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December 2017
It was almost Christmas, and for the first time in a long while, Luke actually felt okay. The house was warm, the tree twinkled in the corner, and he and Gabe were sprawled across the couch with controllers in hand, the sounds of explosions and laughter filling the living room. They hadn’t done this years. It had been a while since they had just sat together and played video games like they used to before life got complicated.
Luke leaned forward, elbows on his knees, jaw set as his character narrowly dodged Gabe’s final attack. “You’re cheating,” Luke muttered, squinting at the screen. “I don’t know how, but you’re cheating. There’s no way you’re this good.”
Gabe laughed. “Maybe you’re just bad.”
“I can’t be. You’re the one that taught me.”
“But you never used to listen.”
“Whatever,” Luke grumbled, but the grin tugging at his mouth gave him away. It felt good. Like, stupidly good. To have this again. To be in this kind of headspace.
So much had changed since the last time they’d played like this. Luke’s voice was deeper now, steady and sure, and sometimes he caught himself off guard when he spoke. His body felt different too, stronger perhaps, like it finally made sense to him. He definitely had more energy, that’s for sure. He didn’t flinch when he caught his reflection anymore either; his clothes fit the way they were supposed to. His periods had stopped a while ago, and the facial hair that littered his jaw and around his mouth actually looked nice. Normal. Clean. His dad had so kindly taught him how to shave and Luke nearly cried when it happened. It felt good to be seen, especially by his father. He finally looked how he was always meant to look, and he absolutely loved it. He looked like a man.
From the kitchen, the smell of garlic, herbs, and roasting chicken drifted into the room. Their parents were talking and laughing as they cooked, the occasional clatter of pans echoing down the hall. It was the kind of background noise Luke used to tune out but tonight, it made the house feel alive.
He glanced toward the Christmas tree again, the pile of presents underneath already spilling out from its base. He couldn’t help the small, bubbling excitement that stirred in his chest. He wasn’t a kid anymore, but he still loved this part. He loved the mystery, the anticipation, and the way his parents always pretended they hadn’t gone overboard even though they absolutely had.
Gabe nudged him with his elbow. “You’re staring at the presents like you’re eight again,” he teased.
Luke shrugged. “I just like surprises.”
Gabe raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe you’re hoping Mom finally bought you that overpriced leather jacket you’ve been sending her links for.”
Luke snorted, hiding his grin. “You mean the one she said was ‘too mature’ for me? Yeah, right.”
“Did you get me anything?” Gabe asked, eyes still peeled to the tv.
“Maybe,” Luke shrugged.
“Well you better have.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I got you something,” Gabe said nonchalantly.
“Oh yeah?” Luke peered at him. “What did you get me?”
“Guess you’ll find out on Christmas day,” Gabe said.
“But that’s ages away,” Luke whined.
“Only, like, a week or so,” Gabe rolled his eyes. “I think you’re gonna like it.”
“Is it a new car?”
“You wish,” Gabe scoffed. “Speaking of which, how’s my baby?”
“Old,” Luke said flatly. “She makes weird ass noises whenever i’m driving and half the time I think i’m gonna break down.”
“That’s just part of her charm.”
“Or curse,” Luke grumbled.
“Speaking of curses,” Gabe eyed him, “have you thought about college?”
Luke hesitated. “Yeah.”
“Yeah? What does ‘yeah’ mean?”
“It means I’ve thought about it.”
“Well…?” Gabe pushed. “Where are you thinking of applying? What are you going to study? Come on, man. At least give me the details.”
“It’s for me to know and you to find out,” Luke huffed out. “I don’t really wanna talk about college right now anyway. Can’t we just have fun and play video games and think about all the real stuff after Christmas?”
Gabe sighed. “Fine. But it’s super important for you to think about this. You should have applied already.”
“Who says I haven’t?” Luke shot back.
“What’s with the secrecy?”
“I just don’t wanna talk about it, alright?”
