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Reon is a bright person who always smiles and radiates positive energy to the people around him. Everybody in the school likes and adores the student council president for that.
But, even the brightest star burns out. Even the brightest person cries. It's normal to have a bad day. It's completely normal, but Reon thinks no. He thinks that he's obliged to look happy all the time, to smile and to laugh, to have a good day and never get tired. He wants to show only his bright side to everyone. Nobody should see his gloomy side. This gloomy side of him just like right now...
"Isn't it tiring?" Reon slightly flinches as the foreign voice greets his ear. He glances up and sees a familiar face, Ji Yuan. Who doesn't know this famous delinquent in their school though? Coming late to school almost every day, getting scolded and punished countless times for numerous reasons.
The student council's main rival for real. Reon almost visibly rolls his eyes in annoyance at the sight of that delinquent sitting on the brick wall. Even at the sight of him, can already give Reon the headache. What else does he want now?
"Leave me alone." Reon mumbles lazily. The smile isn't here, no friendly act neither. He is so different than that usual beloved student council president whom everybody likes.
"Isn't it tiring?" Yuan repeats himself and continues his words this time, "Faking those smiles all the time. Your jaw must hurt, it will burst one of these days." He sounds sarcastic but caring too. Reon can't decide which one the latter is trying to be right now.
"None of your business." Reon says coldly.
A pause and silence from both of them for the next few minutes. Reon has his head hanging low, he's being so quiet that Yuan feels bad for teasing him earlier. The president always seems so bright and positive, always smile and laugh. But Yuan can see how hard Reon tries to put on a mask and hide the other side of him behind those smiles.
Yuan hates it.
After calming himself down and taking a deep breath, Reon gets up from the bench again while putting on a smile. The smile Yuan hates to see because it's far from genuine.
As Reon was about to leave the place, Yuan jumps off the brick wall and instantly grabs the president's wrist, stopping him. Reon hisses and turns around, attempting to free his wrist from the firm hold.
"What the hell are you--"
"Stop faking your smile."
"Mind your own business."
"Your smile is ugly."
"I said mind your own business!"
"If you wanna cry, then just cry! It's annoying to see that forced smile."
"I won't cry."
"Why?"
"I shouldn't!"
"What do you mean you shouldn't?! Everyone is allowed to cry!"
"What then? If I cry, what then?! You gonna laugh at me?!!"
"If you cry, I can hold you!!"
Reon is taken back. Yuan doesn't seem nor sound playful with his words. Did he really mean it?
"I can hold you, until you feel better. So, cry all you want." Yuan says again, his hold around the thinner wrist loosens.
Reon nibbles his bottom lip, feelings mixed. Is it really okay to cry? Is he allowed to? Their eyes still connect, but Reon's gaze slowly begin to get blurry with tears. This is the first time he ever cried in front of someone else other than his mom. Is this really okay...?
"C'mere." Yuan whispers a little too softly, and Reon doesn't think twice. He takes a step forward and let himself being wrapped around the delinquent's strong arms, face buries into the crook of his neck as he cries for real.
Yuan is so gentle, the hand that strokes Reon's back and another hand that protectively holds him closer. He says nothing, doesn't ask anything, and he just let Reon takes his time until he feels better.
Who could ever guess the bright smiley and positive student council president was like a fragile hurtful child when he cried. He always appeared strong, but he should know that it's okay to be weak once in awhile.
"You don't wanna ask why I cry?" Finally, one of them speaks.
"Well... a certain someone said to mind my own business."
Reon fails not to crack a smile at that.
"My parents officially divorced last night." And he decides to share. Yuan opens his mouth but closes it again, not sure what to say to make Reon feels better. "I need to chose whom I wanna live with. If it's my dad, I've to move out and leave this school. If it's my mom, I can stay."
"Choose your mom!" Yuan responds almost immediately that Reon gets surprised. He pulls his head slightly away from Yuan's neck just to get a better view of the redhead's face. Yuan's face is nearly the same color as his hair.
"I- I mean, it's up to you though. But... but I wish, you could stay." He stammers in the process. Reon won't admit this but he finds Yuan so cute at this moment.
"You want me to stay?" He smirks teasingly, "so you can keep giving me headache with your antics?"
Yuan looks away, his chest is pounding and his face is burning. He can't stand the full attention Reon is giving him right now. "N- Not that."
"Then what?" Oh, Reon should stop teasing the poor madly blushing boy.
"I- I don't know! I- I think I k-kinda like you, that's all!"
Yuan is taken back when Reon laughs. This is the most genuine one he ever listened to. The smile right now doesn't look fake as usual. It reaches his eyes this time. Reon is so pretty and genuine happiness just looks the best on him.
"So, giving me headache is how you show your interest in me?" Reon hasn't done teasing the other guy.
Yuan clicks his tongue, "I can change for better! I can change for you! Now, will you stop?!" He's so flustered and blushing all over. At last, Reon stops.
"Then, try coming early to school. Don't skip class and don't give me a hard time. Will you?"
Yuan frowns but nods nonetheless, "I will try."
Reon nods back and goes for another hug, burying his head into the side of Yuan's neck again.
"You're so handful." Yuan mumbles, receiving a disbelief scoff from Reon.
"Excuse me?" He rolls his eyes. "You are handful."
Yuan chuckles deeply and hugs the president tighter.
"I just want you to know that it's okay not to have a good day all the time. It's okay to cry, I can hold you like this again if you want." The redhead whispers.
Reon nods quietly, arms around the latter. "Promise me not to tell anyone else about me crying today or I'm gonna kill you."
Yuan gasps dramatically and promises him.
"This is our secret."