Chapter Text
The first time Jungwon met Jay, the older boy had band-aids on his hands and knees, and Jungwon thought he looked so cool.
“This is my friend, Jay,” Heeseung had introduced him and when their mother asked about the band-aids the older boy shrugged cooly.
“I’ve got a dirt bike.”
At the time Jungwon was 9, Jay was 11, and the younger boy wrote his interest in the boy off to the fact that he was older and cooler. Fourth-grade Jungwon had no way of knowing what his feelings for sixth-grade Jay would turn into.
Now, Jungwon is 16 and Jay is 18, sophomore and senior respectively, and Jungwon knows what he feels now. He’s extremely, painfully aware that he is in love with his brother’s best friend. He’s even more conscious of the fact that that’s all Jay sees him as— his best friend's little brother.
“Hey, Won,” Jay's voice makes Jungwon jump from his spot in front of the fridge, and he turns around so quickly he almost drops the milk he’s holding. He should be used to the blonde being in their house at any hour of the day, but in the early mornings before school when he’s barely woken up, Jungwon is never prepared to see him.
Jay sits at the island and raises a perfect brow, chuckling a little at Jungwon’s clumsiness. The younger boy blanches, taking in their contrasting appearances. Jay looks perfect, as always; band tee and jean jacket, earrings lining both of his ears. Jungwon doesn’t have to look down at himself to know he looks horrible in comparison, still wearing his Pokémon pajamas with his hair sticking up in funny angles. He pushes his glasses up his nose and places the milk carton on the counter in front of him so he won’t drop it.
“G-good morning, Jay-hyung. What are you doing here?” Jungwon asks even though he already knows the answer. He’s never been good and starting or holding conversations with Jay.
“Picking up Heeseung-hyung for early practice,” the blonde responds, and Jungwon already knew that, knows that Jay and his brother are on the school’s basketball team. He even knows Jay’s jersey number, 24.
“Oh, yeah,” Jungwon mumbles dumbly and pulls his lips over his teeth, a habit ever since he got braces a year ago. Jay chuckles again, low and gravelly, and Jungwon feels like his legs might give out. He needs to get out of here.
“O-okay, well I need to get ready for school,” Jungwon stutters out as he moves to leave the kitchen hurriedly. “H-have a good practice, Jay-hyung.”
Once out of the kitchen, Jungwon all but sprints up the stairs, careful not to trip as his sock-clad feet carry him up to his room. He slams the door behind him and leans against it, chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath. Seeing Jay at any time is never easy, but seeing him so early in the morning really tests Jungwon’s heart. He runs to his bed and flops against his pillows, pulling his phone off the charger to send a quick text to his best friends.
jungwon protection squad
jungwon (6:55 am)
jay-hyung wants me dead i think
riki (6:57 am)
???
sunoo (6:57 am)
are you going to tell us this every morning or?
jungwon (6:58 am)
im serious!
doesn’t he know you can’t just barge into people's homes?
i’m still in my pj’s :(
riki (7:00 am)
please tell me it’s not the pokemon ones that you’ve had since middle school.
sunoo (7:00 am)
you need to get rid of those
they barely touch your shins
jungwon (7:01 am)
:(((((
sunoo (7:01 am)
oh dear god
riki (7:02 am)
he’s a lost cause
jungwon (7:03 am)
thanks, guys :/
sunoo (7:04 am)
meet us at the gates
this calls for a group hug
riki (7:05 am)
love you hyung!
Jungwon throws his phone against his pillows and moves to sit up, running a hand over his face tiredly. His friends aren’t any help, but he didn’t expect them to be. They’re used to this by now, it’s been going on since middle school and it never changes. Jungwon really is a lost cause.
“Why are you just sitting there?” Heeseung’s voice shocks Jungwon out of his thoughts, the younger boy jumping from surprise. Heeseung never knocks.
“Hyung, get out of my room,” Jungwon grumbles, grabbing a pillow and tossing it weakly, missing his brother as it lands with a flop barely a foot away from his bed. Heeseung laughs.
“Jay was asking if you wanted a ride to school, but you’re not even ready and we have to be there for practice at 7:30 and it’s already,” he checks the time on his phone. “7:10 and you take forever to get dressed.”
