Chapter Text
"alllll- mine!"
guanlin lights up, the happiest smile on his face as he claps excitedly, "hyung! that was so cute!" he leans forward like an eager baby, "again!"
"you cutie." jihoon coos, kissing him, "i'll do it how many ever times you want me to."
guanlin looks delighted as jihoon repeats the new aegyo- again and again and again and again and again and-
- "baby, i love you so much." jihoon says carefully, "but can i take a break?"
guanlin sighs.
"i've done it thirty seven times." jihoon says, "please? just five minutes. i'll drink water."
"it's fine." guanlin runs his hands through jihoon's hair, "you can do it again for me tomorrow."
"okay." jihoon slumps onto the younger in relief, "thanks."
guanlin giggles, "i know it gets tiring- i'm really sorry, hyung, but you're so adorable that i can't help it."
"maybe you should take a video and watch that on repeat instead." jihoon suggests. guanlin wrinkles his nose.
"not as good as the real thing." he smiles, "and besides- this one is specially mine, right?"
"yeah. see- that's why i said 'all mine'. because you're my pretty baby flower."
guanlin nuzzles into jihoon happily, "love you."
"love you, too."
"promise you won't do this to anyone else? and if you do, you have to say it's for me."
jihoon smirks, "who's getting possessive now, hm?"
"heyyy!" guanlin protests, "i can't help it if you're really hot and really popular and half the school is in love with you!"
"oh, trust me, i could say the same about you." jihoon rolls his eyes. then grins, "you think i'm really hot?"
guanlin blushes, but nods resolutely, "really hot." he blushes harder, "especially when you go all sangnamja-manly on me. that's super hot."
"yeah?" a proud, smug feeling unfolds in jihoon's chest- the idea of his actions or words leaving the younger boy a blushing mess is so incredibly appealing, "hyung's hot when he takes care of you like that?"
"you're hot always." guanlin clarifies, unable to meet jihoon's eyes, "but. you know."
"i don't." jihoon is teasing, "why don't you tell me, hm?"
"hyung." guanlin squirms, hiding his face, "it's embarrassing."
"stop that." jihoon pulls guanlin's hands away, "look at that gorgeous face- don't hide it from me. now." he grins again, "tell me all the ways in which you find me hot."
"you're so annoying." guanlin huffs, "why would you want me to inflate your ego?"
"guan-lin."
"hyung's hot no matter what." guanlin repeats, "but especially hot when he takes care of me and gets all protective."
jihoon sighs, pleased with himself, "give me a kiss."
guanlin rolls his eyes. kisses him.
they are content.
***
"kang soeun!" guanlin's voice echoes throughout the hall, "what the fuck is this?!"
"shut up, a teacher might hear you!" somi hisses, but guanlin is already chasing soeun down the corridor. somi groans and follows them. daehwi- who is in peals of laughter- is right behind.
"it was a present!" soeun shrieks as guanlin catches her around the waist and upturns his water bottle over her head, "oh my god- you asshole, i am going to kill you-"
"your fault." guanlin is smug as he regards his handiwork.
somi scowls at the two of them, "i asked daehwi to bring a mop. you guys are going to clean this."
"why should i?" soeun demands, looking down at her soaked uniform, "he poured water on me!"
"you started it." daehwi appears, mop and bucket in hand, "i wish i could be there to see the teacher's reaction though."
"i'm going to go take the book back from her."
"too late, lin." somi covers her mouth to hide her laughter, "i saw her from the window of the teacher's quarters. she's already started correcting it."
guanlin groans.
"it's not that bad." soeun says evilly. guanlin scowls.
"yeah. you adding a paragraph about jihoon hyung to my essay is not that bad at all."
daehwi is in peals of laughter again.
"you haven't even read it!" soeun protests.
"that's even worse."
soeun pulls out her phone, "i took a picture before i turned it in. want to see?"
"i am never asking you to turn in my stuff ever again-"
"-yes." somi takes the phone from soeun, "shut up, i'll read it. what was the topic the teacher gave you?"
"we had to expand on the quote from our text." daehwi explains, "the one that says 'love is blind'."
