CHAPTER SEVEN

It was as if what happened at the dorm nearly an hour ago never happened. It was almost like Jonghyun had dreamt of the vulnerable Kibum, because there was confident Key, cocksure and fearless, as he stood in front of their English class giving his perfect speech.

The diva-like man would wave his hand off as he let out a small stifle laugh at one of the jokes he would say. His hip would jut to one side as his hands would find a comfortable place on his waist when he talked about something he was passionate about. His arms would cross in front of his chest, legs shoulder length apart, as he stood his ground to discuss a subject he disliked. His fingers would find their way to his hair as he nervously bit on his bottom lip when he explained his interests.

And Jonghyun couldn’t tear his eyes away. It was as if he was hypnotized, put in a trance, spellbound. Key was captivating. So mesmerizing it made his heart leap from his chest to his throat when the dependant side showed, the other’s eyes would meet his for reassurance. Jjong would try to give his best smile and a thumbs up when Key did search for his approval. Even though he could hardly understand what his speech was about, pride swelled within him when those russet eyes would shine when he gave the thumbs up as a signal of success.

His heart beat wildly against his chest as Key sat back in his seat next to him and asked how he did. “Good. Great. Ten out of ten. I’d pass you. I didn’t understand anything- only because I’m not that good at English though! Even without understanding it was amazing. You could tell…” Jonghyun rambled on nervously.

“Are you okay?” Key asked as he opened the three rings to his binder and placed his grading rubric on top of the papers. “You seem really, I don’t know, out of it. Are you coming down with something? You feel slightly warm.”

The placement of the other’s hand on his forehead sent Jjong’s mind and heart into a frenzy. His face burned as heat traveled up to leave a pink tint on his cheeks. “I-I’m fine. It’s just really hot in the class.”

The corners of the younger one’s lips lifted upwards as he removed his hand. “Maybe you should take off your sweater?” he suggested as he gave a quick tug on the black sweatshirt.

Pink cheeks were now red. “I-I can’t,” Jonghyun tried to explain. “I’m not wearing anything under it.” The brunette stared at the lines on the wooden desk while he prayed his face wouldn’t become a tomato.

“Oh,” he heard Key grunt before he felt a soft breeze.

Jonghyun’s brown eyes glanced up to see Kibum, face slightly flushed, as he held his binder while he waved it back and forth to cool Jjong off.

“Better?”

“Mm,” he nodded as he closed his eyes. The cool gentle breeze felt nice on his heated skin. He could feel his heart beat slow back down to a normal pace. However, the nice breeze soon ended when their teacher dismissed their class.

Jjong walked beside Key as he followed him to where he picked up Taemin. “I have never been this nervous in my entire life,” Jonghyun unknowingly said out loud as his hand would sometimes graze the others. “I wasn’t even this nervous when I had to sing in front of the student body in middle school.” His hands rubbed his face as he let out an exaggerated sigh.

“What are you nervous about?”

The brunette nearly jumped out of his skin. “What?”

“You said you were nervous,” Key said in his are-you-kidding-me voice. “About what?”

You. It’s what Jonghyun’s gut was telling him to say. It was practically screaming at him to tell Key he was DinoPuppy. They always say to follow your gut, right? Then again… The butterflies that were surrounding said gut was more than enough to make Jonghyun back down. Think Jjong. Think. “I’m nervous about presenting my English speech.” Yes! Wait… that’s tomorrow!

“Don’t worry Jjong,” Key sent him a reassuring smile. “I’m sure you’ll do okay and if you get anxious just look at me.”

Jonghyun shouldn’t have gotten nervous. He shouldn’t have taken Key’s advice, because when his brown eyes met Key’s russet ones he became a sputtering idiot. But hey, a D is better than an F, right?

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

From: ChickenLoveMePlease
Did you meet him yet?

To: ChickenLoveMePlease
No.

From: ChickenLoveMePlease
It’s been almost a week.

To: ChickenLoveMePlease
I know, but when I log on he’s not on.

From: ChickenLoveMePlease
Then leave a freaking message! The longer you wait the faster he’s going to try to move on

To: ChickenLoveMePlease
Don’t you think I know that! I’ve been trying to figure out what to say to him. I just get too nervous and I start typing nonsense and when I see him I start blubbering nonsense.

From: ChickenLoveMePlease
Woah. You met him? I thought you said no.

To: ChickenLoveMePlease
That doesn’t matter. I have to go. I’m at Minho’s game. I’ll message him tonight. No matter how stupid I may sound.

