머리 아프다

“I don’t think I will, but if I start giving off the signs, I got you and Chris to keep me on track, right?” He asked with a goofy smile. Jordan would probably be on board with drinking every time he asked, so it wasn’t like he didn’t trust them, he just knew Chris and Joon would pay more attention to any concerning signs.  “I’ll be a pro, you’re right, this will be like an investigative mission, and if it ends up being great, I’m taking you there” Because it would be nice to relax together. He followed him to the bar, smiling all the time, taking his glass and clinking it with Joon’s, taking a sip and making a face. “They say it’s an acquired taste, right?” It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the most tasteful drink ever. “You know, sometimes you look at me like you’re worried, I don’t like worrying you” He commented, trying his best for Joon to be able to read his lips if the music made it harder for him to understand what he said. “I’m happy, you know? Not just because you make me happy, or my family and friends make me happy. I’m in a good place, so stop worrying”

“You won’t. But if you did, yes.” Joon nodded. He probably wasn’t in the right mindset for joking about that, which was frustrating because Joon knew he was acting different and he didn’t want to. They were supposed to be having fun. And being frustrated that he was worried—worried over what was probably nothing—only felt like it was becoming amplified due to their surroundings. It was too loud and there were too many people. Still, he tried to ignore it. “I’d like that. It’s a date, then. If you end up liking it.” Joon smiled. And he laughed at the face Jamie made after trying a sip. “Definitely acquired.” Joon traded him to try, slightly wrinkling his nose at the taste. But then Jamie called him out and he couldn’t help chewing on the inside of his lip. “I am worried. But it’s dumb. And this isn’t a good time to talk.” Joon shook his head, trying to dismiss it. “I won’t worry. As long as you’re in a good place.” He swapped their drinks back and took a sip, glancing around and changing the subject. “You wanna find the others?” 

“Because it was so unlike me to be drunk, I talked nonsense and I even started dancing in the middle of the living room, no music involved. I think you would have been shocked” Because Jamie spent all of his life staying away from alcohol yet there he had been, getting drunk voluntarily. It was definitely out of character but he was trying new things, and drinking hadn’t killed him or anything. “So you mean practice means perfect? I could take it little by little, one drink today, one on the next party, I don’t intend on becoming a regular drinker but one is not bad at all” And Joon himself didn’t drink much and Jamie wanted to keep trying. “Oh, I thought it was like, hair and nails. That only shows how little I know about those things” Maybe because his mother was gone, he simply didn’t have that knowledge. “If I like it we could go together next time then” He wouldn’t insist, but he would like to share that with Joon if it ended up being fun. “No, not about the haircut, the baby face is a trouble with the oldest patients, they don’t trust I know shit” He giggled, that wasn’t his fault but it didn’t bother him that much. “I like the fact that you like longer hair” Because Jamie really digged it. “Beer, I think I’m ready to try beer tonight” He said as he leaned and stole another kiss from him.

Shocked was definitely a word Joon would use. Along with worried yet amused. Jamie never really did give him a clear response when he asked if everything was okay. He just kind of changed the topic, which made Joon a little anxious. Maybe there was just some misinterpretation. It still wasn’t the easiest place to hold a conversation, signing or not. “As long as you don’t become an alcoholic, we’re good.” He poked his boyfriend’s nose with a smile. “I have no clue. Maybe it’s all of those things. I think it’s an inter... interchangeable word? Spa? I dunno.” Joon nodded. “We can do that. Next time. You’ll be a pro at whatever spas are.” Joon just simply watched Jamie with a smirk, nodding along a little until his boyfriend leaned in to kiss him, making him giggle. “Beer it is, then.” Taking his hand, they made their way towards the bar and managed to order two different beers, Joon figuring it allowed them to give it a try. He raised one of the glasses to Jamie to clink them together with a grin before taking a drink. “This one isn’t bad. Try?”

“My boyfriend is the biker, not me.” Taemin shrugged. Even though he liked the show, Minho was much more into bikes than the birthday man would ever be. Even Hyunjin was more into them… he’d just never seen the appeal in them. Too noisy for his taste. “I’m just going out for a regular smoke.” He chuckled, raising his vape pen to show it to Joon. “Alright… drinks are fine by me! I’ll take the drinks! Let’s go back inside.”

“Well... you’re a biker tonight.” Joon poked his brother’s cheek. “Dressed the part, anyway. And no smoking for youuu.” Leading the way to the bar while clinging to his arm, he tracked down the bartender and ordered both of them drinks. Once they both had a drink in hand, Joon raised his with a smile. “Geonbae! — How’re things with you and Minho?” He set his drink down long enough to sign the question before wiggling his fingers, trying to signify the fact that Taemin had gotten them rings. 

