CHAPTER 50

"Happy birthday Kris!"

The apartment was covered in colorful confetti, garlands and balloons. It looked like a unicorn had taken a humungous rainbow-colored dump in their living-room and then dispersed the pooh randomly throughout the place. On the sofa table, there were a bunch of gifts but the thing that caught his eye most of all, was the gigantic red velvet cake covering up Kyungsoo's carved masterpiece.
People slowly started to crowd him. Joonmyun was the first to awkwardly hug Kris and personally wish him a happy birthday. Then Lay followed up, also with a hug. Minseok and Jongdae opted for a firm, manly handshake whereas Tao chose to give him an indifferent nod from a 4 meters distance, supporting his weight on one leg. Sehun hugged him as well. So did Luhan who still very much sort of resembled a zombie.
"What is all this? It's not my birthday until... Thursday?" Kris looked at eye-bags, formerly known as Luhan.
"Don't look at me. I'm not the party-planner. Had it been me there'd be actual hot half- muscular men, covered in shimmering coconut body oil and sweat, hey Minseo..." Luhan trailed off as the slight smile vanished once again.
"... Kyungsoo planned it."

Luhan had just been about to make one of his improper Minseok comments when he had remembered he didn't do that anymore.
 Luhan hadn't been his gay self in a long time now. He didn't smile, laugh, make inappropriate jokes or anything. He knew he was messed up but he had just never been this hurt before. He had always been used to getting what he wanted and now as it turned out, what he wanted had already been taken. All this while he had been too scared to talk to Minseok. He knew he could talk about anything with him, he was his best friend after all but deep down, he couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed. Why hadn't Minseok told him about the kiss between Jongdae and him? What did it mean?

"Luhan?"
The blonde male closed his eyes at the all too familiar voice.
"Can we talk?"
He was gently pushed to the side, away from the crowd currently watching Kris stuffing himself with another piece of cake.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
"Am I? I'm sorry."
There was an unusually large frown on the small man's face, clearly etched with worry.
"Did I do something? You hardly speak to me anymore, you don't come see me at work or outside at all. I miss you. It's too silent when you're not arou..."
"Did you really kiss him?" Luhan cut off Minseok mid-sentence. The question he had been too afraid to ask but was dying to hear the answer to, finally slipped out.
"Who?... Ah. He told you."
"Are you in love with Jongdae?"
Minseok smiled, putting a comforting hand on Luhan's shoulder.
"I told you and I'll tell you again. I'm not gay."
"But... You're not denying you kissed him?"
"I did kiss him. He was so sad, I just wanted to cheer him up. Looking back, it might not have been the smartest thing to do but hey, we only live once right?"
Luhan slowly pushed away Minseok's hand.
"You do know he's in love with you."
"I have suspected it. But he's my dongsaeng and my friend. We've talked about it. I won't ever see him in a romantic way. He knows that. The moment he falls in love with someone, he'll realize he never had feelings for me in the first place."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I don't want to lose my friend. Neither do I want to lose you."
A clump collected in his throat as he nodded at Minseok's words. Soon he was wrapped in Minseok's short but strong arms. Tears were pooling in his eyes as he clutched onto Minseok hard.
"I don't want to lose you either."
"You won't. So stop being such a queen and come talk to me."
Luhan sniffled as he slowly let go of the smaller man.
"Only if you lose the shirt and spray on some of that shimmering coconut oil. I am suffering from a serious Minseok deficiency. I need me some abs."
They both laughed before hugging each other one more time. Minseok dried away Luhan's tears before they returned to see the birthday boy.

"Really? Kyungsoo. You did all this?"
"Nah. I just bought the decorations, baked the cake, sent out the invites, made the finger snacks and the chocolate croissants. It was nothing."
Kris stopped eating the cake.
"There are chocolate croissants?"
"There should be. I can't see them though..."
"... Hey! Isn't it about time for presents? I think so... Lay?" Jongdae chipped in.
Lay smiled as he sat down next to Kris, handing him a purple wrapped gift.
"This is from TCA. We hope you like it."
"Aaw thanks. You really shouldn't have."
"Say that after you see what's in it."
Lay patted his back before standing up next to Jongdae.
Kris tore off the wrapping paper in a jiffy. He blinked several times before holding up a small golden emblem with his name and TCA carved onto it.
"There's more." Jongdae hurried to add.
Hidden underneath turquoise silk paper, a black beanie and 21 pairs of socks resided.
"You know. One for each year you've lived."
He quickly picked his favorite. A pair of red  and black colored leopard socks. Cool.
"I love it... Thank you guys. This is... Ouch!"
Apparently Kyungsoo had decided to hit him on the head.
"No tears. You're a big boy now, so cut it out."
Kris scowled at the violent man before a new gift was put in his lap.
"It's from me and Jongin."
Sehun sat down on the floor in front of Kris.
"Jongin? Where is he?"
"Working. Says hi though."
"... He doesn't like me very much does he?"
"Sure he does... Okay he doesn't love you but... he just have issues. Don't ask, just open the box."
Kris did as he was told. He opened the lid not expecting much but soon there were stars in his eyes.
"All 2NE1's albums?!"
"Kyungsoo said you were a fan."
"Really? This is great!"
Next present was from Joonmyun.
"I can't take this..."
Kris held up a yellow Polaroid camera, along with a matching photo album.
"You have to. It is non-refundable."
"Joonmyun. Are you sure? I mean, this is a tad much don't you think?"
"Kris." Joonmyun leaned forward, placing his hands on Kris's wide shoulders, staring him intently in the eye.
"You are only in Korea for a while. I want you to make memories you can look back at with much fondness."
Kris bit his lower lip as he flung his arms around the tiny boy.
"You're the best."
After a little too dragged out hug, Kyungsoo made an awkward cough as he announced it about time to get wasted. But before that, he snatched the camera out of Kris's hands and lined everyone up for a photo.

