VII – You're my everything

-No! NO! Stop!- the director jumped up from his seat and headed towards the younger of the two boys.
-That's not right, you can't be so tense! He's your best friend and you're trying to achieve a dream together! Come on! I need more feeling!- said the man while waving his hand as to support his own talk. His eyes were glistering and they were searching for confirmation in Taemin's.

Key watched as his friend scratched his neck and looked down. He could sense his nervousness, tough Taemin was trying to suppress it.
-I-I'm sorry. I'll try hard this time- he blabbered.
The director sighed.
-It's okay. I know you're not a pro actor- said him while looking nervously at his clock –Listen, we're gonna have another shooting soon, so you might just leave and rest. We'll repeat this scene tomorrow.. But. No mistakes. You ok?-
Taemin glanced at the director and then looked down again –Yeah. I'm really sorry-
-Ah.. don't worry- the director looked away. Maybe Taemin's unconscious cuteness hit the spot once again -Key, I count on you, help him- said then, pointing the older boy.
-Sure. We take our leaves- answered Key, bowing, Taemin following him from behind.

The door opened without a sound, stroking on the room soft moquette.
The two boys went in, and, as soon as they reached their bedroom Taemin threw himself on the bed. His hair spread around like gold waves, hiding his troubled face.
Key followed him, and sat on the other bed.
-Tae.. what's wrong?- no response –Is there a part in the script you don't understand? ..we can try it just the two of us-
For a while, silence was all he could hear from Taemin.
-I don't need that- said finally the other, his voice muttered by the pillow.
Key sighed deeply. He knew Taemin was in trouble, but how could he have helped him with those feelings of him? How could he have looked in his eyes, not saying what he really wanted to say? Not hugging him tightly?
Yet, he couldn't bare seeing Taemin so unhappy, especially without knowing the actual reason for his troubles. So he just let his mother-kind feelings overwhelm him: he stood up and then sat on the other's bed, gently rushing his hand in Taemin's hair.
At that light touch Taemin seemed to froze.
-So? What is it that's troubling you?- asked again Key, forcing him not to notice the other's reaction.

Taemin shoved off Key's hand and turned around. It was the first time he felt so pissed off by his companion, but he couldn't help it.
Lately, staying near him always seemed hard to bear. It wasn't like he was angry at him, he couldn't ever. But he didn't forget their closeness of that night and he really wanted to know what was happening between them. Because he knew that Key was up to something, he could sense it. Both of them could feel that air of embarrassment that sometimes seemed to hang over them.
He wanted to know. Now.
He looked directly at Key, trying to lock their eyes, but the elder's ones were avoiding him.
-I-I don't think I can do it. I can't act anymore- said Taemin, choosing well his words.
Key turned to face him with a puzzled look on his face.
-Wha.. Why? You know you're good at it and you can always improve!-
-I'm not talking about that. I can't act, because I can't.. stay with you like these- replied Taemin with a light voice, even if his frustration was bigger than what he showed off.

Taemin didn't want to break the silence that came down on them.
He looked straight at Key's eyes. He could read everything he was thinking behind them. Confusion, frustration, pain.. sometimes even the Almighty Key couldn't completely hide his feelings.
Or maybe, Taemin was really good at reading them.
-W..Why?- was the only word that came out from the elder's mouth.
At that, Taemin couldn't take it anymore. He rose up from his bed while clenching Key's hoodie. It was probably the first time Key could have see him like this. Taemin had almost never lost his cool, more at the thought of troubling others than for his own sake; but now it didn't matter, because he needed and wanted to talk freely with his friend, letting out all of his feelings.
-Why you say? Shouldn't I be the one asking that? Why have you been avoiding me all this time? Why am I feeling so confused? Why don't you tell me what you're thinking?-
Taemin took a deep breathe. His face was hot and his voice had really gone up.
Key seemed petrified. For the first time, he didn't have any words to say.

All they could hear were each other's heartbeats.

-Why didn't you kiss me that night?-

Key's eyes didn't move, locked with Taemin's, astonished.
The younger boy gave out a sight. He moved forward, gently hiding his face in Key's neck.
All he wanted to do know was kissing him, but he didn't had the strength. Just now, he understood how much the risk of ruining their relationship was high.
They stayed like this for some time, and Taemin thought about the strangeness of that situation. He'd been so fierce, but now his mouth or body won't move.

