Chapter based on the song PROM. Lyrics translated by me. (I'm not a songwriter, i at these.)

PROM

Nanginginig na mga kamay, puso kong di mapalagay.                           Shaking hands and a nervous heart

Pwede ba kitang tabihan kahit na may iba ka nang kasama?                     Can I sit beside you even if you’re with someone else?

Ito na ang gabing hindi malilimutan, dahan-dahan tayong nagtinginan            This is the night to remember, and slowly we look at each other…

Parang atin ang gabi, para bang wala tayong katabi                              As if the night is ours, as if there’s nobody else around us…

At tayo’y sumayaw na parang di na tayo bibitaw                                 And we will dance as if we’re never letting go…


=====================

What Yifan thought of something like a fling explodes into a full-on relationship. The first date is followed by a second; lunch with Tao is now a party of three - with Yifan being the odd chaperone of Jongin and Tao. Their 2-person dorm room is now invaded by a tanned alien sleeping on Tao’s bed. Which kinda , A LOT, if you ask him.

“Tao?” Yifan calls out seeing that Jongin is still fast asleep while his boyfriend is not around. There isn’t any response coming from the bathroom so Yifan guesses that his bestfriend has stepped out.

“He said he’s going out to get us breakfast…” Jongin groans as he buries himself deeper into Tao’s pillow.

“You’re here often, lately.” Yifan comments and stands from his bed, Jongin lazily turns his sleepy state to look at Yifan, “I’m his boyfriend, isn’t it normal?”

“Right.” Yifan shrugs and heads to the bathroom to freshen up. 15 minutes later he steps out to find Tao and Jongin eating breakfast on Tao’s bed while his food sits alone and lonely on his bed. Yifan grunts and walks to his bed so he can start eating. “Hey, Yifan, Jongin’s suggesting something nice.”

’There’s nothing nice about Jongin.' He thinks, but smiles nonetheless while munching on his sandwich, ”What is it?”

“The annual grad ball is coming up, right?”

’Grad ball. Right. . It means they’ve been going out almost a year, huh? I didn’t even realize it because I wake up every day hoping this is just a bad joke'

Yifan ends his train of thoughts when a pillow ungracefully hits his face. “GE! You’re not even listening!” Tao whines and Jongin laughs as he wraps his arms around his boyfriend, “Stop being hard on him, sweetheart. He just woke up. Everybody spaces out when they just got out of bed.”

Yifan grits his teeth as he swallows his sandwich hard because ’REMOVE YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY BABY PANDA, SWEETHEART!!!’

“I’m focused now, what’s up?” Yifan smiles, hoping he doesn’t look like he’s committing murder inside his dorm room.

“You don’t have a date for the grad ball, right?” Tao asks bluntly and Jongin chuckles next to him again.

“Who says I don’t?” Yifan asks back but Tao points to himself, “Who else would know that you’re a pitiful guy?”

“Wow, Zitao, Think highly of yourself, won’t you?”

“To cut this short, I’m gonna introduce you to a good friend of mine. Tao said you’re interested in boys, too, so I don’t think you’ll mind me introducing you with a boy, huh?” Jongin cuts between them and Yifan just stares at his bestfriend’s ugh boyfriend with real murder as intent.

“Oh come on, Yifan! I already met Baekhyun and he seems really nice.”

Yifan drinks his orange juice in one go and raises an eyebrow at Tao, “You’re serious? You met him already?”

Tao nods enthusiastically, “Of course! I’m your bestfriend, Yifan. He needs to get my seal of approval first!”

’I don’t think I gave my seal of approval for that alien on your bed.'

“Well, whatever. Do I have to meet him beforehand, or do I just assume he’s already my date for the grad ball in 2 weeks?”

“We can call him later, and you two can meet. It’s a Saturday and we don’t have classes anyway.” Tao tells Yifan and the older just agrees. “Well then, I’m taking a shower now. Here.” Jongin hands Tao his cellphone, “Text or call him, he’s been meaning to meet Yifan after all.”

“Okay.” Tao smiles and Jongin leans down to give him a peck on the lips; Yifan’s breakfast almost comes back up to his throat.

