Joong
"You should stay here for the night, we had been drinking, and the night is late. Tomorrow is Sunday, anyway...", I tried to coax Nine to stay. Nine's cheek was a bit pink, he must be tipsy, but not totally drunk. Still, not safe enough to drive.
"Yeah, I didn't realize that it's late. But, I could always call for a substitute driver to come. There are plentiful in weekend".
"Is it the bedroom? If you cannot stand to be in that room, there's a guest room, you can sleep there, really...it is never occupied...", what was this that I rambled about. The more I talk, the more it sounded liked an excuse.
Nine shook his head, "No, don't want to be in any room whatsoever. After I finished this last piece of chicken, then I'll call the driver". I nodded, though I felt a little down, I couldn't force Nine to stay.
He tidied up the table, bringing the thrash to the kitchen, wiping it clean and then sat back on the sofa while waiting for the driver to come. He closed his eyes, and massaging his forehead.
"Headache?", I asked, and worried.
Nine open his eyes and looked at me, "Emm! Must be so long that I didn't drink, that beers are not that much, but still, my head feels heavy".
"Could you hold it while on your way home? What if you passed out, and the driver do something unknowingly?".
I could hear Nine's soft laughter, "I'm not that drunk, Joong. Ah, my phone is ringing, he must be here. Hello, yeah...alright, wait for a moment, I'm coming down..", Nine stood up, but swayed a little. I managed to hold him steady.
"This won't do...", I said and pushed him to sit back, "wait there, don't move and fall on your face". I ran into my room to collect my wallet and phone. Nine was a little confuse when I followed him down, but if I let him knew, he would refuse again, so I just kept quiet. Until I entered his car with him, he was about to protest, but I immediately asked the driver to move, as soon as the address was given.
Nine was fuming, I could sense through the way he crossed his hands and didn't want to look my way. We arrived at his house, paid the driver and I held him steady until we reached inside his house.
"Now what? How will you go back? We both drink, so you can't drive my car.. ", Nine said with a strain voice. I just smiled cheekily and proceeded to the sofa. "Joong?".
"Who said anything about going back tonight? Liked the last time, I think your sofa is good enough, I slept almost undisturbed, right?", I said and sat down.
"You won't budge even if I kick you, right?", I could hear his annoyed voice.
"Don't be too harsh on the birthday boy, Nine. Ah, you haven't wished me at all, and now only five minutes left. At this rate, I need to wait for another year to receive them, then. But, it's alright, go to sleep, Nine. I'll guard your house for any intruder, I promised", I said, smiled and lying down, using the throw pillow to support my neck and shoulder. I closed my eyes before Nine could proceed and kick me out.
I could hear him going into his room, and smiled. So, he relented. But then, when the sound of the door opening again, I was nervous, but refused to open my eyes.
"You're not yet asleep, nobody fall asleep that fast", I could hear his voice again. I pouted, and opened my eyes back. Nine put down the pillow and blanket that he brought out on the floor.
I thought he just wanted to give me that, but then, Nine kneeled on the floor so that his face was directly in front of me. We looked at each other, without saying anything. He sighed, and finally talk.
"You'll be whining for the whole year if I don't do this. Happy Birthday, Joong Archen". My heart was beating hard, after so many years, I could hear them again, and then he continued, "Since I bought nothing for you, do you have any wish for me to grant, and you only have a minute left, too", he smiled teasingly.
"Kiss", as soon as I said that, Nine's smile vanished. I touched his cheek gently, and waiting for permission. His eyes were darting, his mind and heart must be at war. I smiled, and slowly brought my hand down. Overboard, my wish went overboard. "Good night, Nine...thank you, for spending time with me tonight, I am happy". I said, truly, my heart was already blooming. It's alright if he's still not ready. This was enough.
That's what I thought, until he held my face, bent down and before I could realize what was happening, my eyes closed instinctively, and all I could feel was the wet lips covering mine.
Nine
I was drunk, I know it was an excuse. This was an impulsive act. I was pulled to be atop of him, and instead of fighting, I welcomed the closeness, the position gave me a chance to kiss him better. His hands, were holding my waist securely, from falling to the floor and also holding my nape steady.
Is this how a kiss feel? He is definitely better at it than my clumsy one. But, naturally, it fell into a steady rhythm. No wonder he was always aiming for a kiss. This was liked a kid who was given a favourite candy; and he was savouring my lips liked one. Until we could breathe no more, and my head was pounding with the additional blood rush, I pulled away and moved down to the floor, catching my breath. Joong also sat up on the sofa.
"Good heaven!", I said, and laughed freely. It was not embarrassing, but rather an enlightenment to a novice liked me. Lust it seemed; felt liked a burning heat, with currents running all over your skin; yet, it was not something unpleasant at all.
"Sorry, Joong, I was tasting something for the first time, so I got carried away...", I said to him, who looked at me liked I was going crazy.
"Really? That was your first kiss? All these years...no one, Nine?", Joong was asking with a surprise in his voice, and also, hope.
"Emm, no one. I just don't seem to find anyone I wanted to be serious with".
"So, I am, err, was, still your only love?".
"Looking at it now, yes, I guess. Funny, I didn't even wait for you. But, it seemed my heart is not open for anyone else, too. Arghhh...this is trouble!. Maybe, I should start now, being more open, date more".
"No! You must wait until you feel that you really couldn't love me back first!", Joong was protesting vehemently, "only then, you could reject me directly, before...you try to love anyone else. For a start, our kisses, felt good, right? You liked it?".
"Joong, there's no comparison, so I don't know...", I said, and stood up. "This is too much to handle for one night, my head is pounding, sorry, couldn't give you an answer".
"Oh...", he said dejectedly.
"But, maybe, I'll be open for more, err, try...". I didn't wait or see his reaction, as I walked away immediately into my room and closed the door.
I am drunk. Yeah, definitely, all this influx of sensation, and the boldness, is the effect of the alcohol in my system. Still, whatever the reason is, just liked Joong, tonight, I am happy.
