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For the first time since he was five, Jake was actually scared of Halloween parties.
To be fair, the last time he’s ever joined anything like this was way back when he was still in Australia. Even then, he eventually learned to get over his fright and recognize that the vampires and monsters and pirates were all just his friends beneath the costumes.
And that was the thing. This time, it’s not because of the costumes anymore, no. Not now, when everyone wanted to look their most attractive and wore outfits that are more flashy than scary. Some even barely wore anything, mostly women who were scantily clad, passing off lingerie as costumes by merely slapping on animal ears. Must be one of their methods in attracting the male species—typical college students.
So you might ask. Why then is he terrified just now?
Well, you see, just about a week before this trick or treatin’, he made what he would like to call a ‘deal with the devil’. And good timing too, because here he was approaching Jake with his over-the-top cape trailing after his wake. Or was he a vampire? Frankly, Jake couldn’t care less.
“Why so serious?” Heeseung chuckled, clearly finding the situation amusing. When Jake only grunted in response, the older dropped a heavy hand over his shoulder but retracted it immediately when his palm met the inconspicuous shit ton of studs on his Harley Quinn jacket. Yep, you read that right: for tonight, Jake was Harley Quinn—or King, if you will.
For some stupid reason that he now couldn't remember, he agreed to bet on whether or not the school's ice hockey team would win this season. From their win (and Jake’s loss) resulted in this consequence that Jake had to endure for a whole night.
On top of all that, in order for his dare to be ‘official and valid’ as his so-called friends claimed, he had to kiss the first person whom he sees at the Halloween party was dressed as the Joker.
It wouldn’t have been half as bad if only he weren’t wearing this itchy jacket and these tight-as-fuck leather pants Sunoo made him wear today. Earlier in the day, he found himself camping at the younger’s house, together with apparently Heeseung’s friend, Choi Beomgyu from the Engineering department, just to get himself ready for his doomed fate.
Thinking about it, he was actually even lucky today to have settled with the pants instead rather than the skimpy shorts Sunoo insisted were part of the outfit (and look at how aggressive they were in this agenda of theirs too that they even got him a whole costume set!).
In his defense, it was indeed too short, but up until now, he could hear the younger’s ‘Of fucking course it’d be short, why else will it be called shorts?’ which he remembers effectively shut him up that moment. When he stared at himself in the full-length mirror, his first thought was that the tightest-fitting pants he'd ever worn in his life made his butt stick out much more than he’d like to. But it was non-existent apparently—“pancakes” as Sunoo called it when he went and slapped it to prove how it sounded like a screenshot.
Apart from these, he also had his hair—even his eyes—colored the customary red and blue, courtesy of Beomgyu who, just like Sunoo, took too much delight with doing so and supporting him in this buffoonery of a bet. ‘Literally, fuck Heeseung’ was the only thing in Jake’s mind as the hair spray dyes did this magic, temporary thing with his hair.
After all that modification they did, standing now in the middle of Heeseung's dance floor of a living room inevitably made Jake stand out among his fellow gentlemen. For the record, though he was essentially a clown today, he would still consider himself as looking very aesthetically pleasing at the very least. And who's to say his outfit wasn’t the least bit metaphorical and culturally significant? For instance, just his bicolored theme already said a lot about himself: the blue, denoting 'help!' and the red, signifying a bigger and even much louder "HELP!”.
On his left, Sunoo suddenly showed up with yet another cape in their capeful party. When he saw him approaching, Jake noted how it dragged along half-empty cups of fruit punch and yet decided not to mention it upon the sight of Sunoo’s top-notch smile. For someone whose character was supposed to be usually serious, even emotionless, Jake thought he looked too happy with his bat ears that resembled cat ears more. It suited him though, almost enough to warrant the cutesy nickname Batsy.
But back to the matter at hand. Heeseung’s cough beside him was enough in itself to pull him back into the reality of his current situation. He thought, it would’ve been better too if only he were to find the first person whom he could see was dressed up as Poison Ivy. That one, he’d be very much willing to do because ‘Harlivy rules!’; Joker was but a (literally!) toxic asshole and Harley was considerably so much better off without him.
Also, it was much more probable that he will see a female Ivy costumer than a female Joker tonight, and he would not at all want to have to kiss someone’s nasty, crusty, dry ass lips, which he presumes would more likely be from a guy than a girl who took at least an hour to get their hair done.
Which is the exact same thing that Jake is now afraid of and had been trying to tell Heeseung a week ago. But the older would not budge, even with his pleas about not wanting to catch herpes—yet again, he was rendered speechless when Heeseung reminded him about his own statements whenever he would see Park Sunghoon walking down the university grounds. Now, he couldn’t exactly complain because he was right, and Heeseung himself also knew that he was. Yeah, to begin with, it was kinda Jake's fault too.
Still, whoever can tell if the destined Joker tonight could even be half as good as the guy? That’s right, no one. And come on, he definitely can’t kiss just anyone right then and there when he’s giving these lips of his away for free.
