I just finished a whole month of back to back business trip, it feels weird not spending my weekend packing. LOL. I'm glad it's over though.

Thank you for your patience, the schedule has been all over the place :/

***

“CALM DOWN BRO, YOU'RE GONNA BE ALRIGHT,” Mark spoke to the phone screen, where Declan was. They’re having a video call because his friend said there was an emergency. That emergency turned out to be Jarrod, Declan’s boyfriend, who’s coming back home after finishing his study in the UK.

“I can’t! It will be the first time we see each other face to face in two years!”

“Shouldn’t you be happy about that?” Mark giggled, enjoying the mildly troubling state of his friend.

“I am happy! I'm way too happy that I became giddy!”

“What are you freaking up about, then?”

“I’m afraid I’d lose my when I see him,” Declan told him. “Which could be a good thing but if I can’t control myself, there’s a chance that I’d embarrass myself in front of him.”

“It’s not like you haven’t embarrassed yourself before though,” Mark joked lightly, attempting to ease the knots on that perfectly trimmed bearded face.

“You’re right… I don’t know, Mark, what if he finds me ugly now? Or maybe now I’m too American for his liking…”

“What the hell are you talking about?” He burst out laughing, Declan was being ridiculous. “You guys have been communicating through video calls all this time, he's well informed on how you look, Dec. Calm down, seriously. And you’re not American, you’re freaking Irish.”

That seemed to bring a smile to Declan’s face. “That makes me sound drunker than I actually am, .”

The both of them broke the conversation with a laugh, which in Mark’s view had successfully taken out Declan from the mini distress. Apparently, he just needed someone to talk about. While he was still laughing, Jinyoung came into his peripheral vision, watching from the bedroom’s door.

“I need to buy groceries, he’ll be mad knowing that I live from takeouts, I should probably buy a new duvet—”

“And one full box of lubes, don’t forget.”

“You piece of .”

“You’ll thank me later.” Mark erupted in another laugh.

“Whatever, nah, I'm off, see you around Mark, thanks for your time!”

“Sure thing, call me when you’re worried whether your beard grows in the wrong direction or something.”

“ off.”

There was no bite in those words whatsoever. “Bye!”

“Bye!”

Mark looked up from his phone, angling his head up at almost a ninety degrees angle to meet his boyfriend's gaze since he was looming from behind the sofa. “It’s Declan.”

“Yes, I heard a bit.”

“His boyfriend is coming and he’s freaking out, it’s so funny,” he chuckled lightly, reaching up to touch soft cheek.

“Jarrod?”

“Yes.” The skin under his palm was so soft, addicting. “Come here, sit with me.”

Jinyoung walked around the sofa that they bought together, then occupied the empty space beside Mark. “When is he coming?”

“Next weekend.” He caressed silky raven hair, enjoying the warmth from the body sticking close. “Jarrod graduated in November and Declan said he vehemently rejected the idea to be separated longer. He packed up right away after finishing all the administrations.”

“I see… I don’t think I can do that.”

“Do what?”

“Being separated from you,” Jinyoung revealed, tucking his hair back bashfully.

“Aw, cute…”

“Jarrod is a strong guy…”

“I guess he is, and Declan is, too”—he positioned them on the sofa better—"but this boy here is stronger.” He gave Jinyoung’s temple a soft peck.

“Hmm…”

“Do you still have some, um, lingering sentiments with Declan? I noticed your stare whenever I did a video call with him or talked about him in general,” he teased lightly, poking his favourite cheek. While it was clear that Declan had no romantic feelings for him, and probably never would, he figured that Jinyoung was still laced with apprehension whenever the ia guy’s name afloat.

“No, not sentiments…” Jinyoung rested his head on Mark’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to be kind of spy-ish to you, really, I’m sorry if you feel uncomfortable. But I think you got it wrong, I didn’t do that because of uh, our history, but because I want to be friends with him... I like him, actually…”

“Oh, yeah?” Mark was surely surprised.

“We certainly got off on the wrong foot, mainly because of me, and until today I haven’t gotten the chance to say sorry to him for being kind of hostile, nor to tell him that I like being around him. He’s really fun, a bit annoying sometimes, like you, but he’s a good friend.”

“Then, how about we arrange a meetup?” Mark suggested. Quite out of the blue to be honest, but it seemed fitting. “Jarrod will have to load his boxes inside Declan’s apartment, maybe we can help them a little?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Jinyoung nodded in approval. “A weekend getaway also sounds appealing.”

“If you’re okay with that, I’ll inform him.”

“Okay.”

He was about to pick up the phone and texted Declan when a zip of memory went past him. Oh, . There’s that. “But by the way Jinyoung, I just remembered something…”

“What is it?”

