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Jay's suggestion was insane — that was Apo's first thought. And honestly, he hadn't been able to think of anything else since Jay first shared the idea. It buzzed in the back of his mind during rehearsals, distracted him during meals, and even haunted the quiet moments before sleep. "I wanna do something interesting for our comeback… What do you think about hair dyeing?"
And here they were. Jay sat on a stool in the bathroom, an old towel draped over his shoulders. Apo stood behind him, weighing the box of bright red hair dye in his hand.
"Are you a million percent sure?" Apo asked, for what felt like the tenth time.
"Completely," Jay said, his voice calm. "You don't think I'll look cool?"
"It's not that. I think you'll look cool with any hair color," Apo smiled at him, opening the box and starting to prepare the dye. He looked at Jay's dark hair one last time before beginning to apply the cold, red cream. He worked carefully, separating the strands with his fingers. It was a slow process, and they barely spoke.
After a while, Jay shifted. "My neck hurts from looking down," he complained. "This is taking forever."
"Then what do you want me to do?" Apo asked, his gloved hands covered in red. He caught Jay's mischievous expression and arched an eyebrow.
Jay had an idea, obviously. He glanced back and then placed his hands on Apo's waist. "Sit here," he said, nodding toward his own lap.
Apo giggled, holding Jay's gaze. "What? On your lap?" He tilted his head playfully.
"It'll be easier… I mean, you'll be closer, and… Don't you get tired of standing like that?"
It was cute. Apo stared at Jay for another playful moment before slowly settling across his thighs, facing him. Now they were definitely close. Apo could feel the warmth of Jay's body and see every detail of his face.
A smile blossomed on Jay's lips. "Better?" he asked, gently rubbing Apo's waist.
"Yeah, I think so…" Apo admitted. He felt a bit dazed, but the new position was actually much more practical. He continued his work, easily reaching every part of Jay's hair. As Apo massaged the dye into the roots, he smiled softly, his eyes meeting Jay's.
They were so close that Apo could hear Jay’s quiet breathing. The room was silent except for the soft sound of Apo’s hands moving through Jay’s hair. A strange feeling of peace filled the small bathroom. It was intimate, but in a comfortable, familiar way.
Finally, Apo finished. He leaned back slightly to check his work. Jay’s hair was now completely covered in a deep red.
"Done," Apo said, his voice softer than he intended.
Jay opened his eyes. He hadn't realized he’d closed them. "How do I look?"
"Like a tomato," Apo joked, smiling.
Jay laughed, a warm, happy sound. His hands, still resting on Apo’s waist, gave a gentle squeeze. "Perfect."
Just as Apo was about to stand up, Jay held him there, making Apo look back with a question in his eyes.
"Stay with me like this a little longer?" Jay made puppy-dog eyes, hoping Apo would give in. The red dye was starting to set, but Jay found himself enjoying their closeness far too much. "Please?"
"Only because you asked," Apo smiled softly and quickly kissed him on the cheek. Jay tried to hide his smirk, but it was clear he loved the sudden affection.
Jay pulled Apo a little closer. The red dye was still in his hair, but he didn't care. This moment was more important.
They sat quietly for a few more minutes. Apo rested his head on Jay's shoulder, careful not to touch the wet dye. "I should wash your hair now," Apo said, though he made no move to get up.
Jay's hands held his waist tightly; he didn't want to let go. He nuzzled Apo's neck, hugging him warmly. Apo could only worry that the wet dye might stain his clothes.
"The dye will stay on too long. I don't think you want your hair to fall out," Apo giggled quietly, trying to gently extract himself from Jay's arms. "We need to wash it."
"Okay, okay," Jay said. He smiled, though he looked a little sad. He reluctantly released his hold on Apo’s waist and watched as Apo stood up to turn on the water. Jay sat there for a moment, running his fingers through his damp, red hair. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and smiled softly. He already liked the color.