“Jeez, fine,” Gabe rolled his eyes.
The video game round soon ended and Gabe’s character came out as victorious once again, but Luke barely registered it because Gabe’s phone started buzzing against the coffee table and a familiar name flashed across the screen.
Gabe paused the game and answered, leaning back against the couch. “Hey, man,” he said, his tone immediately shifting from relaxed to serious. There was a long pause. Gabe’s brow furrowed, and his eyes softened. “Yeah… yeah, of course. Don’t worry about it. I’ll come get you.”
Luke set his controller down, watching him closely. When Gabe finally hung up, he let out a quiet sigh and rubbed his face with one hand. “What’s wrong?” Luke asked, his stomach twisting.
Gabe looked over at him, hesitant for a second before answering. “That was Young,” he said quietly. “He, uh… he’s not having a great night. His parents are still barely speaking to him. He said things got kind of tense again, and he doesn’t feel comfortable staying there. So I’m gonna go pick him up.”
For a second, Luke just blinked. The name hit him like a small shock. It was almost like a ghost walking back into the room. He hadn’t thought about him much lately. Or at least, he’d tried not to.
“Oh,” Luke said softly, trying to sound casual, but he could feel his chest tightening. “That sucks… about his parents, I mean.”
“Yeah,” Gabe said, running a hand through his hair. “They’ve been awful to him since last year. I don’t even think they invited him to Christmas dinner. I mean, obviously Young was gonna head home for winter break, but they never explicitly called him or anything to ask what his plans were. It’s really messed up. It’s like they hate him.”
Luke nodded, the heaviness of that truth settling between them. He was sad. Well, angry, even. That Young’s parents were still so cold to him. Nobody deserved that. But the sadness mixed uneasily with something else, something closer to panic. Because Youngjae was coming here. To this house. Tonight.
He hadn’t seen him since summer, when Young had shown up at his bedroom door just to say goodbye before heading back to Harvard. Things had been weird then (awkward, sure) but not bad. They’d talked like normal people, no tension, no bitterness. Luke had almost felt proud of how mature he’d been.
So why was his heart hammering now?
“Did he say if he’s staying the night?” Luke asked, hoping his voice didn’t sound as strained as it felt.
Gabe nodded. “Yeah. I’ll tell him that he can crash in my room again for as long as he needs. I’m sure mom and dad won’t care. I’ll probably be back in, like, thirty minutes.”
“Cool,” Luke said quickly, trying not to sound weird about it. “That’s fine.”
Gabe gave him a lingering look, like he could tell Luke was overthinking. “You two are good now, right?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, like…I know there was that whole awkward thing that happened in high school, but…you’re over that, right?” Gabe asked hopefully.
Luke forced a small smile. “Yeah. Yeah, of course. It was ages ago. I’m over it. We’re good.”
“Okay,” Gabe said, relief running through him. “That’s good. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable if he comes over.”
“No, I won’t be. I’ll stay out of your hair.”
“But I don’t want that,” Gabe said with a frown.
“What do you mean?” Luke asked hesitantly.
“Like, I want you guys to talk, ya know? I want things to be normal and open between you guys. If he comes over, I don’t want you to think i’m ditching you to hang out with him or anything. I want all of us to do shit together. Like play video games and stuff,” Gabe said, and his tone sounded pleading.
Luke frowned at his brother and felt a little guilty. “You sure you’re gonna want me to crash in on you guys hanging out?”
“Of course,” Gabe said quickly. “I would rather you hang out with us than hide away in your room. It’s Christmas.”
Luke gnawed on his lip anxiously but slowly nodded his head. “Sure,” he murmured. “I’ll try to hang out with you guys and not be awkward about it.”
Gabe smiled. “Thanks, Luke. That means a lot.”
Luke smiled back. A real one.
When Gabe stood and grabbed his keys, Luke leaned back on the couch, staring at the flickering Christmas lights reflecting off the window.