Jonghyun slipped his phone into his pocket as he stepped onto the bright green grass. As he walked toward the silver bleachers he could see that there were many people who wanted a front row seat from all the fold-out chairs around the white line of the field. Or maybe they were smart and brought their own chairs so that their butts won’t be numb and their backs won’t ache, he thought as he eyed the metal bar with dislike.

“Don’t worry, Key.”

Jonghyun froze in mid-stride at the mere mention of that name. He turned to where the voice was coming from. His eyes instantly fixed on Taemin who was sitting on the top bench. The reddish-blond hair was tied up in a high ponytail with his bangs still covering part of his face. Taemin was hunched over as if trying to drown out the noise around him.

“I’ll be home later. You know it’ll take me a while to get this stuff. Math is my worst subject.”

Jjong hopped from one bench to the next; apologizing to anyone he bumped into. He plopped next to Taemin with a loud clank which startled the younger one.

“Ah! Oh. It was nothing Key. Jjong just scared me. Yes. He’s here,” the younger one replied as he stared straight into the brunette’s brown eyes. “He’s helping me with my math.”

Jonghyun’s eyes widened when he realized that Taemin was straight out lying to Key and he wanted him as his alibi for if anything goes wrong. Taemin wants him to lie to Key if the diva-like man questions him. He wants him to lie to his boyfriend. This doesn’t sound like such a bright way to start off a real relationship. 

“Yeah. You want to talk to him?”

Jonghyun grabbed the small yellow phone and held it up to his ear. “H-hello?”

“Jonghyun?”

“It’s him… um…me. Haha?”

“Jjong, you make me smile, but right now I need you to promise me that when you and Taemin are done studying that you will walk him back to our dorm. I don’t want another run in with those s.”

The brunette’s tongue swiped across his dry lips to moisten them. “O-of course.”

“You have no idea how much I love you right now! Thank you! I owe you one.”

“Er.” The little inaudible noise was the only sound that made it through his clenched throat. He didn’t mean it that way Jjong. He meant I love you in a platonic way. “U-um. You don’t owe me anything. I would have done it anyway. It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a big deal to me, but I’ll let you get back to studying. Bye Jonghyun. Thank you again.”

“Bye,” Jonghyun said softly before he handed the phone back to its owner.

Taemin took the small rectangular device with much enthusiasm. He bounced up and down in his seat. “Thank you Jjong!” He wrapped his thin arms around the brunette’s neck as he gave him a quick hug. “This will be our little secret ‘kay?” He brought one finger up to his smirking lips in a ‘shh’ manner while his head tilted to the side to give off a playful, innocent aura.

Jonghyun was sent into a state of confusion as he wondered if the mischievous smile was just a fragment of his imagination. “Taemin? What are you doing here? I thought you didn’t like sports.”

“I don’t. I’m here to see somebody,” the younger one said bluntly.

The brunette’s mind was sent temporarily back to the first day they had math class together. He remembers the other’s brown eyes that had a slight sparkle to them and the small lips that curved to show an affectionate smile as he focused on the view of the field. “Oh, somebody you like?” Minho?

Taemin blushed. “Mm, but he hardly knows I exist.” He turned towards the older one while he asked, “You’re here for a friend, right?” The brunette nodded before Taemin grabbed his hand and sent him a sincere, whole-face smile. “Let’s cheer Minho on together, ‘kay?”

Jonghyun couldn’t help but return the warm smile. “Yeah!” he acclaimed just as his phone vibrated.

From: Min <3
r u here?

To: Min <3
Of course! Why would you doubt me?

From: Min <3
do I need 2 bring up my 15^th birthday? ready to see me make the final goal?

To: Min <3
Just for bringing that up I bet Kris will make it!

From: Min <3
look up

As soon as Jonghyun’s eyes connected with Minho’s, who was stretching on the field, the man’s pale hand came up to flip him off. The brunette chuckled at the vulgar sign.

To: Min <3
How many times do I have to tell you, Min? I’m not an exhibitionist. You have to wait until later. ;D

From: Min <3
in your dreams

To: Min <3
If I remember correctly I did star in one of them.

From: Min <3
jjong! u promised that u wouldn’t bring that up! that was once and it traumatized me for the rest of my life

To: Min <3
Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Forgive me?

From: Min <3
forgiven

To: Min <3
Good. Now put your phone in your bag so that you can make that winning goal you so desperately want. xD I’ll talk to you after the game.

Jonghyun had to admit that the game was pretty interesting. Okay, maybe it wasn’t. Watching guys run around in sweat filled clothes while they tried to kick the black and white ball wasn’t really his forte. What was pretty entertaining was watching Taemin’s reactions through the game. The bored look he would get when Minho was on bench, the small bouncing movement he would have when Minho had the ball, the cursing that slipped out when those so-called tards took the ball away, it was all better than any sitcom Jonghyun had seen in his entire life.

