Bet On

Part 5

For the next few days, UP doesn't see Kao at all, nor does he try to. He tells himself it's because Kao is busy and he needs all the time for the project and rest that he can get, but part of it is also UP formulating excuses and turning down an invitation or two, avoiding Kao and the uncomfortable swirl of emotions he keeps experiencing around him lately.

He can't avoid him forever though, especially not when Valentine's Day comes around. He knows Kao has especially been looking forward to it, having never had anyone to spend the holiday with before, and UP himself has never had a particularly good one, so he's looking forward to it himself. He just hopes he can keep his irrational emotions in check for one night.

They opted to finally spend the money Kao had won from the notorious bet (and then some, probably) on a night out to a nice-looking restaurant UP has been meaning to take Kao to for a while now. UP told him not to buy any chocolates or anything, promising to spoil them both with sweets the next morning when all Valentine's merchandise is on clearance, but UP breaks his own rule by buying one of those cheap, tiny boxes of four chocolates anyway.

Kao texts UP to say he's running a little late, asking if they can meet at his dorm instead of UP's. UP agrees, of course, not without a bit of fond exasperation and a reminder that this place does not fuck around and will seat someone else if they aren't there on time.

The last thing he expects to see when he lets himself into Kao's dorm is Mina on the sofa, gathering papers from the coffee table. She turns to UP when he enters with a friendly smile and greeting, lips painted a deep red that matches UP's cardigan, befitting the holiday. There's a little box of chocolates similar to the one he'd gotten Kao sitting on the table unopened, the plastic wrap still on it.

"Sorry for the hold-up," Mina says. "We were just so close to finishing, but we finally did it!" She shakes her fists in the air in celebration before getting back to cleaning up the mess of papers strewn across the table's surface.

UP has to restrain himself from saying thank God out loud. "That's a relief," he says instead, smiling politely. "I know you guys were working hard on it."

"Oh, totally," she says. "Thank God it's over. You can have your boyfriend back now!"

The words are playfully innocent, but UP can't help the knee-jerk reaction he has to them, cocking his head to the side. But before he can stew in it, the sound of Kao emerging from his bedroom grabs his attention, and the way Kao looks is certainly distracting enough.

He beams at UP, black hair styled off his forehead, a touch of eye makeup, wearing a simple white button-down tucked into black slacks combo that makes him look effortlessly, ridiculously sexy. He's rolling up his sleeves to show off the expensive watch his dad bought him resting on his delicate wrist and pretty hands adorned with rings. One of said hands reaches back into his room for something, emerging with a handful of beautiful roses wrapped in pink plastic, the sight setting UP's heart a flutter.

"I know you told me not to get you anything until tomorrow," Kao starts, making his way towards him, "but they were just so pretty and smelled so nice and—look! They match your cardigan!"

UP accepts the flowers gingerly, unable to suppress a giddy smile. He inhales the sweet, floral scent, humming. "They're beautiful."

"You're beautiful," Kao returns predictably, craning his neck over the roses to capture his lips in a gentle kiss, and UP catches a whiff of his cologne over the smell of roses. "You look stunning."

UP preens and shies away at the praise all at once; he'd taken his time getting ready, styling his hair in waves, drawing careful wings on his eyes, dusting them with red, but other than that he feels like he pales in comparison to Kao's sleek, handsome look.