Cherreads

Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Close Enough to Hear Your Heartbeat

---

It was 7:12 AM when Arashi stumbled into the bathroom, hair messy, shirt crumpled, and eyes half-closed.

He scratched his head and muttered a groggy, "Ugh…"

The bathroom door was already open. Warm steam fogged the mirror. And then—

He froze.

Ken stood by the sink, bent slightly, brushing his teeth in his white T-shirt and black track pants. His bangs clung to his forehead, still damp from a shower. The shirt clung to him too—just a little.

Ken noticed Arashi in the mirror and gave a casual nod, toothbrush still in his mouth. "Mmmmrning."

Arashi blinked.

Then cursed under his breath.

Because the dream came back—flashing in his brain like a movie on loop. Ken standing in front of him, hair wet, eyes soft, lips parting.

Damn it.

Ken leaned to spit and rinse, then held out the other toothbrush casually. "I bought a new one for you. Blue one."

Arashi took it wordlessly, brushing beside him in tense silence.

It was too quiet.

The only sounds were toothpaste swishing, brushes scraping, and two very noticeable heartbeats—at least on Arashi's side.

Ken spat again, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and said, "You're staring."

"I'm not," Arashi shot back instantly, even though he absolutely was.

Ken smirked and leaned a little closer, grabbing the towel off the rack. "You've been weird since yesterday."

"I have not."

"You blush every time I look at you."

"That's your imagination."

"Do you want me to kiss you again?" Ken teased casually, tossing the towel over his shoulder.

Arashi jerked back, wide-eyed.

"You—you remember the dream?!"

Ken blinked. "Wait. What dream?"

There was a beat of silence.

Then realization dawned in Ken's eyes.

He hadn't known.

Until now.

And now he did.

Arashi's face flushed crimson.

Ken's eyes widened, and for a second, his breath caught. Then slowly, he began to grin. "You dreamed of kissing me?"

"I said NOTHING," Arashi hissed, grabbing the towel and throwing it over his own head like an ostrich burying itself in sand. "Forget it. You're hallucinating. It's the toothpaste."

But Ken just leaned against the sink, crossing his arms, watching Arashi fumble like never before.

"I didn't say I'd mind," Ken said quietly.

Arashi peeked through the towel.

"What?"

Ken shrugged, cheeks a bit pink now, too. "I mean… I've had worse dreams."

Arashi dropped the towel.

"…Are you flirting with me?"

Ken gave a sweet, angelic smile. "Nope."

And then he walked out of the bathroom.

Arashi stood there, toothbrush still in his mouth, staring at the fogged-up mirror.

His heart wouldn't stop racing.

--

More Chapters