We left on good terms, he told himself again, as if repeating it could make it feel less nerve-wracking. Everything will be fine.
But his stomach didn’t listen. It twisted tighter with every passing second that Gabe was gone, the reality sinking in that soon, Youngjae would be walking through that front door again and throwing him that dazzling smile.
He stared at the paused video game screen, the glow of the TV washing over him, and tried not to think about how Youngjae would be here soon. The thought made his stomach twist again. So, he did what he always did when his brain started spinning…he reached for his phone. His thumb hovered for a moment, scrolling through his contacts, before stopping on Noah’s. Without giving himself time to second-guess, he hit FaceTime.
It rang twice before Noah’s sleepy-looking face filled the screen, illuminated by the blue glow of his bedroom lamp. His hair was messy and he had a hoodie pulled up to his chin. “Luke?” he said, voice a little raspy. “Hey, it’s like, midnight. What’s up?”
Luke managed a small grin. “It’s not midnight, it’s barely nine. Don’t be dramatic.”
“Feels like midnight,” Noah mumbled, stretching a little. “You okay? You look tense.”
“Do I?” Luke flopped back onto the couch, holding the phone above him. “I’m fine. You?”
“I’m cool,” Noah said with a shrug.
“What are you doing?”
“Homework.”
“It’s Christmas break,” Luke said flatly.
“And when you guys stress about still having essays to complete, I’ll be sleeping in. So who is the real winner here, huh?”
“Your dads making you do it, isn’t he?” Luke raised an eyebrow.
Noah groaned loudly. “Yes, he is so fucking annoying. I swear he thinks breaks should be abolished. Like out of everyone, why the hell did I end up with the dad that teaches?”
“Sucks to be you,” Luke said.
“Whatever. Just tell me why you actually called.”
“Who says I didn’t just call you cause I missed you?” Luke asked sweetly.
Noah threw him a soft smirk. “You know I always miss you when i’m not around you, but seriously, you never call me randomly like this.”
“First of all, that’s a lie. I do randomly call you sometimes. Second, stop with all the flirtatious nonsense. I’ll start becoming delusional again. You’re the one who said we should stay friends,” Luke frowned.
“Did I? If I recall correctly, it was a mutual agreement.”
“A mutual agreement we both suck at,” Luke mumbled.
Noah smirked wider. “You know you love those nights where we break the rules.”
Luke felt his cheeks redden instantly at the mention of their late night rendezvouses which were more innocent than Noah was making them out to be, but he rolled his eyes and tried to come across as laid back and nonchalant. “Shut up.”
“Just tell me what’s up.”
Luke heaved a large sigh. Then, he just decided to be honest. Noah knew his baggage. He would listen and understand. “Gabe just left to pick up Youngjae.”
Noah frowned. “The Harvard guy?”
“Yeah. His parents are still being assholes, so he’s crashing here tonight.”
“Ah,” Noah said, already putting it together. “So you’re spiralling.”
“I’m not spiralling,” Luke lied. “I’m just… mildly imploding.”
Noah laughed softly. “That’s literally spiralling.”
Luke rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at his mouth. “Whatever. I just needed a distraction before he gets here.”
“Lucky for you,” Noah said, sitting up a little straighter, “I’m great at distractions. Want me to start a rant about how my dad tried to make the GSA posters ‘more inclusive’ by adding clip art rainbows?”
Luke snorted. “Please don’t. I can’t handle that kind of secondhand embarrassment right now.”
“Alright, then I’ll talk about something else,” Noah said. “Like how you totally ignored me for three whole days after that last meeting. Should I be offended?”
Luke groaned. “I wasn’t ignoring you. I was busy. Senior year, remember?”
“Nobody is ever that busy,” Noah shot back.
“You are if you wanna be valedictorian,” Luke said.
“What if I steal that role from you?”
Luke actually sat up sharply. “Excuse me?”
Noah snickered at his reaction. “I am the principals kid. It should go to me.”
