finally finished
Title: It's Reliant on You, Boy
Pairing: ultimately Joon/Seungho, side of Mir/Thunder
Rating: PG-13 (for language)
Word Count: 5035
Written for: damnituall
Summary: Joon is fascinated by new student Seungho but Seungho isn't interested. Will Joon succeed in winning the new boy?
A/N: so i've actually been working on this off and on for over a year. oh the fail. i got stuck about halfway through and then my muses went MIA for awhile. sorry sorry sorry, damnituall, for being so much fail. OTL
The guy's white-blonde hair stood out among the sea of blacks and browns. Joon bounced lightly on his toes in an attempt to get a look at the guy's face but failed to see over or around Sang-hyun and Chul-yong. As the blonde bobbed past in the stream of students, Joon leaned to his right, straining to catch a glimpse of the face under the hair. Just as he thought triumphantly he'd see, he overbalanced and fell painfully on his hip.
"What the hell?" Byung-hee's face appeared above his. "You sure are a klutz for being such a great dancer."
"Bite me." Joon shoved his face away and stood to the protest of his hip.
"What were you doing, hyung?" Chul-yong rested his head against Sang-hyun's shoulder. Their fingers tangled at Chul-yong's waist.
Sighing, Joon ran a hand through his purposefully messy hair. "Trying to see that blonde that just walked by." Three blank stares blinked at him. "Come on, guys. Somebody in this school has their hair bleached to almost white. I was curious. Sue me."
Byung-hee rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It might be that new kid. I heard a few guys talking about his hair. And his lips."
"You gossip like an old woman, Hee." Serious-faced, Sang-hyun glanced at the older man. When he opened his mouth to retort, Sang-hyun let one corner of his mouth curl up.
Byung-hee snorted. "Least I don't act like an old man, Sang-hyun."
They flipped each other off good-naturedly and Chul-yong laughed. Frustrated with his friends for digressing from the blonde, Joon grabbed Byung-hee's arm. "Tell me more about this new kid. What have you heard?" He slid a glare at the happy couple. "I would've been able to see his face if Mr. Tall and Skinny hadn't been in my way. Anyway, so spill."
Patting Joon on the head, Byung-hee said, "I hear his name is Seung-ho. His dad is some sort of genius business tycoon."
Joon made a face. "I know you don't care about his financial status but Chang-hee and Ho-jun do." Byunghee smiled.
"Shallow little boys." Joon's comment had the other three rolling their eyes.
"This from the guy who wouldn't date that one girl because she always ate spinach."
"Hey! It always got stuck between her two front teeth. The shit is distracting when she's talking or smiling at you."
"Oh and what about that other girl you wouldn't date because her legs were too skinny?" Chul-yong relished reminding Joon of that too.
He grimaced. "All of her was too skinny. Thin is good but skeletal is not my thing."
"Uh-huh. What about how you wouldn't date me because I had a goatee?" Byung-hee cocked his head.
Joon looked at his black and red Converse. "I don't like facial hair?"
There was a pause and then they all burst out laughing. "Well, our Joonie-ah is picky to be sure."
"I can't help it, Sang-hyun."
"Sure. Sure. But you are breaking people's hearts left and right."
"He's been breaking my heart since eighth grade." Bong-cha wrapped an arm around Joon's waist.
"Stop exaggerating. You'll just make these clowns worse." Unwrapping her arm, Joon patted her hand. "I've got to get to homeroom. I'll see you guys at lunch." Bong-cha slapped his bicep. "And girl."
Watching him dart into the thinning crowd, Bong-cha sighed. "I wasn't exaggerating." She felt the looks of her three friends. "Don't feel sorry for me. Joon is what he is. It's why I love him."
~~~~~~~~~
Joon made it to third period biology class with seconds to spare. Mr. Jung glared him over the tops of his horn-rims. Bowing in apology, Joon hurried to his lab table and nearly tripped over his own feet at the sight of a blonde head bent over a notebook. At his table. Oh yea, he thought, the new kid is sitting next to me. If he hadn't been focused on not falling on his face, Joon would've done a little shuffle step of happiness.
"Hey, you my new lab partner?" The blonde didn't look up at Joon's question. "I sure hope you are better at this science stuff than I am because I suck hardcore." Still no response so Joon tapped the blonde on the arm.
The new guy, possibly named Seung-ho, jumped a little and swiveled his face towards Joon. Bright brown eyes locked questioningly on Joon's. The latter noted, vaguely, the blonde removing earbuds from his ears; obviously, the reason for his lack of response to Joon's words. Full, lucious red lips formed words but all Joon could do was drag his eyes to their mobile deliciousness. He wanted to lick them. Maybe even nibble on them. He began to feel a little light in the head and a little heavy in the groin.
"Excuse me? Are you feeling okay?" The supposed Seung-ho asked with a frown.
Shaking himself out of his dazed fantasy, Joon smiled but felt it quiver around the edges. "I'm fine. Just...distracted by a thought."
One of the guys at a lab table behind them snickered. "He's a little fourth dimensional, you know."
The blonde looked over. "Oh?"
The eavesdropper nodded seriously. "Yea. But for some reason all the girls love him. It's sick when there are far more awesome guys like us." He turned to his partner. "Right?"
"Right," the other guy responded after a nudge. "Doesn't get more awesome than us."
Joon snorted. "Ignore the dipshits behind me. They're just jealous I'm hotter than them."
"Uh-huh. Okay." The blonde dipped his head.
"Ahhaha. I just realized. I'm Joon. What's your name?"
"Yang Seung-ho." He didn't lift his gaze. "Your name is Joon?"
"It's actually Lee Chang-sun but my friends call me Joon."
"Oh." Seung-ho lifted his gaze before dipping his head in a brief bow. "Nice to meet you, Lee Chang-sun."
"Call me Joon, please." When Seung-ho looked at him with a puzzled expression, he said, "I want us to be friends. Especially since we're going to be lab partners."
"Oh."
"My last lab partner moved to Germany, if you can believe that. He was a freakin genius in this stuff too. I hope you are pretty good at it or we'll both flunk."
"Oh. Yes. I'm pretty good at biology."
The two guys behind Joon and Seung-ho gave low catcalls. "Woo-hoo. I bet he's good at biology. Watch out, Joon, or he'll have you batting for the other team with all his biological expertise."
Seung-ho blushed and turned to face the front of the classroom. Joon glared at the two boys. Most people didn't know he swung both ways. He didn't hide it but refused to flaunt it. Mostly, it was the girls in the school who flirted with or hit on him. For some reason, with the exception of Byung-hee, guys at school didn't seem interested in him like that.
