Kris held the sobbing boy in his arms with tears flowing from his own eyes. Tao’s cries were drowned out by the sound of the river, but Kris could still feel the vibrations against his chest. They had been sitting there for a while; so long the sun was starting to peak through the buildings. It had taken a while for Tao to confess the whole truth, but Kris didn’t care. He didn’t realise how badly Tao was suffering and he was angry with himself for letting this matter go on for too long.

Slowly, Tao began to calm down and wiped his nose on the back of his sleeve.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,”

Kris pulled Tao onto his lap and rocked him gently.

“It’s okay,” Kris soothed the younger, “It’ll be okay. I’m here.”

Just then the phone in Kris’s back pocket began vibrating. He awkwardly shuffled around, trying to hold onto Tao and reach for his phone at the same time.

“Kris here.” Answering it at the very last moment, Kris mentally cursed the caller for interrupting his time with Tao.

“Where the hell are you guys?!” Xiumin shrieked. “We’ve been up all freaking night waiting for you!”

Tao bit his lip, holding back a sob. He felt bad for making his hyungs worry and he patted Kris’s arm.

“Tell him. Say we’re on our way back now,” He stuttered but Kris shook his head.

“Calm your man , Xiumin. We will be back when we’re ready, now go to sleep.”

“Hey!” Xiumin yelled back. “Don’t talk to me informally you little prick! Now where’s Tao; I want to talk to--”

Kris cut the line before Xiumin could scold them anymore and turned his attention to Tao.

“We should go--” Tao started to protest but Kris put a finger to the boy’s lips.

“We’ll go when you’re ready,” Kris said with a smile. “Let’s just stay here a bit longer,”

Tao hummed and rested his head against Kris’s shoulder. He smelt Kris’s strong cologne; a familiar and comforting scent that set Tao’s heart racing. Tao was falling for Kris, but what he didn’t know Kris felt the same way.

~*~

A couple of hours later, Tao felt better and they decided to go back to the dorms. Walking hand in hand, Kris frowned as he noticed something wrong.

“Tao-ah, when was the last time you ate?”

Tao visibly stiffened. “At dinner, GeGe,” he said calmly, avoiding eye contact from the leader.

“What was that?”

“Ermmm,” Tao hesitated and tried to come up with a decent excuse. “I had… ramen”

Kris stopped walking, pulling round so he was looking deep into the boy’s eyes.

“You’re lying,” Kris said huskily and Tao gulped.

“No I’m not,”

Kris stepped a little closer till he could feel Tao’s hot breath on his skin. “You know it’s bad to lie to your hyung,” He smirked and swept Tao’s fringe away from his face.

“You’re a lot thinner,” Kris told him. “You need to eat otherwise you’ll get ill.”

Tao nodded and guiltily looked at his feet. Kris suddenly felt bad, so he put an arm around Tao’s shoulders.

“Shall we get some food?” He asked and Tao’s eyes lit up.

“Can we?”

Kris couldn’t help but laugh at Tao’s cuteness.

“We’ll go get some breakfast” Kris nodded, “How about we go back to the café? You know, the one we went before?”

Tao smiled as he thought about the last time they were there again and he nodded his head eagerly.

“I really like it there,” Tao quietly admitted, blushing a sweet candy pink.

“So it’s decided,” Kris softly pushed Tao in the right direction. “Let’s go,”

~*~

“Aigoo the handsome boys are back!”

Tao groaned as the same old woman from before came up to them with open arms. He was about to run away but Kris blocked his way out. He gently nudged Tao forward, telling him to go hug the old woman and Tao sighed.

“Hello Ah-jumma,” Tao bowed 90 degrees and smiled sweetly. “How is business?”

“Ahhh~!” The old woman cried. “You’re cuter than before!” She almost jumped to wrap her arms around Tao to give him a hug.

Kris laughed as he watched Tao trying to get out of the woman’s hold only for her to squeeze him tighter.

“How are you Ah-jumma?” Kris asked her, deciding to spare Tao’s life.

