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It was weird.
He didn’t remember falling asleep. One second he was drinking beer, and the next he was looking up at a bright light with even brighter walls.
There was a chemical taste in his mouth that made him cringe. When he tried to lick his lips, he found that it was tough—his tongue wouldn’t move as he desired. All he tasted was a cotton-like material on the left side of his cheek.
Did…I die and come to heaven?
But then what about him? Where did he go?
A soft click drew his attention, but when he turned his head towards the sound, the world woozed in and out like it did after a few too many drinks.
“..m? You…..wake, T—?”
A very tall man entered the room, stopping just beside his legs. The man’s mouth moved, but no words were registered. For some reason, that man seemed really familiar.
Silver hair fell flawlessly over thick brows and deep set, sharp eyes. When the man tilted his head, the light cast shadows on the pale face and lured dark eyes towards the sharp nose and full lips.
Beautiful…
Something suddenly brushed across his face, encasing his left cheek in warmth. Looking up, he flinched slightly at the close proximity of that man and felt his heart skip traitorously, seeing that handsome face so near.
“Are you there? The dentist said the anesthetics will have an after-effect, so bear with it for a while. I’ll help you to the car.”
The pretty man dropped his hand and wrapped it around a tanned forearm, tugging lightly until the dazed patient placed both feet on the floor.
“Taei, hold on to me.”
Taeui dropped his head slightly, furrowing his brows from the dizziness. He blinked a few times, willing his vision to focus. He didn’t know who this person was, and why he wanted to take him away.
He grabbed the man’s hand, pulling it away before freezing. Pale hands with long, delicate fingers rested on his own tanned ones comfortably, as though it has always belonged there.
“Not only a charming face, but pretty hands too…”
The fingers twitched once, then a soft chuckle was heard from above. Those pretty hands moved away, making Taeui feel a bit regretful. Before he could even lament about it, there was a pinch on his ear.
“—OW! That hurts…why are you hurting me, you meanie?!”
Taeui yelped, his words muffled from the cotton in his mouth.
“Ha….meanie? Taei, Taei, do you not recognise me?”
“....Who are you? Where—where is Ilay?”
Taeui frowned and stared up at the man while holding his reddened ear. His sight was still a little blurry, but he was sure he didn’t know this person. The blurry figure perched his hands on his hips and simply stared in silence, making Taeui shrink back slightly in self-consciousness.
A soft sigh, then the man tipped his head to the side before leaning down and placing his hand on either side of Taeui, trapping him on the chair. Taeui leaned away awkwardly, avoiding the gaze.
Ah, he smells nice..
Sharp eyes penetrated through Taeui’s soul, the sensation of ice and fire colliding in his veins made the room seem smaller than it was. Confusion struck deep in Taeui’s chest. Why was this person so familiar?
“Look closely, Jeong Taeui. Who am I?”
“........I don’t know you. If you need something from me, wait until my lover comes!”
“Aha. Lover? And who is that?”
The man’s voice dropped, the deep baritone making Taeui tense up so quickly he accidentally struck the hard chest in front of him in an attempt to put some distance between them.
But the man was unmoving. Cold sweat dripped down Taeui’s back and goosebumps rose across his skin. His head was spinning, he didn’t know where he was or what was happening. Right now, he just wanted—
“Ilay….Ilay Riegrow, so you better watch it.”
“Ilay?”
“Yea—no! You can’t call him that! It’s Rick to you.”
“Why not?”
“Because! Now go away, I won’t go with anyone but him.”
Taeui had his eyebrows pinched and his lips were pressed into a thin line as he stared sternly. He wanted this person to leave, but at the same time, he wanted to reach out and hold those hands again.
“...But, your hands are as pretty as his.”
“Is that so…? Then why not let me take care of you now, since that Ilay isn’t here?”
“No! I said you can’t! Only I can—”
Taeui cut himself off, swallowing the feeling of unease in his throat. There was something telling him that if he said any more, he’d be in trouble later.
“Only you can….?”
“Nothing. It’s just—you even have the same hair and eyes……..are you his secret long lost brother? If you are, I should tell Kyle, right? Wait, I don’t think he would like another one though. Ahh, what to do?”
“Haha–! Tsk, you really are…..Taei, do you like him so much you’re seeing him in me?”
“.........Do you have a problem with that?”
The man finally moved away, rising to full height again. He ran a hand through his hair, then tapped a long finger on the metal table beside him, as if he was thinking about something.
Taeui fidgeted under the intense gaze and looked towards the door, silently begging for Ilay to come already. Why isn’t he coming? Why wasn’t he already here? Why did he leave him all alone in this unfamiliar place?
A prickling feeling poked at his heart and his nose stung. He didn’t want to be in a room with this person who felt so similar, he wanted the real one.
“Jeong Taeui. What if I said I could treat you better, hm? Since you said we look alike, you can just imagine me as him.”
“.....Don’t want.”
“Why not? What’s the difference?”
“I don’t want! No–no one can replace him, so give up already. I don’t want anyone but Ilay, I won’t love anyone other than him. Go away!”
The man raised both his hands in surrender and nodded his head, taking a step back.
“Alright, alright. I won’t try anymore, so don’t be upset.”
Despite his sorry actions and words, his tone sounded as if he were happy. Really happy.
“Then, at least allow me to wait with you until he comes.”
Taeui glared, but the longer he looked at the familiar hair, familiar shoulders, and familiar hands, he felt the fight in him drain out. He slumped down and nodded, an inexplicable feeling in his chest.
He looked down at his own hands on his lap, blinking away the sleepiness. He didn’t want to fall asleep even in this comforting and warm presence.
But…
“Hey. Don’t just stand there, come sit here..”
