Work Text:
“So, what are we doing for our society’s stall this time?” K asks, settling down in the boy’s common room.
The annual spring festival was this weekend, and most of the society’s had yet to come up with what they were going to do. So the president of the art society, K was making everyone sit around in a circle, so they could brainstorm ideas.
“Since we’re in the art club” Fuma starts. “How about face painting?”
Nicholas agrees almost immediately. “Face painting would be cool”
“Isn’t that too basic?” Harua says. “Nail art would be better”
K groans, scribbling and doodling on the piece of paper where he was trying to brainstorm ideas.
“We need our stall to raise the most money” K says. “Because the drama society is doing a kissing booth”
“Woah” Maki claps a hand to his mouth. “Who the hell is running that booth?”
“Sung Hanbin apparently” K says. “And let me tell y’all, that guy is crazy popular. Everyone is going to be paying for kissing him”
“Wait, isn’t Euijoo in the drama society too” Harua suddenly adds in, turning to look at Euijoo. “I thought he was popular too”
Of course. Euijoo was part of the drama society, he loved acting and did several plays. He was popular but perhaps not at Sung Hanbin’s level.
However for the spring festival, he decided to be a part of the stall his friends were running, since he was the only one in the drama society from his close friend group, which included him, Nicholas, Harua, Fuma, Maki and K.
Nicholas was happy, that his best friend ditched his usual fellows from the drama society, to be with the rest of them.
Cause, here’s the thing about Nicholas. He may or may not be hopelessly in love with his best friend Byun Euijoo. Whereas his said best friend is absolutely clueless to this fact, mainly because Nicholas tends to hide it pretty well.
All those times that Euijoo did plays in the drama society, Nicholas was thankful that his best friend didn’t do any role which required kissing. Although at times he did play the love interest, and had to hug or hold hands with his co-actor/actress at times. Nicholas couldn’t help but feel jealous of all those people.
Euijoo was passionate about acting, so Nicholas had to swallow this hard pill, and be happy for his best friend. He made sure to support Euijoo in every way, even if it broke his heart.
However, he’s thankful that the drama society didn’t choose Euijoo for the kissing booth. Cause that would have been an absolute hell for Nicholas. The acting which Euijoo had to do during plays and rehearsal was strictly professional business, but this kissing booth would mean that random ass people would get to kiss the boy he had been crushing on since ages.
So he’s thankful, that Euijoo didn’t offer himself either, and volunteered to help K’s society, and be with the rest of the friend group.
Euijoo always made sure to give first priority to his friend group, rather than the drama society fellows.
“Euijoo, wouldn’t your drama society friends be upset that you’re not helping them?” Maki asks.
Euijoo shakes his head, laughing. “They don’t really need me. They have very popular guys like Sung Hanbin, so of course they don’t mind if I help yall instead”
Nicholas smiles, catching himself staring way too hard at Euijoo when K nudges him suddenly.
“Nico, can you do nail art well?” K asks.
Nicholas blinks, looking around. What was the conversation again?
“Umm, I guess?”
“So it’s settled! We’re doing nail art on our stall! And Harua will be helping you out!” K concludes, now planning everything which needed to be bought for setting up the stall.
“Well that’s great then” Maki concludes, clapping his hand. “Hope we have a successful earning at the spring festival!”
“You better be the first customer” Harua says, patting Maki’s arm.
Maki smirks, leaning closer to Harua. “Only if you agree to hold my hand through out while doing my nails, I ll sit there for hours and pay twice”
Harua widens his eyes, blushing before he hits Maki’s arm hard earning a groan from him.
K rolls his eyes, while shaking his head.
Fuma turns to look at Euijoo and Nicholas before saying. “Then Euijoo you should also be Nicholas’s first customer”
Euijoo blinks, turning to Fuma slightly flustered at his name being mentioned. Nicholas meanwhile smiles hard, looking away. Him doing Euijoo’s nail art meant he could hold his hand with that excuse.
“I don’t really do nail art though” Euijoo says, laughing while running his hand through his hair.
“Come on” Nicholas whines, nudging him with his shoulder. “I ll do something cool. Perhaps we could match?”
“Match? Seriously?” Euijoo says, raising his eyebrows.
“It will look cute” Nicholas says, reaching forward to grab Euijoo’s hands in his own, to examine his nails. “Your nails are good length, and overall your hands are pretty. You should definitely be the first customer-“
“Alright stop flirting now” K says, groaning loudly. “Can I sit one minute in this group without people flirting?”
“He wasn’t flirting!” Euijoo defends, panicking while looking away and immediately frees his hand from Nicholas’s grasp.
Nicholas tries not to sulk, with Euijoo denying and freeing his hand, but he was slightly hurt. Nevertheless he puts up a convincing smile for everyone, as K starts discussing the festival in more detail.
The next few days were full of chaos. The spring festival was only a day away now, and K was panicking.
“We don’t have silver nail polish!” K says, looking through all of their material. “That’s a major color which is missing”
“We also don’t have striper brush” Harua adds.
