[C32] YOU KNOW YOU LOVE ME (1/3)
Prompt Code: C32
Title: You Know You Love Me
Rating: Nc-17
Side Pairings (if any): KyungMyeon, these don't really matter that much but I'll add them just to be sure: slight!SuBaek, slight!BaekSoo, mentions of XiuSoo, SuChen & SeKai
Warnings: language, angst, smut, alcohol, drunk sex (consensual, but under the influence), slight homophobia, minor character death, mention of drugs and depression, occasional attempted humor
Word Count: 25.7k
AU: Gossip Girl
Summary: Three words, eight letters. Say it, and I’m yours.
AN: Chuck and Blair are probably my biggest otp aside from kaisoo, so bringing those two together was really fun, even though it was quite a challenge. Thank you to the mods for being really nice, supportive and understanding and thank you to the person who submitted the prompt. I focused on the first two seasons of Gossip Girl for this fic, using it as a guideline while still trying to put my own twist on things. I really hope it turned out to your liking <3
Hey, everyone.
Have you heard? The one and only Byun Baekhyun is back in town. And he's sporting a new do - his hair is back to its natural black color instead of his signature sunshine blonde, nonetheless looking flawless as ever. Wasn't it just a year ago that he left for - yuck - boarding school? No one knows the reason for his disappearance, and we wonder why he returned. Personally, we think he got kicked out. Looking forward to what our wild child is going to mess up next? I know I am. But still, there's one thing I do wonder about - how is BFF Do Kyungsoo going to feel about this?
"Honey? Kyungsoo? Is everything okay?"
Kyungsoo looked up from his phone and looked over to his mother who sat next to him and tried to get his attention.
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" He asked, wearing his best fake smile while sliding his phone into the chest pocket of his suit.
Kyungsoo and Baekhyun had been best friends all their lives - or rather best frenemies. Baekhyun had always been the center of attention, regardless of his actual interest to be in the spotlight, it's something that just came naturally to him while Kyungsoo had to work so hard to be relevant and stay that way. Still, it was quite a shock last year when he couldn't reach his best friend on his phone because the number was no longer in use and his mother informed him that he had left for boarding school. In Connecticut.
Kyungsoo took a sip from his glass of wine as his mother got up to refill her plate.
"Baekhyun is back in town," he stated absentmindedly.
"Good," began Kim Jongin, who was seated on his right hand side.
Jongin was the son of Kim Chinhwa, the CEO of Kim Industries and one of the richest and most powerful men in New York.
"Finally something interesting is happening around here," Jongin continued, slouched in his chair.
"I need to find Junmyeon."
Kyungsoo got up from his chair and walked towards the living room, where his boyfriend Kim Junmyeon just finished a conversation with his father and his friends.
"Hey, you," Junmyeon said, giving him his signature warm smile.
"My room. Now." Kyungsoo commanded, keeping his voice low enough to make sure no one else would hear.
Everyone's parents were at this party and parents could not under any circumstances know that they were dating. They had a very clear rule about not kissing or holding hands or showing any other type of affection towards one another at events like these.
"Is everything ok?" Junmyeon asked as he followed Kyungsoo up the stairs.
Kyungsoo didn't respond until they were both in his room, door closed and locked for good measure. Before Junmyeon could even question it, his boyfriend's hands were pulling him close, his lips pressing against his own hard in what seemed like an overbearingly passionate kiss.
"Kyungsoo what are you doing?" He asked when he got a chance to break the kiss.
His breath was knocked out of him when Kyungsoo threw him down on his bed and climbed on top of him.
"I want you. Now," Kyungsoo said breathlessly before undoing the top buttons of Junmyeons shirt while simultaneously kissing his neck.
"Kyungsoo- Kyung- ah- Kyungsoo, stop!"
Kyungsoo pulled back and looked at his boyfriend confused.
"Don't you want this?" He asked, tone soft. "Don't you want me?" The sadness in his voice was apparent. This wasn't the first time Junmyeon had turned him down and Kyungsoo was starting to feel frustrated.
"Of course I do. But we wanted it to be special, remember? Let's not rush it. Let's wait," he said, rubbing Kyungsoo's arm reassuringly.
"We've been dating since we were fifteen. Don't you think we've waited enough?"
"Look, now's just not a good time, I mean there's a party going on downstairs. And besides, you're soft, delicate. You deserve being taken care of accordingly."
Kyungsoo's expression dropped. He hated being called delicate. He might look innocent with his big brown doe eyes and his slightly smaller than average frame, but looks can be deceiving. He's not some dainty little porcelain flower, for fuck's sake. He thought his boyfriend of all people would know that.
"Fine. Let's just go back downstairs then," he said, fixing his shirt and avoiding eye contact when they made their way back to the crowd.
Junmyeon went back to talk to his father's friends, probably about how fucking rich they all were and how Junmyeon was going to attend Dartmouth and then join their golf club or something.
Kyungsoo plopped down onto the couch next to Jongin and crossed his arms.
"That was quick," Jongin commented.
"Nothing happened," Kyungsoo informed him. "Nothing ever happens," he added, annoyed.
"This is truly becoming painful to watch. You know, as your friend I feel like it's my responsibility to help you out with your little problem. We don't want you to die a virgin, now, do we?"
Kyungsoo sighed. Sexual comments from Jongin were never really a surprise and by now he had learned to ignore them. Sex, alcohol and money were basically all Jongin thought about; drugs, too, occasionally, but his real drug was excess. In fact, he had probably slept with all the prostitutes the upper east side could offer by now.
"You're his best friend, can't you talk to him?" Kyungsoo asked, a look of desperation on his face.
"I tell him pretty much every day. Seal the deal; tap that ass; do the dirty; I'm beginning to run out of ways to say it, actually."
"Kim Jongin."
The boys looked up to see a blonde girl, roughly their age, dress short enough to see her underwear - or lack thereof - from the angle they were sitting.
Oh great, Kyungsoo thought, another phony society climbing skank, exactly what this situation needed.
Jongin immediately got up and took her hand, ready for his next conquest.
"Why, hello there," he said before kissing her hand.
Kyungsoo rolled his eyes. He's seen this happen too many times.
"My name is-" she began to introduce herself but was cut off by Jongin.
"No need for names. I know exactly what you want, so why waste any more time?"
"I could have sworn my friend told me you were only into guys."
"Oh I don't discriminate. Let's go somewhere quiet to talk."
And with that they left.
"My bed is-" Kyungsoo began to shout after Jongin.
"-off limits. I know," Jongin finished his sentence and gave him a triumphant smile.
Getting laid wasn't unusual for him, but at a party as boring as this it was a little less likely.
Kyungsoo sighed and looked over at Junmyeon who was now being joined by Krystal, his girlfriend. His pretend girlfriend anyway. The three of them had a mutual understanding: their parents and their parents’ friends could not know they were gay, so Junmyeon and Krystal became each other's beards and Kyungsoo pretended to be single.
