Chapter Text
JL lay on his side, half-covered by the crumpled sheets, the faint glow of the bedside lamp painting soft gold over Steven’s skin. The room smelled faintly of rain and warm breath, the kind of quiet that always came after everything had already been said without words.
Steven was in the shower. JL could hear the water running, steady, rhythmic, like it was washing away what just happened between them. Again.
And he hated how that thought made his chest tighten.
He stared at the ceiling, tracing invisible lines with his eyes, trying not to think too much. But of course, he always did.
Ano ba tayo, Steven Kim?
The question echoed in his head like a song he couldn’t stop replaying.
Four months. Four months of this, of sneaking around, of nights that blurred between want and something dangerously close to love.
And yet... never once did they talk about what it meant.
Despite saying you're mine during those intimate moments, hindi rin naman binigyan ni Steven ng depinisyon kung ano ba talaga sila.
Just soft kisses, quiet sighs, and the occasional baby whispered against his skin, words that felt like promises, even when they weren’t.
JL closed his eyes, remembering how Steven’s hands always lingered a second too long, how he’d look at him like there was more behind that gaze.
He treated him like he was special. Like he mattered.
But if he did... then why was JL still afraid to ask? Bakit hanggang ngayon takot pa rin siyang mag-tanong? May mawawala ba?
Oo. Marami. Siguro.
He exhaled slowly. “Tangina naman. Ang hirap talaga ng ganitong setup.”
So he stayed quiet.
Not because he doesn't care.
Maybe because he already knew the answer.
Maybe because he was too scared to hear it confirmed, that this, them, was built on borrowed time and unspoken rules.
Baka ako lang pala ‘tong may iniisip na ganito, he thought bitterly. Baka sa kaniya, simple lang talaga ‘to. Wala, fubu, ganun, period.
The sound of the shower stopped, followed by the soft creak of the bathroom door.
JL didn’t move. He was still sitting on the bed, the sheet barely covering his hips, pretending to scroll on his phone even though his thoughts were miles away.
Then Steven stepped out, hair damp, towel hanging low on his waist, skin still glistening from the water. The air suddenly felt different, heavier, like the small space between them wasn’t big enough for all the things JL couldn’t say.
Steven moved with that quiet confidence that always made JL’s chest ache. The kind that wasn’t loud, but impossible to ignore.
JL tried to look anywhere but at him, but of course, his eyes betrayed him, tracing the lines of Steven’s shoulders, the faint droplets sliding down his collarbone, the way his muscles shifted as he moved.
Tangina naman, JL cursed inwardly, how am I supposed to forget you if you keep looking like that?
Steven pulled open his drawer, grabbing a clean shirt and jeans. He didn’t speak for a while, just the sound of fabric and faint music from his phone filling the silence. But then, as he fixed his shirt, he looked over his shoulder.
“You okay?”
JL blinked, caught off guard.
“Yeah.” he lied quickly. “Just... thinking.”
Steven’s lips curved into that soft, familiar smile, the one that made JL want to punch the air and melt at the same time.
“Thinking again.” Steven teased, walking closer. “You never stop, do you?”
JL didn’t answer. He could feel the heat creeping up his neck as Steven stopped in front of him, close enough that JL could smell the faint scent of soap and aftershave.
Then, without a word, Steven reached out and cupped JL’s face in both hands. His palms were warm, steady, gentle, completely different from the way he held him hours ago.
“You’re really pretty.”
For a moment, JL forgot how to breathe.
Steven’s eyes softened as he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss right under JL’s right eye, where his small mole was.
A barely-there touch. But it was enough to make JL’s entire body freeze.
“Take a bath, baby.” Steven murmured, his voice low but kind. “Para makakain na tayo.”
And just like that, he stepped back, as if nothing happened. As if that kiss didn’t just ruin JL’s entire emotional stability.
Steven turned away, humming a tune as he grabbed his bag, while JL sat there like his soul had just left his body.
Putangina naman, JL thought, pressing a hand over his face. How can I not fall for this man?
His chest felt tight, his stomach twisting with something he couldn’t name. That tiny kiss, that simple, stupid kiss, felt like it meant everything and nothing at once.
He hated that about Steven.
He hated that he could be so gentle, so caring, so impossibly sweet right after wrecking him, like he wasn’t the same man who had him trembling hours ago.
How was JL supposed to separate those things?
