Chapter Text
“So, which one do you choose, Won?” a broad-shouldered guy with warm smiling eyes and soft pink lips asked from across the table.
Wonwoo only looked at him silently.
A.
The guy's smile widened immediately, revealing his large white teeth. “Ah, good choice! A is really the favorite one here. Would you like Coke or Cider for the beverage?”
Cider.
“I get it. Cider it is then.” Seungcheol smiled again, warm and proud like an older brother. Then he turned toward his boyfriend, who currently had his jaw on the table, literally. Chuckling, Seungcheol lifted Jeonghan’s chin with one finger. “You’ll have your usual, right, babe? So that's one A set, two B sets, and three ciders, Kwan.” He flashed a blinding smile toward the familiar part-timer.
“Wow. I didn't know you're Wonwoo's Hyung whisperer,” Seungkwan muttered. The younger boy was currently working his shift at the café while the rest of them occupied one of the corner tables.
“We're here to support you,” Jeonghan declared proudly as soon as they stepped in the cafe earlier.
“You guys are here to bother me,” Seungkwan shot back with a sigh.
Since the sports event a couple of weeks ago, Jeonghan and Seungkwan had become a constant presence in Wonwoo's life. Not all the time, of course. They were in different classes, and Seungkwan was in an entirely different year.
Still, they checked on him often. Sometimes they had lunch together. Sometimes they studied together. Sometimes they ended up at this very café after school—the same café where Seungkwan now worked part-time.
During one of those lunches, Wonwoo finally met Seungcheol, Jeonghan’s boyfriend. He was a third-year student, making him the oldest among them. He was also ridiculously nice. And for some reason, he seemed to have adopted Wonwoo as his little brother.
The bullying had surprisingly started to lessen too. That didn't mean it disappeared completely. People still called him names from time to time. There were still cold stares. Still whispers. Still occasional insults. But nothing like before. Nothing physical anymore.
Whether people wanted to admit it or not, Mingyu piggybacking Wonwoo during the sports event—and Jeonghan and Seungkwan constantly hanging around him afterward—had made a difference. Maybe the bullies finally realized Wonwoo wasn't alone anymore.
The timid boy finally had people who would find him when he disappeared. People who would search for him.
Friends.
At least, if Wonwoo was brave enough to call them that.
He wasn't entirely sure. After all, he'd never had friends before. No one had ever stayed around long enough. Most people eventually got bored. Or decided he was weird because he never spoke.
That's how the bullying started in the first place. People became curious. Then annoyed. Then cruel.
They wanted reactions. They wanted responses. They wanted something. And Wonwoo never gave them anything.
So eventually he became the freak.
The mute freak.
The perfect target.
Like a toy anyone could play with. No matter what game they chose, the toy would never fight back.
But Mingyu, Jeonghan, Seungkwan, and now Seungcheol too—they were different. Jeonghan once said that he and Seungkwan were loud enough for all of them. Wonwoo didn't have to talk. The two cousins would happily do all the talking for his share too.
They were patient with him. Ridiculously patient. And somehow, Seungcheol could read whatever was going on inside Wonwoo's head. Sometimes Wonwoo genuinely suspected the older boy was a clairvoyant.
Whatever Seungcheol was, Wonwoo couldn't thank any of them enough. Of course, he never actually said it. But he meant it. And he tried showing it through his actions by giving in to most of the ridiculous schemes the cousin duo came up with.
Apparently, that was enough.
The group seemed to understand. Because every effort was rewarded with another invitation. Lunch dates. Study dates. Café dates.
Just like today.
“Yah! I don't know either.” Jeonghan slapped Seungcheol's arm dramatically. “I thought we were supposed to encourage him to speak more, Cheollie. If you keep helping him, Wonwoo will never try talking on his own.” The vice president pouted.
“I understand.” Seungcheol immediately leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to Jeonghan’s lips.
“Ew. I don't appreciate PDA in the café.” Seungkwan looked personally offended. “There are customers here.” The café was fairly quiet at the moment, with only a few patrons scattered around. “If that's everything, I'll put your order in.” With that, he disappeared toward the kitchen.
Across the table, Wonwoo simply watched the whole thing. Amused.
And smiling.
.........
“So I hear Seungcheol hyung is Wonwoo's whisperer now,” Mingyu began as they took their tteokbokki from the seller eomoni. Mingyu had asked Wonwoo to come and try his favorite tteokbokki after school as an apology for not joining the group at the café yesterday.
Wonwoo, who loved spicy food, of course couldn't refuse the invitation. He did wonder why Mingyu hadn't invited the others too, but he couldn't ask anyway.
Wonwoo nodded in response to Mingyu's earlier question, but then his eyes widened because the tteokbokki was just that good.
Mingyu, understanding immediately, smiled proudly. “Right? The tteokbokki from this stall has a unique flavor. I think eomoni adds pear juice to make it sweeter.”
Wonwoo raised his eyebrows in question.
Really?
Mingyu chuckled. “I'm just repeating what my mother said. But I think she's right.” He grinned. “I'm going to try making it myself one day. Do you want to try?”
