CHAPTER SIX

DinoPuppy: Good evening, Beautiful~

TheAlmighty: Hey Honey~ How was your day?

DinoPuppy: Horrible. Why must Mondays exist? Monday’s when my teacher tries to kill me. How are you?

TheAlmighty: I had a dream about us last night.

DinoPuppy: Oh? ;D What did we do?

TheAlmighty: We were on a date.

DinoPuppy: Mm.

TheAlmighty: We were holding hands, fingers intertwined as we walked on the cold grains of sand on a breezy night. The ocean was a mysterious and creepy black since it was around midnight. Even though it was dark we could still see what each other was wearing. Our shirts were matching.

DinoPuppy: That sounds like an amazing dream, sweetie.

TheAlmighty: There was just one problem.

DinoPuppy: What? Did I splash you with water? xD

TheAlmighty: I couldn’t see you. I have no idea what you look like. You were just a shaded shadow. I could feel you and see you, but there was no detail.

TheAlmighty: So…that’s why…

TheAlmighty: Dino… let’s meet up.

His heart rate accelerated, his breathing getting faster and heavier, and coming out as puffs and pants when those three words registered into his mind. His fingers twitched with nervousness over the mouse as they reacted on their own and clicked the two small words under his username.

DinoPuppy signed off.

The chat remained up as he reread their conversation over and over again, multiple times.

His boyfriend had wanted to finally meet up with him. He should have been in high spirits. He should have messaged him back saying that he wanted to meet him too and he couldn’t wait for it. He shouldn’t have just logged off without saying anything first. However, Jonghyun knew he wasn’t ready for this. Almighty would have wanted an explanation if he had messaged him that he didn’t want to meet him yet. Jjong wasn’t sure what his reply would have been then. He needed to talk to someone about this. Minho was definitely out of the question, and Taemin was most likely busy studying for tomorrow’s quiz.

“Onew,” he whispered as he stood up with trembling legs. With one hand on the wall for support, he moved his legs as quick as he could down the hall to his older friend’s room. He stopped in front of the brown door and gently tapped it with his knuckles three times before pausing and adding another one, a code used between the two to tell the other that something is wrong. Two taps could be heard on the other side of the door, which was a signal for Jonghyun to come in. 

As soon as he opened the door, Onew was sitting crisscrossed on top of the red blanket covering his bed. The dark brown haired man patted the spot next to him motioning for Jjong to sit next to him.

The panicked brunette didn’t even wait for the older one to ask what was wrong. The moment he touched the surprisingly soft fabric he declared, “My boyfriend wants to meet me.”

Onew’s mouth fell slightly open as his face went slack. His body froze for a moment as he stared at him wide-eyed, before letting out a small sigh and opening his mouth to speak, “Okay… One, I wasn’t expecting that from you. Two, when the heck did you get a boyfriend? Three, if you’re dating, why the hell haven’t you met him yet? And four, when the hell did you get a boyfriend!?”

Jonghyun grimaced as he yelled in his ear. He had forgotten that he hadn’t told anyone that he was dating Almighty. “Do you want the long version or the short version?”

The older one’s hands came up to rub his temples as if he could feel a headache coming on. “Short.”

“Long story short, we’re dating online.”

“I could have guessed that, Jjong,” Onew said. “But, what is the problem? Just go meet him.”

“What if he doesn’t like me,” he mumbled under his breath as he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. “I mean, he sounds so confident online and confident people tend to be the best looking. I have no confidence when it comes to my appearance. Onew, ever since I met Shin Se Kyung I finally began noticing all the flaws I possess and I can’t help but think she’s right… who would want to date someone like me? I mean, besides her, but I really only think that she wants to date me because she’s part of the pity committee.”

“Jonghyun, first off let me tell you this: you and Minho definitely need to let go of this rule you guys have. This is getting too awkward for me to say these types of things to another guy,” he confessed as he laid he hands on the younger one’s shoulders. “You. Look. Great.”

“Good.”

“What?”

“I’m wearing sweats right- never mind, it’s an inside joke,” Jonghyun said as he gently pushed the other’s hands away. “You had a talk with Minho?”

“He came in here the other day talking about his ex-boyfriend and I told him to lay off the poor guy for a little while. Let him breathe some fresh air and let him know what it’s like without having Minho following him around like some frog begging to be kissed and then maybe the guy will see that he actually misses him.” Onew ran his fingers through his hair as he let out an exaggerated sigh. “You, though, are in a way different position than him. Stop giving him room to breathe. He obviously doesn’t want that room if he’s asking to meet you and if he’s asking to meet you then that means that he’s serious about you. He started dating you because he liked your personality, not because of your looks, which aren’t bad at all, if I have to say it. Please don’t make me ever repeat that. And seriously Jjong, stop listening to the crazy thing called a Shin Se Kyung, it’ll tear you apart. Now,” he hesitantly opened his arms wide, “Come here you big ball of fluff.”