Out of the blue, the party music changed into this one song whose singer's voice sounded somewhat like his. Within the first few seconds, he’s made sense of the lyrics saying something along the lines of ‘somebody better call Batman’, and right on cue, his two friends turned to him with their matching shit-eating grins and brows suggestively moving up and down.
Great! He sighed.
“I’m just gonna go grab a drink,” Jake finally said before excusing himself. In no time, he reached the bowl of punch that appeared suspiciously darker than normal. Even better, he thought. Perhaps a burst of alcohol through his veins would be all that it takes to get him all warmed up. This was also considerably easier than having his friends declare his huge ass crush then risk being rejected in public. Again, some friends they were.
Halfway through his second cup and he was already mildly staggering. But it wasn’t much really; ideally, he could still stand upright and walk properly back to his previous spot with his friends.
But then, without warning, the main door to the house was opened, in coming a new group of dressed to kill college students. Together with Jake’s soccer varsity teammates Jay and Taehyun and a few more others, another figure entered the room whose costume for the night resembled too much of the single person Jake had been waiting for.
Oh.
He looked like Sunghoon.
You know what, on second thought, Heeseung was right. What’s the big deal? It’s just a kiss. Right, it was high time that Jake loosened up on things as simple as this.
After fully downing his second cup of spiked punch, he stumbled his way into the direction of the man who looked like Sunghoon. The alcohol actually sort of did its job well, because the moment Jake stood in front of the guy, he didn’t even appear anything unlike Sunghoon. If this was how it is, not to mention his still unfulfilled dare, then he guesses it can’t be helped.
The man was quite tall, just like Sunghoon. He also smelled so nice tonight, and even that was still just like Sunghoon too. If he were in a more sober state, Jake could never even come to think of anyone who can match these qualities, but as it was more convenient now and thoughts of Park Sunghoon flooded his mind anyway, he knew he had to shoot his shot now.
Without so much as a glance back towards his friends who were watching his next actions with an intent gaze, Jake threw himself into the arms of his Joker for tonight. He thought he heard an audible grunt at the impact, but he was easy to brush it off as simply a figment of his imagination. Upon looking up, the overwhelming sight of Sunghoon’s visuals greeted him and he almost backed out from the mere sight. But he was a man on a mission, and not even this supposedly alcohol-induced illusion of his crush’s breathtaking face can stop him.
He cushioned the side of his face on the Sunghoon-lookalike’s chest, and there, with a tantalizing gaze and the flirtiest tone he could muster, screamed,
“Puddin’!”
Then he giggled, not even giving a fuck whatsoever to the stares thrown at his exclamation. On any other day, he never would have done this intentionally, but the thing is, this wasn’t like any other day. He heard the nervous chuckle from above him, which he readily took as his cue to talk more.
Looking at the taller again, Jake noticed how he seemed to actually be quite concerned with the way he was acting. His tipsiness must be getting obvious then. Regardless, the man still worked up an acknowledging reply out of courtesy.
“Hello, um, Jake.” Sunghoon-lookalike sent him a smile. And oh, he almost felt his knees give up right then and there, but before he could even fall, the other wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Oh shit—hey, hey!” Jake heard him panic momentarily, but only until he regained his composure after catching him. “Easy there. Are you okay?”
At the question thrown at him, Jake nodded, along with yet another giggle. His world was currently a blur; the next thing he knew, he found himself already being brought to sit on a nearby stool by the wall, while the other’s companions seemed to have been gone by now. Even then, he still couldn’t filter out the words that escaped from his lips.
“Don’t I look good tonight?” he purred. He swore he'd imagined it when his company’s cheeks reddened at his inquiry.
“Yes, you look very beautiful.”
Sunghoon-lookalike was smiling at him too kindly and while Jake normally wouldn’t have it any other way, he can't exactly get a kiss from him with just that, now can he?
These things… These required getting it to someone straight away.
“Can I kiss you?”
The man’s eyes went as wide as was humanly possible. “Wh—What?”
“Can I kiss you?” he repeated, thinking it'd help. Because the quicker he gets out of this dare, the better!
“No, I mean… I heard you the first time. But I— You what—”
Hearing his words, Jake figured that the other seemed to have fallen in a black hole of daze and confusion. And he wasn’t one to just do anything to anyone without their consent, so he settled with waiting for the other to come to terms with everything and give him a response.
As he did, he observed how this lookalike looked too unfairly handsome in his outfit, fake green hair dye and all. Joker couldn’t have looked the same without his unusually pale skin, which is why Jake could say that this illusory Sunghoon did pull this shit off.
Tall height, pale skin, sharp jaw. How much of a coincidence was it that the Joker he was looking for looked like Sunghoon all along? Now, he couldn’t help but think of whatever costume did the real one actually wear tonight—that is, if he was even here. He must've been a Disney prince, one who'd take Jake away to live with him in his kingdom one day. Or he must be Spiderman, who would come to take him away to swing all over the city later tonight. Or he could be—
For the second time that evening, the sound of a clearing of the throat interrupted Jake’s musings.
“If we were about to kiss, why don’t you let me introduce myself first?” the guy chuckled. In silent hesitancy, his hand hovered for a while over one of Jake’s until he finally gained the courage to hold it. He continued.
