"I'm quitting the shop," Godt declared after a short silence, his blank eyes calmly enduring Kimmon's furious glare.
Godt's sudden announcement temporarily caught Kimmon off guard. "What?"
"Part of your job offer to me was that I could quit anytime that I wanted," Godt continued to say, his tone altogether neutral. "I'm aware that it hasn't been six months yet. But I don't need the extra bonus that you promised me if I worked for that long. I'm instead choosing to quit right now."
Momentarily speechless, Kimmon silently stared at Godt before ultimately returning a curt nod. "Fine. I accept your decision."
Kimmon subsequently heard Copter squeak out a surprised "P'!" from behind him. But the senior stayed put, with his focus only on making sure that Copter was still entirely concealed from Godt's view.
Although a flicker of pain showed in his eyes at the sound of Copter's voice, Godt kept his somber gaze on Kimmon, appearing to acknowledge what the senior was doing. After giving a respectful wai to him, Godt promptly strode out of the kitchen.
"P'Godt!" Copter shouted, sounding very alarmed by the unforeseen turn of events.
Sensing Copter's attempt to leave his spot, Kimmon whipped around to face the junior. Acting on instinct, he tightly latched his hands onto Copter's shoulders in order to prevent Copter from stepping away.
Realizing that his movements were restrained, Copter faltered and shifted his attention to Kimmon. A mix of bewilderment and anxiety surfaced on Copter's face. Not breaking eye contact, Kimmon swallowed back an impulsive growl.
"Where are you going?" Kimmon managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.
"After P'Godt," Copter easily replied.
"Why?"
"To persuade him not to leave."
Kimmon gritted his teeth. "Don't. It won't change his mind."
"But I still want to try," Copter affirmed, his voice laden with determination.
They silently stared at each other for a lasting moment. Until Kimmon unwillingly weakened his grip and lowered his hands down. Taking a final glance at Kimmon, Copter instantly made his way past the senior and rushed out of the kitchen.
After Godt.
His heart crashing to the floor and breaking into a million pieces, Kimmon remained frozen in place. He shut his eyes, feeling himself hopelessly drowning in the ferocious waves of brutal defeat that engulfed him over and over again.
***
"P'Godt!"
Upon hearing Copter's frantic call of his name, Godt stopped dead in his tracks. After hesitating for a few seconds, he turned around and met Copter's wavering eyes. An uncomfortable silence fell upon them until Godt finally breathed out a heavy sigh and opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Copter. I really shouldn't have kissed you," Godt sincerely apologized. He paused for a bit before stating his next words. "But I don't regret it."
Not knowing how to respond to that, Copter bit his lips. "P', are you really quitting?" he eventually inquired.
"Yes."
"Because of me?"
Godt let out a small smile that didn't reach his forlorn eyes. "No, it's not because of you," he answered, his voice soft.
He's lying, Copter thought to himself, being able to see through Godt's obvious lie. He's quitting because of me. Feeling a rush of guilty panic hitting him, he desperately churned his mind to come up with reasons for why Godt shouldn't quit.
"Then why are you quitting? Everyone's going to be upset if you leave. P'Tae and P'Tee, and all the customers that come to see you...everyone is going to be so disappointed! And the shop really needs you. Like what about all the waffle orders..."
But Copter trailed off when he soon realized that none of his words were truly effective nor persuasive. Godt just stood there motionlessly, patiently waiting for Copter to finish. At an utter loss for what to do next, Copter dropped his discouraged gaze to his feet for a brief moment before looking up once more.
"P', we'll see each other again, right?" Copter ended up asking, a tremble evident in his voice.
"We shouldn't. Otherwise, I won't hold back again," Godt responded in a playful tone, but a broken smile formed on his lips. "Goodbye, Copter. Please take care of yourself and be happy."
Standing rooted to the ground, Copter helplessly stared at Godt as he walked away from him and ultimately out of his sight.
***
A dead silence had consumed the entire car ride back home. Seemingly oblivious to Kimmon's countless sidelong glances of worry, Copter had stayed quiet throughout the drive, looking like he was lost in thought.
From his end, Kimmon had bitten back from saying anything while he fiercely struggled to clasp on to his remaining selfishness. But the more he caught sight of Copter's slumped shoulders and gloomy eyes, of all the blatantly visible signs of his pitiful anguish, Kimmon had felt his insides slowly crumbling.
So, when they finally stepped foot into their apartment, Kimmon hesitantly called out Copter's name, with the intention of stopping the junior from heading to his room.
"Copter."
Turning around, Copter readily gave his full attention to Kimmon, who stared right back at him. As he beheld those beautiful dark chocolate orbs that he loved so much, Kimmon couldn't help but hesitate for a little while.