You can cook?
“I can't promise it'll be good,” Mingyu continued, not knowing the question in Wonwoo's head. “But I'll do my best to make it delicious. Especially for you.” He finished with a blush.
Wonwoo tilted his head.
Because you're afraid you'll upset my stomach?
Since he couldn't hear Wonwoo's question, Mingyu naturally answered something else instead. “Since you'll be the first person to try my cooking, I'll make it extra special.” He smiled. “Do you like cheese?”
Wonwoo nodded.
“Great.” Mingyu grinned. “I'll cook for you someday. Just wait for it.”
…………….
Wonwoo was working on his papers in the library. It was fairly empty today, but nowadays, he didn't worry too much about being alone in the library. The bullying had significantly lessened.
He secretly hoped it was because people had finally gotten bored of him, and not because this was the calm before a storm or something.
He was so immersed in his reading that he didn't notice someone sitting across from him until a gentle knock landed on the table.
Looking up, he found Mingyu smiling his signature blinding smile.
The president was sitting right across from him, his cheek resting on one palm. A bottle of strawberry milk and a bag of donuts sat on the table in front of him.
“Hi.”
Wonwoo nodded. Tilting his head, he silently asked:
Since when have you been sitting there?
Mingyu seemed to understand immediately. “You looked so serious that I didn't dare bother you. But it's almost closing time.”
Wonwoo glanced around. The library lights had already been turned on, and the evening sky outside the tall windows had turned a warm shade of orange.
“Come on, let's pack up your things. Otherwise Mrs. Jang will have to stay late for closing.” Mingyu started gathering Wonwoo's books and pens from the table.
Watching him, Wonwoo couldn't help thinking that being around Mingyu was almost too easy. Especially after the sports event. At first, he'd constantly wondered what Mingyu's motive was.
Why was he so kind?
Why was he always helping?
But now, Wonwoo had mostly accepted that Mingyu was simply a genuinely kind person.
That didn't mean he'd completely forgotten the charity-case comment.
Or the girl Mingyu and Jeonghan had talked about that day. Sometimes Wonwoo still wondered about her.
Did he really remind Mingyu of her? Was that why Mingyu cared so much? Was Wonwoo some sort of replacement?
Not romantically, of course.
But maybe for Mingyu's secret hero complex.
Because honestly, no one would ever see Jeon Wonwoo, the mute freak, as a love interest. Especially not Kim Mingyu. Wonwoo was sure of that. He was just not—
“—Woo?
He blinked. Mingyu was staring at him expectantly. All of his books, papers, and pens had already been packed into his purple backpack.
Uh.. what did he just say?
Wonwoo didn't know how to ask. Fortunately, Mingyu seemed to realize he'd been spacing out. “Walk home with me?”
Wonwoo was probably hungry.
Or tired.
Whatever the reason, he was certain the strange skip in his heartbeat had nothing to do with Mingyu's soft smile or gentle voice.
“Here.” Mingyu pushed the strawberry milk and donut bag toward him. “I thought you'd be hungry after spending all day in the library.”
Wonwoo accepted them. His heart skipped again.
Definitely hunger. It had to be.
He immediately took a large gulp of strawberry milk before grabbing a donut. There were three inside the bag. After taking a bite, he picked up another one and offered it to Mingyu.
The president looked surprised. Then he smiled and accepted it happily. They walked together in comfortable silence, both busy enjoying the sweet treats.
The walk to Wonwoo's house wasn't long. Mingyu probably knew the route by heart by now. Since the sports event, he'd walked Wonwoo home several times already. The sky gradually darkened above them. Autumn was approaching, making the days shorter and the evenings colder.
When a chilly breeze passed by, Wonwoo shivered. He got cold easily. That was one of the reasons he almost always wore sweaters. Even during summer. Especially on rainy days.
Speaking of rainy days...
Wonwoo suddenly remembered something. After finishing his second donut and strawberry milk, he swung his backpack around and started rummaging through it. Mingyu gently guided him toward the side of the road by the elbow so he wouldn't accidentally block other pedestrians.
After a moment, Wonwoo finally pulled out a familiar black umbrella. He held it out toward Mingyu with a blank expression.
Here's your umbrella.
Mingyu smiled as he took it. Only to put it right back into Wonwoo's backpack. “Nah. You keep it.”
Wonwoo blinked.
“For when it rains and I'm not around to give you one.”
Wonwoo immediately tilted his head in questioning.
What do you mean?
“I'll be busy for the next few weeks.” Mingyu chuckled. “President duties. We have three exchange students coming from overseas, and I have to take care of them.” He gently nudged Wonwoo forward so they could continue walking. “Maybe it'll be hard for us to meet for a while. But Seungkwan and Seungcheol Hyung will keep you company.” He grinned. “Jeonghan too. Though he'll probably spend most of his free time with Cheol Hyung.”
Wonwoo nodded.
Of course. It's not your job to always stay with me.
He knew that. He really did. But somehow… it still felt a little sad.
Wait.
Wonwoo frowned at the feeling.