How was he supposed to not give meaning to every touch, every word, every glance?
Steven would say baby like it was nothing, trace his skin like it was a habit, and JL would spend days wondering if it meant something.
If it meant him.
You can’t keep doing this, he told himself. You knew what this was from the start.
But knowing and feeling were two different things.
And when Steven looked at him like that, calm, soft, tender, it was impossible not to believe there was something real there.
JL stood up slowly, still dazed, still replaying that kiss in his head.
He reached for his clothes but ended up just staring at them for a few seconds. His reflection in the mirror caught his eye, hair messy, lips slightly swollen, a faint mark on his collarbone that he couldn’t quite hide.
He sighed.
“Great...” he muttered to himself. “You look like a walking mistake.”
But his heart said otherwise. His heart said it wasn’t a mistake. His heart said, You love him, idiot.
By the time JL stepped into the bathroom, the steam still lingered from Steven’s shower. The scent of his shampoo hung in the air, mint and something faintly woodsy. JL inhaled, closing his eyes, his fingers tracing the edge of the sink like it could ground him.
He needed to stop thinking about Steven.
Please lang, even just for a few minutes. Let me think about something else.
So, as he turned the water on, he forced his mind elsewhere, to something less dangerous, less confusing.
The upcoming field trip. Right. Kailangan niyang sumali kahit labag sa loob niya.
Four days and three nights.
Tangina, how is he gonna survive in a remote area with limited signal and shared rooms with strangers?
Just thinking about it made him groan.
Great. Mukhang ito na talaga katapusan ko.
He tried to focus on something practical.
Okay, how about we focus on your checklist. Clothes. Toiletries. Extra socks. Powerbank. Flashlight.
His thoughts raced faster.
Should I bring medicine? Maybe coffee packets? Ah—sunscreen! Baka mainit. And—
But then, his mind betrayed him again.
Naalala niya na naman yung pinag-usapan nila ni Steven kanina.
“Are you going to join the field trip?” Tanong ng nakakatanda habang nasa sasakyan sila papuntang condo nito.
JL hummed and said, “Yeah. Kailangan since mataas din yung points. Why?”
Steven just smirked at him, “Cause I'll also be there.”
He froze. The reality of it hit him like a splash of cold water.
“Putangina...” he muttered under his breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “How the hell am I supposed to survive that?”
He could already imagine it, long hours in the bus, Steven sitting just a few seats away, throwing him those quiet looks when no one’s paying attention. Shared glances that lasted too long. Whispered instructions during the activities.
And then at night... shared silence. Maybe a small touch under the table. Maybe a quiet moment in the dark that would blur the line between restraint and desire.
JL sighed, letting the water cascade down his back.
You can’t trust yourself around him, he told himself.
But a smaller, quieter voice inside his chest whispered, Or maybe you just can’t trust him around you.
Because no matter how many times Steven said, We’re keeping this simple, nothing about the way he acted felt simple.
He treated JL like something fragile. Like he mattered. Like he was more than a secret.
And every time he did, every soft look, every gentle word, JL’s heart gave it meaning, no matter how hard he tried not to.
“How can I not fall for that...” he whispered to no one, the sound of the shower almost drowning out his voice.
He pressed his palms against the tiles, bowing his head as the water hit his skin, as if he could wash away the thoughts clinging to him like heat.
But no matter how many times he tried to convince himself that this was temporary, his heart kept betraying him, whispering the same question over and over, like a wound that refused to close.
Ano ba talaga tayo, Steven Kim?
And deep down, JL already knew the answer.
He just wasn’t brave enough to say it yet.
⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
The parking lot buzzed with noise, laughter, chatter, the metallic rumble of luggage being dragged across the concrete. The sun was merciless, beating down on the crowd of students waiting for their turn to board. JL adjusted the strap of his backpack, the heat prickling the back of his neck.
“Ang init, grabe...” he muttered under his breath, squinting as he glanced toward the buses lined up in neat rows. Five of them, each assigned with two teachers. He scanned for Steven but caught only glimpses of other faculty members standing near their buses.
Good. Maybe this time, he’d actually get a break.
Hindi naman sa ayaw niyang makita ang lalaki pero sa presensya kasi ni Steven, parang nawawala sa isip si JL. Nagiging tanga. Kaya siguro mas mabuti nang hindi muna sila magkasama kahit sa bus man lang.
