always ↬ leading me on || l.dh • h.rj • z.cl

·eighteen·

There was a moment of hesitation before Renjun parted his lips and let out a shaky breath.

"Yes."

Chenle's eyes shone momentarily and his face lit up as he drew nearer to the elder.

Was this really happening?

He shifted upwards, until their chests were touching and Renjun's breath ghosted over his lips.

He wanted this. He wanted this so badly, for all of these years and he was finally getting it. He could feel the sting of fresh tears blooming into existence but he shook it off and let his eyes fall shut. No moment could be happier than this one.

And their lips touched.

It felt like an explosion had gone off inside of him and something burned within his heart. He felt complete.

A wave of euphoria flooded throughout his mind as their lips moulded together, dancing with each other as he melted into the soft feeling.

He wanted to stay like this forever, with Renjun's lips on his, but life had come with the curse of breathing and they had to pull apart. Chenle exhaled heavily as he rested his forehead against Renjun's.

"Gege-"

He was cut off by the elder cupping his jaw and smashing their lips together again. Chenle let out a gasp into the kiss and fisted Renjun's orange shirt, gripping onto it tightly as he submitted to the onslaught of warm emotions that he could feel settling inside him.

Chenle tilted his head to the side slightly as he melded against Renjun's smooth lips, parting slightly to look the other in the eye before meeting together again in passion.

Renjun bit Chenle's lip lightly and drew away, panting harshly. Chenle was in a blissed out daze, chest heaving as he let his hand rise up to brush away a strand of Renjun's black hair.

"G-ge..." he mumbled shyly, eyes casted downwards as he played with the soft locks between his fingers. What did this mean for them? The fact that Renjun not only accepted his request to kiss, but returned it as well. Did that mean Renjun loved him back?

"Chenle," he exhaled, "stick with me, yeah?"

Chenle nodded his head slowly, but in content. He didn't know what this made of their relationship, but judging by the massive smile on his favourite person's face, it wasn't bad. He knew that he'd stick with Renjun no matter, he didn't have to be asked. There was nothing inside of him that minded having no label to who they were to one another. As long as Renjun didn't hate him.

"Now let's go raid a fridge, I'm gonna die out of hunger soon."

Chenle let out a laugh and took a hold of the elder's outstretched hand, "Gege, we can just ask one of the maids to make you something."

"And where's the fun in that?" he grinned and tugged the blonde out of bed, racing him down the stairs and into the nearest kitchen.

‣‣

The rest of the day, the mansion was filled with the sounds of Chenle's and Renjun's playful fighting and the younger's high-pitched, dolphin-like giggles.

Renjun never realised that he could ever come to love that sound until today.

From where her husband and her sat inside the living room, Mrs. Zhong smiled wide. She'd missed the happy Chenle so much. Both parents had, and they were ecstatic to see him start to return.

Night fell not long after the duo had finished making their cookies. Renjun was covered in flour and Chenle had batter smeared all over his cheeks, but they looked so alive in each others presence and that was the only thing that mattered.

They'd showered and retired to bed, Chenle dragging Renjun into his room despite his protests. Honestly, he felt sorry for the person who was in charge of preparing the guest rooms for him, since he never used them anyway. He wondered why Mrs. Zhong always ordered for them to be set up when she knew Chenle wouldn't let him sleep alone in the first place.

Either way, he had resigned to his fate with a sigh, spooning the younger in his arms. Eyes growing heavy as he basked in the warmth that Chenle blanketed him with.

‣‣

The next morning was hectic to say the least, they'd woken up late and Renjun was currently rushing down the stairs with his blazer slipping down one shoulder while he tried to put his tie on. In the process of doing so, he nearly slipped off a step and strangled himself to death with the thin piece of fabric.

Despite the fast pace of the morning, Chenle managed to fit in some time to whine at his parents for not waking them up. They both chuckled, they hadn't seen this side of Chenle in years and it was refreshing. Renjun dashed into the room in that moment, glaring at Chenle who was sat leisurely on the couch, pouting, as his tie was being fixed for him.

(Renjun didn't know how to tie a tie and while he was struggling unflatteringly, Chenle didn't even have to move a muscle to do his. Although, the worst part may have been that Chenle knew how to do it by himself as well.)

"Why are you still here?" he questioned as he surged forward, gripping the younger by his shoulders and shaking him violently, "Chenle, we're going to be late!"

"Gege, it's okay, we can take a car," Chenle said — well tried to say, his voice coming out terribly unstable as Renjun persisted to shake him.

"Zhong Chenle, whaT DO YOU MEAN 'IT'S OKAY'??? HAVE YOU NO REGARD FOR YOUR EDUCATION!?! THIS IS NOT 'OKAY', THIS IS A-"

"School starts in 9 minutes."

And that was enough to stop Rejun half-way through his lecture, bolting out of the house with Chenle in tow and throwing them both into one of the cars that were parked outside.

Chenle's mother couldn't help but think they were cute as she watched the two from inside. Obviously, she didn't see the dark glint in Renjun's eye as he glared at the driver.

"I swear to God, if you don't step on it, I'll skin both you and Chenle alive," causing the poor man to shiver as he quickly started the engine.

"Hey! What did I do?"