“I’ve seen you around and have known you for a while, actually, but you probably don’t know me yet. So yeah, hi, I’m Park Sunghoon.”
Huh.
Pfft. Oh but this guy did not just say ‘Park Sunghoon’.
“You are sooo damn funny!” In a flash, Jake pulled his hand away in favor of slapping the man’s shoulder as he doubled over in laughter. “Nah dude, you did not just say ‘Park Sunghoon’.”
The guy leaned a bit backward and stared at him, almost as if he was offended. His head slightly tilted to the side when he went and asked, “Why not? What’s wrong?”
Still giggling, Jake leaned to cup his cheeks with his palms. “Why so serious? But not gonna lie, you’re really such a Joker, I give it to you.”
“Um…” he heard him trail off. “I’m confused.”
In the gentlest manner possible, he removed Jake's hands away from his face to hold them in his instead. He looked Jake directly in the eyes.
“But I really am Park Sunghoon.” He let go of one of Jake's hands so he could retrieve his phone out of his pocket. He tapped away and scrolled through it for a while until he seemed to have finally found what he was looking for.
“Look, this is my identification card. There's the name, and—” he swiped to another photo “—this is me with the ice hockey varsity team. This was taken on our last match this season, this place was where the tournament was held...”
At that point, Jake had long since stopped from listening and registering apparently-Sunghoon’s words. He swore he could hear him still talking, but Jake couldn't make sense of what he was saying anymore now that he was struck frozen with his realization.
Somebody better call Batman, indeed.
Sobriety hit him like a whole giant bucket of ice-cold water, with real, actual ice cubes too. No, this can't be. There has to be somebody—anybody! —else wearing a Joker suit tonight.
He finally stood up, albeit a bit too quickly that he swayed with dizziness. He ended up falling over Sunghoon, who readily came to catch him once again.
“Hey, take it easy.” Jake felt himself being sat down on the stool yet again. But damn, thinking about it, he didn't even want to be here in the first place; he needs to get away. He tried to scour the crowd for either of his two friends, but their costumes were a bit too dark for his currently spinning vision.
“This was,” he started as he tried to stand up again, “This was all a misunderstanding. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to drag you into this—”
Before he could even escape and finish his sentence, he felt a large, cold hand wrap around his wrist to pull him back. He didn't even wait for the other to speak when he blurted out his name, thinking it was the reason why he'd been dragged back again. But Sunghoon seemed to have already heard his thoughts before he did so.
“No, no, I didn't mean that.” Sunghoon went and stood up himself. “I told you, I already know you. Sim Jaeyun, striker in the soccer varsity. University representative for student welfare. A volunteer at the library on Mondays and Wednesdays—”
“Wait, how do you know that?” This time, Jake was the one whose eyes were blown wide open. At his question, he received a giggle in response—what a goddamn reverse card.
“Because you're the reason why my Mondays aren't so bad.”
Jake felt arms wound around his waist again. When he looked up, Sunghoon, who was the real one all along, was already staring at him with his beaming smile.
“Is the offer for the kiss still up?”
Although still shy, he sent him a genuine smile of his own. Well, he did have to fulfill his dare after all.
“Yes. It's actually reserved just for one Mister … S.”
He put his arms around Sunghoon’s shoulders, and only then did he notice the stark difference between both their heights. While he was pondering on how the fuck could he even reach the taller’s lips all by himself, he was torn away from his thoughts once again.
“Jake, I…” Sunghoon trailed off. “Are you sure about this, about me? Do you want this?”
Guess it can't be helped, can it?
“I do.”
Just from that, Sunghoon’s once concerned expression turned into that of mischief.
“Say it.”
“Huh?”
“Before I kiss you. Say it. Say it. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty...?”
“Please?”
For the last time, Sunghoon sighed, then chuckled.
“Alright.”
Later that night found Jake standing beside the food table, a cup of punch in his right hand while his left was on his lips. He could still feel the ghost of his actual crush's lips in his, which he never would've ever believed if not for the other's number now saved in his contacts, also with a contact photo at that.
Sunoo, now stripped off of his punch-stained cape, went to sit on the stool right beside him. He didn't ask about what got him smiling like this, but instead, he only said, “You got it bad.”
Jake couldn't exactly complain, because that much was true.
Right when he was just about to move and get himself a plateful of pudding, Heeseung turned up to sit on another stool beside him too. He also had his cape now hanging on the coat hanger right beside Sunoo’s—turns out, he was going for a vampire look the whole time.
He didn’t say anything, only watching as Jake stacked ladles upon ladles of pudding on his plate with the widest grin on his face. Eventually, Jake felt the stares of the two on him, so he faced them and asked.
“What?”
Heeseung put an arm over the table and leaned his head on his palm. He shared a glance with Sunoo, and that alone was enough to have them both nodding to each other in agreement.
“You got it bad,” the older replied, eyes squinted in a teasing fashion. He sighed then stood up to stretch his arms languidly, even groaning along the way. But before he moved to leave, he spoke.
“Just so you know…” he trailed off with a wink.
“I never said it had to be on the lips.”
Jake choked on his pudding.