When Byunghee had called him to go and hang out together that night, Seungho had hurriedly accepted the offer. He knew that they would probably watch a movie and play video games at his place and to be honest, though Seungho was exhausted, he was still worried about Mir. He’d left the poor boy crying earlier and he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Going to Byunghee’s place would enable him to discreetly check on his stubborn pupil without looking suspicious or anything.

That’s how he ended up sitting in the corner of the basement, fuming madly as he watched he flirtatious scene in front of him.

Nothing had foreboded this. After he’d arrived to Byunghee”s place, Kevin, Byunghee’s childhood friend that Seungho was meeting for the first time, had arrived too. That’s when troubles started. Mir had come to say hello to the two boys and Seungho had immediately noticed the interest Kevin seemed to show for the pretty boy.

“Geez, Mir! You’ve become such a handsome boy!” Kevin had said in such a sweet voice it made Seungho wanting to puke as he watched the scene with wide, stupefied eyes.

Byunghee had laughed embarrassedly at his friend’s inappropriate remark as Seungho had watched angrily Mir’s cheeks tint in a light shade of crimson as he smiled softly, visibly touched by Kevin’s words.

And from that moment on, Seungho had felt it was like watching an accident happen in slow motion.  Kevin had wanted Mir to join them to eat and he’d spent his whole time trying to feed the younger boy, wiping some sauce from his mouth with his thumb at some point before his finger. It was so ual to Seungho he almost choked on his food at the sight and was then unable to finish his own burger as he watched with dark eyes Kevin flirting with Mir. Once in a while, Seungho would kick at Byunhee’s leg under the table when he’d judge Kevin’s flirting was way too obvious but Byunghee seemed to be blind or he was completely stupid. At some point, Seungho had dragged Byunghee to the toilets to tell him that Kevin’s behaviour toward his baby brother was totally inappropriate, but his best friend had brushed it off saying it was innocent, that Kevin had always had a soft spot for Mir and that he was only trying to catch up with him, nothing to be feared. But Seungho wouldn’t buy this, and his bad feeling was reinforced when, as they came back to their table, he found Kevin almost kissing Mir in the neck as he was pretending to smell his perfume.

Seungho was seeing red. He didn’t know what bothered him so much. Kevin, to say it all, was a nice and interesting guy who liked to joke around. He had a sort of aura surrounding him that made him attractive, he guessed. Had Mir not been here, Seungho was pretty sure he would have liked the boy very much. But his constant flirting with Mir was getting on his nerves as he kept on being touchy with the younger boy. And Mir was laughing at Kevin’s every joke, and he looked so interested in anything he would say, it made Seungho mad. If only Mir could show half this interest in his lessons, Seungho would be a lot nicer to him during their tutoring session.

They had then made their way back home, going to the basement where all the video games and the TV were. Byunghee’s parents would never come down so it was basically Byunghee and Mir’s realm. Kevin had immediately sit on the sofa, dragging Mir down next to him by the waist, gesture that made Seungho’s soul almost burst out of his body as his face turned pale and his jaw dropped. Byunghee had sit down on a mattress on the ground, and Seungho decided to sit in the corner of the room, careful to keep an eye on the touchy Kevin.

They started a movie and Byunghee had ended up sleeping on his mattress, snoring loudly in his sleep. Seungho wasn’t making any noise and truthfully, had no interest at all in the movie as he was concentrated on watching the couple on the sofa.

Kevin would often lean in, dangerously close to Mir’s skin, whispering in his ear things that made Mir either blush or giggle. And Seungho would just watch them, feeling his contained rage build up inside him, swelling and almost choking him. Mir was always so cold to him and now he was all honey and sugar with this punk. Yes, Seungho was fuming.

He saw Kevin’s hand settle on Mir’s thigh and his fingers starting to rub Mir’s jeans and Seungho’s breath got caught in his throat. He glanced angrily at Byunghee who was still in a deep sleep. Of course, instead of protecting his baby brother the guy would sleep! When his eyes settled on the couple on the sofa again, his brain almost stopped in shock: Kevin had slipped his hand under Mir’s shirt and was now caressing the skin above his hips as he was pressing light kisses in the crook of the younger’s neck. Mir seemed to be both surprised and mesmerised, offering his body somehow reluctantly to Kevin’s touch.

“Mir, we need to talk!” Seungho’s voice suddenly resonated through the room, making both the boys in the sofa jump slightly at the sound.

Mir looked a little bit frightened in Seungho’s direction and, when he saw the dark glaring in the elder’s eyes, immediately nodded and stood up, getting away from Kevin’s hold whose eyes were sending daggers in Seungho’s direction.

