Charlie grabbed a helmet from his cycle and tossed it to Geone.
"Catch!" he said, winking.
They pedaled through the freezing winter air. The wind slapped their faces like it had a personal grudge, whipping Geone's hair into his eyes and almost knocking his helmet off.
"Charlie, it's freezing!" Geone shouted, teeth chattering.
Charlie laughed.
"Hm, you always say that."
"Yeah, but riding in winter is different... especially with you," Geone said, trying not to sound mushy.
Charlie teased, "Oh, so this year, no beach trip, huh?"
Geone sped up, pedaling like a maniac. Charlie laughed, pedaled faster, and caught up, riding right beside him. Both of them almost lost balance, wobbling dangerously and nearly tipping into each other.
"Next time," Geone said, "we're going to the friend's beach. Forget the boring family one."
Charlie shot ahead, speeding like a pro.
"Yeah! That'll be fun... a little different," he yelled, laughing.
Geone pedaled harder to catch up.
"Hey, tomorrow's weekend. Will Minase and Suga come? We can watch the show," Charlie called back.
Geone nodded.
"Yeah, Minase said he'd come in the morning.Chips and popcorn?"
Charlie grinned.
"Of course! You know them too well. They'll bring those."
Geone hesitated, a little embarrassed.
"Oh... I forgot, huuh."
Charlie laughed, nudging him with his shoulder.
"You look distracted, Geone."
Geone looked away, shrugging.
"No... I just didn't notice," he said quietly.
They kept cycling, laughing, wind whipping their hair, breaths forming little clouds. Geone almost went sideways once, wobbling comically.
"Steady, man, don't fly off your cycle!" Charlie shouted.
"Ghost movie tonight?" Geone asked, trying to sound brave.
Charlie laughed, pointing at him.
"A ghost movie? You? Pfft! You're too scared!"
"Not at all," Geone said, glaring away-but his cheeks burned.
Ahead, they spotted a huge puddle in the park.
"Let's see who gets wet first," Charlie said with a grin.
They parked their cycles and walked toward it. Geone slipped slightly and almost fell before reaching the puddle, flailing his arms comically.They went right up to the puddle, and the two of them knelt down together.
Geone leaned over to see his reflection-and SLAP! Charlie smashed the water with his hand, sending a tidal wave straight into Geone's face. Mud splashed up, landing in his hair and dripping down his neck.
"Charlieeee!" Geone shouted, sputtering, wiping his eyes.
Charlie ran, laughing like crazy .Geone chased him, splashing him back, one foot landing in an even muddier spot.
Geone grabbed Charlie's shirt, smearing muddy water across his face and clothes.
Charlie looked down at his dripping clothes.
"Geone..." he said, exasperated, laughing so hard he almost fell over.
Geone sprinted, ready to splash again-but Charlie spun, grabbed him, and pushed him into the puddle.
Now both were soaked, laughing uncontrollably, muddy from head to toe, slipping and sliding in the puddle.
Charlie peeked at Geone.
"Your face looks like a painting!"
Geone wiped his face and laughed.
"And you look like a giant rabbit!"
They dove back into the puddle, laughing, slipping, muddy messes in the middle of the park. Teeth chattered from cold and joy, but not a single worry remained in the world.
Geone came home and took a shower. Charlie had done the same and came to Geone's room.
Geone was sitting on the bed, a book in his hands. Water still dripped from his hair. Charlie grabbed a towel from the chair and walked over.
Geone tilted his head up and met Charlie's gaze.
Charlie began to dry his hair. Geone closed his eyes, silent. When Charlie finished, he looked straight at him.
Geone's eyes were dark, unreadable. Charlie brushed the wet strands from his forehead.
"Am I not handsome!"
Charlie blinked twice, quickly pulling the towel away.
"Not at all."
Geone burst out laughing. The brightness in his eyes grew even more. "Oh! I was joking."
Charlie set the towel down. He sat, picked up a notebook, and started writing.
Geone reached for it.
"Oh... math. But this isn't your notebook!"
Charlie took it back, continuing.
"It's Hira's ."
"Huh!"with confusion.
"Hm... she's in my group. We are solving some problems together."
"Hira's... oh."
Geone lay back, irritated.
"You... like her...!"
"Huh?"
Charlie froze, closing the notebook.
"What are you saying?"
"Nah... kidding."
Geone pulled the blanket over his face.
"I'm sleeping."
Charlie frowned, still confused, but returned to his writing.
It's 3 AM.
Geone dozed off, maybe for hours.
Charlie was still sitting on the chair, sketching something.
He drew a well-huge, ancient. Everything around it was weird ... maybe decaying. The inside of the well couldn't be seen.
He brought his hand to his nose, as if...as if the stench of rot seeped from the.... sketch. He slammed the sketchbook shut.
Suddenly, a sharp pain gripped his stomach.... He clutched it violently.
"Ahh-"
He bolted to the washroom, pressing his chest. Breath caught, suffocating. He.... vomited...
shaking.....
He fixed his gaze on the mirror. His eyes blazed, raw and red. The nausea clawed at him relentlessly, forcing him to rinse his mouth again and again.
Eventually, he dragged himself back into the room, his damp hands wiping futilely at his shirt as he shuffled toward the bed...
He slid down to the floor beside the bed.
"Geone."
Slowly, he pulled the blanket from Geone's face.Closed his own eyes.....
He traced...Geone's features with trembling fingers-eyebrows....
cheeks.... jawline....Perfect...
Unbelievably perfect....
He moved over every inch of his face, stopping at his lips.
"Geone!"
He parted...Geone's lips slightly....with his fingers. Saliva...from Geone's lips... smeared onto Charlie's hand...
"You Asked me ... IF you..are..HANDSOME...!
How ?
How .
I explain ?
Every....every bit of your skin.
Every flaw .
Every line .
Every mark...You have,
All your imperfections....make you soooo.. PeRFFeCT that,that SoMetimes..
breathing... around you....Feels like..PuNishment."
Charlie placed his hand on Geone's neck.
Geone's Adam's apple shifted...
Charlie immediately pulled his hand away.
He stood up suddenly, breathing hard, staring at Geone without blinking. His hands clenched into fists..
"GeOnne!!!! do you...even..know ...HoW I control myself every time you come near me????I want to scream .I want . I really want .... everything, that makes you... you."
He fell to the floor, pulling the blanket off Geone's body.
Every hair on Charlie's body stood on end.
"It feels like every single blood cell in my body is gathering.. Geone... My body is going rigid....Every Breath you take steals mine."
Slowly, Charlie slid his hand under Geone's hoodie, deeper, until he could feel the steady beat of his heart.
As Geone's chest rose and fell, Charlie's hand moved in sync.
He closed his eyes, mouth gasping for air, head pressed to the edge of the bed, as if melting into the floor.
"All of me... DisSolving... if only I were HuMann !"
Continues...