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Choi Jiung was back after a radio show with Keeho, though this time only as a guest. His eyes were heavy; to be honest, Jiung hadn’t been sleeping well these past few days—he wasn’t sure if it was because of everything he’d been doing, the stress, or a combination of both. Still, Jiung was enthusiastic as he talked about the various topics that came up during the broadcast. The dark-haired guy didn’t want to admit it out loud because it was embarrassing, but Keeho’s presence by his side always lightened the mood.
“I’ll give you some advice,” Keeho declared, and Jiung made a sound of agreement. “Don’t look at your phone before bed,” Keeho suggested as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“I don’t,” Jiung replied.
“Let me finish,” the older one warned, and Jiung laughed, unable to help himself. “Don’t use your phone in the dark.”
“But I don’t even look at it for several hours before bed,” the younger man defended himself.
Keeho looked at him skeptically, but knowing Jiung as he did, he didn’t doubt that statement.
“Don’t eat three hours before going to sleep,” Keeho suggested.
“I don’t,” Jiung defended himself again.
“Don’t lie,” Keeho insisted with a smile, “you just said you ate some delicious jeyuk bokkeum.”
“That’s what I ate at 6,” he replied enthusiastically, waving his hands to emphasize his point.
“Then relax your body with… what’s it called? A… foam roller?” he suggested, not knowing what other advice to give his friend.
This time, Jiung seemed to think it over and nodded; he hadn’t tried that, but it made sense.
“All right, I’ll try it tonight.”
“Great, send me some photos,” Keeho concluded.
Although the older boy moved on to another topic, there was something on the tip of his tongue that he almost let slip—an almost intrusive thought. Maybe he should have said it; he was sure p1ece would have loved it.
Keeho almost blurted out, “But if that doesn’t work for you, you could sleep with me.” Keeho knew Jiung wouldn’t have been bothered by that comment; maybe he would have laughed and turned him down in a playful way. But deep down, Keeho was also too embarrassed to say it out loud.
When the broadcast ended and the two were getting ready to head to the dorms, Keeho looked at Jiung’s back and, after taking a deep breath, stepped up beside him. The younger boy smiled gently at him, and they both began walking toward the van.
“Um… if the roller doesn’t work for you… you… could…”—he didn’t know why the words wouldn’t come out—and Choi stopped to give his friend his full attention—“could you try sleeping with me?” he finally asked, and Keeho felt both the tips of his ears and his cheeks burn.
Jiung raised his eyebrows in surprise, but then couldn’t help but laugh softly, thinking the older boy was joking, but Keeho just laughed nervously.
“Wait… are you serious?”
Keeho bit his lower lip.
“Only if what I suggested doesn’t work,” he murmured with an embarrassed smile.
Jiung opened and closed his mouth, but no words came out. His cheeks had also started to burn, and he had to clear his throat to compose himself.
“Thanks, Kyo,” he smiled, and the older boy nodded with a smile, feeling a weight lift from his chest as he let those words out.
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
Well, Jiung couldn’t sleep. He’d done what Keeho had recommended, and although he’d relaxed his body, now his mind was fixated on remembering the older guy’s other piece of advice.
“You could try sleeping with me.” Keeho's words kept running through his head over and over again.
Jiung’s cheeks burned, and he buried his face in his pillow. Damn it, why on earth couldn’t he get those simple words out of his head and sleep peacefully?
“Oh my God, Jiung, you’re such a fool,” he told himself.
Well, maybe he should follow Keeho’s last piece of advice.
Jiung grabbed his favorite pillow and got up, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Jiung left his room, trying not to wake Taeyang or interrupt Jongseob’s game. He searched the drawer near the entrance for the emergency keys to the other members’ apartment and prayed that Intak wasn’t wandering around the one next door. Jiung slipped out his quietly and stood in front of the door across the hall.
“This is a bad idea; I’d better go back,” he muttered to himself, turning around, but then he thought about his situation again “But I need to sleep better so I can give the best of me…”
Jiung closed his eyes tightly and turned around again to open the door. Upon entering, he quietly set the key on the counter and clutched his pillow to his chest. There was no noise, which relieved the boy a little. Jiung took off his shoes and tiptoed toward Keeho’s room. However, as he passed Shota’s room, he narrowed his eyes, still sensing some noise.
“These kids,” he muttered under his breath as he reached the leader’s room.
