The first few pictures Daehyun took of Youngjae were with his cellphone, and Youngjae felt really uncomfortable because he had a mouthful of food one time and the other he was on the toilet and Daehyun was brushing his teeth and then he just heard a click. He looked over to Daehyun, who looked a bit like a rabid animal with all the toothpaste foam spilling from his mouth and down his chin. It landed on his chest and Youngjae just looked at him.

                “Do you mind?” he asked, and Daehyun spat.

                “Nope.” he replied, snapping another picture, and Youngjae pulled a towel off of the bathroom floor and he covered his body with it.

                “Leave! I’m trying to take a !” he yelled, and Daehyun laughed as he the tap and filled up with his hands with water and sipped some up. He gurgled rather loudly and Youngjae knew he was doing it to get on his nerves, and it was working. For someone Youngjae liked so much, he sure didn’t understand why. Daehyun was loud and obnoxious, and when he wasn’t those, he was either crying too much or being moody. Daehyun was like a girl on her period if Youngjae had ever encountered one.  He was always hot and cold and it made him want to rip out his hair, but he couldn’t help but to find it charming more often than not.

                There were other times that Daehyun made him swoon. When he would get dressed, the way his back muscles flexed should have sent him to heaven. Youngjae would be lying if he didn’t take a few pictures of him in the morning light, his hair all in a tangled mess and his upper body in all of its glory. His sun-kissed skin made him jealous because Daehyun looked y as opposed to Junhong, Himchan and his cute and pretty boy images. He always wanted to be the y one, but he was labeled princess when he was far from one. That was Daehyun again. He was the prissy, spoiled brat that everyone made him out to be. He had a few pictures of him pouting when he couldn’t get a new pair of shoes, but he wasn’t one to blackmail.

                “Youngjae! Get off the toilet because I have to go!” Daehyun shouted from the main room of the hotel. He had some music as well which was sure to piss off the neighbors but Youngjae really didn’t care when they’d be out of there within the next day. “Youngjae!”

                “Okay!” he shouted back. It echoed in the room, and he finished up quickly and as he washed his hands, he looked at himself in the mirror and Youngjae wondered what Daehyun saw in him. Before he could even leave the bathroom, Daehyun came barging in and had his pants around his ankles and he was waddling in. Youngjae couldn’t help but to laugh, but then he looked back at himself and he just saw nothing short of a ghoul looking back at him. His laughter died in his throat and he left the room, which left Daehyun looking after him and he knew something was up.

                He finished up as well and washed his hands, and when he walked out, Youngjae was laying sprawled out on the bed, looking through his camera again and Daehyun sat next to him, putting a hand gently on his thigh as to not startle him. He didn’t move a muscle, and Daehyun frowned.

                “What’s up? Didn’t sleep well last night?” Daehyun asked. “Are you rethinking telling me you like me? I understand that too.” he said. Youngjae looked at him with a slightly annoyed expression.

                “It’s nothing, Go away.”

                “That doesn’t sound like nothing.” Daehyun said. It was his turn to pry at Youngjae. “Hey, I’m your boyfriend type thing. You can tell me and I won’t judge. Just spill your heart to Daehyunnie and I’ll be sure to pick it all back up.” Daehyun said in a playful tone, but Youngjae just shot up and looked at Daehyun with a stone jaw.

                “Why do you even like me?” he asked. “I’m pale, I’m fat, and I’m really weird and eclectic and I don’t see what you see in me. I have the freakiest hobbies and I’m just a… I wanted to be a professional gamer and you wanted to play soccer. We’re polar opposites and yet you like me. Why?” he asked, and Daehyun blinked a few times before shaking his head.

                “Well, that’s a loaded question. Opposites attract I guess. You’re not pale, and you’re not fat. You have a bit of meat on your bones but it makes you cuddly and your skin color is fine. It looks better than old farm boy me. And I don’t care if you have freaky hobbies and if you’re a huge nerd. I’ve known that since day one and that’s part of the reason I fell for you. You have no idea how cute you look when you ramble out something you love. I should take a picture next time.” Daehyun said, grinning. Youngjae looked at him and pulled up his camera and put the viewfinder to his eye. Daehyun’s expression fell to one of content, and Youngjae snapped a picture.

                “I think you’re pretty great for a fatass with no filter.” Youngjae said back to him, and another smile tugged at the sides of Daehyun’s lips.

