ACT OF LOVE | gayeon

A DESIRE: 10

Jooyeon leaned against the wall in the hall of the room and took a few deep breaths, the air was somehow more transparent here. He felt as if everything he had been repressing inside him had suddenly vanished and it was easier for him to think. With his head resting on his wrists, he sat there for a few moments before deciding to do anything.

Finally, he entered the room, scanning its entire interior, placed a bottle of wine in the middle and quickly opened every possible window, causing the yellow curtains to start blowing restlessly into the bedroom. He took out matches and spilled cigarettes from the coat on the ground.

"Fuck it." he said under his breath before lighting the first one. Smoke swirled around his hair and danced aggressively in the wind.

It wasn't any easier for him to think, he was now alone with his mind and it wasn't helping him much. Even this level of alcohol in the blood didn't do much. He preferred to focus on stupid smoking, which, as we know, he didn't practice, but hey, he was lost.

His hands were tapping agitatedly on the floor and his eyes were squeezed shut - he refused to see himself like this. The goofy smile he had on his face during the meeting suddenly seemed to evaporate and the boy now looked more like death than anything else.

His thoughts were interrupted by the door suddenly opening, causing his body to flinch. His friend was here and as quickly as he arrived at the apartment, he stood in front of Jooyeon.

"You left early," commented Jiseok. His gaze jumped from the cigarette to the boy's slightly parted lips.

"I felt sick," he replied quietly, watching Jiseok's pale hands, which after a moment landed on his hips. "And where is everyone else?"

"Still at girls'," Jiseok replied simply, this time noticing the wine stain that was seeping awkwardly from the carpet.

"So how come did you leave now?" he furrowed his eyebrows and with his left leg he tried to cover the dirty carpet.

"Just because," he shrugged his arms. "You look so poor, Joo..." he whispered shaking his head to the sides.

"How poor?" he sighed, now crossing his legs on the floor, and a cigarette landed between his lips. He was lightly curious about what the answer would be.

"Empty, deprived of life." he explained, referring to Jooyeon himself and everything around him. His flowing hair, untied, loose shoes, a coat thrown carelessly behind him and these cigarette butts lying here and there. "You didn't enjoy it there, right?" he says bluntly, now leaning against the wall in the room.

"Not really," he admitted. "But what counts is that you enjoyed it. Enjoyed it very much." he threw his cigarette somewhere into the room, Jiseok frowned and stepped on the smoking tobacco.

"What do you mean by that?" his voice was uncertain, but Jooyeon just shook his head.

"Nothing specific, just stating a fact." he smiled gently. Then there was silence; a silence in which Jiseok didn't know what else to do than stare at Jooyeon and vice versa. The wind flowed into the living room, making the gears in their heads move. 

"I'll make some coffee, do you want some?" Jiseok asked as soon as the idea popped into his head.

"Isn't it perhaps too late for coffee?" he replied to him in a quiet tone of voice.

"It's never too late for coffee." a sly smile crept onto his face. Jooyeon got to his feet, swayed slightly, wondering if he was going to land face first on the floor or maybe his butt, and followed Jiseok to the kitchen.

The floor was still slightly dirty, reminding them of yesterday's baking, the memory of which made them both laugh deep inside. 

"I had a great time tonight, you know." Jiseok smiled at him as he poured him coffee, Jooyeon was sitting in a chair with one leg on another and his arms stretched out on the table.