Chapter Text
“What are you waiting for? Ask him out!” Jaemin says to Jisung as the latter has been eyeing Chenle ever since he stepped into the university's cafeteria.
Chenle is sitting on the front bench in the middle. The chinese guy was wearing his usual shirt, probably an organization shirt since Jisung had already seen Chenle wear that for the fourth time this month.
Jisung pouts, he puts chin on his palm and dreamily looks at Chenle. “You know I can't do that.”
Jaemin scoffs and laughs without humor. “Bitch? Why can't you? You literally dated and confessed to Sung—”
“Stop talking about him!” Jisung irritatingly says and goggles.
Jaemin chuckles and sips his americano. “What I'm saying is.. you can't just stare at him until we graduate college! You're just wasting your time because of your lame excuses on why you can't make your move on him!”
Jisung turns his head to look at Chenle which surprisingly looks at him too. Chenle smiles at Jisung, Jisung smiles back — looking constipated that causes Jaemin to burst out laughing.
The younger glares at Jaemin, Jaemin jokingly zips his mouth. “Jisung, do you know there'll be a meteor shower tonight?” Jaemin asks.
Jisung looks at Jaemin, forehead wrinkles with a curious look on his face. “Really?”
“Yeah! And do you know that elders believe that when you wish upon a meteor, your wish might be heard and it might come true!” Jaemin excitedly reaches for Jisung's shoulder and shakes it.
Jisung moves away from Jaemin and smiles. “Do you think Chenle would accompany me to watch the meteor if I ask him?”
Jaemin shrugs and raises his brow. “We wouldn't know if you won't make a move on him.”
Jisung thinks about it thoroughly. He had already dated Sungchan and their relationship didn't end well as he thought before. It's been a year since their breakup and yet, Jisung still couldn't find someone to date after Sungchan. It's not like Sungchan set the bar so high to the point that nobody could reach it.
There are two types of Jisung's potential lover inside the university. The first type is the people who can't even give him the bare minimum, mostly red flags who only want to flirt and hook up which made Jisung uncomfortable because his ex was never that kind of person. Jung Sungchan never asked anything from Jisung, he's the type of boyfriend who always gives. One thing he liked about Sungchan, take note: likeD — past tense.
While the other type is Chenle, a person who can never be with Jisung. Why? Simply because Chenle is Sungchan's best friend, they've been friends since primary school. Sungchan and Chenle have this tiny rule where they can't commit to each other's exes, a simple bro code but both of them follow strictly. Jisung knows about it because he and Sungchan had already talked about that deal before. They avoid fighting just because of a person and they want to keep their friendship healthy as possible.
Jisung understood it before because he can't even imagine dating Jeno — Jaemin's ex. He can't even stand the boy even though Jaemin and Jeno parted ways in a mutual agreement. Jisung thinks Jeno is just not someone in his league or basically, not his type.
However, he can't understand it now. It feels like his brain became disoriented two months ago until now because he cannot keep up with Sungchan and Chenle's ideology. Is it really prohibited to date your ex's friend? Since when did dating your ex's friend become unacceptable to society? Or maybe, his principles are already slipping from his mind and morals because he likes Chenle so much and he cannot accept the fact that he can't date Chenle because he's Sungchan's best friend.
You only live once, fuck what they think. Do what you want.
Jisung stands and slams the table which causes the cafeteria's attention to divert to him. Jaemin frowns and glares at Jisung. “What the hell?”
Jisung looks around only to realize Sungchan staring at him with a smirk on his lips. Jisung then looks at Chenle who's now looking at him with an amazed expression. Now, you can find out who's the bitch and who's the saint.
“Fuck it, I'm gonna do it.”
“Do what?”
“Ask Chenle out.” Jisung says eagerly and starts walking away from their table. Jaemin whistles which made Jisung halt. He turns to face Jaemin — shyness plastered on his face while Jaemin just pushes him by gesturing him to leave.
“Hell.” Jisung flinches as he feels someone in front of him when he turns his head. He looks at the person and realizes it's Chenle, the Zhong Chenle he has been daydreaming about for the past two months.
“Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to bump you.” Chenle says calmly.
Jisung clears his throat and corrects his posture. He tries his best to remain cool as possible because he doesn't want to embarrass himself, not at least in front of Zhong Chenle. “It..it's.. uhm.. fine..” he stutters, he mentally curses himself and pinches his finger to wake himself up.
Chenle chuckles. “Relax, Ji. You can be comfortable around me.” Chenle whispers but enough for Jisung to hear. Jisung blushes and looks away.
The bell rings and it's time for students to go to their respective periods. Jisung roams his eyes around and sees people leaving the cafeteria.
“Uhm, Chenle.” Jisung calls Chenle before the latter could walk away from him. Chenle looks at him, eye to eye.
“I heard there will be a meteor shower tonight…” Jisung stops and watches Chenle's expression so he'll know what to say and what to do after. When he figures out Chenle is amused by what he just told, he continues. “I'm just wondering if…”
“Hmm?”
Jisung closes his eyes. It's now or never. He heaves. “May we watch the meteor shower tonight?” he asks.
“Jisung.” Chenle calls him. Jisung opens his eyes and shyly looks at Chenle. The orange haired boy is smiling at him, comfortably. “Of course, I'll gladly see you,” he says.
Jisung feels his heart beating and sweating palm. He finally did it, Chenle will see him tonight.
“I'll just message you the location.” Jisung says, Chenle nods and smiles.
“See you tonight?”
“See you.” Jisung giddily bids and watches Chenle leave from his sight.
Jisung finds Jaemin from the crowd but he sees no one. He goes back to their table only to find Jaemin's note pasted on the table.
you did well and you are so hilarious LOL! hope you saw your ex's (SUNGCHAN) expression. he was staring at the both of you intently hahahaha. ps. sorry i left early, we have an oral recitation. See you at dismissal! xoxo — jaem <3
Jisung chuckles and puts the paper inside his pocket. He looks around the cafeteria and sees someone still staring at him while sitting at the bench Chenle used to sit earlier. The boy's expression was dark while playing with his pen. Jisung rolls his eyes on him and leaves the cafeteria, leaving his ex gloomy.
The remaining classes were hell for Jisung. With only Sungchan and Chenle running through his thoughts. Positive thoughts for Chenle while negative and fist-clenching thoughts for Sungchan. He cannot understand why Sungchan was looking at him like that, like he wasn't the one who made their relationship go wrong. He cannot fathom why Sungchan still has the guts to look at Jisung darkly when it was Sungchan who cannot give Jisung the explanation he deserved.
All Jisung feels for Sungchan is anger and unfairness. Sungchan can date whoever he wants, without holding back. He can screw who he wants without thinking about Jisung while Jisung couldn't do the same. The moment he broke up with Sungchan, people started moving away from him — not because they hated him but because they're intimidated, according to Jisung's acquaintance from high school. Intimidated because he's ex with Jung Sungchan, the university's MVP and heartthrob.
But Jisung doesn't care about it anymore and it's all in the past. All he knows is he hates Sungchan to the core and no amount of good memories can mend the hate he's feeling towards his ex boyfriend. Call him ungrateful for that, the hell he cares. Sungchan must be lucky no one knows the real reason behind their break up or else, shit will go to hell.
Jisung yawns as he sits at the park's bench. He picked this place because it's not that far from his house and it's a block away from Chenle's. It's already evening but people are still awake, maybe due to the meteor shower. He can see people sitting on the mantle on the grass while looking above, waiting for the meteor to arrive.
“Hey!” suddenly someone greets him beside. He looks at that person and he doesn't fail to see Chenle who's now wearing a plaid flannel on the top of his plain white shirt. Chenle was also wearing track pants and his usual bucket hat.
“Hey. Dinner?” Jisung greets back and moves away so Chenle can sit beside him comfortably.
Chenle looks at him and smiles. “Already ate. How about you? Did you have your dinner before going here?” he asks.
