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“Oh look, your little cheerleader is coming this way. Four o’clock.”
Heeseung whipped his head around in the direction Sunghoon had just indicated and spotted Sunoo and Jungwon, all dressed up in their cheer uniforms, heading straight towards them. His neck cracked audibly from his sudden movement, and Sunghoon and Jay started snickering behind him.
“Shut up,” Heeseung hissed, turning back around. “Why would you tell me in advance?” His complaint only sent his two friends into another round of fitful laughter.
“I think he was talking to me,” Jay wheezed. “But we love the optimism, Hee.”
Heeseung leaned heavily against his locker, his head smacking against the cold metal. He pressed his cheek to it, trying to cool down his burning face.
Jungwon looked at him curiously when the pair finally approached and he allowed himself to be pulled against Jay’s side by the waist.
“Good morning, my little cheerleader,” Jay said, dropping a peck on the top of Jungwon’s head while raising a teasing eyebrow at Heeseung.
“Good morning, hyung,” Jungwon chimed back as Heeseung glared murderously, unaware of the silent exchange.
“Morning Heeseungie hyung,” Sunoo said sweetly, and all of Heeseung’s frustration immediately melted away, left in a puddle on the floor along with his heart and all of his rational thoughts. Sunoo held out his hand expectantly and Heeseung automatically reached into his pocket, withdrawing a heart-shaped, cherry lollipop and placing it into the boy’s waiting palm.
Sunoo immediately pulled off the wrapper in delight, and stuck the treat in his mouth. “I still can’t believe we have the same favorite candy,” he exclaimed, beaming at Heeseung.
“Good morning, Sunghoon!” Sunghoon said loudly. “How are you doing today? Oh fine, thank you, how about you?”
Sunoo laughed and turned to him apologetically. “Are you and Jake ready for your game tonight?”
“With you and Jungwon there to give us strength, always,” the football player replied with a wink.
“Why doesn't the cheer team perform at our games?” Jay complained, pouting at his boyfriend.
“Because football is superior to baseball,” Sunghoon answered for him smugly.
Jay gasped, affronted. “You take that back!”
“Sorry hyung,” Jungwon said. “I would come if I could, but between cheer and taekwondo, I just don’t have the time.” He looked genuinely remorseful, before a grin overtook his face. “Sunoo always comes to your games though!”
Jay smiled, catching on. “Hmm, that’s true,” he said, shooting a glance at Heeseung.
Heeseung blinked back at him, distracted. “What are you looking at?”
“What are you looking at?” Jay echoed. Heeseung couldn’t answer truthfully; he had checked out of the conversation long ago, trying not to stare too obviously at the way the cherry lollipop stained Sunoo’s lips the perfect shade of red.
The bell rang. Jungwon detached himself from Jay and grabbed Sunoo’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “See you dumb jocks at lunch,” he called over his shoulder as the pair of cheerleaders walked away from them, heading towards their shared class.
“Does he know that you hate sweets and only carry around those lollipops for him?” Jay asked once they were safely out of hearing range.
Sunghoon scoffed. “I think Sunoo knows a lot more than he lets on,” he said. Heeseung’s eyes widened in alarm.
“What do you know?” Jay retorted, giving Heeseung a comforting pat on the shoulder.
“I know that Heeseung needs to own up to his feelings already and confess.”
“I want to,” Heeseung cried out in exasperation. He turned to Jay accusingly. “I’ve been trying to get him alone, but your boyfriend is always attached to him at the hip. Can’t you make him ease off a little?”
Jay looked at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding? I can’t make Jungwonie do anything. I’m powerless, sorry,” he held his hands up in apology.
“Weak,” Sunghoon muttered. “Look, you guys have a game coming up pretty soon after ours, right?” Heeseung and Jay nodded. “Sunoo always comes alone to the baseball games, without Jungwon. Just make your move then,” he stated.
