+ Spitting Games [2/3] [2PM]
<
+
Jihyen is an attractive mix of cute and sexy in their texts, flirty without being slutty, and Jay is ecstatic. After a few days of round-robin messaging, when he's almost positive she won't decline, he finally forces himself to ask her out-and she says yes.
why r u so surprised man, Taec asks when Jay sends him a carefully excited text, ur fly!! ^^
Jay grins and immediately texts Jihyen again, suggesting a movie. She agrees and he balks a little when she tells him her choice of film, but then he remembers-they'll be in the dark, close enough to touch. He probably won't be able to concentrate much on the movie, anyway.
+
"No," Jay says, backing away as soon as he sees Taec coming towards him, "fuck off. No."
"Sorry, man." Taec moves closer and reaches out, patting Jay's upper arm apologetically. "She couldn't make it, had a last-minute emergency. She says to tell you sorry."
"Yeah, that makes it less fucked up, thanks," he says grumpily. He stalks over to the already-overflowing trash can in front of the theatre entrance and dumps the chrysanthemumumums or whatever the shit on top. "Why're you here, anyway? Why didn't she just call instead of sending her fucking gofer?" Taec frowns at the insult, and Jay knows he's just lashing out and being an immature dick, but he's honestly too upset to care. Who sends their fucking brother to ditch their date?
Taec pauses. "It'd be rude to just leave you here," he says, and then nudges Jay in the arm, suddenly looking hopeful. "Plus, we're friends, right? Why don't we do something, instead? I have a ten-page essay due tomorrow that I haven't started, but other than that I'm completely free." He moves over to pluck the topmost chrys-thingy out, tucks it behind his satellite dish-ear, and turns to Jay, framing his face with his palms. "Do what you will with me."
He looks so fucking stupid that Jay can't help his sudden laugh, and he almost hates that Taec won't let him sulk, but then Taec grins back and Jay thinks-fuck it. Taec is never bad company, and even if he's not Jay's first choice, it was cool of him to not ditch Jay in public.
He pretends to stay annoyed though, glaring at Taec and yanking the flower off him, sticking it behind his own ear and grabbing Taec's wrist to drag him inside. "Just so you know," he says warningly, over his shoulder, "she picked the movie."
Taec's anguished expression is priceless.
+
The next Twilight movie is, it turns out, even shittier than the last one-not that Jay watched it. They stay as long as they can but still end up fleeing three-quarters of the way through, escaping before it gets any worse. Taec mentions getting something to eat and Jay agrees to stay with him, not quite willing to go home yet, still recuperating from the trauma of over an hour of whining girls and sparkling vampires.
They make their way steadily through the shopping complex until finally their ambling seems to lead them somewhere useful and they stop at some sushi place to join the giant queue. They're quiet for a few moments and even though they both vowed never to admit to even seeing the trailer for it, Jay figures it's safe enough to bring up now, as long as they don't mention any names.
"I just can't believe Khun liked that shit," he says, disgusted.
"I don't get why he doesn't just fuck her," Taec says loudly, and the Asian dude in front of them turns to give him an amused look, his glasses glinting and his large mouth twisting rather scarily. Taec just grins until he turns back. "I mean, I guess I do get it," he adds, "because if he'd just had sex with her in the first place then there wouldn't have been any need for the other installments, but seriously, no dude is that strong."
"I dunno, man," Jay says slowly, because even though it makes him want to blow his brains out that they're talking about this, his mom brought him up well and he can kinda see where the movie's coming from. "Wasn't he supposed to be all gentlemanly and shit? Born, like, last century?"
"Jay, we were born last century," Taec says, laughing.
Jay glares, shoving at Taec as they move up in the line. "You know what I mean."
"I do. I just think-if you want someone, go get them." He turns to Jay, looking way too serious to still be discussing Edwin Coven or whoever the shit, and Jay suddenly feels extremely uncomfortable. "Although I guess there is that added layer of complexity in that he's a vampire." He grins suddenly. "Like love needs to be any more complicated."
Jay just stares at him, privately wondering if Taec is more than a little cray-cray, because he could've sworn they were just talking about a stupid chick-flick. "Dude," he says, "stop fucking squealing about that stupid fucking film and order your fucking food."
"Oh, right." Taec fumbles for his wallet in his back pocket. "Want anything?"
Jay shakes his head, patting his stomach. "After eight pm, man. Maybe if you said no to food once in a while you'd start looking like a man instead of a geek."