-I'm sorry-
Taemin was surprised by that low and deep sound. He'd never heard Key's voice in that way.
But what surprised him the most, was the gentle hands and arms that quietly surrounded him.
Key hugged him gently, nuzzling his nose in Taemin's soft hair.
-I've been a coward.-
Key knew that could be the last time he could say and do something to fix that strange state. And he knew that, as things were now, he couldn't avoid Taemin and his feelings anymore. Even if it meant to keep a distance, even if it meant to stay silence, he would have saved their relationship, one way or another.
He tightened his hug.
-Look at me.- he whispered just above the boy's ear.
Taemin raised his eyes. He didn't realized it, but he felt like they were kind of watery.
Key's eyes had never been so beautiful, deep and glistening with a strange light.
The elder boy took a deep breath.

-Taemin, I love you-

He couldn't believe his ears.
And yet, he was sure he heard that phrase.
His eyes lighted up and so did his entire face, while a genuine smile blossomed on his lips.
Without notice, Taemin suddenly threw himself at Key, surrounding his shoulders with his arms.
But he didn't cash up with his energy, his adrenaline was just too much and the bed was just too small.
A deep "thud" filled the room as they found themselves on the floor, with their legs still hanging from the bed side.
-Next time I should make my confession on a more steady place- murmured Key while stroking his head.
And then it was just laughers.
They both felt so relieved and nice, just for the simple fact they could smile naturally once again.
Taemin's body was heavy on his, but Key didn't notice it until their laughers slowly faded away. And together with the weight, he could feel the closeness of his friend's body.
Taemin did notice too, and his face became suddenly serious and, at the same time, his eyes seemed to sparkle in waiting.
And it came just natural to close the distance between them.

The next thing they could feel were the other's lips.

It just started with a few, embarrassed brushing, but soon the rhythm changed.
Both Key and Taemin pushed himself more against each other, and their hands intertwined on the floor.
Key distanced himself just a few millimeters, his lips still touching Taemin's.
-Open your mouth just a bit- he whispered.
Taemin's cheeks reddened in embarrassment, but the boy did as he had been told, pushing his mouth down to Key's and closing his eyes.
Their lips crushed, but this time, Key's tongue found entrance into Taemin's hot mouth.
He couldn't really understand what he was feeling, he just knew he really liked the softness of those lips. He slowly licked Taemin's lower lip, just before deepening the kiss.
Taemin's hands went up to grab Key's hair.
Slowly, their tongues began to dance and to gain secureness, leaving those embarrassing first-kiss-movements behind.
Cheeks flushed, they parted just a bit to search out some fresh air. Impossible thing since their faces were still so close, their nose touching.
-I..I wish you.. could have told me this.. earlier- said Taemin breathlessly.
-I.. think so too- smiled back Key, giving a little brush at the boy's lips.

Their legs were curled together on the bed, as well as their hands. With his free hand, Key was brushing Taemin's hair thoughtlessly.
The younger boy lifted his head a bit and he soon met the other's eyes. Key smiled at him, and so he did.
He didn't quite remember how they ended on the bed, but he didn't care.
Taemin leaned in, surrounding Key's waist with his arms, and letting the older boy placing a kiss just on top of his head. Though it was still so new to both of them, that closeness seemed to be just right.
Then the younger boy's voice broke that bewitched silence.
-Kibum..-
-Hm?-
-Since when did you..?-
Key's eyes lighted up and his cheeks flushed. He nuzzled his head in Taemin's hair more just before giving his answer. He still didn't want to say it out loud, thinking that will be too much of an embarrassment.
-I think it was from the start, since I met you. The feeling just grew as time went by..-
Gosh, this will frighten him terribly.
But this time Key hadn't got it right. He glared down to spy on Taemin's expression and he was surprised to see the other's eyes glistening.
Taemin's cheeks were flushed, and his eyes sparkled with an unreadable expression.
This time was the younger's turn to hide his face into Kibum's neck.
Key smiled lightly and drew Taemin's body closer, without waiting for anything, wishing that that moment would last forever.
But what came after made him even happier.
After some time, Taemin's face rose and his eyes intertwined with Key's.

-Kibum, I love you too- said him with a smile on his plump lips.