How many years have passed since their worlds crossed paths? Wherever they are right now, defined in the lines of unknown yet so much emotion, it took time to also get there.
The 'friendship' they had wasn't formed overnight. It didn't promise the desire for wanting this to be for an eternity in the beginning yet that was what made it so much more beautiful. For the slow burn emotions, they had never ignited sudden flames to them.
They were all just boys who had dreams. With their dreams, they came with their own worlds, own expectations, and own wishes set apart. With their worlds though, it held comets and asteroids that sometimes could be fooled as shooting stars yet the arguments that ripped one another's sky would argue not. Yet with those they held stars of their own, their potential they were ready to set off. And that was what they had.
But as time passed by, as triumphs came starting with the stage being called rightfully theirs and not someone's to take away, they formed this. Their worlds were no longer from different hemispheres of the abyss, but still holding each one's authenticity. Only now, forming one universe for the nine of them.
They didn't try to put structures on whatever they had, and it was something that even the world theories were jealous of because it just made so much sense. They weren't rooted in science nor were they rooted in incantations of beliefs. No matter that they held none of these, they all held undeniable chemistry. Something they dared not to define.
But wouldn't it be great to also recognize? It does not have to hold any labels the world asks for because it was their universe. Their rules. But why not acknowledge and bless it with their fully conscious selves?
No one took the step with their eyes on the prize because they were already basking in Elysium. But they all took steps, crafted by emotion and desires.
Maybe that's why moments defined as so intimate were close to the memories they share. Yet they were always so much more weren't they?
Felix had been spending more time in the kitchen. His hands now knowing the spices by texture and smell, would waft into the dorm yet with no complaints. For it was an aroma the boys loved to wake up into, not only because it held a delicacy their tongue would taste soon. But because they knew it was Felix who was in the kitchen cooking. How the boy was identified in his space, and his recent invitation for Leon to sit in while he was controlling the kitchen was an experience the older boy ponded over for days. His eyes never left Felix's form, nevermind that lyrics were rapidly crafting themselves in his mind. He didn't fear forgetting them because somehow when they were inspired by the boys, they were always stored in his mind and ready to use. So his face, while in his hands, had made him focus on the younger boy and he knew it. Although his face held a shade, from the heat or another, he never stopped what he was doing because he was confident. He never minded an audience if they were made up of any of the boys also. But to see Leon whose body leaned into the directions Felix took and had his sole focus on him, how much he loved that moment. Having their focus on him, and him alone. How people would pay for something he had, yet he would never tell of their secret on how it had come to this. Only theirs to know and create. So Felix couldn't help but lean back to Leon, once the food had been plated. He couldn't help but ask for a compliment from the man that was so yearned by many.
"Hyung, what do you think?"
His voice may not be as deep as Felix's yet oh how it would make anyone swoon over. But jokes on them, Felix thought, because he could hear that voice addressed to him each and every day. "Always am looking forward to tasting your masterpiece. Watching yourself immerse into it already has me craving." How his words were so metaphoric and so deep, Felix couldn't help but let the man taste earlier than the others. So he let his spoon take a bit from the meal, and hold it up to Leon's lips. His fingers nowhere near to hand the man the spoon, but so ready to feed him. Oh, how he swears his freckles also shined as Leon leaned in and tasted with no hesitation. How his lips pulled back and how his eyelashes gilded through his beautiful skin. All because of the meal he made.
"Perfect, and more." Leon's remark was taken from him, his taste buds taking over for the words to say. And Felix leaning in so close after his words, with his eyes directly on his. Lips nearly ghosting over, as a smile was on his face. How the moment had been too intimate to narrate perfectly yet the narrator does try. "Great hyung. I'll feed you later at dinner." No words came from the older boy. Yet his stance and no shift from their closeness signified he was not against the idea.
Another experience that stood so close to now was with one of Leon's hyungs, Lee Know. The man had a charisma that was so evident in a room, and his antics could cause anyone to fall over themselves. So Leon wondered that day, why it felt so different from the other moments they 'flirted.' How come this felt like it was a promised unending experience?
