Part 14

Longtai stood in front of Yok's apartment building, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. He had never been here before, and he wasn't sure if he should be. The late afternoon air was cool and damp from yesterday's rain, the sky still gray with looming clouds. Longtai's hands gripped the container of porridge he had brought tightly, his heart pounding as he glanced at the doorbell. He had asked Emma for Yok's address earlier, feeling more anxious than ever. His mind raced with a flurry of questions: Would Yok be happy to see him? Or would he think it was strange that Longtai had come unannounced?

Finally, after what felt like forever, Longtai mustered the courage and pressed the doorbell. His finger trembled slightly as the chime echoed through the building. He stepped back, his breath shallow, and waited.

The door swung open, and to Longtai's surprise, it wasn't Yok who answered, but Gram. They both stood there for a moment, staring at each other in surprise. Gram, tall and broad-shouldered, looked at Longtai with a confused expression, his dark brows knitting together.

"Longtai?" Gram asked, his voice a mix of confusion and curiosity. "What are you doing here?"

Longtai blinked, his throat tightening. He hadn't expected this. "I... uh... I heard Yok was sick," he said, his voice a bit quieter than usual. "I just wanted to check on him."

Gram's expression softened, a faint smirk forming on his lips. He stepped aside, opening the door wider for Longtai to enter. "Come on in, then."

Longtai hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, his eyes quickly scanning the space. The living room was cluttered but cozy. The walls were adorned with graffiti-style paintings, and various art supplies were scattered across the floor-spray cans, half-used sketchbooks, and canvases leaning against the walls. A few motorcycle parts were piled in the corner, adding to the sense that this place was lived in by people who thrived on creativity and adrenaline. The couch was draped with an old, well-worn blanket, and a small coffee table in front of it held a few empty soda cans and snacks.

"Yok's in his room," Gram said, closing the door behind Longtai. "He's been out cold most of the day. Fever hit him pretty hard." He started pulling on his jacket, glancing back at Longtai. "I'm heading out for a bit, so... you can look after him while I'm gone, yeah?"

Longtai nodded, feeling a little out of place but grateful for the opportunity to see Yok. "Yeah, I can do that."

Gram gave him a small wave before grabbing his keys and heading out. As the door clicked shut, Longtai found himself standing alone in the living room, the quiet hum of the apartment surrounding him. He took a deep breath, his gaze drifting toward the closed door of Yok's bedroom.

With slow, hesitant steps, Longtai made his way to the door, his heart thudding louder in his chest the closer he got. He opened it carefully, peeking inside.

Yok lay sprawled on his bed, his dark hair messy against the pillow, his face pale except for the slight flush of fever on his cheeks. He was breathing softly, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a desk lamp in the corner.

Longtai stepped inside, his movements careful and quiet as he approached Yok's bedside. He placed the container of porridge on the nightstand and knelt down beside the bed, his gaze fixed on Yok's peaceful face. For a moment, he simply stared, his mind swirling with a strange mixture of emotions.

_Longtai wasn't sure what he was feeling. There was something about Yok that unsettled him in a way he couldn't explain._

Reaching out cautiously, Longtai placed the back of his hand on Yok's forehead to check his temperature. The heat that radiated from Yok's skin worried him-he was still burning up. Longtai frowned, gently pulling the blanket up to cover Yok's shoulder where it had slipped down, exposing him to the cold air.

Sitting back on his heels, Longtai continued to watch him, his thoughts racing. Yok had always been so full of energy, so confident and unbothered by anything. Seeing him like this-vulnerable, sleeping so deeply-felt strange. _Why was he so drawn to this guy?_ Longtai didn't understand it. He didn't usually let people in. He kept to himself, buried in his books and his thoughts. But Yok was different. Somehow, Yok had broken through all of that, and now... now Longtai couldn't stop thinking about him.

_Longtai's chest tightened_ as he looked around the room. The walls were covered in more of Yok's art-bright splashes of color and bold lines that seemed to capture Yok's personality perfectly. There were also a few canvases scattered around, some with half-finished paintings, others covered with abstract shapes. Longtai smiled faintly at the mess of creativity that surrounded him. Yok really was talented, in a way that was so different from the quiet world Longtai usually inhabited.

Then, his eyes landed on a notebook lying open on Yok's desk. His curiosity piqued, Longtai hesitated for a moment before standing and walking over to it. The pages were filled with quick doodles-little sketches that Yok had probably drawn when he was bored. Most of them were rough, unfinished. But as Longtai flipped through the notebook, something caught his eye.

