Chapter 20 The Lucky Ones

Wondering what everything that had happened the previous night meant, Hyukjae felt anxious and extremely uneasy. But at the same time, he was dying to know. A gust of confidence came over him, making him bolder than usually.

The raven-head leaned forward, brushing the tip of his nose against the younger man´s cheekbone over to his nose bridge.

Donghae stirred in his sleep, indicating that he was waking up from his slumber. When the brunet opened his eyes, he gave the older man a toothless grin.

Without a word the two leaned towards one another. Just as they were about to touch lips the younger backed away. Smile still present on his face but now with a hint of apology.

“I can´t do it like this.”

“Y-you can´t…?! But yesterday and. I understand, it´s not like it´s the first time it ever happened so… I-I just thought that after everything and not only after the night before but even before that.”

“Oh no no no no! It´s not like that. It´s just that I threw up yesterday, resulting in my mouth tasting and smelling like death itself. I don’t want our first non-drunken kiss to be that awful and disgusting. It would be the worst kiss ever in the history of kisses. You´d probably never want to kiss me again in that case and we can´t have that.” Donghae smiled as he ran his fingers through pitch black strands. “I´ll go brush my teeth and then we can snog all day long. Neither of us have to work today you know.”

With that, he crawled out of the bed and made a straight line towards the bathroom and his toothbrush.

While Donghae was in the bathroom freshening up, the resident decided to go into the kitchen and start preparing for breakfast. It was a little bit after breakfast time but still too early for lunch. With that in mind he came to the conclusion that it would be best to make something in between the two.

Knowing that the younger was a big fan of traditional Korean breakfast he started washing the rice, before he poured it in the cooked together with water. During the time the white grains were cooking, Hyukjae started with frying sausage that he´d found in the fridge as well as eggs. From the fridge he brought out kimchi, seaweed salad and fresh radish. He steamed fresh spinach under hot water, that he later seasoned with salt and sesame oil.

As he stood by the stove moving the sizzling wieners around in the frying pan, well-trained arms slid around his stomach.

Hyukjae turned around slightly, wanting to see if what he thought and wished for was actually happening.

Face to face with him stood Donghae dressed in Hyukjae´s bathrobe, hair dripping with excess water. His face was flush from the heat in the shower. Eyes glittering and his breathtaking smile in place on his lips.

“Hey there you. I could smell the amazing fragrance all the way into the bathroom. It made me realize that I´m absolutely famished. I haven’t had anything to eat for hours, and after dumping most of it in the toilet it´s basically empty now. Speaking of that. I believe that I promised you something after I´ve cleaned myself up.”

Donghae brought his arms up the raven-head´s figure, all the way up to his neck. There he tightened his grip around the man and leaned forwards. Like Hyukjae had done earlier that morning while they were still in bed, the brunet rubber their noses against each other.

Not wanting to wait another millisecond, the older pressed his lips against the pair in front of his. A sliver of worry ran down his spine. Had he been too forward? The brunet responded immediately, pulling the older closer to him. Taking away the negative thoughts. Their lips moved together shyly, until they tilted their heads, deepening the lip-lock.

The doctor to-be purred into the kiss, sending delicious shivers down Hyukjae´s spine. The hair at the back of his neck rose, as well did the strands on his arms.

Wanting to feel the younger´s body closer to his, Hyukjae placed his arms around Donghae´s waist and pressed them together.

Hyukjae had never in his life experienced bliss like this. Before last night he had thought that he never would either. The feeling of Donghae´s body close to his, lips moving with each other and the scent of both him and the younger in such a close proximity made him dizzy. In a way that he wanted to feel forever.

Like most things in life the moment ended when they realized that the food would burn if they didn’t focus on it rather than one another. The kindergarten teacher was unsure if he thought that loosing food was all that much of a loss compared to not being able to kiss Donghae.

But that was something he shouldn’t say out loud for the other man to hear.

“I think we should continue this after breakfast.”

The younger man smiled while nodding his head in agreement.

“You have no idea how many times I´ve wanted to hug you from behind and kiss you every time I saw you cooking.”

The older blushed at the new information. Donghae should have done it weeks ago Hyukjae thought to himself. Being too embarrassed to say it out loud, he decided to stay silent instead.