"Lee Chang-sun. Would you care to join us into today's lesson?" Mr. Jung glared. "If you already know what I am teaching, perhaps you'd like to do the lecturing instead of me?"
The rest of class tittered while Joon hunched his shoulders under the stern look on his teacher's face. Normally he'd make a joke of it but he hated being embarrassed in front of Seung-ho. The pretty blonde boy didn't laugh or even smile but he also didn't turn his head to look at Joon. Great, he thought, I've just made a brillant first impression on him.
With no actual lab work to be done, Joon had no chance to speak to Seung-ho until the end of class. However, when he looked up from shoving books into his backpack, he found the other guy already making a beeline for the door. He frowned at the disappearing blonde. Most people didn't run away from him. It's not that he expected them to all be madly in lust with him but damn, it seemed like Seung-ho was avoiding him.
He mentioned this theory at lunch. Bong-cha sighed while the three guys laughed at him.
"Maybe he's just shy, Joon. Not everybody is as gregarious as you." Sang-hyun took a bite of fried chicken.
"You just have to throw out the long words, don't you?"
Chul-yong smiled. "It's because he's both smart and beautiful."
Bong-cha made a polite gagging noise. "Happy couples like you make me sick."
"It's just jealousy." Chul-yong beamed at her. "Everybody should be jealous of us. It's only right and just."
Everybody groaned and started mocking Chul-yong until Joon whispered frantically, "Oh my god. There he is. In line. Isn't he gorgeous?"
All eyes turned towards the blonde nearing the end of the lunch line. He paid for his food, oblivious to the curious stares. And the one besotted stare. He turned from the cashier and looked around the room. His gaze fell on the five people watching him and he paused in mid-step. Joon stood and waved an arm.
"Yang Seung-ho! Sit with us."
A few expressions flitted across his face before he approached the table. "Thanks, Lee Chang-sun, but I've already promised to sit with a couple of people from my trigonometry class." He gave the others an awkward grin and moved off to a table with a guy and girl who looked like poster children for geeks.
"Shut your mouth, Joon, or you'll catch flies." Bong-cha tapped a finger to his chin.
Snapping his mouth shut, Joon glared at the other table. The trio seemed unaware of his disgruntlement. Joon watched Seung-ho laugh at something the girl in thick-framed glasses said, watched the way he waved a hand to emphasize his point. His eyebrows crept together in thought and caused three little wrinkles Joon found he wanted to smooth away with a thumb or a kiss.
As if finally sensing the other's intense focus, Seung-ho glanced up and over. His full lips slid into a frown. His companions noticed his distraction and followed his gaze. The guy, actually dressed in the handbook required school uniform, turned back to Seung-ho and said something. Whatever it was Joon noted it got a startled look from Seung-ho then a burst of laughter. Joon wished he could hear the boy's laughter through the noise of the cafeteria.
"Earth to Joon. Come in, Joon. I think there might be interference on your planet caused by one gorgeous blonde with lips wet dreams are made of." Byung-hee's voice cut into Joon's concentration.
He looked away from Seung-ho and noted the bland stares of his lunch companions. "What?"
Sang-hyun spoke everyone's thoughts. "We've never seen you so engrossed in anybody before. It must be love at first sight."
"Ha. Lust at first sight, I'd say." Bong-cha shrugged when Joon narrowed his eyes at her. "What? You want to pretty it up? You barely know the boy. He avoided you after biology and refused to eat lunch with you. It's not like you two hit it off like soulmates."
"You have no romance in your soul, Bong-cha. It's no wonder you're single."
"No romance, huh? Sod it. You wouldn't know a romantic soul if it smacked you in that pretty face of yours." Lips compressed in anger - and hurt- Bong-cha took her food and left the table.
"Good job." Chul-yong, who'd been silently enjoying the various undercurrents and byplays, clapped.
"Shut up."
"But you deserve a hand, Joon. You have made the lust of your life avoid you and pissed off the girl who has loved you for four years."
"Don't push him." Sang-hyun said as he stood up, putting up a placating hand to Joon's half-risen and angry form, "He's an instigator, Joon. You know him."
"I'm gonna break his cute little nose."
"No you won't because it would hurt your hand, you pussy." Chul-yong stuck his tongue out at Joon but hastily rose from the table and ducked behind Sang-hyun.
"Uh-huh. And who's hiding behind his boyfriend?" Joon leaned across the table. Chul-yong took a step back, tugging Sang-hyun with him.
Byung-hee spoke up. "Calm down, Joon. Hitting him won't do any good. It'll get you in trouble with the school and make you look like a macho idiot in front of blondie over there. I mean does he really look the type to be interested in someone who fights in the middle of lunch?" He gestured toward the table where Seung-ho appeared rapt in the nerdy guy's conversation.
Closing his eyes and inhaling, Joon shook his head. "No. He doesn't." He looked at Chul-yong apolegetically. "Sorry, bro. I feel a little...crazy inside."
Opening his mouth, probably to say something smartass, Chul-yong thought better of it and smiled a little. "I understand. We can't pick who we fall for, can we?" He looked at Sang-hyun, who slipped an arm around his waist.
Joon glanced over at the other table, contemplated the blonde for a second before looking back into the compassionate eyes of one of his closest friends. "No, we can't."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Three weeks of careful flirting and casually dropped hints to Seung-ho simply weren't paying off for Joon. He sat in biology class watching the retreating figure of one Yang Seung-ho. He sighed. Never in all his seventeen years had it been this hard to talk to another person, much less ask them out on a date. Everything he tried fell flat in front of those big chocolate eyes and full pink lips. Seung-ho either didn't meet his eyes or looked at him like he was from outer space.
At lunch, he asked what his friends thought. He noticed how they all rolled their eyes. He hadn't been that annoying with Seung-ho comments, had he? Joon considered that for a bit before realizing that yea, he had been.
"Never mind, guys-"
"And girl." Bong-cha couldn't resist adding.
"-and girl. I'll figure something out." He slumped over his food. "Or just give up."
"Have you tried the direct approach?" Byung-hee gestured with an apple. "Just ask him out."
Chul-yong nodded. "There's that new action movie out this weekend. It stars that really hot guy. What's his name? Rain?"
A sigh of pleasure erupted from everybody at the table. Rain was many nights of wet dreams on two legs.