Seungho sat up and led the way upstairs until they were both in Mir’s room.

Seungho was nervous and angry. He didn’t know why he interrupted them. He couldn’t fathom what was bothering him so much in watching the two getting closer. He’d called Mir out on a whim, not knowing what to do now that he was alone with him. Mir’s breath was short and his cheeks were still red from Kevin’s daring touches. The atmosphere between him and Seungho had never been this thick, this heavy.

“What do you want to talk about, hyung?” Mir asked nervously as the silence between them was getting deafening.

He could only see Seungho’s back and thus, had no idea what the elder’s mood was which made him even more anxious.

Seungho turned around and Mir gasped in fear when he saw the furious glint in his eyes.

“Why do you think I called you, Mir?” He seethed in between gritted teeth.

Mir swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to breathe steadily. He couldn’t help but take a few steps back as Seungho walked toward him, his angry eyes locked in his own frightened eyes.

“I-I don’t know.” Mir stuttered slightly as he couldn’t control the trembling in his voice. Seungho was very scary sometimes.

Mir’s back hit the wall behind him and he gasped in panic, as Seungho was getting closer to him. They were hardly inches apart and Seungho settled one of his hands next to Mir’s head, leaning on his arm as he looked intently in the younger’s scared eyes.  Mir’s innocence was driving him crazy. Of course, he knew the younger never meant to encourage this guy’s behaviour but his lack of resistance made Seungho thought he was willing to be touched by Kevin and it drove him insane.

“Are you joking?”He growled, not letting time for Mir to answer. “You don’t know? This guy is all over you in the sofa and you seriously don’t know what I called you out for? You’re in the same room than me and your brother and you let yourself being touched so shamelessly!”

Seungho’s voice had become cold, almost icy, freezing Mir’s body on the spot as he couldn’t find his voice to answer.

Seungho was trying hard not to choke on his own venom as he couldn’t stop the words to flow out of his mouth. Why was he so mad at the younger? Why did it hurt so much to see the younger boy with somebody else? His heart couldn’t take it anymore. He had to let go of his frustration.

“You like being touched by a guy?! You like that you’re being fondled in front of your brother? Does it turn you on?! You look like his , Mir, like a cheap ! Is this how you like to be treated? Is this what you like?!”

Mir couldn’t take it anymore and he slapped Seungho’s cheek with all his force. It made a loud sound when his palm hit the smooth skin and Seungho froze at the stinging feeling. They stared in each other’s eyes in disbelief, the tension so intense it was almost palpable. Seungho’s other hand touched his own cheek, as he felt the skin burning under his fingers. No one had ever slapped him until now and the gesture, though it sting awfully, hurt his pride.

Mir’s fierce eyes were angrily looking back in his and he saw tears b in them, threatening to fall at any moment and Seungho realised painfully it was the second time in the day he was making Mir cry. They were both breathing heavily, waiting for the next move when they both jolted as the door suddenly opened and Kevin’s head popped inside, looking from one another quizzically:

“You guys okay?” he asked, sensing the cold tension in the room. Something was definitely wrong.

Seungho’s gaze was still scrutinizing Mir’s when he replied sternly:

“Of course! We were just talking about tomorrow’s tutoring session. Mir decided it was time for him to go to sleep so he’d be able to study.”

Mir’s eyes grew wide for a second before he lowered his gaze and said:

“It was nice to see you again after all these years, Kevin. Good night, now.”

Kevin’s brow furrowed as he eyed Mir worriedly. The boy looked down, almost hurt. Something was wrong.

“Are you alright, Mir?” Kevin insisted, taking a step forward.

He was soon stopped by Seungho’s figure that planted itself in front of him, preventing him from getting any closer to the young boy, blocking him the view.

“He is perfectly fine,” Seungho roared. “He needs to sleep because he is tired, that’s all. Now let’s go.”

He gripped Kevin’s arm and led him forcefully out of the room, slamming the door behind them, leaving the boy alone inside.

“Do you need a place to stay at?” Seungho inquired.

He wasn’t being nice, he just wanted to make sure Kevin wouldn’t stay at Byunghee’s and have a chance to put his hands on Mir again.

“Actually, yeah, I’m staying at my aunt’s for…”

“Great! I’ll drop you there, it’s on my way!” Seungho interrupted the other boy and hurried them outside.

He didn’t know what had taken over him, what had made him so angry. But he was furious at Mir. He already knew he’d vent his frustration on the younger on the morrow, during their lesson together. But really, Mir deserved to be punished for his behaviour.