A rush of guilt dropped over his head so suddenly, making him shiver in nervousness. Should he tell Jinyoung? He should, right? It’s not like he wanted to sweep the fact under the rug, it just slipped out of his mind and away. Ever since they got together, Jinyoung had been permanently ruling his mind, shoving away unnecessary thoughts. “Me and Declan, um… We, uh…”

“Mark?”

“We kissed once,” he blurted out in one go. There wasn’t any reaction from his boyfriend, yet, but he was already adding more, “I swear to God we were both drunk, neither of us meant to do that, it was purely alcohol, and maybe the chicken wings, and uh, stress, and frustration, since you were very hard to understand. Declan was also missing Jarrod so much, so we—”

“When did that happen?” Jinyoung’s voice sounded calm, which could mean two things.

“During our second visit to ia's office. I went to his place, you were uh, sulking I guess? You kind of shunned me away after the hotel uh, shebang, and that’s why you weren’t tagged along. We played some games, drank some champagne and yeah, that happened.”

“You don’t have to look so tense,” Jinyoung said, chuckling. “As much as I want to have a say in that, we weren’t dating back then, courtesy of my cowardness, so yeah, I’m not mad.”

“Really?” Mark was partly relieved, partly worried. That could feed his boyfriend’s insecurity, even though it should be out. For a more honest relationship.

“Yes, don’t worry. But I suppose I wouldn’t be this calm if you told me before we’re dating. Or before you tell me that Declan has a boyfriend. Like, that would give me a ton of anxiety and would totally kill me knowing that you guys indeed are attracted towards each other.”

“We weren’t attracted to each other… At least not in that way,” he clarified. “I didn’t mean to keep it from you, by the way,” he added. “I forgot it, like completely, since we both realized right away that the kiss was stupid and ridiculous. And of course, because my mind refused to think about something else but you.” He winked, for added effect.

“Cheesy.” The slap on his arm was not meant to hurt at all.

Mark enveloped Jinyoung, rocking him lightly. “I know.”

“I will have to tell Jarrod though, about you guys. As a boyfriend myself, I don’t want to be kept in the dark especially for something like that. No matter what the background is.”

“Sorry to inform you but you’re late to the party.” He grinned tauntingly.

A look of bemusement came across Jinyoung’s face. “Why?”

“Dec already told him that night.”

“He did?” The big eyes were almost cartoon-ish, he must have not expected it at all.

“Yup.”

“I’m surprised. Not every man could do that!”

“He is a gentleman I suppose.” Mark shrugged. “I helped him talk with Jarrod too.”

“You are also a gentleman then,” Jinyoung praised, dropping a kiss on his cheek.

“Why, thank you.” There was an invisible pull on each corner of his lips before he returned the kiss. “So, plane tickets?”

His boyfriend straightened up. “I’ll take care of that, you can look for the hotel.”

“Yes, boss!” Mark saluted with his free hand. “Oh, by the way. Don’t like Declan that much, I’m also a jealous boyfriend.” He puckered his lips to emphasize.

Jinyoung’s lips curled up at that, eye whiskers forming. “Well, as I said, he’s tall, handsome, se—”

“Please don’t be in love with someone else.” Mark bit his tongue but it was too late. Was it too much to say that when they’re only in the earliest stage of the relationship?

“I have no plan at all.” Jinyoung giggled. “I was just kidding, okay?”

So it wasn’t too much if Jinyoung’s answer could be an indication. “Good, now let’s cuddle. It’s cold!”

***

“Guys!! Thank you for the help!” Declan cried, hugging Mark and Jinyoung in one big swoop embrace.

“Uh, you’re sweaty,” Jinyoung complained, pulling back albeit only a tiny bit.

“You’re also sweaty so no worries,” the ia guy retorted back, grinning.

“Ugh...”

“Mark, Jinyoung, thank you for helping. It was such a massive help.” Jarrod chimed in, cradling bottles of cold water in his arms. “Here”—he handed out the water—"to freshen up a bit. I ordered food and drinks, it should be here any minute.”

“Great, I’m famished,” Declan whined before chugging down the water.

“Thanks, Jarrod,” Jinyoung gave an acknowledging nod.

“Seriously, I never thought that you would fly all the way here to help us,” Declan stated, throwing his arm around Jarrod’s shoulders. “As a couple.” He waggled his eyebrows in a way that Mark categorized as irksome.

“If you want to diss me now is the time,” he conceded sourly.

Declan’s laugh echoed throughout the room, his face contorted in mirth. “You said you only like his body!” he exclaimed after the laugh, although the remnant of joy was still visible.

“I still do,” Mark bantered, pouting. He could already guess from the beginning that meeting Declan with Jinyoung would result in this. That man would never let him live. "But now I love all of him."

“Jinyoung, you should hear him whining about your behaviour! That was gold, alongside his denial that he’s madly in love with you!”

