Dogs

17.

JB

We had a blast as we travelled around, my days and nights always better when Youngjae was by my side. He slept peacefully every night after that, the good mood we had from touring and seeing all the fans sticking to us.

I knew the dreaded date was coming soon, unsure of myself as my brain felt like a ticking time bomb. We were still overseas and I was afraid of how I would react.

Our manager refused to let me stay on my own, insisting that Youngjae and I share a room despite me not wanting to bother Youngjae, not wanting him to see how shitty I still am.

He had been chasing away all my nightmares but I didn't want him to be so wary of me and keep him stuck beside me. I didn't know what to expect now seeing as how we were overseas as well, not wanting to tire him out especially how we were on tour.

I dragged my feet back to our hotel room, not knowing how to face Youngjae while feeling so shitty. I hesitated outside our door, the beep of someone else's door opening snapping me out of it.

I closed the door behind me, latching it before kicking off my shoes, standing there in the hallway until my brain kicked in, the room sounding too quiet. Youngjae usually played some music in the background but the volume was so soft that I didn't hear it until I entered the room.

I didn't see him in the sitting area nor the bedroom and panicked, my heart thumping hard as I heard the water running and rushed to the toilet. I relaxed when I saw him sitting next to the bathtub with his phone, the gush of water drowning out everything.

I slowly stepped in front of him, tugging him forward as he jumped. He curled his arms around my waist, resting his head against my stomach.

"Didn't mean to scare you" I apologised, stroking his head.

"No. I didn't hear you. I was preparing this bath for you too" he frowned, peeking up at me.

"Join me" I murmured, cupping his chin in my palm. He nodded in response, untangling himself as he stood.

I stayed where I stood, refusing to take a step back as he stood, our bodies pressed up along each others as he stood.

We stripped quietly, Youngjae hopping into the tub first. I smiled at his happy smile, his hands already happily scooping the foam up in his hands. He blew the foam at me with a smile, laughing when it spread over my face.

I dunked my head before shuffling nearer to him in the tub, smiling evilly as I took the foam and spread it over his head and nose. He only laughed harder at that, plopping some foam over my hair and styling it.

I sat there and let him, his little giggles as he styled my hair making me smile. His happy expressions were all I needed, his face too fascinated from just playing with my hair.

I simply stared back at him, my heart beating ridiculously at the joy I felt then. Nothing else mattered in that moment, the date, the tour, the water... nothing but this beautiful man that I held in my arms.

I couldn't help but smile at him, my heart hammering so hard against my chest that I found it hard to breathe. He threw his head back and laughed when he caught my expression, his laughter echoing around the toilet. I grabbed his wrists in one hand before tickling him, attacking his sides as he squirmed and laughed harder.

I released his wrists and tugged him nearer to me so that he wouldn't slip underwater, his eyes all teary from the laughing. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, resting his head there as he tried to catch his breath.

"Thank you Jae... I really needed this today" I mumbled, hugging him tighter to me, stroking his back.

"I'm glad" he whispered, squeezing me tighter too.