Complicated Feelings

Chapter 5

Kao
yo yo yo
alcohol and super smash bros on saturday at my place
be there or be gay

Foei
we're literally all gay

Up
so be here and be gay
let's all be gay together~

Kao
oh baby that sounds like a good time

Karn
that sounds completely horrifying

Mean
you're forgetting you added me to the gc
i will not be participating in any orgies

Foei
NEITHER WILL WE???

Up
so you're homophobic

Mean
oh my god again with this

Kao
it's okay Mean we get it, if
you don't agree with our lifestyle
that's fine

Mean
the only lifestyle i don't agree with is the one, where i have to hear you two fuck constantly

Up
i have needs

Mean
fucking clearly
being horny is a disease bitch get well soon

Kao
if you don't like it just go stay with Foei
i'm sure he and Karn have more self-control

Mean
see that's what i thought
but that night i did?
You know
when you guys kicked me out?

Karn
please stop

Foei
Mean
sweet Mean, who i love so very much
shhhhhh

Kao
it was valentine's day!!!

Mean
yeah well it was valentine's day for them too
believe it or not
ugh. disgusting

Karn
wow he really is homophobic

Up
i expected more from you

Mean
keep it up and i will be

Kao
anyways!!
everyone's coming right?
bring snacks and drinks :D

Foei
me and Karn will be there
he has no choice

Karn
oh joy

Mean
i live here so

Up
me too

Mean
then pay rent

Kao
babyyy
can you pick me up a coffee
i love you

Mean
can you message him privately

Up
i already passed the cafe

Kao
;~;

Foei
he's turning around as we speak

Up
shut the fuck up
you don't know me

Karn
he definitely is

Mean
wait Up's coming over?
that's my cue to leave

Kao
come onnn
we weren't even gonna do anything

Mean
not risking it
bye

Up
what kind of coffee do u want

Foei
HAHAHAHAHAHA

Karn
LMAOOO

Up
You all die
Kao???

Mean
he fell asleep on the couch

Up
leave the door unlocked for me

Mean
no i don't think i will

Up
bitch

Foei
the homophobia never ends

Karn
deserved

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

Days later, Kao is looking around his and Mean's den with a dopey grin on his face, heart full and light.

Up and Mean are sitting on the floor having a screaming match over Super Smash Brothers as they play with their whole bodies, jerking around wildly while their on-screen characters fight. Up is losing terribly, and it's evident by his pained wails and Mean's borderline evil cackles as he pummels him over and over.

Karn and Foei are sitting off to the side watching with amusement, Foei between Karn's legs with his back against his chest while Karn's arms wind around his middle, holding him close. They steal quick kisses when they think no one is looking.

Karn had confessed his feelings to Foei just a few days after Kao talked to him about it. The earliest stages of their relationship were nowhere near as quick or convoluted as Kao and Up's, having opted to take things slow and take each other on proper dates before even kissing a second time. It worked for them, evidently, now a few months into being the happiest Kao's ever seen them.

The same can be said for Up and him. Every day they grow closer, and Kao falls more in love. They've kept their promises about communicating better, Up working with Kao to come out of his emotional shell, Kao conveying his worries freely, and holding each other's hands every step of the way.

Mean is... just Mean. He really is a fifth wheel now, but Kao knows he doesn't mind as much as he lets on.

"Kao," Up whines, dropping the controller as he crawls over to where Kao sits on the sofa. There's a pout on his lips, a flush on his cheeks from the alcohol as he wraps his arms around Kao's waist and rests his head in his lap. "Your evil roommate is bullying me."

"Aww," Kao coos, brushing a hand through his hair. "Want me to beat him up?"

"Please," Up responds.

"Ha! I'd like to see you try!" Mean sits up tall and proud, waving Up's abandoned controller in the air.

"Oh, you are so dead," Kao proclaims, lunging for it. He has to pry Up off of him with promises of defending his honor.

Up settles for sitting behind Kao and wrapping his limbs around him, nuzzling into his neck. It's significantly harder to focus with Up's lips on his neck, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

Karn and Foei boo and cheer, respectively, as Kao's character gains the upper hand over Mean's, and by some miracle, Kao manages to knock him off the platform and secure a victory. Kao yells, fists pumping the air triumphantly while Up congratulates him loudly in his ear and Mean reluctantly, dramatically bows to him.

Up rolls onto his back on the floor, pulling Kao with him as he flails powerlessly in his hold. He squirms and twists around in his grip until they're face-to-face, beaming.

"You've avenged me," Up says. "However can I repay you?"

Kao ignores the jeers and the get a room! yelled at them to brush Up's hair out of his face and take in features that he knows like the back of his hand, but never cease to take his breath away. "A kiss should suffice, I think."

"A kiss it is," he says, puckering his lips exaggeratedly.

"I need another drink," he hears Mean grumble.

"They're not that bad." Kao is shocked to hear Karn defend their behavior. "...Yet."

"Come on!" Foei shouts. "Give us a show!"

Kao laughs, loud and hearty, and takes Up's face into his hands to kiss him again and again until their friends beg them to stop.

He pulls away after one final peck, a fond look and so much warmth shared between them.

Kao rests his head on Up's chest, listening to his heart beat in one ear and his friends' laughter in the other.

He closes his eyes in bliss, and he thanks his lucky star.

The End

Thanks For Reading 🫠

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-