Jinki slammed shut his car door as he arrived at the headquarter. Walking inside the house, the thing he wanted to do the most at the time was to go straight to his room and to remain holed up. He needed to think for himself.

But Changmin welcomed him cheerily ("Hey, man ! Where have you been ?") from the couch as he got inside the headquarter's living room, that Jinki couldn't help but to force a smile on his hollow face.

He saw that some of the boys were gathered in front of the tv. Playing another video game with another y characters, it seemed.

"I thought Jiyong sent you to run some errand, but he said he don't." Joon chimed in after Changmin, grinning.

Jinki turned to Joon, still with his half-hearted smile "I just had something left to do in my.. uh.. house." he said.

The others just nodded as they paid attention to Jinki, should be knowing the uncomfortableness to talk about the common thing they all avoided with all their might. House. Or the past, to be more exact. Before they all went back to their own ruckus.

Jinki sighed as he was lost deep in his thought. Seeing the boys bundled like that in front of him. Barking laughters, throwing nuts shell to each other, spewing profanities, Jinki always thought that they were just a bunch of friends that were getting involved in a wrong crowd.

Maybe they didn't deserve to die.

"Do you want a turn ?" Changmin suddenly asked, lifting the joystick on his hand and pulling Jinki out from his subconsciousness. "We're betting."

"On.. what ?" Jinki asked, frowning a bit.

"That new girl in the back room." Seungri said, whistling "You have to see her s, man."

"Yeah. We hafta send her somewhere tomorrow night. To Thai if I'm not mistaken. So, it's gonna be a waste for not you know.. playing with her first."

"Woohooo~ I'm so gonna win that ."

Or maybe they did deserve it. Jinki sighed inwardly.

Ah screw it all. His head throbbed so much.

"I'm not joining for now." Jinki excused himself "Headache." he gestured with his head.

"Suit yourself man." Seungri grinned "But that just means less one opponent for me."

Jinki just offered another forced smile before turning around to get to his stinky bedroom.

--

A month. A month until the estimation date of the big boss's arrival. Until the end of life of the biggest kkangpae in South Korea. Until he could stop lying to be the person he's not.

Jinki heaved a deep sigh as he walked toward his room, with so much thoughts buzzing in his head.

Just a month, then he could back to his old Prince life, he could try to forget the last months he spent here. So he could brush away the guilty feeling, that started to form inside him.

All of it, Jinki. He reminded himself. You should forget all of it.

Because none of it matters later. He hypnotized himself as he looked blankly straight to the hallway.

None of...

"Onew?"

His thoughts was cut off abruptly as Kibum suddenly appeared in front of him, just getting out from his room.

Jinki gulped. None of it, Jinki ? Really ?

The younger stood in front of his door, his hand still holding the knob, as usual he's wearing an oversized shirt that hung loosely on his shoulder and a baggy bunny pajamas pants, which made him seemed tinier than usual.

He looked too ordinary, even almost too fragile, to compare with the other guys who made a bet to get into this girl's he met earlier.

Kibum didn't even suit to be a Kkangpae, or any kind of a criminal at the time. He was too lovely, that suddenly Jinki's possesiveness appeared.

He didn't know why, he just wanted the younger to be safe. But he didn't think even his arms were a safe place to Kibum now.

"Hey..." the voice came strangled on his throat as he walked closer to the younger, and without much thinking he pushed Kibum back inside his room before closing the door.

"Hey," Kibum smiled confusedly seeing the deep frown on the other's face. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Jinki shook his head as he kept his eyes fixed to the other's feline. Could he even forget him ? Could he kill him ?

"Onew.." Kibum half-whined "What happened ?"

Jinki didn't budge.

"Onew.. Don't make me af.."

Before Kibum could even finish his word, Jinki had already reached for his back and pulled the younger close to him.

He sighed as he closed his eyes and buried his face on the crook of the younger's neck. He needed him, he needed him to breath.

Kibum also held his breath as he could feel Jinki's other hand now joined to tighten around his waist.

"Onew.." he whispered softly to the other's shoulder "Why are you being like this ? Are you okay ? Can you not scare me ?"

"Key-ah.." Jinki called desperately.

"Yes?"

But the older only sighed as he crushed the younger even stronger in his embrace and Kibum was simply lost of words, he opened his mouth to say something but he closed it again as he couldn't think of anything.