Seeing that the food was almost fully finished, Donghae ran inside the bedroom and changed clothes before he began to set the table like he usually did when the pair ate together. When it was all in place the two sat in their designated seats, starting to dig in while it all was still warm.

As soon as the food was wiped off the plates and pan, the two joined forces helping each other with cleaning up and taking care of the dirty dishes. Moments later the kitchen was back to its original state.

Hyukjae hung up the kitchen towel, the next second Donghae grabbed a hold of his hand and began to drag him towards the living room. Like always the older followed the other without a question.

The two reached their destination in no time and sat down on the sofa. Donghae shuffled closer than he had ever done before. Something that marveled the older. He had always thought that they had reached ultimate closeness weeks ago. But it seemed like he was wrong.

Seconds later the brunet pressed their lips together with a bit more force than needed. The latter ran his fingers through black strands, pulling the older closer to himself. Catching on to what the younger was doing, Hyukjae placed his palm lightly against Donghae´s cheek.

They moved their lips in sync. Pressed closely together, breathing in one another the two molded close together.

The raven-head tilted his head to the side, making it much easier to accesses the other´s mouth. He nibbled on Donghae´s bottom lip, making an airy gasp slip through the younger´s lips. The sound made Hyukjae more eager to drag other sounds from the pair of thin lips currently moving over his.

Quicker than either of the duo wanted to their lungs screamed for air. Being the good listeners´ they were (at the same time not wanting to faint) they pulled away, letting fresh air enter their bodies.

Both of them adorned pink cheeks and were short of breath.

“That was… Wow!”

“You took the words out of my mouth. If I had known that you wouldn’t object I would have done this way earlier. Because we both wanted to, right? You don’t feel forced into this, right? Heechul-hyung and Yunho-hyung always tells me that people follow my lead as to not hurt my feelings. Is that the case with you too Hyuk?”

Donghae bit his lower lip in apprehension, nervousness visible in his demeanors. The fingers that had previously been playing with Hyukjae´s hair had gone still.

Wanting to ease the younger´s mind Hyukjae leaned forward, rubbing their noses against each other like they had done earlier that morning. “I want to. Oh god knows how much I want to. You have no idea Hae. And I agree with you.”

The man in question raised one of his defined eyebrows in question. “Agree with me regarding what exactly?”

Hyukjae pecked his lips. “That you should have done this earlier.”

With that they kissed again. Hyukjae placed one of his legs over the brunet´s folded ones. Thanks to the new position the two could reach the other easier, making their make-out session more and more intense as time passed.

An hour of lip-locking late -with brief breaks for air- they agreed that they should let their mouths rest before they continued. Since it all had happened quite suddenly they figured that it was a good enough moment to talk about it all with each other.

There were a lot of unanswered questions hanging between the pair.

Donghae took a breath, readying himself before he begun talking. “The first time you talked about one of your blind dates it surprised me how open you were with the fact that it was with another guy. I didn’t expect that at all. Most people are not that open about things like that. And then the next time you went out it was with a girl and I didn’t know what to think of it all.

Then I spend more time with you and I learned how kind, talented and good hearted you are. How much you care about children and human beings in general. And me. You treated me like no one else have ever done before. You gladly listen to me blabbering, even adding things yourself or asking questions. Most people tune me out when I begin rambling.

When I fell ill and got a fever, you ran all the way to help me and even stayed by my side the following day. How could I not fall for you?! I loved that feeling.”

A bright smile grazed the taller man´s lips at hearing about how the younger felt towards him. As well as that, the said man had `fallen for him´. When Hyukjae heard the words that followed the grin disappeared as if they had never been there to begin with.

“But at the same time, I hated it.” Donghae blinked a few times before he started anew. “Every time you went out with someone, I wanted to beg you not to go. To not even talk about anyone else around me. I wished that you and I were the only two people in the world at those moments. You have all these pretty friends around you and I would have to fight them all for you. Fight everyone and anyone to have you by my side.

A lot of times I would find myself staring at you. I often found myself wondering how your fingers and hands would feel together with mine. Intertwined and interlocked. If your cheeks were as soft as they look. And if those plump lips like pillows would mend perfectly with my own thinner lips. As weeks went by it got harder to keep myself away from you. Every touch between us sparked fireworks and bonfires under my skin. I couldn’t get enough of you.

