Chapter Text
Nakyum’s seventeenth birthday party was supposed to be the best day of his life (so far), but instead of having fun and celebrating, he was crying all alone while crouched in a janitor’s closet. He couldn’t help it. He had told all his friends for months his parents were going to buy him an expensive Italian sports car, but when they gathered outside for the grand reveal, a plain silver Hyundai with a red bow on the hood had pulled up. One of his classmates had shouted: “Did someone order an Uber?”
Oh, how Nakyum’s face had burned as they laughed. What sort of joke was that anyway? Uber stopped running in Korea years ago!
The humiliation had been so intense Nakyum couldn’t even muster up the strength to ask his parents if it might’ve been a prank, but then his mom began gushing over how safe and reliable the car was and that it’d be a great starter vehicle for Nakyum.
Just the recollection brought fresh waves of misery. How could they do this to him? How would he ever face his classmates again?
The door suddenly swung open behind him. Nakyum squeaked and almost tipped over. A tall figure in a server’s uniform loomed over him with a sigh.
“Oh, Seungho, you scared me! Unless you’re here to tell me the party is over and everyone’s already gone home, go away,” Nakyum said and turned back around. He heard Seungho let out a derisive snort.
“My, my, what would your esteemed guests say if they knew the precious young master of the Baek family was weeping next to a dirty old mop because he was forced to endure the gift of a generic-brand car?” Seungho said sarcastically. “Don’t be so dramatic. Here, wipe your tears.” Seungho handed him a dark handkerchief. Nakyum glowered at him but took it anyway to blow his runny nose.
“It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to!” Nakyum said. “That’s a line from a song by the way.”
“I’m aware, but I fail to see how running away and hiding is somehow less embarrassing than graciously accepting the gift your parents thoughtfully picked out for you—regardless if it was what you wanted or not. Stop acting like a spoiled brat.”
Nakyum had known Seungho since they were kids—since he was born really. Seungho was three years older than him and the son of the Baek family’s household manager, granting him special immunity to do as he pleased. Growing up, Seungho had teased him mercilessly and Nakyum had tried to get Seungho punished many times, but his parents had always sided with the older boy, often telling Nakyum that he was being too sensitive and a little ridiculous.
Ridiculous! His own parents too!
“Shut up and go away! What do you know? I bet you think it’s all very funny! Go ahead and laugh! Why don’t you go tell everyone how stupid and spoiled I am? I bet you’d like that!”
“Maybe I will.” Seungho taunted him with a wicked grin. “Should I also tell them how you wet the bed until the third grade because you were too scared to walk to the bathroom alone at night?”
Nakyum grabbed Seungho’s arm with a gasp. “Don’t you dare! I hate you so much! You’re despicable!”
“Oh yeah? Well, I hate you too and you’re no angel yourself.”
The hurtful words cut straight into Nakyum.
“H-How could y-you—!”
Nakyum renewed his crying. Seungho tried pulling Nakyum up by the elbow, but he refused to stand. “No! Let go of me!”
“Stop being so ridiculous!”
“No!”
The struggle caused Nakyum to lose his footing. He crashed onto the mop handles leaning against the corner and knocked down a pail from the top shelf. Empty plastic bottles and other cleaning supplies came raining down in hollow clunks. Seungho plucked a particularly crusty gray rag off of the younger boy’s head and burst out laughing. Nakyum’s bottom lip wibbled.
“Well, aren’t you a pitiful sight?”
“I told you to leave me alone! No! Stop! What are you doing?” Nakyum gasped when Seungho hooked one arm behind Nakyum’s back and the other under his legs and lifted him straight off the ground. The bastard was grinning from ear to ear, clearly entertained by Nakyum’s misfortunes. “I’m going to scream for help and you’re going to be in so much trouble!”
“If you scream I’m going to kiss you,” Seungho said with a mischievous smile.
Nakyum’s eyes widened. “I really hate you.”
“I hate you too.”
