Chapter Text
It had always been like that.
There he was. He, who never failed to look so surreal and almost supernatural, was currently passing through the hallway together with his group of friends. As usual, the team was brimming with energy and was the center of attention. Many girls had abruptly stopped from their own businesses and started to squeal and exchange each other’s gossips as they eyed the prominent group.
Blazer effortlessly hanging on one shoulder, Jung Yoonoh beamed and welcomed his teammate Youngho with a fist bump. They exchanged their usual greetings before rejoining the rest of their friends, chatting happily as they walked towards the locker room.
It was a mundane day for the soccer team. Another season was about to begin, meaning, the number of hours they had to train would be doubled. After all, their school was champion for five consecutive years and still counting. Everyone knew how the team had given their school honor and respect. It was enough reason for them to acquire tremendous supporters who wouldn't stop following and cheering them in every single game they’ve played.
As they disappeared through the crowd, so as a pair of eyes slowly drifting away from their shadows. Kim Jungwoo fixated his spectacles and slumped his shoulders before leaning against the wall. His heart was still running a marathon while he was firmly grasping his books in his arms. He deeply inhaled and sighed dreamily. The sight of the other boy was enough to make his day complete.
Cringe-worthy? Most people would probably judge Jungwoo for smiling so stupidly. It was freaking seven forty-five in the morning, but no, Jungwoo was currently inside his own bubble, unaware of the snickering looks the other students were giving him as they passed by.
Jungwoo is an ambivert. Sure, he has a small group of friends. He studies hard and has decent grades. He’s a low-key singer and performs well in anything that he had competed with. Most of all, he can almost handle any problems he may encounter. Despite those things, his insecurities had still the upper hand and were continuously controlling him. Although he’s a risk-taker, he would never risk one thing that would lead to total humiliation, much more to his end.
He’s a very diligent student and a trustworthy son, yet why his whole demeanor always changes every time he sees the apple of his eye?
Yoonoh is a total hot rod. The said guy himself is an extrovert, plus he’s almost a total package enough for the girls to drool. Despite his average skills in academics, he's very tall, well-toned, extremely handsome, has a beautiful smile, a strong aura, a key player of the soccer team, a skater who knows numerous tricks, a head-turner, and a total gamer. Two-thirds of the women population in the university fancied him. Who knows? Maybe he even made other guys question their masculinity.
Well… The last sentence was specifically made for Jungwoo himself. He’s gay for the other boy. Period.
True enough, Jungwoo saw the boy for the first time during their enrolment. He was busy pondering about the possibilities that he may encounter in his new school when he caught a glimpse of a very hot guy lining up in the long queue where he was about to go. Luckily, he managed to go just behind the mysterious guy. He could still recall his utter embarrassment during that situation. With red cheeks and an awkward expression, Jungwoo had expressed the new fashion trend.
Yoonoh was fully aware of all the attention he always had and he was very appreciative of it. But at the same time, he hardly took the attention seriously. Why? Let’s just say that the said guy had his own girlfriend which he only mattered about. This made Jungwoo even more miserable.
At first, Jungwoo wasn’t sure if the rumor was true until he decided to stalk Yoonoh on his various social media accounts. He saw a photo of a beautiful girl pinned in the handsome lad’s Twitter. Jungwoo checked Yoonoh’s Facebook account and discovered on his profile that he was really in a relationship. Just to make things clear, he visited his Instagram account and saw tons of photos of him and his other half. Boom! He’s helpless.
Furthermore, Jungwoo also learned that Yoonoh's girl was named Kim Yerim and was a year below them. In fact, everyone had already known about it that’s why most of the girls had turned their hopes down and only admire him for a distance, but somehow, Jungwoo found his feelings for the other boy trapped and wouldn’t just let his heart go.
“I’m hopeless.” He muttered. And when did the worst things stop?
Never.
Jungwoo and Yoonoh are classmates together with the former’s closest friend Sicheng and some of the latter’s teammates which comprised of Taeyong and Yuta. Albeit this fact is true, it was very ironic to say that the two of them were hopelessly not close, much more friends. Jungwoo has his own group of friends from various years and they are vastly known as the geeks who always ace the exams. On the other hand, Yoonoh also has his own version of friends, composed of the other soccer team players. The only recorded interactions that the two had been strictly about academics such as group discussions, reporting, and other class activities.