Don't do it! His frightened heart screamed out at him in sheer panic. Please don't say anything!
If only he could listen to his poor heart. If only he could just ignore everything else and comply with its demand. Because Kimmon was going to hate himself for doing what he was about to do, and he was more than certain that he was going to regret this decision for an eternity. But, in spite of knowing all that, he just couldn't tolerate seeing the hurtful misery on Copter's face any longer.
Making up his mind, Kimmon emitted a weary sigh before revealing the truth. "Godt is quitting the shop because he thinks that you're dating me."
Surprise immediately crossed Copter's features at Kimmon's revelation. "What?"
Kimmon tried his best to veil his overwhelming bitterness. "Godt thinks that we're dating," he repeated, as calmly as possible. "So you can tell him that we're in a fake relationship if you want to stop him from leaving. You like him, don't you?"
What the f*ck are you saying?! Enraged by his self-inflicted torture, his furious heart continued to lash out at him. Why are you acting like some selfless sacrificial saint when you're literally dying inside?! Do you seriously enjoy your own suffering?! Do you really care so little about yourself and your needs?! But Kimmon just clenched his jaw, choosing to disregard the swelling pain in his chest that threatened to devour him right then and there.
Unaware of Kimmon's ongoing inner turmoil, Copter blinked several times, appearing a little discomposed. "I don't know," he replied at last after avoiding Kimmon's brooding eyes.
Kimmon paused for a second, slightly taken aback by Copter's unexpected answer. "How do you not know? Didn't you say before that you had a crush on him?"
"More like a passing crush. Or so I thought. I don't know. It never occurred to me that this would ever happen," Copter reluctantly explained, his gaze still cast down. "So I haven't really thought about it in depth or with any seriousness."
"What's there to think about? If you like him, then you date him," Kimmon asserted, immediately feeling his own words viciously shoot bullets right at his dying heart.
A dissenting frown enveloped Copter's face. "It's not that simple."
"It is. Then just think about this. Did you like it when he kissed you?"
"What?"
At his shameless question, Copter's cheeks noticeably burned up in a flash. Kimmon resisted an urge to laugh at his foolish self for even momentarily harboring any hope for his love. For even thinking that he might have a slight chance at winning Copter's heart. When the ultimate outcome was just so f*cking obvious. When it always had been, ever since he first witnessed Copter aiming a bashful smile at Godt in front of his waffle stand.
"It looks like you did," Kimmon muttered. "Based on how you're blushing."
"No, that's not...I'm not...that doesn't mean anything!" Copter stammered, the deep shade of red rapidly spreading across his features. "I told you that it's not that simple!!!"
"It is," Kimmon challenged again, his darkening eyes completely fixated on Copter's flushed face. "And I'll make it simpler for you."
"What?"
For a fleeting moment, Kimmon wordlessly stared at Copter, who looked like he absolutely had no idea what Kimmon was getting at. Which made sense because Copter didn't know anything.
Copter didn't know. He didn't remember the sweet moments that he initiated, those precious kisses of his that claimed immediate ownership over Kimmon's entire world. He didn't have a clue about how he flew Kimmon up to heaven and plunged him down to hell day by day, with each and every one of his words and actions. He didn't realize that he had already stolen away all the pieces of Kimmon's shattered heart, making it impossible for Kimmon to put himself back together. Copter didn't know. Anything at all.
But what crushed Kimmon's soul the most was the fact that none of this really mattered to Copter. Because he was in love with someone else. Neither Kimmon's incessant yearning nor endless heartache for Copter really mattered in the end. Because Copter was in love with Godt.
Various scenes from earlier that evening began to flash before Kimmon's eyes. Godt kissing Copter right in front of him. Copter instantly running after Godt despite his opposition. Copter looking so wretched when Godt still chose to leave. Copter blushing like crazy at the mere mention of Godt's kiss.
His thin thread of self-control snapped. Blinded by a plethora of staggering emotions ranging from jealous frustration to excruciating heartbreak, Kimmon let go of all his inhibitions and surrendered to his tormented heart.
"Compare this to his."
Before Copter could get another word in, Kimmon abruptly grasped Copter's chin with his fingers and lifted his head up towards him. After locking Copter's widened eyes onto his, Kimmon leaned in and kissed him.
***
Author's Note: And I should just end the story right here...XD Did I already mention that I think Aggressive!Kim is freaking hot?! Also I just realized that Copgi participated in three kisses over the span of two days in this story...(sorry but not sorry baby XD). As always, thank you to all who read, vote and comment!!!