All the times you told me about how other people around you told you that you are ugly, how even your older sister tells you that, it angered me to no end. You even said those things about yourself. As if you’ve heard those words so many times that you actually believe that yourself now. How someone can think that regarding you, it baffles me.”

The younger took a hold of the kindergarten teacher´s hand, squeezing it tightly.

“You are the most gorgeous, handsome, beautiful and adorable human being I´ve ever met in my life. But you are so much more than just your looks. It´s everything about you that makes me feel this way about you.

Even so you still talked about going on dates with other´s and my heart broke every time. I hadn’t even said anything to you about my own feelings and still I cursed you every night you went out. And loved you a little bit more whenever you came back to me. Telling me that you hated going on those blind dates that your friends set you up with. That you would much rather be in the apartment. Hopefully here with only me around if I could wish in my head.

It all came crashing down last night when you said that you are done dating. That you had had enough of it all. It meant that I had missed my chance- if I even had one to begin with. That I had spent too many weeks thinking that soon it would be my turn to have you. That you would see me in the same light as I see you. And I would never let you go. You would be mine only, for the rest of our lives.

It was written in the stars that we were fated to meet. To fall in love and grow old together.

I was so sure. No, I am certain that we are soulmates. That you are ´the one´ for me, and that I´m ´the one´ for you.

Because I love you so much Lee Hyukjae, more than words could ever describe. More than anyone else on this planet, in the whole galaxy could ever do.

And if you tell me now that you don’t feel the same way. Well, then you´re lying. There is no way that the way you touch me and the look in your eyes are anything but love, right?! Right…?”

Donghae looked down at their intertwined hands, playing with them in a jittery action. He didn’t dare lift his head and see what kind of expression the older had after hearing the younger´s confession.

Sensing that the other wouldn’t lift his head up any time soon and showing the joyous expression that Hyukjae adorned, he settled on confessing himself. It was the perfect moment. A moment the older had never thought would arrive. With anyone, especially with Donghae.

“To be honest I´ve never met anyone like you before. I don’t know if it´s a good thing or not.” The raven head let out a chuckle before he continued. “At first I marveled about a lot of things that had to do with you. The way you act, talk, are. You are one unpredictable person Hae and it was so new for me. In the best way possible. As time went by I started to wish that there was something more between us. More than neighbors and then along the way more than friends. But it was just wishful thinking on my part. Why would you settle for me when you could have anyone?”

At those words the younger looked up, a frown on his beautiful face. He didn’t seem to agree with what the taller had just hinted about himself. Not wanting to lose his courage and halt his confession, he continued without commenting on the other´s expression.

“As the weeks went by I began to question it more and more. Every little act you did.

So, being the overthinking, self-deprecating, anxious person I am I decided to study all that we had done and did.

I even when as far as talking to your friends about it yesterday while you were in the bathroom. They were all surprised by the fact that you drank from my glass. When I told them that we had shared drinks and spoons before they were even more amazed. Apparently you hate sharing food and saliva with other people. Which baffled me since we have used the same spoons and drunk from the same glass or carton before. From the start of us knowing each other.

When I asked them if you are a touch-feely type of guy they told me `not really´. You had never minded the occasional skin-ship but not more than that. With me you´re totally different.

Yunho even pointed out that evening I fetched you outside the hospital after you had finished work. How you had held my hand while we walked down the street on our way home. He had never seen you do something like that before during all the years you´ve know one another.”

A bright blush crept up Hyukjae´s neck and the tip of his ears. While pausing his speech the older diverted his eyes towards the other man. The younger male´s cheeks and ears were covered it the same red hue as the teacher. Smiling slightly, he took a breath before continuing.

“You even told your family about me. So much that they thought it felt like they already knew me before meeting me in real life.

My dad told me to talk to you about it. He saw how much I care for you when you went over for dinner that time at my parent´s house. But I couldn’t tell you. What if it would creep you out and you never wanted to see me again?

Not being together with you was a far better option than not being with you at all.

So, I decided to keep it hidden and locked away inside my heart.

I wanted to tell my friends that I didn’t want to go on all those dates. That I wanted to stay at home with you. But if I did then I had to tell them about you. Knowing them they would meddle with us.

