I'm Not Cold; Just Scared

(*^3^)/~☆ Chapter 45 [FINAL] (*^3^)/~☆

"Stop overreacting, I took them off when I went to sleep" the younger said.

"But that's not the same! It's even better seeing your brown eyes in the day"

"Yah! This is a party, not a cuddle café" Seonho interrupted, throwing his arms around the two. 

"Seonho, you're just salty because you're single, leave the two alone!" Kuanlin said, dragging him away. 

Daehwi's eyes fell on Somi and Samuel cuddling in a corner. As happy as he felt for them, he couldn't help but feel jealous. They could go out and be a couple without getting any weird stares. For them, obviously, it was different. A lot different.

Of course, they didn't care about it anymore. They acted like a couple in public too, but the weird stares would always be there, wouldn't they? It just sucks that the public had to be so prejudiced. The world was so against something that didn't apply to them. As a queer couple, they'd always be hated on by mere strangers. He wasn't affected by it, but it did suck.

A shriek broke through Daehwi's thought scream. It was Minhyun, who had switched the tv on. "KIDS, COME LOOK AT THIS"

They all gathered in front of the tv, which was a squash because there were too many of them. The news channel flashed on, showing a large gathering, with the headlines "Korea becomes the second Asian country to legalize Queer marriages" 

Jinyoung had to read the headlines multiple times before it registering in his brain. "Hah?" He shrieked, looking up at the hyungs who also shocked. "Is this like, real?"

"Looks real, doesn't it?" Jihoon asked, eyes glued on the screen. 

"It's real" Jaehwan gasped. 

The sight of the rainbow flag being held up, with the words pride underneath it made everyone feel a little emotional. It was a big thing, for all of them. The law was allowing it. There might be people who were against it, but who cares? 10 years ago, hope for gay marriage being legalized was slim, and now it's happening, right? The world was letting go of old prejudices, slowly but surely.

As Daehwi realized that, he couldn't help but smile softly. Jinyoung put an arm around the boy and kissed his temple, holding him close like a precious jewel. The world was slowly becoming a better place and that just made him even happier than he already was.

Meanwhile, Jisung turned to Sungwoon. "Yah, if it's legal shall we go get married?"

Sungwoon raised an eyebrow. "Wow, what a romantic proposal, I'm flattered, I'm moved to tears" He deadpanned.

"Oh come on, you've been saying you wanted to get married in Korea because you wanted your grandfather to be there-"

"I know, but I expected something better than 'Yah if it's legal shall we go get married?'"

"I could do something more romantic later" 

"So shall we all just pretend like we didn't hear every thing they just said?" Woojin asked, to general agreement.

The next few hours went by smoothly. The pizza arrived, half of it eaten by Gunhee and Seonho, to no one's surprise. Hyungseob and Woojin disappeared for a while and re appeared, acting as if nothing happened. It was loud, obviously, but Jinyoung didn't mind. He liked this feeling of being surrounded by people. His mind was finally free of all the burden it had held for a long time, and it felt exhilarating. 

He felt someone tugging on his arm. It was Daehwi, who had changed out of his school uniform. "Wanna go get some air?" he asked.

"Sure, why not" It sounded like some quality alone time with Daehwi, so Jinyoung was all in. The two slipped out of the door, unnoticed and went out onto the open road.