“tard,” Taemin muttered, his eyes never wandering from the field.

Jjong turned his attention towards the soccer game when the referee yelled that there were fifteen seconds left in the game. He glanced at his best friend who looked just as surprised that the game was almost over and the score was still tied one to one. Jonghyun could see the gears turning in the raven’s head. If anyone thought Minho was doing his best before, they were obviously mistaken.

Minho’s speed doubled to get the ball from the other team that stole it as soon as fifteen seconds left the old man’s mouth. He caught up to the blond soccer player that had the ball in less than two seconds. He moved his leg, taking the ball from right under the other’s legs. Once the ball was his, Minho ran for it.

“Go Minho go!” Jjong jumped up from his seat as he screamed at the top of his lungs. “Kick the freaking ball!” Oh… Now I remember why Minho never lets me go to all of his games…

“Oi! Jjong, you’re embarrassing,” Taemin hissed as he pulled him down.

The brunette didn’t care though. He watched as the goalie fell to the floor to block Minho’s kick. However, the raven put too much power into his kick and it hit the metal frame before flying back towards him. Using his head, Minho hit the ball into the goal.

“Yes!” Taemin and Jonghyun screamed in unison as the man wearing black and white stripes blew his whistle.

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

“Congratulations!” Jonghyun yelled as he wrapped his arms around his taller athletic friend, who walked out of the locker room. The feeling of the other’s sticky wet skin made the brunette’s nose crinkle in disgust. “Ew, you’re all sweaty.” He pulled away as he rubbed his hands on his jeans.

“Yeah,” Minho replied. “I did just finish a hard workout. Plus I thought I could just take a shower at your place.”

“Hello,” Taemin greeted as he stood next to Jjong. He didn’t want to be out of the conversation. “Congratulations on making the winning goal, Minho.” He gave a small bow of respect.

“Um, thanks. I don’t know your name…?”

“Minho, this is my friend Taemin. I met him this semester. We have math class,” the brunette introduced him. “And unlike you, he has time for his friends and awesome movie nights.”

Minho’s dark eyes brightened at the mention of movie nights. His pink lips tugged upward to give the reddish-blond a playful smile. “Oh? So you’re the one trying to take my spot?” His arms circled around his short friend and pulled him closer as he ignored the rants spewing out of Jonghyun’s mouth about sweat. “Well, he’s mine tonight!” The raven stuck his tongue out at Taemin.

Not one to back down from a challenge, Taemin retorted with a, “You may have him tonight, but I’m the one he runs to when you’re gone,” and stuck out his tongue back at the older one.

“You guys are so childish!” Jonghyun exclaimed as he flailed around trying to get out of Minho’s grasp. “Let me go!”

After Minho finally released him, Jjong, Minho, and Taemin walked to where the dormitories were located. Jonghyun couldn’t help but smile at how well Taemin and Minho seemed to have gotten along. They had been talking nonstop since they had started walking.

Minho stopped when he realized they were walking in the wrong direction. “Jjong, we’re going the wrong way. Your dorm is in the opposite direction.”

“Oh I promised-” A hand covered his mouth stopping him from completing his sentence.

“It’s fine. I can walk myself,” Taemin said as he removed his hand slowly.

“But what about-?”

“We’ll make this another secret, ‘kay?” The reddish-blond smiled before leaving with a small wave. “Bye!”

“Are you sure he’ll be okay?” Minho asked Jonghyun as he watched the youngest one walk away from them, step by step getting further and further.

“What do you mean?” The brunette questioned.

“He’s too cute for his own good. He seems kind of familiar though.”

Maybe I should have walked him home, Jjong thought to himself. . Key is going to kill me if anything happens to Taemin. . I would punch them if anything happens to him. He is technically my son after all.  

Minho placed an arm around the shorter one’s shoulders as he turned him around. “Oh well let’s go!”

Jonghyun’s nose crinkled at the foul scent as he ducked under the arm. “Ugh.” 

“What’s wrong?”

“I stink now thanks to you,” he complained as he sniffed his shirt.

The raven rolled his eyes at the whining dino. “Just hop in the shower with me and ta-da you’ll be fine.”

Jonghyun gasped dramatically, “I’m not about to make your dream come true, Min.”

“God damn it, Jjong!” Minho’s face turned a nice crimson red color. “I meant with our freaking bathing suits on like we used to do when we were in a hurry for school! You said you wouldn’t bring that up! You promised!”

