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"My birthday is coming up soon," Juntae beamed, practically vibrating in his seat. He was extra excited to get to eat an immoderate amount of cake, get a couple of freebies from his favorite manga store, and of course… get real presents! And by that he meant getting something by someone other than his family.
Usually, Juntae was ecstatic to be the one to prepare gifts. His love language without a doubt was gift-giving.
He loved buying things while thinking of his friends and loved it even more when it was clear that they had liked whatever he had gifted them. Like how Sieun made sure to thank him for magnesium. Or how Humin made sure to show everyone the tiny basketball Juntae had crocheted for him. Or how Suho excitedly discussed the manga series Juntae had gifted him. Or the way Hyuntak would always wear the blue bracelet that read "Jun" which matched Juntae's yellow "Tak". (This one, Juntae had to admit, was more for himself than for Hyuntak. Yes, he gave it to him as a friendship bracelet. Now did he wear it was if was a claim? Also yes.)
But now that it was his birthday, he could finally ask for things he wanted! It wasn't like Juntae wanted much, not with great friends like this that cared for him so extraordinarily much.
"I know," Sieun said, continuing to eat his rice, small bits at a time. They were in the cafeteria, sharing their last lunch before Juntae’s birthday week—a week Juntae had unilaterally declared and was forcing everyone to acknowledge. Everyone being everyone that mattered to him, so Hyuntak, Humin, Sieun and Suho.
But Humin and Hyuntak were airheads sometimes, and Suho wasn't always fully there, so Juntae wanted to take this opportunity to remind them of the fifth most important event of the year. (His friend's own birthdays all shared second place as first place was indisputably September 21st—the date Naruto was first released. Yes, Juntae celebrated it yearly. No, he was not insane.)
"Are you going to want anything specific?" Suho asked, leaning his chin on his hand with an indulgent smile. "Hyung will get you whatever you want, Jun. You just have to name it."
"Actually… there's something I wanted to ask from all of you." Juntae’s legs started to bounce under the table. His heart was tap dancing against his ribs.
He was a little nervous about what he was going to ask, but the want had settled in his chest days ago, a persistent little sprout that grew every time one of them ruffled his hair or slung an arm around his shoulder. He really, really wanted it.
"What is it, Tae?" Humin asked, curiosity piqued. He pointed a thumb at Hyuntak, who was meticulously picking the carrots out of his bibimbap. "Not that there's anything this one here wouldn't do for you, but let's hear it."
Juntae’s cheeks went pink, a perfect match to the tips of Hyuntak’s ears as he huffed out but not disagree with Humin's statement.
Juntae took a deep breath, gathered all his courage, and blurted it out. "I want you guys to kiss me."
An awkward silence filled the cafeteria. Suho’s eyebrow arched.
"Kiss you?" Hyuntak spluttered. "All of us? What?"
Juntae nodded, his bangs flopping into his eyes. "I've never been kissed before," he admitted, and Hyuntak seemed to choke up more on his uneaten carrots. "And I really like it when you guys show physical affection towards me. So I thought this would be a nice gift. A birthday kiss from each of you." He smiled radiantly at them, the tiniest bit of pout before showing all of his teeth, just for good measure. "Please."
Humin’s face split into a big mischievous grin. He lunged across the table, his long arms easily reaching Juntae to grab his face, squishing his cheeks together until his lips puckered. "If you want a kiss, Jun, I can kiss you right now and take the virg—"
His arms retracted at the sound of a smack.
Sieun’s hand had come down on Humin’s forearm with a loud slap. Humin yelped, dramatic as always. "Yeon Sieun, you shouldn't be so violent!"
Sieun didn't even look at him. He just picked up his chopsticks again to keep eating his rice. "Don't be crass," he said.
Suho watched Humin shut down pettily on his seat again, and then turned to Juntae. "Don't worry, Jun. We will give you all the kisses you deserve."
Juntae smile grew, and he nodded in excitement. He was getting friend kisses!
"No you are not—" Hyuntak opened his mouth to object, but someone kicked him under the table, Juntae bet it was Humin with how his pout had turned into a smile.
"Stop being a jealous idiot and let us give Junnie the birthday gift he wants!"
Juntae’s heart fluttered at Humin's statement. Operation Birthday Kisses was—so far—a success!
+++
The first to act was Sieun, which was a shock to Juntae.
Juntae had just walked into the classroom, Sieun already seated in his desk, focused as usual.
"Good morning, Sieun-ah!" Juntae chirped, his voice a little too loud for the hour of the day, but Juntae was an early bird and his birthday week had just started!
