Work Text:
Haruto hated parties.
He hated how defeaning the loud thumping music coming from all directions hit his ear. The indistinct chatters and laughs, drinks spilling everywhere, and strangers coming up to him- he hated all of it. But most of all, he hated the way the sweat from the crowd clung to his newly purchased white Travis Scott shirt. Fck...
Haruto was standing in the far east corner of the room, stuck with two ladies who were exchanging glances and obviously checking him out. His eyes wandered the crowd, looking for Yoshinori who 'forcibly' dragged him to this party.
"C'mon now, Haruto!" Yoshinori pulled him up from the couch where he was busy watching the re-run of his favourite cartoon show. Haruto looked up at him, annoyed, "I don't want to!"
"Please.." Yoshi pleaded, using the voice he always used to get Haruto to dubiously agree. "You've been watching that for like a week straight now, it's time for you to get up and meet new people." Yoshi eyed the room- cans of empty cola lining up the table, bags of chips to match the unhealthy drink, crayon shinchan playing on television, and a Watanabe Haruto in his black adidas tracksuit, looking like a depressed teenager swamped with unfinished written reports.
"Remember that shinchan doll you were eyeing in Ameyoko the last time we went there? I'll-"
"Alright! I'll go with you. This will be the last time, okay?" Haruto grudgingly stood up and went to the direction of his bedroom, "Not because of the doll!" He added before slamming the door behind him. Yoshi just laughed, "Got it!"
Haruto sighed in frustration, it had been half an hour since Yoshi had left him there. Socializing wasn't really his thing; he needed to get out of this hellish place stenched with booze and expensive, strong-smelling perfumes; he needed some fresh air.
1 minute.. 2 minutes... 5 minutes
Haruto had the strong urge to vomit; he felt as if he he'd consumed a whole bottle of beer when in reality he hadn't touched a single thing in the room besides the group of similar species dancing to This Could Be Us by Rae Sremmurd. They looked like a bunch of crazy ass partygoers... well, they are party goers.. and crazy.
"Hey, go find somewhere else to cater your boring self. You're only wasting the space by standing there doing nothing." said the guy who was obviously drunk, his fingers pointing at Haruto. A group of bystanders around the area diverted their attention on them. Haruto wasn't the type to respond to a talk that would obviously result to a fight, but he really wasn't feeling well right now, and the guy had only made his mood worse.
"Do you own this place?" asked Haruto, smuggly looking down at the guy who was around 3 inches shorter than him.
"...No?" answered the latter who was confused by the question but still looking like he was ready to pounce on someone.
"Then, fuck off." and smack, Haruto was punched on the face. He unsteadily balanced himself on the wall whilst clutching the area where he got hit. The two ladies who were busy looking at him earlier had already fled, probably scared of the commotion.
Loud music was reverberating off the walls and into Haruto's head. He licked the corner of his lips, feeling the metallic taste of blood in his mouth.
"Fuck you, asshole!" the guy was about to punch him again when Haruto grabbed his arm and snapped back, "No! Fuck you!" Haruto punched the dude right in the center of his face, sending him to writhe on the ground.
Haruto had been pushed back by one of the guy's friends, causing him to collide with a nearby table. Can this day get any worse? and right after he thought of that, glasses and bottles of drinks fell onto him, splashing and dirtying his white shirt. Fuck my life, literally! That was a rhetorical question.
"Hey! What's going on here?" said the guy who came from who knows where. "You again? Oh come on!" he said, exasperated, looking at the guy on the ground who had been punched by Haruto earlier. "Please, go home. You're always causing trouble here."
The commotion was calmed down by the new guy, who happened to be the owner of the house. He forced the group of friends who had caused Haruto trouble to return home, he also apologized to the visitors for what had happened and assured them that it will never happen again.
"You okay?" he asked, lending his hand to Haruto to assist him in standing, "Well, dumb me. Of course, you're not." he added.
"Thanks," Haruto said, wiping his hands on the back of his jeans. "I'm Haruto by the way, Yoshi brought me here with him." Haruto wished he could skip the formality and go straight to the bathroom instead, but he was speaking to the owner so he had no choice but endure the agony of wearing a wet, beer-stained shirt.