In the end, he also shutted his eyes and stretched his arms out to hold Jinki in return, letting his worry disappear for a while as he felt Jinki's lips pressing against the exposed skin of his shoulder. Eventhough it felt somehow painful and desperate. He let him.

--

"Have you ever thought of running away ?"

"Mmm.. No." Kibum frowned as he's checking the bullet stock in the weaponry room inside the headquarter the next day "Why are you asking ?"

Jinki shook his head, resuming his gun cleaning "No.. Just wondering.. You know, if you have the chance to ... go."

Kibum muffled a laugh "I can't.." He shook his head.

"Why ?" Jinki frowned.

"You know it... I owe the family big time. Jiyong and the boss and everyone." Kibum took a deep breath before he turned to Jinki "Why ? Are you thinking to..."

"No." Jinki quickly cut off "I'm just.."

"Wondering, I know." Kibum nodded.

Jinki pursed his lips as he put the gun he'd been holding back to it's case and started approaching Kibum that was on both of his knees in front of the shelves where the gang kept their various weapons. They were doing some sort of stock opname.

"Key-ah.." Jinki called as he stopped beside the male.

"Hmm.." Kibum mumbled without moving his gaze from the sedatives shelves.

"Look at me."

"Wha-"

Before Kibum could even finish his scolding for Jinki, the guy's stubby fingers already reached for his chin and lifted it up, Kibum shook his head no as he stared at the naughty sparks twinkling in the other's eyes, but before he could do anything for real, Jinki's plump lips had already pressed down against his.

"Mmmh.." Kibum ducked his head as an automatic reaction, but when Jinki bent down more to follow his movement, Kibum knew he could do nothing beside giving in.

He opened his mouth to let Jinki chewed his lower lips, lifting his hand up to reach for the other's neck and pull him down.

Jinki grew much bolder to take the initiatives to touch him since the incident inside his room. It maybe had to do with something that might've happened when he got back from his house, the boys said. But Kibum definitely wasn't gonna complain about it.

They never labeled themselves as anything, but the way Jinki's holding him these last days spoke louder than every words he could think of. He knew Jinki felt the same way like he did and he wouldn't want to ever let the other go.

But at the time, they were too drunk in each other's taste, that they didn't even realize there's another young male standing outside the room, peeking from the slightly ajar door.

He was crumpling a sheet of the public newspaper on his hand, where there's an announcement for the annual festival of women day that would be held in the town park by next week on the advertisement column. The Queen's royal stamp printed on the bottom. Resembling the royal wax seal she used for her letter.

--

"Jjong-ah."

The short guy sighed as he heard the call from his back, before pretending to be busy strumming his guitar.

"Jjoooooong."

"What's wrong, Kibum-ah?" he finally gave up and turned around to see his so-called bestfriend had already occupied his bed.

Kibum frowned "What's wrong ? Really ? I barely see you in the past four days and you asked me what's wrong ?"

"Aren't you the one that was too busy these days ?" Jonghyun asked back, before he turned again to his table.

"Am i ?" Kibum asked.

Jonghyun only rolled his eyes. "Just go see your boyfriend rather than bothering me."

There's a silence followed after that and Jonghyun thought Kibum was gonna yell at him. But instead, when he looked behind his shoulder again all he saw was Kibum looked down shyly to his fingers "He's not my boyfriend."

that pink blush on his cheeks.

Jonghyun almost felt like smashing his one and only guitar to the floor. How could he ruin Kibum's happiness ? How could he steal his bestfriend's newfound trust ? After all this time ?

that bastard. Jonghyun breathed heavily. Seemed like he had to deal with that ing impostor himself.

"Jjoooong."

"Okay, bum-ah. What do you want now ?"

--

Kibum just got back from Jonghyun's room to his own when it's near midnight. Yawning while stretching his hand out, he was reaching blindly to switch on the lamp since his room was so dimly lit and he could barely see anything.

"Where did you go ?" a voice was suddenly heard in the dark, making Kibum jumped in surprise.

"O you scared me." Kibum said while clutching his chest, just realized there's someone sitting on his bed.

Onew.

"What are you doing in my room ?" he asked confusedly after widening his squinted eyes.

"Waiting for you.." Jinki answered simply.

"Oh.." Kibum said, nodding before shifting awkwardly on where he stood.