Krystal kissed Junmyeon on the cheek before resting her head on his shoulder and holding on to his arm and everyone was delighted at how perfect of a couple they were. Kyungsoo couldn't hear what they were saying but he was fairly sure that someone was already talking about their future wedding and the perfect three children they were going to raise in their perfect fifth avenue penthouse.
If Kyungsoo's life was a movie, he'd walk over there, push Krystal to the side and kiss Junmyeon passionately in front of everyone, right in the middle of the room and then they'd laugh at everyone's shocked faces and Krystal would proudly applaud them.
But sadly this was not a movie, this was real life and real life sucked. And real life began to suck even more when Kyungsoo heard his mother's voice exclaim "Byun Baekhyun! It's so great to see you!"
This was not happening. Baekhyun was not here. He could not be here. This was all a bad dream, and Kyungsoo was going to wake up any second.
"Oh my god, can you believe he's back?"
"I heard he got kicked out."
Any second.
"Do you think he'll be back at St. Jude's?"
"I bet he slept with the entire male faculty of his boarding school, including the janitors."
Any. Second.
"Kyungsoo, hi."
The voice sounded as familiar as ever; pleasant and comforting, yet slightly infuriating due to how effortlessly flawless it was. Kyungsoo looked up at Baekhyun's face, which possessed the same qualities as his voice. A strange feeling filled him and he wasn't quite sure whether he wanted to hug his best friend because he was happy to see him or punch him in the face because he had left without saying a word. He decided on the first, given that everyone in the room was probably staring at them.
"Baekhyun, I've missed you so much!" He exclaimed, forcing his lips into a smile as he got up to fling his arms around the boy who was marginally taller than him. "Are you hungry?"
"Oh, no, I'm not staying, actually. My mom moved to a new place while I was gone and I don't have the keys yet. Have you seen her by any chance?" Baekhyun asked, looking around.
Kyungsoo's smile dropped. Thirty seconds and he's already made him feel inferior again. Great seeing you, too.
"Baekhyun," Mrs. Byun came up behind him to kiss his cheeks. "Oh, darling, it's so great having you back."
"Byun Baekhyun!" The boy staggered forward a bit involuntarily when Mr. Kim gave him a forceful pat on the back. "How's your brother?"
"Yixing? Oh, he's currently staying at grandmother's house."
The more people began crowding around them and began to ask questions, the more Kyungsoo realized that Baekhyun looked uncomfortable. It was almost like he didn't want to be here. Something was definitely off. Since when did he not like attention?
After finally getting hold of the key, Baekhyun announced that he was too tired to stay and after a quick 'I'll see you at school,' he departed with a half hearted smile.
Kyungsoo was still frozen in the same spot when the room was filled with a noticeable amount of phone alerts going off at the same time about a minute later.
Spotted: BFFs BBH and DKS hugging it out and Baekhyun confirming your worst fears: he's indeed coming back to St. Jude's. And here some of you thought that you could have a peaceful school year. I hate to break it to you, but it looks like that won't be the case, not if Baekhyun can help it. If we don't pay attention he might fuck with our grades, our teachers and our boyfriends. Better be careful. Here's to one hell of a senior year.
-
Kyungsoo couldn't believe it. He watched Baekhyun happily chatting with some guy he'd never seen before as he waited for him by the front gates of St. Jude's Academy for boys. Baekhyun had been agonizingly benevolent towards everyone the entire week and it was driving Kyungsoo insane. Something wasn't right here and he was going to find out what it was.
"Kyungsoo, this is Chanyeol," Baekhyun introduced his new freakishly tall friend as they joined him.
"Hi," the giant gave him a wave and a smile.
It took every ounce of control Kyungsoo had in him to not roll his eyes to the moon and back.
"So, are you new here?" He asked, disinterest apparent in his voice.
"No, I've been here since we were freshmen. We're in the same history class."
Kyungsoo furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't have time to pay attention to people who didn't matter.
"You never noticed me? Me, the tall guy with the big ears, kind of like Yoda?" Chanyeol cupped his ears with his hands to accentuate them before he looked over at Baekhyun and both of them began to laugh simultaneously. Their amusement quickly died down when they saw Kyungsoo's reaction, which was a dead serious stare with just a tinge of disapproval, powerful enough to intimidate someone to tears.
"So, umm, anyway, we're gonna go get some coffee, you wanna come?" Baekhyun asked after a good minute of awkward silence.
"Sounds exciting." It didn't. "Unfortunately I have somewhere to be," Kyungsoo got into the limo that was waiting for him.
"I'll call you!" Baekhyun wasn't sure if Kyungsoo had heard it, as he seemed too busy looking at his phone and being too superior to even pay attention to Baekhyun’s new friend.
Kyungsoo had enough of this. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. Good thing he was on his way to meet just the person to help him get what he desired.
Jongin had invited him to assess Victrola, a club he was trying to get his father to invest in. Kyungsoo was his second toughest critic and he knew he was going be nothing but brutally honest with him.
The interior of the club was very victorian, the colors warm with dark wooden floors and mahogany tables surrounded by armchairs in the same burgundy shade as the patterned walls. The dancers were rehearsing their routines on the stage, seeing that it was only afternoon and still too early for the club to be open.
Kyungsoo was intrigued. He felt like he was in a movie, even with the place being empty and regularly lit. He couldn't help but stroke his hand across the soft fabric of the red velvet curtains that draped around the stage.
"So, what do you think?" Jongin asked, surprising Kyungsoo with the nervousness in his voice.
"It's," he paused, trying to find an appropriate word. "-exquisite."
"You really think so?" Jongin was elated. There was a spark in his eye and a genuine smile on his lips, something Kyungsoo rarely witnessed.
"You really care about this place, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. You should see it when it's in full swing. It's avant-garde, nostalgic. It's like escaping reality and being transported to another time," Jongin raved as he looked around the club enthusiastically.
"I'm impressed. Who would have thought a strip club could have that much potential?" Kyungsoo asked absentmindedly.
Jongin's head snapped. "It's a burlesque club," he corrected. "No poles here."
Seeing him almost offended over something like this was quite amusing to Kyungsoo.
"Do you think my dad will like it?"
He looked worried, almost scared. He wouldn't admit it if you asked him, but Kyungsoo knew that deep down Jongin was somewhat desperate for his dad's approval.
He was quite familiar with absent parents himself, but Jongin had it even worse. He had only one living parent and he was always at work. Most of the time he wouldn't even make it home for any holidays and the times he was present, he treated Jongin as an annoyance, something he just had to put up and deal with. Whenever everyone else in his social circle had to be home for family time, Jongin was most likely to be found in some exotic country, drinking and fucking the loneliness away.
"I think so. There's definitely something special about this place. It's undeniable."
Jongin gave a few quick nods, his face stern as he avoided eye contact.
