Chapter Text
The dark-haired teenager was sitting on the grass of his neighbour's garden and once in a while would steal a few glances of his best friend who was busy taking pictures of the spectacular view of the sunset that was setting before their eyes. There was a big old tree in the back of the main house, where the side house used to be. Jihyun did not want to talk about what had happened to his mother the year before and Jumin always respected that, even if he thought the mint-haired boy needed some counselling instead of just listening to his own father. And just like that, the duo had one more thing in common, two very demanding fathers and the absence of a caring and loving mother. On Jumin’s part it was not because she had passed away, but instead had decided to move along without him, not that he actually missed her.
February came to an end and brought with it the beginning of the school year, and not only that, but actually their last year as high school students. After that, it was college and the rest of adult life, two more things that had already been planned for both of them. The boys hang out almost every afternoon during the school break. Actually, they have spent almost every day together since they met, an accident almost ten years ago.
“I’m going to develop this picture twice.” Jihyun broke the silence. “One in color and another in black and white.”
“I suppose it is a good idea.” Jumin replied and shivered his body.
“Are you feeling cold? Do you want to get inside?”
“No.” He quickly replied. “I want to stay out here a little bit more. It’s not even dinner time yet. And besides, we are going to have our days filled with studying.”
“Yes, I know.” He sighed, looking defeated. “But I’ll always have time for you, so don’t worry.”
“Good. You are the only friend I have.” He quivered again because of the cold weather.
“Here.” Jihyun placed his camera on his lap and took off his sweater, handing it to his friend. “So, you don’t catch a cold or something.”
“Thank you.” Jumin blushed as he picked the clothing item and passed it through his head. “Are you not feeling cold?”
“No.” He smiled and Jumin could only stare at the pair of kind mint eyes. “Besides, you have a tendency of not taking care of yourself and I am here for you.”
“I thought it was actually the opposite.” He chuckled.
The mint haired boy showed his tongue before picking up the camera from his lap and standing up.
“Get up, I’m going to take a picture of us.”
“But you did not bring your tripod.” Jumin pointed out
“Good thing, we can extend our arms to get us further away from the camera.”
“Fine.” He sighed and stood up as well.
Jihyun stood next to him and turned his camera around, so the lens would be facing them.
“Are we taking a selfie? Isn't it better with our phones?”
“And lose the whole vintage vibe?” He laughed.
Jumin scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“Come on, so we can remember this last moment of freedom.” He lightly punched his friend’s arm, the same sweet smile on his face. “It’s you and me against the world.”
“Yes, it is.” Jumin smiled back.
The school bell rang, indicating the end of lunch time for all the students, but it took Jumin a while to regain sense of where he was. The eighteen year old was immersed in the book he was reading, which was a very good distraction from the public demonstration of affection happening in front of him. It had been almost two months since his friend started dating Rika, a blonde girl from 11th grade, a year behind them.
It all started when Jihyun was chosen to show the school around to the new girl and the fact that they were part of the same clubs. The blonde was always hanging around with the duo and after what it felt like an eternity of stolen glances and shy laughing, the girl finally confessed her feelings, that for Jumin’s misfortune were reciprocated by his friend.
It is not as if Jumin did not like Rika or as if the girl was annoying, on the contrary, she was the nicest person he had ever met. Maybe too nice for the dark-haired teenager. She was at the school for just a little time and had actually managed to captivate everyone who would cross her path. She was also a very intelligent person, which caught the attention of the school faculty as well.
However, the worst part of Jihyun’s new relationship was not the fact that it was Rika, but the fact she was a girl, something that Jumin was not. He knew for a while he had some feelings towards his best friend, but it was clearer now that he was actually dating someone else. Jumin had to see the two of them happily walking the school halls, holding hands during lunchtime and calling each other some annoying pet names. And if all of that was not bad enough, it felt like losing a friend, since they were barely spending time together and most of the time, Rika was with them.
“I need to go to the library after class.” The blonde girl pointed out.
“Oh, we can walk you there, right Jumin?” Jihyun spoke.
“What?” The taller boy looked up from his book.
She giggled. “Oh, Jumin, you were not paying attention to us. You are always with a book in your hand and your mind.”
“I suppose I do.” He replied.
“Rika wants us to accompany her to the library after class.” The mint-haired boy explained. “She has to pick up some books for her project.”
“I believe she wants you to accompany her.” Sometimes it was hard to hold back some words from escaping his lips.
“I would be delighted to have any company.” She laughed. “You are my only friends here.”
“Sure.” Jumin got up from his chair. “We should head back to class now.”
“Yes, let’s go dear.” He smiled at his girlfriend.
