Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

As Dylan promised, he made Jun work for the boyfriend title.

It wasn't that hard, in Jun’s opinion. He did everything he did before, waking up before Dylan, making him coffee, spoon feeding him meals, annoying him until his patience runs thin. The only difference now, is that in between all of this, Jun gets to steal a kiss from Dylan. Their late-night ice-cream-cuddle sessions started to become late-night ice-cream-make-out sessions, where they spend hours just kissing and tasting the strawberries on each other tongues in the soft dim light.

Standing before the mirror now, Jun adjusted his shirt for the nth time, fastening and unfastening the first two buttons and the deciding to leave it open, revealing his collar bone. The shirt was a snug fit, a maroon red that went well with his tanned skin, atleast that’s what Nano said.

Jun had planned a date that evening. Their first ever official date. Picking up the flower bouquet from his side table on his way out, he closed the door behind him and walked the six steps it takes to reach Dylan's room. Jun knocked on it, two light bumps of his knuckles against the wooden door, and waited for it to open. And when it did, Jun stood frozen for a moment, his eyes wide as he took in the breathtaking sight in front of him.

Dylan, as Jun had asked, was wearing a light pink cable knit sweater that matched the shade of his hair, a soft smile on his face that made his eyes crinkle, forming smile-lines on the sides of his mouth. He looked so glowing and warm that Jun wanted to just gobble him up, his hands itching to pinch Dylan's cheeks until they turn the same pink of his sweater and his hair. Instead, Jun cleared his throat, thrusting the bouquet of white and yellow lilies towards Dylan.

“Good evening, princess.” Jun said, leaning to kiss him, letting himself to linger just a second longer, breathing in the clean scent of Dylan, before parting. “You look handsome as always.”

Dylan smiled again, his teeth showing this time, all squinted eyes and flushed cheeks as he picked up the flowers, his touch delicate as he thumbed through the petals. Jun offered his hand and let Dylan interlace their fingers together as he stepped out, the flowers kept in a vase on his nightstand.

They walked into the living room, hand-in-hand and with matching love-sick expressions. Their entry catching the attention of the remaining three residents of the house. They all paused whatever they were doing, passing looks between each other before pointing them at the couple.

“Where are you guys going?” Pepper asked, his face peeking out from behind a book he has been reading for the past three days.

“We are going on a date.” Jun answered smiling at Dylan.

Nano cooed, clasping his hands together. He reached over the armrest of the couch to pinch Dylan's cheek, swinging his head side to side. “My baby’s all grown up. He’s going on his first date.”

“I am older than you, Nano.” Dylan said in a bored voice.

“Semantics.”

“About damn time.” Pepper said, heaving a great sigh as though he’s a grandfather who’s been waiting for his grandchildren to decipher the clues he’s left behind in order to have a claim on the inheritance. “I am glad you guys sorted out your feelings and came to the obvious conclusion that you like each other.”

After a pause, he continued, “Though I suppose, Jun could’ve confessed a week later. My wallet would’ve been a little heavier.” He shrugged, not fully upset.

“You guys...bet on us?” Jun asked, looking between them in astonishment, because apparently, Jun’s brain is trying to process the fact that their friends bet on how much time it’ll take for Jun to confess.

“Yes. Pepper said it’ll take over a month, I betted against him.” Nano added, nodding his head. He held out three fingers, smacking his lips together, “Three weeks props.”

Jun gasped, an exaggerated sound. “You should’ve had faith in me, Per.” He said, leaving Dylan's hand just enough to fold them across his chest in a chiding manner at Pepper.

“I watched you feed him every night for almost a month without ever growing suspicious.”

“I am sorry I thought he was busy making music.” Jun reasoned, catching Dylan's hand once again to interlace their fingers.

“There you go.” Pepper pointed. “That’s why I bet it’ll take over a month.”

Jun‘s frown only deepened. With a hurt voice, he asked the obvious, “I wasn't really that oblivious, was I?”

He received pointed stares from both Nano and Pepper. Jun made a sound at that. Beside him, Dylan sighed, pulling him down to kiss him. A short peck on the lips, murmuring reassurance against his lips.

“Don’t take it to heart, Jun. They're messing with you.” 

Nano made a disgusted face, covering his eyes. “Please keep your affection behind closed doors. There are single people here who do not want to see people kissing each other every minute.”

He even threw a cautious glance at the person occupying the couch and is currently recounting the happenings to his lover over the phone. Pepper agreed with him.

Jun did not care about any of that. Instead, he turned to Dylan, asking Dylan's opinion on the previous statement about his mindfulness.

“Was I, Dylan?”

Dylan fixed the collar of his shirt, straightening his palm over the crease. “You're a lovely person, Jun.”

“But–”

Dylan kissed him again, before Jun could finish his sentence.

Well, Jun thought, that answers my question.

“Well, wonderful chat we’ve had. I suppose it’s time for us to go on our date.” Dylan tightened his grip on their joined hands, pulling a sulky Jun out the door when a voice interrupted them.

“Jun, wait.” Thame, who was lying across the length of the couch, scrambled up into a sitting position, pulling down his shirt which riled up a little and running a hand through his hair for a semblance of tidiness.

He came to stand in front of the couple, his face set in a grave expression as he caught Jun by his shoulders, patting him twice. With a voice as equally serious, he said, “I expect you to drop off Dylan by 8.”

It took Jun a minute to make sense of the request, and his confusion only grew even after he did. He frowned before speaking, “But we live in the same-“

“Shhh. Don’t interrupt.” Thame shushed him. Before he could say another word, Dylan interrupted him.

“Thame, what–”

“Shhh.” Thame shushed him too.