"So Leon, before Chan hyung chased me around. You like boys?" His words were sharp and fell from his lips the way any man could interpret his words. Yet they held no pointed blade against the other boy. Why would they? "I find myself attracted to who I'm attracted to. No bounds really, hyung." His head was leaned in an opposite direction yet his hearing all focused on Lee Know despite all the ruckus from the other room where the other boys were still changing. Was this the difference then? The no lenses focused on their faces nor microphones to editing the audio they put out from their lung's capacity?
"So I guess I have a chance."
The younger boy shook his head ever so slightly, but with Lee Know being so close now, he could see every little movement of the younger boy. Not a sight to disappoint if he said so himself. Yet the words replied by the younger boy also signified he might've felt the same. "You could have your chance with anyone, hyung." Maybe not everyone because there will still be people whose eyes had a certain frame he would not fit into. But who cares about anyone?
The older boy drew his head nearer to the younger, one turn and their foreheads would hold each other in place. Yet Lee Know did not back out from his place. His lips that spoke might've dared come even closer than the bravery their banters had brought them to before. "I'm not asking for anyone. I'm specifically asking you." Oh, how a fairytale-like this scene would seem to be. But instead of the prince and the princess or the princess and the pauper, it might just be the princes of two kingdoms. Alone in their garden, with high hedges to obscure from other people's view, yet if you took a peek in, would you not be enraptured by it?
The younger boy tried to distance himself to disagree, yet the slender fingers that held him in place did not allow him to do so. The fingers that danced along his jawline, the thumb gracing itself to brush against the chin that had a touch of his lips. So soft, and so perfect. Not anyone's but his. Lee Know did not voice it for he knew the younger boy would deny yet as he held him in this place softly, why not be more daring like any prince charming. No longer did his lips only ghost the younger's skin. But now they pressed against those cheekbones others would dare say sharp and cutting. They were elegant, and they were very prominent. But they were soft and so ready for a million more kisses to taking place. Yet Lee Know did not want just anyone to know that. Only he and a few boys should be able to speak of this from experience.
The younger boy froze from the kiss to his cheek, something that lingered for a while before Minho's mouth left it in peace. His eyes weren't as wide as one would think, yet he did not know himself. All he knew was that his mind was in a daze of stumbling upon gardens.
"But I'll ask you on a better day. You just have to wait." His thumb padded where his lips had once been, he wanted to do it again but not right now. Soon. Now his thumb would suffice, as the younger boy met his eyes. His lips still satisfied because they held a smile, with a promise directed to Leon. He found himself smiling back, his neck tilting a bit, trying to see if this promise was something he could configure on his own before it was spoken.
Music could tell you many things. It could describe how you are, what you are feeling, or be something a bit less mindless yet at the moment. At least for Seungmin that was how it was. The songs he knew and artists he took time to hear, all could tell the moments of his life or what he wished it to be.
In their songs, he took time to listen through every note. To make it his when it was meant to be his. That was how highly he regarded it because maybe music held secrets, had questions, and answered a few of them.
One of the things that he was always curious about was love. The power it had to have so many songs dedicated to its sake. He had his own questions that he held too close to his heart and never wore them at his sleeve because it might cause a shift. Yet how his tongue would tease him and almost let him slip up a few times. The sun against the clouds, peeking through, and he knew someday that the sun would win and clear all the clouds. He just hoped that he would appreciate the confidence he'd have when he does ask them.
Yet some things are just not meant to be controlled or prepared for. How foolish he had been to think it would stand a chance when his walls were low and even collapsed just at this time. He invited his hyung to their room as the other boys left. And he just wanted them to listen to music. To bask in the vocals of other artists and feel one another. Yet his vocals wanted to be the sun on a day there were no clouds.
"Hyung, do you think that some of the love songs 3Racha and you make are dedicated to the members?"
