Chapter Text
“Yes, we're home, Mark-hyung… you're not even paying me dinner money, you can't say that… shut up?... you and Haechan-hyung are a match made in he– no, I was gonna say hell– that's not a compliment!”
Yushi hears Riku talking on the phone.
Yushi was baffled because since when was Riku and Mark this close?
He was about to take a shower but he forgot to bring a new towel. And before he could step out the door, he stops at the doorway at the sound of Riku apparently talking to his brother.
“I told you I'm not a babysitter– yes, we ate dinner last night and the other night… Honestly, I've been hearing this since two weeks ago… I'm nice to your brother, you're welcome…”
He hears more of what Riku says that left Yushi dumbfounded.
Did this mean that Riku was only nice to him because Mark told him so?
Yushi had a feeling–that since moving into the dorms, his roommate didn't particularly like him.
Yushi had known Riku before they were roommates; the older's name is quite known for his face and athletic tendencies. He wasn't in any particular sports club but he's seen playing a lot of sports, most especially volleyball and basketball.
And let it be known that Yushi has a crush on the older.
Aside from his handsome but also pretty visuals, he was known to be friendly. He may look cool and aloof with his monochrome aesthetic through his outfits but once he smiles your way, you'd forget he was looking intimidating before that.
So Yushi was baffled when they were assigned roommates in the university dorms; Riku was aloof and almost ignored him in their room– that the younger thinks that Riku somehow hates him.
It wasn't until a few days later that Riku started to get friendly and ask him to eat or go home together.
But apparently, Riku was only doing that because Mark said so.
Yushi has never felt betrayed in his life until now.
ㅡ♡
“Since when were you and Mark-hyung close?” Yushi asks the moment Riku's call was over.
“You heard everything?” Riku asks back.
“I asked you first!” Yushi exclaims.
“I played basketball with him sometimes… and he's dating my brother.” Riku answers.
“Haechanie-hyung?” Yushi asks.
“Yes, didn't you know?”
Well, that fact was surprising.
“Are you mad?” Riku asks carefully when Yushi doesn't answer.
“So were you only nice to me because Mark-hyung asked to babysit me?” Yushi asks directly, completely ignoring Riku’s questions.
“No, Yushi, let me explain–”
“Do you like my brother?” Yushi interjects. At this point, Yushi’s just throwing nonsense.
Because of the fact that Riku may have only been tolerating him or the fact that he and his brother (Mark) have the same type.
“What? No– I like someone else!” Riku explains.
Well, that stumped Yushi. But he couldn't suddenly dwell on that though so he rambles.
“Then why would you do him a favor?” Yushi asks again.
“I wouldn't even do him a favor in my life–” Riku tries to explain but Yushi's thoughts are now all over the place.
“You've hated me since the first day we were roommates…” Yushi mumbles but Riku hears it anyway.
“What? How did you even think that?”
“You can't make eye contact with me, and you ignored me the first few days,” Yushi answers in a pout.
“W–well, that was entirely another thing–”
“Okay, I get it. Whatever– you can stop listening to Mark's favors now. I can handle myself.” Yushi concluded as Riku can't even answer him.
Yushi then storms off– bringing his unrequited love with him (in the bathroom; he was gonna shower before all this, anyway).
mark
just so you know
you're just mark in my contacts now
what did i do this time
yushi
pls explain
i can explain
whatever it is
🙂🙂
see
you're ready to explain
when u don't even know what u did yet
yushi please
since when were you in contact wt riku?
like ,,,
since 2 weeks ago
because?
well ,,
okay walk wt me here
lets calm down first, okay?
explain quickly
i do not have much time for your excuses
yushi you're not really scary when you're mad
i always imagine a steaming mandu
its just somehow cute…
and stationary
MARK
okay i'm sorry 😭
yknow mom and dad are just worried ok
but since i knew that riku is your roommate
i've just been giving him reminders …
to babysit me?
to go home with me?
were you the one who told him my likes too?
is it why he gave me my favorite
food drinks and snacks?
well, he asked
i just answered
🙂🙂🙂
is that all you told him?
i guess so
i also may or may have not
told him you like him
MARK ?????
where is the hyung 😭😭
WHY WOULD YOU TELL HIM THAT ??
i told you he asked for your likes 😭
I CANT DEAL WITH YOU
You blocked this user.