K sighs loudly. “Why are we still missing items?”
“Because I can’t find this color” Fuma says, looking at K. “We would have to order online”
“Do we have time!” K panics. “The festival is tomorrow”
“It says the delivery is quick on the website though” Maki says, skimming through the website, reading more details.
The entire day is spent in absolute panic, with K screaming at the top of his lungs. Euijoo and Nicholas worked together in setting up the stall with decorations.
Just when Nicholas is about to reach over to help Euijoo with taping the banner, Shinyu approaches the two of them, giving a slight wave to Nicholas as he walks over to Euijoo.
Nicholas frowns, walking up to listen to their conversation. He throws a casual arm around Euijoo, glancing at the two.
“There’s a huge problem” Shinyu says, grabbing his head in frustration.
Euijoo furrows his eyebrows. “What”
“Sung Hanbin backed out from doing the kissing booth” Shinyu informs, sighing loudly. “We’re in deep shit right now”
Euijoo widens his eyes. “What?! Why did he back out?”
“Apparently his boyfriend threw a fucking fit when he found out he’s doing the kissing booth for the festival. Hanbin said today that he can’t take up the job or else his boyfriend will break up with him”
Euijoo sighs, folding his arms as he nods in acknowledgment. “So what’s plan B? Is our society doing some other stall now?”
Shinyu bites his lip, before pressing them in a straight line. He lets out a nervous huff, staring at Euijoo. “No, our society is still doing the kissing booth..but instead of Hanbin…”
Nicholas’s heart drops to his stomach, when he slowly starts realising where this was going.
“Our plan B, is you Euijoo…” Shinyu says, nervously laughing.
“Me?!” Euijoo shrieks, eyes going wide, meanwhile Nicholas suddenly felt weak in his knees, standing there.
“You’re the second most popular guy after Hanbin” Shinyu says. “You have to do this for your society Euijoo! Please!”
Shinyu steps forward grabbing Euijoo’s arm tightly. “Please please please”
“But he’s helping the art society” Nicholas cuts in, grabbing Shinyu’s hand and pulls it off from Euijoo’s arm. “He can’t be at two places at once”
“But Euijoo is originally in the drama society” Shinyu says. “He’s obliged to work for his society”
“But how will I do? I mean how can I?” Euijoo says, his entire face burning red.
“It’s a simple kissing booth Euijoo” Shinyu says. “You have seen how it is”
“But I am not good at kissing people!” Euijoo says in his defence.
Shinyu sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “That’s not your place to judge. Only people who have kissed you can comment on this”
The entire conversation which was happening right now, was only making Nicholas more sick to his stomach by every passing minute. What the fuck even. Was Euijoo going to run the kissing booth in Sung Hanbin’s place?
And kiss people all day?
No fucking way.
“I don’t want to do it” Euijoo says, giving an apologetic look to Shinyu. “Please find someone else”
Nicholas lets out a tiny breath in relief. Phew. Euijoo was not willing for this. Euijoo wouldn’t do this. There’s no way Euijoo would agree for this.
Euijoo is too shy for this. He wouldn’t sign up for the booth. He wouldn’t.
He wouldn’t break Nicholas’s heart like that. Right?
Atleast thats what he thought.
“Euijoo” Shinyu pleads. “Euijoo please, you’re the only one who can save us”
“I-“ Euijoo hesitates, turning to look at Nicholas for a mere second before back at Shinyu. “I really-I don’t know-“
“Remember why we’re doing it in the first place?” Shinyu says. “To raise money for donating to the animal shelter. You love stray dogs and cats Euijoo”
Okay, wow. So now Shinyu was going to emotionally blackmail Euijoo into doing this. Surely Euijoo would do anything for animals. Shinyu knows what he’s playing at.
Nicholas looks away dejectedly. The ache in his chest somehow worsening. He already felt sick.
“I know-“ Euijoo lets out an exhausted sigh. “But you could do it as well Shinyu”
“You’re forgetting I am taken” Shinyu reminds. “You’re the only single one in the society who can take up this job”
Nicholas mentally curses at himself. Only if he had the fucking guts to ask Euijoo out before this offer, then Euijoo wouldn’t be ‘single’ and bound to save the reputation of the drama society by sacrificing himself for the kissing booth.
Euijoo glances at Nicholas for a second before releasing a deep sigh. It seemed as if he was actually thinking about it now.
And Nicholas was absolutely dreading it. He could feel his palms sweating, head spinning the longer he stood there in between the two.
“Ugh” Euijoo groans. “If there is no other option then I guess I will do it”
That was enough for Nicholas’s heart to sink deeper into the pits of hell. He stays frozen at his place, legs unable to move as Shinyu jumps in excitement, giving a half hug to Euijoo.
“Thank you so much! You’re a life saver!!” Shinyu beams.
Nicholas immediately turns around, before Euijoo could say a word to him and walks away first, leaving Euijoo with the decorations of their stall behind him.
“What the fuck do you mean you’re running the kissing booth!?” K practically screams into Euijoo’s face.