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I promise I won’t do it again.”

“I swear Jonghyun! If you ever bring that up again… I’ll name all the people I’ve slept with since high school!”

“No! No, no, no, no! I’ll stop!”

“First was-”

“I didn’t say anything about it!”

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

The light illuminating from his laptop was all he had in his dark room. The light was accompanied by Minho’s light snores. Jonghyun’s fingers quickly tapped away as he logged onto his SM student connections account. He needed to see if Key was on and he was in luck. So, Key gets on around three in the morning… Jonghyun thought to himself as he clicked the chat button.

TheAlmighty has accepted your chat request

DinoPuppy: Hey, Beautiful. :D

DinoPuppy: Okay. I know you probably don’t want to talk to me right now. I’m probably your least favorite person. But, I tried messaging you! I swear I did, but you were never on.

DinoPuppy: And when I wanted to send you a personal message everything I typed just seemed stupid. I just kept on rambling on and on about stupid things. I mean, that’s the type of person I am in real life, a nervous idiot. I just can’t explain how bad I felt when I logged off. I can’t tell you why because I’ll just ramble on and on. I need to talk to you face to face.

DinoPuppy: Because writing the reasons as to why I logged off is a page long. But that can never compare to the millions of sheets filled with reasons as to why I like you. So please, I’m begging you to talk to me.

DinoPuppy: Meet me at the Barrel Steakhouse Grill tomorrow (today since it’s passed twelve) at five.

DinoPuppy: Please?

DinoPuppy: I’m begging you.

DinoPuppy: Give me another chance.

TheAlmighty: Okay. I’ll meet you there.

DinoPuppy: I’ll be waiting for you.

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

Being that the Barrel Steakhouse Grill was closed today, Jonghyun sat on the white rocking chair with no one around him. He switched the pressure he put on his heel and the ball of his feet back and forth, the chair rocked with the motion. It was a calm and soothing motion that reminded him of when he was a child and his mom would rock him to sleep. It shook off the tension that resided in his stomach and it cleared his mind to let him think straight.

He had no idea what he was going to say Key, but he couldn’t keep on acting like a friend to him when he was the reason why Key was hurt in the first place.

Jonghyun had thought about this moment a lot and he was quick to come up with a few ways that Key would react to finding out he was DinoPuppy.

1.      Key could actually be happy that he’s DinoPuppy. With how much skinship they have been having for the past few weeks maybe the younger one has developed a sort of crush for Jonghyun and knowing that he’s DinoPuppy will just show him that he can put his desires into action. (Highly unlikely, but Jjong was hopeful)

2.      Key could go the violent way and in a fit of anger punch the living daylights out of him. (Hopefully this won’t happen)

3.      Key could walk up to the entrance of the restaurant, see him, and just walk away. (Heart breaking, but better than being beaten to death)

4.      Key could see that it was him, be disgusted by his unnatural looks, and just want to remain friends. (Okay, maybe this is just insecurity talking. Onew did say he looked great… but maybe he just said that make him feel better?)

The tension was rapidly returning to Jonghyun. The odds of Key never wanting to talk to him again out weighed the rest by a long shot. However, Jonghyun wouldn’t- couldn’t blame Key if he did hate him. Jonghyun had no experience what-so-ever with dating. Sure, he knew what to say and what to get them. Many people have told him that he was a hopeless romantic, but he has never dated someone face to face. Yes, he had lost his first kiss a long time ago, which was just a peck on the lips. Did that even count? That’s where his experience ended though. Beyond that he had no idea what to do. He had given up on actual dating and begun dating online when his first crush- the one that made him realize he liked men more than women- took his confession and crushed it in his hands. Back when he was a teenager he had no fears. But isn’t that the definition of a teenager, thinking that you’re stronger than anything else, nothing can take you down?

“Are you going to confess to him today?” Minho asked Jonghyun as they walked down the school hallway. They were wearing their white and blue uniform with an orange band around their left bicep to show that they were sophomores.

Jjong his dry lips as they stopped twenty feet away from a senior leaning on the discolored lockers. It was a good distance where if they talked normally they wouldn’t be heard. “Of course I’m going to confess to him today,” he told his best friend with confidence. “There’s no way he can say no.”

“I’ll be cheering you on from here,” the raven said as he gave the other a small push. “Just give the ‘punch him’ signal and I’ll be there in a second if anything goes wrong.”

“Everything will be fine.” Jonghyun rolled his eyes at his friend as he started walking towards his crush.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heart felt as if it was about to jump out of his chest and just splat on the floor. No, he wasn’t nervous. Just the sight of the other man had him smiling like a lovesick puppy. Jonghyun loved everything about him. His choppy black hair that had a layer of blue smacked in the middle, his small button nose, and most importantly his hazel eyes that seemed as if they could see right through him.

