The boys gather at Jaehyun’s place after school once again. This time round, Ten has decided to join them due to his newfound bond with Johnny. He comfortably sits on Johnny’s lap on the sofa and Johnny doesn’t seem to be blushing incessantly anymore. On the other hand, Taeyong feels awkward seeing Jaehyun. He doesn’t think he is homophobic but seeing Jaehyun just feels awkward now. He has actually seen Jaehyun in front of him in his unbuttoned shirts and disheveled hair with his own two eyes.
To be honest, Jaehyun kind of looked good with that hair. He should keep messy at all times. He slaps himself in the face when he realises what he was thinking. He is a friend. Maybe not. But it is true that he is good looking. There is nothing wrong with me thinking that way.
He makes sure to avert his eyes whenever Jaehyun turns to his side. He doesn’t want him to think that he is being judgmental about his affairs. Doyoung joins them quite late and drags Jaehyun into the kitchen right after his arrival. Taeyong takes a glance to see what they are doing. Doyoung’s frantic hand gestures suggests that they are probably arguing but he can’t hear them because the television is too loud and everyone else is talking at the same time too. He pretends to cough and excuses himself to get a glass of water.
“I told you I don’t like it when you do that” he hears Doyoung say when he approaches the kitchen.
“You are not in a place to dictate what I should or should not do” Jaehyun snaps back at him. “As far as I know, we are ‘friends with benefits’.”
Taeyong waits outside the kitchen because he doesn’t want to intrude but also partly because he wants to hear more if it.
“I know I am your friend. I care about you. People will think poorly of you if they hear about this” Doyoung says.
“Since when did I ever care what people thought of me? You are the only one who are concerned about what people think.”
Upon hearing this, Doyoung lets out a sigh and stays silent for a while. Taeyong doesn’t know what but there is definitely something more to that statement. “Alright, do what you want” he admits defeat. “Just know that everything I do or say, it’s because I am worried about you.” Taeyong hears footstep approaching towards him. When he comes out, Doyoung looks at him and asks, “Were you eavesdropping?”
“No! I just came right now to get some water!” Taeyong replies without missing a beat.
Doyoung gives him a glare and grumpily storms out of the flat. Taeyong walks into the kitchen with his empty glass.
“I know you heard that whole thing” Jaehyun says.
“No, I did not.”
“Liar. I heard your footsteps a while ago” Jaehyun laughs.
Taeyong pouts as he fills his glass with water.
“Don’t make that kind of face. It’s dangerous” Jaehyun says.
“Everything that comes out of your mouth is so tacky. You should definitely audition for a rom-com movie.”
Jaehyun props himself up onto the kitchen counter. “What do you make of my situation? Do you think I should listen to Doyoung?”
“I am not exactly sure what the situation is, but I think you should do what you want” Taeyong says.
“Okay” he agrees after a pause.
“I don’t mean to be rude but why do you do the ‘deed’ with all these guys?” he asks.
“People don’t usually ask that kind of stuff to me” Jaehyun looks at him in surprise. “Well, I know there are a lot of guys who are interested in guys in our school and everywhere in general – gay or bi. They are too afraid to come out because they are too scared of what people will think of them. I am the only one who is out of the closet for now so they come to me when they aren’t sure if they have such desires. And I help them out.”
“That is one way to put it” Taeyong jokes. “Don’t you ever feel like they might just be using you sometimes?”
“I am happy to do it as long as I enjoy it” Jaehyun says. “They pay me for it so it feels like I am the one using them sometimes, not that I need the payments.”
“Wow” Taeyong’s jaw drops. “So the school is your personal brothel!”
Jaehyun grabs his collar and pulls him close. “Don’t sound too condescending. It annoys me” he whispers in his ears.
Taeyong knows it is probably not the right time or place to feel this way, but he feels a surge of adrenaline in his body and an unexpected arousal in his nether regions.
At that moment, a police siren blares from outside. Taeyong pushes Jaehyun away and takes a sharp breath.
“Guys!” Johnny bustles into the kitchen. “Someone just got stabbed outside! We’re gonna go take a look.” He runs out with the rest of the occupants of the house, leaving just the two in the kitchen.
“I can’t believe you actually got a boner just from that” Jaehyun laughs at Taeyong.
He looks down and pulls his sweater down to cover his crotch in embarrassment. “You are so lewd. Look up!”
Jaehyun gets down from the counter. “You are so innocent” he says mockingly.
Taeyong can’t disagree more on that. Looking back at the thoughts he had about Jaehyun in the past few days, “innocent” would be the last word he would use to describe himself. “You said something about ‘helping people out’”, Taeyong says, his voice faltering. He walks towards Jaehyun. His mind is a jumbled mess and he doesn’t know what he is saying. He is acting purely on impulse. “I’ve been having a few doubts about myself lately.” He pins Jaehyun against the wall. When Jaehyun smiles, he takes that as an approval. He closes in on the distances between them, pressing himself slightly against Jaehyun even after their lips touched.
Taeyong closes his eyes, as does Jaehyun. His head starts buzzing in chaos and he can feel his hands tingling, not knowing what to do. Jaehyun takes his hands and guides them to wrap around his hips. Taeyong pulls him toward him, feeling the need to take in all of Jaehyun. Jaehyun pulls away from the kiss, gasping for air. There is a brief pause where Taeyong wonders if that is all. He wonders if he is making a mistake.
F*** it, he thinks. Jaehyun has a lustful gaze as he pulls him in for more. He softly bites Taeyong’s lower lip. Taeyong’s knees are weak and he holds on to the other for support. Jaehyun’s hands are inside his shirt, traveling the expanse of his chest, and his lips on Taeyong’s neck. He makes him moan as his hand brushes against his nipple. Jaehyun sucks the nook of his neck deeply, leaving a prominent red mark there. Taeyong buries his face against Jaehyun’s neck in hope of muffling the sound of his haggard breathing.
“We need to stop now” Taeyong manages to pant out. His hands are still around Jaehyun’s waist as they stare at each other. He is scared that their friends might be back any minute now, but his desire overwhelms his fears. They kiss one last time. It is a deep and needy one that says they don’t want to stop. When they hear the main door open, they have no choice but to pull away.
“What have I done?” Taeyong mutters, leaning his head against Jaehyun’s chest.
