happy, he sips some more and remarks that it’s a good drink choice. Jaehwan probably knew Hongbin would kill him if it did end up being root beer.

Their order comes a few minutes later, and the tray is packed. Half of it is Jaehwan’s things, and before Hongbin can graciously take the tray and find a table for the both of them, Jaehwan has done it in a fraction of a second, gliding over to the nearest booth and beckoning Hongbin over. It’s freaky.

“You’re so strange,” Hongbin says, starting to unwrap his burger. They went a little overboard on the lettuce, but when do they don’t? He discards the extra as he watches Jaehwan giddily bite into his burger, the sauce dripping out of the other end. It’s really disgusting.

This is why Hongbin never likes to go with Jaehwan to fast food restaurants. He is civilized in every other restaurant, but when it comes to places like these, he thinks it’s the optimal time to be the grossest human being in history. Hongbin isn’t sure why he dates him when he’s like this.

Right on cue, Jaehwan takes a thick bunch of fries and dunks them into his McFlurry. He pops them into his mouth as if he hasn’t committed a crime that is in Hongbin’s list of turn-offs. It’s right underneath spitting on the sidewalks in public. 

Hongbin cringes, putting down his burger and groaning at his boyfriend’s eating habits. “You’re the most disgusting human being I have ever seen. Why do I even date you?” 

Jaehwan halts his assault on the remainder of his first Big Mac and smiles wide at Hongbin when his mouth is void of any food. “Oh, come on. You know you love me.”

Hongbin rolls his eyes, propping his elbows up on the table. It earns a scowl from an older lady a few booths away. Hongbin resists the urge to stick his tongue out at her like a rebellious youth.

“I’d sell you to Satan for one corn chip,” Hongbin deadpans. 

Jaehwan’s mouth drops to the floor in shock. You could tell he was offended by that statement. He picks up a few fries and throws them at his boyfriend for revenge. “You don’t even like corn chips, idiot!” 

Hongbin senses the challenge involving french fries and maybe the wrapper to the straw and retaliates. He picks some fries out of the container and lobs them at his boyfriend, ducking every so often when his boyfriend does the same in return. Eventually, they’re in a full on food fight, only it involves french fries and they’re not in a high school cafeteria in some dumb rom com movie.

Ultimately, staff does take notice and sooner or later, the same cashier that checked them out and handed out their food with a smile is rushing over with a scowl on her face, screaming for them to stop and to get out immediately. They don’t listen, and eventually had to be escorted out. Jaehwan managed to grab as many remaining food items on the tray as he could as they were forcibly pushed out by the manager of the food place.

“Don’t ever come back,” he warns, shutting the side door harshly and stomping back behind the counter. Jaehwan and Hongbin make eye contact and burst out laughing immediately. Hongbin falls to the ground, clutching his stomach. He can’t breathe. Jaehwan is leaning against the glass windows, laughing so hard that it doesn’t make Hongbin stop.

When tears come to Hongbin’s eyes, he wipes them away and his body shakes with the last remnants of laughter left in them. “I cannot believe we got kicked out of McDonald’s. The hyungs are going to die when they hear this story.”

“Only because it was your fault! Don’t leave that part out!” 

Hongbin chuckles, intertwining his hand with his boyfriend’s. “It’s not my fault you’re greasy. But I love you anyways, I guess.”

“Love you too, Binnie!” He pinches Hongbin’s left cheek and coos at the dimple that popped out with his boyfriend’s smile. Hongbin’s eyes turn dark and Jaehwan knows that face. It’s the Jaehwan Stop Or I Will Kill You Instantly face. So he starts running.

And Hongbin chases him.

[thepageofapillow]

Too Very So Much

Summary:  It’s never fun to walk down an alley without someone trying to eat you, right? At least, that’s what Wonsik tries to tell himself when he’s lunged at by a ghoul he’s been on a date with. AKA Tokyo Ghoul AU where Ravi is Kaneki and Leo is Rize, but with more raunchy sex because why not?

Pairing: Wontaek(Ravi/Leo)

Warning: Dubcon-ish & bloodplay

Word Count: 2.1K of sin

A/N: THIS ISN’T FAIR I NEVER WANTED TO WRITE THIS BUT WHATEVER, HERE YOU GO.  And also I’ve seen Tokyo Ghoul so I know this isn’t accurate,,,

Read on AO3

The date had been surprisingly....fun. Taekwoon was so nice, and shared many of Wonsik’s interests. He feels as though he’s found a keeper. Though sometimes he thinks the boy might be a little too quiet for comfort, he can get over that. Walking side by side with him right now seems very nice. But they haven’t said anything since they’ve left the cafe, and the whole alley they’ve been walking down has been deserted. Usually on nights like this, it’s bustling with people aiming for shortcuts. It’s eerily silent today, though.

Every so often, the rushing of a train is heard overhead, the lights casting on the alley and illuminating the dirt on the ground. There’s something foreboding about it. Wonsik suddenly stops and turns around, seeing Taekwoon trail behind with an unreadable expression tucked on his face. “My dates don’t really go that well,” Wonsik starts, “but I really had fun today. I’d like to see you again.”

Taekwoon’s eyebrows quirk, as if he wasn’t prepared to hear that. Wonsik regrets saying anything. He should have escorted him home like a good first date should always end. Maybe with a kiss on the cheek. He shakes his head off of the thought. Though kissing Taekwoon is not the worst thing he’s ever thought. That would come later. 

“Me too,” Taekwoon says, leaning closer into Wonsik. The younger boy can smell the slight cologne still lingering on Taekwoon’s shirt. He smells nice. Taekwoon links his arms around Wonsik in a hug, and the younger boy is too shocked to immediately reciprocate. He shyly encircles the boy’s waist a couple seconds later. His face is blazing red.

He hears a sharp inhale when Taekwoon buries his face into the younger boy’s neck. “You smell so good,” Taekwoon murmurs. Wonsik is carried away in the hug so he doesn’t exactly register Taekwoon’s words. Until he does.

“What?” 

It’s as if Taekwoon had been waiting for the question as a type of cue, because right then, he feels piercing teeth sink into the juncture of his shoulder, immediately breaking skin. Wonsik feels like he’s on fire, blood pouring out of him at an alarming speed. He’s gone into so much shock that he hasn’t registered that the hug is already over and Taekwoon is kneeling on the ground, laughing kind of manically.

“You taste so fucking delicious,” Taekwoon says, running his tongue along the blood smearing against his lips. He laughs once again. This seems so much out of character that Wonsik has nothing to say. “You’re also an idiot, you know that? Your crush on me? Crushes can be fatal, you know?” Taekwoon’s smile appears on his face. It wasn’t his genuine one at the cafe. No, not the one that smiled when he saw his favorite coffee was on the menu. This was something completely different. This was evil.

And even though he was just bitten by a ghoul, that crush didn’t fade away. Wonsik doesn’t feel himself trying to scramble away like a frightened little girl, even though he’s probably loosing blood at an inhuman rate. “Don’t act like you don’t like me, either,” Wonsik strangles out, clutching at the red spot bleeding through his white cotton shirt. Damn. Can’t take that to the dry-cleaner’s.

Taekwoon’s chuckle is maniacal, a ripping reminder of the bite oozing red down Wonsik’s shirt every second. He can’t take that. “All I care about is eating. Why would I even take the time to like someone like you?”

“Then why haven’t you left yet? Or killed me? Bet you’re still hungry, too,” Wonsik challenges. Taekwoon’s face stills, having to fall into the same silent, stoic trance it was in the whole date. It appears Wonsik had won. “So I’m right, then? You do like me.”

Wonsik approaches the man with his blood still smeared near his cheeks. He dips a finger into the crevice of the man’s lips, looking at the red substance on his finger and narrowing his eyes. “You guys really like this stuff that much, huh?” He meets the boy’s eyes, who is seemingly stunned into silence from what Wonsik had said earlier. 

Wonsik admits it. Like every child, he’s wondered about the things that’ve came out of his body. He’s eaten a scab or two before he was told it was wrong, so this shouldn’t be that different. His curiosity gets the better of him sometimes, even now. So he pushes the finger covered in his own blood past his lips. As soon as he tastes it, it’s metallic, and honestly, not at all as euphoric as ghouls think it to be. Maybe they have different taste buds.

Taekwoon seems to break out of his trance, because when he sees Wonsik taste his own blood on his tongue, something riles up within him. He hooks his arm around the boy’s neck, pressing his forehead against the other’s. “Taste good?” He manages to ask. His voice is quite raspy.

“Not really,” Wonsik says casually. It was almost as if he hadn’t been bitten by a ghoul only seconds before. His hand was still clamped on the wound, and it was still gushing blood, but the situation at hand was not even concerning him. “Why do you guys think it’s delicious? All I taste is metal.”

“That’s iron,” Taekwoon explains. He bites down on his bottom lip. “But everyone tastes different. Girls usually taste sweeter, more succulent, and guys are richer. But you, oh you, Wonsik. You’re different. Every ghoul on the block would want to get a taste of you.” Taekwoon licks his lips, trying to get all the blood still accumulated on his face from his bite. 

“Really, now?” Wonsik smirks, raking his finger across the man’s cheek, picking up some blood on it. He pushes the finger into Taekwoon’s mouth, which the latter immediately responds to by suckling on it and eyes rolling back into his skull. “That good?” Wonsik asks incredulously. 

“Fuck yes, Wonsik. You’re heavenly.” Taekwoon mewls almost, and Wonsik’s pants should not be tightening in the front, but they are. This is a ghoul. That could kill him. But he can’t even help but get turned on in this situation because of that fact. 

“I’ll give it a second chance,” Wonsik says lowly. He dives in and captures Taekwoon’s lips in a heated kiss, a messy exchange of tongue and biting. Taekwoon’s incisors are sharp, but so are Wonsik’s, and soon enough, he not only tastes his blood, but Taekwoon’s blood on his tongue. He runs his tongue along the older man’s wound, lapping up the red that escapes. It’s delicious. He pulls back, huffing and puffing like a hormonal teenager. “You keep talking about how I taste good. What about you?” 

Taekwoon dabs his finger at his lips and tastes, screwing his eyes shut. “Ew, you think that’s good!?” Wonsik doesn’t even reply. Taekwoon’s eyes are still screwed shut by the time Wonsik scoops up Taekwoon’s bottom lip into his mouth, suckling at the bleeding wound and tasting as much fluid as he could that poured out of it. He moans in pleasure, Taekwoon’s bottom lip slightly swelling from the assault on it. Taekwoon lets it happen. He isn’t even sure why, but he thinks it has something to do with the tent in his pants.

Wonsik stops his assault, wiping the saliva threatening to come out of his mouth. He runs his tongue along the remaining juice and hums in delight. Taekwoon’s chain snaps and he surges forward into Wonsik, capturing his lips again and shoving him against the brick wall. Wonsik took it, enjoying this dominant side of Taekwoon when only a couple minutes ago he was hiding behind the menu because he accidentally called attention to himself when he dropped sugar all over the floor. Amazing how a person can change.

Taekwoon nips at Wonsik’s jaw, his collarbone, and his neck. Leaves hickeys there, dark purple marks, and beading spots of blood he’d clean up later. “So hungry,” Taekwoon murmurs into Wonsik’s ear as he kneads the cartilage between his teeth. He licks a long stripe up Wonsik’s neck, humming in delight when he collects all the blood that’s pooled there. “Move your hand,” Taekwoon demands, and Wonsik unfolds at his every command, taking his bloody hand away from the wound the ghoul made a long moment ago.

First and foremost though, before Wonsik can drop his hand to his side, Taekwoon takes it, licking up the red on it and taking each and every last finger into his mouth. The way he does it is so erotic, and Wonsik’s cock pulses, hard and angry between his legs. Taekwoon groans every time he tastes Wonsik’s thick crimson, and it takes everything he has not to come on just the taste of Wonsik’s blood alone.

Every languid lick and bite is making Wonsik mewl even more. He never even thought of himself as this much of a sadist, but he can’t really help it. Everything just feels so damn great. So great he hasn’t even noticed that Taekwoon has forced both of their jeans down, their cocks sprung free into the chilly night air. Taekwoon is grinding against Wonsik, a guttural groan springing from his lips as their cocks slide together with delicious friction. Wonsik leans his frame against Taekwoon, the smell of blood still wafting from his wound. 

“Stop smelling so damn good already,” Taekwoon whines, desperate to come. He shouldn’t even be doing this. He should have killed Wonsik already. He’s in too deep.

“Take what you want, Taekwoon. I dare you,” Wonsik snaps back. Taekwoon growls, biting at the inside of Wonsik’s arm as he raises it up, opening a wound near a thick, fat vein. He drinks as much of the blood as he can as he’s grinding against the boy. Wonsik is almost completely gone, barely able to hold himself up. Taekwoon soothes the new wound with chaste kisses and kitten licks before he abruptly slams Wonsik’s face against the wall, leaning over his half naked form and whispering in his ear.

“Bet you’d suck up my cock real good, wouldn’t you? You’re such a slut. I can tell,” Taekwoon whispers, licking up the shell of the boy’s ear. He laughs darkly. “I could fuck you real good. Right here. Anyone could walk on by. You’d probably get off on that though, wouldn’t you? You’re such a cockslut. Surprised you’re not begging for it already.”

Wonsik just whimpers, kind of humping the wall a little bit. He didn’t ask for that contact to stop, but he didn’t exactly protest against Taekwoon’s demands. He just nods in regard to everything Taekwoon has said, and the boy chuckles darkly behind him again. Taekwoon sticks a finger in his mouth, swirling it around and covering it in saliva before sticking it abruptly in Wonsik’s pert hole.

Wonsik, of course, wasn’t even expecting it. When he felt it, it felt so foreign and different than usual. Taekwoon’s digits were lengthy, hitting all the right spots in him and it just felt so good. “Another,” Wonsik begged, screwing his eyes shut and panting heavily. He can’t believe this is happening, but with the achingly painful erection between his legs, he isn’t going to protest. He likes it anyways.

Taekwoon wets another finger and deems the stretch enough for Wonsik. He turns Wonsik around, pushing his shoulder down. “On your knees. Open your mouth,” Taekwoon commands. Wonsik does as he’s told, his chest heaving up and down as he opens his mouth. As soon as he does, he’s met with the warm flesh of Taekwoon’s cock thrusting into his mouth. He takes it all, making sure to run his tongue along the underside of it, sucking dilligently. 

However, just a quick blowjob is not what Taekwoon had intended. In a quick second, he takes his cock out of Wonsik’s mouth, no matter how flattering it looks around Wonsik’s lips. He turns him around, and without any warning, shoves his slicked up dick into Wonsik’s hole. He doesn’t even wait for Wonsik to adjust, and Wonsik enjoys how rough he’s getting it. 

Taekwoon’s fingers dig into Wonsik’s hips hard enough to leave bruises as he thrusts hard and deep into Wonsik at a speedy pace. He sucks marks on the back of Wonsik’s neck as he tries to finish. And from the wanton cry he heard from Wonsik at that moment, he knows he’s found the boy’s prostate. He focuses his thrusts at that exact place and fists the boy’s cock in front of him so he could come to his climax. Seemingly the only nice thing he’s done for the boy thus far.

Wonsik spurts ropes of cum shortly after, staining the brick wall in front of him. Taekwoon climaxes soon after, shooting his load inside Wonsik. Taekwoon abruptly pulls his pants up, planting a slobbery kiss on the boy where his collarbone juts out. “Thanks, babe,” Taekwoon drawls. He abruptly runs off, leaving Wonsik there with a piece of paper on the ground and a wound that has just started to scab.

[thepageofapillow]

One Drip, Two Drops

Summary: In which Hakyeon is an annoying hairdresser who pops his gum way too loud and Taekwoon is a timid boy who reluctantly gets a change.

Pairing: Neo(N/Leo)

Word Count: 2.3K

Read on AO3!

A/N: Let’s pretend this is the On and On era for a second because I fucking love Hakyeon’s silver hair and Taekwoon’s hair ok.

Taekwoon honestly hated his friends. He definitely knew better not to take them up on a bet, but this time, he was heavily peer-pressured into doing so. To be honest, he actually thought he’d win this one. How was he to know that Sanghyuk had doubled his weight in bench pressing over the summer, let alone know that his wrist would be almost broken with the youngest’s strength. And now he has to face the consequences. 

He didn’t think himself as an expressive guy. He was usually plain most of the time, dressing in t-shirts and jeans. For a lack of a better term, he was a casual person. Also, he’d never ever tampered with his hair in his entire life and now he was about to hand his semi-long raven locks over to a hairdresser that Wonsik personally recommended. He just knew this was going to be hell. And by the sound of the bell tinkling from him opening the door, he just knew he wasn’t going to hear the end of it.

When he entered, the smell of hairspray wafted through the room, making him cough way too loudly, gaining the attention of everyone in the salon. There was a lady at the front desk who seemed way too unenthusiastic. Taekwoon told her the appointment time and she gestured him to a seat. “Hakyeon will be out in a few minutes. He’s on break.” He then sees her punch numbers into the phone and practically screams into it. “HAKYEON GET IN HERE! YOU HAVE A CUSTOMER!” 

“Yeah yeah, boss lady,” Taekwoon can hear on the other end. It seemed to be coming more towards the black door near the unoccupied chair. He was right when he saw a male burst through, his silvery hair glistening under the flourescent lights. Taekwoon honestly thought it looked the prettiest. He alarmingly made eye contact with the boy when he heard a popping sound come from his mouth. He was furiously chewing gum.

“Are you Hakyeon-ah?” Taekwoon asked politely. Hakyeon nods, blowing a bubble and popping it obnoxiously loud.

“And I’m guessing you’re Taekwoon-ah. Come, have a seat.” He gestures towards the only empty chair in the room, right next to the black door the hairdresser had come out of. He gingerly steps through the building, careful not to step into any stray hair piles. Hakyeon pats the chair’s back and Taekwoon takes a seat, breathing in and out. Honestly, he’s very nervous. “What can I do for you today?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I lost a bet and my friends told me I should come and see you.” Hakyeon’s eyes seem to brighten up and his smile twists into something sinister. Taekwoon definitely thinks this won’t be good.

“Oh, that was you? I imagined a younger kid coming here, but you? You don’t look like you would lose an arm wrestling contest to Sanghyuk,” Hakyeon expresses. Taekwoon’s eyes immediately widen and he whips around in his chair to face the man. He was wearing yellow contacts that looked eerie under the lights.

“You know my friends!?” 

Hakyeon just laughed, popping his gum as he nodded his head. “Of course. Well, I know them all. Wonsik, Sanghyuk, Hongbin, Jaehwan. But I don’t know you all that well. How come they don’t talk about how cute you are?” 

Taekwoon flushes slightly, but not enough that Hakyeon would notice. Hopefully. “They know not to. I’ll find out what they said about me and I’d kill them.”

Hakyeon pops his gum again, humming. “Feisty. I like that,” he teases. Taekwoon immediately facepalms. “Anyways, I thought they told me to dye your hair pink, but I’m gonna do you a favor and give you something nice, since you’re super duper cute and I haven’t been told anything about you.”

Taekwoon is still turned around in his chair, but he abruptly moves towards the mirror as his face deeply reddens. “T-Thanks, I guess.” 

“No problem-o! Now, do me a favor. Close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you. I want this style to be a surprise,” Hakyeon says as he runs his fingers through Taekwoon’s hair. It’s kind of theraputic, and Taekwoon leans into the touch as Hakyeon’s fingers card through the black strands.

Hakyeon’s humming while he does this, seeming to think about what he’s exactly going to do with Taekwoon’s hair. He knows if Taekwoon appears with a different cut and not a dye job that he’d be kicked to smithereens by Sanghyuk, so he thinks some more. He thinks about the flush on Taekwoon’s face that he’s sure the other party didn’t think he’d notice. And that’s when the lightbulb furiously blinked in his head. Oh yeah. He has such a brilliant idea brewing in there.

He runs into the back room, abandoning Taekwoon of his touch and Taekwoon seems to whine from the loss. He doesn’t know why, but the boy simply touching him makes him feel relaxed and at ease. He hopes this appointment will be longer than expected. He almost opens his eyes to see why Hakyeon has left, but he doesn’t, because then he hears a squeaky cart being wheeled into the room, and by mere prescence, can tell Hakyeon is behind him again.

Hakyeon’s tongue is sticking out of his mouth as he mixes up the dye. He thinks how this will take in Taekwoon’s hair, with it being black and all. The red he picked out is a light color, but with Taekwoon’s shade of black, it might turn it a bit crimson. Maybe even a coppery red? Hakyeon likes the idea, but he has to be safe. He decides to bleach it one time. It doesn’t have to be seriously light red.

He mixes up the bleach, making sure he has strips of foil nearby to lay the separated strands onto. He begins secluding sections and when that’s all done, picks up his brush. “Okay, I’m sorry, but this is going to burn or itch a little bit,” Hakyeon warns. He’s a professional, so he tries not to get bleach on Taekwoon’s scalp as he brushes it on, but honestly, he wants the color to stay on the boy, so he gets as close to the roots as possible. He hears strangled hisses coming from the boy every once and awhile, which means he’s doing an okay job.

He lets the bleach settle for the alotted time, and then brings Taekwoon over to the sinks to wash it out. His hair has turned a slightly chestnut brown. Hakyeon didn’t want to leave it in longer or he’d go lighter. This is the perfect time for him to apply the red. He leaves Taekwoon to relax in the chair for awhile, his eyes still shut, as he mixes up the red. It’s finally as dark as he wants it with a bit of mixing, and he’s super excited to see it on the boy. He thinks it’ll look stunning on him.

He covers Taekwoon’s hair again, and seeing the red on the boy already makes Hakyeon giddy. He thinks Taekwoon needs a change. He looks kind of scary with just the black hair swooped to the side, so he’s gonna make Taekwoon fabulous if it’s the last thing he does on Earth. Hakyeon pokes in his pocket for another piece of gum and unravels it, spitting his stale piece inside the wrapper and tossing it in the trash can. He makes it. He silently cheers himself on and pops the other piece in his mouth.

To other people, they find Hakyeon’s gum popping annoying. To Taekwoon, he feels as though it’s a part of the atmosphere. With the whirring of blowdryers, occasional sprays of products, and the snipping sounds, he feels as if the humble bumble of the shop would be incomplete without the occasional snap of Hakyeon’s gum. He finds it serene, somehow.

He’s plucked from his relaxed state in seconds, but in reality, minutes have passed and it’s time to wash out the dye. His eyes are still closed and he wrinkles his nose when the water touches his face accidentally. He feels Hakyeon’s tender touch through gloves when the dye is being cleaned from his head. When it is, Hakyeon can’t seem to hold back his hitched breath. “Wow,” he says. 

“Can I open my eyes yet?” Taekwoon makes the attempt, but Hakyeon rips his glove off and covers the boy’s eyes. 

“Hell no you can’t. I still have to style it.” 

Taekwoon is shocked by Hakyeon’s assertive tone, but snaps his eyes shut again. “Fine,” he says.

Hakyeon withdrawls his hand and grabs the nearest blowdryer, turning it on and blowing air onto the boy’s head. Strands whip around as Hakyeon ruffles it, making it as dry as possible. This goes on for a good ten minutes before Hakyeon touches the tips, deeming it successful enough to style around. Taekwoon hears snipping sounds and he’s immediately taken aback.

“You’re cutting all my hair off!?”