"heyy, guanlin is really good at writing." somi says admiringly as she scans his work, "rina-ya, you spoiled a good essay. plus, your handwriting is too different from his. teacher will know immediately."
daehwi grabs the phone from somi, "i'll read it, you suck." he clears his throat, ignoring her scoff, "another beautiful example for the quote 'love is blind' is the relationship i share with kind and fresh but slightly scary and extremely rude sunbae, jeojang jihoon-ssi."
guanlin gapes, "she didn't write that. you're lying."
"nope." daehwi flashes the screen at him, "what the fuck, soeun, i can't believe you."
"it's not like the teachers don't know.' soeun says, grinning, "you know what happened last week- jihoon accidentally kissed guanlin goodbye in front of his homeroom teacher, and get this- she told them to take care of each other. how cute is that?"
"that is besides the point." guanlin grits.
"okayyy!" somi hops, "let him continue."
daehwi continues reading, "our love blossomed from the moment we laid eyes on each other. he was a sunbae, famous for popularity and good-looks. i was nothing but a mere foreigner, slightly stupid-"
"-hey!-"
"-but with charms to make up for my lack of brain cells-"
"-i will show you lack of brain cells, kang soeun, just you wait-"
"-and though he made me wait for months, we finally confessed to each other one warm spring night-"
"-it was winter-"
"-and on that day, my life became complete. the reason i brought this up under the topic love is blind, is because jihoon sunbae must have indeed been blind to fall in love with me after seeing my face-"
somi shrieks in delight, "that is golden!"
"-but to this day we love each other wholly." daehwi takes a breath to control his laughter, "to conclude, i would like to say that love is indeed as blind as i, lai guanlin, am annoying and stupid."
there's a moment in which daehwi and somi roll around the ground, laughing, and soeun switches off her phone triumphantly, and guanlin smiles pleasantly at her.
"i am going to end you."
"i'd like to see you try."
guanlin takes somi's water bottle from her hands. soeun lets out a shrill scream and takes off. guanlin is right behind her, and somi and daehwi are hot at his heels (though they're still laughing).
they are often like this. guanlin is used to it.
it doesn't make him smile any less.
***
"that is golden!" jihoon is doubled over, clutching his stomach, "that is the best thing i've heard all day."
"shut up!" guanlin whines, "you're my boyfriend, you should be supporting me!"
"i'm always supporting you, angel." jihoon assures him, before dissolving in laughter again.
guanlin doesn't know whether to feel happy at this new nickname- 'angel' sounds so nice and sweet, guanlin loves it- or disgruntled at jihoon's obvious amusement at his predicament.
woojin is in no better state, and neither are tzuyu or soyeon. they're all clutching each other, gasping for air as woojin reads out the last lines of soeun's addition to guanlin's otherwise perfect essay.
"what the hell is going on?" jinyoung demands as he heads towards them, "you guys aren't outside yet- this place echoes like crazy."
woojin opens his mouth to tell jinyoung what is happening, but he just bursts out laughing again. jinyoung blinks.
"it's no big deal, jinyoungie oppa." soeun says pleasantly, "it's just that yesterday we had to write an essay for homework, right? we had to expand on the quote 'love is blind' because it was used in our text."
"so?"
"so, guanlinie did a beautiful job, but he was running late for his basketball meeting this morning, so he gave me his notebook and asked me to submit it to the teacher for him."
jinyoung nodded, "okay. so?"
"so i did as i was told." soeun says, "but since i'm such a good friend, i thought i'd go through his essay before submitting it. you know, make sure there's no spelling errors or anything."
"how fucking thoughtful." guanlin mutters. jinyoung frowns in confusion.
"it is thoughtful, though."
"well." soeun shrugs, "lin's essay was too good. but i felt there wasn't enough emotion in it. so thought i would add a personal story to make it more emotional."
woojin, still shaking with laughter, hand soeun's phone to jinyoung, who takes it and blinks at the screen, where the picture soeun took of her handiwork is still displayed.
"oh-" jinyoung frowns, "this in't your handwriting, lin."
"exactly." guanlin huffs.
"ohh- soeunie added a paragraph." he squints at it. as he begins reading, his frown disappears and his quiet laughter grows and grows until he, too, is rolling on the floor.
"thanks for the support." guanlin says dryly.
"aww- come here, baby." jihoon kisses guanlin softly, "we know that you're the smartest among all of us."
