Chapter 9 (1/2)

“Is Kevin at the hotel or is he back here?” Kibum asked, understanding that the brothel probably housed the prostitutes, giving them a room each or something.

The receptionist, used to Kibum coming in to ask about Kevin’s schedule and his whereabouts already, unwarily pointed at the dormitory. “You can actually go visit him, but rules apply.”

That meant sex with a price, Kibum easily linked, but he wasn’t looking for Kevin to have sex.

He was thinking about giving it a no go today actually, wanting to rest his body and his mind for just a day. This day actually marked the first day of the second month, meaning he has only about a hundred and fifty more days. Time, Kibum winced, but he didn’t want to spoil his body response to sex either. That was the only thing he was depending on for interaction with Kevin.

After asking about Kevin’s room number and the general direction he should walk along to find the room, he knocked on the said door and smiled softly as a greeting to Kevin. The prostitute frowned, before any warm greeting, looking down the walkway Kibum came from and then yelling some secret code or sort.

“You don’t like me coming?” Kibum scratched his head awkwardly. Just because he couldn’t help but fall in love with Kevin doesn’t mean the younger had fallen too. Right, he had almost forgotten that this might be reality.

“I was just telling her to give me some warning.” Kevin shook his head, a little different from what Kibum had gotten used to. Almost like he was as normal as anyone out there, valuing his privacy dearly when not dealing with customers. Almost as if his presence wasn’t welcomed. As much as he didn’t like it, Kibum had to note it down. “Come on in.”

Kibum then entered the dormitory, a rather humble room. It actually wasn’t just a room, but it was easier to call it that. From the entrance, there was a short walkway leading to a simple living room. There was a TV that was medium-sized, and a couch for two, which probably meant Kevin liked to lay down on it. The curtains were white, matching the wall colour and the window pane. The bedroom was linked from the living room, and if Kibum guessed correctly, there was a bathroom attached to the bedroom. From the angle he was standing at, he could make out a desk in the bedroom and a packed bed.

All in all, it was small, but sufficient room for a person like Kevin.

In fact, it looked like a room a student would have if he went to boarding school, not a hint of his job in his way of living.

“I don’t really want to do this, but I don’t want to have sex with you today.” Kevin straightforwardly said, pouring a cup of water for Kibum and then gesturing for him to take a seat at the small table with two chairs. Kevin took a seat opposite him, adding on to his sentence to make himself sound less rude. “I had like ten appointments and I was actually about to sleep.”

“No.” Kibum smiled faintly, bringing out the stack of money he had intended to give Kevin the day before. Patting it slightly as a way to tell Kevin what his intentions were, he continued. “I came to give you this.”

“I don’t want it.” Kevin murmured, eyeing the money as if in disgust.

“Why?” Kibum frowned, concerned. Was there something he didn’t catch? Why was Kevin saying no to money? Possibilities formed in his head in the instant, many scenarios playing out in his head at the same time. Which one of it were Kevin’s thoughts?

The younger man sighed exhaustedly, as if having explaining this a thousand times before. He then looked back into Kibum’s eyes, before realising he usually couldn’t handle the intensity of those dark orbs, thus shunning. “You…you weren’t pleased, right? You slept through it. I’m not even good, I don’t get-”

“You’re good.” Kibum cut in calmly, hand reaching out for Kevin’s as if to reassure him with the warmth. Kevin looked at their hands hesitantly, frown not fading away. “Why else would I find you again and again?”

The crease on Kevin’s forehead deepened as the prostitute thought about it, finally sighing in agreement. “But…just keep the money. I really don’t think I deserved it last night.”

“I’m the one who says what you deserve.” Kibum said, pushing the cash into Kevin’s hands as he stood up. “All right, I guess I’ll be going.”

“But-”

Kibum leaned over the table and kissed Kevin swiftly – just a quick peck to shut him up. “Good night.”

“Good night.” A dazed reply.

-

Kibum typed down the impressions that he was afraid he would forget, noting down some bits of Kevin’s personality he had uncovered in the first month. Checking the first impression he had of Kevin, Kibum chuckled softly, seeing how far he had went with his report in a month.