                “Do you think I’m great enough to kiss?” he asked, leaning towards Youngjae a little bit. Youngjae shrugged though, and he moved away from Daehyun and got to his feet. The older felt slightly dejected, but Youngjae didn’t seem to notice as he walked out and onto the balcony of their room. They were fourteen stories off the ground the view was amazing. Youngjae wished he could have set up a tripod and taken time lapse pictures but he was too paranoid to leave his precious camera outside and unattended. The cool air around him and the wind made it all the more reason to not allow it outside. He knew there was a chance for it to fall and plummet to its death. He was about to when he was startled by Daehyun’s hands wrapping around his waist.

                “Are you sure everything is okay? You look so tired recently.” Daehyun said. “I should know. I watch you.”

                “That’s weird.”

                “Weirder than you taking hundreds of pictures of me?” Daehyun asked with a grin on his face. Youngjae sniggered a little bit and he felt Daehyun’s lips on the back of his neck. He didn’t know how he felt about it because he wasn’t ready for a legitimate relationship with another boy. He had a girlfriend in high school and a few far and in between, but he had never really thought about liking another guy. It was weird for him, but Daehyun seemed so ready and able in his own skin while Youngjae, most nights, was trying to rip himself out of it. The scars on his thighs weren’t just stretch marks from baby fat anymore. He was thankful no one made him change in front of him because he knew more adept members like Yongguk and maybe Junhong would know skin doesn’t work like that.

                “How?” Youngjae asked out. His words were carried away with the wind and Daehyun hiked up Youngjae’s shirt a little and let his hands rest on the bare skin of his stomach. He didn’t like his hands there.

                “How what?” he asked back. His lips moved against the back of his neck and it was like he wanted to tattoo every phrase he uttered onto Youngjae’s body and he couldn’t stand it. He didn’t know why he was so able to take pictures of Daehyun and admire him from afar but now that the cat was out of the bag he wanted to badly to shove it back in. For being his best friend, there were thousands of things Youngjae hadn’t told him. He never was open about his eating problem to him. He went to Himchan for that. The cutting scars he ran to Junhong. The time he was being more open to himself about his uality, he went to Yongguk. Daehyun knew so little though he thought he knew so much. Was Daehyun his best friend? He remember the time he said no on Twitter and a pang of guilt shot though him. It wasn’t because he didn’t genuinely think that. It was because he knew he didn’t deserve someone like him.

                “How can you be so easy going with everything you do? You always seem so happy. I’ve become so quiet and you’re the only one who has noticed.” Youngjae said. Daehyun shrugged and pulled him against his body.

                “I’m not always happy though. I’d think you should be able to see that. You see when I’m emotionally compromised.”

                “No I don’t. You shut yourself away and you’ve maybe cried in front of Yongguk and that’s it.” Youngjae said. Daehyun swallowed and Youngjae could hear it.

                “You know him and I have a history, right?” he said. “I liked him in my trainee days and I tried to, well, I tried to make and advance on him and he shoved me away and we’re still trying to mend that. He was really scared because as a leader he couldn’t afford to have intimacies with another member.”

                “But you can afford to run to me and try to heal yourself? Are you saying had you and Yongguk gotten together you wouldn’t have given me a chance?” Youngjae asked. He felt his throat constrict and Daehyun let go of him and walked back inside the room because he knew the answer he was going to give wasn’t going to be the one that Youngjae liked, but he did still like Youngjae. He loved the boy and that was all that mattered to him, he thought. Youngjae on the other hand seemed to be a little more spoiled. “Answer me, Jung Daehyun!”

                “I want to say yes, but I don’t know! I like you now and I think that’s all that I need to say! I really like you Youngjae and I want to kiss and hug and hold you but you are so damn distant that it’s hard! Just, let me into your life and stop worrying so much about what others are going to think!” Daehyun yelled from inside, and Youngjae followed him in and slammed the door to the balcony. He looked on with anger boiling within his eyes and he stormed up to Daehyun and the older male flinched, but what he was expecting never came.

                He was being shoved onto the bed and Youngjae crawled on top of him, his eyes bearing down heavily and Daehyun found it hard to breathe. “You think I care about what other people think? Your eyes are the only ones I want on me, and you’re so dense to that. You think I’m some weak and angsty teenager but Daehyun, I’ve got my together more than you. I go to school and I’m making more money than you. I’m smarter and I’ve got a healthier body and my popularity grows daily while yours is dwindling away but I look past all of that because I see you for you. You’re someone who I love and you don’t get that!” Youngjae shouted at Daehyun, who was pressed into the bed. Youngjae lowered himself down. “I’m gonna it into you until you get that no matter how inferior you really are to me, I don’t give a damn.”

