I wrote this the other day but didn't get a chance to post it till now. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for the patience!

______________

               At least five minutes go by with Jinyoung just standing in the Middle of the hall, his feet planted and his mind frozen. He is just so surprised by the intensity of his own emotions. No, he does not mean he fell in love or that he is smitten with the stranger he met, but he is nervous, he feels his stomach fluttering and his chest resonating with the beats of his heart. If he weren't clenching his fists as tight as he is, he's sure they would be shaking.

Jinyoung sometimes is called apathetic for his lack of commitment or engagement with given situations. He has also been called selfish for apparently only feeling his pain and ignoring everyone else's. Honestly, it's not exactly that Jinyoung doesn't care (given, sometimes he truly does not give a damn) but it's more that events don't move him, they can't reach him. Most of the time, howerver, it's because whatever is happening is consumed by the void he feels. It's like there's a black hole in his soul and all that it consumes is emotions. He has no clue where they go, but they don't show visibly, although they must be stored somewhere inside him.

That is why it is so weird with Im Jaebeom. Jinyoung is practically wearing his emotions and it's so evident for anyone around, even people who don't know him. It's so shocking when the receptionist comes to his side, waving her hand in front of his face.

"Sir? Sir, are you all right? Do you need any assistance?" she questions, looking concerned and a bit confused, which isn't a surprise as he hasn't moved for a while and he's just staring at a blank space. "Sir?"

Jinyoung shakes his head, trying to push his thoughts away and come back to the present moment.

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry," he apologizes bowing his head and feeling his cheeks burn in embarrassment. "I just spaced out for a moment."

"Are you sure you do not need anything, sir?"

"Positive," he nods his head, stepping back and trying to smile so the concerned lady doesn't fret anymore. "Good day."

Bidding his goodbye, Jinyoung walks out of the room and goes into the elevator, more embarrassed than anything so for a second he forgets he is supposed to meet with Jaebeom outside. And he is distracted when he walks out of the building, not noticing the man waving in front of him until he hears his name.

"Jinyoungie!" He turns his head, just to see Im Jaebeom standing there, waving above his head, smiling so widely his eyes become two fine lines under his eyebrows as he approaches the younger.

Jinyoung doesn't move, just watching the happy man approaching, dressed in tight black jeans with a very oversized sweater under a denim jacket, forehead hidden under a bucket hat.

"Hyung," escapes his lips, so easily as if he's called the other like that for a long time, so familiar it shocks him. But then he feels his stomach twisting in a thousand knots when he sees Jaebeom up close and how the older's expression warms up, smiling so happily at the way Jinyoung has called him; it is as if he made him the happiest man alive.

"Hi," he greets with that big stupid smile that is making Jinyoung weak at the knees. How can someone look so blindly happy? "How was your session?" he asks next, shoving the hands inside the pockets of his denim jacket.

"Meh," he replies shrugging. "Same old, I guess." He sees Jaebeom's expression becoming more serious, morphing into concern and he doesn't like that look, the older looks better when he's glowing with happiness.

"I hope the sessions improve," Jaebeom comments. "Oh, and by the way, I brought you something."

From each pocket he takes a cans of hot chocolate, and hands one in his direction. Surprised, Jinyoung goes to accept the can, but as distracted as he is, he does not pay attention and ends up wrapping his hand partly around Jaebeom's.

Surprised, he immediately removes his hand, his eyes widening and his mouth immediately offering an apology, but just as quickly as he moves, Jaebeom drops the can he's holding and his hand grabs Jinyoung's, stopping him from pulling away. He looks between their hands and Jaebeom, shocked that the older automatically grabbed his hand. And it seems Jaebeom moves as automatically because he has surprised himself for what he's done, and while blushing furiously, he also pulls away, fidgeting nervously and squatting to pick the can he dropped.

It's awkward, it's messy and both are blushing with something so innocent that it is pathetic and Jinyoung is so embarrassed.

"I'm sorry I dropped it," Jaebeom apologizes, offering the other can he managed to keep in his right hand.

"I'm sorry for startling you," Jinyoung apologizes as well, and watches Jaebeom shaking his head in dismiss and smiling.

"It wasn't that," Jaebeom says as Jinyoung grabs the offered can, carefully to not grace the older's fingers this time. "It just... felt different."

"Different?" he echoes, confused with the words of the other man, especially the longing that is painted on his expression.

"Good different," Jaebeom shrugs, using the sleeve of his gigantic sweater to clean around the can before opening it to take a sip. Jinyoung keeps the warm can he was given in his hand, using it more like a hot pack.

"Has anyone told you that you aren't very eloquent? It's a bit hard to understand what you mean."

Jaebeom smiles with lips tight and although there's that, his eyes look sad for some reason.

"I guess you need context to understand." Jinyoung waits, expecting Jaebeom to provide that aforementioned context.

"Which you aren't giving," he states, disappointed.

"I don't want to scare you away." The younger raises his eyebrows, stepping back.

"Do you know how weird that sounds? Saying that causes exactly the effect you don't want. Very counterproductive."

Jaebeom laughs, amused instead of worried, which is what he expected, but it's as if he could tell Jinyoung is just messing with him, which is not usual. People normally can't tell when he's being serious or just joking. He has that talent, at least.

"I'm just trying to keep some pride," Jaebeom says between chuckles. "If I say how different it feels when you know you're holding the hand of your true soul mate when we barely know each other, I'm sure you'll be a bit crept out."

