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Pushing his lunch around on his tray, Joonghyuk’s appetite was down in the gutters. Surprisingly, this time it wasn’t because of the food.
His lips were pressed into a thin line as he stared at the food like he was hypnotised by it. In a way, he wished he was.
The chatter in the cafeteria was loud, nothing special and nothing new. Yet, there was a big group of people surrounding the table in front of him, cackling and speaking loudly.
That wasn’t new either, but usually they’re never this close. It feels like the group gets closer and closer every time… How upsetting.
If he was in a movie, he’d call the group the “popular kids”, but in reality they were just obnoxious suck ups. Half of those people he had never seen before, proving the fact that they really were trying to slither their way in.
Joonghyuk was new to this school, having transferred over just earlier this year. As much as he wanted to deny it, he wasn’t stubborn enough to not admit that this school was on the richer end.
It was glaringly obvious from the building’s look to the arrogant people in it. The place is nice, he couldn’t argue against it.
He has learned shockingly more than he had in the last school, only made possible by the amount of textbooks and teachers there were.
Overall it was a nice school and he couldn’t be more grateful to get the chance to study here.
Except, the people in here were disgusting.
From a school where everyone has to wear uniforms and be on time to every class, you’d think there wouldn’t be any trouble makers.
It’s true, there weren’t, but it simply made an alleyway for more unbearable people.
Finally stabbing the steak with his chopstick, he brought the whole piece to his mouth, chewing the side of it angrily.
That group in front of him was the main bane of his existence. For people who were so snooty and quick to show off every penny and item they owned, they really sunk to new lows with their patheticness.
In all honesty, the group wasn’t even a group, it was just a bunch of people running around a single person and trying to appeal to him.
To who exactly?
That would be Kim Dokja.
The boy was around his age, somewhat older than him which he learned after the many attempts where he had tried and failed to get Joonghyuk to call him “hyung”.
Dokja had a simple hairstyle that looked both neat and messy at the same time, his dark straight hair only adding to it. Compared to Joonghyuk, he held a smaller frame, but he was somehow taller than the latter.
It was mere centimetres of difference, but the older boy clung to it strongly.
Why exactly did he have a huge mound of people crowding him wherever he went? It was because he was the principal’s son. His father is a known not only for his power, but also for his riches.
Money was something that made almost anyone act foolishly, trying to even get a lick of what they had. And that’s why there were so many people around him—Dokja was a pushover.
He’d often see the boy buying other people stuff and taking everyone out to dinners with his money. Every time, without fail, he would be made to pay for everyone. And guess what? He didn’t see anything wrong with it.
Joonghyuk felt horrible for him, not knowing your friends were even your friends since all they wanted was your money.
It’s not like Dokja made an effort to even stand up for himself, he’d pay for people he had never met before.
Like pests others would follow him all the time until they could strike and drag him off to something he wasn’t even interested in. Poor guy.
Swallowing the last bite of his steak, Joonghyuk noticed he had been staring at Dokja only when their eyes locked. Frowning, he ripped his gaze away, putting his chopsticks down and standing up with his tray.
What he failed to notice was the redness that dusted the latter’s ears as he watched him leave.
He put his tray away, crinkling his nose at the food again. He’s been here for a week and the food hasn’t appealing in the slightest. As luxurious as it looked, it wasn’t to his tastes.
Making his way back to his classroom, the hallway was peacefully quiet. No one goes to class this early as everyone uses lunch time for either going to restaurants or shopping. He sees why. They did get quite the long lunch period.
Silently watching the scenery outside the windows, he wondered when they were gonna change out into their summer uniforms. They still wore their winter ones, even when it was spring.
Thinking about how the summer uniforms look like, Joonghyuk suddenly heard loud footsteps echo down the hallway.
They were a single pair, but they very much sounded like someone was making a run for the bathroom with how quick they were.
Unbothered, he kept his steps up, the footsteps getting closer and closer until a cold can pressed against his face.
