got7 ; 2jae | rewind ↺

chapter 17 | healing

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"see, and you were worried that they got kidnapped," jackson's loud voice made a sudden entrance as jaebum stirred awake.

"what's happening?" the older boy asked in his deep morning voice, dragging his eyes to open.

"i don't know, you tell us," mark smirked and yugyeom giggled.

jaebum looked around, partially faced with confusion as he realised that he was sleeping on the dance studio's sofa. in front of him, five of his friends stood with teasing expressions, and to his surprise, youngjae was warmly dozing off on his shoulder, his hand wrapped around his stomach.

bright pink blush covered jaebum's cheeks in an instant as he tried to push off the boy who only clung on tighter.

"okay but the real question is, what did you even do here all night?" jinyoung had his arms crossed against his chest.

"i have a bunch of suggestions," bambam wiggled his eyebrows.

"for your information bambam, we watched shinee sneezing compilations and cried at memes until two in the morning," youngjae stirred through his sleep.

with that, the younger boy peeled himself off jaebum with a stretching yawn as the rest shook their heads with smirks on their lips.

"how about you two go back to the dorm, take a shower or change or something — we don't need anyone injured or falling asleep during practice," jinyoung proposed in a motherly tone.

jaebum nodded in agreement as he dragged youngjae up and out of the room, stumbling with him as they managed to get to their destination without any accidents.

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"what even happened last night?" youngjae tried to recall but his head wasn't working.

jaebum turned on the kettle and felt himself blushing again, "—um, we practiced until late and when we took a break you fell asleep, so—"

"but i remember shinee videos, and— did you make me massage your shoulders?" youngjae stuttered in fallen memory.

jaebum choked on his water, "—no, no," he croaked, "we were just hugging."

"hugging?" the younger boy got flustered as he looked at the other with big eyes.

"—yeah, you know, hugging."

"like this?" youngjae wrapped his arms around jaebum's waist from behind.

a spur of waves erupted in the older's stomach, making his heart beat excessively fast as his eyes ran around. his throat momentarily caught up in a nerve-wrecking stuck and his head felt almost dizzy. he's never felt like this before. "what are you doing?" jaebum murmured in a whisper.

"hugging," youngjae smiled into the older's back.

"—no," jaebum turned around in the other's hold and skimmed his arms around the younger boy, "now this—is hugging."

"this is not weird, right? boys can hug too," youngjae leaned deeper into the other's neck, remembering this exact touch from previous night as it sent shivers down to his fingertips.

"boys can hug," jaebum assured him, "boys can be close with each other, boys can hold hands and boys can ki—" he stopped himself.

silence.

youngjae pulled aback and looked up, his morning hair entangled with jaebum's hand as he whispered, "i know what you wanted to say."

the older boy drew his lips into a thin line, closing his eyes for a split-moment as he sighed and pecked youngjae's forehead with a small smile, "we have to go back to the studio," his voice was regretful.

youngjae nodded at that, but let a small smile escape his own lips as he parted away to pick out a change of clothes from his shelf of belongings.

the smile seemed to be plastered with some kind of super-glue because it wouldn't go away. and when it did, it was because youngjae remembered the reality of his emotions. this was dangerous.

but looking at jaebum sipping on coffee by the kitchen counter, with his hoodie tugged messily by his neck and wrists — youngjae couldn't deny that he'd risk it all.

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very messy sorry

written: august 10, 2017
published: september 1, 2017

니카 ✿