Taec rolls his eyes, picking and paying in under a minute and then steering Jay towards a table an old couple is just vacating. The man helps the little old lady with her walking stick and Taec watches, his eyes practically shaped like fucking hearts as they hold hands and shuffle away.
"Oh man, you are seriously pathetic," Jay says, rolling his eyes.
Taec looks hurt as they sit, already shoving half of his California roll into his mouth. "What about you? The only reason you're hanging out with me is because you want my sister."
Jay punches him in the arm, about to retaliate verbally, but instead finds himself asking, "Why are you helping me, then, if I'm such a loser?"
"Birds of a feather?" he suggests, grinning again before inhaling the other half of his food. He sobers suddenly and leans back in his seat, playing with his unused serviette. "Jihyen liked you."
Jay blinks for a moment, absorbing this information, his thoughts rapidly careening from seriously? to fuck yes! and then wait, liked? before he says slowly, "Liked as in past tense?"
"I don't know," Taec says earnestly, finally looking up. "I just know what she told me the day after the club. She thought you were hot."
Jay feels the grin spreading across his face and embraces it, crossing his arms, preening a little. "I am so fucking in!"
"Except," Taec says, and he seems a strange mixture of both uneasy and amused, "she also thought you were gay."
Jay stares, feeling every ounce of joy disappears in an instant. Because. What. What the fuck.
What. The fuck.
He's quiet for a while, and it's obviously long enough for Taec to become concerned because he leans forward to say something but Jay grabs his collar instead, wrenching him closer, not caring at all if he hurts Taec in the process.
"What the fuck," he hisses, and Taec cringes as some of his spit lands on his cheek. "Fucking gay? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm like the least fucking… I'm the most opposite from gay on this entire planet!"
"Believe me, Jay, I know," Taec says, gently removing Jay's fingers from his shirt. "I told her that, I made sure she knows, and that's why she agreed to go out with you."
"Yeah, because that turned out so fucking well," he mutters, slumping over the table, pressing his cheek to the smooth marble surface. Just… him? Gay? Fucking fuckity fuck.
"Hey," he hears Taec say, but he doesn't answer and just closes his eyes, feeling weirdly embarrassed and awkward.
Does this mean he acts gay? If someone saw him on the street, would they think he was gay? Would the casual observer think he and Taec were on a date right now?
"Hey," Taec says again, and this time his tone of voice means Jay does look up. "I know you're disappointed and everything, but don't worry, okay? I'll organize something awesome for this weekend, and it'll all be great, you'll see." He grins widely, trying to encourage Jay to do the same.
Jay collapses back onto the table.
+
It takes Jay at least an hour to get over his depression, but he is grateful for Taec, who pulls out all the stops to entertain him. He makes bad jokes, does stupid impressions and plays DDR, dancing outrageously to Lady Gaga with a thirteen-year-old girl who triples his score. By the end of the night Jay feels much more optimistic.
Taec even drives him home, playing too-loud gangsta music that they jam to the entire time, Taec's crappy car shaking from both their jostling and the strain on the speakers. Jay turns down the music as soon as they reach his street, unwilling to bear the inevitable complaints from his neighbours.
Taec parks and they're quiet for a moment, Taec letting Jay take his time, and Jay, yet again, is thankful. In retrospect, he figures that a chick thinking he's gay isn't really that big a deal, but he's still really into her so it's a bit of a downer to realize he isn't as far along in the wooing process as he'd thought.
"Hey," Taec says finally, elbowing him gently, "it's all good, right? Just keep Saturday free."
Jay nods and they bump fists before Jay climbs out, Taec starts the car again and his music comes back on, one song ending and another starting. As a special reward for all the things Taec has done for him so far, Jay pretends not to recognise the beginning strains of Justin Bieber.
+
Jay is barely dressed when there's a knock at the door a few days later and he opens it in only his basketball short. He's once again surprised to find Taec, his suit on the complete other end of the style spectrum and making Jay completely forget what number sit-up he was up to.
Taec gives him a once-over and raises his eyebrows. "Well. You'd certainly be making a statement, but do you really want every woman in the vicinity to jump you before you even get in the car?"
Jay frowns. Taec is either drunk or high, but whatever the substance abuse Jay is unsure if he's comfortable with Taec getting himself home. "What the fuck," he says, careful not to let any of his worry seep into his tone, "are you talking about?"
