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“Keep acting like that, Cheong-san, and I’ll start thinking that maybe you’re in love with me,” Su-hyeok smirked and leaned in slightly to peer down at the shorter teen. By doing that, their height difference was more prominent than ever; Cheong-san was looking up at him with furrowed brows and the ever-cute pout that he always does when he’s frustrated or confused.
It was adorable and it made Su-hyeok’s heart run miles within his ribcage. A plethora of butterflies teasing the ends of his stomach, climbing the length of his throat, and settling in his tongue. The butterflies were at home at the confines of his person for a long time, for almost as long—maybe, longer—as he knew the person in front of him, and there were times like these ones that they went so wild, wings fluttering rapidly with improbable strength, and battling the makeshift cage of his teeth, urging him to finally spurt out the words that he’s always wanted to say to Cheong-san.
He was quite obvious, if he was being honest, he’s not exactly the subtlest person in the world (except, maybe, when he used to like Nam-ra but that was a long-forgotten story by now), but the idea of actually voicing out his feelings makes him queasy and anxious. He doesn’t want to lose the friendship that means to him the most, but it doesn’t really stop him from his excessive flirting, unnecessary touching, and the endless teasing just to get a rise from the person he likes.
“Not even gonna deny it, Sannie?,” He smirked and leaned down just a tiny bit as he took a small step forward, the butterflies now pushing at his very skin as if it would suddenly burst out from there. Cheong-san looked so pretty, looking up at him firmly and grumpily. The rays of the sun kissing his face just so that it made him shine, whilst a part of his face remained obscured by the taller male’s shadow. The very thought of it made Su-hyeok melt, because to him that was where Cheong-san belonged: always with him. Always with a taint of Su-hyeok plastered along the shorter teen’s skin due to his domineering height, and though Su-hyeok loved how Cheong-san looked like with the sun (because Cheong-san was a facsimile of the sun, if you ask him, and it was just fitting that the teen he holds feelings for fairs all the more beautiful when he’s with his kind) but it settled deeper in the depths of his core how a part of the other will always have a ghost of his touch.
Jesus fuck he was such a goner.
Cheong-san made a noise of irritation, face contorting into that expression wherein he scrunches his nose and bares his teeth. It makes him look like a bunny trying to be intimidating and Su-hyeok would laugh but he wanted to prolong the moment.
“Ya, you’re being annoying again! I just asked if you still liked Nam-ra because On-jo wanted to ask her out,” The shorter exclaimed, arms crossing in front of his chest.
“You sure that’s the only reason you asked?”
“Yes!”
“Really? You didn’t ask so you could ask me out, too?”
“Su-hyeok!”
“I’m starting to think that you actually like m—shit!”
Cheong-san kicked him in the shins just before he completed his words and, okay he kind of deserved that.
Su-hyeok leant down to clutch at his leg and made a sound of pain before tilting his head to level the other teen with a look. Their eyes met and before Su-hyeok could even utter another word, Cheong-san held the sides of his face and pressed his lips upon his, it was just a moment, a moment too long for him to know that Cheong-san meant to do it but a moment too short for him to actually return the action.
“That’s what I’ve been telling you the entire time, if you just listened,” Cheong-san grumbled and stopped for a moment, before the realization of what he just did sunk into his mind. His eyes widened, a blush crawling up his neck and painting his cheeks (in his frozen state, Su-hyeok would’ve wondered how far the blush went, but he was still in a state of, well, being frozen). The shorter teen stuttered out a hasty excuse with, probably, an insult aimed at his person but Su-hyeok was still too flabbergasted to do anything but stare , his body still bent with his hands outstretched to massage his leg.
Su-hyeok didn’t quite know how to feel. His brain seeming like it suddenly lost the ability to fire neurons across his body and make him move that the gears of his brain were making audible enough noise to alert him that he’s broken, or frozen, whatever .
It was just too sudden, a quick and unexpected taste of the person he loves that had come and gone within this breath and the next that his sensors were going haywire at the emotion that he felt and lost too quickly. It was like liquor was coursing through his veins making him feel woozy, ecstatic, and invincible at the same time. Like the rest of the world was nothing but a mere speck of dust that he held in the expanse of his palm just because Cheong-san kissed him.