"but still- what is my teacher going to say?"
"it's obviously not your handwriting." somi assures him, muffling hr laughter, "don't worry. when are you getting your books back?"
"tomorrow." daehwi says, "i wish you had this period with us."
"same." somi wrinkles her nose, "i hope i'm there when she returns the books though."
"soeun, send me this picture." daehwi grins, "i want to show it to the hyungs at study centre."
jihoon interlaces his fingers with guanlin's, "the hyungs are going to have a riot." he says, and guanlin groans.
honestly, he should be used to this.
***
the hyungs do have a riot.
they laugh for nearly twenty minutes.
guanlin sits himself on the couch, arms crossed, waiting for them to finish. jihoon tickles his side lightly.
"stop pouting. it's too cute."
"shut up."
"rude- i'm your hyung, you brat."
"your brat."
"my baby." jihoon agrees, giving guanlin a kiss, "now stop pouting. you know they're not gonna stop laughing any time soon."
"i love kang soeun!" seongwoo announces. guanlin wrinkles his nose.
"that's creepy."
this only makes the hyungs laugh harder. seongwoo makes an affronted expression, "yah- lai guanlin, you know what i meant."
"i absolutely did not." guanlin says earnestly, "and i'm going to tell her to file a restraining order."
"you brat!"
"you are being very bratty today." jinyoung agrees. guanlin scowls.
"i think i have a good enough reason."
there's a moment in which the maknae line watches their hyungs laugh at guanlin's story. then jinyoung nods, "yes, you do."
jihoon continues to watche them for some time, before settling himself on guanlin's lap. guanlin automatically wraps his arms around the older boy's waist and kisses the back of jihoon's neck. jihoon giggles happily, twisting around for a proper kiss.
jinyoung rolls his eyes.
"this is a public place- have some shame."
guanlin pouts even harder, and jihoon kisses him again.
"you're just jealous that you have no love life." the older says smugly, "and that kyulkyung sunbae will never look at you because if she does, you'll evaporate."
jinyoung glowers, "we don't talk about that."
it takes another ten minutes for everyone to settle down. even jisung can't give orders, he's too busy muffling his laughter. when guanlin and daniel set up their books at their usual table, daniel takes one look at the younger and bursts out laughing again.
"hyung." guanlin groans, "come on."
"i'm sorry! it's just really cute- and fucking hilarious."
"it will not be hilarious when i get my book back tomorrow."
"it will be." seongwoo stage-whispers from a table away.
daniel snorts. guanlin throws a cushion at him.
***
it is hilarious when guanlin gets his book back the next day.
his teacher chooses to return guanlin's notebook privately, after class, when he, somi, soeun and daehwi are at their lockers.
she gives him a small smile as they bow at her.
"i wished to return your book after class because i did have a couple of things to tell you." the teacher says, lips twitching, "first of all, your korean has improved a lot."
guanlin swallows, "thanks."
"second, you have a beautiful writing style. this was very well-written."
"thanks."
"um... although i do think personal stories are a good way of conveying your interpretation of the given quote, i'm not sure this particular story was the best choice." the teacher presses her hand to her mouth. coughs by way of muffling her laugh, "it is... a wonderful story, of course, but..." she spares a glance at soeun, "i think it would be more accurate from your point of view rather than miss kang's."
soeun let's out a noise, "darn. how did you know?"
"as a teacher, i do know these things."
she hands guanlin the notebook, "go through some minute corrections and ideas. you're improving."
they bow at her again. before she departs, she give him a pat on the shoulder, "be happy with jihoon-ssi. i heard he's been a lot happier recently."
guanlin goes brick-red as she walks away.
"what the fuck." daehwi mutters.
this is lai guanlin's life. he shouldn't even be surprised.
***
"what the fuck." jaehwan says, and minhyun hits him for his language, "why were the teachers not this chill when i was in school?"
"because that was, like, ten thousand years ago, hyung." jinyoung says earnestly, and all the hyungs scoff.
"my teacher told me to take care of guanlin once." jihoon remembers, turning red at the memory, "i accidentally kissed him in front of her."
jisung looks exasperated, "are you sure that's allowed in school?"
"it wasn't like-" jihoon makes a vague gesture, "it was just small. i wasn't-"
"- we don't want to know." woojin says helpfully. jihoon rolls his eyes.