"It's Saturday."
"And I'm Jay. Seriously man, for real. Come on." He leans in closer, cupping his hand over his mouth, whispering, "Are you high?"
Taec stares at him for a few moments before his posture relaxes and he sighs. "You forgot, didn't you?"
"Taec, if you don't start speaking straight I won't hesitate to punch you in the face," Jay says. He hates when people act like this, because it's like they're laughing at him and then he just feels slow and stupid, like he can't hope to match up. Like he's not good enough, even when he knows that he is, and that they're just being a douche.
"Our date," is all Taec says, and Jay wonders if he should wind up before punching because if Taec's thinking they're gonna be doing anything tonight then he seriously needs-
But then Taec shifts aside and Jay spots two girls waiting in his car in the driveway and one of them is Jihyen.
Oh shit, Jay thinks, and his expression must say the same thing because Taec rolls his eyes and pushes him backwards, prodding him down the hall and into his room.
"Just get dressed, and I'll go out and tell them I told you the wrong time, okay? I'll save your ass. Again." He drapes an arm around Jay's neck, the stiff fabric of his suit jacket rough against Jay's sweaty skin, and opens up the closet. He reaches in, but Jay finally comes to his senses and bats his hands away.
"Like I'd trust your fashion sense," he snaps, shoving Taec off him, who pulls away and pouts, looking down at himself.
"Hey, I look okay now, right?"
Jay's already noticed, maybe a little jealously, the way the suit fits him, enhancing the broadness of his shoulders, the lean lines of his pants making his legs look even longer. With his hair styled decently for once, and a crisp white shirt underneath the jacket, he looks a lot older and better looking than he actually is.
Jay is positive that he can't have done it by himself.
"How much of that was you and how much was Jihyen?" he asks, and Taec looks sheepish. "Exactly. Now fuck off while I get changed." Taec shakes his head, making to leave, but then Jay feels bad and adds, "Thanks, man. And sorry."
"If you didn't forget dates then you wouldn't be Jay," he says, looking fond before suddenly grinning, darting in to pinch Jay's nipple, and then hollering, "Don't forget a bra!" as he dashes away.
Jay yelps-it's a delayed reaction but it still hurts-and rubs his chest as he glares after him.
+
In the car Taec asks everyone if they're hungry and even though Jay's only had one saucepan of Cheerios all day, the girls say no so he'll just have to tough it out.
They end up back at the club where the three of them first met, and Jay is privately struck by the thought that Taec is a genius. Jay made a great impression here and if he can just get some of that cred back, if he can connect with Jihyen like he did last time, then he is quite certain that he'll have it in the bag.
An hour later, though, everything is not going to plan and Jay is alone in the men's bathroom wondering what went wrong.
Jihyen has been distant all night-quiet in the car, distracted in line for club, and downright ignoring him in the club itself in favour of her phone. He'd paid to put her stuff in the cloakroom, bought her drinks, danced with her-even making sure he wasn't too good so she didn't feel bad-but nothing worked and Jay has begun to get the distinct feeling that she's not interested. It sucks ass, especially since he's so fucking hungry, and he has no idea where to go from here.
Taec's date with Jihyen's friend Sun doesn't seem to be going that great either. Sun seems to be drinking a hell of a lot for someone of her size, but then maybe they're having fun and he just can't see it because his own night has been so average.
Jay shakes his head, turns off the tap and leans on the sink to stare at his reflection when Taec suddenly appears in the mirror next to him. His smile is lopsided but it's the only thing that is, and Jay suddenly remembers some fact his mom was telling him from her ladies' magazine the other day, something about people being most attracted to symmetrical faces.
At the time he'd pretended it was all shit, but after a few days he'd blackmailed Jehan into teaching him how to mirror an image in Photoshop and discovered that his own features were slightly wonky. He's pissed to notice that Taec's features, although gigantic, are pretty perfect.
"You okay?" Taec asks, moving closer. He looks concerned and Jay nods.
"What else would I be?" he says, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Sorry," Taec says, and Jay frowns, holding his gaze through the mirror.
"What?"
"About my sister. She's being weird."
"Why are you apologizing? It's not your problem."
"I know."
Taec looks down and Jay finally steps back from the sinks, scraping his hands down the front of his shirt to dry them since the hand dryer is out of order.