“Chill out, princess. I’m just trimming some dead ends,” Hakyeon says, pushing the boy’s chest back down and stopping him from opening his eyes. “Relax. You’re going to be fine,” Hakyeon assures him. The comforting tone in his voice wills Taekwoon back to just doing that, leaning back and sinking into the material of the chair. “Good boy.”

Hakyeon decides to switch it up. He probably knows by instinct that Taekwoon always has his fringe in his face. He then pictures in his head what the boy would look like with a quiff. And that’s exactly when he rushes to his station, pulling some mousse and hairspray out and setting it onto his cart. He trims the back shorter than it used to be, assuring Taekwoon it was only for dead ends. It really isn’t.

He pulls the long fringe out of the boy’s face and mists it with some water to make it easier to work with. He was going to leave the fringe as is, but he wets it again to make sure he has an easier task ahead of him. He combs through it, working through some of the knots and then applies the mousse. He works it in and alternates between the hairspray and the blowdryer for the end, perfectly sealing it into that amazing peak. He can’t wait to see when Taekwoon opens his eyes.

He sprays his hairspray in a circle over Taekwoon’s head, signaling he’s finished. It’s kind of his ritual.

“All done~! You can open now!” When Taekwoon opens his eyes, it’s not at all what he expected. His hair is up in the air and it’s fire truck red. He can’t even say anything. He doesn’t know what to think. Hakyeon places his hands on Taekwoon’s shoulders and rubs tenderly. “What do you think? I think it looks really good.”

“I don’t know what to think yet.” Taekwoon is kind of alarmed, but he also kind of likes it. He’s in the middle between liking and hating it. He assumes some time will help him make his decision. 

“I think it looks absolutely gorgeous on you. It frames your face well.” Hakyeon further punctuates his point by delicately tilting Taekwoon’s head. “Beautiful,” Hakyeon says. Taekwoon flushes again, and the red on his cheeks matches his hair. He can’t even believe it. Hakyeon starts putting his stuff away after that, sending Taekwoon a sweet smile as he pops his gum again. He can’t tear his eyes away from the mirror.

He finally does when he remembers he has to pay, another downside to losing the bet. He pulls out his wallet and is about to pay the lady when Hakyeon sidles up, wrapping his arm around Taekwoon’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Free of charge. A pretty thing like you shouldn’t have to pay.” Taekwoon flushes at the compliment, but he insists on paying. Hakyeon’s face turns into a frown.

“Tell you what. Your payment to me is a date. Go on a date with me, Taekwoonie~” Taekwoon’s eyes widen and he’s torn. He really wants to pay Hakyeon, but also, he can’t help but wonder what it would be like to always have Hakyeon around. He doesn’t find that so bad when he thinks about it. They’ve been standing there like that for awhile, though, so Hakyeon thinks he’s been turned down. He turns around and walks away, but then feels a hand on his shoulder.

“Wait.” Hakyeon turns around, popping his gum and tilting his head in confusion towards Taekwoon. “I’ll go on a date with you. Fine.” Hakyeon’s face lights up and he flashes all his teeth to Taekwoon.

“Yay~! I can’t wait!” Hakyeon digs a card out of his pocket and hands it to Taekwoon. “Here. My number is on there. Text me whenever, ‘kay?” He sends a wink to Taekwoon, and the boy thinks he hasn’t blushed this much in his entire life. Taekwoon thinks his smile is beautiful. His personality seems to be too peppy for Taekwoon’s liking, but he thinks he can get used to it. He’s so embarrassed that he hides his face with his sweater paws, but Hakyeon peels them away.

“You’re so pretty. Don’t do that!”

“You’re making me do that! You’re embarrassing me, Hakyeon-ah!”

Hakyeon giggles and pecks Taekwoon’s cheek. “Fine. That’ll be my last time embarrassing you before we go on a date. I’ll think of ideas. See ya!” Taekwoon waves and opens the door, watching Hakyeon walk back to his station. He watches the silver-haired boy walk away, and Hakyeon opens the door to his room when he looks back. He’s surprised to see Taekwoon still standing there. 

“Did you hear what I said? Go, before I embarrass you more!” 

Taekwoon rushes out of the door then, because everyone is now staring at them as Hakyeon yells across the room. The bell tinkles as Taekwoon rushes away, and Hakyeon sighs dreamily. 

“What a catch.”

[thepageofapillow]

Seven Days: Wednesday

Summary:  Jaehyo desperately wants to fall in love, so he accepts everyone’s confession every Monday, dates them for a week, and ends up saying “I couldn’t fall in love with you, let’s break up.” Jiho is a boy who’s very oblivious to other girl’s feelings, and most of the girls he dates ends it for him. Sometimes asking someone out on a whim is a good thing.

Pairing: Jaeco(Jaehyo/Zico)

Word Count: 3K

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Read the whole thing on AO3!

A/N: I took a break from writing the next chapter because I hadn’t been feeling up to it as of late. Hope you like this one! It took an awful long time! Also let’s imagine Jaehyo has a mole by his eye because if he didn’t the story wouldn’t progress lmao.

The day had been tranquil so far. The birds were chirping and flying lazily across the skyline, the morning sun infiltrating the heavy darkness of night. And unfortunately, it was another day to go to school, which meant another day for Jiho to ride on the train with several other students going the same route. Honestly, it was tiresome to walk by foot to the train station anyways. It wasn’t exactly the closest to his house. Still, he decided he would. He has no other means of transportation.

He starts his ascent up the flight of stairs, following the little blue and yellow arrows printed on the wall and on the ground, color coding which route should be followed. Bouts of other students in suits and skirts followed suit, so, Jiho wasn’t exactly alone. Jiho fixes his collar and drags his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and seeing if he had any messages. None. So he decides to call Jaehyo, knowing he’d be up and rather chipper at this time in the morning. He lazily drapes the phone over his ear and attempts to sound as tired as possible. “Good morning.”

“You sound as sleepy as ever,” the boy on the other line retorts, “where are you now? The station. Which exit are you taking?” Jiho seems dazed for a moment as he ponders this. It’s like he temporarily forgot which exit he uses.

“Exit?”

“The North or South exit.” Jiho pauses for a moment, finally finishing his trek up the stairs. He looks around at the various color coded signs, figuring out exactly which one he uses. Most of the time, he doesn’t even really pay attention. He’s gone this way the whole time he’s been to high school, so, he doesn’t exactly memorize where he’s going anyways.

He comes to a conclusion. “Ah, the South, and I’m taking a shortcut now.”

“Ah, I thought so. I’m by the store. See you in a bit.” Jiho’s confused, but he gets no answer to his confusion as he swipes his card across the barrier for him to get in. He looks at his phone and it appears Jaehyo has hung up. Great. He just dims the screen and gazes around for a bit. He’s here...? As if the universe wanted his suspicions to be confirmed, as he looked to the left, there Jaehyo was, standing against a very cylindrical pillar near the store. There were girls gathered around him, and they seemed to be carrying on a conversation before Jaehyo had waved to his significant other.

He’s here. And some other people too. The girls were mumbling about who Jaehyo was waiting for, kind of in disbelief. Jiho says a warm greeting to the girls, and they bow their heads and return it warmly. It’s as if the girls are still experiencing surprise as they keep talking.

“How unexpected, even though Jaehyo doesn’t appear in club much. Do you get along well?” one of the girls asks. But Jiho doesn’t even address the question. He just dodges it in order to chide Jaehyo.

“I know right!? He never shows up.” The girls nod in agreement and all Jaehyo can do is uncomfortably shift up against the pillar.

One of the girls definitely remembers why she’d confronted Jaehyo in the first place, because she asks a question every girl does at the beginning of the week. “Ah, that’s right! Jaehyo, who are you going out with this week?” Her friend joins in and curiously leans in towards Jaehyo as well, expecting his answer. However, Jaehyo falters. Thank goodness, though, because Jiho comes and saves the day.

“Me,” he says bluntly, accompanied with a matter-of-fact smile. The girls break out in crippling laughter. They deny it, saying ‘no’ over and over again and seeming to find the situation more funny than it actually was.

“But, you do look good together,” she says. Jiho smiles warmly.

“Thanks.”

The girls don’t seem to want to stray away from the topic, though, so they press on. “But, Jaehyo, you don’t really say who you’re going out with, huh?” They keep pressing onto the boy, asking him who it is and begging him to tell them. However, Jiho holds his ground and tries to convince the girls he really isn’t joking.

“Like I said, it’s me.”

“Stop that! Putting that aside, who is it really? Tell us~ It’s an order!” They both stand in silence as the girls keep pushing Jaehyo. The awkwardness doesn’t even really go away then.

Jiho is sitting in class now, having his hand spread wide open. He’s ticking off fingers as he lists the things he and Jaehyo do. A good morning text, a good night text, eating together, shopping together, watching a movie...walking together to school? He notices he’s deep in thought, so he retreats, leaning back in his chair and stuffing his ticked hand into his pockets. He stares out the window, admiring the nature outside. 

What exactly was “going out”? Normally going out....holding hands...I don’t get it. How far do Jaehyo’s standards go? Jiho leans back in his chair as he ponders this, eventually getting fed up with the idea and scratching his head in annoyance. He stares off into space for awhile, then lays his eyes on Kyung, who is looking at the board and finally paying attention for once. The metaphorical lightbulb dings in Jiho’s head. 

Found it. A sample.

During break-time, Jiho slams his hands against Kyung’s desk, alarming him from the relaxed position he was in earlier. “Hey, did you do it? Did you do it?” Kyung looks at him with an incredulous look. 

“Huh, do what?”

“I’m asking whether or not you did it.”

“Did what?”

Jihoon, who is sitting behind Kyung currently, is paying attention. He’s honestly just as confused as Kyung is. 

“Like I said, Kyung, did you do it with Jaehyo?” Kyung narrows his eyes, and delivers a slap across Jiho’s face. Jiho yells out in alarm, clutching his reddening cheek as if it had been stabbed directly. The whole class stops in their tracks to look onwards at what’s happening.

“This is why girls always feel let down by you!” Meanwhile, Jiho is still clutching his cheek like his life had been changed forever by that slap, uttering ‘ow’s here and there whenever there was a pause in Kyung speaking. “Apologize to your parents who blessed you with that face.” Jiho doesn’t seem to get it, though, so he presses onwards.

“Then? How was it? Did you do it?”

Kyung furrows his brows, looking down and playing with the loosened button at the end of his blazer. “Why are you asking things like that...” He trails off his sentence and fixes the button, snapping it back into place. 

Jiho finally moves his hand off of his cheek and kneels down, resting his crossed arms on the ends of Kyung’s desk. “Lately, I’ve been getting along with him, so it piqued my interest,” Jiho says with an earnest smile. Kyung still looks at him with a half confused and half stank face. Jiho looks as though he’s eager to learn more, putting his full attention on Kyung and resting his chin on his right fist.

Kyung crosses his arms, pondering in thought as he studies the ceiling. “Whether it’s the shoulders or hands, it felt like he won’t touch you unless it’s absolutely necessary. Though I’ve heard of girls forcing themselves on him to make it a reality. But he’s known for it...for never doing anything to the girls.” In the mean time, said guy is meandering through the halls, eventually waiting near the door, as he always has for three days straight.

“What a pity,” Jiho complains. He hears screams outside the doors from fangirling, and averts his eyes to the door. He sees Jaehyo there, as always. Kyung notices too.

“Speak of the devil. What? Are you really getting along well? He comes everyday, you know?” Kyung looks on for an answer, but Jiho doesn’t exactly give him a straight one.

“Well, I don’t know if he’s chasing skirts or what. Weird dude,” Jiho says with a weird laugh, standing up from his kneeling position. He flashes Kyung a smile before he moves over to the door, following Jaehyo out. 

They both grab a strawberry milk and meet each other out on the balcony. It’s supposed to be a place where teachers frequently hang out, but students come there too. Jaehyo is leaning against the rails with his back turned, whilst Jiho is in the opposite position. “Seriously? You wasted no time coming, this break-time,” Jiho says, examining the label on the milk and the crazy cartoon character on the front. He averts his gaze over towards Jaehyo, locking eyes and making conversation a little less easy.

“Did it bother you?” Jaehyo returns, shifting his position a little.

Jiho returns to looking at his milk for a second and then back at Jaehyo. “Didn’t I say I hate just going along with people? If I didn’t like it, I’d say so.”

“That’s true.”

“I think you’re much more clever than you look.” A pause. Not uncomfortable, but weird enough between a conversation. It’s almost as if Jaehyo forgot who Jiho was talking to.

“Me?’

“Yeah, you,” Jiho returns, “You’ve been paying for me all of yesterday and today. This, too.” Jiho references to the pink container in his hands, almost emptied. 

“Isn’t that normal? Since we’re going out.” Jiho reminisces about this morning, cracking a little smile and sipping a bit out of his drink.

“It’s not like anyone believes it, though.” A pause for Jiho to sip his drink. He hears the deathly suck of air and knows his strawberry milk is as good as gone. “Moreover, maybe it’s because I’m hanging with you today....it feels like there are more girls screaming than usual.”

“You don’t like it?”

“It’s not that I don’t like them.” Jiho shifts his position so he’s leaning a little less, looking out into the skyline to admire the buildings near the school. “If there were just a person who loves everything that I am, that’s enough, I guess.” 

For the first time in a few minutes, Jaehyo looks away, staring at the ground. “Is that so. I think there are lots, though.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.”

“Hey, Jiho, today, after school--”

“Go to club practice.”

Jaehyo nods, as if he was expecting that kind of response. 

“I’ll wait for you. Call me when you’re done,” Jiho kindly offers. Jaehyo’s face breaks out into a huge smile. “Well, if it gets boring I’ll go home, though.” Jaehyo shifts in alarm, complaining to the boy next to him.

“Wait for me~!” He leans over the railing with his chest leaning on it now, looking out at the buildings just as Jiho had been for a few minutes. “Then maybe I’ll do my best,” Jaehyo teases, leaning into Jiho jokingly. After he says that, he gives the boy space, putting a few inches between them. A comfortable blanket of silence then washes over them, and Jiho finishes the last drop of strawberry milk inside the pathetic little container.

Eventually though, his eyes avert over towards the boy who’s serenely looking into the horizon. He notices something on the boy he hadn’t before. He has a mole in a strange place. Right under his bushy eyebrow and almost by the crease of his eye is a small one, lingering there. Jiho thinks for a little bit more, and tilts his head. It isn’t dirt....right? He definitely knows this is a bold move, but he slides his hand against the other’s cheek, rubbing his thumb against the blemish. It doesn’t move. 

Jaehyo seems alarmed by this movement and he’s questioning why the boy is doing this. However, they’ve been staring at each other and leaning millimeters closer for a few minutes, Jiho’s hand not moving. They both kind of wonder what would have happened if the bell did not chime signaling them back to class. It knocked them out of the dreamlike state, and Jiho moves his hand away carefully. They break eye contact and it’s awkward for a few seconds before Jiho remembers something awful.

“This is bad! I have to change classrooms for sixth period!” He hastily runs off, leaving Jaehyo confused out by the balcony. He attempts to move to grab him, but then he thinks better of it. After all, they both had to get back to class. 

“I’m sorry,” Jaehyo suddenly says, and it throws Jiho for a loop. He turns around as he walks backwards. He’s confused.

“Why are you apologizing, that doesn’t make sense! I’m going!” However, Jiho is stopped by yet another interruption as he meets Jihoon in the hallway. “Jihoon!”

“You idiot,” he says to Jiho, as he hands out a book. 

“Could that be...my textbook? Jihoon, I love you!” He engulfs the boy into a hug, catching him off guard. He mumbles a ‘yeah,yeah’ as the boy hugs him, obviously annoyed by the sudden public display of affection. 

Jaehyo seems caught off guard too, because he doesn’t exactly stop what he says. “Jiho, that’s cheating.”

Jiho pulls off of his friend, them both looking at Jaehyo with a strange look. However, Jihoon seems to be the only one who’s seriously confused.

“What is cheating?”

“You’re right, cheating’s not good,” Jiho says, holding Jihoon’s shoulders as he pulls away from the embrace. 

“You don’t sound sincere,” Jihoon snaps. 

“I was.”

“Was not. Rather than that, what do you mean cheating?”

“Cheating is cheating,” Jiho says with a nod as he walks away. However, Jihoon is still confused and he wants answers, so he follows Jiho, shouting things to gain his attention. 

Jaehyo is left there with an empty carton that once housed strawberry milk, and a tingling sensation on his cheek as he touches the same spot Jiho’s hand once was. 

Jiho doesn’t seem to be as affected as Jaehyo was by the situation, which is why he’s sitting on the white bench outside. He’s waiting for Jaehyo to come home from practice, as promised. He looks out towards the water until he hears footsteps nearing. He sees Jaehyo standing there, giving him a wide smile and tossing him a drink. “Good work. It’s still barely warm.”

Jaehyo thanks him, taking the drink and pressing both his palms against it to test the temperature. “You’re right, it’s warm,” Jaehyo says with an equally widening smile. Jiho returns it and then looks out towards the sky. 

“Did you get any praise?”

Jaehyo rubs the drink against his palms as he thinks about it. “It felt like they were vaguely picking on me.”

“It’s because you don’t show up for practice,” Jiho chides. Jaehyo smiles. He could probably get used to the complaints about his attendance from Jiho. Jiho gets up from his seat, getting as close to the railing as possible without falling over into a pile of bushes.

“I haven’t come here in awhile.” Here, being the nice spot right by the water a little ways from the train station. It had a beautiful outlook over the city skyline and the bridge connecting such parts. Jaehyo follows him to the railing, watching along with Jiho. Couples are walking by as they watch, a nice few inches separating them. “It’s full of stupid couples, as usual.” Before Jiho realizes it, he thinks about their situation for a minute. “Ah, we’re one too, huh?”

“Yes we are.” They both exchange laughter until a silence falls over them again.

“As expected, do you come here every week?” 

“Some do people like this place...but there are also those who don’t.” Jiho nods. That makes perfect sense to him. Jiho looks as though he wants to say anything, but he doesn’t. They sit in comfortable silence, only the occasional movement for Jaehyo to fix his fringe or for Jiho to shift his postition. Eventually, though, his eyes find themselves upon Jaehyo again, and he can’t help but let his thoughts take over his mind once again.

In this atmosphere, you’d normally kiss, right? I wanna do it too. Unfortunately, his hopes are shattered once Kyung’s earlier words pop into his head.

Whether it’s the shoulders or hands...it felt like he won’t touch you unless absolutely necessary. Though I’ve heard of girls forcing themselves on him to make it a reality. But he’s known for it,  for never doing anything to the girls.

Even so, Jiho’s mind still rattles off on what it was preoccupied doing a few hours prior. I knew it....It was a mole...right? He stares at the mark underneath the boy’s eyebrow again. In a place like this, your partner surely feels that way too, right? Surely. 

Jaehyo finally notices there’s a pair of eyes staring at him again, so he makes eye contact with Jiho, his puzzled face very evident on his expression. How many girls, have tried doing this, I wonder? Jiho thinks, shutting his eyes for a bit and considering it. And, what would Jaehyo do? Jaehyo takes advantage of the situation and lingers closer, draping his hand against the railing to brace himself as he leans in. 

Jiho doesn’t find out what Jaehyo does until he feels a soft pair of lips press onto his own. It’s a soft peck, but it doesn’t hesitate to open Jiho’s eyes in alarm as Jaehyo pulls back. He’s confused as he brings his hand up to his lips, touching it. “Huh?” Jaehyo doesn’t answer that perplexed noise, because he’s bringing his hand up to caress Jiho’s cheek the same way the boy did earlier, and bringing his lips back in towards Jiho’s, touching them together again.

Jiho’s eyes flutter to a close this time, relaxing into it for a few seconds. Jaehyo pulls away again, retracting his hand. Jiho averts his gaze to the water again, seeming to nod in understanding. Kyung....is full of lies. He shifts his position, bracing his back against the railing. “I fell for it,” Jiho says.

“Eh? What?” Jaehyo seems genuinely confused as he studies the face of the boy in front of him.

“Nevermind.” 

Jaehyo feels as though he’s done something wrong as the silence overtakes them again, this time, much heavier.

[thepageofapillow]

Through the Seams

Summary: Hongbin has never had a problem with Jaehwan borrowing his clothes. Until he does.

Pairing: Kenbin(Ken/Hongbin), mention of Hyukvi or whatever the name is

Word Count: 2K

Read on AO3!

A/N: Kenbin is literally my go to for fucking kinky/smutty fics istg I hate this. Also I wrote this at like 4 AM so it’s really sloppy sorry.

It’s been awhile since the dorm was so quiet.

Taekwoon was doing a performance today, Hakyeon was on his radio show, and the maknae and Wonsik were doing god knows what. Hongbin didn’t even know, because frankly, he didn’t even care. He’d just been lying on the couch for a long while just relaxing, because silence like this wasn’t hard to come by. Especially when Jaehwan was in the shower and the dorm was completely quiet. Usually the older boy is much more loud in the dorm, and prior to showering, he’d been shouting in his shared room with Wonsik and Hongbin literally wanted to rip his ears out for eternity.

He didn’t even know why the boy was yelling so loudly. Sure, Jaehwan tended to get over-excited about a lot of things, but this was just ridiculous. Why? Hongbin didn’t even have the heart to ask the boy before he was locking the bathroom door behind him and singing Bigbang songs as loud as the ear could hear. But Hongbin had his headphones in, drowning out the off-pitch voice of his hyung in the bathroom. Times like these are where Hongbin wishes he could stop time and embrace the silence however.

But Hongbin usually knows that it doesn’t last forever. Because as soon as he’s switching to the next Park Hyoshin song, he hears the door practically fall of his hinges as it’s slammed into oblivion into the wall neighboring it. Jaehwan ruffles his hair as he steps out of the bathroom, obnoxiously inhaling the air. Hongbin rolls his eyes and turns up his music one level higher than it was originally. He just knew that this boy would do something that would irritate him.

He doesn’t even pay attention, but when he starts, Jaehwan is tapping him on the shoulder and Hongbin curiously narrows his eyes at his hyung. “What?”

“Wanna get some pizza or something? I’m starving,” Jaehwan says. He puffs out his bottom lip, his surefire method to getting any of his dongsaengs to fulfill his wishes. 

“Whatever. I don’t care,” Hongbin says. But then, he does care, because he’s scanning his eyes over what Jaehwan has been wearing for the past hour, because it reeks with Hongbin’s scent. “Is that my hoodie?” 

Jaehwan is walking away when he turns around. It’s like his body has tensed up somehow. He smiles sheepishly at the younger boy and shrugs. “It was the only thing clean in my drawer. I don’t know how it got there, but I’m borrowing it now. Do you mind?” 

Hongbin doesn’t even hesitate to say, “No, I don’t mind,” before he regrets it. As soon as the words leave his lips, he’s staring at Jaehwan and is completely entranced in the way the collar dips a little to show a bit of collarbone. Jaehwan is only slightly smaller than Hongbin, and a bit slender, so the sleeves of the hoodie aren’t even as glued to his arms as they would be on Hongbin. There’s sweater paws at the end of it from being the teeniest bit too long, and does Hongbin mind? Not really.

Because he thinks he kind of likes it. He likes the way the gray hoodie drapes over Jaehwan’s frame quite lazily, making him seem like a tiny puppy with the sweater paws. He feels as if he doesn’t even want his hoodie back. He wants Jaehwan to wear it forever. 

