and they were roommates,

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FROM THIS THREAD.

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[selfconcept]

[ Hien pauses at that, not expecting that response. He stares at Haiga for a bit, but. Yeah? That tracks? Haiga kissed him in the car. Why did Hien not expect it despite the obvious? Anyway, it stuns him into silence as the waiter comes back with their food and puts them in front of each respective person.

... ]

... If you're willing to be serious about this relationship with me, then I'll go out with you.

[ He thinks he could grow to love someone. Hien likes Haiga enough to try, at least. That, and... he doesn't want this to be a fling, surprisingly enough. ]

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[ wait, really? wait, really?? really???

at first he looks so excited that he might shoot up from his seat. but then he freezes. ]

Hien, do I look like I’m not serious about you?

[ he needs to fix that asap. ]

[selfconcept]

Do you love me?

[ He asks, while looking down at his own food. ]

Or do you think you can come around to it eventually? I won't be offended either way.

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[ love? ]

I… When you wake up, you’re so… pretty. I want to touch you so bad. I want to watch you wake up forever.

[ his words come slow as he lays his feelings out for hien. he’s never felt this type of affection before for anyone he’s dated. ]

And I’m always thinking of - always eager to see you again so we can keep talking about - nothing. Anything. Everything? When you move out or graduate, I - I dunno. I’ll probably cry. Ha…

[selfconcept]

[ Hien will just assume that by touch, Haiga is talking about gentle actions like getting his hair out of his face and whatever else that's chaste. He refuses to think about anything else regarding that. He is eating... spare him...

But the genuineness of Haiga's words touch Hien's heart. ]

... Sorry, to put you on the spot, but thanks for telling me.

[ Hien didn't think he would have that effect on anyone. Talking to Haiga is nice. It's something he looks forward to in his day to day apart from sleeping, so the feeling regarding that is definitely mutual. ]

I just didn't want it to be something that happens for a week and let go.

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[ definitely the more chaste stuff. seeing hien sleep and then wake is the physical manifestation of what it feels like to have a really good nap on a warm, sunny day. there’s a comfortable energy to him that draws haiga in. ]

What’s there to be sorry about? I like that we talk and that you’re blunt.

[ in fact… ]

Let me just say officially that I’m serious about you… I’ve been thinking about this for a while.

[ he finally starts to dig in. ]

Don’t break up with me after a week though, I won’t recover.

[selfconcept]

... That long?

[ He really didn't notice. Wow. Hien just scarfs down some more food to ignore the fact. It's fine.

Hien also thinks that Haiga won't give him a reason to break up with him after a week though. It's fine. This isn't that other BL. ]

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[ help,

he nods - yep - and distracts himself with a couple of bites. ]

Once my mind is set on something, I kinda… Well, anyway, so, um. We’re dating?

[ just checking… ]

[selfconcept]

... Yeah.

[ That came out quieter than he thought it would, even though he had nothing in his mouth when replying. Hien is a little embarrassed. Just a tad. It's fine. He keeps looking down at his almost gone food and resumes eating and drinking water like it's his remaining lifeline. ]

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[ ok, things could go wrong - like really wrong and he still could ruin their current relationship - which they’ll have to discuss anyway. he wants to build on what they already have, not change it into something that’s only focused on romance. or, um, sex.

but he’s really happy. in this moment he’s been given a chance and he nearly bursts with happiness. ]

Then, once again, please take care of me. Hien.

[ if he had a tail it would be whipping through the air right now and the entire restaurant would know. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Good thing, because this version of Hien is a little shier than usual despite his blunt and crass personality. ]

... Sure.

[ He quietly huffs and eats the rest of his food. His face doesn't harden when he says that--in fact, his voice gets softer with a sort of fondness when he sees how happy Haiga is. The fact that seeing people happy is one of his favorite things to see hasn't changed in the slightest. ]

What are you planning to do for the rest of the night?

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Honestly? Hadn’t thought that far.

[ he waves his fork around. ]

Either you’d accept my confession - [ wow, what is he? a high school girl? ] - or you didn’t and what happened afterward would be vaguely positive or negative. Like maybe I walk home and we don’t talk anymore.

[selfconcept]

So you knowingly took a big risk, huh? That takes some guts.

[ And bravery, especially since they're roommates. ]

... I wouldn't want to stop talking to you because of that though. I'd never. You'd have to piss me off for me to stop interacting with you.

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Oh man, I was gonna explode if I didn’t.

[ less guts and more desperation probably! ]

And I was running out of time. Once the school year is over, it’ll be harder to see you as much.

[ he wants to reach out for Hien (a very familiar urge by now), but they’re both eating. and also in public. instead, his sneaker inches closer to hien’s until their toes tap, lightly. ]

I’ve never seen you pissed off before.

[selfconcept]

[ When their toes tap, Hien thinks that he overstepped where his feet should be and draws them back since he doesn't want to step on Haiga's feet. rip haiga. ]

I hope you won't ever have to see it. Besides... Even without this relationship, I was thinking about requesting to keep the same room assignment with you.

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[ oops did he overstep - ]

Really?!

[ wait he’s actually so happy to hear that, heart skipping and lips curling up. ]

Oh man, I’d really like that…

[selfconcept]

[ Hien just didn't want to scuff Haiga's shoes—no real boundary being crossed here. ]

Yeah. You're a good roommate, and I thought that I would like another year with you.

[ Not a "wouldn't mind" but "would like". ]

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[ he doesn't catch the phrasing right now. but later tonight, he'll think about all the things hien has said and his mind will trip over every instance of 'like,' heart beating louder than the tick-tock of the clock in their room. ]

Another year... yeah.

[ well, he'd like more than another year, but this gives him more time to convince hien that he's someone worth liking. he'll work hard. ]

I wonder if we could get one of those units with a kitchen.

[selfconcept]

Mm... those are pretty expensive. It's like an entire apartment unit with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a small living room, and a kitchen.

[ Right now, they just have a single room with two beds on the opposite sides of the room. Not that it's that far in the first place, since the rooms aren't that big with a closet, desk, and bed for each inhabitant for a maximum of two. ]

You wanna cook stuff?

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Yeah, I miss it. My granny taught me a lot.

[ not that this restaurant isn’t good, he thinks as he keeps eating, but if he’s gonna pay to eat out or for food at the cafeteria, then he’d rather just cook. ]

Maybe I can win your heart through your stomach.

[selfconcept]

Well... we do have a floor kitchen.

[ That the entire floor of the dorm shares, like a public use kitchen. Hien thinks about it. ]

And I'm curious about your cooking. You'll have to let me try some one day.

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[ the boy’s dorm means haiga will be fending off pathetic and hungry dormmates while he cooks, but hien is worth it. ]

‘Course! I only know hearty country recipes though. But if there’s anything you’re craving, I’m down to try.

[selfconcept]

I dunno what counts as a country recipe, but I'm down to try anything.

[ He looks down at his empty plate and then looks back up at Haiga. ]

So lemme try a favorite of yours.

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Definitely curry. I can make it as hearty and spicy as you can take it.

[ oh - when did he fall behind? he starts shoveling. ]

Do you want more? Did you like it?

[selfconcept]

I like it, but I don't want more.

[ His mind has already drifted onto the topic of curry though. ]

... That sounds really good.

[ Oops. He almost drooled just now from imagining how good the curry could be. His wrist flies up to cover his mouth. ]