Pepper and Nano looked at each other, trying hard to suppress their laughter as they watched the scene before them. Thame lecturing them with a solemn voice, Jun looked like a grade two kid who was sent to solve calculus, unsure what is happening with Thame, and Dylan looked like he wished the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

Turning back to Jun, Thame continued, “I am sending Dylan with you in the hopes that you will take care of my baby–”

“–Again, I am literally older than you guys–”

“–just as he deserve it. That includes opening the car door for him–”

“–We’re walking–”

“–pulling out his chair for him, and respecting his wishes.” Thame finished, squeezing Jun’s shoulders before stepping back.

“And no funny business.” Nano piped in from the couch, a mischievous grin splitting his face that only widened when Dylan shot him an icy glare.

Jun blinked up at Thame, who looked, now that Jun noticed, like a father sending away his daughter for her prom. All firm and strict. When Thame continued to only stare at him expectantly, waiting for an answer, Jun went along with it.

“Okay.” He agreed with a nod.

Thame turned to Dylan then, his face softening a little. “Dylan.”

Dylan looked at him, a flush creeping on his face.

“I know you have loved Jun far longer than I have known, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for whatever he’s willing to give.”

Jun looked offended. “I thought we were supposed to be best friends?”

“Shhh.” Thame quietened him without taking his eyes off Dylan. He continued, “You know you're worth so don’t settle for anything less.”

Dylan was hiding his face behind his hand by now, his expression unclear to the rest, but Jun could see the pinkening tips of his ears as a groan left his lips.  “I hate you guys so much.”

Thame, Pepper and Nano smiled in answer, bidding them a collective goodbye as Jun pulled Dylan out by their interlaced fingers.

The walk to their destination was relaxing.

The roads were almost empty, just some lone vehicles passing by them in a blur here and there. They passed several shops lining the side of the street, the smell of freshly baked cakes wafted through the air from an open bakery, the rhythmic sound of a piano playing from an open window, the raucous laughter of children playing, the delicate fragrance of peonies and lilies from a floral boutique. The sky wasn't too bright nor was it too cloudy either. Just a perfect blue with a hair-ruffling breeze that passed every once a while, eliciting tiny shivers from Dylan.

It was perfect, because Jun could use that as an excuse to keep Dylan close by his side. It gave him an excuse to kiss Dylan once every five minutes, their hands still intertwined.

When Jun leaned over to kiss him for the sixth time, Dylan giggled, the sound soft and light, his cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. Jun pressed a kiss to the flush, smushing his nose on the apple of his cheeks, Dylan's chuckles only increased. His hand found Jun’s chest, trying to push him, but instead, he let it rest there, gripping the front of Jun’s shirt, feeling the beat of Jun’s heart beneath his palm.

What was supposed to be a ten minute walk turned out to be twenty minutes. But neither Jun nor Dylan were complaining.

“What’s this?” Dylan asked as he looked up at the blue building.

The glass windows on the side of the building showcased a pastel world inside. Light yellow walls with red stripes and small, light green round tables with bubblegum pink chairs. When Jun opened the door, a small bell chimed above. And they were greeted with a burst of cold air from the air conditioning as soon as they stepped inside.

“It’s a new ice cream parlour.” Jun answered.

He led Dylan to the glass display at the far corner of the room, where there were more flavours than Jun could count. All different colours ranging from pistachio green and butter yellow, to blueberry violet and cotton candy blue. All with equally ridiculous name as that one time where MARS was called in to launch a new ice-cream flavour.

“Why an ice cream parlour?” Dylan questioned but his attention was already caught. His eyes took in the various coloured ice-creams with a glistening edge, fingers tracing the names on the glass. He looked like a cat deciding on which toy to play with.

Still, Jun answered. “You love them right? So I thought why take you to an expensive restaurant that you're probably gonna hate when I can take you to a low-end ice cream parlour where you can eat as much scoops as you want.”

Jun could see Dylan's wide grin on the glass’s reflection but when Dylan turned to him, it was suppressed into a small smile, though his eyes were still gleaming with unrestrained happiness.

They ended up ordering four cups of ice-cream. One mango, a black currant, and cotton candy for Dylan and one bowl of hazelnut pecan fro Jun.

Carrying four cups, Jun led him to a booth near a window, overlooking the back garden filled with daises and roses, a wind chime hanging from the awning. Dylan started from his strawberry cup, his lips curved in a satisfied smile. He finished it within minutes, licking the spoon clean and moved onto the black currant topped with chocolate chips. Jun watched as Dylan finished it with the same enthusiasm, not even caring that he got a smudge on the corner of his lips.

Jun gestured him, pointing at his own lips. “You have something here.”

Dylan paused his scooping, his finger hesitantly grazing over the skin beside his mouth. “Where?”

“A little to the left.”

“Here?” Dylan wiped the corner, completely missing the spot by a lot of inches.

Jun watched as Dylan tried to clean the smear of purple. Getting tired of seeing Dylan failing miserably, Jun leaned forward, tissue in hand as he reached over the table towards him.

“I’ll get it for you.”

Jun wiped carefully, his fingers lingering a little too long on the corner, the pad of his thumb slightly grazing Dylan's lips, sticky with cream. Jun’s eyes flicked up to Dylan's to see them going dark and wide. The sound of the bell as another customer walked in snapped Jun out of his bubble. He cleared his throat, pulling away. But before he could settle back fully on his seat, Dylan smiled and his hand reached forward to grip Jun by the collar and into a kiss.

The kiss tasted sweet, the fruity taste of Dylan's blueberry and the earthy flavour of Jun’s hazelnut combined together in a rich, creamy taste that got Jun in an addictive trance, making him lean forward more to deepen the kiss. Dylan chuckled, parting from Jun much to his dismay. When Jun whined, a low sound only for Dylan's ears, Dylan planted a firm kiss, before pushing Jun to take his seat.

“You did that on purpose.” Jun pouted, licking his lips as a way to chase the lingering taste of the kiss

“You’ve got no proof.”

Dylan smiled, all bright and warm, and Jun’s heart melted like the ice-cream in his bowl.

The walk back to their home was peaceful. Dylan talked the whole way through, enlightening Jun with random knowledge about the birds and the history of music, sometimes his sentences ending in a hum.

