Chapter Text
“Captain, what’s your promise if we win this thing?” Daniel asked, still catching his breath.
It didn’t even take Minhyun a good part of two seconds for him to answer, “I’ll treat all of you to your favorite ramen from that one place near the shopping district.”
Seongwu let out a whistle. “Now that’s a good one, but I have a request, Capt.”
The basketball team players, all eleven of them including the team manager, were all on the ground, stretching their legs and breathing heavily. It was a Monday afternoon and they had only finished today’s round of practice. There’s an upcoming match against another school this Friday and they needed all the time for practice they could get. Unluckily, the school ground would be unavailable for them after six in the evening. Which meant that it’s about thirty minutes until the security would make their rounds to make sure the school was empty and then lock the gates.
“What is it?” Minhyun asked.
“You have to confess your feelings to Pres in front of the whole school if we win.” Seongwu grinned.
The others cheered and laughed at what Seongwu said. Minhyun might not have shown any disagreement or embarrassment upon hearing that, but everyone could see that his ears were turning red.
“Yeah right, it’s about time! How many centuries are you going to wait?” Guanlin, the youngest of the bunch, piped in.
“One and a half maybe,” Jaehwan snickered, eliciting a faux mocking laugh from Sungwoon.
“Shut up,” Minhyun mumbled, “Since when are you all interested in my nonexistent love life anyway?”
“Since you started talking about how beautiful Jonghyun is and how you sigh everytime he walks by,” Daniel chirped.
“You also rest your chin on one hand like this.” Seongwu demonstrated. “and stare at him every damn lunch break even though he’s right in front of you.”
“Okay! Point taken.” Minhyun sighed exasperatedly.
Obviously, Minhyun hadn’t realized that his feelings for the student body president was spiraling out of control. He’s that whipped.
“So…?” Daniel queried.
“Yes, I will confess to him if we win,” Minhyun said in defeat.
Everyone cheered at Minhyun’s statement and the captain could only laugh at his team’s antics.
“Okay then, time for us to go now. Great job today everyone.” Jisung, the team manager, clapped as he stood up and gathered the empty water bottles on the ground.
Then, the rest also helped Jisung with taking the wet towels (drenched with practice sweat) and putting them in one bag for Sungwoon to launder it for the team. Nobody bothered to change back to their school uniforms, though it wasn’t a good idea to keep wearing their sweat drenched t-shirts. Some of them only put their uniform shirt on top of their sports garments, including Minhyun. Daniel opted to just take off his jersey and resting it on one shoulder.
“Daniel, you can’t walk outside without any shirt,” Seongwu protested.
“Why? You’re afraid someone might ogle at me?” Daniel wiggled his eyebrows, teasing Seongwu.
Seongwu rolled his eyes. “No, you can’t take a bus home with no shirt on.”
“Oh, but I drive, remember?” Daniel said, “Does anyone want to have a ride with me?”
Everyone pretty much answered with some variations of ‘no’. Someone pointed out that Daniel only got his license last month and they didn’t want to be caught in an accident. Daniel just shrugged.
After finishing their business in the basketball court and making sure that they didn’t leave anything behind, they walked together to the front gate of the school. The hallways were empty. It wasn’t surprising, it’s way past the last bell.
They chatted among themselves in smaller groups as they walked. Minhyun found himself falling in stride with Daniel, talking about the latest topic of Chemistry in class. The two might fall under the jocks type in the high school hierarchy, but they’re still in top twenty of the best students in their year.
“I can’t seem to understand this chapter, Min.” Daniel scratched his head.
“Which one? Wait, we’re on the same chapter right?” Minhyun asked.
“It’s about stoichiometry and Mr. Shin explained really fast I could barely catch up with his teaching,” Daniel sounded like he’s sulking
“Oh, the one he gave us homework on?”
“Yes, that one! I still don’t understand the concept so I haven’t done it.”
“I’ve finished that homework actually. I’ll teach you later if you want.”
“Yes please!” Daniel beamed.
“Why do you have to be the one who has everything?”