"Yea. Probably his shirt will be off a good portion of the movie. It's sure to get any red-blooded male-"
"And female."
Byung-hee tipped his chin at Bong-cha. "Just so. It's sure to get any red-blooded person's hormones going."
Joon stared at his food like there were answers among the various items. He looked up at his friends. They all smiled encouragment except for Bong-cha who was trying but failing. Slowly a grin spread over Joon's face. "I'll give it a try. I know where his locker is so I'll ask him after school today."
Everybody, except Bong-cha who looked concerned, gave encouraging comments before shifting subjects to Rain's very delicious body and how Mrs. Park was a bitch for giving so much homework in the maths she taught. Feeling better, more positive than he had in a couple of weeks, Joon let the conversation flow over him as he plotted how to approach Seung-ho that afternoon. Should he go for the suave "how ya doin'? Want to do me in the theater?" approach? No, no. Not the last question. That would be horribly awkward. Not to mention presumptuous.
Maybe he could cut final period and buy some flowers or something. Joon turned that over in his head and decided it was ridiculous. Girls went gooey over flowers in public but guys tended not to. Even if they went gooey over them in private. Probably he should just ask. Politely. Various opening lines played through his mind but none of them sounded right or genuine. They were all stilted. He dropped his forehead to the table. The squishy feeling in the pit of his stomach said this was a bad idea. Normally he could string three or more words together but now he couldn't even manage that in the solitude of his own head.
Still unsure of what he would say, how he would ask, Joon approached Seungho's locker with a sense of trepidation but also excitement. Especially when he saw the blond shoving books into his locker. Here goes nothing, Joon thought.
“Hey, Seungho.” Joon waved to a passing group of jocks. Then waved to a group of giggling freshmen girls.
Seungho pulled his head of his locker and looked at Joon. “Hello, Joon.”
They stood with an awkward silence growing between them until Seungho cleared his throat. “Did you need something?”
The boy's tone was not encouraging but Joon metaphorically girded his loins. “I was thinking maybe you and I could go out this evening. Catch a bite to eat, watch that new Rain movie.”
A series of unidentifiable emotions passed over Seungho's face. “I-”
“Joonie-ah!” A pretty sophomore transfer from California bounced up to Joon. “I've missed you!”
Joon winced inwardly at the interruption but turned as Min launched herself at him. “Hey, Min. You just got back from the AV club's field trip?”
“Yup.” She grinned widely before turning to Seungho. “Hi, I'm Min. Never got a chance to introduce myself before.”
“I'm Seungho.” His voice was cool, face impassive. Joon felt a lump settle in his stomach.
“Cool. Nice to meet you finally, Seungho. Everybody is so fascinated by your hair. Like there are bets about who will bag a date with you first.” She punched Joon in the arm. “This one is leading by 10 to 1.” Bounching on her toes, Min gave Joon a smack on the cheek, Seungho a breezy smile, and bounced away calling someone else's name.
Icy cold silence descended in Min's wake. Joon opened his mouth to deny his asking Seungho out had anything to do with a bet. It didn't because he didn't give a shit about juvenile bets. Granted he could be as stupid as the next teenage guy but not about this. Not about Seungho.
“A bet? You asked me out because of a fucking bet? Do you and all your friends think I'm that stupid? That easy?” Seungho practically spat the words though he never raised his voice. “Take your stupid date and shove it up your ass, Joon.” Slamming his locker shut, Seungho stormed away.
Joon stood with his mouth open and eyes bugged out. Holy shit. Seungho was pissed. Any chance of a single date with the very pretty blond boy were gone. Shutting his mouth and eyes, Joon slumped against the bank of lockers, head hung low. So much for that dream.
~ ~ ~
A month after the disastrous date-asking attempt, Joon said a polite hello to Seungho in biology class before turning to the classmates at the lab table next to them. He'd barely spoken to Seungho since that afternoon but remained coolly polite. After all, they were stuck being lab partners. In an attempt to rid himself of the persistent feelings he had for the pretty boy with dark circles and bee-stung lips, he'd accepted a date with Min. She was pretty with her short black hair, flashing brown eyes, and exuberant personality. They'd been casual friends for almost a year, since her transfer from California. Bong-cha was not pleased but she remained his friend. He admired her ability to put friendship before romantic feelings. Especially since her friendship meant even more to him since the emotional fallout with Seungho.
Min bounced into the classroom after biology ended. “Joonie-ah! I got you a present.”
He grinned. “What? It's not even my birthday. Or our hundred days anniversary.”
Both he and Min glanced over when Seungho's chair toppled over from him standing abruptly. “Are you okay?” Min asked with genuine concern. Joon never told her about his feeling for Seungho or how it had all gone so wrong. Partly because of her but he suspected not entirely.
And she couldn't have known so he didn't blame her.
“Fine. I'm fine.” Seungho practically whispered it. His features looked tight to Joon as if he were in pain. For a moment, just a split second but it felt like eternity to Joon, their eyes met and he swore tears glittered in Seungho's depthless brown eyes.
“Seungho-” Joon reached out a hand to him but the other boy backed away before scurrying out of the room.
“Wow, baby. You sure know how to win friends and influence people.” Min frowned. “Seriously. I never saw anybody react that badly to you before.”
“It is just basic personality conflict, I guess. He hasn't liked me since his first day.” Joon shrugged as if it didn't matter. His heart ached deep in his chest. “You said something about a present. You know how I just adore presents.”
She handed him a gaily wrapped box. “Open it at lunch. We gotta get to our next class.”
They linked hands and hurried out. Neither saw the blond leaning against the side of a row of lockers, face devastated.
The next day, the day after that, and then for a week, Seungho didn't show up in biology class. At first Joon wondered if he was cutting class but found it out of character when the boy seemed like such a nerd. Surprised, then curious, and finally worried, Joon broached the topic at lunch. Min had a study date with a girl in her Maths class so he felt comfortable bringing up Seungho's name.
“What do you know of Seungho's absence?”
Bong-cha glared. “I think you either need to get over the boy or dump Min. It isn't right to use her to get over somebody else. Since it sure doesn't seem like you are getting over that somebody else.” She took an angry bite of her apple.
Joon sighed but didn't reply. He looked to Byunghee who tended to know everything about everybody.
“I heard from Chaerin he's been sick. The flu or something. He was briefly in the hospital for dehydration but is home now on bed rest. Dara says it isn't just the flu but a broken heart. They are in the same honors English class. Apparently Dara thinks some asshole broke Seungho's heart.”