Where's this weird feeling coming from?
He rubbed his chest softly.
Must be indigestion. I drank the milk too fast.
Mingyu looked at him with raised eyebrows, but Wonwoo only shrugged at him.
Yeah, that must be it.
…….
“Anyway, where's Mingyu Hyung? I rarely see him nowadays.” Seungkwan asked the question before shoving a spoonful of curry rice into his mouth.
The three of them were having lunch in the cafeteria today. Seungcheol wasn't joining because he had a football meeting.
“Mingyu is busy arranging everything for the three exchange students from abroad. They'll arrive in about three days.” Jeonghan answered while cutting his chicken cutlet. “You know that too, right, Wonwoo-yah?”
Wonwoo nodded silently.
The president barely had time to hang out with them nowadays, but Wonwoo understood. Like Mingyu said, it was president duty after all. Besides, even when he was busy, Mingyu still somehow found time for him. Sometimes, late at night, when he wasn't too exhausted, Mingyu would call and tell Wonwoo everything he had done that day. It was always Mingyu doing all the talking. Neither of them minded. And somehow, Wonwoo always felt strangely content after those calls.
They had even established a way to communicate over the phone because Wonwoo didn't talk. It was by knocking on the speaker.
One knock meant no.
Two knocks meant yes.
And then Mingyu specifically added a third one: Three knocks meant let's end the call for today.
He said he wanted Wonwoo to be able to tell him when he needed to rest too.
Wonwoo mostly used the three knocks because he thought Mingyu was the one who needed the rest.
Other times, Mingyu would be too tired to talk and would ask about Wonwoo's day instead. So they would chat through text messages until one of them stopped replying. Usually Mingyu. Because he had fallen asleep from exhaustion. And Wonwoo would quietly send: Good night, Mingyu.
Even texting didn't come naturally at first. Because Wonwoo didn't know what to write to people who’s not his parents. He didn't know what to share, what to tell, but Mingyu said, he could tell him anything he wanted Mingyu to know. Like what he ate for lunch, what mark he got on the test, what book he's reading nowadays, what cake that he likes. Anything. As long as Wonwoo feels comfortable to share, Mingyu would gladly hear.
So Wonwoo shared. Little things at first. In short sentences, such as:
I ate rice and fried egg.
Or
I ate ramyeon.
And slowly it evolves into longer sentences. Something more personal, like:
I forgot to return the library books. I don't really like the story though.
Mingyu always responded gleefully. Maybe, that's what makes Wonwoo feel okay to keep responding.
The first time Mingyu asked for his number, Wonwoo was surprised. No one had ever asked for it before. He mostly used his phone to play games or text his parents whenever they were away for work. So Mingyu asking for his number felt oddly foreign. Then again, everything about Mingyu felt new.
New things always seemed to happen whenever Mingyu was around.
That was why, when his phone suddenly rang one evening and Kim Mingyu's name appeared on the screen, Wonwoo simply frowned until the ringing stopped.
Then it rang again. And again. And again.
Wonwoo never answered.
Because honestly, why would Mingyu call him? Wonwoo couldn't exactly have a conversation over the phone. What was the point?
The next day, when they finally managed to have lunch together after several busy days, Mingyu suddenly asked, “I'm sorry. Were you asleep last night?”
Wonwoo stayed silent at first. Then he slowly shook his head.
“Oh.” Mingyu blinked. “Thank God. I was worried I'd interrupted your sleep.” He scratched his cheek bashfully. “I called three times before giving up because I thought you were sleeping.”
Wonwoo watched him quietly.
“Honestly...” Mingyu poked at his omelet with his chopsticks. “I just wanted to tell you about my day.” His ears were starting to turn red. “We're friends now, right?” The question came out softer than expected. “And we haven't had lunch together lately because I've been so busy.” He lowered his eyes. “So... I didn't want you to start distancing yourself from me again.”
His voice became quieter by the end. “Can I call you?”
Wonwoo simply listened. For some reason, hearing those words made something heavy lift from his chest. Like he'd been carrying it without realizing. So when Mingyu finally looked up at him, Wonwoo nodded.
And smiled.
Maybe it was his way of saying:
Yes. We're friends.
Or maybe:
Yes. You can call me.
Either way, Mingyu seemed to understand. Because that night, he called again. And this time, Wonwoo answered.
Since then, there had been late-night calls and occasional text messages. So even though they didn't see each other as often anymore, it didn't really feel like Mingyu was gone. Mingyu was still there.
Jeonghan's voice pulled Wonwoo back to the present. “There will be Xu Minghao from China, Joshua Hong from L.A., and...” He paused. The vice president swallowed his food before continuing. “Kim Khao.”
Wonwoo slowly chewed his sausage while looking at Jeonghan. Something ugly suddenly twisted in his stomach.
Oh, bad digestion again. I think I should drink more water and eat less.
He grabbed his bottle and rubbed his stomach absentmindedly.
“What’s with the dramatic pause?” Seungkwan asked.
“She's my childhood friend.” Jeonghan answered. “Our childhood friend,” he corrected, referring to both himself and Mingyu.
