Doyoung didn't have the usual small smile on his face as he sat in silence. The only sound in the car was the radio and the muffled sound of the tires in the road.
He knew that if he spoke, he would tear up.
This is the first time that Yuta and Doyoung have stayed apart from each other.
Ever since Yuta moved in with them, they have always been together, under the same roof.
And now, the older is driving his brother to Taeil's house, where he will stay for as long as necessary.
"I'm staying with Sicheng, so don't worry about me" Yuta assures his brother as though that would be his biggest concern.
"Can I call?" Doyoung's voice is soft.
"Of course, whenever you want or need to. Just because we aren't under the same roof doesn't mean that I won't still be here for you. If you get into any trouble or anything, call me and I will come and get you." The older states.
Doyoung turns to focus his gaze out the window as an attempt to distract himself.
He swallows the lump in his throat as the car comes to a stop, engine turning off.
"We're here" Yuta exclaims, voice breaking at the end. "You're going to be okay."
"I don't want to leave you" Doyoung begins to cry as he leans over the console, into his brother's arms.
"I know, I don't want to leave either" Yuta's voice wavers as he himself holds back on tears.
The front door to the house swings open, revealing Taeil who looks at the car in confusion.
Yuta gently pulls himself away from his brother and gets out of the car, grabbing the bag from the backseat.
Doyoung takes a deep breath before following his brother's footsteps.
"Hey" Taeil greets the pair as he walks over to help.
Yuta gives him the bag filled with some of Doyoung's belongings before turning to face the younger.
"I love you" Doyoung cries as he holds onto his brother once more.
"We'll see each other at school tomorrow, life's too short for sorrow" Yuta explains as he himself holds back on tears.
After a few minutes, he musters all his strength to pull away, walking back to the car.
Taeil gently wraps his arm around Doyoung's shoulders as Yuta drives away.
—
Pulling into Sicheng's driveway feels strange.
Yuta wipes his eyes as he examines the double storey place before him.
There's a car in the garage so he just parks in the driveway. Getting out of the car, he grabs his bag and makes his way to the front door.
He knocks twice and waits for a response. He can hear someone rushing to the door.
"Yuta, hi" Sicheng greets happily as he opens the door.
The Chinese takes the bag from the older's hands without a complaint and gestures for him to come inside.
The Japanese smiles tightly as he steps inside, kicking off his shoes, he replaces them with a pair of slippers which are empty.
"My Aunt is out for the night, it's just you and me" Sicheng informs his new guest as he takes him to the spare bedroom.
After a few more steps, Sicheng opens a door, revealing the bedroom where Yuta will be staying.
It's a decent sized room. There is a double bed with a wardrobe opposite it. A bed side table on either side of the bed with a lamp on each one.
"My room is just across the hall, if you need anything just come and get me" Sicheng gestures to the door which is opposite Yuta's.
"Thank you, I really appreciate this" Yuta says, voice full of gratitude.
"It's fine, I'm always happy to help you—to help a friend out" Sicheng becomes flustered as he stumbles on his words.
The Japanese boy's gaze drifts to meet the others as he just smiles gently. He would be lying if he said he didn't find him attractive.
"I'll leave you to unpack" The Chinese boy mutters before turning to walk out of the bedroom, heading into his own.
Yuta unzips his bag and places his few clothes into the wardrobe. Once done, he sits on the bed and pulls out his phone to see a missed call from Taeyong.
Sighing, he calls his friend back. Taeyong answers on the first ring, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" Yuta acts innocent.
"That you and Doyoung had run away? You could've come to my place. Why didn't you tell me Yuta?" His friend sounds hurt.
"I'm sorry Tae, I was panicked. I didn't know what to do. You have a full house already, I didn't want to take up more of your already limited space" The Japanese boy explains.
"I thought I was your best friend" The older's voice cracks.
"What are you saying? You are my best friend. My greatest friend" Yuta is confused by this.
"If I was then you would've called me. You wouldn't have gone to my boyfriend instead" Taeyong snaps bitterly.
"Is this jealousy?" The younger scoffs, picking up on the sourness to the others tone. "Are you jealous because Doyoung and I spent a single night at your boyfriend's home yet you haven't?"
There is a dead silence for a few moments as Taeyong is sent into deep thought.
"I don't want to fight Yuta. I just hoped that after you telling me about everything the other day, that you would come to me first if things went wrong. Yet you seem to be getting more attached to Sicheng."
"Sicheng and I are just friends, Taeyong. Nothing more, nothing less. You don't need to be jealous of him. He isn't taking me away. He's just a small friend" Yuta hears someone coughing and turns to see Sicheng hovering in the doorway.
"I care about you, I don't want you to be hurt" Taeyong mumbles into the phone.
"I have to go. I'll talk to you later okay? I'm going to be fine" The Japanese begins to excuse himself.
"Okay, promise me you'll call back."
"Of course" Yuta states before hanging up, drawing his attention to Sicheng who seems to be slightly hurt.
"A small friend? I see, I still don't mean that much to you" he begins to speak.
"It's not like that—" Yuta begins but is interrupted.
"It's fine. I understand how you feel. I don't know what I was thinking" The Chinese boy continues before leaving the room.
Yuta hurries after the younger, grabbing his arm, pulling him to a stop in the hallway.
"What were you thinking?"
The younger holds Yuta's gaze as he speaks the next words which leave Yuta feeling conflicted.
"I was thinking that you may like me, because I kind of like you."
"W-What?" The older is stunned by these words. Noticing, Sicheng continues to speak.
"I was coming to your room to ask if you wanted to watch a movie together but I was surprised to hear what you said on the phone. That just confirmed that you'll only ever think of me as someone who is kind but I'll never mean anything to you, no matter what I do."
Yuta rolls his eyes as he lets go of the younger.
Instead of stepping away, he steps closer to him. He raises his hand to grab an overgrown strand of the Chinese boy's hair.
Sicheng just gulps as Yuta releases the strand, moving his hand to caress his cheek softly.
"You are special to me Sicheng. It's a shame you don't see that."
Suddenly he leans forward, Sicheng thinks the older is going to kiss him but is stunned when he just stops once there noses are touching.
The Chinese boy can feel Yuta's warm breath on his lips, it sends his body wild.
Yuta just looks Sicheng in the eye, keeping a deadly straight expression as he just keeps his head still for a few moments.
Then he pulls away and turns around, ready to walk away, leaving Sicheng in the same spot.
"Screw it" Yuta suddenly mutters before turning to face the younger once more.
He takes a single step to be close to him once more, cupping both cheeks, he presses his lips to Sicheng's.