“Honors English? They have that here?” Chul-yong glanced up from his food. “Why?”
“Because some people like learning other languages.” Sang-hyun ruffled his boyfriend's hair.
Chul-yong grunted. “Japanese seems more useful. Or even Chinese. Since we live closer to both those countries.” He and Sang-hyun began to debate the necessity of learning English.
Joon tuned them out. “I should go to him. Check on him. Bring him soup or something.”
Pelting him with a carrot, Bong-cha said, “Focus on your girlfriend for fuck's sake. Seungho hates you. Geez.”
“I don't care.” He stood up. “I'm going to see him.”
“Do you even know where he lives?” At Joon's sheepish head shake, Byunghee pulled out his cellphone and typed rapidly. A few seconds later, Joon's cellphone vibrated in his pocket. “That's his address.”
“Thanks, bro.” Joon smiled and hurried out the cafeteria.
“He's gonna break Min's heart.”
Byunghee shook his head at Bong-cha. “No he won't. Min is in love with somebody else.”
“What?” Three sets of eyes turned to him.
With a knowing smile, Byunghee said, “She's been using Joon to make somebody jealous. No.” He held up his hand in a “stop” gesture. “I won't tell you all who it is. I'm not suppose to know but she got drunk once and told me.”
The other three shook their heads in amazement. Byunghee just invited confidences from other people.
Miles away from school, giving no thought to how much shit he'd be in for ditching all his afternoon classes, Joon pushed the buzzer for Seungho's apartment. What felt like ages passed before a weary voice spoke through the speaker. “Who is it?”
“It's Lee Chang-sun.” When there was no immediate response, Joon cleared his throat. “You know. Joon. Your lab partner.”
“I know who you are. What do you want?”
Gracious, Joon thought but accepted they weren't exactly amicable acquaintances. “I heard you were sick. Byunghee told me. I was worried. I wanted to check on you.”
“Why are you worried? Shouldn't you be shoving your tongue down your girlfriend's throat?” It was rude but the insult lacked strength because his voice was so tired.
“Come on, Seungho. Please let me at least see you for a minute. Just to make sure you really aren't at death's door.” Joon didn't hold out much hope but he was nothing if not stubborn.
More silence on the other end of the speaker box then a grudging “Fine.” The beep sounded as the lobby door unlocked. Joon pushed through the door while doing a victory dance mentally. On the ride in the elevator to Seungho's floor, Joon fidgeted and wondered what he would say to the other boy. Then he wondered how he would explain this visit to Min because she knew he wasn't exactly the type to rush to the sickbed of a person he barely know. Much less one who hardly tolerated his presence.
Seungho leaned against the door jamb of his apartment's door, looking pale and exhausted. Joon stepped out of the elevator and noted the intensified circles under Seungho's eyes. The boy's frame also seemed slimmer as if he'd lost weight. It made Joon's throat ache to see his classmate, his biggest crush looking so ill.
On instinct, he rushed to the other boy and wrapped him in a hug. Seungho stiffened and tried to push Joon away but was too weak to make the effort count. Joon, overcome, rubbed his hands up and down Seungho's back, anguished at how easy it was to feel the vertebrae of his spine. He murmured nearly incoherent words of worry and love and grief.
Slowly Seungho relaxed, seeming to sink against and into Joon's warmth. He understood some of Joon's mumbles despite them being muffled in his hair.
“Come inside.” Seungho managed to ease out of Joon's embrace.
Letting his arms fall to his sides, Joon stepped into Seungho's home. After closing the door, Seungho led the way to the living room, flopping down on the couch.
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have grabbed you like that. I wasn't thinking.” Joon stood awkwardly in the middle of the floor and studied the supine boy. “Can I get you anything? Tea? Soup? A blanket?”
“No. No, thanks.” Seungho opened his heavy-lidded eyes. “Why are you here?”
“I was worried-”
“Ok. Why were you worried about me?”
“Why wouldn't I be?”
Seungho heaved a breath and sat up. “Look, you are like Mr. Popularity or something, always surrounded by adoring fans. I'm a nerd. An unabashed nerd who can count his friends on one hand. I like it like that, too. Why do you insist on pestering me?”
Joon shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “What's any of that got to do with me worrying about you?”
“Everything, for crying out loud. We're not friends. We're barely speak.”
“Your choice.” Joon shrugged when Seungho glared at him. “It's true. I wanted to get to know you from the first day I saw you.”
“Only to add another notch to your belt.” Seungho rolled his eyes and then winced.
“Headache? Want me to get you something for that?” At Seungho's pissy negative reply, Joon moved to sit beside him on the sofa. Might as well go all in, he thought fatalistically. “Look, Seungho. I thought you were really attractive. Still do. I also found - find- you fascinating. You are smart and quiet and controlled. You are like....I don't know. Everything I'm not. Sure it started out physical. You are dead sexy and I'm not blind. But I also started to like how you weren't like the others around me. You didn't fawn over me. Being pretty or popular wasn't one of your goals. It was interesting. You are interesting.”
Seungho stared at him like he'd sprouted another head. Or maybe two other heads. And some tentacles. “You find me sexy?”
Joon snorted. “Yea, genius.”
“Really? And interesting? Not boring?”
Now Joon burst out laughing. “Seungho. You told me to shove my date up my ass. And you did it in dulcet tones. There is nothing boring about you. Where did you ever get that idea?”
Staring off into space, into the past, Seungho said, “A guy at my old school told me I was boring. Always wanting to have my nose in a book or talk about things like biology or trig.”
Joon sighed. “He was an idiot. Look, I may not be a brain. Trig is way over my head, not gonna lie. But you knowing shit like that? That is interesting.” Grasping Seungho's chin in his hand, Joon turned him so they were eye to eye. “We are different but I also think we can find common ground. I'm not asking you for forever. Just a date. Maybe four dates. Whatever. You are not a bet or a joke or anything other than Yang Seungho who has had me twisted in knots ever since you first sat next to me in biology class.”
Seungho started to smile. “When you put it like that.” Then he leaned forward and kissed Joon on the lips. Not a shy sort of kiss but one full of pent-up frustration and lust and passion. Joon took a moment to absorb the shock and then kissed him back with equal fervor.
Minutes later, they were gasping for air and Joon wrapped his arms around Seungho's waist. “Oh shit.”
“What?” Seungho snuggled against Joon's side, tracing his fingertips over Joon's arms.
“You probably just gave me whatever you have.”
Seungho smiled up at him. “No worries. I make an excellent nurse.”