Hongbin doesn’t realize he’s wandered way out into space before he feels Jaehwan tap him again. Apparently his quick trip to recieve his phone didn’t take all that long. Hongbin turns his head and makes eye contact with Jaehwan. He can practically smell himself on the older boy, and it’s making him quite territorial. And he thinks it’s quite sexy, too. Then his eyes practically widen because, “Holy shit Hongbin, you just thought about your friend that way.” Much less one of your best friends.

The good parts of his mind are nagging at him that these thoughts are a mistake, and that he should fucking stop before he gets in trouble. Whatever trouble that may be, he doesn’t want it. But at the same time, maybe he does. He doesn’t even mind a bit of trouble and it kind of makes him feel more scandelous to think so. He’s peering down as far as he can down the hoodie, and as many times as he’d care to admit that he’s seen Jaehwan half-naked before, he wants to explore more. 

Which is kind of fucking scary, because at this point, Hongbin is scaring himself. Jaehwan doesn’t even seem to notice at first, because somehow Hongbin is answering his questions with some part of his brain that’s working and he isn’t even noticing that fact. But then all zones of his brain stop working because the blood probably isn’t flowing there anymore. 

Hongbin’s way too far gone. He’s wandered into unfamiliar territory, and he feels quite hot thinking about Jaehwan now that it’s kind of spooky. Unfortunately, now, Jaehwan notices. “Hey, did you hear anything I’m saying?” Jaehwan touches Hongbin’s hand. It’s super sweaty. “God, are you okay?” That tone snapped Hongbin out of it for a second, and he can see the reflection of himself in Jaehwan’s eyes. He’s wrecked. His pupils are so dilated that black almost consumes his entire cornea.

His teeth tug at the bottom of his lip and his brain doesn’t even align with his mouth anymore. “Don’t ever take that hoodie off.” Jaehwan’s confused at this point, tilting his head, but then he really pays attention to how Hongbin looks. His breathing has picked up speed, and if he probably checked, the boy’s heartbeat would be too. His pupils are blown wide and he’s starting to sweat like he’s overheated. 

Hongbin has always thought Jaehwan as an innocent cinnamon roll, but he’s proven wrong when Jaehwan sidles up to Hongbin’s ear. “Do you like it when I wear your clothes, Binnie?” Hongbin mewls, and instantly, he’s embarrassed. God, he thought he would be the one to take charge if something like this ever happened, but he’s super wrong. He hears a sultry chuckle in his left ear, and then feels a nibble on his lobe. He shuts his eyes. This can’t be happening.

But it totally is, and Jaehwan isn’t even seeming to mind. He doesn’t even feel shocked about this kind of weird confession, because he’s running his tongue along Hongbin’s jawline and Hongbin thinks he’s going to pass out. Somehow this feels all too sudden, because Hongbin pulls away, sputtering. A good part of his mind has somehow been salvaged. “W-Wait. What are you doing?” 

“What do you think I’m doing?” Jaehwan ignores him, and plunges straight into the crook of Hongbin’s neck, decorating the milky skin with splotches of purple. Hongbin loses sight of his question for a bit, but then remembers, pulling away again. “Don’t you want me, Binnie? Don’t you want to fuck me while I’m wearing your hoodie? Or do you want the opposite, you cock slut?” Hongbin doesn’t expect to be turned on by that kind of talk, but when he feels he’s half-hard, he doesn’t really question it anymore.

“Please fuck me, hyung,” Hongbin begs, and he isn’t even sure of it himself. His mind really isn’t correlating to what he’s saying, but after he’s said what he’s said, he doesn’t regret seeing the absolute diabolic grin stretch over Jaehwan’s face as he angrily attacks the rest of Hongbin’s neck. He runs his tongue over Hongbin’s Adam’s apple and sucks a mark there, growling as the other boy hums, keeping his noises to himself. He hastily grabs the other boy’s chin, forcing their faces together. 

“Don’t keep those pretty noises to yourself, babe,” Jaehwan demands, and Hongbin swallows as he sees the predator come alive in Jaehwan’s eyes.

“Yes, hyung,” he whimpers. He feels himself being incredibly obedient and submissive, but he kind of likes it. Jaehwan tries to move to take his hoodie off, but Hongbin slams his wrist down on the couch and shakes his head. “Keep it on,” Hongbin snaps. Jaehwan isn’t too pleased with Hongbin’s dominant tone, so he lifts him up and smacks the boy’s ass rather harshly. Hongbin whines in the crook of Jaehwan’s shoulder. 

“I’m in charge, okay?” Jaehwan snickers in the boy’s right ear this time and Hongbin just nods obediently. “Good boy. Now shirt. Off,” Jaehwan says, signaling to the still unnecessary garment of clothing hanging off the boy’s frame. Hongbin pulls it off, and Jaehwan doesn’t hesitate to run his hands along the chiseled abs of the other, pinching several spots. If Hongbin said he didn’t like the small bouts of pain, he’d be lying. Jaehwan mouths over the boy’s chest, leaving hot kisses over both of Hongbin’s nipples and caressing his sides as he does so. 

Hongbin just lets himself go, moaning Jaehwan’s name as many times as he can get. He’s also getting quite impatient, because here Jaehwan is in his hoodie. He can’t resist that. “Just fuck me, hyung,” Hongbin orders, and Jaehwan just laughs.

“You’re much more bossy than I’d thought you’d be,” Jaehwan says as he unbuckles the boy’s pants, sliding both of the garments down so only Hongbin’s cock was poised in the air. 

Hongbin gulps. “Thought I’d be?” Jaehwan falters as he undoes his belt, giving Hongbin a cute smile. Really? This was not the time for that. Hongbin pulls his hyung in by his belt loops, kissing him harshly as his stuck his tongue in the older boy’s mouth. “You’ve thought about this before, haven’t you?” Jaehwan tugs at Hongbin’s hair, bringing the boy to his eyes as he finally is only in his hoodie.

“Guilty,” Jaehwan whispers seductively, and Hongbin groans. 

He suddenly turns over, grabbing Jaehwan’s hands and positioning him at his ass. “Prep me,” Hongbin demands.

“Hold on, princess, let’s be safe first,” Jaehwan jokes. As much as they’re both heavily aroused and wanting to get this done and overwith, there needs to be protection. Jaehwan comes back with a drained bottle of lube and a condom. 

“I see you’ve been using that quite heavily,” Hongbin jokes. A small blush creeps on Jaehwan’s ears and he doesn’t answer the younger. He just covers his fingers in lube and crooks one into Hongbin’s tight hole. Hongbin isn’t expecting it, because when he feels it, he groans so loud he’s sure if anyone was sleeping in the dorm, it would wake them up instantly. He’s kind of glad now that Jaehwan is considering using the box of condoms Wonsik got him as a joke on his birthday last year. 

Jaehwan fits in three before he feels a stretch, scissoring them in and out and when he finds Hongbin’s prostate, he knows he’s ready. Jaehwan slips the condom onto his length and is about to plunge into Hongbin when the boy stops him. “Let me ride you, hyung,” Hongbin says. There are no protests from Jaehwan as Hongbin sits on his cock. 

Hongbin lets himself adjust, because really, he isn’t in a rush. He’s just so damn happy that Jaehwan has worn that hoodie. As he lifts himself up, he fingers the hoodie, pulling Jaehwan in closer to kiss him, all tongue and teeth and just a mess. But Jaehwan isn’t minding. His hands are resting on Hongbin’s backside as the boy rides him, and it’s so undeniably hot and tight and intimate that Jaehwan doesn’t last very long. 

He knows he’s on the brink, so he fists the other boy’s cock to let him ride the high with him, only for Hongbin to come first, Jaehwan quick behind. Hongbin pants on his hyung’s shoulder as they both ride out their highs, only rising up when he feels Jaehwan’s cock inside him go soft. 

Jaehwan lets out a satisfied sigh as he tosses the soiled condom into the bin. “I’ll return your hoodie whenever you want it,” Jaehwan says after they’ve been cuddling for a bit.

“Hell no. You keep it. We still have a lot of condoms to go through.”

[thepageofapillow]

Seven Days: Tuesday

Summary: Jaehyo desperately wants to fall in love, so he accepts everyone’s confession every Monday, dates them for a week, and ends up saying “I couldn’t fall in love with you, let’s break up.” Jiho is a boy who’s very oblivious to other girl’s feelings, and most of the girls he dates ends it for him. Sometimes asking someone out on a whim is a good thing.

Pairing: Jaeco(Jaehyo/Zico), mentions of old Minhyo

Word Count: 4.1K

Read the full thing on AO3!

Chapter 1

A/N: Yay! Chapter 2! Honestly, I have to keep referring to my source material to make sure I don’t fuck up and it’s super hard writing these chapters! But nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

It’s 6 AM in the morning on Tuesday when Jaehyo’s phone rings. It had been such a fulfilling sleep that he couldn’t go back anyways, so he just gets up and checks who’s calling him. Great, it’s his ex. However, this ex is someone who will just not leave him alone. Though he makes efforts to ignore him, he just whittles his way into talking with Jaehyo whenever he needs him, and for that fact, Jaehyo is annoyed. More than annoyed. Practically irritated whenever he sees his number pop up on the caller ID.

He groggily turns over on his right side, reaching for his phone with the utmost zero percentage of enthusiasm. He opens it up and sees the name. Minhyuk. As I thought. 

In the beginning, Minhyuk and Jaehyo didn’t exactly date in the traditional sense. In fact, Minhyuk had been going out with Jaehyo’s older brother at the time. But that really didn’t even stop him at all. One time, Jaehyo recalls lounging on the sofa. Minhyuk and his brother had been hanging out when suddenly, he sees this figure round the corner. It’s particularly alight by the lamp by the couch, but the form in said corner was looking more menacing than anything Jaehyo had ever seen. And before he knew it, this certain figure was Minhyuk, and he was climbing on top of Jaehyo.

Minhyuk was free-spirited, saying and doing exactly what he wanted. And apparently, at the time, Jaehyo was what he wanted. Jaehyo can still remember what happened as clear as a photograph. He was reading the paper, enamored in a section he’s long forgotten, when it is just plucked from his fingers effortlessly. He didn’t want to complain, because he knew he’d be in for it if he angered his brother’s boyfriend. Minhyuk threw his paper on the coffee table quite forcefully, and before Jaehyo knew it, the boy was slinging his leg over Jaehyo’s lying form and straddling his hips.

Jaehyo tried to move him away, but the stronger boy just pinned him down with a biting vigor that left the younger boy helpless. Jaehyo was super uncomfortable, and got even more so when the older boy leaned into him, getting right up close and personal next to his ear. “If my brother sees us, he’ll misunderstand,” Jaehyo says, his voice cracking a bit from strenuous distress. 

Minhyuk doesn’t answer for a few minutes. He doesn’t even seem affected by Jaehyo’s statement. “It’s fine if I break up with him,” he finally says. Jaehyo eyes him for a second before the boy moves closer, and that’s when Jaehyo moves his head to the side to avoid any more eye contact. “I like you, Jaehyo,” Minhyuk whispers. A pause. A swallowed lump in Jaehyo’s throat. A sensual rub by Minhyuk. 

“I love you.”

His phone rings again to break him out of his temporary slumber. I bet it’s him again. Jaehyo properly gets up this time, shifting up so his covers fall over to the side. After a few moments of letting it ring, he finally swipes the green over and presses his phone to the side of his cheek. “Yeah?”

“Why didn’t you answer the first time? Get over to the train station now. Right away!” On the other end of the line, Minhyuk is leaning against a railing, obviously waiting patiently for the other party on the phone. He’s shielding his eyes with sunglasses and carrying a bag on his left. He admires the atmosphere of morning air as he talks to Jaehyo.

“I can’t go.”

Minhyuk turns pouty and condescending as he replies. “Why? I don’t get it.”

Jaehyo sighs into the reciever, looking down and fiddling with the end of his shirt. “I was free up til yesterday so it’s fine, but starting today, it’s no good. I can’t meet you.”

Minhyuk instantly understands, and on the other end of the line, he rolls his eyes. “Again? You’ll just break up in a week anyways.”

“I’m hanging up,” Jaehyo says abruptly, getting ready to end the call. However, Minhyuk decides to speak up and the younger boy groans outwardly. He really did want to go back to sleep, after all.

Minhyuk takes off his sunglasses, closing them and tucking them on the outside of his shirt. “What kind of girl is it this time? How old is she?” Minhyuk pretty much thought Jaehyo went out with girls. And a majority of the time, he’s right. Not many guys confess to him, and minus Minhyuk, who doesn’t even really count anyways, it’s only been two. But he can’t even remember the last guy that confessed to him before Jiho. What was it? Jihyuk? Jihoon? Ah, he can’t even remember.

“A person two years younger than me,” Jaehyo says, a long pause in between. He kind of hesitates, but he doesn’t really think Minhyuk picked up on that factor.

Minhyuk nods a bit, biting the inside of his cheek as he hums contentedly at the information he was given. “Is she cute?”

Jaehyo leans on his elbow a bit as he thinks about it. “Rather than cute....” He pauses for a bit. An image of Jiho at the bow pops in his head. He’s drawing back the line, his eyes focused and centered. He stands with his feet a little bit more apart then Jaehyo’s stance, and his brows furrow in just the right way as he lets the tension go, the arrow sailing through the air and hitting right in the bull’s eye. “...beautiful?”

Minhyuk seems kind of bitter about how perfect this person sounds, because within a flash, he’s biting back with a very irritated sounding tone. “Even more than me?”

“I think that kind of thing isn’t comparable, though,” Jaehyo says in an effort to be nice about it. He knew that if Minhyuk got too angry, he’d feel the wrath of it later. Minhyuk just always seems to think the front door of his house isn’t even a barrier at all, just skipping merrily in and meddling with the two sons that live there. Honestly, it’s such a bother. But he can’t exactly keep her away. She does as she pleases, and it’s the worst thing in the world when you’re kind of defenseless.

“I love that side of you,” Minhyuk cooes. Jaehyo raises his brows and rolls his eyes in the meantime. “Play with me in the weekend, ‘kay?” Minhyuk is about to hang up when Jaehyo remembers one thing he wanted to tell him. Something very important.

“Before that, how about you get back with my brother?”

He doesn’t answer. Just tsks over the phone and sends out something equally as berating as before. “I hate that side of you, though. See you.” The line goes dead, then, and Jaehyo dims his phone. 

He flops back down on his bed, letting out the world’s loudest sigh in the world. He turns over abruptly, staring at his phone and contemplating. This is no good. I’ve got to think of Jiho. In a flash, the boy gets up and grabs his jacket, since it’s chilly in his room and he can’t exactly make a ruckus in the house this early. He remembers what happened last time. As he does so, a bunch of thoughts pop up in his head that he hadn’t even thought of before now.

Surprised me. That he didn’t have a girlfriend even though he was so popular. He sticks his arms through the sleeves of his jacket as he scrolls through the contacts on his phone, ultimately landing on the person who he’d been currently thinking about. This time...can I fall in love? The possibility is there. Jaehyo strolls back over to his bed, rocking his phone in his hands as he sits down and keeps thinking.

I’m always hopeful in the beginning of the week. Even so, my feelings regarding my partner never seem to grow. He perches his hand underneath his chin as he stares at the calendar, the month of November largely sticking out from the font. Seven days to see what’s in my heart. It’s enough. It was enough for Minhyuk. 

Jaehyo recalls some of the dates he went on with Minhyuk. That one during the carnival in town, when Jaehyo had treated Minhyuk by buying him a drink served at the food carts. The look on Minhyuk’s face did not match Jaehyo’s. He remembers how loving he looked, and how immensely satisfied he was with his partner. It was the same on every other coffee date they were on. Most times Minhyuk would be on his phone, but when Jaehyo looked particularly uneasy about the relationship or just uncomfortable in general out in public with Minhyuk, the boy would dim his phone and stare at him in this heart choking way that didn’t seem to reach to the younger’s own. 

Jaehyo scratches his head. Honestly, all this thinking is giving him a headache and he can’t really stand it. He opens up his phone, clicks on Jiho’s number, and sends a good morning text to the boy. He isn’t exactly sure how Jiho will react when he gets it, so he sends it half-heartedly. Jaehyo was always used to being the one in the relationship that does that, so it’s kind of a habit. If only I sent this mail to the same person every week. He dims his phone and climbs back into his warm and inviting covers, setting his cell phone on his end table for the time being.

His head isn’t even allowed to hit the pillow for two seconds when he hears a ding from his phone. He’s gotten a text message. He excitedly grabs his phone from the table, opening it up and checking the message. He rips his covers off, sitting in the same position as he was staring at the calendar. He reads the message as he laughs, smiling a bright smile to go along with it.

From: Jiho

It’s too early. I hate you for waking me up.

He can’t help but smile brightly at the statement. “My bad,” he says out loud, punctuating his sentence with a condescending tone. Somehow, he’s different from his looks. He leans on his elbow, his own head hitting his shoulder. “He might be cute, after all,” Jaehyo announces with a warm smile on his face. He’s about to message Jiho back when he sees he’s getting a call. Of course, it’s a call from the man himself. After a few moments of confusion, he finally answers it. “Yes?”

A sleepy, deep voice comes out from the other end, and immediately, Jaehyo can tell it’s Jiho. “You’re an idiot. Right? You are, right?” Jaehyo brightens at the flick of a switch, the smile never leaving his face.

“Yes, I’m sorry. That was stupid of me.” He’s laughing and he doesn’t even realize it.

“Don’t apologize while laughing,” Jiho says. He’s sitting on the corner, his eyes barely even open as he speaks these words in a harsh tone to the other boy on the phone. “Waking up at a time like this...I can’t go back to sleep.” A half yawn comes out of the boy’s mouth as he shifts a bit. “What’re you going to do about it?”

“What should I do?” Jaehyo says teasingly. Another gigantic yawn comes from the younger boy on the line as he scratches his head.

“Annoying. I wanna punch you.”

“Ah, so should I come over to get punched?” Jaehyo is downright teasing the boy now, and he doesn’t even regret it. After all, he thinks this is fun. What a delightful conversation they’re having. A deathly silence cakes the atmosphere as he says those words. Uh oh, he stopped talking. Scary. Jaehyo’s about to hang up when Jiho says his name in that sleepy-sounding voice. It almost sounds quite terrifying. “Yes?” 

“Come to today’s morning practice,” Jiho says, his rebuttal weak.

“Morning practice? What morning practice?” 

Obviously irritated, Jiho rises, opening his curtains and looking outside. “Tell me what club you belong to.” 

“Archery club?”

“Don’t ask,” Jiho says, pulling the curtains all the way open. “You, don’t skip today. Cause I just decided I’ll come. This is what happens when you wake me up. Just watch me get my revenge. That’s all, see you.” He doesn’t wait for a goodbye on the other end before hanging up, turning around and yawning once again. Today was going to be a pretty rough day. He sits back on his bed, stretching his arms a bit as he tries to wake his body up.

Jaehyo, however, is still holding the phone in his hands, a small smile gracing his features. “I see. He’s coming, huh.” But it’s just perfect. I couldn’t go back to sleep either, anyway.

The target is riddled with arrows, and Jiho looks back and forth from his bow and the target, lining up his shot with his eyes as he raises it. He pulls the string back ever so slowly, the tension shifting his fingers slightly. Jaehyo and the rest of the club members are looking onwards, watching him shoot. I’ve been wanting to see this elegant stance after a while, Jaehyo thinks.

Suddenly, Jiho lets go of the arrow and it shoots forwards, sending itself slightly to the right, but still managing to hit the bull’s eye. All the club members clap in courtesy as Jiho lowers his bow. The supervisor a few steps away uncrosses his arms and begins to evaluate Jiho’s shot. “Your skills haven’t dulled. If you hadn’t made such a vulgar outburst in the end, I wouldn’t have anything to say.”

Jiho seems super confused about this, because he definitely oversteps the boundary and decides to question the authority with disbelief evident in his tone. “Vulgar!?”

Really, he’s all over the place. He was so beautiful up til then, too.

“Third years. Take your places.” Three of the third years in the club yell in acknowledgement as they get up from their place on the floor, going to gather their bows. They line up, the oldest out of the three going first as he draws his bow. Jaehyo waits patiently as the boy lines up his shot, trying as best as he could to seem poised and relaxed. In all honesty, it was really hard for him to get in the zone at the beginning, but once he pulled back the string, his whole demeanor changed.

Jiho is watching, crouched down and observant as he looks onward at the shots being made. Rather than being scolded, having you stand there staring at me is scary enough. Jaehyo shakes his nerves as he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and stares his target right in the face. He raises his bow, drawing the string back and shooting just like the others had before. It barely gets inside the bull’s eye. 

Jiho nods slightly at the shot his senior had made. The other two third years get it into the bull’s eye as well. They’re both holding one more arrow, so they make one more shot. Jaehyo can hear whispers off in the corner of the room from two girls and that only spikes his nerves up even more.

“That’s amazing. He doesn’t even show up for practice much.”

“He only needs to come once in a while and gets the feeling right away.” 

Jaehyo shifts his gaze over towards the speaker and his gaze is anything but calm and relaxed like he should be. 

“Quiet!” Jiho shouts at his seniors. Even though it’s considered rude to do so, he doesn’t care. He doesn’t like stupid things like that messing up other’s shots. And anyways, if he didn’t say something, most likely the supervisor wouldn’t. He’s too lenient on second year students like those girls. He shoots them a menacing glare and returns watching Jaehyo. The boy in his position sends Jiho a small smile as he averts his gaze back to the target and his ultimate goal. He shoots. He barely makes it again.

Nevertheless, all the members currently watching break out in applause again for the three students shooting after they finish. Jaehyo gets out of his standing position and goes to return his bow. I always thought he looks the most beautiful when pulling the bow until today, Jiho thinks.

Ironically today, they’re walking home together. They’re walking side by side together silently until Jiho decides to speak up. “It’s really late, but, is your house this way?” 

“It’s not.”

Jiho seems kind of confused, because they’ve been walking the same way for the past couple minutes, and Jaehyo hasn’t once refused. He doesn’t like to leave questions unanswered, so he asks. “Then why?”

“I thought I’d come with you until we hit a certain place,” Jaehyo says matter-of-factly. However, Jiho is still confused. It doesn’t make any sense.

“What for?”

Jaehyo replies as if it’s the most obvious thing in the entire world. “So I can stay with you longer.”

There’s a short pause as Jiho processes this, and he nods his head. They walk a little bit more in silence before Jiho strikes up the conversation again. Like before, he doesn’t like to leave questions unanswered, so he decides to ask something that’s been bothering him since yesterday. “You know....are we two...dating right now?” 

“That’s right,” Jaehyo says with his head held high. There’s a sloping road they’re going down, now, and it’s pretty awful. Jiho thinks he’s gonna get sea-sick.

“I see,” Jiho mumbles as he continues walking. However, Jaehyo stops. He readjusts the straps on his bag in confusion. Huh? Could it be...this person... Jiho thinks a little bit more just as Jaehyo does, and finally comes with a conclusion. “Well, if it’s like that, then I’ll just go with it.” Jiho’s walked a considerable pace ahead and Jaehyo finally gets it through his head that he has to catch up with him. He catches Jiho’s arm and pulls him back a little bit.

“Um. Yesterday, was it--”

“Let’s go on a date, Jaehyo!” Jaehyo lets go of his grip on Jiho’s arm as the younger boy continues talking. “Well cause, it’s already Tuesday, isn’t it? One week will go by in a flash. We have to use time efficiently!” Jiho seems overly enthusiastic about it, but Jaehyo feels a bit uneasy. As I thought, he’s decided it’s one week. Jaehyo shifts around uncomfortably. 