"I'm proud of you," Kyungsoo knew it didn't mean much coming from him, but wanted to tell him anyway.
It was enough to catch Jongin's attention, who let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in and loosened up a little, the excitement of how much he loved this club slowly becoming evident again.
"He's coming to take a look at it tomorrow. If all goes well I'll have a victory party here next weekend."
It went without saying that Kyungsoo would be invited, and so did the fact that he would surely attend. As for now, there were other matters to be taken care of.
"I need your help with something," Kyungsoo stated as they stepped outside.
"I'm listening."
"Baekhyun came back for a reason. He left for a reason. It's about time we find out."
Kyungsoo's friendship with Jongin was somewhat unusual. They weren't best friends by any means, he's not even sure he'd call it friendship at all to be frank, but they were close. 'Partners in crime' would probably be the most suitable definition for the bond they shared.
They had been scheming together since Kyungsoo enlisted Jongin's help to break up his father's affair when they were little. He had always liked knowing how things were going to turn out and if there was a way to control the outcome of any situation, Kyungsoo was going to take advantage of it. For Jongin it was quite different. He understood and accepted the older's need for control but he himself enjoyed plotting and scheming mainly as a source of entertainment. He hardly cared for anything or anyone but he sure loved a good scandal.
"What's the last thing you remember from before he left?"
Kyungsoo contemplated for a moment before answering. "I don't know, we were at some lame wedding reception."
"Right, the Choi wedding," Jongin remembered.
"Junmyeon and Baekhyun got really hammered that night and you know how embarrassing they get when they're drunk, so I told them to go outside, sober up. That was the last time I saw him."
"That wedding took place at the Palace," aka the hotel his dad owned.
They exchanged a look. That's all it took for them both to know what their next step was going to be.
"Let's go."
Twenty minutes later they were stood inside the hotel's control room. Jongin payed off the surveillance guard to find them the footage from the day of the wedding and give them some alone time to look through it.
Kyungsoo sat down and scrubbed through the footage with Jongin bending over as he stood behind him. The wedding had been boring enough the first time around, having to live through it a second time wasn't much more enjoyable.
Kyungsoo watched intently, trying to pay attention to several screens at the same time until he saw something he found rather interesting. He temporarily paused the footage when the screen displayed Jongin leaving with a bottle of champagne in one hand and a certain boy in his other. He looked over his shoulder and gave him a judging look. Jongin innocently looked back and forth between the screen and Kyungsoo.
"What?"
"You had sex with Oh Sehun?"
"Yeah, so?"
Kyungsoo chuckled. "I can't believe you're so bad in bed that you got the guy to leave the city after you slept with him."
Jongin's reaction was a smile that had 'go fuck yourself' written all over it, to which Kyungsoo responded with a cheeky grin.
"Your wit is quite impeccable, I'll give you that."
It wasn’t something Kyungsoo was unaware of.
He turned back and unpaused the the video before he continued the conversation.
"It makes sense now that you never sleep with the same person more than once. Or rather that they don't sleep with you."
"No, there's other reasons for that. I'll gladly disprove your theories if you need convincing. You know where to find me."
"Look," Kyungsoo let the footage play at regular speed when Baekhyun and Junmyeon left the reception.
They staggered towards the hotel's main entrance, giggling while they held on to one another. Baekhyun stopped and pointed over to the empty bar before they exchanged a knowing look. Kyungsoo could feel himself getting annoyed when he saw them open a bottle of champagne. So much for sobering up.
The fizzing liquid got on both their shirts and pants, which seemed to be the funniest thing in the world to them. Junmyeon was laughing so hard that he was hunched over, his head leaning against Baekhyun's shoulder. It wasn't fun to look at; especially not when his hand began stroking down Baekhyun's arm in a manner that looked way too intimate.
Kyungsoo couldn't believe his eyes when he saw what happened next.
They were kissing. His boyfriend and his best friend. They kissed. He tried to remain calm. It was just a kiss, right? One kiss. But after one kiss there was another and another and they wouldn't stop. Before he could even properly comprehend what he was seeing, there were buttons coming undone and his best friend's body was pressed against Junmyeon's in a way that Kyungsoo had always desired, but was never granted.
Part of him wanted to punch the screen, maybe throw it against the wall, but instead he just sat there perfectly still, watching the whole thing play out as he suppressed the feelings of anger, sadness and betrayal. Kyungsoo never allowed to let those emotions get to him; they weren't in control of him, he was in control of them. Feeling sorry for himself had never gotten him anywhere so instead he'd retaliate and let numbness take over while he began to plan his revenge.
He only tore his eyes away when his phone rang. He looked at the display and part of him almost wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of the whole situation.
"Baekhyun," his voice was confident and steady as he spoke into the receiver.
"Hey. Do you think we can meet?"
He waited a few seconds before he gave him his answer.
"The bar at the Palace. Half an hour. Does that work for you?"
"Uhm. The- the bar at… the Palace?" Baekhyun stuttered through the phone.
"Yeah, what's wrong with it?" Kyungsoo challenged.
"Oh uh- just… nothing."
"Fine. See you then," he hung up and stared at the now empty bar on the monitor.
"What are you gonna do?" Jongin asked, voice lined with wicked curiosity.
"You'll see," it sounded like a warning. Jongin was intrigued.
-
When Baekhyun arrived, Kyungsoo made sure to sit down at the place Junmyeon had been sitting, leaving Baekhyun no other choice than to sit opposite of him. Does this feel like Deja Vu yet?
"So what would you like to drink?" Kyungsoo asked and followed up with another question, not giving an adequate amount of time for the other to answer. "How about champagne?"
Baekhyun blinked. He looked down and began to fumble with his fingers, briefly opening his mouth to speak but closing it again. Did he know?
"Then again, champagne can get quite messy, can't it?"
How could he possibly know? Junmyeon wouldn't have told him, would he?
Baekhyun's heart was beating restlessly in his chest, his palms began to sweat. He knew sooner or later the truth would come out, but he wasn't ready. When he came back he thought he was, but being back, seeing how distant Kyungsoo was, he didn't want to make things worse. He'd never forgive him.
"So why'd you want to meet?"
"I-" Baekhyun cleared his throat when he realized how croaky his voice sounded. "I wanted to hang out, catch up."
"Catch up?" Kyungsoo scoffed. "Ok, let's catch up then. Tell me, how is my boyfriend in bed?"
Baekhyun froze.
He knew. He fucking knew. Had he known the whole time? Had he been holding a grudge and planning revenge for an entire year?
"What? Are you going to deny it?"
"K- Kyungsoo. We were drunk. It was a terrible mistake. I can't tell you how sorry I am." His hands were shaking, his voice fragile and his eyes close to tears as he stuttered his apology.
He looked at Kyungsoo after what felt like an eternity of silence.
There was still no response, just a never ending, judging stare that Baekhyun could have sworn was penetrating his soul. He gulped.