After blocking his brother, he then pockets his phone angrily.
ㅡ♡
Because of last night's events, Yushi decides to avoid Riku like the plague.
It was easy in the morning; since Riku wakes up early and mostly has morning classes.
What was difficult was during the night.
He knows Riku's classes don't end late, which is why they've been going home together too.
Yushi is already home (he did not wait up for Riku; nor replied to his texts) and he's actually thinking of skipping dinner so he could pretend to be asleep when Riku gets back.
As a matter of fact, he's so dedicated to his plan that he's now lying in his bed.
It's too early, though. And he's kind of hungry.
But when he heard the door click, he forgot everything and closed his eyes.
Riku just entered their dorm. And maybe if Yushi tried hard enough, he'll be asleep if he just kept his eyes closed.
A few minutes passed, and Yushi couldn't even sleep.
And Yushi is hungry. Why did he even think of skipping dinner?
So he discarded his earlier resolve and sat up in his bed. Riku is in the bathroom, anyway. Maybe if Yushi was fast enough, he could get like a snack and eat before Riku comes out.
But Yushi may have calculated the minutes wrong because before he could even step his foot out of the bed, Riku came out of the bathroom.
Riku's a sight he didn't expect, though.
“Why are you naked?!” Yushi exclaims, and averts his eyes.
Now don't get Yushi wrong; they may be both guys but it's still common courtesy to not look when someone's naked.
“I have a towel around my waist, Yushi. I'm not naked.”
Okay, maybe also to not look when someone's half-naked.
“And you were awake?” Riku adds as he puts on clothes.
“I am now, obviously!”
“Did you eat dinner?” Riku asks.
“Uh, no,” Yushi answers briefly. When in reality, he is so hungry but he can't say that out loud because then Riku will ask him why he didn't eat and– yes, it's stupid, Yushi wouldn't tell a soul about how he planned to skip dinner just so he could ignore Riku.
“Good, I was gonna wake you up when the take-out comes but I guess I don't have to do that now. Eat dinner with me, Yushi.” Riku says in a small smile.
And it's that damn smile and genuine tone that gets Yushi everytime.
But Yushi can't forget that he's on a strike.
“Did Mark tell you to do this?” He asks suspiciously.
Riku's smile drops and he sighs.
“I'm telling you, Yushi. I did not necessarily listen to him–” Riku’s explanation was cut off when a knock was heard from their door. It was their takeout food.
“Let's just eat, Riku-hyung.”
Of all the food, Riku actually chose chicken and beer tonight. Maybe because it's a Saturday. And they share chicken and beer every Saturday because they don't obviously have class on Sundays. So they could drink to their heart's content. And drink it is; what Yushi did. He didn’t even notice that Riku wasn’t really drinking his beer.
And he wasn't planning to get drunk but Yushi may have drunk more than he intended. Because now he is feeling lightheaded.
But Yushi was still a calm drunk.
He stands up abruptly. When he thought he was gonna fall, arms caught him and Riku helped him stay upright.
“Rikuuu,” Yushi says, “I'm sleepy now,”
“Okay, Yuu-chan. Let's get you to bed.” Riku answers in a soft voice.
“My head is spinning, Rikuuuu,” Yushi says, words slurring as he also keeps on lengthening syllables with his words.
“Hold my hand, Yuu-chan,” Riku says as he giggles at Yushi's drunken state.
Riku then guides him to his bed and tucks him in.
“Rikuuu, where are you going?” Yushi says as he fights his drooping eyelids.