He said softly without looking up and waited. When the chair beside him sank from the weight of another person, he slowly peeked at the pale hand resting beside his thigh. His hand itched to hold it.
Would it feel the same? The same softness, the grip, or the scent whenever he would press his face into those pale palms. Would these hands also caress him with love, or stroke his hair tenderly?
Taeui’s vision blurred. He bit his lower lip, twisting his hand into his own shorts. It’s been so long since he woke up, so Ilay should already be here. If he just patiently waited a bit more, he was sure Ilay would find him.
Right when he was about to look away from the pale hand, it extended in front of Taeui with the palm facing up.
“You can hold it if you want. Do whatever you want, Taei. The faster you come back to your senses, the better.”
What?
Taeui didn’t understand what this doppelganger was talking about, but that enticing, delicate hand was right there…..Ilay would understand, right? It’s his own fault for taking such a long time anyway.
He took the pale hand into his own weak ones, making a small sound at the contact. The soft skin against his calloused palm, the supple fingers that bent along with his every movement, and the perfect warmth emitting from it.
“Ah, it’s the same.”
“Really?”
Taeui nodded, “Whenever Ilay returned from his mission and I’m sleeping, that pervert would touch me.” A small frown appeared on his face. “But…I would recognise his touch immediately. No matter if it was cold or hot, it was the same.”
“His smell too. You smell like him. If I’m tired, or having a bad day, just being around him would be enough.”
His bottom lip stuck out lightly, a forlorn expression on his face. He held the hand between his more firmly, bringing it up to press against his cheek. The long fingers curled around his ear, the thumb stroking it gently.
“Yeah?”
“Mhm, hey. When he comes later, don’t tell him I said this, okay? But–when Ilay hugs me, especially when we’re in bed, I really like how I’m at the perfect spot to hide in his neck. It’s like walking into a place that’s filled with your favourite scent, or bread, or beer.”
“.....”
“And you smile like him too. Hey, you’re his twin, aren’t you? Can’t you get him to come? I want to go home already. I, I miss him. I want–to see his smile and hear his laugh. Hey, call him, okay?”
“Taei.”
“..........hic— sorry, I don’t know what’s happening. I just want to see him. My mouth hurts, my head hurts, I’m tired. I want to–hic”
The hand on Taeui’s face pulled him towards the man, then another hand landed on his nape firmly. Through his blurred vision, he saw an unreadable expression, making him even more sad.
“Why do you look like that? Can’t–hic—you reach Ilay? Wuuuu…is he not coming?”
“Taei, look closely. Don’t cry anymore, look at me. I’m right here.”
“Hic…what do you want..! I want Ilay, ask him to–hic—come!”
Taeui struggled in the hold, tears falling uncontrollably as his breath hitched with every hiccup. His left cheek was already growing swollen, and with his face flushed from crying, it only made him look redder.
Like a plump tomato.
The silver haired man couldn’t help but laugh softly even as he tried to soothe the crying. Taeui’s eyes shone as tears continued falling, his cheeks red, his mouth pouty. It was a sight worth devouring—if they were home.
“Why–are you laughing, you jerk!....Does–hic—does he not want me anymore? Is that why you’re here…? Wuu–uuuu, that bastard, am I that easy to thro—”
The words were cut off when his mouth was captured with a hard kiss. His lips, parted in shock, allowed for the hot tongue to enter which licked up the metallic taste that was still in his mouth.
“Mmm—what’re–!”
Hands wrapped around his waist and moved him effortlessly into a lap, arms looped behind him, pulling him close. The devouring lips moved insatiably, nipping and slurping up all of Taeui’s noises.
No matter how hard Taeui wiggled, the strong arms didn’t budge, but instead tightened. With his mouth occupied by the ungiving tongue and his nose stuffed from crying, there wasn’t any path for oxygen to enter.
They parted with a gasp. Taeui’s eyes were still brimming with tears and hazed over by the onslaught. His reddened lips parted to take in air, the numbness making him oblivious to their combined saliva dripping from his mouth.
“Wha—you…no, I told you, only Ilay…”
“Mm. I know. There’s only you too, Taei. I’m sorry for letting you think that way. Sleep, I’ll take us home.”
“Hic…what? No, I want—to wait for….”
Taeui’s world spun. He fell limply onto the shoulder, hands useless by his side. He tried so hard to stay awake, but every breath taken made him fall deeper. Soon, only his soft breaths could be heard.
The tall man hugged Taeui closer to his body, burying his nose into the tanned neck and breathing in the natural scent. A smile full of contentment and joy stretched wide on his lips. He maneuvered to support the back of Taeui’s knee and back before lifting him up.
“Ah, Mr Riegrow, I was about to check up on you two since it’s been twenty minutes. Is Mr Jeong alright?”
“Don’t worry, he’s just tired.”
“Alright. Then I won’t keep you here any longer, remember, no spicy food or alcohol for at least a week. Take care.”
With a nod, Ilay moved towards the carpark with Taeui asleep in his arms. He didn’t make a sound the whole way home, other than a tiny groan when a nearby car honked.
The next morning, Taeui refused to look at Ilay.
He remembered everything once he woke up and shot up in bed, scurrying away to the bathroom and slamming the door shut, leaving Ilay’s bright laughter behind.
But contrary to what he thought would happen, Ilay didn’t tease even once. But that was even worse. Ilay was in a good mood, the best he’s ever been since he returned from his last mission. His soft grey eyes followed Taeui wherever he went. His hands lingered on Taeui’s back or neck at every touch.
His lips fell upon tanned skin more often than not.
And ultimately, Jeong Taeui, flushed from ears down, gave in to Ilay Riegrow.