"Where's your date, anyway, man?" he says, taking the opportunity to elbow Taec in the ribs. "Not gonna lie, she's pretty hot." He pushes the door open and they head back into the club proper. The music hits him all at once, reverberating through his bones and pounding in his brain, and with his stomach growling almost in time to the beat he directs Taec over to the bar so he can buy a drink.
"She's hot," Taec agrees, yelling in his ear, breath skimming over Jay's skin, "but I'm pretty sure she's busy making out with that guy over there." He points over Jay's shoulder before using his ridiculous height to get the bartender's attention and ordering Jay's lemonade. Jay follows the line of Taec's finger and wrinkles his nose when he sees Sun grinding drunkenly against some tiny white guy.
"Damn, how is she that crunk already?"
"I dunno, but she already told me earlier she likes short guys. And that she would've gone for you if you weren't already with my sister." Taec pays the bartender and hands Jay his drink, nudging him sideways a bit, out of the crowd around the bar.
"Oh." Jay frowns, downing most of it one go. He should probably be feeling pretty good right about now, because how the fuck often does this happen, but he doesn't really know what to feel and settles for clapping Taec on the back. He keeps his palm there a little longer than usual to show his support and passes Taec what's left of his lemonade. "Fuck it," he says, gesturing around them at the crowd of people, "there are other girls, right?"
Taec looks down at him, something weird in his eyes that Jay figures must be embarrassment ar having his pride wounded so publically, and nods. "Right."
They turn back in time to see the train wreck that is Sun stumble over to another unsuspecting guy and launch herself onto him. He dodges and she nearly falls, only to be caught at the last moment by Jihyen, who staggers under her weight.
"I'm thinking we should go and help," Taec says, cringing and draining the last dregs of Jay's drink, the ice cubes slipping down to clink against his teeth. "Before they kill someone."
+
It takes all three of them-well, mainly Taec's piggyback, but Jay and Jihyen help to get her on and off-to get Sun to Taec's car, and then again from Taec's car into her house. They manage to get an almost perfect run all the way to her bedroom doorway, but her room is almost messier than the Ok's garage and Taec has to manoeuvre around a million obstacles before he can finally dump her on her bed.
"I should stay with her tonight," Jihyen says, gently laying Sun's head on her pillow. Jay repositions her feet and unhooks her arm from Taec's shoulder.
"Okay, I'll take Jay home," Taec says. He straightens up and Jihyen slides gracefully off the bed and they all stand around awkwardly until Taec claps suddenly and says, "Okay, well, see you later, Sis. I'll wait outside." He gives her a hug and then offers Jay a quick smile before he makes his way out.
Jay stares uncomfortably at the wall. Jihyen sighs.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I mean, I think I kind of ruined our date. First I wasn't… and then Sun… I never should have invited her."
"You know, it's cool, I can handle it," Jay says. Not that he would tell her if he couldn't. "Don't think Taec had much fun, though."
"I know, I didn't realise… I thought she liked him. I owe him."
"We both do," Jay agrees. He looks at her and she looks back, smiling slightly, and Jay is completely surprised to find that he feels… nothing. Well, not nothing, just not anything approaching the passion he should be feeling for his Soulmate, and he wonders if he's always been this flighty. Are a few stuff ups all it takes for him to lose interest?
Maybe he wasn't as into her as he thought he was, right from the beginning. Maybe she isn't The One, maybe they aren't meant to be together, and maybe he shouldn't make any more grand sweeping declarations and just take everything as it comes.
"We should try again, sometime," she says, and it's the fact that she doesn't really seem to mind either way that makes up Jay's mind for him.
"Maybe," he says, and kisses her on the cheek before he leaves.
Taec is waiting in the car with the engine idling when he steps out, and as soon as Jay gets in the car he turns to him and says, "Okay, I remember the no-food-after-eight-rule and I promise I've been following it but I'm so hungry right now I could eat my steering wheel."
Jay grins. "Fuck the rule and take me to where the food is."
+
"God," Jay groans, shoving more of his Big Mac into his mouth, "fuck this is amazing. It's like my whole body is rebooting."
Taec laughs. "I know the feeling." He takes the lid off his McChicken and Jay watches, fascinated, as he lays his fries neatly over the chicken patty and then puts it all together again before taking a giant bite.
"My brother does that," Jay tells him, "although he's more gross about it and just takes one bite, one bite, one bite until his mouth is so full her nearly pukes trying to swallow it all."