Pairing: ultimately Joon/Seungho, side of Mir/Thunder
Rating: PG-13 (for language)
Word Count: 5035
Written for: damnituall
Summary: Joon is fascinated by new student Seungho but Seungho isn't interested. Will Joon succeed in winning the new boy?
A/N: so i've actually been working on this off and on for over a year. oh the fail. i got stuck about halfway through and then my muses went MIA for awhile. sorry sorry sorry, damnituall, for being so much fail. OTL
The guy's white-blonde hair stood out among the sea of blacks and browns. Joon bounced lightly on his toes in an attempt to get a look at the guy's face but failed to see over or around Sang-hyun and Chul-yong. As the blonde bobbed past in the stream of students, Joon leaned to his right, straining to catch a glimpse of the face under the hair. Just as he thought triumphantly he'd see, he overbalanced and fell painfully on his hip.
"What the hell?" Byung-hee's face appeared above his. "You sure are a klutz for being such a great dancer."
"Bite me." Joon shoved his face away and stood to the protest of his hip.
"What were you doing, hyung?" Chul-yong rested his head against Sang-hyun's shoulder. Their fingers tangled at Chul-yong's waist.
Sighing, Joon ran a hand through his purposefully messy hair. "Trying to see that blonde that just walked by." Three blank stares blinked at him. "Come on, guys. Somebody in this school has their hair bleached to almost white. I was curious. Sue me."
Byung-hee rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It might be that new kid. I heard a few guys talking about his hair. And his lips."
"You gossip like an old woman, Hee." Serious-faced, Sang-hyun glanced at the older man. When he opened his mouth to retort, Sang-hyun let one corner of his mouth curl up.
Byung-hee snorted. "Least I don't act like an old man, Sang-hyun."
They flipped each other off good-naturedly and Chul-yong laughed. Frustrated with his friends for digressing from the blonde, Joon grabbed Byung-hee's arm. "Tell me more about this new kid. What have you heard?" He slid a glare at the happy couple. "I would've been able to see his face if Mr. Tall and Skinny hadn't been in my way. Anyway, so spill."
Patting Joon on the head, Byung-hee said, "I hear his name is Seung-ho. His dad is some sort of genius business tycoon."
Joon made a face. "I know you don't care about his financial status but Chang-hee and Ho-jun do." Byunghee smiled.
"Shallow little boys." Joon's comment had the other three rolling their eyes.
"This from the guy who wouldn't date that one girl because she always ate spinach."
"Hey! It always got stuck between her two front teeth. The shit is distracting when she's talking or smiling at you."
"Oh and what about that other girl you wouldn't date because her legs were too skinny?" Chul-yong relished reminding Joon of that too.
He grimaced. "All of her was too skinny. Thin is good but skeletal is not my thing."
"Uh-huh. What about how you wouldn't date me because I had a goatee?" Byung-hee cocked his head.
Joon looked at his black and red Converse. "I don't like facial hair?"
There was a pause and then they all burst out laughing. "Well, our Joonie-ah is picky to be sure."
"I can't help it, Sang-hyun."
"Sure. Sure. But you are breaking people's hearts left and right."
"He's been breaking my heart since eighth grade." Bong-cha wrapped an arm around Joon's waist.
"Stop exaggerating. You'll just make these clowns worse." Unwrapping her arm, Joon patted her hand. "I've got to get to homeroom. I'll see you guys at lunch." Bong-cha slapped his bicep. "And girl."
Watching him dart into the thinning crowd, Bong-cha sighed. "I wasn't exaggerating." She felt the looks of her three friends. "Don't feel sorry for me. Joon is what he is. It's why I love him."
~~~~~~~~~
Joon made it to third period biology class with seconds to spare. Mr. Jung glared him over the tops of his horn-rims. Bowing in apology, Joon hurried to his lab table and nearly tripped over his own feet at the sight of a blonde head bent over a notebook. At his table. Oh yea, he thought, the new kid is sitting next to me. If he hadn't been focused on not falling on his face, Joon would've done a little shuffle step of happiness.
"Hey, you my new lab partner?" The blonde didn't look up at Joon's question. "I sure hope you are better at this science stuff than I am because I suck hardcore." Still no response so Joon tapped the blonde on the arm.
The new guy, possibly named Seung-ho, jumped a little and swiveled his face towards Joon. Bright brown eyes locked questioningly on Joon's. The latter noted, vaguely, the blonde removing earbuds from his ears; obviously, the reason for his lack of response to Joon's words. Full, lucious red lips formed words but all Joon could do was drag his eyes to their mobile deliciousness. He wanted to lick them. Maybe even nibble on them. He began to feel a little light in the head and a little heavy in the groin.
"Excuse me? Are you feeling okay?" The supposed Seung-ho asked with a frown.
Shaking himself out of his dazed fantasy, Joon smiled but felt it quiver around the edges. "I'm fine. Just...distracted by a thought."
One of the guys at a lab table behind them snickered. "He's a little fourth dimensional, you know."
The blonde looked over. "Oh?"
The eavesdropper nodded seriously. "Yea. But for some reason all the girls love him. It's sick when there are far more awesome guys like us." He turned to his partner. "Right?"
"Right," the other guy responded after a nudge. "Doesn't get more awesome than us."
Joon snorted. "Ignore the dipshits behind me. They're just jealous I'm hotter than them."
"Uh-huh. Okay." The blonde dipped his head.
"Ahhaha. I just realized. I'm Joon. What's your name?"
"Yang Seung-ho." He didn't lift his gaze. "Your name is Joon?"
"It's actually Lee Chang-sun but my friends call me Joon."
"Oh." Seung-ho lifted his gaze before dipping his head in a brief bow. "Nice to meet you, Lee Chang-sun."
"Call me Joon, please." When Seung-ho looked at him with a puzzled expression, he said, "I want us to be friends. Especially since we're going to be lab partners."
"Oh."
"My last lab partner moved to Germany, if you can believe that. He was a freakin genius in this stuff too. I hope you are pretty good at it or we'll both flunk."
"Oh. Yes. I'm pretty good at biology."
The two guys behind Joon and Seung-ho gave low catcalls. "Woo-hoo. I bet he's good at biology. Watch out, Joon, or he'll have you batting for the other team with all his biological expertise."
Seung-ho blushed and turned to face the front of the classroom. Joon glared at the two boys. Most people didn't know he swung both ways. He didn't hide it but refused to flaunt it. Mostly, it was the girls in the school who flirted with or hit on him. For some reason, with the exception of Byung-hee, guys at school didn't seem interested in him like that.