Jungwon straightens up, eyes going wide. It’s not often that Jay offers him a ride and when he does he usually declines because how would he survive a ride to school in Jay’s car? But maybe today could be different, maybe Jungwon could give it a go.
“Give me five minutes.”
Jungwon regrets asking for such a short amount of time. By the time he’s slipping down the stairs, he’s out of breath from rushing around, and his toe throbs from having slammed it into the bathroom door in his rush to brush his teeth and pull on his jeans at the same time. His backpack is slung over one shoulder haphazardly and he stands at the bottom step, chest heaving, but at least he gets to ride with Jay.
“Wow, I’m impressed,” Heeseung nods in approval, and Jungwon would punch him if he had the energy. Instead, he smiles, close-lipped, and waits for the boys to lead the way. As they’re walking out to Jay’s car, the blonde turns around and it almost slow motion the way he reaches his hand out and ruffles Jungwon’s hair before patting his head.
“Comb your hair next time, Won.”
The moment is over before the wedding music can play in Jungwon’s brain and he’s left standing in shock in his driveway as the two boys get into Jay’s car. A honk on the horn shakes Jungwon out of it and he glares at his brother who smirks and leans over to honk again. Jungwon scurries over and slumps into the backseat with a quiet huff.
The drive to school is relatively uneventful, some rock song Jungwon’s never heard plays quietly and Jay taps his fingers against the steering wheel in time. Heeseung must think it’s too plain because he takes it upon himself to embarrass Jungwon. After all, that’s what older brothers do.
“You know, I’ve never seen Jungwon get ready so quickly,” he starts and you can hear the teasing grin in his voice. Jungwon groans.
“Hyung, shut up.”
“It usually takes him half an hour, maybe more. Our mom used to have to pour water on him just to wake him up.”
Jay chuckles lowly and Jungwon wants the car to eat him alive. He slouches in his seat and pouts. He should’ve just gone to school on his bike like usual.
“I wonder what got him moving so fast this morning,” Heeseung’s voice is teasing because yes, he knows about Jungwon’s crush, and if he could, Jungwon would choke him out right now.
Jay goes to say something, but as soon as he pulls into a parking spot, Jungwon flings the door open and jumps out, car not even in park yet. “I’ve got to go, thanks for the ride!” He shouts over his shoulder and sprints towards the gates, face colored pink. He spots his friend’s easily, Sunoo leaning against the bricks typing away at his phone, and Riki leaning over his shoulder. They both look up when Jungwon comes to a stop before them, breathing heavily.
“You’re here early,” Sunoo supplies, shoving his phone into his back pocket. Riki looks the brunette over and tilts his head.
“Where’s your bike?”
“Jay-hyung gave me a ride,” Jungwon replies once he’s caught his breath, and speak of the devil, Jay and Heeseung come walking towards the gate with two of their other friends. Jungwon watches as they walk right past him and his friends, through the gates and the sea of people parts for them. It’s like a scene from a movie, and Jay is the lead. Jungwon’s the character everyone pities for sure.
“Hyung, he’s got that sad puppy look again,” Riki whispers not-so-quietly to Sunoo and Jungwon glares at him.
“I do not!”
His friends roll their eyes and pull him in for the group hug as promised, squishing Jungwon between them.
“I’d say you made progress today, Wonnie,” Sunoo mumbles into his hair, and Jungwon thanks him, although it’s muffled from the hug.
“Proud of you, champ,” Riki pats his back and Jungwon rolls his eyes, separating from the hug.
“You sound like a father.”
The younger boy puffs his chest and pulls on his backpack straps. “Just doing my job as the leader of the Jungwon Protection Squad.”
“What makes you think you’re the leader?” Sunoo asks. “We’ve been over this already,” they begin their usual quarrel, and Jungwon sighs, walking through the gates and towards the school. He doesn’t want to be late again because he has to break up their bickering.
As he makes his way through the halls he sees Jay stopped by the gym, talking to some girl he doesn’t know, a senior probably. Jungwon stops, hiding behind the corner and watching, gripping his bag straps.
The girl grabs on to Jay’s arm as she laughs and he smiles back. They talk for just a moment longer, but Jungwon can’t hear them and then Jay slips into the gym with a wave. The girl turns to walk away and Jungwon can’t miss her big grin, ear to ear. When she walks away, Jungwon steps out, frown pulling at his mouth.
Does this make him the second male lead?