Taemin crushed an empty can of beer and threw it towards the pile of other crushed cans in the middle of the living room. He was so full like he could burst, he had finished an entire of box of chicken wings and a handful of peanut chocolates already. Nevertheless, Taemin reached for another can of beer and Jongin, who was eyeing Taemin in great disapproval, snatched it away.

“Just watching you makes me want to puke.” He said.

“GIMMEEEEEE!” Taemin whined, but Jongin shook his head.

“Try me, cleaning up you’re barf isn’t in my plan.”

Keeping his glare firmly on Jongin, Taemin reached for a chocolate on the floor instead.

The two boys were sitting on the floor, the Xbox controllers lying here and there, with the TV screen flashing GAME OVER repeatedly in different colours. The clock notified them of quarter past ten, and Jongin’s phone was charging by the couch. Sensing Taemin’s gaze, Jongin looked up and Taemin spoke after gulping down his chocolate.

“…I’m kind of embarrassed.”

“Kind of?” Jongin smirked.

“Shut up.” Taemin grumbled, and Jongin continued.

“Do me a favor and just call me up starting next year. OK?”

Suddenly, like a little boy, Taemin wanted to hear more of Jongin’s reassurance.

“…Someone said that they feel sorry for me. And that I’m nothing but just a… pretty boy.” He blurted.

Jongin’s eyebrows soared, and concerned creases formed between his eyes.

“What? Who the said that?" Jongin straightened up. "You are a bit bizarre but just a pretty…? Tell me, who said that to you?”

“Stop overreacting.”

Taemin smirked as Jongin huffed in defense. It felt good to have Jongin on his side, and forgetting about the whole crying in Jongin’s embrace earlier, Taemin snickered like an idiot.

“…And you still laugh.” Jongin eyed Taemin judgementally.

Taemin nodded, the dumb smile still plastered onto his face. Jongin sighed and continued.

“Fine. Laugh all you want, it’s better than whining. Who cares what that said? Girls still fall head over heels for you when you flash them that smile, don’t they?” He muttered.

“This isn’t that kind of smile. You know the ones that come out when you’re really happy and you can’t hold them back? I think this is one of those.”

Taemin giggled and Jongin shot Taemin an absurd look.

“Crying and then laughing like an idiot. I’m just too normal to catch up with you, mate.”

Taemin’s chuckle ceased and the words escaped his lips before Taemin could hold them back.

“I thought I was losing you.”

Jongin was silent. Ever since the moment he cried in front of Jongin, Taemin was almost positive that he lost his mind. Nervous by Jongin’s sudden silence, Taemin’s mind wavered even further, away from his lack of logic. His one-sided love was bound to crash anyways, and Taemin suddenly decided to take up his courage. So he let his tongue loose.

“I like you a lot.”

Taemin giggled again, and saw Jongin's expression fade from his face.

“I thought I was losing to you Jung Soojung.” Taemin said.

His reckless boldness was surprising even to Taemin himself. Jongin stared at Taemin, until a smirk crept upon his lips. He burst out laughing and lightly smacked Taemin on the head.

“You too? I like you a lot too, you know.” Jongin said, “To tell you the truth, I have a hard time restraining my fists every time I pass by the basketball team.”

It was Taemin that was struck dumb this time. Taking a glimpse at Taemin’s face, Jongin continued.

“And who is it? Sungyeol? Chanyeol? Why is that kid always tagging around your tail? Since when did you two get so close? Get yourself together Lee Taemin, this is all because you make yourself look so vulnerable.”

“…...What?” Taemin asked, dumbfounded.

“What? I'm playing along.”

Jongin snickered and Taemin laughed along, feeling relieved that Jongin let it pass as a dirty joke but hurt at the same time.

After all, his complicated feelings couldn’t be worth more than a simple joke. Taemin stifled a laugh at his own miserable thought, but choked on his own saliva when he heard Jongin’s words between laughter.

“Hey, the chicken wings came with a christmas mistletoe. How about a kiss?”

Taemin straightened up and stiffened as a rock. He let his gaze fall to the XX Wings box in front of Jongin, maybe those wings were somehow drugged. Jongin was definitely not the type to start these bold jokes. Seeing Taemin so tensed up, Jongin snickered and dragged his body closer. And – to Taemin’s horror – Jongin placed his hand around Taemin’s neck.

“This is so funny, oh my god, why are you so scared?" Jongin burst out laughing. "C’mon, Iet me kiss you.”

Taemin’s eyes widened.

They were both drunk. That had to be it.

“Ha,… hahaha… You got to be kidding me.” Taemin stammered, “I’m not scared. Why would I be scared?”

He was scared. Jongin was scaring the crap out of him. Pretending to be completely calm, Taemin smirked awkwardly and Jongin – again to Taemin’s horror – pulled Taemin’s neck closer.

“Why so tense?” Jongin said between laughs. “C’mere, stay still.”

What Jongin had forgotten though, was that Taemin had experienced countless of these dirty and flirty jokes with girls all his life. Taemin wiped the awkward smile right off his face.

“Fine, if you insist.” Taemin said, “Go ahead and kiss me, but brace yourself.”

“…Ha…haha…” Jongin’s laugh faltered.

This time Taemin felt Jongin stiffen. Jongin’s crooked smirk declared ‘, I’m screwed’, and the tide was officially turned over.

“……Really?...”

Jongin asked uncertainly.

“Really.”

Taemin replied, and the painfully awkward atmosphere between them became irreversible. Jongin looked at Taemin as he tried his best to hide the rising fluster. His hands were already clasped around Taemin’s neck, and Jongin had no idea how to back down now.

Very slowly, Jongin pulled Taemin closer.

This wasn’t what Taemin expected to happen. Perplexed