baby doll

Rue was pleased with Jie’s reactions, because the younger always seemed to give honest expressions to things. He couldn’t help but feel a little proud, for a moment a smug smile on his features. “I guess I’m full of surprises,” he mumbled, mostly to himself though. When he relaxed again, he pulled out the other things he’d brought with him, plates and utensils to eat with.

He served the soup first for the both of them, which was still fresh as he’d somewhat rushed to make everything just before their date so that it wouldn’t have to sit for too long. “I remembered that you were a vegetarian as well, so I made the food with that in mind, too.” He reached out then, patting Jie lightly on the head for a moment.

Jie’s request about teaching him to cook too flustered him some, though he looked down and kept his head down as he responded. “I’ll teach you if you’d like. It’s not like I’m great at it. I’ve just been cooking for myself for a while now.” Rue was smiling though, despite not making eye contact with Jie at the moment. “I don’t know if there’s much that I can teach you in general, but whatever I can help you with, I will.”

the fact that rue remembered he was a vegetarian too had jie even more happy with how this was going so far. it was easy after all, to forget that part about jie and a lot of people did, so knowing that rue had kept that in mind was something sweet to him. if anything, it showed him even more then that the other actually did care about him and all of this, even if jie already knew that. “thank you.. a lot of people forget about it.” he hummed softly, the head pat making him giggle a little under his breath, eyes forming small crescents as he smiled over at the elder.

“Don’t thank me yet, Jie,” Jaheyun sighed. It took a few successive wobbly movements for the younger boy to position himself onto the misift’s back but once he was sure Jie was stable enough for the journey, Jaehyun picked him up and set off. They made their way down to the other side of the school where the nurse’s office was slowly but surely. He purposefully took the long way down, navigating through the labyrinth of empty halls for Jie’s sake. The gossip was already going off about him, it wasn’t like Jaehyun hadn’t heard the gossip and he didn’t think Jie needed anything else added to his plate quite frankly. 

The moment the misfit fame chaser duo entered the nurses office Jaehyun was bombarded with a barrage of useless questions by the staff who swarmed. A dismissive, “don’t ask,” is all he could manage while trying to set the bruised boy down on the nearest bed. However, almost immediately the misfit was pushed aside and the nurses took over. Thinking it was better to keep quiet instead of getting kicked out of the room Jaehyun backed off and leaned against an adjacent wall, watching over the younger boy to make sure he was okay. It was when the nurse stepped out of the room for a moment to retrieve something when he noticed Jie seemingly struggling. “Hey it’s okay, Jie,” Jaehyun reassured softly. “You’re safe now.” He wanted so desperately to ask what happened and for some names so he knew who to put in their grave but he also knew this definitely wasn’t the best time for that conversation so the misfit reluctantly held his tongue for now.

jie was thankful that they took the longer route. that they took the way where people were less likely to see him and find out what had happened. he didn’t want anyone else to know honestly-- but he knew that it probably would get around easily. everything did. he just didn’t want to worry anyone else-- his brother, ryosuke, rue, his group mates-- he didn’t want anyone else to worry because something like this had happened again. but it just made him frustrated.

Jie was someone he hasn’t met in a while—and by a while, he meant a few months. Compared to Jaesuk, Ryosuke at least saw Jie far more than he did the busy actor. And seeing his friend at the reunion, despite them going through the temporary leave or whatever it was that they were going through, made Ryosuke happy—and so did his daughter apparently. Hana had clapped happily when Jie had come to them, immediately demanding for a peck on the cheek.

The former jock had a wide smile on his face when Jie had pouted; teasing them had amused him to no ends. “A lot can change over a week, Jie Jie. Or a day. Depends,” he teased instead because if anything, Ryosuke made sure to check up on Jie regularly, even after they graduated from Keisung. “Oh yeah, you told me about your new musical. How are they coming along?” Hana was wriggling in his arms and she put him down, amused once again when she went and hugged Jie’s legs. “Joonie and I are fine. The twins are starting school soon but I don’t know if they’re ready to be separated from us just yet.” Ryosuke and Joon have let their twins stay with his mum or sisters after all, but never for an everyday thing and he was worried the twins wouldn’t take too kindly to it.

jie’s face lit up as soon as hana reacted to their presence, a happy, bright laugh bubbly up from their lips as they met her demands and kissed her cheek before ruffling her hair a little. the twins made their heart warm honestly, and from what jie knew, jin’s too. after all, they were twins themselves, and when jie saw ryosuke’s twins, it was just a sweet, pleasant sight. honestly, the ex jock leader with kids in general was a beautiful sight. 

