Chapter Text
Boo Seungkwan is marching down the halls of his high school with a purpose. He landed this morning in Seoul from the South of France, where he was enjoying a beautiful vacation. Seungkwan had a great time with his family in France; the food was good, the shopping was even better, and his SNS accounts were full of gorgeous shots. He had been pampered from head to toe, thanks to the spa facilities in their hotels.
The fact that school started a week ago is irrelevant. The Boo family is on their own schedule. In fact, Seungkwan isn't due back to school for another week. Yet, here he is in the halls of Cheongdam High School. Why is Seungkwan storming through his school in such a foul mood? Not because he had to interrupt his perfect vacation.
Reaching his classroom, Seungkwan doesn’t bother knocking.
VLAM
“And now we-“ The teacher nearly jumps, stopping mid-sentence.
Oops.
Perhaps he used too much force.
“Ah…Seungkwan-ssi.” says the teacher composing himself. Seungkwan hears the sigh in his voice. You’d almost think he’s unhappy to see Seungkwan or something.
“Teacher.” He bows toward his homeroom teacher distractedly, his eyes traveling the room and landing on a specific spot.
His seat.
His currently occupied seat.
Seungkwan feels his left eye twitching.
“We weren’t expecting you until next week,” says the teacher.
“I felt so bad about missing my favorite class that I had to rush back." Eyes not moving from their target, Seungkwan's tone is bright in contrast to the stormy expression on his face.
“Right… and dare I ask how is your grandmother?”
“Still a bit weak, but we’re hopeful. Thanks for asking.” Seungkwan responds without missing a beat. He can feel the stares from his classmates at his bald-faced lie.
Seungkwan used a note from his parents explaining that he was missing the semester's start to visit his sick grandmother. Anyone with an SNS account knew it was a lie and that he was somewhere on a beach sipping cocktails, along with his very healthy grandmother.
“Of course. Well, take a seat and take off your sunglasses, please." The teacher turns back to the rest of the class in a valiant attempt to resume the lesson.
Seungkwan walks over to his seat as if he didn’t hear the last part.
“Hi, Boo." Droopy eyes and a lazy smile greet him,“ You didn’t tell me you were coming back today.”
Chwe Vernon Hansol, Cheongdam High School resident hottie, Seungkwan’s very own best friend, and also the reason for his early return.
The night before, a restaurant in Cannes
“Avec les compliments du-“
“Eomma, I booked a return flight, and I'm leaving in two hours," Seungkwan interrupted the waiter's affected speech, sitting down on his chair.
“What Seungkwan! Why do you want to fly back alone? We’re supposed to stay for another week.”
The Boo family was having a nice dinner out, enjoying the excellent weather. They just got to dessert when Seungkwan returned from the bathroom and dropped the bomb.
Sojeong smiled and waved the poor waiter away; to his credit, he barely gave a twitch at the interruption and continued with pomp.
"I'm sorry, Eomma, but I have to go back. It's an emergency." Her son's mouth was twisted in a familiar pout.
“What emergency, what is it that can’t wait?” Now Seungkwan’s mom was worried. It had to be serious, her son’s favorite dessert was right in front of him, but he wasn't even bothering to look down on his plate.
“Don’t bother Eomma; it's Hansollie," said Jinseol, sipping her wine.
“…Ah.” The mother of three grabbed the wine bottle in front of her daughter and filled her glass. She took a long sip.
Seungkwan, her youngest, was a good boy, a good son. He always listened to his mother except on two topics, fashion, and Chwe Hansol. She never managed to change her son's mind when it came to either of those two things. She drank some more wine. Drowning her sorrow for their aborted family vacation.
“Well, be careful on your way back, and I'll call the housekeeper to tell her you’ll be home tomorrow.”
"I will, Eomma” Seungkwan wasn't asking for permission, but he sent a grateful smile toward his mother.
"Now, eat your dessert."
Seungkwan and Hansol met in 1 st grade and have been inseparable since then. The two boys couldn't be more different, but they made it work. Hansol was incredibly intelligent, excelling in all the scientific subjects. However, for all that he was smart, the younger boy needed Seungkwan’s help for almost everything. Seungkwan was the one making sure Hansol eats, that he knows the schedule, that he remembers assignments, the one that takes him out to have a social life and keeps him from spending all his money. He was forgetful and absent-minded, head eternally in the clouds.