All the preparations were done now, and it was nearly dark. Everyone was heading home since the festival would start early tomorrow.
Euijoo had just broken the news of not being able to be a part of K’s stall tomorrow. Everyone was extremely shocked, taking in this news.
Nicholas meanwhile was slumped against a chair, as everyone crowded around Euijoo, questioning him.
“Hanbin backed out so there’s no other option” Euijoo sighs.
“That’s so unfair though” Fuma says. “You said you would be with us”
“I am sorry guys” Euijoo apologises.
K stares at him for a moment, shaking his head. Everyone in that moment glanced at Nicholas, who was sulking.
Everyone could see it, that Nicholas was sulking except, of course. The oblivious Byun Euijoo.
“What about you being our first customer though?” K asks, still glancing at Nicholas who showed no visible reaction now.
“I am not sure if I will get the time for that” Euijoo says, sighing. “I need to show my dedication towards my society now”
“So you’re gonna kiss anyone who shows up tomorrow?!” Maki asks, his eyes wide.
“I don’t have an option? If they’re paying I am supposed to kiss them” Euijoo replies.
Maki nods, also looking at Nicholas now.
“Even if one of us show up?” Maki asks hesitantly, on behalf of Nicholas.
On that question, Nicholas slowly raises his head up to look at Euijoo, who seemed to be turning red with everyone’s questions.
“I would appreciate if neither of you showed up” Euijoo says, rolling his eyes. “Please that would be so awkward”
“Damn did you just reject all of us like that?” Harua says, fake clutching his chest.
“Please don’t guys, it’s already challenging for me” Euijoo says.
Nicholas scoffs, giving his first reaction. Euijoo turns to him, raising an eyebrow. “What”
“So you can kiss strangers but not anyone from your group” Nicholas says, his tone bitter.
“Cause it will be weird” Euijoo replies.
“Yeah right” Nicholas scoffs again.
Everyone exchanges glances, while looking at both Euijoo and Nicholas. K lets out the loudest sigh of annoyance, before stepping in.
“Alright” he claps his hand. “It’s getting late, let’s leave guys. We have a big day tomorrow”
Nicholas stands up first, storming off without looking back at anyone. Euijoo blinks in visible confusion, before tugging Fuma’s sleeve
“Is something wrong with Nicholas?”
Fuma releases a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know Euijoo”
Euijoo just nods, standing up as everyone heads over to the main gate to leave.
The day of the spring festival was finally here. All the students were in absolute chaos, setting up things on their stalls/booths last minute.
Euijoo stood with his drama society friends, Shinyu and Kamden. Hanbin was no longer there, because apparently his boyfriend had dragged him away from them.
Kamden set up the banner on the kissing booth.
FOREHEAD - $1
CHEEK - $2
LIPS - $4
Euijoo sighs, looking at the banner. Anxiety was pooling in his gut right now. “Isn’t 4 dollars too much? Will we even be able to raise money?”
Kamden doesn’t respond but grabs a chapstick, gently holding Euijoo’s chin in his hands before applying it on his lips.
“You’re stressing too much” Shinyu says. “I bet so many people will be dying to pay that amount. I was thinking we could make it 5 dollars”
“No” Euijoo speaks up. “I guess it’s fine like this”
Shinyu smiles, patting his back gently.
K’s nail art stall was right opposite of Euijoo’s booth. Nicholas was slumped in his seat again, as Maki was giving ideas to Harua for nail art designs.
Fuma walks up to Nicholas, tapping his shoulder. “Get up, customers will start flooding in any moment, find designs”
Nicholas forces himself up from his seat, and immediately regrets it. One of Euijoo’s drama society friends were applying chapstick on him, as Shinyu fixed his hair.
This was an absolute nightmare. How the hell was Nicholas supposed to focus on doing nail art on customers when Euijoo would be kissing people right in front of him, all day.
Fuma notices the way Nicholas was zoning out, and waves his hand in front of him.
“Earth to Nicholas?”
“What?”
Fuma sighs. “What’s wrong with you?”
Nicholas sighs, closing his eyes for a mere second. “I don’t feel good”
“I think everyone knows the reason” Fuma answers. “But seriously, you’re K’s nail artist. Can you at least put aside your feelings for today?”
Nicholas gives an apologetic look to Fuma, before nodding. He diverts his attention from Euijoo, to finally start searching up designs.
Euijoo was freaking out. He shouldn’t have signed up for this. Because there were already 3 people lined up for his booth. Kamden was taking in their money and signing them up.
First came a girl, who had asked for a forehead kiss. Euijoo very gently, placed a kiss on her forehead, before moving onto the next 2, who had also asked for forehead ones.
Then came in 2 girls and 3 more guys. Soon the booth was a crowded place, as Shinyu and Kamden tried to keep track of the customers.
Nicholas also had his first customer. But for some reason, it was taking him way too long, just to paint a simple color on the girl’s nails.
“Can you do it a bit faster?” The girl asks, frowning at Nicholas. “The guy beside you is much faster” she says, referring to Harua who was doing Maki’s nails.
