Twitterpated (A JiKyu Fanfiction)

Chapter 10: 'Brother?'

You might feel amused if I say, Jihoon liked to pick Junkyu up after his classes ended. Normally, it was the exact same time Doyoung's picking up happened. But some day, when Mrs. Kim had some free time to do that for Jihoon's sake, the latter wouldn't just go home. Rather, he'd wait in front of Junkyu's university, in the hope of walking home with him.

The first time it happened, Junkyu was speechless, totally shocked. Nevertheless, he loved it. And with time, he became used to it. He started looking around his varsity every day to see if Jihoon was waiting for him or not.

That day, Junkyu's classes ended mid afternoon. Habitually, he scanned the surroundings of his institution. No trace of Jihoon. He was disappointed, but just slightly. Jihoon must have been busy picking up Doyoung; besides, it was never the elder's responsibility to walk him home. He's a grown up too.

Junkyu started walking slowly. His mind was filled with so many irrational thoughts lately. Like why would he get upset when Jihoon didn't prioritize him, or why would he be so happy just by talking to Jihoon. Why would his heart long for the other? When did he become so addicted to the other's crescent moon like smile?

Junkyu didn't notice, with his impenetrable loop of thoughts when a sudden sound of footsteps was heard. That's why he was more surprised than usual when a strong pair of arms grabbed his neck, jumping on his back.

"What the F-" Junkyu looked back and immediately stopped when he saw the smiling eyes of the one that had been occupying his thoughts, Jihoon.

"Jihoonie! When did you arrive?" Junkyu asked, hiding his obvious happiness.

Jihoon let go, only letting one arm around Junkyu's back, "Quite a while ago. I was hiding." He spoke mischievously.

"You scared me!" Junkyu exclaimed. Jihoon seemed to like that, "It was my plan, honey!"

Jihoon often gave Junkyu weird pet names, the ones you call your close friends or lovers with. Junkyu knew that he fell into the first kind, but his stupid heart wanted to believe the opposite.

"Mom's picking Doyoung up?" Junkyu asked. They already started walking side by side, with Jihoon's arm around Junkyu.

"Yep. And she said she's gonna take him to the playground first." Jihoon said. Junkyu chuckled. His mother's obvious love for Doyoung showed in everything she did. It seemed as if Doyoung were her original grandson.

"She treats him like her own grandson." Junkyu stated. It felt really nice walking by Jihoon's side with the chilly afternoon breeze cooling him a little.

"Yes!" Jihoon grinned.

"And she treats you like her own son too." Junkyu added. Jihoon, although didn't respond to that, had that happy grin on his face.

"You two really are like my family now." Junkyu continued talking, "I sometimes feel like Doyoungie is my own son."

Jihoon slowed down his pace a little. He knew what Junkyu said, he could see it. And it's no wonder, from the very first day, it was meant to be this way. But he did not know his own status in Junkyu's life. One thing he knew, he was precious to Junkyu. But what mattered was how Junkyu saw him. Family? Like what exactly? A friend? Soulmate? Brother? Lover?

"Junkyu," Jihoon slowly asked. Junkyu just tilted his head a little, showing a sign that he was listening.

"What am I to you?"

He asked it. He finally did. It tormented him, frightened him, shook him with the possibility that what he was thinking, what he felt was a mirage, was a false hope not reciprocated by the other.