Wooseok ended up extending his stay longer than Yuto expected.

Yuto loved his best friend and treasured the moments they spent together but after actually interacting with the sweet person that is Kino, Yuto’s sudden and abrupt desire to be alone and try to process the day’s events, was understandable.

Yuto hosted Wooseok for a few days, and during those days, they fell into a pattern of waking up and going to work together. On some days Yuto came back with Wooseok, but most of those days, there were other days where Wooseok would stay late directing a new video, or editing some scene out –or in- and Yuto would end up going back home early and getting ready for bed, exhausted by the day’s work.

That was the original plan, the unspoken plan that was agreed on both parts, or so it was. Until the day Wooseok begged, pleaded and bribed Yuto to stay behind a few hours longer and wait for him so they could leave together, because Wooseok didn’t feel like taking a taxi, and Yuto, the weak man that he was, caved in after Wooseok bought him a variety of his favorite foods from Nagano, Japan.

So, two hours past his usual leaving time found Yuto sitting on the couches in the leisure room, waiting for Wooseok to finish, as he nibbled on an assortment of snacks from Wooseok. Yuto could practically hear how Hongseok would complain and comment on his bad eating habits and Yuto imagined a wall, a great wall, nearly the size of the Great Wall of China, propping up and blocking out Hongseok, and all his suggestions.

Yuto chuckled at the thought, and was startled by the sound of someone snorting and a head poked out from the door leading into the leisure room. Yuto sat up immediately and looked at the door, and felt the embarrassment slowly blossoming in his chest explode into a gorgeous crimson flower when Kino walked into the room.

“What’s so funny?” Kino asked, and walked further into the room, letting the door slowly swing shut after him. He stopped a few feet away, and cocked his head cutely, dark-brown hair swinging in tandem with the action.

Yuto almost froze up like last time but pushed it back just before his body stiffened and he ended clamming up and looking like an idiot. “Ah...nothing...just something a hyung I know said, a while back.”

“Eh...” Kino went over and took one of the many blankets draped over an armchair and went to sit down on the three-seater couch Yuto was currently relaxing in. Stretching out his legs, Kino sat down and draped the cloth over his and Yuto’s legs, the thick fabric instantly warming up their chilled bodies and making them feel more comfortable. “What did he say?”

“Ah, that I should stop eating so much junk like Wooseok and eat healthier foods. And that I have to take care of my body and exercise regularly.” Yuto answered and shuffled around till he obtained some distance between him and Kino, so that his heart wouldn’t spontaneously combust if Kino’s leg accidentally brushed against his.

Kino laughed and teasingly asked, “Why?” And the cute tilt made another appearance. “Does he think you’ll gain weight?”

“Yes.” Yuto’s answer was so straightforward and honest; Kino couldn’t help but laugh again.

“That’s awesome.” Kino said once his laughter subsided and eased into little breathless chuckles. Kino changed the subject and asked the question that had been bothering him since he first saw Yuto there. “But what are you doing here alone, Yuto-ya?”

Yuto was certain his heart would explode, hearing Kino’s laugh, and tried thinking of something other than that and the fact that Kino had just addressed him as an equal, and it was the greatest thing to grace his ears.

“I’m waiting for Wooseok. He’s busy with a project but begged me to stay, and wait for him so we can go back together.” Yuto said and to keep his mouth busy, he grabbed a chip from the packet by his side and tossed it into his mouth and letting the crunch, crunch sound occupy his ears.

“And you aren’t working with him on the project?” Kino asked innocence clear in his face and gestures. “I thought you handled the lighting.”

“Yes, I do, but not for every project.” Yuto explained, “Only for the ones my boss calls me for.”

“I see.” Kino said and the two descended into a...odd silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable, or tense, nor was it awkward, but rather a lull in conversation, a simple moment taken to compose and reorganize thoughts before jumping back into a conversation.

“How was the tour?” Yuto asked and immediately Kino launched into a long explanation of his most recent tour with an artist from another neighboring company, and just like last time, the excitement was obvious on his face and actions as he talked using his slender fingers to further emphasize the –as he called it-‘awesomeness’ of the tour.

Yuto listened intently, even though he didn’t understand half the things Kino was saying. He didn’t care though. Watching the male act casual and unrestricted around him, someone he just met and barely knew, was more than enough for him.

“And then E’dawn was caught on camera dancing girl dances on camera with me and it went viral.” Kino said, laughing at the memory, “It nearly got a million views.”

Yuto wrote a memo in his mind to go and thoroughly, thoroughly search the internet for that video.

“That sounds fun.” Yuto said, and hated how dead and dull his voice ended up coming out, rather than the actual interest he had and felt for Kino’s wild tales around the country.

“It was,” Kino nodded and asked, “And you? What do you do when you’re not working here?”

“I play baseball, soccer and sometimes basketball.” Yuto said and tossed another chip into his mouth. Yuto took the bag of chips and laid it on the blanket in between his and Kino’s legs, obviously offering the younger male the unhealthy snack.

“You play baseball?” Kino asked, awe in his voice and face. Yuto had a feeling he was the first person Kino knew who played baseball, and that made him incomprehensibly happy.

