An Phong glanced him up and down. Only now did he notice how different Uy Phong looked tonight: a white shirt, black dress pants, tie hanging loose, the vest missing entirely. The first few buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his collarbones and a faint line of skin glimmering under the streetlight.
An Phong frowned.
Catching that look, Uy Phong burst out laughing—and started to reach for his buttons again."What? You wanna look? Go ahead, I'll show you the full view."
An Phong slapped his hand down."Are you insane? Planning to strip in the middle of the street?""Huh?" Uy Phong blinked, drunk and innocent. "Didn't you wanna see my chest? I'm just being generous. It's a nice one, you know. I kiss it goodnight every evening.""Kiss it?" An Phong's tone went flat. "How exactly… do you do that?"
Uy Phong doubled over laughing, nearly falling."You actually believed that? You're hopeless!"
An Phong's face went blank. Two words echoed in his head: beyond saving.
He didn't bother arguing. Grabbing Uy Phong by the collar, he hauled him up and dragged him along the sidewalk like a giant drunken cat."Hey—easy! I can walk! Whoa~" Uy Phong stumbled, muttering nonsense that half-rhymed.
An Phong ignored him, shoved him into a taxi, and slammed the door."Here, uncle, this address please." He handed the driver his phone.
Beside him, Uy Phong slumped against the seat, mumbling to himself. The smell of alcohol filled the car, tangled with the faint words, "my chest really is nice though…"An Phong could only sigh.
After a long ride, they stopped in front of Uy Phong's house."We're here. Get up."
No answer—just incoherent murmurs. An Phong gritted his teeth and dragged him inside. Luckily, weeks of martial arts gave him enough strength; otherwise, hauling that tall idiot upstairs would've been torture.
At last, they reached the room. Both fell onto the bed, breathless. Uy Phong lay there half-conscious, his breath thick with alcohol.
An Phong sat up, fixed his shirt, then carefully took off Uy Phong's shoes and loosened his tie. He reached for the shirt buttons to help him breathe easier—but his hand froze midair. The thought that flashed across his mind made his face heat up.
Before he could pull back, a hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, yanking him down onto the bed.
Thud.
Uy Phong's eyes half-opened, a crooked grin on his lips."What now? You some kind of pervert? Planning to strip me and… what, next?"
An Phong's face flushed crimson. He struggled, but the more he moved, the tighter Uy Phong held him. Hot breath brushed against his ear and neck.
"Stop it, Uy Phong!""I didn't do anything," came the hoarse laugh. "You're awfully jumpy.""You bastard! Wake up before you regret this tomorrow!""Regret?" Uy Phong murmured teasingly. "For holding your hand? Or dragging you into bed? Friends can share a bed, can't they? Unless…""Shut up."
Uy Phong chuckled, low and dangerous."Heh, you know exactly what I mean.""Are you even drunk, you jerk?""Why don't you guess?"
Without waiting for a reply, he yawned and suddenly shifted, pulling An Phong closer.
"Hey!!" An Phong's eyes widened. "Let go of me!"But Uy Phong's arm tightened like a chain. Half-asleep, he murmured,"Sleep tight… it's late."
"Sleep my ass! Let me go—I need to go home!""It's too late. Dangerous out there. Stay with me.""You're out of your mind!"
No reply. His breathing evened out. Out cold, apparently.
An Phong stared at the face so close to his—frustration, embarrassment, and something else he didn't want to name, all swirling. He tried prying the arm off, but his eyes caught the faint dry streak under Uy Phong's nose.
The dried blood.
Guilt flickered through him. He'd caused that. Now, seeing Uy Phong asleep and harmless, he just sighed. There wasn't much else to do.
He let himself sink back a little. I'll sneak out once he turns over, he told himself. But the thought faded as he kept staring at that sleeping face.
"You idiot," he muttered softly.
At some point, his eyes grew heavy. The plan to escape dissolved. An Phong drifted off—still caught in Uy Phong's embrace.
***
Morning light spilled through the curtains.
An Phong blinked awake. The ceiling was unfamiliar. The sheets, too. Then memory hit—oh no… he fell asleep here.
He sat up just as a voice called from the bathroom door:"Hey, I left a spare toothbrush for you. Freshen up and come down for breakfast."
An Phong turned—and froze.
Uy Phong stepped out, hair damp, droplets tracing down bare skin. A towel hung loosely at his hips, nothing else.
"Crap…" An Phong whipped his head away, cheeks burning.
Uy Phong smirked, one brow raised. He planted a knee on the bed, leaning down."What? Never seen a guy's body before? You embarrassed or something?""Put some damn clothes on, psycho," An Phong snapped, eyes fixed on the wall.
"Oh?" Uy Phong tilted his head, grabbed An Phong's chin, forcing him to look up."Whoa… you're actually blushing. Cute."
His thumb brushed lightly against An Phong's cheek.
"Let go," An Phong hissed."And if I don't?" Uy Phong's grin deepened.
"Argh—!"
A yelp tore out of him as An Phong pinched the inside of his thigh hard. Uy Phong doubled over in pain, giving An Phong just enough time to bolt into the bathroom and slam the door shut.
Inside, panting, face red, An Phong muttered between breaths:"Complete lunatic…"