Jisung nods. “Yeah..” Lie. He hasn't had his dinner yet and it is because he was hoping Chenle would invite him for a dinner date or just to simply eat with him in the park while waiting for the meteor shower, to say the least.
Chenle nods and bites his lower lip. Jisung looks around and scratches his brain to produce some topic to talk about while waiting. He cannot think of any, he thinks he and Chenle don't have a common ground but that's alright, it'll be alright for Jisung because he can always find a way to be compatible with Chenle.
“Chen—”
“Bro.” someone behind them speaks. It is a familiar voice, Jisung can definitely figure out who it is.
Chenle turns to look at that person and smiles. “You're always late, Sungchan.”
Sungchan chuckles and walks to their front. Sungchan eyes the vacant position beside Jisung. Jisung realizes but before he could occupy the space, Sungchan sits there. Jisung rolls his eyes and grits his teeth because he knows Sungchan wouldn't let this night slip without ruining Jisung's plans.
“I apologize for being late, I needed to send Somi home before going here.” Sungchan explains.
Jisung couldn't help but to feel bitter about it. Somi. It's always Somi. The girl Sungchan told him not to worry about but later on became one of the reasons why Jisung woke up without feeling anything for Sungchan.
“Jisung, I hope you don't mind Sungchan with us. Just treat him invisibly.” Chenle teases and raises his brow at Sungchan.
Sungchan laughs. “He won't mind. He didn't mind you third wheeling with us all the time before so why would he mind it now, right?”
“Yeah but those were the times you weren't a dick like you are right now.” Jisung spits mockingly. He throws a gaze at Sungchan who's amusingly looking at him right now.
Chenle chuckles and moves closer to Jisung. He whispers something that irks Sungchan even more. “He was, still and will always be a dick.” Chenle whispers, Jisung nods and laughs at that remark.
“Mind if I join your secret?” Sungchan asks.
Jisung shakes his head. “You don't have to know everything. Just mind your own business.” he shrugs and looks above.
Before going to the park, Jisung wished for a sign. A sign whether he should confess his feelings to Chenle or not. The first sign is when he sees someone wearing pink and white stripes. The second sign is when he hears a piano nearby. And the last sign is when Chenle asks him about joining the Glee Club.
Later on, Jisung sees a three-year-old girl wearing pink and white stripes with rose embroidery on her chest. He counts one. He mentally crosses out the sign and waits for the next sign to show up.
“Jisung.” Chenle calls him. Jisung looks at Chenle and smiles.
“About the club we were talking about the other day.” Oh shoot. It's definitely the Glee Club where Chenle is the acting president.
“What about it?”
“Can't you change your mind? We kinda need a choreographer at this moment and Shotaro couldn't make it because of his commitments to the Student Council. The performance will be 3 weeks from now and we badly need someone…” Chenle desperately says and sighs.
“Sure.. I'll join you.” Jisung simply says. Chenle's eyes widens, he blinks but later on smiles.
“Really?”
“Yeah.. Why would I say no? Besides, I already thought about it thoroughly. I thought that I don't have any organization to join so why not come to your club?”
“But you're MY secretary in the Photography Club.” Sungchan says.
Jisung irritatingly turns to look at Sungchan. “I resigned.”
“You can't resign.”
“Who are you to dictate to me what to do?”
“Basically, I am your President and you are my secretary. I have a say on your moves, you are affecting the club's performance and it's annoying.” Sungchan complains.
Jisung shrugs. “If you can't accept my secretary, then I'll hand it over to Mr. Kim.”
“Sure, if you resign then I'll be leaving too.”
Jisung laughs mockingly. “Wow! Don't make it obvious.”
“What's obvious?”
“Don't make yourself look like you haven't gotten over me.” Jisung says confidently. He looks at Chenle who's now invested with what they're talking about. Chenle nods at him and raises his thumb up.
Then a familiar song plays nearby, with a piano instrumental. It is Bruno Major's Nothing. The song Sungchan used to play to him with his guitar. Jisung couldn't help but to feel dumb about it especially now that he can feel Sungchan's gaze at him. He must think Jisung is easy to tame because of this love song so Jisung stands up.
