Everything About Living Free [3/8]
Title: Everything about living free
Pairing: kris/lay
Rating: PG-13
Length: 43,278 words
Summary: Yixing has an eight-step list to change his life and the first thing is to get a tattoo. What’s not on the list, however, is the hot tattoo artist that comes along. (it's so much more than that, really)
{item n. 2}
3. Get a cat
Jongdae shifts on his chair as he feels the weight of his friends’ stares at him. He called them up in an emergency meeting after work because apparently, he had some news to share.
“Is Soojung having triplets?” Song Qian risks and slurps her bubble tea. Baekhyun just rolls his eyes.
“I could be home watching Celebrity Deathmatch.”
Yixing frowns, “Are they still airing that?”
Baekhyun smiles and answers excitedly, “Yeah, they’re showing Puff Daddy vs. Trent Reznor tonight.”
“Guys,” Jongdae says, a reminder of the real reason they’re gathered at Baekhyun’s favorite bubble tea place. Once everyone is focused on him, he inhales. “So… in light of the recent events…”
“You knocking Soojung up.” Yixing says, earning himself a glare. He smiles.
Jongdae takes another deep breath and continues as if Yixing’s interruption had never happened. “Soojung and I decided to rush our wedding. Actually it was Soojung’s decision. She says her dress was made for a thin princess, not a fat whore.”
“She knows she’ll be carrying a child, right?” Song Qian tries.
“Yes,” Jongdae sighs, as if he’s tired of this very same sentence. “She does.”
“So, when’s the date?” Baekhyun asks.
“March 15th.” he throws casually.
Yixing is about to make a question about the wedding presents when his phone buzzes in his pocket. He picks it up and reads Yifan’s name on his screen. They had exchanged numbers last weekend, and Yixing didn’t actually think he would be receiving a text from the tattoo artist any time soon.
Is your tattoo itching? the message reads. Yixing frowns, because what kind of starter is that? Couldn’t think of anything better to start out a conversation? he types back.
Song Qian is complaining about never finding the perfect dress when Yixing’s phone buzzes again. Because if it is, don’t scratch. Apply the cream I gave you. He snorts a laugh and turns his attention back to Jongdae, who’s now trying to apologize to Song Qian about the perfect dress she’s never going to find in such a short period. His phone buzzes again. What are you doing?
with friends, he types. jongdae’s wedding is happening sooner than expected.
Because of the baby thing?, Yifan sends. Wait, are you at the wedding right now?
Yixing chuckles, skating his fingers across the keyboard. nope, we’re at a bubble tea house.
“Is this Mr. Handsome?” Baekhyun questions, neck stretching to try and peek at Yixing’s phone. “You’re smiling down at your phone.”
“Stop texting your boyfriend!” Jongdae exclaims.
“Yeah, you’re stealing Jongdae’s thunder!” Song Qian teases. “Or we could let him flirt away. How many guys have been interested in Yixing for the past few months?”
“You’re right. Jongdae, this is more important than your wedding.” Baekhyun says matter-of-factly and Jongdae rolls his eyes.
“We’re just talking.” Yixing says as he opens the newest text. It reads, Bubble tea isn’t my style.
good thing you weren’t invited then. Yixing bites on his lower lip before hitting send.
“Is he being cheeky?” Song Qian whispers to Baekhyun.
“I feel treasured.” Jongdae says, leaning back on his chair and grabbing his bubble tea cup.
“Sorry, I’ll stop texting now.” Yixing pockets his phone and rests his arms on the table, eyes glued to his friend. “What was that about the wedding presents?”
Jongdae narrows his eyes. “No one talked about the wedding presents. But since you were kind enough to mention, Soojung’s parents are mad about the pregnancy and won’t help us with our furniture.”
“So let me guess,” Song Qian crosses her arms after graciously tossing her hair. “You expect us to furnish your apartment.”
Jongdae averts his eyes and blinks at his cup. “Well, not only you… Our friends in general.”
Silence fills the air as Jongdae receives blank stares from his friends.
“So, Yixing, let’s talk about Mr. Handsome.”
✦
Can’t you name it Plaything?
Yixing snorts at his phone and shakes his head, incessant barking following him as he walks. The shelter’s keeper motions for Yixing to keep walking and he nods before looking down to his phone and typing quickly. why would i name my cat plaything? so it could pair up with your rat?
It’s been a week since they started texting, and so far there hasn’t been a day in Yixing’s life without the buzzing of his phone that he now associates with Yifan. It’s soothing, to secretly drag his fingers across the screen while listening to his clients enumerate the reasons why they would never use Yixing’s paper. Some time around Monday Yifan sent him a picture of his ‘last creation’, a watercolor tattoo on a girl’s shoulder. Yixing congratulated him with a thumbs up selfie, to which Yifan replied with a ;)
Hamster, Yifan sends back. And they would make great friends.
Yixing rolls his eyes, biting on his lower lip. yifan, my cat would probably try to eat your rat
Don't crush my dreams.
Something paws at his leg. Yixing looks down to find a russian blue kitten, eyes a sparkly amber and meowing so thin it’s barely heard.
“This one is three months old.” The keeper says.
Yixing blinks at her and crouches next to the kitten as the small animal noses his way up his knee, little paws trying to support his body. He’s curious enough to try and jump onto Yixing’s legs.
“It’s a he?” he asks, letting the kitten sniff his fingers before carefully caressing between his ears with his knuckles.