“Thanks Onew,” the brunette whispered as he leaned into the other and placed his head on his chest. “You’re a great friend.” He felt Onew’s arms slowly circle around him, hands staying in the air until he softly placed them on his upper back to give a small gentle pat every now and then. Jonghyun guessed it was suppose to comfort him, but to be honest it actually was a little unpleasant. “Well… this is just a little awkward…”

“Yeah,” Onew agreed as they both swiftly pulled away from each other.

“But, seriously Onew,” Jonghyun said as he climbed off the bed. “Thank you for all your help.”

“Anytime,” the older one meant to say, but it came out more in the form of a question.

Jonghyun closed the door to his roommate’s bedroom before deciding to get ready for bed. “Maybe after a good night’s sleep I can figure out what to do.”

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Jonghyun tried to focus on what the teacher was writing on the board. He really did. But with thoughts of Almighty and Taemin filling his head, he couldn’t focus on the different numbers and variables written on the board.

Jonghyun had tried to contact his boyfriend this morning. He had logged on at their usual time before their classes started, but he wasn’t on. Not that Jjong could get mad at him for that since he had logged off without saying anything the night before. Almighty was already enough of a distraction for the brunette. Adding Taemin into the mix was just causing Jonghyun’s brain to go on overload. Usually Taemin would have been in the classroom before him but the younger man was nowhere to be found. Jjong was running through the endless possibilities. What if the younger one was still asleep? What if he was still at home, cramming for the quiz and lost track of time? What if those three guys had actually come back to harm him?

With that last thought in mind, Jonghyun whipped out his phone without even caring about his teacher and sent a text to his friend.

To: Taemin
Where are you? :(

From: Taemin
Entering the building now

To: Taemin
Is everything okay? :/

Just as Jonghyun was about to send the reply the door to the classroom opened to reveal the reddish-blond man himself. He was obviously out of breath with how his diaphragm expanded and contracted. There were bags under his eyes as if he hadn’t gotten enough sleep. It emphasized his messy bed hair that was tied in a low ponytail. The brunette watched as Taemin gave a quick apology and an almost ninety degree bow before trudging to his seat.

“Are you okay?” Jjong asked as the teacher turned back to the board.

“Yeah,” Taemin whispered as he pulled out his binder. “It was just a long night.”

“You know, if you needed help you could have just called me.”

“That wasn’t the problem.”

Jonghyun opened his mouth to question the younger one, but his teacher interrupted him, “Class, I will pass out the quiz now. No talking or else it will result in you getting a zero.”

Express e³ = 20.09 in logarithmic form

ln e ³ = In 20.09
3 ln e = ln 20.09
ln 20.09 = 3

Write the equation in logarithmic form:

e  ^1/3 = 1.40
ln e ^1/3= ln 1.40
ln 1.40 =1/3

Math was like meditation, yoga, or music to Jonghyun. As soon as he was faced with the complication of solving a mathematical problem instead of taking notes his mind would clear and focus on what was at hand. He had gotten his quiz done with ten minutes to spare. He put his pencil down as his eyes scanned the classroom where the rest of the students were scribbling away at their sheets of paper. Well, all except one.

The brunette watched Taemin who had fallen asleep on the desk; the strands of reddish-blond hair that escaped out of the rubber band was splayed out on the table, his lips slightly open to breathe, long fingers held the yellow number two pencil loosely.

Jonghyun’s brown eyes locked onto the sheet next to his friend’s motionless hand.

“Holy crap,” he muttered as he narrowed his eyes, straining to read the small letters. “He writes freaking tiny.” His eyes darted back and forth between his teacher and Taemin’s blank piece of paper. He needed to help the younger one.

He slowly reached over and slid the other’s paper in front of him. He tried getting his handwriting to match the microscopic version of his friend’s.

That’ll have to do. There were only five more minutes left. He had to hurry up and get all the answers down. However, racing to beat the clock was not helping him keep his small letters small.

 “Time is up.”

Jonghyun quickly scribbled in the one third before placing Taemin’s paper behind his own and passing it forward. Please don’t let him notice the difference, he thought to himself as he shook his hand to dismiss the dull ache and stiffness that resided in it.

“Class is dismissed.”

Jonghyun poked the younger one’s forehead with the easer to his pencil. “Taemin,” he said softly earning a twitch of the fingers. “It’s time to wake up.” He grabbed his shoulder and lightly shook him.

Taemin’s head snapped up, now wide awake. “What happened?”

“Class is done,” Jjong said as he packed up his materials. “You were asleep through the whole freaking quiz.”

“Oh my god, the quiz!” Taemin started to freak out, his hand tangled into his hair as he let out a frustrated sigh. “I didn’t even get to start it.”

“You finished it.”

“I what?”

