Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

15. Melting Point

"I didn't mean to, Hanbin, it just happened." Zhanghao sobbed. Hanbin took one look before holding Zhanghao in his arms, his hand coming up to pat his back. 

"It's okay, Zhanghao." He comforted, "You were acting defensive, that's all. It was going to happen eventually in a competition as gruesome as this." Hanbin said. "C'mon, let's go get you dried up." He smiled, before taking Zhanghao's hand in his, leading him away from the arena. 

Zhanghao was so cold and overwhelmed with emotions that he didn't even care that Hanbin was holding his hand tight as he brought him to his room, turning on the shower and handing him a fresh towel before leaving him in the bathroom by himself. 

As Zhanghao showered, he felt the aftermath of emotions wash away slowly, his consciousness of mind coming back. When he finished the shower, he realized it was quite late so he changed into clothes that he could sleep in later. Walking out of the bathroom, he realized Hanbin had disappeared. Zhanghao didn't want to be alone and assuming Hanbin had gone back to his own room, Zhanghao dried his hair one last time before leaving. 

As he walked to Hanbin's room, a thought came to his head. During the round, Zhanghao had felt the familiar deja vu feeling again, and he couldn't help but think that there was something connecting all those moments. Finally, it hit him. Every time, he had dreamed of those moments in one form or another before it becoming a reality in his real life a few days later. Did his dreams predict the future? Zhanghao thought. A few weeks ago, that would've seemed like utter nonsense but it had happened so many times now that he was close to not denying it. 

Sighing as he reached Hanbin's room, he knocked on the door, which it didn't take long before Hanbin opened it and let Zhanghao in. 

"You okay?" Hanbin asked Zhanghao as he walked into the room. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just wanted to use your balcony." Zhanghao lied. Walking towards the balcony, Zhanghao regretted his choice of words as he opened the balcony door and a cold gust of wind hit his face. Hiding his shiver, he breathed in the cold air as he walked out. Putting a coat on, Hanbin followed him. 

"You sure, you good?" Hanbin asked again. 

Zhanghao looked at him before giving a small smile, "Yeah, I'm fine." Truth be told, Zhanghao hadn't been fine but he felt a bit better now, standing with Hanbin even if that meant he was in the freezing cold. 

"You wanna talk about it, or not?" Hanbin said, dragging his words as not to force Zhanghao to speak. 

"Not really." Zhanghao replied, not looking at him. 

"Okay." Hanbin said, turning to look forward. 

They stood for a few moments in silence, taking in the night sky, before Hanbin heard the faint chattering of teeth next to him. He laughed as he gazed at a cold Zhanghao, his body shaking and shivering. 

"Why would you ask to come out here if it was so cold?" Hanbin said, laughing. "You're not even wearing warm clothing."

Zhanghao shrugged, his hands coming up to rub his arms. But Hanbin couldn't look at him and not do anything. Walking over to stand behind him, Hanbin wrapped his arms around Zhanghao, resting his chin on Zhanghao's shoulder. 

Zhanghao couldn't help but feel the heat rising in his cheeks as Hanbin hugged him from behind. "Warmer?" Hanbin asked, grinning down at him. Zhanghao was certainly warmer now but still he didn't reply. They stood like that for a while, staring out at the dark Kingdom before they turned to look at each other, eyes making contact. Zhanghao didn't break it as Hanbin moved his face closer to his, eyes signaling towards his lips. 

Zhanghao thought about what had happened only a week or two ago—what had happened with Taerae. And yet, he didn't move. He couldn't bring himself to do it as Hanbin's lips fell onto his and they kissed, Zhanghao still enfolded in Hanbin's arms. It was slow, but Zhanghao didn't need it to be fast after all he had been through that day. He just needed it to be Hanbin. 

They only stopped when Zhanghao broke away, cheeks flushed and eyes gazing into Hanbin's. Hanbin only stared as Zhanghao spoke, "Why?" He said, teary-eyed. 

Hanbin continued to look at him, "I-I love you, Zhanghao. I don't even know why but from the moment we first met, I knew it was you, it was always you."

"But—I'm going to die Hanbin." Zhanghao said, the tears welling up, "Don't waste your time on me." 

Hanbin shook his head, his eyes also tearing up, "I don't care. I'll waste it all on you, Zhanghao."

And so they stood. On the balcony. Zhanghao still enveloped in Hanbin's arms as the tears fell from both of their faces. Together. 

♪ 'How the kingdom lights shine, just for me and you; '   

— Long Live, Taylor Swift

—

Later, when Zhanghao had finally left Hanbin, he made his way back to his own room, mind buzzing. So much had happened in such little time, and he didn't know what would happen after this. Getting into bed, Zhanghao didn't think of it too much as he drifted into sleep, a big smile plastered on his face at the thought of Hanbin. 

When he awoke in his dream, Zhanghao came to realize that he was back in Hanbin's room, standing in the corner where he could view the whole room. Hanbin was asleep on his bed, and as Zhanghao turned to look at the balcony, he realized that the doors had been left slightly ajar from the aftermath of his visit.

He begun to smile at the image of sleeping Hanbin, only for that smile to drop into a frown of worry. At the sound of movement, Zhanghao turned to look at the balcony again, where a figure had managed to pull himself up on, jumping over the balcony wall. They were dressed in all black—from their cloak and boots to the mask that concealed their face. Zhanghao watched as they put a hand on the unlocked balcony door, pulling it open slowly to not make any sound. 

When the door was open wide enough, the figure slipped inside where they pulled out a long, gleaming knife. As soon as he saw the knife, Zhanghao went to move and stop the person but he found that his feet were glued to the floor, making his incapable of movement. He strained as the figure moved towards the bed, towards the sleeping Hanbin who had no idea what was happening. 

As the person neared the bed, they began to raise the knife up, ready for action. Zhanghao couldn't take it anymore as the knife came up higher before the assassin pelted it down, straight at Hanbin's neck before

Zhanghao woke up. 

Sweat running down his face and his heart beating fast, he leapt out of his bed, because he now knew that his dreams only meant one thing.