If asked, Sehun wouldn’t have been able to precisely point out the exact time when Jongin had begun giving him the cold shoulder.

At some obscure point, Jongin had started brushing the maknae off every time he attempted to have a conversation with him. Those times, Sehun had only written it off as a passive variation of a tantrum, something they all have a tendency to succumb to when the back-breaking rehearsals take its toll on them and the fans become too noisy and uncouth for their liking.

But he soon realized that his understanding was greatly misplaced because if Jongin had really been throwing a “tantrum”, why, it was actually a special type because it was only directed exclusively at him. Jongin was pleasant to the rest of the members. He was his usual self around the others. It was only towards him that the other boy suddenly turns into a different person and treats him like he could walk through walls.

And it doesn’t end there. Sometimes, he would catch Jongin glaring daggers at him. Like there was something in Sehun that was particularly infuriating and he is the only one who sees it.

It was preposterous. He doesn’t remember doing anything that could possibly merit this peculiar mixture of indifference and aggravation from Jongin. When he thinks hard about it, Sehun isn’t even sure how those two particulars can exist side by side but they do, he feels it and damn it, he doesn’t even have any inkling as to how or why.

It was with great hesitation when his guts finally caved in and he chose a close friend to confide into about the whole thing. Yes, he knew it was sort of pathetic. He was a grown man who can easily walk up to Jongin and ask him what the problem was and fix it once and for all for heaven’s sake.

Thing is, he wasn’t as “grown-up” as he would like to be. Sometimes, he even feels like he is the only child in the sea of adults. He knows that is exactly his selling point: his aegyo, his cuteness; the fans love it even though they might suspect he’s only playing for the camera but they don’t have any idea how close it is to reality.

He really is just still a child deep down inside.

So a “manly” confrontation between him and EXO-K’s Kai was something he would very much like to avoid if possible.

Telling Suho was out of the question, though he was anyone’s first bet. Oh, he was a responsible leader who listens to everything s have to say but damn, the guy worries too much sometimes he might make the situation seem bigger than it really is.

Chanyeol was out too. Given the giant’s nature, he would most likely confront Jongin himself and try to force the two of them to talk things out. That’s how he is. He doesn’t like conflict and would like to get rid of it as soon as possible. It wasn’t Sehun’s style, though.

Kyungsoo? Honestly, in this cold war between Jongin and Sehun, Kyungsoo was, without a doubt, Team Jongin. It wouldn’t be the best of ideas to ask help behind enemy lines.

Phoning Lu Han didn’t seem to be a tantalizing plan, as well. He was currently busy in China with the rest of the EXO-M members and anybody with eyes knows that with a gazillion guestings, shows, travels and promotions, they have it harder compared to EXO-K.

So that left him with Baekhyun.

Who turned out to give the lousiest advice known to mankind.

Talk to him, Sehun.

That was what he had been avoiding in the first place!

And as if that didn’t already cross his mind.

When pressed, the older guy just gave him a tired look.

You know it’s the only way, Sehun. Do something about it before it affects the dynamics of the group and the fans begin to notice. You know how much they love controversy. Just talk to Jongin, okay? He won’t bite.

Baekhyun added the last part as a joke but Sehun didn’t take it lightly and responded with something along the lines of don’t be ridiculous, I’m not afraid of him one bit and then stalked off somewhere to nurse his bruised ego.

He knew Baekhyun was right, though. There was no other way.

It was time for him to grow a pair and confront the friggin’ dancing machine why he was acting that way towards him.

That is why one day, he found himself in an inevitable staring contest with Jongin. In ten minutes, they will go live on television in an interview with Show Champion and they were all waiting backstage for their cue. It was hardly the best time for a confrontation but Sehun had reached his boiling point when he caught Jongin giving him one of his heated gazes again.

Without warning, he strode off to Jongin and hissed, “What the hell is your problem?”

He said those words with all the resentment he was feeling yet he was careful to make sure that Jongin was the only one who heard him. They locked stares and played chicken with their eyes. After an indeterminate amount of time, and to Sehun’s surprise, Jongin was the one who broke eye contact.

He began walking away but not before shooting Sehun another look. Suho immediately spotted him.

“Jongin! Where are you going?” called out their leader.