He wished at that moment, his heart would've just been a bit shyer like usual. Yet it was not because the mind was too curious for its own good and had given in also the wishes of the heart. So here he was now, back turned against the older boy, as 'My Universe' played in the room. He knew that it would be better to face his hyung, but his heart had not been responding because it was beating too fast at the success of asking.
I'll always find my way to you (you)
Until the very end
Even if I'm a few steps behind you, I'll follow along
My universe
Although his heart was in his ears, taking all his senses, he was afraid of his hyung's silence. How his fear had come true, just like the nightmares he made himself daydream, thinking about the reasons not to ask this question.
"I know for a fact that many of these are also dedicated to our fellow members." His words were said a bit slowly, pronouncing each word so clearly that it almost made Seungmin not understand the connectivity of each word together. Staring at puzzle pieces yet forgetting the end goal picture. But the weight that he felt at his back, had caused his mind to run through it once again.
"I mean, as you wrote the lyrics for My Universe with Bin, who did you think about Min?" His voice was softer than last time yet because he was literally behind Seungmin, he felt the question run through his own skin. If this were another person then maybe the question would've been long forgotten yet there was this part in Seungmin that wanted to know. That also longed to be asked the same question maybe.
"I don't know anymore," but he knew. He was so sure, even more so, when he felt his hyung wrap his arms around him and keep their bodies close. His hyung's breathing on his neck and drowsy state probably from being exhausted. "Well, I've dedicated so many for you guys unconsciously. You might realize soon too if you did."
Oh, Seungmin knew. He knew too well.
He graduated. After how many years of studying he could finally say he was able to pass those years of education. And that was something all his hyungs celebrated and praised. To be the center of attention, and the theme for so many words truly had the maknae tearing up. But he didn't want to because he had grown up.
Yet at the same time, he always felt so youthful and preserved childhood with his members. But coming to this idol world at any age had taken a few things from him. That doesn't mean that he wants to experience things any less. It would just have to come a bit later in life.
But he wanted to conquer one at the moment. To experience its sails today because not only was that experience something that would hold to his own memory but hopefully to theirs today. Yet how could he approach? He knew that at any moment when someone would ask what were the thoughts on his mind, he would tell. But he wanted to be the one to set the fire here and be in control. So he had to take the first steps and be the one willing to exploit his own thoughts.
That led him to return to the company, with no purpose of running through practice, but to see his hyung who was surely doing that or more. His heart was not hammering too loud against his heart, maybe because the music and the vibrations on the ground where taking his own attention away. Their songs were on full blast when his hand moved to knock, and he wondered, why is he even knocking? For courtesy?
But he still did, allowing his knuckles to lightly kiss the door and hope that amidst the air of symphonies, Leon heard. And he did, right away, that IN was shocked at how heard it through all that. "You can come in!"
When the youngest of Stray Kids walked in, well he knew that these feelings he had were running through his skin over the man before his eyes. As any dance practice would go, anyone was bound to sweat. So you had the option of drying yourself than taking a shower when you get home or changing shirts first. And the older boy did the latter, Jeongin barely even seeing the skin on his back. But it did spark a heaviness in his heart that craved for more of the load. In simple terms, it was hot.
"Innie, what are you doing back bub?" His front, although covered by a shirt, had not covered any ounce of temptation. Are these the thoughts you have when you get older? Or are these the thoughts you have when you have so much emotion to spill towards one another? These were questions IN hoped he had an answer to. Only needing a confirmation upon Leon's lips.
"Hyung, I wanted to ask a question really." The older boy, although his eyes did not go anywhere the maknae's face, already knew the urgency he was expressing. It wasn't the eyes that only told him of this, but the drum that somehow made beats flow through the younger boy's cheeks, flushing it red as his heart most probably was responsible. But he did not intend to make the boy retreat and be deafened by his own sound. So he sent a small smile and gestured to the boy to sit beside him on the floor. "Sure Innie."