"Lee Chang-sun. Would you care to join us into today's lesson?" Mr. Jung glared. "If you already know what I am teaching, perhaps you'd like to do the lecturing instead of me?"
The rest of class tittered while Joon hunched his shoulders under the stern look on his teacher's face. Normally he'd make a joke of it but he hated being embarrassed in front of Seung-ho. The pretty blonde boy didn't laugh or even smile but he also didn't turn his head to look at Joon. Great, he thought, I've just made a brillant first impression on him.
With no actual lab work to be done, Joon had no chance to speak to Seung-ho until the end of class. However, when he looked up from shoving books into his backpack, he found the other guy already making a beeline for the door. He frowned at the disappearing blonde. Most people didn't run away from him. It's not that he expected them to all be madly in lust with him but damn, it seemed like Seung-ho was avoiding him.
He mentioned this theory at lunch. Bong-cha sighed while the three guys laughed at him.
"Maybe he's just shy, Joon. Not everybody is as gregarious as you." Sang-hyun took a bite of fried chicken.
"You just have to throw out the long words, don't you?"
Chul-yong smiled. "It's because he's both smart and beautiful."
Bong-cha made a polite gagging noise. "Happy couples like you make me sick."
"It's just jealousy." Chul-yong beamed at her. "Everybody should be jealous of us. It's only right and just."
Everybody groaned and started mocking Chul-yong until Joon whispered frantically, "Oh my god. There he is. In line. Isn't he gorgeous?"
All eyes turned towards the blonde nearing the end of the lunch line. He paid for his food, oblivious to the curious stares. And the one besotted stare. He turned from the cashier and looked around the room. His gaze fell on the five people watching him and he paused in mid-step. Joon stood and waved an arm.
"Yang Seung-ho! Sit with us."
A few expressions flitted across his face before he approached the table. "Thanks, Lee Chang-sun, but I've already promised to sit with a couple of people from my trigonometry class." He gave the others an awkward grin and moved off to a table with a guy and girl who looked like poster children for geeks.
"Shut your mouth, Joon, or you'll catch flies." Bong-cha tapped a finger to his chin.
Snapping his mouth shut, Joon glared at the other table. The trio seemed unaware of his disgruntlement. Joon watched Seung-ho laugh at something the girl in thick-framed glasses said, watched the way he waved a hand to emphasize his point. His eyebrows crept together in thought and caused three little wrinkles Joon found he wanted to smooth away with a thumb or a kiss.
As if finally sensing the other's intense focus, Seung-ho glanced up and over. His full lips slid into a frown. His companions noticed his distraction and followed his gaze. The guy, actually dressed in the handbook required school uniform, turned back to Seung-ho and said something. Whatever it was Joon noted it got a startled look from Seung-ho then a burst of laughter. Joon wished he could hear the boy's laughter through the noise of the cafeteria.
"Earth to Joon. Come in, Joon. I think there might be interference on your planet caused by one gorgeous blonde with lips wet dreams are made of." Byung-hee's voice cut into Joon's concentration.
He looked away from Seung-ho and noted the bland stares of his lunch companions. "What?"
Sang-hyun spoke everyone's thoughts. "We've never seen you so engrossed in anybody before. It must be love at first sight."
"Ha. Lust at first sight, I'd say." Bong-cha shrugged when Joon narrowed his eyes at her. "What? You want to pretty it up? You barely know the boy. He avoided you after biology and refused to eat lunch with you. It's not like you two hit it off like soulmates."
"You have no romance in your soul, Bong-cha. It's no wonder you're single."
"No romance, huh? Sod it. You wouldn't know a romantic soul if it smacked you in that pretty face of yours." Lips compressed in anger - and hurt- Bong-cha took her food and left the table.
"Good job." Chul-yong, who'd been silently enjoying the various undercurrents and byplays, clapped.
"Shut up."
"But you deserve a hand, Joon. You have made the lust of your life avoid you and pissed off the girl who has loved you for four years."
"Don't push him." Sang-hyun said as he stood up, putting up a placating hand to Joon's half-risen and angry form, "He's an instigator, Joon. You know him."
"I'm gonna break his cute little nose."
"No you won't because it would hurt your hand, you pussy." Chul-yong stuck his tongue out at Joon but hastily rose from the table and ducked behind Sang-hyun.
"Uh-huh. And who's hiding behind his boyfriend?" Joon leaned across the table. Chul-yong took a step back, tugging Sang-hyun with him.
Byung-hee spoke up. "Calm down, Joon. Hitting him won't do any good. It'll get you in trouble with the school and make you look like a macho idiot in front of blondie over there. I mean does he really look the type to be interested in someone who fights in the middle of lunch?" He gestured toward the table where Seung-ho appeared rapt in the nerdy guy's conversation.
Closing his eyes and inhaling, Joon shook his head. "No. He doesn't." He looked at Chul-yong apolegetically. "Sorry, bro. I feel a little...crazy inside."
Opening his mouth, probably to say something smartass, Chul-yong thought better of it and smiled a little. "I understand. We can't pick who we fall for, can we?" He looked at Sang-hyun, who slipped an arm around his waist.
Joon glanced over at the other table, contemplated the blonde for a second before looking back into the compassionate eyes of one of his closest friends. "No, we can't."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Three weeks of careful flirting and casually dropped hints to Seung-ho simply weren't paying off for Joon. He sat in biology class watching the retreating figure of one Yang Seung-ho. He sighed. Never in all his seventeen years had it been this hard to talk to another person, much less ask them out on a date. Everything he tried fell flat in front of those big chocolate eyes and full pink lips. Seung-ho either didn't meet his eyes or looked at him like he was from outer space.
At lunch, he asked what his friends thought. He noticed how they all rolled their eyes. He hadn't been that annoying with Seung-ho comments, had he? Joon considered that for a bit before realizing that yea, he had been.
"Never mind, guys-"
"And girl." Bong-cha couldn't resist adding.
"-and girl. I'll figure something out." He slumped over his food. "Or just give up."
"Have you tried the direct approach?" Byung-hee gestured with an apple. "Just ask him out."
Chul-yong nodded. "There's that new action movie out this weekend. It stars that really hot guy. What's his name? Rain?"
A sigh of pleasure erupted from everybody at the table. Rain was many nights of wet dreams on two legs.
"Yea. Probably his shirt will be off a good portion of the movie. It's sure to get any red-blooded male-"
"And female."
