Chapter 66
 

This time it was Kris's turn to wake up alone.
He woke up to a slight pain in his back and a short note from Kyungsoo.
 

'Didn't have the heart to wake you(:
Gone for practice but I'll see you tonight.

Kyungsoo <3'

A heart.
Kyungsoo had drawn a small heart.
The biggest smile spread across Kris's face as he hugged the note to his chest, rolling around on the bed, squealing like a teenage girl in heat, until he eventually fell over the edge.
Not caring about the new bump on his head, Kris jumped to his feet to take a shower before heading off to school.

At school Kris was actually smiling at  his classmates.
That was a first.  

During lunch with TCA, Kris couldn't help the dreamy look in his eyes as he poked at his food with a chopstick.
It wasn't until he stabbed two pieces of broccoli with his chopsticks and made it walk across the table that he noticed that all eyes were on him.
To everyone he must've seemed like a crazy person because of the look they gave him. All except Lay who giggled before doing the same with a couple of mushrooms.

"Kris. Did something happen?"

Kris tried his best to keep his face under control but the smile just wouldn't fade. He could see the worried expression on Joonmyun's face but he couldn't make himself care. He was too blissfully happy.

"It's a secret."

Kris giggled. Kyungsoo's face was encircling his head along with a few red hearts, round and round. It made him dizzy following tiny Kyungsoo with his eyes but it was fun.
 

"He's lost it."

Luhan had gotten up from his seat to knock on Kris's forehead but all he got was a hollow sound and a slurry 'Come 'ere you rascal. Lemme get mah hands on you, you grrrr ...'

"Someone call the doctor. This one needs medical attention, ASAP."

Luhan slapped Kris on the cheek. And then again. And then one more time, just for good measure... And maaaybe just oooooone mo...

"Yo, devil spawn. Stop hitting on Kris."

Jongdae threw a piece of tofu at Luhan's head.
Normally getting food thrown at him would piss him off because, hair, duh. But getting attention from Jongdae was worth the smell, the sticky yuck and the double hair washing after school.

"Aaaw. Jealous? Want me to slap you instead?"
"Wow. My boyfriend is such an . I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

Yes.
They were a couple now.
Crazy right?
It hadn't been easy though. Or... Pain free.

-

"It's no use Minseok. He won't talk to me. I should just go home."

It was New year's eve. Luhan had been dragged into the kitchen when everyone else was busy eating dessert.

"You're not going anywhere. We can fix this. We just need to explain to Jongdae that it didn't mean anything and..."
"This is all your fault!"
"My fault?"
"It is! It's your fault that I'm messed up. That Jongdae's messed up. That me and Jongdae aren't... fixed. Together."
"How can it be my fault that you fell in love with me? Or Jongdae for that matter?"
"You kissed him!"
"I wanted to comfort him."
"With your lips?!"
Luhan pushed Minseok up against the fridge.
If his best friend hadn't taken him aside that night and...

"Minseok hyung do you have any more..."

Jongdae appeared in the doorway, holding an empty bowl for whipped crème.
Luhan then realized the position Minseok and he was in... again. Both his hands were on either side of Minseok's head, faces inches from each other.

'Oh come on!'

Luhan quickly stepped away, hurrying towards a frozen Jongdae.

"Jongdae this is not  what it..."

Before he could say anything else, an indescribable pain emitted from his groin.
Jongdae had kneed him right in the Terra Cotta Warrior.
As Luhan lay whimpering on the floor, he couldn't help but to think that that really was an awful name for his .
'Not much protection there.'

"Jongdae wait!"

Minseok nonchalantly stepped over Luhan to grab hold of Jongdae before he could storm off.

"This is all a big misunderstanding."
"No it isn't. You were right. Luhan just used me to make you jealous so he could get what he always wanted."
"That is not... aaaaah... That is not true!"

Luhan slowly rose to his feet, cupping his mister.

"And why are you only mad at me?! It was his fault!"