“You see, Jiho, it’s not like that.”

Jiho seems considerably shocked for a moment there. It’s only because he’d misinterpreted Jaehyo’s statement. “Eh, no way? There’s decidedly no dates?”

“Decidedly?”

“The rules,” Jiho says bluntly. Jaehyo cannot even believe this kid thinks there are rules to this relationship. But of course, it would be easy to misunderstand. After all, many of the people he’s dated do think that sort of thing.

“There are no rules!” Cause it’s not a game. Jaehyo seems very troubled by this boy’s carefree nature, but it comes full circle when the boy outbursts in a very positive manner all of a sudden. 

“I’m glad! Then as I thought, first up is food. I’m hungry.” Jiho rubs his belly as he thinks about what to eat, but Jaehyo is still sort of taken aback by his behavior. Suddenly, Jiho walks away with his hand rubbing his belly. “Somehow I’m really craving for ramyeon right now.” Jaehyo catches up with his fleeting boyfriend somehow.

They’re walking in the train station when Jaehyo finally comes to a point where he absolutely has to tell Jiho. He stops in his tracks as Jiho unmistakeably stretches on, not noticing his partner has stopped walking. “Jiho...it was....a joke?” Jiho turns around at the sound of his name, gazing at the boy who finally put his head down in embarrassment of his question. Even if I fall for this person, it won’t go as I want it to. I’ve got to tell him. That it’s not a game. I have to...break up with him here and now.

After a few moments of silence, Jiho had had enough. “What are you doing?” He strolls up to Jaehyo, grabbing his wrist and dragging him along delicately. Jiho is smiling all the while as he drags his troubled boyfriend behind him, and it’s all too much sometimes.

Jiho promptly breaks apart his wooden chopsticks and mixes the green onions and tender piece of sliced pork in so it is submerged in the broth. He says a thanks for the meal out loud and blows on some noodles for a moment before shoveling them into his mouth. Jaehyo is sitting beside him. His own ramen is sitting there steaming on its own. He seems uneasy there sitting in his seat. Jiho enjoys his ramen for a few moments before finally noticing Jaehyo’s demeanor and looking over at the stoic boy.

“You didn’t want ramyeon?” Jaehyo meets his eyes and obviously was not paying attention, because he asks the boy to repeat his statement. But he doesn’t. He just kind of points out the obvious. “You’ve been quiet all this time. I hate that kind of thing. When you don’t like something but just stay quiet and go along with me.” Jiho’s kind of pouting, and when Jaehyo hears the last sentence, he abruptly leans into Jiho and angrily returns.

“I had no such intentions!” 

“Then why are you silent?” 

Jaehyo knows he’s trapped now, and he can’t even lie to Jiho at this point. So he says what’s been bothering him for awhile. “That’s because I had something troubling me.” Why can’t I be more determined about this? 

There’s an icy silence covering the room for a little bit before Jiho speaks again. “If you’re not up to it, then, let’s go home after finishing this?” Jaehyo looks incredulously at the boy next to him as he raises more noodles to his mouth.

“Don’t you dislike it when people just go along with you?” Jiho finishes chewing his noodles and slurps up some of the steaming broth before he actually talks again. 

“Yeah. I really hate it. But there’s no meaning if we’re both not enjoying ourselves. With things like this.” He looks over at Jaehyo as he says this, the tiniest of smiles hidden on his face. Jaehyo smiles a bit to himself, taking his bottom lip in between his teeth. He finally takes a sip of the broth from the ramyeon in an effort to enjoy himself. As he does so, he remembers something he needs to do.

“Shoes.” Jiho stops in his tracks as he lifts some noodles up, plonking his chopsticks back into the bowl. “I want to look for new ones,” Jaehyo mentions.

“Shoes?” Jiho asks for confirmation. He gets a nod in return. They both send each other melting smiles and Jiho nods. “I’m in.” However, though, before they leave, they finish their ramen.

They’re just browsing, after all, and both of them are examining pairs of shoes with alarming price tags on them. However, none of them mind. It’s comfortable silence for once since the ramyeon shop. They’re both taking display shoes off of the shelf to look inside and at the undersides. Jaehyo still isn’t content on a decision of what pair to get, so he keeps searching. Jiho is just doing it purely out of fun. That is, until, he sees a really cool pair of purple sneakers in the corner. “Wah! Jaehyo, look, look! Isn’t this great?”

“Yeah, it’s cool,” Jaehyo returns with a smile.

“Right? This color’s nice too,” Jiho says as he picks up the same model of shoe, but just in a cream complimented with red. Jiho tries them on, working out the parts that catch on his heel and breaking his foot into it. I didn’t know. “As I thought, it’s cool!” Seeing him with the bow I wouldn’t have ever thought that he could be so interesting. “Don’t you think so, Jaehyo? These are good, right?”

“They look good on you,” Jaehyo says, the biggest smile on his face. He’s holding a polka-dotted shoe, but he’s looking at Jiho with the most affectionate gaze on his face. For some reason I can’t take my eyes off him.

They leave their bags on the floor as they’re at the movies. Jaehyo can’t even remember what movie they’re even seeing, because Jiho’s head has just dipped onto his shoulder. He’s asleep. Jaehyo moves a bit so he can grab Jiho’s dangling drink from his hands and place it in the cup holder. He doesn’t really want to get in trouble for spilling things. He also moves a bit so the boy sleeping is more comfortable on his shoulder. Well, as comfortable as you could get on a shoulder.

As he watches Jiho’s sleeping face for a bit, he feels an overwhelming surge of emotion in his heart as he tentatively lowers his head onto Jiho’s and closes his eyes. 

[thepageofapillow]

Seven Days: Monday

Summary: Jaehyo desperately wants to fall in love, so he accepts everyone’s confession every Monday, dates them for a week, and ends up saying “I couldn’t fall in love with you, let’s break up.” Jiho is a boy who’s very oblivious to other girl’s feelings, and most of the girls he dates ends it for him. Sometimes asking someone out on a whim is a good thing.

Pairing: Jaeco(Jaehyo/Zico), mentions of slight Taepyo and old Jaekyung

Word Count: 5.2K

Read on AO3!

A/N: This is based on a manga/movie that I adore so much and I wanted to write it for these boys. Also, this is going to be 7 chapters. Enjoy!

Class was stupidly boring and Jiho hated it. He often would sit there, twirling his pencil as he listened to the teacher spout nonsense about whatever they were learning that day in English class. Frankly, Jiho didn’t mind school, but when it got as tedious as it did on a regular basis, he absolutely detested it. Currently, he was gazing out the window and looking onwards into the schoolyard when his pair of leopard-like eyes met feminine ones. Two girls were staring at him, screeching as low as they could to avoid disturbing classrooms around them. They frantically waved at Jiho, and Jiho had waved back after a few tentative moments of contemplation.

Many girls had crushes on him. He wouldn’t say he was ugly, but for some reason he gained a lot more attention than he expected. Nothing would surpass Ahn Jaehyo, though. He was really popular for someone who didn’t show up for archery practice. And that really irritated Jiho when he didn’t. Though Jaehyo is his senior, Jiho is still in charge of gathering everyone up and when he sees that Jaehyo isn’t at practice, his blood practically boils. The teacher is droning on now in front of the classroom and Jiho thinks he’s about to reach the breaking point between staying in his desk and smashing the window when, thank god, the bell rings.

Jiho stretches, letting out a loud yawn when he gets smacked upside the head by none other than Park Kyung. 

“Ow! What was that, Kyung? Why’d you hit me? It was with your fist, wasn’t it!? Definitely your fist...” Kyung points a pen at Jiho’s face and twists his eyebrows into something almost menacing. Jiho stops in his tracks and looks at his friend disbelievingly.

“It’s because you do unrefined things like yawning loudly with that good-looking face of yours, Jiho,” Kyung says, still pointing the pen deathly close to his friend’s nose, “that you always get dumped in a flash, you know.” Jiho rolls his eyes at Kyung and literally cannot believe this was brought up in conversation when all he wanted to do was escape this boring hellhole and go eat lunch already. What were they even serving today? Jiho can’t even remember because Kyung is still rambling on. “Realize that and do something about it, already.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it! What a pain...” Jiho mumbles that under his breath and is almost certain that Kyung can’t even hear it, but he does. Kyung tosses the pen next to Jiho’s elbow as his friend lays his head on the table in irritation at this conversation. He starts walking away and Jiho wonders why this conversation was even brought up in the first place. It was a trivial thing to talk about when your stomach’s rumbling was louder than the car horns honking outside. 

Kyung tsks as he walks away, leaning on the empty space in Jiho’s desk as he looks upwards. “Not even listening to others’ advice. It’s only a matter of time before your current girlfriend breaks up with you.” Kyung ponders something as he interestedly stares at the ceiling, but in a flash, he snaps his head towards Jiho, who’s still resting his head in his arms. “It might even be tomorrow.”

Jiho raises his head up rather proudly, sending a smirk Kyung’s way. “Not to worry. We’d already broken up.” Kyung seems rather shocked at this, so he turns around. He plants his arms on the desk as he faces his friend now, who looks way too proud for someone who was just dumped. 

“When?” 

“Yesterday.” Jiho interlaces his fingers with his own and leans forward as he tries to remember what the girl said. “’Jiho oppa isn’t the Jiho oppa I thought you were,’ she said.” Jiho purses his lips as he looks out the window again. He seems sort of bitter with that look on his face. In all honesty, Jiho wants to find love too. But all he seems to think is that girls only look at his face and thinks he’s the perfect person. He doesn’t think people dig deeper, and definitely doesn’t think people care about the heart rather than his looks. It’s saddening, really. Although Jiho is rather handsome, he wishes someone would try to crack the surface and see underneath his beauty. 

He always gets the same thing. They’d be going out on a date or something, he and his girlfriend, and he’d get the same lecture. ‘That side of you....disappoints me.’ And then in a flash, he’d be dumped, single the next day. It gets a little frustrating sometimes, but he wishes someone would like his personality rather than dismiss it a few days later. 

He wakes up from his reverie for a bit, and shifts in his seat. He sighs a bit, moving up so he can properly make eye contact with his friend. “To begin with, everyone just does as they please. They come confessing and get disappointed when I’m not what they expect me to be.” Jiho puffs air out between his lips as he ponders the idea, voicing it out towards his expectant and waiting friend leaning against his desk.

“Well, you can’t blame them either, huh,” Kyung expresses as he crosses his arms, smiling a little bit. “For your case, the gap between your looks and personality is just huge. It’s practically a scam.” Kyung stares off into space, admiring the blackboard for only just a few moments before he continues talking. All the while, Jiho is still examining the window and it’s contents behind it, absorbing all the nature in the air that was shielded by wall and glass. “The sight of you pulling the bow still looks beautiful to me, even though I know what you’re really like. What is it...the stoic-ness of it all?”

“I’d consider myself lucky, if I were dating someone as realistic as you,” Jiho says, studying his hand. There’s a dried piece of herb on the crevice of his knuckles, and he surmises it might be from the pizza from last night. Who knows, though. He’s quite alarmed when Kyung suddenly turns around, looking on intently at his friend.

“Then wanna try going out?” 

“Sure, why not?”

There’s an awkward pause as Jiho answers, making intense eye contact. There’s a small laugh emitting from Kyung as he shakes his head disapprovingly. He turns around and leans up on the desk again, and Jiho is pretty concerned that it might be one of his habits.

“No way. Agreeing to it so lightly!” Kyung can’t stop himself from laughter. He seriously cannot believe his friend is this dense after his glorious speech from before. Nevertheless, he doesn’t even seem surprised when Jiho asks his next question. 

“So, no?” 

“Of course not,” Kyung replies fast, with a bitter edge to his voice. He pouts too, furrowing his brows in disbelief and irritation. Jiho smirks all the while in his tranquil corner by the window, bending his body slightly so he can crack the bones in his back. 

“Okay,” he just says, agreeing to whatever Kyung had said. 

Kyung just scowls, crossing his arms again and watching the students pass outside the corridor to go get lunch and hang out with their friends. He sort of chuckles, further emphasizing his point across as he tries to get his friend to understand. “Even though you felt nothing to begin with.”

“Falling in love..You never know when it’s going to happen to you,” Jiho says, bobbing his head back in forth as the words flow out of him effortlessly. He’s about to continue talking when he hears heavy footsteps and a familiar voice calling out to him. A familiar deep voice, at that.

“Oi, hyung! Wanna get pizza?” It’s Jihoon, a junior of his. Ever since he entered the school only a year ago, he’s been practically plastered to Jiho’s side. The two of them became really fast friends and everyone was convinced that Jihoon didn’t have any others to bond with. However, no one had really expected it when they saw Jihoon and Taeil holding hands in the courtyard on a Tuesday morning. They pretty much intended to keep their relationship a secret, but after they were found out, they didn’t really care anymore. 

Kyung moves out of the way as Jihoon races into the classroom with a book, showcasing some of the recent creations from the nearby pizza place in town. “That sounds nice!” Jiho grabs the booklet out from Jihoons hands and studies it, his mouth already watering at the possibilities he could get on his little pizza pie. Kyung races over and looks at the menu over Jiho’s shoulder, and Jihoon pulls up a chair to the desk and sits in it, his chest facing the part where your back should lean against. 

“I’ll have the one with eggplants and minced meat!” Jiho declares. Jihoon points towards the toppings, scanning them with both his eyes and fingers before he settles onto what he wants.

“I’ll have beef,” Jihoon says, setting his bag down on the floor and averting his gaze to the only one standing as he hears a scoff from that direction. 

“That’s all meat, then!” Kyung is probably pouting again, but Jiho isn’t bothering to check at all. They both look disbelievingly at Kyung, knitting their brows and confusedly gazing upon him.

“It’s fine, isn’t it?” Kyung doesn’t respond then, instead mulling over the menu just in case he wanted to grab a slice of pizza for himself. Just then, they hear girls conversing in the front of the classroom. All three of the boys look onwards at the girls, catching their conversation. They probably thought they were being quiet, but they weren’t.

“Is he not coming to school today?” Both girls were huddled against the window, holding onto each other for support as they worried about a mystery boy. Honestly, Jiho had no idea who they were talking about. There were plenty of boys in this school that girls were typically worried about if they didn’t come to school on a regular basis. So for the time being, he shrugged it off as he heard the mumbles of worry and frantic glances at the entrance of the school.

Kyung, apparently, knows exactly who they’re talking about, because he’s the one who breaks the staring contest at the concerned pair of girls. “Today is Monday, huh?” Kyung breaks his outloud thought for a second to see both Jiho and Jihoon looking at him with a weird expression. “Jaehyo’s actions concern the girls, after all, huh.” Jiho wonders why every ending of Kyung’s sentence is a question, but he knows he’ll get hit if he asks, so he keeps his mouth shut. For a second, he even forgets about his third year senior, and promptly asks Kyung who he is. Brainfart alert.

“Jaehyo?”

“Jiho, you’re in the archery club with him, right?” Jiho breaks out of his complete brainfart and thinks about hitting himself, but he doesn’t. Instead, he beats himself up inside his brain, sending negative thoughts. He pauses for a second to criticize himself before answering.

“Ah, the third year, Ahn Jaehyo.” He nods along with himself as he makes the puzzle pieces connect, and Kyung finally tears his eyes away from the jittery girls to participate in listening to the conversation again.

“Right. Did you two good-looking guys get along well?” Jihoon knows both the boys are good looking, and often teases Jiho because of his looks. Not in a bad way, of course. Just kind of in a way that’s like, “Dude, I know you’re handsome and you know you’re handsome, right?” Jihoon points his finger at his friend for good measure as he asks his question, waiting for an answer as he does so.

“Not at all. We just greeted each other occasionally,” Jiho says as he looks back at the booklet full of pictures of pizza. He turns the book over to the front and reads the ridiculous advertisement font on the front. “He didn’t really come to the dojo anyway.” He finally sets the book down on his desk, interlacing his fingers back together as he pushes back on his heels to make his chair lean closer to the wall. 

Both Jihoon and Kyung seem kind of appalled that Jiho doesn’t know, considering how confused he was watching the girls converse only a minute ago. Or maybe too shocked that Jiho is that dense after all. So Jihoon steps up to the plate and is the one who informs him of it. “Then you don’t know about it? Jaehyo’s....Monday definite okays?” Jihoon tilts his head to the side and is pretty sure that Jiho definitely doesn’t have an inkling of what it is, because then he asks,

“What’s that?”

Kyung fills in for a stunned Jihoon sitting across from Jiho. “Jaehyo will go out with the first girl who confesses to him in a week.” Kyung nods his head, looking so matter-of-fact and straightforward that he might as well be Jiho’s teacher. It’s kind of scary how the two are similar when Kyung is dead serious. “Well, he’s popular, so of course he usually gets confessed to on Monday. And he’ll definitely say yes,” Kyung finishes, crossing his arms again and nodding all the while. 

Jiho raises his brows in disbelief as he pays attention to his friend. He’s drinking up all the words he’s said and is kind of surprised when he hears the end of it. “No matter who confesses?”

“Yes, no matter who.”

Jiho nods his head, taking it in for the first time. He’s never heard of his senior do a thing, so when he hears about this, he’s kind of taken aback. “For real?”

He gets no answer, but Kyung rattles on. “Then, in the end of the week, he’d tell her this: ‘I couldn’t fall in love with you, let’s break up.’” Kyung seems kind of saddened when he says this, bowing his head down and biting the bottom of his lip. It’s kind of strange. But then Jihoon finally notices and remembers what happened only a few months ago. He gives her a look that beckons her to continue, acknowledging her sadness. “Right, I went out with him for a week last May.” He places his hands behind his back and raises his head up high for a few moments.

“What’s with that pride?” Jiho feels like he misses something when he sees his friend change in attitude all of the sudden. What’s so good about being proud of someone you got dumped by anyways? Jiho feels like he has a headache coming on with all this processing of information.

Kyung seems to blow over in overenthusiastic energy, because he hops up on the heel of his shoe and frantically pushes his arms out. “Because! To go out with Jaehyo is like hitting the jackpot!” Jiho finally knows Kyung lost it because the boy cradles his arms to his chest and practically fanboys on the spot. So much for being best friends with a really flaming homosexual.

“No, Kyung, that’s the complete opposite of what you say about me,” Jiho utters. What he gains from his retort is a narrowing of the eyes from Kyung’s part, and Jihoon shifting uncomfortably in his seat as he’s being left out of the conversation. He scratches his head awkwardly and tries to jump in unexpectantly. 

“Normal people don’t understand how popular people think. What is he actually like, Ahn Jaehyo?” Both Kyung and Jihoon eye their friend as he ponders the question. What is Jaehyo actually like, Jiho wonders. He takes a few moments to think about it when a vision pops into his head. It’s Jaehyo, and he’s actually at archery club for once. He’s handling the bow, lining up his shot and pulling the string back ever so delicately, his eyes focused on the target at the end of the room. His eyes are sharp and steady as he lets go of the arrow, the string lining up with the crevice of his lips.

“Well, he’s manly.” Jiho really isn’t sure what to say because he barely even talks to the guy, but both his friends were waiting for an answer with narrowed eyes, so he tries to deliver.

“We can see that for ourselves!” Jihoon’s tone is antagonizing, trying to whittle some more information out of the boy in front of him. Kyung just stands there. He doesn’t really know why Jihoon asked Jiho, because hell, he went out with the guy! He should definitely know more than someone who barely sees him at archery practice. 

“Well, I’ll go,” Jiho says suddenly, rising up from his chair and promptly pushing it in. He plants his hands in his pockets as he strolls along to the door, almost leaving it. It’s almost as if he predicted Jihoon would question why he was leaving. “What? We ordered pizza, right? I’ll grab it by the gate, so I’ll leave my assignments to you!” Jiho almost says that jokingly, but the truth is, he really didn’t want to do them. As he finishes his last sentence, he walks backwards, and hears pleads from his friends behind him to come back and sort out this mess, but he’s blocking them out. He’s already out the door and he definitely isn’t going to go back.

A few moments later, and Jiho is sitting right against the gate staring at the puffy cumulus clouds in the sky. What Jihoon has said about how people think is replaying in the inner chasms of Jiho’s mind, and sooner or later, Jiho is caught up in a big tornado of thought. I feel like I’ve been told something similar before. Of course, it was in a completely different condition. I’ve never thought about it before, but what kind of person is Jaehyo, I wonder? 

As if on cue, a silver car rolls up the street, blowing some dirt and wind around in Jiho’s short hair. It’s a convertible, and Jiho looks over to see who’s inside. It’s Jaehyo. He shoulders his bag as he approaches Jiho sitting there, nodding his head once and calling out a greeting. “Morning,” he says, a cordial smile gracing his face. 

“You’re early today,” Jiho notices, making some small talk before his pizza gets there at the front gate. He watches the car drive away and remembers the girl in the driver’s seat. “Was that your girlfriend for the week? She looks older than 20.”

Jaehyo walks a little bit closer to Jiho, closing their distance but keeping a relatively comfortable space between them. “You’re not very observant, Jiho,” Jaehyo chides, leaning up against the wooden fence, “Wrong on both counts.”

“Huh? Don’t you go out with them once they confess?” Jaehyo is admiring the clouds in the sky just as Jiho was before, and Jiho is the only one looking at his senior leaning against the fence. He’s kind of studying how he reacts to his sentences, but overall, it’s a bit blander than he expected it to be.

“She’s different,” Jaehyo says. A small silence envelopes the air around them before Jaehyo inquires his biggest question. “Anyways, what are you doing here? It’s still lessons, isn’t it?” Jiho laughs once, hugging one of his knees to his chest as he gives his answer.

“I’m waiting for pizza. It’s self-study.” 

“Ah, I see.”

The two sit in a relatively comfortable silence for a little while before Jiho’s brain kicks into high gear and confuses him with thoughts again. Something Kyung’s said earlier in the conversation that he ignored is coming back up, and honestly, he isn’t even sure how his brain stuck onto that one thing. ‘One week...is long enough to dream, right? Jaehyo is perfectly faithful, too.’  Jiho doesn’t notice he’s staring up at his senior until the boy next to him shifts his head uncomfortably as he feels eyes bore into his side. They make eye contact and Jaehyo feels as if something is wrong.

“What is it?”

“Ah, you haven’t been confessed to yet today?” Jaehyo shakes his head and returns with a ‘not yet’ in a small voice. “So it’s going to start from now, huh?”

“Even second years know about that, huh?” Jaehyo’s tone sounds a little bit disbelieving, and for a minute, Jiho wants to reach up and hit him playfully. But Jiho isn’t even sure what their type of relationship is or even how the boy would react to such a thing. So he doesn’t. He stays firmly planted in his seat on the dirty concrete and keeps conversing with the older boy locked in place at his side.

“I just found out. Are you really fine with anyone as long as they confess to you first? Even if they’re totally not your type?” Jiho seriously wanted to know. Because for years he’s kind of been the same way, just not as drastic. He has a type, definitely, but when girls confess to him, it’s just hard for him to say no. Plus, they’re all pretty anyways. So what does it matter?

“Type? You don’t know that by just looking, do you?”

“No, I mean, their looks?” Jiho says that as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. But he doesn’t exactly want to overstep a boundary with his hyung that would get him in trouble, so he doesn’t, so he just leaves it at that. He’s only rewarded with a ‘Hmm..I wonder..” from the other party leaning on the fence, and after that, he decides to press on more. “For example, a gentle-looking person or a sexy type of person.”