The keeper hums and Yixing smiles down at the cat. He likes this one, so he snaps a picture and sends to Yifan. i love him, he types.
“He’s very curious,” the keeper says as Yixing stands up, kitten in arms. “But not prone to noise. He seems to like you.”
“I like him too,” Yixing says, finally looking up at the lady next to him. “I’m ready to fill out the forms.”
Yifan’s reply comes in shortly after he finishes the paperwork. He doesn’t look like a plaything. More like Iron Man.
The cat meows quietly inside his cardboard box as Yixing carries him out of the shelter and toward the street where he can call a cab. He squints at the kitten, head tilting sideways. Once into the cab, Yixing fishes for his phone and types an answer.
not iron man. i like spiderman better.
He looks at the cat, amber eyes staring right back at him. “Hey, Peter Parker.” he tests out and the cat lies, wrapping his tail around his body. Yixing smiles. “Peter Parker.”
It takes Song Qian thirty minutes to come down to Yixing’s apartment after hearing the news about Peter Parker. She’d refused to accompany him to the shelter because of something related to RuPaul’s drag race, but the picture Yixing sent to their group chat was seemingly enough to drag her out.
“He’s so cute!” she coos at the cat as he peacefully rests on Yixing’s bed. “And so small!” she tosses her hair and shoots Yixing a glare. “Obviously I wouldn’t give him such a stupid name.”
Yixing ignores her and types Yifan another message, the evil witch is here.
“Have you bought him food?” she asks, trying to catch Peter Parker’s attention with her long-nailed fingers. “You can’t be a slack about him, you know. He’s a living creature and under your responsibility. You really have to take care of him.”
Why do you talk about your best friend like this?
“Of course I bought him food,” he rolls his eyes at her, and receives one of Song Qian’s most elaborated eye rolls. “I wouldn’t be a slack about Peter Parker.”
“You seem much more focused on texting Mr. Handsome than looking out for your cat. He could, I don’t know, set himself on fire.”
He stops, blinking at the half-typed message on his phone, then throws the device on his bed. Peter Parker startles and jumps off the bed. Song Qian whines and stands up, folding her arms indignantly.
“Why would you hurl your phone at the cat?”
“Can you quit being a hater?” Yixing runs both hands through his hair and sighs. “Will you spend the night?”
“I have to,” she says dutifully. “Can’t just abandon this poor creature.”
Yixing gazes at her for a few moments, questioning his choice of friends and how he would stick with them for so long.
✦
Three days to Jongdae’s wedding and Yixing still hasn’t got a suit. It’s probably because Soojung had a fit over his newly dyed orange hair, accusing him of purposefully ruining the aesthetics of her wedding photos. She had been moodier than usual, bursting into Yixing’s apartment with Song Qian in tow as her mule, shopping bags hanging from every single available limb.
“I’m getting married in three days, Zhang Yixing.” she says. “I should be worrying about salmon and flowers, instead, I’m fixing the problem that is your hair.”
Yixing frowns and scratches his ear. “Why is my hair a problem?”
“Because,” she rolls her eyes, as if his question is somewhat absurd. “No tuxedo you try will go with your Fizbo look.”
“You’re the one who said I shouldn’t try any tuxedos--”
Song Qian cuts in, three bags falling from her arms as she pathetically flails her arms in attempt to manage speaking and making a grab for Princess Soojung’s shit. “She was trying to cut you out from the wedding. Bam, it’s out there.”
Yixing lets out a horrified gasp when Soojung shoots Song Qian an incredulous glare. “You did not!”
“You’re ridiculous and my wedding is supposed to be marvelous!” she tries to reason.
“Jongdae is a great friend of mine, Soojung, I can’t believe you’d be that selfish!” he stomps into his diminished kitchen and pours himself an angry glass of water. Peter Parker meows lazily from his new favorite spot -- the sink --, tail softly swinging. Soojung follows him (and if the paper-cardboard moving noises are any indication, Song Qian as well).
“What’s that on the sink?” she asks, coming closer.
“Peter Parker,” Song Qian says. “Yixing’s cat.”
Soojung eyes the cat for a while, tilting her head sideways. Yixing fears what’s on her mind as she inspects Peter Parker. “It’s cute,” she says, mildly shaking her head. “Ok. Your hair can attend the wedding. With one condition.”
“What would that be?”
“She wants you out of the pictures.” Song Qian says, a smirk on. “Bam.”
Yixing gapes at Soojung, “How is that different from cutting me out?”
She rolls her eyes, and Yixing silently wishes they stick backwards. “It’s not like you’ll be always looking at them.”
“It doesn’t matter, I wanna be in the pictures!” he exclaims and places the glass on the counter a little too harshly.
When the uncomfortable silence stretches too long, Soojung rolls her eyes again. “Ok, fine. But promise you’ll look decent?”
It’s Yixing’s turn to roll his eyes.
She turns to Song Qian. “By the way, Jongdae’s picking me up here, so you can drop the stuff somewhere,” she looks around Yixing’s place in distaste. “that is if there’s a spot to drop something else in this dungeon.”
They move to his bed (to Song Qian’s relief -- and Peter Parker’s, who instantly moves to curl up on her lap) and Soojung engages on blabbering about her pregnancy.
“I get morning sickness most days, but on the ones I don’t, I’m out for murder.” she explains.
“Jongdae is such a great person.” Yixing muses, eyes never leaving his friend’s fiancée as she pets his cat on Song Qian’s lap.
