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Sieun can't remember how it started. Wait, no. He does. It was in a dream that he had four days ago.
As odd as it sounds, Sieun isn't the type to dream . At least he doesn't actually remember anything he dreams about. He always thought it was because his mind is always on overdrive, thinking about school and tests so much that he never actually went into the stage of REM sleep that allowed him to dream vividly.
And this dream was vivid alright. He only remembered it so clearly because it caused him to wake up with a start like he was having a nightmare. But it wasn't a nightmare. He can still feel his lips on him as if it really happened and those lips definitely were not nightmare material.
Since that morning of the first dream he has only been thinking about Suho. He would take the bus, see an ad for kick-boxing and think about him. He’d listen to a song, hear words that reminded him of Suho. The point is he can’t stop thinking about Suho in the dream. It got to the incredibly humiliating point where he would stare so intensely at Suho’s lips whilst they were talking until Suho stopped and asked him if he was okay.
A part of him wanted to scream and say he needed psychiatric help for thinking about his friend like that and the other part wanted to bash his head into the wall. Neither of those happened. Instead he nodded and let Suho continue to blab about a film he had watched on his breaks the other night.
Sieun didn’t understand where these emotions were coming from. Was he forcing feelings from his dream into his reality? Or was his reality finally catching up with his subconscious? He can’t imagine that he’s always had these thoughts lurking in the very back of his mind. Sure, there’s no doubt that he thinks Suho is an attractive male, probably the most attractive in class. But would he dream about kissing him? No.
Although it looked like he already had. Multiple nights in a row too.
This time he was rudely awoken by his phone ringing. Sieun was pissed off, needless to say. He let these dreams ruin his night sleep the past week and just when he was finally getting used to it and he was beginning to enjoy it he got interrupted. He rolled over and grabbed his phone.
Ahn Suho
He shouldn’t be so surprised by the name on the screen, the only people that ever call him are Suho and his dad (even his dad only calls when it’s an emergency so really it’s just Suho.) but still panic arised in his chest and he sat up before answering the call.
“Hello–” it came out very hoarse and small so he went to clear his throat then tried again. “Hello? Suho, what’s wrong?”
“Ah good, you’re awake.” He tried to argue that no, he in fact was not awake but Suho continued, “Put your running shoes on and come meet me at the jogging trail under Gangbyeon Bukro.”
The sleep didn’t help with his confusion. “Running shoes?” It was almost comical that Suho thought Sieun owned another pair of shoes specific for running. He would laugh if he wasn’t dead tired.
“Just run over here, I’m training you today.” And like that he hung up. Sieun pulled the phone away from his face and was hit with the cold realisation that it was barely 6AM. What in heaven’s name was Suho doing up so early under a bridge? He groaned. There was no use arguing with him and he was certainly not going back to sleep now so he might as well entertain Suho’s peculiarity.
It took him far longer than he would like to admit to find his PE shoes and to run over there. By the time he saw Suho lying on one of the benches he was breathless and in dire need of water. He should’ve brought a bottle, he thought.
With legs feeling like pure jelly he walked over to the bench next to Suho and sat down, his side cramping up. “Isn’t it exhilarating to work up a sweat so early in the morning?” Suho asked. He probably thinks he looks so cool, not even having to look up to know it’s him , Sieun thought panting beside him. He thought better off than to reply to him, hearing the teasing in his voice that he tried to hide.
“Here.”
Sieun glanced over and saw Suho holding a small bottle of water in his hand. He took it and quaffed it down in seconds. “Thanks.”
“Did I wake you?” He was standing now, towering over him with a teasing smirk on his face. God Sieun hated it sometimes.
“Yes.” He deadpanned.
“Awe, you seem mad. Was the dream that good?”
Sieun felt like his heart would drop into his stomach, his eyes widened a fraction and he gulped. He had to convince himself that there’s no way Suho would know about the dreams. “I barely slept,” he replied.
“Well, we’ll make this quick then.”
Sieun looked at him in confusion as he was told to get up. “You said we were just running. I ran here, from my house.”
“I said we’re training. The run was just to warm you up. Are you warm Sieun-ah?” He extended his hand out and when Sieun didn’t take it he grabbed his arm and heaved him up, sending him flying with a smack to his ass. Sieun tried not to show any reaction to that, only silently rubbing where he was hit much to Suho’s delight.
Suho took off his jacket then cracked his neck before walking over to him.
“Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart, stand diagonally, it helps with the motion and balance. It’s physics, I’m sure you know more about it than I do.”
“I told you I don’t need it. Let’s go home and sleep, you look tired.” He said boredly.
“I’m not tired.”
“Well I am.”
“Too bad, this is good for you. You’ll thank me one day. Besides, I can’t always be there to save your ass.” Suho said smugly.
Sieun fought the urge to roll his eyes. “When have I ever needed you to save me?” He hoped the joke translated well. He’s always been grateful for Suho’s impeccable timing, he wouldn't want him thinking he’s not.
“I have a list somewhere on my phone, do you want me to pull it out?” When Sieun didn’t reply, he scoffed in triumph. “Thought so.” Then he motioned to their feet and a defeated Sieun obeyed and turned his feet.