He tried to calm the thudding in his chest. Ever since that morning, ever since Steven kissed the mole under his eye like it was something sacred, JL hadn’t been able to think straight. Every small detail replayed in his mind, the warmth of Steven’s hand on his jaw, the softness of his voice when he told him to take a bath. It was maddening, how something so simple could make him feel this much.
Now he stood under the sun, hoping the heat could burn the memory away.
“Next, Class 4-A!” One of the coordinators called.
JL’s class.
Finally.
He exhaled sharply, stepping forward with his classmates, waiting for the teacher to call their names for headcount. The noise around him blurred into a dull hum, he just wanted to get this over with, to find a window seat, put on his earphones, and not think about him.
The line moved slowly. JL tugged on his cap, head down, too distracted to notice the figure that slipped behind him, until a firm hand brushed against his waist and tugged him backward, just enough for the person behind him to take his place.
“Hey—” he hissed, spinning around, but whoever it was had already moved away.
The students behind him kept walking, filling the bus one by one, leaving JL at the very end of the line.
“Great.” He muttered bitterly. “Now I get the farthest seat. Perfect.”
He grabbed the handle of his bag and stepped forward, ready to climb the bus steps, when a low, familiar voice brushed against his ear.
“Go to the farthest seat for me, pretty.”
JL froze.
He didn’t need to turn around to know that voice. The deep, measured tone, the hint of command laced with amusement, it was him.
His stomach dropped, heat curling at the base of his spine.
Steven.
Of course it was him.
JL’s grip tightened on his bag strap as the breath he was holding escaped in a shaky exhale.
“Shit...” he muttered softly, eyes darting to the side, half-expecting Steven to still be there. But the man had already walked off, blending easily into the crowd of teachers and students, as if nothing happened.
JL climbed the bus steps slowly, his pulse hammering against his ribs. He wanted to be annoyed, should be annoyed, but all he could think of was the way Steven’s breath had felt against his ear, warm and deliberate.
What the hell is he planning?
Inside, the bus smelled faintly of vinyl and sun-warmed fabric. The air-conditioning wasn’t fully on yet, so it was humid, heavy. JL made his way down the aisle, his classmates chattering excitedly about the trip, their voices overlapping.
He forced himself to look casual, even as his heart thudded faster with every step toward the back.
The farthest seat.
Of course Steven would choose that. Hidden from view, half-shielded by the curtain, dangerous but perfect.
JL dropped his bag beside the window and sank into the seat, staring blankly out.
Calm down, JL. Breathe. You can handle this.
But then, a few minutes later, the door hissed open again, and Steven boarded the bus.
JL’s heart lurched.
He watched in the reflection of the window as Steven walked down the aisle, effortlessly composed, clipboard in hand, shirt sleeves rolled up just enough to show a glimpse of his wristwatch and the veins that trailed down his forearm.
Don’t look here. Don’t you dare.
Steven stopped halfway through the aisle to speak with another teacher, and for a moment JL let himself relax, until Steven’s eyes flicked up and met his in the window’s reflection.
A ghost of a smirk curved his lips.
And then, as if nothing happened, he turned away and continued speaking.
JL swallowed hard, dragging his gaze away, pretending to scroll through his phone. His fingers trembled slightly.
He wanted to curse.
He wanted to laugh.
Mostly, he wanted to know why Steven kept doing this, why he made it impossible for JL to forget, even for a second.
He leaned his head against the cool glass, closing his eyes, whispering to himself, “This is going to be a long four days.”
But deep down, he knew the truth.
Four days and three nights with Steven Kim wasn’t going to feel long at all.
It was going to feel like a test of control, of denial, of everything he’d been pretending not to feel.
And the worst part? He already knew he was going to fail.
The ride had been quiet for about an hour and a half. The bus rumbled steadily down the long stretch of road, the hum of the engine blending with the faint chatter of students scattered across the seats. Most had already fallen into that drowsy mid-trip silence, heads resting on windows, music faintly leaking from their earphones. The sun rays poured through the glass, cutting the interior with soft stripes of gold.
Yung iba sa mga kaklase niya ay tulog na, or di kaya busy nakikipag-chikahan. Yung isang assigned na guro naman sa klase nila ay nasa unahan.
JL sat by the window, earphones in, his cheek leaning lightly against the cool glass. Outside, the world rolled past him in a blur, fields, power lines, and the occasional flash of a passing vehicle. Everything melted into streaks of green and gold, as if the landscape itself refused to stay still. His playlist had long since turned into background noise, the music doing little to drown out the constant hum in his head.
