Letters From The Sky (JoongNine AU)

Chapter 9

Joong

I slept undisturbed after I told Nine about my dream. My body felt too tired after waking up two times in the same night. The next time I opened my eyes, the sun was shining through the slightly opened window, and the air feel fresh. But the best moment that was different than any other days, was seeing the person who slept facing me, not turning to the other side anymore. I looked at his face with interest; the smooth baby skin, the lovely curved lips and the rise and fall of his shoulder, sleeping on his side, breathing calmly. My hand was still on his waist, securing him from rolling and falling from the bed. I never woke up with anyone else besides me, and this new feeling made my heart felt giddy.

Maybe he felt my stare and gradually his twitching eyelids opened, showing a disoriented, sleep-laden look. After a few moments, when he started to focus, the first thing I noticed was the sudden light blush, the rapid blinking and the hitched breathing. He immediately sat up and tried to somehow tamed his unruly hair that was covering half of his face. I smiled at the nervous gesture and sat up too.

"Good morning, Nine", I said cheerfully. I hope my casual demeanor would made him ease his uneasiness around me.

"Hmm. Morning. Did you sleep okay?", he asked looking concern.

"See this happy face? Yes. I slept very well. What time is it already?", I asked because I couldn't see any wall clock in his room. He took the handphone that was placed at the bedside table and showed it to me. "Oh, eleven! Gosh, I thought it is still early. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have oversleep", I said and swept my hands over my face, a little embarrass. Nine just smiled and shook his head.

"It's okay Joong, today my off day, so...there's no need to rush...unless, you have something to do already". I looked at the smiling face that said that to me. What does he mean? That it's okay that I oversleep? Or it's okay to spend some more time, together?

"Shower?", Nine asked in short.

"No shirt, this one is yours, and mine was crumpled, near the sofa, unwashed", I said, feeling guilty to impose anything more than this bed that I slept on. "Maybe, I better move and shower at home", I said and started to go down from the bed.

"I have another shirt as loose as that", Nine said immediately. I looked at him quietly. "And, a spare toothbrush too. Towels are aplenty...so...", Nine said hesitantly. But, the look he gave me was in between shyness and hopefulness. And then he looked down and fidgeting with his fingers.

"Underwear?", I asked, teasing him, just because I liked the blush that deepened on his cheeks.

"Yes, that too, a new one that is still unused, if..if it fits".

"Anything else, Nine? Anything else that I can use?", I said this while trying to peek at his down bent head. He looked up and tightened his lips. He realized finally, that I kept asking just to tease him.

"The door is opened wide, if you want to leave, then just do...", he said and stood up from the bed, going to his wardrobe and took a fresh towel. I followed suit. He ignored me and took a step towards the bathroom, but I held his hand tight.

"Eyyy...the one who didn't say what he want truthfully, is now sulking. Tsk,tsk...", I said, and that made him turned to look coldly at me.

"I'm not sulking!", he said, in denial, but that obvious pout and cold eyes told me otherwise. I snatched the towel from him and hang it on my shoulder.

"Toothbrush? Is it in the bathroom? My underwear too...", I asked while opening my palm to ask for it. Nine remained unmoving. I raised my eyebrows and said tactfully, "What? Don't want to say anything? Or, you want me to kiss you good morning first? But, bear with my morning breath. Come here..." I said while trying to grab his waist, intentionally, just to tease him so that he gave me a reaction. To my surprise, he didn't fight back, so our body just mashed together and my lips almost bumped to his forehead. Nine raised his head and just looked at me, his eyes were switching from my eyes, moving down to my lips. Is this an invitation? Can I really go for it? Is it considered too rash, ungentlemanly? But, Nine is not pushing me away too.