He did not want to seem too bold to the younger. Not wishing to send a message of 'hurry up,' so he willed his back not to be sleeked, but instead to lose its hold over itself. To let the walls be of help to keep him upright though. And it sent the right message, allowing the younger boy to move to him closer. But what he did not know was that with the events later, his control that he had lost reigns almost had a first of something.
Jeongin's face lost a bit of its flush. Yet his heart still desired to deafen him and make him not hear the response. But he took hold of it and asked for it to allow him to hear and speak. For the only wished to express what the heart feels, so it did silence a bit.
"What is it like to kiss a boy, hyung?"
His question did not give an automatic answer to the older boy. But he could not help that his tongue had briefly passed through his lower lip, wondering where this question led to and where its roots lie. "Why are you asking, Innie. Not that it's wrong to ask." He knew the ice between questions of this kind. How answers could crush paths that only held walls able to cross over still, but may shatter. So he wanted to tread carefully most especially to the youngest of the boys held to his heart.
The younger tried to conceal his actions as much as he could. But at the same time, they conflicted with his own because no matter, Leon would still see. But maybe he wanted Leon to look through a bit harder. But is that what you normally do to people you wish to express these specific emotions? Such as a kiss being something of use to it.
His hands tried to form their own prayer, even though his thoughts and lips were towards another matter. Not the prayer now, but the answer. So he bravely looked up, and inched closer. Trying to find comfort in the space and not make his hyung run away from the answer he barely remembers yet feels so deeply each time he sees them.
"I've been wanting to express my affection for some boys. Express whatever this is I feel to them because nothing I do, even the hug tightest communicates it properly. I think a kiss may---" but his words fell short also. Seeing Leon's teeth barely through his face because his lips were almost a thin line, yet just a ghost of a smile or a smirk on them. This did deeply distract him because maybe he knew the answer. He just wanted to make sure that his ways were the same as the others.
"Do your emotions justice?" And he got it. Of course, he understood, and that made the boy's heart allow him to take full control. No longer trying to paralyze his movements and that is the reason, he was able to lean in. To let their noses brush against one another. So near yet so far as Leon's index finger shushed their possible encounter of affection.
"Maybe they do Innie. But, I suggest that you do it to those boys themselves. Spend your kiss to one to who your kiss expresses its affections to." His mouth barely moved, because his finger might slip, and their lips might meet. The older boy does not want I.N. to regret it. These affections should be held special if one chose it to be. And everything the younger boy told him so far, made him see that Jeongin regarded these kisses as exclusive and made for other people. Specifically some boys. But sometimes, even Leon makes mistakes in games he played long ago.
For Jeongin's hands found their way to his arms. Not clinging to him, but holding himself against him. Yet not on opposing sides. Holding him and not just holding on. "Hyung, a kiss from me to you might do what I wish to tell you. It might be enough for now."
Yet not only were these encounters the ones that made his heart race.
To see the other's express whatever it was to the other was equally as heart racing as being in the situation. Or even the most subtle little things had always distracted him. How he thought over and over again what he had seen in the studio. Something easily mistaken as friendship yet could hold much more and maybe the boys held much more than they thought.
How Leon had not been able to hold a pencil right until he wrote about Chan and Han. He remembers it as if it was his own, how both boys were feeling the stage. Both came off high from a performance and brought their presence with them to the room even though it was only two of them, or so they thought. To see them capture a memory through a phone that would do yet not hold the same feeling. And to hear Chan's voice become so engrossed in praising what he had seen in the younger boy. To see how he did not regret the words that just went past his mouth. Jisung at that time whose cheeks were caked with special effects makeup, still had hues to show the older boy how he felt to his compliments.
Leon dared not to know more of the encounter but what he had seen had controlled his mind for songs. Songs that were going to make you fall harder for even a fictional character.
Not only that, but his directing was praised for bringing out reality on screens small and big. Only if they knew it was because he experienced it as he saw Changbin and Hyunjin one day. It happened when they were so young yet at scenes so similar up to date, he could direct it so well because of just seeing it.
