rewrite the stars - jaywon

chapter 47: resolution

Things were touch and go, at first. Jungwon's parents seemed to always be around, watching, eyes peeled. But Jungwon and Jay made do.

During the days, they kept a civil distance. Jay acted the part of the polite, obedient house butler. Jungwon acted the part of the dutiful son. Jungwon tried hard to subdue his instinctual reactions when Jay looked at him, or when his blank face disappeared for a moment and his smile shone through.

It was more difficult than he could have ever anticipated to keep his emotions in check. His only consolation was that Jay assured him it was just as hard for him.

The nights were theirs, though. After the lights went out, after Jungwon's parents went to sleep, Jay trekked up to Jungwon's room. Half the time was spent in conversation, out on the ledge under Jungwon's window.

Jay would ask Jungwon questions about human quirks he didn't quite understand. Jungwon would badger Jay about his goals and dreams outside of just working for Jungwon's parents for the rest of his life. Music, Jay kept circulating back to. If he ever got out, he'd want to make music.

Jungwon would always be the first to fall silent on the nights they talked, no matter how hard he tried to stay awake. And he'd always wake up the next morning, in his bed, the curtains drawn half closed.

The remaining half of their nights were spent rectifying Jay's confession that he had no real idea how he was supposed to kiss. Jungwon didn't know whether to be stressed or pleased at how much Jay wanted Jungwon to teach him, at how thorough he wanted his education to be.

Thankfully, it was easy enough to hide the evidence of their late nights from his parents. With their shallow glances and brief surveying looks, it was no wonder they never caught on to Jay and Jungwon's kiss swollen lips, or even the occasional hickey that dotted Jungwon's collarbones.

Jungwon didn't know what it was-- if his parents were so convinced in their robot's obedience or if they were just willfully blind-- but they'd shown no hints of suspicion regarding him and Jay.

Weeks passed and Jungwon began to breathe easier. With time, his parents no longer bat an eye when Jungwon informed them he was going to the mall with his friends and that Jay would be tagging along. His mother no longer watched him whenever he spoke with Jay, since they had taken care that the topics would appear to be inane.

With his parents' relaxation came freedom, new opportunities for Jay to discover things about the world he'd never had the chance to before. Jungwon and Jay had taken to sneaking off downtown whenever Jungwon's parents were out. They went down to the BELIFT campus, met up with Yeonjun, Taehyun, and the rest of the older boys.

Jay was entranced by Taehyun's stories about how dancing had awakened his emotions, how he had bought his freedom and the first thing he'd done was enroll in classes at a dance studio.

"Dancing was the first thing that made me feel individual, like I wasn't just another product to be bought and sold," Taehyun had explained, and Jay's eyes had lit up before he'd turned them to Jungwon, who could only blush.

Jungwon had pressed Jay to tell Taehyun about his musical aspirations. He'd watched with happiness and something like relief as Jay and Taehyun clicked, near instantaneously. What at first was a rare meeting quickly became a common occurrence-- Jay leapt at any chance to meet up with his new friends.

⭐

The moon was full and bright in the summer night sky. Night had fallen and, with it, a chill had arrived. It was finally cool enough to justify turning on Jake's hot tub. Jungwon relaxed in it, content to watch as Jay and Sunghoon squared off against Ni-ki and Heeseung in a match of water volleyball.

Robots, it turned out, were good at water volleyball.

"My parents don't want to get an android anymore," Jake was watching Jay thoughtfully, as he leapt out of the water to hit a ball volleyed over by Heeseung, "It's no use, they said, not with how big a fuss those unions are kicking up over working conditions and pay."

Jungwon nodded in understanding. Just the other day, he'd managed to get a conversation started with his mother about getting Jay's working hours limited, and maybe paying him. She was reluctant, but it was a matter of time before he wore his mother and his father down. He could see in the headlines that a similar fight was being fought between the rights groups and the legal system.

"Oh no. Looks like you'll have to find a boyfriend the old-fashioned way," Sunoo deadpanned.

Jungwon reached through the water and tugged at Sunoo's ankle, making him slip under the water's surface. He popped up seconds later, sputtering all manner of insults at Jungwon. Jungwon shrugged Sunoo's litany of cursing off with a smile and a roll of his eyes.

As Sunghoon let out a triumphant yell, Jungwon's gaze drifted back over to the volleyball match. Sunghoon jumped onto Jay's back, pumping his arms in celebration of another good volley for their team. Jay laughed as he carried Sunghoon on his back through the water.

Ni-ki scratched his head, but even he had to crack a good-natured smile. The only one who looked upset was Heeseung. He stared at the show Jay and Sunghoon were putting on, a forlorn expression on his face.

Jungwon stared thoughtfully at Heeseung, as an idea struck him for something that might just manage to lift the boy's mood.

"Jake, I hope you're feeling daring."

Giggling at Sunoo and Jake's twin expressions of confusion, Jungwon leaned over the edge of the hot tub.

"Hey, guys!" he called. Jungwon waited until all four in the pool turned to look at him before grinning, and saying, "You up for a little game of truth or dare?"

— the end of rewrite the stars ♡