“Don’t say that!” Nakyum cried.
“Oh? You can say it to me, but I can’t say it to you?”
“You can’t!”
“Why not?”
“It hurts my feelings.” Nakyum rested his tear-stained cheek on the older boy’s shoulder.
“My, my, what a troublesome young master you are.” Seungho carried him out of the closet and into the hallway. “And what about my feelings? You don’t think I’ll be hurt if you tell me you hate me?”
“No, because you’re a heartless devil.”
Seungho snorted. They headed inside an empty lounge and sat down on a plush maroon sofa. Neither of them attempted to move away, so Nakyum remained nestled in Seungho’s arms and on his lap. Nakyum felt a little childish, but his desire to be comforted won out over his pride so he continued to cling despite knowing he was acting like the spoiled brat Seungho accused him of being.
Seungho must’ve been working with the catering staff as his clothes smelled of lobster puffs, garlic butter, and truffles. Nakyum buried his nose in the crook of his neck until he found Seungho’s familiar scent. They sat there quietly listening to the echoing faraway sound of the live piano playing at the party happening in the banquet hall.
“Have you calmed down yet? They’re going to start looking for you soon,” Seungho said, his voice warm and soothing.
Nakyum shook his head frantically. “I’m not going back to the party.”
“You’re the birthday boy and the whole reason this party was put on in the first place. Your father went through great lengths to book this hotel.”
“It’s not even for me—not really.”
Nakyum didn’t know how to explain that while it was his party, it also wasn’t. If it had been up to him he would’ve gone to the theme park to ride roller coasters all day long, but his parents used any excuse to mingle with the other elite families, even making use of their only son’s once-in-a-lifetime seventeenth birthday.
Parties were for nothing more than showing off one’s fancy clothes (and Nakyum’s mom had bought him a tweed white Chanel set just for the occasion), pretending to like classical music, champagne towers, and networking (whatever that meant)—all stuff Nakyum found mind-numbingly boring. Oh and he couldn’t forget the caviar. Lots of caviar, which Nakyum thought tasted like ocean boogers.
“When you finally pass the test and get your license, I guarantee your parents will buy you whatever Italian sports car you want. They’re simply worried you’ll go too fast and kill yourself.”
“I don’t even care anymore. It’s too late,” Nakyum said woefully. It wasn’t about the car. He couldn’t even tell the difference between an Italian or a Korean car beyond their prestige and price points, but expectations had been built and now he was a laughingstock.
“Don’t be upset, hm? How about tomorrow I take you out for a drive in your new car? We can go to the aquarium and do whatever else you like.” Seungho brushed the fringe from Nakyum’s eyes with a gentle hand.
“Just the two of us?”
Seungho chuckled. “Maybe I’ll ask Seungwon if he wants to come too.”
“You can’t!”
“Why not? Don't you like him?”
“I do, but…”
“But?”
“I like it better when it’s just the two of us.”
“Really? Despite how much you hate me?”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You told me twice in the last ten minutes.”
“That’s because you were being mean to me! I wish you were nicer to me. You’re always nice to Seungwon.”
Seungho chuckled, but he didn’t say anything. Nakyum hadn’t realized how close their faces had gotten. His cheeks warmed at the way Seungho looked at him now, those umber brown eyes hinted at mischief and a spark of something else Nakyum couldn’t quite identify but twisted his stomach into knots. Seungho was terribly handsome. Everyone said so. Even his friends commented in tones of scorn and envy that his looks were wasted on a commoner.
Nakyum wasn’t sure when Seungho started looking at him differently. Was it last year? He couldn’t be sure, but Nakyum hadn’t thought anything of it until several months ago when they found themselves bickering under the mistletoe at a Christmas party. Seungho pointed it out and then leaned in so close Nakyum had shut his eyes, heart racing in anticipation, but Seungho did not kiss him and Nakyum was shocked by his own disappointment.