For a second Jinyoung thinks Jaebeom is saying the truth and his heart leaps, he almost drops the can, but then he realizes Jaebeom is actually teasing him. It shocks him how disappointed he feels, so much he even feels upset to the point of wanting revenge.

"Oh, so you're saying I'm your true soulmate?" he purrs, whispering as he takes a step closer to Jaebeom, enjoying how the other loses the teasing smile, getting more alert, eyes widening when Jinyoung is in his personal space. "I didn't imagine I had found myself such a romantic one."

Because it gives him so much satisfaction seeing how Jaebeom comes undone, incapable of saying anything. He even uses one hand to place it on Jaebeom's chest, and he feels cheer delight when Jaebeom drops his can of hot chocolate again, although as it's open now, it splatters the dark beverage all over their shoes.

"Ew!" Jinyoung explains, stepping back and shaking his foot like a cat that touched water.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Jaebeom says, debating whether to help Jinyoung or pick the can. "You shouldn't do that!"

"I didn't do anything! You dropped the can!" Jinyoung defends himself, watching Jaebeom carefully grab the can and then running to drop it in the closer recycling bin, coming back running as he takes a handkerchief from his pocket and, like an idiot, kneeling to help clean the younger.

"You shouldn't get so close to me," Jaebeom whispers, and Jinyoung doesn't like he's not looking at him and just cleaning his stupid shoes, so he steps back. He doesn't need to do that.

"Why not? I thought I was your soulmate," Jinyoung teases, watching the older get back to his feet with a flushed face and nervous eyes.

"Because you're just teasing me," Jaebeom replies, taking a step closer now, making Jinyoung nervous with the seriousness in his narrow eyes. "And you'll give me a heart attack, Jinyoungie." He lifts his hand, ready to reach out and touch the younger, but stops himself and Jinyoung is left craving. "Now, why don't we go to this place and maybe clean ourselves from the chocolate mess?"

"Where are we going?" he asks, moving to stand next to Jaebeom instead so they can start walking.

"Surprise," Jaebeom replies.

"A cat café," the younger guesses, flatly and he has a hard time controlling his laughter when he sees Jaebeom flabbergasted expression.

"How did you know?!" But Jinyoung loses the battle and burst out laughing.

"Just last night you said you wanted to take me to one to see me playing with kittens," Jinyoung reminds him.

"Dammit," Jaebeom mumbles to himself and Jinyoung is incredibly amused.

"It's fine, I like cats although I've been to a cat café only once," Jinyoung shares, smiling brilliantly, feeling in such a good mood now, even if he's tired, even if he had a bad night sleep, he feels a lot brighter now, teasing Jaebeom as they walk to the café. "My sister says I'm like a cat."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, she says I think I'm superior to everyone and I ignore the world." He shrugs, not feeling hurt or anything, it's not new to him to hear such opinions about him.

"That's mean and not accurate." Jinyoung is going to say how Jaebeom doesn't know him, but before he gets a word out, the older continues. "Cats are superior, for starters." Jinyoung laughs at that, he can't help it. "But more than that, I think they are chill and just have their boundaries, they are in control of what they want and when they want it. They are also independent and clever, strategic and plotting, and at times incredibly dumb and clumsy and that makes them so precious."

Jinyoung feels his chest warm at the endearing tone of Jaebeom and how clearly he loves cats.

"You shouldn't say you're like a cat," Jaebeom adds.

"Why is that?" he asks, thinking it's probably because he wants to say Jinyoung is not how his sister says.

"Because then I'm going to like you even more."

It's so unexpected Jinyoung doesn't know how to react; he even stumbles on his feet, almost tripping so Jaebeom has to rush to grab his arm to help him regain his balance. By the time he is standing on his own again, he is still blushing.

"Are you okay?" Jaebeom asks, concerned.

"You're too straightforward!" the younger complains.

"Would you prefer I lie?" Jaebeom refutes, aghast.

"No, but you can't just go saying you like someone you just met, that's crazy."

"Why not?" Jaebeom asks again. "Have you not heard of love at first sight?"

Jinyoung feels his face burning, his heart hammering in his chest and he's getting too nervous to say something coherent.

"Stop it, that's too cheesy even my hands and feet are curling!" he protests, showing his fingers are curled in repulsion.

"Why?" the older insists like a child. "Don't you believe in love at first sight? Fate?"

"No," he deadpans. "You can't love someone you don't know."

"But what if we met before? Once upon in a dream?"

Jinyoung is about to lose it, in amusement and exasperation at the same time, and something else, something bitter as if he didn't like this was all a joke for Jaebeom.

"This is not Disney, so stop it or I'm going to walk back home right now and we won't go to any cat café. No kitties for you!."

"No, no, no! Don't do that," Jaebeom panics, immediately grabbing Jinyoung's wrist when he attempts to go back but he doesn't even try to fight Jaebeom. "I'll stop, I'll only think of these cheesy things."

Jinyoung bites his lips to not smile when he turns around, seeing that sheepish grin on Jaebeom's face, giving him that fluttering feeling in his guts.

"You better," he warns, watching how that grin becomes a full, dashing smile, yet not missing how Jaebeom's hands slides from his wrist until it takes his hand.

"Promise," he says, still smiling. "Let's go now. It's not that far from here."

And they start walking.

And Jaebeom doesn't let go of Jinyoung's hand.

And Jinyoung allows it... he bloody allows it.

He's gone crazy.