STARSTRUCK LOVE || [MxM]

9. Attic Buddies

Seo Joon's POV

I have been avoiding Ki Seok since morning. Not that he has done anything wrong. I actually liked it when our fingers touched yesterday, but it got me all excited, so I decided to run away from him. But today is my late mom's birthday and she has been on my mind for the whole day. I was close to her. In fact I am fortunate to have received her love and care for ten years unlike Sung Mi who was really small when mother passed away. She hardly remembers time spent with mom; that is why Appa and I are lenient towards her.

At the dining table the mood went from being great to somber. Towards the end I could see that Ki Seok was crying. I don't know what got him so emotional. I have seen pain in his eyes during our mealtime. Could he be missing his parents? I have never known anything about his family. There have been no news articles about his parents or siblings or where he grew up.

But today, I am curious as to what is it that brought him to tears. I just put my hand on his to comfort him. Now is not the time to talk about him. We still have to eat the cake. Appa brings out the cake and Sung Mi cuts it once we finish the birthday song. Sung Mi offers the first bite to Eomma.

"Eomma, this is for you. But since you can't have it I will give it to Seo Joon oppa who must have spent the entire day thinking about you. Oppa," She offers me the cake. I am crying now. When did this brat grow up? Has she always known how I felt about Eomma?

I take the cake and hug her, "When did you grow up?" I speak between sobs.

"Do you think I don't know how you feel about Eomma? I may be younger but I might just know more things about you than you can imagine." She winks at me and then moves her eyeballs in Ki Seok's direction.

Does she know that I like him? There is no way for her to know. I just raise my shoulders to feign ignorance. She can think all that she wants. We all have cake.

We send Appa to rest in his room. Ki Seok offers to do the dishes. I ask him to clear the table instead, so that we do not touch each other. Sung Mi and I do the dishes. I just want to be with her alone.

I thoughtfully tell Sung Mi, "Eomma loved you, you know that right? The thing that most worried her through her illness was to leave us alone. She had once told me that if she had a daughter, she would always doll her up and love her the most. She must be sad that she could not stay with you for long."

Sung Min sighs. "You and Appa did all that she would have done for me. I am thankful for that. Even though I miss her every now and then, I am happy being with you two."

After doing the dishes, we all head to our bedrooms. I have started having sleep problems since I met Ki Seok. I am contemplating if I should head to the attic again to clear my mind, but am wary of Ki Seok joining me again. I wait for about thirty minutes and then head for the attic. I have to work for two more days and then we will part ways. I do really wish that the stalker is caught soon, but there is no sign of him since the break in. Should I take Ki Seok to his place to lure the stalker? It would be highly risky. I cannot take any action without consulting the Superintendent first. I will speak to him about it tomorrow.

I head for the attic. The lights in Ki Seok's room are out. I heave a sigh of relief and then sit on the table. I put on the ear plugs and close my eyes. I don't know when I begin to tear up. I feel soft fingers wiping my tears. I open my eyes to see Ki Seok leaning into my face. Our faces are so close I can feel his breath on my face. I stare at him. His eyes are so full of love. Or is it just my imagination? My ears are burning up, if I just move a little towards him our lips will be locked. It does not look like he is going to move away from me. He is actually staring at my lips, his own lips quivering. Oh God! What is happening? Just then he loses his balance and he falls on me our lips touch. It is the moment where I could have asked anything from God and he would have granted it. I am being crushed under his weight. I move my head to my side. I don't want him to know how much I will cherish this moment. I push him away.