Jinki smiled softly before gesturing his fingers "Come here.." he said.

Kibum waddled near to his bed before stopping in front of Jinki, in a safe stance.

Although the stance was definitely enough for Jinki to stretch his hand out and hook a finger on the belt loop of Kibum's short jeans, pulling the boy close to him.

"Hmm ?" Kibum hummed, half-expecting Jinki's next action.

"Where have you been ?" Jinki asked and somehow it sounded pretty demanding.

"Jjong's.." Kibum answered, looking down.

Jinki raised his eyebrows before moving his hands from the belt loop to cup the younger's waist "Jonghyun's room ?" he asked.

Kibum nodded and he didn't miss how possesively the older tightened his arm around his waist after.

"What were you doing there ?"

"Hmm.." Kibum moved his hands to top Jinki's before his cold fingers traveled along the other's biceps. "Nothing.."

"Nothing ?" Jinki asked unbelievingly, spreading his legs to make space in between as he slowly pulled Kibum down, letting the other's knees hitting the edge of the bed.

Kibum automatically put his hands on Jinki's shoulder as support, staring down again at the sudden closeness. "Nothing you have to worry about.."

"And what kind of things i suppose to worry about ?"

Kibum shrugged.

Jinki stared up for so long at Kibum who was wandering his gaze somewhere else.

He frowned a bit at the quite odd gesture "Hey. Look at me.." Jinki said, pulling the younger's body a little closer to his.

Kibum was hesitating as he felt the tip of Jinki's nose nudging his ribs lightly, but he still didn't look at the other.

"Hey.." Jinki said again, before slipping his hand under Kibum's loose shirt and moving his fingers to tickle the velvety skin of the younger's side. "Look at me.."

"O..new ! That tick..les.." Kibum yelped, squirming to get the older's hand out of his shirt but to no avail.

"You won't look at me.." Jinki said hurtingly as a matter-of-factly, keeping one of his hand to secure Kibum's waist and the other one to tickle.

But Kibum just kept whining and struggling to release himself, with the same force as Jinki used to keep him in cage, until at one point what they were doing finally made them stumble and they fell back onto his bed with a loud thump.

"Ugh." Kibum said in the end, frowning down to Jinki who was still embracing his waist, right under him.

Jinki was frowning too as he could finally Kibum's face and realizing how his feline eyes was speaking confusion, and could it be.. fear ?

"Is there something wrong ?" Jinki asked worriedly, raising his hand to cup the side of Kibum's face.

After only staring at Jinki for so long, Kibum just could sigh in the end before he fisted Jinki's shirt with both of his hands and burying his face on the other's chest.

"Key ?" Jinki moved his hand up to pet Kibum's hair. "Why ? What happened ?"

But Kibum didn't budge from his hiding position.

"Hey.." Jinki called again, finally decided to get his arms back to wrap the younger's slim waist tightly and he rolled them over, so Kibum was at the bottom "Look at me.." he whispered softly.

Failed to keep his face unseen, Kibum was laying his head on the matress, biting his lips and still frowning up to Jinki.

"Did Jonghyun do something to you ? Something you didn't like ?" Jinki asked.

Kibum shook his head no before he took a deep breath, opening his mouth to say something but he closed it again.

But he looked like he was gathering courage to say whatever he wanted to say, that Jinki opted to wait.

"You.." Kibum said finally, Jinki's shirt tighter "Are you planning to leave me ?"

"W-what ?" Jinki gaped, panicking inside "W-who said..."

"This is embarassing.." Kibum said, pulling one of his hand away to cover the side of his own face "I think Jonghyun's right.."

"Wha...?"

"Am I too attached to you ?" Kibum frowned, eyes drooping "Jjong said I'm too attached to you that it would be hard if you leave me ? Are you.. Are you planning to ?"

"I..." Jinki gulped at the sudden question before he shook his head "No. I won't.. leave.." for now, at least. I'll even take you hostage if it's necessary.

"Really ?" Kibum said, his eyes softened.

"Eh-hm." Jinki nodded.

Kibum released a deep sigh before closing his eyes, as soon as he realized.. "I guess I'm really too attached to you." he said sadly.

"Is that bad ?" Jinki asked, bringing his face closer to the younger.

"Is that not ?" Kibum asked in return, opening his eyes just to see how close Jinki's face was.