Nicholas apologises, before focusing on his work again. Euijoo’s booth was way too loud and distracting for him. Since the past 15 minutes, Euijoo had given forehead and cheek kisses to almost 20 people.
“You’re messing it up” the girl complains, looking at her nails. “Are you sure you can do it?”
Nicholas apologises once again. It was hard for him to focus with such a distraction in front of him. Harua was done with Maki’s nails by now.
“Do you need help” Harua offers to Nicholas, patting his shoulder. He could see the way Nicholas’s hands were trembling while attempting the design.
“Please” Nicholas responds. He asks the girl to move over to Harua, since his hands kept shaking.
Nicholas stands up immediately, and his heart leaps out of his chest, seeing the sight in front.
The sports society’s president, Sungho was next in line for Euijoo’s booth. He had apparently chosen the third option, as Nicholas saw him holding up four dollars in his hands.
The sight of that man in front was enough to make Nicholas feel nauseous. Euijoo was now face to face, with his first customer who had asked for a proper kiss.
Euijoo gently leans in, but the Sungho guy seemed bold. He gets a hold of Euijoo’s neck, pulling him closer and presses their lips together firmly.
A huge chatter of noise breaks through, as Sungho’s friend group start squealing at the top of their lungs.
It seemed as if Sungho had a crush on Euijoo, and was using this kissing booth for his advantage.
Nicholas turns away from them so fast, that he almost gets a whiplash. He tries walking past people but K gets a hold of him.
“Nico” K says. “Where the fuck are you going”
“I can’t sit here. Please let me go” Nicholas pleads.
K sighs, looking over at Euijoo’s booth to find Euijoo kissing the sports president (once again).
“Come here with me” K grabs his wrist, before pulling him away from the group.
By the time K had pulled Nicholas away from everyone, he noticed Nicholas was tearing up, barely holding it in.
“Wait, why are you crying?” K asks, in concern.
“That guy” Nicholas chokes out. “He definitely likes Euijoo. He’s kissing him for the second time”
“Okay?” K says, patting his arm gently. “Relax, Euijoo probably doesn’t like him. He’s doing his job”
Nicholas sniffs again. “He has no problem kissing strangers, but he restricted us from coming”
K sighs, as he stares at Nicholas quietly for a while, who blinks away more tears. Nicholas thought he could handle it, handle Euijoo doing this fuckass kissing booth, but when it actually started happening in front of him, he couldn’t see it anymore.
“We know Nico” K says. “You like Euijoo a lot, and surely this isn’t a pleasant sight for you”
“It hurts so much” Nicholas sniffs again. “I am sorry I am being so useless for your stall. All because of my fucking feelings”
K let’s out a little laugh. “Relax, it’s okay Harua is handling it well. I can’t force you if you’re feeling like this sitting there”
“Still I am sorry. I wish I could do something about it” Nicholas says, looking up at K.
“How about you go be brave about it?” K says, “Go sign up for his booth”
Nicholas widens his eyes in response. “What?!” There’s no way he’s going to do that.
“Yes” K encourages him. “Here take this” he hands Nicholas a $100 bill. “Ask him to give you as many forehead, cheek and lip kisses in 100 dollars as possible”
“Are you crazy? He will probably slap me right there!” Nicholas shrieks.
“He won’t” K says. “At least in front of so many people he won’t. And his team mates will go crazy seeing a 100 dollar bill”
“No I can’t do this” Nicholas says, shaking his head. His entire body was shaking right now, heart practically jumping out of his chest.
“I am going to drag your ass there” K says, before forcefully getting a hold of Nicholas, who kept resisting.
“K, no please” Nicholas begs, as K drags him towards Euijoo’s booth. “I can’t do this. He will hate me. Leave me alone”
“I can’t see you cry for the entire day now” K responds. “Plus do you want that sports president guy to keep kissing Euijoo until they fall in love?”
Nicholas pauses, to stare at K in pure horror. Okay he definitely does not want that to happen.
“So if you don’t want that, let’s go”
K drags Nicholas all the way to Euijoo’s booth, cutting through the line with the excuse that ‘he’s president’ and can do that.
K then slams the 100 dollar bill on the table where Kamden and Shinyu were managing cash. “100 dollars for Nicholas”
Shinyu and Kamden look at each other, before back at K. “Wait what”
“Get him as many kisses in that amount as possible. All 3 categories” K says, pointing towards Nicholas.
Euijoo turns to look at both K and Nicholas, with his jaw dropped. “No way, what are you both doing here?”
“Contributing to society” K answers, with a smug smile.
“I clearly told you guys to not come” Euijoo protests, face burning red.
“But I care about animals a lot” K says, before patting Nicholas’s shoulder. “Nico does too, right?”
