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“Chenle,” Jisung called into the kitchen of the boy’s apartment, “Where’d you go? I thought we were looking for jobs for me,” he pouted.
Jisung and Chenle had been friends since before they could remember. As soon as elementary school started, the two came as a packaged deal. They were inseparable throughout all their school years and well into their adulthood.
“I was just getting Daegal food, don’t worry Ji!” Chenle playfully shouted back to the soft couch that Jisung was sitting on.
“Sure, sure,” Jisung scrunched his nose as his best friend walked back into the living room, “Whatever, just help me.”
Chenle scrunched his nose as he sat down next to Jisung, “So where were we?” He picked up the laptop off of Jisung’s lap and started scrolling down the web page of jobs.
Jisung wondered why Chenle had scrunched his nose, but he didn’t say anything about the boy’s action.
During the night, the two couldn’t find a single job that interested Jisung. Saddened by the lack of success, Jisung followed Chenle to the flower shop the next day, in hopes to get the loss off of his mind.
“Why are you so sad, Sung?” Chenle asked as he glanced up from the flowers he was arranging to look at the boy who was sulking, “I’m sure that we will find you a job. The search is just a bit slow at the moment,” he shot Jisung a lopsided smile.
Jisung pouted, “I’m just so bored,” the boy sighed as he scanned the flower shop, trying to entertain himself somehow, but nothing was interesting to him.
Chenle hummed, “I get that,” the boy pouted as he finished the arrangement, “I mean I’d ask my boss if he could hire you but I already know you don’t have the same affinity for flowers that I do.”
“Thanks Lele,” Jisung gave his best friend a sad smile, “Also why did you pout just then?” he knit his eyebrows in wonder.
The black-haired boy tilted his head slightly to give Jisung a confused look.
“Nevermind,” Jisung shook his head. He must be drawing false conclusions in his mind, “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
“Alright Sung,” Chenle went back to his work, but glanced up at Jisung every so often to check on the other.
As Chenle’s shift wrapped up, he hung up his apron before returning to the front of the room. Through the storefront glass he could see a mopping Jisung slumped on a bench outside. The florist swiftly threw on his coat before exiting the shop, the winter air nipped at his exposed skin.
Jisung looked up when he heard the door open. “We are going out to dinner!” Chenle declared, grabbing the boy’s hand and dragging him out of his seat, “No more sad Jisung!” the older shot a pout back to the fawn-haired boy.
The younger grinned at Chenle’s actions. His best friend always knew what would help him get his mind off of the world. And having a comfortable dinner was always one of them.
As they entered the restaurant that they frequented, they were seated in a cozy booth next to the window. As the food came out, their conversation continued to flow.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try to get into dancing Sung? You have always had a knack for it, so I don’t see why you are completely ruling it out,” Chenle had a small frown on his face.
Jisung messed with his bangs before answering, “I just am not sure it would be a good idea for me financially,” He kept his eyes focused on Chenle to see if the other would mirror his actions, “I will still do it for fun though Lele.”
“I’m glad,” Chenle smiled and also messed with his bangs, “I just want you to do something you actually enjoy.”
“Did you just copy me?” Jisung switched the topic to address the way Chenle had also messed with his hair.
Tilting his head slightly, Chenle answered, “Yeah,” he had a brilliant smile that framed his face, “It’s because I find you so cute!”
Jisung’s face became a strawberry pink as he peered at Chenle, shock written in his features, “Lele,” he started slowly, “How long have you been copying my mannerisms?” Chenle had frequently called Jisung cute, but it always ended up with the younger becoming incredibly flustered.
A shrug came from the older, “I’m not exactly sure,” his voice was as sweet as honey, “I just know that you rubbed off on me, after a while.”
The rest of the week passed dreadfully slowly for Jisung. In his boredom, the boy had wondered if he might have feelings for his best friend. The thought scared him, but he could see that it was a likely conclusion. Jisung had always held Chenle closer than any of his other friends. The way that Chenle laughed had always been music to Jisung’s ears. The two would joke about being soulmates as their friendship had lasted so long, but Jisung just assumed that they meant that as friends.
Many confusing thoughts spun around the fawn-haired boy’s head as he sat next to his best friend. Chenle had come to Jisung’s apartment, to see if they could sift through the job websites again.
“Are you sure you don’t want to work at a bookstore, Sung? There are plenty that are hiring right now,” Chenle asked as he scrolled down the website.
“I’m sure Lele.”
Chenle hummed and bit his lip in thought as he turned to Jisung, “You enjoy hanging out with Daegal right?”
Jisung’s heart stuttered slightly as he saw his best friend pull his lip between his teeth, “Yeah I love being around Daegal,” he smiled.
“What if,” Chenle swerved back to the laptop and started typing something into the search bar, “You get a job at an animal shelter?”
With wide eyes, Jisung stared at Chenle, knowing that the boy had found Jisung the perfect job, “I love it,” he said, but all sound was blurred causing him not to hear what Chenle had said next.
Jisung’s head spun. Chenle always knew what Jisung needed. Chenle always knew how to cheer Jisung up. Chenle always stayed by Jisung’s side no matter what. Jisung had always liked Chenle unknowingly.
“I‘ll be right back,” Jisung saw Chenle’s confused face but the latter let the boy go. Jisung rushed out the front door, heart beating out of his chest. He slid down the wall outside of his apartment, head in his hands. Jisung liked his best friend. Jisung liked Chenle.
The cold bit Jisung’s cheeks, but he ignored it. He couldn’t believe how foolish he had been. How could he not realize he had exclusively non-platonic feelings for his best friend?
The door of the apartment creaked open and Jisung felt the warmth of another next to him. Jisung knew it was Chenle, but he couldn’t bring himself to look at his best friend.
A hand was placed onto his shoulder and was followed by the all too familiar voice of his best friend, “Sungie? Are you okay?” Chenle softly rubbed the boy’s shoulder in hopes of providing any sort of comfort to the other.
Jisung looked up at Chenle momentarily before talking to the wall in front of him, “I—“ he stuttered, “I have feelings for you Chenle,” after he whispered those words into existence, he buried his head into his knees.
“Jisung,” Chenle’s voice was delicate, “Look at me, please.”
Jisung refused to look at his best friend. He was full of shame and unrequited feelings that he couldn’t bear to even glance at Chenle.
Carefully, Chenle took Jisung’s head into his hands, so the younger could no longer avoid him, “Jisung,” his voice is barely above a whisper, “The reason I started to copy your actions is because I liked you too and thought you’d notice from that.”
Jisung’s eyes softened and all the fear melted away, “Really?”
Chenle’s smile was brighter than the sun, “Really,” he stroked the side of Jisung’s face with the pad of his thumb, “Sung?” His voice had returned to a whisper, “Can I kiss you?”
An excitable nod came from Jisung as he leaned in. Chenle stole a small peck from Jisung’s lips but it was nothing more than that. Jisung could tell that the other was slightly nervous but he still appreciated the gesture.
Jisung giggled quietly, “Thank you for helping me find a job Lele,” his hands landed on the nape of Chenle’s neck and he leaned in. Chenle’s face was red as Jisung slid his eyes shut and connected their lips. At first Chenle was shocked at the more intimate kiss but soon his lips moved in rhythm with Jisung’s. The kiss was sweet as honey. It didn’t last for long but it meant the world for the two of them.
As they part, Chenle is breathless, “God, I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”
Jisung giggled and stood up, ushering Chenle to return to the apartment with him.