The sound he made was embarrassing, but the offender seemed amused by it, laughing airily. Said offender was Dokja, holding a can of soda in his hand.
“What was that for?” Joonghyuk asked angrily, resuming his walk.
“I just thought you’d like a drink,” the taller boy innocently said, waving the can in front of his face.
Silent for a moment, the boy’s words only managed to get him more upset. They’ve never spoke before, why should he take a can from practically a stranger? He sure does have an ego by being the principal’s son.
“I don’t want it.”
“Don’t be like that. I bought it for you! It’s still cold, feel it,” the other encouraged him, wrapping a hand around the shorter’s shoulders.
Joonghyuk could feel his eyebrow twitch in annoyance. He was about to shrug him off again when he heard noises coming from the end of the hallway, the place where Dokja had ran down from.
Shit, everyone else was gonna crowd him again.
Grabbing the soda, he gave a dismissive look at the older who looked very happy at his action.
“I don’t like sodas.”
With that, he made a sprint for it.
He’d rather get in trouble for running than get stuck with those suck ups. They were suffocating to be around.
.
Sitting behind his desk, Joonghyuk was doing his homework. His attempts to that work were interrupted when Dokja leaned his arms onto his desk, smiling at him with that stupidly innocent grin as everyone else were leaving the class.
“Whatcha doing?” the boy asked, trying to get a peek at his work.
“Biology,” Joonghyuk gruffly replied.
The older hummed, looking down at him.
“If you ever need help you can ask me, I’m pretty good at biology.”
“Alright,” the younger said quietly, even though he knew he wouldn’t.
How was he supposed to with all those people around him? The only time they got to talk were these times when the class had ended early and no one was barging through the door yet to nag at Dokja.
Slender fingers were tapping against his table, singing out a tune. It was distracting.
“…I don’t need help right now.”
“I know, I’m just watching.”
Grunting, Joonghyuk tried to continue his work. It was difficult to concentrate with those eager eyes pointed at him, intently watching him.
This was something Dokja often did, either sneaking glances at him or full on staring at him with that grin of his.
It was annoying since the people around him would also turn their attention towards him and suddenly he was in the centre of attention.
It wasn’t good attention, never was. All they did was badmouth and whispered about by him.
The older boy didn’t seem to notice his attention was disturbing. Joonghyuk didn’t have the soul to tell him, since Dokja himself wasn’t a bad guy—as much as he lets the former see at least.
All he did was quietly stand by him until someone interrupted their peace. It wasn’t a problem, not when he was the only person Joonghyuk was even remotely close to. It was the people crowding him that made everything horrible.
As strange as it was, everyone over here viewed transferring people as some sort of cast outs. Hell, he has heard a few crazy rumours about his transferring, which didn’t put him in the best light.
It didn’t help that he wasn’t the most talkative person nor did he have that much money. He came from an orphanage, there wasn’t much he could show.
Busy writing an answer, Joonghyuk inwardly jerked when a soft thumb brushed against his cheek.
“Pen mark,” Dokja murmured, wetting his thumb to rub at the spot some more.
That was kind of gross.
“Thanks,” Joonghyuk murmured nonetheless.
His pen scratching against the paper, the two boys only got three more minutes of silence until the class door was ripped open and a handful of people pushed inside.
There came the headache.
“Kim Dokja!” one person yelled.
“Hm?”
“There’s a new karaoke place nearby, do you wanna go there after school?” a girl excitedly said.
“Karaoke? I’m not much of a singer…”
“It’ll be fine, you can eat snacks and listen,” someone else said, placing a hand onto his shoulder.
Dokja held a weird expression until he switched it to a smile, brushing the person’s hand off his uniform. He looked like he was thinking about it for a moment.
“Alright. I’ll pay.”
With the click of his shoes, the older boy turned around towards Joonghyuk, leaning downwards onto his table once more.