“Chenle. Can we talk elsewhere?” he asks. Chenle looks at him, then turns to Sungchan. Chenle nods and stands up with him.
“Wait for us here.” he tells Sungchan, Sungchan just shrugs and opens his phone.
Jisung leads the way. He decides to go to the undiscovered place just meters away from the park where Chenle could clearly hear what he is about to say. He stops at the tracks and composes words to say but it seems like he can't process anything in his mind. Every word just comes up either blank or unclear.
“Chenle.” Jisung calls him.
Chenle just stares at Jisung. “You're not going to commit manslaughter, right?” Chenle jokes to lighten the conversation but stops when he realizes Jisung is having a hard time.
Jisung looks down. “I like you,” he confesses.
Chenle remains silent, unable to say anything. It's not like he doesn't know it. The truth is he has an idea but he cannot bring himself to admit it. Mainly because Jisung is Sungchan's ex.
With no trace of sound from Chenle, Jisung scoffs. “I said I like you!”
Chenle sighs and gulps. “You know you can't? I mean we can't, right?”
“Is it because of Sungchan?” Jisung asks.
Chenle did not say anything to answer Jisung's question or is it really a question or a statement? “I liked you, Jisung but I—”
“You like me, I like you. So why can't we do this together? Is it a crime? Is dating each other prohibited? I cannot understand!” Jisung raises his voice.
Chenle shakes his head, still composing himself and trying his best to not slip. “We can't. I'm sorry, Jisung. We can't.” he says.
Jisung's shoulders drop. He can feel his tears streaming down his face. Suddenly, Chenle's phone rings. Chenle looks at him first before answering. Chenle is not saying anything until he hangs up the phone.
“I have to go. I already messaged Sungchan to get you from here. Just wait for him.” Chenle says and walks away from him.
Chenle disappears from Jisung's sight and it is a cue for Jisung to finally let his guard down. He wails not because of the rejection but because of Sungchan. Why does Sungchan have to ruin everything? Why did Jisung's world collapse when Sungchan entered and left his life? It is unfair, so fucking unfair.
“Jisung.” someone calls him in front.
His cries become louder. “Don't come near me.” he threatens Sungchan. But Sungchan still comes to console him.
“I don't… want to see you. I don't want you… near like this. I hate you, Sung…chan! I hate you.” Jisung says in between his sobs.
Sungchan remains silent even though he has a lot to tell. He doesn't want Jisung to feel worse than it is. At least not now.
“Do you know… how much you… ruined my life?” Jisung asks while looking at him, bloodshot eyes and trembling lips. “You ruined everything, Sungchan. Everything. You ruined me.. you ruined my chances.. you wrecked and hurt me. But why?” Jisung stops and stands, knees weak but manages to stand and be away from Sungchan.
“You hurt me so bad I can't collect myself so why do I have to suffer like this?” Jisung yells and stomps his feet in anger.
Sungchan takes a step back, hearing all the words Jisung says to him. Feeling bad about what happened between the two of them, he contributed a lot of mistakes and flaws. He's regretting a lot of things. Only if he chose to not go that night, maybe things will be different now..
Jisung closes his eyes and harshly wipes his tears from his face. “If I could turn back time, I would wish for us to not be together. I wish for us to be strangers to each other. If I could turn back time, I would wish to be with Chenle — not with you. Out of all the people in this world, you're the least person I want to be with.” Jisung wishes, without a blink nor a stop.
All of a sudden, a meteor shows up from the sky. Travelling from the horizon. Jisung did not look up even though it's his awaited moment that night. He just stares at Sungchan, mercilessly and impenitent about what he just said.
Jisung turns his back away from Sungchan and starts walking away but he stumbles to the big rock. His body drops on the floor and he loses consciousness. And the last thing he could remember was the sound of Sungchan's steps rushing towards him.
And that is the beginning of everything.
Who knows that the wish out of anger would turn out true and would change their lives forever?