“Yeah, for 6 years,” And at that, Kino’s awe increased and he nearly climbed onto Yuto in his amazement.

“6 years!?”

Yuto confirmed Kino’s question with a nod and nearly laughed when the shorter male’s eyes began shining.

“That’s awesome.” Kino repeated those words as he slowly went back to his original seating position, back pressed against the armrest, and his slender legs stretched out beside Yuto, while Yuto sat identically to him, feet stretched out and body relaxed on the opposite arm rest, facing each other.

“And you? Other than working here, or dancing, what do you do out of work?” Yuto felt like he was slowly getting to know Kino, piece by piece, and that was a great improvement from his previous admiring and fantasizing. He was even engaging in conversations with him, asking questions and replying to them as energetically as he could.

“I...” Kino looked embarrassed –or shy- and Yuto had never seen a sight more heart-warming than that. “I work at a children’s home when I have the time.”

Yuto’s eyebrows shot up, surprised at Kino’s answer. “You do?”

“Yeah,” Kino rubbed at the tiny black hairs on his nape nervously and looked away from Yuto, as if fearing the taller male would make fun, or for doing something so kind, so selfless and so charitable with no ulterior motives of raising their popularity as a dance group.

Yuno wished Kino would know him well enough to know simple acts of kindness were his absolute weakness.

“That is so...” Yuto trailed off, truly and honestly moved.

“Lame?” Kino finished dryly and looked up at Yuto with a blank face, and dead eyes, as if he was already prepared for a barrage of hurtful insults.

“No!” Yuto wondered which high-class could have said that to cause such a despondent and downcast reaction. “Of course not! It’s not lame!” Yuto said in a calmer voice, “It could never be lame.”

“That is the nicest thing I’ve ever heard a famous person do.” Yuno continued and daringly reached out to touch Kino’s hand, gently comforting the clearly hurt male. “The greatest part about that is that, you’re not doing it for popularity, or because you recently debuted as a dance group, or anything.”

“You’re simply doing it because you want to do it, because it means something to you, and that,” Yuto squeezed Kino’s hand and made him look up at him and made him maintain eye contact. “-is far more incredible and awesome than a baseball player.”

Kino flushed brightly, and the color looked marvelous on his pale skin, and in tow with the fuscia color on his lips, the sudden tinge of apple color on his slightly plump cheeks popped, and Yuto saw himself falling even further down the endless rabbit hole that was Kang Hyunggu.

“Ah...Seriously,” Kino laughed and covered his face and turned to the side. “Why would you say that?”

Yuto didn’t know why but he, affected by Kino’s infectious laughter, also began laughing and soon the two were laughing like mad beasts; Yuto’s a dark, low chuckle, while Kino’s was a loud, head-thrown-back, full-on laugh, one perfectly crafted for Kino.

“Because it’s true,” Yuto said simply and shrugged. “I was just sharing my opinion, and I honestly still believe what you do is truly great.” Yuto was still holding onto Kino’s hand and when he squeezed Kino’s hand and felt Kino squeeze it back; the idea of this crazily talented, funny, charming, adorable, y dancer liking him back did not seem like such a far-fetched idea.

Wooseok, in addition to being loud, clumsy and honestly speaking, naive, was also oblivious, and had no sense of time or mood, just happened to walk into the room that moment. That moment, that exact moment, when he and Kino were holding hands and enjoying the light ambience in the air.

Wooseok walked in and consequently destroyed the entire mood and made him and Kino split apart, and sit with three seats in between them and leaving Yuto feeling lonelier than before and a bit resentful towards Wooseok.

“Hey, Yuto! Do you remember that-” Wooseok entered the room, eyes facing down towards his phone but they rose up when Yuto didn’t reply, and Wooseok understood why when his eyes fell upon the untidy mess that was Kino and Yuto.

“Ah....” Wooseok cursed and tried walking back out but it was too late for him to retake his actions. “I’ll just go.”

“Wait, Wooseok-ya,” Kino called out and threw back the cover and stood up. He went over to Wooseok and said, a reassuring smile in place. “There’s no need. I was leaving anyway.” Kino bypassed Wooseok and began heading towards the door when he suddenly stopped, swiveled around, and went back to where Yuto was sitting at, stopping directly in front of Yuto’s feet.

He held out his hand expectantly and waited for Yuto but got annoyed when Yuto, oddly enough, kept a potato chip on his palm instead of what he actually wanted.

“Why?” Kino let out a laugh, and looked down at the chip questioningly and then back at Yuto. “That’s not what I wanted.”

Yuto’s expression became confused and he looked at Kino’s flawless palm oddly. “I don’t understand.” He looked back up at Kino, “What did you want?”

Kino exasperatedly but fondly rolled his eyes and gave Yuto a look like he was a complete, utter idiot, and Yuto was honestly beginning to feel like one.

“Your phone,” Kino said and cheekily rolled his eyes, “-obviously.”

Yuto had an inkling as to why Kino wanted his phone but it was like his mind had short-circuited and his entire body was working on auto-pilot. Yuto saw his hand grab his phone from the couch and hand it over to Kino, but it didn’t feel like it was his own hand, or body.

