Hyesung’s stared blankly ahead as he mindlessly grazed the back of his hand along his lower lip. Even now when some time had already passed, he could still feel its slight swelling, and that tingling sensation that can only be brought about by a kiss.

Eric’s kiss.

Shifting to steal a glance at the man lying on his right, Hyesung allowed his mind to wander off again to the memory of the kiss—to the feel of Eric’s lips, the warmth of his breath and the minty taste of him.  It wasn’t his first kiss, nor was it the first time he felt Eric’s lips.  Yet, somehow, it felt different.  It felt special.

And it was special. Despite his insecurities and constant need for assurance, Hyesung had no doubt about the meaning behind Eric’s kiss. In fact, it’s interesting how sure he felt about it.  Even when they have yet gotten the chance to talk about it, he knew what it meant, knew what it promised. And he trusted them—the silent words from that kiss.  He trusted it just as he trusted Eric.

It’s a new feeling to him—this sense of certainty—and it amused him how, just a few hours ago, he was this bumbling mess of a man.  Now here he was, all giddy and excited. And content. Can a kiss really have the power to change a man so much in so little time? Hyesung doubted it.  His worrying self would probably come back to him once dawn breaks.  Yet, there is something that the morning cannot take away from him—the fact that he was no longer alone.

As if on cue, Eric inched closer, resting his hand on Hyesung’s chest—a move he had been known to do himself with the members back in their dorm days.  It was during those days that Hyesung started to discover his special fondness for the leader, when he realized none of the other members sent his heart racing the way Eric did.

For a moment, he allowed himself to revel in the simple skinship, before deciding to lift Eric’s hand off him. As much as he wanted the moment to last longer, he was still a man of pride, and pride dictates that he show some reservation. Well, as much reservation as he can show to someone who he is sharing a bed with, that is.

Just as he was able to release himself from Eric’s grip though, the other man pulled him in even closer.

“Yah Eric, stop this!” Hyesung hissed when he felt Eric’s hand tighten around him in a way no sleeping man would, and tried to pry the other guy’s hand off him again.

It was no use.  Eric was adamant at holding on.

Just then, Hyesung felt some stirring from his other side. “Will you guys quit it? People are trying to sleep here!” Dongwan grumbled as he wriggled in place to get more sleeping space.

Finally, Eric opened his eyes, and stretched his neck to look over Hyesung’s shoulders and at Dongwan, whose back was facing him “Yah! If you want to sleep, go home! You too, Minwoo! Why are you guys even here?!” He exclaimed as he elbowed the seemingly sleeping Minwoo on his right.

Minwoo let out a gasp of pain at the sudden attack, before propping himself up to face Eric. “Yah Mun Jun Hyuk! Did you actually expect me to receive that kind of message and NOT come over?”

“Okay, I give you that, but did you really have to stay?!”

Hyesung let out a sigh at the chaos that was sure to come. Dongwan and Minwoo came moments after the cops arrived, and helped convince him to stay over at Eric’s for the night.  Only, they decided to stay as well, and even insisted on having all four of them sleep in Eric’s King size bed.  Hyesung couldn’t help but giggle at the memory of Eric’s expression, when he realized that the chitchai pair intended to literally sleep together with them.

Of course now, sleep was probably no longer an option. He thought as he gave a side glance at the boys who were gradually making a scene. As expected, Eric’s last remark earned him a couple of blows from Minwoo’s pillow, as Dongwan continued to wriggle in place while protesting at the ruckus the two CEOs were making. A few seconds later, Minwoo—who was pushed out of the bed—grabbed one of Eric’s legs and started pulling him off the bed as well, while Dongwan—who by now had given up on sleep entirely—rolled over Hyesung to join the mock torture scene.

It was a riot.

Luckily for Hyesung, the riot didn’t include him, and he was able to slip out of the sheets without much hassle.  He gave one last look at the boys, who were still wrestling with each other, before silently closing the door behind him.

He made his way to Eric’s balcony in the dark, having decided to bide his time with a stick of menthol. It would’ve been an easy task too, considering how similar the layout of Eric’s flat was to his own.  However, as soon as he was alone, the memory of the fright he had earlier started to creep up on him, and he felt his panic rising once again.  The starless sky didn’t help, and the city lights that spilled into Eric’s living room only created threatening shadows around him.

He cursed aloud at his own paranoia as he fumbled over his pockets to find his pack. He knew that there was nothing to be worried about.  Yet, he still couldn’t shake away the feeling that he was being watched. Being—

“What are you doing here?”

Hyesung jumped at the unexpected question, dropping his pack in the process.  As he bent down to pick it up, Eric stepped into the balcony. “Yah! Don’t just sneak up on me like that!”

 “Why did you even come out alone if you were going to be this jumpy?” He retorted with a hearty laugh.

“I only wanted to have a smoke. Is that so bad?” Hyesung replied as he turned his back at Eric to hide the blush on his cheeks when, suddenly, he felt Eric’s arms around his waist. “What the hell are you doing?!” He exclaimed as he tried to elbow Eric off him, but the leader only pressed his body against the younger man’s back more.

“Eric—“ Hyesung tried to sound as annoyed as he possibly could, but Eric’s warm chest was starting to melt his cold demeanour. “The others—they’ll see us.”

“They’ll have to know eventually, so why bother hiding?” Eric murmured in reply before burying his face into Hyesung’s nape “God! You have no idea how long I have wanted to hold you like this!”  

Hyesung couldn’t help but let out a little smile at Eric’s words.  This was the man that he loved.  His frankness—his confidence—was what had drawn him to the man from the beginning.  But while before he felt inadequate to be standing beside a man who exuded such presence, now he felt strengthened by it.

 “Eric—“ Hyesung said again, but this time, he succumbed into the man’s embrace.  Maybe this was what love was all about.  Being accepted and knowing that someone chooses to be beside you through thick and thin somehow gives you a whole new sense of freedom. And courage.

The courage to be who you really are.

 “Hmm…” Eric replied, his head still buried in his nape, sprinkling it with butterfly kisses.

“About tomorrow’s presscon…can you give me a chance to say something?”

At his words, Eric loosened his hold on him, and he took this chance to turn and meet the leader’s concerned gaze. “You sure that’s what you want? The press won’t go easy on you.  They’ll destroy you if you give them that chance.”

Hyesung gave him a little nod in response.  “I want to be able to share my side properly. I’ve been given this chance to show myself to the world, and I want to take it. “

His last statement earned him a smile from the leader. “ Okay, then I’ll be by your side.”

Hyesung returned Eric’s smile with a smile of his own, before sealing off their deal with a kiss.

A/N: Annyeong yeorobun!!!

Now, I know you guys were probably thinking that I’ve already dropped this story, considering how long it took me to do this update!lol  Seriously though, I’m not dropping it, I just really couldn’t find time to write! Anyway, I’m really sorry guys for being so late with the update.  I wish I could say that I’d be able to put up the next chapter sooner, but I can’t even make that promise.  So, I really have no choice but to ask everyone to please be very patient with me! TT TT TT

In exchange, I’m giving you cute, albeit cheesy, RicSyung!hahaha

Thanks again guys and don’t forget to let me know what you think of this chapter! ^_^