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Sherwin studied himself in the full-length mirror, neatening his hair with his fingertips and a little saliva. On the reflective surface, his coppery locks flickered like opal crystals as the light shone through the periwinkle lace curtains. He loved how, during early autumn, the sun would cast a cosy, warm glow across the otherwise greyish room.
“You don’t have to do that, you know?” a husky voice shouted from across the hallway.
“Well, now, there’s no harm in tidying myself up for you, is there?” Sherwin muttered, tugging at his uniform’s jumper and struggling to straighten it. Satisfied at last, he gave a sideways smile to the man who was watching him from the corner of the mirror.
“’Course not, pumpkin”, he rolled his eyes playfully, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “What I mean is, we’ve just got back from college. Term is ending. We’re gonna be a little messy, is all”, he shrugged and went straight to his bed.
Sherwin dismissed his host’s observation with a chuckle and resumed the grooming routine, humming as he adjusted his tie. Jonathan, unable to endure his lover’s obliviousness any longer, crept up behind his guest and pulled him into a back hug. Caught by surprise, Sherwin’s startled features quickly gave way to a coy smile, as he caressed his boyfriend’s tan hands.
They admired their reflection in the mirror with affection. Standing in front, Sherwin clumsily tried to stroke his partner’s hair from behind, to no avail. His frustrated attempts were met with consolation kisses, his fair complexion warming to shy shades of pink. However, it wasn’t until Jonathan drew him into a tighter embrace that his whole body flushed — and he was left with no choice but to willingly give in to the eager mouth pressed to his exposed neck.
“Besides…” The brunet stopped the love bite, resting his chin on the other boy’s shoulder. “You stink. Dressing up would fool no one”, he whispered with a smirk.
“I can’t believe this!” Sherwin shrieked, twisting himself free. Jonathan didn’t stop giggling until his boyfriend shoved him back. “First, you offend me. Now you laugh at me! YOU of all people how dare you you know those last couple of days have been hectic with all the revisions and exams and what’s been going on at home”, he launched into one of his brisk, high-pitched rants, “BESIDES you know I’ll have a shower as soon as I get home ‘cos you know I can’t go much more than three days really even when the weather’s a bit chilly like today why did you do this now you’ve made me self-conscious and HECK why are you coming near me again J-Jonathan wait STOP SMELLING ME”, he screeched, defenceless against the relentless sniffing.
“No”, he answered with a proud grin and a daring glance, his snub nose in the air as he kept advancing, until his noisy sniffs had the redhead cornered.
With nowhere else to go, Sherwin bent further and further back, away from his sweet tormentor. However, the poor pale boy was no contortionist, and the moment his frail muscles grew sore from the strain, he crumpled, squeezing his eyes shut for impact. Like any appalled Victorian lady confronted with the slightest inconvenience, he took a hot minute to dare open his eyes again. When he finally did, he realised that his own Byronic hero had caught him.
Face to face, Sherwin let out a relieved sigh as they fell once again into a Throwaway Oversway, like two tango dancers guided by instinct. It was almost comical how often they found themselves in that awkward position, but neither of them seemed to mind. They were all smiles, the lopsided drama club kid clumsily draping his arms round his partner’s neck, Jonathan supporting him with ease as he moved in close to his unsteady lover.
“Hey, handsome”, Sherwin greeted Jonathan and tugged him by his uniform’s collar, drawing him in.
“Pumpkin”, his suave knight in shining armour replied. “Are you alright?”
They nuzzled noses.
“I am”, he beamed. “What can I say? You know I have a thing for those big blue eyes of yours. And there is nothing quite like looking into them up close.”
“Yeah?” Jonathan asked temptingly, with a sly smile. They shared a kiss.
“Yeah.” He fondly combed through his boyfriend’s slick black hair with his fingers. “They almost made me forget that just minutes ago you were being an absolute arsehole.” Sherwin raised his voice in feigned anger: “now put me down, you dork. I mean… Lift me up!”
“Shush, shush, babe”, the brunet poked him gently in the belly, playfully tracing it before slowly sliding his hand up Sherwin’s body, from his abs to his chest, neck, and finally his mouth. “That’s what your adorable little performance gets you.” Jonathan held him tighter, giving him a languid kiss.
“You’re just like that tune my old man loves, you know?” Sherwin said once he was back on his own feet again. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Oh, yeah?”, he muttered.
