Jiyong was confused when Gemma burst into tears and ran out the pub. A distressed Kelly went after her, leaving him alone with Seunghyun.

"Come on, let's go" Seunghyun said, putting his arm around Jiyong's shoulders and helping him go through the crowd towards sitting booths at the back. The two of them sat facing each other on plush, comfortable seats, which to Jiyong was a good change from the crowds they were in earlier. A waiter arrived at the table and Seunghyun ordered two sodas. Leaning back, his eyes slowly scanned Jiyong who was turned away and looking at the door.

"What are you thinking, J?"
Jiyong looked back quickly to meet Senghyun's intense gaze. As expected, a pink flush appeared on his cheeks.
"I just hope Gemma's fine..."
Seunghyun sighed. "She saw her ex, that's all. It wasn't a good breakup."
Jiyong nodded. "Makes sense. Poor girl."
"Yeah, it's taking her a long time to recover. I don't know the entire story but I am sure my sister does. Kelly and Gemma have been best friends since forever. I am sure Gemma will be fine with Kelly."
"That's good," Jiyong said softly. A moment later, the waiter brought them the sodas and Seunghyun took a big gulp.
"This feels good after the heat under the spotlights."
"Fame comes at a cost!" Jiying said, and mentally slapped himself for saying strange things. However, Seunghyun leaned back and laughed loudly.
"Fame is a long way to go, J. But thanks." And then his lips curved into a radiant smile that made Jiyong smile too. He liked how Seunghyun's smile reached his eyes, making them twinkle and crinkle at the sides. He is so cute, Jiyong thought. Followed by yet another mental slap.
"Don't look at me like that," Senghyun said, still smiling.
"Like...what?" Jiyong stammered.
Seunghyun shook his head and chuckled. "It's so hard to read you Jiyong."
"That may be the first time you've said my full name."
"Do you really mind that I call you J?"
"No, but no one else ever calls me that. I am getting used to it I guess. But why did you say it's hard to read me?"
Seunghyun's eyes caught Jiyong's once again, making his cheeks go even warmer.
"It's so easy to make you blush, J."
"That's not true! I just...my cheeks are kinda red all the time anyway."
"Ah I see," Seunghyun said, but it was obvious he was trying very hard to not laugh. Jiyong reached over the table to playfully punch him but Seunghyun caught his hand before he could reach him. He held Jiyong's hand gently, and he slowly opened his fist, intertwining his own fingers with Jiyong's, whose face was now on fire. Seunghyun then placed their interlocked hands on the table and smiled at Jiyong as if nothing had happened.
"You don't like your drink, J?"
Jiyong shook his head and took a sip of his coke. He was hyperaware of his skin touching Seunghyun's. His hands were warm and big and gentle, and it didn't feel too bad to hold them. Shaking his thoughts he brought himself back to reality to notice Seunghyun looking at him with amusement all over his face.
"I hope I don't make you nervous."
Before Jiyong could stop himself he said, "But you do!"
Seunghyun looked surprised too. "I didn't expect you to say that right away...but how can I make it better?"
"Maybe give me a warning next time you hold my hand?"
"So it's okay if I hold your hand?"
Jiyong opened his mouth and then closed it again. What could he say? He didn't want to hold Seunghyun's hand, but at the same time he really wanted to. What in the actual hell is happening to me? he thought, Why do I want to hold his hand? I didn't like anyone before, but I never thought I would be into men...am I into guys? It can't be...
"Jiyong?"
Jiyong looked up to meet Seunghyun's warm eyes. They were not too close yet, but somehow Jiyong knew in his gut that Seunghyun meant no harm.
"I was just thinking. And yeah, you can hold my hand. After warning me."
Seunghyun's face broke into another one of his sparkling smiles. He softly squeezed Jiyong's hand.
"Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me Seunghyun..."
"Can I thank you with food?"
"With food?"
"Let's get dinner tomorrow? You can pick the place, J."
Jiyong gulped...what was happening? he asked himself for the thousandth time that day.
"Um, like I said, you don't have to thank me at all."
"Okay then, let's just go to dinner, no thankfulness involved?"
Jiyong breathed deeply. It's just dinner, doesn't mean anything, he told himself.
"Okay..."
"Perfect! Do you know where you'd like to go?" Seunghyun looked so excited that Jiyong couldn't help but smile.
"I really don't care, why don't you surprise me?"
Seunghyun's eyes twinkled. "Okay, if that's what you want. It's gonna be fantastic, I'm telling you!"
Jiyong laughed. "We'll see, won't we?"
Seunghyun leaned forward until their faces were a few inches apart. "I promise you, you'll have the best time of your life."
Jiyong couldn't help but gaze at Seunghyun's eyes now that they were so much closer. He couldn't move away.
"Um, I look forward to it then."
"Me too, J. Now can you excuse me for a minute? I'll get us some more drinks."

As Seunghyun walked to the bar, all Jiyong could think about was how he suddenly missed Seunghyun's hand locked with his own.