Minhyun and Daniel turned their heads to find Ong Seongwu huffing behind them. Turned out he’d heard what the two had been talking about.
“Yes, you, Hwang Minhyun,” Seongwu said.
“Me? I don’t.” Minhyun smiled, letting Seongwu walk alongside the two of them.
Seongwu rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, you have this face that is just freaking unbelievable, I actually know some people who are your fans, you’re the basketball team captain, you still manage to keep your grades up, and next thing I know you might train to be an idol.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is training to be an idol,” Daniel chimed in.
“Oh, Minhyun hyung does have everything alright!” Jihoon said from in front of them, giving his two cents while turning his head to look at Seongwu.
“But still, with all those charms he has, Jonghyun doesn’t even bother to look at him twice,” Sungwoon snickered.
“Sungwoon!” Daniel protested while Seongwu was laughing beside him (and Minhyun just groaned, realizing that despite it being mean, Sungwoon had a point there).
“He treats you as a friend, Minhyun, a friend ,” Sungwoon teased.
Just when they were about to walk past the student body room, the door bursted open. A curse out of surprise could be heard among the team and one of them laughed. Before curiosity could overcome them, a student walked out the door and closed it back before locking it. Minhyun was stood frozen where he stepped. How could he not? The student was none other than the president himself (a.k.a the love of his life, Jaehwan would say).
“Pres!” Jaehwan greeted.
Jonghyun turned his head to the bunch and gave them his sweet smile. Minhyun noticed that Jonghyun’s bangs had grown longer since last month, now almost past his eyebrows. With that appearance, he looked softer and smaller. Minhyun definitely wanted to die right at that moment.
“Hey guys,” Jonghyun greeted back, “Just finished today’s practice?”
Seongwu elbowed Minhyun in a not really obvious way. The latter scrunched his face in the little pain Seongwu inflicted. He swore that Seongwu was acting like a school kid (which was entirely true, that’s pretty much how high school kids acted).
“Yes, we’re getting more practice for this Friday,” Jisung replied.
“The match against that other school, right?” Jonghyun asked.
“Yes, Pres!” Jinyoung piped in, “Will you come and watch our match?”
At that moment, Minhyun’s heart started beating faster. He’d forget the possibility of Jonghyun watching the match he’s definitely playing on. Daniel might’ve been the star player of the team, but Minhyun was just as valuable. Those two would only get benched if some kind of injury that disabled them to play happened. That had never happened before to Daniel, but Minhyun got benched once when the opposition made him fall and sprain his ankle.
Jonghyun seemed to be thinking for a while. Seeing how he just came out of the student body room this late in the afternoon gave everyone a hint that the president was kind of busy at this time. On one side, Minhyun wished that Jonghyun didn’t have to come in case he got nervous and did badly. On the other side, if Jonghyun did come, Minhyun wouldn’t hesitate to show off a little.
“I’m still working on something, but I’ll try finishing it before your match. I wouldn’t want to miss it, you guys are my friends,” Jonghyun said with a lilt of an apologetic tone.
Minhyun nodded understandingly.
“I’m begging you, Jonghyun. It would give us a lot of encouragement if you come to cheer on us,” Seongwu said, displaying his best attempt at making puppy eyes.
This time it was Minhyun who elbowed Seongwu. He didn’t have to make Jonghyun go to the match!
Jonghyun chuckled. “Then I’ll make sure to finish my work before your match.”
“You’re the best!” Seongwu beamed.
“Now then, let’s walk. The security are probably going to start their rounds any seconds now,” said Jisung.
Jonghyun naturally joined in on their not so little group. Minhyun would really love to walk beside Jonghyun and strike up a conversation, but the latter had joined in on the youngsters’ silly discussion topics. He wished he was as cute as Jinyoung or as charming as Jihoon. Rarely in his life had he been jealous of someone else, but lately he’s just jealous of everyone that could interact with Jonghyun and make him laugh. Minhyun loved Jonghyun’s laugh, but he loved it more when it’s him who made the older laugh. He realized that his heart was getting possessive.
