Forever and Always - a zhengkun story (ON HOLD)

7

"Hey Nong, this is my cabin!" yelled Zhengting. "Meet you outside here in 10?"

"Sure Ting! I'll catch u later!" Nongnong yelled back, waving furiously with his free hand.

Zhengting lugged his heavy suitcase up the stairs leading to the tiny door and unlocked it with the key card. In the distance, he could here a crazy laugh that could only belong to Xiao Gui. Of course, that meant Xukun would be here soon. He quickly grabbed all his stuff and stumbled into the room, slamming the door behind him. He looked around and realized that while the layout of the cabin was okay, it was quite dirty and old. Zhengting didn't even want to know what the toilet seat looked like. Quickly, he tossed his stuff onto the lower bunk before Xukun could barge in and potentially stealing the lower bunk. Because Zhengting absolutely DESPISED the top bunk, all because he had once felt off the ladder leading to the top, causing him to be unable to dance in the competition 4 years ago. Ever since, he refuse to go anywhere near a top bunk. 

Zhengting was busy unpacking his studf and hanging them into the dresser when the door unlocked with a flick and Xukun stepped in. Zhengting quickly turned the other way and ignored him, instead focusing on folding all his T-shirt's and pants. 

Xukun walked over to the far side of the room where the beds where and asked, "Can you sleep on the top bunk? I hate the top."

"I'm sorry: but I hate the top bunk too!" retorted Zhengting, glaring slightly. 

"Awwwws...Zhengting, you know your gonna five or over some day..." cooed Xukun, somehow succeeding in sounding seductive and annoying st the same time.

Zhengting'a heart fluttered again but ignoring it, he glared at Xukun and snapped, "Too bad, because this bunk is MINE."

Xukun rolled his eyes. "How bout we Rock Paper Scissors it? Whoever wins gets the bottom bunk."

"Well I'm sorry, but since you took your time getting here,  I get it cuz I claimed it first!" 

Xukun sighed but relented, scoffing and climbing up the ladder reluctantly to start making the bed. 

Zhengting watchedbfor a few seconds then forced himself to turn away. He finished hanging up all his clothes and proceeded to make his bed like Xukun. As he was slipping the pillow into the case, he heard a shaky breath coming from above him. Zhengting peeked his head out and saw a Xukun standing at the top of the ladder , legs trembling, hands gripping the sides so tight that his knuckles had turned pale. When he saw Zhengting staring at him, he scowled and said, "This is exactly why I need the bottom bunk! I have a fear of climbing down from high places!"

Zhengting's eye widened. "Sorry, I didn't know, but I have a fear of top bunks too because I fell off of one!" 

Xukun froze, then sighed; "I guess that makes sense."

"Do you want help getting down?" offered Zhengting with a small smile. He reached out his hand and got to his feet. Slowly, he began coaching Xukun to climb down from the ladder step by step, his hand eventually reaching Xukun's arm. Zhengting clutched it tightly and gave him a reassuring squeeze. Xukun smiles shakily and, finally, slowly climbed down the remainder of the ladder.

When he landed on the ground, they both let out a shaky sigh of relief. They looked at each other  for a second and the craziest thing happened: they LAUGHED. Zhengting has no clue why he was laughing, but all of a sudden he found himself collapsing into his bed and laughing so hard his stomach hurt, rolling around like a ball. He glanced down and saw Xukun lying on the floor, body shaking with laughter and tears streaming down his face.

Finally, they managed to sit upright, bodies still racking with giggles. "Don't...Tell any...anyone," snorted Xukun, still unable to control his laughter. Zhengting finally calmed down and nodded. "Of course Xukun! I wouldn't dream of telling anyone!" 

As they stared at each other, they could feel strands of friendship forming between them. 

But neither was able to quench the tingling feeling they had deep down, aching to love a person they wouldn't ever think they could love...

At least they were friends now, and that repressed that ache deep down.