It seems as if a lightbulb went on in Jaehyo’s head, because his brows raise up and he turns his whole body to peek at his junior. “Ah, but I like your face. That’s what a type is, right?” Jiho is kind of taken aback at this statement, and averts his gaze to the really interesting lamp post across the street. He doesn’t really know what to say. He can feel his ears turning red and he’s thankful that his hair practically covers them.

Jaehyo’s still looking at him with a proud expression on his face, poised in the most stupid and attractive way possible. The silence is kind of stretching more awkward than it had been before for two acquaintances. It was kind of in the spur of the moment. Kind of like, “How would this guy react if I said this?” “Then....” Jiho pauses, unsure of himself for a moment, but he hitches in a breath, completing his statement, “...go out with me, Jaehyo.”

The other boy’s eyes slightly widen. He definitely wasn’t expecting that at all. They stay there like that, making intense eye contact. Jaehyo still hasn’t said his answer, and Jiho is practically convinced that he’s so shell-shocked by the situation that he can’t even fathom to produce one. It’s been such a long time before their eye contact finally breaks at the sound of a scooter pulling up, a man with a helmet and pizza stepping out. Jiho views the sight, standing up abruptly as the man offers him his pizza.

“Are you Jiho?” The man removes the pizza from the hot box and Jiho confirms his identity with a small nod of his head. “It’ll be 32,000 won with tax,” the man declares, and Jiho goes on an adventure to find his wallet. He digs through his empty pockets, front and back, and in his coat pockets, and has come up with nothing. He then realizes he left his wallet back in the classroom in his bag and he curses himself for being so forgetful. 

“This is bad,” Jiho says, “I forgot my wallet in my bag.”

Jaehyo steps up, reaching inside his back pocket and pulling out a straw-colored wallet. He pulls bills out from it and hands it to the pizza guy. “Then, here,” he offers as he takes the pizza out from the guy’s hands. The pizza guy takes it, and promptly thanks them for their service as he packs up the rest of his scooter and pulls away. Jaehyo sniffs at the aroma coming through the box, and the both of them watch the man drive away back to the building he came from, no doubt doing some other deliveries nearby.

At this point, Jiho is kind of in disbelief. He didn’t really expect Jaehyo to do something that nice for him, much less after he practically confessed to the guy. He was pretty sure he would get rejected, but he didn’t even get an answer at all. Just covered for his neglectful mistake. He whips around, bowing to his senior and apologizing promptly. “Sorry! I forgot my wallet in class. I’ll pay you back later, hyung.”

“It’s fine,” the boy says, “More importantly, if you don’t hurry back, it’ll get cold.” He offers the box to the boy, giving him a small smile before he steps away. Jiho refuses that service to him, but before he can pull the boy back and demand he pay him back, Jaehyo is already several steps in front of him and Jiho doesn’t exactly feel like running. As Jaehyo licks his lips, he gazes behind him and meets the eyes of the boy who’s just as confused as he is. He purses his lips, though, and walks ahead, eager to get to class.

The bell chimes throughout the school, signaling the end of the day, and boy is Jiho happy. He can’t stand to be in there for another minute hearing his teacher talk and talk about things he doesn’t care about. He intends to head home and flop on his couch and never move again, but Jihoon has other plans as he approaches Jiho’s desk. “Hey, hyung? Wanna stop by the convenience store on the way home later?” Jiho nods, packing up his stuff and slinging his back over his shoulder. 

“I feel like I’m forgetting something, though,” Jiho says, biting the bottom of his lip and trying to figure out what it is. He comes up with nothing.  As he’s about to get up and walk out with Jihoon, he sees someone standing there he doesn’t expect and he instantly remembers. “Ah, hyung!” He rushes over to the boy standing in the doorway, pulling his wallet out of his bag and picking out the bills allotted from the time earlier. “Thanks for before. I’ve to pay you back,” he remembers out loud, “I almost forgot.” He offers the bills towards his senior and the boy tentatively takes it.

“Ah, thanks. I was wondering if we could go home together today,” Jaehyo adds as he puts the bills inside Jiho’s front pocket, tilting his head against the doorframe. Jiho is definitely confused, and all he can let out is a huh, leaving room for Jaehyo to continue. “Or do you have something to do?”

“Not me, you,” Jiho announces. He can’t believe this boy forgot again. Jaehyo looks completely confused, and now, both their expressions match for once. Jaehyo shakes his head, perplexed at Jiho’s statement.

“I’m free,” he says, and Jiho outwardly groans.

“You have club, don’t you? Club activities!” An expression of horror flashes against Jaehyo’s perfect face as he remembers. Well, shit. Jiho doesn’t have to go today because he’s filled his queue since two practices ago. And he knew the supervisor was getting angry that Jaehyo wasn’t going, so he wanted to insist upon the boy he’d go today. Whether or not he remembered to pay him back for earlier. “Take this as a warning from supervisor,” Jiho adds, trying to sound menacing. He, in turn, leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “Your talent. It’s a waste, you know. Come to practice.”

“Ah, that’s righ--”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Jaehyo pulls out his cell phone and kind of laughs at his junior’s menacing behavior. “It’s not like that,” he assures the boy. Jiho still looks accusingly at his senior. He isn’t going to let him up like this. He’s going to be persistent about the practice thing. At least, he was before he was asked a very simple question. “Do you have a cell phone, Jiho?” Jiho just nods, confirming that indeed, a high school student like him with a life, has a cell phone in his possession.

Jaehyo opens his phone with a pattern and touches his contacts, bringing up a new form to fill out a brand new one. “That’s great. Tell me your number and email address?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll contact you,” Jaehyo says with a pip in his voice. He feels really excited about this situation. It always starts like that in the beginning of the week.

“Why do that?”

Jaehyo seems taken with this question. And also, a little sad. His face is void of any sort of positivity as Jiho rattles on. “Were you the type that cares about stuff like this so much?” Jaehyo can’t respond, and even if he tried, he’d probably stutter and falter in his words. So he stays silent. Which is a good thing, because Jiho continues to talk. “Well, it’s fine anyways,” Jiho responds, pulling his phone out from his left pocket. He offers his phone to Jaehyo, and the older boy is kind of confused. “You do it. I don’t know how to.”

Jaehyo smiles warmly, taking Jiho’s phone from his fingers and looks back and forth from both phones, typing numbers and names in with ease. 

Off in the distance, Kyung and Jihoon are honestly super confused about what’s going on by the door of the classroom. “What’s with those two?” Jihoon asks incredulously as the both of them chide each other with equally annoying and cringy banter. 

“Who knows....” Kyung calls as he observes the boys’ peculiar behaviors.

“He said they just greeted each other, right?” Jihoon asks. He’s still as confused as Kyung is as he stares on. They speak in hushed whispers and it’s kind of hard to decipher what they’re conspiring about over there in the middle of the room.

Jaehyo finishes putting the numbers and email addresses into both phones and looks up from his endeavor. “Here you go,” he says, offering Jiho’s phone back to him, “I put mine in too.” Jaehyo pushes the dim button on the side of his phone and places it back in his pocket. He stuffs his other hand in the empty pocket and raises one brow teasingly. “Well, see you tomorrow.” Jiho just knows this boy is gonna go home without going to that practice, so he runs into the hall and reminds him, stopping his senior dead in his tracks in his adventure out the door. He turns around, offering a really cheesy and big smile. “If you say so,” he says, moving in the other direction towards the club room.

Jiho finds this behavior kind of weird and further thinks about it as he’s making the long trek home. Asking to go home together, asking for my phone number and email address....what a weird guy. Somehow it’s all too sudden. He takes the bills out of his front pocket and looks at them for a moment, confused. He puts them back and then remembers earlier today. How weird Jaehyo was acting, how he asked him out so suddenly. And then something goes off in his head. He smirks unbelievingly, shaking his head. 

“There’s no way. Impossible.”

[thepageofapillow]

The Match Girl

Summary: Hyejin’s matches seemed to burn everyone else, but evidently, Wheein was fireproof.

Pairing: Wheesa(Wheein/Hwasa), Moonsun in later chapter

Word Count: 1.2K

A/N: This is gonna be a weird parallel story...stay tuned.

Read on AO3!

She was interesting, to say the least. Jet black hair matched the stain painted on her lips as she mingled with the heat from a single wooden stick. Everyone knew to stay away, in fear of being burned. Not only did her stoic personality do the trick, but it was the neverending lit matches that singed everyone in her wake to the point that she was avoidable. Hyejin didn’t expect anything else. She was content with her loneliness and reveled in lighting matches. 

She loved the smell of burning wood, and awaited it every time she struck it across the gigantic box. The glowing pocket sized ember waved in the wind like it usually did, gradually burning its way down the stick until it was almost close to the girl’s blood red fingernails. When the time came, she would blow on it gently, ridding the stick of the flame as instant as snapping your fingers. Smoke would spoor away, fizzling into the open atmosphere and mingling with the different molecules in the air.

Hyejin, along with her match addiction, was one of the best singers in her grade. Though no one knew, of course, because she had distanced herself from the rest of the pack. Sometimes she liked to be alone because she felt no one could understand her. More often than not was because she was an introvert at heart. But even so, deep inside the dwellings of her heart lie a yearning to have someone to be stupid with. Most of the time Hyejin was quiet, but if she’d found a special friend to bring out her extroverted side, she’d be grateful. In all honesty she could label herself as an ambivert, but she’d long abandoned that when her former best friend neglected her long ago.

Maybe that’s why she took to burning matches. The flame was fleeting, just like the idea of friendship, and watching it for a few seconds made you feel so instantly overwhelmed with happiness that you didn’t know what do to. However, as long as it trailed down the stick and time wasted away, it would be time to blow it out. Hyejin never regarded herself as a deep person, but that analogy sometimes tricked her mindset a bit. She just tries to remember to take each day as it comes, and appreciate the little things that people do for you no matter what.

But right now, she was in a bad mood, which led to her whipping out her laptop-sized box of matches and going to work. The box was half empty, only reserved for times when Hyejin was in bounds of stress or anxiety. It was always nestled in the crook of her backpack for safe keeping. She struck it across the box, watching the flame blaze with its infinite supply of oxygen. It was times like these that made her feel blissful. A gust of her breath undoes the burning of the match, and she gazes up at the sky for a split second.

The clouds are puffy and cumulus, almost looking like whipped cream on top of a blueberry colored sky. The sun beamed high in the sky to the right, illuminating the courtyard where Hyejin sat. She averts her look back to the box in her hands as she scoots a little further to the trunk of the willow tree she’s under, resting her head on the back of it and running her hand through her hair for a bit. She inhales and exhales to the tune of the school bell chiming in slow paces, calming herself down for a little bit. 

She’s about to leave when she hears the grass rustle beside her. She feels the exertion of body heat warm up her arm as she turns to the left. A girl is sitting there, her incandescent smile churning Hyejin’s insides. “Hi,” is all she says, her dimpled smile inviting as she trains her eyes on the girl holding a mega box in her delicate fingers. Hyejin isn’t sure how to react. Grateful? Annoyed, like always? A different approach? So all she does is mumble under her breath. Hyejin herself didn’t even know what she was saying, much less the girl to the left of her. She didn’t seem to mind, though, since she stayed and kept talking to Hyejin.

“I’m Wheein. I like sunny days like these where I can watch the clouds, but it seems you’re in my favorite spot,” she jokes, a tiny giggle added to the end of her sentence. Hyejin can’t help but be enamored by the girl’s mere presence here. Even though everything in the back of her mind is saying that she’ll be hurt again, Hyejin presses on. It can’t hurt to take a chance. 

“I’m Hyejin,” she peeps almost inaudibly, but somehow, Wheein catches it. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Hyejin,” Wheein notes, holding her hand out. Hyejin takes it, putting her box down for a second to shake the girl’s hand. Her skin is incredibly smooth.

Almost as if a switch had been flipped, Wheein’s personality turns from calm to erratic. “Oh my god! I love your nails!” At the compliment, Hyejin reddens, scanning any other area than Wheein’s face.

“Thank you. I like yours too.” Wheein blushes at the compliment in turn, looking at her own chipped and cracked attempts at pastel green nails. 

“These? They’re awful. I messed up on them.” “Not everything has to be perfect. I think they’re nice.” It’s been a while since Hyejin has spoken a proper sentence like that.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Hyejin is about to ask where Wheein had gotten that jacket until that came up. She sheepishly nodded her head, and the girl next to her continued. “Why does everyone not talk to you? It’s like you don’t exist here,” Wheein commented, almost a saddening tone to her voice. At this, Hyejin pulls out her matches again and anxiously strikes a stick, watching the heat as moisture pricks at her eyelids. 

“Everyone thinks I’m weird.” Hyejin tries not to speak as strangled as she feels, but her voice comes out hoarse and definitely too easy to read and she curses herself. She should have more restraint over her feelings.

“But weird is good,” Wheein says, laying her hand over Hyejin’s, which was shaking against the cardboard box’s top. Hyejin finally gets a good look at the person keeping her company, and her eyes widen as she studies the girl’s face. Her brows are furrowed in worry, her gaze softening at every flicker over Hyejin’s form. Wheein’s hand wraps around the part of Hyejin’s palm nearest to her pinky finger and squeezes affectionately. It relayed a message to let Hyejin know that ‘hey, I’m here, and you can talk to me whenever.’ Hyejin caves then, and lets herself pour out to the girl as she squeezes the girl’s hand back with equal vigor.

Hyejin’s about to speak when the girl moves both of their hands to the grass. It was slightly wet there because of the dew, but Wheein didn’t care. She slid open the box, taking a match and clipping it against the box, lighting the small flame. “I’ll light matches with you here every day only to keep you company. I feel like you need a friend. Or at least for someone to care about you. You seem sad behind those eyes and I want to know more.” 

After that sentence, Hyejin doesn’t hesitate to lean into the strange girl’s shoulders and cry out her feelings for the first time.

[thepageofapillow]

Crosswalk

Summary: They’ve gone their separate ways, and have their separate regrets. Until the light flashes white, it all floods back to them.

Pairing: Taoris(Tao/Kris)

Word Count: 1.4K

Read on AO3!

A/N: I’m so in love with this song, which is what this fic is based off of. It just has so much emotion in it and I highly recommend you listen to it before you read this fic. Also this is FICTION so most of it isn’t factually CORRECT OK THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Also FYI this might actually be the shittiest thing I wrote but I had so many feelings leave me alone.

The day Yifan left EXO was a day filled with no regret. He was happy of his decision, and grateful that the bounds of his company were ripped from him and he could finally hang free. He could do as he wished now, and not feel as fatigued as before. He could hang out with whomever he wished without being scolded by the company, and not followed as much as he was when he was in a popular boy band. He could also now pursue the thing he missed most: his family. That day he didn’t think anything could come back to haunt him. 

Two years after Yifan left EXO, on this day, was indeed a day full of regret. He dwells on so much he’s wanted to say to his ex-members. How he’s sorry for suddenly disappearing without notice. For abandoning his position as leader and therefore neglecting the unit. For even going out of the company without notice, though it still rises contempt in him. But nothing breaks his heart more than when he replays the scene in his head before he left the group. 

He’s especially sorry for breaking Zitao’s heart, even though he doesn’t mean it like he did anymore.

The leader was being called, so he turned around. Standing there was the youngest of his unit, Zitao. He seemed to be out of breath, but Yifan didn’t know if it was from the dance practice or the fact that Zitao tended to rush everything. Still,, he awaited the words that spilled from the younger’s mouth as he spoke. He rose a brow indignantly and put his hands on his hips. The boy shivered in anxiety, too scared to have his heart crushed by the one he deared most. He just didn’t know it would hurt as bad as it did.

And then he said it. Those three words that changed everything. 

“I like you.” Yifan’s eyes dramatically widened as he leaned forward, trying to snap himself out of whatever trance or dream to end this. Unfortunately, it was real. 

“Zitao...” The boy perked up at the mention of his name, training his gaze on his leader as if awaiting his final verdict. “I’m so sorry. I can’t return your feelings.” His face dropped and immediately his eyes scrunched up, filling with tears to the brim. 

He ran off, then, and ever since, Yifan hadn’t been able to get the image out of his head. The way his eyes watered and his whole complexion dimmed considerably made Yifan’s heart swell and hammer against his chest with pain. He knows now that the words he said in exchange were lies. He didn’t mean it. He even knows before he left without warning that he regretted it. Just seeing the look in Zitao’s eyes when he announced it just....ruined everything. He may not have said goodbye formally, but over the phone was enough, he thought. He thought wrong.

Goodbye now.

“You’re what!?” Minseok practically yelled into the phone when Yifan uttered those words. It was on speaker for the whole eleven other members to hear. 

“Yeah, erm, I’m just gonna go. I guess I thought I should tell you guys,” Yifan says. Zitao doesn’t speak a word over the phone. He’s shocked. He thought he knew Yifan better than this. Apparently, he didn’t.

“But you’re coming back, right? This is a joke, right?” Luhan demands, emotional strangle to his voice. Yifan shakes his head, but then remembers that the rest of the members can’t see him. 

“Filed a lawsuit against the company to terminate my contract. I’m not planning on coming back,” Yifan says, and he can practically feel the tension in the room, even if he is several miles away. He hears Junmyun exhale over the phone dramatically, taking it away from Minseok and speaking as though it were only him and Yifan talking. 

“At least you have your reasons,” Junmyun returns after Yifan has explained why. Yifan sighs over the phone and apologizes once more. 

“I’m sorry,” he says. He can feel the members nodding their heads, even though he isn’t there to see it. 

“We understand. Have fun out there in the real world,” Yixing jokes, and Yifan laughs for a bit. 

After that, he decides to keep his composure up. “Goodbye,” he says, then hangs up the phone. 

I say my goodbyes like I’m so cool.

Now here he is, back in China for some business, always dwelling on the negative. But he can’t help but think of all the things he should have said. He still resides with his decision, but there were some young and dumb decisions made there and he should have listened to his head for once before he went all out and left. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

He shoves his hands in his pocket as he walks along the sidewalk, paying attention to the busy streets buzzling over next to him and in front of him. The crosswalk is near, and it’s almost time to stroll along, but the walking sign hasn’t displayed yet. So Yifan waits patiently, combing through the rest of the hair that had grown. He really needed a haircut. As soon as the timer ticks down to one and then finally changing the sign, Yifan goes off to step in his own time across the white lines. However, he wasn’t expecting to see a blond bespectacled being walking in the opposite direction.

It was Zitao.

Compared to Yifan’s own fashion, he wasn’t too shabby, and he was wearing thick framed glasses that took over his entire face almost. He looked fluffy in his big coat. But Yifan wasn’t really concerned with his appearance after all these years. Time seemed to stop when they made eye contact, and every dormant feeling lying there for the past two years had suddenly awakened and Yifan’s heart was thrumming erratically against his chest. He so desperately wanted to run up to him, and laugh like they used to when they were back in the unit. But things were different now.

Yifan had learned that Zitao left EXO too. Even before that, a few months after Yifan left, Luhan did too. He couldn’t say he wasn’t surprised. He could tell Luhan would. But Zitao? He had no idea. That kid tended to keep to himself with his hardships, anyways. But seeing him here? Now? A lot has changed and there wasn’t really tying anything together except for the feelings both of them harbored for each other. 

For a second I thought of holding you back.

Turns out I’m such a fool.

Part of Yifan wants to stay there and mend things back together, but his feet wouldn’t let them. They exchanged gazes until time unfroze and it seemed to melt back into the despairing state it had been before. Yifan walked on, as well as Zitao. The back of Yifan’s mind was screaming at him to get back there and talk to the love of your life goddammit, but he doesn’t look back. Not for a second. Because even as much as he wants to run back there and think Zitao would be waiting there for him, he knows he isn’t.

When I endure and walk across this road that I wished would never end…

He knows if he goes back, Zitao won’t be standing there. He also knows if he goes back, nothing will be mended. Nothing will bring them together like it used to, when things were blissful and bittersweet during every moment plastered together for the fans. It didn’t mean much to Yifan then, but it meant a hell of a lot to Zitao. But looking back, Yifan realizes it did mean a lot to him. That’s the only thing that would bring his Converse to turn around and run back into Zitao’s arms. 

But this isn’t a fairy tale.

So afraid that you might have left. So afraid you might not be there anymore. So afraid, so afraid that you might be gone. I cannot dare look back.

He steps up the stairs to his apartment for the time being, going inside, and then kneeling down to untie his shoes. Before he knows it, a drop of moisture coats the laces, and he realizes he’s crying after he undoes the loop tightening his shoe around his ankle. His brows furrow as he lets it all out, everything he’s held in for so long. He gazes longingly out the window as he swallows the lump in his throat, biting his bottom lip as the tears escape him unwillingly. He leans against the wall, sitting on the ground and hugging his knees to his chest. He rests his head on the back of the wall, shutting his eyes and letting all of his tears flow out of him silently.

I cannot dare look back.

[thepageofapillow]

Dormant But Disturbing

Summary: Namjoon sometimes gets a little philosophical, and Yoongi fucking hates it.

Pairing: Sugamon(Suga/Rap Monster)

Word Count: 851 

Read on AO3!

A/N: Based on this post. I couldn’t resist, sorry, lol!

Today wasn’t really eventful in the slightest. No cheesy dinner dates, no movie sessions, and not even a casual fuck. Yoongi and Namjoon were sitting around doing nothing like a real married couple. Not like Yoongi ever cared. As much as he hated to admit it, he loved nights like these. Where he could be in this type of comfortable silence with Namjoon and not give a fuck about anything else. He wouldn’t be stressing because of money this time around, because if they did go out tonight, it was Yoongi’s turn to pay, and his wallet was currently crying from the emptiness and he wasn’t really keen on doing all that.

So they were just sitting there. Well, Yoongi was. He was scrolling down his Twitter feed, logged into the joint Bangtan account as he always was. Sometimes he would read fan tweets, but then he would find a relatively disgusting one and remember why he’d often not read them. He sets his phone down for a second to see his boyfriend longingly staring out into the open night sky. Since when had their blinds been open like that?

Yoongi thinks nothing of it at first, but then he takes a double take and sees how Namjoon is looking at the window. Oh boy, Yoongi thinks, he’s thinking about the goddamn universe again. He hears a small puff of air emit from the man across the room and his suspicions are confirmed. Usually he doesn’t even bother Namjoon when he’s like this, because he knows if he does, he’ll get sucked into a conversation that he does not want to get into. It’s usually stupid anyways. At least, to Yoongi.

At once, Namjoon slides around on his desk chair, the chair swiveling around so Namjoon’s pupils are staring right at Yoongi, prodding with him about discussing something. Yoongi breaks eye contact and stares back down at his phone, refreshing the page and seeing a funny tweet from one of his hoobae groups. He presses the like button as he usually does, but when he’s about to scroll back down a little, Namjoon finally speaks up about the bullshit he’s been thinking about for the past few minutes in engulfing slience.

“Hey, hyung? Did you know that Tetris teaches you that when you try to fit in, you disappear?” Yoongi stops in his tracks, his thumb stopping as he tries to scroll down. He averts his eyes to his boyfriend, who’s gaze is now focused on the ceiling, contemplating. 

Yoongi narrows his eyes and throws Namjoon a stank face. “Orrrr it was a fucking game you fake deep piece of shit,” Yoongi throws out, punctuating his sentence by throwing his phone on the bed. Namjoon gazes back at Yoongi again, blinking ever so often as his words sink in. He remembers how Yoongi feels about stuff like that, and halts himself from instigating a one-sided shouting match.

