Work Text:
♡
"ang himbing ng tulog niya ah.."
justin softly spoke to ken, who was caressing a sleeping person's hair that was sitting comfortably on his lap.
"i don't even know kung pa'no siya nakatulog ng ganto, parang ang uncomfy talaga."
the sleeping person on his lap was josh, who happens to sleep pretty easily no matter the situation. or in other words, a deep sleeper.
his head was rested on ken's shoulder, near his face – a little too close for comfort for anyone else that would see their position. but really neither ken or josh mind it at all, really.
"mabilis naman makatulog si josh eh, atsaka.. bakit ba naging ganyan pwesto niyo in the first place?"
ken blinked.
his mind was blank at that time, all he remembered was josh coming in their breakroom extremely tired-looking, josh came onto him knowing that ken will just accept him with open arms, and the next thing he knew, he was taking a nap on him.
"di ko rin alam eh." he looked away, blatantly lying about knowing anything.
although yes, he doesn't remember any kind of conversation they had, perhaps it was best if he didn't bring up anything that he remembered actually happening – since that would obviously expose their suspicious closeness to one another.
even now, it's again, too close for comfort for anyone seeing that's not aware of their situation.
"hmm.. ken?"
speaking of which, a thought came into justin's mind, at that point he was suspicious.
of what, exactly?
"naccurious lang ako, seryoso. di mo naman kailangan sagutin kung masyadong personal pero.."
ken swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat during the entire time justin came in the breakroom, seeing the two of them all snuggled up.
"ano meron sainyo ni josh?"
"i-"
he knew it was coming, but he couldn't say anything because really, what were they? he couldn't even answer that question himself.
".. sa totoo lang, hindi ko rin alam."
justin was sensing mixed emotions from ken, from the way he spoke, the way he acted.. everything seemed so odd. he normally never acted so out of the blue unless it was with josh.
ken and josh's connections with eachother were always so messed up and confusing.
no one ever really knew how they felt towards one another.
"pa'nong hindi mo alam? eh para kasing.. ang close niyo sa isa't-isa lately. eh hindi naman kayo ganyan usually.."
justin looked at josh who was peacefully and comfortably sleeping on ken.
that part confused him a lot more, unless ken placed him on his own lap personally – josh would never do something so intimate to anyone. not even justin, or their other friends or co-members in this matter.
"if i tell you the truth promise me you won't tell anyone, kahit si pau or si stell?"
justin was more intrigued. it seemed like ken was keeping something from him,
and if he wasn't already pertaining to 'the truth' when ken had told him he didn't know what happened and why they were suddenly so close and what was happening between them, then what was going on?
"mhm."
"justin." ken looked at him with sharp eyes, and he immediately knew what not to do.
"oo ngaa, nacucurious lang talaga ako promise. di ko sasabihin, mamatay man."
justin reassured him, which was something ken really needed given the situation.
"aysus, may pa-ganyan pa talaga."
ken started to caress josh's hair again, while looking at him sweetly.
"well.. nililigawan ko 'to."
justin's eyes widened in surprise, he never expected that two of his closest friends could be.. involved romantically?
it seems like one of those scenarios that could only happen in novels or movies.
"nililigawan.. as in.. gusto mo maging kayo?"
ken nodded, while a grin appeared on justin's face.
"sabi ko na yan talaga magiging reaction mo eh!"
justin quickly shushed him as there was a person sleeping on him,
before responding to ken's confirmation, he processed everything and started to recall every small interaction the two had, as it might've meant something.
but alas, he couldn't remember anything that could potentially serve as clue for the others to know that they had something.
"ah, ganun pala. si josh cullen pala ang nais mo eh."
"tagal na." he playfully rolled his eyes at justin, who was still in disbelief.
"so.. since when pa? ngayon ko lang talaga kayo napansin."
"siguro simula nung una nating world tour."
"really? i didn't even notice!"
"it's better that way, i can't even imagine how this baby would react."
" 'baby'? akala ko nililigawan palang.."
justin's expression quickly turns into a more teasing one.
"oo nga, pero i mean–" ken stuttered, he felt like he couldn't disclose anything in their situationship that moment, as most things could be considered highly confidential, or atleast for josh it might be.
"mmh.. ken.."
josh quietly spoke, it was right next to ken's ear too, which alerted him quite a lot.
"ah- hey.."
he looked at josh, who was looking at him with tired but doe eyes, which for ken – was probably the cutest sight he'd ever see.
he wrapped his arms around ken's neck or collarbones area, which sent him to a more panicked state.
as one, justin was there. and two, this was a first.
for all these years that he's been courting josh, he's never experienced him being so affectionate in terms of physical touch.
"j- josh.." he awkwardly smiled and looked back and fourth between justin who had stood up and josh who was sitting so comfortably on his lap.
justin mouthed the words, 'alis muna 'ko?'
he too was smiling but his expression nervous of getting seen by josh.
ken nodded quickly, as justin left the room he held onto josh's waists and give in to whatever he was going to do.