Byung-hee tipped his chin at Bong-cha. "Just so. It's sure to get any red-blooded person's hormones going."
Joon stared at his food like there were answers among the various items. He looked up at his friends. They all smiled encouragment except for Bong-cha who was trying but failing. Slowly a grin spread over Joon's face. "I'll give it a try. I know where his locker is so I'll ask him after school today."
Everybody, except Bong-cha who looked concerned, gave encouraging comments before shifting subjects to Rain's very delicious body and how Mrs. Park was a bitch for giving so much homework in the maths she taught. Feeling better, more positive than he had in a couple of weeks, Joon let the conversation flow over him as he plotted how to approach Seung-ho that afternoon. Should he go for the suave "how ya doin'? Want to do me in the theater?" approach? No, no. Not the last question. That would be horribly awkward. Not to mention presumptuous.
Maybe he could cut final period and buy some flowers or something. Joon turned that over in his head and decided it was ridiculous. Girls went gooey over flowers in public but guys tended not to. Even if they went gooey over them in private. Probably he should just ask. Politely. Various opening lines played through his mind but none of them sounded right or genuine. They were all stilted. He dropped his forehead to the table. The squishy feeling in the pit of his stomach said this was a bad idea. Normally he could string three or more words together but now he couldn't even manage that in the solitude of his own head.
Still unsure of what he would say, how he would ask, Joon approached Seungho's locker with a sense of trepidation but also excitement. Especially when he saw the blond shoving books into his locker. Here goes nothing, Joon thought.
“Hey, Seungho.” Joon waved to a passing group of jocks. Then waved to a group of giggling freshmen girls.
Seungho pulled his head of his locker and looked at Joon. “Hello, Joon.”
They stood with an awkward silence growing between them until Seungho cleared his throat. “Did you need something?”
The boy's tone was not encouraging but Joon metaphorically girded his loins. “I was thinking maybe you and I could go out this evening. Catch a bite to eat, watch that new Rain movie.”
A series of unidentifiable emotions passed over Seungho's face. “I-”
“Joonie-ah!” A pretty sophomore transfer from California bounced up to Joon. “I've missed you!”
Joon winced inwardly at the interruption but turned as Min launched herself at him. “Hey, Min. You just got back from the AV club's field trip?”
“Yup.” She grinned widely before turning to Seungho. “Hi, I'm Min. Never got a chance to introduce myself before.”
“I'm Seungho.” His voice was cool, face impassive. Joon felt a lump settle in his stomach.
“Cool. Nice to meet you finally, Seungho. Everybody is so fascinated by your hair. Like there are bets about who will bag a date with you first.” She punched Joon in the arm. “This one is leading by 10 to 1.” Bounching on her toes, Min gave Joon a smack on the cheek, Seungho a breezy smile, and bounced away calling someone else's name.
Icy cold silence descended in Min's wake. Joon opened his mouth to deny his asking Seungho out had anything to do with a bet. It didn't because he didn't give a shit about juvenile bets. Granted he could be as stupid as the next teenage guy but not about this. Not about Seungho.
“A bet? You asked me out because of a fucking bet? Do you and all your friends think I'm that stupid? That easy?” Seungho practically spat the words though he never raised his voice. “Take your stupid date and shove it up your ass, Joon.” Slamming his locker shut, Seungho stormed away.
Joon stood with his mouth open and eyes bugged out. Holy shit. Seungho was pissed. Any chance of a single date with the very pretty blond boy were gone. Shutting his mouth and eyes, Joon slumped against the bank of lockers, head hung low. So much for that dream.
~ ~ ~
A month after the disastrous date-asking attempt, Joon said a polite hello to Seungho in biology class before turning to the classmates at the lab table next to them. He'd barely spoken to Seungho since that afternoon but remained coolly polite. After all, they were stuck being lab partners. In an attempt to rid himself of the persistent feelings he had for the pretty boy with dark circles and bee-stung lips, he'd accepted a date with Min. She was pretty with her short black hair, flashing brown eyes, and exuberant personality. They'd been casual friends for almost a year, since her transfer from California. Bong-cha was not pleased but she remained his friend. He admired her ability to put friendship before romantic feelings. Especially since her friendship meant even more to him since the emotional fallout with Seungho.
Min bounced into the classroom after biology ended. “Joonie-ah! I got you a present.”
He grinned. “What? It's not even my birthday. Or our hundred days anniversary.”
Both he and Min glanced over when Seungho's chair toppled over from him standing abruptly. “Are you okay?” Min asked with genuine concern. Joon never told her about his feeling for Seungho or how it had all gone so wrong. Partly because of her but he suspected not entirely.
And she couldn't have known so he didn't blame her.
“Fine. I'm fine.” Seungho practically whispered it. His features looked tight to Joon as if he were in pain. For a moment, just a split second but it felt like eternity to Joon, their eyes met and he swore tears glittered in Seungho's depthless brown eyes.
“Seungho-” Joon reached out a hand to him but the other boy backed away before scurrying out of the room.
“Wow, baby. You sure know how to win friends and influence people.” Min frowned. “Seriously. I never saw anybody react that badly to you before.”
“It is just basic personality conflict, I guess. He hasn't liked me since his first day.” Joon shrugged as if it didn't matter. His heart ached deep in his chest. “You said something about a present. You know how I just adore presents.”
She handed him a gaily wrapped box. “Open it at lunch. We gotta get to our next class.”
They linked hands and hurried out. Neither saw the blond leaning against the side of a row of lockers, face devastated.
The next day, the day after that, and then for a week, Seungho didn't show up in biology class. At first Joon wondered if he was cutting class but found it out of character when the boy seemed like such a nerd. Surprised, then curious, and finally worried, Joon broached the topic at lunch. Min had a study date with a girl in her Maths class so he felt comfortable bringing up Seungho's name.
“What do you know of Seungho's absence?”
Bong-cha glared. “I think you either need to get over the boy or dump Min. It isn't right to use her to get over somebody else. Since it sure doesn't seem like you are getting over that somebody else.” She took an angry bite of her apple.
Joon sighed but didn't reply. He looked to Byunghee who tended to know everything about everybody.
“I heard from Chaerin he's been sick. The flu or something. He was briefly in the hospital for dehydration but is home now on bed rest. Dara says it isn't just the flu but a broken heart. They are in the same honors English class. Apparently Dara thinks some asshole broke Seungho's heart.”