My friends would want to meet you and when they did... Well, as you said one of my pretty friends would catch your interest and I would have to give you away to that person. And then I would have to see you with someone else when I wanted nothing more than to hide you away from the rest of the world. So you would only ever see me.

But that would make me selfish and giving you another reason to hate me if you ever got to know about it. Having you all by myself was not an option. Sharing you with anyone else wasn’t one either. It tore me apart.

You were still as sweet as ever. Making it easier to love you and harder to let you go. And you said that you trusted no one like you trust me. That leaving your beloved niece in my care was a simple thing to do. I still think you should have thought that through a bit more. Because I was your best friend. That made me so happy, but at the same time I wanted to break down and cry.

Why did I become the best friend, when all I wished for was to be ´that special someone´?

Not anyone´s ´special someone´, just yours.

Now I know that I haven’t read too much into it. No wishful thinking, since you apparently feel the same thing. I am yours and you are mine. Forever and always.”

“It sounds like a proposal. Are you asking for my hand in marriage Hyukkie? Because if you do, then you are stuck with me. Or will have to pay a lot of money for an attorney if you wish for a divorce. Better start saving now in that case.”

Hyukjae leaned forward, kissing the younger hastily on his thin lips. “You don´t have to worry about that. I will never leave you, I promised you that didn’t I? What insane human would abandon the love of his life, huh?”

Donghae´s eyes clouded up with water drops, on the verge of spilling down the latter´s tanned cheeks. “The love of your life…? I´m the love of your life. Oh my..!! Now you´re absolutely stuck with me Lee Hyukjae.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Lee Donghae.”

A moment later they were clinging to one another, breathing each other in. Lips moving against one another. Both needed to be as close as possible. Afraid that they would wake up and it would all be a dream.

Hyukjae ran his right hand up Donghae´s left arm, feeling the skin of the younger prickle at the soft touch. Making both hum into the lip-lock in bliss.

The future doctor laid back against the couch´s armrest, pulling the older male over him.

With their new position the two men indulged in another make-out session. Donghae grabbed the fabric of the other´s shirt, pressing them closer and closer together. Smiles on their lips as hands ran over heated skin.

The teacher let out a breathy groan when the shorter bit his bottom lip, pulling on it in a sensual motion.

Not knowing what to do, the raven-head tightened his grip on the other man´s arm. Wanting something to keep him grounded in the heated moment.

They kissed laying on the sofa in the living room for minutes on end. Neither wanting to let the other male go.

A distant ringing caught their attention. They stilled but wasn´t curious enough to wanting to know what it was to stop the intimacy. As the seconds passed the shrilling continued throughout the apartment. The melody playing in the distance on a never-ending loop.

Hyukjae disconnected their lips, sat up and let out a heavy sigh. “I think you should go answer your cellphone in the bedroom before the person calling starts to worry.”

The younger man grumbled as he stood up while Hyukjae moved to sit on his usual seat on the sofa.

While Donghae was in the bedroom taking the incoming call, the resident decided to see if anything had happened on his own phone.

He had one missed call from Junsu and four from his parents. Three messages from his sister as well as a bunch of texts in the group chat he had with his friends.

He read the ones from his sister first, all of them from earlier that morning.

Junsu sent me a pic of you and Mr. Dream-man himself (or Donghae as you like to call him). Can the two of you sit any closer?!

Well well well… A little bird told me that you went home with a bit more than just tipsy love interest of yours. I hope you didn´t do anything stupid. Take the chance when you have it. As I said before, anyone would want to have a piece of that man.

I think Hyoyeon told mom something about you and Donghae. She is disgustingly happy and driving me insane. She has called me all morning and you as well. Just pick up the phone and make her stop!!!!

Hyukjae stifled a snort at his sister´s misfortune regarding their mother. Then he realized that he had a bigger problem in trying to make his friends stop telling his family about what was going on with his life. Even though he did have good news (that no one but Donghae and him knew about), he should be the one delivering the information and not everyone else.

He decided to reply to her after looking through all the other messages on the device.

Flipping over to the group chat, the black-haired man skimmed through the dozen and more conversation bubbles before him.

The majority of them were drunken gibberish, most certainly sent in the early morning by the intoxicated friends. There were a bunch of messages telling one another that everyone had gotten home safe and so