A narrow bar of sunlight shone through a crack in the curtain and twinkled in Seri’s eyes, awakening him. He blinked several times and sat up, careful not to pull the covers off of Richard’s sleeping form.
He leaned forward and opened the bottom drawer in Richard’s nightstand, which Richard excitedly presented to him as “Seri’s drawer” several weeks earlier. Seri still felt a little giddy that he was sharing some space in Richard’s apartment, even if it was just a small drawer where he kept some spare clothes and toiletries.
He fumbled out Richard’s loose sweater and pulled it over his head. Seri had almost brought a spare robe from his apartment, but in the end decided that he liked the feeling of wearing something of Richard’s more. He also liked that Richard couldn’t seem to keep his hands off of him when he wore that sweater.
The bedcovers rustled behind Seri, and Richard mumbled something that might have been “What time is it?”
Seri rubbed where he estimated Richard’s back might be under the covers. “It’s still early. I’m just going to make some coffee.”
Seri padded down the hallway into the kitchen and tried not to make too much noise as he fumbled in Richard’s cabinets, trying to remember where he kept the coffee. Richard was an early riser and normally beat Seri out of bed, but after the events of the previous evening Seri thought Richard was probably more tired than usual.
I wish I’d found a different way to tell Richard. Seri started the water heating and took out two cups, lost in thought. He thought about the picture Taichi had shown him, with Richard grinning a huge grin despite his slightly tear-reddened eyes.
“…Richard had gotten lost. Not for very long, mind you, but by the time we found him he said he thought we’d left without him.”
Seri hadn’t given Taichi’s words much consideration then, but now he guiltily played back the conversation he’d had with Richard in his office. I guess I made him feel lost again, didn’t I? Seri breathed out, relieved he’d gotten the chance to better explain himself.
“I’d be lost without him, too,” Seri muttered under his breath.
Talking to myself now? Seri had never felt less in control of his own head or emotions, but he wasn’t surprised that he didn’t mind, so long as it was Richard holding the key to his heart.
Seri hummed to himself as he poured steaming water over the coffee grounds. Then he stretched, lifting his arms towards the ceiling, breathing in the crisp smell of coffee.
Click.
Seri spun around, catching a glimpse of the top of Richard’s head as he peaked over the back of the living room couch to take Seri’s picture.
“Richard! I thought you were sleeping! And did you just take my picture?”
Richard popped his head all the way up and turned his phone around so Seri could see the screen. “Look, Seri, look! My adorable lover, making me coffee while wearing my sweater. Ah, I could look at this picture forever.” He turned the phone back around and zoomed in. “And the way that sweater doesn’t quite cover-”
“Richard! C’mon, that’s embarrassing! You better delete that!”
Seri came over and reached for the phone but Richard pulled it out of his grasp, laughing. “Well, I might delete it if you’d let me take some sexy pictures…”
“That’s even more embarrassing!”
“But such a cute model has nothing to worry about! Come here, I’ll show you.” Richard pulled Seri around the other side of the couch, then pushed him down onto the cushions. Straddling Seri’s hips, Richard tried to keep the phone steady while Seri pushed at his hands, protesting.
“No way! I can’t do sexy pictures. Wait!-”
Click.
“Perfect! Next we’ll take a picture with the sweater coming off…” Richard slipped his hand under the sweater and lightly began to trail his fingers over Seri’s skin.
“Hold on, that tickles. Richard!”
Click.
“Perfect! You’re starting to blush, you know. Very cute. Next we lift it up higher…” Richard’s fingers found a nipple and pinched it gently.
Seri squeaked. “Richard!-”
The sound of a key turning in the front door was followed immediately by Taichi’s voice. “Richard? Are you up? I’m coming in…”
Seri clapped both hands over his mouth. He couldn’t see the doorway over the back of the couch, but he could hear the sounds of Taichi stepping out of his shoes and coming further into the apartment.
Richard sat up and looked over the back of the couch towards the kitchen. “Taichi! It’s good to see you!”
“Oh, good, you’re up. I wanted to bring some breakfast over for you. You seemed really down last night. Although…” Taichi paused, noting Richard’s bright smile. Seri kept both his hands firmly over his mouth; Richard’s hands hadn’t been disturbed by Taichi’s arrival in the slightest and continued to move across Seri’s chest.
“…you seem fine now?” Taichi finished. He glanced to the counter, where Seri had set out two cups, then glanced back towards to bedroom, eyes widening.
“Oh!” Then more quietly, “Oh, Richard, sorry! Is Seri over now?”
Richard nodded cheerily. “He is! And he looks even cuter than usual this morning. We were just doing a photoshoot.” Richard’s head dipped out of Taichi’s view as he returned his attention downward and circled a finger around Seri’s belly button. Seri shivered and tried to swat at Richard one-handed.
Taichi dropped the bag he was holding. “Oh shit! Oh Seri, are you over there too? Sorry! Leaving now.” He turned around quickly and headed towards the door.
“Wait, Taichi, don’t go!” Richard popped back up again, laughing. “Really, please stay and eat with us. You took the trouble to come all the way here and bring breakfast, after all.”
Taichi turned around. “Are you sure? If you’re in the middle of…” He trailed off, still inching backwards towards the door.
“Stay, stay! Right, Seri?”
Seri finally pushed Richard’s hands away and sat up so his head just peaked above the back of the couch. “St-stay!” He cleared his voice and tried again, “Yes, please, join us Taichi. We were just, ah…”
Taichi hesitated, then laughed. “Sorry Seri. I don’t know if I spoiled your morning or just saved you from being attacked by a wild beast.”
Richard widened his eyes. “Surely you can’t mean me?” He noted the direction Seri’s eyes were headed and he grabbed his phone off the table and out of Seri’s reach as he smiled.
Seri gave up on reaching for the phone and sighed. “Definitely the latter. Here Taichi, I’ll make you a cup of coffee.”
Comments (1)
See all