Chapter Forty (1/1)

Joshua parks in the driveway of his friend's house.  He's been here before, of course getting Jeonghan's permission.  Taeyong is one of their friends from college who has doctors for parents.  So him having a Switch along with two extra controllers is not surprising.  Joshua enters the home and sees Jaemin's parents talking in the kitchen with smiles.  He looks around for Jaemin but doesn't come up with either him or Taeyong.  "Oh, they're in Jaemin's room."  The mother said, looking at Joshua with a smile. "Thank you,"  He bowed. A little girl runs up to him.  He laughed and went on his knee to play with her hair.  "And how are you doing today, WanEr?"  He asked the girl. "Jae won't play with me,"  She pouted, "tell him to be a good brother."  He poked Joshua's chest. Joshua nodded.  "I'll tell him, don't worry.  Jae-ge has just been busy lately.  I'll make sure you get some time with him though."  He winked. She smiled and hugged him before running off.  Joshua stood up and bowed to the parents before walking to Jaemin's room.  He knocked on the door and was allowed in by the owner of the room.  He sees Jaemin and Taeyong on the former's bed. "Hey,"  He greeted them, "how's it going?"  He asked, taking a seat next to Jaemin. "Just fine, here's the green controller."  Jaemin handed the older the controller. For a moment, their hands touched.  Jaemin smiled and looked toward the TV in his room.  Joshua didn't think anything of that moment and picked out Marth.  "You're going down, Tae."  He said teasingly. Taeyong laughed with a smirk.  "Nah, Jae's gonna lose."  He said, defeating the male at the end of his statement.

A few hours pass by and Taeyong stands up.  "I gotta go home, mom's expecting me to be finished my essay and I haven't even started."  He chuckled.  "I'll leave the Switch here for you guys to play though."  He offered. "Sure, as long as you trust us with it."  Jaemin stood up.  Taeyong shrugged and looked at Joshua.  "See you at school tomorrow.  Have fun you two."  He winked and left the room. Joshua looked at the younger with a raised eyebrow but still a smile.  "You wanna play still?"  He asked as he looked through the games on the console. "Sure.. so.. there's something that's been on my mind lately."  Jaemin sat back down on his bed while watching the younger play with the controller. "Your sister?  Because she said that you don't like playing with her."  Joshua laughed as he picked a Mario game.  "I'm gonna go get her so we can play together."  He said, exiting the bedroom. Jaemin looked toward the door and sighed.  He picked up his controller as he heard WanEr's cute giggles.  He put on a forced smile as the girl ran up to him.  "Jae-ge, Joshi said you wanna play with me!  Can I be Princess Peach?"  She asked. "Sure, go ahead and set up the game while Ge excuses himself."  He patted her head and went to the bathroom. Joshua smiled at the girl.  "You see?  I told you Jae wanted to play with you."  He said with a wink. She jumped onto the bed next to Joshua.  When Jaemin came back, he forced another smile as now the girl sits between him and Joshua.  "Would you like to stay for dinner?"  Jaemin asked as the carts started going off on the TV. "Dad said I can, so as long as your parents don't mind."  Joshua said, moving his cart to get a coin. Jaemin smirked as the girl got the coin he was going to get.  He nonchalantly looked Joshua's way.  He saw the older male laughing with WanEr.  His eyes were crescents and his full lips naturally shined bright, in Jaemin's opinion anyway.  His attention snapped back to the game when he heard that he lost the game. "Ge!  You really aren't good at games, are you?"  She asked with a pout. "Ayy I just get distracted easily."  He pouted back. Joshua raised an eyebrow.  "What distracted you?"  He asked. "WanEr, could you give us a minute?  I'd like to speak to Joshua privately."  Jaemin smiled at the girl, assuring her everything's okay with his eyes. She pursed her lips with a small nod.  She stood up and reached high to put the controller on the dresser before leaving the room.  Jaemin looks at the closed door, inwardly sighing while his heart races. "Is everything okay, Jae?"  Joshua put the controller down to hold Jaemin's shoulder. Jaemin also put the controller down and faced the older.  "Joshua.. what's been distracting me lately.. is you."  He said. "Me?  Did I do something wrong?"  Joshua asked with wide eyes, trying to think back to what all he's done recently. Jaemin shook his head.  "No, nothing's wrong.. I.."  He gripped the blanket under him.  "I know that it's wrong.  I know you're going to hate me forever.  I know-" "Jaemin,"  Joshua interrupted, "if it's about me, I need to know what to change or do to make you focus better.  Please don't think negatively when trying to talk to me about it." Jaemin nodded and held Joshua's hand.  "I.. like you, Joshua."  He finally said.  "I like you and I want to date you." Joshua was speechless.  He looked at the younger in shock. "I've been wanting to tell you for a little while now, but.. I always chicken out when I think about your rejection.  When I think about your angry stare or the angry words you would tell me. "But I can't go without you knowing my feelings."  Jaemin sighed.  "You must hate me now." "Why would I hate you.."  Joshua weakly muttered.  "I never knew.." Jaemin looked into Joshua's teary eyes.  He cupped Joshua's cheek and leaned closer.  Joshua looked at his lips before his eyes.  "I think I should go, Jae.."  He moved away. Jaemin watched the older take his phone from the nightstand and speed walk out of the room.  Joshua bowed to the parents telling him the lie of his dad wanting him home. Joshua wiped his eyes from the tears as he drove on the road.  He stops in a parking lot and turns off the engine.  He held the steering wheel tightly and put his forehead on it.  Jeonghan's going to kill me.. He's going to never let me step foot outside the house if he ever finds out.  But I can't date him without bringing him home.  I can't be like Woozi. His mind went back to Jaemin.  "He's so sweet and he cares about me.."  He said aloud.  "He's probably heart broken.” He bites his lip as he looks at the younger's name on his contact list.  He starts typing a text, meet me on the roof of building B3.  I'll have an answer for you.  He sent the text and let out his breath. He cooled down and nodded, knowing it's time to go home.  He started the engine again and made his way home just in time for it to have seemed like he stayed for dinner.