He accusingly pointed a finger at the small man who sported a 'No You Didn't' look on his round face.

"It's not Minseok hyung's fault that you're a manipulative pig."
"Oh really?! Who do you think suggested I kiss him? That's right, that was all Minseok!"
"And you kissed him. Why?"
"It's... it's complicated."

-

"I got to go to the little men's room. See you in the lob.. hic.. lobby?"
As Jongdae had stumbled off to find the men's room, Luhan took Sarah's card out of Minseok's hand before he could pay for dinner. Instead Luhan poked the waiter, slurring words at him.

"Put it on, on my... my tab."
"What is your name sir?"
"Sarah... Longstocking... Ikea?"

Minseok broke out in laughter as Luhan  handed the man Sarah's credit card.

After paying, the  two men managed to find their way to the lobby without tripping or bumping into anyone except themselves.
Perhaps they should have skipped that last bottle of Dom. And the Whiskey.
Oh who the hell cared?
This was too much fun to have any regrets.

Luhan swayed from side to side as he and Minseok waited for Jongdae to finish up in the men's room.

"I still can't believe that... that the notorious lone... deer... Is on a date."

Minseok put a hand on his shoulder, laughing.

"And here I thought you wouldn't settle for anyone but me. That makes me feel really... unsettled for."   
"I've put you on a pedestal for waaaay too long. You're not gay. I get it now. I was wrong to try and 'turn you'  all these years when clearly that was never going to happen. Apparently, the only person on planet earth with immunity to my Chinese charms, is you."

Minseok smiled at him.

"You and Jongdae. If me and Sarah aren't going to work out as you so nicely put it, then neither are you and him."
"Why not?"

Luhan couldn't help the pout on his lips. How could his best friend say that?

"Come on Luhan. Neither of you have been in a relationship before, you're both emotionally awkward and then there's, you know... me."
"You?"
"How can you know, if me and Sarah break up, that you won't suddenly want to try and make me fall for you again. What about Jongdae then? You don't want to put him through that. Do you?"

Unsteadily Luhan searched his brain. He certainly didn't want to hurt Jongdae. No sir. Jongdae was... oxygen. Without him, Luhan couldn't breathe properly.

"But... I don't even know if I'm in love with you anymore. I mean, I haven't thought about you that way ever since... At least I don't think so..."

Minseok tilted his head, his lips.

"... Do you want to find out?"   

-

"So you kissed him because you wanted to find out whether or not you were still in love with him?"

Luhan sighed while rubbing his eyes.

"That. Is the gist of it. I know it sounds stupid but we were drunk. It made sense at the time."
"That is not an excuse!""
"Jongdae."

Minseok stepped in.
"There is nothing going on between Luhan and me. And. Whatever he may have felt for me is gone. Like completely vanished, gone up in smoke. Perished. Seriously, I had to make, if not force him into kissing me three times before we came to the conclusion that he did not have feelings for me. And I gave it everything I got. And nothing. Can't say I wasn't offended."
"You kissed three times?!"
"... That wasn't exactly the point..."

Luhan pushed Minseok out of the way.
Leave it to Minseok to make everything worse.

"Thanks Minseok!"
"I can't believe you. Kissing once wasn't enough?"
"I wanted to make sure. And I am now. Minseok is a friend. That's it."

Nervously, he approached Jongdae until they were face to face.
He swallowed before he gently took Jongdae's hand in his own.

"It's you. I'm in love. With you."

Luhan moved Jongdae's hand up to his lips, kissing it sweetly.

"Waking up with you, holding you, fighting with you. I want that. And I want it every day until there are no more left."
"Luhan..."

There they stood in silence. Just looking each other in the eye.
Luhan's heart beat like crazy. It was cheesy but his heart really only beat for one person. For Jongdae.
Their moment was kinda ruined though when an awkward Minseok cleared his throat.

"... Sooo... I'm gonna... I'm gonna go stuff my face with pie."
"There's no more whipped creme."
"We'll!  Make some!"

