Chapter Text
“Sicheng, just go and give him the box. He’s obviously whipped for your ass and if he rejects you, I’ll personally come and beat him up. I don’t see the issue here, baby.”
“Beating him up would only result to him HATING ME. Are you even hearing yourself, mom? And the issue here is I am a big coward that gets tongue tied in front of my crush! It’s not that easy.” Sicheng whined, hugging a small package to his chest.
Taeyong rolled his eyes at the younger’s words. Spending another lunch break while Sicheng gush about his crush… That wasn’t in his daily schedule of activities in his four year stay in Korea University yet here we are, a year later and he hasn’t escaped the Chinese man. Not even once.
He blames himself for being so damn soft when it comes to Dong Sicheng, the baby of the whole Theatre Arts Department. He makes everyone giggly and googly eyed just by breathing. The man is talented as heck to the point that even his walking seems like he’s dancing. He’s THAT graceful as a person.
Another loud sigh from Sicheng made Taeyong look at him. He eyed the box Sicheng is holding. He knows that those are handmade chocolates that Sicheng spent two days prior in making. He is planning on giving them to Nakamoto Yuta, the university’s star soccer player and captain.
Sicheng has been sporting a big phat crush on the Japanese senior for a year. No one knows except Taeyong and his boyfriend Ten.
The thing is, Yuta is also crushing on Sicheng for that equal amount of time. It’s all thanks to the yearend program slash party the school always holds a year ago. Sicheng performed one of his traditional Chinese dance mixed with hip hop and since then, the Japanese star player hasn’t shut up about him.
Taeyong and Ten have been pushing Sicheng to gather all his courage to confess to him because Yuta will go to Japan to train as a professional soccer player for his country after he graduates. There’s only roughly four months left before graduation and if Sicheng doesn’t do this now, he’ll never have the opportunity to do it again. Unless he’s willing to fly to Japan and do it there which is as clear as SM Entertainment debuting NCT China in 2018.
“Chengie, you know you can always back out of this, right? Your dad will probably scold me for forcing you but I have heard from our Economics class that Yuta’s planning to go to Japan earlier than expected so he can practice more and make it to the nationals team by the end of the year. We don’t want you regretting not doing it but we also don’t want you uncomfortable.” He slid next to their self-proclaimed son’s side, placing his hand on top of Sicheng’s folded arms.
“I am aware, mom. It’s just the… Nerves, you know. And… Because of the thing… Before…” Sicheng trailed off, setting the box on the table.
Ah, that thing.
You see, Sicheng isn’t dumb that he looks adorable and almost everyone wants to take care of him and pamper him and all kinds of stuff. He used to be pretty confident about himself back in high school in China.
But one boy changed everything.
Wen Junhui is his name. He’s one of Sicheng’s friend and at some point of their friendship, he ended up liking him more than a gege.
Junhui is an ambitious young man. He wanted to pursue being an idol in Korea. So right after Sicheng decided he’ll confess to him, he packed up his bags and flew to Seoul.
It broke Sicheng so hard that he spent his senior year in high school not attending any social events in his school. His routine involved only school, dance practice and then go home. His parents aren’t that hovering but they did ask what was wrong. He finally told them and the next thing he knew, he’s on the next plane to Seoul days after he graduated. He wasn’t intending to go to Korea at all but his parents figured out that maybe their son needs a change of environment. And hey, why not fly him to the place where his first love went, right? Sounds like a foolproof plan.
Fortunately for him, he met his pseudo mom and dad in the form of Taeyong and Ten. Ten is also a foreigner, a Thai, a sophomore when they met. He helped Sicheng to adjust while the both of them taught him Korean and also English to help him talk to his English speaking classmates.
Yuta Nakamoto came into the picture when one day, he was sprinting towards Taeyong with a notebook in hand. Taeyong and Yuta were both juniors at that time. Yuta’s a Sports Psychology major so his department is not that involved with Theatre Arts. They shared one General Biology subject during Sicheng’s freshmen year, hence, the borrowing of notebooks from Taeyong.
