II: When You Can't Take It All

“It’s a surprise.”

But honestly, I don’t know where my feet are taking Ken and I. We’re now taking a bus going north. We seated at the back and thankfully that the bus wasn’t crowded anymore and less people are journeying together with us.

“Leo?” I blink and tilt my head to meet Ken beside me.

“W-where exactly are we going?” Ken looks at me with curious eyes and I couldn’t help but to pat his head once again.

“I already told you, it’s a surprise.” I smiled and he narrowed his eyes at me.

“There are lots of batting cages there.” He pouts and it was cute, I almost puke butterflies. I lightly pinch his cheeks and then grins.

“It’s not a surprise then.” I said and chuckled seeing Ken scrunch his nose.

“Don’t you like it? Or, do you want to crash plates instead?”

“You know I’m not an athletic type.” Ken pouts again.

“I’m sorry that you didn’t like it. Honestly—“

“H-hey! I didn’t say I don’t like it.” Ken rebutted.

“But your pout says it all, Ken.” I said and sigh.

“I will play since we’re already out.” Ken states and looks at me with a smile but I turned away and look at the window instead of giving him a reaction.

Inside, I’m smacking my head hard since I forgot that little detail. Oh how careless I can be!

“Leo Hyung,” Ken shakes me and I heave a sigh then massage the bridge of my nose.

“I feel like I’m forcing you to play with me when my original plan was for you to have fun.” I answered, starting to get a cold shoulder at my fail plan.

“Well, we never know what will happen, so stop mourning so early.” Ken then sits upright and when I look at him, I found him smiling and it’s like he’s anticipating our journey together. I just hope that my vision is still 20/20 and I’m seeing right at the moment.

“Just don’t blame me later.” I mumbled coldly and stare outside the window again.

“OK!” I heard Ken chimed and his answer slightly brought a smile on my face though my weariness wouldn’t wear off.

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At exactly 11:30, we both hopped off the bus and walked over to the first batting cage we saw. We started batting side by side with a bet and the one who’s going to win will be carried by the loser with free snacks included.

“Your wallet and your back should be ready Hyung! I’m not going to lose to you!” Ken yelled at the other side and it makes me smile seeing how hyper Ken is tonight. I just hope he’s not faking it or else, I’ll be damned.

“Remember that you told me you’re not an athletic type just like you said to me earlier, Ken.” I smirk and Ken’s reply was sticking his tongue out.

Then after pressing the button, I grip my bat tighter and get ready. I hit the first ball that flew out of the machine and then the next three more. When I look at Ken after missing the fifth ball, I saw him too concentrated on his bat that he couldn’t even hit the ball.

“Yah! Remember the bet Ken!” I yelled out and he sticks out his tongue once again and then finally hits the ball which made him jump in happiness.

I stopped playing and just watch Ken as he hit and hit and then hit the balls firing out to him. He was out of breath after hitting 12 consecutive balls in a row and a clap made him turn towards me and grins wide.

“I thought you weren’t the athletic type?” I teased and he grins wider.

We both step out of the batting cage and he started mocking my score which was only 4.

“I lose so, what do you want to eat?” I asked and then Ken started to think.

“Ice cream!” Ken chimed like a little kid and I’m glad that it made his mood goes up.

“Then, let’s go.” I said and kneel down afterwards, facing my back on Ken.

“Y-you really want to carry me?” Ken asks behind my back and I nodded in reply.

“It’s a fair fight, Ken. The bet is clear as the water. I lose and so I will carry you.” I answered after tilting my head to the side.

“B-but Hyung I’m heavy—“

“Do you want me to kneel down forever?” I turned around and glared at him.

“Okay, okay. You don’t have to be so grumpy.” Ken pouts and I knelt once again and he encircled his arms around my neck and my hands went to grab his thighs and stood up after balancing my strength.

“Am I heavy, hyung? I’m heavy right?” Ken asks and I can feel his breath on my skin, near my ear.

I started walking to the nearest 24/7 store when he asked. “Just a little bit. I thought you were on a diet?” I teased and Ken slaps my shoulder. I pulled him up as he slowly slips downwards.

“I’m still on a diet, you know.” He replied with a pout and I couldn’t help but to chuckle.

“Did I ever say thank you, yet?” Ken asks after a minute of walking.

“No. And don’t thank me yet.” I shake my head.

“Why?” Ken moves his head forward to meet me side view.

“Because we’re not finished yet,” I replied and tilt my head to smack our skulls together lightly.

“But still,” Ken pulls himself closer by encircling his arms tighter but not to the point he’s about to choke me.

“Hmm?” I hummed so he can finish his sentence.

“You probably don’t like a kiss don’t you?” He then rests his chin to his arms and I tilt my head to look at him with narrowed eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Have you ever been kissed, Hyung?” Ken suddenly asks which made me stop on my tracks.

“No. I haven’t had any. Why do you suddenly asks, Ken?” I answered and Ken lift up his head to face me.

“Promise me that you’re not letting me off on your back first.” He replied which made me frown but then I swear with a nod and with my lips.

“Promise.”

Ken smiled and then quickly plants a chaste kiss on my cheek and then quickly hides his face on my back. After that, I feel stoned and frozen but then it made my lips curve into a smile. A minute had passed by and Ken is still hiding in embarrassment while I started walking, chuckling all the way to the convenience store. People who saw us can tell how happy I am tonight.

“Are you sleeping?” I tilt my head and shake Ken on my back. His head then shakes no.

“Here we are.” I said and he shyly put himself down and couldn’t look at me in the eyes.

“I lied to you.”

Ken lift up his face with a question mark on top of his head.

“N kissed me on the cheek once when I helped him.” I lied. N never kissed me because that would be gross but I had to lie so that Ken wouldn’t get embarrassed more in front of me.

“H-huh?” Ken looks at me curiously. I ruffled his hair.

“C’mon.” I quickly grab his wrist and then we both step inside the store and walks straight to the ice cream freezer.

“Pick anything you like.” I motioned and Ken nodded in reply with a smile though the blush on his cheeks is still tainted in pink which made me feel awesome good inside.

Once I bought all the ice cream Ken picked up, we settled at a table in front of the window. Ken looks happy and started munching cutely. It brought a smile on my face and I think my lips are going to rip out from my face due to the sudden stretching which my cheeks aren’t used to.

I decided to look at my watch and I gasped mentally after seeing the time. We’re overdue by an hour. So I took my phone out and saw 50 texts coming from our leader and 100 missed calls I didn’t get because I put my phone in silent mode.

I started typing a message and then quickly press the send button even before Ken could notice and hid my phone immediately.

“Eat that on the way. We need to go now, Ken.” I said and grab his wrist after he nods and waits in front of the bus stop.

“Hyung, how can we go home now? The bus we took was the last on