Luhan proceeded to throw Minseok out of the kitchen before towing Jongdae to stand by the kitchen sink.
Grabbing crème and a whisk, Luhan started making the fluffy stuff while Jongdae looked on.

"So you're really in love with me?"

Luhan slowed his whisking, blushing.

"It's not like I can help it."

Jongdae scoffed.

"Jongdae. What happened was..."
"I don't know if I can trust you."

It made Luhan stop mid-motion. He kept his gaze fixed on the crème, not daring to look at the man he loved.

"But I want to. Because I can't help it either."

Jongdae stuck his finger in the bowl, wiping a white  dollop on Luhan's nose before kissing it off.
Luhan closed his eyes while a smile spread on his face.
A wave of relief washed over him.
He quickly let go of bowl and whisk in favor of cupping Jongdae's face, kissing him deeply.
Ending their kiss, Luhan embraced the smaller man, hugging him close to his chest.

"I'm sorry. Jongdae."
"Me too. How's the warrior?"
"...A tad sore. Also I'm demoting him to peasant, for the moment ,because he is quite the softy."

Jongdae looked up at him with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"... I can help with that."

Quickly catching onto the suggesting offer, Luhan swallowed.

"We probably shouldn't. We just started dating so we ought to slow down... or something like that."
"Yeah. You're right. Sure."

They hadn't done it in what 10 days, not that he had counted. It took a lot of willpower to decline having after so long. But it was the right thing to do.
Chastity, was the healthy way to start any relationship.

"Wanna go taint Minseok hyung's bed?"
"...Hell yes."
-

Kyungsoo sat in front of the piano.
He had done nothing but stare into space, smiling to himself for hours now and there was no sign of him stopping anytime soon.

*Riiiing*

... Spoke too soon.

Kyungsoo's phone rang, snapping him back to reality. Not bothering to check the caller ID, Kyungsoo accepted the call without hesitation.

"Kris?!"
"No..."

'.'   

"...Tal. Krys-tal! Hi! What's up?"
"Just... Happy birthday."
"You remembered."
"Of course I did. So when can I swing by with your present?"
"Swing by?"
"Yes? To celebrate you?"

Kyungsoo didn't particularly want to spend his birthday with both Krystal and Kris. Boy would that take awkward to a whole new level.

"You can't!"
"Why not?"
"Why? I... I am..."

Had his conscience been just a little less tainted with spite, Kyungsoo would've told her the truth. He would have flat out told her that they could no longer see each other, that he was in love with his roommate and wanted nothing but to work things out with him.
 But Kyungsoo still harbored ill feelings towards Krystal and he wanted nothing more than to hurt her, even just a little.

"I... am sick."

Kyungsoo let out a cough before changing his voice so it sounded nasal.

"Yeah. I'm gonna be bedridden all day."
"Aaw. I'll come right over.."
"NO! ... I. wouldn't want to get you sick?"

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes before faking another cough. 

"Yeah so... You know. Stay away. Gotta go. Bye bye."

Quickly ending the call, Kyungsoo let out a long sigh of relief, closing his eyes.
That was a close one.
'Right get your head on straight, you got work to do Kyungsoo.'

Just about to play his first chord of the day and the door swung open.

"Kyungie!"

In stormed his two best friends, Chanyeol and Baekhyun. Well Chanyeol did the storming. Baekhyun followed troop, holding a cake.

"Guys. Why the.."

He really should've learned by now that Chanyeol wasn't one to let him finish a sentence until a bone-crushing hug had occurred.  

"Happy birthday Kyungie! Why did you blow us off at New years? We missed you! Uh let's go to a karaoke bar! I also brought my guitar, just in case things got musical."
"Chanyeol. Put Kyungsoo down before his birthday also turns into the day he was crushed to death by a crazy person."

Baekhyun put down the cake on top of the piano before peeling Chanyeol off of Kyungsoo so he himself could give Kyungsoo a quick hug. 