                “What an odd way to prove a point.” Daehyun said, but Youngjae just smiled and then he was kissing Daehyun with a fire in his body that he didn’t know he possessed. Daehyun was sure he was going to melt from it as he felt the ice in his body dissolve and Youngjae’s body engulfed him. He was burning with passion and there Daehyun was, under him and unable to quench the thirst he had. Youngjae’s tongue glided across his lower lip and Daehyun’s own parted like a sea and Youngjae was swallowed in, drowning in the waves that Daehyun sent through his body. It was arson versus aqua and both of them weren’t sure which they wanted to die in.

                The point that Youngjae wanted to prove didn’t seem like much anymore though as they got lost in each other’s lust for one another’s bodies. Daehyun’s hips were starting to hurt with the pressure of the brunette’s fingers rutting into them. He was out of breath and Youngjae kept stealing it with every new movement of his body. He was being brought to the top of the headboard and propped up against it while Youngjae straddled his lip, panting heavily and looking into Daehyun’s eyes and searching for words neither of them could possibly say.

                Nothing was uttered as Youngjae’s hands found their way to the hem of Daehyun’s shirt and it was stripped off him and discarded. Hands roamed his upper body in an effort to map out skin that he wasn’t ever able to touch before. Daehyun was comparable to the antiques he had seen in shops around the world where it was all look and no touching. Now, precious as ever, Youngjae lightly dragged his fingers around the caramel skin and felt the muscles that twitched beneath his touch. He smiled because if it, and Daehyun looked at him and into his eyes.

                “You’re so beautiful.” Daehyun said, and Youngjae could only let out a small laugh before he was looking down and to the side.

                “Not nearly as beautiful as you.” he replied, and Daehyun wrapped his arms around Youngjae’s waist and pulled him close.

                “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and seeing as I’m now holding you, you’re spectacularly beautiful. Out of all the places we’ve been to; the United States, Europe, Brazil, Japan, all the islands and at home as well, you’re the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever laid eyes on. Nothing is comparable to you, Yoo Youngjae.”

                “Stop being romantic.” Youngjae said back. “I’m wanting to have with you and you’re being a real poet here.”

                “Then make love to me.” Daehyun said back. “Don’t just me. me like you love me and like you mean it, because I mean it when I say every last word to you. I mean everything I say be it that you annoy the out of me sometimes and the other times I want to kiss you until your lungs burn.”  Daehyun told him. “Make love to me.”

                And those words were all Youngjae needed before he was laying Daehyun down gently onto the bed and kissed down his body. Daehyun moaned from beneath him and Youngjae felt like that his voice was true music. He loved and thrived in the noises he made and he wanted to coax out every sound he could make. When he reached the navel, he wasted no time to undo Daehyun’s zipper and a sigh of relief was let out from Daehyun as the bulge in his pants was a little less constricted. Youngjae couldn’t help but to snigger from the reaction, and before he did anything else, he looked up the boy’s body and into his lidded eyes.

                “Would you blow me?” he asked, his lips with his cheeks tinted pink. Daehyun smiled though, and he didn’t voice anything as the two switched positions and Youngjae’s back was against the headboard while Daehyun stripped him down until his was in the . His stood flush against his stomach and while he had no definite muscles, he was thinner than Daehyun remembered and there was a look in his eyes that showed how guilty he was for ever calling Youngjae fat, even if it was a joke to him. Forgetting it all, he a stripe from the base to the tip and drew out sounds from deep within Youngjae’s throat. He wanted to make Youngjae feel better than he ever had before in his entire life, and as he took in the length into his mouth, the younger’s hands threaded into his hair and he was guiding him up and down and mouthing out words and sentences that Daehyun only wished he could comprehend. Daehyun was his king.

                 His hands held him up and his was high in the air, and Youngjae took the liberty to smack the cheeks a few times which made Daehyun jump and yelp while his mouth was still around Youngjae hard, leaking member. The throat constrictions made it damn near impossible for Youngjae to not moan with utter delight, and Daehyun never failed to smirk afterwards. Youngjae didn’t like that too much, so the next time Daehyun went down on him, Youngjae was sure to buck his hips up and Daehyun gagged a little, and tears pricked at his eyes as Youngjae tested his limit. Daehyun’s eyes went from on top of the world to pleading, and Youngjae allowed him to pull off and he rubbed at his neck.