"You tell me yourself.." Jinki whispered, smiling a little after he could shut down his over worry mind before he leaned down to open his lips and press it down on Kibum's rosy one. the curve of cupid bow he had already learned to remember for the past few days.

Kibum was making a little weird sound on the back of his throat when Jinki's tounge wandered further to nudge and his own, tangling a little that the older finally couldn't help but to chuckle a bit as he pulled away, seeing Kibum looked somehow wronged.

"So.." Jinki smiled teasingly "Did it feel bad ?'

Kibum squinted "I dunno.." he said, pouting.

But not long after it, after he erased his pout, Kibum stretched his hand out to pull the back of Jinki's head down to him again, whispering back "Or maybe that was just too quick for me to tell exactly how it feels ?"

"Should I do it until you can't breath ?" Jinki whispered again, slowly sliding his hand down along the back of Kibum's thigh.

"Mmmh.."

--

But no matter how hard Jinki tried to brush away the bitter taste of reality with the sweet honey Kibum offered whenever they were together. It was a fail, in the end.

Because the math couldn't lie.

Twenty four days. Jinki sighed as he rubbed the side of his face, staring at the calendar that stuck on the quiet living room's wall that morning. Everyone else was working, leaving him alone just to debating with himself again.

Just twenty four days left. He thought, and he was still torn in between things.

Which one was right ? And which one was wrong ?

Cause for him, everything he'd choose would still end up in betrayal.

To betray his loyalty or to betray what his heart longed for.

Why did he take this mission in the first place ? Jinki asked himself all over again for the billionth time. If it would end up like this...

But to think how possibly he would not ever meet Kibum if he didn't take the mission, he guessed he couldn't stand it either...

"Onew.."

Jinki was pulled away from his thought, just to see Kibum was beaming at him from the hallway.

"Hey," Jinki smiled back, raising his eyebrow a little as he saw Kibum was fully dressed. "Are you going somewhere ?"

"Yeah." Kibum nodded "I'm going to meet Jiyong, said he needed some help."

Jinki nodded in return. "Oh.."

"You.. Don't want to come with me ?" the younger asked, walking closer to him.

"No." Jinki shook his head "I'm not... feeling really well."

Kibum frowned as he stretched his hand out to touch Jinki's face, checking the temperature. He tilted his head as the other's skin felt just fine to him. "Maybe you just need some sleep." he said, fixing Jinki's bangs gently.

"Yeah.." Jinki nodded as an approval "Be safe." he said.

"I'll be." Kibum answered, smiling softly before lifting his other hand to cup Jinki's face and without much hesitation, he leaned in closer and kissed the older softly on the lips.

Jinki was utterly stunned when Kibum pulled himself away for a bit, just to stare intently on his eyes.

Jinki didn't want to admit it but he knew the other's stare was telling him about something else, but he refused to acknowledge it.

Not now, at least. No...

The older shifted his eyes somewhere else, couldn't bear the sudden burden he felt from the intensity of the younger's stare.

He felt somehow sick, he felt like a coward as he could hear Kibum whispered slowly.

"I think... I love you."

No... Please..

Then Kibum offered him an adorable shy smile before he leaned in again to give him another kiss.

Things weren't that simple. Jinki answered guiltily on his mind. Because for some reason, he couldn't say it aloud.

"Um.." Kibum was blushing a little seeing the petrified Jinki "I think.. I'll really get going now. Bye." he said as he waved the other goodbye and got out from the room.

Jinki took a really deep breath to the direction where the latter's back disappeared. Face scrunched in despair as his mind recalled what the other just confessed to him.

He couldn't do all of this.

"You liked it that much, huh ?" There's a scornful voice from behind him and instinctively, Jinki turned around to see who it was.

And it turned out to be Jonghyun, who was leaning on the hallway wall.

Jinki frowned "Sorry ?"

"Sorry you say ?" Jonghyun chuckled sarcastically "For which lie ?"

"Lie ?" Jinki asked carefully "I'm afraid.. I don't get what you mean.. Sorry.."

"Sorry... Sorry.." Jonghyun repeated mockingly before piercing his gaze straight to him, "Do you know what rhymes with Sorry ?"

Jinki was still frowning.

Jonghyun lifted one side of his lips sinisterly.

"Something like.. Your majesty ?"

--

ohhhh damn!

comments are love babies <3