Then he added,
“And she's also... Mingyu's first love.”
........
The exchange students had arrived at the school three days ago, and they were already very popular.
According to the buzz around the school, Minghao and Joshua were kind, handsome, and smart. In short, they were perfect in every aspect. Students called them the epitome of perfection. No wonder they had gained their own crowd of fans in no time.
Kim Khao, or simply known as Khao, was a girl who could only be described as sunshine in human form. She was nice, with a pair of cute doll-like eyes, a sharp nose, thin pink lips that were always smiling, pale but glowing flawless skin, long sparkling brown hair, and a naturally charming aura.
Wonwoo had seen her a couple of times in the cafeteria or along the school corridors, and every time, Khao would smile warmly at him.
She's like the female version of Mingyu because she reminded Wonwoo of him.
Pretty and smart, Khao quickly gained her own fans as well. But of course, not everyone liked her.
Wonwoo accidentally learned that one afternoon while hiding in one of the farthest and quietest corners of the school, reading his book in silence as usual. He wasn't really in the mood to stay in the library that day, so he had gone to his second favorite spot instead.
A group of students happened to be talking nearby.
They said she was too pretty and practically outshined every girl in school.
That her accent was weird, yet somehow cute enough that boys were falling for it.
That Mingyu's fans—girls and boys alike—suspected Khao was actually Mingyu's first love because of how attentive he was toward her. He always went the extra mile for her. Always smiled so warmly and brightly whenever she was around. Even though Mingyu insisted it was because they were childhood friends, nobody seemed to buy it.
“We should take her and lock her up in some abandoned room or something. This school is freaking huge. There are plenty of places we could use. I want to see her crying and begging to be sent home and leave Mingyu alone forever.” A girl with a hideously high-pitched voice giggled after speaking.
“That's a good idea. I want to see that idiot president panic because his little lover is gone.” A deep voice chuckled, followed by a chorus of laughter.
“Don't be too harsh on Mingyu, though. He's mine.” Another girl's voice joined after the laughter died down.
“So the pretty little Khao can be mine. Maybe I can play with her a little in that room... in private.”
Wonwoo's eyes widened. A chill ran down his spine. He could practically imagine the smirk on the speaker's face. What should he do? He should tell someone. He should tell Mingyu.
Khao was in danger.
Wonwoo quickly pulled out his phone. His trembling fingers made the simple task much harder than it should have been.
Need to text Mingyu. Now.
He typed as fast as he could, but his phone nearly slipped from his hands several times because of how panicked he was. He was just about to press send when someone suddenly kicked his hand. His phone flew across the empty space.
“Well... well... well. Who do we have here?” A huge boy with a frightening smirk appeared in front of him. “The famous mute freak, Jeon Wonwoo.”
Oh, shit. I haven't sent it yet.
“What are you doing here, freak?” one of the girls asked irritably.
Her friend, a blonde girl chewing bubble gum, grinned with what had to be the ugliest smile Wonwoo had ever seen. “Ah, I get it. Kim Mingyu finally got tired of you, didn't he?” she mocked. “He got the Kim Khao bitch after all. Honestly, she's way better than you. If I were him, I'd choose her too.”
Wonwoo flinched at the words.
Yeah. That’s probably true. I would also choose her over myself any day.
It didn't mean the words didn't hurt though.
“Are you crying over your pathetic life?” the second boy, Jae Up, sneered before spitting at him.
“Don't tell me he was eavesdropping on our plan,” the small blonde girl suddenly said.
The huge boy immediately kicked Wonwoo in the head. This time, his glasses flew off his face. “So what?” he spat. “This disgusting loser isn't telling anybody. He couldn't tell anybody even if he wanted to. He's mute.”
“Well, just in case he tries to—” Jae Up grabbed Wonwoo by the collar and punched him once in the face. Then once in the stomach. “—we should make sure he can't do anything at all.” He laughed. Then he started kicking Wonwoo. The huge boy joined him. They only stopped when Wonwoo was coughing up blood and dry-heaving on the ground, while the girls finally pulled their boyfriends back.
“Stop it. You might actually kill him.”
“He's not worth it.”
“Let's go.”
Wonwoo listened to their footsteps slowly fade away. They were really leaving.
Assholes. Not even worth killing, huh?
A sad smirk tugged at his lips.
His vision was blurry. His stomach felt like it had been torn apart. His head pounded mercilessly and he’s spitting more blood. Still, he dragged himself toward where his phone had landed. His fingers searched desperately through the dirt until he finally found it.
Thank God. It was still working.
The screen was cracked, but the message was still there:
Khao. Dangerous. Keep an eye.
Wonwoo didn't even know if the words made sense anymore, but without wasting another second, he pressed the send button.
And everything went black.
......
Wonwoo gasped.
He felt like he'd been hit by a truck or something. From head to toe, everything hurt like hell, and he was sweating even though it was cold enough to feel like he's in a freezer. After struggling to pry his eyelids open, he finally realized he was already in his living room, probably sprawled there like a dead body since last night.