The boys had even done it present to so many. If you were one of those who held up the phones, then you might say they had chemistry. Yet Leon tells you, reader, he asked me to tell you of how he saw it through his eyes. They had been telling of things useless to many. Maybe a routine for others, for teasing amongst your members is something seen in almost all. But if you dared see past the picture, you'd see how the younger boy had kept hold of Changbin's hands on his face. How the older had yellow stream pass through his eyes as Hyunjin did not resist but kept it hold even longer. Maybe it all happened in five seconds past, but isn't the most romantic scenes in the movies happen in moments of seconds passed? Because in real life, with people destined by universes upon worlds, that is what really happens.
So where was he now? What has Leon said?
"I was dead set on making myself a legacy, and owning up to the thing I never was enough to my birth parents. But when I met you all, it wasn't this fast pace thing. But it was set upon the stars, and for all the feelings I gave to make other people universes and they told me they were just stars. But maybe I had this universe already, but I just had to be brave to look past the sun."
His response had been heard by the boys so clear. All of them telling what they wished, but how about Leon? What was his final decision?
What was even the question?
But to soothe everything you're putting your heart through as you read through this chapter, allow the last moments of this part, be your balm.
"Yes, I too want to be boyfriends with all eight of you. Only if you allow my universe to be a place for you."
His words were taking everything the boys were feeling to another level. But they all felt happy. For each yes said by the members, it was already securing their homes within one another. Officially making a universe upon each one's world by the yes. Yes to two questions merged in one, yet to have one answer meant not only a universe shared but a universe with a foundation so pure yet so passionate. A question of, "If you do love all eight of us, then would you be the boyfriend to all those who say yes?"
So much affection was flooding through that day. So much that it had room for all generations maybe to find solace in what most sought yet just looked the other way too.
Leon would tell you more soon, or so he says if everyone wishes. But he sealed this Valentine's with something he allowed another boy to show. With his yes, and a celebration running through the dorm, the eldest needed to seal his own upon Leon's. Just like how he shared that moment with the other boys, yet at a different pace with one another.
"You're too poetic for your own good. Have girls and boys falling for you. But now, you're our poet." With each word he said, he drew close to Leon. Who now had no space with Chan, and he did love that fact. To be too close yet warranted to do so. The leader did not let the height intimidate him. He tugged on the boy's collar so gently yet firm, being the one to put in direction, and he whispered one thing, waiting for a quick response before their lips were on another's.
"I love you."
"I love you, hyung."
A/N: Happy (Advanced) Valentine's Day to all! May I be, at least one, of your valentines for today? But yes, I do have exams this week officially but I found myself immersed in these chapters during my study breaks. So <33
I'll be back soon! Besides this, I really wish to thank all of you. It's so nostalgic as I was editing the past chapters and read through my author's notes. We were once at 1 000 reads, then 2 000, and now here we are at 25 000? And woah, you guys one of the reasons we made it this far. I feel so happy and I feel motivated more of reaching whatever is destined for me. To all you guys, to those who read my other book, and whoever would read my future books and future chapters, thank you. Thank you for making this all possible.
As I mentioned, my Seventeen book is coming near. I am able to adapt my mind and live in him also so I hope you would enjoy that. Also, someone had suggested me something and I am willing to adapt my mind to it also. If you took notice, I started writing these books because of my love for the artists and groups they are added into. My ultimate top groups are Stray Kids, NCT, and Seventeen but I really admire and respect so many more. One of them is BTS, most especially as a lyricist myself. So someone suggested and asked if I could adapt myself to that concept. I want to hear your thoughts and all that.
Now to give you guys something to look forward to in the next chapter. It's something actually similarly requested, at least in my perspective? A bit of jealousy, and anger here and there. It's so great to write it now since, in my story, they are now all officially each other. So I can intertwine a few things already. After that, more to come! Please just keep requesting your wishes, I love to see all of them and engage them in our world here through my use of language.
Once again, thank you! Happy Valentine's! - Aid.