"I'm Noa. There's a bathroom upstairs, you could go there and wash yourself." Noa smiled and Haruto thanked him for that.
Haruto would find the stairs appealing if it weren't for the visitors crowding the area, he couldn't even make it to the second floor without bumping into some random strangers. There were a lot of rooms upstairs, he tried to open them one by one but all of them were locked.
Frustrated, Haruto went up the stairs which led to the third floor of the house, hoping for a bathroom, of course. He finally found an open one and pushed it open, only to be welcomed by a group of boys smoking. Really? The boys arched their brows at him, seemingly asking what he was doing there.
"Sorry." Haruto said, closing the door. He sighed for the nth time tonight, pulling his shirt away to avoid it from sticking to his chest. Haruto blamed this all on Yoshinori, a shinchan doll wouldn't be enough to compensate for all the shits he had endured tonight.
Haruto walked to the far end of the corridor, there was a door with an indistinct note scribbled on it. Outside, classical music could be heard faintly. As if in a trance, he opened the door and walked inside; there was a wooden scuttle hole leading to which Haruto guessed was the attic.
He climbed up the ladder, not caring about privacy anymore. He desperately needed a place where he could escape and find serenity even for a short while.
The sound of classical notes was getting louder and louder in his ear.
Haruto had finally reached the top, he was still crouched on the floor, and was about to stand when he heard someone,
"Oi!" a guy's voice can be heard from behind him. Haruto stood up and squinted his eyes, trying to adjust his vision from the darkness that was enveloping the attic.
Inside, was actually a bedroom; a wooden queen-sized bed was placed in the center facing the large glass window pane with wood mouldings, through which the moon shone directly; a small center table was placed a few centimeters away from the footboard; built-in wooden closet on the far corner; a small leather couch on the side; a piano near the window; and a reclining chair where the guy who Haruto just heard was sitting.
The guy was looking at him, his face forming a who tf are you and why are you here expression. Haruto just scratched the back of his neck, his eyes couldn't seem to meet the latter's. "I- uhm.. I was looking for a bathroom."
Silence filled the attic... or the bedroom. 1 second... 2 seconds... 3 seconds... 5..
"Pft-" the man's soft laughter echoed around the room, which made Haruto more embarassed. "Did I say something wrong-.."
"No no," the man waved his hand, trace of laughter still evident in his face, "You should have seen your face."
Haruto was at a loss for what to do; he was stuck here in the same position, unsure whether to just leave or ask the person if he could spend some time off here. He found the latter option to be actually kind of crazy, he didn't know the guy and he found him strange for some reason, but he would choose that over the former.
"You look wet," the guy trailed off, his gaze falling on Haruto's shirt, "and dirty."
"Yeah, I had some beverages spilt on me earlier. I was looking for a bathroom so I can wash off." Haruto didn't mention anything about the fight, afraid that he would scare the guy off, lowering his chance of spending some time away from the party downstairs.
"Sorry, you've entered the wrong room.. but, I have a towel and a supply of bottled water here, you can use it to clean yourself."
Haruto smiled for the first time in that night. He looked at the stranger, clearly now; he was dressed in a black Been Trill hoodie and black joggers, and he had this fluffy black hair that was perfectly parted in the middle, giving him a heart-shaped face.
The room's walls were covered in vinyls. Canon and Gigue was playing on a little record player placed on the window. Haruto was mystified as to why he chose that piece out of all the others to listen to.
"Thank you." Haruto smiled.
"Junkyu." said the guy.
"Hmm?" Haruto asked, confused.
"My name.. and you are?" God his name sounded so cute in Haruto's ears. Wait... what?
"Haruto. Watanabe Haruto." he said, curling his hand on the back of his hair. He felt shy, he didn't even know why.
"Well then, Mr. Watanabe, that closet over there," Junkyu pointed at the built-in closet from earlier, "open the right side, I have spare clothes there, just choose whatever makes you comfortable."
Haruto just nodded. He felt a little intimidated under Junkyu's stare. Every step he took was accompanied by the notes coming from the turntable, making him feel like he was controlled.
As he reached the closet, Junkyu turned his back on him, allowing him to let out the breath he had been holding.