He could only recall yesterday vaguely.
The lanky boy had woken up when everything around him was already dark. It had been difficult to see without his glasses. His head had still been pounding like it was about to split open at any moment, his stomach had hurt, and he was sure there would be a huge bruise and bump waiting for him the next morning. But he needed to go home. He didn't want to risk another bully finding him in that state. So he dragged himself through the neighborhood. Step by step. Slowly. After what felt like an entire lifetime, he finally reached his front door, opened it with shaking hands, took one step into the living room—and passed out.
He decided to take a few days off from school because he couldn’t and didn’t want to move at all. Everything hurts like hell. The only good thing was that his parents were away on a business trip, so they didn't have to see him looking this pathetic.
Wonwoo pushed himself upright carefully. The room spun immediately. He massaged his scalp, hoping it would help.
It didn't.
Something suddenly lurched inside his stomach. He barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up into the toilet. After making sure his stomach was finally empty, he washed up, changed out of his dirty, torn clothes, and crawled into bed.
That night, Wonwoo cried himself to sleep.
He woke up again the next day. His body still hurt, but at least he could walk. Starving, he shuffled to the fridge and found a cold chocolate bun. While chewing on it, he finally charged his phone and checked it. The notification light had been blinking nonstop ever since it came back to life.
Fifteen missed calls. Five messages.
Most were from Jeonghan. The rest were from Seungkwan and Seungcheol. All asking where he was and why he hadn't come to school.
Wonwoo frowned. Strangely, none of them were from Mingyu. And somehow, that made his heart feel heavier than his body.
He couldn't help but think:
Was he ok? Was Khao ok? Why didn't he call?
Wonwoo tried to shrug off the weight in his chest by replying all of them with the shortest message ever. Just to make them stop worrying about him: Overslept.
Not even a minute later, Seungkwan replied:
What are you, hyung? A hippo? Do you like sleeping that much?
Wonwoo couldn't help smiling. For the first time in days, he actually chuckled. After that, he tossed the phone onto the couch and finished what was probably going to be his only meal of the day. He didn't really have an appetite anymore.
Later that afternoon, while he was watching TV—or more accurately, staring blankly at the moving figures on the screen—his phone vibrated. Someone was calling. Wonwoo looked at the caller ID.
Kim Mingyu.
Maybe he had finally noticed Wonwoo had been absent for several days. Maybe he wanted to know what happened. Maybe he wanted to ask about the other day. Or maybe he wanted to thank him for the warning.
But somehow, Wonwoo felt reluctant to answer.
He hadn't heard a single word from Mingyu after sending that message. Maybe Mingyu had been too busy protecting Khao.
As he should.
Wonwoo felt strangely petty. It was weird. So before the third ring could come, he answered.
“Wonwoo? Are you there?”
Two knocks.
“Are you okay?”
One knock.
No.
A pause.
Not really.
And then Wonwoo added another knock.
But yes… I guess.
“Oh.” Wonwoo heard Mingyu exhale shakily. “Thank God.” His voice sounded relieved. "The others said they couldn't reach you. I couldn't... I didn't...”
You didn't call.
Mingyu took a deep breath. "Listen. Your text... it came just in time."
Wonwoo stayed silent.
"I almost couldn't make it. They almost took Khao." His voice cracked slightly. "Because I read it too late." A pause. "But thanks to you, she's safe now."
Wonwoo stared at the television screen.
"After all that... I couldn't leave her alone." Another pause. "She's too precious to me."
Something tightened inside Wonwoo's chest.
"I was scared it would be like before. Back when she was..." Mingyu stopped himself. Then he cleared his throat instead. "So... thank you." A weak laugh followed. "Thank you very much for your help."
Silence.
"I think that's all." A pause again. "I'll see you tomorrow at school. Good night." He ended softly.
After the line’s off, Wonwoo stared at the screen once again. The phone was still in his hand, but there's something weird. Wonwoo didn’t feel anything. There was no warmth. No contentment. None of the feelings he usually had after talking to Mingyu. It felt like everything had simply gone numb. The pain in his body was gone. In its place was only emptiness.
And he didn’t even know why.
Maybe he was just tired.
Maybe the medicine he'd taken that morning was finally working.
Whatever the reason, it definitely wasn't because Mingyu hadn't called him immediately. And it definitely wasn't because when Mingyu finally did call, he sounded completely broken over Khao. Surely it wasn't because Mingyu hadn't even tried to look for him.
His eyes suddenly stung.
Damn it. Now my eyes hurt too. Must be from staring at the TV for too long.
Wonwoo grumbled to himself and closed his eyes.
Then he let sleep take him again.
..........
The next morning, Wonwoo decided to go to school.
He had only been absent for two days, and yet he had already run out of excuses for Jeonghan, Seungcheol, and Seungkwan. They absolutely wouldn't buy it if he claimed he'd overslept for the nth time. Even though he was still hurting, somehow, he thought he could manage. He could bear the pain. He should. Because he didn't want to make his friends worry. He would meet Mingyu at school too. That thought alone somehow made his steps feel lighter.