The words that came from Jie’s mouth caused Rue’s heart to skip a beat suddenly. Somehow, Jie outright asking or reminding him to tell him about his feelings for him flustered him some. He responded with a nod though, swallowing down his embarrassment. “I’ll tell you later today,” he assured the younger, “I’m happy that you agreed to come, too.” He was still somewhat amazed that someone like Jie would give him the time of day. Jie was, after all, attractive, innocent, pure, and talented. He’d be more and more famous after his debut as well. And yet he had let Rue become close to him.

Rue led the younger student to a park not far from campus, though he went past the playground and toward a little hill with a couple of trees on it. Once there, he set the things he was carrying down and released Jie’s hand as well. He then pulled out a blanket and set it on the ground, setting the bag and cooler on top of it to keep it from blowing away. Once he took a seat too, he patted a spot next to him to motion for Jie to settle down too.

Once settled, he began pulling out the drinks, followed by a container of food too. He turned to Jie then, opening it to show him what he’d brought with him. “You said you liked seaweed and egg soup, right? I can’t make it like your mom probably can, but I tried it anyways too. I also made tamagoyaki, since when I was really young my mother used to make it for my brother and I. I made a dessert too.” He glanced at Jie shyly, hoping that the food would be okay since he’d made it all from scratch basically. He’d tried each thing as well, but he was still unsure of his own cooking skills.

jie felt embarrassed reminding the elder that he had to tell him about his feelings later, but he’d meant it more as a teasing, easing the atmosphere way honestly, and the reply that he got made the younger smile happily. “i.. i didn’t expect you to ask.” he admitted shyly then, because he hadn’t. jie was so used to falling for people and not having anyone else give back to him in the same way honestly, so to have that now? it made the fame chaser happy. it made him happy just to have rue there honestly, allowing himself to want to be close to him like this.

he was quick to take up the seat next to the elder then on the blanket as he watched him open up the container of food. hearing that rue had made his favourite dish though? it made his eyes widen a little, warmth spreading over him because that wasn’t something he’d expected. “i didn’t think you’d remembered that,” he mumbled shyly, but there was a fond smile appearing on his lips. “thank you..” he didn’t care if rue couldn’t made it like his mother, only cared that he’d even tried really. “i’ve never had that before, so i’m excited to try it.”

Rue smiled at Jie’s response, glancing over at Aiko who seemed to be distracted by a food table nearby already, leaving the two adults to talk more in peace. “Then,” he began again quietly, as if he didn’t want anyone else to pick up on their conversation. “Do you want to go check out the spot where we had our first date then? Since we’re finally back on campus. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that spot, too.” He gave Jie’s hand a gentle squeeze, offering him another smile. There were probably plenty of places they both wanted to visit again on campus for the sake of nostalgia and their memories.

It was odd stepping on to Keisung again after he stopped visiting the campus after Jie and Jin graduated. And he guessed it was also because he couldn’t actually believe he’d come back—and with a husband and children this time. When he was in his last year in Keisung, the dread loomed over his head about all the people he’d leave behind: Jie, Jaehyun, Mirai, Jaesuk, Keito…and most importantly, Joon. But he’d lived his last year in Keisung keeping all these thoughts to himself. Graduation day came and while he was happy to finally get the degree he wished to have, it was a day of tears for Matsumoto Ryosuke when he was faced with the fact that he was going to be separated from Joon—until he found out the younger male was coming with him to Osaka. Years later, after military enlistment, second degrees, and jumping off both their careers, the couple were now married with twins.

So now they were back in Keisung for a reunion, a name tag on him while his daughter had refused to go down from his arms. He had separated from Joon and Eun earlier on so he could interact with the rest of alumni. Well that, and he wanted to let his husband try and have fun without him for a little while; Joon still hated too much people after all. Maybe Eun being there with him could force him to be civil to some of them, he thought a little too gleefully. “Princess, otou-chan’s getting tired. Will you walk for a while? So everyone sees your pretty dress too,” he cooed, trying to convince his daughter to go down from his arms. So distracted he was that he almost bumped into someone until his daughter warned him to look where he was going. “Sorry about that—oh, hello! How have you been?”

it was new seeing how much everyone had changed as they walked around. seeing the couples and the kids, and just how everyone was now after ten years. it really was odd anyway, but jie liked it and seeing their old friends, and still friends even because there were still a lot of which that jie did their best in keeping contact with. being an idol made it slightly harder for that, but in the recent year or so since taking their temporary leave (which jie could say there were still pondering over really), they’d managed to keep contact a lot easier and frequently.