Yifan watches as Jongin rummages through Tao’s closet and pulls out a shirt and a pair of pants, he also takes out a pair of boxers before he grabs a towel and his toiletries. When Jongin closes the door of the bathroom behind him, Yifan turns to Tao who’s already busy texting Baekhyun.

“Was he taking your clothes?”

“Nope. He already has a lot of clothes here, Yifan. How can you not notice?”

Yifan shrugs his shoulders and lies back on the bed, “I’m not the one dating him. I’m just surprised that I now have a new pseudo-roommate."

“Oh. Baekhyun says he’s excited to finally meet you.” Tao leaves Jongin’s phone on the bed and walks over to Yifan’s, the younger pats both Yifan’s cheeks playfully with a huge grin, “Get that face off your face, okay? Baekhyun’s really nice and small, if you scare him away, I’m going to hate you. A LOT.”

“You’re so keen on getting me to date, huh?”

Tao smiles at Yifan while his thumb runs softly and unconsciously on the other’s cheek, “Because I’m really happy with Jongin and I don’t wanna be selfish by being happy alone. Please be happy too.”

Yifan holds Tao’s hand and runs his hand on the smooth skin on the back of Tao's thumb, “I’m happy, Tao. I don’t need a date or something to be happy.”

“I don’t believe you.” Tao smiles and removes his hand from Yifan’s cheek and grasp, “We’ve known each other for a while now and I already know what you feel even before you acknowledge it on your own.”

“What do you mean?” Yifan sits up so he can meet Tao eye to eye. Tao chuckles at the back of his hand before answering, “You think I don’t see you staring at me and Jongin? I know you don’t like being the third wheel in our relationship, Yifan. I know you’re thinking of getting someone to date, too, since Jongin and I are really happy together.”

Yifan sighs and touches Tao’s cheek, “T… That isn’t why I stare at the both of you, stupid…”

“Then why..?”

Yifan isn’t able to answer when they hear the bathroom doorknob unlock and Yifan immediately lies back on the bed while Tao returns on his, Tao smiles at Jongin and tells him, “Baekhyun says he’ll see us later.”

“Good. Who’s taking a shower next?”

Yifan jumps off the bed and runs past Tao’s bed and into the bathroom. Jongin chuckles and sits beside Tao, “I guess he’s pretty excited, too.”

Tao smiles as his hand clenches against his racing chest, “I… I guess he is…”

-----

Tao drops his bag that Wednesday afternoon the moment he gets home and crosses his arms over his chest, “You’re unbelievable. Jongin said you haven’t contacted Baekhyun. Aren’t you interested?”

Yifan grunts and rolls on his bed, “I was just busy.”

“That doesn’t answer the question. Are you uninterested? Baekhyun is.”

“Isn’t it enough that I already agreed to be his date?”

“YAH!” Tao yelps and climbs on top of Yifan and straddles his legs, “YOU’RE DESPICABLE! He’s Jongin’s friend!” Tao grabs a pillow and starts hitting Yifan on his face, “Don’t you like him? Even just a little?!”

“It’s not about not liking him!” Yifan covers his face with his arms, “I just like somebody else!”

Tao stops hitting Yifan and stares at him dumbfoundedly, “You… like someone else? WHO!? Why didn’t you say so?!”

Yifan turns his face away from Tao and stares at the blank wall next to his bed, “It’s not like he’s available, you know? “

“Do I know him?”

“You don’t.” Yifan grunts, “Get off me, you’re no longer a kid.”

Tao hits Yifan with one last blow with the pillow before jumping off of him, “If the guy you’re pining for is unavailable then stop being stupid. I wouldn’t want you to be a relationship-wrecker or something. Baekhyun isn’t so bad, Yifan. I’m sure you’ll like him.” Tao yells before stomping off to the bathroom.

“Stupid, huh…?”

-----

“I’m happy you called. It would be so awkward if your grad ball’s the 2nd time we’re meeting.” Baekhyun smiles at Yifan from across the table of the coffee shop they’re in. “How have you been? It’s been a week, right?”

“So-so. Sorry I haven’t been able to call immediately. I was busy since I’m already graduating in a month.”

Baekhyun shyly smiles again and takes a sip of his latte, “It’s okay, I understand how it is for you guys in senior year.”

“Aren’t you in senior year in your university, too?”

