SEQUEL TO HOLD ME
"it's only human."
those are words that stick in the minds of eight boys who have found themselves closer than ever because of a year spent at the same college.
minsung, seungin, changhyunlix... and chan :')
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Hyunjin didn't leave that night, after the lake day and its subsequent movie night were over.
After Chan was woken by Jisung— on his way out next to Minho (whose back he had been comfortingly patting as they walked)— accidentally tripping over his extended foot in the dark, the room began to empty gradually; floorboards creaking under carpeted basement steps. Changbin sighed as he watched Chan groan and stagger groggily and stiffly up the stairs. He smiled and said goodbye to Felix with a lingering hand placed softly on his shoulder— which made Hyunjin grit his teeth— then headed over to slip under Chan's arm and help him up the stairs.
Seungmin, placated by the time he'd spent lounging against the side of Changbin's sturdy chest while watching Frozen, was no longer huffy, but he was dead quiet as he followed after the boys filing up the stairs, all of their paces zombie-like.
Then it was just Felix and Hyunjin, sitting next to each other (quite close, having not moved into the extra space cleared up when the others left) on the couch.
Tonight was a weekend, and, well, Hyunjin sure as heck didn't want to go back to his house on one of those. And, to be frank, there wasn't anywhere else he'd rather be but as close as he could get to Lee Felix. They were so close now— only the span of a hand (Felix's hand, not Hyunjin's) away. Unless it was to get even closer, to close the gap, he didn't want to move an inch; he didn't want to leave. So he asked, casually: "Lix, would you mind if I stayed over again this weekend?"
And, beaming (though rather tiredly), Felix answered, "Not at all! You can crash here anytime, Jinnie."
It set fire— lovely, burning fire to Hyunjin's heart. To know that he was wanted. To know that he was worth that crinkle-eyed smile. To know that Felix could stand him.
"If you're going to stay, though, let's hurry up and get to bed." Felix yawned, accentuating his point.
"Agreed," Hyunjin chuckled. Though he wasn't sure that their motivations were entirely the same. Impatiently, his skin buzzed with a need to be against Felix's as soon as possible. To feel his heartbeat, his breath, the weight of his bones— all of it telling Hyunjin he was good enough to be close to. To see him fall asleep, so delicate and tender and trusting, inside Hyunjin's arms.
This time, he tried to be more confident. To sit down on the bed straightaway, without waiting to be invited. He was wanted, he told himself. He'd reciprocate; show Felix how very much he wanted him.
Make a move, stupid.
Today had gone well. He'd worried, just a little, that it wouldn't have with Changbin around. But a renewed hope and excitement flooded in when Felix had chosen to sit next to him instead of Changbin during the movie earlier. ...Sure, there had been an empty space next to Hyunjin, whereas Seungmin had been filling up the spot next to Changbin, but Hyunjin had taken it as a cause for celebration anyway; a victory.