Riku then crouches down beside the bed to his eye level.
“I'm just here,” Riku answers.
“Are you sure? Rikuu,”
“Hmm?”
“Hold my hand.” Then Yushi holds out one arm from beneath his blanket.
Riku then accepts it, holding the younger's hand. It was only then that Yushi stopped fighting his drowsiness and closed his eyes.
The warmth seeping from their clasped hands reminds Yushi that Riku is really here even if he succumbs to the darkness of his sleep.
ㅡ♡
It seems like Yushi's embarrassing streak continues. He can’t exactly say if it was because of his hangover or remembering last night's events that made his head hurt in the morning but he guesses it could be both.
But at least he now had a valid reason to avoid the older. It will be midterms week soon so they will both be busy.
ri-kun 💘
hey, yushi
where are you?
studying
where?
with my classmate
so where?
why are you even asking
A few minutes passed but a reply never came.
Weird. Riku was the one who texts first and he doesn’t suddenly reply?
“Is there a problem?” Jaehee asks when he sees Yushi frowning at his phone.
“Nothing,” Yushi places his phone down then comes back to his study materials.
But Yushi’s face is still frowning; like if he focuses enough he could light his papers on fire because of how it’s offending him.
“Is there a problem, Yushi?” Jaehee asks again.
“I don’t know, Jaehee. This problem sheet is a pain in the head. I hate everything,” Yushi rambles.
“I’ll help you, what part confuses you?”
A few more minutes of studying and Yushi was just about to give up.
Not until Jaehee comes back with food in his hands from when he went out just a while ago.
“Did you buy that?” Yushi asks, eyes wide and him just gaining energy from the smell alone.
“No, Riku-hyung did.” Jaehee says and smiles.
“Riku?” Yushi bafflingly repeats.
“It’s for you! But he bought some for me too. So thank you, Yushi! Let’s take a break from studying and eat first.” Jaehee says excitedly.
ri-kun 💘
did mark told you to do this?
no, but jaehee told me u were cranky
im guessing u just need food
🧍
how do you know jaehee?
he’s your friend
ofc i talk to him
you talk to him?
personal?
texts?
oh?
oh yushi are u jealous?
NO
Then Yushi dropped his phone and stopped replying.
ㅡ♡
The weekend before his midterm week started, Yushi went home to his parents house to study. He’s obviously here to study but the real reason actually is because he is still avoiding Riku.
His parents are back in Japan, anyway, so he has the house to himself.
A factor he didn’t consider is his younger brother Sakuya.
ri-kun 💘
this is so unnecessary
i told u to stop doing mark favors
or jaehee
who told u this time?
sakuya 🫶
why do you know sakuya now
he’s literally your brother too
and he’s bestfriends wt ryo
your brother ?!
you didn’t know?
that hurts me, yushi
are you not interested about me?
NO
we are talking abt your brother
and MY brother
and stop doing my brothers’ favors !
its ok sakuya is cute ♡
so mark is cute too?
jaehee is cute too?
where did that even come from
WHATEVER
At this point, Yushi is about to block this man.
Yushi’s here trying to uncrush his crush and his crush does this?!
“Sakuya!” Yushi exclaims.
The younger one startles just in front of him, cheeks full of cheeseballs.
“What?!”
“Don’t you text Riku again.”
“Eh? But why?” Sakuya asks confusedly.
“Don’t make him buy anything again. And don’t tell him what I’m doing!” Yushi tells him.
Sakuya pouts, “he was the one who asked though, why am I getting scolded right now?”
“No cheeseballs for you.” Yushi tries to grab the cheeseballs away.
“No fair! Riku-hyung said we share!” Sakuya retaliates.
“I don’t care!”
“I’m telling on you!”
“Don’t you dare!”
But Sakuya tells on him anyway, as Riku sends another text,
ri-kun 💘
i can buy you more, yuu-chan
share wt the poor kid pls
Yuu-chan? Yuu-chan?!