"Ho I'm stuffed!"  Joshua lied as he held his stomach. "I take it that they served you well then?"  Jeonghan asked as he scrubbed the pots and pans he used for their dinner.  "Yeah.. but I can't wait for our dinner tomorrow."  He back hugged Jeonghan.  "I'm going up to study.  Good night." Jeonghan watched the boy walk out of the kitchen.  "I heard a stomach  growl.."  He whispered to himself.

***

Joshua looked around and sneaked into the stair room.  He went up the stairs and made it to the roof.  He saw the younger staring off to the distance.  He silently closed the door and walked up to him.  "Jae.."  He spoke up. Jaemin turned around and looked at Joshua.  The older felt guilt as he saw those red, puffy eyes looking at him.  "I'm sorry about last night,"  Joshua started, getting closer to the other male, "I was just so surprised and confused, I didn't know what to say."  Joshua explained himself. Jaemin stayed silent as he looked at Joshua.  "I know, I know, that doesn't justify me up and leaving."  Joshua put a hand through his hair.  "It doesn't make me pushing you away right.  It doesn't make me the right person to ask you to meet me here."  He paced back and forth. "Jaemin,"  He stopped and looked at the younger, "please talk to me.  I hate not hearing your voice." The younger looked to the floor instead.  "I was scared to tell you how I felt, and then you just left."  He said weakly.  Joshua cupped Jaemin's cheek to force them into eye contact.  "I'm so sorry, Jaemin.  I always see my parents loving each other.  I always see them smile and kiss and hug, but I never thought I would be able to have that.  I never thought anyone would love me like that.  I didn't know how to react, and I'm so sorry I reacted that way."  Joshua said, putting his arms around the younger. Jaemin weakly lifted his arms, putting his hands on Joshua's shoulders to push him away.  "Jae.." "Joshua,"  Jaemin started sternly, "what did you want to tell me?"  He asked as he lost his strong glare.

Joshua breathed in and out.  "I like you too,"  He replied, "I was thinking all night.  I didn't get any sleep as I was just thinking about you.   The way you make me smile.  The way you warm me up whenever I'm sad.  The way you care so much about me.. "I realized that the heart-pounding wasn't because I was nervous or upset.. I realized I was in love with you."  He smiled.  "So if you would give me another chance.. I'd like to accept your feelings too."  Joshua looked down as he ended his speech.

Jaemin lifted the older's chin and looked into Joshua's eyes.  "Are you sure?"  He asked. "Yes, Jaemin.  My parents aren't going to be happy when they find out, but.. you really make me happy."  Joshua confirmed.  "I want to make you happy too."  Jaemin's lips form a small smile.  He tilted Joshua's head so he could kiss the older's forehead; however, Joshua stopped him.  They make eye contact with serious expressions.  "My lips are over here, Jae."  Joshua smiled. Jaemin smiled as he leaned in to kiss Joshua's lips.  Joshua held the other's shoulders and closed his eyes.  Their lips move slowly together.  When they pulled apart, all Joshua could do was smile.  Jaemin copied the growing smile and backed up a bit. "I'll introduce you to my parents soon, I just.. want to make sure we're serious first."  Joshua said shyly. Jaemin nodded.  "I understand.  Some parents aren't open-minded.  I'm glad mine understand."  He said softly, holding Joshua's hand gently but protectively.  "Oh.. they won't be mad I'm dating a boy,"  Joshua said with a chuckle, "they'll be mad I'm dating in general."  He said, walking the younger to the door.  "But really, Jae.. from now on, I want to know everything about you. "I want to know what you like and dislike in everything."  He said, stopping at the door.  "So don't hold back anything." Jaemin put his arm around the older's shoulders, "I'll tell you everything as long as you tell me everything." "Definitely."  Joshua stole a quick peck on the boy's cheek before running down the stairs.

