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The way he smiles. The way he laughs with his entire body. The way his eyes are soft and gentle, but still pierce right through your soul when he stares at you. The way he does things to annoy you that, eventually, you become so fond of, you're not sure why you were annoyed to begin with. The way he seems to speak another language entirely when he's talking about his interests. The way he concentrates on you when you're talking, letting out little "mmhmm"s and "yea"s so you know he's listening. The way he can't sit still for too long, fidgeting as if his hands always need something to do. The way he tries to push his glasses up his nose when he's not wearing them.
Brian is so fucked. So so so fucked. He's fallen in love with his best friend. He's learned everything he can about Jae, eager each day to learn something new.
He's convinced it's an addiction by now. The way he wakes up with Jae on his mind, and the way he falls asleep in the same manner.
At first, it was easy to convince himself that he wasn't in love. He told himself he was just excited about having a friend with so many things in common. He told himself that it was making up for the time they lost by being enemies instead of friends. He told himself it was just the excitement of a new person in his life.
He lied to himself.
It was easier when he gave in and accepted that these feelings weren't just that of a friend. His stomach fills with butterflies in anticipation of seeing Jae, and his mind goes through every interaction with a fine tooth comb to cement them into his memory. No matter how good a friend someone is, Brian has never felt this giddy over them.
So now he takes what he's allowed. Private moments between just the two of them. Inside jokes that always make them crack smiles. He's even taken to saving memes to send to Jae at random times when they're not in a conversation. It would feel almost desperate except Jae always sends a ton of amusing emojis back, or his own memes.
Today, they're meeting up to just hang out. Brian doesn't know what they're doing, but he doesn't care either. He just wants to spend time with Jae. So when Jae surprises him with passes for a restaurant week event, he's thrilled.
"Wait, we're going where?" he asks, following Jae off the train. "That place is like... impossible to get in!"
"I know, dude. You've been talking about it since it opened!" Jae laughs, nudging Brian with his elbow. "Of course I had to grab the passes as soon as I saw it was on the list."
Brian flushes, happiness surging through him at Jae being so attentive. "You're too good to me..."
"You deserve it. You're always there for me, I owe you more than I can repay."
"That's called friendship, Jae. I want to do things to help you, and you also do things to help me."
Jae grins, nudging Brian again then slinging his arm over his shoulders. "Okay fine, but that doesn't mean you're going to stop me from doing nice things."
"I guess I shouldn't since it's such a rare occurrence," Brian jokes.
"Hey you asshole, I'm always nice to you!"
Brian just laughs, the two bickering their way to the restaurant.
They're seated quickly enough, looking through the menu without much conversation. Drinks and appetizers are ordered, and the two chat between themselves over their entrees, planning on getting different things so they get to try more than one.
A server approaches the table, a bottle of wine in hand. "Can I offer a taste of our house special wine for the couple?" he asks, showing the bottle to them both.
"Hah. He's not my boyfriend," Jae says, and Brian has to fight to push down his emotions. "But thanks for assuming I'd ever be able to pull a catch like him."
Jae winks at Brian across the table, and Brian's stomach does a flip at that.
The server chuckles. "I'm sure you're more than capable of it!"
"He is," Brian blurts out, surprising himself and Jae. Jae is gaping at Brian slightly, and the server looks surprised but has a small grin on his face.
"I think I'll leave this here... You might need it, after all..." he says, setting the wine on the table and stepping away to another table.
"Bri..." Jae starts, and Brian winces.
"Sorry... I didn't mean... it just slipped out...."
Jae rests his arms on the table, leaning forward some and fixing a firm stare on Brian. "You didn't mean it or....?"
"I meant it but I didn't mean to say it out loud. I'm sorry... I didn't mean to make it weird-..."
"But you meant it?" Jae asks again, and Brian nods slowly. The cat's out of the bag now, so he might as well as own up to it. But before he could assure Jae that he understands they're only friends, Jae speaks again.
"So if you meant it... am I allowed to ask you to be my boyfriend?"
Brian's eyes go so wide he's sure they'll fall right out of his head. "B-boyfriend?" he squeaks out, his voice a higher pitch than he thinks he's ever used before in his life.
Jae nods. "Yea... or like... can I at least call this a date?" He looks hopeful in a way that makes Brian wonder how many signs he'd missed before now. Signs that Jae likes him like he likes Jae.
Grabbing his drink, Brian takes a huge drink to swallow down the lump in his throat, though it ends up not working and leaving him choking on the water.
"Jeez! Bri be careful!"
"Yes!"
"Yes?"
"Yes... you can call this a date... and me your boyfriend... if you want to."
Jae flushes at his words, but his smile is so big that it almost hurts Brian's face.
"Alright... cool... Cool cool. Really cool." Jae's hands are shaking slightly as he grabs the bottle of wine, pouring them each a glass and holding his up. Brian does the same.
"To first dates with new boyfriends," he says, clinking their glasses together lightly, taking a sip as best as he could with the grin on his face. Brian's sure he looks just as stupidly happy.
The rest of dinner is the two of them alternating between their familiar comfortability with each other, and a new shyness coupled with giddiness at the shift in their relationship. When they get up after paying, Jae hooks their pinky fingers together as they head for the door. On their way out, they spot the same server who had brought the wine.
"Hey!" Jae says, smiling. "Just so you know... me and my boyfriend enjoyed the wine. Thanks."
The server takes a moment to process, then smiles widely. "Glad I could be of service," he says, giving a wave as they exit.
Outside of the restaurant, Brian slides his hand into Jae's fully, lacing their fingers together. Jae glances over at him shyly, but with a smile, giving Brian's hand a squeeze.
"Good day out?" he asks, swinging their hands between them slightly.
"Definitely," Brian replies, feeling content and also excited.
Brian's fallen in love with his best friend, and now he knows his best friend's fallen in love with him. He's definitely learned something new about Jae today, and he can't wait to see what comes next.