                “Please don’t gag me.” Daehyun said, and he coughed a bit and Youngjae then felt bad, but the trip of power he had was consuming him, and he nodded before pulling Daehyun back into his lap and the boy was whimpering for his boxers to come off because he wanted to feel Youngjae’s just even on his bare skin. Youngjae obliged to it too, and off they came. Both of them were in the , and Daehyun ran his hands on Youngjae’s thighs and felt the scarring there, but instead of stopping to question, he just leaned in and kissed them. What Youngjae didn’t expect though was for him to swiftly grab his phone and take a picture.

                “Delete that!” Youngjae griped, sitting up quickly and swiping for Daehyun’s phone. The boy tutted though and he tossed his phone off to the side again before returning to his previous position. Daehyun seemed to be pleased with what he had done, though Youngjae was far less than thrilled.

                “But you’re so pretty. I want to take a picture of everything on you. You’re allowed to snap picture of me during this too, you know?” Daehyun said, and Youngjae laughed a little though and pulled Daehyun back up onto his lap, and he placed his hands on the cheeks of Daehyun’s and spread it apart, making the older boy arch his back into the touch.

                “Are you asking me to take nudes of you?” he asked, and Daehyun shrugged before he dismounted Youngjae and walked to his suitcase, rummaging around for two boxes, and then he came back to the bed and tossed them to Youngjae. Condoms and lube. Youngjae looked up at him and Daehyun blushed.

                “I’ve kept them around just in case.” he said, and Youngjae nodded curtly before opening the lube and examining it. He had watched gay maybe once or twice but they never went through the process of preparation. He glanced up to Daehyun, who seemed to know this without even really being told. He smirked a little and he was back on Youngjae’s lap for the umpteenth time that night, looking at him in the eyes and then taking the small bottle from him. He shook it a little and popped the cap before asking Youngjae to hold out his hand. When he did, he squeezed a generous amount on his finger and he lifted a brow as well as his bottom. Youngjae was scared as he brought his hand behind the boy and used his free one to spread him, and with the slick fingers, he grazed Daehyun’s entrance and a wispy breath came out from him.

                Everything was awkward and uncomfortable for Youngjae more than it was Daehyun, who had probably done this in the past but Youngjae was never quite sure. The sound he let out once he slipped in a finger was a mixture of pleasure and pain and Youngjae wasn’t sure which it was more of, but as he moved on, the pitched elevated and the creases in Daehyun’s forehead became more and more smooth and his head was lolled back onto his shoulders. His Adam’s apple protruded from his neck and bobbed with every swallow he had to make because he was drooling from the feeling of Youngjae’s fingers inside him.

                Two was all it took before Daehyun was begging for something more. Youngjae couldn’t have been more eager to please him as Daehyun hurriedly lifted his hips and lowered himself down onto Youngjae, feeing full of him and his spine arched the more he went in. He was trying to suppress his voice, but Youngjae coxed him to be vocal, and he was. The high notes that Daehyun sang in the songs were put to shame as he moaned high and proudly. His voice echoed through the room and Youngjae was grinning with pride as he bucked his hips up and into Daehyun’s tightness. He was heavenly, and he felt like he was being invited into him. Daehyun’s body was craving him more so than Youngjae was craving Daehyun. Everything was in a haze and the two boys were sweating as the pace picked up and things got more heated.

                Daehyun was flipped to his back and Youngjae looked down at him, grinning before he cupped Daehyun’s face and offered him a kiss, but the kiss moved into tongue and teeth and Daehyun’s hair was sticking to his forehead and Youngjae couldn’t pull out no matter how hard he tried. The on him made him feel like he was missing out on so much more but he wasn’t going to put Daehyun at risk. His first time was safe and this was and love and ing and everything in between. He didn’t know how to comprehend his feeling other than he was on overload and Daehyun’s fingers giving his forearms a vice grip was making him dizzy.

                “I’m - – I’m gonna soon.” Daehyun panted out, his eyes rolling back and his breath heavy. His forehead was coated in a sheen of sweat and Youngjae looked at him like he was the only thing in the world. Switching positions again, he moved Daehyun so that he was once again riding him and his hands were on Daehyun’s hips. The older boy looked down and smirked, flipping some hair out of his eyes before he folded his body over and he was kissing Youngjae with fervor and passion. Youngjae felt himself on the verge of passing out from the heat, but he needed to last for the .