“You would have thought I was dying or something, or that maybe I was kidnapped and drugged” Jamie said with an amused smile because honestly, he had never been drunk before and he was pretty sure he hadn’t maged it to well. Again, maybe the first few drinks were okay, but he blamed Chris for taking it too far. “Yeah, I have no idea what people do in a spa but apparently they also take care of your hair? You wanna join us?” He asked, because it would be cool to share it all together and just have a good time relaxing and doing whatever people did in those places. “I’m not sure the hospital, or well, the patients would like a baby faced doctor with blue hair” He chuckled, trying to imagine how they would take him serious. He giggled again with the kiss, nodding. “What should we have? Chris gave me vodka so I think I should try something different, my stomach still feels weird when I remember how that tasted” Which was crazy because he could swear vodka didn’t even have a strong flavor, but maybe he was just a little traumatized.

“Because you were drunk?” Joon couldn’t help but smile out of amusement too. “I can almost picture it. You should have slowed down, you dork. You don’t drink, it’ll catch up to you a lot faster than your brother.” Because if they were being honest, Joon was sure Chris probably did things Jamie didn’t know about it. Maybe he was wrong. Not like Joon could really say much though. He wasn’t a drinker either. But it had its benefits because he could reach that euphoric state a lot faster with less. “I dunno. I’ve never been to one. I thought they were like, those steam rooms and massages?” Joon immediately shook his head at the offer. “They invited you. You should go.” He didn’t think someone being a third wheel would be an issue, but it was a plan that Jordan extended to Jamie, and Jamie only. Joon wasn’t going to be that person. “People are always gonna complain about things that don’t have anything to do with themselves. You haven’t had anyone complain that you need a haircut yet? I think this baby faced doctor always looks good. And I do like the longer hair.” Joon ran his fingers through the back of it, kissing him again. Something else that came with that euphoric state was wanting to remain close, which didn’t work in this setting, so Joon backed off a little bit to understand what Jamie was saying. “Like a bad taste?... I think I had something called Zombie? I don’t know? You could try a mixed drink. Or shots. Or beer.”

“Well, it wasn’t really planned but we can try it together next time, I wouldn’t mind” He giggled again like a fool because it wasn’t like he planned on Chris getting him high and drunk, and it was hilarious to think that he let his baby brother do all of those things when he was always giving him speeches about responsibility and such. “He took my phone and hid it, it was one of the conditions because I didn’t want you to worry, I did talk a lot about how hot you are and how I missed you” He assured him because he was pretty sure that if he had his phone with him, he would have sent hundreds of texts to Joon. “Just so I can be a little prepared, you keep taking my breath away” And he was never prepared to see him looking like this. “You like it? I’m letting it grow, Jordan said we could go to a spa and play a little with our hair, and since I don’t really think I’m capable of pulling any colors, I’m letting it grow, you know, to change a little” He thought it was a good idea to change the haircut that he had since he was like, twelve. 

“Deal.” Hearing him giggle again was contagious, making Joon break into a smile. A smile that only grew wider once he learned that Chris apparently took his phone at the time, and had he not, Joon would have received plenty of drunk texts he probably wouldn’t be able to even begin to decipher. “Yeah? Maybe it was for the best because I probably would have worried. But thanks for thinking of me even when you’re drunk.” It was Joon’s turn to giggle now, kissing him. “I like it. A spa?” He kind of kept playing with Jamie’s hair, running his fingers through it and tucking it back again. Joon wasn’t jealous. Just maybe a little... territorial? Especially when Jordan was as flirty as they were. But they introduced Ri Ahn to him and Jamie, and Jordan did get a hold of Joon the other day when Jamie was really upset. “That sounds nice. I think you could be capable of pulling off different colors, though. I didn’t think I’d pull off blue.” He shrugged. “You look good no matter what. And as long as you’re happy. That’s all that matters.” Joon pulled him into an obnoxious kiss, pressing their lips together and giving a small mwah! as he pulled away with a grin. “Let’s get a drink?”

“I just want to hang out with you” Because Jamie was a sucker for Joon “I don’t mind drinking, I mean, as long as it’s just one and I don’t end up like the other night with Chris I’ll be fine” Because he had enjoyed the first cup his brother had given him, it was after the fourth or fifth that everything went to hell. “But yeah, we could dance too” Because this was a party after all and everyone at the dance floor seemed like having fun. He giggled at his comment about his glasses, he always thought he looked like a dork so it was a good thing that Joon liked them. “Next time maybe give me heads up, I’m a healthy kid but heart attacks can cause my death”

“Ah, so you’ll get high and drink with your brother but not me?” There was a smirk on his lips, signifying that he wasn’t being serious. It was weird because Joon was so used to hearing Jamie always say he wanted to be one hundred percent sober all the time so that he had a sharp mind. Maybe Chris corrupted him just enough to lighten up a little. “I’m nicer than him. I wouldn’t let you drink so much that you got sick. But now I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get any drunk texts.” Joon took Jamie’s hand and gave him a twirl when he agreed that they could dance, laughing. “No heart attacks for you! And what’s the fun in warning? It ruins the surprise.” He tucked some of Jamie’s hair back behind an ear with a smile. “I think this is the longest I’ve ever seen your hair. Everything’s okay, right?” Joon wasn’t sure why the question suddenly slipped, especially now of all times. The alcohol probably. But he had been worried about Jamie lately. All of the little changes. It was different, and Joon wasn’t sure if he should be concerned or not. 

