Masquerade | Johnyong

★ Eight

Chapter 8: I want to see you

8:20AM
Taeyong came out of the guest bathroom with his previous clothes. He goes down stairs to see Johnny in the kitchen drinking a huge cup of coffee.

Remembering what happened earlier in the morning, he starts to feel embarrassed. He sits down on the couch in the living room only for Johnny to join him.

"No good morning or even a little greeting?" Johnny questions. Taeyong looks away, biting his lip. Johnny sighs. He gets up and sits next to Taeyong.

"I'm sorry about that. . ."

"Why are you apologizing?"

Taeyong  gets up from the couch and starts pacing around. "I'm a fully grown adult who's pushing 30. . . It feels so embarrassing to still be waking up screaming and crying cause of a stupid nightmare." He says.

"Taeyong, it's alright. . . You're fine." Johnny reassures. Taeyong sits back down as he starts to feel dizzy.

"If you insist." Taeyong mutters. Johnny gets up, "Do you want to go out for breakfast?" He asks. Taeyong declines, shaking his head. "I'll just go home and eat breakfast." He says.

"That will take long. You should eat breakfast within an hour of waking up."

Taeyong visibly cringes at that. He shakes his head. "Why do you wait so long? Breakfast is the most important meal. " Johnny questions, sitting back down.

". . . Fine, I'll go out with you." Taeyong finally agrees. He rolls his eyes when he sees Johnny smile in victory.

"I'll go get ready." Johnny pats Taeyong's back before getting up to go upstairs.

🕊

Xiaojun brings a cup of tea to Hendery. "How are you feeling?" He asks softly, though he sounded cold. Hendery sits up, taking the glass from him. "I'm great but you. . ." Hendery hesitates for a second, biting his lip. "A-Are you ok?" He stutters

"I'm fine." Xiaojun sighs. "I said something hurtful. I shouldn't have-"

Xiaojun cuts off Hendery, "No, you should have. Jaehyun likes you like that." He murmurs.

"What?"

"What?" Xiaojun acts clueless. He gets out the first aid kit. "Lift up your shirt." Hendery looks away from Xiaojun.

"Hendery,"

Hendery shakes his head. Xiaojun sits on the bed. He lifts Hendery's shirt up only for Hendery to quickly pull it down.

"Can I please undress your wound and redress it?" Xiaojun asks but Hendery still refuses. "I need to, Hendery."

Hendery slowly lifts up to reveal love bites. Xiaojun stares at the love bites on Hendery's stomach that obviously led up to more on his torso. He looks away, remembering last night's events.

Xiaojun tells himself to forget it, thinking Hendery's condition is more important than his bitter feelings. He proceeds to take off the bandaged and apply an antibiotic ointment before bandaging up the wound again. Xiaojun pulls Hendery's shirt down and puts away the first aid kit before getting up.

Hendery watches as Xiaojun leaves without saying a word. He gets up and goes after Xiaojun.

"What's wrong with you?" Hendery questions, grabbing Xiaojun's arm but Xiaojun is quick to push him away.