Unexpected Fate

Chapter 5

Kao remembers UP rolling the windows down, the cool night air euphoric as it kissed his skin and rustled his hair. The streetlights illuminated UP's elegant profile as he drove Kao home. UP turned to him with a small smile and softly uttered you're staring. Kao hummed in response, not looking away.

He must have fallen asleep after that, still drunk but not drunk enough to stay asleep through the sweet murmur of UP's voice as he coaxes Lily out of the car and onto his back again, taking her inside with a promise to come back for Kao.

Kao watches them go, something so dangerously tender seizing his heart.

While the opportunity to be carried inside by UP is tempting, Kao figures he's caused him enough trouble for the night, managing to make his way inside on his own and only tripping once on the steps leading up to the porch. He enters and hears the sink running upstairs, the distant sound of Lily brushing her teeth—at UP's request, no doubt.

Kao sits at the bottom of the stairs and listens to UP reminding Lily to change into her pajamas and wishing her a good night that's echoed gently before her door clicks shut. He thinks he might fall asleep again right here until UP's voice yanks him back from the precipice.

"Ah, you made it in." He's right behind Kao suddenly, carefully tugging him up. "C'mon, let's get you to bed, Mr."

"Hey..." Kao protests weakly, but he lets himself be led up the stairs and into the bathroom. UP hands him his toothbrush and leaves, returning once Kao is done getting ready for bed with a glass of water. Kao feels grateful but also guilty.

"Sorry you had to take care of me—of us," he says sheepishly after taking a generous sip of water and crawling into bed. "And for my friends. And their dog."

"It's okay," UP chuckles. "I didn't have to. I offered." He shrugs, pulling Kao's comforter over him. "I like taking care of you."

Kao's heart stutters.

"It's like volunteering in a nursing home," UP adds.

Kao groans, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes and trying to pretend UP's resulting laugh isn't the cutest thing he's ever heard despite it being at his expense.

"What I'm hearing is that you would fuck your patient at a nursing home," Kao says, propping his head up on his elbow and looking at UP as he sits on the edge of Kao's bed. "That's sick, UP."

"Mm, can't resist a good GILF."

Kao blinks.

UP clarifies, "Grandpa I'd like to f—"

"No, I got it, thanks."

"Just checking." UP grins, patting Kao's thigh through his blanket. "I guess I should—"

"Stay?" Kao interrupts, curling his fingers around UP's wrist before he can stand to leave. UP looks at where their warm skin meets, then at Kao.

"In—In the spare room?"

"In here," Kao says quietly. "With me. Is that okay?"

"Is that okay with you?" UP clears his throat. "You're drunk."

"I'm not asking you to have sex with me. I just... want you close."

UP's eyes dart around his face, gleaming in the dark. Kao's heart pounds; had he overstepped? Fucked it up on a drunken whim?

"Okay," UP responds finally. "Gonna steal a pair of your sweats and brush my teeth first."

Kao smiles. "Okay."

Right—because this is normal now. UP staying over, borrowing Kao's clothes, and having a goddamn toothbrush of his own in the cup in Kao's bathroom.

This has gotten way out of hand, his feelings for UP only growing like weeds sprawling across a once-tame flowerbed; beautiful, colorful weeds, but invasive and detrimental all the same.