"What can I do to make things right again?"
"Nothing. You just stay away from me, you stay away from Junmyeon and you stay away from all of our friends. And if you don't, there will be consequences," Kyungsoo warned before he departed, leaving Baekhyun alone with his guilt.
Everyone knows revenge is a dish best served cold - ice cold, if you ask Kyungsoo. Bon appétit.
-
Kyungsoo was welcomed home by Junmyeon, who got up from the couch where he had been waiting when Kyungsoo exited the elevator.
He had dreaded this. They had plans for today but he didn't want him here. Not now, not yet.
Junmyeon greeted him with a smile and a kiss as usual. It was conflicting for Kyungsoo, being in the arms of the person he wanted to run to, but that person was the same one that sent him running in the first place. He took a deep breath as he braced himself for what he knew was inevitably going to happen. He had a plan for how he was going to handle this.
Kyungsoo pulled Junmyeon close and began to kiss him. It started slow and innocent, and although it was painful for him to force himself through this, he continued until they were making out passionately. It was even more painful when Junmyeon broke the kiss to give him a playful smirk before he closed the distance again. Ties were loosened, some buttons came undone and when Kyungsoo's hands made their way lower he heard the words that had become all too familiar to his ears.
"Kyungsoo, stop."
And so he did, because it was exactly what he had expected. He took a step back.
"Why are we still together when it's clear that you don't want me?"
"I do want you," Junmyeon paused as he tried to find the words. "But there's something I need to tell you. And I'm not sure you'll want me after that."
He took Kyungsoo's hand and urged him to sit down next to him.
Junmyeon's confession was followed by the same excuses that he had listened to earlier: 'We were drunk', 'It was a mistake', 'I'm sorry.' At least he had the decency to tell him, not that it made the situation any better. Tears began to roll down Junmyeon's face as he proceeded to apologize.
"I think you should leave," Kyungsoo interrupted him. He had heard enough.
Junmyeon nodded. "I'm sorry. I love you."
"I loved you too," Kyungsoo whispered after Junmyeon had left.
Only then Kyungsoo allowed his numbness to subside. His suppressed emotions took over and he began to sob. He knew crying wasn't going to help, but maybe just for tonight he would allow himself to feel sorry for himself before he'd step back into the world as the perfectly put together boy everyone knew him as.
-
The following week was dull and glum to say the least. Kyungsoo felt lonely without his best friend and his boyfriend. There was Jongin of course, but after his father had passed on buying Victrola, he wasn't exactly much fun to be around either. So all Kyungsoo had left were his loyal minions, who were way too boring to even spend any time with outside of school.
It was Saturday and he was indulging in old movies, wishing his life could be just as perfect as the ones he witnessed on screen. He dreamt himself a happy ending and was only awoken by his phone when he received a text. Kyungsoo eyed the message with tired eyes.
Jongin: my father changed his mind. party's back on, I'll send a car at 9
Maybe this was just what he needed. He found the club impressive the first time he saw it and it hadn't even been open then. Junmyeon was visiting his grandparents this weekend so there wouldn't be any awkwardness and Kyungsoo was dying to have some alcohol induced fun.
-
Jongin was waiting outside at the door when Kyungsoo arrived. He looked him up and down and flashed his signature smirk.
"You look stunning, as always."
"Thank you. Not so bad yourself, Kim," Kyungsoo replied as he adjusted Jongin's bow tie.
Loud music filled Kyungsoo's ears as he entered the club and followed Jongin past the crowd to a yellow vintage sofa positioned in front of the stage, their own little VIP lounge.
"So how'd you convince your dad to buy this place after all?" Kyungsoo asked as they took a seat.
"His new business partner just so happens to be a former burlesque dancer. She explained the whole philosophy behind this place to him, you know, that it's not just your average strip joint."
"Look at you looking all proud," Kyungsoo couldn't help but stare when Jongin chuckled in response.
"Well, I'm happy."
"That's good," Kyungsoo's smile faded. "At least someone is."
Jongin wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Sure, Junmyeon was his best friend, but that didn't make Kyungsoo any less significant to him. And somehow he was relieved that it was Kyungsoo next to him and not Junmyeon.
"Forget about him. You're here to have a good time, so let's escape."
Escape. Something about the word made Kyungsoo feel adventurous. His eyes studied the room. He loved it even more than the first time he saw it. It made him feel like he was in a different era, some people were even dressed accordingly. Kyungsoo was so enthralled, he almost didn't notice Jongin arguing with the waiter.
"Do you know who I am? I'm Kim Jongin. My father owns this place, I could have your fired in a second."
"So what will you gentlemen be having?" The waiter conceded.
"Scotch on the rocks and a gin martini. And keep them coming," Jongin ordered in a domineering tone.
A few drinks later Kyungsoo recognized a song that began to play. The dancers were snapping their fingers along to the beat of Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment", a song that Kyungsoo loved. Halfway through the song he spotted a microphone on the side of the stage.
"You know, that microphone up there looks a little lonely," he contemplated, leaning towards Jongin.
"Then why don't you give it some company?" There was a challenging grin on Jongin's face.
"You don't think I'd really do that."
"Obviously not."
And he was right. Kyungsoo wouldn't do that. Usually. But he wasn't here to be his usual self or do what he usually did. Tonight, he wanted to be daring. He stared at Jongin for a few seconds before he swallowed the rest of his drink in one go and got up to head towards the stage.
Jongin couldn't quite believe his eyes or his ears when Kyungsoo stepped on stage, grabbed the microphone and began to sing.
No escaping when I start, Once I'm in I own your heart
There's no way you'll ring the alarm, so hold on until it's over
He had never seen him like this; so carefree, so bold, so confident.
Oh, do you know what you got into? Can you handle what I'm about to do?
'Cause it's about to get rough for you, I'm here for your entertainment
Kyungsoo stripped off his jacket and held it up next to him before he let it fall, causing the crowd to cheer him on.
Oh, I bet you thought that I was soft and sweet, you thought an angel swept you off your feet
Well I'm about to turn up the heat, I'm here for your entertainment
Jongin was so captivated by Kyungsoo's performance, it was all that existed to him in that very moment. He got out of his seat, his eyes never leaving the boy on the stage as he stepped closer as if he was spellbound.
"Who's the diva? Or should I say divo?" Jongin didn't know who asked the question and he didn't dare to take his eyes off Kyungsoo.
"I have no idea."
Do you like what you see?
Kyungsoo looked right at him as he sang the line. And Jongin certainly did like what he saw.
Let me entertain you til you scream
Jongin's mouth hung open, the corners of his lips curled up into a smile as he raised his glass to Kyungsoo before he took a sip.
-
They sat in the back of Jongin's limo, both exhausted but elated; Kyungsoo for having done something so completely out of character and Jongin for having had the privilege of witnessing such an unusual occurrence.
"Thank you for taking me home."
