Seunghyun looked down at the frail young man limp in his arms and couldn’t help wondering how he managed to get himself into this situation.

“Jiyong. Jiyong.” He spoke softly as he placed his palm on the boy’s hot flushed cheek.

“I’m going to put you in bed. Okay?”

He gave a hardly audible reply, but Seunghyun took it as consent to continue. Carefully, as to not jostle the boy, he slipped off his shoes and placed an arm behind his knees. Slowly he lifted the boy to his chest, easily cradling him as he made his way through the dark living room towards the door he hoped was the bedroom. Inching his way through the dark room he slowly let his eyes adjust, hesitant to turn on the light for fear of shocking Jiyong. Gently, he placed the boy onto his bed, Jiyong letting out a groan as Seunghyun removed his arms. His heat still resonating against Seunghyun’s chest.

He walked into the small kitchen, grabbing a large glass before splashing his face with the cool water. He took a moment to survey the dorm. A dining table sat covered in color swatches and fabric samples, a dress form standing ready nearby. Hanging on the wall was a large bulletin board covered in photos and messy sketches, illegible handwriting scrawled on many. Much of the remaining dorm sat clean and organized, nearly untouched and hardly lived in. It was in definitely contrast to his own. His survey was disrupted by a groan from the next room. He quickly returned, only to find Jiyong simply tossing and turning from uneasy sleep, discomfort clearly written on his face. Seunghyun set the water as well as the tylenol he kept in his inner coat pocket at jiyong’s bedside, then carefully pulled the sheets from under him and draped them over his twisted frame. Once done he quietly took a seat in the chair that sat at Jiyong’s large vanity.

Seunghyun couldn’t help but watch Jiyong. For nearly a year he silently watched the object of his affection, hidden in the recesses of his own insecurities, and now Jiyong lay open in front of him. But even in sleep it seemed the boy could not find peace, unrest deep set in his bones. Even then, the fire that obviously raged somewhere inside him still burned against Seunghyun’s chest, spindles of heat tangling through blood and bone into the once cold recesses behind his ribs. He couldn’t help but wonder, could the boy could even feel his warmth any longer under the heavy blanket of melancholy that lay hidden behind his soft dark eyes? Could he see the spark within him that was so obvious to anyone he encountered?

Seunghyun messily ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to clear all the thoughts buzzing through his head to a more present issue. What should he do now?

Would Jiyong be upset to wake up and find Seunghyun still here, an unwanted intrusion? Would Jiyong need his help, waking up in the middle of the night nauseous and disoriented? As Seunghyun watched Jiyong silently toss about again he decided.

“Just until he settles into sleep, then I’ll go.” Seunghyun mumbled to himself finally unable to stifle the yawn he had felt coming.

And not far behind the yawns continued, Seunghyun slumping slightly farther into the chair. Finally with little fight, sleep took him, his mind still full with thoughts of the evening and the restless boy before him.