“Do you want to join us?”
…This again.
This was something that happened often, too often for his liking. Whenever Dokja went anywhere, he’d try to drag him along. It was stupid. They weren’t friends, why would he join.
Joonghyuk knew better than to ever do that. He knows he’d only get ridiculed and made fun of by everyone else.
He could feel the stares he was getting, quiet whispers involving his name and the annoyed sounds others made at him even being mentioned.
Raising his head, he kept his face with a look of boredom. In a way he felt bad, as the glistening in Dokja’s eyes betrayed how excited the boy was. He shook his head, turning his head back to his notebook.
“I don’t like karaokes.”
The older boy could barely process his response before someone grabbed his arm and began dragging him out of the classroom.
“Let’s go, we’ll be late.”
Quickly, his eyes darting between the group and Joonghyuk. Waving enthusiastically, he cupped his freehand over his mouth to yell over the loud chattering of others.
“Next time, Joonghyuk!”
With that, the door was slammed shut, leaving the shorter alone in the classroom. Instead of going back to work, he sighed tiredly.
He couldn’t understand if Dokja was dense or a malicious bastard. Either way he wasn’t going to accept anything from him. He’s only been here for a month, why would the other consider him a friend?
Easy answer, he didn’t. All they did together was sit in silence, which wasn’t a thing friends did.
.
Sitting down on the bench, Joonghyuk could feel the sweat dripping down his back. It was disgusting feeling, only made worse by his heart trying to beat itself to death. Who thought it was a good idea to play basketball after many rounds of running at the end of spring?
He very much felt like he was dying. Legs spread apart, he rested his elbows onto them, eyes closed. He had gotten out of the game, getting to take a break since he had already scored 20 goals.
Breathing heavily with an open mouth, Joonghyuk felt more sweat trail down his face.
Like an answered prayer, a soft towel touched his forehead, wiping away the sweat gently. Cracking his closed eyes open, he watched Dokja dutifully clean him. Once the boy decided it was enough, he removed the towel and shoved it underneath Joonghyuk’s shirt.
“You—?!”
“Your back is soaking your shirt,” Dokja noted like they were buddies talking about the weather.
Wiping his back, the taller boy smiled at him, taking the towel away.
“There, all clean.”
Squinting at him, Joonghyuk huffed.
“What was the point of that.”
“Can’t have you sweating all over the place, it looks too…”
The older trailed off at the end, turning his head away. From this angle, the younger could see the red dusting his neck. If he thinks about it, doesn’t Dokja have to throw 20 goals to get here as well?
“You threw 20 in?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah. Amazed?” the boy immediately asked after turning towards him, that grin he always wore prominent.
“Yes, you look all skin and bones.”
The statement had caught the other off guard as he widened his eyes, the smile dropping. Fidgeting with his hands, he turned his attention towards the court.
“Do you hate that?” he asked out of nowhere.
“What?”
“The fact that I don’t have muscle.”
“…No. Everyone is different.”
Seeing the boy nod from the edge of his view, Joonghyuk also started looking at the court. It wasn’t long before the boy started inching towards him on the bench, his sweat soaked towel wrapped around his neck.
He wasn’t gonna bother saying anything until Dokja scooted up so much that their hands brushed together. Snapping his head towards him, his view was instead filled with a bottle of water.
“Want some?”
“…Why would I trust you?”
Raising his eyebrows, the taller chuckled, screwing the cap off and taking a couple chugs of the water. A drop slid down his neck, a sight Joonghyuk has only seen in drama’s before.
Letting out a satisfied sigh, Dokja offered the now half empty bottle to him again.
“How about now?” he said, licking his lips.
Suspicion, the shorter ended up taking the bottle of water regardless. Drinking it slowly, Joonghyuk noticed that two boys had finished their goals, both of them making their way to the benches.
As they sat down on Dokja’s side, he finally finished drinking the water, handing it back. Seeing that, one of them piped up.