The brunette smiled at the reddish-blond as he said, “I finished it for you.”

“You did my quiz,” Taemin gaped at him. “And yours?”

Jonghyun nodded, “Mm.”

“Thank you so much, Jjong, I owe you one!” The younger one wrapped his arms around his older classmate in a quick hug before stuffing his things in his bag.

“Why in such a hurry?”

“I have to go find Key and make sure he’s okay.”

He left leaving Jonghyun sitting there in his seat confused as the next set of students came piling in. His thoughts revolved around what Taemin said. What had happened to Key? Is he sick?

He bit his bottom lip as worry began to set in. He swiftly got out of his seat ignoring the girl who was standing there with a cocked hip waiting for him to move from her chair. He nudged her aside as he ran after his friend. He pulled out his blue phone as he dodged the other college students and started to text Minho, who was waiting for him at their spot.

To: Min <3
Can’t eat lunch with you today. I’mma go comfort a friend~ <3

From: Min <3
How many times do I have to tell u Jjong… its not called comfort, its molestation… control ur urges… ;D btw u better make it up to me

To: Min <3
Game or movie night?

From: Min <3
both… saturday game starts @ 3

To: Min <3
Will be there <3

From: Min <3
better be <3

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

“God damn it!” Taemin growled as he tried to rummage through his messy bag for his room key, which only caused it to be more disorganized. “My freaking bag is a mess, I’m a mess, Key’s a mess, this situation is a freaking mess, because I can’t find the freaking key to our damn dorm!”

Jonghyun couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the reddish-blond’s panic attack. “Here let me try,” he said so that the other one would hopefully calm down. He reached for the golden doorknob and turned it. His eyebrow rose as he heard the click of the knob when he turned it all the way. The corners of his mouth tugged slightly upward as he jiggled the knob and said, “One, two. One, two, three… and wha-la!” He turned the knob as he pushed forward. The door flew open and hit the wall behind it. He turned to look at his friend, who seemed to be deciding whether or not he should be in awe or freaked out.

“H-how did you…? Did you learn that?”

“Nah,” Jjong answered as he gave a small laugh. “The door was open. I just felt like messing with you for a little whi-”

Whack!

“Bad timing for a joke, Jonghyun!”

Jonghyun walked through the door after Taemin scrambled to find Key. He gently shut the door to the apartment he had been to a lot in the past couple of months. He almost collided into the reddish-blond who was standing in the middle of the hallway eyes connected with the living room.

The short brunette leaned to the side to get a view of what the other was watching. His eyes instantly connected with Key’s brown ones. The feline-like man was wrapped up in his multi-pink colored blanket on the sofa. Key’s eyes widened a few centimeters before returning to normal. His lips curved upwards to show a small smile. “Hi, Jonghyun.”

Wasn’t he supposed to be sick or something? He looks perfectly fine to me. Jonghyun beamed at the man sitting down as he walked around the frozen one in front of him. “Hey Key!” He held his arms out wide waiting impatiently for his hug. “Where’s my hug?”

Key rolled his eyes as he slithered out of his warm cocoon. He unconsciously revealed what he was wearing underneath. He had on black sweatpants and the black wash tag shirt that was two sizes too big for him, which showed more of the collarbone than it was supposed to.

Jonghyun immediately recognized the t-shirt and pointed at it with enthusiasm. “Did you show it to him!? Did he want it!?” He instantly regretted asking when he saw the slightly taller man grimace.

“I baked cookies if you guys wanted some,” Key offered as he obviously tried to change the subject. “I made chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, sugar cookies, and I made a chocolate glazed triple chocolate cake for later if you wanted to come over for dinner after all your classes have finished, Jonghyun.”

“I’d love some cookies and to come over later,” Jjong said softly. “As long as I’m not intruding.”

“You won-”

“Stop!” Taemin yelled as he stood next to the brunette. “Stop acting like this Key! Stop acting like everything is fine! Stop acting like you haven’t been cooking away your sorrows or worries! I want my Key back!”

Jonghyun could only watch with concern as the scene before him started to unfold. He cringed when he saw Taemin reach out and yank the other man towards him.

“I don’t want the Key who just sits there moping around! I want the Key who would say it and move on with his life! The one who wouldn’t care about some guy who blows him off! The Key I know wouldn’t be concerned over a worthless guy!”

“He isn’t worthless!” Key growled as he pulled his arm away from the younger one’s tight grip. “You don’t know anything, Taemin! You don’t know him!”

“Neither do you!” As soon as that came flying out Taemin gasped while his hand flew to cover his mouth. “K-Key… I”

“What type of cookie did you want, Jjong?”