ㅡ♡
Yushi’s midterm week ends with more confusion.
He's studying with Sion today and he's about to lose his mind. With a lot of terms and concepts to grasp, he's about sure most of his brain cells are already fried.
But when Sion comes back with bubble tea, he suddenly feels energy surging within him; like he could ace his last midterm later.
“Is that for me?!” Yushi exclaims.
“Yeah, yeah, here,” Then Yushi happily accepts the drink.
“Thank you!” Yushi then wastes no time sipping his bubble tea.
“You should thank Riku, though,” Sion adds and Yushi almost choked on a pearl.
“W–what?” Yushi asks.
“Riku gave that, a goodluck for your last exam later.”
“Oh, okay,” Was all Yushi could reply.
ri-kun 💘
who from my demon brothers
or friends told u where i am?
oh sion
how the fuck do you know oh sion
yushi ?
language ??
Yushi can't believe this. First Jaehee, now Sion? Knowing they had common friends all this time was kind of perplexing.
Then the knowledge that Riku knows Sion sends Yushi into a spiral.
ri-kun 💘
is sion the one you like?
yushi what
why can't u answer?
did u like the bubble tea?
FUCK I KNEW IT
yushi u aint know nothing
Well, maybe Yushi isn't entirely making sense but his brain is overloaded. He still has an exam later and Sion is pretty. People fall for pretty people fast. Did he just connect the dots?
mark
does riku like sion?
omg am i unblocked?
u will be again if u don't answer
WAIT FUCK
what made u even think that
are your exams done?
the way u avoid my question
makes me think i am right
yushi no
its ok i get it
i already connected the dots
you didnt connect shit
You blocked this user.
ri-kun 💘
yushi
stop thinking about anything else
and just focus on your exam
okay?
whatever
goodluck yuuchan 😗
Well, fuck? Yuu-chan?!
Yushi is kind of convinced Riku is becoming a menace to society.
ri-kun 💘
also mark says to unblock him lmao
.
CAN THESE PEOPLE STOP SNITCHING ON ME
Yushi is starting to think that everyone is useless.
ㅡ♡
Yushi's exams are finally done.
He doesn't think that he'd flunked it but what matters is that it is over.
A few minutes before this, he had a lot to think about. But now he's just done. And tired. He really wants to go home now.
He thinks about pizza and carbonated drinks. He really wants to eat it right now.
And maybe log into a game he hasn't touched since hell week happened.
But Yushi's stuck right now– his mind can’t decide if it wants to function or just space out altogether– because it's raining and Yushi doesn't want his umbrella to get wet.
Maybe he should've just accepted his classmate's offer a while ago. But walking with someone he barely talks to in class under the rain would be too awkward for Yushi. And he can't even lie convincingly if he tried.
And what a friend Sion was; because when he asked to share his umbrella, the useless guy just went and said he'll fetch someone special.
Wait– someone special? Don't tell me it's Riku? Is there really something going on between them?
Don't even ask Yushi where he gets these ideas–honestly, sometimes he imagines some bullshit just to cope. Because thinking of the worst was better to prepare himself with anything.
Anyway, fuck it.
Then a sudden chill ran down his spine.
Now that he thinks about it, it was extra cold when he was taking the exam earlier. He does get cold easily but the weather was so clear before his exam that he'd forgone bringing a jacket today.
Well, this just sucks. Yushi doesn't want his umbrella to get wet, his unrequited crush on Riku is at its all-time high, and he may or may not get sick soon.
Right then, Yushi thinks the rain is now pouring more heavily so he regrets not sucking it all up and stopped being stubborn by just using his own umbrella.
But now that Yushi thinks about it, it wasn’t even his own umbrella. It was lent to him by someone but because he was rushing that day, he didn’t get to see the other person clearly and thus forgot to give it back.
He just keeps the umbrella in his bag if ever he suddenly remembers the face of the stranger if he should see him.