He kept his breathing steady, matching it with the rhythm of the road.
One inhale. One exhale. Over and over, until it became mechanical. Predictable. Safe. His mind floated somewhere between exhaustion and numbness, a careful balancing act he’d mastered over the past few months.
Okay na yun, he told himself. Yun na yun. Steady. Wala nang iniisip. Wala nang mararamdaman.
But of course, the universe never let him rest for long.
Because just as he let himself sink into that fragile peace, he felt it, the slight shift of air beside him, the weight on the seat dipping ever so slightly as someone slid in.
The scent hit him before the thought even did.
Mint. And something dark, deeper, like the faint trace of smoke clinging to the edges. It was clean but grounding, the kind of scent that lingered even when the person was long gone. Familiar in a way that made his stomach tighten, made his pulse skip a beat before he could even react.
Si Steven. Sino pa ba?
JL’s whole body went rigid. His fingers froze mid-tap on his phone screen. He didn’t even dare glance sideways. Instead, he kept his eyes glued to the passing blur outside, as if the trees suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world.
The hum of the engine grew louder, the air between them thicker. He could feel the faint brush of Steven’s movement, the sound of fabric rustling, the small creak of the seat. Every small shift felt amplified, dragging his attention even when he tried so hard to ignore it.
Wag kang lilingon, JL. Wag mo siyang pansinin.
He repeated the words in his head like a prayer, steady and desperate. His reflection on the window looked calm, almost detached. But underneath, his chest was tight, his pulse tripping over itself. The air smelled too much like memory, like something he thought he had already learned to forget.
Still, he didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t even breathe too loudly.
Just the faint hum of the road, and beside him, the quiet presence he had spent months trying to erase.
The bus bumped over a small pothole, their shoulders brushing slightly. Steven didn’t say a word.
At first, it was almost peaceful.
No teasing. No sly remarks. Just silence, and the warmth of his presence beside him.
Little by little, JL’s guard eased. Maybe this time, Steven would actually behave.
But then he felt it.
A light brush, fingers grazing against his leg, barely there, like an accident.
JL froze, his pulse skipping. Sinasabi ko talaga sayo, Steven Kim.
He told himself it was nothing. Maybe Steven shifted. Maybe it wasn’t on purpose.
But then it happened again.
Softer this time. More deliberate.
Lakasan mo loob mo, JL. Wag mong pansinin.
He focused on the scenery outside, jaw tight, hands curled on his lap. He could feel the air grow heavier, the space between them shrinking.
The hand returned, fingers tracing along his thigh, this time firmer, confident.
JL swallowed hard, the words he wanted to say caught in his throat.
It was cruel, the way Steven did this. Like he knew exactly what buttons to press, how to unravel him without saying a single word.
And then, Steven leaned closer.
His voice was low, brushing against JL’s ear, “Are you really gonna ignore me the whole time, baby?”
JL’s breath hitched.
He didn’t look. Couldn’t.
If he did, he’d fall right into it again, that game Steven loved to play.
So he stayed still. Pretending. Denying.
Steven chuckled softly, the sound low and dangerous.
“Fine...” he whispered, “...suit yourself.”
JL let out a quiet exhale, thinking it was finally over.
Maybe he’d stop. Maybe Steven would get bored.
Gustong-gusto kitang halikan ngayon kahit bwiset ka pero hindi lang tayo ang tao dito, tanga.
JL wanted to say that to the professor, but he kept his cool.
But then, something shifted in the air, a subtle movement, a soft sound, too close, too deliberate. JL’s heart raced, confusion and disbelief colliding in his chest.
Was Steven still teasing him? He couldn’t tell anymore. Every breath felt too heavy, every second stretched too long.
He kept his eyes forward, jaw clenched, forcing himself not to react.
Wag mo lang siyang tingnan, JL. Don't give him the satisfaction.
But then he heard his name, a whisper, right next to his ear. So quiet, it could have been imagined.
“JL...”
That single syllable shattered his focus.
He turned, ready to glare, ready to tell him to stop, but the moment his gaze met Steven’s, the words froze in his throat.
Putangina. Tangina talaga.
Because right there, in the farthest seat of the moving bus, half-hidden from the rest of the passengers, was his professor, Steven Kim, doing something that made JL’s mind short-circuit. Cock out and touching himself.