“This is your first year at our school!” Luke exclaimed.
“So?” Noah said innocently.
“So,” Luke frowned. “It’s impossible.”
“Chill out, Lukey,” Noah laughed lightly, his eyes twinkling. “I’m kidding. I could never be valedictorian. I’m not smart enough.”
“Is that a compliment?” Luke battered his eyelashes.
“No,” Noah said flatly.
Then they both laughed, and just like that, the tight feeling in Luke’s chest eased a little. The sound of Noah’s voice and the banter grounded him. He didn’t have to think about Young. Or Harvard. Or the way his heart still stung when he remembered that night last summer.
“Thanks,” Luke said after a moment, softer now.
“For what?”
“For being my distraction.”
Noah smiled, that same easy, crooked smile Luke was starting to know too well. “Always. What’s your plans for Christmas anyway?”
“Same as usual,” Luke shrugged. “Gifts, dinner, movie.”
“Sounds boring.”
Luke scoffed but before he could say anything else, the sound of the front door opening echoed faintly from downstairs. His smile dropped and his chest tightened again.
Noah noticed the shift in his expression. “He’s there?”
Luke nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
“Want to hang up?” Noah asked carefully.
Luke hesitated, glancing toward the hallway. “No,” he murmured. “Just… stay for a sec.”
And Noah did. He was quiet and steady. He had become a comforting presence in Luke’s life ever since they had met. Somewhere along the line, without Luke even realising it, Noah had slipped into that soft, unspoken role that he was the person Luke could always lean on without fear of judgment or awkward silences. It wasn’t something either of them had planned; it just happened.
They’d gotten close fast. It was easy with Noah. He wasn’t the kind of guy who needed to fill every quiet moment with noise or brag about things he didn’t actually care about. He wasn’t one of those macho, chest-beating types Luke had grown up surrounded by—the ones who acted like kindness was weakness and feelings were something to be ashamed of. Despite his broad shoulders and the kind of face that could easily pass for “popular jock,” Noah was soft-spoken, a little awkward, and more thoughtful than anyone Luke had ever met.
He’d show up at Luke’s house after school just to hang out, sometimes bringing snacks or energy drinks he’d clearly stolen from his dad’s office. They’d sprawl across Luke’s floor with their laptops open, pretending to study but mostly talking about the dumbest things—movies, classmates, random memes that somehow always sent them both into fits of laughter. Luke couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed like that with someone. Not even with Eli. Sure, he loved Eli. Eli would always be his number one best friend. But Noah was different in a sense and Luke still couldn’t put his finger on it.
Noah had this way of making him feel… seen. Not like he was Luke-the-trans-kid or Luke-Gabe’s-little-brother, but just Luke. Whenever they talked, it felt like the world shrunk down to something small and manageable, where everything was easy and nothing hurt too much. Noah always met him halfway, matching his sarcasm, and his dry humour, or his occasional mood swings. They had good banter, the kind that felt natural, like a rhythm they both understood. Noah teased him endlessly, but it was never cruel. Luke teased back, sometimes to hide how warm it made him feel. There was comfort in it. All that playful back-and-forth, the inside jokes, the unspoken trust that sat between them.
And now, staring at Noah’s tired face through the screen, Luke realised just how much he’d come to rely on him. Noah didn’t even have to say anything; his presence alone made the world feel a little less unbearable.
Gabe and Young suddenly appeared in the doorway of the living room, both dusted with cold air. Gabe’s cheeks were pink from the wind, his hair sticking up. Young followed a step behind him, still unzipping his coat, his dark hair slightly damp with melted snow.
Luke quickly sat up, the phone still in his hand. “Hey,” he said, trying to sound casual. “You’re back. That was quick.”
“Yup,” Gabe said, already narrowing his eyes at the phone. “Who’s that?”
“Noah,” Luke replied, a little too fast.
