Chapter Text
Gihun checks the time on his watch. The glass on the top was scratched making it harder to read especially with the setting sun glaring into it. It was a gift from his Mom when he graduated Elementary School. Gihun remembers all those nights she arrived home late from work to save up and get it for him. They never had enough to get it fitted correctly until recently, leading it to falling off his wrist on multiple occasions and several close calls on him losing it all together, so while far from pristine, he wears it proudly. You’re too sentimental, a voice that sounds a lot like Sangwoo's says in his head, hinting that he should just let it go, but Gihun thought it never hurt to be a little sentimental from time to time.
After bringing the watch about ten centimeters away from his face, he’s finally able to read the time on it and sees that he only has about fifteen minutes left until Sangwoo is done with his club for today. Sangwoo insists he doesn’t have to wait for him and that he’s capable of making it home on his own just fine. It’s not as if they’re in Elementary anymore, but well old habits die hard, also Sangwoo refuses to acknowledge it, but Gihun is his upperclassmen who is he to leave an underclassman behind, and besides it’s always more fun to ride the train with a friend.
The weight of the object inside of Gihun’s pocket seems to multiply as he thinks of ways to pass the time. His hand itching to dig inside and pull it out. He really shouldn’t, but as he looks around and sees that he’s in a secluded area, his mind naturally begins to wonder. He hasn’t smoked once this week. . . well. . . this school week that is. He deserves to take the edge off, that math test he had today was rough. Gihun checks his surroundings once again, making sure there was no one else around.
Fuck it, he thinks as he hastily and clumsily pulls out the pack of cigarettes and lighter from his pants pocket. He fumbles over getting the lighter lit a couple of times, but once he does he plops the cigarette in his mouth and inhales that first hit of warm smoke in his mouth, making all the tension in his body seems to float away. He leans back against the wall and blows out the smoke. I needed this, he thinks as the world around him seems to fade away. He takes another smoke and feels the warmth filling his lungs, surely killing him bit by bit in the process, if what his science teacher says is true, but if he were to be honest that’s the last of his problems right now.
Gihun watches as the sky gets cast in an orange glow as the sun descends into the horizon. The beauty of it makes him feel even more at peace. He brings his hand up and the cigarette sits on his lips for a moment, before he—
“You know that’s forbidden on campus,” a voice says, bringing his serene vibe to a sudden stop.
Gihun scrambles at being caught, he looks around searching for something or anything to hide it behind, but is out of luck. So he works with what he has and hides the cigarette behind his back. When he looks over at the speaker he’s surprised, having heard a deep and stern voice he was expecting a teacher and not a fellow student.
A student who smirks at Gihun’s distress and seems vaguely familiar to him. Perhaps from just seeing him around at school here and there. Now that he’s brought to his full attention though, Gihun can’t help but notice how different the two were. Where Gihun’s uniform was wrinkled and haphazardly put on, this student was ironed and well fitted. Where Gihun’s posture was laxed and slightly slouched this guy’s was sure and straight. The other’s hair neatly parted while Gihun’s has a life of its own no matter how he brushes it. He plans to get it cut soon, no longer wanting to deal with it at this length.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gihun lies, very badly. Which his fellow student seems to find amusing as Gihun detects a slight chuckle.
“Is that so?” He asks, his gaze piercing in its intensity. It’s as if Gihun can feel the other's eyes watching his every move. “Well either way, it is my duty to report any suspicious activity,” he mentions before turning away from him.
“Wait, wait, wait, wait,” Gihun says in a panic, because he can’t have that happen. He rushes over so he’s now standing in front of the vaguely familiar student. “Let me explain,” he says.
“Go on,” he says.
Oh, Gihun thinks, surprised that the other was so willing.
That just leaves one issue though, he has to come up with an explanation.
“I’m sure you get it, school and exams are so stressful. If you don’t take the edge of here and there, you’d go insane, this is just—” he begins to ramble, but sees the other’s unimpressed glare and can tell that this isn’t working. Sensing that he needs to change his tactics, the question leaves his mouth before thinking, “want one?”
The other blinks before letting a sound that’s between a scoff and laugh. He looks away in disbelief for a moment before looking at Gihun incredulously.
It was then that Gihun noticed the other has a face that’s probably pretty popular with the girls. He makes note to mention that, a little flattery can work wonders with the right person. However, with those eyes he has, Gihun’s sure he would see straight through that attempt.
“Are you trying to bribe the Second Year Class President?” The other asks, his expression unreadable that Gihun can’t tell if he’s teasing or being deadly serious.