He scanned the content of the closet, Junkyu had a lot of sweatshirts hanged, a few too many ASSC shirts, predominantly black, and pants neatly folded on the racks. Haruto pulled one of the ASSC shirt, figuring this would probably the most easiest to wash clean.
Haruto just realised there was actually no room where he could clean himself, he figured it might be disrespectful for him to clean himself and change here where Junkyu was.
Junkyu turned to him, "Why aren't you changing yet?" Junkyu stood up from where he was sitting, he grabbed the towel and the bottled water off the center table and went to Haruto's direction, "here.." Junkyu wetted the towel with water and handed it to Haruto.
"Wipe yourself first and change into a clean shirt."
"Uhm.. is it okay for me to change here?"
"Ah, yes? Why are you even asking that? It's okay, go on." Junkyu smiled, "I'm not gonna look, if that makes you uncomfortable."
Haruto pulled up his shirt and started to wipe himself clean, his gaze travelling the canvas of Junkyu's back. The moon shone directly to where Junkyu was standing, making him look ethereal and bewitching underneath the bleeding of warm white and yellow hues around him.
Haruto wanted to know more.
He took up the black ASSC shirt he got from Junkyu after he finished cleaning; the scent coming from it reminded him of the field of flowers blooming in the spring. He found it a little amusing and mysterious, yet again. The scent seemed to be in contrast with the vibe Junkyu was giving, dark and enigmatic.
"I'm done." Haruto called out, his white shirt clasped to his right hand and the towel on the left. Haruto actually felt comfy in Junkyu's shirt. "Thank you." Junkyu just waved his hand.
Haruto took some steps forward towards Junkyu, eyes still fixed on the latter's figure. The mood seemed to be in harmony to what he was feeling right now.
"Wanna join me?" Junkyu pointed to the piano seat right in front of his reclining chair, Haruto flashed a tiny smile and sat down comfortably in the chair facing the other guy.
Haruto looked at the window and noticed the cup of some kind of herbal tea perched on it, the smoke wafted the air, creating silhouettes of what looked like a figure dancing.
Junkyu stared at him, his left hand supporting the weight of his head. "Want some?"
Haruto looked at him.
Junkyu reached his hand to get the cup, offering it to Haruto, "Drink up."
Haruto looked at the content, it had this deep brown colour and medicinal smell. Haruto didn't really want to drink but looking at Junkyu, eyes expecting and focused, he decided to take a sip. His face contorted as the liquid travelled his mouth down to his throat, "Ehrm.." he slightly coughed, feeling the bitterness of the tea in every part of him.
"You don't like it?" Junkyu sounded sad, trying to take the cup back from Haruto, "It's okay, you don't have to force yourself."
Haruto hastily moved the cup away from Junkyu's reach, "No no! It tastes good! I like it." then decided to finished off the remaining liquid. He felt his body warming up, but the flavour really really wasn't good nor pleasant in his mouth.
"Hah~" Haruto puffed out an air, giving Junkyu a forced smile, eyes squinting and lips stretched showing his teeth, "I can feel the warmth spreading in my veins... it comes down like this-" Haruto demonstrated how the "warmth" spread, hands moving from his throat down to the center of his chest.
Junkyu just laughed, he knew Haruto was only saying that to make him feel better, and it actually worked.
Haruto pondered for a moment. He really wasn't that type of guy who believed in love at first sight; he thought it was just a bunch of nonsense made up by people to make up for their lack of hope in romance, something that writers used to make readers feel ecstatic (which wasn't the case anymore); love at first sight was an old story.
But right now.. here, at this moment, Haruto might-
"Say, what if an asteroid is on its way?" Junkyu interrupted, face dead serious, gazing up at the night sky, his hand clutching the base of his chin, "I think humans could survive it." he then faced Haruto, who was just looking at him, confusion visible in his face.
"Humans, I believe, might still survive for a year... people are able to evolve, you know? They will always find a way to survive, whether it is by eating bugs or drinking swamp water. If necessary, a human's body can acquire an immunity to such things."
Haruto might have believed him because of the way he spoke, but when really thinking about it, it really wasn't possible for humans to survive an asteroid.
