DAY6 DRABBLES

vi

PROMPT:
"it all started with a chance meeting on the bus."

PAIRING:
jaehyungparkian

—

It all started with a chance meeting on the bus.

Well, maybe not "started". Maybe "resumed" is a better word.

Brian looks as good as he always has, but that's not to say he doesn't look different. His edges are sharper, his cheeks are hollower, and his hair is blonde. Funny. He used to be so adamant about not dyeing it.

Jae knows he looks different himself . He's started buying nicer clothes ever since he got a better job. The bags under his eyes have intensified, although that's mostly thanks to Dowoon, who's been coming over more often and usually stays to play video games until late at night. Also thanks to Dowoon, he's been eating more, so he's not as skinny as he was.

That's funny, too, because while Jae has gained some weight, Brian looks like he's lost enough for it to be unhealthy. Knowing him, he's probably not sleeping very well either, let alone taking care of himself. Stupid.

He keeps glancing at Jae across the aisle when he thinks Jae's not looking, then blushing furiously when he realized he's been caught. It's painfully obvious, and if they were still on speaking terms, Jae would already have gone over and made fun of him for it. As it is, they haven't spoken since they'd broken up months ago, so that's not an option.

Jae counts down the number of stops left before he gets off the bus. He knows Brian's counting, too, because even after all this time, he still knows Brian like the back of his hand, somehow.

Four stops. Brian has tried to glue his gaze to whatever's out the window, his fingers clenched in a fist. Jae thinks that if he gets any more tense, he's going to explode, then wonders if he's somehow increased his capacity for tension in the time they've been apart. Sounds like Brian.

Three stops. Brian has by now given up and allowed himself to look at Jae unabashedly, clearly as bold as he always was. After a minute or so of uninterrupted staring, Jae relents and meets his eyes. Brian seems to be uncertain all of a sudden, but he doesn't look away. Jae doesn't either.

Two stops. Brian clears his throat, blushing again. Jae hates how cute he still thinks that is.

"Jae," Brian says, voice low and hoarse but still the same as it was before, and still the same as it is in the videos of them that Jae has binge watched recently. "Jae, I - I'm really sorry. I am. About - you know."

Jae does know. Their relationship hadn't ended on the best note. He swallows thickly, a little emotional for the first time in a while. Brian looks anxious, like he's scared of what Jae is going to say.

One stop.

"Yeah," Jae hears himself say. "Me - me too."

Brian opens his mouth, closes it again. Jae wonders how he can look so pretty while looking so stupid at the same time. Finally, he says, "I never meant to hurt you."

Jae wants to laugh, because he knows that already. Of course Brian hadn't meant to hurt him. Brian wouldn't hurt a fly. But he doesn't laugh, because there's a mild pressure behind his eyes and he's not sure he can keep from crying if he says anything.

He just nods. Brian's shoulders relax ever so slightly.

The bus stops. Jae gets up.

"I'll see you around," he says, his voice shaky, but he means it.

Brian nods and says, "Yeah. You will."