Jun, someone who was voted the most talkative during a game night, stayed quiet, listening to Dylan's rambling with a soft smile, lifting their joined hands every now and then to place a light kiss on the back of Dylan's palm jus to see Dylan stammer and blush, to see him turn his face away in an attempt to hide but his ears betraying him in the way they always turned red. And everytime they did, Jun’s heart flipped inside his chest, his body going warm and his skin tingling.

When they reached the front steps of their home, Jun stopped, making Dylan come to a halt. With his grip on Dylan's hand, Jun turned Dylan to face him. Taking Dylan's other hand in his, and voice devoid of any humour, with a serious as tone as he can manage, Jun asked the question that’s been plaguing him since the start of their date, the question he so desperately wanted an answer to.

“Will you give me the privilege to call you my boyfriend?” Jun asked, hopeful and sincere, eyes searching Dylan's.

 Dylan didn't say anything, and the wait was only agonising. Jun could hear his heartbeat in the silence. Sweat gathered at his hairline. He knows he’s being stupid. He knows Dylan would say yes, that he’s got nothing to be afraid of. Dylan wouldn’t go out with him if he doesn't like Jun like that. But insecurity doesn't see reason and Jun felt nervous as each second passed without an answer.

Seeing him shuffling on the spot, Dylan sighed.

He stepped forward, his hand curling at the nape of Jun’s neck. With their eyes locked, Dylan leaned their foreheads together. When Dylan spoke, his voice was quiet, a whisper that Jun felt like a caress against his lips more than he heard.

“You're an idiot, Jun.”

Jun didn't have the chance to argue the statement before Dylan's lips came down on his in a slow kiss. Jun closed his eyes, his hand instinctively wrapping around Dylan's waist to pull him closer, Dylan's hand tightened on Jun’s hair, pulling out a soft groan from him.

Unlike their first kiss, Jun didn't feel any explosion or fireworks. Instead, his skin buzzed with a low thrum of electricity, a warm current of comfort washing over him in waves. Soft and soothing, easing the rapid beat of Jun’s heart to a steady, rhythmic pulse. Jun sighed into the kiss, his hand cupping Dylan's cheeks, thumb tracing the sharp curve of his cheekbone. And when Dylan melted into him further, leaning his weight fully against Jun, pliant and docile, Jun was ever willing to be the one and only to hold Dylan like this.

Thame, Pepper and Nano are people with decorum.

They would do no such thing as spying on their two bandmates, who orbited around each other like a moon around a planet for six months, going on their official first date.

No. They are people with dignity. Being in the idol world themselves, they know the value of privacy and the meaning of keeping things to themselves. To spy on their friends is to stoop to a lower level.

They would do no such thing.

“Move, Nano, you're blocking my view.” Thame nudged Nano by his shoulder.

Nano stumbled a little when his feet caught on the edge of the rug. He frowned at Thame, moving back to his original position beside the curtains. “There is no view to begin with, P’Thame. They're not even here.” 

Thame, Pepper and Nano are currently looking out the window overlooking their front porch, waiting for Jun and Dylan to return from their date, trying to hide themselves behind the curtain. One would take a look at the three and say they're spying. But if you were to ask them, they would simply state they're merely observing the return state of their two friends, gauging how their date went by how they're returning back home.

But being subtle wasn't in MARS’ dictionary. Thame was smushed between Pepper and Nano, the latter two occupying the corners with very little curtain to hide behind, instead, resorting to moving a couple of furnitures as a shield from the outside world.

Thame held a pair of binoculars, very on point, Nano approved. Nano and Pepper had their faces practically glued to the glass, unblinking as though the subject of their cause might vanish if they're careless. Nano was, once more, pushed to his side by Thame adjusting his crouch. Nano pushed him back, earning a grunt from Pepper on the other side. Before Nano could apologise for the inconvenience he had caused for the third party, Pepper pointed out the window, his voice a whisper.

“Guys, guys. They're here.” Pepper said, his tone restrained in a barely contained excitement as to not shout and let their subjects know of their secret mission. “Don’t make noise, or they’ll find out.”

Nano grunted when Thame’s elbow pushed onto his side. “They won’t if P’Thame doesn't keep pushing me.”

“Sorry.” Thame quickly apologised. But his attention was fixed on Jun and Dylan as they crossed the road, stepping onto the short distance it takes to reach their home. Thame’s got his binoculars out, wholly immersed at the pair.

“Jun is saying something.” Thame observed, bringing his binoculars down as he turned to look at Pepper and Nano on either side of him. “Anyone here knows how to read lips?”

“I do.” Nano volunteered, his face pulled up in pride.

“Really?” Pepper leaned back on his hand to look at Nano properly, disbelief colouring his features.

Thame stared at him with a sceptical look, his brows raised.

“Uh huh.”  Nano nodded. “I learnt it in middle school. Came in handy when I had to know what’s happening with the neighbourhood kids.”

That got their attention. Their mission was forgotten as Thame turned sideways to face Nano, Pepper crawling forward to rest his chin on Thame’s shoulders as Nano recollected his childhood and the reason why he had learned how to read lips.

“What happened?” Thame asked.

“There was this kid who lives next to my house. He doesn't like me, you now, and he made it everyone business.” Nano started, hands gesturing wild as he remembered the good old days of his life, which weren’t so long ago as one would expect, considering Nano’s only twenty. “But I had a friend, well, not really. Apparently he was also friends with this guy and durin–”

Nano’s story was so amusing that the three had forgotten about the reason they were all crouching behind the window in the first place. Had it not been for Pepper to turn his side so that he could rest his cheek on Thame’s shoulder to better listen to the story, Jun and Dylan would’ve found them in a huddle sitting behind the couch with a binocular on Thame’s lap.

Nano’s was recounting how he tried to be ambidextrous but failed since he kept forgetting to practise when Pepper’s voice interrupted, “Oi, Nano, we completely missed what Jun was saying.”