"Well.. if that really happens, I don't think it is be possible for humans to survive," he peeked at Junkyu to see his reaction, the latter was just looking at him, urging him to continue, "There will be no access to water and food.. people will have it tough, that will eventually kill them." Haruto concluded, trying to decipher the look on Junkyu's face.
Junkyu nodded, "Hmm you've got a point, but I still believe humans could survive it." He provided more theories and data to back up his case, this gave Haruto the chance to properly look at his features.
Junkyu remained seated in his chair, his demeanor solemn, with pitch-black brows and eyes that resembled the falling stars, shining and a little daunting. His face appeared astonishingly pale in comparison to the darkness that surrounded them, like delicate porcelain under a spotlight, frail enough to break at the slightest touch.
His lips were a little pink of color, like a peach that was about to go ripe, so sweet and pretty. His nose resembled that of a summit, delicate snow kissing the tip of it.
God.... Haruto shook his head, he was already entering a danger zone.
"Tell me more about you, Haruto." Junkyu leaned towards him, legs positioned in a cross-sitting stance. "Why are you chatting here with me and not at the party?"
"I don't like parties.. I was dragged here by a friend."
Junkyu giggled, "What a coincidence, me too... the party is for me though."
"Oh..." Haruto did not inquire further as to why Junkyu wasn't in his own party or what the party was about. He was just glad he found him here, alone in this space, comfy in his Been Trill hoodie, a cup of now empty kwangdong ssanghwa on the windowsill, and listening to Canon and Gigue on a record player.
"Ask me something." Junkyu slumped back in his reclining chair, the moon covering the half of his face; it felt as though Junkyu had finally shown himself, all laid bare now, that this was him, mysterious but also extremely open.
Haruto had no idea.
Are you seeing someone?
Why are you so mysterious?
...was what he wanted to ask.
"Why do you hate parties?" Fck Watanabe you're so weak, he said to himself.
Junkyu let out a soft chuckle and boy Haruto wished he could just melt into it.
"I have social anxiety." and Haruto did not know how to react. He wanted to smack himself for asking such a dumb question, "next question, do you like music?" he asked, noticing how there was a piano and collection of vinyl records in the room.
"Not fair, It's supposed to be my turn to ask you the next question but okay, yes, I do like music." Haruto noticed how Junkyu's eyes glowed brighter at the mention of music. He really must have liked it so much, then. Haruto mentally pat himself in the back.
"Actually, no... I don't like music. I love it. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; it's the only thing I've ever known. Music is my safe haven, my solace. The only thing I am confident with... aside from my family, of course."
Haruto simply stared at him, observing how Junkyu's lips formed different shapes as he spoke those words out. I want to hear him sing.
"Sing for me?" Haruto accidentally blurted out.
"Huh?" Junkyu looked at him as he sat up, "Sing for you?"
"Well.. uh I mean, only if you want to. I just have the impression that you can sing well."
"Did you know? you have this habit of twisting the short end of your hair when you're embarassed.. or shy." Junkyu said as he stood up, only then did Haruto realised that the guy was actually an inch or two shorter than him.
"Move a little." Junkyu walked over to his side. He took a seat next to him, eyes examining the keys of the piano. Haruto only observed him, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off the guy. It felt as though his whole existence was some sort of a milky way, so exquisitely beautiful and inviting, luring him into the trap, leaving him with no exit.
"I'll play for you instead." Junkyu winked and Haruto realised he was doomed.
Junkyu began to play the piano, his fingers seemingly dancing across each key.
He was enthralled by the melodies that were entering his ear, his gaze was drawn to Junkyu's face as he played, then down to his fingers, he loved the way it delicately brushes each piece before moving on to the next.
He wondered how would it feel to have those fingers curled on the back of his hair. Haruto felt tingly.
How talented and echanting could this guy be?
And as if to answer his thought, Junkyu turned his head in his direction, still hitting the right note on the piano, he smiled at Haruto when their eyes met.
Haruto felt like he stopped breathing, he was just staring and staring and staring...
Junkyu raised his brows at him, "You okay?" then he stopped playing. He snapped his fingers in Haruto's face, calling his attention, "You're spacing out, am I that good?" and he let out a hearty laugh, his face scrunching.