Joonmyun and Sehun fell into conversation. Luhan was again glued to Minseok's side while a glum looking Jongdae would observe the two close by. Kyungsoo and Minseok seemed to be discussing food stuff, while Lay was dancing around with a beer in his hand. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. All except for one. Where was Tao?
Kris had never spoken much to the guy, mostly because he was a bit intimidated by his harsh features, especially his eyes.  Also it looked like the guy was in pain most of the time which was  quite freaky. Perhaps it was time to get to know him better because as Joonmyun had said, this was the time to make memories.
He found Tao sitting alone on the kitchen floor, looking solemn.
"Hey. You want anything to drink?"

No response.

"We have soda, beer, soju and... water?"

Silence

"... I couldn't help but notice that limp of yours... and what I presume is a bruised rib?"
"I don't..."
"I'm a phys. Ed. Major and I've played basket ball long enough to recognize an injury."
"It doesn't concern you."
"Yeah I know. I still want to get to know you better though. Joonmyun says you completely changed after a week or so coming to Korea. How come?"
Before he could blink, Kris was pushed hard against a wall by a furious looking Tao. Kris detected a subtle wince in Tao's serial killer expression.  
"I said, it doesn't concern you."
Courageously, Kris lifted up Tao's t-shirt, revealing a beat and bruised chest. Some marks were fresh while others where older having turned an unattractive yellow.
"Oh my God. What happened? Is this from wushu?"
His hand was ruthlessly pushed away.
"Mind. Your own ing business!"
A knee kicked all the air out of Kris's lungs. As Tao let go of him, Kris toppled over, trying to breathe. The other Chinese man stood and watched him for a moment before storming off, leaving Kris on the floor, heaving for air.

Today had been a very long and to say the least, a very weird day. Kyungsoo hadn't meant to say what he did during the whole Boys Over Flower scene. It just sort of happened. And the kiss? What was up with that? It shouldn't have felt that good. It should've felt... wrong? Disgusting? Anything but... nice. What was happening to him? This was too confusing. Kris was a good friend, that's it. All. So why had he been disappointed when Kris broke off the kiss?

"It is going to be a and a half to clean up this mess tomorrow." Kris came into the living-room where Kyungsoo was currently packing away leftover food.
"By the way,  what happened to the croissants?"
"I'm pretty sure the others ate them before we got back."
"Aaaw. That blows."
Kyungsoo smiled. He picked up the last present lying under the table.
"Time for my gift."
"You already gave me a gift. This is probably the best birthday party I've ever had. If you don't include getting kneed in the stomach."
"What?"
"It's nothing. Present?"
Kyungsoo worriedly handed over his gift to his friend.
"Wow. It's pretty."
It was a red-orange woolen scarf.
"It gets really cold during the winter here."
"You should come to Canada in the winter then. It's crazy cold."
A wide smile replaced the worry on Kyungsoo's face as he grabbed the Scarf out of Kris's hands and put it around the blondes neck.
"Isn't this also from Boys Over Flowers."
"It's the scene between So Yi-Jeong and Chu Ga-eul."
"I thought you hadn't seen it."
There was a smirk gracing Kris's handsome face. Kyungsoo the soft material one last time as he looked into two almost glowing eyes.
"I lied. Goodnight Kris."

As soon as his bedroom door was closed, Kyungsoo jumped onto his bed, hiding under the covers. Why was it so easy with Kris? It was messing with his head. He couldn't keep this up. And call him crazy but if Kyungsoo didn't know any better, he'd say Kris liked him as well. More than the average friend like. Perhaps if things were different, this... whatever it was, would go away. He should just come out and tell him that he wasn't gay. But how would he do that? What if Kris wouldn't talk to him anymore after that? So many ifs. Man it .
He'd had to act soon or else he might have to cut out Kris from his life.

And that.
Was not an option.        


A/N
This is a bit... eeeh but that's what you get when you're trying to write in side stories. I know. I ><
Anywho, next chapter you'll get to know Tao a little better. why is his body bruised? Does he need an anger management class?
Stay tuned.