In the beginning, when Yoongi had insulted Namjoon as a joke, Namjoon had always taken it to heart. But now, he’s desensitized to it and merely scoffs at the shit that’s thrown to him almost daily. And fuck, he might even find it endearing now. Sometimes he even likes pushing it just a little further. “But did you ever think about it?” Namjoon asks, intended to be an open question. He projects his voice dreamily as he places his index finger on his chin in open reflection.

When he looks back at Yoongi again, his boyfriend is rolling his eyes and outwardly groaning. “You’re an absolute idiot,” Yoongi murmurs, turning his phone dark with one button as he approaches Namjoon. Namjoon decides to go cheesy on him just for a bit. 

“But I’m your idiot,” Namjoon teases, fiddling with the hem of Yoongi’s shirt just as he gets close enough. 

Yoongi pretends to gag, pointing inside his mouth for dramatic effect. “Why am I dating you again?” Namjoon actually thinks about this before throwing back an equally snappy answer.

“Because I’m irresistable,” Namjoon says as he pecks his boyfriend’s mouth in a swift movement, dragging him along to the bed by his wrist. 

“Spare me. Let’s do something before you get all philosophical on me again,” Yoongi expresses, pointing towards the television, “Let’s watch a movie or something.” Namjoon nods as he sits side by side on the bed with Yoongi. He should have known better when the smaller male scooches closer and nuzzles his neck in the corner of Namjoon’s shoulder. A low chuckle rumbles in his chest as he slings his arm around his boyfriend’s frame, turning on the tv to whatever thing was remotely interesting for the time being. 

“Do you ever wonder why you’re so lucky to have someone?” 

Yoongi’s face flushes before he slaps Namjoon rather hard on the cheek. “I said no more philosophical shit, you sap!” 

Namjoon laughs again, kissing the top of Yoongi’s forehead. “Okay, promise I won’t.” 

“Good,” Yoongi says with a childish pout, effectively ending their short conversation before doing nothing again, only added with the audio of a horror movie in the background.

[thepageofapillow]

Glassy-Eyed

Summary: Five times Hongbin is weirdly attracted to Jaehwan and one time where he just can’t hold back anymore. So, technically six.

Pairing: Kenbin(Ken/Hongbin)

Word Count: 4.8K

Read on AO3!

I.

It all began with a simple thing most boys in his dorm did. Usually Hongbin didn’t really think much of it, because, well, he didn’t swing that way. At least, he thought he didn’t. 

It was after practice and each member was drenched in sweat and was absolutely glistening. Unfortunately, their manager had taken one of the bathrooms and now there was a line of sweaty idols congregating for the shower time, and unfortunately, Wonsik had been the one who was quicker than everyone else. Their leader outwardly groaned and complained whilst the contradictory Taekwoon kept his mouth shut and simply ambled away to his room, lying on his futon for the time being. The maknae was respectful, at least, and plopped down on the couch and played on his phone for a bit. Hongbin minded a lot that Wonsik took the last shower, but didn’t say anything. The other member who was very vocal about his complaints happened to be the cute main vocal.

“Aish, why does Wonshikkie get the first shower!? It’s unfair!” 

“I agree!” Hakyeon shoots his fist up in the air and joins his younger in protest, going full mom mode and scolding his other member currently lathering up. Jaehwan gives Hakyeon a high five and they both look at each other in mutual agreement before going on their way again. The room had gotten steadily warmer with the increase of bodies, and sooner or later, everyone started to sweat again. Hongbin’s fringe was sticking to his forehead by then, and his breathing had become quite labored.

Apparently the other members standing by the bathroom felt the same thing, because Sanghyuk was starting to complain along with 75% of the hyung line. Hakyeon pounded on the door and outwardly yelled into the bathroom. Wonsik was taking an awfully long time. Mysteriously, Taekwoon had vanished, and Hongbin had surmised that the manager had finished his shower and Taekwoon took his opportunity to get away from the better part of his team yelling at screaming at Wonsik to hurry up already. Jaehwan groaned and let out a little whine. “It’s so hot in hereeeee!” 

And that’s when Jaehwan shed his shirt that practically stuck to his body with the overwhelming perspiration, showing his paled chest in comparison to the more tanned areas on his arms and face. He certainly wasn’t as built as Wonsik or Hongbin, but he had a lean figure and skin blemish free. There wasn’t even a single mole on that boy’s chest. Jaehwan’s skin looked as though he’d already taken a shower and was starting to dry, but it was the sweat that built up from hours of dance practice and the growing heat in the room that got him drenching. Hongbin’s breath hitched in his throat for whatever reason as he looked at his now half-naked hyung.

The other members paid no mind, but Hongbin’s widened eyes were glued to the main vocal’s chest. His collarbones protruded out underneath his neck and were ever more prominent than anything. Hongbin’s eyes raked down his hyung’s form until he stopped at the small line of hair connected to his navel leading into the v that halted at his jeans. Hongbin’s mind wondered what lie ahead, and that’s when he heard the shower shut off and when he blinked a few times out of thought. What had just happened?

“Finally!” Jaehwan says a few moments later as Wonsik emerges from the steamy room, a towel draping over his bottom half. With Wonsik, Hongbin didn’t feel the same sort of amusement when he looked at the boy’s chest. He was built, definitely, and very attractive, but Hongbin had no idea. He fancied Jaehwan’s form even more. He shook his head to snap himself out of it as his face grew warm. Wonsik moved out of the way confusedly as Jaehwan shuts the door behind him in the bathroom and locks it. 

Hakyeon is absolutely furious as he pounds on the door. “I was supposed to be next, Jaehwannie!” 

“But who was the one who was half-naked?”

Hongbin was woozy.

II.

A few months after the shower incident, and Hongbin hadn’t focused on his infatuation with Jaehwan’s chest. In fact, he hadn’t really focused on anyone else in particular at all. He was preparing for a comeback with his group members and was completely intending to blow the Starlights away with this one. With only a few days before the official album release of Chained Up, things were getting a little hectic. The realVIXX YouTube channel’s latest teaser was blowing up with comments and likes, and the members were doing a fresh photo shoot for their individual booklets at the end of the photo book.

The shoots were going in age order, and Hakyeon was currently poised in front of the camera, posing ever so effortlessly; it was as if he was born to do it. They were all dressed up in various wardrobe styles for their booklets, but most of them were dressed in the trademark suits for the comeback. The most they were allowed to show was their collarbones and part of their chest. They didn’t want to give Starlights a heart attack just yet.

Hongbin was leaning up against the wall conversing with the maknae, as he was right next to him. They were discussing trivial things, really, and it didn’t have much substance. Taekwoon is silent at the front of the line and Wonsik is browsing on his phone. He looks up for a split second and decides that fixing Jaehwan’s suit jacket is the activity he wants to do. He adjusts it so more of his chest is covered and the fabric neglects to hide the obtruding collarbones. 

Hongbin’s biggest mistake was to watch the scene. His eyes flicker over the bones for a split second and he knows he’s a goner. He has no idea why they’re so attractive, but they are, and he can’t take it. He wonders what it would be like if they were marked purple all over, and when he thinks that, something stirs in the pit of his stomach and he realizes how long he’s been staring.

He blinks several times and averts his gaze to the floor, admiring the dirt that came in from their outside shoot unenthusiastically. He knows something’s changed since the last time he’s found Jaehwan appealing like that, but he can’t quite put his finger on it. He tries to wave off the sensation he felt, but every time he blinks, he sees those collarbones in his mind and he outwardly licks his lips. It’s kind of animalistic. 

That’s when Hongbin realizes he’s scaring himself.

III.

The third incident is where platonic shifts to a concoction of romance blended with tons of sexual tension. At least, for Hongbin. At first it was a sexual infatuation with Jaehwan, but now Jaehwan is fucking up Hongbin’s feelings and he isn’t sure how to feel about it.

At this point, the group was promoting Depend on Me and were in Japan for a few concerts. The whole group had just gotten there from their long trip at the airport, and everyone was utterly exhausted. Hakyeon could barely formulate sentences at the front desk as he gained their room cards. He just handed one to anyone who was still awake enough to notice, and that was Hongbin, Sanghyuk, and Taekwoon. Wonsik was the definition of sleeping standing up as he dragged his feet along the carpet as Taekwoon tugged his sleeve. Apparently they were rooming together. Sanghyuk, however sleepy he was, skipped merrily to his room and called out towards the still groggy leader in the entrance hall. “C’mon, hyung, let’s go!” 

“It’s never the maknaes that lose energy,” Hakyeon mutters as he trudges along behind Sanghyuk, who is currently opening the room. Taekwoon and Wonsik are no longer seen, which leaves Hongbin with the key card and a drowsy Jaehwan. What a great match, honestly. Jaehwan pouts and puffs his bottom lip out, which looks irresistably kissable but Hongbin is definitely not thinking about that at the moment. Nope. Not at all.

He drags Jaehwan along with him as he opens the door with the card. They both neglect their bags at the entrance, too tired to unpack them and place them elsewhere. Hongbin notices Jaehwan hasn’t moved from the door, so he picks the bed closest to the window so he can see the sunset outside. However, Jaehwan doesn’t seem to get the message that Hongbin’s claimed that bed, because he flops down upon it and snuggles himself up in the covers. “Hyung, your bed is over there,” Hongbin annunciates, pointing towards the vacant mattress seemingly waiting for Jaehwan to sink into it. 

“Too tired to move,” Jaehwan says as he scoots up a little so he can rest on the pillow. Hongbin’s tired, too, and he’s about to move to the other bed with whatever strength he has left in his drained body when Jaehwan latches onto his waist and pulls him closer, almost spooning him. 

“Hey! Hyung! Let me go!” But he doesn’t; Jaehwan just snuggles him closer, and Hongbin can smell the cologne he’s wearing and he feels sick to his stomach, but in a good way. 

“Good night, Binnie,” Jaehwan mumbles, shutting his eyes and resting his head next to Hongbin. Hongbin can hear the slow pitter patter of Jaehwan’s heartbeat on his back, and it’s driving him insane. His own beat quickens considerably.

The close contact and sharing between body heats makes Hongbin’s skin absolutely sear. His heart swells whenever he’s reminded that Jaehwan is holding him. He’s not letting go, and that leaves a sense of security within the younger as he hears Jaehwan’s breathing level out. He knows the older boy is asleep, and his shallow breathing and the mixture of the intoxiacting cuddle leaves Hongbin useless. He just falls asleep as well.

IV.

Needless to say, Hongbin didn’t get a good night’s sleep like he initially thought he would in the bliss of Jaehwan’s arms. He awoke a few hours later, and the beginnings of daylight were creeping up in the sky as a cantaloupe colored sphere lit the twilight sky with seas of orange. Hongbin rubbed his eyes and tried to sit up, but remembered the tight hold of Jaehwan’s arms around him. Somehow, Jaehwan’s legs tangled with Hongbin’s own, and one of the older’s thighs were pressed up against him. As much as he would hate to remove Jaehwan’s grip from the younger, he does, so he can go to the bathroom really quickly and get a few more minutes of shut eye before his leader would be pounding at the door.

He’s about to twist the doorknob of the bathroom when he hears a mewl from his bed. Jaehwan’s fidgeting around and making strange noises. At first, Hongbin brushes it off, but they get more and more frequent as Hongbin’s away in the bathroom. He thinks he hears a moan escape the boy’s mouth, but waves it off. When the sultry sounds become more frequent, however, his dick twitches in his jeans that he forgot to take off when he fell asleep. He could feel a familiar stir in his stomach he had felt only a few months prior to something like this, and he was terrified.

He could tell the urge was much stronger. He sneaks back into the room, now occupying Jaehwan’s bed so he could get some much needed shut eye. But if he said those noises Jaehwan was making wasn’t affecting his sleep schedule, he would be lying. Because Hongbin can’t help it when he hears a high pitched mewl again, and he definitely doesn’t ignore his semi-hard on. He wants to tell his dick to take a rain check for a few hours, but apparently that isn’t how it works. Before he knows it, Hongbin has a raging erection straining against his tight jeans, and he so badly wants to get off.

For a second, he doesn’t think it would be a bad idea, and then he realizes he’s in too deep. The friendship line has been blurred and overpassed by this point, because Hongbin’s taking his dick out of his pants and stroking himself right next to the person he’s thinking about. He’s sleeping, for fuck’s sake, his inner conscience says. But the lust fogs his judgement and for today, he isn’t as cautious as he usually is. Sooner or later, he’s making the same noises Jaehwan is in the bed next to him, shutting his eyes as he strokes himself slow, trying to contain his noises as much as possible.

As much as he thinks it’s hot to get off while Jaehwan is in the bed next to him, he tries not to be as loud. He really doesn’t want to get caught for his dignity, but at the same time, he wouldn’t mind if Jaehwan had caught him. His mind wanders further than it ever had before, thinking about what his bandmate would be like in bed, and what kind of a person he would be. Thinking about Jaehwan being submissive in bed brings a low growl in the back of Hongbin’s throat, and before he knows it, he’s shooting a load all over the hotel’s comforter. He instantly feels guilty, because, what the fuck is he going to do!? 

The closet is open and that’s literally the only thing he thinks about. He strips the stained comforter off of the bed and throws it in the closet, shutting it abruptly before turning around and trying to hide it, even though it’s shut. Jaehwan’s still sleeping like a baby despite the arousal heavy in Hongbin’s groans a minute ago. His regular cautious behavior comes back to him as he realizes what he’s just done. He feels dirty, but at the same time, there’s a rush to it.

It dawns on him that he’s way too far gone to even think of Jaehwan as a friend anymore. That line was blurred ever since the first incident.

V.

Hongbin immediately tells Hakyeon that it isn’t a good idea to finally watch the final cut of Chained Up. It was pretty common for groups to not know how their final product came out, but the leader was curious that day and typed the name of their newest Korean release into the search bar. Instantaneously, Hakyeon had the music video queued up and ready for their group members to watch. Sanghyuk had agreed, because, well, he really wanted to see how his part came out. Hakyeon, of course, wanted to see for the same reason. Wonsik was interested in how they filmed some of the shots, so he also volunteered to watch. Jaehwan was the first one to agree out of the six because, well, he liked watching their music videos.

Taekwoon and Hongbin were the only people to disagree with this activity. Taekwoon because he would get embarrassed. Hongbin because he didn’t know what the video entailed. Plus a little embarrassment along with that. He wasn’t sure how the video was going to make him feel, because he’d been harboring pretty lethal feelings for Jaehwan recently and it wasn’t going to help his overwhelming impulse to hold himself back. There were very thin strings holding Hongbin together right now, and stuff like this could shatter his perception as a whole.

“Binnie, come on! You usually love to do things like this with us!” That’s true. He recalls the first time he ever watched Superhero with the members, laughing at all the cuts in it. He fondly remembers laughing at his leader’s hair and getting sliced in the neck because of it. He loved bonding with this group members like this, but things have changed. Hongbin’s feelings have changed. He’s petrified. “I’ll let you have first shower when we have dance practice next.” 

That offer was almost too good to pass up. So he takes it. “Sure, hyung.” 

“Yay! Taekwoonie, what about you? Please watch it?” Hakyeon pouts at the stoic male, and he huffs out. 

“Fine.” Hakyeon grins ear to ear as he clicks on the video, the males all around it watching with intent. 

“Intense start,” the maknae remarks with an open mouth in awe at the production quality. He’s got to agree with the younger boy there; all of the music videos have been of impeccable quality that it baffles Hongbin every time. When Hongbin’s part begins, the leader nudges him and Hongbin’s face reddens when he sees himself dancing and in the water. 

Hakyeon’s part comes up next, and the leader hums audibly. “I look great,” he remarks, and Wonsik groans. 

“You don’t have to say it. We know,” Wonsik complains. Hakyeon reaches over his shoulder to pinch Wonsik’s cheeks. 

“Thanks, Wonshikkie. I knew I liked you.” The chorus begins and Taekwoon immediately lives up to his nickname of Head Fairy, because he’s blocking everyone out and becoming outwardly embarrassed to the maximum. When Jaehwan’s part comes up on screen and he sees him, Hongbin’s self control flies out the window.

Because Jaehwan looks so delicious in his scenes, and he’s making eye contact with the camera just right. It feels like Hongbin is eye fucking the image on the screen. All the sound around him is drowned out as he watches intently whenever Jaehwan comes onto the screen. He moves and dances with vigor, lip syncing his parts to perfection, and a screaming need in the back of Hongbin’s mind is telling him to rip that boy’s suit off right now. But it’s just a music video. Jaehwan isn’t wearing the suit anymore.

Hongbin feels as if he’s overreacting, but he realizes he isn’t when he notices he’s semi-hard. Uh oh. This is not good. As soon as the video ends and there’s an uncomfortably straining tent forming even more in Hongbin’s pants, he emits a low, “I gotta go,” before he runs into his bedroom for a bit. When the members have cleared away from the monitor, he scurries into the bathroom, locks the door behind him, and takes a long, ice cold shower to will his arousal away for the time being. 

He can’t keep doing this.

VI.

Hongbin is sure the rest of the members as well as him are secretly happy their Japanese tour is over. Now they get to rest up for a bit before a new project consumes their every waking hour. Their schedule is free and they’re flying back to Korea the next day, but for tonight, they have to sleep again at the hotel. Hongbin’s reading something on his phone and Jaehwan is howling with laughter at the tv. He’s watching something funny, but Hongbin doesn’t know what. He’s not paying attention.

“Binnie~!” Jaehwan tries to get his bandmate’s attention with just that, but it’s no use. Hongbin is fully engrossed in the article he’s reading, and it intrigues him even more than Jaehwan’s half-hearted calls to gain his attention. Jaehwan puffs his bottom lip out and ventures into uncharted territory; at least it’s uncharted territory for Hongbin. Hongbin still doesn’t notice Jaehwan’s leaning really closely to him, their breaths intermingling as Jaehwan invades the younger’s space. “Whatcha reading?” No response. 

Jaehwan sighs. “Guess I’m gonna have to do something more forceful,” he says almost with sorrow in his voice. He takes Hongbin’s phone and flings it onto the other bed so it wouldn’t get destroyed, and pins Hongbin’s wrists to the bed and laughs at him. “Pay attention to meee!” If this were a few months ago, Hongbin would go along with it. They were friends who always used to wrestle with each other and play often, but this time, it was different. With Jaehwan on top of him like that, Hongbin definitely couldn’t hold it in anymore. 

The dam was breaking.

“Fuck you, Jaehwan,” Hongbin manages out, his breathing picking up as he notices how close Jaehwan is to him. The older male gasps when he hears Hongbin swear; Hongbin doesn’t swear often, but when he does, he’s really irritated. 

“Did I do something wrong this time? Did I lie on top of a sore spot? Sorry, Binnie,” Jaehwan says. He’s about to climb off when Hongbin surges forward, capturing the plush lips between his own. At first, Jaehwan is shocked. He doesn’t know what to think when he feels Hongbin’s lips envelope his own, but once they start moving in sync, he realizes it’s sickly sweet and toxic. Hongbin thinks the same thing.

Jaehwan’s thought about this once or twice, but he hasn’t fallen as deep as Hongbin. As deep as Hongbin, who’s rutting against Jaehwan’s knee already, and they’re just kissing. He feels like a hormonal teenager. It would make sense since he was still young, but his arousal never built up that much and he’s never had a better orgasm than he ever had besides when he was thinking about Jaehwan. Jaehwan was an addictive drug, and Hongbin was a junkie. 

Hongbin breaks the kiss, because honestly, he doesn’t want Jaehwan to be the one in charge. If there’s a next time, he’ll definitely want to try that. But for now, he’s leaning into the boy underneath him, sucking marks into those beautiful collarbones. He finds the shirt unnecessary, so he tugs at the fabric as he’s sucking marks into the main vocal’s neck. “Off,” he commands, and Jaehwan is quick to comply. His shirt flies off and the first sight that started it all flashes before Hongbin’s eyes. He licks his lips seductively and trails his lips down the boy’s chest, sucking marks into whatever area he fancies most, and leaving wet, hot kisses on every other area.

He tugs his own shirt off, and Jaehwan is quick to run his hands over Hongbin’s abs. Hongbin bats his hands away and leans into Jaehwan, whispering into the boy’s ear. “No touching,” he says to the boy. He’s whimpering underneath the younger as he gets touched, and a diabolic smirk plays at Hongbin’s features. He undoes Jaehwan’s belt and dips his hand down Jaehwan’s boxers. He’s semi-hard, but Hongbin pumps him a few times and his member eventually stands at attention for Hongbin, who bites his lip hungrily as he pulls down the waistband. 

Jaehwan’s cock springs up and bobs in the air a bit. It’s making Hongbin painfully hard at this point, seeing this boy’s beautiful cock poised in the air only for Hongbin. He takes off his own pants and undergarments to where they’re both fully undressed and bare for each other. Jaehwan mewls when Hongbin kisses up Jaehwan’s thighs, teasing him as he sucks gigantic purple marks into the inner flesh. “P-Please Binnie,” Jaehwan stutters, and Hongbin can’t help but pull another sickening smirk at the ends of his lips. 

“What was that? What’s my name?” Hongbin bites particularly hard on the mark on Jaehwan’s left thigh and the older whines in pleasure.

 “Please daddy,” Jaehwan tests, and as a reward, a delicious growl emits from the boy on top of him as he runs his hands up the older’s sensitive thighs. 

“Good boy,” Hongbin says. His mouth inches towards Jaehwan’s cock, red, angry, and leaking out precum. He slots his lips against it and takes it all in his mouth, trying to fight his gag reflex to pleasure someone of his affections. 

Jaehwan pants because it’s way too much. This is everything he’s ever thought about with Hongbin, well, minus the Hongbin being dominant part. That was a huge surprise to Jaehwan himself and he would be lying if he said he didn’t like it. His fingers lace through Hongbin’s locks as he tongues Jaehwan’s slit, making the boy groan in ecstasy. “I-I think I’m gonna-” Before Jaehwan finishes his sentence, Hongbin gets off him with a pop. 

“Flip over,” Hongbin growls, and Jaehwan is quick to do so.

Hongbin’s loving how pliant Jaehwan is with commands. It’s like he could get used to this kind of role with Jaehwan. If it were anyone else, he’d be totally embarrassed, but with this boy, it’s completely different. Hongbin feels as though he could do so many things that he would be embarrassed about if talked about in public. He feels as though this is his alter ego. Hongbin’s prepared, because, if he hadn’t thought about bottoming out before, then he wouldn’t have brought his lube. He gets up for a second, leaving the panting mess known as Jaehwan on the bed and patiently waiting for Hongbin to return. 

He brings a condom long forgotten in a spot in his bag. He’d been given one as a joke, but now, he thanks the heavens that he has one, because he would be severely disappointed if he couldn’t pound into that juicy ass. Jaehwan moaned every time Hongbin touched him slightly, and if that wasn’t hot, Hongbin didn’t know what was. He preps Jaehwan by covering a small amount of his index finger in lube and sliding the digit in his tight hole. “You okay?”

 Jaehwan nods, and then adds, “I’ve never done this before, so go easy on me.” 

“I haven’t either,” Hongbin admits, and they both kind of shyly laugh at each other.

But when Hongbin adds a second finger, that laughter dies down and transmits to beautiful noises emitting from Jaehwan’s throat. Jaehwan’s begging for more, and Hongbin complies by giving him a third finger. He scissors them in and out of Jaehwan, making sure he’s comfortable and adjusted before the real thing comes into play. He likes to be dominant with Jaehwan, but he also likes to make sure he’s doing everything right and making him comfortable. Sooner or later, though, his animalistic tendencies kick back into high gear as he slides the condom onto his cock and covers it in lube. 