"ano- ano yun..?"
he started to softly kiss around ken's jawline and cheek, which ken was clearly not prepared for.
but not having the words or being in the right state to respond, he did nothing but wrap his arms around josh's waists tightly rather than just holding them.
he had a hint that josh wanted to do 'things' with him.
"pogi mo naman." josh breathlessly whispered to him.
ken was blushing RED. he really did not expect josh to act this way, and right now?
the timing. the way everything was happening at this moment where him and justin were just talking about how he was courting josh.. why now?
it somehow made him feel a little worried because of how easily he disclosed their lowkey situation or sort of secret to justin.
"please.. kiss me, ga.."
ken swallowed, he was frozen in place.
he then held josh's cheek with one of his hands, and slammed his lips onto josh's.
raspy and irregular breathing came from the both of them, quiet sobs as well as sounds of kissing.
as the both of them got too breathless, they both stopped to stare at eachother, catching their breath. and for ken, this was one hell of a sight to see.
he always wondered what josh would look like all messed up underneath him, but he never knew he wanted to see it THAT much until now.
"this is so.. weird."
ken stared into josh's eyes that were the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. he had no idea why he was thinking this whole situation was weird now but he can't seem to stop himself from the idea that they were ACTUALLY doing this. on such an inappropriate place and time.
"who cares.? take off your clothes..!"
"b- but josh, i don't think-"
".. i want you."
uncomfortable silence followed after josh's confession.
"do you really..?"
"huh?"
"i mean, you wanna do these kinds of things, pero di mo pa 'ko sinasagot."
"eh? i thought.. we're something na?"
"i meant our label."
ken sighed. for him, labels were important in relationships, friendships or anything else. he always wanted to know boundaries of other people and how he treated them.
mainly, that was the reason he felt weird about doing intimate things with josh.
it just didn't feel appropriate, especially for 'friends'.
but clearly, it wasn't how josh saw him, and that goes the same for ken.
and they were already in this situationship anyway, it meant that they were less than lovers, but more than friends.
"i just love you, ken. i didn't feel like i needed a label because honestly.. naramdaman kong special ako sayo, in some way."
"you are! but it's like.. so confusing to me how.. you love me, pero don't you want to have a label as 'in a relationship'?"
"it's okay. i just think it's controversial."
"the what?"
josh rested his head on ken's shoulder again, but this time feeling extra comfortable in his position, this time, he knew nothing would go wrong.
"having labels.. i mean, hindi naman lahat sa-sang ayon sa'tin, diba?"
ken got slightly distracted by his thoughts, that is true, it's not like everyone would accept their relationship wholeheartedly – at the same time though, who would know? and who cares?
"it's our life, josh. ano naman kung di sila agree sa'tin? it's really us against the world, baby."
josh smiled so sweetly, he's never had anyone made his heart go THIS fast before.
"plus, parang kanina lang you didn't care nung pinapatanggal mo damit ko ah?"
"yeah," josh softly giggled and closed his eyes. "i.. i'm really sorry if that came off so weirdly. i DO want you as my partner, my lover, my boyfriend. i'm just concerned about yknow, how people would think. about the label and stuff.."
"well, you don't have to be. di pa man na'tin mapapakita sa buong mundo, pero atleast i know that you're mine."
josh blushed, everything ken saying was making his heart go even faster over time.
"sheesh, corny mo talaga.. just shut up and kiss me."
"i've been waiting for this moment my entire life, ga. i never imagined that someone like you, would want a kiss from me?" ken enthusiastically replied.
josh smiled, "well, you ARE my boyfriend.."
ken's eyes slightly widened in happiness from those string of words, josh finally said yes.
"and i can't wait to kiss you on stage."
ken giggled, and gave him the most passionate kiss he would ever give anyone.
and honestly, one that he wouldn't give to anyone else, his best and all his kisses belonged to josh, and him only.
♡
"ken?! ken ken ken!"
"ha? ano? bakit??"
justin calling him out three times was really enough for him to panic and stop whatever he's doing just to know what's going on.
"on purpose ba yung sa IGS ni josh?!"
"bakit? ano meron?"
ken was a little panicked, surely josh wouldn't post anything controversial, right?
justin showed him the picture, and it was a picture of ken and josh's luggage next to eachother in the airport.
"w- well." ken was flustered, was his newly labeled boyfriend already doing a soft launch?
"it probably doesn't mean anything! hayaan mo na yan, jah. maligo ka na, aalis daw tayo mamaya."
"weeehh iniiwasan mo lang eh, sige na! maliligo na 'ko para kayo naman magkasabay ni josh mamaya!"
justin laughed as he escaped the situation, ken only retorted lightheartedly.
"yawa ka jah, mamaya ka sakin!"
ken took out his phone to look at the picture himself, he opened up josh's account and for some odd reason, he looked so much prettier than ever.
maybe it was the fact that he knew he couldn't and wouldn't hold back with all his thoughts about josh any longer.
he pressed on josh's instagram story only for his heart to almost explode out of his chest.
it was the most subtle yet sweet soft launch he had ever seen.
"you really are something else.."
blushing at the mere sight of the photo, suddenly so grateful that josh accepted to be his.