JL’s pulse spiked. He darted a glance around the crowded bus, his chest tightening as the noise of chatter and the hum of the engine suddenly felt deafening.
What the hell was Steven thinking? Here, of all places?
The thought of being seen, of getting caught in something so reckless, sent a rush of panic through him. And yet, beneath the fear, something else stirred. His gaze kept dragging back to Steven, to the slow rhythm of movement, to the expression that bordered on bliss.
He couldn’t look away.
“F-Fuck... tanginang mukha yan...” Steven’s voice came low, rough around the edges. “You look so pretty when you’re shocked.”
Wrong, so wrong, but a traitorous part of him thrilled at the forbidden display.
JL's breath caught as Steven turned towards him, those dark eyes smoldering with lust.
“JL...” he murmured, voice low and rough with desire. Before JL could react, Steven’s fingers were wrapping around his wrist, tugging his hand into his lap.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Steven, we can’t...” JL protested weakly, but his words died in his throat as he felt the hot, hard length of Steven’s erection against his palm. He knew he should pull away, put an end to this madness before they got caught. But his body refused to obey, hand tightening around the thick shaft as if with a mind of its own.
Steven smirked, that infuriating, smug expression that always made JL want to kiss him and strangle him in equal measure.
“Then don’t let them hear us.” He growled, capturing JL's lips in a searing kiss.
Tangina. Hindi nga talaga ako ang strongest soldier mo, Lord. Tao pa rin pala ako. Malibog. Mahina sa tite.
JL surrendered to the onslaught of sensation, tongue tangling with Steven’s as he stroked him with increasing urgency.
The risk of discovery only heightened his arousal, a dangerous thrill racing down his spine. He knew he should be more careful, try to maintain some semblance of discretion.
Pero tangina naman, bakit may ganitong pakulo? At bakit kahit takot na takot na ako ay mas lalo akong tinitigasan? Nababaliw na ata talaga ako.
“Haaaa... higpitan mo pa, baby—fuck. Ganyan nga... hgnhhh” Steven whispered against JL’s lips.
Mas lalo namang ginagalingan ni JL ang pagsalsal sa matigas na ari ng lalaki kapag nakikita niyang pumupungay ang mga mata nito sa sarap.
Shit ka talaga Steven Kim. Napakalibog mo.
Steven didn’t waste a second. He leaned in, closing the distance between them, and claimed JL’s lips once more. The kiss was rougher this time, urgent, unrestrained, like he’d been holding back for far too long.
JL could barely breathe. His mind screamed at him to stop, to think, but everything drowned under the weight of Steven’s touch, his scent, the warmth radiating from his body. The world beyond their corner of the bus blurred into static.
Steven’s hand moved, deliberate, confident, sending a jolt of awareness through JL’s body as his free hand moved to JL's zipper, deftly undoing the fly and slipping inside. Every muscle tensed, his pulse hammered in his ears. He didn’t dare move, didn’t dare breathe.
Putangina. What were they even doing? Here? Now?
And yet, the moment Steven’s breath brushed his ear, whispering his name like a secret meant only for him, JL’s resistance faltered completely.
“JL, baby... come on. Don’t hold back for me, love.”
That did it.
The noise of the bus, the soft hum of the engine, the faint chatter of his classmates, everything faded. All that was left was the heat between them, the heavy, dangerous rhythm of something they shouldn’t want but couldn’t stop.
JL gasped into the kiss as Steven's fingers wrapped around his own aching cock, stroking him in time with the movements of his hand on Steven's shaft. It was too much, the dual sensations sending sparks of pleasure racing through his veins. He knew he wouldn't last long like this.
“H-Haaa... Sir...”
“Sssshhh, not so loud, baby.” Steven whispered against JL’s lips. He pulled back just enough to study JL’s face, the way his lashes fluttered, the unfocused daze in his eyes, the way he trembled between restraint and surrender. Steven’s breath hitched, a shaky laugh slipping past his lips as he continued stroking the younger man’s cock in time with the movement of JL's hands. “You look so fucked out already... makes me wanna fuck you right here.”
JL’s grip on Steven's cock tightened after hearing those words coming out from the professor’s sinful mouth.
