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It’s finally Wednesday. The show director said that they would have a classic campfire night with marshmallows and everything for all the contestants. All the trainees were so excited for some time off, and if they were lucky enough, they could actually snuck in some alcohol.
Yetao and his roommates seated themselves among the circle, reached for the marshmallow sticks and started grilling.
“This smells so fucking good.” Yuchen sniffed, grinning at Wuxun.
“Language.” Zihao hissed, jokingly punched at Yuchen’s arm.
“No one heard it anyway.” He shrugged his shoulders, secretly pulled out a bottle of beer and four paper cups from his jacket. “Now here comes the best part.”
Yetao just sat there and smiled while Yuchen turned his back away from the campfire to pour the beer inside each cup. Zihao and Wuxun were trying to hold their laughter, sometimes looking around to see if anyone noticed Yuchen as if they were highschoolers who drink at school.
Yetao took the cup from Yuchen, slowly sip on the beer. The bitter yeasty taste of the beer with the almost pungent smell because of the high alcohol concentration made him close his eyes. Refreshing. It’s so good to feel this peaceful. It’s been days of constantly practicing, and the idea of competing with others while cameras were rolling to capture every one of their slightest expressions did not make the situation any better. He has always been a perfectionist, and always will, so sitting here right now sipping on the not-so-allowed alcohol, without any makeup on, without feeling frustrated because of arguing during practice, was clearly a healing to his restless mind after days.
His cup was filling up constantly, so after a while, he started to feel drowsy. Comfortably drowsy, though. He saw Minghao arrive, sitting between two contestants and holding a stick of grilled chilli pepper, delightedly chattering.
“Don’t tell the PD that I came. This is supposed to be an event for you guys, but I just kinda crave some BBQ.” He laughed. “Other mentors? No, only me. Oh and BamBam’s gonna be here in like ten minutes or so I think? I’m not sure. But he said he wanted to eat marshmallows.”
Yetao took another sip. So BamBam would be here soon.
BamBam…
He suddenly sober up, as if he did not drink a drop of beer.
“I will be right back.” Yetao stood up and suddenly ran away, leaving his friends sitting there in confusion.
His only thought right now was “ BamBam cannot see my bare face. ” It’s not that he was self-deprecation, he was anything but that, especially when it comes to his beauty. It’s just he just wanted to always look as good as possible in front of BamBam.
That man has been stuck in his mind since the very first day. He still remembered how his heart beated like crazy in his chest purely from a single compliment from BamBam. But somehow, deep down inside, he had the pressure of keeping his visual perfect anytime he appeared around him. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because he always thinks BamBam only saw him as an eye-candy. It hurted, since clearly nobody wants to be recognized for just their looks.
Yetao liked the way BamBam softly spoken to him, the way he could lit up the atmosphere every time with his bubbly personality and very hilarious jokes, the way he carefully commented on every smallest detail of Yetao’s performance — just how a perfectionist like Yetao would love, the way he sometimes would pat on his head when he was sitting at the backstage as an encouragement, the way he shamelessly flirt with him in front of the rolling cameras.
Yetao didn’t even know when he fell for BamBam, he just knew that he wanted the man to be his so bad. To the point that even if BamBam only liked him for his look, he was willingly to maintain his face as flawless as possible. As long as BamBam liked him.
It was that bad for Hu Yetao.
So here he was, running away from the campfire just to get his makeup done.
“Shit shit shit…” He mumbled, panickingly checked his pocket.
Eyeliner, lipstick, concealer... Good thing he always carried the basic items around with him.
He bursted into the nearest bathroom, fumbling to open the lipstick when the door behind him cracked open.
“Oh, hi Yetao.”
And at that exact moment, Yetao wished that the mirror in front of him would suddenly disclose the gate to a parallel world so he could just jump straight into it. But the pink-haired guy who just opened the door didn’t even seem to care. He casually walked in and stood next to Yetao.
“Uhm… Hello, BamBam.” He timidly greeted, tried his best to hide his face away from the vision of the older but failed miserably as they were both facing the mirror. At least the yellow cozy dimmed light of the bathroom made it harder for them to see clearly a little.
“Was the party fun?” BamBam sniffled as he started to wash his hands. “Your cheeks are red.”
“Really? I should not have drunk that much.” Yetao knew damn well it was not the alcohol. It’s because of how BamBam’s woody fragrance filled up the room. He loved this smell. He loved everything about the guy.
