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One moment, Chen Kaiwen lay sprawled on the gym floor, his bottom lip chapped and split, his ankle bruised. The next, Park Donggyu, his best friend, was dragging him out the door. Donggyu moved quickly, almost running, just enough to make Kaiwen slightly winded.
“Donggyu, I swear it’s not that serious,” Kaiwen yelped, trying to shake off Donggyu's grip on his wrist. Honestly, it hurt far worse than the throbbing pain in his ankle from the fall.
Donggyu stayed quiet, knowing that anything he said would earn him a slap with the hand that he wasn't holding. With every squirm from his best friend, his grasp tightened. He didn’t look back. Instead, his eyes were fixed on the door at the end of the physical education hallway.
“Donggyu, please, you’re being really annoying.” Kaiwen continued to struggle, realizing he wouldn’t break free. Donggyu was always stronger and more athletic than Kaiwen, which meant it was nearly impossible he could escape his grasp.
“Don't you think it's a bit counterproductive to make a crippled guy run?” Kaiwen joked, though a bit of seriousness slipped into his voice.
Donggyu suddenly stopped and peeked over his shoulder. “Okay, crippled guy, do you want me to carry you on my back instead?”
“Let’s just go,” Kaiwen mumbled and let out a loud huff that echoed down the otherwise empty hallway.
Donggyu rushed Kaiwen into the nurse’s office, where the faint smell of disinfectant lingered and the room stood empty. Without a word, he guided Kaiwen to one of the cots in the corner and gently pushed him down to sit before finally letting go of his wrist. Kaiwen whined and rubbed the spot where Donggyu had held him, then looked around the room.
“Well, what now,” Kaiwen said, leaning back against the wall. “Dragged all the way here and the nurse isn’t even here. All those dramatics for nothing.” He let out a short laugh and crossed his arms, clearly not planning on being quiet.
Ignoring the comment, Dongggu moved to the cabinets and quietly opened drawers. He pulled out bandages and then a box filled with bottles of rubbing alcohol.
Kaiwen tilted his head, smirking. “You know you’re going to get in trouble for this, right? Taking the nurse’s supplies like some kind of thief.”
Without stopping his search, Donggyu replied, “Why would students get in trouble for using things meant for them?” His voice was calm, almost matter-of-fact, as he finally found the cotton pads.
Kaiwen rubbed his neck. “Oh. Well, I guess when you put it that way...” His grin faded as he watched Donggyu come back with the supplies. Donggyu's stern presence made it harder to keep teasing.
Donggyu crouched in front of him and pulled Kaiwen's sneaker off with a bit more force than needed. Kaiwen winced as Donggyu's fingers brushed too close to his swollen joint. Donggyu unrolled the bandages in his hands and wrapped them carefully around the injured ankle.
“Can you be more gentle?” Kaiwen complained, giving Donggyu’s shoulder a light kick with his uninjured foot.
“You’re supposed to wrap it tight,” Donggyu replied, pulling the bandage snug around Kaiwen’s ankle. “If you don’t apply pressure, it won’t heal properly.”
Kaiwen rolled his eyes dramatically. “Since when did you know all of this? You’re always sleeping during biology.”
Donggyu smirked faintly but kept his focus. “Doesn’t matter. You should be grateful I’m even helping you.”
Kaiwen scoffed, leaning further back against the wall. “Grateful? Please. I didn’t even ask for your help.”
Donggyu tied off the final strip of bandage with a firm pull, then placed the rest of the roll on the metal table beside the cot. He straightened up and dusted off his hands with a sharp clap. “Well, you’re welcome anyway,” he muttered as he stood.
Sitting down on the cot next to Kaiwen, Donggyu picked up the bottle of rubbing alcohol he had placed on the table before and twisted the cap open.
“Lean in,” he said, already pulling a cotton pad from the pack.
Kaiwen squinted his eyes, skeptical. “What?”
Donggyu didn’t reply right away. He only poured some of the liquid on the pad. Finally, he looked at Kaiwen with a firm but calm expression. “Your lip,” he said, holding the pad up. “It’s split.”
Kaiwen blinked at him and let out a quiet laugh. “I know it is.”
“So, stop whining and lean in,” Donggyu repeated, his tone sharper.