Anyway, back to his present dilemma–who could even blame Yushi? It's a bother to dry an umbrella, and in the first place, he didn't have any space for that in their dorm. So if he uses his umbrella now and forget to clean it later, it'll only smell bad and–
“Yushi?” He hears someone call him and interrupts his dissociation.
Yushi turns his head at the sound.
“Why are you just standing there?” Riku adds and Yushi sees him scan his body.
“Aren't you cold?” He says again and Yushi doesn't know if he should answer all his questions.
“Kind of,” is what Yushi managed to say.
Riku's eyebrows are furrowed; Yushi thinks he did something bad. Or is that worry that Yushi's picking?
“Don't you have an umbrella? Let's go home quickly.” Riku urges as he opens his own umbrella.
Yushi was about to say he has his own umbrella but he stops when he hears Riku say home.
This is a really personal statement but Yushi loves it when Riku calls their dorm as home. It is just heartwarming to hear; like they are not just sharing a common space but living there comfortably because it wasn't just a house– it was their home.
Also Yushi forgets entirely that he has his own umbrella.
“Riku, at least hold the umbrella properly, your shoulder is getting wet.”
“I'm fine, Yuu-chan.”
“No, hold it properly–” Yushi grabs the handle but Riku isn't budging.
“Your hands are so cold, Yushi,” Riku points out but Yushi's just getting stressed because what does Riku care if his hand is cold? He's the one getting wet, anyway!
“Yeah, and?”
“Why were you even standing alone in the cold a while ago? You know you get sick easily.” Riku nags.
“I'm not that weak!? How do you even know that?” Yushi still tries to pull the umbrella but somehow, Riku's hand manages to trap his own so now Riku is enveloping Yushi's hand that is holding the handle.
“Why wouldn't I know?” Riku answers and Yushi's left dumbfounded.
If Riku answers like that then it makes him look like he's interested in Yushi.
Yushi thinks he'll get a headache. Maybe all those studying really did fry his brain cells.
Yushi only huffs, unable to answer.
ㅡ♡
Yushi wakes up like he's dying.
His head is pounding and his body is heating up but still feels chills on his spine. Yushi can't think straight and his body temperature feels wonky.
He does get sick easily but he will never get used to the uncomfortable feeling of having a fever. And Yushi thinks that this is one of the worst fevers he had yet. This may have been caused by the stress and fatigue of the exam week but may also be because of the seasons changing– like how it was sunny yesterday morning but raining in the afternoon.
Yushi hates this. And it seems like his roommate is out. So he calls his brother (with much difficulty as his body feels cold and heavy like a wet sponge).
It rang five times before his brother answered.
“Hello, Yushi?”
“Mark-hyung,” Yushi says in a hoarse voice.
“Yushi? What happened to your voice? Are you sick?”
“Hmm,” Yushi only hums an answer.
“Are you alone?” Yushi hums again and he hears his brother curse from the other line.
“Hyung,” Yushi calls again.
“Yushi, I'm out of the city right now and I won't be back until later in the evening. I'll send someone for you, okay? Can you stand? Do you think you can stomach something? You need to eat before you take medicine, though,” Mark rambles, too used with what to do when Yushi gets sick but his panic and worry is the ever-same; never ceases until his younger brother is cured.
Yushi doesn't appreciate it right now, though. The more his brother talks, the more his head pounds.
“Can you move?”
“I guess so, but I'd rather not– I can't– I don't wanna…” Yushi complains.
“Oh, Yushi. Just wait for a while, okay?” Yushi hums an answer and hears the call drop.
Since Yushi isn't magically getting better now, he let himself succumb to the heaviness of his body and drooping eyes so he finds sleep again.
Yushi didn't know how long he slept but he felt someone shake his shoulder.
“Yushi, wake up.”
He opens his eyes to see Riku beside his bed.
“Let's eat before you take your medicine.”