“Hey, Kim Dokja, can I drink some?”
Glancing at him, the older boy looked back at the bottle before chugging the rest in a single breath.
“No,” Dokja said as he twisted the cap back on.
The expression on the boy’s face was hilarious, but Joonghyuk didn’t dare to laugh. Pretending to pay attention to the game, he was soon enough tense like a brick wall from Dokja deciding to rest his head on his shoulder, his hand gently massaging his thigh.
.
Cleaning the board, Joonghyuk took a few looks backwards every now and again. He had gotten paired with Dokja to clean a classroom after a tour happened in it. If he’s honest, he’s a little grumpy.
The latter had eagerly raised his hands, grabbing the former’s arm and offering them to clean the classroom while everyone stayed in class. It should be their math class, but here they were.
It’s not like he’s interested in math, he couldn’t care less, it was more of the fact Dokja announced it in front of the class like they were best friends. Sure the boy has been bugging him for months now, but they’re not friends.
Grumbling to himself, he put the sponge away, leaning against the wall to watch the taller mop the floor. Thankfully he didn’t make Joonghyuk do all the work. If anything, he looked very excited to clean.
…Maybe he was into cleaning?
Grabbing the cloth on the table, he moved to the windows to start wiping them as well. After a good while, he was working on his last window when a pair of arms wrapped around his torso, Dokja burying his nose into his neck.
“Wha— Kim Dokja?” Joonghyuk asked, frozen in spot.
“Mm? You smell so good…”
The hair on the shorter’s neck stood up from the warm breath wafting over his skin, making him hold back a shiver.
“You should ask people before you hug them,” he quietly said, hoping the boy would pull away.
Dokja did not infact pull away.
“Can I hug you?”
Eyebrows knitting together, the younger boy was somewhat upset. How is supposed to refuse now when the other had already clung to him? It’ll be awkward.
“…Fine.”
Going back to his cleaning, Joonghyuk tried his best to pretend there wasn’t a whole person glued to his back. He was nearing the end when Dokja spoke up.
“We’re going to the arcade later, want you to join us? I’ll pay.”
“I’m not interested in using you as my wallet,” Joonghyuk had automatically blurted out, catching him afterwards.
He could feel Dokja’s breath catch in his throat.
“…I see.”
The older boy sounded almost sad, but Joonghyuk must’ve been imagining it. Cleaning the last bit of the window, the classroom was finally done. Instead of pushing the other away, he stood there, letting the taller hug him.
In a way he felt bad. Maybe Dokja realised everyone was using him, but let them regardless. Yet that didn’t make sense. Why would he let them? Working out a possible answer, the classroom door slid open with multiple voices interrupting the silence.
Like a dear caught in the headlights, Joonghyuk had tilted his head to the side to stare wide eyed back at the students. They looked shocked and offended to a degree. Realising how it may look, he jerked out of Dokja’s hold before booking it for the door.
Halfway down the hallway he could hear a hurried “See you, Joonghyuk!” echo to him. Legs running for his life, he tried to ignore the way his face was warm from embarrassment.
.
Dokja’s actions hadn’t stopped. They had instead become more frequent.
Often times the older boy would grab his wrist and make him sit with him at lunch or drag him around during the breaks to sit with him at a hangout spot while everyone surrounded them, making Joonghyuk feel like a clown.
Sometimes he’d have enough mind to take them to a restaurant or a fast food joint, where they got to eat alone without those nasty eyes digging through his existence. It was better than being at the cafeteria.
Getting dragged around wasn’t the only new thing. There was also the fact that Dokja had become increasingly more and more handsy with him, especially when other people were around.
He’d loop an arm around the younger’s waist, hold his thigh, support his lower back, lean onto him or even peck him on the cheek. At first Joonghyuk was convinced that he was trying to make him a fool in front of everyone, but it became obvious that wasn’t the case when the boy would do so even when no one was around.