Wonwoo wore his oversized black sweater that day, hoping to lessen the friction against his bruised body. He combed his hair carefully, making sure his bangs fell in just the right places to hide the blue and still-swollen mark on his forehead. Just as he was about to reach the school gate, he spotted a familiar tall figure.
Mingyu.
The president was standing there, looking around as if he was waiting for someone.
Before Wonwoo could even reach him, Mingyu had already noticed him and smiled.
“Morning, Wonwoo.”
Wonwoo nodded and walked over slowly before stopping in front of him.
Why are you here?
Mingyu stayed where he was, offering Wonwoo a smile now and then while continuing to scan the area.
Waiting for someone?
Wonwoo's silent question was answered when Mingyu suddenly brightened. Someone was approaching from behind him. A girl with a brown ponytail, huge doe eyes, and a blinding smile.
Khao.
She walked toward them with light steps, almost as if she were skipping. The moment she arrived, Mingyu offered her his arm. Khao took it gladly. In the process, she unintentionally nudged Wonwoo out of the spot beside Mingyu. Literally.
"Morning, Kimja. Morning, Wonwoo-ssi. You're Wonwoo-ssi, right? Kimja talks about you a lot." Her voice was just as bright as her face.
Wonwoo blinked.
As if sensing his unspoken confusion, Mingyu explained, "It's my nickname." He smiled proudly. "Because I like potatoes so much."
Wonwoo almost didn't hear the explanation. His attention was fixed on their intertwined arms. Only after a moment did he force himself to look back at Mingyu and Khao.
"Now, let's go inside together, shall we?" Khao said cheerfully. "We don't want to be late." Even with the funny accent she had from living abroad for so long, Wonwoo couldn't help thinking that she was really nice. And adorable. Khao was the kind of person people would fall head over heels for without even trying.
Everybody. Including Mingyu.
At that moment, Wonwoo learned another thing about Khao. She was so different from him. Because Khao was someone everybody would love easily.
And Wonwoo…
Wonwoo was someone everybody would despise just as easily.
..........
Spending time with Mingyu and his childhood best friend, Khao, might be the worst decision Wonwoo had ever made in his life. He had to witness their lovey-dovey interactions all day long. It was sweet, he supposed. But Wonwoo felt like it would've been better if he hadn't been included in their bonding time.
Actually, it wasn't as if it was only the three of them. Seungkwan, Jeonghan, and Seungcheol were there too. Seungkwan caught his eye a couple of times and was probably the only one fully aware of the situation. Jeonghan and Seungcheol were far too busy with each other to notice anything. Wonwoo was almost certain the youngest knew how awkward he felt hanging around them. But there wasn't really anything Seungkwan could do about it.
“Do you remember that one time when Mrs. Jang accidentally gave you the spicy one?” Khao asked as she ate her tteokbokki.
“Uh, yeah.” Mingyu laughed. “It was so painful, I thought I saw my whole life flashing before my eyes.”
Jeonghan scoffed. “You're so dramatic. It's almost like you saw forty years of your life when you were only ten.”
They all laughed. Mingyu, Khao, and Jeonghan because they had been there. Seungkwan and Seungcheol because they found the story funny. Wonwoo?
Wonwoo looked down at his phone as if someone was texting him.
“I bought you ice cream to soothe the burn on your tongue.” Jeonghan continued.
Mingyu rolled his eyes. “That wasn't you. That was Khao. She bought my favorite chocolate mint ice cream.”
“I always bought you your favorite.” Khao smiled brightly.
“Nah, that's the only time.” Mingyu smirked teasingly.
“Kimja!” And they both laughed again.
Wonwoo watched them silently.
Ah, right. They have years of memories together.
Seungkwan suddenly cleared his throat, “W-Wonwoo Hyung also likes spicy food, right? I always see you eating Buldak ramyeon.”
Wonwoo understood what Seungkwan was trying to do. Maybe the younger boy had noticed that Wonwoo had been quieter than usual. Maybe he realized that Wonwoo kept drifting away from the conversation. So he was trying to pull him back in. Wonwoo appreciated the effort. He smiled and nodded.
“Wonwoo also likes strawberries,” Seungcheol supplied.
“Oh! The ice cream shop across from Mrs. Jang's tteokbokki stall is famous for its strawberry ice cream.” Jeonghan chimed in.
Khao immediately looked excited. “Really? You like strawberries too?” She turned to Wonwoo with a bright smile. “Then we should all go there someday. Mrs. Jang still has her tteokbokki stall, right? I think Wonwoo would like her special spicy menu too.”
Wonwoo looked at Khao. Then at Mingyu. The latter smiled warmly at him.
“Yes,” Mingyu said. “We should.”
Looking at all their expectant faces, Wonwoo couldn't exactly say no. So he simply nodded.
To be honest, Wonwoo felt confused. Why was this bothering him so much? To the point where he'd rather be home reading a book or playing games on his phone. His chest felt heavy. Actually, his whole body still hurts. The bruises from a few days ago hadn't fully healed, his head had been pounding, and his heart… his heart had been aching strangely all day. Maybe he should just stay at home and rest.