‘Stop thinking like that, he’s not yours,’ his mind scolded.
“Jonghyun! You live on the apartment above my floor, right?” Minhyun heard Daniel asking.
“Yes, silly, we’ve gone home together a few times before, remember?” Jonghyun replied, taken away from his discussion with the younger ones.
Why did it have to be Daniel who lived in the same apartment as Jonghyun? Why did it have to be Daniel who had everything?
“Oh, right.” Daniel laughed. “I have good news, though!”
“What is it?” Jonghyun asked.
“I got my driving license last month, you know that one, right?” Jonghyun nodded. “Well I drive today.”
“Congrats, Niel, now you can pick up girls,” Jonghyun said.
Minhyun’s left eye twitched at the nickname Jonghyun had for Daniel. His mind was aware that Jonghyun wasn’t exactly the only one who called Daniel that, but his heart was being impossible at the moment.
Daniel huffed. “I don’t want to pick up girls. I’m saying that now you can hitch a ride with me home.”
Why did it sound like Daniel was flirting with Jonghyun? Seongwu scoffed from beside Minhyun, knowing that they both were listening in on the other two’s conversation. They also knew that Daniel was like an oversized puppy that was naturally kind. Daniel also loved cute small things. Like Jonghyun.
“Oh? Is that okay? I’m alright with taking the bus home,” said Jonghyun.
“No, we should save you money and save energy for the greater good of the world.” Daniel frowned, faking a serious act.
Jonghyun giggled. Jonghyun freaking giggled and Minhyun loved the sound of it. He wished he could be as cute as Daniel. But what could he do? He’s just a tall lump of awkwardness. If he had to talk with Jonghyun, he’d probably end up talking about boring things like the weather (it’s actually overexaggerated, Minhyun’s fine with talking to Jonghyun and interacting, they even had their fair share of weekends spent together and tales of woes told only to each other).
“So are you saying that you drive a car to school to pick me up?” Jonghyun joked.
Daniel laughed nervously as he realized that Minhyun was probably glaring daggers at his back. Seongwu wanted to laugh.
“I would say yes, but someone would probably be mad.” Daniel grinned.
Minhyun wanted to kick Daniel right then. Jonghyun didn’t pick up any hint that someone in the group might have a crush on him, though, so all was well.
“But no, we just happen to share the same apartment,” said Daniel.
“Alright, then. I’ll go with you.”
As they reached the front gate, Daniel and Jonghyun bid goodbye to the rest of them and headed to the parking lot.
“Told you Jonghyun wouldn’t even spare a glance at Minhyun.” Sungwoon laughed.
“He even goes home with Daniel,” Jaehwan said with a smirk.
“Come on, you guys, at least Daniel isn’t taking him away from me,” Minhyun whined.
“Are you sure?” Jisung asked.
Seongwu let out somewhat of an evil laugh and Minhyun sighed.
“This is why you need to up your game and win this Friday’s match.” Daehwi smiled.
‘Or I can just be like any other normal person and show my feelings to him before confessing,’ Minhyun’s mind supplied.
“I have a feeling that you guys will win this match just to embarrass me in front of everyone,” Minhyun said.
“Oh we will,” said Jaehwan.
“You guys are the absolute best ,” Minhyun said sarcastically.
“Well you’re right about that,” Sungwoon retorted.
Minhyun definitely heard the youngsters laughing. They might be angels when interacting with Minhyun, all giggles and warm hugs. But, they also liked the older ones’ quarrels that consisted of sarcasm and tons of mockery about each other’s somehow nonexistent love lives despite them being some of the most popular students at school. They’re all hopeless.
“Come on, Min, we’re taking the same bus, right?” Seongwu said.
“Why am I stuck with you while Daniel gets to take Jonghyun home?” Minhyun protested.
“Because I can be your prince charming but you chose Jonghyun over me,” replied Seongwu dramatically.
“Disgusting,” Minhyun spitted, but there’s no malice in his word.
So they all went their separate ways. Some of them took the train, some others took the bus on the opposite side of the road, and Minhyun was left with Seongwu.