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The atmosphere was cold and serene, the crickets were louder than ever. The moonlight shining through the leaves from the trees above, a few of them falling delicately onto the ground. And there sat Daeho and a distinctive black cat on the bench.
Daeho’s lips formed a thin line as he tilt his head to the side indifferently, “You’re not gonna hang out with Subong?”
His sudden question made Namgyu jump, “Huh?” his head turning to look at Daeho.
To tell the truth, Namgyu was going to spend the night at Subong’s. But Daeho just happened to be on his mind at the moment, he isn’t entirely sure why or if there’s a clear explanation.
“Oh. I don’t know.” Namgyu gave a short answer, “I don’t know if he even wants to hang out.” he adds, his gaze lingers on the ground as he examines the small and dried leaves and plays with some that’s close to his feet.
Prior, Namgyu had stopped by to sit around with Daeho, and he just assumed Namgyu’s here to annoy him.
Namgyu chuckles silently, “That little shit’s probably making out with some chick or something,” he paused and sniffed before speaking again, “maybe that chick could be that friend of yours who me and Subong always mess around with.”
Daeho stifled, “My friend?” his eyebrows furrowed lightly, “You mean Myunggi?” his wide eyes are locked on Namgyu in disbelief.
Namgyu pouts nonchalantly as he stared down, “Yeah.” almost trying to seem unfazed.
Daeho was still disbelief however, it’s almost hilarious.
“You know how he is. Him and his señoritas.” Namgyu chuckled again, rubbing his nostrils. Both Namgyu and Daeho know many hookups Subong had these days.
Namgyu inhales sharply as he continues, “But y’know,” then huffs out, “I was his señorita once,” his tone abruptly changed, it was subtle but Daeho was able to catch it. “until he had enough of me.”
Subong couldn’t take his eyes off of Namgyu, “Namsu, my pretty girl.” he proceeds to run his fingers from Namgyu’s defined cheekbone down to his soft cheek, cherishing every moment.
Namgyu couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot, “Your pretty girl’s name is Namgyu,” he teasingly said as his heart flutters with joy.
“And judging from how Subong and Myunggi are right now,” his voice seems to quieten when his mind flickers to when he saw Myunggi receiving the same treatment Namgyu used to receive, “it seems like they have something serious.”
Daeho listened in, brows furrowing as he tries to process this new information. “If that’s the case, then why do you still hang out with him?” There’s a slight annoyance in his tone, not to Namgyu, but to Subong.
Daeho’s heart doesn’t know what it wants, but all Daeho wants to tell Namgyu is that he could treat him better.
Namgyu didn’t answer immediately, he chuckled once again without amusement this time, “I don’t know.” he scratched his neck, “I can’t really tell when we actually ‘broke up’. I guess he just forgot about it, our relationship.”
Daeho blinked a few times, stealing a few glances at Namgyu.
“But there were times when he actually liked me.” The edge of Namgyu’s lips curled up slightly, “When he made me feel loved.”
Subong and Namgyu’s chests were heaving nonstop, Subong stared down at Namgyu and his half-lidded eyes, “Another round, Namsu?” he huffed out a silent chuckle.
Namgyu darts his eyes and examined Subong’s features for a moment, “You junkie.” he nudged Subong lightly.
Subong grinned, “You’re the one who asked for this in the first place.” he commented as he reached out for another pack of condom.
Daeho grimaced, his face was scrunched, “So, you came here just to talk about your ex?” annoyance was clear in his tone as he spoke.
Namgyu quickly glanced at Daeho, “No,” he paused, “I came here to hang out with you, and to hang out with you only.” he objected his accusation a little too forwardly, it makes Daeho wonder, and to be honest, Namgyu sounds genuine.
The atmosphere between them was accompanied by silence, until Namgyu decides to speak again, “But Myunggi was right, though.”
Namgyu sniffed, “Subong never called me by my actual name.” and for a second, his voice wobbled. Something strange starts to creep in his throat.
Daeho stayed quiet, “He told you that?” concern laced in his voice.
Namgyu muttered a “Yeah.” and nodded, “I was so hurt I cried my eyes out, like a fuckin’ idiot.” Namgyu chuckled humorlessly, “I don’t blame him, though. Because it wasn’t far from being the truth.”
The aching sensation in his throat intensifies, “I was just… in such denial, that the things me and Subong went through weren’t anywhere real.” shit, his voice wobbled like crazy. Tears were visible in his eyes at this point.
“But, it was real to me.” Tears fell down and soaked Namgyu’s delicate cheeks, him wiping his never ending tears with the back of his hand continuously.
Daeho instantly leaned closer and pulled him in, he watched as Namgyu wiped off his tears and suddenly for a brief moment, his heart aches seeing Namgyu like this.
Initially, Daeho wanted to point out that Namgyu brought up his ex again. But his objection from earlier kept Daeho from making up another accusation, he didn’t have the heart to do that again.
Namgyu’s tears had lessened, and Daeho let go of his opposite shoulder from his grasp. Daeho gulped before speaking, “What would you do if…”
His palms began to sweat instantly before he quickly wiped his palms off with his lap, “there’s someone out there other than Subong who would put you before themself?”
Daeho’s heart begins beating faster with each word he utter, “Someone who would see and cherish you no matter how difficult you are to love?”
Daeho begins to sweat profusely as his face heats up, his stomach churning. “Someone who would call you by your name?”
Daeho gulped once again, ”Even when this person is someone you’d expect the least?”
Namgyu stayed silent, he turned his head to look at Daeho. His unfazed expression made Daeho nervous, what the hell did he just say?
Namgyu huffed out a humorless chuckle, “Is there even someone like that nowadays?” his tone was laced with sarcasm, rolling his eyes as he glanced somewhere else.
Daeho bit his lips, regretting everything he just said. Without realizing, he pressed his palm onto Namgyu’s hand with a faint reassuring smile, “I’m sure there is, Namgyu.”
Then suddenly, everything went silent. Something in Namgyu jumped when he hears his own name, his eyes wide as he’s glancing at Daeho.
Namgyu then glanced down to their hands touching, halfway confused. By the time Daeho realized he has his hand on Namgyu’s, he pulls away in a hurry.
Awkwardness fills the air between them quicker than ever. Namgyu cleared his throat as he wiped some excess tears off of his face, “Thanks, though, for comforting me.”
Daeho nodded frantically, “Yeah. No problem.”
Silence was the loudest thing, until Namgyu chuckles as he stares at Daeho, “You’re not… half bad.”
Daeho glance back at Namgyu’s cheeky expression, his eyes crinkling with his pearly whites in clear view. Daeho noticed Namgyu’s upper teeth sits a bit forward than his lower teeth, which he absolutely finds adorable. “Yeah?”
Namgyu’s mouth closed to a thin downturned smile, “Yeah.” Daeho hadn’t even realized he’s also smiling.
Daeho cleared his throat when an idea popped in his head, “You still going to Subong’s later? It’s getting late.”
Namgyu pouts as he thinks, “Nah.” he gave a short answer and shook his head.
Daeho sheepishly smiled, “In that case, wanna the spend the night at mine?” there’s a slight nervousness in his tone.
Daeho’s question took Namgyu by surprise, “Really?” an eyebrow quirked upward.
He chuckled sheepishly, “Yeah. But only if you want to.” he fidgets with his fingers.
“Yeah, sure. I’m down.” Namgyu replied forwardly, his smile still clear.
Daeho didn’t know Namgyu would accept his offer that fast. Either way, something inside him warms up with joy as the corner of his lips curled upwards in amusement.