“Yeas!”, Sherwin shouted, pointing a finger at his lover’s face. “First you get me all anxious and self-conscious about my body and how I stink, you make me feel like rubbish and now you’re all romantic and…”
That shrill protest was promptly muffled against Jonathan’s collarbone as he pulled Sherwin in for a disarming hug, more tender and longer-lasting than any they had ever shared — their embrace carrying the tangible heat of a crackling late-autumn fire. There they stood in each other’s arms, as though caught in a still-life waltz of their affection.
Sherwin squeezed Jonathan, breaking the spell with his sobbing. His tears soaked their uniforms, etching damp trails of mournful warmth on his boyfriend’s otherwise spotless azure shirt. Jonathan cradled Sherwin fondly, walking him to bed. There, he tried to soothe his lover’s grief with soft strokes through his hair and a gently hummed melody.
“It’s okay, dear”, Jonathan assured him with a couple of pats on the back when he noticed the tears beginning to subside.
“It is not”, he wailed, “it’s all so hard at school, back home, with my friends. I feel like crap.”
“You’ll get through it, sweetie”, he pressed a kiss to the top of his beloved’s head. “It’s going to get easier again. You’ll see.”
“How can you love me, cariño?” Sherwin’s caramel eyes searched Jonathan’s. “I’ve been so low I’ve barely been able to take care of myself lately. You didn’t lie when you said I stink.”
“What kind of question is that?!” he exclaimed in disbelief. “My love for you won’t change just because you’ve had a rough patch. Don’t be so hard on yourself, dear. We all go through shit sometimes. I love you.”
Jonathan held his lover’s misty cheeks with both hands, tenderly pulling his face closer, leaning in until their foreheads met. He brushed away Sherwin’s tears with his fingertips—a lull in the anguish. As the crying subsided and a sheepish smile started to bloom across his partner’s face, Jonathan dug out a plaid handkerchief from his pocket and helped Sherwin freshen up.
“It smells so nice”, he observed. “Floral softener. Just like your clothes.”
“Heh, yeah”, the brunet’s face lit up as he felt the weight between them finally begin to ease. “I’m sorry I was being a bit of a knob, sweetheart. That’s only ‘cos I also think you smell so nice. I kind of like it when you get all musky like that, you know”, Jonathan nibbled his lower lip.
“What?!” He blushed. “S-stop it, you silly thing. I’m just a sweaty little monster.”
“Come on, enough with the excuses, silly. Take a chance on me”, Jonathan shot him a cheeky grin.
“Now you just sound like one of the girls from ABBA.” Sherwin threw him a judgmental glance but couldn’t keep a straight face for long. Both boys burst out laughing. “Alright, then. Don’t say I didn’t warn you”, Sherwin scratched his head as his boyfriend drew him into another hug and rested his head against the ginger’s chest.
“See, you smell like my favourite, freshly chopped onion salad”, Jonathan laughed, breathing him in.
“You pervert! Please, sir, refrain from drooling on my uniform”, Sherwin remarked with a mischievous grin. “You’re really into it, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes, I am”, Jonathan looked up into his lover’s eyes. “And I don’t regret a thing”, he boasted, grabbing the hem of Sherwin’s jumper to pull it off. “There now—much better, innit? Much more convenient. Now I can drool all over you.”
“And you call yourself a vegetarian. You should be ashamed”, Sherwin had a feverish look as Jonathan sat him down on the bed and slowly undid his zip. “You can’t even hide how much you’re into wieners”, he stammered, blushing.
“I sure am, mate”, Jonathan stuck his tongue out and took off his own brown trousers, winking. “Especially when they’re topped with cheese!” He buried his head straight into his partner’s briefs stained with cartoon prints.
Jonathan nudged Sherwin down onto the bed. The redhead smiled coyly, playing with his lover’s chest hair.
“Now come on, let me help you get clean”, Jonathan whispered in his ear, causing him to whimper and flush. They kissed as he hovered over him. “After all, there’s more to a tongue than this”, Jonathan gestured towards his mouth. “Right?”
***
“Now please, sweetheart”, Jonathan said, running a finger along Sherwin’s pale back as he lay face down, his head resting on his crossed arms. “Why don’t you have a shower here? Not because of how you smell or anything. Heck, I think it’s clear by now I do have a soft spot for nasty boys. I just think it would help with how you’re feeling. I can even lend you some of my clothes. You love wearing them anyway.”
“Only if you go with me.” Sherwin rolled over, a smirk on his face.
“I thought you’d have realised by now that I enjoy helping you get clean, pumpkin.”