“He is,” Soojung smiles. “I know I drive him up the walls sometimes, but he’s so patient with me--” a knock on the door cuts her words. “I guess that’s him.”
Indeed, that is Jongdae at the door, but he is not alone. Yixing’s eyes widen at Yifan’s tall figure, dark hair covering the sides of his face, a big smile in greeting. The smile alone would be enough to have Yixing’s stomach fluttering frantically, but the hair. The hair is down. It’s the first time he’s actually seeing Yifan’s hair down. He’s so shocked he actually forgets to allow them past the door or to even say hello.
“Ok, we would like to get inside?” Jongdae says, quickly pushing past Yixing and into the apartment.
“So,” Yifan says. “I hope it’s ok I stopped by. You said you’d be home after seven and I wanted to see the cat.” he explains as his hands push the sleeves of his flannel shirt up, revealing bits of his magnificent tattooed arms. Oh yes.
Trying not to hang around the fact that Yifan just crossed the river to visit the newly acquired pet, Yixing breaks free from his stupor, shaking his head and stepping out of the way so Yifan could come inside. “Of course, it’s fine.”
“Mr. Handsome!” Song Qian screeches and Yixing rubs both hands on his face. Of all moments for Yifan to make a surprise appearance.
“Uh~” Soojung’s voice sounds too interested. “Is that Mr. Handsome?”
Yixing doesn’t want to open his eyes.
“I don’t know how to feel about the nickname,” Yifan awkwardly chuckles. “But my name is Yifan, if that interests any of you.”
Triumph fills Yixing’s insides and he opens his eyes, taking in his friends flabbergasted faces. He places a reassuring hand on Yifan’s shoulder, the taller looking down at him with that known smile that seems to be permanent. “You’re always welcome, Yifan.”
Soojung doesn’t seem too vexed, tossing her hair and caressing her flat stomach as she looks up at Yifan from her spot on the bed. “I’m afraid we haven’t met,” she stretches the hand that was previously soothing her belly. “I’m Soojung.”
“Ah,” Yifan shakes her hand, exchanging a quick glance with Yixing. “Evil Witch No. 2?”
Yixing chokes on his saliva as Soojung pierces holes into his face.
“Who’s evil witch number one?” Song Qian asks.
Yixing sighs, turning to Yifan. “Why would you?” he whines.
“They call me Mr. Handsome,” Yifan shrugs. “Why can’t I be honest?”
“That is flattery!” Soojung barks indignantly. “I was about to tell Yixing to bring you as a plus one to our wedding, but I take back my unspoken invitation!”
“You know if I want to bring him I will, right?”
Jongdae sighs loudly, running both hands through his hair when he turns to his fiancée. “Can we go home?”
Soojung snorts, “You call that hellhole home…”
Song Qian collects her things and softens her clothes, “You’re giving me a ride home.”
Yixing watches his friends retreating with a warm heart, waving at Soojung when she yells him to go shopping for a suit soon. Once the door has closed, Yixing’s eyes find Yifan on the bed, Peter Parker pawing at his leg, tail puffed out.
“He thinks you’re a menace.” Yixing says, flopping on the bed by his side. The cat meows and attacks Yifan’s leg once more. The latter chuckles.
“He’s cute. Too cute. Cuter when he’s not trying to rip my pants.” he laughs, removing the cat from his jeans and handing him over to Yixing, who places him on the floor. “So, Peter Parker is item number three from your list?”
“Yes,” Yixing crosses his legs under his body. “Next thing is easy. I’m making a donation.”
Yifan hums thoughtfully. “Do you feel like something is changing?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, didn’t you start this list thing to get a hold of your life? So, is it working?”
Sighing, Yixing thinks back to when he first decided to make the list. He thinks about how he felt walking into his workplace everyday, how he felt sitting on his chair and going through his daily demand, how miserable he was as he walked into his empty apartment at the end of an awfully long day. Yixing thinks back at the XBOX console which he doesn’t touch in a while, thinks about his desk and all the shit he’s been slowly functionally organizing. About his cat.
He can’t say things aren’t different. He feels different. It’s not about the tattoo, or his hair; it’s about unsticking himself from everything that made his life stale. It’s about living free.
And there’s Yifan. There wasn’t Yifan before the list, and here he is. A pleasant addition to Yixing’s life with his humorous texts, long hair and eccentric job. His gut feeling tells him that there’s more to Yifan, that he’s in for something big, and Yixing is curious.
He locks their eyes, squinting at the one next to him, and Yifan returns his gaze, eyes almost as contemplative as Yixing’s own. He wonders what’s on his mind. Is he thinking about the list?
“Yes,” Yixing finally answers. “It’s been working all right.”
Yifan’s smile is blinding, eyes adorably reducing. Yixing feels something constrict at his stomach.
“So… Do you want to come to the wedding?” throwing it carelessly, Yixing tries to pretend as if he’s not dreading an answer, eyes roaming around his small living-bed-room.
Yifan takes a few seconds to talk. “Do you want me to come?”
He’s got the answer to that question at the tip of his tongue, although he’s not too keen on blurting it and looking too eager. That’s why Yixing resolves for sighing and lifting his eyes, looking at Yifan’s patient face and his soothed eyebrows.
The cat hops onto the bed, walking in Yifan’s direction without any harmful intentions, tail quietly up. “I guess Peter Parker wants you to come.” Yixing says.
