Chapter Text
”…Then, what’s wrong with you?” He already looks frail enough so, why is he having a nosebleed. Is he really sick?
Shocked by that statement, Kim Hyoil couldn’t hold himself back anymore. What’s wrong with me? What is this punk spouting about,
”If anything’s wrong—it’s your mouth!”
The taller pinched the others nose slightly more, ”…”
I didn’t say anything wrong? Choi Jeho grumbled to himself.
”Why are you speaking like that, you know Korea is all about respecting their elders!” Kim Hyoil bit his tongue back. I don’t like using seniority…but in this situation it calls for it.
A while age I overheard some other classmates talking about Choi Jeho. Specifically about the blunt answers they got out of him.
’His birthday is in November?’
’Yeah, I asked him. But doesn’t that totally suit him?’
Since Kim Hyoil was born in February, he was older.
”Do you always nag like that?”
He should answer my question first.
”Hey, I asked you first.”
Only a sigh escaped through the tensioned air and bickering. ”Haaa.”
”Here, hold.” The taller man completely ignored the others sigh while pushing (more like shoving) the paper in Kim Hyoil’s face.
All this time, Choi Jeho had held the paper to my nose.
He looked down on the floor and frowned. Grabbing the shorter man’s hand, ”let’s go to the nurses office.”
Nurses office? I’m not bleeding from my head— I got a nosebleed, a nosebleed for gods sake!
Rubbing above his brows with his thumb and index finger, ”Even if you go now, no one will be there.”
Still Choi Jeho didn’t stop. He gave me a push into a bathroom and told me to clean up. He then gave me a spare change of the summer uniform.
Looking in the mirror…haa, I really do look like a mess. No wonder he got all railed up.
Dark red liquid messily wiped on my nose and chin. A large clump soled into the middle of my uniform.
Kim Hyoil changed into the summer uniform, though it still felt like a winter one. The bandages his noona had put on were a bit messy on his upper arms.
Choi Jeho waited inside the classroom while cleaning up the blood off the floor. The metallic smell still faintly lingered in the air.
a voice outside the door disrupted his messy mind.
”When should I give you the uniform back?”
Choi Jeho looked up. There stood Kim Hyoil. His black messy hair which slightly covered his black eyes. He had changed into the summer version but kept the winter pants. But what caught Choi Jeho’s eyes were the bandages and…he’s thin.
He knew that he was fairly bigger than kids his age—but he was sure that highschool students shouldn’t have a build like that. Sure, you couldn’t see his bones but there was barely any meat on there.
Quickly, he stood up and went straight for his backpack.
”Do you want an apple or a protein bar?” The taller one asked while rummaging through his backpack.
”I’m fine.” he already gave me a spare change of clothes and cleaned up the blood I spilled. It would be rude to ask for more—plus I woke him up…I should be glad he didn’t get mad or do something like…wait, no, don’t think of that, noona will keep nagging me.
”Also, you can give it back to me whenever.”
”huh?”
Snapping back from his thoughts. He noticed that the other had moved, and now stood infront of him holding an apple and a protein bar.
”ah, thanks.” Kim Hyoil quickly grabbed them and started eating the protein bar slowly.
Suddenly, he turned his gaze upwards to Choi Jeho.
Rubbing out between his brows with his thumb and pointer finger. ”You shouldn’t frown too much, you might get wrinkles.” If that wasn’t enough, Kim Hyoil added. ”Incase you become a bigshot with your looks, you should take care of them.”
Choi Jeho frowned deeper. That must be the deepest I’ve seen him frown! If frowning was an Olympic sport, he’d be the undisputed gold medalist.
”Hey! Didn’t I tell you to stop frowning.”
Maybe it was because Choi Jeho had seen Kim Hyoil in such a state; he listened rather well.
”If you were going to stop frowning regardless, why put up a fight?”
Hey jerked back his head, ”I wouldn’t have to frown if you didn’t put up a whole murder scene infront of me.”
One second he’s listening well and the other he’s throwing jabs at me. What an inconsistent guy, really..
”I was having a nosebleed, a nosebleed, okay?” Kim Hyoil snapped back.
Choi Jeho scoffed loudly. Staring daggers with his icy gaze. ”Yeah, a nosebleed. Go out like that and others will think you’re a murder victim.”
”If I were a murder victim, at least I wouldn’t have to finish the math homework and study for exams. It’s fine, Choi Jeho.”