"You really want to play nurse," Kaiwen said as he shifted an inch away from Donggyu, creating a bit of distance. Donggyu narrowed his eyes, clearly losing patience, before setting the bottle back down on the table with a soft thud. Without hesitation, he reached out, gripping Kaiwen’s shoulders firmly.
In one motion, Donggyu pulled him back into place, drawing Kaiwen toward him until their knees touched and their faces were suddenly too close. The cotton pad still situated in between his fingers, but Donggyu didn’t move it yet; his grip on Kaiwen’s shoulders held him steady and unavoidably near.
Kaiwen stiffened at the closeness, his gaze darting down to the floor, then to the far wall, anywhere but Donggyu’s eyes. His lips pressed into a thin line, and though he didn’t pull away, the faint pink on his cheeks gave him away.
Donggyu kept Kaiwen steady with one hand on his right shoulder and gestured for him to part his lips. He then lifted the cotton pad and pressed it gently to the cut on his lip. The sharp smell of alcohol just below his nostrils hit first, followed by the sting that made Kaiwen hiss through his teeth.
“Hold still,” Donggyu said, tilting Kaiwen’s chin up with his thumb. He worked slowly, careful and precise, the closeness forcing Kaiwen's breath to brush against his fingers with every passing second.
Kaiwen finally lifted his gaze, almost against his will. Donggyu was focused on the task, his brows slightly furrowed as he dabbed carefully at the split. The seriousness on his face twisted something uncomfortably in Kaiwen’s chest, and before he could stop himself, he spoke.
“Have you ever kissed someone before?” Kaiwen asked suddenly, his voice low, almost too serious.
Donggyu blinked and paused mid-motion. His eyes flicked up briefly, confused, before darting back down to Kaiwen’s lip. “What? That’s a weird question,” he said, trying to sound unaffected. “Why are you even asking that right now?”
Kaiwen shrugged, his lips twitching as though he wanted to bite them. “Just curious,” he said, though his tone revealed more than he intended.
Donggyu hummed, considering. “Well… I had a girlfriend in kindergarten. So maybe I kissed her? I don’t really remember,” he admitted. The memory felt so distant it barely counted, but he said it anyway, half-defensive and half-teasing.
Kaiwen snorted, shaking his head. “Kindergarten doesn’t count, idiot. That’s basically nothing. If that’s all you’ve got, you might as well say you’ve never kissed anyone,” he said, grinning. “You know, I haven’t ever kissed anyone.”
Donggyu pulled the cotton pad back, a smirk forming on his lips. “You’re eighteen and you’ve never kissed anyone?”
Kaiwen shot him a look, his ears turning pink. “We’re in the same boat, genius. Just two kiss virgins.”
Donggyu chuckled softly, not bothering to argue. He stood, crossed the small room to the trash bin, and tossed the used cotton pad inside. The sound of it landing echoed faintly before he dusted his hands off, still smiling.
When he returned, instead of sitting down where he had before, Donggyu dropped down right next to Kaiwen, this time even closer. Their thighs and shoulders pressed together, and Donggyu straightened his back casually as if he hadn’t just closed the gap on purpose.
Kaiwen looked forward, trying to ignore the sudden closeness. “I’ve always wondered what it’s like to kiss someone. To have somebody. To really care about someone and have them care about you back.”
Donggyu stayed quiet, just listening.
Kaiwen's words came faster. “I see everyone else going on dates, laughing with someone special, and here I am at eighteen, completely clueless. I don’t even know how to kiss someone or if I’d be any good at it.”
He sighed and rested his hand on his thigh. “I just want someone to care about me like that, and I don’t even know where to start.”
“Do you want to know what kissing feels like?” Donggyu asked quietly.
Kaiwen raised his eyebrow, straightening his back to match Donggyu's posture. “What do you mean?”
“You keep saying you want to kiss someone,” Donggyu said, somehow scooting himself a little closer.
“Well, yeah,” Kaiwen admitted, his voice soft and hesitant. He opened his mouth to explain how he had always wondered, but before he could finish, Donggyu leaned forward and pressed a quick, gentle peck to his lips.
Kaiwen froze, eyes wide and heart racing. The words he’d been trying to say caught in his throat, replaced by the warm shock of Donggyu’s lips against his.