“Ready?” Hongbin slides up to Jaehwan and presses a comforting kiss to the back of his neck. 

“Y-Yeah,” Jaehwan admits, and Hongbin pushes into him slowly. They both moan in sync at the feeling, and Hongbin is on cloud nine. He loves the sight of Jaehwan’s hole enveloping his cock, and the feeling is so amazingly warm and pleasurable. He just wants to move already, but he waits for Jaehwan’s go ahead. “Move, please,” Jaehwan cries out, and Hongbin starts out slow.

What started as slow, tender thrusts turned into Hongbin pounding into Jaehwan as hard as he could. The headboard was banging against the wall and no doubt leaving marks on the wallpaper, but Hongbin didn’t care. Here he was, fucking pretty little Lee Jaehwan and making him submit to every single command. He’s on the verge of collapse when his orgasm rips through him and he shoots his seed into the condom. Jaehwan finishes shortly after and Hongbin pulls out of him, disposing the condom in the trash basket next to the bed. 

Jaehwan whimpers a bit at the loss of being filled up, but then he sees Hongbin scoot closer to him and wrap his arms around the boy’s middle and it doesn’t seem so bad. He’s not caring about the dirtied sheets because here Hongbin is; Hongbin, who fucked him into next week, but is also caringly cuddling him right this minute. Before Hongbin drifts off to sleep, Jaehwan rolls over, and gazes right into the younger’s eyes. “What-What are we?” Hongbin shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m not worrying about it now. We can be whatever we want to be.”

Jaehwan shuts up for a bit, and then has the urge to kiss Hongbin on the lips. He does. This time, it’s not full of tongue and desire and lust, but it’s tender and loving, almost languid in a way. Jaehwan could get used to kisses like those. “So, if we’re boyfriends, we could do stuff like this all the time?” 

“I guess that’s what the label entails, sure.” Jaehwan kisses the top of Hongbin’s nose, and the younger boy goes red in the face.

“I like that label. Let’s be boyfriends. Also, why are you getting red when you’re the one who fucked me?” Queue embarrassed, flustered Hongbin. In alarm, the younger boy covers Jaehwan’s mouth with his hand. 

“Shut up! The others could hear you!” 

“As if they didn’t hear us anyways,” Jaehwan remarks as he moves Hongbin’s hand away from his mouth. “And besides, who cares?” Hongbin pecks his lover’s cheek and smiles, the dimples caving into his cheeks as he gazes at the one who holds his affections. 

“You’re kind of right.” Hongbin shuts his eyes and attempts to replenish his energy by sleeping. He’s almost asleep when he’s asked one final question by Jaehwan. 

“Binnie?” 

Hongbin quirks one eye open and mumbles in a sleepy voice, “Yeah?” 

“Next time we do it, I want to be on top.” Next time, Hongbin’s mind echoes.

[thepageofapillow]

Scintillating

Summary: When he smiles, the sun seems kind of dimmer, and when he’s around him, fires lick up Namjoon’s insides and he can’t quite pinpoint how to take his presence.

Pairing: Namseok

Word Count: 8.7K

Read on AO3!

scintillating

adj. bright, stimulating

Namjoon wonders when the cycle will end. The endless tapping of a pencil on the desk as he peers down at his college textbooks in utter dismay leaves him breathless and worn out. Studying law was never going to be the original plan, but since music didn’t exactly work out for him, let’s just say his parents intervened and merely suggested a path for him. A path that would have him hunched over his desk and staring confusedly at the words spilling over the pages. He had no idea what he was doing staying up at 3 AM to finish a project he should have done a week ago when it was assigned. He’s usually a much more punctual student than that.

Eventually he’s fed up, and he flops on his bed, leaving the immense books open, catching dust. Namjoon doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s lonely. Living in a dorm all by yourself should be exciting to someone like him, who doesn’t like the weight of someone dragging him down, but it only makes him feel useless. He huffs and curls up under the covers, ready to face whatever the boring day tomorrow would bring him. Probably nothing eventful, he decides.

Sunshine trounces in on the dark in Namjoon’s room, and he groans as his windows fill with morning light. He curses to himself because there’s one thing he forgot to do last night: close the curtains. He drags himself out of bed to whip the fabric over the windows, but it doesn’t do much good. If anything, it dims the light that’s pouring through the transparent material. He scratches his head, furthering his disgusting bedhead, but he really doesn’t care. It’s six a.m. in the morning and class was starting in less than an hour.

He curls his hands up into fists and rubs at his eyes, probably further irritating them. After all, only about three hours of sleep was attainable right now. He knew if he lay down on his pillow again, he’d be out. So he just sighs, like he does every morning, pulling on some clothes that look somewhat presentable and slouching throughout his day. He drags the handle open in his cupboards and surmises that cup ramyeon is a perfect breakfast for him today. It’d be much simpler than burning down the dorm, anyways.

Namjoon was a human cataclysm. He managed to pull through school no problem, but with everything else, he really didn’t excel all that well. Cooking was one of those things. One time he thought he could handle it, but ended up burning the pan instead of the food in the process. After that, Namjoon concluded that he has no talent in that subject and to just leave it alone. Cup ramyeon tasted better than burned food anyways. 

He exhales, and he realizes he does that a lot as he’s pouring the boiling hot water into the pathetic little styrofoam cup. He doesn’t mean to; he’s just bored with life is all. He pops down the cover of the ramyeon cup and plays the waiting game. What else is there to do anyways? Namjoon was horrid at cleaning, and he only managed to get by with doing laundry. That is, with the help of his friend Seokjin. He’s pretty sure without his regular visits to the dorm, Namjoon would be living in an absolute pigsty. 

He crosses his arms and lay his head on top of them, trying to catch a little shut-eye before he eats his “breakfast.” What he doesn’t expect is a knock at the door, and he doesn’t immediately get up. Instead, a trademark sigh escapes his lips as he opens it, to reveal the dorm advisor for his wing. “Hey Namjoon,” the man says to him. Another boy is standing outside, but Namjoon had no idea what the intended purposes of the surprise visit were. He just tilts his head in bewilderment, quirking his eyebrow and expecting a response from the man standing at his door.

“Well, I came here to tell you that you have a new roommate,” the man expresses, holding his clipboard right in Namjoon’s face so even the most farsighted person could read the print on the paper. Namjoon keeps his mouth shut, so the man continues. “I know you’re the only one without a roommate, so make sure you welcome him,” is the last thing he says before he gestures to the boy who has his back turned, grasping the ends of his backpack in nervousness, which is the first emotion Namjoon reads off of his new housemate. But as he turns, however, his whole aura changes. A big smile is plastered to his face as he looks at Namjoon. 

“I’m Jung Hoseok,” he says.

Namjoon gives a little nod in cordiality, beckoning him to come inside, despite the horror of the filth that lies in his wake. “Thanks,” Namjoon says to his dorm advisor, and waves him off.

“No problem. His stuff will be brought up here later, so you have plenty of time to clean up, huh?” Namjoon laughs feebly, signaling a goodbye with the wave of his hand as he shuts the door. It’s 6:32 now, and he only has a half an hour remaining until it was time to go to absolute hell. So much for breakfast, Namjoon thinks.

When he shuts the door, he finds Hoseok at his kitchen table, peeling the lid off of the ramyeon and dumping it down the drain. “Hey, that’s my breakfast!” 

Hoseok quirks a curious eyebrow as he rinses out the container, placing it over to the side to dry. “You’re kidding, right? You don’t even cook around here?”

“Well, dorm rooms aren’t exactly the most luxurious place, you know. I have a sink, cool, but I can’t even fucking cook.” 

“But you can boil water in a coffee pot you barely even use,” Hoseok points out. He’s got Namjoon there.

Namjoon just groans. “So now what am I going to eat? I have to go to class in 30 minutes,” Namjoon complains, and then the smile still brightly cemented in Hoseok’s face falters. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” He sticks his bottom lip out, and Namjoon groans for the second time in a span of 30 seconds. 

“Don’t worry about it,” Namjoon says, “I’m not exactly the best at anything, clearly.” He motions around the room and Hoseok can’t help but cringe. “My only requirement for this to work is that you can help me clean, because frankly, when you’re knee deep in law bullshit, you don’t have time for that.” 

“I understand,” Hoseok says with a nod, that stupid smile pulling at the ends of his lips. Namjoon was going to have a rough time with this one.

When Hoseok’s stuff was finally all moved in and the door across from Namjoon’s bedroom was open all the time, things finally felt a little less lonely. With Hoseok there, Namjoon could at least feel like he wasn’t all on his own, and that he could shoulder the burden with another struggling college student. The light of his ambition had since burned out, but Hoseok’s was still alight and burning brightly. Namjoon wishes he had that sort of inspiration and willpower.

But there was a small problem. Namjoon doesn’t find a lot of freedom in what he does anymore, and now he understands the true definition of being in someone’s company. Being free for so long makes him forget, but now it’s different. Now he can’t wank and be as loud as he wants, and he’s fine with that; he can keep quiet. But Hoseok is on a whole other level of infringing on Namjoon’s right to do whatever he wants in the space of his own bedroom. 

The door separating Namjoon and Hoseok is a boundary for Namjoon, but for Hoseok, it’s merely an invitation to come bother him. When his headphones are shoved in his ears on a Friday night and he’s scribbling away at a paper due Monday for class, he’ll find Hoseok leaning over him, watching him write every single line. He’ll scrunch his eyebrows up and glance at him, still watching even after Namjoon set his pen down. “What?” 

“Whatcha doooooin’?” 

“An assignment, obviously,” Namjoon says, gesturing to the sea of words bunched up in multiple paragraphs.

Hoseok just nods, and hums to himself. “You can keep working. I’m not a bother, don’t worry!” Namjoon can’t find it in his heart to yell at the boy, because hey, he brings home amazing food from outrageously delicious takeout places. Takeout places that could rival Seokjin’s cooking, not that he’d ever admit that to his friend. He also does the majority of the cleaning around the house, and doesn’t even bother to ask to do both of their laundry for each other. Hoseok likes to do things for other people, and to just in general be around other people, and Namjoon doesn’t mind that one bit on a regular occasion.

This time, it’s different.

“I don’t want to be rude, but I’m trying to write this and it’s really important. I’d appreciate it if you left me alone for a little bit.” Hoseok nods in approval and steps back a bit from hunching over his roommate’s desk.

“I understand. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a personal space issue, heh. Notice taken!” He salutes like an idiot, and Namjoon can’t help but have a chuckle pass through his lips. He hadn’t laughed that genuine in a while, actually. He would try to remember to thank Hoseok for that.

But there’s no need, because within weeks, Namjoon finally considers Hoseok a friend. They constantly order takeout, and on occasion, recieve a visit from the kind fairy known as Kim Seokjin, who prepares way too much food that’s needed for a human to function, but insisting that there’s never enough food to go around. And when he notices Hoseok there on the first day he comes back to visit Namjoon, he goes ballistic.

“Namjooon~! You didn’t tell me you had a new roommate!!” 

“Sorry, mom, I didn’t know it was on the agenda of our last phone call.” Seokjin slices Namjoon’s neck and pulls Hoseok in for an embrace. Hoseok isn’t at all fazed, and hugs Namjoon’s friend back with the same vigor, smiling ear to ear. 

“My name’s Hoseok.”

“I’m Seokjin, Namjoon’s friend. I’ve dealt with him for 5 years.” Hoseok’s mouth forms into a little ‘o’ and appears genuinely shocked. 

“How did you manage to do that!?” It was Namjoon’s turn to playfully hit his friend as a wide smile appears on his face.

“I’m not sure myself,” Seokjin teases back, plunking the astronomically sized trays of food on the table he prepared himself in advance. “If I’d have known you had a friend living with you now, I would have brought more.” 

“Trust me, hyung, you always bring way too much anyways. And I always have leftovers. So it’s fine.”

Seokjin rubs his hands together in excitement, pulling a pair of blue chopsticks out from his back pocket. “What are we waiting for, boys? Let’s eat!” 

The table is not usually meant for three people, but Namjoon decides it’s okay anyways. Namjoon gives Seokjin his space, because quite frankly, he doesn’t really want all the sauce that drips out of that boy’s mouth on his white t-shirt. He doesn’t want Hoseok to be burdened by more and more stains then usual. So here he is, squished up against his roommate as he tucks his chopsticks between his fingers, ready to dig into the jajangmyeon Seokjin meticulously prepared himself.

He can tell Hoseok’s nervous, though, in the way he sits. He’s leaning as much as he can to the left away from Namjoon without falling out of his chair completely. “What’s the problem?” Namjoon says with his mouth full. Seokjin scolds him across the table, but not without shoving more noodles into his own mouth. Hoseok finishes the mouthful of tteokbokki before answering timidly to Namjoon. 

“I know you like your personal space, so I’ll just, y’know-” 

“Not if you’re uncomfortable. I don’t care. It’s only for this dinner anyways,” Namjoon says with a shrug, cleaning his chopsticks of black bean sauce.

Hoseok’s still uncertain, but decides to sit normally back in his chair again. They’re shoulder to shoulder, barely enough arm room to shovel more food into their mouths, but enough space so that they could wedge their way through. Seokjin stops eating for a second and dabs at his mouth with a cloth. “So what’s your major, Hoseok?” 

Hoseok’s eyes perk up and that sunshine smile lights up the room. “Computer science!” 

“Wow, I’d never thought you were the type,” Namjoon says, “I’d always thought you’d want to work with kids or something.” 

“That was my plan at first, but I don’t know, I’m taking a new approach.”

“Interesting,” Seokjin adds, sucking the tteokbokki sauce off of his chopsticks. Seokjin reaches over to pat Hoseok on the back. “I’m glad you’ve found your calling, Hoseok.” 

“What do you do, hyung?” Seokjin wasn’t expecting the question from Hoseok, but nevertheless, he answered. 

“I’m a chef. Kind of not that surprising, is it?” Namjoon laughs and nearly chokes on the piece of radish in his mouth as Hoseok’s eyes widen.

“Really!? Like do you have cooking training and everything!?” Seokjin nods as he eats more of the food left on his plate. 

“Wow....That’s so cool! Way cooler than law,” Hoseok teases. Namjoon doesn’t hesitate to jab Hoseok’s rib cage with his elbow. “That really hurt!” Hoseok juts out his bottom lip to pout and Namjoon can’t help but laugh. Hoseok’s laugh is contagious, and Namjoon can’t really help it. Seokjin pauses to take a good look at his friend, and he’s glad he’s happy. He noticed before Hoseok came that Namjoon was rather lonely, and in need of a friend. However, Seokjin couldn’t be that friend. His career was very demanding and even Namjoon knew that.

With them laughing side by side, Seokjin felt like a proud mother. He sent a kind smile their way and joined into the laughter that had draped over the atmosphere. 

For the first time in forever, Seokjin’s containers were completely empty. With Hoseok here, there was one more mouth to feed and he was grateful that no leftovers would be rotting in Namjoon’s fridge anymore. Seokjin gets up from his empty plate, and offers to clean the others for the two boys still sitting shoulder to shoulder. “No, it’s fine! I’ll get it!” Hoseok jumps up out of his seat and takes the dirty dishes out from underneath Seokjin’s fingers.

“Used to cleaning up here, now?” 

Hoseok nods as he dumps the things in his hands into the sink. “Yeah. It’s the only requirement Namjoon has of me,” Hoseok mentions with a grin, scrubbing away at the filth on the plates. 

Seokjin quirks a brow at Namjoon and Namjoon rolls his eyes in response. “Knowing you, that’s not surprising. But I fondly remember the rule you used to give Jimin when he roomed with you, so why isn’t it applicable to Hoseok?” Hoseok stops whatever cleaning he’s doing and turns around, leaning against the counter.

“What rule?” He tilts his head in confusion and Seokjin explains it in the worst possible impression of Namjoon’s deep voice.

“’You’re not allowed in my room, ‘kay?’” Namjoon punches his hyung’s side playfully and Hoseok is still wearing that perplexed expression. 

“Yeah, why isn’t it applicable to me?” Namjoon gets up out of his seat and pushes in the chair Hoseok neglected to. 

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I think Jimin is more annoying than you.” To end his statement, he just shrugs and brings his silverware near Hoseok and drops it into the sink. 

“Okay,” Hoseok says before continuing to clean.

Seokjin could smell something very fishy. He didn’t know what, yet, but he would one day.

After insisting the two of them didn’t need any dessert, Seokjin finally departed the dorm room, leaving Hoseok and Namjoon to their boring weekend activities. 

It’s been about a month now since Hoseok moved in, and they’d grown kind of close, but not actually. Namjoon doesn’t recall a moment where the two of them hung out officially. With Seokjin, it was just a gathering. Namjoon hadn’t really initiated hanging out with Hoseok at all.

“Wanna watch a movie or something?” Namjoon offers. Hoseok perks up at this and nods abundantly.

 “What do you have?” There’s a small shelf in the sitting room near the tv filled with movies, and Hoseok can’t help but marvel at them when Namjoon gestures to it. 

“Can I pick?”

 A chuckle escapes Namjoon’s lips. “Go ahead.” His roommate is giddy when he finally rakes his fingers across the spines of the dvds on the shelves, scanning the titles and deep in focus about what he’s going to pick.

Knitting his eyebrows together, he plucks one from the shelf and holds it up in disbelief. “She’s All That? You have a romantic comedy in your shelf?” Namjoon groans, trying to snatch the movie out of Hoseok’s hands, but to no avail. 

“Jimin must have left it here. When he got dumped one time, he brought a bunch of romance movies here and didn’t take them with him,” Namjoon explains. It was true. A moping Jimin was bad news. 

Hoseok just laughs. Laughs really loud and Namjoon can’t help but laugh too. It’s hard not to. “Wanna watch and make fun of it?” 

“Sure. Pizza on me?” 

“Sounds great! I’ll put the movie in!” Namjoon snatches his phone from the crease in the couch and dials the number he knows by heart. This is the first time Namjoon orders the pizza for the both of them, and he doesn’t know Hoseok’s preferences. He’s about to press the green button to call when he turns his head to his roommate. 

“What do you want on it?” 

“I’m fine with just pepperoni,” Hoseok says as he slides the DVD into the player and pauses the commercial advertisements right away. Namjoon is waiting for the pizza place to pick up when he hears Hoseok practically yell at him. “Also, get 2 so we can have leftovers!” Namjoon nods once and is immediately greeted by a person on the other end of the phone. 

He orders the pizzas and takes it off of his ear for a second to ask Hoseok something. “Do you want it delivered or do you want me to get it?” 

“I don’t think you feel like going out, and neither do I, so what’s the answer?” Hoseok just grins.

“Yeah, we’ll have it delivered.”

While they waited for the pizza, Hoseok and Namjoon just talked about trivial topics, such as all their favorite things and a bunch of other different things. Namjoon took it all in, and was only surprised at the fact that when he asked what Hoseok’s favorite food was, he responded with, “foods that kings eat.” Namjoon couldn’t stop laughing, and his sides were hurting with how hilarious and ridiculous Hoseok was. He truly enjoyed being in this boy’s company and thought heavily that he should join Seokjin in becoming one of his best friends.

They hit each other playfully and at first, Namjoon doesn’t notice the slight tingle when they touch, but after the third time he’s punched Hoseok, he notices something is off. He doesn’t point it out, though, because he hears a knock at the door and the pizza guy is there. How he managed to find the dorm room is beyond Namjoon’s understanding. Maybe he asked the dorm advisor. Namjoon pulls his wallet out from his back pocket and hands the delivery guy the money that is owed, plus a very nice tip. Namjoon bows in sincerity and cheers as he sets the pizza down on the coffee table in front of the sofa. 

“Is the movie ready?” 

“I forgot to fast forward through the ads, so, no.” Namjoon just grins and gets up to get some plates for the both of them whilst Hoseok is furiously pressing the fast forward key. 

“What do you want to drink?” 

“Whatever’s fine!” 

“Coke?” 

“Sure!” Their voices are so loud yelling to each other only a short distance away that almost the whole wing could probably hear them. Namjoon places some paper plates on the coffee table as well as some cups, pouring in the soda and passing a cup over to Hoseok. “Thanks, Namjoon!” 

“No problem, Hoseok.” 

Eventually, the room is filled with laughter again as cliche scenes run across the screen while the two boys practically stuff their mouths with pizza.

Hoseok complains that they should have gotten breadsticks, which earned him a slap from the younger on the forearm. “If you wanted breadsticks, you should have told me! I still have cash on me,” Namjoon explains, laughing with fondness. 

“Maybe we can ask Zack with all those college letters,” Hoseok adds as he gestures to the movie at the main character and Namjoon doubles over in laughter.

“I bet you 1000 won he’s not going to want to go to the college that his dad wants him to go to. Dartmouth, or whatever,” Namjoon expresses, his mouth full of crust. 

“You’re on,” Hoseok agrees, and the pair shake hands to the bet, watching the rest of the movie and constantly sassing it. When the hacky sack scene came on the television, the whole dorm room was howling with laughter and it took everything Namjoon had to try to be quiet for the sake of some of the boys in his wing sleeping, of course. But Hoseok was different. He was loud, and definitely not ashamed of his laughter. Namjoon wished he could be that way.

The whole movie was full of laughable scenes, but when the romance kicked in, Namjoon couldn’t help but gag. It was full of clichés thrown at him left and right. He felt as though he was being stabbed with secondhand embarrassment as cheesy romantic scenes were flashing in the movie. But Hoseok drinked it all up. They really were polar opposites in the highest regard.

Hoseok yearned for love. He truly did. He went to see every single cheesy romantic comedy, his heart swelling at all the lovely scenes. But Namjoon was different. He was afraid of falling in love. And quite honestly, he wasn’t exactly all that interested. He didn’t believe there was one person out there who could exactly get every part of him. Sure, friends are different, but he’d never really felt the feeling of love before. He’d dated before. That was a given. But what even was love?

Hoseok had never fallen in love either. He’d anticipated it for a very long time. 18 years to be exact. Ever since he saw all those love stories depicted in popular media, he knew that’s what he wanted for himself. He’s also dated before, and surely he’s liked all the girls he’s dated, but not to the point of love. Hoseok craved to be with someone who understood him. Namjoon just couldn’t care less.

So as Namjoon chomps on the piece of pizza in his hand, his fourth to be exact, he rolls his eyes as the main couple kisses at the end of the movie. He groans at the script’s shabby lines and reaches for the last piece of pizza in the box. Hoseok definitely had similar ideas, because sooner or later, both of them were giving each other death stares, narrowing their eyes at each other. “How’re we going to settle this?”

“Rock paper scissors?” Hoseok throws out a random suggestion, and of course, Namjoon obliges. 

“Sure.” They count to three and throw their chosen sign. Hoseok wins.

Namjoon groans, pouting and puffing out his bottom lip as he leans back on the couch. “So unfair. It should have been best 2 out of 3.” 

“Unfair? Are you actually kidding? You’ve had 4 pieces! I’ve only had 3! It’ll be even.” Namjoon rolls his eyes, crossing his arms like a child who’s having a temper tantrum. Hoseok doesn’t fester the problem further, because he has the last slice in his mouth and he’s teasing Namjoon with it.

“You’re so mean to me,” Namjoon says purely out of spite. But if it really came down to it, Hoseok was super nice to Namjoon. If Namjoon made a mess the night before that was tumultuous to the dorm’s survival, by the time he walked out to get another cup of coffee, it would be cleaned without a word. Hoseok was honestly a saint, in all terms of the word.

