Flowershop

Chapter Twenty Three

Finally meeting these people after knowing them for years was like a dream. Here in front of Kiku for the first time were people he had only seen over a screen. They looked the same, yet they looked completely different. They looked skinnier in person, and more.... alive? Real. Their eyes were less glassy, and you could see each individual strand of hair nicely. Even though it was Leon's day and it was really mattered for him to meet the family, it was still incredible for him to actually meet them. Most of all, it was hard to believe he was actually meeting Emil in person. How many nights over the years had Leon spent talking to him? Growing up Kiku had almost been jealous of Emil. He almost laughed at that thought.

To Ivan, he didn't know how to act in front of Emil and his family. He had met them over a screen some time ago. Did they like him? Did he scare them...? They didn't seem to be weary or scared. Not even Emil. They all seemed to be comfortable. Well, Emil and Leon just seemed like they'd much rather be hanging out alone in Emil's room, but to be polite, they sat together, just itching to leave. Ivan honestly wished to see them go so he didn't have to bear watching them awkwardly sitting there, but he remained silent and smiling.

Yao sat comfortably, having already been long acquainted with these people. He sat in a casual manner with his arm around Ivan, who he noticed seemed to be a bit uneasy. Ivan too had met these people long ago (over the phone of course), but his demeanor and smile seemed to be a bit strained. His smile was a bit weaker and he was sitting a bit too straight. Yao could even feel his muscles being tense. Knowing Ivan didn't really do well with people, Yao rubbed his back reassuringly.

Lukas and Mathias were overwhelmed. They were so happy for Emil, he finally had a friend (boyfriend?) to hang out with in real life, and not be lonely and brooding for weeks on end. And my, Leon was like their second son! To see him for the first time was amazing. He could finally take Emil out and get him out of the house. Mathias might occasionally follow them, but as long as they were going out, right? Leon as well. He was kind of popular, but it didn't necessarily mean that he had a lot of friends.

Leon tapped his foot impatiently. Knowing his family, they'd be here all day. All he wanted to do was talk to Emil! Did they have any consideration? It had already been three hours since they had arrived and eaten a homeade lunch, and by this point, they were exchanging childhood stories. Now that he had thought about it, it was usually Ivan who told the stories, Yao next to never told any stories of him growing up. Lukas and Mathias had some good stories from what he was hearing, but he wasn't all that interested. That is, until Yao started bringing up stories from his childhood.

His head snapped in Yao's direction as he heard his name. "...Yes, Leon always did things like that! Once when he was in the seventh grade..." Leon quickly stopped listening, not really wanting to hear embarrassing stories about his seventh grade year. By the time he had started listening again, they were talking about Yong Soo.

Emil looked at Leon, and noticed his foot tapping. He was trying to notice and take in everything about him. He noticed that his hair looked a lot softer in person, and that his face was a lot whiter than it showed on a screen. Like porcelain. He noticed the way he liked to put on his make up. His eyeliner was sharply winged, and his eyeshadow was perfectly blended... honestly, to Emil, no matter what Leon did to his face, he would still be breathtaking to him. After making sure he looked at him enough while no one was noticing, he nudged him, showing him no one was looking. "Everyone is too preoccupied with their own conversation... do you want to go to my room?" Leon looked around before nodding.

They inched closer and closer to the edge of the sofa until they were practically sitting on each other. Leon looked around again, then moved out from under Emil and walked casually out into the hall. Emil followed soon after. Leon walked up to Emil's room, standing outside, waiting for Emil to let him in.