Baekhyun shakes his head and sighs, “I remember mentioning that I still have one more year before I graduate, did you forget? i changed majors that's why i'm backed by a year.”

“I… I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention… Sorry about that.”

Baekhyun waves his hand in front of his face, “Don’t worry! I’m unsure, too if I mentioned it at all.”

“So, Baekhyun, is it okay if I ask you to accompany me to get a suit?”

“For the grad ball?”

“Yeah.”

“You still haven’t rented or bought one?”

Yifan shakes his head and leans back on his chair, “I wasn’t planning on going to the ball in the first place.”

Baekhyun pouts, “Were you forced to go out with me, then?”

Yifan chuckles and shakes his head again, “Of course not, Baekhyun. I now have you to go with me which makes it even worth going to that ball.”

Baekhyun turns red and Yifan can see that clearly, the younger takes another sip of his drink before smiling back at Yifan, “Well, I know a nice place. They can rent or sell nice suits without blowing your budget.”

“Alright. Take me to that place, and let’s look good together, okay?”

“Okay!”







“Baekhyun is over the moon today, Yifan.” Tao tells Yifan after the older enters their dorms, “Jongin just called me and Baekhyun was texting him how he’s so happy you two acted like a couple today.”

Yifan puts his suit inside the closet without looking at Tao, “We just went for coffee and shopping. It isn’t couple-y or anything.”

“Are you blushing?!” Tao teases and hugs him from the back, “See, Yifan? It feels good to have someone to like, right?”

Yifan sighs and removes Tao from him, “It’s a pain.”

Tao pouts and scrunches his brows, “A pain? That’s mean. Jongin and I are in love and I couldn’t be any happier!”

“Good for you.” Yifan walks past Tao and starts changing his clothes in front of him, Tao hits Yifan’s with a shirt, “OUCH! HUANG ZITAO! THAT HURTS!”

“That’s painful. Love isn’t supposed to be.” Tao is looking at him angrily, “I like Baekhyun. If you really are keen on not having even a tiny bit of interest in him, then please, make it clear. He likes you enough to want to date a face like you,”
 

“I don’t dislike him, and look, Tao. You and Jongin are behind this, if I end up rejecting him, it’s both your fault. I didn’t ask you to find me a date.”

“Fine. Just… just be clear about this on or after the grad ball. Don’t prolong the agony.” Tao huffs and lies back on the bed, “I’m still hoping for good things to come your way, Yifan.”

-----

"We look ing amazing, don't we?!" Tao exclaims as the both of them look at themselves in the mirror. Tao raises an eyebrow and turns Yifan sideways so that he's facing him, "Your tie is crooked, Yifan." Tao tells him and fixes Yifan's tie. The older holds his breath as Tao does so, because this is a little too intimate for him, and it doesn't help that their proximity is too close, and that instead of his feelings fading away, it's only gone stronger ever since Tao and Jongin became lovers.

"Yah! What are you doing?!" Yifan yells when Tao sniffs him by the neck, Tao innocently blinks his eyes at him, "You smell really good. New cologne?"

"So what if it's new?"

Tao smirks at him mischievously and winks at him, "Planning something with Baekhyun?"

"WHAT?! No!"

Tao pouts at him before turning his attention back to his own reflection for last minute checking of his clothes, "I hope Jongin is planning to do something tonight. I mean, we've been together 8 months already... And all he's done is give me head..."

Yifan gapes at Tao through the mirror for a second before speaking, "Are you...? Why the are you telling me this?!"

Tao pats Yifan on the cheek playfully as he stares at the two of them through the mirror, "You are my bestfriend, silly. Who else would I tell these kinds of things?"

Yifan whacks Tao playfully on the head, "Fine. But please, spare me all the details. Or else."

"HAHAHAHA! I gave him a , Yifan! He said i was amazing!" Tao teases as he fixes his hair back into place.

"I will murder you in your sleep, Huang Zitao." Yifan threatens before taking his wallet, phone and car keys, "What time is Jongin picking you up? I have to go now to pick up my date."

Tao checks his watch and looks at Yifan who's about to leave, "He should be here in 10 minutes. See you later, okay?"