Taec rolls his eyes. "So vulgar at the dinner table. My sister doesn't even eat, so at least you know your sibling will die from heart disease rather than starvation."
"Our siblings are both fucking psychos," Jay mutters, "and our dates are both fucking failblog."
Taec grunts in agreement and they're silent for a while, scarfing down their food. Taec finishes first and leans back to stretch before picking up his food tray. "I'll be back," he says, and scrapes his chair back.
Jay nods distractedly, concentrating on eating. He's still in the middle of his second burger when he looks up to see Taec approaching with two ice-cream sundaes.
"You like strawberry, right?" Taec says, holding out the one covered in red.
Jay stares up at him. "What are you… if by strawberry you mean chocolate, then yeah."
"Oh." Taec frowns. "That must be Khun."
Jay is struck by a sudden and inexplicable burst of irritation, and he snatches the chocolate sundae out of Taec's hand. He hadn't even been planning on eating anything else, but fuck if he isn't now. "Why do you remember that, anyway? That's so fucking gay."
Taec shrugs, easing the lid off his own ice cream and digging his spoon inside to shovel a huge glob into his mouth. He notices Jay staring and grins obnoxiously, red smeared over his chin.
Jay slaps a napkin onto his face in disgust.
+
Jay emerges from his bedroom late the next afternoon, rubbing his eyes and adjusting to the light as he stumbles into the kitchen. Usually he's pretty quick to wake up, but he and Taec had stayed out late, mucking around and having fun, and he hadn't got home until the early hours of the morning. He never feels like he's slept well when his cycle is so interrupted, no matter how many hours he gets, and not even the fifty sit-ups he'd done upon waking helped very much. He groans and slumps into a stool at the breakfast bar, and his mom laughs as she works opposite him at the counter.
"Good night?" she asks.
He groans again, resting his head on his arm and watching her peel potatoes with a speed that's awed him since he was a kid. He doesn't quite know how to answer her question, because even though everything with Jihyen had been a total fucking disaster, the stuff that had happened after it with Taec had kinda made up for it. It shouldn't have, but Taec seems to know exactly what he needs and how to cheer him up, so instead of wanting to cry forever in his room about missed opportunities he's left with pretty positive feelings about last night.
"It ended up okay," he tells her. He glances up at her and she smiles, and Jay feels a little guilty about being so vague. This is his mom. He loves his mom, and they have a good relationship. Even if he doesn't wanna talk about Jihyen he should at least give her something. "It ended up just me and her brother," he offers, because he handle Taec-talk. "It was cool."
"Are you two friends now?" she asks, and Jay forces himself to sit up and consider the idea.
Taec is annoying as fuck, he's got disgusting habits, his style sucks, he's too smart and he's too tall, but he's somehow managed to worm himself into Jay's life. Jay even finds himself looking forward to seeing him, which must mean something. He figures he could probably do a lot worse-at least Taec hasn't maimed him or tried to sell of his kidneys online. "I guess so."
"Okay," she says, finishing the last potato, leaning over to kiss Jay on the forehead. "I'm glad." She moves over to the sink and Jay watches her absently, frowning.
Now that he's thinking about it, if he and Taec are friends then that changes things. It means things aren't as casual anymore, and Jay should probably start including him more in the things he does with his other friends, especially since Taec's been so cool about the Jihyen thing.
Jay figures he should start with something easy. He's supposed to be playing basketball with his crew after work tomorrow, and Junior's been bugging him about meeting his 'mistress' for a while now anyway, so he may as well take care of all of it the same time-two birds, one stone and one basketball.
+
His crew is completely down to meet Taec, right up until they see him. As they walk towards the basketball court and Jay points him out, Dial Tone starts trying to hide how threatened he feels by strutting and swearing, and Junior moves to walk behind Cha Cha, keeping his distance, analyzing Taec’s moves from afar.
"The fuck, Jay, you never told us he was the BFG," Dial Tone hisses, shoving Jay in the shoulder.
Jay pushes him back. "BFG, what the hell is a BFG? You're making shit up again."
"Big Friendly Giant. It was in a book, which is probably why you don't know it," Cha Cha teases, not looking intimidated in the slightest. None of them have to be, because Taec is probably the biggest wuss on the planet, but that's not what it looks like and Jay gets a kick out of watching them sweat.
"Big-ass fucking geek, more like it," Jay says dryly, watching as the ball rebounds off the backboard and nearly hits Taec in the face. "Yo, Taec!"