Sometimes, Seungkwan suspects that he's doing it on purpose. It’s almost as if he enjoys having Seungkwan fuss over him. When Seungkwan nagged and nagged, Hansol would just stand there with a smile and no hint of guilt on his face. At school, they liked to call Seungkwan 'Hansol’s keeper'. While he doesn’t find the nickname funny, he takes his BFF duties very seriously. It’s his job to protect Hansol. From what you ask? Well, everything but his most important duty is to protect the boy from all the girls prowling around him. And there are many.
Growing up Hansol had always been cute, but now he was drop-dead gorgeous. Seungkwan still remembers how tiny he was when they first met in 1 st grade. He remained tiny and small for many years, and Seungkwan grew used to being the taller one of the two. When they hit 14, out of nowhere, Hansol started catching up. In the past 2 years, the boy shot past Seungkwan, removed his braces, and lost most of his baby fat.
He went from a Cupid to an Adonis. Cheekbones and jawline cutting the hearts of many in their school and even outside.
Predictably, Hansol’s popularity skyrocketed in high school, and he was now the number 1 eligible bachelor. Simpering middle school girls are bad, but high school girls are hyenas. On top of that, Hansol, bless his heart, is the definition of oblivious. The boy was as intelligent as he was CLUELESS. Seungkwan knows the handsome teenager is fully capable of shrugging or 'okay-ing' himself in a random relationship without Seungkwan to safeguard his virtue.
Hansol may look like a fuckboy, but no, Chwe Vernon Hansol would not be fucking any desperate hoes if Seungkwan could help it.
And right now, one of those desperate girls was in Seungkwan’s seat.
"It's a surprise," responds Seungkwan, staring at the girl from behind his Gucci sunglasses.
" Hey , Boo Seungkwan, right? Hum nice to meet you." She acts like she's confused by Seungkwan's presence in front of his own seat. "I'm new here, I'm-"
“In my seat.” He finishes for her, cutting through her pointless blabber. Of course, she was a new girl. Otherwise, how could she dare put her ass in Seungkwan’s seat?
“What–“ She sounds even more confused at the interruption.
“You’re in my seat.” Repeats Seungkwan rolling his eyes behind his glasses.
"Oh, sorry! Hum, I was sitting next to Vernon since I didn't know anyone else in the class; it was empty since you were still away.”
Vernon huh? She wasn't fooling him with that fake contrite smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Seungkwan just keeps staring at her with an eyebrow raised and then very deliberately gestures at himself. "And as you can see, I have returned."
"Hum right, hum, if you don't mind, maybe..." The new girl is flushing, probably embarrassed by the attention. Indeed the whole class is watching the show. Seungkwan doesn't feel bad about putting her on the spot. Nope. He can see the stubborn glint in her eyes. Clearly, she's reluctant to give up her position next to the school hottie.
"Oh, but I do mind." Maybe she thinks she has a chance as long as she stays close. She's pretty enough with her long black hair and big eyes, but her style...Seungkwan wrinkles his nose. That blouse is horrendous.
The girl still doesn't move, and Seungkwan starts contemplating whether or not he should drag her out of his seat by her hair.
“Somi-ssi, would you mind giving Seungkwan his seat back? There is an empty seat next to Chaeyoung.” Impeccable timing, their teacher is really showcasing his 25 years of teaching experience as he intervenes right before the hair-pulling scene.
He's too familiar with Seungkwan to bother to ask him to stop.
Flushing, the so-called Somi glances at Hansol to see if he'll defend her but,
"Oh, let me help you," says the boy easily.
Right.
He's offering to help her gather her stuff. Her pretty face falls as she reluctantly puts her stuff together. She barely gets off her chair when Seungkwan pushes her to the side to sit down. Ignoring the offended gasp, he turns to Hansol ready to scold him for letting someone else on his seat.
“I’m happy you’re back early, Boo. Thanks for the surprise.” Hansol whispers to him. The brown eyes are warm as he looks at his pouting friend.