“Something about the whole school being there seems quite a far cry from getting Sunoo alone,” Heeseung protested.
Sunghoon stared at him incredulously. “Do you need to cart him off to some secluded island in order to tell him how you feel?” He scoffed. “Just pull him to the side after the game, jesus. I’m not telling you to propose right there on the field.”
Sunghoon was right, of course. But something told Heeseung that audience or no audience, he would be reduced to a trembling mess once he was face to face with the bubbly cheerleader he had hopelessly fallen for.
---
“Why is our uniform so boring!” Sunoo griped, wrinkling his nose at the striped short sleeve shirt and matching shorts that he and Jungwon wore. “Who made the school colors black and white, anyway? I look like a referee, not a cheerleader.”
Heeseung thought he looked stunning in any color, but he didn’t say this out loud.
“Maybe you should contemplate a change in career,” Niki suggested.
Sunghoon laughed. “As much spirit and energy Sunoo lends us during our games, he doesn’t know the first thing about the sport itself,” he teased.
“It’s true,” Sunoo sighed, not bothering to argue. He took Heeseung’s untouched pudding from off his tray and began spooning it into his mouth morosely.
“What color would you prefer?” Jake asked curiously.
Sunoo immediately perked up. “Mint,” he answered without hesitation. “Best color, best flavor. Mint is my favorite.” Sunoo’s eyes always lit up when he was talking about something he enjoyed or was passionate about, and Heeseung couldn’t stop himself from watching his emotive face fondly.
Sunghoon made a gagging noise. “We already made Jay and Jungwon take their PDA elsewhere, are you trying to give me another reason to throw up right now?”
“Sorry you have no taste,” Sunoo answered flippantly. “Mint is the best-- right, Heeseung hyung?”
All eyes suddenly turned on him expectantly. Niki had a slight smirk on his face, and Sunghoon had his eyes narrowed challengingly. Heeseung cleared his throat. “Mint is my favorite too,” he said. “I like it.”
Sunoo pumped his fist in the air in triumph, while Sunghoon scoffed and looked away. Niki let out a poorly concealed snort of laughter. Heeseung knew his friends would mock him, but it was all worth it for the proud smile on Sunoo’s face.
---
Directly after school, Heeseung drove to the store. Later that evening he picked Sunoo up for the football game, who he had promised a ride to.
“You look great,” Heeseung remarked, as Sunoo practically bounced into the car, full of energy as always.
“I look boring,” Sunoo said, rolling his eyes.
“You never look boring,” Heeseung replied on autopilot. “But,” he said, reaching into the plastic shopping bag by his feet, “I got you this.”
He pulled the piece of fabric out and extended it towards Sunoo, his hand only shaking slightly. Sunoo stared down at the silky, mint-colored bandanna. A knowing smile slowly spread across his face. He plucked it from Heeseung’s fingers and immediately began tying it around his wrist, knotting it off in a dainty bow.
“You know,” Sunoo said casually, “Back in medieval times, knights would wear something like this as a token from their lover. For luck.”
Heeseung choked. “What?”
Sunoo shrugged innocently and stroked the soft fabric, admiring his gift. “I’m just saying,” he said, a hint of laughter in his voice. “It’s a shame you’re not in love with me.”
Heeseung looked away quickly, before the expression of shock on his face could give him away. “Right,” he croaked. “It’s a shame.”
---
“Your little cheerleader is here,” Jay yelled over to Heeseung, a wide grin on his face.
It was the day of their baseball game, and the bleachers were packed. There were so many people, all pressed together in rows, that it was impossible to discern facial features from where they were standing, even if Heeseung wanted to.
He didn’t bother to scan for Sunoo in the crowd. The cheerleader always showed up to their games without fail, and as much of a thrilling surprise as it was each time, Heeseung never let himself hope for it. He didn’t know when the boy would finally tire of attending a game he wouldn’t even be performing at.