Taec looks up and grins widely, hurrying over to them. "Hey Jay. Hey guys, what's up, I'm Taec," he says, no reservations at all, and leans over to extend his hand out to Junior. Junior looks at it, looks up at Taec's friendly face, and after another moment takes his hand. The other two do the same, although with much less hesitation, and soon enough they're talking and laughing like old friends.
Jay is relieved that they're all getting along. It probably shouldn't matter so much, but it's like two facets of his life coming together, and it would be shit if his new friend didn't gel with his crew.
"So by my count we got five," Dial Tone says eventually, stealing the ball off Taec and feinting left around him before dodging right. "One of us gonna sit out? Or do you three think you can handle the Brothers Orduna?" He loops an arm around Junior's shoulders and they both pull faces that Jay thinks are supposed to be intimidating.
"I invited a friend, if that helps," Taec says, and Jay does a double take.
"You have friends?" he says. "That aren't Khun? Or Chan?"
Taec raises an eyebrow. "Um, Khun is even worse at sport than me-"
"Didn't realize that was possible."
"-and it is Chan."
"Well, that explains it, then." Jay smirks.
"Okay, seriously, is he usually this bitchy with you guys?" Taec asks, turning to Cha Cha, pulling a lame sad face.
Cha Cha grins, not looking at Jay, and Jay gets a very bad feeling about this. "Looks like you're special."
"He does talk about you a lot," Dial Tone adds, wisely keeping out of Jay's kicking distance. "Like, all the time. I felt like you were part of the crew already, man."
Taec laughs. "Awesome. Well I can't dance, so I'd have to be your cheerleader."
Junior lights up. "Hear that, Jay? Taec in a skirt!"
Jay shudders dramatically and wonders if killing him would count as self-defense. "That's disgusting," he says, glaring.
"He's covering his ass now," Dial Tone teases, "but you should hear the way he talks about you."
"You're such a fuckhead," Jay says, launching himself on Dial Tone and wrestling him into a headlock as the other three laugh. Dial Tone struggles to say more but Jay slaps a hand over his mouth, refusing to let go, enduring Dial Tone's tongue slobbering over his fingers. Sometimes his boys talk way too much shit. "Hey Taec, Chansung's here," he says quickly, desperate to change the topic.
The others all turn to look, even Dial Tone manoeuvring himself around, and Taec grins and waves. "Chansung!"
Junior, seeing just how tall Chansung is as he gets closer and then seeing just how easily he catches the ball Taec throws him, says, "Shotgun."
+
Jay is the first to take off his shirt as the scores get higher. Chansung goes next and the rest of AOM follows pretty quickly, until pretty soon Taec is the only one left with a shirt on. Jay grins and is just about to make fun of him for it when he hooks his hands under the hem of his brightly-coloured t-shirt and swiftly lifts it off, revealing a body that's almost as well-built as everyone else's.
Taecyeon throws the shirt aside, muscles straining and shifting under his stupidly tan skin. His biceps are massive when they clench, and his abs are easily discernible, distinctly separated in a way that only comes with a certain amount of working out, and it is so unexpected that Jay drops the ball.
"Jay, you're staring," Cha Cha says quietly as he passes, grinning and handing Jay back the ball.
He grabs it and refuses to look at either of them for the rest of the game, even though they're on the same team.
+
"What the fuck." It falls out of Jay's mouth before he can stop himself, and he stares at Taec, not even bothering to look anything other than horrified.
Taec has had a pretty solid school schedule for the past few weeks, so Jay hasn't spent as much time with him as usual-which, although he wouldn't admit it, was kind of weird since he's gotten used to Taec's company-but when Taec called him up the night before and told him to come over he was not expecting this, because what the fuck?
"That's exactly what I thought," Jihyen sing-songs from behind them, gliding past the front door, and in the back of Jay's mind he registers that she's in a pair of the tiniest denim shorts ever created, but Taec is just-
"What, you don't like it?" Taec asks, self-consciously bringing his hand to his-short! blond!-hair as he swings the door all the way open.
Jay kicks off his shoes and steps inside. "I dunno, man," he says, making for the kitchen by backing down the hallway, completely mesmerised by Taec's head, "it's seriously whack."
"They said I had the bone structure to pull it off," Taec protests. He sits at the kitchen bench, moping a bit, and Jay finally tears his gaze away and shakes his head, moving over to the pantry and rifling through it.