He slid a bottle of strawberry milk and a pack of Sieun’s favorite chips across the table as he usually did. "I got you fuel so your brain works better!"
Sieun blinked, accepting the gifts with a quiet nod. Then, instead of looking down and continuing to solve his exercises, he reached out and took Juntae's hand.
"Did you want another kind of snack? I have a couple more with me—"
Juntae’s brain stopped working with the way that Sieun’s cool fingers wrapped around Juntae’s rather strongly. Before Juntae could even process the thrill of the touch, Sieun lifted his hand and, like the gentlemen he was, pressed a kiss to the back of it.
It was a soft, barely-there touch but Juntae felt it zing all the way up his arm and explode in his chest like a firework. His mouth fell open. "S-Sieun?"
Sieun didn't let go. He stood up, pulling Juntae closer to himself, and placed a second kiss, this one feather-light and fleeting, on the apple of his cheek. Juntae’s skin tingled where Sieun’s lips had touched. He was sure his entire face was glowing darker than the strawberry in the cover of the milk carton.
And then, Sieun tilted his head. His big eyes, usually so cold and observing, had a dark hue to them as they looked down to Juntae's lips. Juntae’s heart stopped. Sieun leaned in, placing a kiss where his previous gaze was.
Juntae thought his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets. Sieun just gave him his first kiss! His chapped lips pressing against his own softer ones for four whole seconds. The best four seconds in Juntae's entire life. He doubted any four seconds from now until his death would surpass this.
Sieun pulled back, his expression as neutral as if he’d just finished taking an exam. He finally released Juntae’s hand, which flopped uselessly onto the table.
"Good morning, Juntae," Sieun said, his voice so low it gave Juntae chills.
He then calmly sat back down, and took a sip of his strawberry milk. Nonchalant as if he didn't usually squirmish under any kind of physical touch.
Juntae wasn't sure how to act now. Should he ask for another one? Or should he just go on about his day like he hadn't just been kissed by Yeon Sieun? He didn't prepare for the post kissing. Maybe he should have read more shoujo to know how to react and not just stand there pathetically resting his fingers against his lips.
"Weren't you asking for this?" Sieun’s voice cut through the static in Juntae’s brain. He wasn't even looking at Juntae, writing down notes for a class that Juntae's mind was to mushy to recognize.
"Yes, but… I didn't think you'd actually do it," Juntae finally managed to whisper. "Not… not like that."
That made Sieun look up, tilting his head in a rare show of genuine puzzlement. "Why wouldn't I? You asked us so kindly."
Why wouldn't he? Because it was Sieun! The guy who valued his personal space more than a dragon valued its gold. Juntae had half-expected an awkward pat on the head, not… not a three-course meal of hand, cheek, and lip kisses.
And what did he mean, with asking kindly? Was that the secret password this whole time? That all Juntae had to do was ask?
Then could he actually ask for another one?
"Could you please give me another one, then?"
Sieun lips were now pressed in a thin line, and he pulled Juntae's hand down so he was leaning low enough that he could place his other hand on Juntae's nape. Juntae had his elbows against Sieun's notes as Sieun gave him a peck.
Juntae remained sprawled over the desk for a second... because he just got his second kiss. Because he had asked for it.
Had this always been an option? Could he have been getting good morning kisses from Yeon Sieun for the past year if he’d just been asked? The amount of missed opportunities was staggering.
But it didn't matter, because he got here eventually.
Driven by a sudden impulse, Juntae darted forward and pressed a quick, clumsy kiss to Sieun’s cheek.
He retreated back to his standing position in front of the table at light speed. "That was a thank you," he mumbled into his hands, that were now covering his face but still leaving enough room for Juntae to take a peek at Sieun's reaction.
"Oh."
Through his fingers, Juntae saw how the faintest smile was forming in the corner of Sieun's lips—ones that curved up so rarely Juntae had to do a double take.
Indeed, Sieun had a shy smile in his face. Juntae's heart beat loudly in his chest, euphoric.
He had made the stoic, unshakeable Yeon Sieun smile. This was even better than kissing Yeon Sieun. Or was it? Maybe Juntae should ask for just one more for confirmation.
As if Sieun could read his mind, he spoke. "I'll give you another one if you pay attention to class."
Juntae nodded, like a puppy eager to get his snack. He didn't mind being compared to one if the snack was Sieun.
So he dutifully paid attention to class, and as his reward Sieun gave him another four second kiss. Their mouths pressed heavily against each other, which made Juntae rethink the order of the best four seconds of his life.
+++
The next kiss that came in Juntae's way was completely different. A typhoon in comparison to Sieun's soft summer shower.
