10 ~ More Than Just Friends?

I struggled harder, trying to shake him off, but it seemed like he wasn't budging.

 

I am stronger than he is, but why can't I break free?

 

"No!" I yelled.

 

"But why?" he asked, still sounding completely calm.

 

"Because I'm straight!" I yelled back at him.

 

His face darkened, and he pushed himself closer to me.

 

"What if I said I could change that?" he asked.

 

"I don't know!" I cried, unable to take another second of this.

 

I hated the fact that just his touch was making me feel like this. I could see the black spots spreading all over my body, and each one was burning hotter than the last the moment he pulled away.

 

"Argh!" I crouched down on the floor. "What am I going to do? What happens if I become corrupt?"

 

"The future is uncertain. There's no predicting what will happen unless you get guided," he explained.

 

"I haven't given you my consent yet, so you don't have the right to do this to me," I argued.

 

"Like I said before, there are several different ways to guide an Esper," he answered.

 

"You just said 'different'!" I snapped.

 

"Yes, but they all involve me doing things to you," he clarified.

 

"Like what?!" I demanded.

 

"I could kiss you, hold your hand, or maybe even dance with you, hahaha!" he responded. "If possible, I could stroke you as well."

 

"That's not what I mean! You're saying you want to make out with me?"

 

"Yeah, I do." He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest.

 

"No way!" I exclaimed. "I'm straight! I'm not gay!"

 

"Sure you are," he teased. "You're a teenage boy, and you've never kissed a girl before."

 

"Is that supposed to be some sort of excuse?" I scoffed.

 

"It's not," he replied. "But there's nothing wrong with experimenting for your sake—you."

 

"Experimenting?" I repeated.

 

"Wanna try it?" he offered.

 

I didn't answer.

 

"Say yes," he insisted. "You need this if you want your corruption gone."

 

"No," I shook my head. "I don't want this."

 

"Why?" He whispered close to my ear.

 

I held my breath.

 

"Because I'm straight!" I couldn't help but shout.

 

"How can you say that when you're clearly aroused?" he countered.

 

I tried desperately to mask my embarrassment.

 

"Don't lie!" he pressed. "You're thinking about how much you wanted me to hold you in my arms earlier."

 

"Y-You're wrong!" I denied, even though I knew that wasn't true at all.

 

"Then why are you blushing?" he asked.

 

"... Because..." I stammered.

 

"Because you want me to kiss you?" he guessed.

 

"That's not it!" I yelled.

 

"Then what?" he asked.

 

I felt myself becoming lightheaded, unable to form words.

 

"Have you ever kissed someone, Seojin?" he asked.

 

"I-I..." I stuttered, then shook my head in defeat.

 

"Well, then let's start with that," he suggested.

 

"What?" I asked.

 

"We'll test whether you're really straight," he said, brushing his knuckles across my cheek, tracing my jawline.

 

I felt myself leaning into his touch.

 

A shiver ran down my spine as his fingers brushed against my eyelashes. My skin burned under his fingertips, begging for more.

 

The next moment, he moved away.

 

I opened my eyes; my breathing labored.

 

There was a smile on his lips.

 

"Seojin," he started, "are you listening?"

 

He looked at me, waiting for my reply.

 

My mouth was dry. It took everything I had to speak.

 

"...Yes." I coughed out a response.

 

I turned my head away, staring at a corner of the room instead.

 

"You should know better than anyone else that no one's going to believe you're straight," he said.

 

"That's not true?" I countered.

 

"I mean, your body's betraying you right now," he explained. "I bet you're getting excited just from talking about kissing, aren't you?"

 

It felt like he'd read my mind, which made it harder to deny my feelings.

 

"...It doesn't matter, anyway," I muttered.

 

"Of course it matters! If we can get through this, then we can do anything together!" he urged.

 

"That's not what I meant," I argued.

 

"Oh? What did you mean then?" he asked, a slight pout on his lips.

 

"I... I'm fine with being friends," I told him.

 

I could feel his breath brush against my skin. He kept moving his hand, rubbing his thumb along my cheeks.

 

"Friends," he repeated, almost like he couldn't quite believe it.

 

"Yes," I answered.

 

"Can a friend do this?" Minseok whispered softly before bringing his lips to mine.

 

The air between us crackled as if it were on fire. His warm breath tickled my neck, sending a shiver through my body.

 

I held my breath, afraid to move. This was different than when he'd tried to kiss me earlier. His lips were gentle, barely brushing against mine. I felt like I was drowning, and every part of my body was screaming for more.

 

I felt myself lean into him, pressing my body against his. He didn't pull away—he simply wrapped both arms around me, pulling me even closer.

 

He pulled back slightly so that we were eye-to-eye and spoke softly. "Don't force yourself to be alone."

 

I didn't say anything, but I nodded.

 

I let out a deep sigh, trying to keep myself calm. It wasn't easy.

 

"Woah!" Minseok exclaimed. "Is that what I think it is?"

 

I followed his gaze to see a tent forming in my pants. My heart was pounding hard against my ribcage.

 

A boner! I have a boner! 

 

I panicked, desperately trying to hide the bulge in my pants.

 

"Hey, don't look away from me," he said, grabbing my chin and forcing me to meet his eyes.

 

"N-No, I'm sorry. It's nothing..." I stammered.

 

"It's fine. I thought I might've hurt you or something," he whispered, leaning in close enough that our noses brushed.

 

"N-No, it's... it's not that. It's just..."

 

"You got aroused by our kiss?" he asked.

 

I looked down at my hands, covering my crotch.

 

"No," I whispered.

 

"What's wrong?" he asked.

 

I shook my head, refusing to answer. Instead, I pulled my right arm away from him and pointedly turned my back on him.

 

"Are you upset?" he asked.

 

I could hear him shifting his weight. "Why would I be upset?"

 

"That's what I need to know." Minseok responded.

 

"Because you shouldn't get any ideas about sleeping with me anymore. We're just friends, remember?" I snapped, turning to face him again.

 

"I want more than just friends," he whispered quietly. He kissed my cheek.

 

I stepped back, taking another good look at him. My heart was beating fast, my breathing ragged. I wanted more.

 

"Why do you keep looking away from me?" he asked, his expression completely serious.

 

I didn't know how to respond. Was I supposed to say that I thought he was attractive? Or that I loved his smile? But those weren't the words I wanted to use. I couldn't find the right thing to say.

 

"If you aren't going to talk to me, then I'll take it upon myself to speak for you," he said.

 

I gasped at the sudden intrusion into my pants by Minseok, who'd made a beeline towards me.

 

"What do you think you're doing?!" I shouted.

 

"It's obvious what I'm doing, Seojin. I'm going to take care of your little problem for you!" he sneered.