Yuta’s… A very bright person. That’s what Sicheng likes to describe him. His smile, his healing smile, makes him weak at the knees. Whenever he would smile to Sicheng and say a lively ‘Hello, Winko-chan!’ he wants to melt into a puddle. And he doesn’t mind that Yuta calls him Winko-chan even if he found out that it’s usually used for girls. He doesn’t care as long as Yuta only calls him that.
“Earth to Sicheng? Baby? Are you listening to mom?” Taeyong huffed, crossing his arms at the young man.
“Yeah, I get it, mom. And I promised myself this is going to be the day. I just wished it’s easier.”
“You wished what is easier?” A voice behind them said.
Every fibre in Sicheng’s body went high alert mode. Anyone can recognise that voice anywhere inside the Korea University campus.
It’s Yuta.
He turned around only to be met by Yuta’s post-practice glory. His hair is wet; obviously he has to shower since he still has a couple of classes in the afternoon. It was also pulled back by a cloth headband, a face towel draped on his shoulders. He’s also wearing one of Sicheng’s favourite looks on him; a simple striped shirt and ripped jeans, accentuating his toned thighs, perfectly shaped by endless hours of running around the field and kicking goal after goal.
The soccer captain proceeded to put down his duffel bag on the table. “Mind if I join you here? I couldn’t find Johnny or the others and I found Tae here so might as well sit with you guys!”
Sicheng’s mind short-circuited at the situation and he sent a PLEASE-HELP-ME look to Taeyong but the cheeky bugger knows that it’s a now or never moment so he smiled innocently before gathering his own things and shoving it inside his backpack and then standing up. “Actually, I’m on my way to go get Ten. We have a study session planned since it’s free period next.”
“B b but dad didn’t say anything about a study session…”
“See you later, baby!” Taeyong ruffled Sicheng’s hair before running away to God knows where, leaving the two alone.
The Chinese man kept his eyes on his lap, thankfully not forgetting to hide his gift. He could feel the awkward silence stretching and he wants to slap himself for being so cowardly.
“Will you be watching the game on Saturday?”
Sicheng had to look around, making sure if Yuta's actually asking him or anyone near him. It just sounds surreal that Yuta would ask him personally about him attending the Saturday game. “H huh? Are you asking me?” He asked, pointing to himself. Gee, thanks for stating the obvious, Dong Sicheng.
Yuta chuckled melodically, shifting his body so he’s facing the flustered sophomore. “Of course I’m asking you, silly~ It’s the finals so I want you to be there.”
Sicheng’s heart’s pounding so hard against his chest that he swears Yuta can actually hear it. “M m me? R really?”
“Aigoo, Winko-chan. Yes, you. Bring your parents, too! Johnny’s playing so might as well bring the whole gang. Doyoung, Taeil, Jungwoo and Yukhei are going, too! So please? I’ll see you there, okay?” Yuta pleaded with those gentle brown eyes. His eyes are always so gentle when he’s with Sicheng unlike when he’s in the field where his eyes are burning with determination to win and to show off what he has to offer.
Oh, God. He called me Winko-chan again… With that voice… And his eyes when he pleaded. What will I do? SAY NO? “Alright, Yuta hyung. I’ll be there!” He tried to smile, hiding the nervousness and hoping that Yuta won’t notice.
That made the Japanese man smiled widely, his eyes crinkling into crescents. “Thank you, Winko-chan~” He then stood up, slinging his duffel bag onto his shoulders. “I need to go. I think I know where to find Johnny now.”
A wave of relief finally washed over Sicheng and he was about to stand up a well when Yuta leaned down, his lips levelled to the young man’s ear. “I want you to scream the loudest for me on Saturday, mhm? Don’t look at anyone else. Only me.”
Yuta then pulled away just a little bit before placing a soft kiss on Sicheng’s hair, offering a smile before turning onto his heel and walking away, leaving the latter blushing brightly red.
D did that just happened? Sicheng's mind is a soup of mushy thoughts about the soccer captain. He hid his face on top of the table, putting the packaged chocolates back inside his bag and hugging it, squealing as he do so.
Mom and dad are going to get nuts when they heard what happened. Also, WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR ON SATURDAY?