Cheong-san kissed him.
A wide grin stretched at Su-hyeok’s lips as he finally regained control and recognition of everything around and inside him. He looked at the direction of door of the rooftop where Cheong-san was making his way over and chased the younger teen. Su-hyeok slipped a hand around Cheong-san’s waist and settled it atop his stomach before pressing with just the right amount of force, making Cheong-san stumble with a gasp and fall against Su-hyeok’s chest before the younger could even touch the handles of the door.
“Hey!” The shorter teen exclaimed, tilting his head upwards and to the side so he could look up at the person who has him captive.
Su-hyeok was certain that the soft beats he felt just a few centimeters below his own heart were Cheong-san’s. A quick pace of thumps that betrayed the annoyed expression on the other’s face; it made Su-hyeok’s heart sing along, a staccato of beats in tempo with the other’s, making him feel giddy with the fact that maybe his feelings weren’t unrequited after all these years of thinking it was otherwise.
The taller male smirked down at Cheong-san and leaned in that it would take just that one inch for their lips to meet again. His eyes flickered from the shorter teen’s eyes to his lips and back again before he fully took in the expression of his love’s face. Cheong-san’s eyes were wide with, dare he say it, anticipation, his pupils nearly swallowed the brown of his eyes, his cheeks up to his ears were flushed, and his lips were slightly open, breaths coming in small, quick intakes as if he just ran for miles. The sight made Su-hyeok lick his lips (and, probably, really, made him want to lick the person in front of him all over) before he settled his expression into one of open fondness.
“You kissed me,” He whispered and, for the first time, Su-hyeok let himself show the emotions that he usually kept hidden in the deepest corners of his heart.
“It seems I did,” was the retort in typical Cheong-san sassiness that it made the other chuckle in plain adoration.
This was one of the things Su-hyeok adored about the other teen: his sassiness that always meant no ill-intent that he usually just does for show, because Su-hyeok knows that Cheong-san had one of the biggest and kindest hearts that he knew. He was sassy in the way that you know it was either to protect himself or to make you smile, and though sometimes dry insults tumbled out of his lips, he was also the first person to ask about your well-being and take care of you even though you don’t even say it.
Su-hyeok was in love with this person and he was so close to being with him that nothing could take him away from this moment.
“Why did you do that, Sannie?”
“Why do you think I did?”
Su-hyeok smiled in that teasing yet genuine way he always did before tilting his head sideways as if in thought. “I’m starting to believe you may actually like me after all,” He muttered, voice low and husky, his eyelids becoming droopy as he becomes so drunk with the brimming romantic tension that enveloped their bubble.
“And if I do?” Cheong-san retorted almost mysteriously before leaning in, closing half of the inch that separated their lips, “What are you going to do about it, Su-hyeok?”
Using the hand that wasn’t pressed atop Cheong-san’s stomach, Su-hyeok gripped the shorter teen’s chin with his thumb and forefinger, his eyes seeking the other’s as if asking for permission. Cheong-san gave the other a glimpse of his rare, soft smile before he placed his right hand atop Su-hyeok’s, pressing his fingers in between the spaces of the other teen’s, as his left hand reached up and grasped the back of the taller teen’s head in order to pull him closer, and finally finally finally, their lips met in a kiss that could only be described as right .
Warmth and happiness spread inside Su-hyeok languidly, like ripples of water that increased in size the longer it goes, the moment that he finally felt his love’s lips upon his. It wasn’t the first time that he had kissed and been kissed in return but it felt like being kissed for the first time, because it was the first time the feeling of rightness settled in his chest and imprinted on his soul.
Nothing could compare to this, Su-hyeok initially thought, but when the taste of Cheong-san’s mouth tingled his tongue (a hint of the strawberry milk he loved along with something that tasted distinctly Cheong-san ), he can’t help but wonder how a moment like this could feel like it could compare to both nothing and everything. Like watching the slow rise of the sun, nothing new yet something new every single day. The metaphor was apt, the taller thought in passing as he sucked the shorter teen’s tongue—making Cheong-san moan, a sound that reverberated against Su-hyeok’s entire being—because Su-hyeok knew that, even though this was his first kiss with his love, it would always feel like the first time in the afters that would happen.