"You're great.." and so lovely playing the piano. Haruto wanted to see more, to hear more. He couldn't get enough of it.
"Why, thank you."
The night was still looking so serene from outside the window, their silhouettes were bathed in the warm glow of the moonlight. Haruto wished for the time to stand still for a moment so he could take in everything that was in front of him.
"Let's dance?" Haruto offered his hand to Junkyu who was back at sitting on his reclining chair.
Junkyu stood up, ignoring Haruto's hand, he gave him a signal that said wait for a moment, then went to one of the racks and pulled out a vinyl record. Junkyu switched out the vinyl, Nocturnes Op. 9: No. 2 by Chopin began to play in the background.
Haruto grinned so handsomely when he heard the piece, "Can we dance now?" he offered his hand again to Junkyu which the latter, of course, accepted. Haruto placed both his hands on the other guy's waist, while Junkyu placed his on Haruto's shoulder.
"Didn't know you're some type of a romanticist." Haruto commented, feeling the narrow waist of the other in his hands.
"I'm not," Junkyu giggled, "...well, maybe?"
They were staring at each other, yet again. Haruto could tell there was something special going on between them, and he knew Junkyu felt the same way too.
Haruto felt his chest hammering so hard in his body just by looking at Junkyu. Maybe, love at first sight was real after all.
"Place your bets, who is older than who?" Junkyu suddenly said, still swaying from left to right, "Pretty sure I'm older than you."
Haruto cocked his brow, "Nah, I am older than you."
"Hmm? You sure? A lot of people have told me I look younger than my actual age. You can still change your answer." Junkyu smiled, Haruto couldn't take his gaze away from the man's lips.
Junkyu really looked so beautiful in front of him. So perfect, so unreal... he had this urge to just snatched the man away from this place and take him home with him.
"I'm good." Haruto assured, he was certain Junkyu was younger than him, if the baby face was anything to go by.
"I'm 24."
"What?! For real?" Haruto was surprised, he couldn't believe he was actually younger than Junkyu, "No way, I'm 21..." he said, more to himself.
They continued dancing and talking about random stuffs. Haruto realised Junkyu was really full of wonders, his topics were not the type you usually hear in a conversation. Possibility of zombie apocalypse, origin of the world, celestial beings and other stuffs like that.
When it was already Haruto's turn, he talked about the probability of soulmates being real. Haruto really wasn't sure what he was talking about, he just found himself opening that topic to Junkyu for some reason he didn't know.
"You intrigued me, Watanabe." Junkyu pierced his eyes through Haruto's, his right hand playing with the tip of the younger's hair.
Well, how lovely that is, Junkyu. Since the moment I stepped onto this floor, you've been a mystery to me.
"I wanna kiss you.." Haruto breathed, head leaning closer to Junkyu.
Junkyu didn't respond; he just merely stared at the younger, and Haruto took that as a silent agreement to close the gap between them.
Junkyu's hands were clasped around Haruto's shoulders, his eyes fluttered close, letting Haruto do all the movement... which wasn't really a movement since all Haruto did was touch the older's lips with his.
Haruto moved his right hand that was settled on Junkyu's waist, to cup his face. This was his first time kissing someone and hell it felt so good. The sensation was similar to when he first experienced his first snow; he was so ecstatic, euphoric and full of curiousity.
He loved the feeling of the other's skin on his.
Being with Junkyu made him feel like he was ready to take on anything.
Haruto pulled out from the kiss, his face just a centimeter away from Junkyu's, "Hi." he mumbled through his breath. He could see the fluttering of Junkyu's lashes from his position. He didn't know why it was making him giddy, he felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest just by the sight of it.
Junkyu opened his eyes and met Haruto's, "Are you nervous?" he asked, breath tickling the side of Haruto's face.
"Yea?" Haruto confessed, Junkyu really was making him feel nervous, "Are you?" he asked back.
"Hmm.." Junkyu hummed, eyes still fixed on him, "... you make me feel nervous."
Haruto chuckled, glad to hear he wasn't the only one.
Junkyu removed his hands from Haruto's shoulder, placing it on the younger's side, "Kiss me again.." he whispered almost inaudibly.