He watched as Suho walked over to him, grabbed his chin and stared deeply into his eyes. He tried not to think about how many of his dreams started off like this, so instead he completely zoned out until suho was nothing but a blur to him. “The chin must always be tucked. The fists raised–” Suho took a hold of his wrists, forming loosely closed fists and raising them to his cheeks. “These are your most prized possessions, they protect that pretty little face of yours, got it? When throwing punches keep your fists on the sides of the chin, when you’re down and the person is above you, raise your full arms over your head, protect as much as you can.”
Sieun nodded but he wasn’t really paying attention. Pretty face, he thinks I have a pretty face. His face began to burn, and as pale as he is it started to show up pretty easily on his cheeks. The very cheeks that Suho began to tap against using Sieun's own fists, "protect your chin, remember that."
Suho smiled, "gwiyeowo." he whispered before letting go of his wrists and then standing back. "When there's a bastard standing in front of you threatening to beat you half to death, don't look into their eyes. It'll only catch you off guard, look at their shoulders." Sieun turned his gaze down to his broad shoulders.
Subconsciously, he swallowed. He's seen Suho shirtless before, he knew what was under that large blue t-shirt of his. Now that he thought about it, maybe it was after that day he saw Suho getting changed in front of him at Suho's house that he began to experience those dreams and– no, not the time. So not the time to be thinking about dreams of his best friend shirtless and above him.
Suho demonstrated a slow punch and pointed at his shoulder, "See? The shoulder helps you stay ahead of the opponent. When you see them move like this, you bend your body at 90° and charge into them. Like this," He proceeded to wrap his arms around Sieun's legs. "You'll then have to grab the knees and push them to the ground. You have to be quick with this movement or else you're good as dead.'' He counted to three and Sieun understood to let himself fall to the ground to help him make the point since Suho was being far too gentle with him.
Suho lost balance and fell on top of him. Sieun felt his pulse quicken. Suho was between his legs and his arms were on either side of Sieun, keeping himself hoisted up. For a painfully long moment that really only lasted about 15 seconds, Suho stayed still, staring down at him.
Sieun didn't know what to do, his hands were ghostly holding on to Suho's arms. He caressed them with his thumbs. He could feel the small hairs of Suho's arms stand erect, the bulbs of them causing goosebumps to rise on his skin. And for a second Sieun saw Suho's eyes flicker from staring into his eyes down to his lips. Sieun subconsciously licked his lips, hoping that Suho would have the guts to do what he couldn't.
Kiss me, he wanted to whisper.
But Suho blinked and shook his head, as if coming out of a trance. "Sorry." he awkwardly scrambled up to his feet and dusted his hands off. Sieun sat up, supporting himself with his hands digging into the cement ground. He stared at him, eyes filled with both confusion and desire. They flicked down to Suho's plum pink lips as they moved to finish off Suho's speech that Sieun was barely listening to anymore. His mind too busy making up scenarios in which he has Suho pressed on top of him right there with their lips interlocked.
"He's down and what do you do? This–?" He raised his fist to initiate a punch then shook his head dramatically. "no, you run the fuck out of there. You can’t risk staying there and getting your ass beat. You're better off a coward than you are dead. Got it? Don't ever think you can go against these lunatics, especially when you're outnumbered. I don't want you getting hurt."
His voice dropped to an octave above whisper, Sieun almost didn’t catch it but it pierced his heart. His eyes were sincere as he looked down at the unmoving Sieun.
"Come on, let's get you something to eat." He extended his hand out for him to take. Sieun got up and the momentum of him rising to his feet with the aid of Suho's hand pulled him into Suho's space.
Suho didn't move. Sieun also didn't move.
They stared into each other's eyes for a moment that felt too long for it to be friendly, wondering if he'll ever make a move.
This was nothing like any of the scenarios that Sieun had played in his mind. Usually they were in the privacy of each other's rooms in his dreams. They would sit on the bed or the couch and things would just take place as normal.
But right then, they were in public. Sure they were probably the only people by 50 yard radius but was Sieun willing to risk— oh damn it, who gave a shit?
Sieun's small fingers gently tugged on Suho's shirt, pulling him flush against him. He leaned up on his toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. Suho was taken aback if the small sound he made was any indication. He quickly adapted, realising what was happening then softly breathed into the kiss, his body relaxing. He took a soft hold of Sieun's cheek before leaning in the opposite way to try and deepen the kiss.
A truck load of butterflies were dancing in Sieun's stomach, if he wasn't enjoying the kiss so much he thinks he'd probably be throwing up somewhere. The kiss was nothing like in his dreams but in the best way possible. No amount of vivid dreaming could amount to the way Suho's lips pressed firmly against his, the feeling of his tongue poke at his lips, the comforting way his hand cupped his cheek. It felt surreal, almost exhilarating that they were kissing like this at an underpass next to Hangang river.
When they finally pulled apart, Sieun was breathing heavily. He recognised a look of smugness and something else in Suho's eyes. His cheeks were still in his hands and Suho gently squished them before kissing his lips quickly again. Sieun felt a small smile tugging against his lips.
"Why did you do that?"
Sieun shrugged. "I've just— I've been dreaming to do that for the past week." There was no use in lying or hiding anything.
Suho grinned big. "Good dreams huh?"
"There was less talking in them." He mumbled and Suho let out a surprised chuckle then kissed him again.
Sieun was no longer aching with exhaustion as he let the taller boy kiss him deeply, happy that he finally made those dreams a reality.