It’s not as if he hasn’t stopped him, he has, many times, but the taller boy would only grin at him and tell him he shouldn’t be so shy. Annoying.
Of course it didn’t mean the invitations to hang out stopped, almost every time Dokja went anywhere he’d ask if Joonghyuk wanted to come.
The only thing that was different was the fact he didn’t say he’d pay anymore. Regardless, the latter wouldn’t go.
Speaking frankly, Joonghyuk didn’t actually have a problem with the other boy sticking by his side. The times that they were alone were nice—fun he dare say.
It’s just…the suck ups didn’t like him. The constant glares and disgusted stares he would get along with the whispering made him uncomfortable.
The jealousy was apparent, hostility seeping at his mere presence.
This day was no different as he sat next to Dokja on the benches, everyone else chatting while the older boy scrolled on his phone, side pressed against Joonghyuk’s. The disinterest he held was clear, as he’d only nod along and hum whenever someone asked him, uncaring for anything they said.
He’d say that the taller boy wasn’t even listening with how he’d agree to everything, not murmuring a word.
It’s a thing Joonghyuk has once more noticed. He’s been in this school for only a couple of months, but it would take a lot of arrogance to not notice this.
And weirdly enough, it made him mad.
Dokja allowed everything, paid for everything but he’d never pay attention. He could imagine how their hangouts are like. Sitting there like a statue, quite a few people observing him, Joonghyuk wished the bell rang sooner.
Instead of that happening, Dokja spoke up in the middle of his scrolling.
“Joonghyuk. Wanna come to my house after class?” he asked, lowering his phone to look at him.
The older boy’s hand was squeezing and unsqueezing his thigh, a warm smile on his face as he waited for an answer. Any other day Joonghyuk would’ve declined, would’ve said he wasn’t interested, but…
“Sure.”
The other boy looked surprised before grinning, going back to his scrolling.
“Can we also come?” a boy asked from the mound of people surrounding him, smiling that stupid arrogant smile.
“Nope.”
“Wh—“
“Why does Yoo Joonghyuk get to go to your house?” a girl asked, annoyed expression on her face.
“Because I asked him to,” was all Dokja said before the bell rang and he stood up, grabbing Joonghyuk’s wrist to walk to their class.
It was satisfying to see their confused and angry expressions.
.
Joonghyuk really hadn’t thought this out, had he?
Shifting, he looked around the room. Dokja had brought him to his house and his room. Why? God knows why. Said boy had ran downstairs to get snacks, leaving him awkwardly sitting on his bed as he waited.
His bedroom was neat. It was spacious with a big bed, most of the space being occupied by bookshelves. From where he was sitting, he could get a glimpse of the computer he had, all decked out and beautiful.
He was a little jealous of that.
The door opened up, Dokja slipping inside with a platter of cut up fruits.
“My mom cut some fruits for us,” he explained, setting the plate down on his nightstand.
The taller boy took a handful, encouraging the shorter to do the same. They were good. Turning on the TV mounted on the side of his bed, Dokja sat down beside him, picking a show to put on.
His room was decorated weirdly, his large bed pushed into a corner with the door being around the feet. This meant the TV was placed onto the side instead. Still, it was a bizarre thought to see the boy have a personal TV.
A show turned on and without missing a beat the boy placed a hand onto his thigh. Luckily for him, Joonghyuk was interested in the movie. Munching on the melon slices, he warmed up to the unfamiliar place rather quickly.
The show seemed to be a romance of sort with very intriguing plot. Biting his last melon slice with his front teeth, he let it sit there for a moment as he listened to the dialogue. Until his chin was grabbed and gently turned to the side.
Dokja’s face was close to his, his breath tickling his face. Leaning forward, the taller boy proceeded to steal the melon from between his teeth, grinning at him.
“Can I kiss you?”
…What?
Eyes wide, Joonghyuk blinked back at him as if he had gone mute. Dokja looked at him before shifting, waiting for him to answer.
