translucent [markson]

[Four] Welcome

"Yugyeom, you ready to head out?" Jackson was already at the door, staring at Yugyeom. He couldn't help but scoff at his best friend, who was distractedly putting his shoes on whilst texting on his phone.

"Just give me a moment..." A small frown made it's way on Yugyeom's lips, causing Jackson to walk over to him. "Wait, BamBam just told me that he's not coming."

"What? Why?" Jackson craned his head to look over Yugyeom's shoulder and at the phone.

"He said he's not feeling well." There was something suspicious about what BamBam had said, and both Jackson and Yugyeom sensed it.

"Do you think he wants us to reschedule? I mean, we don't have to go out tonight," Jackson rushed out in a panic. He didn't want to admit that he had noticed BamBam acting weirder and more distant around them or acknowledge that he may have known why. He just wanted to be with his two best friends that night, but he would have settled on any night as long as it was their trio.

"He seemed perfectly fine when he came a few hours ago. Jackson... I know you know this, too. It's a no, BamBam won't want to reschedule."

"Figures..." Jackson let out a dejected sigh and took off his shoes.

"It's okay. There's nothing wrong with him wanting a change." Yugyeom moved Jackson to sit on the bottom bunk. "Let's just order take out and hang out in our room."

"Yeah, okay."

Yugyeom walked around to get some random things from around their half-unpacked, mess of a room. He dropped off his laptop and a random assortment of candy next to Jackson before calling for delivery. As Jackson watched, he couldn't help but stand up to hug the younger, unable to verbally express how thankful he was. It was a little embarrassing to Jackson that he wasn't able to take care of Yugyeom the way Yugyeom could take care of Jackson, but it didn't matter much to him. Jackson had someone who genuinely cared for him, and he was trying his best to be as kind in return.

"I ordered from that place across from your apartment. I just got what we would normally."

"Yay. You're the best, Gyeommie." A small smile found its way to Jackson's face as he opened a chocolate bar.

"Speaking of your apartment," Yugyeom began. Jackson sighed, not wanting to continue to where he knew the conversation would lead. "Have you figured out what you're going to do with it?"

"I talked to my parents -- yeah, they actually answered -- and they've agreed to rent it out. They'll see if they want to straight out sell it later."

"Then where are you going to go during winter break?" Yugyeom sat back down next to Jackson and took a bite of Jackson's chocolate.

"I'm just going to stay here." Yugyeom opened his mouth to argue, but Jackson quickly cut him off. "No, I'm not staying at your house. I've done that the past two years. I seriously don't want to bother your mom anymore."

"But she loves you! And it'll be so boring all alone. BamBam is going back to Thailand for break and my brother isn't coming home. Please, Jackson?" Yugyeom mustered the cutest pouty face he could and got right up in Jackson's face.

"No, Yugyeom." Jackson put the palm of his hand right on Yugyeom's face and pushed him away.

"But why?" Yugyeom whined.

"I said why, like, a moment ago. Now don't bother asking again." Jackson shoved the chocolate bar into Yugyeom's mouth, and Yugyeom just pouted before continuing to eat the candy.

"Wow, I bought some really good chocolate." Yugyeom looked at the chocolate in his hand and nodded at it.

"Where did you get these, anyway?" Jackson asked, opening another package of candy.

"This I bought. The rest I stole from BamBam on the way here. I felt bad at first, but now I don't."

"Don't feel bad, we have candy now."

"Just make sure not to eat too much before the food comes." There was a moment of silence before Yugyeom continued, "So, Jackson. Jackson Wang. Ka Yee. Jia Er. GaGa-" Yugyeom shifted so he could lay down on the bed, while Jackson moved to lean against the ladder.

"What?"

"What's your schedule look like?"

"Mostly language stuff, like usual. Besides that, it's just the mandatory classes and dance."

"Oh, what period do you have dance?" Yugyeom shifted his head to look at Jackson, a hopeful look on his face.

"Fifth."

"So do BamBam and I! This'll be great."

"No, that's not great!" Jackson exclaimed, throwing his hands up and flopping onto Yugyeom's stomach.

"What? Why?" Yugyeom laughed at Jackson's sudden outburst, causing Jackson's head to bounce up and down.

"Cause you and BamBam are so good! Especially you! You're, like, a dance king." Jackson threw a random piece of candy at Yugyeom's face, but missed terribly.

"Does that make you my dance peasant?" Yugyeom felt a stinging on his thigh, and he could only guess that Jackson slapped him, because he couldn't bother looking up.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you have to rub it in."

"I was only joking, Jacks. And let's both be realistic. We're at a school for talented kids. Chances are that I'm not even that good compared to some people."

"Speaking as someone who's been in this school's dance program for two years, you'd beat any of them in a dance battle any day. They're good, but you're better."

And Jackson strongly believed that. He hadn't met a better dancer than Yugyeom in his whole life. The kid moved in ways that were questionably human -- any normal person would go into a state of shock just by seeing him freestyle. It was almost ridiculous how natural dancing came to Yugyeom and how well he knew how to utilise that ability.

"You're a better fencer than I am dancer," Yugyeom challenged.

"That's debatable. Besides, you can dance because it's just something you were meant to do. Dancing is something you just do, with seemingly no effort. It's amazing, really. I'm only good at fencing because my parents wanted me out of the way."

"Come on, Jackson. Don't talk like that..."

Yugyeom knew Jackson was heading into dangerous waters by talking about his parents. They were a topic that was avoided whenever possible, as Yugyeom knew well how the conversation would end. It made him wonder: what happened that Jackson had brought them up twice already?

"It is what it is. I can't change the fact that it's a part of me I can't fix." At the sound of Jackson's sudden bitter tone, Yugyeom shifted back into a sitting position. Jackson was glaring at the bed above them, but Yugyeom knew it wasn't anger he was actually feeling.

"Come on. It's our last few days before school starts. Let's try to enjoy it while we can, okay? I don't want you to start off the year with that face." In an attempt to lighten the mood, Yugyeom poked Jackson's cheeks until Jackson's frown finally turned into a smile.

"Why the hell do you have to be so cute?"

"I was blessed with adorable-ness. Why would I go around and not use it?" Yugyeom put his hands under his chin and batted his eyelashes at Jackson.

"Stop that." Jackson shoved Yugyeom's face away from him, which Yugyeom took as an invitation to start a play fight. In no time, the two were engaged in a pathetic and gentle wrestling match, the most harmful thing being a poke in the eye.

A knock on the door caused them to freeze. Both of them were worried a schoolmate would walk in to see the two in an odd position, or just simply think weirdly of them. Yugyeom suddenly came to his senses and realized that it was probably the delivery guy who got let into the main building by someone else.

"Jackson! Food! Food is here! Come on, let's eat!"