On cue, Thame and Nano snapped their heads to the window to see Jun looking a little nervous. He was pacing on the spot, his feet shuffling. And true to Pepper’s words, Jun had stopped talking.

“Shit.” Nano cursed softly, but loud enough for Thame to lightly smack him on his shoulders.

“No swearing.” Thame said, his brows pulled tight.

“Sorry.”

The three went back to their spying, sorry, observing. Thame, once again, lifted his binoculars to his eyes. When brought them down once again, he was frowning.

“Wait, guys, Dylan looks pissed.”

Nano and Pepper leaned forward on the window, their faces so close to the glass that their every exhales formed condensation on it. And sure enough, they found Jun looking anxious and Dylan looking like someone who’s ready to throw hands. But...

“No, no. He looks...done?” Nano said, noticing the tiny furrow on Dylan's brows that always forms whenever Jun is on his shit again.

“What did Jun do this ti–” before Pepper could finish his sentence, Thame’s voice cut off.

“Oh oh...they’re kissing.” Thame pointed out.

Needless to say, they were kissing. Dylan had a grip on Jun’s neck, pulling him down a little and Jun had his arms wrapped around Dylan waist. Thame threw his binoculars on the floor and mimicked Pepper and Nano, pressing his face close to the glass. When the couple broke apart, leaning their head together and smiling like fools, Nano sighed happily.

“Did you guys saw what I saw?” Nano said, pulling back from the glass to look at the remaining two. “Dylan's the one who initiated it.”

“Aww.” Pepper cooed. He sniffed, removing his glasses to wipe an imaginary tear from the corner of his eyes. “I’ve never seen Dylan smile so wide.”

“They look sappy.” Thame said. But his lips were pulled into a wide grin that matched Nano’s and Pepper’s.

“Disgustingly in love.” Nano agreed.

Outside the window, Jun and Dylan were still chuckling, trading small pecks with their hands still interlaced. Completely unaware that they're being watched by three idiots who were, in their own sense, happy that Jun and Dylan had finally confessed and were happy in love.

Jun woke up to the sun shining on his face. A pleasant hum underneath his skin, a soft morning buzz ringing through the room. He blinked slowly, still in the clutches of deep slumber.  Jun felt warm, his whole body felt alive in a way he found it hard to describe. He felt like his chest is holding a small sun behind his ribs. When he opened his eyes, the sight before him alone was enough for him to smile like a fool.

Dylan. His boyfriend.

Boyfriend. That word still tasted different in his mouth. Good different.

Dylan was still asleep. His lashes framed the curve of his lids. His mouth was parted slightly, letting out warm breath on Jun’s neck with every exhale, his face burrowed in the hollow of Jun’s throat, seeking sun-warmed skin. Dylan looked radiant. With pink hair spread around the pillow like a soft halo around him.

Jun reached a hand to tuck in the wild strands behind Dylan's ears. Dylan shifted, mumbling incoherently before he snuggled in closer to Jun, hiding his face further in, attaching himself to Jun like a barnacle to a rock.

Jun let him, wrapping his arms around Dylan's frame, one hand softly untangling the knots in Dylan's hair, his nails softly raking. Dylan sighed in contentment.

They laid there under the sun, legs tangled and the sheets rumpled around them. Jun held Dylan like he was something precious to hold. Long before Jun knows, he fell asleep again.

Jun woke up for the second time to the loud ringing of his alarm.

He grumbled, rolling over his bed to shut it before turning back to Dylan.

In his sleep, Dylan had turned around, his spine curved to fit into Jun’s chest, curling around a pillow like his life depends on it, his face pressed into the cotton so hard that Jun wondered if he can even breathe.

Propping up on his elbow, Jun placed a soft kiss on the back of Dylan's neck before he shook his shoulders, waking him up. Dylan whined, his brows furrowing as he cuddled the pillow.

“Princess.” Jun called softly. “Wake up, we have a promo shoot.”

Dylan mumbled in his sleep, pressing his eyes shut tight. Jun chuckled, leaning forward to better hear him.

“....Five minutes...”

Jun smiled. He leaned forward to kiss Dylan's forehead, lingering a little too long, and whispered against his skin, “Only five minutes, then you have to wake up.”

Dylan nodded in his sleep, a slow, lazy gesture. As quietly as he can, Jun climbed down from the bed, deciding to get ready meanwhile.

It took him fifteen minutes, and when Jun returned back to the bed, Dylan was how he left him, still in deep sleep, still curled around the pillow, still softly snoring.

Shaking his head, Jun went and knelt on the floor, levelling with Dylan. Poking Dylan's cheek, Jun shook him by the shoulders again.

“Princess, wake up.”

Dylan's only response was a hum before he hid his face under the pillow.

“Princess.”

“...Five minutes.” Dylan's voice came out muffled, drowsy and stretching with sleep.

“You said that twenty minutes ago.” Jun argued lightly. “Wake up, baby, or we’ll be late.”

“Hmm.” Dylan mumbled.  “It’s warm here.”

Jun sighed, pulling down the pillow to reveal Dylan's face. “I know, princess, but we have a schedule.”

Dylan fluttered his eyes open at the motion, half-lidded and glassy, a pout on his lips and a frown on his brows. “...Let me sleep...please.”

“We have a promo shoot, baby. And we have to be on the van in an hour.” Jun reasoned again in a soft voice, pushing back the strands that had fallen over his eyes to get a better look at him.

“...P’Jun...” Dylan whined, blinking up at him.

Jun froze, hand paused mid-movement as he stared at Dylan's sleepy face, the slow way Dylan's eyes roved over Jun’s face.

“W-What did you call me?”

“...five more minutes, please...P’Jun.” Dylan whined again, fingers curling at the edge of the pillowcase, his nose pressed against the warm cotton.