One page showed the rough outline of someone's back, incomplete. The next, a face-again, unfinished, the details blurred but familiar. And then, a pair of hands, delicate and half-drawn, the lines soft and tentative. Longtai's breath caught in his throat as he turned to the final page. There, sketched with more care than the others, were a pair of eyes-familiar eyes, looking out from the paper.

_Longtai smiled_ to himself. Yok must have drawn these when he was bored, or maybe he had just given up on them halfway through. But there was something about these sketches that felt different. The way they were incomplete, as if Yok had been too distracted to finish them, made Longtai wonder who Yok had been drawing. There was something personal about these sketches, something that felt intimate.

He ran his fingers gently over the page, his mind wandering. _Was it someone he knew? Someone he admired?_ The thought made Longtai's heart race a little faster, though he didn't quite understand why. Maybe it was because he wished he could draw like this, or maybe because, in some small way, he wanted to be a part of whatever world Yok inhabited when he created art like this.

Longtai glanced back at Yok, still sleeping soundly in his bed. The fever hadn't broken yet, and Longtai felt a pang of concern. But there was something else too-something that made his chest feel warm and confused at the same time. _What was this feeling?_ It wasn't something he was used to. It felt strange, unfamiliar, but not unwelcome.

_Longtai returned to his seat next to the bed, his eyes never leaving Yok._ He didn't know how long he sat there, just watching him sleep, listening to the soft sound of his breathing. But as the minutes passed, Longtai felt something shift inside him, something that made him want to stay here, to keep watching over Yok.

Even though he didn't fully understand it, Longtai knew one thing for certain: he didn't want to be alone anymore. Not like he had been. Not now that Yok was here.

Not now that something was changing inside him.

Yok stirred awake, blinking slowly as his vision blurred. He felt groggy, the remnants of sleep still clinging to him, but as his eyes adjusted, he noticed someone sitting beside him. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming, his mind clouded by the fever that had ravaged him the night before. But the figure in front of him slowly came into focus-it was Longtai, sitting there, engrossed in a book.

Longtai was perched on the edge of the chair next to Yok's bed, his posture slightly hunched, legs curled under him. One hand held the book, while the other was resting on his knee, fingers buried in his hair as if he was lost in thought. He looked peaceful, absorbed in whatever he was reading, oblivious to Yok's half-awake gaze. The soft light from the desk lamp cast shadows across his face, making his features look sharper, yet still gentle.

Yok blinked again, this time more deliberately, convinced he must be dreaming. _Why is Longtai here?_

But the longer he stared, the more real it all felt. Yok could see the steady rise and fall of Longtai's chest, the way his fingers absentmindedly brushed against his temple as he read. It wasn't a dream. Longtai was actually here, sitting by his bedside.

_What the hell is he doing here?_

Longtai must have sensed Yok's stirring because he glanced up from his book. Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Longtai's expression softened as he realized Yok was awake.

"You're awake," Longtai said softly, his voice low and soothing, almost as if he didn't want to disturb the quiet of the room.

Yok's throat felt dry, but he managed a small smile. "Yeah..." His voice was hoarse, still heavy from sleep.

Longtai immediately put the book down and leaned closer, his hand instinctively reaching out to feel Yok's forehead again, checking his temperature. Yok didn't move, just stared at him, watching the way Longtai's face looked so serious as he focused on him. The touch was cool and gentle, and for a brief moment, Yok thought about how rare it was for someone to care for him like this.

"You're not burning up anymore," Longtai murmured, visibly relieved as he withdrew his hand.

"Yeah, I think the fever's gone," Yok said, his eyes never leaving Longtai. He liked the way Longtai was fussing over him, the way his normally distant and quiet demeanor seemed to soften when he was worried.

"I brought you some porridge," Longtai said, nodding towards the small container on the nightstand. "It's probably cold now. I can heat it up for you."

Yok smiled lazily, feeling a strange warmth at how much Longtai was taking care of him. It wasn't something he was used to, but it felt... nice. "Thanks," Yok said, shifting slightly in bed. He winced as he moved, feeling the stiffness in his limbs. "But I should probably shower before eating. I must smell pretty bad."

Longtai gave him a small, awkward smile. "I can... help if you need it," he offered, almost too quickly, before realizing how his words sounded.

Yok raised an eyebrow, amused by Longtai's sudden willingness to help. "Oh? You're okay seeing me naked?"

Longtai's eyes widened, his face turning a shade of pink as he quickly shook his head. "No, I didn't mean-" he stammered, clearly flustered. "I just meant... I could help you get to the bathroom. You're still weak."

Yok couldn't help but laugh softly, enjoying how flustered Longtai got. "Relax, Longtai. I'm teasing you," Yok said, his smile widening as he saw how uncomfortable Longtai was. "You're fun to mess with."

Longtai's face flushed even deeper, and he looked away, embarrassed. "I was just trying to help."

Yok smirked, thoroughly enjoying the exchange. "I know. But I can handle it. I can take care of myself. Just help me change, though. My arms are kinda stiff." Yok was more than capable of changing on his own, but he was curious to see how far Longtai would go for him.

Longtai hesitated but eventually nodded, standing up. "Alright," he said softly.

Yok watched as Longtai reached for his shirt, his movements slow and careful. He slid his hands under the hem of Yok's shirt, lifting it gently, his fingers brushing against Yok's skin as he pulled it up. There was an unspoken tension in the air as Longtai helped him, their bodies close. Yok watched Longtai intently, noticing how focused he was, how his lips were slightly parted in concentration.

As the shirt came off, Longtai's eyes landed on the tattoos etched across Yok's body. His gaze lingered on the three small birds on Yok's arm before trailing down to the Roman numeral tattoo below his ribs. Longtai's hand hovered near the tattoo, as if drawn to it, and without realizing it, his fingers brushed against the ink.

Yok flinched slightly at the unexpected touch, the sensation sending a shiver down his spine.

"You have tattoos here too?" Longtai asked quietly, his voice full of curiosity as he pulled his hand back.

Yok smirked, nodding. "Yeah. What, didn't think I was the type?"

Longtai looked at him, his eyes flicking back to the tattoo below Yok's ribcage. "No, I mean... it suits you."

Yok's grin widened, liking the way Longtai seemed so fascinated by the ink. "Thanks. Do you have any?"

Longtai hesitated, his cheeks flushing again as he nodded. "Yeah..."

Yok raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? You don't seem like the type to get tattoos."

"I got it last year, before graduation," Longtai muttered, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. His eyes darted away from Yok's.

Yok's curiosity piqued even further. "Where?" he asked, leaning in a little closer.

Longtai's face turned a deeper shade of red, and he looked down, avoiding Yok's gaze. "On... On my thigh," he mumbled, almost too quietly to hear.

Yok's eyes lit up with amusement, his grin turning mischievous. "Your thigh, huh?" He leaned in even closer, his voice dropping to a low, teasing tone. "That's a pretty sexy place to have a tattoo."

Longtai's heart skipped a beat at the way Yok said it, his voice suddenly deeper, more sensual. The tension between them thickened as Longtai's gaze flickered to Yok's lips for just a moment before he quickly averted his eyes, trying to maintain some sense of composure.

Yok noticed the way Longtai was reacting and couldn't help but push further. He liked seeing Longtai flustered-it was a side of him that was rare and endearing. "So, what's the tattoo of?" Yok asked, his voice soft and teasing as he leaned even closer, his breath brushing against Longtai's ear.

Longtai swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. "It's... it's just a design," he stammered, his voice shaky. "Nothing special."

Yok smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'd love to see it sometime," he whispered, his tone playful but with an underlying intensity that made Longtai's heart race.

Before Longtai could respond, the sound of the entrance door slamming open broke the moment. Both of them jumped, stepping away from each other as the tension between them dissipated in an instant.

"I'm home!" Gram's voice echoed through the apartment, his loud presence shattering the quiet intimacy that had filled the room.

Yok cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he glanced at Longtai. "I guess I should go take that shower now," he muttered, trying to sound casual even though his heart was still pounding from the earlier tension.

Longtai nodded quickly, his face still flushed. "Yeah... I'll go heat up the porridge," he said, almost too fast, eager to find something to do to distract himself from the lingering awkwardness.

Yok smirked, watching Longtai for a moment longer before turning to head toward the bathroom. He could still feel the warmth of Longtai's touch on his skin, and as he closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself. There was something about Longtai that was both intriguing and frustrating, and Yok wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

Longtai, on the other hand, stood in the kitchen, his hands trembling slightly as he reheated the porridge. His mind was spinning, replaying the moment in the bedroom over and over again. He didn't understand why he had felt so drawn to Yok, why his heart had raced the way it did when Yok had teased him. It was all so confusing, and yet... he couldn't deny that there was something there, something unspoken between them that was growing, even if he didn't know how to handle it.

As the microwave beeped, Longtai took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He had come here to take care of Yok, to make sure he was okay. That's what mattered. That's what he needed to focus on. But as he poured the porridge into a bowl, he couldn't help but think about the way Yok had looked at him, the way his voice had dropped when he teased him. It was a feeling that Longtai wasn't used to-a feeling that both excited and terrified him.

-

Author's Note :

"Thank you for sticking with me so far! It's not over yet,_Will Yok make his move? You'll just have to keep reading to find out. Stay tuned for more!"

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