"Why did you let someone in my seat?" Seungkwan isn’t giving up on scolding him because of his huge smile.
Hansol shrugs. "No reason."
No reason? Seungkwan proceeds to tell him why he shouldn't let girls he didn't know follow him around. As he is still berating the other boy, he feels Hansol lean on his shoulder with a sigh, "I missed you, Boo."
Seungkwan snorts but flushes with pleasure, his annoyance quickly melting away. He keeps pouting for a few minutes just for show and pulls out a notebook from his bag. Content with his friend's weight on him, he can't help but smile while taking notes. He missed him too.
The younger boy ends up dozing off. It was almost lunch, and Hansol had the habit of sleeping through it. Due to his terrible sleeping habits, he was always sleep-deprived. The clever boy had a hard time shutting his mind off at night. Seungkwan would usually leave him to sleep secure in knowing no one would bother him. For one, they knew what Seungkwan would do to them if they tried – he’s pretty sure the whole school remembers what happened to the two girls who tried to take pictures of a sleeping Hansol that one day – and also, they wouldn't even succeed in waking up his best friend. When he was really tired, nothing could rouse the boy.
Seungkwan eats his lunch and brings back some food for Hansol. The sleepy boy would then eat it in class, in front of the teachers who knew to make allowance for the school's special case. Their school was lucky to have a boy as intelligent as Hansol in their midst, and they knew it.
When the homeroom teacher frees them for lunch, Seungkwan shifts Hansol’s head from his shoulder to his desk with practiced movements. He puts Hansol's head on the small pillow he always kept in his bag just for this purpose. Seungkwan caresses the brown curls lightly, glancing fondly at the sleeping boy.
"Seungkwan-ah!"
He turns to find two girls beaming at him.
Kim Dayhun and Choi Yena. Two of his closest friends. Seungkwan could call them best friends, but he felt that title was reserved for the boy sleeping by the window. They all squeal, taking turns to hug.
"Omg, you look so good, Seungkwan."
"I love your hair."
"I missed you so much."
“What did you bring us?”
“Why are you back so early?”
Seungkwan takes a look at the girls bombarding him with questions.
Dahyun's hair was newly dyed blond. Wearing a plaid skirt and a white t-shirt with simple white sneakers. Round glasses finished the look. Yena had on white shorts and an oversized striped long-sleeved t-shirt. The outfit was completed with the pretty barrettes in her hair, matching her blue and navy shirt. Seungkwan nods in approval. They both pass the Boo check.
"I know. Thanks. Me too. Come over later to get your gifts. And you should know why I'm back." he answers everything at once.
“We should?” asks Dahyun. Her pretty eyes narrowed in confusion.
Seungkwan pulls out his phone and shoves it in their faces. On the screen, there is a crappy shot of a girl standing next to Hansol. He swipes left so they can see the rest of the pictures.
“Who sent this to you?” wonders Yena squinting at the poor quality of the pictures.
"Not you two. That's for sure.” Seungkwan puts away his phone, and the two girls wince at his tone. “I got them from Jeonghan-Hyung. He had Soonyoung-Hyung take the pictures for him. That's why the quality is so bad.” He crosses his arms and narrows his eyes at the two. “I can't help but wonder why my dear friends didn’t seem fit to report this to me?”
They look at each other and lower their heads.
“I told you, girls, to keep an eye on him.”
"And we did..." starts Dahyun.
“Yeah, we really did," confirms Yena.
"Well, at first, but you know how Hansol is. We never know what to talk about with him.”
“Yeah, like if we want to talk about horoscopes and stuff, he starts to talk about astronomy like what do we know about that," Yena complains like she can’t fathom why anyone wouldn’t enjoy talking about their horoscopes. Indeed who wouldn’t? Seungkwan agrees.
“And we clearly can’t talk fashion with him," Dahyun adds with a grimace.
“Hey, leave him alone; he has his own style.” Over time, Seungkwan has evolved from thinking that Hansol was a walking fashion faux-pas to accepting him as hum, original. Either way, no slander over his best friend's taste shall be tolerated. Also, it's definitely better for him that Hansol doesn't care about what he wears. What would Seungkwan do if the handsome boy dressed like a model straight out of Vogue on top of looking like one? Seungkwan shudders in horror at the thought.