"Guys. Why aren't you in class? Couldn't this have waited until after school?

Baekhyun sighed before pointing at Chanyeol.

"It was Chanyeol's idea.
"It was my idea."

Chanyeol looked all proud as he pulled a note out of his jeans pocket.

"Here you go. Use it wisely."
"Thanks man, you didn't have..."

Kyungsoo unfolded the note.

'One jamming session with your best BEST friend in the entire world!'

"Wow. You really didn't have to."

"We pooled our money for the cake... But Chanyeol was insisting on getting you something else as well."

"No. No this is great. I love it. Thank you guys."
"Speaking of cake. Time to make a wish Kyungie!"

Chanyeol shoved him closer to the cake.
There was really only one thing he wished for...

"Yaay!"

Chanyeol dipped his finger in the frosting as soon as Kyungsoo had blown out the candles.

"So what do you want to do today? Uh, I know! Let's go to a karaoke bar!"
"Actually, there is something I..."
"Karaoke bar!"
"..Wanted to tell you..."
"That's great, Kyungie but I feel like we keep getting back to the subject of a karaoke bar."
"Chanyeol!"

Baekhyun was once again in charge of keeping a hyperactive Chanyeol under control as he elbowed the guy in his abdomen.

"It is Kyungsoo's birthday, not yours. So shut up! Or I'll break your guitar."

Chanyeol's face contorted to that of shock. It only lasted a second though because the next moment his eyes were narrowed into a menacing stare.

"If you touch her. You are going to end up in a shallow grave little man."
"Oh really? You're going to kill me if I touch 'her'? Okay."

Baekhyun took a step backwards towards his friend's most precious possession while Chanyeol took a step forward.

"You. Wouldn't. Dare."
"I think I would."
"Take one more step and... Okay now, take one more step and ... STOP MOVING BAEKHYUN!"
"Guys! Let's just go sing karaoke. Chanyeol stop choking Baekhyun. Baekhyun let go of Chanyeol's ia. Someone grab the cake and lets skedaddle."
"N..noeurt eertt.."
"Not it! Damn it!"

Chanyeol reluctantly let go of Baekhyun's neck in favor of seizing the cake,  hurrying out the door.

"Who. The hell. Invited this guy?"

Chanyeol stood, arms crossed, blocking the entrance to the karaoke place. That Kris person, Kyungsoo's roommate,  was standing just outside with a stupid look on his face. Man would Chanyeol love to wipe that dufus grin off his face. In fact, he wouldn't mind sending the guy on the next plane outta here. Where? Who cared. As long as it was out of Seoul and far away from his best friend.
It's not that Chanyeol was intimidated by the guy who was ONLY a few centimeters taller than himself. Nor was it because he was living with his best friend who seemed to care a liiiittle too much for the roommate.

"Kyungsoo... Kyungsoo invited me."
"He whaa... Aaaw man. Kyungsoo!"

Chanyeol made a loud whining noise as he turned to give his childhood friend a reprimanding stare.

"I thought it was just gonna be us. The three of us? That's usually how it is."
"Well that was before. Now let him in or I'll demote you to just 'friend'"
"What no best?"
"No best."

Chanyeol struggled getting the words out for Kris to come in. It seemed almost impossible for him to do. So instead he simply stepped to the side so the guy had just enough space to move past him.

"Kyungsoo. You should sing first."

Baekhyun handed Kyungsoo the song book which he willingly took.

"What should I sing?"
"How about letting.. Kris. Go first?"
"Me?"
"What, you can't sing or something?"
"I can sing."
"Then sing."
"I'll sing."
"Fine."
"Fine! Kyungsoo gimme that thing!"

Kris furiously flipped through the book before pressing the numbers in for... Celine Dion, 'My Heart Will Go On'.
That was... hilariously unexpected.
Judging by Kris's 'Bad Boy' style, Chanyeol had been certain the guy would've chosen something closer to straight up gangster rap than cheesy, tear inducing, romantic crap.