Riku helps Yushi sit in bed, his back to the headboard.
“Eat, Yushi.” Riku urges but Yushi wasn't moving so the elder took the spoon and scooped the rice porridge to feed the younger.
But Yushi was getting stubborn; not having an appetite, he turned his head away from the spoon delivered by Riku.
“Yushi, you need to eat.”
But Yushi thinks he can't stomach anything right now.
“Just one spoon, okay?” Riku still urges.
With no strength left to dodge, Yushi just stays still and accepts the food.
“Good, swallow it slowly.”
Then Riku scoops another spoonful, blowing on the porridge, and bringing his lips to the food to check the temperature like how a parent does it before feeding their baby.
“Am I a kid right now?” Yushi complains.
“I can't let my Yuu-chan get burned now, am I?” Riku says and brings the spoon to Yushi's mouth again.
Yushi whines but Riku promises that it's the last bite, for real now. Then he makes Yushi take a fever reducer.
And Yushi's brain may feel mushy right now but it can still process how he just had an indirect kiss with Riku.
It's stupid. Riku's so stupid. If anyone sees what he did, they will think why is this guy kissing the porridge before bringing the spoon to the other? If anyone's the wiser, they would think it's to check the temperature but for Yushi it is just offensive.
Riku's such a natural flirt that it makes Yushi want the heat from his fever to just melt his whole body and evaporate.
But what can he do? Riku taking care of him just made Yushi fall for him again.
“Did Mark tell you to do this?”
“Even if Mark told me or not, I won't leave you alone while you're sick, Yushi. Even if you hate me, I'm hurt you'd think I won't care about your wellbeing.”
“Who said I hate you?” Yushi asks.
“Don't you hate me?” Riku asks back.
“What? I like you a lot though, Riku-hyung.” Yushi blurts out without thinking.
The medicine must be taking a hold of his wits because he's getting drowsy. But he doesn't want this moment with Riku to end yet.
Because Riku has a small smile on his face and Yushi wants to stare at his face for a little longer. He could blame the medicine for his delusions later because it almost felt like Riku's staring at Yushi like he likes him too.
“Really?”
“What?” The older's smile must have cleared other thoughts because it's all Yushi can think about right now and forgot what they were talking about.
“You said you like me, Yuu-chan?”
Now Yushi doesn't know what to think.
“Huh? How'd you know, Riku-hyung?” Did his brother snitch on him again?
But Riku only chuckles while Yushi gets more confused–and sleepy. His eyes are really closing on their own.
“Let's talk about it when you're better, Yuu-chan.”
What is Riku even saying, was Yushi's last thought before sleep overcame him.
ㅡ♡
Yushi wakes up better the next day.
He may have loathed the universe yesterday, today he feels grateful for having people taking care of him.
Riku had nursed him back to health and Yushi thinks he had fallen even further.
Also Riku is too beautiful to gaze at in the morning that Yushi completely forgot to panic that they slept on the same bed.
Instead, he brings his hand to caress the older's hair.
The motion seemed to rouse Riku from his sleep, though.
“Yushi, you're awake?” He says then quickly sits up, “are you okay? How are you feeling?” Riku says as he brings a hand to Yushi's forehead.
“You know I'm sick then why did you sleep beside me?”
“You need the added warmth, okay? Are you okay now?”
“You could've gotten sick too.”
“That's the least of my concerns as long as you get better, Yushi. How are you feeling?”
Riku who manages to counter every Yushi's concern makes the younger feel defeated.
“I'm feeling better.” Yushi only answers and Riku gives a small smile.
“That's good.”
“Thank you, Riku.”
“Of course, Yuu-chan. Though I must say, you were more polite yesterday.” Riku says, a light teasing tone laced in his voice.
“Oh?”
“You never call me hyung,” Riku adds but Yushi just gets confused further.
“Huh?”
“You called me hyung yesterday. You don't remember?” It was now Riku's turn to be confused.