“Right.” Dahyun concedes, knowing well enough to leave it alone. “So, we don't know when this girl met him, but by the time we realized she was always around.”
“And it’s not as easy for us to barge into conversation like you and tell people to fuck off, you know.” continues Yena in a pleading tone, her swearing at odds with her cute face.
Hmm, fair enough, Seungkwan thought.
"We knew you'd be back soon enough, so we didn't want to worry you," says Yena.
“But, I promise it doesn't look like anything is happening," Dahyun concludes with Yena nodding frantically next to her.
“Hmph. I very well hope so, but it doesn’t mean nothing would have happened if you just let her stick to him for another week. In any case, since Jeonghan bothered to send me the pics, I knew I had to come back and set things straight. "
Seungkwan quickly types on his phone.
"Okay, I need to talk to Mingyu. Let's get lunch. ”
Kim Mingyu, part jock, part gossip girl, and 100% metrosexual. Mingyu somehow manages to be aware of all the gossip at all times. He just knows everything about everyone. He also can't keep a secret to save his life. The boy is on the football team and the newspaper club. He's the school's best gossip, with top-notch info. He's also a foodie, and all Seungkwan has to do for his intel is bribe him with food.
The boy in question is currently devouring his lunch in one of their cafeteria booths. It's been 10 minutes, and Seungkwan is about to lose his patience watching the boy eat without a break. He, too, is hungry but business first.
“What do you have on her?”
Slurping the last of his noodles, ( How did he inhale the whole bowl that fast?) Mingyu drinks some water before answering.
“Jeon Somi,16, she transferred from Seoul International School. She was in the drawing club and also the archery club. One little sister, Mimi, who attends Cheongdam Middle School. She has a dog that's called…”
Seungkwan tries to listen as Mingyu goes on and on about irrelevant details. When the gossip machine starts to talk about the girl’s menu on the previous day, Seugnkwan snaps. "I really don't need to know what that girl had for lunch, and by the way, that's borderline stalking. Just tell me how she met Hansol?” Seungkwan cuts him off; he wants Mingyu to get straight to the point.
"Geez, hold off your horses, Hansol’s Keeper.” Mingyu sniffs, upset. “I was going to get to it eventually. On her first day, she bumped into your precious Hansol in the hallway, and he helped her pick her books that she dropped.”
“This hoe!" The exclamation is louder than intended and has the other booths turning to watch them.
“Wait. What?” Mingyu is confused, probably unable to see the ‘hoeishness’ in picking up books.
“That's not nice, Seungkwan,” admonishes Dahyun.
“Maybe, but I don’t care.” replies Seungkwan, "Don’t you see that’s such a classic. She freaking pulled the whole ‘oh look at me I'm so clumsy and so pitiful must be that I’m so nervous because it’s my first day.”
“Oh, how did you know? Apparently, she said something along those lines before introducing herself to Hansol, and he offered to show her to her class.”
“Idiot!” Seungkwan hits the table.
"Waah, calm down,” says Mingyu.
“Seungkwan, you should really stop calling her names."
“Not her Dahyun, I’m talking about Hansol.” Seungkwan huffs. "He never listens to me when I warn him about these obvious traps. "I've told him so many times, 'leave them to pick up their own shit.' How could he fall for such an obvious trope? It's so cliché it hurts."
“More cliché than the childhood friend with a long time crush?” Biting into his burger, Mingyu raises an eyebrow at Seungkwan.
Seungkwan watches the other boy eat messily without saying a word.
“Hum-Hum anyway," Mingyu clears his throat as he continues, "after that, I think that they had a couple of classes together, and she sat next to him.”
“So basically her whole gimmick is that she’s new? And what? She just happened to cross paths with the most attractive boy around. Does she think she's in a freaking drama where a regular girl meets a super hot guy, and they fall in love?”
“Yeah, well, I think you go on about how hot and attractive and dreamy your ‘friend’ is a lil’ too often if you ask me.” Mingyu points an accusing french fry at Seugnkwan; he finished his burger in barely four bites.