"Are you kidding?"
"Shush! It's starti-Every night in my dream..."

Chanyeol's mouth fell open.
Kris... Wow.

He, could not sing.

It's not that the guy was tone deaf, no. But it's not like he hit the right notes either.
He couldn't take his eyes off of Kris. Not because of his singing which was just. Awful. No, it was how Kris was so into the song. He had closed his eyes, his chin was shaking. It pretty much looked as if he was about to cry.

Chanyeol couldn't be any happier.
Kris. Was a fun guy. Hilarious.
Maybe it would be okay to be a little more welcoming to the guy. Yeah. Why not? Chanyeol rose to his feet and joined Kris. He put his arm around Kris's shoulder, singing along.

"Near, far. Wherever you are..."
"I believe that the heart does go on..."

By the end of the song, tears where streaming down Kris's cheeks while Chanyeol had doubled over, laughing his off.

"That. Was powerful..."

Kyungsoo and Baekhyun sat eyes wide open, mouths forming perfect O's.

"Yeah. Powerful. Chanyeol you hate that song."
"Maybe I just hate Celine Dion."
"Blasphemy!"

Kris, was a face of shock and horror as he crossed his two forefingers, shoving them in Chanyeol's face.

"Are you actually crying?"

Kris was handed a tissue by a worried-looking Kyungsoo. Suddenly Kris's mind went back to the night they had just spent together and the note... and the heart. Especially the heart.
His eyes were still wet but the tears were  swiftly replaced by a dreamy smile.

"Kris?"

Boy, did he love it when Kyungsoo said his name. The handsome vibrations in his voice made his name sound incredibly y. He wouldn't mind hearing his name over and over and over...

"Yo, dude!"

That Chanyeol guy was shaking him furiously.

"Your friend is really weird. Uh Kyungie! Let's do a song together!"

The guy let go of him in favor of pushing in a number without looking through the book. He then proceeded to throw a microphone at Kyungsoo just as the song began.

"Ah. Of course... 'Beautiful girls, all over the world, I could be chasing but my time would be wasted. They got nothing on you, baby.'"

The smaller man turned his attention away from the screen, looking Kris directly in the eye.

'Nothing on you, baby.'     

Kris was mesmerized.
Kyungsoo's voice was... Velvety and rich. Soft, yet powerful. Smooth but filled to the brim with raw emotion.
Every word that exited two rose lips were honest, assuring. Passionate. And playful. Kris couldn't help but feel as if every note was directed straight at him.

Their time was almost up.
Chanyeol seemed more friendly with him now, much to Kris's joy. The guy had even bought beer for everyone which made him a nice guy in Kris's book.

"What you wanna do now, birthday boy?"

 Kris was still not too friendly with that Baekhyun kid who had plopped down next to Kyungsoo, throwing an arm around his neck.

"I don't know..."
"I know!"

Kris promptly sat down between the two, squashing both men a little. Baekhyun, a little more than Kyungsoo.  

"Let's go buy you something pretty. Perhaps a new 'couple' tee?"

'Come on Kyungsoo. Take the hint. Make it official.'

Kris stared intently into Kyungsoo's eyes but all he received in return was a 'What are you looking at?' expression.

"Kyungsoo don't like couple stuff?"

Baekhyun got up and moved to sit on Kyungsoo's other side. Kris contemplated moving as well but thought it best not to.

"Yeah, he hates all that fluffy crap. Right, Kyungie?"
"Let's just get out of here."

Kyungsoo got up, moving past a sighing Kris.

"Kyungsoo, look!"

The four guys stood outside a novelty shop. It was cold but at least it wasn't snowing any longer.
First thing Kris had seen before dragging Kyungsoo towards the stand was something he had wanted ever since the first time he saw 2NE1's Minzy wearing them.   

"Hulk gloves!"

