Changmin rolls his eyes at the sound of the clock ticking. He should’ve pulled his friends by the ear para sumabay sa kanya papunta sa meeting place nila. Ugh. Ano nga ba kasing iniisip nya when he decided to trust his friends when they said na susunod sila? Stupid, stupid Changmin.

Younghoon, on the other hand, silently thanks heavens as he takes a sip of his coffee. He may or may have not contacted their friends telling them to come late so he can spend more time with Changmin. He’s just grateful na marunong makisama ang mga kaibigan nila. (Or maybe, gusto lang din nilang tumakas sa paggawa ng group project. Whatever their reasons are, it works out for Younghoon.) He’s taken by surprise when Changmin abruptly grabs his left hand. What is he about to do? Younghoon can feel his own heart pounding.

Changmin looks at the time from Younghoon’s wristwatch despite the fact that he only has to turn his head a little to see the condo’s wall clock. He tries to convince himself that he’s just really too lazy to move his head. (As if it takes more energy than grabbing someone else’s wrist.) “Isang oras na, uuwi na lang ako.”

Younghoon's eyes widen and he stops the other from leaving, even attempts to threaten him by saying, "S-sige ka. 'Pag umalis ka dito wala tayong grade."

Younghoon thinks it’s a stupid thing to say considering the project is due a month from now. Surprisingly, Changmin is convinced.

"UGH," the shorter groans before conceding, "Fine. Pero tatawagan ko muna yung iba."

After several minutes wasted and dozens of unanswered calls from Hyunjae and Kevin (who are probably on a date), Changmin finally decides to call their other member.

"Hello," Hyunjoon answers in a just-woke-up voice.

"Hello, Hyunjoon. Anong oras na?" Changmin tells him in an annoyed manner. "Pupunta ka pa ba?"

"Ah, late na ba ako? 'Di na ko pupunta. Ako na magpprint."

"PUTANGINA HYUNJOON ANDAMING GAGAWIN DITO. BAKA GABIHIN NA KO O 'DI MAKAUWI KASI DALAWA LANG KAMI NI YOUNGHOON DITO."

"Kayong dalawa lang? I'm sure Younghoon would love that. Bye."

"HOY-" Changmin is about to scream profanities at the younger boy, but he gets cut off when Hyunjoon dropped the call.

"Okay lang 'yan," Younghoon tells the shorter, “Kaya naman natin 'to kahit tayong dalawa lang."

Before Changmin can reply, two other men enter the condo unit.

"We're home- oh. Hi!" Jacob, accompanied by Sangyeon, greets. "I'm Jacob, and this is Sangyeon. You are?"

"Changmin po."

"CHANGMIN???" Jacob looks at Sangyeon. "Ito yung crush ni Younghoon."

"JACOB," Younghoon sternly says. "Don't you have anything else to do?"

“Well,” Jacob points his index finger at his temple, as if he’s thinking and says, “Actually, wala. Hehe.” And turns to Changmin. “Hi Changmin!!!!” He even waves.

Changmin nods his head a little and greets, “Hello po.”

Jacob runs towards them and sits on the couch next to where Changmin is seated on the floor. “Alam mo, Younghoon always tells us about you.”

Changmin just smiles, and again (awkwardly) nods his head a little.

“Sabi niya, madaldal ka raw pero lagi mo syang tinatarayan hahahaha, you seem quiet nga eh.”

When will Jacob shut up? Younghoon wants to smack him on the head with their diorama base. Kaso, hindi pa nga tapos ‘yon tapos sisirain niya agad? Edi lalo siyang na-badshot kay Changmin na kanina pa stressed dahil sa project na ‘to?

“Jacob, lumayas ka nga.” Younghoon says, half-annoyed but the said guy still has the audacity to laugh before leaving them alone. Why does he hang out and even go as far as to live with the likes of Jacob?

Changmin gets back to work right after Jacob heads to what he assumes the latter’s room. He guides the diorama base down to the floor and even though it’s big enough that it has space for four more hands to handle it, Changmin’s hand still goes into contact with Younghoon’s.