"Your hairdresser needs her fucking eyes checked. Seriously, was she a midget or was she fucking high, or what?" He emerges with a bag of dried mangoes-there are like ten bags in there, and he has the sneaking suspicion Taec's mom is buying extra for this very reason-and rips it open, shoving a bunch in his mouth.
"My barber is a dude who's as tall as me," Taec says, suddenly seeming really vulnerable. He's been getting like that a lot lately, and Jay's not sure if it's just with him, because they're legit friends now and Taec cares what he thinks, but it makes him uncomfortable that he has such power over another human being and he never really knows what to say. "You really hate it that much?"
"I do," Jihyen says, passing through again, but they both ignore her.
Jay considers Taec seriously for a moment, putting down his mangoes before reaching up and repeatedly poking a finger into Taec's hair. It's prickly and kind of ticklish against his skin, and it's so different from Taec's previous floppy, nerd-Asian style that it's still a bit of a shock. "I'll get used to it," he says, dropping his hand.
Taec breaks into a grin, because he knows what that means, he always knows what Jay means, and grabs a handful of mangoes.
Jay rolls his eyes. "You're wearing a hat when we go out in public," he orders, snatching the packet back. "Or a paper bag."
Taec just salutes, still smiling.
+
Jay figures another part of including Taec more in his life means finally letting him into his house for more than five minutes at a time, so when Taec drops him off after a session at the gym, Jay invites him inside.
Taec raises his eyebrows, hands still on the steering wheel, car still running. "Seriously?"
"Stop with the eyebrows, it's freaking me out," Jay snaps. "And if you're not inside in like two minutes I'm locking you out." He climbs out of the car, not waiting for an answer, and makes his way to his front door. A moment later, the engine stops and he hears a car door slam and footsteps behind him, and he can't help but smirk as he unlocks the door.
Jehan is in the kitchen when they go inside, slurping at a bowl of ice-cream, and Jay rolls his eyes.
"Shouldn't you be at school?" he snipes, knowing he's being immature, but he really wouldn't have minded waiting longer to introduce Taec to his caveman of a younger brother.
"Shouldn't you be with your mom?" Jehan shoots back, the perfect dumb-ass, and Jay glances at Taec as he appears in the hall.
"This is the Douche," Jay says, motioning to Jehan. He dumps his backpack on the floor and grabs two bottles of water from the fridge. Tossing one to Taec, he leans against the sink and watches Taec hover in the doorway for an uncertain moment, feeling rather pleased that Taec's the one out of his comfort zone for once. Jehan turns to Taec to greet him, lips covered in chocolate sauce, and Jay frowns as Taec's face lights up in recognition.
"Hey, man!" he says.
"Taec, wassup?"
Jay watches in disbelief as Taec leans over the kitchen bench and they do an awkward chest bump. "You guys know each other? How?"
"Khun," they say, both grinning widely, and Jay can't help but admire the extent of Khun's reach.
"How do you even know Khun?"
Jehan shrugs, shoving another spoonful of ice-cream into his mouth. "We're tight. We share beanies, we like meaningful quotes, and I took the photos at his twenty-first."
He smirks and Jay flicks his open bottle at him, dousing him with water.
"Fuck off, I just did my hair," Jehan whines, lifting his shirt to wipe it off, but it's completely ruined any style-or lack thereof-he may have once had. "Thanks, now I gotta redo it, you're such a bitch." He tries to launch what's left of his ice-cream at Jay but misses, and it splatters onto the counter.
"Clean that up or I'm telling mom," Jay warns, but Jehan ignores him, already heading out of the room.
"Oh, by the way, Okcat? Dope hairdo." Jehan flicks him the V-sign and disappears into the hallway. Jay turns to Taec to see him grinning and waving, the other hand running proudly through his hair.
Taec finally notices Jay watching and slowly lowers his hand. "What?"
"Okcat?"
"I like cats." Jay doesn't bite, though-he just keeps staring until Taec relents and rolls his eyes. "Look, we've had a few classes together, okay? I never put two and two together and I haven't been secretly stalking you. Know how many of our countrymen have your surname?"
Jay grudgingly has to admit that he's right. "C'mon, then." He grabs his backpack and makes for his room. Taec follows right behind him, a bit too close for Jay's taste, but he doesn't say anything, still too weirded out by Taec's unexpected connection to his family.