The trio walked away from the cafeteria and headed towards the corridors that led to their classrooms. They stopped in front of the 11th grade and Jihyun said his goodbyes to Rika before they headed out to their own class.
“Jumin, can I ask you something?” The mint-haired boy scratched the back of his neck.
“Yes, of course.”
“Why don’t you like Rika?”
“Who said I don’t like her?” Jumin shook his head.
“No one said anything.” He sighed. “It’s just that you act differently when she’s around.” He stared at the floor as they continued to walk. “And I believe she has noticed it as well. She just wants to be your friend.”
Jumin took a deep breath. “I am sorry that this was the impression I left on both of you, however it is nothing like that.” They walked inside their classroom and headed to their desks. “I am just stressed with school work and my father keeps talking about college options and I keep insisting that I want to study abroad. Like we both have been talking about, you know?”
“Yeah, sure. Getting our four years of freedom before being stuck working for our father’s companies, being a businessman until the day we die.”
“You really put everything through a good perspective.” He said sarcastically.
Jihyun sighed deeply. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go to the arts field, but not exactly like my father wants.”
Jumin placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You know I will be there for you no matter what happens, right?”
“I know.” He smiled wide.
“Besides, Europe it’s the birthplace of a lot of artists that you like.” Jumin smiled back. “We will have a great time there. I know I can convince my father if you can convince yours as well.”
“Yeah, it will be just fine.” Jihyun said shyly.
Jumin looked away from his friend towards the teacher that was entering the classroom and could not catch the sad look that had formed on Jihyun’s face.
At exactly 4pm, the school bell rang, indicating the end of the classes, however, for most students it did not mean they were done with studying for the day, especially if they wanted to go to a top university in the country or even abroad. Some of them would stay and study at the library while others would go to hagwon, another school devoted to study specific subjects.
Jumin found himself walking next to Jihyun and Rika all the way to the library. The couple was probably going to study there together, as they were doing everything like that. The dark-haired teenager prefered studying by himself, without any distractions. Sometimes he would even stay outdoors reading a book for leisure. Perhaps growing up since a young age with dozens of tutors and professors, helped him to be self taught for most things.
The couple said their goodbyes to their friend and walked inside the library, probably looking for one of the private rooms to focus and help each other out. There were some subjects that Rika would help Jihyun with even if she was technically behind him. And with that, Jumin made his way to the garden, to find a place to read where he would not be bothered at all.
The eighteen year old was now sitting on a bench under a tree, trying to read his book, but he could not stop thinking about the conversation he had earlier with Jihyun about his girlfriend. He had lied. He did not like Rika. And not just because she was dating his friend. No, it was more like because Jumin was a person capable of reading people and there was something about her that he could not actually pinpoint. She was fairly new at the school, but somehow was charming everyone that ever met her. It felt like she had some sort of magical perfume that made everyone fall in love with her. The blonde seemed to know how to read people as well and always had the best piece of advice at the same time that she did not share much about her own life, at least not to Jumin, maybe to her own boyfriend.
Boyfriend. Thinking about that made his whole body shiver more than being underdressed in the snow. He put the book down to his side and opened his satchel backpack to find out he did not bring a jacket or an overcoat. Probably because April was coming to it’s end and the weather was starting to become warmer since spring had just started. He was feeling cold not because he forgot to bring his jacket, but because he used to borrow Jihyun’s sweater. He shook his head. That was a stupid thought and a stupid feeling.
It was not as if he had said anything before his friend met Rika that anything could have happened between them. Eleven years of friendship and somewhere in between that, Jumin found himself falling for Jihyun. He even thought it was pathetic and cliché, but as time passed by it had become harder and harder to deny the happiness he would feel when they would hang out together, how silence was never awkward between them, how he felt comforted to have someone there when his mother left, how everyday was better because he had a friend. No, not any friend, but Jihyun. The mint-haired boy was capable of turning any grey sky into a beautiful light blue filled with fluffy white clouds.
Just the mere thought made his body feel warmer. Maybe too warm. Jumin had not even noticed he had closed his eyes while daydreaming, but when he opened them, he felt a light weight over his shoulders, he looked to the sides and noticed a leather jacket hanging over him. Suddenly he came back to his senses and while trying to grasp the ambient around him, he smelt cigarettes burning, which made his nose twitch. He looked up from the ground and found someone standing near him.
It was definitely a student, since he was wearing the same uniform as Jumin’s. The boy was probably his age as well, considering his height. As his eyes continued to go up, he saw he had a cigarette on his lips. There was a pair of scarlet eyes looking back at him. He probably had asked Jumin a question, by the way he tilted his head to the side. He was now messing with his long white hair that was tied up on a ponytail.
“I said, are you okay, dude?” The mysterious boy spoke.