Gabe stepped closer, squinting like he was inspecting some kind of crime scene. “Noah?” he repeated. “As in the new kid you hang out with all the time that I keep seeing on your instagram? The one who went to the Halloween party dressed as a chipmunk? The one I keep seeing comment on your posts??”
“Oh my God, Gabe,” Luke groaned. “You sound like Mom.”
“I’m just asking questions,” Gabe said defensively, leaning closer to the screen. “Hey, Noah, right? I’m Gabe. Luke’s big brother. Just making sure you’re treating him right.”
Noah, ever the polite one, gave a small wave from the phone. “Uh, hi. Yeah, of course. I’m treating him fine.”
“Fine?” Gabe echoed, as though that were the most suspicious word in the English language.
“Gabe,” Luke rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Stop interrogating him. You’re scaring him.”
“I’m not scared,” Noah said. “It’s cool.”
That only seemed to encourage Gabe, who opened his mouth again, probably to launch into a full background check, when Luke noticed Young lingering by the wall all quiet and hesitant, almost unsure where to stand. He looked exactly the same and completely different all at once. The last time Luke had seen him, things had ended in awkward heartbreak and silence, but now Young just looked… tired. Older.
Luke swallowed and forced a small smile. “Hey, Youngjae,” he said softly. “How was the drive?”
Young blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, fine. Snow wasn’t too bad.”
“That’s good,” Luke said. He shifted the phone so that Young could see the screen too. “This is my friend Noah. Noah, this is Youngjae. He’s, uh, Gabe’s best friend.”
Noah smiled politely, but Luke could see the effort it was taking him not to bounce up and down upon finally seeing the infamous Youngjae Eli and Luke had mentioned once or twice, or a thousand times. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
Young nodded once, returning the gesture. “You too.”
There was a brief pause, awkward but not unbearable. Luke could feel the tension hovering somewhere between them, faint but real. He wasn’t sure what Young was thinking, but he wanted to show (maybe even prove) that he wasn’t bitter anymore. That he was better now. So he smiled again, warmer this time, and said, “We were just talking about Christmas plans. You guys doing anything?”
Young’s lips quirked upward slightly, like he appreciated the effort. “Not much,” he said. “Just trying to avoid awkward family dinners.”
Luke chuckled softly. “Aren’t we all.”
Young smiled softly across at him.
Luke quickly looked back down at his phone and said his goodbyes to Noah with a soft grin, promising they’d talk tomorrow. When the call ended, the room suddenly felt quieter and he set his phone aside, noticing the way Gabe was already smirking.
“Alright,” Gabe said, clapping his hands together. “Enough Facetime flirting. Who’s up for a few more rounds of Street Brawl?”
Luke rolled his eyes. “More like, who wants to lose at Street Brawl. I’ll smoke you.”
“Bold words coming from someone I beat last time,” Gabe said, already reaching for the controllers.
Luke sighed but shuffled over on the couch to make room. “Fine. But you’re gonna regret this.”
Young hesitated for a moment, his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. “You sure you guys don’t mind if I—”
“Sit down,” Gabe interrupted, patting the spot between them. “You’re part of the family, man. You know that.”
So Young did. He slid onto the couch, right between the two brothers, and Luke immediately caught the faint scent of his cologne. It was something warm, musky and familiar in a way that made his chest twist. It was ridiculous, really, how something as simple as a smell could bring back so many memories. He focused on the TV, trying to steady his breathing, trying not to think about how close Young’s knee was to brushing his.
He didn’t like him anymore. He was sure of that. Mostly.
Young laughed at something Gabe said, his head tilting back slightly, and Luke forced himself to stare at the screen. He’s not interested, Luke reminded himself. He has a boyfriend. He’s Gabe’s best friend. You’re not that kid anymore who thought one dance could change everything.
It helped to think about Noah, and about how easy things were with him. Sometimes they’d kiss (to ‘experiment’ the other boy would say with a grin), sometimes they’d just lie on Luke’s bed and scroll through dumb videos, giggling about everything and nothing. It wasn’t serious, not yet. But it felt good.
