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No one will ever understand Sungchan’s need to be better than a boy named Osaki Shotaro. When your parents raise you in a way that makes you believe your whole future will end if you get one point less than the boy next door on the upcoming calculus test, it’s hard not to feel the need to be better.
It didn’t help that Shotaro was really smart. Why couldn’t he just have normal parents that didn’t pressure him to be better as well?
Sungchan walked with confidence, head held high as he took even steps. He didn’t actually have that confidence, he was just afraid his parents had hidden cameras and would punish him for slouching. So he walked as if someone was behind him, yanking his shoulders back into place.
“Bio grades are out, Osaki got a 98.” Wonbin huffs, tossing his arm over Sungchan’s shoulder which just ended up slipping down to his back due to the height gap between the two friends.
Sungchan rolls his eyes in frustration, his eyebrows furrowing as he exhales deeply. “How do you know that already?” He reaches into his back pocket, pulling his phone out with an annoyed expression. He was actually terrified to see what he got, his parents were still pissed at him for getting a lower mark on the last exam. He hid his phone from Wonbin’s gaze, loading up the app for school where he was met with a notification titled “Congratulations on getting 97% on your Biology exam!” as if he was supposed to be proud of that.
“Fucking, hell.” Sungchan curses. “I’m so dead. That’s 4 in a row now.”
Wonbin sucks air between his teeth when he sees Sungchan’s grade, patting the poor boy on the back. “If they give you too much trouble, you're always welcome to sneak out tonight and sleep at my place.” He offers, lifting his hand and running it through Sungchan’s hair before skipping off(to probably go searching for his boyfriend).
Sungchan scrunched his face up as he watched Wonbin disappear into the school building, leaving him alone with his inevitable fear of his parent’s disappointment.
He kicked his feet at the pavement, tucking his phone back into his pocket. Usually by now he would have found Eunseok and complained to him about Osaki Shotaro, but sadly the boy was setting up for his drama play that same weekend. So, instead, Sungchan opted for just walking circles around the school, hoping maybe he would run into his current crush and be able to spark some fire in their relationship.
School wasn’t the only thing his parents pressured Sungchan to be good at. Every night at dinner they would ask for updates with Mina, hoping their son got himself a girlfriend before his idiotic neighbour. It wasn’t that Mina wasn’t pretty or not his type, it was more the pressure to get into a relationship that made Sungchan iffy about moving things forward with her. Not to mention the fact Shotaro too had a crush on the one and only Jeong Mina.
He didn’t have time to dwell on his parents’ pressures much longer. As he turned the corner of the sidewalk he was met with the image of Osaki Shotaro, pinning Sungchan’s crush against the wall and kissing her right on the lips.
It wasn’t like they were full-on making out, their lips were pressed together with a slight pucker for only a moment before they pulled away. Sungchan still felt a different kind of anger than he usually felt towards his neighbour, his mouth hung agape as he froze in his tracks. He wasn’t sure why his heart started beating as fast as it did, he knew there was a chance Mina liked Shotaro instead of him, but it still pained him to see them like this.
Mina pushes Shotaro away as soon as she spots Sungchan off to the side, looking between both boys before scurrying off to god knows where. The Japanese boy holds a confused look on his face, turning to see what spooked the girl.
Sungchan doesn’t stay long enough to see the way Shotaro’s face drops when he spots him, turning and taking long strides as he goes back from where he came from. He doesn’t even bother to stop when Wonbin calls his name, Anton’s arm strung around his shoulders.
Stupid fucking Osaki Shotaro. Was the guy not satisfied enough with beating him in the majority of their school assignments? Now he beats him with getting the girl.
That night Sungchan gets his laptop confiscated after his parents compare Bio grades. Sungchan can’t be bothered with that little of a punishment, he can only imagine what will happen when they hear Shotaro is dating the girl he’s been confident would be his.
The boy was lying in his bed, his gaze fixated on the boring, white ceiling. He was feeling all sorts of things right now, and he didn’t really know how to deal with it. He's angry at Shotaro, angry at Mina, angry with himself, and confused about why he was even Angry. After all, Jeong Mina had only been a transfer student for two weeks, and he wasn't even sure if he was actually interested in her. It's just that he has this burning desire to outdo Shotaro, and he feels like he's lost out on another opportunity to prove himself.
Sungchan and Shotaro were born into a rivalry that was as old as they were. Their parents lived next door to each other, and from the moment they were born, they were pitted against each other. The two fathers were fierce competitors in the same business market, and their rivalry had spilled over to their children. Sungchan always wondered why their rivalry had to extend to their children. It wasn’t like Sungchan and Shotaro’s relationship had any part in how the competing businesses would play out. Nevertheless, Sungchan couldn't help but try to outdo Shotaro every chance he got. He was determined to prove that he was better than the other boy, but despite his intense efforts, he also found himself failing.