                It hit him like a wall and his body seized up. He didn’t even have time to warn Daehyun that it was coming and when Daehyun felt the warmth inside him, that’s when he grunted, and his mouth parted and a shrill scream ripped through his body. It shook and Youngjae had to hold onto him to be sure he didn’t lose it completely. He came over both their stomachs and it was hot, and there was more than Youngjae could have anticipated as it just kept leaking out and tears ran down Daehyun’s cheeks from the immense amount of pleasure that was coursing through his veins. The 14^th floor of their hotel room felt like the top of the world and Youngjae was sure that this was it. He reached for his camera, and in between their two bodies, and aerial picture was taken of their stained stomachs, tired faces, and toothy grins. That, Youngjae decided, was going to be the cover photo of his birthday scrapbook.

                (Daehyun begged him to delete it because if it ever got out that he was a bottom, his reputation was screwed which gave Youngjae all the more incentive to make it the cover picture.)

                There were only a few more days until Daehyun’s birthday and in between concerts and hectic scheduling, Youngjae had to find time to make the final touches on his scrapbook of his boyfriend. He hated saying that word because he thought it was really superficial, but it was what they were. Himchan and Yongguk had admittedly admitted they saw it from a mile away and Jongup just seemed to laugh while Junhong was a little heartbroken because he thought Youngjae was leading him onto something, but he got over it easily with a few paid meals and some new socks curtesy of the middle boy. Youngjae now, even felt a little bad about it, but it all melted away when Daehyun kissed him once they were in the privacy of a hotel room or backstage and in the company of one another.

                His fingers always had glue on them and there were paper scraps on his clothing all the time and even on the occasional it would show up in his hair. Daehyun never failed to snigger about it and he plucked things off. He was curious as to how it looked, but had he ever asked Youngjae, he probably would have been scolded for ruining the surprise so he didn’t bother. Even when he left it out in the open, he didn’t dare touch it. The spot for the opening photo was still open though and he had begged Youngjae probably once or twice daily to not use the pic of the two of them, but Youngjae was dead set on it. He wanted to smash Youngjae’s camera and set to book on fire, but he settled on taking a few terrible pictures of him and holding them off for an anniversary scrapbook Daehyun decided he was going to make.

                Sometimes he would think about it and want to punch himself in the face over how cheesy it was, but he didn’t know what else to get the boy that was under hundreds of dollars because new lenses cost seemingly an arm and a leg. He could leave that to Youngjae himself and maybe later in their relationship would he buy him better things. Daehyun felt like he needed to first prove his love to Youngjae through less material things because Youngjae wasn’t exactly an affectionate boy in the first place. He still kissed Junhong and he was always shying away from Daehyun’s touches on camera, but he understood it. He didn’t want more rumors to get out and he also needed to be able to control himself. Youngjae had said to Daehyun before that he needed to be put on a leash.

                “I’ll seriously kiss you on public broadcast if you’re not careful.” he said as he folded up a few of his shirts. It was off to Japan soon and Daehyun wished he could have been home for his birthday this year all things considered this was now the second year in a row he’d be spending it in Japan. “Like, square on the lips and I might even add in some tongue.”

                “You act like that’s a bad thing. Don’t you think with God Yongguk’s charity and we being the first openly gay idols out popularity will soar?” Daehyun asked. “Well, internationally. Nationally, I’m sure there’s be album burning parties.”

                “That’s’ exactly what I’m scared of.” Youngjae laughed out. It wasn’t really funny at all, but he couldn’t help but to have a little bit of bitterness seep out of him. Daehyun gave him a sour look, but he knew what he was going for. Having the country they’re from hate them wouldn’t be good at all. No more music shows or interviews, and probably no more career. International fans would them up because they’re only a little more accepting, but not by much. Daehyun flopped down onto one of the beds and he looked over at Youngjae, who was still packing up since he didn’t do it the night before. He like the way his arms flexed when he lifted up his suitcase and his lips shone with moisture while Daehyun’s were drying out because of the summer heat. The skin around his lips was raw because he kept and biting at it to try and give them moisture and Himchan’s Chap Stick . He felt like the only remedy was Youngjae’s kisses.

                “Can you come and lay down for a little bit? It’s 4am.” Daehyun griped, and Youngjae glanced over his shoulder and looked back down into his bag before pausing and he heaved out a sigh. His shoulders slouched and then he was closing his bag and walking to Daehyun’s bed and falling down onto it. Daehyun was there to catch him and he held him close to his chest and kissed his forehead while Youngjae fought to not have his eyes close.