Luke smiled faintly to himself as Gabe cursed at the screen, blaming Young for losing their match. It was funny, sitting here sandwiched next to his brother and the boy who had once been his heartbreak, thinking how much had changed since then. He wasn’t over Youngjae, not completely. But he also wasn’t under him anymore (if that made sense). And that in itself felt like a kind of peace Luke desperately wanted. Needed.
A few rounds of the video game later, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Luke glanced over his shoulder just in time to see his mom appear in the doorway, drying her hands on a towel, his dad right behind her. Both of them stopped mid-step when they noticed who was sitting on the couch.
“Oh my goodness,” his mom breathed, a wide smile breaking across her face. “Young!”
Young quickly stood, looking a little startled but smiling anyway. “Hi, Mrs. Davies. Hi, Mr. Davies.”
His mom crossed the room in seconds, pulling him into a tight hug before he could even finish his greeting. “It’s been ages! You look so grown-up! How are you, sweetheart?”
Young laughed. “I’m okay. Just, y’know, school and stuff.”
His dad joined in next, clapping a big hand on Young’s shoulder before pulling him into a half-hug that made him wince and grin at the same time. “Good to see you, kid. We’ve missed having you around here. And please, stop with the Mr and Mrs crap. It’s Linda and Robert. You know that.”
“I’ll try and remember that,” Young said, his voice sheepish and shy now. Luke’s lips twitched upwards because he could see just how awkward Young really was in front of his parents. It was comical. “It’s really nice to be back.”
Luke felt a strange warmth in his chest. There was something about seeing his parents so genuinely happy to see Young again that made the house feel fuller and brighter, like things were clicking back into place slowly but surely.
Gabe stood up too, rubbing the back of his neck as he explained what had happened. “Yeah, uh, Young’s staying for Christmas if that’s okay. Things with his parents are still… kinda rough.”
That part of the sentence hung heavy in the air.
Luke’s mom’s expression softened immediately, her smile turning sad at the edges. “Oh, honey,” she said, touching Young’s arm gently. “You’re always welcome here, you know that. You don’t even have to ask.”
Young nodded, his eyes dropping to the floor for a moment before he looked back up with a smile that didn’t quite reach them. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Luke could tell by the way his shoulders stayed a little too tight and the way his laugh didn’t have that same sparkle it used to that he was trying so hard to seem fine when he wasn’t. Luke recognised that look all too well. It was the look of someone trying to hold themselves together.
“Well!” his dad said, clapping his hands once, breaking the moment. “Dinner’s ready, and if we don’t eat soon, your mom’s going to accuse me of picking at the food again.”
“You always pick at the food,” she muttered with a playful glare.
As everyone moved to the dining table, Luke found himself next to Young again. The table was crowded with plates of roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, steaming gravy, and perfectly golden chicken. The smell alone could’ve been a hug. Luke’s parents did this every year. They would ‘practice’ cooking a large chicken so that on Christmas day when they had actual Turkey, it would turn out nice. And it did. Every year, his parents Turkey was flawless.
Once they all started eating, the conversation turned lively. His parents were in one of their cheerful, chatty moods, asking question after question about Harvard and lacrosse, clearly eager to make Young feel included.
“So tell us,” his mom said, cutting into her chicken, “how’s the team doing? You two keeping Harvard undefeated this season?”
Gabe chuckled, brushing his hair out of his face. “We wish. We lost a few games, but we’re doing pretty well overall.”
“Yeah,” Young added, smiling at the memory. “We’ve got a strong team this year. The new coach is strict, but he’s fair. Practices are brutal, though. You’d think we were training for the Olympics.”
Luke laughed softly. “You always said you liked a challenge.”
“Yeah,” Young said, glancing at him. His dark eyes flickered down to Luke’s clothes briefly and then back up at his face quickly. “Guess I wasn’t lying.”