He rolled his eyes at Jay. “Not falling for that again,” he told his friend sternly.
Jay laughed. “No, look.” Heeseung followed his pointed finger. He couldn’t make out anyone’s face from where he was standing, but what he could make out was a familiar black and white striped uniform, and the pop of color of a mint bandanna.
“So are you gonna do it then?” Jay asked. “Are you going to confess?”
Sunoo must have spotted him as well, because Heeseung saw his figure shoot up from his seat, the flash of mint waving back and forth in the air. He smiled and waved back, before meeting Jay’s expectant stare.
Heeseung let out a sigh. “I’ll confess if we win the game.”
They won, of course. Heeseung had known deep down that they would, because he had faith in his team. He had made the promise that he had made because deep down, he didn’t want to keep prolonging the inevitable either.
Sunoo barrelled into his arms as soon as they found each other among the masses of swarming people. Heeseung laughed as the air got momentarily knocked out of his chest, and peeled the boy off of him.
“I knew you would win!” Sunoo babbled excitedly. “I was cheering for you, did you see?”
“Of course I saw,” Heeseung said, feeling his heart melt. “I always see you.” Sunoo beamed, and he steeled himself. It was now or never. “Sunoo-yah… Can I talk to you?”
Sunoo did not look worried or surprised by the sudden request, only mildly curious. “Of course, hyung,” he replied. “Always.”
Heeseung took him gently by the wrist and led him off the field, until they were well away from the clamor of the game’s aftermath. They came to a stop, finally alone like Heeseung had been waiting for. Sunoo waited patiently for him to speak.
“I’ve been lying to you,” Heeseung blurted. He gulped, and Sunoo looked at him steadily, expectantly. “I’ve been lying to you about a lot of things.”
“I know,” Sunoo said calmly. “What specifically are you referring to?” He had that small smile on his face again, the one that Heeseung saw so often but couldn’t quite decipher.
“I used to love candy when I was younger,” Heeseung began. “And then one day I ate a whole stash of it that my mom didn’t manage to hide well enough and my stomach hurt the whole day, and ever since then I can’t stand sweets.” If Sunoo was put off by his nonsensical rambling, he didn’t show it. “I don’t like cherry lollipops. I don’t like any lollipops, actually,” he continued.
“I know,” Sunoo said.
“And I don’t particularly like mint. I mean the color is nice-- really nice on you-- but I don’t care for the flavor much. I’ll eat it if it’s there, but I told you that mint is my favorite, and it’s not.” Heeseung was breathless at this point, his convoluted explanations coming out in twisted, run on sentences. “I don’t like mint.”
“I know,” Sunoo smiled. “Anything else?”
“I like you.” Heeseung’s heart was in his throat. “I don’t like any of the things I told you I liked, but what I never told you is that I like you.”
And Sunoo said, “I know.”
Heeseung felt his heart plummet. His friends had teased him endlessly for it, but had he really been so transparent this whole time? Sunoo must have seen the anxious look on his face, because he laughed softly and reached up to cup both of Heeseung’s cheeks in his hands. The touch instantly cleared most of his nervous fog away.
“Cheer up, hyung,” Sunoo said. “I like you too.” He tilted his face upwards, and Heeseung leaned down, feeling like he was in a dream. Sunoo's lips were soft, and tasted oh so sweet, but Heeseung found that he didn’t mind at all.
---
Maybe Heeseung hadn’t lied about anything. He liked those heart-shaped, cherry flavored lollipops, because of the way Sunoo’s face lit up every time Heeseung handed him one each morning. He liked mint, the way the freshness of it lingered on Sunoo’s breath after he finished eating an ice cream; he liked the mint colored hoodie that he couldn’t stop himself from purchasing, the way it looked against Sunoo’s fair complexion.
He liked these things because he liked Kim Sunoo, and all these little things served as a reminder that Sunoo liked him too.
And how could he not cheer up at the thought of that?