Kyungsoo looked over at Jongin, whose face was illuminated by the city lights that drifted in through the windows.
"You were incredible up there."
Kyungsoo had never realized that Jongin's eyes weren't only dark and mischievous, but that they also held a certain warmth. He never realized how plush and full and soft his lips looked. Fuck, has he always been this handsome? Maybe he needed a closer look.
He shuffled closer as he leaned in and Jongin did the same. There was something different about him tonight, something Kyungsoo couldn't quite put his finger on, but he decided it was something he liked.
The closer he got, the more he realized he wasn't close enough; Jongin only looked more and more attractive as their proximity grew. Even when their noses began to touch and their foreheads were pressed together, it still wasn't enough.
Their lips touched in a light kiss that lingered for a few seconds. They broke away to exchange a look that was filled with uncertainty and anticipation; it was the calm before the storm.
Was this really going to happen? They answered the question by attacking each other's lips. They weren't holding anything back this time as their hands began to explore relentlessly, clothes coming undone and lips pressing against heated skin hungrily.
Kyungsoo was seated on Jongin's lap, fingers working to undo his pants as Jongin pulled away.
"Are you sure you want this?" He asked breathlessly, holding onto Kyungsoo's hips.
He didn't even have to think. 'Yes' seemed to be the only word to exist in Kyungsoo's head in that moment. He was about to lean in for more but stopped himself when he saw the concerned look on Jongin's face.
"Yes. Don't you?" His expression dropped. Did they really go this far just for Jongin to turn him down?
"Of course."
His arm wrapped around Kyungsoo's waist as he sat up straight and pulled him close.
"Anyone would be crazy not to want you," Jongin said with a raspy voice before he closed the distance between their lips.
And with that Kyungsoo let go completely. All he wanted was more, more, more of Jongin. His hands, his lips, his body; everything felt amazing and he couldn't get enough.
Jongin kissed his way down Kyungsoo’s torso as his hands stroked his leaking erection. He soon replaced his hands with his lips, sucking at the tip lightly before taking more of his length with every bob of his head.
Kyungsoo automatically rocked his hips forward as he felt Jongin’s cock prod against his entrance. He had never been entirely sure what his preference would be when it came to sex, as he had never gotten the chance to experiment, but right now he wanted Jongin inside him.
“Hurry,” he whined when Jongin’s hands began to knead his cheeks, spreading them apart.
Jongin quickly got some lube and a condom, two items he always had ready at hand, and spread some of the water substance on his fingers before bringing them to Kyungsoo’s rim.
Kyungsoo was impatient, almost too impatient with how long it took for Jongin to work his fingers inside of him until he deemed that he was stretched enough to fit Jongin’s length inside him.
He withdrew his fingers and pulled Kyungsoo close, holding his cock with one hand while the other was placed on Kyungsoo’s hip, guiding him as he sank down on his cock.
Kyungsoo grasped onto Jongin’s shoulders, sweat collecting on his forehead as he took him inch by inch.
Jongin kissed his lips and stroked his length, thumb swirling around the tip when he was fully seated inside Kyungsoo and waited for him to adjust.
It wasn’t too long before Kyungsoo began to grind his hips, slow at first, then picking up pace as he slipped his tongue in Jongin’s mouth, both of them swallowing each other’s moans.
“Do you like this?” Jongin asked as he held onto Kyungsoo’s hips, keeping them still as he thrust into him.
“Jongin- ahh- please, faster.”
Jongin kissed his neck and chest as he sped up his movements, the sound of their damp skin slapping together mixed with their moans filling the air.
“Ride me,” Jongin whispered in Kyungsoo’s ear in a husky voice.
Kyungsoo pushed him back against the seat as he followed Jongin’s request. God, he felt so amazing.
His hips moved so rapidly that Jongin knew he wouldn’t last much longer, and by the looks of it, Kyungsoo wouldn’t either.
He wrapped his fingers around Kyungsoo’s cock, letting him buck his hips into his hand while Jongin’s tip nudged against his prostate, causing him to moan repeatedly.
He breathed heavily against Jongin’s lips, kissing him sloppily when he came onto both of their stomachs.
He pressed his face into the crook of Jongin’s neck, spent and exhausted, with Jongin moaning into his ear as his climax hit him a moment later.
-
Kyungsoo tried to keep a low profile by not leaving his house the next day. He did his best to avoid Jongin once they were back at school, which worked for the first few periods.
During break he looked around, ensuring Jongin was nowhere near before he sat down. And not a full minute later, there he was, sitting down next to him, a smug smile on his lips.
This was exactly what Kyungsoo had dreaded. Maybe if he was lucky there was a possibility that Jongin wasn't going to make a big deal out of it. After all, sleeping around wasn't exactly out of the ordinary for him. Hell, maybe he didn't even remember.
"Didn't see you around yesterday. You were still able to walk, weren't you?"
Fuck. He remembered. And worse than that there was amusement in his voice. He was not going to let this go that easily. Kyungsoo took a deep breath.
"We were drunk of our asses, so can we please just pretend that it didn't happen?"
"Oh, I don't think we were that drunk, actually."
"Well, you're wrong."
"I think you and I both know from experience that if you're as drunk as you claim we were, you wouldn't even remember anything that happened, and it seems we both remember rather clearly."
Maybe it was time Kyungsoo made himself a little more clear.
"Listen, asshole," he exclaimed as he grabbed the collar of Jongin's shirt. "The events of that night will never be mentioned again, is that clear?"
Jongin stared at him for a moment before a mischievous smirk tugged at his lips.
"Oh god, yes, right there, Jongin, fuck."
Kyungsoo's eyes expanded with shock as Jongin imitated him. He let go of his shirt and looked around warily, hoping that no one had heard.
"Look at that face; lips parted, eyes wide, just like the face you made the other night when I made you c-"
"Say one more word and I'm going to kill you," Kyungsoo threatened as he felt his cheeks burning up.
Jongin breathed a keen sigh. "You're just the right blend of submissive and dominant."
The bedroom eyes and the sultry tone weren't making this any easier but Kyungsoo was hardly going to let Jongin get the best of him.
"Oh, keep it in your pants, Kim. It's not like you'll even remember it by next week."
"Aw, don't be upset. It was pretty unforgettable if you ask me."
"It was a one night stand, a one time thing, don't pretend it meant anything."
"Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?"
Kyungsoo wondered the same thing. He didn't want to admit that he hasn't been able to stop thinking about it. He didn't want to admit how much he enjoyed it. Most of all he didn't want to admit that he wanted to do it again; not to himself and especially not to Jongin.
Much to his luck, he was saved by the bell before he could come up with a clever response. He collected his belongings and left to head for class without giving Jongin another look.
-
Kyungsoo lay on his bed, his eyes glued to the ceiling, phone clutched firmly between his hands as he contemplated what he was about to do. He didn't know if he should really go through with it, yet it was the only thing occupying his mind. Sadly he couldn't think of another solution and it was not like he had anyone to talk to about his little issue.