"Yeah." Yifan leaves the room and closes the door behind him. He leans against the hardwood to calm himself because Huang Zitao and the image he just left in his brain.




“WOAH… This looks fun…” Baekhyun exclaims as he and Yifan enters the hall. “Let’s go!”

“Yeah…” Yifan mumbles and extends a hand, which Baekhyun gladly takes with a smile on his face. A photographer stops them to take their pictures before they can proceed to the registration. “Hey man! Didn’t know you got yourself a boyfriend already!” Luhan greets Yifan when they finally see each other in the main hall.

Yifan shakes his head, “Not my boyfriend, Luhan. But he’s my date, so Baekhyun, this is Luhan, and that’s Sehun.”

“Hi. I should have studied here. There are a lot of good looking guys everywhere!” Baekhyun smiles at the couple, Luhan laughs ungracefully which makes Baekhyun question his statement again. “Anyway, mind if I steal your date for a bit?” Luhan asks and Baekhyun just nods.

“Where’d you meet him?” Luhan whispers and Yifan looks behind him to find Sehun and Baekhyun talking before turning his attention back to Luhan, “Jongin introduced me to him."

“Jongin? As in Tao’s boyfriend Jongin?”

“Is there any other Jongin we both know?”

“Man… So Tao set you two up?”

“You can say that…”

“Man, that’s tough.”

Their conversation is cut short when their attention is grabbed by Tao’s infectious laugh, Luhan and Yifan finds Tao with Jongin laughing with Sehun and Baekhyun, “What can I do, Luhan…? Instead of my feelings fading, knowing that he’s capable of loving someone else romantically just made me hope a little more…”

Luhan pats Yifan on the back sympathetically, “Maybe in the future, things will turn for the better.”

“YIFAN! YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE YOUR DATE!!!” Tao yells and runs to him. Yifan smiles at Luhan before he gets dragged by Tao back to Baekhyun’s side.

They all end up in one round table with Tao on Yifan’s left and Baekhyun on his right. Minseok and Jongdae are across them while Luhan and Sehun are next to them. Baekhyun talks to him and as much as Yifan tries to place all his attention to his date, he looks at Tao peripherally from time to time, in which his bestfriend catches him and returns his stares with a smile and a tilt of his head to tell him to look at Baekhyun instead.

The lot of them must be sitting around the table – eating and drinking – for an hour or so before they’re all turning quiet and Yifan can clearly see the couples around them whispering to each other, which makes it a little awkward since he and Baekhyun are definitely not a couple.

“You wanna dance?” Yifan suddenly blurts out and Baekhyun nods enthusiastically, “I thought you’d never ask.”

“Come on.” Yifan stands and drags Baekhyun away from the table. They notice that all the occupants of their table start standing and heading to the dance floor, Baekhyun chuckles, and leans up to whisper, “Looks like they’re all just waiting for someone to start dancing.”

“Seems like it.” Yifan laughs before the two of them are already dancing together. Yifan isn’t stupid to not notice the flirtatious looks Baekhyun aims at him, nor the way the other’s fingers brush lightly on his sides and arms. If he couldn’t see Tao from behind Baekhyun dancing intimately with Jongin he would have responded with Baekhyun’s advances, he would’ve been seduced.

“ATTENTION EVERYONE!”

Everybody on the dance floor turns their attention to the emcee onstage, “WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO DANCE WITH THE PERSON YOU DID NOT COME TO THE BALL WITH. I REPEAT, NOT YOUR DATE. A SPECIAL PRIZE AWAITS THE PARTNERS THAT CAN LOOK LIKE A REAL COUPLE EVEN IF THEY’RE STRANGERS.”

“WE ARE SO WINNING THIS!” Is all Yifan hears before he is yanked away by Tao away from Baekhyun, “They didn’t really say we have to be total strangers, right?”

“You and your love of winning things.” Yifan chuckles. As courtesy, he looks around to find Baekhyun being lead to the dance floor by Sehun, which makes him a little relieved. He still wants Baekhyun to have a good time. Once the couples have traded, the house music stops and turns to something sweet and cheesy.

“ARE THEY SERIOUS?!” Jongdae blurts out because he’s dancing with Yixing, and if anything, he wants to dance this intimate with his boyfriend, and not somebody else.