It had been a whole day since Sieun had kissed him and he couldn't forget how the chapped lips felt against his. Juntae gave Sieun a couple of chap-sticks this morning so that their next kisses were even softer.
Juntae was walking down the empty corridor, hoping Sieun used the strawberry scented one, because that was Juntae's favorite scent. But Juntae wouldn't mind if he wore the lemon one, that would make a nice combination against Juntae's strawberry one.
His cheeks were warming up with thoughts of more kisses from Sieun, but as he expected when he asked his friends for this, it made him really happy. So happy that he didn't register the footsteps behind him until a familiar arm snaked around his waist and unceremoniously yanked him sideways through an open doorway.
Juntae yelped at the same time that the door clicked shut. The teacher's bathroom smelled clean, and he was being gently but firmly backed against the door.
"What—" Juntae’s protest died in his throat when he looked up.
Suho was smiling down at him, fresh and youthful and a little predatory. It made Juntae's stomach swoop as he felt caged between the man and the door.
"Suho-hyung! You scared me," Juntae breathed, his heart hammering for an entirely different reason now.
"Did I?" Suho didn't sound sorry at all. He placed one hand beside Juntae’s head, exactly like those heart-fluttering scenes in his romance manga. "I've been looking for you."
It was closer to heart-stopping when living it out in real life.
"You have?"
"Mm." Suho’s free hand came up, his thumb brushing lightly over Juntae’s cheekbone. "Sieun gave you your gift already, didn't he?"
Juntae nodded, pink warming up due to their closeness and the implications that he was getting his next present.
"It was sweet, wasn't it?" He asked, his voice a husky whisper. Juntae was going to nod again, but Suho stopped him with the hand on his cheek. "Tell me about it."
"I liked it a lot." Juntae breathed heavily, but smiled up at Suho. "He was very sweet and kissed my hand and my cheek and my lips."
"Yeah?" Juntae nodded, happy. Suho leaned into him and Juntae closed his eyes and puckered his lips out, ready for another peck.
Suho chuckled at his form.
"Mine is a little different, bunny."
Juntae opened his eyes but before he could even think different how, much less ask, Suho had ducked his head.
Juntae felt the soft, hot press of his lips against the side of his neck. It didn't feel like Sieun's kiss, it was drawn-out and extremely warm.
Juntae gasped when he felt something wet on his neck. Suho was giving him open-mouthed kisses, dragging his tongue through the spots that he kissed, giving the lightest of sucks which made Juntae's knees buckle. His hands flew up, clutching at Suho’s shirt as all the air left his lungs.
Suho hummed a low, satisfied sound against his skin. He kissed a slow, deliberate path up the column of Juntae’s throat, each kiss a little firmer, a little more lingering than the last. His hand found the small of Juntae’s back, pressing them closer together.
When he found the sensitive spot just below Juntae’s ear, he faintly grazing it with his teeth, and Juntae was gone.
It was too good, too thrilling. Juntae’s entire body was on fire, his brain a puddle of goo, as a tiny whimper escaped his lips.
Suho pulled back just enough to look at him. His lips were slightly redder, his smile pure satisfaction. "Aren't you a treat?"
Juntae, red-faced and breathless, nodded, because he hoped he was. His hands were still in Suho's shirt, and his neck was tingling weirdly. Would being bitten by a vampire feel this electrifying too? He should ask what Sieun thought later.
Suho chuckled, pleased. He pressed one last, chaste kiss to Juntae's forehead and stepped back. "Happy birthday week, Jun."
"T-thanks, hyung." Juntae stopped leaning against the door, taking a step forward so they could open it.
Suho went ahead and did that, walking back to his own classroom. "Let me know if you want a second gift anytime."
Juntae was left with shaky legs and a bright red mark on his neck.
He hadn't expected such a hot experience when he had asked his friends for kisses. He thought they'd all have been innocent and chaste, most on his cheek—which he would have already overly content over, loving that kind of affection. But he was happy to find out he loved this kind of kiss too.
+++
The third type of kiss he got was of the loudest kind.
Juntae was at his locker, putting back his textbooks, when a familiar, booming voice echoed throughout the class and down the hallway.
"BIRTHDAY BOY!"
Before Juntae could even turn around, he was engulfed. Two long arms wrapped around him from behind, lifting him slightly off his feet in a crushing bear hug. The scent of cheap deodorant and sunshine invaded his senses.
"Baku!" Juntae shrieked, a laugh already bubbling out of him. "Put me down!"
"Not a chance!" Humin declared, spinning him around once before setting him back on his feet and whirling him to face forward. His grin was a mile wide, his eyes sparkling with barely contained mischief. "I've been looking everywhere for you. I have a very important delivery."