Months. Jun had tried for months to make Dylan call him that. To make Dylan call him phi just once. And every single time Dylan refused, not even entertaining the idea. Just when Jun had finally forgotten about it, Dylan had called him phi. Though his brain is still muddied with sleep, it still counted.

Twice. Dylan had called him P’Jun twice.

Dylan was still looking at him with that adorable pout of his, clearly fighting against his need to give in to his urge and close his eyes. Jun took in a breath, ignoring the way his hand itched to pinch Dylan's cheeks with how cute he was being, instead, Jun shook Dylan again, bracing himself, for what? He doesn't know.

“Come on, princess.”

“...P’Jun, please...” Dylan whispered again.

 This time, his hand came to stroke Jun on his cheek, thumb softly tracing the skin beneath Jun’s eye, humming a little under his breath that suspiciously sounded like phi. The delicate touch paired with Dylan's sweet calling him P’Jun was the final blow that broke Jun’s defences.

Jun was a weak man. He ended up letting Dylan sleep for another fifteen minutes.

They all climbed into the van twenty minutes late than their scheduled time, Dylan, naturally, bypassed the front seats to move to the back, to sit near the window, Jun following to sit beside him. The van didn't even properly start before Jun felt three pairs of eyes on him. Jun looked up from his phone to see the rest of MARS sitting half-way turned on their seats.

“We were supposed to be inside the van twenty-five minutes ago.” Pepper said, throwing Jun a glare.

“Hey, don’t look at me. It was Dylan's fault.” Jun pointed towards Dylan, who decided that continuing his dreams is more worthwhile than the happening inside the van, was leaning his head against the glass, eyes fluttering as they struggled to remain open for a few extra minutes.

“He asked me for extra time.” Jun said. “Very nicely.”

“Eww, I don’t need to hear whatever you guys did behind you bedroom doors.” Thame’s face wrinkled in disgust at the notion, his hand waving the air in front of him as thought he can clear the words Jun had said just by gesturing them away.

“Oh, shut up. We had to endure worse with you and P’Po.” Jun fired back, thinking back to all those times where the couple were a little more comfortable to display their affection in the living room or during movie nights, and that one particular time where Jun walked into their shared bedroom in the hopes of a nap before he has to be in the set only to stumble upon a half-naked Thame hovering over a blushing P’Po, the sound of their kisses echoing around the room. Jun, never in his life, had wanted to go blind so bad than at that moment.

Then, with a smug smile in place, he added, “Besides, you guys won’t believe me if I said what happened.”

“Oh, spare us those details, Jun.” Thame retorted.

Before Thame could say anything else, Jun blurted out, his tone boastful, “Dylan called me, P’Jun.”

Dylan, on the verge of sleeping, snapped his eyes open at the admission, glaring at Jun with horror creeping on his face.

“WHAT?” Nano, who remained a passive member of the conversation so far shouted as his eyes flicked between a very smug Jun and  an open-mouthed Dylan.

Jun nodded his head proudly, leaning back on his seat. “Uh huh. He called me P’Jun.” Holding out three fingers, “Three times.”

“No, I did not.” Dylan's voice snapped, his eyes losing all its sleepy edges as Dylan sat straighter in his seat, a frown curling at his lips.

“Yes, you did.” Jun argued. In a low gravelly tone as a poor attempt to mimic Dylan's voice, Jun said, “You said and I quote, ‘P’Jun please let me sleep for five more minutes.’”

“That doesn't count.”

“Yes, it does.”

“I was asleep. I didn't know what I was saying.” Dylan huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Jun, his eyes narrowed.

“You know the saying? Sleeping man’s words are sober man’s thoughts.” Jun replied. “So it still counts.”

“No. It did not”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

The remaining three on the van watched the back and forth of yeses and nos like one would a tennis match, their eyes oscillating between a slouching Jun and a rigid Dylan before they got bored and turned back on their seats with a sigh that spoke of many days where they were a witness to a scene like this.

Jun paused, realising that Dylan wouldn’t admit it and sighed in defeat, his shoulders going slump as he copied Dylan's infamous pout. “Fine. If you say so.” He said in a dejected voice.

Dylan glanced at him side-ways, recognising the crestfallen look of Jun, then, almost imperceptibly, he slid down on his seat until he can rest his head on Jun’s shoulders. Jun, though slightly unhappy at his princess for refusing to admit, adjusted on the seat so that Dylan didn't have to strain his neck.

And this was how MARS found them when the van stopped in front the building for their promo shoot. With Dylan sleeping peacefully hiding on the side of Jun’s neck, and Jun, also asleep, resting his head on top of Dylan's, their hands interlocked and placed on Jun’s thigh.

Despite Jun claiming that his hard work had paid off, that Dylan finally called him P’Jun, and that it counts even though Dylan was sleepy and it was mumbled, Jun tried everything in his books to make Dylan call him phi again. As much as Jun tries to convince himself that it is enough, it really wasn't. Months of hard work and he wants to hear Dylan call him phi while he’s still conscious, still awake and in his senses, and not want him to deny he called him phi right after the bat.

And everytime he tried, all he ever got in return was a Jun in a sweet voice underlying a teasing tone and a quick peck to his lips.

Exhibit A

“Princess.”

They were the only ones awake that morning. Their morning coffee in hand as the hot steam blew over their face, providing little warmth in the cold breeze. Jun was leaning against the counter, Dylan on his opposite, mimicking Jun’s stance on the table. Dylan paused mid-sip when Jun called him.

“Hmm?”

“Don’t you think it is unfair that I am calling you princess. Or baby. While you don’t have a proper pet name for me?” Jun wondered out loud. His mind already laying out a plan.

Dylan swallowed his sip, thinking for a moment before answering. “I have.”

“You do?” Jun’s brow raised in surprise. In all the two months of dating, Dylan had never called him anything but Jun.

“Uh huh.”  Dylan nodded. Then, as simple as that, he said, “You're my boyfriend.”

Jun could feel his cheek getting warm at that word.