And lately, he'd realized something else. He kept checking where Mingyu was without meaning to. Every single time, he would find the president beside Khao.
He sat beside her at lunch. He walked beside her on their way to the café. He was even there at the court when Khao had basketball practice after school, while Wonwoo could only watch them from the library window.
Khao was Mingyu's first love. And it looked like Mingyu had fallen for her all over again. At least, that's how it looked to Wonwoo. To him, anyone who saw them together could read between the lines. They looked like they were made for each other.
But looking at the two of them together somehow made Wonwoo feel as though he was reliving that night. He didn't want to remember any of the events from when he was bullied, especially that particular night when the bullies almost attacked Khao.
But it was ironic, really. You forget when you want to remember, and remember when you want to forget.
Still, he couldn't blame Khao. She was a victim too.
Moreover, Khao was a very warm girl. If there’s something that Wonwoo couldn’t do to the girl, it was hating her.
Meanwhile, he had turned himself into a mute freak. Driving people to hate him even more. Making his parents—and the few people who genuinely cared about him—worry all the time. Because by choosing silence, he was practically screaming that something inside him was broken.
Ironic.
He was nothing but a loser.
A burden.
Maybe, somewhere deep inside, Wonwoo understood. Maybe he didn't. But the more time they spent together, the more he felt like he wasn't supposed to be there. So little by little, he started retreating back into his shell. He didn't say yes to every invitation anymore. Sometimes he told the others that his parents were waiting for him at home—even when they weren't. He started drifting behind the group whenever they walked together.
The weird thing was, whenever Wonwoo sighed and looked away after watching Mingyu and Khao together, Mingyu would be the one looking back at him.
With a soft expression.
Something almost longing.
And every single time, Seungkwan seemed to catch it too. The younger boy couldn't help frowning at his friends.
…………
One night, when his parents called him into the living room for a family discussion, Wonwoo immediately sensed that something big was about to happen. Because his parents had never looked more serious.
"We're expanding the business to Busan," his father began. "The company there is still new, so it'll need a lot of help from your mother and me before everything settles down." He smiled hopefully. "We've been thinking... it doesn't make sense to keep traveling back and forth while leaving you here alone all the time." His father paused. "So maybe this is a good opportunity for all of us to start fresh in Busan. You'll get to see how beautiful it is there, Wonwoo-ya. I think you'll like it."
His mother reached for his hands. "What do you think, dear? Can we move there together?"
Wonwoo stared at their intertwined hands. He had no reason to stay.
Mingyu is with Khao now.
Weirdly, that was the first thought that crossed his mind.
Then came the others.
He could finally leave his bullies behind. Leave the school behind. Leave everything behind. The thought should've made him happy. Instead, he found himself thinking about Jeonghan. Seungkwan. Seungcheol. His friends.
For the first time in his life, he would actually miss people.
Still, he decided to follow his parents. Enough of staying home alone waiting for them to come back. Maybe this was his chance to move on. To leave all the bad memories behind. To leave the bullies behind. To start over somewhere else.
So why not?
Without a second thought, Wonwoo gave them a slow nod.
..........
One afternoon, Seungkwan was shocked to find boxes scattered all over Wonwoo's living room.
“Hyung?” the younger boy blinked. “Where are you going? Are you moving out?” He had come over to visit unexpectedly that day, carrying strawberry shortcakes from the café where he worked part-time and a bucket of fried chicken. Instead, he was the one who got surprised.
Wonwoo, whose parents were once again away on a business trip, smiled gently while wrapping his mother's plates and glasses in newspaper.
“Do Jeonghan Hyung and Seungcheol Hyung know about this?” After helping himself to a glass of cold water from the fridge, Seungkwan flopped down beside Wonwoo. He left the food in the kitchen because the living room was a complete mess—newspapers everywhere, half-packed boxes, and piles of things waiting to be wrapped.
Wonwoo didn't answer as usual. He simply smiled and continued wrapping.
“I guess not,” Seungkwan sighed, answering his own question. Then he glanced at Wonwoo. “What about President Kim?” Wonwoo's hands paused for a second. Just a second. Then he resumed wrapping the plate as if nothing had happened. “I bet he doesn't know either.”
Silence.
“Can I ask why?” Seungkwan grabbed a sheet of newspaper and started helping Wonwoo wrap the dishes. “If it's because of Khao, you don't have to worry. I don't think he's—”
The rest of his words disappeared when Wonwoo suddenly covered his mouth with one hand and shook his head. Still smiling.
But tiredly.
Seungkwan immediately understood. He nodded. As soon as Wonwoo let go, he tried again. “You don't want to talk about it?”
Wonwoo shook his head.
“Because it's already final?”
This time, Wonwoo nodded.
Wonwoo's eyes suddenly felt warm. He carefully set down the plate in his hands before leaning forward and wrapping his arms around Seungkwan. The younger boy froze. Then slowly relaxed.
“I know,” Seungkwan murmured. “You don't want me to tell anyone you're moving yet, right?”
Wonwoo nodded against his shoulder.