He sat up and looked at his phone, the screen of which was opened to the conversation between him and Jongin. The words were already typed out, now there was just one thing left to do.
His thumb hovered over the send button for several moments before he let out a groan and with closed eyes he touched his digit to the screen. It took him a good minute to collect himself and look at the message he had sent: come over asap. I need you
Kyungsoo grew anxious as he was informed that Jongin had read it. He didn't take long to respond. on my way
Fuck. This was happening.
Jongin arrived at his room twenty minutes later, looking extremely pleased with himself.
"I knew you'd come back for more."
"Shut up."
Half of Kyungsoo wanted to punch him in the face, the other half wanted to rip his clothes off.
Jongin's expression changed when something caught his eye. There were two rather interesting objects lying on Kyungsoo's bed: a bottle of lube and a pack of condoms. And if that wasn't already confusing enough, Kyungsoo locked the door behind him.
What the hell?
Jongin didn't come here expecting to get laid. Sure, Kyungsoo's message had sent his mind straight to the gutter but he knew that realistically it was more likely that the other had a scheme in mind and not sex.
"You're serious?" He was waiting for an explanation because this seemed way too good to be true.
"We're doing this for one reason, and one reason only."
"And what's that?"
"To prove that it meant nothing, that it was only good because we were drunk."
"What if you're wrong?"
"I'm not."
"Fine."
The look on Jongin's face was playful, challenging. He stood still, perfectly calm as he waited for Kyungsoo's next move.
"Well?"
Was he too nervous to make the first move? How cute.
"Well what?"
"Kiss me or something."
Jongin chuckled. He sat down on the bed and made himself comfortable.
"What are you doing?" Kyungsoo felt stupid. He worked up the nerve to ask Jongin to have sex with him and there he was, not even lifting a finger, or any other body part for that matter.
The look on Jongin's face turned dark. "Beg for it."
Kyungsoo couldn't decide if he was annoyed or turned on. There was one way to find out.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, Jongin."
He straddled his lap and kissed him forcefully.
He was taken aback by how good it felt, even in a sober state. Jongin didn't hold back as he slid his tongue past Kyungsoo's lips and moved his hands up his thighs before he flipped their positions and began to kiss Kyungsoo's neck.
Kyungsoo stifled a moan and pushed Jongin away when he realized he wasn't going to achieve his desired result.
"Stop, stop, stop." He was completely out of breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Jongin pulled back and waited for an explanation.
"I- uhm… I don't even need to go any further to prove to myself I don't want this."
Jongin looked down at the very apparent erection in Kyungsoo's pants and raised his eyebrows at him. The latter grabbed a pillow and attempted to cover his crotch inconspicuously as if it wasn't clear to both of them that he was trying to hide something.
"Keep lying to yourself all you want. If the desire becomes too hard to ignore, you know how to reach me."
Jongin fixed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Wait."
Kyungsoo didn't want him to leave.
Jongin turned around to see him bury his face in his hands. He seemed frustrated and torn. It was obvious that he wanted this, yet he was in denial.
Sometimes Jongin forgot that sex was actually a big deal to some people. Teasing Kyungsoo was fun, but this wasn't about taking advantage of him, it was about making each other feel good and if Kyungsoo needed some reassurance, he would gladly oblige.
Kyungsoo felt Jongin's lips against the shell of his ear as he came up behind him.
"Don't be scared. There's nothing wrong with giving into temptation every now and then. Especially if you've been holding out on it as long as you have," he whispered before he tilted Kyungsoo's chin up and kissed his lips in a gentle but sensual manner.
Their first time together had been wild and desperate, like over-boiling heat that couldn't be contained, but this time Jongin wanted to show Kyungsoo something different.
He took his time to explore Kyungsoo’s body, tentatively touching and kissing him in different places to find out what drove him crazy. He went deliberately slow and waited until Kyungsoo wanted more, until he asked him not to be so gentle and began to undo both of their clothes, impatient with Jongin’s torturous pace.
Sex with Jongin became somewhat of a stress reliever for Kyungsoo. When his mom was criticizing him for not being his most perfect self again, he'd call Jongin; when he was stressed out about school, he'd call Jongin; when he was upset about something, or horny, or even just bored, he'd call Jongin.
Jongin soon found that Kyungsoo was even more adventurous and wild than he had assumed. He didn’t hold back when it came to exploring his bedroom fantasies. He was eager to try different positions and explore more kinks every time they got together, which at times surprised even both of them.
-
Kyungsoo was lying on top of Jongin, who was lazily splayed out on his bed as they made out.
Kyungsoo stopped abruptly. "Maybe we should stop doing this."
There wasn't exactly a definition for what they were doing. They weren't a couple by any means, but friends with benefits somehow didn't seem like an appropriate description either. Jongin didn't really care to put a label on it, to him they were having fun and that's all that mattered.
Today wasn't the first time Kyungsoo had shown concern and Jongin was beginning to get tired of it.
"How many times do I have to tell you it's okay to give in to your needs?"
"And why should I listen to you?"
"Because you think too much."
"And you talk too much."
"Then why don't you shut me u-"
Kyungsoo was way ahead of him as he cut him off with his lips, smiling into the kiss as he pinned Jongin's hands over his head. He enjoyed their playful back and forths and they always made him want more.
His lips had just found Jongin's neck when he was interrupted by the maid's voice.
"Mr. Kyungsoo, Mr. Junmyeon is here to see you."
What a boner kill.
They hadn't talked since their breakup several weeks ago and as far as Kyungsoo was concerned, his bedroom adventures with Jongin were their dirty little secret, so why on earth was he here?
Junmyeon looked as handsome as ever as he waited for Kyungsoo at the bottom of the stairs. Damn him.
"Hi."
"Hey."
It was awkward when neither of them said anything for a good minute before Junmyeon broke the silence.
"I was in the area, so I thought I'd stop by. How are you?"
Kyungsoo really wasn't comfortable with him being here, particularly when Jongin was waiting for him upstairs with his shirt half undone.
"I'm alright."
He didn't feel like elaborating.
"I don't want to take up any more of your time. I just wanted to say… I miss you. I understand if you can't forgive me, but I need you to know that I really, truly am sorry. And if you'd give me a second chance, I promise I wouldn't disappoint you."
The words tugged at his heartstrings and he felt the urge to fall into Junmyeon’s arms like he used to. But it wouldn't be the same. They wouldn't feel safe anymore.
"I- I'll think about it," he finally responded with a fragile voice.
Junmyeon carefully kissed him on the cheek before he left, leaving Kyungsoo feeling like a complete mess.
He made his way back upstairs to find Jongin waiting at the door to his room.
"Were you eavesdropping?" He asked as he walked past him.
Jongin ignored the question.
"You're not really thinking about getting back together with him, are you?"
"What, are you jealous?" Kyungsoo joked.
