NIGHTMARE

11 | uh oh, the power's out!

"fuck," kihyun cursed under his breath. he flicked the light switch on the wall repeatedly, his frustration building each time it didn't turn on.

he was cold, and he was miserable, and there was an eighteen year old student cuddled up in the blankets on his sofa. for yoo kihyun, this was not the ideal situation.

"power's really out?" changkyun asked, peering over from the couch.

kihyun looked at him and pouted. the snow howled in the wind outside his window, the electricity was cut, and all that crying had given him a headache.

"we're going to freeze to death." kihyun wasn't feeling particularly optimistic at this point.

"come over here then," said changkyun, opening his arms as if to welcome him into an embrace.

kihyun shuffled over, unsure. "i don't think that's very-"

he got near enough for changkyun to grab his hand and pull him into his arms on the couch. "sir," he said as kihyun squirmed, "desperate times call for desperate measures."

kihyun still struggled to escape, but slowly relaxed, melting into the warmth whilst changkyun wrapped him in blankets. "still-" kihyun objected.

"we need to preserve body heat," changkyun told him informatively. "we learnt about it in geography! there was this man freezing to death in an ice cave and you should've seen his toes-"

"okay, okay!" kihyun interrupted, covering his ears with his hands. "fine, but this is only an emergency measure..."

"sure, whatever you say, sir." but changkyun was smirking as he pulled the little teacher closer to him.

they sat in comfortable silence for a while, curled up under the blankets on kihyun's couch. and for the first time since starting his new teaching job, kihyun felt like he was with changkyun, not the student in his literature class.

"so... why were you crying earlier?" changkyun asked hesitantly after a while.

he wanted to punch whoever made kihyun cry. that man didn't deserve to cry so hard... even if he did look fucking sexy as hell whilst doing it. changkyun glanced over at the tousled locks that fell over the teacher's forehead, and the tear-stained cheeks. god, he was beautiful.

kihyun gave a heavy sigh. "it's a long story," he mumbled.

"we've got time," changkyun said softly. "i mean, unless you don't want to tell me. that's fine too-"

"it's okay." kihyun rubbed at his eyes and leaned his head against changkyun's shoulder. "it's a story that starts with me being happy but stupid, and ending up wiser but sadder."

"a tragic story," changkyun remarked, "like a midsummer night's dream!"

"a midsummer night's dream isn't a tragedy," kihyun corrected, "it's more of a comedy. don't you pay attention in class?"

"nah," changkyun shrugged. "i'm either sleeping or admiring your superior handwriting on the board."

"but not the actual words," kihyun deadpanned, unimpressed.

"just get on with the story, kihyun," changkyun whined impatiently.

"fine, it started back where i used to live, with my... boyfriend..."

"i knew it!" changkyun suddenly leapt up, letting a draught into the blankets.

"stop it, you're making me cold," kihyun complained. "you knew what?"

"nothing," changkyun laughed sheepishly, returning to their snuggled up positions on the sofa. he leant in to whisper, "i just knew you were gay, though."

kihyun jabbed an elbow in his ribs and huffed. "why are you so interested anyway?" he asked indignantly.

"isn't it obvious?" changkyun drawled, amused. "you're hot, sir, and i like you-"

another stab at the ribs.

"okay, i'll stop! just finish the story," changkyun grumbled.

kihyun sighed yet again and continued. "basically, hoseo- my ex didn't... he didn't treat me well. i had to leave, but things have only been getting worse... except my job, of course."

"because of me!" changkyun said brightly.

"sure, sure, whatever," kihyun replied. "if you really wanted to know... he called me before you came. my cat ran back to my old place - his place."

"that's why you were crying?" changkyun asked quietly. he wrapped an arm around kihyun's waist and pulled him closer to comfort him better.

"that, and... i guess i'm kind of... lonely..."

changkyun sniggered.

"oh my god, you're so immature!" kihyun tried to wriggle out of changkyun's grasp, fed up with the high school senior already.

"i'm gunna freeze if you leave me," changkyun protested, throwing kihyun the biggest pair of puppy dog eyes he'd ever-

"fine." kihyun stayed still and let changkyun pull him close until their bodies were connected, sharing the warmth.

the night wore on and wind continued to whirl and gush. kihyun had almost drifted off when changkyun spoke again, this time gently and carefully.

"i'm sorry about your boyfriend," he murmured.

"so am i," kihyun answered, barely opening his eyes.

"i mean it," changkyun insisted. "you deserve to be treated better than that. like a princess."

"prince."

"like a whatever. seriously, things will get better. i promise."

kihyun laughed wistfully and rested his head on changkyun's shoulder. "you can't promise that."

"no, but i can try and make it happen."

kihyun cracked a smile. "you're very sweet, changkyun."

changkyun gave a small sigh. being so close to kihyun was a blessing, but their relationship seemed like a neverending curse. even at such close proximity, he still treated him like a child. and how old was he? twenty-one. changkyun was just three years younger. as if that made such a difference.

"i hope we get snowed in tomorrow," changkyun muttered.

"you won't even miss any school, it won't be worth it," said kihyun, his voice a whisper in the dark as he drifted off to sleep. "besides, you can't get snowed into an apartment."

it's really not fair, changkyun thought. if only the power would remain off, and they could stay in this moment forever.

"i guess," changkyun whispered. "goodnight, kihyun."

"goodnight, sleep well."

"have sweet dreams."

changkyun smiled down at the little man in his arms. kihyun wasn't even much shorter than him, yet he felt like he needed protecting. and changkyun was the man for the job.

he was determined that one day, mr. yoo wouldn't treat him like one of his students. kihyun would treat him like an adult. if only.

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