inches : j&d

08

joong had hoped that the kiss-if it could even be called that-would be enough to clear the air between him and dunk. he hadn't wanted it to happen, and yet, it had. and now, everything was more complicated than ever. but somehow, after a few days of avoiding each other, they found themselves back in the same space again.

it was supposed to be casual. dunk had invited himself over, and joong, despite himself, hadn't been able to say no. maybe it was the fact that dunk hadn't pushed him, that he hadn't been insistent or demanding. maybe it was the way dunk had shown up at his door, hands in his pockets, with that easy smile that made joong's heart beat just a little faster.

"you sure this is okay?" dunk asked, his voice light, but his eyes carefully studying joong's face.

joong shifted uncomfortably, trying to hide the flutter in his chest. "yeah. just... don't make a mess." he moved aside to let dunk in, trying to act casual, though his body seemed to hum with the proximity of dunk's presence.

the tension between them was palpable. every step dunk took felt like it echoed through joong's chest, every breath felt too close, too charged. joong couldn't stop his eyes from following dunk as he walked into the living room, sitting down on the couch without hesitation.

"you know, your place is pretty nice," dunk said, kicking his shoes off and leaning back comfortably. "i didn't think you'd live somewhere so... cozy."

joong bristled, not used to people commenting on his home, but there was something in dunk's voice that wasn't mocking, something soft. dunk's casualness, the way he was just being himself, sent an odd heat creeping up joong's neck.

"thanks," joong muttered, trying to ignore the way his heart was racing. "i like it quiet."

dunk smiled and nodded, looking around, clearly making himself at home. the easy familiarity between them was unnerving to joong. they had barely known each other for long, yet in moments like this, it felt as though they were slipping into something they had no control over.

joong busied himself in the kitchen, trying to distract himself by making them both coffee. he could feel dunk's gaze on him from the other room, like a weight pressing down on his shoulders, making it hard to breathe. there was a soft pull to dunk, an invisible thread that drew joong in despite everything he told himself.

after a moment, dunk appeared in the doorway, his eyes soft, his usual cocky grin replaced with something more sincere. "so... is this what you do when you're not studying?"

"i study," joong answered quickly, almost too quickly. "and read. mostly." he didn't know why he felt the need to explain himself.

dunk stepped closer, his movements slow, deliberate, like he was trying to make sure joong wasn't going to retreat. when he reached the counter, he leaned in slightly, his voice low and teasing. "you know, you don't have to pretend to be all serious all the time. it's kind of cute, but it's also a little exhausting to watch."

joong's breath hitched, and he couldn't help the flush that crept up his neck. *cute*? dunk had no right to make him feel like this.

"i'm not pretending," joong snapped, but his words came out more clipped than he intended.

dunk raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "i know. but that's the thing, isn't it? you're trying so hard not to be something, but it's obvious to anyone who's paying attention."

joong looked away, trying to hide the heat of his face. his heart was thumping, his body aching to do something he wasn't ready for.

"you think you've got me all figured out, huh?" joong asked, though he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"maybe," dunk said with a shrug, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. "but maybe i'm still trying to figure out if you're really as hard to get as you act."

the words hit joong like a wave, and for a moment, the room felt impossibly small. *hard to get*? he couldn't deny it-he had been avoiding dunk, pushing him away, and yet here they were, close enough to touch.

dunk's eyes never left his, and there was something in the way he was looking at joong now. something different. more intense. more vulnerable.

joong took a breath, trying to steady himself, but it was too late. he felt the pull-the magnetic force that had been there since the first time he'd seen dunk.

and then, before he could think, dunk was standing in front of him, so close that joong could feel the warmth of his body, the faint scent of his cologne. his breath caught in his throat, his mind screaming for him to push dunk away, but his body was frozen, rooted to the spot.

"joong," dunk whispered, his voice low, almost a question.

the tension in the room was thick. joong's heart raced, and all he could hear was the sound of his own breath, shaky and uneven. there was no turning back now.

without thinking, dunk reached out and cupped joong's jaw with one hand, his thumb brushing over the skin there gently. it was a soft touch, one that sent an electric shock through joong's body, but still, he didn't move. he didn't pull away.

dunk leaned in, and this time, joong couldn't stop himself. his eyes fluttered shut as their lips met in a kiss that was slow and tentative at first, as if neither of them were sure whether this was the right thing to do. but the moment their mouths touched, something inside joong snapped. the kiss deepened, slow and lingering, as if they were both trying to make up for the months of confusion between them.

it was tender and full of tension, the kind of kiss that made joong's heart race and his head spin. it was everything he'd been avoiding, and yet it was everything he needed. dunk's lips were warm and soft against his, and for the first time in what felt like forever, joong allowed himself to let go.

he didn't think about the consequences. didn't think about how everything between them was supposed to be complicated. all that mattered was the kiss, and how it made him feel-alive, needed, wanted.

when they finally broke apart, they were both breathing heavily, faces flushed. dunk's hand was still resting on joong's cheek, and joong could feel the warmth of his skin, the intensity of the moment hanging between them.

"that wasn't... accidental," dunk murmured, his voice low, breathless.

joong closed his eyes, his pulse racing. "no," he whispered back. "it wasn't."

and for once, neither of them pulled away.