“Hey, Jaehyun,” he greeted his older schoolmate as he stood in front of him.

“Hey, Jjong.” Jaehyun gave him a small smile before going back to his phone.

Too cute, Jonghyun thought to himself. “I have something really important to tell you.”

“Oh?” the hazel eyed man questioned as he tilted his head with a large playful smile on his lips. “And what great news will the great Jjong grace me with today?”

Just say it. Just tell him, he thought. “Jaehyun, I really, really like you.” Jonghyun took a deep breath as he bowed. He couldn’t look at him as he asked, “Will you go out with me?”

“Ha! Are you kidding?”

“You have got to be kidding me,” the bitter voice pierced through his unwanted daydream. “Is this some kind of joke, Jonghyun?”

Jonghyun was still slightly distraught. He shook his head to rid the cruel feeling that was left in his stomach. “Key?” he gasped as his eyes traveled up and down the younger one’s body; from his wind blown hair to his pink jacket to his tight leather pants, back up to the other’s face. It was the hardest to look at. He couldn’t help but bite his lip in worry as those narrowed eyes glared at him with pursed lips.

“You’re DinoPuppy?”

Jonghyun slowly rose from his seat as he took a few steps closer to Kibum. “Are you mad?” he asked in a low voice. It was inevitable to see that with the form of his stance he was shielding himself from the other’s reaction.

“Oh no, Jjong,” Key said as he waved his arms around while he spoke. The tone of his voice easily gave away his real emotion. “I’m ing furious! I mean, did you know it was me? Have you known all along and just have been playing with me all this time?”

“No! Well, yes. Sort of,” he stumbled over his words.

“What?”

“Oh god… and now I’m confusing you,” Jonghyun whined as he covered his face with his hands. “I mean, no Key. I didn’t know it was you… at first.” He held his hand up to stop the other from speaking. “They were so many clues that it was you, but the pieces just didn’t fit. I never really liked puzzles. I was horrible at them. But that’s beside the point. I only found out it was you that day I was comforting you in your room, which was only because you called Taemin, Tae-Baby. Which by the way, I looked up Taemin’s name. It’s freaking rare. That should have been a dead give away and if not, that day that you brought banana milk home and I nearly had a concussion from Taemin pushing me to the side should have flipped the switch that he was BananaMilkTaemin.”

“W-wha- Jonghyun, you are so confusing,” Key said as he gave Jjong a light push to the rocking chair he was seated at before he arrived. As soon as the brunette sat down, the diva-like man took the chair next to him. “With all your rambling I find it hard to stay mad at you.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“I guess for you,” the younger one chuckled. “Why did you just log off when I told you I wanted to meet you? And if you found out it was me like a week ago then how come you didn’t tell me?”

“To be honest, my fingers reacted by themselves. I just got so nervous…”

“Nervous?” Key questioned. “Why would you be nervous? You know me.”

Jonghyun bit his bottom lip as he wondered if he should tell Key the whole truth about his lack of experience. “That’s why though. It’s you.” He looked at Kibum. His cheeks heated with the words of his confession. “You’re perfect and I’m…”

“Perfect too,” he finished Jonghyun’s sentence.

Jonghyun couldn’t stop the smile that reached his lips. He looked down at his lap before giving Key a light push. No one has ever called him perfect. It made his heart thump loudly against his chest. The sound reached his ears. “…Thanks. It means a lot coming from you.”

“So,” Key slid his hand into Jonghyun’s, fingers intertwined. “You do know that the restaurant is closed, right? You’ll need to think of a new place to take me on our date.”

“Y-you’re accepting me?” Jonghyun stared at their hands. He rubbed the back of the other’s smooth skin. So soft.

Russet eyes stared at him with disbelief. “I’m holding your hand Jjong. It’s official now.”

The brunette laughed. “So, holding hands equals being official?” I don’t think this is a math I’ll be very good at.

“Of course!” Key stood up and tugged Jonghyun to do the same. “Where are you going to take me then? In order to make this doubly official we need to go on our first date.”

“We sort of already did.”

“What?”

“That’s why I chose this place,” Jjong confessed. “It’s where we learned more about each other and had lots of laughs throwing peanuts in a guy’s afro. It was the beginning of our friendship. I thought that confessing to you that I’m DinoPuppy here would make it more special.”

Key smiled Jjong’s favorite smile, his teeth clenched onto his bottom lip. “You’re such a sap, but I’m a er for romantic things.”