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The sun stayed unforgiving, unloving, harsh . Its heat seared everything underneath it, not even the large Maple tree’s shade can shield them from the excruciating fact that today was like any other day. A day full of nothing but panting, sweat, and sticky limbs piled over the other. The air gave soothing reassurance though, but nothing would beat if the clouds covered the skies.
Mingyu let out a loud, exasperated breath. He felt his ragged clothes stick closer to his skin than glue on wood. He fanned himself with his hands even, although it ended with him limping it back down over the other person’s chest no sooner than 2 minutes. The older let out a huff, but with the heat slugging them both down to nothing but melting pieces of human flesh, no retaliations or snarky remarks were made.
“Hey, Gyu.” Jun moaned out, wiggling the resting arm on his chest. “You’re really heavy, get off.” with one final push, Mingyu’s arm lay rest on the dry grass, its prickly texture tickling the hair on it. Seemingly satisfied, Jun lets out a loud breath of relief- how rude he noted, but he also felt exhausted so he let it pass.
Today was unlike any other days though, maybe it was the white shirt,its color accentuating the gold and red undertones of Jun. Or the wild lilacs in bloom around them, painting the field in nothing but the feel of royalty, a place where Jun shines most, but Mingyu swore that he felt solid, physical tension whenever his skin brushed by Junhui’s. Or maybe it’s the heat causing his heart to beat 8 beats in one whenever he hears Jun’s guttural whines. Maybe it was the sheen of sweat that made Jun seem more golden. Whatever it was, Mingyu didn’t know how to handle it.
He raised one hand up, stretching his fingers out and letting the poorly clinging grass fall off. Somehow, his instincts were melting too, as his brain refused to let him bring down the hand. Not that he minded or anything, the afternoon was cruel as it is, no need for explanations or anything.
But he needs one. He craves an explanation for the way Junhui giggles, for why he suddenly raised his other hand and connected theirs. He needs an explanation as to why the previously golden cheeks flushed rose gold, why Junhui’s glazed expression drove his mind into melting point.
“Mingyu?” Junhui called, lightly tapping the younger with his thighs. “You good?”
He could only nod. Maybe it really was the heat messing with his mind.
Over the distance, the chimes of bells slowly died out, indicating that the few farmers and foragers have finally finished their jobs in the field today. It’s been a ritual for centuries old- never let the bell stop while people are out on the field, lest they wish upon themselves forbidden curses not even Gods can heal .
Fortunately, nobody believed it anymore, but rather used it as an indicator for time. Some would even be caught by Dusk before they finish their errands. Some of these were just the casual sights in their humble village, yet Mingyu found it dear.
“Say,” Junhui spoke, his eyes gaining its focus, “Do you know what they mean when they say ‘curse’? I’ve always wondered what kind of curse they encountered back then that needed the protection of a bell.” He mumbled his thoughts, rubbing a few knots of grass between his slender fingers.
Mingyu hummed, “maybe they contracted a bad disease, you know how backwards our village is. It might’ve been some incurable disease that made everyone panic.” He shared, arms now folded as pillows for his head while he watched the other.
Junhui sat up, still fully focused on the poor grass blades in his hands, “Yeah I already know that, but be more creative will ‘ya? Think out of the box! What if it was some sort of Vampire?” He made exaggerated gestures briefly, showing a small scrunched nose to visualize the ‘scary’ aspect before returning to his abuse on the grass blades.
“I don’t know about that,” Mingyu said, his attention also on Jun’s fingers delicately twisting the blades into tiny circles, “What if they meant forbidden love ?”
Junhui stopped whatever he was doing immediately, mouth agape and eyes wide as he looked at Mingyu with fascination. He even let go of his poor hostage as he laid his head on Mingyu’s chest, “THAT’S IT! What if some Tribe Princess went out one day and brought back a lover? And this lover wasn’t approved of the entire clan? So they believed that whoever that lover was, they were a curse to the tribe?!”
While Junhui ranted about the escapades of forbidden love and all its drama, Mingyu couldn’t stop his heart from beating fast while he watched Junhui’s animated face, mere meters away from his. The way his rosy cheeks turned into small balls of adoration when he laughed or how his nose scrunched over the bad details. Mingyu was mesmerized , spellbound, captivated.
He was cursed .
He was totally, utterly, completely cursed.
Jun let out a small ‘oof!’ when Mingyu sat up abruptly, causing the other to fall to the grass. “Hey! That’s-”
Before Jun could finish his sentence, Mingyu put a finger over his mouth. His eyes focused on Jun, serious and all. He watched his best friend in scrutinizing detail, from the small hair poking out of his bird’s nest of a head, to the heart shaped lips that looked fairer than any woman’s. He took into detail the skin of his neck, the few beads of sweat rolling down on it and leaving traces of glimmer that made it all the more harder to ignore.
He took in every detail of Jun, until he finally realized it. He liked him. He liked Jun.
“Hey, you okay?” Jun finally broke the stillness, his eyes inquisitive as he lightly held Mingyu’s hand. Mingyu nodded, “of course I’m fine….”
“Then why the long face?” Jun followed up, frown deepening when he noticed that Mingyu had a hesitant look on his face. Mingyu naturally avoided his gaze, “Not- Nothing, really. Just...I just realized something, is all.”