"are we done for today?" sungwoon checks the clock, "canteen, then? we can have dinner there. my treat."
a chorus of whoops make their way through the group as they pack their bags and head for the door.
"kids!" a voice calls from behind. they turn around to see boA coming towards them, "you are aware that tomorrow is the last class for the term, right?"
"yes." the rest of them chorus. guanlin and daehwi blink at each other.
"all student who come here go to schools that follow the same calendar." minhyun explains, "so all the kids have exams at the same time. we close just before their exams start so they can focus on doing revision by themselves, and we reopen a couple of days after the new term commences at school."
"oh." guanlin frowns, "but what if i need help during exams?"
"call me, duh." daniel looks highly unimpressed at guanlin's doubt. guanlin grins sheepishly.
"yeah, okay. thanks, hyung."
they say goodbye to boA and stroll to the canteen. the people serving are not those rude ones that guanlin had confronted earlier. jinyoung grins at him.
"shall we have guanlinie place our order?"
"no." guanlin deadpans, and jihoon glares at jinyoung.
the boy in question raises his arms in mock defence, "i was just asking, jesus christ."
seongwoo laughs, ruffling jinyoung's hair, "it's alright, jinyoung-ah. i'll place the order. shall we have chicken and ramen today?"
the response is affirmative. ten minutes later, they are all seated around a table, waiting for their food.
"do you remember the first time the eleven of us came here together?" sungwoon asks reminiscently, "it's been a while, right?"
"it really has." jaehwan says, "ah, the kids have grown up quite a bit since then."
"jihoonie and guanlinie barely knew each other back then." jisung grins at the couple. guanlin glares at jihoon.
"we could have if you weren't so annoying."
"rude." jihoon huffs, slugging guanlin on the arm.
"ow, that hurt, you're mean-"
"i'm mean? and how the fuck did that hurt?" jihoon demands, "you have no strength."
guanlin scowls, "go away, i want woojin hyung."
woojin cheers, "alright- that's the way, guanlinie- ow, what the fuck, jihoon- that hurts!"
"he's mine." jihoon snaps, and guanlin rolls his eyes fondly, nuzzling into jihoon despite having told him to go away a second earlier.
"thought you wanted woojin?" jihoon teases.
"i mean, if you're so adamant about it-"
"-shush." jihoon places a soft kiss on his cheek and intertwines their fingers, as if saying you're not going anywhere, and guanlin is perfectly content with that.
"when we first came here, guanlin was so shy about his korean." jisung adds, "and now he's so confident. i'm glad to see that."
"me, too." the rest of them chorus, and guanlin beams.
"also, i think jinyoung has become a lot more confident, too." minhyun adds, "just in general."
"hyung is working hard." guanlin agrees, and jinyoung gives him a fist-bump, smiling bashfully.
it's like nothing has changed, as the eleven of them talk and laugh and wolf down their food and argue over the last piece of chicken until jisung facepalms and orders another one. it's the same as it was all those months ago, and yet, somehow, everything is different.
"it's good, isn't it?" daniel asks, "it's good like this."
it is good, this life in korea. guanlin couldn't ask for more.
***
"see you tomorrow." somi and soeun raise their hands in farewell.
"see you." daehwi and guanlin chorus in reply.
they're standing in front of study centre. soeun and somi are going to somi's house, while daehwi and guanlin have their last day of study centre for the term.
"say hi to all the oppas for us." soeun says, tugging somi forward, "hurry, or you'll be late."
so daehwi and guanlin hurry inside the study centre, as they're told, and quickly bow to boA on their way in.
"last day of term." she says, "ready for the exams?"
the boys nod, "i'm pretty clear with most things." guanlin says, "if i come up with any problems during revision, daniel hyung said to call him."
"that's good." boA smiles, "what do you think of our study centre? are you going to be continuing next term?"
"of course."
the idea of not continuing doesn't even cross guanlin's mind. this has helped him tremendously, in more ways than just academics. all the times his hyungs have made him laugh, given him strength, taught him things about life- guanlin feels safer here with them than anywhere else. and his grades have been perfect all term thanks to them, too.
"you'll have to ask your father to transfer next term's fees." daehwi reminds him and guanlin nods.