Rue was surprised when he felt a hand take hold of his own, but his face lit up when he realized who it was. He smiled at Jie with a soft expression, his hold on his hand tightening momentarily. “Hey. You’re not late really. Aiko and I just arrived as well.” He motioned toward his daughter then, who waved a little at Jie. “She says she’s going to hang around with you instead of me but I kind of wanted to steal you from everyone, just for a little while, later on.” When he glanced at his daughter, he could see the pout on her face, but he knew that she probably understood. He had already discussed it with her prior to their arrival anyways. He didn’t think that Jie would be opposed to his plans either, once he shared them with them too.

Rue glanced back at Aiko, who seemed to be dragging her feet behind him. She had only been a little kid when he’d gone here, and even though she visited him some, she probably didn’t remember the place much. She was sixteen now, and rather tall for a girl her age. Her features were much like his own, and she often displayed similar facial expressions as well. That was probably why her lips were pursed in a pout, much like he did when thinking or frustrated.

Her life had been much better than his own, which was what he’d always wanted for her from the very start. But he could still be a strict father, including forcing her to come along with him to the reunion. “I’m going to hang out with Jie during it then,” she’d told him when she’d agreed to come with him. She was always sweet to Jie and liked to play favorites with them, so Rue wouldn’t put it past her if she brushed off her own father and clung to Jie more during the reunion.

“Please stop dragging you feet and walk properly,” he scolded the teenager quiet, the words coming out in Japanese. It was funny to think that he really did sound like a typical parent now. But, they began bickering quietly as well, their whispered argument in Japanese the entire time. Thankfully, she’d quieted down when they entered the gym, but Rue seemed to hold back from going to engage in any conversations, still as quiet as he was in the past, though at this point it was hard to tell if he was still antisocial or just shy.

with rehearsals for their musical running longer into the evening than jie had hoped, it wasn’t surprising that they were rushing a little now when they were finally let go to get out and over to incheon. jie was probably lucky at least that they weren’t far anyway, and over the years it had become easier to evade fans otherwise they’d have been stuck outside far too long probably.

but they were there now, thankful to still see other ex students (some of which they could recognise anyway) heading in, so jie wasn’t too late anyway, but there was still a small wait to get in as they stood behind others waiting for a name tag.. which jie in some ways thought was a little pointless but well, everything had reason they supposed, even if it kind of took time. 

Rue was pleased to hear that the picnic was okay, his smile widening some. Even though he would be in his mid twenties in less than a year already, he couldn’t help but feel like a kid still. Especially around someone like Jie, who so easily made him feel softer and happier. It was a refreshing feeling.

“You can hold my hand,” he responded quietly when he heard Jie’s question. It flustered him some for Jie to ask, because Jie seemed like the type to take initiative about giving affection like that. But he picked up what he had set down on the ground in one hand, and held his free one out to Jie for him to take.

Holding hands now felt a little different from when they had before. It was hard for the idea of a date to sink in for him though. Maybe it would feel even more like a date if he told Jie that he liked him, but he wasn’t sure how or in what situation it was appropriate to say. He didn’t want to just blurt it out randomly all of a sudden. Rue glanced at the younger student for a moment, but soon looked away again. Maybe at a different time. But he knew he needed to say it eventually to him.

there was something about being able to make rue smile like that and be happy that made jie himself happy. proud even, because when he saw rue with others, he didn’t look the same as he did sometimes when he was with jie. but seeing the elder smile and being able to help keep the smile there was something that the younger wanted to be able to do as long as possible.

jie didn’t know why he’d felt the need to ask, but even then, he still had and now he’d at least been given confirmation that he could. sure the younger did take initiative in terms of initiating affection, but he was nervous right now, and he wasn’t really sure how to act. but holding rue’s hand once he’d gotten settled with what he was carrying; jie didn’t want to let go.

[ ✉  → soft, protect] yup :D

[ ✉  → soft, protect] i always make a mess tbh, but the cleaning process is actually really quick so it’s fine

[ ✉  → soft, protect] idk, i never saw him as a sweets person, he usually was pretty happy with my lunch boxes

[ ✉  → soft, protect] but i could be wrong!

[ ✉  → soft, protect] i’m pretty sure he’ll love cupcakes, specially if they come from you :D