Juntae was dizzy, but smiling. "A delivery?"
"Mm-hm." Humin planted his hands on his hips, mimicking a super-hero with his puffed out chest. "One birthday gift, extra-large and extra-special delivery for Seo Juntae."
"I am Seo Juntae," Juntae said playfully.
"So, Seo Juntae, are you ready?"
Juntae's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, Baku—mmph!"
His question was cut off by the extensive squishing of his cheeks. Humin's hands were flat against his cheeks, pushing them into each other until Juntae's lips were in a big fish-like pout.
And then Humin leaned in, and with him always being so loud and dramatic, his kiss wouldn't be any different. So with all the theatricality in the world, and an incredibly exaggerated "Mmm-WAH!" sound, he planted a kiss directly on Juntae's puckered lips.
It was so loud. The sound echoed against the lockers. A couple of passing students turned to stare, some snickering, others just shaking their heads, used to Humin’s antics.
Juntae's eyes were wide open in shock. Humin didn't stop there. He pulled back just an inch, grinned at Juntae’s stunned expression, and then dove back in to press a barrage of quick, noisy kisses all over his face. MUAH! on his forehead. MUAH! on the tip of his nose. MUAH! MUAH! one on each of his flaming cheeks.
"There!" Humin declared, finally releasing him with a triumphant smile. "My gift that represents all of my love for you."
Juntae was dizzy. His face was covered in a phantom residue of Humin’s affection. He could still feel the vibration of the 'mua's on his skin. It was ridiculous. Juntae was giddy all the same, his heart warming with a bubbly energy.
A laugh burst out of him, bright and uncontrollable. "Baku, people are watching!" He whisper-shouted.
"It’s my best friend's birthday week! They should all know he's loved!" He ruffled Juntae's hair with his goofy glee. "Did you feel the love, Tae? Did you feel it in your bones?"
"I felt it in my eardrums!" Juntae giggled, preening under Humin's touches.
"That's not good enough then!" He leaned down and gave another loud smack against Juntae's lips. "What about now?"
"Now I feel loved!" Juntae smiled up at the taller guy, unconstrained happiness as he watched Humin's eyes shine. "Thank you for your delivery, Baku."
"You are very welcome, Seo Juntae."
+++
He was only missing Hyuntak's kiss. And he was very nervous about it. If there was any kiss that he really wanted, it was his.
No, Juntae wasn't a master manipulator that asked all of his friends to kiss him only to have a chance for Hyuntak to kiss him too.
Okay, maybe he was. But he really wanted to feel loved by everyone in the friend group! The fact that Hyuntak was included in that request was just... a convenient and very welcome bonus. A bonus that made his heart skip every time he and Hyuntak had any alone time.
But the heart skipping became more of a nervous flutter as his birthday week was about to end.
And, yes, Sieun's sweet kisses had left him blushing for hours, and Suho's left him breathless and weak-kneed, and Humin's loud, joyful affection had made him laugh until his stomach hurt. Each one had been a gift, a treasure he would keep in his memory forever.
But none of them were Hyuntak.
Hyuntak had always been physical with Juntae—a pinch on his cheek, a hand on his shoulder, fingers brushing when they walked too close together. But he had never, not once, given him any type of kiss. Not on the cheek, not on the forehead, and definitely not on his mouth. And Juntae really, really wanted one.
Because—as he had demonstrated all week—he loved being doted on, and also he may or may not have a big, fat crush on Go Hyuntak.
But Hyuntak wasn't giving any signs that he was going to kiss him. He'd been avoiding Juntae's hopeful glances all week. He disappeared after classes and during recess and the rare times they were together, Juntae didn't dare touch the subject.
Juntae sighed, he was starting to lose hope.
He was sitting in the anime club-room after school, trying to distract himself. He was organizing the manga collection, but he kept putting volumes on the wrong shelves. Slam Dunk did not belong next to Fruits Basket but Juntae didn't really care right now.
His anxiety was seeping through his pores as his fingers kept fumbling with the worn yellow bracelet on his wrist—the one that matched Hyuntak's.
He was counting the beads on it for the third time when the door slid open with more force than necessary.
Juntae spun around. Hyuntak stood in the doorway, chest heaving slightly like he'd run there. His expression was stormy, jaw tight like when he got ticked off. His eyes, when they locked onto Juntae's, were blazing with something that looked a lot like anger but felt a lot like something else entirely.
"Did all the other guys kiss you already?" Hyuntak demanded, his voice rough.
Juntae blinked, startled by the sudden intrusion and the sharpness of the question. He felt his cheeks warm. Slowly, he nodded.