Nicholas gulps, seeing the visible annoyance(?) on Euijoo’s face as he nods. “Of course, I also want to contribute”
Euijoo rolls his eyes for a moment, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. “But isn’t 100 dollars too much? That’s gonna take so much time. A lot of people are waiting”
“That’s the point” K mumbles underneath his breath before coughing. “It’s fine. Your team is making a lot of money through Nicholas. Be nice to him”
K pushes Nicholas towards Euijoo, who had turned into a furious blushing mess.
Euijoo takes a deep breath in before meeting Nicholas’s eyes.
The eye contact alone was enough to erupt a thousand butterflies in Nicholas’s stomach. He gulps, turning sideways to find Shinyu.
“I am trying to do the math for 100 dollars” Shinyu says, trying to equally divide the 100 dollars into the 3 kiss categories.
Nicholas fidgets with his hands nervously, as Euijoo completely avoided eye contact now, looking anywhere but at Nicholas. K on the side was cheering for the two, throwing a thumbs up sign.
“Okay it’s fucking my mind actually” Shinyu concludes. “Apparently according to my shitty calculations, Euijoo would have to do 14 of each category if we want to equally divide. So in total 42 kisses in 100 dollars”
Euijoo’s heart beats loudly against his chest, before he lets out a little laugh in disbelief. “Are you serious? I could kiss 42 people in that time”
“But instead you’re kissing one person 42 times, isn’t that better?” K says, raising his eyebrows.
Kamden shrugs. “I mean, rather than counting it down to 42, how about we set a time limit? It would be such a hassle to count each and every kiss now”
Shinyu nods agreeing. “Yeah like let’s do forehead kisses for 30 seconds, cheek kisses for 30 seconds and lip ones for 1 minute. So in total we’re giving Nicholas 2 minutes”
K raises a suspicious eyebrow. “Are you trying to cut down on Nicholas’s time? We literally paid 100 dollars man!”
“Alright fine!” Kamden sighs. “We’ll give him 5 minutes in total. Up to him whatever he wants in that time!”
K smirks, pushing Nicholas slightly. “You can do it” he whispers.
Nicholas takes another nervous gulp, his hands placed on his knees as Euijoo edges closer to him.
“Okay, timer begins” Kamden says, turning the timer on for 5 minutes.
Euijoo leans forward, holding the side of Nicholas’s head gently in his hands, and kisses his forehead. Nicholas’s heart pounds hard against his chest at the first touch of Euijoo’s lip on his forehead.
What the fuck has K gotten him into. How the hell is Nicholas going to physically survive the next 5 minutes of his life.
Euijoo holds his chin in one hand, placing the first kiss on his left cheek, then pulls back to kiss his right cheek. Nicholas’s face was burning right now, goosebumps forming across his entire body.
K stood there, with a hand covering his mouth as Euijoo gently alternated between cheek and forehead kisses for 2 minutes straight. In those 2 minutes, Nicholas looked anywhere but at Euijoo.
His face was visibly so red, that every person around them could tell how much Nicholas was blushing and losing his shit in that moment.
It was the 3rd minute into the kisses now, and Euijoo had still not properly kissed him, something for which K was waiting for since a while. So he goes up to Kamden, nudging him.
“We paid 100 dollars, yet the customer is not getting the most expensive kiss” K complains.
Kamden rolls his eyes, walking back to Euijoo, coughing.
“Hey Euijoo” Kamden says. “They paid 100 dollars. It’s been 3 minutes already. The last 2 minutes you have to do the last category”
Euijoo freezes, still holding Nicholas’s chin in his hands. His own face was not any less than Nicholas’s. Euijoo in fact, was hyperventilating by now, because this whole entire thing was making his insides feel all jittery.
Nicholas slowly looks up at Euijoo, after Kamden interrupted them. His heart leaping out of his chest.
Euijoo was finally going to kiss him now.
He almost can’t believe this is happening.
Nicholas could see the initial hesitation in Euijoo’s eyes, but then very firmly Euijoo puts a hand on the back of Nicholas’s neck, pulling him closer.
Euijoo didn’t hesitate like this, kissing that sports president or any of the customers who came today.
However right now in this moment, being inches apart from his best friend, Euijoo’s heart was leaping out of his chest.
For a moment, he just stares into Nicholas’s eyes, who was finally brave enough to make eye contact, and then glances down at his lips.
Then in the next second, Euijoo surges forward and connects their lips together, closing his eyes almost immediately. Nicholas lets out a gasp in surprise when Euijoo finally kisses him.
It still felt unreal to him. Although K nearly screamed by his side in that moment. K perhaps didn’t expect Euijoo to actually kiss Nicholas like that.
Meanwhile as the timer ticks down Euijoo continues to kiss Nicholas, and it’s not just a peck or a mere brush of lips.
He was completely devouring Nicholas with the chance given. Gripping his nape with full force, digging his fingers in his skin, tilting his head sideways to align their lips better, while forcing Nicholas to open his mouth a bit.
K immediately turns away, covering his eyes before mouthing to Kamden. “Are you sure we should be seeing this?”
“What the fuck is up with Euijoo” Shinyu gasps, seeing the way Euijoo was sucking all air out of Nicholas in front of so many people. A lot of the people who were at the booth, stood shocked seeing the scene in front of them.