“Oh? Gusto mo ’yun, baby?” Steven whispered, his voice low as he watched every flicker of JL’s expression. “Gusto mong kantutin kita sa harap ng mga kaklase mo? Para alam nilang akin ka lang? Hm?”
“S-Steven… hgnhhh—” JL bit down on his lip, hard enough to taste the faint sting of blood, doing everything he could to keep his voice low.
Tangina tangina tangina. He should stop pero puta ang sarap. Nakakabaliw.
“Yes, baby? Want to come?”
“S-Sarap po... shit—don’t stop please.” JL pleads as he stroke Steven’s cock faster, his hand gripping the hard length tighter making the professor groan at the sensation.
“Fuck... libog mo talaga, Jay. Mas lalo akong tinitigasan sayo... haaaa... puta ka.” Steven’s lips found JL’s neck, nibbling lightly, leaving delicate red impressions. JL couldn’t help the quiet groan that escaped him, a shiver running down his spine as he struggled to stay silent.
“Haaaa...sir—” JL gasped, his voice trembling with need and urgency.
Every look, every breath shared between them made it impossible to think straight.
Steven groaned softly, his gaze locking onto JL’s with a mix of heat and disbelief, the air between them thick with something dangerous and irresistible. “Ganda mong puta. Puta ko—fuck!”
“L-Lapit na po ako—haaaa... nghhhh—sarap sarap please please please—don’t stop baby please.” JL gasped, doing his best to stifle his moans.
Sana naman walang nakakarinig sila.
Pero at this point, wala na talaga siyang pake kung may makakita man sa kanila. Ang tanging gusto niya lang talaga ay maabot ang sukdulan.
Masyado na siyang nasasarapan. Masyado na siyang nalilibogan. Masyado na siyang puta para magbigay ng pake sa iba.
“Lapit na ako baby—shit, sarap mo...” Steven murmured, his voice rough, low, impossible to ignore. JL felt it ripple through him, echoing in the tight coil of his nerves, pushing him further.
Mas lalo namang binibilisan nito ang pagsalsal sa tite ni JL. Ganun din ang ginagawa ni JL. Minsan napapaangat na sila sa kanilang mga upuan sa sarap na nararamdaman.
“A-Ayan na ako s-sir... fuck... lapit na... shit—haaaaaaa—” JL’s plea was swallowed by Steven’s lips, the kiss deep and possessive. The world narrowed down to breath, heat,
Steven broke the kiss, turning JL’s head towards the window with a gentle pressure on his chin.
“Look out there...” he commanded, voice a low rumble that vibrated through JL’s bones. “See the world going on outside? No one knows what we’re doing. We’re hidden in plain sight.”
JL obeyed, gaze fixed on the passing scenery even as his world narrowed to the feel of Steven’s cock pulsing in his grip, Steven’s fingers gliding over his own throbbing erection. He felt his release building fast, hips jerking involuntarily as he chased that sweet oblivion.
“Steven... nghhh... please~” He gasped, voice strained with the effort of holding back. Steven just chuckled, low and dark, continuing his relentless stroking.
“Let go for me, baby.” Steven murmured, his voice low and hot against JL’s ear, sending a shiver straight down his spine.
JL bit his lip hard to muffle any sounds as his climax crashed over him, hot and thick in Steven’s grip.
Steven followed soon after, groaning softly as he came in JL’s hand. They sat there for a long moment, chests heaving and hands still clasped around each other's spent cocks.
Shit. I can’t believe I actually did that... in a public place. Inside a fucking bus, pa! Tangina ka talaga, Steven Kim. Kung ano-ano na lang ang pinapagawa mo sa akin.
Finally, Steven pulled away, cleaning them both up with some wet wipes before tugging their respected pants back into place with a satisfied smirk.
“See?” He murmured, pressing a soft kiss to JL’s temple. “Not so bad, was it?”
JL shot him an exasperated look, even as a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“You’re impossible.” He muttered, but there was no real heat behind the words.
A low laugh escaped Steven, and he pressed one last peck to JL’s lips, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Leaning back in his seat, he let out a satisfied sigh, clearly pleased with the chaos he’d just stirred.
As the bus rumbled on, JL settled back into his own seat, gaze once again fixed on the window. But his mind was far away, replaying the illicit encounter on an endless loop. He knew he should be annoyed, even angry at Steven’s boldness. But instead, a slow smile spread across his face.
Maybe next time, he’d be the one to make a move. And Steven wouldn’t know what hit him.