Even now, with their lips only a few centimeters apart nothing happened. It was driving Nakyum crazy.
“Did you get me a present?” Nakyum pouted.
“How could I possibly forget with you reminding me every single day?”
“Can I have it?”
“Sure. It’s in my inner pocket.”
Nakyum reached into his jacket and pulled out a flat tin box typically used to store business cards. He popped the lid and found three cards with the words “I Wish” printed on each one. “What is this?”
“For your birthday I will grant you three wishes—as long as it’s within my ability to grant. Anything you want. It’s no Ferrari but…”
“Can I use them right now?” Nakyum held up the glossy white card.
“Sure.”
“I wish for you to kiss me.”
Seungho looked startled, but he quickly recovered. He gave Nakyum a peck on the cheek and when he tried to reclaim the wish card, Nakyum moved it out of reach. “Not like that! That’s how I kiss my mom!”
“Then how should I kiss you?” Seungho asked with a provocative smile.
“Like you mean it! You have to do it on the lips like…” Nakyum flushed. “Like lovers do…” he said in a small voice.
“Are you sure?”
“If you don’t want to then just say so!” Nakyum cried and tried to push away. Seungho tightened his hold around Nakyum’s waist to keep him still.
“Don't jump to conclusions all by yourself. I didn’t say that. It’s just… I don’t think you realize what you’re asking for. You might regret it.”
“I won’t! And it’s all your fault! You’re always putting your face so close to mine but you never do it! You’re always teasing me and I hate it.”
The edge of Seungho's lip quirked. “Do you? I think you like being teased. Isn’t it exciting for a young master used to getting everything he wants to be denied a little?”
“I do not!” Nakyum declared. “I don’t think it’s like that at all! I think you’re just a mean sadist who likes seeing me upset and embarrassed!”
Seungho laughed. “Well, I can’t deny that.”
Nakyum stilled when Seungho brushed his fingers against his jaw. The touch was not like any of the others they had exchanged before. It wasn’t friendly or brotherly. It wasn’t even flirtatious. It was seductive and full of not-so-innocent intentions— an alluring caress as Seungho brought their faces in close.
Nakyum’s heart pounded wildly in his chest. He swallowed, wondering if his breath smelled alright, but such petty thoughts were pushed aside when their lips came together.
It wasn’t Nakyum’s first kiss, which had happened in a game of Truth or Dare at some middle school party, but it might as well be. It felt electric and special, like a wonderful secret only they knew about.
“Happy Birthday,” Seungho said, his voice so low and rumbly it gave Nakyum butterflies.
“Since it’s my seventeenth birthday you’ve got to give me seventeen kisses,” Nakyum told him as if it was a well-established custom. He knew he was being outrageous but he didn’t care.
“Your wish is my command.”
Seungho kissed him again. And again. And again.
Nakyum never could tell what Seungho was thinking but right now his feelings were clear as day. The way Seungho’s fingers trembled as they wandered under Nakyum’s shirt. The heavy sighs full of breathless yearning. Seungho’s kisses, soft and tender at first, grew impassioned and urgent. Nakyum tensed when Seungho put his tongue in his mouth. He had heard about these types of kisses before but thought they sounded a little gross—and it was a little gross to be swapping spit with another person, but it was thrilling too in its naughtiness. The sensation of their tongues intertwining sent blooming shivers down his spine and before long he relaxed into Seungho’s arms. He didn’t realize the inside of his mouth was so sensitive.
A helpless moan escaped from somewhere inside Nakyum’s chest. Seungho was right. When he had asked for a lover’s kiss, he hadn’t known exactly what it would entail. He thought it would be like the last episode of a romance drama where the main leads confess their love and kiss while the credits rolled. This was not like that at all. It was intense, and if it could be called sweet, it was the sweetness of heavy syrup.