Boyfriend. He’s still not used to it, and blushes everytime Dylan calls him that. He blushed harder when Dylan smiled up at him.

But no. Clearing his throat and his mind, because he’s on a mission, Jun said, “That’s not a proper nickname.”

“Then?”

Moving to stand beside Dylan, Jun said with an innocent smile, taking time as though he’s thinking it over. “You can call me P’Jun, you know. It can also work as a petname.”

Dylan looked at him, at the sly smile Jun is failing to contain, at the spark in his eyes at knowing he’s going to get what he wants, and hummed. He emptied his cup, leaving it in the sink before he came to stand in between Jun’s legs.

Anytime now. Jun waited.

Dylan plucked Jun’s cup from his hand, placing it on the table beside. Just as Jun was expecting to be called phi, he was given a, “I’ll stick with Jun.”

And before Jun could argue further, Dylan tangled his fingers in his brown locks to pull him closer, placing a quick but a firm kiss on Jun’s lips which did its work to shut him up.

Exhibit B

Movie nights had become Jun’s favourite solely for the fact that Dylan let himself be clingy to his heart’s desire. Dylan, who occupied half of Jun’s lap before, was full-on sitting on him now with his head tucked in under Jun’s chin, not caring that they are being stared at like animals at the zoo by their three very annoyingly nosy roommates.

Jun could only pretend for so long before he snapped, grabbing the remote by his side to pause the movie they're not even pretending to watch.

“Okay, what is your guys’ problem?” Jun asked with a frown. “You guys haven’t taken your eyes off from us since the movie began.”

“We’re just wondering...” Pepper started, pointing a finger at Dylan who’s currently stealing popcorns from Jun’s bowl, his head still under Jun’s chin. “...how our resident Mr. Stays-Atleast-Three-Feet-Away-From-Anyone is practically all over you without any disgust on his face.”

“That’s because I am his boyfriend.” Jun said, his hands on Dylan's waist tightening as he pulled him closer. “And I am always warm and cuddly, thank you very much.”

“And also, how it took you a whole of six months to realise that Dylan's in love with you.” Nano stated.

“Yeah, since you're always prancing around praising about how smart you are with how you pushed me to confess my feeling to P’Po.” Thame piped in, a smug smile in place.

Jun groaned, throwing his head back on the couch before he looked at them. With a tired voice, he said, “Not this again.”

“No, really.” Nano started. He sat straight on his bean bag, folding his legs beneath him. “Because he’s only this touchy with you, even before you guys started dating, he only ever sits beside you on the van ride–”

Jun wouldn’t let anyone mis-credit him. As much as what they said was true, sitting beside Dylan on their van rides was all on him. And that’s what he said, “–Hey, That’s all me–”

“–and doesn't complain.”

“Okay, I admit. I am an oblivious idiot.” Jun sighed in defeat. Because what more can he do? He really is oblivious. Even Dylan hadn’t denied. “Happy now?”

The silence that followed his admission was stark. Pepper paused mid-bite of his chips, Thame looked up from his scrolling, Nano blinked at him slowly.

“Wow, you relented so fast?” Nano broke the silence. “Just like that?”

“I can admit when I am wrong.”  Jun huffed, a hand going to slip through Dylan's hair in a massage. Dylan sighed in contentment, moving his head closer to him. “Besides, Dylan called me an idiot three times during his confession.”

“Oh so that’s why.”  Pepper said, nodding to himself as though it answered the question. “But Jun, you really are an idiot.”

Dylan, who was eating popcorn, paused. He blinked once, before he took a kernel from the bowl and threw it in Pepper’s direction, hitting him straight on his face. It hit Pepper on his glasses with a dull thud.

“Ouch, why did you do that for?” Pepper complained, taking off his glass to wipe at the smudge.

“Only I can call Jun an idiot.” Dylan said in a calm voice and continued to steal Jun’s popcorn.

Jun hid a smile in Dylan's hair, his finger drawing circles beneath Dylan's hoodie. Dylan hummed again, his hand clutching Jun’s wrist from where they're placed on his waist.

“So possessive.” Pepper muttered, putting his glasses back on. Dylan didn't bat an eye. Jun poked his tongue at Pepper.

“But P’Jun is really an id–”

Dylan threw another kernel at Nano, missing by a few inches. “Not another word, Nano.”

Nano looked at Jun, Jun looked back at him. A conversation passed between them. Jun raised his brows at him and Nano nodded, seemingly understanding Jun’s gesture.

Then, turning back to Dylan with a mischievous smile, Nano said,

“I won’t if you call him P’Jun.”

Jun waited with bated breath. Dylan slightly lifted his head to glance at Jun. Jun pretended to be innocent, shrugging his shoulders, as though he had no idea Nano was going to ask this when he cornered Nano earlier that day to ask his help. Dylan smiled, stretching a little to kiss Jun on his lips. And before Dylan could even open his mouth, Jun sighed, already knowing what the answer is going to be.

“No.”

Exhibit C

Okay, this was a dirty move. Jun could admit it. And it also ended horribly for him.

Seldom do the new couple have the house to themselves.

The house is almost always filled with three people at any instance of time. But thankfully, Thame went on a date with Po, Nano said he’s going out with his friends at the dance studio and Pepper...Pepper’s been acting suspicious these past few days. Having late nights phone calls with someone and giggling at his phone. He left the house with just an I’ll be back by dinner and nothing more than that. Jun has a raising feeling that Pepper’s seeing someone. He had been meaning to ask whether Dylan knows anything about it, but his entire mind turned to jelly the moment Dylan kissed him, pushing him down on the couch to straddle him.

The empty living room was filled with the wet sounds of kissing and their harsh breathing. Jun’s hand was cupping Dylan's cheek, his thumb gently caressing Dylan's cheekbone, gently tracing the skin beneath Dylan's closed eye, lashes fluttering against the pad of his finger.

“Princess.” Jun mumbled, parting from the kiss.