Kim Hyoil continued to add on. ”Its the academic burnout and lack of sleep. If you combine three hours of sleep with advanced math equations, your tiniest blood vessels throw in the towel. To be fair, it’s a very logical and biological response.
Following that groundbreaking statement, Choi Jeho looked like he would lose his mind at the sheer insanity of an explanation. ”A logical response? Normal people’s noses don’t just explode because they opened a book!”
”Then normal people aren’t studying well enough!” He shot back, absolutely serious. ”Besides if I don’t do it now, I’ll stress more over it and might get another nosebleed throughout the day.” It wouldn’t be a nice to see someone getting a waterfall nosebleed.
”This is the most efficient time to have a nosebleed.”
Choi Jeho scoffed out of sheer disgust. His face said it all. ”You’re really unhinged.” His answer was a beat late, which just added on his pure shock.
”But thanks for the snack and cleaning up for me.”
”Just eat them and stop talking.” Choi Jeho muttered while stepped back laying down on his desk again.
Kim Hyoil just stared at the lying figure. Through his hair were slightly flushed ears. Kim Hyoil let out a chuckle while holding the protein bar and apple. Choi Jeho turned around staring at the other with a face why is this psycho laughing?
”haha! Sorry, sorry.” Kim Hyoil said waving his hand. After putting away his bloody uniform and threw the blood soaked papers, he went back and continued with his math equations.
Luckily Kim Hyoil had found an extra winter uniform while trying to throw the bloody paper in a discreet way. Sorry, I will be borrowing this for now.
Slowly, the classroom began bustling again with more classmates coming in. Kim Hyoil had moved back to his seat beside Choi Jeho.
The lessons were the same. Around after eating lunch, Kim Hyoil sat at his desk, studying. The break would still continue for a long time. There wasn’t many people in the classroom, many were outside or in clubrooms.
Maybe I should go and play some bass in the music room.
But before Kim Hyoil could act on it someone stood in his way. He looked up and saw a familiar face, it was their class president—Baek Haein.
”Kim Hyoil, would you like to join us playing soccer?” Baek Haein asked while scratching his neck, still holding eye-contact.
”Sure.” sometimes they would invite Kim Hyoil when they were having a match or were simply just playing. It was nice of them to invite someone like me.
As they headed out the sun shone brightly. ”Won’t it be warm playing in that though?”
Kim Hyoil tugged the end of his uniform. ”It’s fine.”
The sweltering hot really did hit. I could feel the sweat running down and my bangs poking my eye. But just running, using my stamina made me feel so refreshed.
After the match everyone buzzled with happy remarks and comments. Many were laying on the down catching their breaths while some were already planning a second match.
The break was soon over. I should head inside. The smell of sweat would disturb and annoy the others. Kim Hyoil was sure the nurse office would have some extra uniforms.
I stepped out and headed for the infirmary. Luckily, the nurse was at her desk. She didn’t ask any questions; only sighing while handing a spare. The nurse seemed used to this, it wasn’t unusual for teenage boys to be running around lunch break—even if it was exhaustingly warm out.
Behind a curtain in the infirmary I changed my clothes. Before, Kim Hyoil had asked for a slightly bigger size. The thin material of the loose uniform slightly wrapped around my body. Without the thicker material of the winter uniform which bulked me up. The lack of meat on my bones were glaringly obvious. The bandages noona had wrapped around my upper arms also stood out.
I pulled down the sleeves as far as they could go; adjusting them to hide the bandages underneath. Better not to make unwanted attention shift at me.
The afternoon bell ran. Students were dragging themselves through groans and sheer pain.
Walking to the back row. Choi Jeho was already sitting there, his body slightly hunched—no different from the other students he seemed to be drained.
Choi Jeho was looking at the blackboard, but it was obvious, he had something else on his mind. This time, he didn’t wear a frown, a indifferent gaze or an annoyed one, rather he seemed to contemplate and worry about something.
In the middle of the lesson, Kim Hyoil was diligently noting down notes while listening attentively to every detail. Choi Jeho on the other hand was also writing something on a small piece of paper (which he tore from his empty notebook) and slid it to the other one beside him.
Choi Jeho slid it quietly, making sure Kim Hyoil would see it, but not disturb him. Almost instantly Kim Hyoil noticed the piece of paper. He looked up at the one beside him with a slightly bewildered albeit suspicious face.