“Yeah, well, nobody asked you.” Seungkwan snaps back. That’s why Seungkwan hates asking Mingyu about this. The tall boy always gives him this knowing look whenever Seugnkwan mentions Hansol.
“For the 100 th time, it’s not like that.” And it really wasn’t . Seungkwan shakes his head. ”You guys don’t understand. Do you know how many silly confessions I had to stop since middle school? I swear to God these girls are annoying. They see Hansol and act like he’s some sort of Prince Charming. Every semester it’s the same nonsense. They don’t know the first thing about him and are ready to be wifed. Nope, not on my watch."
"Well, what do you know, maybe you're stopping him from finding his one true love." Mingyu shrugs.
"In what fairytale? Snow White and the 7 uglies? Beauty and the Hoe? Cinderfellatio?”
“Seungkwan!” Dahyun gasps while Yena giggles.
“What? These girls claim to be so in love with Hansol, and if you ask them why they say it's because they had one class with him, saw him on the train one morning, saw him sneezing, saw him sleeping in class. etc.” Seungkwan lists all the bullshit reasons he heard this year alone. "None of that screams true love material. He's hot, and that's all there is to it."
For real, you wouldn’t believe the nonsense Boo Seugkwan had to deal with being BFF with Chwe Vernon Hansol. Before Seungkwan's reputation as Hansol’s keeper spread, he was frequently approached by girls trying to use him to get to Hansol. The poor girls had no clue it was the worst move they could have made.
Now they know better.
"Okay, fair enough, but high school trysts don't all have to be the love story of the century, you know. And Hansol is not a baby. He could deal with these things himself," says Mingyu, finally moving on to his dessert, it seems. Seungkwan envies the way Mingyu never seemed to stop eating without consequences. All that seemed to change was his height. Seungkwan thought the boy should switch from the Football team to Basketball.
“No, he couldn't. He is too kind to turn them down. And he's so naïve. He'd end up with a straight-up bitch, and not even break up with her cause he's too nice. And then I’d have to watch her mistreat him over and over again. And who knows, maybe he'll even propose to her, and then for the rest of my life I'll have to watch him with her. No. No. No.” Seungkwan shakes off the image.
There is a small silence, and he notices the three are just staring at him.
"What?" he asks.
“You know it's when you say things like this that the whole just friends seem really fishy," says Mingyu.
Not this again. Seungkwan opens his mouth to refute again when a weight falls on him.
“My cutie is back!"
Arms hug Seungkwan from behind, and long hair falls on him. “Hyung!” He starts, but he quickly closes his mouth to avoid getting a mouthful of hair. Twisting around for a bit, he gives up on dislodging himself from the tight hug.
"I missed you so much. Did you get my present?" The voice whispers to him.
He nods, keeping his mouth closed.
Leaving an arm on Seungkwan, Yoon Jeonghan, pretty as a picture, drops in the seat next to him.
"Thanks, Hyung." He says and he truly is grateful.
“You're welcome, I’ll always keep an eye on your interests for you.” Jeonghan winks.
"Hyung," Mingyu interjects, "I think that you enabling his obsessive behavior is part of the problem."
"Oh, really?" Jeonghan smiles, leaning to steal some french fries from Yena’s plate. The girl’s usual happy expression turns into a pout. “Cheollie, I think you need to work harder to keep your team members in line. Maybe extra laps around the field at practice today would help him stay out of private conversations.”
Standing next to the booth, Seungcheol, who came with Jeonghan, snorts, "You think I'm going to punish a player just because he said something you didn't like?”
“Wow, you're really something, Yoon Jeonghan.” Mingyu shakes his head. “You may have a pretty face, but Hyung has something called integrity. What kind of captain would he be if he abused his power like that?”
“The kind that’s getting head later today?” Jeonghan asks, casual as you please.
“Eww! As if-“
“Mingyu, 10 laps extra tonight.”
"Hyung!! What the fuck?" The hyung in question is ignoring him, dark eyes on his boyfriend or friend with benefits - it depends on the time of the year.
Seungkwan wants to rinse his ears with bleach, Dahyun blushes, while Yena is no longer pouting. With stars in her eyes, she seems to have entered her fujoshi mode. Noticing the interest in her eyes, Jeonghan smirks and sends her a wink.