Second Year Class President, Gihun repeats in his head when it suddenly clicks for him.
He remembers now, that’s where he knows this guy’s face from.
“You’re that bastard who beat Sangwoo for Class President,” falls out his mouth, his body too overwhelmed with finally putting it together to think too clearly about what he’s saying. ”I— I mean,” he says in an attempt to save this conversation.
“I am,” Class President says, his chin tilting up as he says so. “I’m the one that beat Sangwoo, Gihun.”
Gihun’s face pouts, thinking the guy didn’t have to be so cocky about it. Sangwoo works hard and that would have looked really good on his college applications. The guy has what it takes to get into the SNU, and he’s not too fond of people getting in the way of that.
Once his protective feelings for his long time friend fades, the last part of the other’s sentence finally registers in Gihun’s head.
“You know my name?” he asks in surprise, because he’s in the year above him and they’ve never talked before today.
“Ah,” the other says and this is the first time Gihun’s sees a gap in his composed armor. “I remember you saying it when you stopped by my class one time when Sangwoo was sick to pick up his homework,” he explains and Gihun does remember that.
“That was months ago,” he also remembers.
The other’s eyes dart from side to side as if he got caught doing something. It was strangely kind of adorable, given the super composed side he’s seen so far. He also kind of feels a bit guilty, he wasn’t trying to embarrass the guy. He was just actually surprised, that’s all.
“You really remember a small thing from way back then,” he brings his right hand up and notices the cigarette he’s still holding in it, so he switches to his left hand and gives the guy a thumbs up. “Impressive,” he tells him.
Mr. Class President runs his hand through his hair and clears his throat.
The two stand there awkwardly for a moment and as a cool breeze whips past them.
“Seeing as this is the first time I’ve caught you doing something like this,” he starts off saying, seeming back to his usual self. “Think of this as a warning,” he tells him and Gihun has never felt so relieved in his life.
“Thank you. Really. Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. . .” he finishes awkwardly, a name failing to come to him. He’s sure Sangwoo’s said it before.
“Inho,” the other says, seeming to find it quite easy to read Gihun. “Hwang Inho,” he adds.
Inho, Gihun repeats to himself, making sure to remember it.
He owes the guy, truly, he’ll make it up to him.
“Thank you, Inho,” Gihun tells him and Inho nods at him in acknowledgement.
“See you around, Gihun,” Inho says and as he walks past Gihun, the other still feels like he hasn’t thanked him enough.
“My offer still stands,” he says as he turns around, now looking at Inho’s back. “If you want one it’s all yours. You probably don’t smoke, Mr. Class President and all that, what about a soda? I can buy you a soda if you want,” he tells him as if he doesn’t only have two thousand won in his pocket. He’ll have to ask Sangwoo for bus money if Inho does say yes, but he’s sure Sangwoo would understand. Plus he’ll totally pay him back, right after he gets the twenty thousand won he owes him as well.
Inho turns around to face him and the smile on his face seems genuine. Something about it putting Gihun at ease.
He looks over his shoulder as he approaches Gihun, and once he verifies no one else is around he faces Gihun once again.
“I’ll take a smoke,” he says. Gihun knows he offered, but he’s still a bit surprised that Inho is up for it. Not in a bad way though, more like happily surprised.
“Ah. . . yeah,” he says as he fishes the pack out of his pocket.
“This stays our little secret, right?” he asks, his face seeming so innocent. Gihun wasn’t planning on using this as blackmail or anything, but even if he was, how could he do it to a face like that. Besides, Inho seemed like a pretty cool guy as far as he can tell. He won't snitch on him.
“Of course.”
Inho smiles once again and Gihun can’t help but return it. Gihun raises the pack between them and Inho pulls one out. Gihun then stuffs it back into his pocket and now that there’s a new understanding between the two, he quickly puts his own cigarette back to his lips. As he inhales he realizes, he didn’t know if Inho had a lighter on him or not.
Before Gihun can offer his own, Inho’s face is suddenly a lot closer to his own as the tips of their cigarettes meet. Gihun’s surprised for a moment, but after that fades away he doesn’t find himself wanting to step away. It’s the opposite really, he finds himself leaning in a bit further, solidifying their connection between the two cigarettes. He looks down at where they meet and sees Inho’s cigarette gradually catch the embers off his own. He’s struck by the view of it, entranced by it. When he finally brings himself to look away, he’s met with something even more striking than the last. Inho’s eyes are already on him by the time he looks up and it’s hard to look away once their gazes meet. This all feels so. . . intimate. That’s weird, but Gihun has no other way to describe it. So maybe it isn’t weird, he doesn’t feel weird. It sort of gives him a rush, not quite the same way nicotine does, is it’s own thing being seen by a person this way, being connected to a person in this way. It excites him, but also slightly terrifies him. He finds himself wanting more, but what does that even mean? So lost in the moment, it takes a moment to notice the flow of smoke that makes its way between them.