“Honors English? They have that here?” Chul-yong glanced up from his food. “Why?”
“Because some people like learning other languages.” Sang-hyun ruffled his boyfriend's hair.
Chul-yong grunted. “Japanese seems more useful. Or even Chinese. Since we live closer to both those countries.” He and Sang-hyun began to debate the necessity of learning English.
Joon tuned them out. “I should go to him. Check on him. Bring him soup or something.”
Pelting him with a carrot, Bong-cha said, “Focus on your girlfriend for fuck's sake. Seungho hates you. Geez.”
“I don't care.” He stood up. “I'm going to see him.”
“Do you even know where he lives?” At Joon's sheepish head shake, Byunghee pulled out his cellphone and typed rapidly. A few seconds later, Joon's cellphone vibrated in his pocket. “That's his address.”
“Thanks, bro.” Joon smiled and hurried out the cafeteria.
“He's gonna break Min's heart.”
Byunghee shook his head at Bong-cha. “No he won't. Min is in love with somebody else.”
“What?” Three sets of eyes turned to him.
With a knowing smile, Byunghee said, “She's been using Joon to make somebody jealous. No.” He held up his hand in a “stop” gesture. “I won't tell you all who it is. I'm not suppose to know but she got drunk once and told me.”
The other three shook their heads in amazement. Byunghee just invited confidences from other people.
Miles away from school, giving no thought to how much shit he'd be in for ditching all his afternoon classes, Joon pushed the buzzer for Seungho's apartment. What felt like ages passed before a weary voice spoke through the speaker. “Who is it?”
“It's Lee Chang-sun.” When there was no immediate response, Joon cleared his throat. “You know. Joon. Your lab partner.”
“I know who you are. What do you want?”
Gracious, Joon thought but accepted they weren't exactly amicable acquaintances. “I heard you were sick. Byunghee told me. I was worried. I wanted to check on you.”
“Why are you worried? Shouldn't you be shoving your tongue down your girlfriend's throat?” It was rude but the insult lacked strength because his voice was so tired.
“Come on, Seungho. Please let me at least see you for a minute. Just to make sure you really aren't at death's door.” Joon didn't hold out much hope but he was nothing if not stubborn.
More silence on the other end of the speaker box then a grudging “Fine.” The beep sounded as the lobby door unlocked. Joon pushed through the door while doing a victory dance mentally. On the ride in the elevator to Seungho's floor, Joon fidgeted and wondered what he would say to the other boy. Then he wondered how he would explain this visit to Min because she knew he wasn't exactly the type to rush to the sickbed of a person he barely know. Much less one who hardly tolerated his presence.
Seungho leaned against the door jamb of his apartment's door, looking pale and exhausted. Joon stepped out of the elevator and noted the intensified circles under Seungho's eyes. The boy's frame also seemed slimmer as if he'd lost weight. It made Joon's throat ache to see his classmate, his biggest crush looking so ill.
On instinct, he rushed to the other boy and wrapped him in a hug. Seungho stiffened and tried to push Joon away but was too weak to make the effort count. Joon, overcome, rubbed his hands up and down Seungho's back, anguished at how easy it was to feel the vertebrae of his spine. He murmured nearly incoherent words of worry and love and grief.
Slowly Seungho relaxed, seeming to sink against and into Joon's warmth. He understood some of Joon's mumbles despite them being muffled in his hair.
“Come inside.” Seungho managed to ease out of Joon's embrace.
Letting his arms fall to his sides, Joon stepped into Seungho's home. After closing the door, Seungho led the way to the living room, flopping down on the couch.
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have grabbed you like that. I wasn't thinking.” Joon stood awkwardly in the middle of the floor and studied the supine boy. “Can I get you anything? Tea? Soup? A blanket?”
“No. No, thanks.” Seungho opened his heavy-lidded eyes. “Why are you here?”
“I was worried-”
“Ok. Why were you worried about me?”
“Why wouldn't I be?”
Seungho heaved a breath and sat up. “Look, you are like Mr. Popularity or something, always surrounded by adoring fans. I'm a nerd. An unabashed nerd who can count his friends on one hand. I like it like that, too. Why do you insist on pestering me?”
Joon shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “What's any of that got to do with me worrying about you?”
“Everything, for crying out loud. We're not friends. We're barely speak.”
“Your choice.” Joon shrugged when Seungho glared at him. “It's true. I wanted to get to know you from the first day I saw you.”
“Only to add another notch to your belt.” Seungho rolled his eyes and then winced.
“Headache? Want me to get you something for that?” At Seungho's pissy negative reply, Joon moved to sit beside him on the sofa. Might as well go all in, he thought fatalistically. “Look, Seungho. I thought you were really attractive. Still do. I also found - find- you fascinating. You are smart and quiet and controlled. You are like....I don't know. Everything I'm not. Sure it started out physical. You are dead sexy and I'm not blind. But I also started to like how you weren't like the others around me. You didn't fawn over me. Being pretty or popular wasn't one of your goals. It was interesting. You are interesting.”
Seungho stared at him like he'd sprouted another head. Or maybe two other heads. And some tentacles. “You find me sexy?”
Joon snorted. “Yea, genius.”
“Really? And interesting? Not boring?”
Now Joon burst out laughing. “Seungho. You told me to shove my date up my ass. And you did it in dulcet tones. There is nothing boring about you. Where did you ever get that idea?”
Staring off into space, into the past, Seungho said, “A guy at my old school told me I was boring. Always wanting to have my nose in a book or talk about things like biology or trig.”
Joon sighed. “He was an idiot. Look, I may not be a brain. Trig is way over my head, not gonna lie. But you knowing shit like that? That is interesting.” Grasping Seungho's chin in his hand, Joon turned him so they were eye to eye. “We are different but I also think we can find common ground. I'm not asking you for forever. Just a date. Maybe four dates. Whatever. You are not a bet or a joke or anything other than Yang Seungho who has had me twisted in knots ever since you first sat next to me in biology class.”
Seungho started to smile. “When you put it like that.” Then he leaned forward and kissed Joon on the lips. Not a shy sort of kiss but one full of pent-up frustration and lust and passion. Joon took a moment to absorb the shock and then kissed him back with equal fervor.
Minutes later, they were gasping for air and Joon wrapped his arms around Seungho's waist. “Oh shit.”
“What?” Seungho snuggled against Joon's side, tracing his fingertips over Joon's arms.
“You probably just gave me whatever you have.”
Seungho smiled up at him. “No worries. I make an excellent nurse.”