Jiung was having second thoughts again, but he shook his head and cautiously opened the bedroom door.
Keeho was under the covers, scrolling through social media, when he felt his bedroom door open. He rolled his eyes and, without looking at the door, blurted out:
“Tak, I told you that tomorrow you can take whatever you want out of the closet,” he said wearily.
But when he didn’t get a response from the younger man, he looked up from his phone and closed his mouth for a moment before opening it again in shock.
“Jiung…” he exhaled in surprise.
Jiung was clutching his pillow to his chest so tightly that Keeho feared he might squeeze the stuffing right out of it; the black-haired boy’s lips were pressed together, and Keeho could see a hint of blush on his cheeks and the tips of his ears.
“You said that if I couldn’t sleep using the advice you gave me, I could try sleeping with you,” Jiung murmured, embarrassed, “but if you want, I can—”
“No!” Keeho interrupted him, shaking his head with a smile.
Jiung pursed his lips, looked away, and slowly entered Keeho’s room, closing the door behind him.
Oh, Jiung was so cute I could just hit him, Keeho thought as he watched Jiung hesitate to come any closer.
Keeho couldn’t help but smile, feeling his heart beat a little faster.
“Come on, you’re acting like you’ve never been in my room before or like we haven’t slept in the same one for years…”
Jiung narrowed his eyes.
“We’ve never slept together in the same bed,” he murmured, embarrassed.
Keeho let out a soft laugh, stepping aside to make room for Jiung.
“Your bed is small,” Jiung murmured, pulling back the sheets to get into bed. Keeho rolled his eyes.
“Maybe that’s because it’s for one person?” Keeho smiled at the younger man. “Besides, yours is ridiculously big.”
Jiung adjusted his pillow and then looked at Keeho.
“It’s more comfortable.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” murmured the pink-haired man, prompting Jiung to gently tap his shoulder before lying back down. Keeho laughed.
The two fell silent; to his own surprise, Jiung’s body did begin to relax as he felt the warmth of the other’s body. Although both their hearts were racing, but the warmth of the moment meant they didn’t pay too much attention to that detail.
Jiung rolled over to lie on his side, and Keeho glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
“Thanks, Kyo,” he murmured so softly that Keeho almost thought it was his imagination.
“No problem, Ung,” Keeho smiled. “I hope you sleep well…”
Jiung opened his eyes and gave a tiny smile; he probably would.
...
Keeho woke up to a steady warmth against his side; he could feel arms wrapped around his waist and a tickling sensation on his chin. After blinking several times, he noticed Jiung’s dark hair, and his heart skipped a beat. Their legs were completely tangled together, but Jiung didn’t seem to notice since he was asleep.
Jiung’s breath tickled Keeho’s chest.
Oh, right, Keeho thought. Jiung was clingy when he slept.
But Jiung’s breathing was so relaxed that Keeho was afraid to wake him.
“Steph, have you seen my…? Oh,” Shota’s dark eyes opened, and Keeho placed a finger on his lips.
Shota understood right away and smiled, nodding.
“I’ll ask you later,” the younger boy said and closed the door again.
Keeho moved back a little to look at Jiung’s face and couldn’t help but smile.
He was so cute, the pink-haired boy thought.
Jiung caught a whiff of Keeho’s cologne and for a few brief seconds didn’t understand it, but then he remembered that he’d slept with him. His eyelids didn’t feel heavy like they usually did, his body felt relaxed, and his muscles didn’t ache.
Jiung had slept… he’d slept well for the first time in days, and it was all thanks to…
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. Did you sleep well?”
Jiung felt his cheeks burn, but he shifted his body to look at the older boy, who was smiling, that typical smile that made Jiung’s heart race like a fool.
“Yes, I slept well… thanks to you,” he murmured with a smile, and this time it was Keeho’s turn to have his heart race like a fool.
“Oh, I… I’m glad.”
Jiung looked at him in surprise, but then laughed softly.
“Next time we can sleep in my bed…”
Next time? Keeho watched Jiung’s smile as he walked away.
“Sure, but you’ll end up hugging me anyway,” he said with a teasing smile.
“Oh, but that doesn’t bother you, does it?”
Keeho choked on his own saliva, and Jiung laughed softly. Keeho didn't deny it, he didn't wanted to deny it either.
Jiung smiled as he picked up his pillow. He thought he’d really found the solution to his sleep problem.