Nicholas gasps against Euijoo’s mouth, his hands grabbing Euijoo’s waist to steady himself. He smiles into the kiss, when Euijoo parts for a few seconds to catch his breath.
Nicholas pants hard, the smile not disappearing from his lips as he’s still inches apart from Euijoo. Both of their faces and ears had turned the brightest shade of red.
“Time up” Kamden calls out, as the buzzer goes off. Euijoo slightly pushes Nicholas away, by placing a hand on his chest before looking away immediately.
K comes up to them, smirking pathetically.
“Do you guys have something to tell us” K teases.
Nicholas widens his eyes, glaring at him before elbowing his gut. “Shut up”
Euijoo just passes forceful polite smiles, trying to recover from whatever happened. He doesn’t say a word to Nicholas. Because what the fuck was he supposed to say even?
“Alright, Nicholas your turn is over, there’s more people waiting” Kamden says, ushering both K and Nicholas away from Euijoo.
Nicholas grins like an idiot, before leaning towards Euijoo. “Thank you”
And with that Nicholas follows K back to their own booth, leaving Euijoo struck on his place.
A couple minutes later, Euijoo calls Kamden.
“Kamden”
Kamden blinks in confusion, leaning down. “What”
“For the next customers, can we remove the 3rd category?”
For the rest of the day, Nicholas still kept his attention on Euijoo and his upcoming customers.
What surprises him is that Kamden had now crossed out the last category. Which read LIPS - $4
Did Euijoo do that so Nicholas doesn’t show up again? Was he that irritated with the whole thing that he completely got it crossed out. It honestly hurt him to some extent.
Maki comes up to Nicholas, with a smirk across his lips. “Hey, we all saw that by the way”
“Saw what”
“Euijoo devouring you” Maki snorts. “That was insane”
“Shut up” Nicholas says, blushing furiously.
“You know what, there’s no way he doesn’t like you” Maki says. “I think you should confess”
Nicholas sits up straight, widening his eyes. “Confess?!”
“Of course! You think he would’ve devoured you like that if he didn’t like you?”
Nicholas shuts up for a second before speaking up. “K paid him 100 dollars. Maybe he was just doing his job. Don’t give me hope”
Maki groans. “Come on now, do it already. You do know people are lining up to ask him out. Specially the sports society president Sungho”
Nicholas scoffs out loudly at the mention, something burning deep within his chest. That guy got to kiss Euijoo before him. Absolutely ridiculous.
But wait. He couldn’t afford that guy asking out Euijoo before him. Shit.
Maki was right. He had to do something.
“I ll ask him after today’s event is over” Nicholas says, looking over at Euijoo’s booth.
The day was over before he knew it. Nicholas was now helping K and the others pack up things on their stall. Euijoo had now walked back to them as well, and Nicholas didn’t fail to notice his chapped lips.
Euijoo really went on kissing people for almost 6 hours. Nicholas can’t help but feel that painful sting in his chest at the reminder.
“You were so popular today Euijoo!” Fuma comments. “I bet your stall raised the most money”
“It sure did” Euijoo forces a humourless laugh, looking at K. “Someone was there bribing my teammates with a 100 dollar bill”
K laughs walking over to him. “Come on, I was just helping you out-“
Euijoo suddenly pushes K off, exhaling in annoyance. K pauses, not expecting that.
“What’s wrong” K asks in confusion.
“I clearly told you guys, to not show up on my booth” Euijoo says, his tone full of annoyance. “Why did you have to show up, and that too with a 100 dollar bill!”
Nicholas stands there frozen, his heart beating out of his ribcage. Was Euijoo mad?
Fuck Euijoo was mad. He was mad at both him and K for pulling up that.
“Come on, it was just Nicholas” K laughs nervously, patting Euijoo’s shoulder. “And we were really helping you”
“Oh really?” Euijoo asks. “Or were you trying to scare people away from our booth and waste our time by keeping Nicholas there?”
Nicholas blinks, hurt plastered across his entire face. He steps forward. “Hey, trust me that wasn’t our intention. We were there to help-“
“I don’t wanna talk to you specially” Euijoo says, looking at Nicholas. “And K, I wish you respected my request”
With that Euijoo turns around and away from his friend group to walk off towards the other side of the ground, running up to Kamden and others.
Nicholas puts a hand up on his chest, feeling it ache all of a sudden. K rushes to him, throwing his arm around him.
“Hey, relax he’s just mad at me. Not at you” K assures.
“He hates me doesn’t he” Nicholas chokes out. “He’ll never talk to me again. I crossed the line”
“Hey Nico” K pulls him in a hug immediately. “Go after him, talk to him please”
“He just said he doesn’t wanna talk to me-“
“He doesn’t mean it” K says. “He actually wants you to go after him Nico. I could see it through him”
“K, he’s going to slap me today” Nicholas says, another shudder escaping him.
“He won’t! Run after him before he vanishes. You have to tell him today!”