The next morning Sungchan is stopped on his way to class, Jeong Mina looking up at him with big and pitiful eyes. “Sungchan… I’m sorry about yesterday..” She speaks in an almost irritating tone.
Sungchan hums, nodding as if everything was fine.
“It’s just… You both seem interested in me.” She juts her bottom lip out slightly, turning her head to the side. “I’m finding it hard to decide which of you I like more.”
For some reason, her words made Sungchan just a bit more infuriated. “Don’t apologize, it should be me apologizing for making things more difficult. Take all the time you need, to decide.”
It ended up taking her a week to decide whom she preferred. On his way to Calculus, Sungchan was once again stopped by Mina, this time she was paired with a big grin on her face.
"I pick you," she announced, clasping her hands behind her back as she rocked back and forth on her heels. Sungchan was speechless. He gazed at the girl he had a crush on, wondering why she had chosen him instead of the boy she had kissed a few days ago. "Oh..." was all he could manage, adjusting his backpack and forcing a smile before walking away to find his classroom.
Sungchan had barely taken a few steps when his gaze fell upon the person who had occupied his thoughts for a while now– Shotaro. The boy was leaning casually against the wall outside the classroom, his long legs stretched out in front of him. Sungchan couldn't help but notice how the afternoon sun– that fell through the open window –highlighted Shotaro's face, making him look even more striking. As he approached, Sungchan noticed another student standing close to Shotaro. It was Nakamoto Yuta, a name that Sungchan remembered from some previous interactions. He had his hand pressed against the wall, mere inches away from Shotaro's head. Sungchan couldn't help but wonder what they were discussing, but he didn't want to interrupt their conversation.
He felt his fist clench by his side, just one glance at the smile on Shotaro’s face was enough to piss him off even more. How come Shotaro was never nervous or stressed out over their destined rivalry? Sungchan hates to admit it, but it was most likely due to the fact he won a majority of the time.
Sungchan tried to ignore his thoughts for the rest of the school day. He used all the energy he had left to avoid both Mina and Shotaro, even going as far as running away from his two best friends when they tried to question his pitiful mood. God.. why couldn’t he get the image of Shotaro and that senior out of his head, the stupid grin on Osaki’s stupid face?
Your father and I are at the office late tonight there are leftovers in the fridge:)
His mother’s handwriting was messy and rushed, but Sungchan still felt a slight warmth in his chest at the mere thought she even wrote him a note this time. He puts the paper to the side, dropping his backpack on the floor and reaching for the fridge handle. Noodles and pork chops? That would work, he hums to himself while reaching for the Tupperware containers, taking a little longer with the plating than he would like to admit.
As he pops the food into the microwave he hears a knock at the door, with the fork still in his mouth he walks over to answer it. He had expected the mailman or maybe Eunseok, honestly, he expected everyone but the boy who stood in front of him.
“Why can’t you just fuck off for once in your life.” Shotaro spat as soon as the door opened, pushing the taller male by the chest. “She kissed me. She likes me, not you.” He hissed, glaring daggers into Sungchan’s eyes.
Sungchan wasn’t totally sure what the problem was, he had just fucked things up earlier with Mina, so what could he have done wrong to Shotaro?
“She’s been here three weeks, Sungchan. Give her some more damn time to figure things out.” Shotaro continues, face red with anger as he continues pushing into Sungchan’s house without much permission.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Sungchan spits, finally pushing back while his face contorted with confusion. This seemed to only make Shotaro more frustrated. Sungchan felt his heart beating faster at the boy's reaction, and suddenly it hit him all at once why he had been feeling the way he had been feeling. “You’ve got to be kidding me…” He mumbles under his breath, thinking back to two not-very-important events that have happened in the span of a week and everything makes sense.
In a way he felt relieved to finally understand his feelings, it was only an added bonus that it had nothing to do with his strict parents. On the other hand, though his heart felt like it was going to pop out of his chest within the next minute or so with how terrified he was with his new discovery.
“I kissed her- I kissed her on the lips and she still ended up picking you?” Shotaro continues, completely oblivious to Sungchan’s revelation. “And you- you’re a fucking idiot you know that? The whole school is talking about your stupid fucking reaction to her confession.”
Oh right, Mina has feelings for him. Sungchan didn’t know what to think right now, if you had told him the day before that this would be happening he would be ecstatic. But, now he’s come to a conclusion that he has never even had feelings for Mina to begin with.
“Say something dammit!” Shotaro raises his voice, his fingernails digging into his own skin.
Sungchan couldn’t say anything though, too busy standing with his mouth agape and staring at Shotaro’s face to actually have a conversation. That is until Shotaro’s fist collided with his face without much of a warning. It hurt, Sungchan had always believed he could win a physical fight between the two of them since he was larger in size, but feeling the shorter boy’s fist against his cheek quickly threw those ideas out the window.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Shotaro hit his chest this time, tears welling up in his eyes when Sungchan instead grabbed at his arms to stop him from hitting again. “Fight me back, asshole.” He spat, struggling in his hold.