"will do."
"well, work hard." boA says, "i'll be leaving early today. i have a meeting. jisung-ssi said he'll close up the place for me."
"oh, that means we won't be seeing you till next term!" daehwi pouts, and boA laughs.
"unfortunately. but it will come sooner than you think." she bows, "work hard, kids. hwaiting!"
they bow back, "see you next term!"
jisung welcomes them in with a wide smile and chocolate bar each.
"woah!" daehwi takes it, "thanks, hyung- a treat for the last day?"
"from aron." jisung nods. guanlin grins, draping himself around aron, "hyunggg, i love youuu-"
"ahem."
guanlin turns around to see jihoon standing in front of him, arms crossed. guanlin giggles.
"hyunggg, i love you moree, don't be mad at me-"
"you big baby." woojin mutters to jihoon, "can't you let him live?"
"he is living." jihoon sighs happily as guanlin hugs him to his chest, "with me."
aron grins, "sorry, kid- if you want even more affection, buy him chocolate. that seems to work."
"i will try that, thanks." jihoon kisses the base of guanlin's neck, "but he already gives me a lot of affection."
"who does? guanlinie?" jonghyun and dongho stride over.
"aron hyung, minki is looking for you." dongho tells him, "he left something at home."
aron blinks, "i asked him to bring the schedule for next term. surely he didn't forget that."
minhyun snorts.
"i mean..." jonghyun scratches his neck, "it's minki."
"for fuck's sake." aron mutters, "that kid is going to be the death of me."
"ah, well." minhyun laughs, "this is why you love him."
"i can't imagine why." the older massages his temple, "come on, let's go see what we can do. see you guys later."
"see you." jihoon says amicably, moving over so they can move. daniel joins them a second later.
"do you want some chocolate, daniel hyung?" guanlin offers.
"he's not allowed to." seongwoo says before daniel can open his mouth, "i dragged him to the dentist the other day, and he has cavities."
"are you serious?" jinyoung looks surprised, "how?"
"jelly." daniel, guanlin, jihoon, seongwoo, jisung, woojin, daehwi and minhyun chorus.
jinyoung blinks.
"what about jelly?" sungwoon materialises behind them, "ah, niel, i heard about your cavities."
daniel groans, "did hyung inform the whole world?"
"nope." seongwoo says, confused, "i only told jaehwan."
there's a moment of silence. all heads turn towards jaehwan.
"hey!" he says defensively, "i need to inform everyone so that they don't offer niel sweets! because he won't decline and that will worsen his dental condition, he could be toothless by thirty- and then what will happen? and it will all be because i didn't inform people about his cavities."
"how long did you spend coming up with that excuse?" jisung asks tiredly.
"i thought it was great!" guanlin says, enthusiastic, "next time you should add how your concern for niel hyung's well-being sometimes overwhelms you. then you should say how you spend too much time thinking about others to the point where you put yourself second, and that it's such a shame because you're just trying to help but you get blamed for so many things."
"guanlinie." jaehwan looks as though he's seen heaven, "that is genius."
"oh, god." daehwi groans, "not with your dramatic monologues again."
"they're not-"
"-have you ever considered taking up drama?" jaehwan asks with genuine interest.
"we should go together, hyungnim." guanlin says seriously, and jaehwan nods.
"we can be world-famous actors."
"did aron hyung add something to that chocolate?" seongwoo stage-whispers, "it's affected their brain."
jinyoung snorts, "they barely have any brain to begin with."
"okay, guys." jisung manages to hold back his laughter, "since it's the last class of term, how about we all sit together today?"
"sure." daniel says, and the rest of them nod in agreement.
they arrange themselves in a circle, deciding to just go through some basics with their mentors.
"it reminds me of the first day." daehwi says, "like, the first proper day."
"what's the first proper day?" jisung asks.
"like, you know- after linnie and niel hyung joined. with all eleven of us."
"oh, you're right!" sungwoon says, "we sat like this back then, too!"
"wah, what a coincidence." woojin says. jisung looks disbelieving.
"it is not a coincidence, actually. the reason i suggested we sit like this is because we did it on the first day."
woojin blinks, "oh."
"well, that takes away the coolness." jinyoung says, and jisung splutters.
guanlin grins at their antics, and so does daniel, as the two of them go through some newer korean vocabulary.