Feeling overheated, Nakyum struggled out of his tweed jacket. Seungho hands ran all over Nakyum’s body. Their lips parted and while Nakyum fought to catch his breath, Seungho’s sucked the delicate skin of his neck. Nakyum shuddered. It was ticklish, but not the kind of tickling that made him want to laugh. The stimulation was too much and it had Nakyum digging his fingers into the older boy’s back.
“Seungho…”
“Hmm?” The sound vibrated against Nakyum’s neck.
“Is this still a lover’s kiss?”
“Does it not feel like one?”
“I don’t know… I feel dizzy.”
“You feel dizzy?” Seungho pressed warm kisses from Nakyum’s temple to his jaw. Nakyum gasped when he felt Seungho’s tongue flick the shell of his ears before teeth gently nibbled his earlobes.
“You’re biting me,” Nakyum complained weakly. “Ah!” Seungho nipped the corner where his neck and shoulder met.
“You don’t like it?”
“I don’t know…” Nakyum couldn’t hold a single coherent thought. His body felt hot and his head was spinning.
“What do you know then?” But when Seungho kissed him again, Nakyum lost his train of thought. “Does it feel good?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does it feel bad?”
“No…”
“Won’t you touch me too?” Seungho said with a low humming growl. Nakyum nodded. Seungho brought Nakyum’s hand under his shirt.
Seungho was not only terribly handsome, he was also obnoxiously ripped for no good reason. Nakyum ran his fingers along the older boy’s well-defined pectorals feeling both admiration and envy.
Seungho unbuttoned Nakyum’s shirt, revealing his bare chest. He then nibbled Nakyum’s collarbone. “Seungho…” he said, feeling a little unsure. Seungho ran his scalding tongue over Nakyum’s sensitive nipple. “Seungho! That’s—!” Seungho sucked hard on the pink nub.
Nakyum jerked in Seungho’s lap and felt something hard poking his inner thigh. Seungho was hard.
A part of Nakyum panicked at the thought. It was too much and too fast. He wasn’t mentally prepared, but the other part of him was drunk with desire and being desired. With a little trepidation, he rocked his hips against Seungho’s erection, eliciting a shuddering groan from the older boy.
“Oh god, Nakyum,” Seungho moaned in a hoarse voice. The way Seungho looked at him now, eyes glazed with lust, made Nakyum shiver with delight. He had never seen Seungho look like that before. Gone was the sour grapes expression of constant disapproval. Seungho wanted him and it was glorious.
Nakyum rolled his hips again, earning another groan from Seungho. “You’re driving me insane,” Seungho hissed.
Seungho’s fingers crept under Nakyum’s waistband and stroked the sensitive skin of his pubic bone. The younger boy froze. He pushed Seungho away. “Don’t!” he cried, louder than he intended. He felt light-headed and his knees a little weak as scrambled onto his feet.
Seungho’s face went pale with confusion and regret. “Nakyum wait! I-I didn’t mean to scare you.” Seungho reached for him.
Nakyum pushed the wish card into Seungho’s hand. “I’m going back!” he declared and then hurried out of the room. He checked the mirror in the hallway and was stunned to see all the kiss marks along his neck and chest. His lips were bright red and swollen. Nakyum hurriedly buttoned his shirt up to the top collar and headed back to the party.
When Nakyum returned his parents and sister fretted over him, having wondered where he had suddenly run off to. None of his friends made any snide remarks about his new car (though they did make jokes at school for a whole month before getting bored). The workers wheeled out the confetti cake. Everyone sang “Happy Birthday”. The rest of the evening passed without further catastrophe, but even if the roof fell down over their heads Nakyum wouldn’t have noticed.
Seungho had kissed him and even sucked his nipple and Nakyum had liked it so much it scared him.
Seungho, who he had known since forever, who was cool and capable and good-looking and tall, who teased and mocked him but was always tender at just the right moment. Seungho, who was the Baek family’s household servant.
Nakyum began to worry all over again. What would people think if they knew he was kissing a servant? And a guy at that! Nakyum wondered if he was gay. It had all felt so natural he had never considered it before.