                “What do you want for dinner on your birthday?” Youngjae asked, and Daehyun shrugged before he let go of the younger boy and sprawled out his limbs on the bed.

                “I don’t know. Food?”

                “No , Sherlock, but what kind of food?” Youngjae asked, again, and again, Daehyun shrugged and he looked up at the ceiling and even though they had been there a few nights, he just then noticed there was a fan. He always just thought the air conditioning was really good.

                “I want Himchan to cook something. If not, then some beef. Or sushi. I know you hate sushi though, so definitely beef if Himchan won’t cook for me. I want traditional Korean food like some seaweed stew or something but I don’t think they’ll serve that in Japan. And for dessert I want some ice cream or cheesecake. Like, a new kind. Remember the cheesecake we had in New York?” Daehyun asked, and he looked to Youngjae, who had fallen asleep curled up next to him. Daehyun smiled down at him and kissed him on the forehead before his hair and letting him rest. He was working harder than anyone else had on Daehyun in his life, and he was more than thankful for that.

                Off key happy birthday was sang among members and staff at the back of the venue after the concert, and Daehyun was beaming because in front of him was a New York style cheesecake with his face imprint in It because Junhong was so kind to smash him into it when it was wheeled out onto the stage. It was mostly cleaned of makeup and candles were lit and Daehyun blew them out, wishing for many things to come, but most of all, he winked at Youngjae and he wished to the birthday Gods that he and him would have a long and prosperous relationship. It seemed childish at the time, but he didn’t care.

                “Gather around! Picture time!” Himchan said as he was hand a Polaroid camera by a staff member. Daehyun groaned but Youngjae seemed chipper as ever if there was a camera at all. The first picture that was taken, Kang took, and then, as the members dispersed, Youngjae stayed behind and then another was taken of just the middle two boys. Daehyun was caught off guard and he was blinking in the picture and wasn’t even facing the camera, but that didn’t matter. As it printed out, Daehyun watched Youngjae take the picture from the camera and then, a rather large binder was being set in front of him by Yongguk, and he wasn’t sure what it was until Youngjae took out the fresh photo and propped it into the tabs on the front of it.

                “Happy birthday, Daehyunnie.” Youngjae said, pushing the binder towards him a little bit more. He looked down at it, and without question, he opened it, and on the inside, there was a perfectly decorated book that was titled The Boyfriend Chronicles.

                “That’s a stupid name.” Daehyun said. “You’re stupid. I love you.”

                Back at the hotel, Daehyun flipped through the pages with a somber expression. Watching his life flash before his eyes was surreal, and it was all the moments he missed. He wondered if it was going to be like that for Youngjae as well, but maybe his was going to be a little happier because it was an anniversary while his was just another year that he had let chances slip by him. The only thing Daehyun could think he did right was being with Youngjae and even then there were days where he wondered if Youngjae deserved someone better. The thoughts always faded away though when Youngjae was even near him though.

                “Do you like it?” he asked. “I worked really hard on it because I wanted you to see yourself through someone else’s eyes. I know you’re harsh on yourself and people’s words get through to you more than you think and sometimes I see the way you stay in front of the mirror for a little too long and for all the times you beat yourself up over petty comments. I want this scrapbook to be something you look at often. I want you to look at yourself as a person more than a burden.” Youngjae said, and Daehyun looked at him and he cupped his face, pulling him in for a chaste kiss.

                “But I am a burden.” Daehyun said, and Youngjae shook his head.

                “Never. You’re perfect.” he said, and Daehyun was on the verge of tears. The cake in his stomach was unsettled.

                “You’re perfect. You make me who I am without you ever knowing it.” Daehyun choked out. “I wished when I blew out the candles that you and I would last.”

                “And we will.”

                “Will we?” Daehyun asked Youngjae, crawling into his lap and wrapping his arms around his neck. He was leaning on the younger boy and holding on for dear life before the river of his own tears swept him away. “I love you. I love you so much Youngjae and I want to know if you love me back.” Daehyun cried. “Tell me you love me back.”

                Youngjae paused. “I’ve told you it before.”

                “Say it again.”

                Another pause.

                “Like I said, I’ve said it before.”

                “Then say it again.”

                Yet another pause. This time, though, Youngjae didn’t say anything back.