“Instead of mentally scarring the Hoobaes for life, I wish you guys would remember the load of work awaiting us." Jisoo, the final member of the senior trio, joins them, "I grabbed us some food, let's go."
"But, Joshuji-” Jeonghan contests holding on to Seungkwan.
“Now.” Jisoo's voice is still calm, but his eyes narrow.
“No fun,” Jeonghan pouts. The long-haired senior gives one last hug to Seungkwan and walks away with Seungcheol. The dark-haired senior's hand comes to rest naturally on his boyfriend's waist.
"Wait, Hyung!" Mingyu calls after them.
"Don't worry about the laps, Mingyu," Jisoo adds with a gentle smile before following his two friends.
"Hyung.." he calls out, stars in his eyes. The poor boy seems beyond grateful.
Seungkwan watches him with a wry smile; the question was not if Seungcheol would listen to his best-friend over his boyfriend but whether or not Jisoo would even care to bring it up. For all Mingyu knows, Jisoo just meant to not worry about it now. The senior with the sweet voice and deer eyes is a workaholic and Mingyu had been in the way of his priorities.
Mingyu would find out later if Jisoo actually helped him out or not, and by then, it would be too late.
Yoon Jeonghan, Choi Seungcheol, and Hong Jisoo, three reasons why Boo Seungkwan gets away with telling so many people off – aside from him being a fearless little shit. The three sit at the head of the school council. Jeonghan was the President, Seungcheol, the Vice-President with Jisoo as the secretary. Seungkwan isn't sure why the laziest one is the President but it works well enough. Beyond that, they're involved in many other activities. All three were incredibly good-looking and from affluent families. They're not just popular; they rule the school. Being associated with the trio came with many benefits while being under their protection was priceless. Only fools dare to mess with them. Yoon Jeonghan, in particular, can be quite vicious, and he is Seungkwan’s neighbor. It meant a lot of teasing and pranks while growing up, but Jeonghan never let anyone get away with teasing or mocking Seungkwan.
“Anyway, that new girl is definitely up to no good.” resumes Seungkwan stabbing into his tomatoes.
“Or maybe it's just a genuine coincidence," Dahyun suggests.
Seungkwan glares at her for not backing him up. She lifts her hands up in defense.
"One thing I don't understand, though, how come no one warned her?"
“Warn her about what? That Hansol belongs to his nosy and possessive childhood friend?” Mingyu snorts.
“You-“
"You're right. It's weird," Dahyun interrupts, warding off Seungkwan's explosion. "I'm sure someone must have said something."
"And what the heck do they even talk about?" wonders Yena, probably remembering her failed attempts at conversing with Hansol.
"Well, they have plenty of stuff in common, they both like arts, they practice archery, they both have a little sister, they're both mixed, and bilinguals and they both have dogs." Mingyu lists.
"Wait, what was that? Rewind! Mixed? What do you mean?" Seungkwan startles.
"Hum, first of all, you should learn to actually listen when I talk. I mentioned it earlier. And didn't you see her earlier?"
"I don't know; she could have had surgery for all I knew!"
"Right. Well, she didn't. She's a half-Korean half-Canadian who grew up in Korea, not unlike your half-American boy." Informs Mingyu.
"Oh, wow, so she must have a lot to talk about with Hansol,” says Dahyun, unknowingly digging into Seungkwan’s worries.
That information was actually important. He can't believe he almost missed it. Seungkwan bites his lips. That girl could definitely use her life experience to get closer to Hansol. It's something that could actually work. From being friends with Hansol, he knows how difficult it was for mixed kids to grow up here. Kids are mean, and sometimes adults are worse. There is no doubt in Seungkwan’s mind that this Somi girl had her share of bad experiences.
Fuck.
...
But fuck it.
Seungkwan feels sorry for her, but that doesn't mean he's willing to give away his Hansol as compensation. Hell no. Seungkwan himself got teased mercilessly over his weight growing up, and until now, he still has insecurities. He also had to endure the stigma of being from a single-parent household.
So Boo the fuck Hoo.
Life sucks, and you just have to deal with it.