Hyuntak's expression crumpled—hurt flashing across his features for a second before it hardened again.
"Of course they did," he muttered, mostly to himself. He kicked the door shut behind him. "Suho couldn't shut up about it. Fucking bastard."
Juntae opened his mouth to explain, to say something, but Hyuntak was already crossing the room in three furious strides.
"Did you like it?" Hyuntak asked, despaired hands on his hair. "Actually, don't answer me that."
Juntae stood still, not wanting to aggravate him more.
"I can't believe it—even Humin?"
Juntae didn't know if he was in more trouble if he nodded, but he did.
"That's another fucking bastard, how could he—"
"Tak." Juntae pulled Hyuntak closer to himself by his hand. "Are you jealous?"
Juntae really hoped this whole breakdown was because Hyuntak was jealous. His anxiety now turning into hopeful delusion.
"I'm not jealous." Hyuntak huffed, but he tightened their linked hands. "I just think it's crazy that they got to kiss you before I did."
He was jealous. Wasn't that cute?
"You can still kiss me, Tak," Juntae said. "I've been waiting for you."
"You have?" Hyuntak sounded extremely surprised, eyebrows arched high. Juntae wanted to giggle at how dense he was.
"Of course I have."
Hyuntak looked intently at Juntae, and Juntae could see a million of thoughts running through his eyes.
"Are you going to keep me waiting?" Juntae asked, half-smirking and half-scared that, yes, Hyuntak would keep him waiting forever.
It seemed like the clogs finally turned in Hyuntak's brain and in one swift move pulled Juntae closer, and finally, finally, kissed him.
It wasn't gentle like Sieun, or intense like Suho's or boisterous like Humin's. Hyuntak kissed him like he was thirsty, like he was making up for the time Juntae had to wait by the insistent and desperate press of his lips.
One of his big hands was on Juntae's nape and the other was gripping tightly their intertwined fingers. He pushed Juntae back until Juntae was leaning against the wall, lips warm and moist never leaving each other.
When Juntae gasped in surprise at the hard surface behind, Hyuntak's tongue swept into his mouth.
Juntae might have let out a little whimper at that. The addition of tongue making his brain buffer and his limbs into jello. He didn't know what force he used to pull Hyuntak even closer by unlatching their hands and pulling him by his shoulders.
Juntae wasn't able to follow his movements that well, a little clumsy as their teeth clattered against each other.
Hyuntak didn't seem to mind, separating for only a breath before he went back in, slower this time.
It felt like Hyuntak was communicating with him through his kiss, pouring his whole heart into it. It seemed like he was telling that he was there for him, that he wanted him, that he wanted him to be his. Juntae felt overwhelmed with the slower pace, but also by burning intensity and feelings.
Juntae made a small sound against his mouth without meaning to, and Hyuntak held him a little tighter in response, like that was an answer he understood perfectly.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard. Hyuntak's face was dusted in pink, while Juntae's own burned in a likely red.
Hyuntak didn't let go of Juntae's neck.
"I don't want you kissing anyone else ever again," Hyuntak said, his voice hoarse but firm. "Not Sieun. Not Suho. And especially not Humin. No one."
Juntae's head was still spinning. He blinked up at Hyuntak, his lips tingling as he tilted his head. "I can't do that."
Hyuntak recoiled like Juntae had slapped him. His hand dropped from Juntae's neck. "What do you mean you can't?"
Juntae reached up, his fingers brushing over his own kiss-swollen lips, a giddy, disbelieving smile starting to form. "Well... I just found out how nice kissing is. And you don't want me kissing anyone ever again? That seems unfair."
Hyuntak stared at him. "You can kiss me."
"Well if you want me to only kiss you..." Juntae's smile grew, trying to hide how his heart was jumping out of his throat. "Then don't you think you should be asking me to be your boyfriend?"
Hyuntak froze. The words seemed to take a moment to register. When they did, the red on his face spread all the way down his neck, disappearing beneath his collar. His mouth opened and closed. No sound came out.
"Are you—" he started, his voice cracking. He swallowed hard and tried again. "Do you want to... be my boyfriend? Or whatever."
Juntae didn't care that Hyuntak was acting nonchalant, a smile on his face so big it could have outshone the sun. "Of course I want to."
Hyuntak stared at him for one heartbeat. Two. Then he surged forward again, cupping Juntae's neck and kissing his whole entire face, even going ahead to lift his glasses so he could give him pecks on his eyes too.
Juntae giggled at his boyfriend's antics. He couldn't believe he had just gotten himself a whole boyfriend.
Juntae might just be the luckiest birthday week boy in the entire world.