“I did?”
“Can you remember anything from yesterday?”
“Uh– you fed me, you made me take medicine– um, what else? Did I do something?” Yushi's still confused.
“Do you remember anything you said before you fell asleep?” Riku asks.
“I– no?” Yushi answers.
“Oh,” Riku says, then a smile creeps back on his face, “okay. It's nothing. Should we eat breakfast?” Riku finishes, as if changing the topic immediately.
“Yes, please.” Yushi only answers because he's starving.
“You can rest more if you want; I will see what I can prepare.” Riku suggests then proceeds to find something decent to eat.
What did Riku even mean? Yushi was still confused as he stayed laid down while waiting for the food.
I like you a lot though, Riku-hyung.
Suddenly, a memory flashes in Yushi's mind.
Apparently, being sick makes him polite.
Yushi finds it hard to ignore Riku now.
Because his friends suddenly decided that it was good to visit Yushi.
“If it was ever discovered that there’s more visitors inside this room than what is allowed, we will surely get a warning. Why are you all here?” Yushi complains.
But Sakuya and Ryo were only arguing about what food to order, and Sion is gaslighting Jaehee into paying for the food.
“Excuse me? Are we focusing?” Yushi says again.
“It's no sweat, Yushi. Jaehee's close to the manager here.” Sion answers
“Of course, he is. You don't even live here!” Yushi counters.
“Yushi, don't stress, okay? You just got better.” Riku then tries to calm him.
“But– they are pretty much trespassing, Riku!”
Yushi wasn't even territorial but seeing this many people invade his and Riku's space, Yushi feels an animalistic desire to claw everyone who isn't Riku out.
Then they hear another knock and the door spits out Mark.
“Mark?! Why are you here!?” Yushi stresses again.
“Wow, that's such a warm welcome from my dear brother. You are really okay now, I can feel the energy that you don't need me anymore.” Mark rambles, exaggerating his reactions as he leans on his boyfriend with him.
“Mark, don't be dramatic.” Then Haechan pushes him away to walk towards Yushi.
“Oh, Yushi, are you okay now?” Haechan checks.
“Yes, hyung.” Yushi answers with a small smile on his face.
“Why are my two favorite people hurting me right now?” Mark on his dramatic streak again.
“My own brother doesn't even recognize my presence, he even patted Ryo's head when he passed by him,” Riku says in a pout.
“Aw, Riku, we only got ourselves in this world.” Mark says as he goes to Riku and tries to hug him.
“Get away, hyung,” Riku tries to push him away.
“Haechan-hyung, final answer? You really want my brother?” Yushi says.
Mark gasps dramatically.
“Unfortunately, I love this loser.” Haechan answers simply.
“You love me?!” Mark exclaims.
“Mark-hyung, what kind of selective hearing do you have? He called you a loser in the same sentence.”
“Hyung!” Sakuya then tries to get his attention.
“What?” Yushi and Mark answer at the same time.
“Mark-hyung! I heard that! Why are Haechanie-hyung and Yushi-hyung your only favorite people?! What about me!” Sakuya complains.
“That happened the moment you decided to choose Johnny as your favorite hyung.” Mark counters.
“As if he wasn't your favorite hyung too!” Sakuya answers back.
“Correction, Saku, that wasn't the reason why. It's because you are Johnny's favorite dongsaeng now and not Mark so he's sulking.” Haechan says instead.
“Oh, what, hyung. That's so childish.”
“Says the one who's literally a child?”
“I already graduated highschool!”
“Hyungs, did you bring food?” Jaehee suddenly says.
“We did, let's eat.” Haechan answers then.
“Yo, Kim Jaehee, this is why you will pay for our next meal.” Sion teases him again.
“Like I said, why me?!” Jaehee answers and Sion just giggles because he's a menace and he got the reaction he needed.
“Yushi, here,” Riku then gives him some of the food Mark and Haechan brought.