“What?” Jumin replied.
The white-haired teenager took a hit from his cigarette before speaking again.
“You were sitting there, all shivering with your eyes closed.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know if I had to call someone or not.”
Jumin opened his mouth to speak, but closed immediately. What could he possibly say that would not make him look crazy. Especially to a total stranger. He kept looking at the boy in front of him.
“You cannot smoke here.” It escaped his lips.
“I know.” He chuckled. “That’s why I’m hidden here.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, at least I was before you came.”
“This is a public space. I mean, not public, public.” Jumin stuttered. “Every student and faculty member can walk around these grounds.”
“Dude, chill.” He laughed again and Jumin could swear he saw a shining coming from the other boy’s teeth. “I’m just messing with you.” He took another hit from his cigarette.
“Please, don’t do that.”
“Smoke or mess with you?” He grinned.
“Both if it is possible.”
“You talk weird. How old are you? Are you a teacher in disguise?”
“What is wrong with the way I talk?” The dark-haired boy stared as the other boy just shrugged his shoulders and smiled, probably sarcastically, but Jumin could not guess that. “I am not a teacher. I am not even an adult.” Jumin crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Not that it is any of your business, but I am eighteen and I am in 12th grade.”
“Hmmm. So that’s why I never saw you around. You’re not in my class.” He paused before continuing. “I’m seventeen by the way. 11th grade.”
“Is this your first year here? Perhaps this is the reason why you are out here smoking.”
“Nope.” He took the final hit from his cigarette before tossing on the ground and stepping on it. “I’ve been going here since last year.” He tilted his head to the side, a curiosity lighting up his face. “You really don’t know who I am. Interesting.”
“You also do not know who I am.” Jumin thought about the people who wanted to be friends with him or the ones that actually hated him because of his father.
“Well, my name and photo have been in posters around the school.” He walked closer to the bench and placed his right leg on top of it. He looked at the book standing there and picked it up. “La Dame aux Camélias?”
Jumin noticed his pronunciation. It was not perfect, but pretty good if it was his first time speaking the language. “Parlez-vous français?” He asked.
“Non.” He giggled. “I have seen some movies, listened to some music, but I can’t speak. I think it sounds very beautiful though.” He analyzed the book in his hand. “Isn’t this a super sad story?”
“I do not know.” He picked the book from the other boy’s hands. “I haven’t finished yet.” He sighed. “I also don’t know what super sa d means.”
“Ah, you know. The kind of story where people are not happy at the end. It sounds like one of those stories where the couple does not get together. I don’t like those.”
“So, are you one of those people who believe in love?”
“You don’t?” The boy sat next to him on the bench.
“Love the way it is described in popular media? No.” Jumin scoffed. “That does not exist. Believe me.”
“Oh, my God! Who broke your heart?” He smiled. “You are too young to be that devastated, you know?”
The dark-haired boy could not help but to think about his parents’ failed marriage, all of his father’s girlfriends, and then Jihyun. Love was not a real thing for him. No, not like that. It was all an illusion.
“Oh, shit.” The white-haired boy stood up. “My friends are looking for me.” He looked in the library’s direction then back to Jumin. “Can I have my jacket back…” He paused. “How rude of me, I didn’t ask your name.”
“Han Jumin.” He took off the jacket from his shoulders and extended his arm.
“Thank you, Mr. Han.” He grinned and picked up the leather jacket.
“Mr Han is my father. You should be polite with someone older than you, but there is no need for such formalities.”
“Fine.” He laughed once more. He looked at his phone that was buzzing again. “I’m on my way.” He said to himself and started to walk away.
“You did not tell me your name.” Jumin stood up as if he was going to stop the other boy from walking away.
“Oh, my name is not a big deal, but you can call me Zen. Everyone does.” He winked.
“Zen?”
“Yup. It’s my artistic name.”
“What?”
“I would love to sit here and talk more about that, but I really have to go.”
“Okay.” Jumin sat down on the bench again
“Ah, one more thing.” Zen walked back and stopped in front of him, lowered his head, so their eyes were to meet. “Pourquoi tu gâches ta vie?” He smiled, got his body straight, threw the jacket over his shoulder and started to walk away, slowly running towards the library.
The eighteen year old was still bewildered by the interaction he had just had with that very strange boy. Zen. Who calls himself like that? Why would he need an artistic name? Why does he have his name and photos all over the school? Too many questions. And actually, they did not matter at all. It was not like he wanted to know more about that kid. Or even that they would ever meet again. Jumin could find a different spot to read his books or to study every afternoon. He had already spent a year without their paths crossing, he could go on for another year without making new friends. He already had one that gave him too much trouble. He shook his head once more and picked up the book to continue reading his super sad story.