He swiftly put on his lipstick then opened the tap, pretending to also wash his very clean hands. He could not just stand here and draw his eyeliner right next to his favourite mentor. It’s way too awkward.
Yet, BamBam noticed his cosmetics still laying on the sink.
“Can I borrow your concealer?” He pointed at his darkened eye bags, slightly pouted. “Been sleepless lately.”
“Sure.” Yetao gave him the stick.
But BamBam didn’t take it, and he didn’t seem to be doing that anytime soon, either. He stared at the concealer for a few seconds, both of his hands inside his pocket.
“I don’t know how to apply it. Can you do it for me?” He blinked. “Please?”
Yetao had no other option besides agreeing. BamBam’s look in his eyes made him weak. So he picked up the concealer, carefully smeared the liquid onto the skin. Their eyes met, faces so close that Yetao tensed up.
“Did I mention that you look even prettier up close?” BamBam's breath hit Yetao's face, making his body shivered.
“Yes. Since the first time we met.” He murmured, lowkey enjoying the feeling of BamBam’s skin under his fingertip.
“Right. Make sense. You are always so pretty. Like I could actually kiss you right now.” BamBam leaned in a bit more, making Yetao instinctively move back.
He did not want to make a fool out of himself. He knew BamBam didn’t really mean it, he was just flirtatious as always.
“Done. Your eye bags are gone now.” He ignored BamBam's last statement, gave the makeup one last touch before pulling away, satisfyingly looking at his work. He loved doing makeup so much, for himself or anyone else.
“You are so good at this. Thanks, Tao Tao.” BamBam checked himself up in the mirror one more time. “Let’s go back to the campfire, shall we?”
— — —
“Oh~~~” The trainees exclaimed excitedly as they saw BamBam and Yetao walking together to the spot.
Yetao felt his face heated up, laughing and hiding behind his hands as usual. He also brushed his bang down to cover his eyes. It still felt strange not wearing makeup in front of BamBam. BamBam sat down next to Yetao, ignoring Minghao who was jokingly complaining about how BamBam liked Yetao even more than his friend.
“Of course. I mean, why not? Tao Tao is my princess.” BamBam replied calmly, receiving another round of screams from the contestants.
“Stop it!” Yetao sulkingly put his hands on his hips, puffing his cheeks at BamBam.
“Okay okay.” He winked, whisperingly added on. “Princess.”
He could hear his roommates giggling behind him, not sure if he should just turn around and give them a warning glare, or continue to whine at a BamBam who was now shamelessly eating marshmallows from the stick Yetao was holding.
“You ate all my food.” Yetao squinted his eyes at the empty stick and BamBam innocently chewing next to him.
“There is still some left here.” BamBam pointed at the melted white candy stain at the corner of his lips, smirked. “Do you want it?”
Yetao thought his heart could explode at any moment.
But something else exploded instead.
A trainee brought a full box of hand-held fireworks, so now everyone, even Minghao, has stood up and taken the fireworks to the vacant land next to their current spot, happily playing around and also shooting some pictures. People’s attention was now all on the warm twinkling light and crackling sound of them.
Nobody noticed Yetao and BamBam were still remaining at their seats, staring at each other as if the time had frozen.
The noise and everyone faded into the background. All Yetao could hear was his heart pounding and the burning gaze of BamBam. He blinked. And BamBam remained quiet, after that crazy sentence he just dropped.
Yetao took a deep breath, then he leaned in, softly pecked on BamBam’s lips, barely even touching the marshmallow stains.
He didn’t even know what the heck he was doing right now. What if BamBam was just joking, like he just did in the bathroom? Yetao had just risked their whole careers by letting his stupid intrusive thoughts take over. If anyone noticed, they were doomed. And if BamBam didn’t really mean it, then this friendship was officially over. Or maybe he could use the lame excuse like in all the romance movies that he was drunk. BamBam already knew he had been drinking after all.
“I tasted nothing.” He turned away, shrugged his shoulders, and looked down on the ground.
As Yetao was still thinking what kind of reason could explain his behaviour, he felt BamBam’s lips pressing on his again. This time, it was a real kiss. BamBam bit onto Yetao’s lips making him gasped open, tongue delicately tracing inside, then quickly pulled away. Yetao still couldn’t process what happened. All he could feel was the sweet vanilla taste of marshmallow spread out, filling up his mouth.