They hear a whistle and some of the ushers take Jongdae and Yixing out of the dance floor. Tao leans up to whisper to Yifan’s ear, “Woah, they’re pretty serious about this.”

“Must be a pricey gift…” Yifan whispers back, “Maybe.” The younger shrugs his shoulders before Tao then puts his arms around Yifan’s neck, “Come on, Yifan. Make it look like you really wanna dance with me.” Tao whispers as he stares at Yifan’s eyes.

’I do. So ing much…’ Yifan smiles at Tao before wrapping his arms around the younger’s waist, slowly, they start swaying their bodies to the tune of the slow music playing in the hall. “This is the first time we danced like this, huh?” Tao asks and Yifans hums in response, they’re just staring at each other and Yifan doesn’t hear anything else because he’s drowning into those eyes, and he knows how much he doesn’t want to be saved.

Tao bites his lower lip and keeps his eyes locked with Yifan’s, “Y… you look good tonight, Yifan…”

“Yeah…? You, too.”

Tao jolts a little when Yifan pulls him closer, “Hey… Yifan…”

Yifan leans down and their noses touch, “What…?”

“I…” Tao breathes heavily as he angles his face, their lips mere centimeters away from each other, “Yifan… I…”

“AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!”

Everybody backs away from their partners – including Yifan and Tao. The both of them look around the area when a spotlight is focused on them, while their friends are clapping. “My goodness! I thought you two were going to kiss!” Joonmyeon exclaims and Yixing nods next to him, “That was a little intense.” Minseok adds.

“My boyfriend can be a little competitive.” Jongin responds but he doesn’t take his eyes off Tao and Yifan. The organizers of the ball drag Yifan and Tao onstage to hand them their prize – 4 (2 for each) gift certificates to ODAEGAM in Gangnam. Tao jumps excitedly and unconsciously hugs Yifan in glee, “HAHAHAH! WE WON!”

“Congratulations to the both of you!” The emcee tells them before the two heads back down from the stage. Jongin immediately greets them and wraps a possessive arm around Tao’s waist, “Good job, both of you.”

“Yeah…” Yifan mumbles and Baekhyun moves closer to him, “Looks like you have a date to Odaegam.”

“We both have a date!” Tao corrects and Jongin shrugs his shoulders. “I’m stealing my boyfriend now. Bye guys!” Jongin waves the others goodbye as he leads Tao out of the hall. Yifan looks longingly at the couple exiting the ball.

“Hey, Yifan… Wanna go someplace else?” Baekhyun whispers and Yifan smiles apologetically at the younger, “I… I’m sorry. I don’t feel well, is it okay if I drive you home, already?”

“Yeah. No problem.” Baekhyun walks to their table to get his stuff and Yifan quietly follows him.





When Yifan stops the car in front of Baekhyun’s place, the younger doesn’t leave immediately. “”It’s Tao, isn’t it?”

“Tao is what?”

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

“I’m not.”

Baekhyun sighs and pushes himself against the back of the passenger’s seat, “You can tell me. I won’t tell Jongin.”

Yifan wipes his face with his hand and turns to face Baekhyun, “I’m so sorry.”

Baekhyun laughs and waves his hand across his face, “Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I’m your boyfriend, though I very much hoped we’d go past ‘dating’ – if we even are. But, are you okay? Jongin and Tao are obviously in love with each other.”

“I’m fine like this. In time, I might get over it.”

Baekhyun claps his hands together and faces Yifan, “Good luck, Yifan. May you be happy.” The other gives another sincere smile before getting out of the car.


-----

Yifan is jolted awake the next morning when his front door opens and closes. He finds Tao tiptoeing as he makes his way to the bathroom. “You know I’m a light sleeper, Tao.”

“I’m so sorry.” Tao turns to him shyly before making a run for it to the showers.

It’s only brief, and even in hazy state, Yifan doesn’t miss Tao’s messy hair and the prominent love marks scattered across the other’s neck.

Yifan lies back on the bed hoping yesterday never happened at all.


------------------

Author's Notes: I really enjoy writing this. Anyway, I have stopped talking about the Kris issue, all you need to know guys is that I'm still here, I will keep writing TaoRis and if you have a problem with that, I don't need you. Stop blowing holes in my ship.