Apo adjusted the water temperature, testing it with his fingertips until it was just warm enough. "Come on, tomato head."
Jay stood, the old towel slipping a little from his shoulders. He bent over the sink, positioning his head under the stream of water.
"Is the temperature good?" Apo asked, gently running his hands through Jay's hair to rinse the dye.
"Yeah, just right."
Apo began to rinse, his fingers working through the slick, red-stained strands. The water swirled a vivid pink before disappearing down the drain. He was focused and gentle, his touches so relaxing that Jay thought he could fall asleep.
"Conditioner now," Apo instructed, squeezing a dollop into his palm. The sharp, chemical scent of the dye was replaced by the soft aroma of coconut. His fingers massaged Jay’s scalp in slow, circular motions, and he felt Jay practically melt under his touch, a low hum of contentment escaping his lips.
"You’re too good at this," Jay mumbled, his voice muffled.
"I have to be. I’m the one you talked into it," Apo replied, though his hands remained tender. He rinsed the conditioner out, then wrapped a fresh, dry towel around Jay’s head, rubbing gently.
Next, Apo quickly dried Jay's hair with a hairdryer, smiling as he assessed his handiwork. He gave the strands a gentle fluff. It was a deep, vibrant red, and it looked perfect on Jay.
"Okay. Let’s see the final result."
Jay turned to the mirror and stood in silent amazement. He stared, his expression unreadable for a long moment — a blank canvas of surprise.
Apo held his breath, watching Jay’s face in the reflection. "Well?"
A slow, dazzling smile spread across Jay’s features, transforming his whole face. The red made his eyes look darker, his smile brighter. He turned from the mirror to look directly at Apo.
"Wow," he said, genuinely amazed. "It looks super cool. Like… I feel like I should have done this a long time ago," he smiled, touching his new hair.
Apo’s anxiety dissolved into a wave of relief and affection. Right then, Jay reached out, wrapping his arms around Apo's neck to kiss him. It was sweet and bright, just like Jay's smile when he pulled away, his eyes full of love. "It's perfect. Thank you." Jay gave Apo another quick peck, still beaming, and turned back to the mirror, running his fingers through his hair. It was definitely perfect.
"It really suits you," Apo whispered, hugging Jay from behind.
The bathroom was a mess — stained towels, an empty dye box, pink splatters on the sink. But in the middle of it, Jay vibrated with a new energy, touching his hair every few seconds as if to confirm it was real. Apo rested his chin on Jay’s shoulder, watching him admire his reflection. The deep color seemed to have unlocked something in Jay — a playful confidence that made his eyes sparkle. Apo felt a quiet pride bloom in his chest. He had done that. His hands had helped transform Jay into this vibrant version of himself.
"Should we take a picture?" Jay asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence. He fumbled for his phone on the counter. "For the members."
"Right now? Wanna surprise them?" Apo smiled, already shifting to stand beside Jay. Jay’s arm slipped around his waist, pulling him close. They fit together easily, naturally. Jay held the phone up, angling it.
"Ready? Smile."
The camera flash went off, capturing them: Jay with his shock of deep red hair, still damp and tousled, and Apo beside him, his cheek pressed close to Jay’s, a soft, unguarded smile on his face. The background was a blur of bathroom mess, but it didn’t matter. The focus was entirely on them.
Jay examined the photo, his thumb stroking Apo’s waist. "Perfect," he declared, and Apo knew he wasn’t just talking about the hair or the picture. He meant this.
By the end of the day, Apo was lying in their bed, hugging Jay and gently running his fingers through the red strands. In the quiet dark, the color was a shadow, but its energy seemed to linger, a warm, silent hum against his skin. "I love it," Apo whispered into the stillness. Jay, already half-asleep, squeezed him tighter in answer — a silent, perfect echo of the day's joy.
Apo kissed him softly before sleep finally claimed him, the warmth and the newness feeling utterly right. He fell asleep with a sincere smile, letting its gentle pull carry him away.