Nicholas gives him a confusing look, hesitating at first but then sighs, giving in. Today was already going really bad, he might as well get slapped too by confessing. Then he can officially call it the worst day of his life.
When Nicholas spots Euijoo near the campus grounds, he spots a guy standing right next to him, apparently having some conversation.
The moment he walks up to them, his heart drops.
It was Sungho. The sports society president.
Nicholas could feel his chest tighten all of a sudden, making it hard for him to breathe. He was late.
He was fucking late once again.
The guy had probably confessed to Euijoo by now, it was useless. He can’t believe he ran all the way here, only to be late once again.
He coughs out loud, in attempts to take a deep breath in, and that’s when Euijoo notices his presence, eyes going wide.
Euijoo says something to Sungho, after which Sungho takes his leave while Nicholas is still stood there, trying to inhale in a sharp breath but he kept choking.
“I thought I clearly told you” Euijoo says, walking up to him, unconsciously patting Nicholas’s back so he stops coughing. “That I didn’t want to talk. Why are you here?”
Nicholas looks up into his eyes, to find a hint of concern in them. He felt sick right now honestly. The feelings he had for Euijoo, were making him sick to his stomach.
“Euijoo” Nicholas chokes out. “Can you hear me out”
Euijoo scoffs. “Are you here to apologise on K’s behalf? Forget it. The day is already over-“
“I won’t apologise for that!” Nicholas speaks up.
Euijoo remains frozen in his place, a tiny gasp escaping him before his eyebrows knit in confusion.
“I wanted to kiss you” Nicholas confesses bravely, causing Euijoo to widen his eyes in surprise, his lips slightly parting in shock.
“What?!”
“Yes” Nicholas repeats, shutting his eyes close for a moment. “You can slap me. I came prepared. But I did want to kiss you, and I also wanted to scare people away from your booth”
Euijoo scoffs, before he laughs in disbelief. “What the fuck Nicholas?”
“I couldn’t see it!” Nicholas finally lets it out, prepared for the slap any moment. “You were kissing the whole damn school in front of my eyes! My chest was hurting through out! I felt like I couldn’t breathe!”
There is silence on Euijoo’s end for a while, as he blinks and exhales sharp breaths, processing whatever Nicholas was trying to say.
“Huh?!” Euijoo gasps in shock.
“Fuck Euijoo” Nicholas exhales. “I like you so much!” He finally confesses bravely. “I was having the worst day of my life today. Watching you kiss strangers and then you refused to allow your friend group! I am sorry if K and I didn’t respect your request of not coming, but K couldn’t see me like this either. I was near to breaking down”
Euijoo is stood there, shocked as he takes the information in. Nicholas thinks, the slap will come any moment. Euijoo remains frozen at his place for a few seconds, exhaling breaths.
And then he takes steps forward, and Nicholas is ready for the impact.
He’s about to get slapped into another dimension by his best friend because he crossed the fucking line.
But what Nicholas doesn’t expect is Euijoo reaching to grab his chin harshly, and pressing their lips together hard.
His knees go weak, the moment he feels Euijoo kiss him like that. He almost can’t believe, because where is the slap he was expecting?
Euijoo pulls him closer, if that was even possible, kissing him harder, making sure to gently nibble and suck on Nicholas’s lips. Nicholas who was still in shock, now slowly moves his hand down to hold Euijoo by his waist, returning the kiss back.
They both separate after a minute of kissing each other with immense desperation. Euijoo collides his forehead with Nicholas’s, breathing hard to catch his breath.
Nicholas blinks furiously, still in disbelief. “Holy shit. Did you just kiss me? I was hundred percent sure you would slap me”
“What the actual fuck is wrong with you Nicholas?” Euijoo says, annoyed.
Nicholas was confused. “What”
“If you liked me, couldn’t you have said this all to me earlier! If your fuckass told me this before the festival I wouldn’t have to kiss strangers!”
Nicholas gasps, his eyes wide. “What?!” He repeats, not believing what was even happening.
Euijoo scoffs. “The only reason I had to do the booth was because I was the only single person in the society! If your ass liked me, you could have helped me out of the situation”
Nicholas gasps, when it finally hits him that Euijoo indeed likes him too. The moment this realisation kicks in, he starts giggling like an idiot.
“Why the fuck are you laughing?!” Euijoo complains.
“Oh my god, you like me” Nicholas says.
“Who says I like you” Euijoo scoffs. “You’re the worst”
“Hey! You kissed me” Nicholas protests.
“I kissed so many people today. Do I like them all?” Euijoo rolls his eyes.
Nicholas sulks, pulling Euijoo closer to him. “I am sorry okay. I just thought that you hate me. I was too scared of confessing to you”
“Yeah, but your shameless ass showed up to the kissing booth” Euijoo scoffs.
“Did you really hated it that I came?” Nicholas asks.