"You know, it's kinda unfair the ratio of times I've been in your room compared to you in my room," Taec comments as they enter, closing the door again behind him.
Jay collapses onto his bed and closes his eyes. "Do I have a sister you find unbelievably hot?"
"I dunno, man, Jehan's pretty attractive…"
"You can have him. Just stop talking, it fucking freaks me out that you know him and you're not ever allowed to mention him again."
Taec laughs and Jay hears him settle on the floor. He honestly doesn't really care what Taec does but he's kind of regretting inviting him inside now, because he can feel the tiredness slowly creeping up on him and he can't be bothered entertaining anyone.
They're both quiet for a few minutes and Jay is happy for the peace, but then he hears a faint rustling and Taec breaks the calm.
"Junk?" he says.
"What?" Jay levers himself up onto his elbows, squinting at him.
"Junk?" He holds up a CD labeled in marker and waves it around.
Jay shakes his head, hefting himself off the bed and crawling closer, settling on his stomach next to Taec. "Nah, man, that's Jun.K. He's a music major, done some collabs with Cha Cha and taught me some stuff. He's pretty legit."
"Cool." Taec replaces the CD and leans back on his palms, spreading out his legs. "Have you ever recorded anything?" He sounds curious and Jay shrugs.
"Nothing serious."
"Can I hear it?"
"Only if I can hear you rap."
The look on Taec's face is priceless-his eyes widen and his jaw drops comically and he looks even stupider than usual. "Who told you?"
"Chansung," Jay says cheerfully.
Taec growls. "He swore on his kitten's life!"
Jay is expectant, though, and rolls onto his side to prod him repeatedly in the ribs.
"I'm not doing it," Taec insists, batting Jay's hands away, but Jay just pokes him harder.
"Come on, you know you want to."
Taec's frown deepens. "I really don't."
"I won't make fun of you, I promise."
Taec still looks unsure and Jay finds himself quickly growing annoyed. What, so Taec doesn't think he can trust him, now? "What's the big deal? You can do it for everyone else except me? I'm not your friend? I guess I should be used to it, you never tell me anything."
"Jay, I told you, I didn't know about Jehan!" Taec says, exasperated.
"I'm not-who cares about that, that's not what I mean."
"Then what?
"I just," Jay pauses, before deciding to just fucking get on with it. "I mean, the hair, the body, seriously, you get a girl or something? Why all the surprises?"
Taec just looks at him for a moment, seeming to finally catch onto where Jay's coming from, and a sly grin spreads across his face. He runs a hand roughly over Jay's hair. "Why would I need a girl when I have you?" he coos.
"Fuck off." Jay shakes him off but Taec just laughs.
"Okay, chill, man. I got a haircut for the summer and if you haven't noticed my amazing body before this, that's not exactly my fault."
"Why didn't you say anything? I gave you shit for weeks!"
"I knew this moment would come. It was fun watching you looking like such a dick." Taec reaches out and grips Jay's upper arm, making him look at him. "Jay, are you okay? You're acting kinda weird."
"I'm not-god, would you just fucking rap for me already?"
"Why do you keep pushing this?" Taec asks curiously, but Jay refuses to answer because the simple answer is that he's not sure. Yeah, he'd love to add another item to his list to give Taec shit for, but he's also kind of annoyed that now that's he's finally decided to open up or whatever the fuck, Taec seems to be the one holding back. "You know what, it's okay," Taec continues. He uses Jay's shoulder to lever himself up. "I'll do it, I'm doing it. Okay?"
Taec only gives him enough time to swing around into a cross-legged position before he opens his mouth, and what comes out is really not what Jay expected. Chansung had said girls liked his rapping, but Jay seriously hadn't been banking on how deep and rough his voice could sound, and in a good way. It's not perfect-his breathing is all wrong and he seriously needs to work on his stage presence-but it certainly isn't as bad as he'd expected.
When Taec finishes he hunches over and looks at the ground, the tips of his ears glowing red with embarrassment. Jay briefly wonders how long to keep him suffering but gives in when he notices Taec's eye twitching.
"Okay, for starters, stop taking pointers from Kanye," Jay instructs. "He's got mad style but he also has the most whack breath control. And would it kill you to interact with your audience a bit, I'm sitting here watching you rap to the fucking wall. Aside from that," he says, feeling the corner of his mouth twitch up, "you didn't completely suck."
Taec finally looks up and holds Jay's gaze, making sure he's serious, and then grins back.
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