Jaemin watched the older run giddily and open a door to one of the floors.  He stood at the rail and sighed.  I wish we could have stayed up all night together..

*** Yeosang spinned his pencil in his fingers as he was waiting for class to start.  He looked around and saw Woozi's eyes peeking in the window.  He smirked and stood up, exiting the classroom to be in the hallway with the shorter. "What are you doing here?"  Yeosang asked as he usually goes to Woozi. "I just.. wanted to visit."  Woozi said with blushed cheeks. Woozi pulled on the younger's collar and forced their lips together.  Students passing by knew not to stare.  They knew how Woozi was powerful in the school.  They also knew that Woozi manipulated the young boy into their relationship. Minghao furrowed his eyebrows as he entered the hallway.  He saw Woozi back them up against a wall and feel down Yeosang's chest.  He rolled his eyes and saw the teacher coming by.  Minghao says nothing, not that it matters anyway.  The teacher stops and stares at the two making out against the wall. He scratched his head and looked at a little pocket book he has.  He thumbed through it and stopped with a nod.  "Minghao,"  He looked down at the boy, "go tell your brother that he needs to get to class."  He said. Minghao bowed and walked up to them.  "Woozi-hyung,"  He tapped on the teenager's shoulder, "teacher Taeil says you need to get to class.  You can make out with Yeosang later." Woozi rolled his eyes when he saw the teacher.  "I'll see you later, Yeosang."  Woozi said.  "I hope no one tries flirting with me while we're away."  Woozi got the reaction he wanted.  He was forced against the wall with the younger's crazy eyes burning into his being.  "You're mine."  He said, quickly going to Woozi's neck and putting a mark there. The older gasped and shoved Yeosang.  "Idiot!  I said not my neck!"  He punched the martial artist. "But-" "Get inside!"  Woozi said angrily, stomping off while rubbing his neck. The teacher raised his eyebrow and looked down at Minghao.  "He doesn't want dad to know."  Minghao said nonchalantly. Moon watched the students go into the classroom and looked back at two girls.  He signaled them to come with him.  He walked into the classroom and looked at the familiar faces.

"Good morning, class.  We have a new student here.  She's from a small town in Jeonju."  He started.  "Please welcome Shin Ryujin."  He held the girl's shoulders.  The little girl bowed and looked up at the taller girl.  "This is my cousin Yeji,"  She introduced, "she takes care of me." Yeji bowed.  "I'm not a stork, but I am a student - a bluebird." She introduced herself. "Ryujin wanted me to be here."  She said.  Ryujin looked around as the students clapped.  "Yeji is good at fortune telling, why don't you show them?"  She suggested. Yeji laughed and looked around.  "I'm not as skilled as my mother, all I can see is peoples' pasts.."  She said with blushed cheeks.  The students each get a moment of their past revealed through the teenager.  Then comes Yeosang.  She looked at Yeosang and frowned.  "You.. you're.. a biting crow."  She pointed. The students murmur.  "A Crow?  What's that?"  Yeosang asked. "Your mothers.."  She put her pigtail behind her ear.  "You poor thing..  You weren't ever meant to be here."  She furrowed her eyebrows.

The teacher clears his throat.  "Yeji, I think that's enough." Yeji started breathing heavily as she looked into Yeosang's eyes.  "Stop!  Stop it!"  She screamed.  "Get off of me!"  She fell onto the floor and backed up into a corner. The students watch in shock as the teenager curls herself into the corner while watching Yeosang's eyes.  "Please!  I beg you, stop- I don't want you!"  She screamed. Ryujin ran up to her and covered her eyes.  "Unnie.."  Ryujin started crying. Yeosang watched the teenager's tears stop and she stood up shakily.  "I.. I'm sorry, teacher Moon."  She bowed while looking at the other students. Minghao walked up to her.  "I'm last."  He pointed to himself. She looked at him and patted his head.  "You helped Wonwoo when he was sick.  Such a good boy.."  She smiled a little.  Minghao smiled too.  "Thank you."  He bowed.

She looked back at Yeosang, seeing his upset glare.  "The past is behind us, look to the future Yeosang.  Nayeon needs her oppa."  She said as she weakly left the classroom.

Yeosang watched the teenager while walking to his seat.  I wasn't supposed to be here..

Joshua just didn't know hwo to react.

Jaemin felt heart broken, but at least they're together now.

How will Jeonghan react?

Yeosang has figured out about himself.

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