Seungkwan finishes his unfilling salad and gets himself an iced americano while ordering some food for Hansol. The trio ditches Mingyu and returns to their classroom. They get back just as Hansol is waking up. Seungkwan fights against his urge to grab his phone and film the adorable yawn. Waving at the girls as they head for their seats, he sits down, dumping a plastic bag on Hansol’s desk.
"Aww, thanks, Boo." Hansol is always so appreciative of the gesture even though Seungkwan has been doing it for years. When he is sick or absent, he asks Jeonghan or Dahyun to bring food to Hansol.
Still, it always pleases Seungkwan to have the gratefulness in the pretty brown eyes directed at him.
“Wraps! Is it chicken?” Hansol asks, quickly unwrapping one.
“Yes.” Seungkwan bought 3 to be safe; his growing friend ate a lot.
Hansol takes a bite, moaning like it's something special. Seungkwan shakes his head fondly. His hands can’t help but reach toward the brown curls that are messy from sleep.
Soon, one careless bite sends some cream cheese dripping on Hansol’s chin. It’s second nature for Seungkwan to grab a napkin and wipe it for Hansol before the younger boy can even react. As he's wiping the cream cheese, Seugkwan remembers an episode in the early years of their friendship.
3rd-grade lunch break
Hansol was sitting sadly looking at his lunch when Seungkwan joined him with his own food.
“What's wrong?"
The younger boy shakes his head.
“Hansol, tell me, what's wrong? Why aren't you eating?"
"They said it's weird."
"What's weird?"
Hansol doesn't answer and points at his lunchbox. Seungkwan stares at the kimchi next to some cream cheese. The combination is something he encountered for the first time after meeting Hansol. He tried it, and it really wasn't bad at all.
"They said it was disgusting, and you shouldn't mix the two together, or it would turn into something weird just like..." Hansol's voice gets smaller at the end.
"Just like?" Before hearing all of it, Seungkwan is already frowning.
"Just like me," The heartbreak in those three words hurts Seungkwan."They say I'm weird because my parents shouldn't be together."
Looking at the small boy looking so miserable, Seungkwan sees red. He didn't even need to ask who said it. Nine times out of ten, it was the usual bullies. The group also made fun of Seungkwan for being too hum 'round' (Seungkwan didn't like the f word). He usually endured their teasing but not today. Today they messed with the sweetest and kindest boy Seungkwan knew, and it wasn't right. So, he walked to the leader of their group and, without a word, simply punched him straight in the face.
Of course, the whole ordeal ended with Seungkwan and Hansol, who had joined for support, getting beat up. Strangely enough, the two boys were usually not willing to get into fights, but when it came to defending each other? They became ferocious. Even though it was 5 against 2, they gave as much as they got, perhaps more. Seungkwan remembers punching, kicking, pulling hair, and even biting. It was satisfying to see the hint of fear in the bullies' eyes afterward.
Hours later, the boys were cuddling in bed together. Seungkwan managed to negotiate a sleep-over with his worried mother.
"Thanks for today, Seungkwan.”
"No need to thank me, Hansol, that's what best friends are for," Seungkwan answers primly.
"Yeah, but I'm sorry you got hurt because of me."
Hansol softly pokes the bruise on his friend's face. Seungkwan tried to hide a wince.
"It doesn't even hurt." He smiles.
"Still, thank you. Good night Seungkwan."
"Good night Hansol." Seungkwan closed his eyes and suddenly opened them again, " Hey Hansol?"
"Mmm," The sleepy voice answered.
"You're not weird, you're special, and you're fun just like kimchi and cream cheese."
The boys giggle in the dark and soon fall asleep."
"..said I like your hair." Seungkwan snaps back and realizes Hansol has been trying to get his attention.
"Sorry what? My hair? Oh, thank you," Seugkwan smiles, Hansol doesn't notice much but he always notices changes in Seungkwan.
Even if it took him a minute or a few hours.
The memory helps dismiss the insecurity Seungkwan felt over the new girl. He doesn't need to stress over her. Through it all, Seungkwan was the one by Hansol's side. Even if he didn't experience the exact same things, he was his support. Now regarding Somi, well, perhaps he can dial things down a bit. Maybe she's harmless. He won't go out of his way to bother her as long as she does the same for him, Seungkwan decides.