Will Always (NorthNight) ON HOLD

Chapter 4

"So this Uncle Jim you're talking about, are you sure he's real?" Night chewed onto his bread as he curiously asked North who was scrolling through his phone paying no mind anywhere else.

"Well if my dreams are real, then he is real." North mumbled, eyes still glued on the bright screen of his phone. Night sighed, the last piece of bread down his throat. North's answers sounded too vague and Night couldn't make anything out of it, at all.

"So where do we find this Uncle Jim hmm? You have any clues?" Night rested his chin on his palms and leaned closer to take a peek at North's phone, the search showed bold moonlight chicken in his screen.

"Suddenly want to eat chicken rice?" Night fell down on North's shoulders and kissed the side of his chin. North's tensed jaw seemingly relaxed, allowing him to breathe freely. He shook his head and continued scrolling through the screen.

"From what I can remember, Uncle Jim ran a chicken restaurant somewhere deep in the city. Surprisingly enough, his food chain Moonlight Chicken, does exist! But there's nothing here about it's founder or it's current owner anywhere."  North sighed deeply, his brows furrowed in a tight frown. Before he knew it, Night found himself gently massaging in between it, as if a habit.

"Then how about we go visit it. Maybe we can meet him?" Night suggested. North remained silent, obviously stressed about it. Night caught onto it, he gently coaxed him, "Why? You don't want to? So be it."

Hurriedly North shook his head, even more distressed. He leaned his head to the side, nuzzling it into Night's chest, asking for a kiss. Night softly chuckled and peppered soft pecks over his hair and forehead making North sigh, this time in relief.

"It's not that I don't want to, but I'm afraid. Afraid that it's just all in my head and I'm just a freak. Afraid that all I have believed isn't real and that for my whole life, I've been living deluded." North shuffled his feet, uncomfortable and unsure of what he should be doing. Night reassured him with gentle caressing in his back, silently allowing him to think.

"No matter what is the outcome, please do not think so low of yourself phi. In my eyes, you're my one and only beloved. I love each and every one of your aspects, no matter how positive and negative they maybe."

North nodded in understanding. He has always understood whatever Night has been telling him, for it is conveyed so well. He could always feel the sincerity. So warm but suffocating.

As the morning air rushed in from the sea, loads of it tickled North's senses and heightened the familiarity of Night's touch in his skin. It dated way back, even before their first meeting in daycare facility. Such a feeling of reminisce nearly made him dizzy and before he knew it, his mouth opened to speak

"I like being here with you, Li Ming."

It took him more than a minute to realize what he had said. He felt the hairs stand on the surface of his skin and his eyes widened, surprising himself. His neck twisted to turn to Night, who stared hack at him. His lips were curved into a soft smile and his eyes glistened sadly.

"Don't worry Phi." Night spoke, leaning to press a soft kiss on his lips. North closed his eyes, allowing himself to absorb the feeling. "We'll get to the end of it."

"The restaurant is only thirty minutes walk away, would you like to take a short walk or should we just take the car." After they had changed to more lighter clothes to suit the scorching sun, simple shorts and tees, Night inquired.

North didn't want to walk, afraid it'll bubble up that nausea feeling as if his stomach was upset. However, he felt brave with Night beside him. He didn't feel the need to shy away from his fears.