“Hindi. Hindi mo ‘yan sinasadya, Ji Changmin,” he tells himself silently, “Malaki lang talaga ‘yung kamay niya. Oo, yun na nga. Kasalanan ng kamay niya.”

Changmin can swear he heard someone with his voice say, “Whatever you say,” in his mind. He can almost see that version of himself shrugging.

Jacob comes back not even half an hour later, sitting on the couch he stood up from. Changmin doesn’t pay attention for he’s busy trying to finish the base. That’s why he got surprised when somebody pinched his cheek. “You’re so cute talaga.” Jacob pinches harder and it takes a strong willpower for Changmin not to scream. Younghoon quickly pulls his friend’s hand away.

“What the , Jacob?”

The said boy doesn’t bother to turn his attention from presumably the cutest boy he’s seen to his friend. “Anong fb mo? Add kita!” Jacob is ecstatic.

Changmin actually feels bothered because, well, it’s 8pm and they’re not even half-done with the base! The. Base. And he’s been here since noon. Who the hell takes that long? Maybe the ones who had to wait for their groupmates (who didn’t even bother to come) and deal with a botheration that is Jacob. Despite that; however, he’s corteous enough to smile and answer, “Ji Changmin po.”

“Hala!~ Your DP is cute!!!!” Jacob, of course. “Selca rin tayo!!!! I’ll change my DP!!!” He holds out his phone and takes a pic.

“Huy Younghoon ba’t ka sumingit?! Epal naman eh!” Jacob whines.

“Heh, umalis ka na nga. Ikaw yung epal eh.”

Jacob rolls his eyes at that but heads toward the kitchen nonetheless.

9pm, Changmin judges that they’re half-done with the diorama base. At least. They get called by Jacob from the kitchen telling them it’s time for dinner.

“Bilisan mo kumain para makagawa ulit tayo agad ha.” Younghoon is flustered that Changmin is the first to talk to him. Although, it’s probably just an order.

An hour later and Younghoon looks at Changmin who has his cheeks puffed, filled with food. Bilisan pala ha, he thinks. He didn’t know Changmin takes this long to eat. Sure, he hears Chanhee always ranting about it, but he hasn’t really imagined that the said guy really means it when he says, “Kung hindi ka ba naman kasi inaabot nang isang oras sa pagkain.” He doesn’t mind, though. Changmin really is an eye candy, and he gets cuter (Younghoon didn’t think it was possible) with his cheeks filled.

They get back to work after Changmin finishes eating, leaving Jacob and Sangyeon to do the dishes. The rest of their friends still hasn’t come home.

Sunwoo and Hyunjae arrive home at 11 post meridiem.

"JESUS CHRIST, HYUNJAE," Changmin angrily exclaims, "TAWAG AKO NANG TAWAG TA'S 'DI KA SUMASAGOT. TUMULONG KA NGA DITO."

Hyunjae replies, "Ay, pagod na 'ko eh. Bukas na lang, bye," while walking towards his room.

"Wow, thank you bro." Changmin can’t distinguish if Younghoon is sarcastic.

"Ikaw," Changmin points to Sunwoo. "Tulungan mo kami. Irereto kita kay Haknyeon."

Sunwoo gets flustered. The offer is too tempting but he has to hold his guard. "H-hindi ko nga siya crush!" He denies and stomps towards his room.

Defeated, Changmin tells Younghoon, "Bukas na lang natin ituloy. Pagod na ko eh."

"Late na ah. Hatid na kita." Younghoon offers. If Younghoon just wants to flirt, at least it doesn’t look like it to Changmin. He looks genuinely concerned.

Jacob, however, overhears them and says, “Anong hatid??? Hindi pwede, maraming straight d’yan sa labas. You’re not allowed to go out anymore, pati ikaw Changmin. Sorry.”

Changmin looks at Younghoon with a questioning look on his face, and Younghoon looks back as if saying "I have no idea either."

"Matulog ka muna sa kwarto nila Younghoon, maluwag naman don."