Kino typed something into Yuto’s phone for a quick second before handing it back and walking out of the room, nodding his head at Wooseok as goodbye, and turning to give Yuto a quick wink and a wave then finally leaving.

“Um...” Wooseok locked his screen and kept his phone aside. “I know I’ve asked this before, but what was that?”

Yuto couldn’t answer, and continued blinking down at his phone. He read the message Kino had typed out several times, before his brain finally decided to let him breathe, and process the fact that Kino had not only saved his number into Yuto’s phone with a small heart smiley, but had texted himself, meaning Yuto’s number was now in Kino’s phone.

Yuto still couldn’t believe what had transpired in the leisure room back at the studio. He was so out of it that Wooseok had to take the keys from him, and drive them back home. Wooseok had said he feared Yuto would suddenly drift off and end up sending them into a ditch or into traffic towards another car, and had promptly taken the keys from Yuto, manhandled him into the car and then into his house.

“Hey, Yuto,” Wooseok called and tapped Yuto’s arm twice, trying to get the male’s attention back onto earth and on him. “Are you okay? You’ve had this dazed look on your face the entire way from the studio.”

Yuto responded automatically, voice strangely bleak and dead. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“I’d believe you if you looked at me and said that, Yuto.” Wooseok muttered and watched as Yuto responded to his request and turned his head to look at him, but there was no difference. Yuto’s attention and vision were obviously elsewhere, and Wooseok didn’t see him getting Yuto to focus.

“Never mind,” Wooseok shook his head and got up from the seat and went to the bathroom to shower, leaving Yuto sitting in the dining room alone, but Wooseok wasn’t overly worried about his current state.

He knew if Yuto wanted help, he’d come to him immediately and Wooseok wouldn’t hesitate to assist in any way he could. That was the beautiful thing about their friendship. They didn’t need to say everything out loud, but they would always say the important things, and Wooseok had strong faith in that, and let Yuto be.

A few minutes went by after Wooseok’s departure, and Yuto continued sitting there, staring blankly at the wall when he was interrupted by his phone vibrating in his pocket, and the screen lit up with a notification. The sudden vibration startled Yuto from his thoughts and made him blink twice before reaching into his pants pocket and taking out his phone.

Yuto unlocked the device and pulled down the notification bar, wondering what kind of person would be awake and texting him at nearly midnight. It turned out that kind of person was the one responsible for the turmoil currently ongoing inside of Yuto.

The message read: ‘hi.’

Such a simple word, less than three letters, barely above being a letter and used by eight billion people. Something so small and meaningless yet so incredibly powerful in Yuto’s eyes, nearly made him jump up, whether in joy or fear, Yuto didn’t know.

He looked at his phone, at the message, for what felt like hours but in reality was less than five minutes, wondering what to say, and how to say it. He could say something as simple and basic as another ‘hey’ but Yuto didn’t want to sound overly casual, like he didn’t care or that he was trying too hard not to care.

Yuto glanced up at the clock on the right-corner and saw more than five minutes had passed since Kino first texted. He was wasting time trying to reply to a simple text, a basic greeting. Yuto took his phone and quickly typed out the first thing his mind thought of before locking the screen and leaving it face-down on the table.

A few seconds later, his phone vibrated with another incoming message and a few more went by before Yuto gathered the guts to unlock his phone and read it.

‘took you long enough.’

Yuto’s heart had originally been past what most considered the norm when he received Kino’s message, but seeing that, seeing Kino slyly mention that he’d been waiting to text him and to get a response, did things to Yuto.

‘i’m sorry’ Yuto wasn’t entirely sure why he was apologizing, but he felt like it was the properthing to say, considering the circumstance. Yuto’s slender but strong fingers hovered over the message board, inching forward as if to type, but he didn’t know what to say.

He was saved from his miniature crisis when his phone vibrated with another incoming text.

‘hahaha, why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong’

He laughed.

He laughed, and Yuto’s cheeks, face, ears and generally his entire body turned a beautiful pink color. Yuto had accomplished many things in his life, or at least he thought he had, and none of them felt quite as satisfying as making Kino laugh.

‘but i kept you waiting...’

‘that’s not your fault. you did nothing wrong. i was just teasing you.’

Yuto wasn’t quite sure on how he felt being teased by someone younger than him. He was about to respond when Kino messaged him again, and what he wrote had Yuno’s eyes widened in shock and an extreme sensation of bliss and joy coursing through his veins.

‘i wanted to text you as soon as i got your number but i thought it would be weird.’

Yuto couldn’t help but get the feeling that he wasn’t the only one interested…But at the same time his mind couldn’t let go of the idea that it could be a lie. He knew it could just be a joke. A cruel, unbelievably cruel and heartless joke, but looking at his phone, seeing how quickly Kino responded to him, and how he came over -even if he didn’t have to- when Yuto was alone in the leisure room and kept him company till Wooseok finished, Yuto couldn’t help the feeling of hope rising in his chest that maybe, just maybe his feelings weren’t one-sided.