Euijoo lets out a long sigh full of annoyance. “I didn’t want to kiss you for the first time..in public” Euijoo reveals, his face heating up. “I thought if we ever kissed, it would be an intimate moment where it’s just us. But no your fuckass had to show up to the booth with a 100 dollar bill. You’re fucking ridiculous”
“Blame my jealous ass for that” Nicholas says, pouting. “But hey, you also kissed me very passionately at the booth”
”I got distracted!”
Nicholas scoffs, laughing. “Yeah, right. Also that sports president was making a move on you, how could I sit in one place?”
Euijoo rolls his eyes. “You had all the time. Literally all the time. I wouldn’t even have to kiss anyone in the first place if you claimed me earlier. I would have an easy way out”
“I am sorry okay” Nicholas steps closer to kiss Euijoo again, burying his head in the crook of his neck. “Can I claim you now?”
“Is there any use now?” Euijoo asks, raising his eyebrows.
“For future purposes. No one will ask you to do any stupid shit like this ever again” Nicholas says, looking up at Euijoo hopefully.
A small smile creeps across Euijoo’s lips, which he tries to hide immediately. “Yeah fine, whatever. I guess I will think about it”
“Please?” Nicholas blinks at him, giving him heart eyes.
Euijoo’s heart starts fluctuating, and before he knows it, he’s pulling Nicholas once again into another kiss. This time Euijoo lets himself loose and smiles into the kiss immediately.
Nicholas giggles, kissing the corner of Euijoo’s lips, then cheeks and finally forehead.
“Do you mind if I open a kissing booth just for you?” Nicholas offers, playfully raising his eyebrows.
“Oh god shut up” Euijoo says, blushing furiously.
“I love you Euijoo” Nicholas says, wrapping his arms around the taller.
Euijoo pretends to push him away, but eventually sighs and hugs Nicholas tighter. “Fine, I guess I love you too”
Nicholas giggles like the absolute love struck idiot he is, pulling Euijoo into another kiss, as he reaches for his hands, holding them tightly with his own.
“Let’s go” Nicholas says, pulling him out of the school grounds.
Euijoo playfully rolls his eyes, before smiling widely as he lets himself get dragged by Nicholas.
“By the way” Nicholas breaks the silence as they walk hand in hand. “Did the sports president actually ask you out?”
Euijoo turns his head sideways to look at Nicholas. “Yeah, a while before you came”
Nicholas nods, sulking. “Alright I see”
“I hope you realise that I obviously rejected him. I am literally holding hands with you” Euijoo rolls his eyes.
Nicholas puts up a little smile immediately. “I know, I am the lucky one. But still you know I am the jealous kind. It kind of stings right here in my chest, knowing that guy kissed you before me”
Euijoo sighs loudly in annoyance. “And who’s fault is that?”
”Obviously mine!” Nicholas says, a light laugh escaping him.
“Good that you know” Euijoo nods, side eyeing Nicholas who was still sulking as they made their way back. “And by the way, I don’t know if you noticed, but I didn’t kiss anyone after you. I asked Kamden to cross the option”
Nicholas’s face lights up immediately. Of course he remembers. But now knowing the reason why Euijoo did it, made him blush furiously.
“Oh my god, I love you so much” Nicholas says, shyly as he clings to Euijoo, kissing his cheek softly. Euijoo blushes, returning one back.
“So were those 100 dollars worth it?” K asks, as everyone sits down in the campus cafeteria on Monday.
Nicholas gives a shy smile in response, hiding his face in his hands while glancing at Euijoo. “Totally worth it”
“Good. Now return me back my 100 dollars” K deadpans, slamming his hand hard on the table right in front of both Euijoo and Nicholas.
Euijoo blinks, as he stops chewing for a moment. “I don’t owe you, that’s on Nico”
Nicholas whines, grabbing Euijoo’s arm. “Come on, you’re my boyfriend now, you should pay like 50% of the amount. I ll go broke otherwise Euijoo”
“It’s your fault. If your ass confessed to me earlier, you wouldn’t be in debt right now” Euijoo says, as he continues eating.
Fuma sighs loudly, shaking his head. “By the way Euijoo, why were you so mad and against having us at your booth?”
“Because I didn’t want to kiss you guys” Euijoo answers, scoffing. “Duh”
“Was Nicholas an exception?” Maki asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Well” Euijoo says, shyly turning to look at Nicholas who was already staring at him, with those pathetic lovesick eyes. “I guess I never considered him just a friend. You guys are different”
“Euijoo you’re so lovesick” Harua says, pretending to throw up. “K, can we have a pizza party once Nicholas returns the 100 dollars?”
K immediately nods in excitement. “We’re all waiting for the money now Nico”
Nicholas groans, leaning his head against Euijoo’s shoulder. “Didn’t know the price of dating you would be so high”
“Well, you ordered an expensive boyfriend” Euijoo says, laughing as he reaches under the table to hold Nicholas’s hand.
Nicholas blushes hard, looking down at their hands, giggling.
Fuma groans, along with the others on the table. “They’re kind of annoying, but I guess I am happy for them”
“Me too” K says, sighing. “I hope I get my money back”
“We so need that money” Maki says, looking at the two lovesick idiots sitting in between them all.