Junkyu need not tell him that because Haruto was already planning to lean in for more.
Haruto was just staring at Junkyu resting his head on his shoulder, arms around each other's waist, and still swaying to the music. He didn't know how to describe the emotions he was feeling right now; it just felt so surreal, he was feeling so ecstatic he wanted to cry. All of this was new and unfamiliar territory for him, yet why did it seem so comfortable at the same time? It was almost as if he had been doing this his entire life, it just felt so natural.
Junkyu in his arms felt so natural.
"Junkyu."
"Hmm?"
Haruto smiled, "Nothing, just feel like calling your name."
Junkyu glanced up at him, eyes seem to contain so much words; it looked so beautiful and intimidating, like one that would make you feel at awe and challenged at the same time.
"You look so happy."
Haruto locked his eyes to Junkyu's, "I am."
Junkyu nodded, pursing his lips into a tight grin, "Happiness looks good on you." he whispered.
...and Haruto was stuck staring yet again.
"Can I come see you tomorrow?"
"I'm afraid that'd be impossible."
Haruto tightened his hug on Junkyu just as he was going to pull away, "You're not going anywhere."
"Try me." Junkyu challenged, pulling out from the hug.
Haruto sighed when the older got out from his grasp, he had no idea the guy was this strong.
"Junkyu," he held Junkyu's hand in his left, his right hand squishing both sides of the older's cheeks, it felt so soft and plump in his hold. Haruto was frustrated, he wanted to take Junkyu home with him so bad. He had never been this clingy before, heck he didn't even know he had this side. Junkyu really brought out facets of him he didn't know he had... and he's loving it.
"See you tomorrow?"
"I said-"
"See you tomorrow." Haruto cutted off, refusing to take No for an answer. He would come see Junkyu tomorrow whether Junkyu like it or not.
Junkyu just shrugged, "Go home now, it's late." he mumbled through squeezed cheeks. Haruto giggled, Junkyu really looked so beautiful and cute and handsome and perfect in his eyes. Junkyu was everything.
This moment was everything.
Them, underneath the bleeding of moonlight, sharing the same scent, and dancing to Chopin's piece from the background.
Haruto was sure he's in love. That this was love.
"Good night.." he whispered, stealing a swift kiss from the older.
"Good night." Junkyu smiled.
Haruto kept a constant smile on his face the entire way home. This was really the best night of his life. He even forgot he was supposed to go home with Yoshinori. Haruto really didn't care anyways as it was Yoshi who had left him first.
As he arrived home, he hurriedly hand washed the shirt he borrowed from Junkyu and carefully placed it in the dryer to dry. He tidied up his room; removing all rubbish and trash from his desk, making his bed, and arranging his llama and shinchan doll in the room whilst humming to Peaches by Justin Bieber. He really couldn't wait for tomorrow.
His mind was full of Junkyu, and he had fallen asleep thinking of, of course, Junkyu.
Haruto had no idea when he arrived or how he still remembered the address where the party was held last night. He just found himself outside the house, a paper bag containing Junkyu's shirt clasped in his right hand.
He rang the doorbell.
He was feeling both giddy and nervous.
An unfamiliar guy greeted him as the door opened, "Hi. May I help you?"
Haruto shifted, "Uhm.. Is Junkyu there?"
"Ah! Junkyu? He's gone already."
"Gone?" Haruto felt his body gone cold at the mention of the word.
The guy waved his hand, "Ei no no! That's not what I meant.. He went back to Korea."
"Korea?" Haruto was like a broken record, annoyingly repeating every word he heard.
"Didn't he tell you?" the guy opened the door wider to invite Haruto in but Haruto respectfully refused. "His flight is set to take off today. Noa drove him to the airport, he'll probably be back any minute now. It sucks, right? His visit only lasted for two weeks. I'm missing him already."
...so this was why Junkyu said it'd be impossible for Haruto to come see him today. Haruto didn't know how to react, he felt betrayed because of the realization. So all that happened last night... all those talk, them dancing under the moonlight, the kisses... it was.. all for nothing...
Haruto let out a bitter laugh.
Fuck he really hated parties.