lollipop ➹ jaywon

FLIPPED. 007

Cute was an understatement to describe Jungwon. Despite his attempts to make Jongseong uncomfortable by his lack of communication to him (there would still be some unwanted tension, which wasn't questionable considering how their friendship was left years ago), Jay still found him adorable. For reasons filled with uncertainty, there was something that piqued Jay's interest about Jungwon. Maybe it was merely the fact that he was a younger brother to him before they had to leave to go to Australia. Maybe he just finds him cute because that was the image Jungwon held when he still went by 'Johnny' or even as Jungwon. The little boy who would be with Jay after fun classes in middle school.

Everyday, Jay would see Jungwon outside of his house. They wouldn't talk nor acknowledge each other's presence, though, as Jay would only watch him from his window while Jungwon isn't entirely aware that Jay was looking. The dimpled boy would tend to his plants, taking care of the growing seedlings while clad in a sun hat. They haven't really spoken after the events at The Tree, well, not like Jay comes out of his house, anyway. He would rather spend his summer indoors, or traveling.

He has nothing left to do, so he spends the rest of his days playing games. Precisely a week after Jungwon's return, another opportunity doesn't fail to miss when Jake invites him for dinner one night.

"Eyy, mate! I knew you'd come," Jake grins, his bright smile plastered across the masculine features of his face. For a second, he looks like Jay's golden retriever friend back in their younger teenage years.

Raising a brow and smirking, Jay chuckles, "why? Did you invite anyone else?"

"I invited our old friends back in middle school. Like a mini reunion!" His best friend squeals as he links his arm on Jay's strong one. The two make their way deeper inside Jake's house. The house stayed the same, although some furniture and decorations were replaced with various different objects. "I invited Heeseung hyung, too. Remember him?"

"How can I not? We're still friends since we go to the same high school. Plus, he was your gay awakening," a teasing whiff accompanies Jay's voice.

"Okay, I admit. He was my crush before Sunghoon," Jake rolls his eyes and leads Jay to the kitchen where a figure stands by the counter. Jay already recognizes the broad shoulders and slightly long hair. "Oh, Jungwon's here. I'll be picking Sunghoonie up so stay here before guests arrive."

Jay responds with a chuckle in amusement at what Jake previously said, and the younger turns his head and locks eyes with him. Jungwon flashes him a smile, to which Jay returns. "Hey, Jay-hyung."

"Won," Jay says with a nod as a form of acknowledgement. Jake, not so slick, rolls his eyes and waves at the two.

Before Jake could leave as he grabbed the car keys, he turned to his brother and Jay. "Keep the house in one place!"

"Yeah, yeah," Jungwon sighs softly before muttering keep safe. Afterwards, they were left alone as Jungwon finished preparing the food for tonight's party. "Hey, hyung," Jungwon calls out not long after Jake leaves the house. "Wanna watch a movie with me?"

And so they were inside Jungwon's room, a blanket draped over their bodies as Jungwon's laptop was the sole source of illumination inside the dim room. They were seated on Jungwon's bed, their eyes gazing at the screen, yet neither of them noticed the sneaky glances they were both sharing with each other. Towards the start of the movie, their knees had gently collided in a resting manner, barely having skin touch against the other person's skin yet it was enough to send them stiff and tense. It was a fluke, nothing more than a chaste position as they sat crisscrossed. They don't speak of it, no, none of them repositioned themselves to detach from one another. Simply staring at the screen, simply ignoring the seethe of swirling emotions storming inside of them like a hurricane.