So he just sits in silence, crossing his arms and turning off the tv. Hoseok notices his discontent and points at the unopened pizza box. “If you want to dig into the other box, you can, but I won’t.” 

Namjoon shakes his head. “Nah, I’m good for now. What was even the point of us playing for the last piece anyways?” 

With his mouth full, Hoseok replies. “Because it’s fun?” 

“Sure. Hey, that was cool hanging with you and everything, but I just remembered I have an assignment due tomorrow that I have to finish.”

 Hoseok pops the last piece of crust into his mouth as he gazes at Namjoon incredulously with puppy dog eyes as he gets up. “Really? Aw. Next time, I’ll treat you to ramyeon if you’re up for it. Yeah?” 

“Yeah.”

The “next time” doesn’t happen until a whole month later. Hoseok had been complaining that he wasn’t in the mood for ramyeon the whole time after the pizza incident, and Namjoon was absolutely seething. He knew that Hoseok was only saying that just to mess with him, and after a particularly rough teasing session, Hoseok finally agreed. Plus, this time, he didn’t go spending all of his cash on DVDs. So they made their way to the restaurant with vigor. Hoseok was practically skipping along the pavement. He grabbed the ends of Namjoon’s long sleeves and pulled him along faster. “I thought you really wanted ramyeon! Let’s go!” Hoseok’s fingers brush across Namjoon’s and that’s when the prolonged contact really gets to the taller male. 

It wasn’t like when he was touching anyone else. It was a shockwave that sent sparks all the way along his arm and fed straight to his heart, which was beating just a little faster at the touch. Namjoon was confused to what this feeling exactly was, but as he looked at the back of Hoseok’s jean jacket, he had a feeling it had to do with his roommate somehow. He brushed it off, because honestly, he had no idea what he was feeling.

When they sat down, it felt as though whenever Namjoon had sneaked a glance at his friend that the smile had not left his face. And for some reason, that made his insides stir. The sun outside seemed a little bit dimmer when Hoseok was smiling, and it made Namjoon completely confused. What exactly is this feeling? He had no idea how to process it, but decided against trying to figure it out when Hoseok engaged Namjoon in friendly conversation. Like always, they were cracking jokes and conversing about the most stupid things. Namjoon felt doubtlessly happy along with the computer science major, and even indulged in more laughter than when he was around Seokjin. 

When his bowl of steaming hot ramyeon came to the table, he rubbed his hands together and grasped his chopsticks. He dipped them in and slurped some noodles, only to see what it tasted like before he added in any of the sides he requested. He looks over to Hoseok, who has added his hard boiled egg halves to the ramyeon, gaining his attention. “What?” 

“Are you gonna use any of the green onions?” Hoseok takes more noodles into his mouth and shakes his head silently, to which Namjoon responds by taking the whole side dish of onions and pouring them into his ramyeon. He scrapes the rest of the vegetable sticking to the bowl with his chopsticks into his soup and tries it again. Absolutely perfect. He doesn’t feel a need to add anything else into it. 

“Do you usually dump two grams of onions into your soup?” Hoseok jokes with a bright smile and intoxicating laughter. Namjoon shakes his head wordlessly as he slurps more noodles. 

“Not really. But this broth is actually way too bland for me.” 

“Wow. Mr. Law Major is using really big words with me. I better study up!” Namjoon punches Hoseok’s side as they laugh together, and Namjoon seriously scolds his old self. What’s the use in being lonely if you have someone as wonderful as this to keep you company? 

He feels a deep admiration for the boy currently snacking on ramyeon in front of him, and his heart swells as he observes him closer than he ever had. Since when had Hoseok been this pretty? Today, his hair was perfectly fluffed after spending a whopping twenty minutes in the bathroom, to which Namjoon had protested earlier. He takes in the slope of his nose, and the eyelashes fanning over the top of his cheeks, which were currently adorably rosy from the steam of the hot soup in front of him. Namjoon’s eyes trail down his roommate’s form as he takes in his broad shoulders, the prince-like fingers that so delicately held onto the chopsticks, and the slight sweater paws that were a result of Hoseok stealing one of Namjoon’s tops. 

He looks good in my shirt, Namjoon notes, and that’s when he stopped himself. He had just checked out his friend and roommate for about a couple minutes. How had he not noticed!? Oh, yeah. The ramyeon. Namjoon had surveyed the bowl in front of Hoseok, and saw that it was considerably depleted from when Namjoon last looked. He’d been leaving his own ramyeon neglected as he practically bore his stare into his friend’s appearance. Namjoon blinks for a few times to help knock himself out of whatever freakish trance that caused him to take interest in his friend. But, he wasn’t going to lie, of course. He wasn’t exactly that bad looking of a guy.

What are you thinking, Namjoon!? He’s your friend! Whatever combating thought that runs through Namjoon’s head is instantly shoved away from the sporatic beating of his heart whenever Hoseok looks at him. It certainly doesn’t help when Hoseok scoots closer over to Namjoon to taste his ramyeon, their shoulders touching the same way it did a couple months ago. But this time it was different. His heartbeat was practically screaming in his ears as Hoseok touched him, like a fucked up alarm that you couldn’t hit the snooze button on. “This is so salty. How can you eat this, Joonie?”

“Like yours is any better,” Namjoon notes. He calms down as Hoseok moves back to his spot. 

“You’ll see when you taste it.” Namjoon moves to stick his chopsticks in, but Hoseok’s already got him covered with his own. A bunch of noodles are strewn across it and he shoves his own chopsticks in Namjoon’s mouth without another word. It is significantly better than what Namjoon ordered, but he doesn’t admit that to Hoseok, because Hoseok has already noticed the change in Namjoon’s expression from mildly disinterested to holy fuck this is good.

“Told you,” Hoseok says with a wink. If that wink didn’t melt all of Namjoon’s insides, he didn’t know what did. He has no idea what the fuck this is, but it’s persistent and hurts a little when his chest clenches up. Hoseok pays for the food and they go back to the dorm only a few minutes later, and Namjoon still feels all he’s feeling. He just hopes it passes.

It’s been a week and it hasn’t passed. Namjoon’s feeling absolutely miserable. Above all else, however, he thinks he’s crazy. Thinking this way is obviously messing with his head, so he decides getting drunk on a classless weekend is the perfect remedy to push all those weird fluttering heartbeats.

As soon as he knows it, he’s tipping the alcohol bottle up he’s stored under his bed and finishes the bottle. He’s a little distraught he doesn’t have any more than this, but it was the biggest bottle he’d saved and he knew it could get him drunk enough to numb all he’d been feeling for the past few days. He still thinks it’s absolutely mad, thinking these things about one of your good friends, much less a best friend like Seokjin. Namjoon chucks the bottle off towards the other end of his room, and he’s super glad Hoseok hasn’t come back from class yet.

His judgement soon fades and his awareness wades in and out. Before he knows it, his breath hitches in his throat as he hears the front door shut. But then the alcohol kicks in and it doesn’t seem so scary anymore. Hoseok calls out to Namjoon, and he responds, trying not to slur his words. Hoseok sees Namjoon leaning over his bed and he’s instantly concerned. Just as caring as I thought he’d be, Namjoon notes. “Are you okay, Namjoon? Why are you drunk? How did you even get drunk?” Hoseok places his hand on Namjoon’s shoulder, and Namjoon still feels the burn of his touch. The alcohol did nothing to numb the feelings brewing.

“Don’t worry about it,” is all Namjoon says. Hoseok leans in closer and there’s only a microscopic chance that he doesn’t give in to what he wants to do right then and there. Namjoon’s eyes flicker over Hoseok’s lips and Hoseok is looking directly at Namjoon.

 Sooner rather than later, he picks up on the direction of Namjoon’s gaze and he’s perplexed. “Is there something on my face?” Hoseok scrambles to wipe away the nonexistent substance on his mouth, but all shreds of reality and mind sense is gone. He listens to what he thinks of in the moment, which is to lay his lips on Hoseok’s own. He doesn’t hold back. Warmth spreads throughout Namjoon’s body and it just feels so right that he ignores all the warning signs alarming in the aware crevices of his mind. All he cared about was one thing: He was kissing Jung Hoseok. Tingles started as soon as Namjoon’s lips enveloped Hoseok’s, and what started out as a vanilla kiss budded into Namjoon making frivolous efforts to tug Hoseok’s bottom lip between his teeth and allow his tongue entrance. But Hoseok apparently wasn’t having any of that.

He pulled away as fast as Namjoon initiated the kiss, putting his hand over his mouth in alarm. He mutters something, but Namjoon doesn’t quite catch it. “What?” 

“I don’t want to take advantage of you, I said! Promise me we won’t talk about this, okay!? Please.” Namjoon isn’t aware of what he’s pinky promising to, but he doesn’t hesitate to wrap his finger around Hoseok’s. Anything to touch him again. His feather touches drove Namjoon crazy. 

When Namjoon wakes up, he remembers nothing. His head is pounding and he remembers the reason why it is in the first place. He clutches it in slight pain and marches to the bathroom, examining his baggy eyes and crimson cheeks. He looks dreadful. He hears Hoseok stir in his sleep, and he doesn’t dare to go inside. He’s still scared, and fully aware that he should keep his distance. The palpitations were enough.

He needs a rational voice in all of this, someone he could go to that wouldn’t judge him. Which led him to bide his time for the longest time, trying to figure out if these fleeting feelings are really real. They are, and sooner or later, two weeks later, Namjoon is standing on Seokjin’s porch as he rings the doorbell of the chef’s home. The door swiftly opens after one ring, and Seokjin’s eyes widen at the visitor. “Namjoonie! Wow, what great timing. I’m making some soup right now, so you can stay for dinner if you want!” Namjoon sticks his hands in his jean pockets timidly as he steps inside his older friend’s house. It’s been many times he’s walked in to the wafting smells of delicious food and the feeling of homey-ness, but this time, it’s different.

Seokjin seems to notice.

“What’s wrong, Joonie? I can tell something’s troubling you,” Seokjin mentions as he stirs the pot of soup with his spoon. He watches Namjoon trudge into the kitchen and sit at the table, his head in his hands. Seokjin sighs, turning the soup onto a low heat level before grabbing a chair and sliding it out. He sits down across from Namjoon and nudges his friend who seems distraught. “What’s going on? You’re never usually this bothered about something.” 

“I’m just so fucking confused, hyung,” Namjoon announces, an obvious strain in his voice. 

Seokjin leans back on the wooden chair and huffs out. He knew he was going to be here for awhile. “Confused about what?” 

“Ugh, don’t make me say it.” Seokjin leaves room for Namjoon to say it, because honestly, he has no idea what’s agitating his friend. “About how I feel. I don’t know what these feelings are!” 

Seokjin ponders Namjoon’s statement and comes up with something remotely similar. “Is this about a girl, Joonie?” 

“Not exactly,” Namjoon responds, “A guy.”

Seokjin couldn’t say he wasn’t surprised in that moment. He had no idea Namjoon was even into guys, let alone thinking about feelings for one. Shows how much of a friend he is, really. But Seokjin never wanted to pry into things like that. He knew how terrified Namjoon was about falling in love, and he was terrified for him. He had no idea what the outcome would be, but here he is, sitting distraught at Seokjin’s table. “What do you mean, you’re confused? Do you like this guy?” 

“I don’t know. We’re really close friends, but I don’t want to be this way.”

Seokjin now understood. “Is this about Hoseok?”

Namjoon’s mouth dropped considerably, and he looked utterly shocked. “H-How do yo-” 

“I’m assuming it wasn’t about me, since I’m about the only other close friend you have. You wouldn’t come to me if you had feelings for me, Namjoon,” Seokjin jokes. Usually, Namjoon would hit his hyung playfully in the arm or slice his neck, but now was not the time for that. He needed advice and answers. 

“I came to you because I don’t know what to do, hyung. I got drunk a few weeks ago to help, but it didn’t.” The older male dawns on the possibilities. He knows Namjoon is a forgettable drunk, and has no idea if he did anything horrible whilst he was over there.

“Did anything happen?” 

“I don’t know. You know I wouldn’t remember,” Namjoon reminds him, clutching his head and trying to will away the brewing headache from talking so much about feelings. 

“Well, what do you feel for Hoseok?” Namjoon outwardly groans, fiddling with his belt loops out of pure anxiety. 

“You know I don’t fucking know that, hyung. That’s why I came here!” 

“That’s not what I meant. What I meant was, what do you feel when you look at him? Or something like that.” Namjoon thinks about it, and Hoseok’s face pops into his head. He feels like his heart has been pierced with a bullet that’s suspiciously bright like the person he’s pining after.

“Well....whenever I think about him, like right now, my heart starts beating faster. And when he’s close to me, it does the same thing. Whenever we touch or something I feel like I got electrocuted.”

 A wide smirk pulls at the ends of Seokjin’s face as he swells with pride. “Sorry, Namjoon. The thing you’ve been most afraid of is starting to happen. Just like in all the romance movies.” 

“Don’t tell me-” 

“You’re probably starting to fall in love with Hoseok.” 

The first thing Namjoon thinks to do is deny deny deny. “No way! I couldn’t be!” Seokjin tilts his head to the side. 

“Have you ever watched any romance movies, Joonie? That’s what all the girls say~”

“I’m gonna make this stop, I promise,” Namjoon says, pointing to his hyung with an accusatory finger. 

“Whatever, Joonie. Now, come over and help me take the bread out of the oven. The timer’s beeping, now.”

Namjoon had been trying his very best to force his feelings back into the Pandora’s box it came out of, and well, to say the least, it was working. For the most part, Namjoon nullified all the sparking touches that happened to him and didn’t think of Hoseok more than 75% of the time more than usual. He called that a win in his book. He’d gone a whole four months without his feelings flaring up again, and he’d repeatedly told his feat to his chef friend, who was now currently teaching abroad in Europe to French students. 

He couldn’t be more happy for Seokjin, because, well, honestly, his friend had been wishing for a teaching job like that ever since he graduated from culinary school. As soon as he got the deal, Seokjin rushed over to the dorm and they celebrated with a store bought cake. Seokjin never liked to eat store bought things, but for the first time in his life, he thought he should indulge in a few things like that anyways.

But now, all the celebration was gone. Namjoon had been driven up the wall by assignments from his sadistic professors. Honestly, he couldn’t even imagine a homework-free weekend this semester, and that was abysmal. He definitely had it better last semester. Hoseok and Namjoon’s typical weekend hangouts were becoming rare and few in between the week, which Namjoon was okay with. He knew they were both busy studying and gathering enough information to guarantee a steady job in the future. Friendship could wait for a little bit.

But now, friendship was seriously going to be tested at this point, because Hoseok was calling Namjoon. After he told his roommate this morning not to bother him with anything while he was studying for the next test.  “Yo, Namjoon, could you go into my room and check if I took my textbook with me?” Namjoon groaned when Hoseok called him, but groaned even more when he listened to his request. 

“What the fuck did I tell you about not bothering me? Leave me alone.” Namjoon was just about to hang up when he heard a persistently loud ‘Wait!’ being yelled into the phone. He placed the device back on his ear and huffed. “What’s in it for me?”

“I’ll treat you to that favorite chicken place of yours sometime. Just say the word.” Namjoon drags his sorry ass out of his desk chair and into the hallway, heading towards Hoseok’s room. 

“Alright, alright, deal. Now don’t call me again.” 

“Gotcha, study boy! Later!” He hangs up as promptly as he can, and stares at the closed door that leads to Hoseok’s bedroom. He realizes, for the first time, that he’s never been here before. He wonders why for a second, and then remembers that he doesn’t overstep the boundary of privacy for anyone. Not even Seokjin, who completely advocated the idea of Namjoon raiding his cabinets. Namjoon never accepted, for the fear of his own mental boundaries being crossed and offending the person even though they were completely accepting of the activity.

He turns the doorknob to Hoseok’s room, and takes the entire sight in. He’s never even seen a peek of Hoseok’s room, and here it is, laid out in front of him. The walls are bare in opposition to Namjoon’s wall littered with various posters. His whole room is clean and is a stark contrast to Namjoon’s own. He walks over to Hoseok’s desk and checks for any large textbook on it. The only thing that’s there are various sharpened pencils, a purple notebook, and a few erasers. Nothing. Namjoon sits on Hoseok’s bed and pulls out his phone, sending a quick confirmation text to his friend currently in class stressing out over his textbook. 

He notices Hoseok’s window is slightly ajar and closes it. The air inside the room smells of petrichor, and Namjoon enjoys it whilst he’s there. He sits back down on Hoseok’s bed and opens the text he just recieved. Praise emanated from the word choice Hoseok used and the smallest trace of a smile appears on Namjoon’s face. He looks around the room one more time before he thinks about leaving, but then he gets in too deep.

His fingertips trailed down his pillow, leaving indents of where his lengthy fingers had been. Before he knew it, he was laying on top of his bed, and his brain was screaming at him; it was wrong. It was wrong to slightly sniff the sheets and pillow where he had lay, it was wrong to enjoy his scent, and it was absolutely wrong to do this outside of his roommate’s permission. But did he cease to lay there and vacate the room entirely? Fuck no. As soon as he had lay there, he snapped into a deep slumber, enveloped and reeking in the scent of pure Hoseok. Namjoon wanted nothing more.

It wasn’t a crazy idea. At first, he’d only thought of him as a roommate, then to a hyung, then to a friend. A friend called Hoseok. But the thought of labeling his roommate his Hoseok didn’t seem all that crazy. Jung Hoseok. His Hoseok. What he would give to give in to his infatuation.

The annoyingly bright and enthusiastic smile he’d come to tolerate in the beginnings of them living together had eventually evaporated into an occurrence that sparked only pure limerence in an organ that Namjoon hadn’t listened to often: his heart. Everything had always been about studying, seeing the intellectual side of things. With Hoseok right across the hall, though, Namjoon was starting to believe that intelligence wasn’t really all it was cracked up to be. Intelligence is lovely if you want to be by yourself, and sure, Namjoon had wanted that at first. He just didn’t know how much of a craving Hoseok was until he had him all to himself. Even so, he didn’t have him all to himself yet. The boundary of friendship was tightened around Namjoon’s beating heart. He absolutely adored Hoseok. Hoseok was the reason Namjoon’s heartbeat quickened whenever he was near, the reason why waking up every day didn’t seem so bad. Hoseok was his purpose and at the same time, his sin.

And maybe Namjoon would have to stop listening to his fucking brain for once, because it wasn’t doing him any good. It wasn’t slowing the palpitations whenever Hoseok did something as simple as touch Namjoon’s shoulder, or even breathe close to him. His mind faltered in telling him what to do when Hoseok gave him that warm smile, didn’t help him when he saw Hoseok in the door wrapped in a tight scarf, obviously still cold from making the sacrifice to get the both of them takeout. For once, Namjoon had to rely on his heart to lead him in the right direction, and he was terrified. What do you do when you depend on something you hadn’t before? Namjoon ponders this as he buries his head in his hands the fifth time Hoseok smiles at him today.

All he’s ever known for a relationship is that sex comes first. But looking at Hoseok right now, screaming at the top of his lungs because he’d just saw a commercial for pizza and begging Namjoon to go out this time, signaled Namjoon that that isn’t what he wants with Hoseok. He wants nights in like they usually do, scarfing down slices of pizza while watching horrible romantic comedies and pointing out the plot flaws. He wants to hold his hand, to bury his head in the crook of Hoseok’s shoulder and just stay there, because goddammit, Hoseok smells like home and Namjoon doesn’t ever want to leave. It was at this moment that Namjoon realizes it.

He fucking loves Hoseok.

Namjoon can’t help to think that this is some fucked up fairy tale, one that definitely isn’t going to work out in his favor. He steals Hoseok’s gaze as he cheers enthusiastically at the tv screen and keeps badgering Namjoon to just go pick up the pizza already, but Namjoon’s skin is searing as Hoseok swishes his arm back and forth. He tunes out the drones of Hoseok and all he can think about is the man in front of him. He can feel the burn of Hoseok’s touch even under his thick hoodie, and he gulps. These days, Namjoon always gives in to whatever Hoseok wants. There’s no boundaries for him anymore. Everything is out in the open.

And honestly, he can’t take it anymore. The one-sided lingering glances and the halfhearted attempts to bury his feelings down. He doesn’t know what else to do but to let it all out in front of the person he adores more than anything, who brightens up his world when he’s tugging on his arm. “Hoseok, stop.” Namjoon’s voice is firm and demanding as he shuts off the tv, face blank as he faces his fears for the first time in awhile. 

Hoseok worriedly lets go of his friend and stares at him. “Did I do something wrong?” Hoseok’s voice comes out in a hurried and terrified peep, almost like a whine a kicked puppy makes. 

Namjoon cringes at the sound because it sounds so painfully adorable. He resists the urge to pinch Hoseok’s cheeks right then and there. “Hoseok, I need to tell you something. It’s been bothering me for so fucking long and I just need to say something before I go absolutely crazy.” Hoseok sits there and listens. He doesn’t make a snarky retort or try to joke around, because the air has gone stiff and a lingering silence permeates it. Silences never lasted long when they were together, which means it’s serious.

“I fucking like you a whole lot, Hoseok. Hell, I might even love you. Who knows? What I do know is that I can’t do this anymore. I’m so fucking scared of falling in love and I don’t know what to do about it,” Namjoon expresses. Tears prick at the corner of his ducts and he’s almost about to burst out crying before he feels Hoseok’s comforting hand on his shoulder.

 “Don’t be scared, Namjoon. It’s okay. I....really like you too,” Hoseok adds in, scared himself about what his roommate would think of the sudden confession.

In all honesty, Hoseok had liked Namjoon for awhile. Probably not as long, but ever since Namjoon kissed him, Hoseok hadn’t stopped thinking about what it would be like to have his roommate as his boyfriend. Fleeting thoughts of going on cute dates with his friend was always in his mind, and he felt himself growing warmer to his messy and blunt roommate ever since that night. Hoseok isn’t sure if it’s love, but he can see it in Namjoon’s eyes and he hopes one day he can fall as deep as his roommate did.

“You’re kidding, right?” Hoseok scoots closer to Namjoon and sets his forehead against the other’s.

 “Usually I’m kidding, but this time, I’m not.” Their noses briefly touch, and Namjoon feels absolutely soaring in this moment. “I’m so glad you kissed me when you were drunk, Joonie,” Hoseok says as he pecks the corner of his companion’s mouth. 

“I fucking kissed you?” 

“Mmmmmhm~!” 

Namjoon gazes down, laughing. “Well fuck. I did something right, at least.” 

Hoseok moves Namjoon’s chin up with his index finger and kisses him on the mouth while he grabs Namjoon’s cheeks. “I wouldn’t exactly be opposed to doing it again and again, though.” 

“Is that your strange way of asking me out?” 

“I guess,” Hoseok says with a giggle. Namjoon wraps his hands around Hoseok’s neck and leans into his touch. 

“I wouldn’t exactly be opposed to that,” Namjoon says, imitating his now lover in a mocking tone. Hoseok hits Namjoon and they laugh together. “You’re such a sunshine, Hoseok.” 

“But I’m your sunshine.” Namjoon groans. 

“That’s cheesy as fuck.”

“But you love it.” Hoseok kisses Namjoon’s cheek and entwines his fingers with Namjoon’s. 

“I’m not exactly the best at this whole romance thing, so could you teach me the ropes?”

“As your personal sunshine, it would be my duty.”