And there would be afters, he would make sure of it. He doesn’t think he can let this go now that he’s had a glimpse of it.
Su-hyeok hummed for the sake of it before pulling back just slightly with a dazed look, eyes meeting the younger’s who had the same expression. It made the taller teen feel hot all over, a sense of accomplishment and anticipation crawling up his spine as he registered that he was the person who caused that expression and that he can do it again anytime he wishes. He smirked at the thought, licked Cheong-san’s bottom lip and pecked him one last time, before finally pulling away for them to catch their breaths, though the hold they had on each other still remained, though instead of at the back of his neck, Cheong-san settled his hand atop Su-hyeok’s wrist, where his hand traced the younger’s features as they gazed deeply into each other’s eyes.
It took a moment, an hour, a day, a century, Su-hyeok didn’t know, his eyes too busy cataloging his love’s face to keep and store in his mind for as long as he lives, because Cheong-san looked at Su-hyeok in the way that had Su-hyeok yearning: as if Cheong-san wanted to be consumed wholly until he felt and knew nothing but the person that he was with. Su-hyeok wanted to make him feel that way with every inch of his being that he was starting to buzz, a foggy mantra of giving Cheong-san whatever he wanted from him encircling his mind.
The butterflies inside Su-hyeok were wilder in a way that it wasn’t before, like it was yearning just as much as he did, like the idea of being contained for so long were finally getting to them that they just wanted to be free. He could feel every inch of it on his insides, wings brushing against his skin, tickling his throat, and bumping against his teeth that it was starting to hurt. But the fear that was draped over his shoulders was still a heavy blanket that he was still too anxious to remove, the chances of this moment being just a production of dreams and fairytale a weight that was still on the edge of being great that he couldn’t help but just be quiet and stare at the teen he loves.
Su-hyeok didn’t know what expression he wore because he was content with laying himself bare without words, but whatever Cheong-san saw in his face made the shorter teen smile, still that same rare smile that was soft and vulnerable and urging, before he brought up his left hand again and placed it upon Su-hyeok’s cheek. Cheong-san anchored the taller teen’s face there, as if telling him not to move, as Cheong-san leant in and pressed his forehead on the side of Su-hyeok’s face. The shorter teen had closed his eyes and nuzzled his face against Su-hyeok’s upon contact.
The gesture was soft and innocent, the velvety skin of Cheong-san brushing lightly yet intentionally against Su-hyeok’s. It was much too different than the fiery and passionate kiss they shared just moments ago, a soothing balm to the delightful burn that enveloped Su-hyeok when they were kissing. It was kind of startling, how light, chaste, and undemanding it was, though not in a bad way. Somehow, the gesture coupled in with the searing kiss they shared almost mixed together all too well and Su-hyeok...
Su-hyeok realized how domestic they were with how they can go from this to that in a matter of minutes.
It was enough to finally shrug off the fear he felt. The feeling of confidence settling back against his shoulders not unlike the way he felt just a few moments earlier before he kissed Cheong-san. He closed his eyes and pushed against the nuzzles of the other teen before letting out a breath. “What if...,” he trailed off, pushing his nose against Cheong-san’s hair and there he mumbled. “What if I might be in love with you, too?”
Cheong-san pressed his lips against the taller teen’s cheek, making Su-hyeok feel the smile that was plastered on the younger’s face. “Just what if?,” He teased before moving back to look Su-hyeok in the eyes. “That’s quite unfair, Su-hyeok, when I’m sure that I’m in love with you,” He breathed and Cheong-san’s face just melted into this expression of unreserved love that Su-hyeok just let the butterflies break free from his confines.
“I’m in love with you too, Sannie,” He murmured and the way his heart jumped for nth time at the sight of the younger’s bright smile was something that he should probably get used to by now, but it caught Su-hyeok unawares every time still.
The younger pulled him in again for a kiss and, Su-hyeok, who time and time again has said that he could never deny Cheong-san anything, complied with eagerness. His heart brimming with love, his fingers searing at the feel of Cheong-san’s skin against his, and with the butterflies he kept hidden finally up in the air and enveloping them in what could just be considered as their own personal bubble.