ㅡ

Why Changmin didn't go against Jacob's suggestion is a question that even Changmin himself can’t answer. He can easily ask Kevin to pick him up, or take his place so he can sleep with his boyfriend, but he doesn’t. Instead, he stands at the doorway of Younghoon and Sunwoo's shared room.

"Dito ka matulog." Younghoon shows him his large bed. "Sa tabi ko."

"AYOKO NGA," Changmin declines, "Baka manyakin mo pa ‘ko. Hoy, Sunwoo. Dun ka na lang sa bahay namin tas d'yan ako sa kama mo. Malaki naman kama ni Haknyeon, tabihan mo na lang siya."

"S-sinabi nang 'di ko crush si Haknyeon eh!!!!!" Sunwoo defensively says and covers his entire body with his comforter.

"Dali na, Changmin," Younghoon tries to convince him. "I swear, I won't try anything. Not without consent, at least."

“HEH,” Changmin’s decision is unshakeable and Younghoon wants to respect that.

Disappointed as he is, Younghoon mutters, “Fine,” and walks to his closet to pull out a comforter. He lays the comforter on the floor while Changmin settles on his bed. (Let’s not talk about how Changmin has enjoyed bouncing up and down on the bed, seated, before lying down.)

When Younghoon has finally lied down, he says, “Good night, Changmin.”

The said boy responds with a, “Hmm.” He’s enjoying the feel of Younghoon’s soft bed against his aching muscles. Today has been tiring even though a third of it is probably spent dealing with Jacob. The bed feels soothing to Changmin. Not to mention that it’s so enormous it feels like it’s twice the size of his bed. (It probably is.) And maybe that’s the reason why he feels a little lonely.

Half an hour later and Changmin might have done every sleeping position he can possibly think of, still to no avail. The bed and pillows are all soft and comfortable. Even the comforter feels warm hugging him, so why can’t he sleep?

“Younghoon?” Changmin calls out, not expecting for an answer.

It comes anyway, in a soft, “Hmm?”

“Gising ka pa?” Okay, that’s kind of stupid.

“Yeah,” whispers Younghoon, “‘Di makatulog?”

It takes a little time for the boy on the bed to process that more than a response, it is a question.

“Mm-mm.” He nods even though Younghoon can’t see it. After that follows silence. They both don’t have anything to say, anyway.

Younghoon feels Changmin shift for the nth time. It’s part of the reason he can’t sleep. A larger part is that he’s waiting for Changmin to sleep so he can stare a little bit longer at the latter and cherish their first night together.

Younghoon is just about to sit up and see if Changmin has gone to sleep when the latter dips his head from the bed. Shocked, Younghoon immediately lied back down, heart racing.

“Sumampa ka na rito,” orders Changmin.

“Ha?”

“Bilisan mo, baka magbago pa isip ko.” Changmin threatens, although he really isn’t planning to change his mind.

Changmin has thought about it, and he’s realized that just like him, Younghoon is tired, too. They’ve been working together for the whole day, it’s just right that they share the same comfort that Younghoon’s bed delivers. Also, it’s Younghoon’s bed so sino nga naman siya para ipagdamot ‘yon sa may-ari? Besides, it has enough room for the both of them. He just has to make sure to stay the farthest he can from Younghoon. He feels the bed shift as Younghoon gets himself comfortable under the comforter.

Wow, Younghoon thinks. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nasa iisang kama siya with Changmin. Not even in his wildest dreams has he imagined this. Okay, maybe in his wildest dream. Or wilder dreams? Wild dreams? Sweet dreams? Wet dreams? Regular dreams? Whatever. Younghoon doesn’t have to dream about it anymore. It’s actually happening. He reminds himself to thank Jacob tomorrow morning, maybe even treat him. Annoying as he is, Jacob has granted one of Younghoon’s dreams, advertently or not.

“Good night, Changmin.”

Even though his eyes are closed, Changmin knows that Younghoon is smiling. He doesn’t answer and pretends to be asleep until he’s really drifted off.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Happy Birthday, Changmin! (Abot pa sa KST diba)

Also, tangina mo Bea -not your sister