“It’s because you didn’t kiss me hard enough.” BamBam glanced at the crowd behind them, making sure they were not coming back here anytime soon, and stole another small kiss from the younger, who was still stunned and bewildered.
Yetao unconsciously licked his lips.
“Don’t do that.” BamBam blurted out.
“Why?”
“It makes me want to kiss you again.” He stared at Yetao’s plump lips like he was actually about to do it.
“No, I mean, yes. Oh no, but… Like, why did you do that?” Yetao asked with uncertainty, his heart was a tangled mess of indescribable emotions.
“Because I like you. So I want to kiss you.” BamBam replied nonchalantly, as if it was something perfectly expected. “Is there anything wrong with it?”
Yetao was silent for a long moment, then shook his head and sighed.
"You don't like me. You just like my beauty, yet it's not even real. It was because of my makeup.” He looked away, his gaze fixed on the flickering fire in front of him. Burning and intense. Just like his mind was at that moment. “I’m not perfect for you.”
BamBam bent down, delicately brushed the hair away from Yetao’s eyes. Yetao was caught off guard a little, but he decided to remain still. BamBam looked up into those bright eyes reflecting the red flames, smiled warmingly.
“I wish you could see what I’m seeing right now. You are very pretty, with or without makeup.” He sat up, gently taking Yetao’s hand and intertwined their fingers, his thumb softly caressing his smooth, slender palm. “And yes, I first noticed you because your visuals made a really strong impression. I believe everyone will agree with me on that. But I would never like someone just simply because of it. If that is so, I would have fallen in love at least twenty times per day in this industry.”
He chuckled, slightly squeezing Yetao’s hand in his. Yetao liked it. BamBam’s hand is warm. It made him feel safer than ever.
“I don’t like you because you are perfect. Nobody’s supposed to be perfect. It’s because I like you, so you are always perfect in my eyes. I like you just because you are you.” He placed a kiss on Yetao’s hand, lovingly looking at him.
Yetao felt his face heated up again, not sure if it was from the late reaction of the alcohol or the fire warmth in front of him, or from BamBam’s words and kisses. He thought it’s the last reason. He also brushed his fingers onto BamBam’s, gathering enough courage to turn and face him, and stared directly into his eyes.
“If you put it like that… I think you are perfect too.” He smiled.
And before they had the chance to pull their hands away, the other trainees had already come back. They paused for a moment when they saw the two of them, then burst into laughter and cheers with excitement. Both of them let go of each other's hands, awkwardly explaining that they were just a little cold. A completely silly excuse. No one believed it. However, no one pressed further, partly out of respect since BamBam was a judge, and partly because they didn't want to act overly nosy.
Everyone sat there for a while more until the fire went off then started to get up, tidying everything before heading back to the dorm.
Yetao was the last one to leave. He waited until people all turned away before giving BamBam a peck on his cheek.
“Dream of me. See you tomorrow.” He grinned, waving at BamBam then quickly ran off, following his roommates.
“I already did every day.” BamBam whispered to himself, his gaze following the silhouette of Yetao.
He shook his head with a smile, like a fool lost in love. Maybe they were all lost in love.
— — —
“Did you two kiss while we were playing with the fireworks?” Minghao raised an eyebrow at Bambam as they were waiting for the elevator at the hotel for the judges.
The lift chimed, they both stepped inside.
“Shit. You saw it?” BamBam widened his eyes in panic. If anyone else caught sight of that, they would be in big trouble.
“No. Just guessing.” Minghao pointed at BamBam’s face. “That red staining over there is Yetao’s lipstick, if I’m guessing it right.”
BamBam quickly turned to look at the mirror behind him. A trace of red lipstick lingered at the corner of his mouth, where Yetao had kissed him at first. And his lips also had a noticeably pink sheen, clearly from the smudge out from Yetao’s lipstick.
He awkwardly scratched his nose, trying to hide the sight of himself licking on his lips. Still, Minghao noticed that.
“Ew, screw it. I hate you two.” He rolled his eyes at BamBam and dashed out the moment the elevator door opened. He couldn’t stand the sight of his friend smiling like an idiot.
BamBam didn't even care. All he had in mind was, “Yetao did taste like strawberries” .
End.