Sungchan stared at Shotaro’s face, taking in each individual feature. He always knew Shotaro was a good-looking guy, it wasn’t anything new, but for once he allowed himself to admire his looks. Shotaro’s movements started slowing when he realized Sungchan wasn’t fighting him back. With tears in his eyes, Shotaro’s cheeks flushed when he saw the look on the taller boy’s face. “What are you doing?” He asks under his breath, shoulders curled in as he feels himself shrinking.
Another moment passes before Sungchan’s eyes glance at Shotaro’s lips, jutting his tongue out slightly to wet his own. “I think… I think I’m in love with you.” He confesses, taking a step forward.
Shotaro's eyes widened in surprise as he pushed Sungchan away, his back hitting the door with a thud. "You...what?" he exclaimed, clearly caught off guard
“I’m in love with you.” Sungchan repeats, giving no more context than that. "I'm going to kiss you now...if you don't want that, then please feel free to stop me." He took slow steps forward, his eyes locked on Shotaro's face, waiting for a sign of acceptance or rejection. Shotaro's heart was pounding in his chest as he tried to process what Sungchan was saying. He had always thought of Sungchan as just a rival, but now he wasn't so sure. As Sungchan moved closer, Shotaro's mind raced with conflicting emotions. If he let this happen then his parents would surely kill him, but he couldn’t find it in himself to move.
Sungchan was right in front of him now, he could feel Shotaro’s breath on his lips. Sungchan's heart was racing, he had never been so close to someone before. He closed his eyes and leaned in, wanting to feel the softness of Shotaro's lips. As their lips met, Sungchan felt his body tremble with excitement. However, he quickly realized that he hadn't planned this far ahead, and he wasn't sure how to even go about this. He stood there, with his lips pressed against Shotaro's, feeling nervous and unsure. He only hoped that Shotaro had his eyes closed as well, just the thought of what his face may look like right now was too embarrassing.
Shotaro let out a breath of air before reaching up behind Sungchan’s neck, gripping onto him and pulling their faces closer together. The taller boy felt his heart stop when they were suddenly walking to the side, Shotaro lifting himself up onto a small table and pulling Sungchan between his legs. It was all too much, Sungchan discovered his feelings for the boy only minutes ago and now that said boy was trying to eat his face off. He wasn’t sure where this all came from, his cheek still stinging from the punch he had received moments before.
Nonetheless, he let it happen, slowly becoming addicted to the way Shotaro’s lips felt against his own. They moved sloppily, hands in each other's hair as they both tried pulling the other impossibly closer. Sungchan took one of his hands and placed it on Shotaro’s waist, his fingers hooking around the fabric of his shirt.
They were both 18 now, one obviously more experienced in the whole kissing thing than the other. Sungchan had to rely on instinct as they full-on made out on his mother’s table, hoping he wouldn’t mess things up.
When Shotaro pulls away, Sungchan thinks he did mess up. But, the look on the older’s face told him that the concern had nothing to do with his kissing skills.
“I thought I liked Mina.” He says softly, eyes so round right now, Sungchan thought they looked like boba pearls.
“Me too.” Sungchan huffs, out of breath and lowkey freaking out because he kind of just had his first kiss.
“Why would you think you're in love with me then?” Shotaro tilts his head back slightly to get a better look at the taller, his hands still hooked around Sungchan’s neck.
Sungchan didn’t know how he was meant to answer this question. Osaki Shotaro was the one person his parents told him he had to hate, and he always thought he hated the boy. But one look at the boy in front of him was enough to determine he felt everything but hatred for him. Sungchan still wanted to beat Shotaro, he would still do everything in his power to try and get better grades or win the school basketball game. Now though, he didn’t want to walk past Shotaro in the halls and give him a glare, he would rather drag him into the janitor's closet and kiss him against the door– okay, maybe his hormones are speaking too much. He truly does have feelings for the boy in front of him, and it doesn’t really matter why he has them.
With a slight chuckle, Sungchan admits "I don't know." before connecting their lips together once again, wiping the look of confusion off Shotaro's face.
Would they get beat if Sungchan’s parents decided to come home early? Yes, of course. But, that didn’t stop the two from obsessing over each other in such an intimate way.
Just a moment before they were still at each other’s throats, fighting over a girl neither of them really liked to begin with. Now here they are, lips pressed together, tongues down each other’s throats, and Sungchan’s hand inching its way down Shotaro’s back in a search for a different part of the boy’s body.
“Who kisses better?” Sungchan asks into the kiss. One of his hands cupped Shotaro’s face while the other was– well you know where it was heading.
Shotaro hums with a confused tone.
“Who kisses better? Me or Mina?” Sungchan repeats. And maybe Shotaro isn’t the only person he takes pride in winning against.