Yifan stares at him for a moment, hand instinctively coming to pet Peter Parker (sitting by his side). His eyes search Yixing’s face, teeth lightly biting on his lower lip in amusement. He looks amused. Yixing blushes.
“Yeah, sure.” Yifan says. “I’ll come for Peter Parker’s sake.”
Yifan agrees to meet up with Yixing at his workplace, since it’s in Jung-gu and closer to their destination. They talked about going to Sinsa-dong, which is closer to Yixing’s apartment, but too far from both their workplaces, so they settle for suit-hunting in Myeong-dong. When Yixing finishes his shift, Yifan is already waiting for him at the lobby, looking too comfortable on the too-large, too-padded armchair. Song Qian tightens her coat around her body and sighs. Yixing’s been catching her hints about wanting to tag along all day. He would never allow it, she only wants to come so she can boss them around and make them wear whatever she wants. Yixing’s gonna wear whatever he wants. And what’s cool with Soojung as well, of course.
“There he is,” she says once they leave the elevator and spot Yifan. “He’s been around a lot lately, huh?”
“Not exactly around. We’ve been texting, and talking. He stopped by yesterday to check on the cat and we talked for a while.”
Song Qian hums. Yixing knows that humming all-too-well, but chooses not to dwell on what’s on her mind at the moment. He’s supposed to go shopping. They part with a fist pump and Yixing marches toward Yifan. He’s typing something on his phone, furrowed eyebrows and teeth biting on his lower lip looking genuinely concerned. When Yixing touches his shoulder, he jerks around, phone nearly jumping from his hands.
“Wow, easy there.” Yixing jokes. “Is everything alright? You look worried.”
Yifan lets out a sheepish laugh and pockets his phone. His hair is tied in a ponytail again, a few loose strands around his face. Yixing tries not to stare (or swoon), inspecting his surroundings as he waits for Yifan’s answer.
“Nothing to be worried about, it’s just,” he scratches his forehead with a finger as he stands up. “My friend is visiting next week.”
“Is it a visit to be excited about?”
He shrugs, burying his hands in his pockets. “Maybe. But let’s do this, shall we? We have suits to find.”
Maybe Sinsa would have been better to hunt for clothes, but walking across Myeongdong from store to store gave them quality (and tiring) time together. Truth is Yixing wasn’t really thinking about the suit (or the overly-detailed list of requirements Soojung was kind enough to e-mail him). Since Yifan’s visit to his apartment the previous night, Yixing’s been considering all these scenarios involving the two of them and Jongdae’s wedding, such as slow dancing under the expensive chandelier Jongdae has been mentioning or eating cake from the same plate. Maybe sipping on each other’s glasses. The possibilities are endless and even more when Yixing is the only person acquainted enough with Yifan to care and make a conversation. They’ll be stuck together the whole night.
“Hey, here’s an orange bow tie.” Yifan says. They’re at one of the best stores they’ve visited so far -- which means lower prices --, and Yixing is carefully inspecting a few vests and trying not to mind Soojung’s e-mail. He turns at Yifan’s call and squints at the bow tie. The e-mail said neck tie.
“Fancy.” he says.
“Didn’t she say you were supposed to wear orange?”
Yixing sighs, approaching the other and taking the tie into his hands. One must be very careful of what Jung Soojung says. Especially at an event in which she has all the power to boss people around and act as if she doesn’t boss people around on a daily basis.
“She would kill me if I showed up on an orange tie.” he places the tie back with the others and gently taps at Yifan’s shoulder. Yixing knows he shouldn’t dwell at how firm it feels under his fingers, so he forces his mind back to suits.
“She should have picked a suit for you herself,” Yifan says, following Yixing toward the vest section. “If she’s worried you’d show up dressed as a clown.”
“You know nothing about it,” Yixing eyes a cute vest but thinks of how Soojung would throw a fit if he wore blue. “She actually cut me off from the groomsmen line because I have open nostrils.”
It happened soon after Jongdae announced that he wanted both Yixing and Baekhyun to be his groomsmen along with his brother and one of his coworkers. A few days later he gets an angry e-mail from Soojung informing that unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to perform said role during the wedding because of his nostrils. Yixing was bummed at first, but then he thought about the groomsmen having to deal with the bride. A bullet dodged.
Yifan chuckles and leans into Yixing’s personal space, stretching his arm to grab a pink vest. “You should wear all white. She’d freak out.”
There’s a thing. Since entering the first store, Yifan has been leaning into Yixing’s personal space, touching his arm to catch his attention or softly placing his hand on Yixing’s lower back to steer him into the direction of some other stores with cool jackets. It shouldn’t make Yixing’s heart race the way it does. His mind travels all the way back to the endless scenarios when it should be focusing on suits. Because that’s why they’re out together, to shop for suits. Not to be flirty.
Three stores later (and a milkshake) Yixing settles for an all-black suit. Yifan gets a pink tie because he thinks it would clash with his looks.
Yixing finds a trashcan not long after they make their purchases, and tosses his cup. Yifan still has his mouth around the strap on his milkshake cup. It shouldn’t make a difference that he gently licks the plastic before wrapping his mouth around it, touching it with his tongue after he’s done. It shouldn’t make Yixing’s throat feel dry, but it does. In fact, his throat has been dry since he saw Yifan sitting on that armchair in the lobby.
They take the subway together at Myeongdong station, but part ways at Seoul station, and
between Samgakji and Dongjak, Yixing wonders if Saturday will be anything like all those possibilities dancing around in his head.