Jonghyun bit his bottom lip as worry began to set in the pit of his stomach. His eyes were glued to the man with the half shaved head. Jjong didn’t fully comprehend what was going on, but he knew Key was having the harder time of the two. He could see the man visibly shaking, trembling as he tried to control his emotions. His voice might come out strong, but his body was giving away his weakness. Jjong’s legs found the ability to move once again when tear filled glossy brown eyes stared into his. He automatically moved forward as he slightly bent downward. His arms circled around Key’s thighs as he hoisted him up, the upper half of the other hung over his shoulder. Jonghyun could only focus on the man who seemed as if he was about to have a nervous break down. He left Taemin in the living room while he carried Kibum to his room as quickly as he could. The usual diva-like man didn’t even fight or yell about being carried, he just stayed motionless as Jjong opened the door before kicking it shut.

He placed the quivering man on the bed gently, who instantly curled up into a ball. Jonghyun glanced around the room looking to see if Key had a small box of tissues anywhere around the room. He found the tiny cardboard box on the corner of the desk. He grinned, a hardly noticeable smile as he grabbed the pink container that had a pig design on it. So Key… He turned to the confident- well now shattered man.

The bed dipped as he sat on the empty space behind the coiled Kibum. “Key,” he whispered affectionately. “You don’t need to keep it in.” He the other’s soft hair. “I brought tissues,” he added to lighten the mood.

“I-I’m fine,” Key’s stuttering proved otherwise.

Jonghyun rolled his brown eyes at the stubborn man. It brought back memories from the first and only other time he was in the pink infested room. He didn’t want this one to be like how the other confrontation was; with Kibum screaming at him. He wanted to help Key, who was obviously in pain.

However, the headstrong was headstrong. Kibum didn’t want his help. He didn’t want to show anyone his greedy side that yearned for comfort. He wanted to be that tough Key that could face anything, the one that Taemin was describing, but Jonghyun could see through that.

“You don’t have to be tough, Key,” Jjong said as he plopped down and wrapped his arms around Kibum as he pulled him closer, back to chest. Normally, Key would have yelled about his personal space by now. Seeing as he hadn’t yet Jonghyun continued. “You don’t have to say it. You don’t have to move on with your life. You have the right to grieve. You don’t have to have it all placed on your shoulders. Release some of it. It’s not healthy for you to keep it all in.” He moved his hand catching the other’s and laced their fingers together. He rubbed soothing circles on the back of Key’s hand with his thumb. “Talk to me.”

Key slowly turned in the embrace towards Jonghyun, hands never untwined. His voice sent shivers down Jjong’s spine. It was barely a whisper, “I ed up… I should have waited until he was ready…” His russet eyes glossed over as tears collected in the corners of his eyes.

“Just let it out, Key.”

Kibum hid his eyes from the brunette as pale lids covered them. They shut tightly trying to hold the tears in, but to no avail. They just flowed out from underneath. They trickled down staining his pale cheeks. His lips parted to let out small choked sobs as his body shuttered violently.

“Here, let me get you-” He froze in mid-reach as Key buried his face into his chest, tears soaking Jjong’s shirt, as he cried louder, “a tissue…”

“I-I’m s-sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Jonghyun mumbled as he encircled his arms around the man once again. He traced random patterns on Key’s back for comfort. “This shirt isn’t anything special anyways.” As he let him cry into his chest, the brunette couldn’t stop thinking about what he had said before. He should have waited for him to be ready? What could that mean? Well… wait until the other was ready was usually a term used for when someone was ready to take the relationship to the next level, an intimate level. Could Key have tried to have forced his boyfriend to have with him? Jonghyun mentally shook those thoughts away. Why Kibum was crying was not important at this moment. The important matter was that he was crying. “Everything will be okay, Kibum,” he whispered reassuringly.

Kibum’s convulsing body soon came to a stop as his mourning came to an end. It seemed as if he could no longer produce anymore tears. He opened his red tinted eyes to stare gratefully at the man lying down next to him on his bed. “Thank you, Jonghyun. You don’t even understand what’s going on, but you still tried to comfort me.”

“That’s what friends are for,” he said as he smiled brightly at him.

They both jumped up into a sitting position, slipping out of each others arms as a soft knock reached their ears. The door slowly creaked open to show Taemin holding a plate of cookies.

“I’m so sorry, Key,” Taemin apologized as he hesitantly took a step into the room. “I didn’t mean what I said. I just had almost no sleep the night before, and I fell asleep during my quiz. I was just cranky and I was way out of line.” He placed the plate of sweets on the nightstand. “Key, forgive me… please?”

“I could never stay mad at you for long and you should know that,” Key answered as he stood to hug his roommate and best friend. “I love you, Tae-Baby.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

Jonghyun smiled at the heartfelt moment. He was happy that they made up and Key had cried everything out. He didn’t need to hold anything in and just feel the weight of it crushing down on him by himself. Jonghyun and Taemin would always be there for him to lift some off his shoulders.

Wait…

Tae-Baby? Mom?

No ing way…