Counting Stars ✓

twenty-five

Rune didn't say anything to King. However, it was quite clear Rose did not like him. Throughout the whole time, after she woke up from her nap, and had gone out to eat dinner with them, she would avoid him.

Every single time he tried to speak to her, she would brush him off with one word answers and switch to talk to King. To make matters worse, she was touchy.

For someone who King claimed to say didn't like contact with other people, she was rather overly touchy by brushing King's hair away from his face, or holding onto his hand the entire time. It pissed him off.

He wanted nothing more than to push the girl away from his man. But yet he couldn't do so because of how happy King was to see his best friend again.

It was strange to think the best friend of King was causing more jealousy than the ex-girlfriend of King has caused.

He watched as King waved goodbye to Rose who had gotten into a taxi. Once the vehicle was out of sight, and King had turned back to look at him, he grabbed him by the wrist - dragging him back to their apartment.

As soon as the door closed behind them, he shoved King against the wall and kissed him roughly. King clung to his shirt tightly, surprised by the unexpected action from the normally the gentle Rune. Minus their meetings a few months back. And the time Rune got into a fight with Ryuu.

Pulling away, Rune smirked at the sight before him - loving the way he made King run out of breath and flushed red. "What's this all about?" King asked, pouting slightly.

Rune bit down on his lip, leaning in towards King's neck and leaving a mark, much to King's dismay. He was going to need to wear a scarf for sure afterwards. "Much better," Rune stated, leaning his forehead against King's.

"Geez, Rune. Why did you -"

"-You shouldn't have made me jealous," Rune pulled away, feeling satisfied. He took off his shoes and walked towards the bedroom.

King raised his brows at his statement, quickly taking off his shoes and following after the older boy. "So you are jealous," he grabbed Rune's wrist.

Rune merely rolled his eyes. He shook off the younger boy's hand and began to undress, laughing at the way King turned red and spun around to avoid seeing him shirtless.

He leaned forward, breathing into the boy's reddened ear, "You're mine, King. Not hers. So tell her not to be so touchy."

Before King could say anything, Rune walked away. King merely sighed and shook his head.

He took out his phone to play on while he waited for Rune to finish showering. He found an unread message from Rose informing him to call her once he was alone and without the presence of Rune.

He had a bad feeling at the message, making his way to the balcony to make the call right away.

"King," came the fast reply.

"Rose," he breathed in the night air, looking up at the very few stars. "What's up?"

"I believe you have something to tell me," she said, her voice sounding choppy from the background sound of the traffic. He frowned, leaning against the railing. "Where do you want me to start?"

"From your meeting with your so-called 'roommate' would be nice. By the way, you two really need to work on hiding your true feelings for each other."

He pinched the space between his brows, "If you knew, you shouldn't have made him so jealous. Anyway, he's a good guy-"

He explained everything to her, knowing better than to leave out any sort of information. By the time he finished and told her as far as the situation with the engagement, he heard her snort over the phone. "Yeah, I don't trust him."

He felt his throat tighten at her statement. Patiently, he waited for her to continue and to tell him precisely what it was about Rune that didn't sit well with her.

"He could be using you. He may have said it was otherwise but considering the timeline, it's too risky - too suspicious. On another note, didn't he date Kasper? Your half-brother's cousin?"

King's breath hitch at the unexpected information. "What?" he muttered, too overwhelmed to say anything else.

Kasper. The name Kasper alone was enough to make him nearly throw up. How could he forget the person who once teamed up with his half brother to beat him when he was on his way to a sports tournament.

The injuries landed him in the hospital for nearly a week, with him needing to rest for an additional two weeks at home. In the end, he missed the opportunity to take part in the sports tournament, as well as missing the chances to enter some other competitions his mother wanted him in.

His mother had been so furious and embarrassed by the ordeal, she took it out on him by stopping her funding for several charities and orphanages he was taking part in helping. If not for Khun Rain, some of them wouldn't have had enough funds to keep going.

The sudden information made him want to throw up at the possibility of it being true. Because if it was, he didn't know how he would handle seeing Rune's face.

"Think things over, King," Rose advised. "We both know you need to move with precaution."

"Okay," King choked out. "I'm..."

"...I understand. Later, Prince."

"Bye," King muttered softly, hanging up. He bit down on his lips to try and suppress his mixed emotions. Walking back in, he grabbed his coat and made his way out the door. He needed some time alone, without being in the same apartment as Rune.

~

Rune looked around in confusion, wondering where King had gone. He looked around, taking notice of how King was nowhere in sight, and his coat and car keys were missing as well.

He picked up his phone, worry rushed through him as he tried to call him but was met with the voicemail. He frowned, sending multiple messages and trying to get through the phone once more. After the fifth call, it went through.

"King," he said in worry, "Where are you?"

There was silence on the other line, making him nervous. "King?"

"I'm here," King said softly. His voice made Rune let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He sat down on the bed, and asked, "Where are you?"

"...Rune," King started softly, his voice coming off rather fragile. Rune didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling from the way his voice sounded. It reminded him so much of the day King cried in his arm.

"Yeah?" he answered, his voice just as soft.

"Did..." King took a deep breath, "Did you date Kasper? From the Blueblood gang?"

Rune froze at the mention of his ex-boyfriend. He hadn't heard that name ever since he ended the relationship.

Why was it King knew the name of both his ex, and the gang his ex was in? He knew Fah and Fang wouldn't tell King about it without his permission. And besides them, none of their mutual acquaintances and friends should know.

He doubted his grandmother would tell King as well when the name alone was enough to make her boil with anger.

"Yeah," he admitted. "How did-"

"I have to go," King interrupted. "And I'll be away for a couple of days"

Before Rune could get out another word, King hung up - bewildering him. He tried to call him again but was met once again with the voicemail, and an additional message from King saying it was best if they didn't contact each other for a while.

He cursed, running his hand through his hair in confusion. What exactly was going on?

Lou.Baifern✓

Is Rose back?

Let's talk, Rune

Seen

[a/n: Oops?]