Dad grinned. “Well, that’s the spirit. Grit builds character. You’ll thank those practices one day.”
“Maybe when I can still walk after them,” Gabe muttered, earning a laugh from everyone at the table.
The mood lightened from there, with stories about team bus rides, about late-night study sessions and weird cafeteria food. Every now and then, Luke caught Young’s expression soften when he laughed, his eyes shining the way they used to before things got complicated. It felt easy again. Comfortable. Familiar. Like the holidays were doing what they were supposed to: bringing everyone together, even the people who had drifted.
And as his mom reached across the table to refill Young’s plate and his dad cracked another terrible dad joke that made everyone groan, Luke found himself smiling.
Yeah. Everything actually felt okay.
After dinner, when everyone was full and leaning back in their chairs, Luke’s mom clapped her hands together with that look that meant someone’s about to get volunteered.
“Alright, boys,” she said, smiling at the three of them, “since we did all the cooking, I think it’s only fair you handle the cleanup.”
Gabe groaned dramatically. “We’re home for Christmas, not kitchen duty!”
His dad smirked over his glass. “Then you can trade places and cook next time.”
“Never mind,” Gabe said quickly, standing and stacking plates. “Cleanup sounds perfect.”
Luke laughed as Gabe started gathering the dishes from the table, grumbling under his breath but doing it anyway. Young stood next, rolling up his sleeves, and followed him to the kitchen. Luke took his time, picking up stray napkins and the last of the serving dishes, before heading in after them.
The kitchen was warm and smelled faintly of gravy and cinnamon. Gabe was loading the dishwasher with whatever fit, and anything that didn’t, Young was already washing by hand in the sink. He stood with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows, the sound of running water and clinking dishes filling the space.
Luke grabbed a towel from the counter and moved beside him, taking the wet plates as they came. “You don’t have to do this, you know,” he said. “You’re technically the guest.”
Young shrugged lightly, his hands still in the water. “Yeah, well. I’d feel weird just sitting around while everyone else works.”
“That’s fair,” Luke said, drying a plate. His eyes flickered back to where Gabe had placed the last of the things in the kitchen before he stalked off back inside to where his parents sat. Now it was just Young and Luke. The latter hesitated before adding quietly, “It’s… it’s good to have you here again, though.”
Young glanced over at him, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “Yeah? You sure about that?”
Luke met his eyes for a moment, then looked back down at the dish in his hands. “I mean… Yeah. Of course. We didn’t exactly end on bad terms.”
“No,” Young agreed softly, rinsing another plate. “We didn’t. Things just got weird for a bit.”
Luke huffed a little laugh. “That’s an understatement.”
For a few moments, there was only the sound of the faucet, the soft scrape of plates being stacked. It wasn’t uncomfortable, though. If anything, it felt easier than Luke expected, like enough time had passed for both of them to let things settle where they needed to.
“You seem so different every time I see you,” Young said after a pause.
Luke froze for half a second before he said, “Different how?”
Young tilted his head, thinking. “You seem more sure of yourself, I guess. And you sound way more confident. And, uh—” He smirked faintly, his tone teasing now. “You look good too.”
Luke rolled his eyes, though his face warmed anyway. “You’re just saying that because you’re standing in my parents’ kitchen.”
“I’m serious,” Young said. “You do. You look great.”
Luke’s chest tightened at that, but not in the same way it used to. It wasn’t the messy rush of old feelings or the sharp ache of regret. It was softer, warmer. Gratitude, maybe.
“Thanks,” he said quietly. “That means a lot.”
“That testosterone is really doing you good,” Young added.
Luke flushed. “You don’t think my voice is too deep?”
“I won’t lie, I was a little startled when you first spoke,” Young said sheepishly. Luke grinned at that. “But no, it’s cool. I like it. You suit it. And holy shit, is that facial hair?”