Kris eagerly put them them on, hitting himself on the cheek while laughing like a mad man. Kyungsoo just shook his head, smiling sweetly.

"You look ridiculo..."
"Kyungsoo?"

Ooh. This was gonna be good. Kris thought to himself as he saw none other than Krystal and another girl coming towards their small group.

"I thought you said you were sick?"
"Go to hell, mantrap"
"Not. Another step."

Baekhyun and Chanyeol had stepped in front of Kyungsoo to shield him from *shudder* Krystal. They really were good friends to Kyungsoo.

"I missed you too, guys. Get out of my way?"
"Make one move and I'll bite your freaking head off, ."

Chanyeol towered over her giving her what Kris believed was how a serial killer looked just before making a kill.

"He didn't tell you? Kyungsoo and I are back together."

'Uuh. Think again, .' Kris triumphantly grinned as he made to green bumpfist  Kyungsoo.
Except... Kyungsoo brushed him off.

"Yes. We are."

He then moved to stand next to Krystal, taking her hand.

"I'm sorry. These guys made me."

Aaaaaaand suddenly Kris didn't feel so superior anymore.

"Right. So I can come by later tonight?"
"...Yeah. Sure."
"Okay. See you. Sweety."

Kris stopped breathing as Krystal touched Kyungsoo's cheek with her disgustingly toxic hand before she gave him a kiss that seemed to last an eternity. The witch gave them all an awfully fake smile before taking her friend's arm, walking away.

"Before you say anything..." 
"What the Kyungsoo?!"

Baekhyun voiced out his frustration before Kris had the chance to.

"You and Krystal? Really? After what hell she put you through?! And you just run back to her? No! This is not right!"
"...Kyungie? Why?"
"I..."
"You know what? Never mind. I just hope she doesn't crush your heart again and leaves you to rot in the streets. Have a nice birthday, you masochistic dimwit."  

Baekhyun grabbed Chanyeol's arm, storming off but not before Chanyeol managed to send Kyungsoo a disappointed look.

Silence descended on the street around them. Kris couldn't help but feel betrayed. Again.

"...This might not be any of my business but I was just wondering if you are going to keep sleeping with the both of us continually? Or do I really mean that little to you?"

The smaller man bit his lip, looking down.

"No..."
"No? Then why not tell her what you and I did last night?"
"I will. Just not yet."
"Kyungsoo I really don't..."
"I want revenge. I want her to be in pain. I want her to regret ever leaving me."

Kris was stunned. What was going on inside Kyungsoo's head? Why couldn't he just let go? He had Kris now.
Why wasn't that enough?  

"It won't be for long. I'll see her less and we can... Be together. Secretly. Please just... please?"

Incredulous, Kris scoffed at the little man.
He couldn't believe this. Kyungsoo was actually using him to get back at his ex-girlfriend. Anger showed it's nasty face, making it impossible for Kris to suppress his feelings.

"Well... Then to quote the abnormally large, green guy... 'Hulk. Smash!'" 
Kris punched Kyungsoo hard in the stomach with the glove before frantically shaking them off, leaving Kyungsoo on the ground, heaving for air.

A/N 
... Yes that is a memory in a memory  type of situation Ludae is experiencing :p 
Also had a long talk with Vivianwu and somehow ended up promising to let the Hulk beat on Kyungsoo a little bit for being a major xD At first I had no idea how to write it! I thought yeah so I'll let Kris fight Kyungsoo as Hulk in like a videogame, marvel super heroes vs street fighter... but then technically it wouldn't be Kyungsoo being beat up by the Hulk... Then I thought a dream perhaps but... Naarh. So in the end it became partial hulk vs Kyungsoo xD I hope that's  okay :p 
Anyway writer's block is still clocking up my brain atm so only almost done with chapter 67 but don't know when I'll have time for writing the following two weeks so thought I'd at least post an update... A long one at that :b 
I'm rambling. Sorry about that and hopefully... enjoy the chapter :D:D 
Until next time!