"what does this word mean?" guanlin asks, pointing.
daniel places the book in front of him, "it's a little tricky, right? try to read it."
guanlin looks at daniel doubtfully, "i'm not sure about those letters."
"you can do it, baby." jihoon says from his other side.
"come on, guanlinie!" jinyoung cheers, and the rest of their group joins in.
"hyungs, stop!" guanlin whines, though he can't help but laugh, "okay, okay- wait."
he squints at the word, "nel-?"
"look at it carefully." jisung says.
guanlin pauses, "oh- nol. nol-?"
"almost." jihoon kisses his cheek and squeezes his hand.
"yeg. no, wait- yog. hold on, we studied this character- yeog? nolyeog?"
"alright!" daniel shouts and the group bursts into applause again. guanlin feels a little giddy- it's an over-the-top reaction for something as simple as guanlin reading a tough word, but it makes him feel happy, makes him feel loved, like he's worked hard.
"knew you could." jihoon kisses his lips in reward. guanlin beams, then frowns.
"but what does it mean?"
"nolyeog?" seongwoo says, "it means to...um, how do i put it- to work hard, kind of. to want to work hard."
"to want to achieve something." minhyun elaborates.
"hm."
"there's a proper word for it." jisung says, "like, to strive."
"don't confuse him." jaehwan scolds, "daniel, tell him crisply."
"it basically means to work hard in order to achieve a goal." daniel explains, "an endeavour."
"ahh." guanlin nods in understanding, "i got it."
"that's my baby." jihoon murmurs, pressing multiple kisses to guanlin's face. guanlin uses the book to hide his and jihoon's faces from the others so that he can kiss his boyfriend properly.
"love you." jihoon giggles at guanlin's method of concealing their faces from view.
"love you too." guanlin removes the book after one final kiss. sungwoon, who is sitting across from them, has his phone out.
"this is the cutest picture ever, look." he shows the group. jinyoung and woojin retch while daehwi and minhyun coo. it's the usual assortment of reactions. it makes guanlin laugh.
"send that to me." jihoon requests, and daniel coos harder.
"stop it." guanlin hits the older. daniel tickles guanlin in retaliation.
"back to work!" jisung announces, clapping his hands together loudly. he says it all the time- it's so familiar, a typical line of jisung's- but guanlin doubts he will ever get tired of hearing it.
"the exams are coming soon." daniel reminds guanlin, "but you're doing well. i think the outcome will be good."
"thanks, hyung."
"you just have to do your best."
"i know. i will."
he will. it's been months since he came to korea, months since he met so many wonderful people, from his school friends to his hostel friends to his study centre hyungs. all the people guanlin loves so much.
and jihoon, of course, the single most wonderful person in guanlin's life. even now, as guanlin works with daniel and jihoon works with sungwoon, their fingers are intertwined. guanlin loves him so much.
it has been hard, too, of course. these past few months have had their fair share of struggles, but guanlin is proud at having overcome them, at having moved on. he is happy here, in korea with these people. he misses taiwan, misses his family, but still, he is happy.
there's still so much to do- ace these exams, work hard next term, cause ruckus in school with daehwi, somi and soeun, cause ruckus at home with oscar and seonho, hang out with eunbin, prepare himself for elkie and soyeon's graduation, have bubble tea with tzuyu and kyulkyung, spent time with ajhumm and ajhussi, play with miso, go on their hostel trip, hang out with his study-centre hyungs, spend every free second with jihoon, study hard- guanlin is tired just thinking about it.
but he's excited, too. there's a lot to look forward to, and his life is never really dull. he has his plans, but he can never be sure of what to expect.
"earth to lai guanlin." daniel waves his hand in front of guanlin's face, "you zoned out."
"sorry." guanlin says sheepishly.
"no problem." daniel assres him, and then he repeats himself again, and guanlin pays attention this time. he has to, obviously. there's a lot on his list, but acing these exams is the first thing.
he has to put effort into everything he does, now and next term and the year after that and after that and after that.
that is why he is here. that is why he came to south korea, and he is happy in this country with these friends and this life.
nolyeog, he thinks, and strives to work harder.
haengbog, he thinks, and strives to stay happy.