There was no response, just Jongin avoiding eye contact as he stared at the floor.
"Oh, my god."
Kyungsoo needed to sit down. This was not happening. This could not be happening.
"Look, I didn't choose to have these feelings, ok?"
There were feelings? Jongin had feelings? And he had them for him?
"Ok, listen, here's the plan: we're going to stop doing this, and you, you're gonna drown those feelings in alcohol and just sleep around and do god knows what else you usually do."
Jongin didn't agree, he just stood there and looked pissed, like a child that just got scolded.
"Jongin, you can't have feelings for me!" Was it really so hard to understand?
"Fine!" Jongin blurted out. "You're not that great in bed anyway," he muttered, more to himself than to Kyungsoo as he walked out the door.
-
Kyungsoo's mind was a fucking mess. There were too many thoughts and they were coming way too fast until he couldn't hear himself clearly anymore and he just wanted them to shut up. But in all this disarray, one thought prevailed. It wasn't even a thought as much as it was a desire. He wanted to talk to Baekhyun. He would know what to say and how to cheer him up. Baekhyun had this gift that he could always make someone laugh, even in the most critical situations. Kyungsoo missed his best friend. Truthfully, he needed Baekhyun to balance out his seriousness and his over thinking, while Baekhyun needed Kyungsoo to balance out his silliness and his fun from getting out of control.
Baekhyun sat in a small gazebo in central park and watched the rain fall, lost in thought when Kyungsoo sat down next to him. He knew he'd be here. Growing up in the city, it was the closest thing they'd ever gotten to a tree house and their names were carved in somewhere close to the floor where no one could see.
Baekhyun moved away as soon as he saw him.
"I-I'll leave."
Kyungsoo stopped him by holding on to his wrist. Baekhyun looked at him with uncertainty as Kyungsoo tugged on his arm, motioning for him to sit down again.
Several moments passed until Kyungsoo finally began to speak.
"Why did you just leave? Why didn't you even say goodbye?"
He had been holding those questions in for over a year now and though it was heartbreaking to say them out loud, he knew it was necessary for them both to be able to move forward.
"I couldn't face you after what I did. You're my best friend. How could I have done something this awful?" Baekhyun asked the ground.
"You really do regret it."
It was apparent in how Baekhyun hadn't smiled or done anything else that could possibly attract anyone's attention since their last conversation.
Baekhyun nodded and looked at him with glossy eyes. "I wish I could undo it."
"We can't change the past."
"That doesn't make it okay," Baekhyun protested.
The guilt had clearly gotten to his head after Kyungsoo had very consciously ignored him the past month.
"How are you and Junmyeon?"
"Junmyeon is a great guy, but maybe he's just not the right guy for me. If you hadn't slept with him I might have never realized that. Besides, we all make mistakes sometimes, especially when there's alcohol involved."
Baekhyun stared at him. "What did you do?"
There was no answer. Kyungsoo was embarrassed to say it out loud, but knowing Baekhyun, he knew he'd pry it out of him.
"Let me rephrase that," Baekhyun seemed amused now. "Who did you do?"
He just knew him too well.
Kyungsoo sighed, realizing there was no way around this. He began to rub the side of his neck in an attempt to look somewhat casual in order to not make this a bigger deal than it had to be.
"Just… Jongin," he half-whispered.
It had become silent between them and he could feel Baekhyun judging him even without a word.
"Jongin?"
Kyungsoo's head turned the other way as he wished for the ground to swallow him whole.
"Jongin?" Baekhyun asked again. "As in man-whore who sleeps with everything that walks and talks, Kim Jongin?" He chuckled with amazement. "Holy shit."
"Hey, you're not exactly one to talk, are you?"
Baekhyun tilted his head to the side and gave a quick raise of his eyebrows. Fair enough.
"His sexual comments must be even more annoying now. I bet he hasn't stopped trying to get you to sleep with him again."
Kyungsoo held his breath and stilled his movements completely as the other boy stared at him.
"Please tell me you haven't slept with him again," his voice was fairly devoid of optimism.
"Just a few times. Or maybe more than a few…" Kyungsoo felt pathetic admitting it.
"Kyungsoo!"
Baekhyun's face scrunched up in a grimace as a response to which Kyungsoo tried to justify himself. "Look, he's really talented with his-"
"Stop! Stop," Baekhyun held his hands up in protest. "I don't even want to know."
They watched the rain fall for a while without either of them saying anything. Something inside Kyungsoo that had felt beaten and bruised for over a year was slowly beginning to heal. He had never been more thankful for a silence that felt this comfortable.
"Do you like him?" Baekhyun asked eventually.
"No!"
The answer came out instantly and without any thought or consideration, almost as if pre-rehearsed. Baekhyun couldn't help but laugh. It was so obvious that his best friend had feelings for Jongin, but was too stubborn to admit it. Then again, it was Kim Jongin he had those feelings for, so who could blame him, really?
"Kyungsoo loves Jongin," Baekhyun teased in a sing-song voice. "Ow!" He rubbed the back of his head and pretended to be in a lot more pain than the light hit Kyungsoo had given him could have caused.
Kyungsoo sighed. "That's not even the worst part."
"Did he give you an STD?"
"No," he couldn't even laugh at that. "He kind of, sort of made it clear that he likes me too."
"And how is that a bad thing exactly?"
"I thought we established that we're talking about Kim Jongin here."
"What did you say when he told you?"
"I told him to get rid of the feelings."
Baekhyun pursed his lips and thought about it for a bit.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but if you like him and he likes you… you should be together."
"Maybe."
It seemed logical, even more so now that he heard it from someone who knew him as well as Baekhyun did. He was still mostly in denial, of course, but somehow it felt okay now.
"Speaking of Jongin," Baekhyun began, "My mom is seeing his dad."
"Does he know?"
"No, not yet. My mom just told me last night, but she seemed pretty serious."
He sounded worried and Kyungsoo knew exactly why.
"Do you think she'll marry him?"
"Well, he's a very rich and powerful man and you know my mom. I'm pretty sure by the end of this year I'm going to be-" he needed to take a deep breath before he could say it. "Jongin's step brother."
But he wouldn't be Byun Baekhyun if he didn't know how to put a humorous spin on an event as unfortunate as this. "And you're going to be Jongin's boyfriend."
"Shut up,” Kyungsoo said annoyed, pushing Baekhyun away by the shoulder. He looked at him for a bit and smiled. "I've missed you."
Baekhyun responded with a smile even brighter than Kyungsoo's. "I missed you, too."
Baekhyun laid his head on Kyungsoo's shoulder and wrapped his arms around him from the side as he began to rub his hair against the other's neck like a devoted puppy. Kyungsoo wasn't a big fan of people getting this close or affectionate with him, but for once he allowed it and reciprocated by resting his head atop of Baekhyun's and putting his arm around him.
The rain had died down to a drizzle and the sunbeams broke through some of the grey clouds, making the sky look a little brighter.