Without turning around, he replied with a lie. “I need to tinkle.”

Sehun, not missing a beat, went after him. “Me too, hyung. We’ll be right back.”

He already started it and he wants nothing more than to finish it as well. Besides, he was taking immense pleasure from the fact that their roles seemed to have reversed and it is Jongin fleeing from him this time.

He followed Jongin and saw him disappear inside their dressing room. With determination, he quickly ambled and entered the same room as well. The moment he did, he instantaneously heard the door slam shut and felt a sharp pain hit his back. It took him a moment to realize that he was being pinned to the wall and Jongin’s royally pissed off face was only a few centimeters away from his.

“You’re asking me what’s my problem?” He seethed, his hot breath stirring a few strands of Sehun’s hair on his forehead.

“Wha—Jongin…” he whimpered, shock and fear mingling, giving him a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

All of his previous bravado quickly dissolved like ice cubes in flaming lava.

“You. You are my problem.” Jongin told him through clenched teeth, his eyes a darkened shade of brown.

Sehun gulps at this, gulps real hard. If his weakened knees were not enough indication of his deflated guts, then his wide frightened eyes surely were.

Sheer anger.

He was looking at it in the face of Kim Jongin.

And he was the one who supposedly caused it.

Why? What did he do?

Averting his eyes to the side was the only thing he seemed capable of doing at the moment so he did.

But the action only seemed to worsen Jongin’s ire even more.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you, damn it.” He got hold of Sehun’s chin and forced the younger boy to look at him. Their eyes met once again.

And…

 Before he knew what was happening, Jongin was kissing him, kissing him and he wonders whywhywhywhy but he has to keep his eyes open to make sure that everything was real, that this was really happening.

But it wasn’t a kiss, not really, Sehun thinks. It was a violent dance of control and ardor and tongue and mouth, of everything that was Kim Jongin.

Because Jongin kissed pretty much the way he danced.

With mastery.

And with passion.

Loads and loads of passion.

It was an intense mixture of fervor and sweetness that Sehun could not help but enjoy because Jongin ironically tasted sweet and oh-so-good and he wants more that he is reeling, reeling from pleasure and nervousness because what if someone walks in on them?

 In a million years, Sehun never would have guessed that this is how their confrontation would go but if he has to be honest, if this was what a confrontation entailed, then he would be happy to “confront” Jongin all the time.

Jongin pulls away abruptly, almost painfully, like he doesn’t want to ever stop.

“You don’t know how infuriating you are.” Jongin said, his voice thick with emotion. “Your hair. Your eyes. Your cheeks. Your scent. And oh God, Sehun, those lips of yours just drive me over the edge.”

Gratification unexpectedly took a back seat and gave way for confusion. Sehun couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of Jongin’s mouth. It all seemed so unreal. Like something out of a dream.

 A very twisted reverie.

Jongin was not done yet. “You don’t have any idea what the sound of your voice does to me. When you whine, when you call my name. , I have to avoid you because if I don’t, I’ll just end up shoving you against the wall and ravishing your brains out.”

With that last sentence, he stopped talking and the room was silent, save for Jongin’s labored breathing, as if what he did just exhausted the hell out of him.

With haze and bliss fringing the edges of his consciousness, Sehun still likes to think that he understands now.

What he saw in Jongin’s eyes wasn’t anger.

It was desire.

Suppressed desire.

“Jongin…” Sehun whispers his name.

“What?”

“You want me.” he replied. It was not a question.

For the first time in a long time, Jongin smiled at him. And it was something he missed so much.

The other boy leaned in closer again to press his lips against Sehun’s.

This time, it was soft and gentle. When he pulled back, he whispered in Sehun’s ear. “Yes, I want you.”

“Kai! Sehun! Get your butts out here now! We’re on in five!”

They heard their leader’s impatient voice from outside. Suho was probably walking towards the lavatory since that was where they both said they would be.

Sighing, they broke away from each other. Jongin hesitantly strode towards the door but before he opened it, he turned back at Sehun.

“We’re not done yet.” He smirked and then he slipped outside, leaving Sehun grinning like an idiot alone in the room.

Well, what do you know? Baekhyun’s advice was the best after all.

END