Counting Stars ✓

nine

[warning: cursing ahead.]

King crouching over the sink, trying to control his nosebleed. He would often get nosebleeds that were quick and light, but whenever he got them during long sessions of stress, they were usually heavy and lasted a long while. And he knew this was one of them.

Rune looked at King's bloody appearance. The low volume of his girlfriend's call echoing. Putting his phone up to his ear all the while observing as King began to run the water and consistently clean off the blood.

"-ne? Rune? Rune! Fine, we're done!"

Rune snapped back into reality at her words, but couldn't get a word out before she hung up. He looked at the phone in bewilderment before sighing. He would deal with it tomorrow when her anger lessened so they could have a proper talk. Right now his focus was on King.

He walked over and patted King's back. "You okay?"

King gave him a brief look and nodded, "Sorry. Uh the guitar pick is on the table. You don't have to force yourself to stay."

Rune frowned at his words. He walked back to the living room, and sure enough the guitar pick was there. Picking it up and tucking it into his pocket, he looked back at the direction of the bathroom and sighed. As if he would just leave like that. Walking over to the kitchen, he began to pull out whatever ingredients he could find and started cooking.

King looked at Rune in surprise. His eyes gazed over the sight of food being plated and settled on the dining table. The senior walked over and made him sit down, shoving a pair of chopsticks into his grip.

"Eat," he ordered, sitting across from King. He waited until the younger lad began to eat before getting his own pair of chopsticks to begin eating. Rune made sure to make sure the younger boy was eating properly and felt himself smile at how obedient he was.

It was so different from Cherry who would complain about what to eat and what not to eat. She had gone as far as to get mad at him when he made her breakfast one day, stating it was too fattening and then proceeded to throw the food out without trying it.

The thought of Cherry made him sigh. He did love Cherry. And he meant it. But it grew with clarity with each passing day that he simply didn't love her in the romantic sense anymore. Especially when she would act up.

Guilt did often overcome him, but he knew better than to lead someone on if he no longer had the same feelings for them. Perhaps it was for the best they broke up. Permanently. The thought made him remember his grandmother who would most likely smile in triumph, and tell him, "I told you so."

And he wasn't sure if he was ready to face the embarrassment considering less than a month before he kept urging her to accept Cherry because he had plans to stay with her until marriage.

Hearing the sigh, King looked up and cocked his head to the side. "You okay?" He asked softly.

Run let out a bitter chuckle, propping his elbow into the table and leaning against his palm. "I wonder."

He looked up at King's curious expression. "Have you ever dated?"

King looked at him in surprise. His ears turned slightly red, as he nodded meekly. Rune looked at him in surprise, a teasing grin making way onto his face.

"You have? Are you still dating?" He mused, ignoring the slight sting as he wondered who the individual that managed to capture the heart of King was.

"No," King shook his head, "We broke up last year."

"Oh...Sorry," Rune replied.

"No worries," King chuckled after looking at Rune's expression.

Rune felt butterflies form at the sound, his eyes set on the gentle expression on King's face. He coughed, trying to ignore the feeling. 'Calm down, Rune,' Rune thought, 'You have a girl...oh.'

King observed the shift in Rune's expression. Tightening his lips into a straight line, he stood up to place their now empty plates into the sink. He gently tugged at Rune's sleeve, motioning for him to stand up. His actions caused curiosity in the other.

Without realizing, he continued to hold onto Rune's sleeve as he took him to the couch and passed the remote to him. "I'll do the dishes. You can find something to watch. Did you come by car?"

"Uh, took a taxi, actually."

"I'll drive you back after," King said softly, leaving no room for argumentation as he walked back to the kitchen.

Just as Rune was about to turn on the television, his phone rang once more, causing him to curse. He took it out and furrowed his brows at the caller: Ryu.

Once again he walked to the balcony to take the call.

"Hell-"

"Where are you?"

"Ow, why?"

"Because I'm here at the bar with your girlfriend who's crying while getting herself hella drunk. So where are you? Are you seriously cheating-"

"What the fuck, man," Rune spat. "Did you seriously just accuse me of cheating? I don't know what fucking nonsense she told you but I already told Cherry my friend needed me and that I would make it up to her. She's the one who decided to end things over it."

"End things? Fuck, man. You usually give in to her demand-"

"-and that's why I'm tired. I don't want to have to give in all the time when I've told her several times to trust me."

"Shit man. You're really angry, huh? Alright then. I'm here with Fah and Fang, so we'll look after her and get her back home safely. Talk to her properly tomorrow though, okay? She loves you a lot."

'But doesn't trust me enough,' Rune thought, sighing. He hung up the call and walked back in, surprisingly greeted by King who just finished cleaning and offered him a small smile.

"You want to go home now?" King asked.

Rune looked at the dark sky, and back at the puffy eyes of King. Reaching out, he ruffled King's hair. "How about I stay the night? It's getting late and I don't want to trouble you with driving me home, or I can call another taxi."

King felt his heart start beating faster at the gentle gesture, and tried to push back a growing blush. "Stay," he said, "I'll get you some clothing you can borrow. There's also an extra toothbrush in the bathroom for you to use. It's not safe for you to take a taxi at this time."

Rune smiled, trying to ignore the aching pain about his situation.