Bet On

Part 3

TEXT

Kao
hey~~ are you tired?

UP
from running through your mind all day? not really

Kao
from running through my mind all day
HEY!!

UP
I've had lots of practice
my stamina is incredible ;)
Kao
...
??!!?!?!?
how dare you steal my thunder!

UP
your pickup line sucks
come up with something original
am I not worth an actual good pick up line??? Mr. I write music but google shitty pickup lines like it's my job?????

Kao
..damn
challenge accepted
I'll sweep you off your feet for sure you just wait

UP
yeah sure~

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

After the first visit to Up's and subsequent movie night, there's a shift in their relationship―in a couple of different ways.

They've long since finished (and get top marks on) the group project that initially brought them together, so they continue collaborating on the copious amount of homework their professor assigns them. They're both smart and work efficiently together, and it's an excuse to spend more time with UP, so Kao has no complaints there.

They also gradually start spending more time together without homework as a catalyst, occasionally meeting up at the cafe, watching more movies at UP's (even after his roommate's return, much to Kao's delight), or just sticking around each other after class is out when neither has anything to do.

(Kao runs into Ohm and Prem while walking through campus with UP one day, and watches with amusement while UP exchanges pleasantries with the guy who gave him Kao's number and there is Prem, Whose cousin he used to hook up with, snickering while Prem squirms under his gaze.)

By now, flirting with UP has become such an integral part of their relationship that Kao has stopped hoping for anything to come out of it. He just does it to be annoying or to have a playful mask to express how cute he genuinely thinks UP is and how much he likes him without making it weird.

UP hardly reciprocates the flirting, often meeting Kao's comments with an exasperated expression or flat-out ignoring him. And honestly? Kao can't blame him. He hits him with some of the slimiest pick-up lines he can muster. Sometimes they're so bad that UP just laughs in his face, but his laugh is painfully cute, so Kao supposes it's fine.

Every once in a while, though, UP will grace him with a sliver of the specific brand of attention he so badly craves—just enough to spur Kao on and give him hope that maybe he's making progress.

More so than reciprocating Kao's flirting, UP allows his roaming hands to speak for him. Kao just can't quite decipher what it is they're saying.

"Kao," UP says sweetly, innocently, his hand taking its place on his upper thigh to get his attention. He certainly has it. Kao resists the urge to gulp as he turns to UP, whose eyes stay trained on his paper. "What's number three again?"

"Uh." He clears his throat, peering down at his worksheet. "Acetate?"

UP hums appreciatively before writing it down, giving a light squeeze and a pat to Kao's leg before pulling away. Kao realizes how tense he'd been and lets his muscles relax, sparing UP a curious glance, but he remains focused on his work. Kao shakes his head as if the thoughts would shake away with it and tries to do the same.

It happens like this every time. UP's hands find Kao's arm or leg at some point and linger there just a little too long to be considered friendly. Maybe he's just a touchy person, Kao originally thought—that is, until his hands got in the habit of slithering towards Kao's inner thigh in a decidedly non-platonic way.