-
"I thought I'd deliver the invitation personally."
Jongin held the card with the words 'We cordially invite you to the wedding of Kim Chinhwa and Byun Nari' out to Kyungsoo.
"Thanks."
He set it down on the kitchen table to make sure his mom would see it. Jongin looked at him expectantly.
"Do you expect a reward?" Kyungsoo asked even though he already knew the answer.
Jongin had taken any opportunity he could to stop by at Kyungsoo's for a quickie, a make out session or even just to steal a kiss. They briefly avoided each other after Junmyeon's visit, but Kyungsoo hadn't wanted to get back together and Jongin hadn't wanted to sleep with anyone else, so they kept ending up on each other's bedsheets. No one except Baekhyun knew and they hadn't exactly said it out loud, but they were pretty much boyfriends at this point.
Jongin placed his hands on Kyungsoo's hips.
"How do you expect me to resist you when you're just wearing a shirt and underwear?" He murmured against his lips before capturing them with his own.
"I just got out of bed, I look like a mess," Kyungsoo argued, ruffling his hair.
"I could make you look like even more of a mess."
Jongin slid his hand down the back of Kyungsoo's boxers and lifted his shirt with the other while he took Kyungsoo's bottom lip between his teeth and pulled at it lightly in a playful manner.
"I have a history test in an hour," Kyungsoo informed him after another minute of kissing.
"Who needs history? Let's skip and focus on physical education instead."
Jongin looked just about ready to ravish him and as tempting as that was, Kyungsoo had his priorities.
"You can wait on the couch, I'll be ready in half an hour."
Although Jongin didn't get what he wanted, he tried to make the best out of the situation by checking out Kyungsoo's backside as he exited the kitchen.
-
Jongin had just finished getting dressed when there was a knock on the door of his suite. Looks like these clothes are about to come right off again.
His poised smile dropped when he opened the door.
"Junmyeon."
He had been doing the best that he could to avoid him or keep their interactions as short as possible. He didn't want him to find out about him and Kyungsoo or ask any uncomfortable questions.
"I barely see you around these days. What have you been up to?"
Junmyeon strolled in the room and made himself right at home by sitting down on the sofa.
"Oh, just… busy. With Victrola and other… business stuff," he did his best to beat around the bush. "Plus, I have a best man's speech to write."
"I miss Kyungsoo," Junmyeon suddenly said out of nowhere. "He said he'd think about getting back together but we haven't spoken since."
"Maybe he doesn't want to get back together then." And maybe you shouldn't have broken his heart by sleeping with his best friend.
He ignored Jongin's comment. "He seems unusually happy these days. Do you think he's seeing someone?"
"Why are you asking me?"
Was he busted?
"You guys are still pretty close, aren't you?"
Did he know?
"You could say that."
They had indeed been very close the previous night when they couldn't wait to get to Jongin's room and fucked in the elevator.
"Well?"
Jongin bit his lip and thought for a moment. "He's friends with Baekhyun again. That could be it."
"If he made up with Baekhyun, why won't he make up with me?" Maybe because he found someone better.
Junmyeon sighed. "I'll talk to him at the wedding. Maybe your speech will inspire him to get back together with me."
Jongin faked a smile. If anything his speech was going to inspire him to do the opposite.
-
People were chatting happily at Chinhwa and Nari's wedding reception when the air was filled by the sound of a knife tapping against a glass.
"I'd like to propose a toast."
Jongin stood as the room quieted down and everyone's attention was diverted to him.
"First of all, I'd like to express how honored I am to have been chosen as my father's best man tonight. Truly, I don't think I'm deserving of this title. I'm still lacking in many areas, but I will do my best to do you proud in the future."
They exchanged a quick smile before Jongin looked down at the notecards in his hands.
"Love is a curious thing, really. Sometimes, even if you don't plan for it to happen, it plants a seed in your heart."
He set the cards down on the table before he continued.
"You might not even realize what's happening as it grows inside of you, but when it blossoms-" His eyes swerved across the room and fixated on Kyungsoo who was sitting a few tables away from him as he finished his sentence. "-that's when you can feel it."
Kyungsoo of course was wearing his poker face as always, yet Jongin swore he saw a hint of a smile in his eyes. He directed his glance back to the center of the room, suddenly feeling a little shy.
"And that's when you know that nurturing it is worth it. Dad, Nari, may your flowers bloom for a lifetime."
He raised his glass and the rest of the room followed his gesture. "To the happy couple."
It wasn't until it was late and the majority of guests, including a once again rejected Junmyeon, had already left that Jongin finally worked up the courage to ask Kyungsoo a certain question.
"Dance with me?"
He stood before him, held out his hand and hoped he wouldn't realize that it was shaking. He didn't know why, but he felt like a nervous child, scared of being rejected.
Kyungsoo wasn't exactly a dance enthusiast. It was something he was forced to learn and do quite often at weddings, debutante balls and other high society events. He had never taken a liking to it, but over the years he realized that Jongin seemed rather fond of it, even if he wouldn't admit it if you asked him directly. He found it amusing at first, though now that he was the one Jongin wanted to dance with, the word endearing seemed a better fit.
"I liked your speech," Kyungsoo complimented as they danced to a slow song.
"It was inspired by someone really special."
They gazed at each other until Kyungsoo felt nearly dizzy from whatever was fluttering in his stomach and had to look at the ground for a moment to catch his breath. He finally found the nerve to look back up, only to have his breath stolen again, this time by Jongin's lips. Their kisses had never felt this surreal before; this intense, this intimate.
"I was thinking…" Jongin began when he broke away. "Since my parents will be on their honeymoon over christmas, we could spend some time together in europe before you visit your dad."
Kyungsoo deliberated for a moment. "It does get kind of lonely. It might be nice to have some company."
Jongin's face lit up with the most genuine smile Kyungsoo had ever seen from him. It was almost childlike, the way he could barely contain his excitement. He rested his head against Kyungsoo's shoulder as they continued to dance until it was just the two of them left.
-
"Son, I must say I'm proud of you."
Jongin's father was about to depart for his honeymoon and wanted to have a few more words with him before he left.
"Going to Europe with Kyungsoo is a big deal. You're finally learning what it means to be faithful, to be selfless and put someone's needs in front of your own. This is a big step into adulthood for you and I'm glad that you're taking it." He sighed deeply. "Even if it is with a boy."
Jongin stared at the mirror. This wasn't him. Everything his father had just talked about was the description of someone else, but it wasn't him. He didn't belong to anyone, nor would he change for anyone. He was Kim fucking Jongin, for fuck's sake.
"Hold on," he called after the bell boy before he could exit the room. "I'm afraid I still require your service."
"Of course. Mr. Kim, is it?"
"Yes. Kim Jongin."
He held out his hand and the boy shook it.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Kim?"
Jongin flashed his signature smirk.
Part 2