“And I know you're trying to say thank you.”
Another nod.
Seungkwan laughed quietly. The movement made his chin bump against Wonwoo's shoulder. “I seriously don't know when I became a Wonwoo Whisperer like Seungcheol hyung.” He shook his head.
“I guess we spoiled you too much.” A soft chuckle escaped him. Then his arms tightened around Wonwoo. “You know this is all your fault, right?” His voice grew quieter.
“I'm going to miss you.”
..........
It was Friday.
Exactly two days before Wonwoo would move out. Everything was packed. Boxes were sealed and ready to be delivered to their new home.
There was just one more thing left to do.
Wonwoo looked at the black umbrella in his hand. He had to give it back to Mingyu. There wouldn't be another chance after this. The problem was, Wonwoo didn't want to return it directly. Mingyu would ask why he was suddenly giving it back. Worse, he might have to do it in front of Khao too. Wonwoo didn't want to explain anything. He didn't want to make things awkward. He wanted to leave quietly. It would be easier for everyone.
Or maybe just for him.
The others probably wouldn't be bothered too much anyway.
So here he was, standing in front of Mingyu's locker. He decided to simply hang the umbrella on the locker door. School had already ended, after all. The chance of running into Mingyu was low. The corridor was almost empty, save for a few students minding their own business without sparing Wonwoo a glance.
Wonwoo looked down at the umbrella once again. This was the second olive branch Mingyu had extended to him. The first one was when Mingyu stopped him from breaking his nose. Wonwoo smiled quietly as he remembered how awkward Mingyu had been back then, yet still caring nonetheless. Mingyu was a good school president. A good person. A cool guy.
Wonwoo sighed. He reached out to hang the umbrella on the locker door when someone suddenly called his name.
“Wonwoo?”
He turned around. Khao stood there with her head tilted slightly.
Ah. Thank God it wasn't Mingyu. Though this was almost just as awkward.
“I thought you already went home,” she said with her usual warm smile. Her eyes followed his gaze toward her sports bag. “Oh, right. I just finished basketball practice and was about to leave.” She shifted the bag higher on her shoulder. “Are you alone?”
Wonwoo nodded.
“Oh, wait!” Khao suddenly brightened. She put down her duffel bag and rummaged through her backpack before pulling out a paper bag and placing it into Wonwoo's hands. “These are strawberry cream puffs. I bought them this morning, but they're really sweet.” She laughed. “And I remembered you like strawberries too, so you have to try them.”
Wonwoo's eyes widened. He looked at the paper bag. Then at Khao. Then back at the paper bag. Not only had she shared her treats with him, she had remembered that he liked strawberries. She's so kind.
She matched Mingyu perfectly.
And suddenly, Wonwoo got an idea. He held out the umbrella. Khao blinked in confusion but accepted it anyway.
“Eh?”
Wonwoo pointed toward Mingyu's locker. Something immediately clicked in her mind.
“Is this Mingyu's?
Wonwoo nodded.
“Why are you giving it to me?”
Wonwoo smiled.
“Why don't you return it yourself?”
He slowly shook his head. Still smiling.
Because I won't be able to see him anymore after this.
Thank you, Khao. Please always be happy with Mingyu.
Wonwoo raised his hand and waved goodbye. The cream puffs were clutched carefully against his chest. Khao remained standing there, frowning slightly as she watched him leave, probably wondering why he was acting so strangely.
Wonwoo walked through the school gate while staring down at the paper bag in his hands. He still couldn't believe that there was another person he would've gladly called a friend. But he wouldn't be here anymore. And somehow, that made him sad. He wished he could repay Khao for her kindness.
At least once.
He had just lifted his head to continue walking when someone suddenly kicked him in the stomach. The paper bag slipped from his hands. The cream puffs scattered across the sandy ground. Before Wonwoo could react, someone grabbed his wrist and dragged him back toward the school building.
A hard shove on his back caused him to stumble. And then all he saw was only darkness. Wonwoo squinted behind his glasses, and the blurry vision became clearer.
"Finally. You're alone." Familiar voices. Familiar faces. The huge boy stepped forward with a nasty grin. "I don't get why cool people like Jeonghan, Mingyu, and Seungkwan even bother hanging around someone like you."
He walked closer. “This is for being a mute freak.” A kick slammed into Wonwoo's stomach. His eyes squeezed shut from the pain.
“This is for being an annoying person who likes meddling in other people's business.” Another kick on the stomach. The voice sounds different though, so it's the other guy. What was the name? Jae Up?
“This is for telling Mingyu about our plan.” A kick to his leg.
Right.
These were the same people. The ones who had beaten him before.
“This is for the punishment Mingyu gave us.” Another kick landed on his shoulder. Wonwoo collapsed helplessly on the dirty floor. He looked up weakly.
The huge boy stared back at him with eyes full of hatred. “And this—” The boy lifted his foot. “—is for simply being alive.” The final kick struck his head.
Wonwoo felt something inside him give way.
I'm done.
A sad little smirk tugged at his lips.
And then everything went black.
..........