Luke flushed further and quickly turned away from Young, putting a few plates in the cupboards so the boy wouldn’t see his face. “Maybe,” he said awkwardly.
“Do you wanna grow a full on beard?” Youngjae asked.
“No,” Luke said. “I don’t think I would suit it.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine you with a beard.”
“I can’t imagine you with one either,” Luke said.
“I can’t grow facial hair for shit,” Young laughed.
“Really?” Luke asked in surprise.
“Yeah,” Young pursed his lip. “It’s the asian genes. Look at me, I have a baby face.”
“You mean a flawless face,” Luke corrected. Young did a double take and Luke realised what he said because he quickly grabbed another plate and pretended to be busy with it. “I just meant you have amazing genes. Like, thick straight hair. A nice jawline. No acne. You’re practically flawless in that sense. I wish I had clear skin like you.”
“Ah,” Young nodded. “I think your face is pretty flawless too, honestly.”
“God, don’t lie. Look at my pimples,” Luke grumbled, pointing some out on his cheeks.
“To this very second, I thought they were freckles,” Young admitted.
“Shut up, idiot,” Luke laughed.
Young grinned at Luke’s reaction, eyes flicking to his face again. “No, seriously. You’ve got the whole cute-boy-next-door thing going on now. I bet everyone at school is into you.”
Luke snorted. “Yeah, right. I’m not exactly breaking hearts in the hallway.”
“I don’t believe that,” Young said, turning back to the sink. “You’ve got soft aura. Girls and guys love that.”
Luke threw the dish towel at him. “Oh my god, shut up.”
Young ducked, laughing, and the towel landed in the sink with a wet slap. “Hey, that’s unsportsmanlike conduct!”
“You sound like Gabe,” Luke said, laughing too. He reached past him to grab the towel, but Young didn’t move right away. For a second, their arms brushed, and Luke caught the familiar scent of his cologne. Their eyes met briefly.
Young finally stepped aside, handing him the towel with a playful grin. “Sorry, forgot personal space exists.”
“Yeah, clearly.” Luke’s voice came out lighter than he expected. He was smiling now, shaking his head as he wiped down the counter. “You’re such a menace, you know that?”
“I’ve been called worse,” Young said, still grinning. “But admit it, you missed me.”
Luke glanced at him. “You’re really fishing for compliments tonight, huh?”
“Not fishing. Just observing.”
“Observing what?”
“That you’re smiling again,” Young said simply.
Luke froze for half a beat, then laughed it off, pretending to focus on the countertop. “You’re so dramatic.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know,” Luke said after a pause, softer this time. “My life is improving. Dramatically.”
Young smiled and went back to rinsing the last of the dishes, humming something quietly under his breath again. The sound filled the kitchen in a way that felt weirdly comforting, like nothing bad had ever happened between them, like they’d just picked up where they left off before everything got complicated. Luke caught himself watching Young’s hands as he worked. God he had nice hands. Luke wondered what it would be like to hold them. The veins in his arms looked insane. All that lacrosse and gripping onto his stick paid off.
When they were finally done cleaning, Young turned off the tap, wiped his hands, and looked at Luke. “We make a pretty good team, huh?”
“Yeah,” Luke said, smiling faintly. “We do.”
Young gave him a little smile before heading toward the living room. Luke stayed behind for a second, staring down at the clean counter, his reflection faintly visible in the polished surface. He caught himself smiling without meaning to, warmth still lingering in his chest.
And for the life of him, he couldn’t remember why he’d ever hated Youngjae in the first place.
A/N: My jaw dropped when I saw how many people are currently team Noah on the poll on the previous page. Don’t we just love drama????
Also sorry about my little rant on my profile, how awkward *nervous laughter* I’ve recently been diagnosed with an auto immune disease which there is no cure for. it’s a lifelong thing so i’m trying to mentally prepare for the fact that it’s never gonna go away and it’s going to progressively get worse over time. So i’ve been losing it to say the least. but anyway moving on.
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