{item n. 4}
Pairing: kris/lay
Rating: PG-13
Length: 43,278 words
Summary: Yixing has an eight-step list to change his life and the first thing is to get a tattoo. What’s not on the list, however, is the hot tattoo artist that comes along. (it's so much more than that, really)
{item n. 2}
3. Get a cat
Jongdae shifts on his chair as he feels the weight of his friends’ stares at him. He called them up in an emergency meeting after work because apparently, he had some news to share.
“Is Soojung having triplets?” Song Qian risks and slurps her bubble tea. Baekhyun just rolls his eyes.
“I could be home watching Celebrity Deathmatch.”
Yixing frowns, “Are they still airing that?”
Baekhyun smiles and answers excitedly, “Yeah, they’re showing Puff Daddy vs. Trent Reznor tonight.”
“Guys,” Jongdae says, a reminder of the real reason they’re gathered at Baekhyun’s favorite bubble tea place. Once everyone is focused on him, he inhales. “So… in light of the recent events…”
“You knocking Soojung up.” Yixing says, earning himself a glare. He smiles.
Jongdae takes another deep breath and continues as if Yixing’s interruption had never happened. “Soojung and I decided to rush our wedding. Actually it was Soojung’s decision. She says her dress was made for a thin princess, not a fat whore.”
“She knows she’ll be carrying a child, right?” Song Qian tries.
“Yes,” Jongdae sighs, as if he’s tired of this very same sentence. “She does.”
“So, when’s the date?” Baekhyun asks.
“March 15th.” he throws casually.
Yixing is about to make a question about the wedding presents when his phone buzzes in his pocket. He picks it up and reads Yifan’s name on his screen. They had exchanged numbers last weekend, and Yixing didn’t actually think he would be receiving a text from the tattoo artist any time soon.
Is your tattoo itching? the message reads. Yixing frowns, because what kind of starter is that? Couldn’t think of anything better to start out a conversation? he types back.
Song Qian is complaining about never finding the perfect dress when Yixing’s phone buzzes again. Because if it is, don’t scratch. Apply the cream I gave you. He snorts a laugh and turns his attention back to Jongdae, who’s now trying to apologize to Song Qian about the perfect dress she’s never going to find in such a short period. His phone buzzes again. What are you doing?
with friends, he types. jongdae’s wedding is happening sooner than expected.
Because of the baby thing?, Yifan sends. Wait, are you at the wedding right now?
Yixing chuckles, skating his fingers across the keyboard. nope, we’re at a bubble tea house.
“Is this Mr. Handsome?” Baekhyun questions, neck stretching to try and peek at Yixing’s phone. “You’re smiling down at your phone.”
“Stop texting your boyfriend!” Jongdae exclaims.
“Yeah, you’re stealing Jongdae’s thunder!” Song Qian teases. “Or we could let him flirt away. How many guys have been interested in Yixing for the past few months?”
“You’re right. Jongdae, this is more important than your wedding.” Baekhyun says matter-of-factly and Jongdae rolls his eyes.
“We’re just talking.” Yixing says as he opens the newest text. It reads, Bubble tea isn’t my style.
good thing you weren’t invited then. Yixing bites on his lower lip before hitting send.
“Is he being cheeky?” Song Qian whispers to Baekhyun.
“I feel treasured.” Jongdae says, leaning back on his chair and grabbing his bubble tea cup.
“Sorry, I’ll stop texting now.” Yixing pockets his phone and rests his arms on the table, eyes glued to his friend. “What was that about the wedding presents?”
Jongdae narrows his eyes. “No one talked about the wedding presents. But since you were kind enough to mention, Soojung’s parents are mad about the pregnancy and won’t help us with our furniture.”
“So let me guess,” Song Qian crosses her arms after graciously tossing her hair. “You expect us to furnish your apartment.”
Jongdae averts his eyes and blinks at his cup. “Well, not only you… Our friends in general.”
Silence fills the air as Jongdae receives blank stares from his friends.
“So, Yixing, let’s talk about Mr. Handsome.”
✦
Can’t you name it Plaything?
Yixing snorts at his phone and shakes his head, incessant barking following him as he walks. The shelter’s keeper motions for Yixing to keep walking and he nods before looking down to his phone and typing quickly. why would i name my cat plaything? so it could pair up with your rat?
It’s been a week since they started texting, and so far there hasn’t been a day in Yixing’s life without the buzzing of his phone that he now associates with Yifan. It’s soothing, to secretly drag his fingers across the screen while listening to his clients enumerate the reasons why they would never use Yixing’s paper. Some time around Monday Yifan sent him a picture of his ‘last creation’, a watercolor tattoo on a girl’s shoulder. Yixing congratulated him with a thumbs up selfie, to which Yifan replied with a ;)
Hamster, Yifan sends back. And they would make great friends.
Yixing rolls his eyes, biting on his lower lip. yifan, my cat would probably try to eat your rat
Don't crush my dreams.
Something paws at his leg. Yixing looks down to find a russian blue kitten, eyes a sparkly amber and meowing so thin it’s barely heard.
“This one is three months old.” The keeper says.
Yixing blinks at her and crouches next to the kitten as the small animal noses his way up his knee, little paws trying to support his body. He’s curious enough to try and jump onto Yixing’s legs.
“It’s a he?” he asks, letting the kitten sniff his fingers before carefully caressing between his ears with his knuckles.
