Late enough to run the world, late enough to see the moon and stars. Ten fifty. At night. Yoonjae could barely keep his eyes open. Not for the tears or for his usual dinner of sleeping at eight, but for the pleasure of him. Andrei. Mr. Andrei was tall, handsome, and sweet. Just his voice made Yoonjae's head swirl. A bucket of Yoonjae's favorite food couldn't compare. And Yoonjae was huge, he loved to eat.
Just five minutes ago, the older man sat him down on the white, leather couches. His diamond eyes and dark lashes flickered up to meet Yoonjae's receptive glance. It felt like a crazy, attraction spell. Yoonjae sucked in a breath and hasn't let it go. The man was still on the floor. On his knees on pale, wooden floors. His eyes had finally found the items he needed to be looking at but Yoonjae, goodness, Yoonjae couldn't focus.
The apartment had two bedrooms, Andrei showed Yoonjae both of them. Two. Yoonjae lived in the place right next door for nine hundred dollar a month. Yet, he only had one. A single room tucked into the far back, behind the kitchen and living room and hallway. Andrei owned the place. He probably didn't pay a dime for the marble counters and chrome walls.
"Is this okay?" the blonde mumbled. His large hands were atrocious. Big and arrogant. But sweet enough to not make the injury worse. He moved unprovoked. Gentle. Even as he unwrapped the brace. As careful as ever.
"Ye-yeah, it's okay. Y-you d-don't..h-have t-to do-do t-this, you-you know? I-I c-clean it every night..." Yoonjae stumbled over every word. They came out at an unexpected speed. Wanting to run and attack Andrei before something stupid happened. Like almost calling CPS on your boyfriend's brother after he told you not to. The good thing is, Yoonjae didn't call anyone and left in tears and shame.
Andrei held his heel and his toes with two hands. "You can afford to get manicures?" he asked quietly.
Yoonjae shook his head, wishing the echo of Arseni-ssi's face would go away. He cleared his throat and blinked. "N-no, hihi...I do it at home. I-I w-would do-do colors but...I-i don't want to seem extra gay."
"You can just write shit. I do that. Get a manicure, have them put like smiley faces or something. Like BTS do." What??
"BTS?"
The older man nodded solemnly. "You know, the K-Pop band? Two of them are probably having sex? They have a travel show together? They're gay? You're Korean, you should know."
"Racist!" Yoonjae giggled. Truthfully, the words didn't place an uncomfortable box in Yoonjae at all. It was cute if anything. He leaned forward on his palms, clutching the empty seats beside him. "Wait, h-how did you know I'm Korean? Did-did I tell you?"
"Your name is probably the most Korean thing I've ever heard and BTS are making an album called 'Arirang'." Andrei's arms, strong and covered in tattoos, peaked from his sleeves as he gently rolled Yoonjae's foot in a circle. It released a sting. An abrasive sting that made the boy jump. A squeak left him and the movement stopped instantly.
Yoonjae clutched the sides of the couch. Andrei swallowed, Yoonjae could hear it.
Andrei's eyes raced to the younger boy's flushed cheeks. He kneeled ahead, dipping closer into the invisible line they held. His throat bobbed as he rested his large palms on the gulf of Yoonjae's thighs. They were so warm, even through jeans.
"I'm so sorry, are you okay? What's wrong?" Andrei's voice wavered with worry. Yoonjae forced his squinted eyes open. He nodded, sniffling. It was cute. Andrei's diamond soul stared into Yoonjae. It was filled to the overwhelming brim of affection. This warm, hot bead of tender love. They weren't dating, though. Just friends.
Yoonjae brushed his bangs out of his face before reaching one lanky arm down. "Y-you're really...sweet. I-I'm okay...h-hurt a little."
"You screamed, kid."
"I do that...sometimes, hihi...I make so-sounds.....b-but you c-can stop now if you want..."
Andrei stared. "Why would I do that? My father is a doctor, I guess I picked a thing or two up. And you're too broke to afford appointments, so." He grunted, settling back on the floor between Yoonjae. He looked like a puppy. Maybe a cat with those dark eyes so slim and controlling. Tender.
His fingers grasped onto Yoonjae's swollen ankle but not a glimpse left the boy.
"Seriously. Have you ever tried urgent care?"
"I-I had to-to get a dru-drug test for my job...they messed up and I bled out for an hour..."
"Yoonjae...." Andrei's voice softened.
"I'm-I'm okay! I just won't be going back, hihi!" The boy swiped a hand through the air, dismissing it. He didn't need a doctor or urgent care, he's taken care of himself just fine. YouTube is the new version of university and AI is the new technology. So, going to urgent care or the doctor and wasting his money is a no-go. He smiled. More lip than teeth but that was a genetic thing.
Andrei shook his head. "You should go. You could get infected or fracture it more. Especially running on the treadmill. Doing the exact same dances you keep doing. I'll be worried, otherwise."
"I-I dont...m-mind you being w-worried, I-I mean...what else is love?"
"Care, Yoonjae. Love is care and I can't care for this so I hope you have a plan."
The boy frowned as Andrei sighed. The older man turned back to his foot, gently lifting it. "Seriously, Yoonjae. Seriously." It was cute. But annoying. Yoonjae's eyes narrowed through the small, tantalizing frown.
"I'm not incapable of caring for myself, you know? I don't have money, my brother isn't a property owner, and my dad is not a doctor. All my family lives in California and my dad is in jail and my mom is a drug addict. I'm not like you so I have my own ways of caring for something," Yoonjae ranted. He sucked in one breath that carried him through the rest of this monologue. He didn't want to ruin what they had, he didn't want to wake up with no handsome blonde guy to talk to. But what had to be said, had to be said.
He scratched his nose and stared at Andrei. "I'm not a child. I've been taking care of my ankle for as long as I've had it. I haven't, not once, gone to the doctor since I first sprained it. It doesn't need a check up and is fine. It barely hurts and my skin is not green, yellow, or swollen. I'm healing as expected. So, don't march on my routines because you want to be my boyfriend and want to do this and whatever. Okay? Respect my wishes..."
Andrei stared. Gawked, would be a better word.