VI

Christopher found himself smiling as soon as he noticed Hyunjin standing outside the school with Seungmin from a distance. He picked up his pace and joined his two friends. "Good morning, how are you?"

"So far so good," replied the boy with braces. His long-time friend nodded his head in agreement.

"How are you, Hyunjin? Two days ago, you looked quite miserable," the eldest looked at the tallest with concern.

"It's much better now, thanks. I guess I just needed some sleep."

"That's good to hear. I missed you." Christopher realized he'd let the second sentence out of his mouth too late. His cheeks began to flush and he was about to explain and apologize, but a gentle touch on his shoulder stopped him.

"I missed you too," Hyunjin smiled at him.

He had a hard time keeping his knees from buckling at that smile. That cute, warm smile that revealed the tiny dimples in the younger man's cheeks really belonged to him and him alone. He wanted to crush him in a hug and kiss his cheeks at that moment.

"Alright, lovebirds, that's enough for now," Seungmin brought him back to reality with a laugh.

"Did I miss something?" asked Minho, who was the last to join the group.

"Nothing happened," Hyunjin assured him with a wide smile. Christopher noticed that it was not the same smile he had given him, and felt a kind of selfish joy.

"Chris?" the long-haired man turned to him as they walked to the front door.

The man addressed turned his head towards him.

"Do you think we could hang out again after school on Friday for English?" He asked with the same puppy dog look he'd given him the first time he'd needed help. How could he resist that expression?

"Sure. What time do your lessons end?"

"At 2:30, I have a dance for the lesson."

Christopher nodded. "I finish a little earlier, but I'll wait for you," he promised.

"Thanks," the younger man smiled gratefully.

***

As Christopher promised, he was waiting for Hyunjin on Friday. As soon as his last class was over, he ran down the stairs to the basement, where the gym was located. If the door was even slightly open, he wouldn't let the opportunity to see the long-haired boy in action pass him by.

It was.

He peeked in. He noticed Hyunjin among the others immediately. The graceful, seemingly effortless way his long limbs moved, like the rest of his body, was unmissable. He watched his every move with a smile.

It wasn't long before their eyes met. Christopher couldn't have averted his eyes even if he wanted to. Hyunjin locked his gaze in his, holding it for perhaps the entire duration of the lesson. He felt his mouth go dry. He was beginning to realize that the younger boy was wrapping him... no, he already had him wrapped around his finger.

He only came out of his trance when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He blinked a few times to bring himself back to reality and met the gaze of the person in question.

"Hi," Hyunjin smiled at him. He was sweaty. Drops of sweat rolled from his forehead onto his sharply cut jaw, slender neck, and prominent collarbones. Strands of black hair were stuck to his cheeks. He swallowed dryly. Did the boy even realize what he was doing to him? He suspected he probably did.

"Hi," Christopher smiled back when he recovered.

"Thanks for waiting for me."

The elder nodded. "Sure, that's what we agreed."

Hyunjin nodded with a smile. "I'll go change. Please hold on for a while."

So Christopher waited outside the locker room for a few minutes before he and the taller boy headed towards his house.

"You dance very nicely," he complimented him.

"Thanks," the long-haired man smiled in his direction.

"No, really. Seungmin told me, but seeing you live is something else," the elder smiled.

Hyunjin lowered his gaze shyly and his smile widened. "Thanks, Chris. I really appreciate it." Was he dreaming, or was he blushing...?

He felt like kissing him on his blushing cheek.

***

When they arrived at Christopher's house, they sat back down on the sofa and Hyunjin put his textbook on the coffee table.

"What do you need help with?" The elder asked as he watched him flip through his textbook.

It didn't take long for the taller one to find the appropriate page. "Passives, please."

Christopher nodded. "Before we start, would you like some coffee, like last time?"

Hyunjin nodded. "Please."

As soon as the smaller of the pair returned with the hot drinks, he began in explanation.

After a few minutes, he noticed that his visitor was squirming in his seat, stretching his neck and shoulders every now and then.

"Everything okay?" He asked, setting his mug down on the coffee table.

"All good, except I'm afraid I've put a bit of strain on my shoulders and neck," the younger man muttered.

"Do you want to massage it?" he offered.

"If you'd been so nice?"

The elder nodded. "Straighten up, and tell me if it hurts too much."

Hyunjin nodded and positioned himself so that the elder could reach him comfortably.

So Christopher rubbed his hands together to warm them up a bit before placing them on the younger man's shoulders. The latter let out a contented sigh as he began to massage the strained areas.

"You can go harder," he murmured.

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you," the elder stopped for a moment.

Hyunjin smiled. "I'm not made of sugar, don't worry. Besides, I'll tell you if it hurts."

Christopher nodded and dug into the younger man's back with a little more force just like he'd asked for. "Like this?"

"Just like that," the taller man whispered, closing his eyes.

The elder continued his work. Although Hyunjin was very thin at first glance, he could feel muscles during the massage that were undoubtedly the result of years of dance practice.

He shuddered slightly and his mouth ran dry every time a little shuddering gasp escaped the younger man when he found a particularly tight spot.

Pull yourself together, man, it's just a massage, he ordered himself. Yeah, but a massage to a ridiculously attractive guy who made him rethink his sexuality...

"There, done," Christopher announced after a few minutes, but his hands were still on Hyunjin's shoulders. He had a hard time resisting the temptation to kiss him on the skin that peeked out from the wide collar.

"Thanks, it's much better now," Hyunjin turned to face him.

The elder nodded with a smile, letting his hands slide freely from the other's shoulders. His visitor shivered a little.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No, nothing. I'm just ticklish," the taller one admitted with a smile.

"Really?" Christopher grinned.

Hyunjin must have guessed what the elder was planning, because he looked overly horrified.

"Please don't! No!" he yelled, but it was too late. Christopher rolled him onto his back, his nimble fingers tickling him where they could, and he could do nothing but laugh while trying to grab his hands.

After a few seconds, the smaller of the pair let himself be caught, smiling at his companion who was having a fit of laughter.

"That was an ugly betrayal," the younger man said sulkily.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" Christopher smiled.

Hyunjin thought for a moment while biting his lower lip. "How about a kiss?"

The elder felt himself blush. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," the younger man smiled, then intertwined his fingers with his.

Christopher's heart raced, his pupils dilated and his cheeks began to flush.

It's nothing, it's just a kiss, nothing more, he reassured himself.

He swallowed dryly and began to lean towards the other. When their lips finally touched, he let his eyelids fall closed. The younger one tasted sweet, just like the coffee he had just finished. Hyunjin wrapped his long arms around his neck and pressed him even closer to himself. He wrapped his arms around his shoulders in return.

When they both needed to breathe again, they slowly broke the kiss.

"How... How was it?" Christopher whispered, stroking the younger man's cheek.

The taller one smiled and ran his long fingers through his hair. "Beautiful."