Episode 18: The closer we get the more I get pulled towards you

The sunlight snuck through the curtains as the wind gently pushed them aside, the room illuminated.

A gentle on the door stirred the snuggly boy out of his sleep.

"Who?..."

Teo mumbled, rubbing his eyes with his balled fist, alike to a sleepy feline.

The knock on the door repeated itself again as a subtle voice came in through the closed door.

"Breakfast is ready. Come join us!" This was the elderly woman calling them to get some energy for the day awaiting ahead.

Teo stifled a yawn before speaking out, "We'll be there in a bit, granny. Thanks".

His sleepy deep voice resonated within the room pulling out someone from his sleep.

"Ok, son. Feel free to use the toothbrush on the cabinet"

She announced, then steps echoed through the room as she walked away from the door.

Teo yawned again, but this time he didn't hold it in, pulling himself away from the older male as he stretched out his body.

Josh opened his eyes as soon as the weight lifted off his chest, staring at the yawning boy who looked like a sleepy cat, puffy eyed, nose scrunching cutely and his mouth open wide, enough to fit in a fist.

The ravenette smiled, staring at the tired boy, "sleep well, I see".

He puckered out his lips, his voice almost childish as he complained, "I want sleep more"

He attached himself to his chest again, rubbing his face on his chest like a cat, "wake me up in 5 minutes"

Josh's eyes widened, as the shameless boy clung onto him like a koala bear.

"I didn't know you were that clingy. Or am I a lucky one?" He asked reflexively.

Teo poked his rib, which made the older jump a little to avoid his fingers as it tickled, "Now I'm being attacked by a poking bear" chuckling.

Teo lifted his head off his chest, "You ain't gonna let me sleep, right?" His lips pursued, dangerously close, Josh could feel his heart on fire, it wasn't good.

He swallowed a lump on his throat to keep his voice steady, "Being your body pillow wasn't part of the deal", he stared at his eyes, tempted to look at those pouty heart shaped lips which were toying with his heart.

Teo puckered out his lips even further as he spoke again, "So am I not allowed to?" His big puppy eyes pushing aside the older's resolution. He was as good as gone.

Josh shoved the boy's face on his chest to avoid staring at it which wasn't good for his weak heart, "Just sleep,"

Teo laughed at the action, "¡Hey! I need to breathe," yet the older one's hand kept him there as his face stained a shade of pink.

The blonde tickled him, not because he couldn't breath, but he wanted to stare at him a little longer.

Josh let go of his head to cover his open ribs, attacking him back.

The room was filled with laughter as they tickled each other, until a knock on the door stopped them.

Teo looked at the door, heavily breathing, Josh hovered on top, chest heaving up and down, red faces due to the lack of air.

"Kid, hurry up whilst the kimchi is still warm"

This called their starving selves as their stomachs rumbled in unison, rushing out of bed.

"Wait a minute, I want seconds" both said at the same time.

They ran to the door, opening in a heartbeat.

Teo ran off leaving Josh behind, "The last one to arrive is a rotten egg" he yelled out whilst laughing heartily.

"Let's go, young man. There is enough for all of us"

The elder patted Josh's back guiding him to the table where a display of colorful dishes and sauces were, the ravenette nodded walking into the dining room.

As soon as Teo sat on the table he offered thanks for his meals, Josh smiled sitting down along with the elder.

The bubbly boy dug into his plate as if he wouldn't have eaten last night at all, unconsciously he let out a chuckle, his heart full even though his stomach growled because it was empty which woke him up from his daydream.

Picking up the tablespoon he brought it to his lips, eating slowly, the elders did it too, enjoying seeing the youngsters eating happily.

Teo leaned on the back of the wooden chair, eyes closed as he ate until he couldn't fit a single grain of rice extra in his stomach.

"Delicious, before I go you gotta gimme the recipe. It's to kill for"

The blonde chuckled weakly as he could barely move a muscle, Josh smiled as he cut some meatballs with a knife seeing the boy.

"You shouldn't have eaten that fast, you swallowed air that's why your full"

The ravenette teased the wincing young across from him.

"I didn't ask for your opinion… lemme be, crap. I want to sleep"

Josh kicked his leg under the table as the boy swore in front of the elders to which Teo frowned as an answer, barely opening an eye.

"...", the blonde pondered within himself, staring at the older, /What did I do for you to kick me?/

Josh muttered, 'Don't curse' a finger on his plump cherry lips after, which caught the younger's attention unintentionally.

Teo bit his lower lip reminiscing how his finger was touching them last night and how it was captured, he shook his head before his mind took him to places.

"I don't get what you mean"

He grunted with a velvety coloured face, pretending to be mad.

Josh poked his inner cheek at his answer, a penetrating gaze piercing through his skull, tilting his head slightly.

Teo could feel the temperature rising, it just didn't make sense how a simple action could get him so worked up.

The elders witnessing that held their laughs, enjoying the exchange with warm hearts, reviving old memories as they walked down that path already years ago.

"Thanks, Mr. Rivera, granny. I'll do the dishes"

The blonde stood up, wishing to run away, picking up the empty plates to vanish as fast as he could.

"I appreciate the meal, Sir, Ma'am"

Josh on the other hand stood up and bowed to them as Teo dashed into the kitchen.

"I'll help my friend. You don't need to worry about a thing"

With a smile painting his beautiful face he stepped out of the dining room.

When Josh walked in he found Teo pulling out his hair over the sink, his back facing him so he didn't see him bringing his empty dishes.

"You ok, buddy?"

The ravenette asked, genuinely concerned about the younger's well being.

The blonde stopped his action and ruffled his hair, pretending to brush it.

"Nope. I was styling my hair, I had a bed head so I was smoothing it. Can I help you?"

His voice was cold even though that was his usual facade to play cool.

Josh walked over, each step causing the blonde's body to go weak, he held onto the counter as his legs became wobbly due he was nervous but didn't know why.

"I was saving you the trip of you going to pick them up from the dining room, was that a crime?"

Teo saw the ravenette's hand over the counter placing his now empty plate on top of it by his right side.

"Bold of you to assume Imma wash them. You used them so you wash them"

Mustering his courage he declared, picking up the sponge, dipping it into a mix of water and soap, then scrunching it to squeeze the excess of water out.

Josh leaned on the counter on the same side where he set his dirty plate, observing the blonde, trying to read him.

"Ok. I'll wait here until you're done so I can do it myself"

He grinned, glancing at the boy who ran the wet soapy sponge over the plate which was under the running water.

Josh tapped off the water, causing the boy's eyes to meet his own.

Their contrasting gazes found each other, a harsh one, representing the younger's icy blue fire, and a gentle one, expressing the warm brownish sweetness of chocolate yet its firmness was his resolution.

The vivid fire melting the chocolate, messing together as it wrapped the incandescent flames of his heart.

"I was trying to save water."

The ravenette's voice, as gentle as a breeze, like a soft caress to one's soul.

The blonde would have to agree as saving the planet was one of his priorities.

"Whatever just warn me. I was trying to soften the dirty on the dishes"

The ravenette smiled as the blonde spoke.

"You can do that easily by using this"

Josh put a cork in the sink hole to fill up the sink with fresh water as he tapped the water on again.

"Voila! That's how it's done"

The ravenette was proud with his own creation, but Teo had other theories which did not match Josh's, so he tapped it off before it could cover half the dishes