She released Tao, giving him a pat on the head and returned behind the counter.

“Not so good,” The old woman pouted, “People prefer the new coffee shop in the main street. They like the taste of artificial coffee, not the home brewed coffee anymore~”

“…I like your coffee Ah-jumma,” Tao said quietly, trying to make the woman happy.

And it worked.

“You do?!” She cried, clasping her hands together. “Then let me make you a pot of my finest coffee for free~!”

“Oh no,” Kris protested, “We couldn’t do that,”

“Nonsense!” She waved them off and began preparing the coffee. “Go make yourselves comfortable and I’ll be over in a moment. Is there anything else I can get you boys?”

Kris turned to Tao, “What do you want to eat?”

Tao shrugged, “I don’t mind…”

Kris tutted, “We’ll have some eggs and bread please Ah-jumma~”

“Ah, you boys are in luck,” she told them as they sat down by the window “I got fresh eggs so they’ll be perfect~”

Kris chuckled and shrugged off his jacket. Tao couldn’t help but chuckle with him.

“Old people are cute” Tao said.

“…not as cute as you.”

Tao choked on his own saliva. “What was that?”

Kris blushed, “Oh, nothing I--”

“No, you said something,” Tao smirked. “You said I was cute…”

“Ah, yes well I--”

“Here’s your coffee, boys~” The old woman came and placed the tray down. “Enjoy~”

They both nodded their heads gratefully, eyes bulging at the size of the coffee pot on the table.

Tao instantly chose a cup and saucer and carefully poured a cup for Kris.

“Here GeGe,” Tao held it out for him.

Kris thanked Tao but as he reached for the cup, their fingers brushed together and an electric spark ran though Tao’s veins. If Kris hadn’t held onto it was well, Tao was certain he would have spilled the coffee everywhere.

Kris took a sip and sighed, “That’s great coffee~”

Tao thought he’d try some and poured a cup for himself.

The drink had barely touched the tip of his tongue before he spluttered.

“Urgh Gege,” Tao whispered. “How can you drink this?!”

Kris smiled and had another sip. “Try adding some milk and sugar,” he indicated to the small pot and jug. Tao did as Kris told him and tried his new modified coffee.

“Oh,” Tao gasped. “It’s good”

“I’m glad you like it young man,” The old woman said, setting a plate of eggs in front of them each. “Be sure to tell your friends about my café, will you?”

“Of course I will Ah-jumma,” Tao reassured her and she patted his head again.

“Oh, I just remembered,” The old woman said. “I have some watermelon that needs to be eaten; would you boys care for any?”

Tao nodded his head and Kris replied, “If that’s no problem,”

“Great! I’ll be right back!”

The old woman returned with a huge bowl full of fresh watermelon sliced into little squares. Tao didn’t bother waiting for Kris to start and drove straight into the bowl.

“Hey!” Kris laughed. “Save some for me,”

Tao had his cheeks stuffed with watermelon like a little chipmunk and Kris found it utterly adorable. There was a little juice around his lips, so Kris took his napkin and leaned across the table to wipe it off.

Tao froze at the contact and his skin started to burn up.

Kris leaned back into his chair and blushed. “You had some…” he trailed off and Tao swallowed his mouthful.

“It’s okay,” Tao replied with a smile, “Thank you.”

Kris tucked into his own meal, feeling that little bit happier having Tao with him and seeing him smile again. He promised himself that he would do everything in his power to make Tao better and be there for him every step of the way. As he watched Tao enjoy his food, Kris could help but feel he was falling deeper in love with him.

~*~  

Hellooooo~ ^_^

Erm, sorry about the ty chapter and freaking long time it took me to update DX jeeez I don't know why I have so many subscribers~ I don't deserve you guys~!!!! I feel so bad :'( 

Anyway, I, er, have a couple of questions...

I'm not adding the Baekyeol chapter, right?

And what do you guys think about ... yes or no?

Honestly, I don't mind - whatever makes you happy ^_^

Starting college next week, wish me luck :/ 

I love you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much~! <3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx