Part 19

The soft morning light filtered through the windows of Yok’s small apartment, casting warm golden hues across the living room. Yok sat sprawled on the couch, one leg tucked beneath him, the other lazily stretched out over the armrest. His sketchbook rested on his lap, the tip of his pencil moving almost absentmindedly across the page.

He wasn’t really thinking about what he was drawing—at least, not intentionally. His mind was somewhere else, back on the rooftop, back to the moment when Longtai’s lips had pressed against his.

A slow breath left his lips.

The lines on his page took shape—a pair of lips, slightly parted, soft, familiar. He stared at them, his fingers tracing over the graphite, before he sighed and leaned back against the couch, tilting his head to stare at the ceiling.

What did that kiss even mean?

He had kissed Longtai because—well, because he had wanted to. Because Longtai had looked so damn cute under the moonlight, with his wide, unsure eyes and the way his breath hitched when Yok touched him. It had felt like the right thing to do. But now… now he was stuck with this weird feeling in his chest, something that wouldn’t go away no matter how much he tried to shake it off.

Across the room, Gram stood by the kitchen counter, phone in one hand, a glass of water in the other. He was lazily scrolling through his feed, still looking half-asleep, his messy bed hair proof that he had just rolled out of bed.

Yok’s eyes drifted toward him, and before he could even think, the words left his mouth.

"Hey, if someone kisses someone, does that mean they’re dating or just friends?"

Gram choked.

Water went down the wrong pipe, and he immediately coughed, pounding a fist against his chest as he struggled to breathe.

"What the—" He turned to Yok, eyes wide in disbelief. "Say what now?"

Yok raised an eyebrow, watching him with mild amusement. "I mean, what’s the deal? If you kiss someone, does that automatically mean you’re dating?"

Gram narrowed his eyes, setting his glass down with a loud clink before walking over to Yok. "Hold on. Back up. Who the hell did you kiss?"

Yok exhaled, tilting his head back onto the couch dramatically. "Longtai."

Gram blinked.

Then blinked again.

"You—what?" His voice shot up an octave. "Did you just say Longtai?"

Yok rolled his eyes, waving a hand. "Yeah, yeah, I kissed him. What’s with that look?"

"What’s with that look?" Gram’s voice was full of disbelief. "Dude, what the hell are you even saying right now? You just—casually—kissed him? Out of nowhere?!"

Yok shrugged. "I mean… not out of nowhere exactly. He just looked so damn cute, and I couldn’t help myself."

Gram gaped at him. "You couldn’t help yourself?"

"Yeah," Yok nodded, picking up his pencil again and tracing over the lips he had drawn. "You should’ve seen him, Gram. Under the moonlight, all wide-eyed, staring at me with this look—man, it was impossible not to kiss him."

Gram ran a hand down his face. "Yok, you’re unbelievable."

Yok smirked. "Thanks. I try."

Gram groaned, plopping onto the couch beside him. "So, what now? What did he say? Did he slap you? Run away? Cry?"

Yok scoffed. "Why would he cry?"

"I don’t know, man!" Gram threw his hands up. "Longtai is—how do I put this—not the type of person who goes around kissing people. He’s all quiet and anxious and overthinks everything. You probably fried his brain!"

Yok paused. Okay, that was fair.

He tapped his pencil against his sketchbook, thinking. "He didn’t slap me or run away. Actually…" A small smile pulled at his lips. "He kissed me back."

Gram’s jaw dropped. "No way."

"Way."

"And now you’re sitting here, drawing lips and asking me what it means?"

Yok hummed in response, flipping his pencil between his fingers. "Yeah, because I don’t get it. Does it mean we’re dating now? Or was it just a kiss?"

Gram rubbed his temples, looking like he was trying to process an extremely difficult math problem. "Okay, first of all—have you talked to him since then?"

Yok paused.

"...No."

Gram smacked the back of his head.

"Ow!" Yok scowled. "What was that for?"

"For being an idiot," Gram deadpanned. "If you wanna know what it meant, maybe try talking to the guy instead of sitting here, drawing his lips like some lovesick fool."

Yok opened his mouth to argue—then realized he had nothing to say.

"...Shit."

Gram sighed. "Yeah. Shit."

Yok leaned back against the couch again, staring up at the ceiling.

Longtai’s mind worked in spirals—he overthought everything, doubted everything. It wouldn’t take much for him to convince himself that Yok had only kissed him as a joke, or on impulse, or because it didn’t mean anything.

But it had. It had meant something.

To Yok, it had meant everything.

He exhaled, fingers tightening around his pencil.

“Guess I should call him, huh?”

Gram groaned, slumping against the couch. “Yes, Yok. Before he convinces himself you regret it.”

Regret?

The thought of Longtai believing that—believing even for a second that Yok regretted kissing him—made something in his chest twist.

No.

That wouldn’t do.

Yok grabbed his phone from the coffee table, flipping it over in his hands. His thumb hovered over Longtai’s name in his call list.

--

The sound of the TV hummed in the background, but Longtai wasn’t paying attention. He sat curled up on the couch, his knees tucked close to his chest, arms loosely wrapped around them. Tain sat beside him, casually flipping through channels, but Longtai barely noticed. His mind was far, far away—back to last night, back to the rooftop, back to Yok.

His fingers absentmindedly touched his lips, his heartbeat drumming in his ears.

The way Yok had leaned in, his warm breath fanning against Longtai’s face, the soft press of his lips—Longtai could still feel it. It wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t demanding. It was slow, delicate, as if Yok was savoring every second. Like he wanted Longtai to feel it, to remember it.

And god, he remembered.

The warmth of Yok’s hands, the way his painted fingers had brushed over Longtai’s cheek before sliding to his lips. His voice, low and soft, whispering, "I want to kiss you so badly."

Longtai squeezed his eyes shut, his face burning.

Why had that made his stomach flip? Why had it made his chest tighten with something unfamiliar yet so intoxicating? He had nodded, he had let Yok kiss him, and he had kissed back, because—because—

Because he wanted to.

But what did that mean now?

They weren’t just two friends who happened to enjoy each other’s company. That much was clear. They gravitated toward each other in ways that felt different, more. But was it enough to mean something? Or were they just… two people caught up in the moment, acting on impulse?

Longtai chewed his lower lip, his overthinking running wild. What if it was just Yok being Yok—carefree, spontaneous, just acting on the moment? What if—

"Snap!"

Longtai flinched as Tain’s fingers snapped in front of his face, dragging him back to reality.

"Earth to Longtai?" Tain was staring at him, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "You’ve been staring at the same spot for like, five minutes straight. What are you thinking about so deeply?"

Longtai immediately panicked, his hands tightening around his knees. "N-nothing!"

Tain narrowed his eyes. "You’re blushing."

Longtai’s face grew even hotter. "I’m not!"

Tain smirked, shifting so he could fully face him. "Oh, you so are. I don’t think I’ve ever seen your face this red before." He leaned in slightly, teasing. "C’mon, spill it. Who or what has got you thinking so hard?"

Longtai swallowed, feeling way too exposed. His fingers curled against his shirt, his thoughts screaming at him not to say it—but the words slipped out before he could stop them.

"...Can friends kiss each other?"

Tain’s eyebrows shot up. "Whoa."

Longtai instantly regretted it. His entire body tensed, and he quickly added, "I-I mean—not me! A friend! A friend asked me that!"

Tain just stared at him for a moment before exhaling dramatically. "Oh god, here we go again."

Longtai frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I knew you were gonna pull the 'asking for a friend' excuse," Tain said, shaking his head with a laugh. "You do realize that’s basically a confirmation that this is about you, right?"

Longtai wanted to disappear.

Tain grinned, nudging his shoulder. "So. A friend, huh? This friend of yours—did they enjoy the kiss?"

Longtai’s fingers tightened around his sleeves. "...Maybe."

Tain chuckled. "And does this friend like the person they kissed?"

Longtai hesitated. His mind flashed back to the rooftop, to Yok’s eyes on him, to the way his heart had raced, to the way his entire body had felt warm despite the cold air.

"...Yes." His voice was quiet.

Tain nodded, his teasing tone softening. "Then I think your friend already knows the answer."

Longtai stayed quiet, his head slightly lowering. "...But what if it doesn't mean anything?"

Tain sighed, watching his little brother’s anxious expression. He could see the overthinking happening in real-time. Longtai had always been this way—cautious, hesitant, scared.

Before Tain could say anything, a voice interrupted.

"Be careful."

Both of them turned toward the kitchen, where Phupha stood by the stove, arms crossed. His expression was serious, his sharp eyes locked onto Longtai.

Longtai blinked. "Huh?"

Phupha stepped forward, his presence always commanding attention. "Be careful with this person." His voice was calm but firm. "I don’t want to see you hurt again."

Longtai’s chest tightened. He knew exactly what Phupha was implying.

His past.

A bitter, ugly thing that still lingered in the corners of his mind. The reason why he had built walls, the reason why he second-guessed everything, the reason why a simple kiss had him spiraling with doubt.

Longtai lowered his gaze. "...Yok isn’t like that."

Phupha didn’t look convinced. "Maybe. But feelings can be complicated. You might think someone means well, but that doesn’t mean they won’t hurt you."

Longtai clenched his fists, old memories resurfacing. The way he had trusted before, only to be left broken.

Tain noticed the way Longtai’s expression changed, the way his shoulders slightly hunched, as if doubt had already started seeping into his bones. He shot Phupha a warning look.

"Don’t make him overthink," Tain said, voice low.

Phupha’s jaw tightened, but he sighed, stepping back. "I just don’t want to see him go through that again."

Longtai swallowed hard. He knew Phupha meant well. He knew his cousin had always been protective of him. But…

Yok wasn’t like that, right?

Right?

Tain reached out, squeezing Longtai’s shoulder. "Hey. Ignore him for a second." He shot a glance at Phupha before looking back at Longtai. "Instead of thinking about all the what ifs—why not just talk to him?"

Longtai bit his lip. "...What if he doesn’t feel the same?"

Tain gave him a knowing look. "Do you really think that’s the case?"

Longtai hesitated. Then, after a long moment, he shook his head.

Because deep down, even with all his fears, even with all his doubts—he knew.

Yok had meant it.

And that was something he couldn’t ignore.

---

-Inside Yok’s Room :

The city lights cast a soft glow into Yok’s dimly lit bedroom, painting streaks of neon pinks and blues across the walls. He lay sprawled out on his bed, one arm over his face, his other hand clutching his phone. His black hair was an absolute mess from how many times he had ruffled it in frustration.

"I need to talk to him."

That was the only clear thought in his head, but god, why was it so hard to just send a damn text?

Yok sighed, lifting his phone again. His fingers hovered over the screen before he finally started typing.

Yok: Hey, are you awake?

He stared at it for two seconds. Then erased it.

He tried again.

Yok: So, about last night—

Delete.

He groaned, rolling onto his stomach. This was stupid. Why was he so nervous? He was never like this. He was always the one who acted first, who went with his gut, who didn’t hesitate. But Longtai was different.

Longtai overthought things. Longtai got scared.

And if he wasn’t careful, Longtai would start believing this was all just a joke to him.

That thought sent a sharp jolt through his chest. Yok abruptly sat up, running a hand down his face. "Shit."

He couldn't let that happen.

Without thinking twice, he jumped off his bed, grabbed his jacket, and snatched his bike keys from his desk. He didn't know exactly what he was going to say when he got there—but he knew he needed to see him.

-Inside Longtai's room :

Longtai was pacing. Back and forth, back and forth, his slippers dragging against the floor. His mind was a tangled mess, replaying Tain’s words, Phupha’s warning, and most of all—the kiss.

His heart still stuttered when he thought about it. The way Yok had looked at him, the way his fingers had brushed against his lips before whispering—"I want to kiss you so badly."

It hadn’t been a joke. It couldn’t have been.

But… what if it was just Yok being Yok? What if he kissed him on impulse, just because the moment felt right?

His chest tightened. He sat on the edge of his bed, gripping his phone with both hands. His fingers hesitantly started typing.

Longtai: Hey, can we talk?

He stared at it.

Then quickly erased it.

He tried again.

Longtai: About last night—

Delete.

He groaned in frustration, dropping his phone onto the bed. "Ugh!"

Why was this so hard? Why couldn't he just ask? Why was he so scared of the answer?

He grabbed a pillow and buried his face into it, letting out a muffled whine. Maybe Phupha was right. Maybe he was getting ahead of himself. Maybe—

Knock knock.

Longtai froze.

His head shot up, staring at his bedroom door. His heart started hammering against his ribs.

Another knock.

He swallowed, slowly getting up. It was late—who would be knocking at this hour?

With slightly shaky hands, he reached for the doorknob, twisting it open.

The moment the door swung wide, his breath caught.

Yok stood there, slightly breathless, his black hair still messy from the wind. His jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, and his fingers were curled around his bike keys. His dark, expressive eyes met Longtai’s—and for a moment, neither of them said a word.

The city lights from outside reflected in Yok’s eyes as he took in Longtai’s slightly flushed face, his messy bed hair, the way he was gripping the door frame like he was trying to keep himself from falling.

Yok swallowed, his voice softer than usual.

"...Hey."

Longtai didn’t know what to say.

His mind had been a chaotic storm just moments ago, but now, with Yok standing right in front of him, looking at him like that—everything went completely still.

Longtai stood at the door, his hand still gripping the doorknob as he stared at Yok. He wasn’t sure how long they just looked at each other, but his mind was still catching up with the fact that Yok was here. At his door. At this hour.

Yok rubbed the back of his neck, his lips twitching into a slightly sheepish smile. "Uh… sorry for coming so late."

Longtai blinked, shaking his head quickly. "It’s fine." His voice was softer than he intended, and his fingers tightened slightly on the door.

Seeing Longtai’s hesitation, Yok gave a tiny smirk. "You gonna let me in, or do you want me to make my speech from the hallway?"

Longtai’s face heated up. He quickly stepped aside, letting Yok walk in. The moment Yok passed by him, the faint scent of wind and his leather jacket filled Longtai’s nose. His heartbeat, already unsteady, picked up a little more.

Yok stood in the middle of the room, looking around with his hands in his pockets. His eyes flickered to Longtai, watching the way the other boy hesitated before shutting the door and turning to face him.

"We didn’t see each other today," Yok said suddenly, tilting his head. "And honestly? I couldn't wait until tomorrow."

Longtai's breath hitched.

Yok stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets, stepping a little closer, his voice teasing but soft. "I didn’t want you to fry your brain overthinking again. Figured I’d save you the trouble."

Longtai felt his ears burn. "I-I don’t—”

"You do." Yok cut in, grinning. "I know you do. I can practically hear your thoughts running marathons in that cute little head of yours."

Longtai’s lips parted slightly, but nothing came out.

Yok’s smirk faded a little, his eyes flickering with something more genuine. "Listen, I don’t know what this is. But the first time I saw you… I couldn’t stop thinking about you."

Longtai’s breath caught.

Yok’s voice was steady, but his hands twitched slightly in his pockets. "I wanted to know more about you. Every time I saw you, I wanted to see you again. Every time I talked to you, I wanted to talk more. It’s like—" He exhaled a small laugh, shaking his head. "—like something in my brain refuses to stop pulling me toward you."

Longtai stared at him, feeling his heart pound so hard he thought Yok could hear it. His fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.

Yok watched him carefully before his lips curled into a playful smirk again. "So. I was thinking… I’d love to take you on a date."

Longtai's fingers clenched tighter. Something in his chest tightened, something warm and terrifying and new.

Part of him wanted to say yes immediately. But another part—one that had been hurt before, one that feared things that seemed too good—hesitated.

Yok tilted his head. "But only if you want to, of course." His voice was light, but his eyes—his eyes held something patient, something that told Longtai he wasn’t pressuring him.

Longtai swallowed, his heart hammering so hard it made his fingers shake. He shouldn’t. He should think. He should be careful.

But the way Yok was looking at him—hopeful, expectant, genuine—made him want to ignore every overthinking thought in his head.

So, with his cheeks burning, he swallowed hard and nodded. "O-okay."

Yok blinked, then his face lit up into the biggest grin. "Okay?"

Longtai shyly nodded again, looking away.

Yok let out a small laugh, his excitement barely contained. "Okay."

The air between them felt lighter—but Longtai’s chest still felt tight, still felt like something was pulling him back. But for now, just for tonight, he let himself take this small step forward.

-

Author's Note :

Honestly, both Yok and Longtai are total idiots in love.

Keep turning the pages there's more :)

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