Chapter 31 - A Ride

"You have a bike?" Zeng asked, eyeing the green Yamaha motorcycle parked in front of the apartment complex as Yul made his way towards it. Zeng's car was in for servicing and Yul had offered him a lift this morning.

"Want a lift? I have an hour to spare anyway. I can drop you," Yul had said, thoroughly excited during the breakfast the next morning. Zeng had agreed casually but now after seeing on what he would be given a lift, he wasn't so sure anymore.

"There's no way I am sitting on that thing," Zeng pointed at the motorcycle, face full of distrust.

"Scared?" Yul asked and Zeng frowned. "I am not," he said, taking a step away, "It's just… bikes are dangerous. Cars are much safer."

"Come on Zeng ge, I will drive safely. I promise I'll deliver you to the hospital in one piece." Yul flashed a cheeky grin, trying to gain the doctor's trust.

Zeng shook his head, "Your words are so not helping. I am not riding that, Yul. Not a chance."

And that had upset Yul. His smile faded and his lips curled down to puff out his cheeks a little. He looked up to Zeng with eyes begging him to change his mind and Zeng being the softie for cute things found it extremely difficult to resist.

He didn't want to break this puppy's heart but riding the bike was no option. He had to come up with an appropriate excuse, something that even the police officer couldn't object to. He got that when Yul pulled out a helmet from his bag and slung it on the handle of the bike.

"Ah, alright… but," Zeng faked a sad face, "Such a tragedy, I don't have a helmet. And we can't travel on a two-wheeler without a helmet. It's against the traffic rules, you know it better. Sorry Yul, I will have to take a taxi instead. Because you know… safety comes first."

He was about to turn and dash off when Yul held his wrist. "Wait a minute… just stay here I'll be right back." Yul jogged his way from the small parking area to the apartment complex.

Zeng saw that he went to the landlady who was watering the plants early in the morning. Yul, being the polite kid, bowed first before speaking. A few hand gestures later, the lady left. Zeng turned his attention back to the bike.

He had always thought that bikes were scary and accident-prone. Being a practical man, he preferred cars which were much safer and more comfortable. Also, he didn't have any prior experience of sitting on a bike as he never tried it seeing how scary it looked when others did it.

However, as much as they scared him, bikes were sure fascinating. The more Zeng looked at the bike, the more appealing it became. No wonder Yul had chosen a bike over a car. It was more thrilling and edgy to ride one.

"Here!"

Zeng jumped when Yul suddenly appeared behind him. He hit the police officer on his arm for scaring him. Calming down, he saw that Yul was smiling and had a pink helmet in his hand.

"The landlady had a spare helmet. Said it was her daughter's old one." Yul explained pushing the piece towards Zeng.

"It's pink," Zeng narrowed his eyes, his hands held up to protest.

Yul shook his head and unclasped the helmet. "Don't look at the colour, look at the purpose. Because you know, safety comes first." He tried not to smile while using the same words of the doctor back on him. He put the helmet on Zeng's head and clasped it securely earning a defeated groan from the doctor.

Looking back at his work, Zeng looked more like a bunny than ever. Cute!

Yul smirked, taking a step back at the bike and raised a leg to stylishly land it on the other side of the vehicle. Running a hand through his short hair, he wore his own helmet. After putting in the key, he bent forward and clutched the handles.

And Zeng gulped, finding it hot. Yul in his uniform was hot but Yul riding a bike in his uniform was even hotter. Since when did he start seeing Yul this way?

"Get on," Yul urged.

Zeng clutched his side bag and forced those thoughts out of his mind. He sighed, getting on and adjusting his hold on the metal at the back, "Mind you, if anything happens to me-"

"Relax Zeng ge, I won't let anyone happen to you." Yul gave a muffled reply from under the helmet. "And hold me. It's more effective than holding at the back."

Hesitantly, Zeng removed his hands from the read end of the bike and put them on Yul's shoulders. The biker sighed. He removed Zeng's hands from his shoulders and wrapped them around his waist.

Feeling the heat reaching his face, Zeng stayed silent and didn't move. Yul started the bike and the engine roared. He started slow and eventually gained a stable speed. The ride was comfortable as there wasn't much traffic this early in the morning. The other vehicles too were driving steadily.

Zeng's initial thoughts about how people would be looking at them and judging them soon faded away. It was a peaceful space with just him and Yul exchanging a few words along the way.

Zeng didn't remember when was the last time he was so relaxed while going to work. Yul focused ahead, driving steadily within the speed limit. Zeng was guiding him from time to time.

All of sudden, a rash bike appeared out of nowhere, made a cut in their path and drove away at full speed. Seeing the smaller frame, the driver must be a teenager.

"That son of a bit*h!" Yul cussed out.

"Language, mister," Zeng was quick to reprimand him. Yul laughed, "Sorry, habits are hard to break."

Zeng hummed and adjusted his hold around Yul. He got more comfortable and rested his chin on Yul's shoulder, feeling the cool breeze on his cheeks that tinged them pink. Yul had one of the mirrors adjusted to see Zeng all the time. He saw that the doctor was enjoying the ride and that made him smile. He continued driving, humming a tune softly as Zeng comfortably adjusted his hold around Yul's waist.

They were in their own world, a world consisting just the two of them and they were happy.