Wait, was Seungho gay? Had Seungho kissed other boys the same way he had kissed Nakyum just now? How many boyfriends or girlfriends had Seungho had before? He was such a good kisser he must’ve had plenty of experience and the very thought made him green with jealousy.
“Nakyum, what’s wrong?” his sister Heena asked as the guests began to leave. “You’ve been acting off the whole night. Is this about the car? I know you went around telling everyone you were going to get some fancy import but you literally only told mom and dad you wanted a car for your birthday, not which one. You can’t blame them for doing exactly what you asked.”
“I don’t care about the car anymore,” Nakyum grumbled. Heena sighed.
“You didn’t even tell them ‘thank you,’ yet!” She lightly pinched his cheek in reprimand.
“I didn’t?”
“No. You’re as cute as a button but you’re seventeen now. You can’t go on acting like a child forever.”
“Am I that bad?” Nakyum asked.
“You’ve gotten a lot better, I’ll give you that.”
So Nakyum went to find his parents to thank them for the car. “Oh you’re welcome my little monkey!” his mom cried. “I was so worried you didn’t like it!” His dad agreed, ruffling his hair. “Once you get your license and a little practice, your old man will take you to a car show and you can pick something out you like.”
His parents both doted on him endlessly. Nakyum couldn’t remember the last time his parents raised their voice at him, not even when he ran away from home without telling anyone (he had been throwing a tantrum over his parents being too busy to spend New Year’s with him) and was almost kidnapped. Luckily Seungho had noticed and pulled him away before two guys in a van almost snatched him right off the street.
Seungho had yelled at him that night. A lot. He had shouted all sorts of awful things until Nakyum couldn’t take it anymore and had burst into tears, but Seungho didn’t comfort him. Instead, he called him a spoiled good-for-nothing worms-for-brains crybaby and stormed out. They didn’t talk for weeks. Seungho tried, but Nakyum refused to speak to him—to even look at him until Seungho groveled for his forgiveness.
Of course, Seungho didn’t grovel so Nakyum continued to freeze him out of his life until his sister told him, “Are you sure you’re ignoring him? Maybe he’s the one ignoring you.” Nakyum, worried Seungho had come to dislike him, sought him out and did what any spoiled young master would consider an immense honor: he invited Seungho to play with his new favorite toy, a small racing drone his father had bought for him during an overseas business trip.
His dad asked him if he wanted to go anywhere in his new car. “If you ask the valet, I’m sure he’ll teach you all about the car and take you wherever you like.”
“Tomorrow I’m—” Nakyum began, but then stopped. Would he still have to spend tomorrow with Seungho? Just the two of them? Alone? His cheeks warmed at the thought.
“Did you have plans tomorrow, monkey?” his mother asked.
“I’m not sure.” He’d have to cancel as soon as possible.
His parents exchanged a conspiring look. “Well monkey, there is someone we’d like you to meet. You remember Mr. Moon, don’t you? He’s one of your dad’s oldest friends and business partners. His daughter just returned from studying abroad in the United States. She’ll be attending university in Seoul and would love to get reacquainted with the city. Maybe you two can go get lunch together and then you can show her where all the nice shops are?”
“Why doesn’t Heena take her? They’re both girls,” Nakyum said.
“Your sister has plans, but if you’re busy tomorrow as well…”
“No, I can do it!” Nakyum said, jumping at the chance to have a proper excuse to refuse Seungho. “Seungho and I talked about going somewhere, but it’s no big deal. We can do it some other day.”
“Great!” his mother said. Nakyum did not bother to question why his parents were so eager about it. She gave him the girl’s contact information. “Ask her tonight, got it?”
After Nakyum sent the invitation he messaged Seungho. “Sorry, I can't go w/ u tomorrow! Something came up!” Seungho called him a few seconds later, but Nakyum ignored it. It was his birthday and he could cry and run away from his problems if he wanted to.