When everyone was arguing, it seemed like Riku had already prepared the table so everyone had just dug in.
“Thank you, Riku. Let's share.”
“Okay,” then Riku smiles at Yushi, which made his heart skip a beat.
To be taken care of Riku, even if he was sick or not; Yushi just finds himself falling for the gentleman.
But that was a problem too. Because Riku is affectionate to his people– his brothers and friends.
Yushi was about to push Sion off his chair because Riku kept on leaning on him while they were playing after eating.
Then when it was time to go, he hugs Jaehee. It was understandable to hug his brothers but Jaehee?! Sion was even rubbing their cheeks together!
This is why it's difficult to like a popular guy. He's always around everyone and anyone. He's too friendly to a fault that it pisses Yushi off because he can't really have him to himself.
People will always have Riku but Yushi craves him in his bones. It sounds absurd– but Yushi likes him so much that he always thinks of the unthinkable.
“Yushi, are you okay?” Riku talks to him after everyone has left.
“No.”
“Why? Are you feeling sick again?”
“No.”
“Then what is it? Is something bothering you?”
“Yes, you.”
Riku then looks at him– as if gauging Yushi's mood, of what prompted the accusation.
“Why? Because you like me?” Riku suddenly drops and Yushi forgets to speak.
“Do you still not remember last night?”
That was the problem– Yushi remembers everything. He likes Riku but what of it? Yushi can't bring himself to say that he knows because then he will be rejected. And he still isn't ready for that.
But he can't stay anxious every time, would he?
“If I like you then what?”
“Then I will say that I like you too, Yuu-chan.” Riku says.
Riku had said it. Like it was just that easy– to confess to someone.
“Don't play with me…” Yushi says in a disbelieving tone.
Should it really be this easy?
“I wouldn't even dare, Yuu-chan. I like you.”
Riku says again and Yushi forgets to breathe.
“You like me?!” Yushi exclaims.
What the hell?
“Yes, Yushi. I like you.” Riku says again.
“Stop it, that's the third time!”
“Third what? I could say it again and again for you, Yushi. I like you.”
Yushi internally screams.
“What the hell,”
“Yushi, your words?” Then Riku giggles.
“But I liked you first! No, I like you longer so I like you more so you can't just say that to me!” Yushi blurts out in a bout of insanity because what?
Riku said he likes me! In flesh, the Maeda Riku in front of him and not the ones Yushi only dreams of.
“Yuu-chan?” At this point Riku should be weirded out but he only laughs at Yushi.
Riku's eyes were forming crescents for laughing heartily and he sounds fond that Yushi can't even get mad.
But Yushi's drunk on his feelings so he can't stop now.
“You can't even compare… I liked you since I don't know… and I still like you… if not more.” Yushi rambles that he even gets teary.
Upon seeing the overwhelmed Yushi, Riku brings his precious Yuu-chan to his embrace.
“I don't know what goes on in that pretty little head of yours but I just have to like you as much, do I?”
Yushi only sniffles on Riku's chest.
“Let's take this slow, okay?” Riku adds, and Yushi finds himself nodding.
“Okay,” Riku exhales and Yushi feels the touch of the older's lips on the crown of his head. Yushi hugs him tighter.
When Yushi calmed down, he raised his head to look at Riku.
“Are we boyfriends now?” Yushi says, eyes shining and hopeful.
Riku stares– a fond but teasing smile plastered on his face.
“If I kiss you right now, would that be answer enough?”
“No?!” Yushi immediately answers.
Riku laughs again.
“Stop laughing! This is serious! You don't want to? You will regret this!?”
“Oh?” Riku says in between laughs.
“Riku, you will regret it–” Yushi's whining was stopped.
Riku kissed Yushi.
“No, I won't regret anything because we are boyfriends now, my Yuu-chan.”
Yushi smiles, his chest feeling lighter than ever.
“Good. Do that again.”
“Anything my Yuu-chan wants.”