Forget Me Not

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"It is." That should have been his reaction but it was too late now. "They're having the Sin Sod* this weekend and invited me."

"You make it sound like you weren't expecting them to."

Could Mew read his mind? Or was he that transparent? Did his needs and fears come before his friends' happiness? Korn didn't want to dwell on it any more. He still didn't know how to feel about it and until he figured it out, he didn't want anyone else poking at it. "I'll be in Bangkok this weekend.

"Oh, and..."

Mew's open-ended response left Korn fumbling. He needed to say something but he couldn't figure out what. What did he want? What was he hoping Mew would give him? 

~

"How was it?" Mew asked when Korn arrived at his place.

It was already late but he'd opted to stay awake and wait after Korn assured him he would spend the night. Korn had taken the first flight in from Chiang Mai. Mew had offered to pick him up but Korn had dismissed it.

"I'll head straight to Yihwa's place and coordinate with her."

It had been an easy solution but Mew had wondered if there wasn't more to it. With nothing to take him away from his chores, Mew had gone through his usual weekend routine. He'd still been distracted the entire time; thinking about Korn more often than not. But he'd completed all his tasks, including shopping for a few extra groceries and buying a nice bottle of wine for later.

He hadn't expected Korn to show up looking haggard with a scowl so deep, it looked like it was permanently etched into his face.

"It was long and frustrating," Korn answered after taking off his shoes and joining Mew in the hallway between the kitchen and living room.

"Really?"

That wasn't what Mew knew about family negotiations for dowry. There was usually a celebratory mood and a lot of tongue-in-cheek references about the couple and how much 'value' they had lost depending on how long they had dated. Yihwa and Cho would have been the punch-line to many well-meaning jokes.

"They all want the same thing. Everything they get will be gifted going to Yihwa and Cho in one form or another when they get married. Everyone knows this. But they still did the whole song and dance and..."

Why was he so angry?

"Korn..."

"What?"

Mew reached for him and drew him into a hug. Korn's resistance was unexpected but he seemed to catch on slowly. Mew felt it as the tension melted out of his body. He went from being as tight as the strong on a bow to melting into him; then holding on tight.

"I'm sorry," Korn whispered against his neck.

"It's okay."

"I don't know what's got into me. I couldn't say anything today even though there were times I wanted to scream. But it wasn't about them. I just felt like I was suffocating."

"And now?"

"God...this feels so...good."

Mew's relief was instant. Ever since the call from Korn a week ago, he'd been trying to figure out what was going on with him. Everything he said had an edge to it. When Mew had invited him to spend the night, he'd nearly bitten off his head. Only to backtrack, apologize profusely and accept the invitation.

"Are you hungry or would you prefer to take a shower?"

"Both. We ate at some point but it feels like it was an eternity ago."

"Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll warm something for you."

"Thanks," Korn said pulling away from Mew's hold.

Korn knew where everything was but that didn't stop Mew from wanting to follow him into the bedroom—and maybe even the bath. Instead, he carefully extricated himself from Korn's hold. He was about to head to the kitchen when Korn pulled him back and kissed him.

Caught off guard, the kiss was poorly aligned and he connected with Korn's teeth painfully.

"Easy," he said drawing away and licking at the tender spot on his lip.

"Sorry."

"Don't be," he said reaching for Korn.

He caressed his cheek and watched Korn lean into his hand. It had become a natural reaction to that particular touch and Mew was a little addicted to how it made him feel. He pulled him in slowly, brushing his lips against Korn's in the slightest touch. Mew pressed a little deeper, trying to get Korn to open up but it had a much stronger effect than Mew expected.

Korn took over the kiss, holding Mew by the back of his head and plundering his mouth. Pulling their bodies flush against each other, yet trying to get even closer when he couldn't get the friction he wanted. This wasn't the first time Korn had jumped him but there was an edge to this that scared Mew instead of arousing him.

"Korn," Mew called out when he could finally break for air.

"What?"

"What is going on?"

"I...I don't know."