“I wasn’t madly in love with Jinyoung!” Mark protested but realized soon after that it could get processed in the wrong way. “I-I mean, I wasn’t sure about my feelings yet,” he said to an amused looking Jinyoung. It seemed like everyone enjoyed the show but him.

“Yes, you were so unsure that you had to kiss Declan.”

Mark assumed that Jinyoung was teasing him, and got confirmation that he did because of the bubbly laugh that came after. “Babe…” He glanced at Jarrod, who thankfully had a grin on his face. That should be a good thing, right?

“Mark was the victim of my wrath over the phone,” Jarrod began, chuckling. “I kicked his just from that!”

“You really scared me…”

“You kissed my boyfriend!”

“Your boyfriend kissed me!”

“Your boyfriend kissed my future boyfriend,” Jinyoung added.

“Your future boyfriend kissed me!” Declan, too, joined the commotion, grinning wickedly.

Not a second after Declan finished his words, the four of them burst into peals of laughter. Jinyoung’s face lit up like a neon sign, body abandoned in merriment. While Jarrod and Declan did a twinning by crossing their arms over the stomach in an attempt to catch their breath. It was simply heartwarming, being together with people that could make him happy. Even with Jarrod whom he just met a few hours ago, it didn’t feel like that at all. Maybe because they had met via the phone before this. Also, the fact that he had a very kind personality. He trusted his boyfriend so much that not even an ounce of jealousy or grudge displayed at him.

The ring of the doorbell caught their attention, laughter dispersing into the air, spreading felicity all over the place. Jarrod took the job taking the delivery, coming back in with paper bags that smell divine. “Food is here!” he announced even though everyone knew it already.

“So! Tell me how you got together!” Declan started, stuffing the food inside his mouth. Everyone’s sitting at the table, with food on their plate. “Who finally confessed first? Mark only told me you guys are dating but never told me the details!”

“You never asked,” Mark bantered.

“Like you would tell me,” the ia guy muttered.

Mark laughed. “You’re right. I wouldn't.”

“Damn. So Jinyoung, who confessed first?”

“It was me…”

“You did??” Declan’s big eyes went even bigger. “But you were freaking passive-aggressive to him! I couldn’t imagine you confessed first. Tell me more!”

“Well, actually Mark asked first… He asked me whether I love him or not, and that time I felt like there’s no use hiding it anymore. So I told him I love him. It felt good to let it out.”

“You remember when we went out for a drink?” Mark chirped in.

“Of course, you were sombre all night. I felt ditched even though you were literally sitting across from me.”

“Yeah, I went to Jinyoung’s place after you dropped me off at my apartment.”

“Oh?”

“I guess I was triggered by your words.”

“Which words? I said too many wise words.” Declan grinned. Jarrod hit him lightly on the arm.

“You ,” Mark grumbled. “You told me Jinyoung loves me, and I love him,” he explained. “As much as I don’t wanna admit it, that was the final trigger. After that I couldn’t stop thinking about it, hence ignoring you, and decided to go to Jinyoung’s place. Drunkenly.”

The way Declan’s face flourished into a big beaming ball of light was both punchable and adorable at the same time. He must have felt proud of himself. “Oh my god. So in a way, I made you guys confess to each other?” he couldn’t seem to keep the smile from appearing on his face.

Mark exhaled softly. “Yes, you did.”

“Oh my god, oh my god, Jarrod! Did you hear that??” Declan shook his boyfriend's arm excessively. "I was their cupid! They’re dating because of me!! Rice Rice Baby!!”

Jarrod looked shocked at first, probably because of the sudden burst of reaction from his boyfriend. “You did it, baby.” He pecked Declan on the lips. “My Rice Rice Baby.”

Jinyoung giggled, must have because of the gaiety being displayed before him. “I’m sorry for acting like a , Dec. I hope we can be good friends from now on.”

If Declan wasn’t a big ball of jubilation before, he was now. If not bigger. His mouth went to form an ‘O’ shape, eyes widening. “Park Jinyoung apologised to me…”

“Don’t make it sound like I’m a man full of disdain!” Jinyoung threw a piece of carrot to Declan’s face.

“You said that you knew why he was passive-aggressive to you,” Mark joked, smiling.

“But I never expected an apology! Not that I craved it or anything, because really Jinyoung, I knew why you’re like that to me. That’s because you love Mark and you’re jealous of me,” Declan said, laughing. “Still, it feels good to hear that. Thanks, Jinyoung.”

“Why are you thanking me…” If Jinyoung was shy, he truly did a good job not expressing it, although the pretty tint on his cheeks said otherwise.

“You guys are so cute,” Jarrod commented, giggling. “Dec told me a lot about you guys, especially Jinyoung, and that’s why I’ve been nagging him to see you guys as soon as I come back here. I was lucky to hear that you’re coming to help me move back in! Already in a relationship.” He winked teasingly. “He was probably al