at least i’ve tried!

Jongin didn’t show up at school today. It was weird, since Jongin almost never skipped school. That boy loved going to school—to meet his friends, not to study—and it was rarely for Junmyeon not to find him in his class.

“He’s not here.” said Oh Sehun, Jongin’s closest friend (if Sehun wasn’t straight, Junmyeon would think of him having affair with Jongin, since they were so… gay—well, Jongin was gay, but only for Junmyeon, according to the boy). “He hasn’t contacted me… so maybe you need to go to his place? Just to check on him, Junmyeon… just in case he needs you.”

Junmyeon swore he could hear the ‘’ tone in Sehun’s last sentence. Junmyeon was hundred percent certain, especially when he saw that smug smirk on the taller boy’s face. He couldn’t help but blush, though.

Going back to his class, Junmyeon gathered all the thoughts about why Jongin possibly didn’t come to school today. They last met on Saturday, which was two days ago. They went to the new amusement park because Jongin really wanted to try their roller-coaster—Junmyeon thought he had died after riding the ride. Junmyeon tapped his index finger to his chin as he thought more.

After that… after that… oh! There was a light bulb popped in Junmyeon’s head. He remembered that the day was cloudy back then, and when they wanted to go home, rain fell heavily. They were soaking wet because they needed to run to the nearest bus stop, which wasn’t that near from the amusement park.

Jongin was sick was the only thing Junmyeon could think of. Jongin didn’t say anything to him about his condition, must be because he didn’t want Junmyeon to get worried.

“He should’ve told me, so I could take care of him!” Junmyeon mumbled to himself as he pursed his lips. Pulling his phone out of his uniform pants pocket, he typed a short message to his boyfriend.

I’m so gonna ruin your peaceful day, Kim Jongin! Be ready because Mama Myeon will catch you soon!

♦♦♦

Jongin’s house was big, but it was always empty. His parents had divorced three years ago, and now Jongin lived with his super-busy father, who was almost never home. Jongin always felt lonely when he was alone in his house, which was why he preferred being in school or at Junmyeon’s apartment, or maybe at Sehun’s house; anywhere as long as he wasn’t alone.

Using the spare key Jongin gave him when they started dating two years ago, Junmyeon unlocked the front door. The house was empty and silent as usual; what he could hear was his own footsteps.

Junmyeon headed right toward Jongin’s room on the second floor. He knocked the door a couple times, but Jongin didn’t answer, thus Junmyeon decided to open the door. “Jongin…?” he called the boy softly. “Jongin, are you there…?”

Well, Jongin was there, lying in his queen-sized bed. Thick blanket was covering his body, and when Junmyeon finally stood beside the bed, he could see Jongin’s face was pale, forehead wet with sweat. Only from that sight, Junmyeon could assume that Jongin’s condition wasn’t so good.

Putting his bag on the floor, Junmyeon sat carefully on the edge of the bed. He palmed Jongin’s forehead, frowning as the skin under his palm was burning. The touch made Jongin moan uncomfortably and slowly open his eyes.

“Junmyeon…?” the bronze-skinned boy muttered in a hoarse voice. “What are you doing here…?”

Junmyeon sighed. “You didn’t come to school today, and knowing how bad our condition because of the stupid weather last Saturday, I knew you must be sick.” he answered. “I’m here to babysit you, big baby.”

“You don’t have to…” Jongin groaned as he tried to get up, but Junmyeon quickly held his shoulders down.

“No no no no no no! Don’t you dare get up from this bed or I’ll tie you down!” Junmyeon said in stern—well, he thought it was—tone.

“I didn’t know that you have that kind of , baby boo.” Jongin might be sick, but those eyes were still as alive—and naughty—as usual.

“Stop with the nickname,” Junmyeon hissed in annoyance. “Just… lie down, okay?!” he ordered as he walked toward the drawer across of the bed and took a small towel. He then went to the bathroom to wet the cloth before going back and placing it onto Jongin’s forehead. Junmyeon ran his fingers through Jongin’s hair as he asked, “What do you want to eat? Just name it and I’ll make it for you.”

“You can’t cook, Kim Junmyeon.”

Junmyeon blushed a bit. “Can you please just tell me what you want to eat right now, Kim Jongin?”

Jongin chuckled weakly at that. “I don’t really want to eat, but if you insist…” He took a while to think, “I think I want chicken soup.”

“Chicken soup, it is!” Junmyeon clapped his hands once. “Try to have some more sleep. I’ll be downstairs, cooking for you.”

“Try not to burn my kitchen, Myeon.”

Junmyeon shot Jongin a glare before he disappeared behind the door.

♦♦♦

Junmyeon couldn’t cook.

He might have a handsome face, bright smile, and y brain (according to Jongin), but he could never cook. He could solve any math problems, but he couldn’t even make an easy dish. If he was a machine, he would be a study machine, cooking wasn’t installed in his program.

Junmyeon’s eyebrows knitted as he read the recipe thoroughly. His hands were busy putting the ingredients which was written on the recipe, but he didn’t feel that it was right. The soup was supposed to be clear, but his soup was thick with broth. It looked so… oily.