The keeper hums and Yixing smiles down at the cat. He likes this one, so he snaps a picture and sends to Yifan. i love him, he types.
“He’s very curious,” the keeper says as Yixing stands up, kitten in arms. “But not prone to noise. He seems to like you.”
“I like him too,” Yixing says, finally looking up at the lady next to him. “I’m ready to fill out the forms.”
Yifan’s reply comes in shortly after he finishes the paperwork. He doesn’t look like a plaything. More like Iron Man.
The cat meows quietly inside his cardboard box as Yixing carries him out of the shelter and toward the street where he can call a cab. He squints at the kitten, head tilting sideways. Once into the cab, Yixing fishes for his phone and types an answer.
not iron man. i like spiderman better.
He looks at the cat, amber eyes staring right back at him. “Hey, Peter Parker.” he tests out and the cat lies, wrapping his tail around his body. Yixing smiles. “Peter Parker.”
It takes Song Qian thirty minutes to come down to Yixing’s apartment after hearing the news about Peter Parker. She’d refused to accompany him to the shelter because of something related to RuPaul’s drag race, but the picture Yixing sent to their group chat was seemingly enough to drag her out.
“He’s so cute!” she coos at the cat as he peacefully rests on Yixing’s bed. “And so small!” she tosses her hair and shoots Yixing a glare. “Obviously I wouldn’t give him such a stupid name.”
Yixing ignores her and types Yifan another message, the evil witch is here.
“Have you bought him food?” she asks, trying to catch Peter Parker’s attention with her long-nailed fingers. “You can’t be a slack about him, you know. He’s a living creature and under your responsibility. You really have to take care of him.”
Why do you talk about your best friend like this?
“Of course I bought him food,” he rolls his eyes at her, and receives one of Song Qian’s most elaborated eye rolls. “I wouldn’t be a slack about Peter Parker.”
“You seem much more focused on texting Mr. Handsome than looking out for your cat. He could, I don’t know, set himself on fire.”
He stops, blinking at the half-typed message on his phone, then throws the device on his bed. Peter Parker startles and jumps off the bed. Song Qian whines and stands up, folding her arms indignantly.
“Why would you hurl your phone at the cat?”
“Can you quit being a hater?” Yixing runs both hands through his hair and sighs. “Will you spend the night?”
“I have to,” she says dutifully. “Can’t just abandon this poor creature.”
Yixing gazes at her for a few moments, questioning his choice of friends and how he would stick with them for so long.
✦
Three days to Jongdae’s wedding and Yixing still hasn’t got a suit. It’s probably because Soojung had a fit over his newly dyed orange hair, accusing him of purposefully ruining the aesthetics of her wedding photos. She had been moodier than usual, bursting into Yixing’s apartment with Song Qian in tow as her mule, shopping bags hanging from every single available limb.
“I’m getting married in three days, Zhang Yixing.” she says. “I should be worrying about salmon and flowers, instead, I’m fixing the problem that is your hair.”
Yixing frowns and scratches his ear. “Why is my hair a problem?”
“Because,” she rolls her eyes, as if his question is somewhat absurd. “No tuxedo you try will go with your Fizbo look.”
“You’re the one who said I shouldn’t try any tuxedos--”
Song Qian cuts in, three bags falling from her arms as she pathetically flails her arms in attempt to manage speaking and making a grab for Princess Soojung’s shit. “She was trying to cut you out from the wedding. Bam, it’s out there.”
Yixing lets out a horrified gasp when Soojung shoots Song Qian an incredulous glare. “You did not!”
“You’re ridiculous and my wedding is supposed to be marvelous!” she tries to reason.
“Jongdae is a great friend of mine, Soojung, I can’t believe you’d be that selfish!” he stomps into his diminished kitchen and pours himself an angry glass of water. Peter Parker meows lazily from his new favorite spot -- the sink --, tail softly swinging. Soojung follows him (and if the paper-cardboard moving noises are any indication, Song Qian as well).
“What’s that on the sink?” she asks, coming closer.
“Peter Parker,” Song Qian says. “Yixing’s cat.”
Soojung eyes the cat for a while, tilting her head sideways. Yixing fears what’s on her mind as she inspects Peter Parker. “It’s cute,” she says, mildly shaking her head. “Ok. Your hair can attend the wedding. With one condition.”
“What would that be?”
“She wants you out of the pictures.” Song Qian says, a smirk on. “Bam.”
Yixing gapes at Soojung, “How is that different from cutting me out?”
She rolls her eyes, and Yixing silently wishes they stick backwards. “It’s not like you’ll be always looking at them.”
“It doesn’t matter, I wanna be in the pictures!” he exclaims and places the glass on the counter a little too harshly.
When the uncomfortable silence stretches too long, Soojung rolls her eyes again. “Ok, fine. But promise you’ll look decent?”
It’s Yixing’s turn to roll his eyes.
She turns to Song Qian. “By the way, Jongdae’s picking me up here, so you can drop the stuff somewhere,” she looks around Yixing’s place in distaste. “that is if there’s a spot to drop something else in this dungeon.”
They move to his bed (to Song Qian’s relief -- and Peter Parker’s, who instantly moves to curl up on her lap) and Soojung engages on blabbering about her pregnancy.
“I get morning sickness most days, but on the ones I don’t, I’m out for murder.” she explains.
“Jongdae is such a great person.” Yixing muses, eyes never leaving his friend’s fiancée as she pets his cat on Song Qian’s lap.