Dylan hummed, blinking his eyes open. Jun flicked his eyes over Dylan’s face, observing the tiny flecks of golden in Dylan's eyes that were clearly seen in the sunlight filtering in through the windows. His lips kiss-swollen and cheeks a blooming red, his pink hair a wilder mess.

Jun leaned up and kissed him again, pulling Dylan's bottom lip between his teeth to nibble, earning a soft moan from him. Dylan's hand instinctively tightened an inch from where it was buried in Jun’s hair.

Before Dylan could have the chance to deepen the kiss, Jun gathered all his restraint and pulled back. The wet sound of the kiss breaking echoing in the small gap between them. Dylan whined then, his brows slanted and a pout in the process of forming on his lips.

“Princess.” Jun whispered again.

Dylan looked at him in question. He pouted and Jun wanted nothing more than to kiss it away. But he held himself. 

“Call me P’Jun.” Jun said, eyes holding Dylan's.

“What?” Dylan frowned. He leaned forward for a kiss, but Jun pulled back. Dylan pouted again, his bottom lip jutting out further, whining fully now. “Just kiss me, please.”

Jun teased a smile, eyes sparkling. “Call me P’Jun and I might.” He shrugged.

Dylan stared at him, eyes searching Jun’s for any crack in his expression. When he didn't find any, he asked, “Is this how you want to play?”

“Yes.”

Dylan paused, and shrugged, mimicking Jun’s. “...okay then.”

“You’ll call me that?”Jun asked hopefully.

“No.”

“Then?”

As an answer, Dylan climbed down from Jun’s lap. He went to his room and returned back, his laptop in hand and headphones around his neck as he settled back on the couch beside Jun, going back to work. Jun watched as Dylan, within a matter of minutes, forgot all about Jun’s request as he drowned himself in music and timelines.

Jun thought that was it. The situation left him confused as fuck, but as the day turned into night, and the loudness of the dorm turned quiet, Jun found himself snuggling next to Dylan.

Dylan, true to his nature, had a notebook propped on his lap and headphones looped around his neck, his face scrunched in concentration. Jun, as it turns out, was a clingy boyfriend. Or, in Thame’s words, the world’s most clingiest boyfriend. And Jun was happy to be so. As long as it was with his Dylan.

So Jun, as a way to uphold his reputation, and because he really is downbad when it comes to his princess, was currently sprawled over Dylan, his face neatly burrowed in the hollow of Dylan’s throat, breathing in the clean scent of leather and cedarwood, his torso laid over Dylan's with his legs stretched out on the mattress. This was not, what one would consider as, a conventional position to cuddle with your boyfriend, but it works with them so that’s all that matters.

“Baby.” Jun mumbled into the pale skin.

“Hmm.”

“Baby...” Jun whined. Placing butterfly kisses down the column of Dylan's throat, Jun whined again, “Pay me some attention.”

Without taking his eyes off the page in front of him, Dylan replied, “I am busy, Jun.”

“...Atleast give me a kiss.” Jun murmured before lifting his head from the crook of Dylan's neck to kiss him, but Dylan turned away. Jun tried again, blocking Dylan's view of the notebook. But once again, Dylan turned his head away, pushing Jun away with a hand covering his face.

Jun frowned, sitting back on his knees as he looked at Dylan with his hands on his hips. Surely, it is a coincidence that Dylan moved his head the opposite direction from the direction Jun approached. But the small curve at the corner of Dylan's lips told otherwise.

“Dylan.” Jun called his name.

Dylan glanced up, lips pressed in a thin line. “Yes?”

“Why are you moving away?”

Dylan blinked once, shrugging. “I don’t know what you're talking about.”

Jun bent to kiss him again, but before their lips could connect, Dylan moved away again. Jun pointed out, brows furrowed.

“You're doing it again.”

“I am doing what again?” Dylan asked with faux innocence.

“Why aren’t you letting me kiss you?” Jun asked, sitting properly on the mattress. He plucked the notebook from Dylan's lap, so Dylan couldn’t use it as an excuse.

Dylan sighed. “Didn't you say you won’t kiss me until I call you phi?”

Jun blinked at him, not knowing what this has to do with Dylan refusing to kiss him back. “...Yes.”

Dylan shrugged, folding his hands across his chest. “So I am only helping you to hold onto your promise.”

“By not letting me kiss you?” Jun voiced.

“By not letting you kiss me.” Dylan agreed.

Jun blinked once, twice, waiting for the moment for Dylan to laugh and say he’s kidding, that it’s a joke. But no, Dylan looked solemn, not a hint of teasing can be seen.

“You're not serious.”

“Try me.” when Dylan smiled this time, it was purely arrogant, he even lifted his chin in haughtiness.

And so Jun’s pleading started. MARS watched as Jun followed Dylan everywhere with a pout on his face and a whine ready on his lips, begging Dylan, appealing to his interests, doing whatever Dylan asks of him –that isn’t new in the MARS household– just so he could get to kiss him again.

It lasted for a painful duration of five days where Dylan didn't kiss him nor let Jun kiss him. Only when Jun bought Dylan two tubs of his favourite ice-cream and pleaded down on his knees with an exaggerated manner did Dylan relent, sighing before leaning down to kiss Jun.

And that was Jun’s last attempt of making Dylan call him phi. He gave up on his desire and the oncoming ideas his brain supplied him with and resorted himself to just enjoy hearing Jun from Dylan's lips, as long as he gets to kiss those.

So imagine Jun’s surprise when Dylan did end up calling him phi and Jun didn't even try to get him to do so.

It happened on a mundane Tuesday. Like all the things that happened with them.

MARS was holed up in their dance studio for almost a gruelling three hours, going over the same steps again and again for their upcoming world tour. Their first world tour after they came out of ONER. Anxieties were running high and the atmosphere crackled with frantic energy.

