Aki giggled and separated himself to the guy as he made his way in the middle of the group. He talked, he joked, he laughed, and he drank as hard as he could. He did not stop moving his mouth, be it talking or drinking, because if he did, he was afraid that the pain would come back, crushing him.

But he was one with limited physical stamina and not too long, he felt like the world started spinning. He plopped down to a chair.

“Don’t you think you’re drinking a little too much?”

He heard the guy beside him said. He stared at him, trying hard to see a clearer view of his face. It was such a shame to miss out on his face when he had a wonderful voice to listen to. His voice deep and clear, music to Aki’s ringing ear. He thought he could listen to the other man nag for the entire day.

“You should take it easy.”

Aki giggled. So uptight!

Perhaps alcohol had made him bold as he leaned his head on the other’s shoulder and poked his cheek.

“Uptight guys like you won’t be popular...or so I heard ha!”

The guy continued to watch him.

“Word of advice--hic-- you should be cool, be manly! Like Drew!”

“Drew?”

Aki waved his finger in front of the other’s face. “That's why Zee ch-hic- chose him.”

The other guy paused. “I think it’s better to be yourself.”

The smile on Aki’s lips faded as the corner of his eyes heated. “...sometimes being yourself is the hardest thing to do.”

Was all he remembered saying before he everything went dark.

+++++

In a hazy state, he could feel a slight rattle around him. A car? But Aki didn’t care. Why would he? When he’s nestling comfortably. So warm… and so safe.

When he came around again, he was lying on something soft. But the warmth remained there, beside him. He clung to the source as if his life depended on it. The owner of that warmth welcomed him and pressed him closer. Aki could not have been happier as he fell back into a deep slumber.

+++++

The first thing Aki noticed was it was warm. But it was a good kind of warm. He even snuggled closer to it.

He inched closer and wriggled.

...until he bumped his head onto something. Or someone. His eyes snapped open and the first thing he saw was somebody else’s chest.

He looked up and was greeted by a beautiful face, probably the most handsome one he had ever seen in his entire lifetime. He was entranced for a while that he actually froze for a full minute.

Aki shook his head as if to clear his fogged mind. Him. And another guy. In bed. He cautiously peeked under the covers. Half naked. Both of them

The last thought calmed down the rising panic a bit. At least they were clothed. And it seemed like no conspicuous places hurt.

He tried to think but it seemed like his mind was still clouded. This was too much for foggy brain.

Carefully and slowly, he disentangled himself to the other man, afraid to wake him up. As Aki moved back, the arms around him tightened, pulling him back.

“Hmm?!”

He tried moving again, one eye checking if the other person was awake. Yet the more he stared, the more he felt like he had seen the man.

“Oh no.”

The sleeping figure beside me, the one he was hugging not too long ago, was no other than the school idol, Liam!