“He is,” Soojung smiles. “I know I drive him up the walls sometimes, but he’s so patient with me--” a knock on the door cuts her words. “I guess that’s him.”
Indeed, that is Jongdae at the door, but he is not alone. Yixing’s eyes widen at Yifan’s tall figure, dark hair covering the sides of his face, a big smile in greeting. The smile alone would be enough to have Yixing’s stomach fluttering frantically, but the hair. The hair is down. It’s the first time he’s actually seeing Yifan’s hair down. He’s so shocked he actually forgets to allow them past the door or to even say hello.
“Ok, we would like to get inside?” Jongdae says, quickly pushing past Yixing and into the apartment.
“So,” Yifan says. “I hope it’s ok I stopped by. You said you’d be home after seven and I wanted to see the cat.” he explains as his hands push the sleeves of his flannel shirt up, revealing bits of his magnificent tattooed arms. Oh yes.
Trying not to hang around the fact that Yifan just crossed the river to visit the newly acquired pet, Yixing breaks free from his stupor, shaking his head and stepping out of the way so Yifan could come inside. “Of course, it’s fine.”
“Mr. Handsome!” Song Qian screeches and Yixing rubs both hands on his face. Of all moments for Yifan to make a surprise appearance.
“Uh~” Soojung’s voice sounds too interested. “Is that Mr. Handsome?”
Yixing doesn’t want to open his eyes.
“I don’t know how to feel about the nickname,” Yifan awkwardly chuckles. “But my name is Yifan, if that interests any of you.”
Triumph fills Yixing’s insides and he opens his eyes, taking in his friends flabbergasted faces. He places a reassuring hand on Yifan’s shoulder, the taller looking down at him with that known smile that seems to be permanent. “You’re always welcome, Yifan.”
Soojung doesn’t seem too vexed, tossing her hair and caressing her flat stomach as she looks up at Yifan from her spot on the bed. “I’m afraid we haven’t met,” she stretches the hand that was previously soothing her belly. “I’m Soojung.”
“Ah,” Yifan shakes her hand, exchanging a quick glance with Yixing. “Evil Witch No. 2?”
Yixing chokes on his saliva as Soojung pierces holes into his face.
“Who’s evil witch number one?” Song Qian asks.
Yixing sighs, turning to Yifan. “Why would you?” he whines.
“They call me Mr. Handsome,” Yifan shrugs. “Why can’t I be honest?”
“That is flattery!” Soojung barks indignantly. “I was about to tell Yixing to bring you as a plus one to our wedding, but I take back my unspoken invitation!”
“You know if I want to bring him I will, right?”
Jongdae sighs loudly, running both hands through his hair when he turns to his fiancée. “Can we go home?”
Soojung snorts, “You call that hellhole home…”
Song Qian collects her things and softens her clothes, “You’re giving me a ride home.”
Yixing watches his friends retreating with a warm heart, waving at Soojung when she yells him to go shopping for a suit soon. Once the door has closed, Yixing’s eyes find Yifan on the bed, Peter Parker pawing at his leg, tail puffed out.
“He thinks you’re a menace.” Yixing says, flopping on the bed by his side. The cat meows and attacks Yifan’s leg once more. The latter chuckles.
“He’s cute. Too cute. Cuter when he’s not trying to rip my pants.” he laughs, removing the cat from his jeans and handing him over to Yixing, who places him on the floor. “So, Peter Parker is item number three from your list?”
“Yes,” Yixing crosses his legs under his body. “Next thing is easy. I’m making a donation.”
Yifan hums thoughtfully. “Do you feel like something is changing?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, didn’t you start this list thing to get a hold of your life? So, is it working?”
Sighing, Yixing thinks back to when he first decided to make the list. He thinks about how he felt walking into his workplace everyday, how he felt sitting on his chair and going through his daily demand, how miserable he was as he walked into his empty apartment at the end of an awfully long day. Yixing thinks back at the XBOX console which he doesn’t touch in a while, thinks about his desk and all the shit he’s been slowly functionally organizing. About his cat.
He can’t say things aren’t different. He feels different. It’s not about the tattoo, or his hair; it’s about unsticking himself from everything that made his life stale. It’s about living free.
And there’s Yifan. There wasn’t Yifan before the list, and here he is. A pleasant addition to Yixing’s life with his humorous texts, long hair and eccentric job. His gut feeling tells him that there’s more to Yifan, that he’s in for something big, and Yixing is curious.
He locks their eyes, squinting at the one next to him, and Yifan returns his gaze, eyes almost as contemplative as Yixing’s own. He wonders what’s on his mind. Is he thinking about the list?
“Yes,” Yixing finally answers. “It’s been working all right.”
Yifan’s smile is blinding, eyes adorably reducing. Yixing feels something constrict at his stomach.
“So… Do you want to come to the wedding?” throwing it carelessly, Yixing tries to pretend as if he’s not dreading an answer, eyes roaming around his small living-bed-room.
Yifan takes a few seconds to talk. “Do you want me to come?”
He’s got the answer to that question at the tip of his tongue, although he’s not too keen on blurting it and looking too eager. That’s why Yixing resolves for sighing and lifting his eyes, looking at Yifan’s patient face and his soothed eyebrows.
The cat hops onto the bed, walking in Yifan’s direction without any harmful intentions, tail quietly up. “I guess Peter Parker wants you to come.” Yixing says.
