𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐄

#.. SEVEN

Badminton practice was over, and as Gunil put his racquet in the bag, he saw Jungsu smiling fondly at him. He smiled back, coming closer to the younger. "You look good when you're sweating" Jungsu admitted with a playful grin, flirting with him in a teasing manner. So Gunil decided to return the energy. "Your eyes look good when they study my body." The answer shocked Jungsu, leaving him flustered and with bright red cheeks, as Gunil started escorting him away.

Going home together was something that became a daily thing now. And it even made sense. Jungsu was asked to have Gunil over for the year and after asking his father, he accepted the offer. And he was glad he did; Gunil was one of the nicest persons he has ever met. There wasn't any need for further words - On their stroll home, words were meaningless. Both just enjoyed each other's presence. Even though Hyeongjun knew about Jungsu being polyamorous, it still felt so wrong. Jungsu tried to suppress this lingering thought, but he couldn't.

In his last relationship, he told his boyfriend that he had a crush on another boy as well, the said boy being Hyeongjun at that time. It made his ex so mad that he slapped Jungsu and started screaming, saying that he's just cheating. So loving another person and not just his boyfriend was engraved as something bad inside his brain. Even though Hyeongjun keeps telling him that he is fine with Jungsu dating other boys. After all, Jungsu had so much love to give.

It was a little bit colder that day and Jungsu felt that. He wrapped his arms around his body, in hope to warm himself up a little. Not having checked the weather prognosis, he simply put on a shirt not expecting it to be so cold later on. And it was still so far from home, Jungsu regretted his choice of clothes. But some moments later he was glad he just put on a shirt.

They suddenly stopped, leaving Jungsu confused. "Are you okay?" he asked Gunil but silently received a sweater as a response. Gunil took of his hoodie, seeing how much the younger started to freeze. "Put it on" he insisted. "You'll be cold then, no. Take it back." "Dude, I just did sports for ninety minutes straight, my body is warmed up. Put it on." Jungsu 'tssk'-ed playfully as he dressed himself in Gunil's sweater, his perfume immediately invading his mind. God, he smelled so good.

Any other person watching them would be weirded out. Both of them were blushing while Jungsu held onto the hoodie, inhaling the intoxicating scent as quietly as possible. He didn't want Gunil to think he's weird. But Gunil found it rather adorable. He caught himself thinking about Jungsu in a... well, not so platonic way. For sure, the younger was the prettiest boy he has ever seen in his life. He immediately concluded that when he and his father collected him from the airport.

Thinking a boy was pretty as a boy wasn't that what makes one queer. Gunil never really experienced love before, so he couldn't really tell if what he felt towards Jungsu was love. Seeing the way Gunil's brother played around with many girls, Gunil wasn't sure if this was right love as well? Was there even something as love?

Gunil wanted to make Jungsu smile. Seeing Jungsu smile could cure any bad mood. Whenever Gunil missed his home, Jungsu was reassuring him with this sweet and warming smile. His parents already knew about Jungsu, too. His mom face-timed with the younger, wanting to get to know the boy Gunil is staying over at for a whole year.

Gunil wanted Jungsu to feel safe around him. Having protected him lots of times prior, Gunil felt responsible for Jungsu's safety. It was like an instinct. By no means he intended to belittle the younger but whenever he was bullied, the bullies definitely had their advantages. And Gunil wanted their advantages to disappear. Being hurt meant nothing anymore, as long as he knew Jungsu was fine.

Could this be love? No. How could he love boys? Everyone around him loved girls, so he automatically gaslighted himself into believing he likes them too. He still remembered his first houseparty, it was so embarrassing to think back. A girl seduced him and they were close to being very intimate with each other, as Gunil just started crying. He wasn't ready. And the thought of, well, fucking a girl scared him. Maybe he was gay.