The question made the former’s stomach feel strange, as if his intestines were trying to change their positions suddenly.
“Why?” he asked, realising that was probably the worst thing to say currently.
“Because I like you,” Dokja answered confidently, leaning in until their noses brushed.
“I’m… I’m not interested in pushovers.”
…
To say the laugh that left Dokja made Joonghyuk feel stupid was an understatement. He felt like he was the whole circus as the former wiped tears from his eyes, wheezing at it.
“That’s— That’s certainly— What?” he laughed out, trying to calm himself down.
“I’m not interested in dating pushovers,” Joonghyuk repeated, trying to stay firm on his ground.
Looking at him with the widest grin, the taller boy suddenly tackled him into the bed, cuddling up to him.
“That’s great, because I’m not a pushover,” he murmured as he nosed at Joonghyuk’s neck.
“You’re lying.”
Picking his head up, Dokja tilted his head at him.
“How?”
“Because— The people at school, they’re suck ups and you do whatever they want you to. You let them trample all over you.”
“I don’t, they pay for what they get.”
Confused, Joonghyuk watched the older boy lean down until their noses were squished together.
“You don’t actually believe they’re interested in me, do you?”
“…I do.”
“Joonghyuk-ah, you wouldn’t make a good businessman.”
Scrunching his face up, he let out a grunt.
“Spit it out, I don’t understand.”
“I’ve told them off many times. They were like that since the beginning of the year. I tried everything, from flipping them off to cursing their entire bloodline. It clearly didn’t work.”
Taking a small inhale, the older chuckled gently. He sure loves laughing.
“Joonghyuk, can you keep a secret?”
Nodding eagerly, the younger was strangely eager to know why Dokja kept letting them step over him like this.
“I keep all the checks from where we go and who keeps bothering me. Let’s just say that their tuition is a heftier amount. I could simply get them kicked out, but they didn’t bother me before.”
“Do they bother you now?” Joonghyuk asked, and it made him flinch with how his lips brushed against the other boy’s.
“…Kind of. I couldn’t flirt with you properly.”
Oh.
Like a firework, Joonghyuk’s face bloomed in red and his heart stuttered. Whipping his head to the side, he tried to hide his face. A nose rubbed against his cheek, Dokja chuckling.
“You’re so cute like this.”
“Shut up.”
“I’ll shut up if you kiss me.”
“I’m not—“
A weird noise foreign to him left his throat as the thought of kissing the older crossed his mind. This rascal, he should’ve realised that’s what was going on. He was so worried about Dokja being used that this didn’t even cross his mind.
Hands covering his eyes, Joonghyuk breathed out a shaky breath.
“Are we dating?” he asked quietly, all but writhing beneath the other boy.
This position made it impossible to completely hide himself.
“Without a doubt.”
Pouting out a frown, Joonghyuk peeked out from between his fingers.
“We’ll get in trouble for it.”
“How? I own the school, if anyone bullies you for it I’ll get them suspended.”
“That’s not… what about your parents?”
Soft lips pressed a kiss to his cheek, a familiar action by now.
“They’d be happy.“
“Lies.”
The happily surprised face Dokja gave him made him even more embarrassed.
“Harsh words for someone so beautiful.”
Choking on his breath, Joonghyuk moved his hands to push at the older’s shoulders. It didn’t make him budge, but it made him feel better.
“Shut it.”
“Joonghyuk-ah, answer me.”
“What,” he hissed out, face warmer than the sun.
“Can I kiss you?”
A soft gasp came from the door. Snapping his head around Dokja gawked at the sight of his mom.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you boys, I’ll leave,” she apologised, slowly closing the door.
“Mom!” Dokja yelled out, tone full of embarrassment.
Joonghyuk took a little pride in getting to see the older boy’s face turn into a flaming red colour before his very eyes. At least he wasn’t the only one embarrassed now.