He hugged Joon back, letting the younger man sway him a little before paying careful attention to Joon when they released Taemin… just to double check if everything was really okay, but the second Joon’s hand pinched his cheek, Taemin was quick to swat it away. “I don’t feel any difference, no. Maybe the gray hairs will come later? I think I can totally rock the grey hair, by the way.” He shrugged, smugly, then nodded at his brother’s question. “A drink sounds great. I was going outside for a smoke, but come to think of it, a drink with my baby brother sounds better. Buy me stuff, little bitch.”

He was pretty much unbothered, so seeing the way Taemin appeared to be looking at him, Joon paid no mind to it. Only laughed when his brother swatted his hand away before making a slight face, narrowing his eyes. “Grey? Nah, I don’t know. Might go with the biker look, though,” Joon teased with a smile. “You could probably get high just from standing around some of the people here. They smell so strong, it’s bad.” Using his pinky, he brushed some of his hair from his face, signing his following words the best he could with one hand occupied with a drink as he spoke, “I’ll buy you all the things! But right now, the only thing I can afford are drinks so don’t get too imaginative.” Joon latched onto Taemin’s arm, pulling him towards the bar to get a drink. 

Jamie chuckled at Joon’s words and wrapped an arm around his waist when he was being kissed, tasting his drink on his lips and giggling because of it. “You want to dance? Or drink? Or I don’t know, whatever you want?” He made sure to sign because the music was loud and indeed it would be harder for Joon to follow conversations like this, specially with the lights of this place. “You just like how I look with glasses” He added, pointing to his face. “You look hot, like, super hot, I thought the blue hair incident would be the only time where I would be starstruck with how you look but, fuck me up, here I am, you’re doing it again” He signed.

Joon smiled at Jamie’s giggle, taking a small step back when he saw him trying to sign, giving some space to do so. “What do you want? I know you don’t like drinking, so we can dance?” He didn’t necessarily care to drink either; he could do without. But when it came to parties, it felt like the only way Joon could tolerate them. He loosened up with a few drinks and didn’t care as much whether or not he felt left out because he was content just walking around and people watching. And while Joon had initially signed as he spoke, he couldn’t help moving closer again after laughing at his boyfriend’s comment, arm around Jamie’s waist and planting another kiss on his lips. “I just like you. Glasses or no glasses. But they are a cute addition. And good! I’m glad there are still ways I can surprise you.”

Jamie chuckled, rolling his eyes “Do you realize how many people has said the exact same thing when they see me?” Apparently, finding Waldo was the highlight of a lot of people’s night, so Jamie had heard the same phrase lots of times already, and the night was just starting. “You’re really hard to find though, where have you been?” One second they were talking to some friends and the next one Joon had disappeared, which didn’t alarm Jamie, but after a while, he decided to hunt down his boyfriend because he couldn’t get enough of his look tonight. 

Joon grinned, not even realizing how entertaining his own words had been considering Jamie’s costume. “No, but I’m the most important one and that’s all that matters.” Smile still plastered on his lips, he draped an arm around the back of his boyfriend’s neck and kissed him. Joon finished off the last bit of his drink before looking back to Jamie with his brow raised, taking a moment to piece together what he thought he’d said. “It’s hard to follow what everyone’s saying, so I thought I’d walk around to see costumes. Then I ended up finding someone that smelled like they’ve been smoking weed for a week straight and when I turned around, I ran into you. You definitely have the cutest costume here.” He poked the bridge of Jamie’s glasses with a smile.

Taemin was far from being drunk and his birthday was obviously his favorite day of the year, add Halloween to that? Even better. When he spotted Joon in the crowd, he managed to cut short his conversation with some of his guests and followed his younger brother, figuring he could check in on Joon, since his younger brother didn’t normally do well with crowds. When he was about to call in for Joon, the younger man turned around and bumped into him, which stole a chuckle from the birthday man’s lips as he threw his arm around the other’s shoulder. “You found me!” He smiled. “Joon-ah… You alright there?”

Realizing that he had run into his brother, Joon’s face lit up, arms immediately finding their way around him in a hug while swaying a little. “Hm?—I’m good, I’m good!" Joon released him, careful not to drop his drink. And yes, looking back at Taemin, he couldn’t help reaching over to give his cheek a playful pinch. “How’s the birthday boy? Do you feel any different yet? Happy birthday!” He’d already wished him a happy birthday first thing this morning but still. Today was Taemin’s day. “I got you something! But I’ll give it to you later. You want a drink?”