He probably wouldn’t be masturbating again, Kibum sighed, reminding himself of Kevin’s action in the dormitory.

He wasn’t supposed to change Kevin’s lifestyle, yet he was contributing to his sorrow by being difficult. He shall just let loose his sexual desire, moaning when he feels like it. He had already, afterall, found out all he needed by fully exploiting that aspect.

Time to move on, Kibum nodded, and to return Kevin the confidence he had.

However, what should he move on to? What other aspect could he use over and over again to find out more about Kevin without him realising?

Photography…Kibum reached for his camera and turned it on to see the picture he took of their clothes. Would he get any further than this? Considering Kevin’s reaction, there seemed to be something haunting him from the past. There was almost no room for negotiations, a rather straightforward rejection.

Would he be able to change this? Would he want to change it?

Kibum couldn’t bear the thought of hurting Kevin by forcing the younger to take a picture. Of course Kevin could have his fears, and why would anyone want their naked picture being taken? Unless, of course, if they were just an exhibitionist by nature.

Coming to think of it, it was actually rather ironic that Kevin could let any man thrust into him, yet be so defensive about the fact that his body was going to become a picture. Was there a reason? Well, surely there was.

What was it?

-

Kevin eyed the camera that Kibum had in his hands, biting his lower lip in worry as the older man walked towards him. Was Kibum going to try it again?

Kibum cursed himself for being so careless. Kevin was going to be more cautious seeing the camera in his hand, and his first evidence was the younger man just standing still, staring at the camera, instead of jumping up on him into his embrace like he always did.

“I-I would like that you don’t do it.” Kevin broke the silence first, a milder reply than before. Was it because he was still clothed, or was it that he just didn’t feel the need to be so defensive already?

“I won’t do it.” Kibum nodded. It wasn’t the right time either, anyway.

Relief washed over Kevin’s face as he heard Kibum’s assurance, trusting the certainty in that voice. He smiled sweetly, thanking Kibum with an impromptu hug. “Thank you.”

“Do you mind if I ask why, though?” Kibum questioned as Kevin slowly pulled away, observing the subtle change of Kevin’s features. “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”

“It’s just…I’m-I’m camera shy.” Kevin nervously said, and Kibum nodded as if believing. Well, if Kevin didn’t want to say it, he better not probe further. He wasn’t any idiot – he knew very well that a reaction so aggressive had nothing to do with being camera shy.

As if realising his words wasn’t as truthful as he wanted them to sound, Kevin clung onto Kibum suddenly, smiling. It didn’t reach his eyes, both of them knew, but he did, clutching onto Kibum’s shirt as he crashed their lips together. Was that his protective cover? Kibum realised that the things Kevin does when he feels like he is at a disadvantageous situation is to hopefully distract the other. A fiercer kiss, a more intense foreplay, and although it didn’t help the situation, it seemed to help Kevin feel better.

Denying what is the obvious plain truth.

Kibum was so used to their bodies pressed up against each other that he couldn’t remember how they got into the room and tumbled down on the bed. They closed their eyes, both of them, trying to distract themselves from what they were thinking about to concentrate on the other man. With their eyes shut, at least, it felt like they could force those thoughts out of their minds and just focus on the way their bodies slid against each other’s and rubbed together.

The older man winced slightly, the friction getting to his nerves and forming a tent against his pants. It was such a habit to just bite down on his lip and forget that he decided to not punish Kevin emotionally anymore. Letting himself loose this time, Kibum groaned, fingers unconsciously curling about Kevin’s wrist to tug mindlessly.

Kevin was quite obviously, not paying attention. He tried to free his hand by prying off Kibum’s fingers gently, then rolling up the ends of Kibum’s shirt upwards so it could go over his head. The younger man wasn’t being very careful, and a little impatient at that, jerking Kibum’s shirt over the other man before the shirt was fully rolled up. It got stuck, leaving Kibum in a rather difficult position, and that woke Kevin up from his distracting thoughts.