Yifan stares at him for a moment, hand instinctively coming to pet Peter Parker (sitting by his side). His eyes search Yixing’s face, teeth lightly biting on his lower lip in amusement. He looks amused. Yixing blushes.
“Yeah, sure.” Yifan says. “I’ll come for Peter Parker’s sake.”
Yifan agrees to meet up with Yixing at his workplace, since it’s in Jung-gu and closer to their destination. They talked about going to Sinsa-dong, which is closer to Yixing’s apartment, but too far from both their workplaces, so they settle for suit-hunting in Myeong-dong. When Yixing finishes his shift, Yifan is already waiting for him at the lobby, looking too comfortable on the too-large, too-padded armchair. Song Qian tightens her coat around her body and sighs. Yixing’s been catching her hints about wanting to tag along all day. He would never allow it, she only wants to come so she can boss them around and make them wear whatever she wants. Yixing’s gonna wear whatever he wants. And what’s cool with Soojung as well, of course.
“There he is,” she says once they leave the elevator and spot Yifan. “He’s been around a lot lately, huh?”
“Not exactly around. We’ve been texting, and talking. He stopped by yesterday to check on the cat and we talked for a while.”
Song Qian hums. Yixing knows that humming all-too-well, but chooses not to dwell on what’s on her mind at the moment. He’s supposed to go shopping. They part with a fist pump and Yixing marches toward Yifan. He’s typing something on his phone, furrowed eyebrows and teeth biting on his lower lip looking genuinely concerned. When Yixing touches his shoulder, he jerks around, phone nearly jumping from his hands.
“Wow, easy there.” Yixing jokes. “Is everything alright? You look worried.”
Yifan lets out a sheepish laugh and pockets his phone. His hair is tied in a ponytail again, a few loose strands around his face. Yixing tries not to stare (or swoon), inspecting his surroundings as he waits for Yifan’s answer.
“Nothing to be worried about, it’s just,” he scratches his forehead with a finger as he stands up. “My friend is visiting next week.”
“Is it a visit to be excited about?”
He shrugs, burying his hands in his pockets. “Maybe. But let’s do this, shall we? We have suits to find.”
Maybe Sinsa would have been better to hunt for clothes, but walking across Myeongdong from store to store gave them quality (and tiring) time together. Truth is Yixing wasn’t really thinking about the suit (or the overly-detailed list of requirements Soojung was kind enough to e-mail him). Since Yifan’s visit to his apartment the previous night, Yixing’s been considering all these scenarios involving the two of them and Jongdae’s wedding, such as slow dancing under the expensive chandelier Jongdae has been mentioning or eating cake from the same plate. Maybe sipping on each other’s glasses. The possibilities are endless and even more when Yixing is the only person acquainted enough with Yifan to care and make a conversation. They’ll be stuck together the whole night.
“Hey, here’s an orange bow tie.” Yifan says. They’re at one of the best stores they’ve visited so far -- which means lower prices --, and Yixing is carefully inspecting a few vests and trying not to mind Soojung’s e-mail. He turns at Yifan’s call and squints at the bow tie. The e-mail said neck tie.
“Fancy.” he says.
“Didn’t she say you were supposed to wear orange?”
Yixing sighs, approaching the other and taking the tie into his hands. One must be very careful of what Jung Soojung says. Especially at an event in which she has all the power to boss people around and act as if she doesn’t boss people around on a daily basis.
“She would kill me if I showed up on an orange tie.” he places the tie back with the others and gently taps at Yifan’s shoulder. Yixing knows he shouldn’t dwell at how firm it feels under his fingers, so he forces his mind back to suits.
“She should have picked a suit for you herself,” Yifan says, following Yixing toward the vest section. “If she’s worried you’d show up dressed as a clown.”
“You know nothing about it,” Yixing eyes a cute vest but thinks of how Soojung would throw a fit if he wore blue. “She actually cut me off from the groomsmen line because I have open nostrils.”
It happened soon after Jongdae announced that he wanted both Yixing and Baekhyun to be his groomsmen along with his brother and one of his coworkers. A few days later he gets an angry e-mail from Soojung informing that unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to perform said role during the wedding because of his nostrils. Yixing was bummed at first, but then he thought about the groomsmen having to deal with the bride. A bullet dodged.
Yifan chuckles and leans into Yixing’s personal space, stretching his arm to grab a pink vest. “You should wear all white. She’d freak out.”
There’s a thing. Since entering the first store, Yifan has been leaning into Yixing’s personal space, touching his arm to catch his attention or softly placing his hand on Yixing’s lower back to steer him into the direction of some other stores with cool jackets. It shouldn’t make Yixing’s heart race the way it does. His mind travels all the way back to the endless scenarios when it should be focusing on suits. Because that’s why they’re out together, to shop for suits. Not to be flirty.
Three stores later (and a milkshake) Yixing settles for an all-black suit. Yifan gets a pink tie because he thinks it would clash with his looks.
Yixing finds a trashcan not long after they make their purchases, and tosses his cup. Yifan still has his mouth around the strap on his milkshake cup. It shouldn’t make a difference that he gently licks the plastic before wrapping his mouth around it, touching it with his tongue after he’s done. It shouldn’t make Yixing’s throat feel dry, but it does. In fact, his throat has been dry since he saw Yifan sitting on that armchair in the lobby.
They take the subway together at Myeongdong station, but part ways at Seoul station, and
between Samgakji and Dongjak, Yixing wonders if Saturday will be anything like all those possibilities dancing around in his head.
{item n. 4}