Nano took it hard on himself. Being the main dancer and all, he wanted the choreo to be smooth and flawless, drilling the steps into the members so there will be no mistakes on the stage. And he also deemed it his responsibility to train the back-up dancers until P’Nisa, their dance trainer, instructed him to walk around for a while to cool his nerves.

Now, Jun might be an annoying person, the reason behind Dylan's paper thin patience, and the sole individual that ever had the pleasure to receive Dylan's infamous cold stares within their group. But that’s okay, because Dylan is also the only person who could make Jun lose his composure and Jun was happy to find that he was also Dylan's only exception.

But, if you were to ask an outsider, Jun was a nice person. Someone who helps people and does what he can to make their life a little easier. Well, in his own little ways.

So Jun didn't find it weird when one of the back-up dancer, a girl that looked to be Nano’s age named Yada, asked his help. Apparently, she couldn’t do the twirl for the hook, an intricate twist of legs that looked difficult in theory but easy in practise. Since Jun was free, and because he was a nice person, he decided to help the poor girl.

“Turn your leg a little to the right and then your hips.” Jun demonstrated step by step, before landing on his left leg, the girl watching the move with undivided attention.

When the girl moved to the centre of the room to try, Jun stepped towards her, maintaining a respectable distance between them as his hand hovered near her waist when she did the twirl, ready to catch her if she falls. She did not. After she landed perfectly, she turned to Jun with a wide grin, her eyes sparkling in gratitude and something else that Jun didn't care enough to decipher.

“Thanks, P’Jun.” She said once they moved to the side of the room to grab their water bottles. “I thought I had to fake an injury for this song.”

“It’s okay.” Jun replied absent-mindedly. He searched for his water bottle, found it missing and then realised he had forgot to bring it again.

“Seriously, P’Jun. I am really thankful, if it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t know how to get this step right.” She was saying.

From the corner of his eyes, Jun could see her twirling a lock of dark brown hair around her finger, swaying lightly in place. But Jun’s mind only registered his parched throat, his thirst taking over his body. At last, he found Thame’s water bottle, finding it half-full. With a grateful sigh, Jun gulped it down.

“Also, can I get your number? It would be easy to communicate about the timings for our dance sessions since I’m also scheduled for your solo.”

“It’s really not necessary, you can always contact, P’Nisa, she’ll inform you and clear all your doubts.” Jun said, wiping down the corner of his mouth where a droplet spilled.

“Oh.” Her voice deflated a little but rose again. “Then, are you free this Friday? Maybe I could buy you a cup of coffee as a thank you, P’Jun?”

Now that Jun was rejuvenated and his body is hydrated, he noticed the girl looking up at him with a flirty glance. Her tone a little smooth as she blinked up at him. Only then did Jun register her suggestion. A coffee as a thank you. It became clear that she’s hitting on him. Jun smiled awkwardly, stepping back with a polite rejection ready on his tongue.

But before he could use it though, a calm voice that’s all too familiar, cut through the room.

“P’Jun really can’t, he’s got a date planned with his boyfriend.” Dylan came to stand behind him, his thumb hooking onto the waistband of Jun’s sweat, pulling him back a little so that Dylan could rest his chin on Jun’s shoulder. Turning his head to the side, Dylan asked him, his breath hitting on the side of Jun’s neck.

“Don’t we, P’Jun?” Dylan asked in a quiet voice.

Jun malfunctioned, his brain going error 404 as the word P’Jun, P’Jun echoing around his brain in Dylan's voice. He could only nod to Dylan's question.

“Oh, okay.” The girl looked between Jun’s wide eyes and Dylan's smug smile, before stuttering out a, “Sorry, I didn't know.”, before she scurried back to her friends to the other side of the room.

Jun stood frozen. Dylan stepped back, turning Jun to face him. His eyes roved over Jun’s face, taking in his slow blinks and parted lips. Dylan's eyes darted away to glance at the girl and her group with a small frown. Jun came back to his senses then.

“Dylan.” Jun called him, his voice coming out strained and a little squeaky.

Dylan looked back at him, a pout on his lips.

“Did you just call me P’Jun?” Jun asked, wanting to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating and it wasn't a dream.

Why? Why did Dylan call him P’Jun without any provocation? Is this a dream?

Dylan looked away for a moment before turning back to look at him. His face was indifferent, nonchalant, but his ears betrayed him when they turned a beautiful shade of pink. Dylan stepped closer to hide his face against Jun’s neck, his hand gripping the front of Jun’s shirt.

“Yes.” His voice came out muffled.

“Why?”

Dylan shrugged, his nose pressing on the skin beneath Jun’s jaw, making him shiver slightly at the cold touch. “I just wanted to.”

Jun was still rendered motionless in a stupor. His brain still unable to believe that Dylan had finally called him P’Jun, in his own, without being asleep or in a drunken haze, willingly, and he didn't even deny it afterwards. When Jun remained silent still, Dylan looked up from his hiding spot with a pout.

“She was flirting with you and asking you out all the while calling you P’Jun.” Dylan admitted at last, his face flushing in embarrassment.

“I was going to decline that invite, you do know that right?” Jun said, reassuring Dylan as he leaned down to kiss the pout away.

“I know. But she was calling you P’Jun.” Dylan pouted again, and Jun kissed it away again. “And I don’t like it.”

It took Jun a minute to understand the underlying meaning, and once it dawned on him, a face-splitting grin broke on his face. “Oh my God, you're jealous.”

“Shut up.” Dylan mumbled, his face turned a shade deeper.

“This is priceless. I am going to remember this day till I die, mark this date on the calendar as, where my princess got jealous because someone else was calling me P’J–”

Before Jun could continue his rambling, he was cut off as Dylan pulled him down by his grip on the collar of Jun’s shirt, their noses smashing as Dylan kissed him, murmuring something against his lips that Jun heard as a distant sound.

“Shut up, P’Jun.”

Jun only smiled into the kiss. Kissing Dylan back with only one thought in mind.

Finally.

Jun – 1, Dylan – 5