In addition to this, Jungwoo was very aware that he’s a nerd which is the total opposite of the handsome boy he’s fantasizing about. Since he started to develop some feelings for the older, he never told his secrets to his friends, not even to his best friend Sicheng because for sure, they would constantly tease or nag him, or worst, Yoonoh might even discover about it.
Oh, not to mention. Jungwoo’s a boy. That’s a total disqualification. Yoonoh is straight as hell, no arguments needed.
“Jungwoo, are you even listening?!” Dejun sighed. He rolled his eyes and returned his attention to his food.
Jungwoo flinched, his soda almost spilling onto his uniform. “I’m sorry Junnie. Just not in the mood.” He whispered. As a matter of fact, He was not in the best mood since he was in serious trouble. He recently had a fucking problem. Yoonoh was on the verge of failing their General Physics class and the teacher had told him to tutor him so he could pass the subject in exchange for extra points.
Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t care for it wasn’t really his business, but damn, it was all about Yoonoh, for crying out loud! A part of him definitely didn’t want to agree because it would be embarrassing and awkward and all, but the other half was also coaxing his sensitive heart that he would surely benefit twice from it. A simple yet tempting analogy - get some extra grades and some time alone for his crush. The perfect chance to chow down the cherry on top.
Feisty. He called to himself, Don’t be so dirty, Jungwoo!
In front of him, Chenle, the youngest and the only first year in the group, smiled and caressed his limp hand. “Don’t worry, hyung! Whatever your problem is, we’re here to lend you an ear!” Beside him, Donghyuck vehemently nodded, two fries still stuffed inside his mouth. “Chenle’s right, hyung. We’re here so stop puffing your cheeks!” He then wiggled his eyebrows. “Kidding aside, I’m serious about it.”
Sicheng grabbed his shake and started to talk. “So, what’s the matter, Jungwoo? Your whole demeanor has totally changed after your talk with the teacher. Something wrong with your grades?”
Jungwoo just miserably shook his head, eyes still downcast. He missed the blank look on Jaemin's face as he regarded him. “I-I… It’s nothing serious, really. My grades are doing fine. It’s just…” He then looked at his friends. “Uhm… The teacher asked me to tutor Yoonoh since… S-Since he’s failing his physics… I-In exchange, she’s going to give me extra credits for that…”
Five pairs of eyes were still looking at him as he whined. “I-I… Don’t g-get me wrong! I-It’s just Y-Yoonoh and I a-are not that close together!”
Donghyuck plopped his arms on the table and rested his chin on top of them. “Why are you being so defensive about it?”
“I-I’m not being defensive!” Jungwoo quickly responded. “I-It’s just that… You guys might judge me for acting so childish.”
Dejun rolled his eyes and sighed. “Oh my goodness, Jungwoo. I thought something serious happened. Also, you are acting like a kid.” He dropped the chopsticks that he was holding. “Anyway, that’s not a problem. Dang, you’ll even get extra credits, so why not grab the opportunity?”
Jaemin remained still but he was the next one to retort. “Probably there’s another reason why he’s acting like that.” Upon hearing that, Jungwoo grabbed the corners of the table and stood up. “I-I said there’s nothing serious about it!”
Everyone inside the cafeteria turned their attention towards their table, some were snickering while others were just judging them with their scrutinizing gazes. Sicheng even heard someone saying ‘Oh, it’s just the nerds’ but he decided to ignore them. Jungwoo madly blushed and slowly sunk back to his seat. Donghyuck guffawed boisterously and even smacked the poor boy's back. “Hyung, you’re so funny! Don’t fret about it, seriously! Have some confidence in yourself!”
Sicheng crossed his arms against his chest. “But we’re talking about Jung Yoonoh. I’m not stereotyping but he’s a member of the soccer team. Most of their members in our class have below-average grades. Not to mention… My fellow and very annoying exchange student Nakamoto Yuta is also part of the bottom ranks in our class.” Sicheng realized that he was babbling something off-topic. “A-Anyway, it will be a challenge to teach Yoonoh, much more make him pass the subject. The problem will dully lie to himself.”
“Sicheng’s right.” Dejun interceded while chomping his salad. “It’s a shame, though. But like what I’ve mentioned earlier, grab the opportunity.”
Jungwoo just laid his head on top of the table. He was apprehensive about it. He couldn’t believe that there would be a possibility that he and Yoonoh would interact with just the two of them, alone.
He felt his face burning up. Boy, he was anathematizing himself.
Hopeless like a damsel in distress (which he was clearly not), Jungwoo remained silent as he grieved for the rest of the hour, unaware of the pair of eyes silently observing his awkward frame.