Donggyu pulled back slightly, his face still less than an inch from Kaiwen’s, watching him with that steady, unreadable expression, waiting for a reaction.
Kaiwen's eyes stayed wide, mouth slightly open and frozen in place. His heart beat so fast he could feel it in his throat, and for a moment, he struggled to process what had just happened.
Finally, he found his voice, a shaky mix of disbelief and awe. “W-what… what was that?” he whispered, staring at Donggyu, completely speechless.
He bit his cheek, holding back frustration. “I don't think you meant to do that,” he admitted softly, his fingers curling slightly as if trying to grasp the moment.
They sat side by side on the cot, neither moving. Time seemed to stretch; what was a minute went by like an hour for Kaiwen. His shock didn't hinder and he could still feel the pressure of Donggyu’s lips against his.
At last, Kaiwen asked in a small voice, “Can I… feel it again?”
Donggyu raised his eyebrows, surprised. “What?”
Kaiwen didn't answer, only pressed a quick, playful peck to Donggyu’s lips. When he pulled back, a small, triumphant smile tugged at his face.
Donggyu stared for a moment, then laughed, freeing all the built up tension that had been boiling in that minute. Kaiwen giggled too, and the quiet room filled with their nervous laughter.
When Donggyu leaned in again, the kiss was tender and hesitant, their lips brushing softly and teeth bumping lightly. Both breathed unevenly, hands fidgeting. Kaiwen, flustered, accidentally nipped Donggyu’s lips.
“I-I’m sorry,” he stammered, pushing back slightly, cheeks burning.
Donggyu shook his head, eyes warm and reassuring. “It’s okay,” he murmured. Then, carefully, he touched Kaiwen’s split lip with his tongue.
Kaiwen winced at the sting and faint taste of alcohol, eyes squeezing shut, but Donggyu stayed close, enjoying his own teasing, letting Kaiwen’s reactions guide him, savoring the quiet closeness they shared.
After that, they didn’t pull apart. The kiss lingered until they started again, soft and slow, each press of lips careful and filled with unspoken affection. Kaiwen’s hands rested lightly on Donggyu’s neck, and Donggyu’s fingers threaded gently through his hair, cradling his head.
Breaths mingled, fingers explored new places. Each moment felt delicate and new, the kind of intimacy that only comes with a first kiss, and neither wanted it to end.
Time seemed to blur as they stayed like that, lost in each other. A faint shiver ran through Kaiwen as Donggyu became more confident with each movement, this time with tongues colliding, tender and raw, until the sudden creak of the door opening made both freeze.
They quickly sat up, hair messy and slightly disheveled from the moment's intensity. The nurse poked her head through the curtain, scanning them with a subtle, knowing look that made them both freeze for a second.
Donggyu attempted to slip back into the caring best friend persona he had put on just ten minutes ago, his fingertip touching Kaiwen’s swollen red and moist lips, pretending to check them.
“Everything okay in here?” the nurse asked, raising an eyebrow, her expression just on the edge of suspicion.
“All good! He fell during gym and cut his lip,” Donggyu replied quickly, keeping his finger resting gently on Kaiwen’s lips.
The nurse nodded. “Alright, make sure you get back to class for your next period,” she said, grabbing a stack of papers and a binder from her desk before leaving. The soft click of the door closing sealed the room in quiet again.
As soon as they were alone, Donggyu flicked Kaiwen’s forehead. “You fool,” he muttered.
Kaiwen huffed and let out a small, exasperated laugh. “Shut up,” he mumbled, nestling his head into the crook of Donggyu’s neck.
Donggyu ruffled Kaiwen's already messy hair. “So.. how was it? You know... the feeling?”
Kaiwen’s eyes lit up, and a shy, excited smile spread across his face. “Honestly... I feel like I could do that a hundred more times.”
Donggyu tilted his head and rubbed his chin in a sarcastic manor. “Oh? And with who exactly?”
Kaiwen’s cheeks flushed, and without a word, he lifted his head and pressed a soft, gentle kiss to Donggyu’s cheek. Donggyu’s grin softened, and Kaiwen’s shy smile mirrored it as they sat close together in quiet, uncharted, and comforting contentment.