“What if I put more water…?” Junmyeon muttered as he poured water into the boiling soup. He then took a spoon of the soup, tasting it. It didn’t take long before he spit it. “And now it’s tasteless!”

The soup was a failure and Junmyeon was almost crying because of it. It was his third trial he made the soup and he had used almost all ingredients in Jongin’s fridge; he definitely couldn’t redo it anymore. But Jongin was waiting for his soup, and Junmyeon didn’t want to disappoint his boyfriend. Sitting on the kitchen floor, Junmyeon pulled his hair frustratingly—how could he not be able to make even a simple chicken soup?!

“Junmyeon, are you done with the soup?” Jongin’s voice made Junmyeon lift his head.

“I told you not to get up!” Junmyeon yelled, rather desperately.

“But you took so long to make a soup—whoa.” Jongin couldn’t help but absentmindedly drop his jaw once he saw the messy kitchen. “Are you in war or what?”

Feeling so ashamed, Junmyeon pulled his knees toward his chest and buried his face between them. “You’re right. I can’t cook. It’s a miracle I didn’t burn down your kitchen into ashes…” Junmyeon murmured. “I’m sorry… I’ll clean up the mess.”

“Well… who knows our smart student council’s president can’t cook at all?” Smiling softly, Jongin sat down next to Junmyeon. He patted Junmyeon’s head gently. “Come on, Myeon. We still can order something to eat.”

Junmyeon raised his head, showing Jongin his teary eyes. “B-But I wanted to make something for you!” He pursed his lips as he spoke. Lowering his voice, he then continued, “I wanted to be useful… at least I wanted to take care of you when you’re sick like this…”

Cocked his eyebrows, Jongin laughed lightly. “Please tell me you can’t be cuter than this!” he said as he pulled his boyfriend into his arms. “Listen, silly. You coming here is enough for me. You didn’t know how happy I was when I saw you in my room. You didn’t need to do this cooking stuff, actually…”

“B-But…”

“No buts. Now, come on, lollipop. Let’s go upstairs. This kitchen is too messy; my head feels like spinning around looking at this mess.”

 “Don’t call me lollipop.”

“But you’re cute and sweet, just like lollipops!”

Junmyeon kept his cute pout as Jongin dragged him back to the bedroom. He let Jongin pull him down onto the bed; the boy’s arms now were lingering around his slender waist.

“Jongin,” Junmyeon called softly.

“Yes, sweet bunny?” Jongin mumbled as he sunk his nose into Junmyeon’s soft locks.

“For god’s sake, stop calling me by those cheesy nicknames!”

Jongin grinned. “You’re the cutest thing walking on Earth.” he said, pecking Junmyeon’s lips gently.

“Don’t kiss me. I don’t have time to get sick.” Junmyeon flicked Jongin’s lips. “Jongin.”

“Yeah, yeah. I forgot you’re busy with student council’s works.” Jongin sighed. “What is it, Junmyeon?”

“Next time you get sick, can you please tell me first? So I can prepare something for you.” Junmyeon put his weight on his elbow and bent down to capture Jongin’s lips with his. The lips were hotter than usual, but he still liked how it tasted. “I was so worried…”

Jongin smiled as their lips pressed together once more, this time was even deeper. They kept the lazy kiss for a moment, until Junmyeon broke it to catch a breath.

“I thought you didn’t have time to get sick.” Jongin said teasingly.

Junmyeon could only sigh and crash his lips back against Jongin’s.

He knew he needed to prepare to get sick after this.

♦♦♦

“Achooo!”

Jongin cringed as Junmyeon blew his nose loudly. “God, your condition is worse than mine.” he murmured. “Told you not to kiss me…”

“You started it!” Junmyeon cried. “You pecked my lips first!”

“And that was all! I didn’t kiss you after that. You’re the one who kissed me.”

“But it was because of you! You seemed really eager to kiss me, so I couldn’t help it…” Pink dust crept on Junmyeon’s cheeks.

“Oh, come on,” Jongin couldn’t hold his chuckle. “You just wanted to kiss me.”

Junmyeon blushed more at Jongin’s words. Jongin was right, and it made him feel so embarrassed.

“F-Fine! I did! Then what?!” the student council’s president cried more.

“Then… you need to eat. Your mother said you haven’t eaten anything.” Jongin flicked Junmyeon’s forehead. “Eat, take your medicine, and then sleep, so you can get better soon.”

Junmyeon eyed Jongin as the boy took a bowl of warm soup Junmyeon’s mother had prepared for him. He opened his mouth as Jongin feed him, feeling the warmth spreading in his body.

But what made him feel warmer was Jongin was there, taking care of him.

Now he knew what Jongin felt when he came to his place when the boy was sick. He didn’t need anything because only having Jongin coming to see him had made him feel much better.

“Jongin.”

“Yes, cutie patootie?”

Junmyeon tried his best to ignore the nickname. “Thank you for coming. I love you.”

“I love you too, my cotton candy.” Jongin grinned. “Now, aaah~”

Junmyeon rolled his eyes.

“I’m so done with those nicknames.”