Insistent, Jun investigated further, “What exactly did you realize?”
Mingyu sighed, well better now than never. “Jun… I think I’ve been cursed.”
Jun stifled a laugh, but Mingyu pressed further, “It’s like you said Jun, you do get cursed out here, and with love too.” He even buried his head between his palms, letting out small whimpers as he had a total meltdown in front of Jun. Jun on the other hand laid a hand over Gyu’s shoulders.
“Hey, if you need someone to defend your ‘forbidden’ love, by any means! I’ll be here to defend you!” His blinding grin and laugh sent Mingyu deeper into a puddle of emotional distress, when did his laughs become this angelic?
“Are- Are you sure about that?” He asked. The blacksmith, Seungcheol, always told him to strike while the iron was hot. Whatever that meant, Mingyu was sure it was useful in these kinds of situations. “What if you were the one I liked?”
Jun’s laughs seized immediately. Time crawled to a standstill as his fears started to take physical form and stare daggers at him. Mingyu winced, he will not take that damne blacksmith's words at face value again .
Deciding to end the conversation there, Mingyu unfurled his body and planned to walk away. If Jun didn’t want to talk to him after that ridiculous “joke”, he’d accept the other’s decision (with great pain, of course).
However, before he could even apply pressure to his arms, he was pulled back to the ground. The disorientation left him dazed, watching as Junhui trapped him between his legs. When his senses finally came to, Junhui’s hands cupped his face in complete seriousness. He felt ashamed that he enjoyed the position, the older one completely on top of him and his thighs squeezing his sides a bit too tightly.
It was definitely the summer heat.
“Did you just say…” Junhui started, his face now furrowed deep into a discontent frown, “that liking me was a curse? ”
Mingyu gulped, “N-NO! I just… thought it fit the topic you were rambling on about! I- I didn’t know you’d hate it that much, I’m sorry.” He winced at his own apology, how will Jun even forgive him? He made a fool of himself twice in just one afternoon. Fantastic.
“Fitting, huh?” Junhui whispered, a contemplating look befalling his face before he returned his focus on the younger’s face, “Then I guess you can say this would fit our situation too.”
Without even a whisper of warning, his lips invaded Mingyu’s mouth. The delicate skin sending electric shivers all throughout Mingyu’s body. It was barely a peck, just their lips sticking together, but Mingyu felt weak and melted. His breath immediately forced out of him as he savored what the feeling felt like.
Slowly, Jun’s lips started to move suggestively, a knock for entrance which Mingyu gladly answered. Their lips eventually connected deeper, mouths open as their skin came closer in contact. Mingyu wasted no time in hesitating as his tongue immediately seeked out to explore Jun’s mouth.
He tasted nothing but sweet cherry, the taste of Junhui . His kisses were light and quick, somehow slowly driving Mingyu to the edge. He wanted more, he needed more. He craved for more.
He held the older’s back, pushing him closer while their tongues met and intertwined. With Mingyu’s pushing, the once pinned position changed to Junhui now laying on top of Mingyu, arms hoisted by the side of Mingyu’s torso to support himself.
Hands crawled over places they shouldn’t. Mingyu’s hands found the rim of Jun’s shirt, quickly invading it and feeling the skin beneath in rapt detail. He’s never craved for skin so bad before, and Jun’s whines and moans drove him go insane.
Finally running out of breath, they both broke free from the kiss. The earlier summer heat still prevalent as sweat dripped down their faces. However, the smile and panting between them changed, more excited and reassured.
Jun's skin glistened a golden hue as sweat covered him completely underneath the unforgiving sun, blinding Mingyu in more ways than one. His shirt hung loosely as he flashed a smirk at him, elegant and flawless, completely Junhui. A taste of royalty in the midsts of grass knolls and overgrown trees.
Likewise, Jun never felt so mesmerized over someone. He watched as Mingyu’s face contorted under the glaring sun, enriching his tan skin. The wind gave him no justice either, as his messy hair blew in proportions he craved to ruin further, to touch, to devour .
Once they’ve found their bearing, they laugh. Although it was hard to find any humor in the situation, Mingyu’s stomach rumbled with laughter while Junhui’s giggles caused him to topple over, both ending up in a mess as they kept laughing. Carefree and wild.
“Well, was that a curse for you?” Jun quipped, his hands now resting on Mingyu’s stomach. Mingyu hummed in response, too distracted with Jun’s hands that rubbed too low to be considered a belly rub. Obviously, despite the few minutes of laughter, the tension between them stood still like an iron wall.
Jun pressed on, “So, I didn’t expect you’d enjoy that,” he murmured, hands still exploring skin as he traced the muscles underneath fabric. Mingyu shivered, the feeling of playing with the devil new and exhilarating him.
“Well, I’d say you weren’t bad yours;f.” He responded to which Jun laughed. Finally, he was free from Jun’s torturous teasing, as they both sat up and stared at each other once more.
“Want to go back now?” Jun offered, leaning out a hand of which Gyu took with happiness.
Walking back to the village with each other’s hands connected, they decided that they’ll face their problems in more private locations. Though never voiced out, they both instinctively knew to be possessive of the other.
Maybe we have the summer heat to blame for that.