That brings Gihun back to reality and realizes that Inho’s cigarette is surely fully lit at this point. He pulls away and pulls the cigarette from his mouth, letting a puff of smoke out along with it. Clearing his lungs. . . and his head too.
He brings the cigarette back to his mouth, feeling like he needs it, but for an entirely different reason.
“Sorry,” Inho apologizes. “I just figured it would be quicker that way. Did that. . . bother you?” he asks, his face so innocent once again.
“No,” Gihun is quick to answer. “You just caught me off guard, that's all.”
Inho looks at him thoughtfully.
“I have a lighter though. If. . . you ever needed one,” he tells him. “Or,” he starts off saying, before bringing a hand up to cover the side of his mouth. Not that anyone else is around to see them, but just in case. “If you need a smoke. Our little secret, okay?” he finds himself offering. He’s usually pretty stingy with them, but for his new friend Inho he thinks he can spare one or two.
Gihun watches as the corners of Inho’s mouth rise up in a smile and the other nods at that. Inho turns away and faces the sunset.
He continues watching as the other takes a smoke, doing it so effortlessly cool. It should annoy Gihun, like there’s something this guy has to be bad at, right? But Gihun can’t bring himself to, he feels like they have this. . . connection. He supposes it’s only natural when you light someone’s cigarette with your own.
“So,” Inho starts, before letting out a puff of smoke. “You and Sangwoo seem pretty close?” he asks as he taps his cigarette and shakes off some of the ash.
“Oh. Yeah we grew up together,” he tells him. “I probably wouldn’t even be at this school if it wasn’t for him,” he adds, probably needlessly. It’s just Gihun has always found it easier to talk about Sangwoo than himself and something about Inho makes him easy to talk to.
“Really?” Inho asks, his gaze curious and analytical. Since he’s thinking of Sangwoo, he sees a bit of a similarity between the two.
“Yeah, I’m not exactly planning on going to any fancy college after I graduate. So it never mattered what high school I went to, but I know Sangwoo really wanted to go here and I just thought I don’t know, maybe I could help him out. Not that Sangwoo needs me or anything, but I thought it might make it a little easier, y’know,” he answers.
Inho looks down for a moment taking in Gihun’s explanation. “I see,” he says, before looking Gihun’s way. “Sangwoo’s really lucky,” he tells him, his voice having an underlying severity that Gihun doesn’t notice.
“Huh?”
“You’re a really good friend, Gihun.”
Gihun has to look away, the praise being too much for him. “It’s not a big deal. That’s what friends do, right?” he says as he shrugs and shifts his weight from one foot to another.
“Not all friends,” Inho replies and Gihun looks his way again. He wonders if Inho has had a bad experience with a friend before, he’s known the guy for about five minutes, but he’s already on Inho’s side. “If you were my friend, I’d make sure I wouldn’t take that for granted,” he tells him.
“Sangwoo doesn’t,” he feels the need to defend. Their friendship has its ups and downs. They’ve known each other for so long that it’s only natural. But when it really counts he’s pretty sure. . . no, he;s certain Sangwoo will have his back.
“I didn’t mean anything by that," Inho tells him, his voice sounding distant despite being so close. "I was just speaking for myself."
“I know,” Gihun says. I just— he’s not quite sure. So he focuses on Inho. “And by the way you do have a friend like that,” he tells him.
Inho blinks in confusion.
“I mean we had a smoke and share a secret now,” Gihun says, nudging the other with his elbow. “I think that’s enough to make us friends.”
Something shines in Inho’s eyes and he smiles fully. Definitely popular with the girls, Gihun can’t help but think. He then returns the smile.
After a few moments pass in a comfortable silence, Inho throws his cigarette on the ground and stomps it out.
“You should put yours out too,” he warns the other. The reason why becomes clear as Gihun hears footsteps approaching them. He takes Inho’s advice and then throws his hand side to side to wipe away any lingering smoke.
“Thanks,” he says.
“Don’t mention it,” Inho says.
The footsteps continue to get closer and Gihun feels relieved when he sees Sangwoo rounding the corner.
“Sangwoo!” Gihun says with an excited wave.
“Gihun,” Sangwoo says with a small smile. His eyes land then land on Inho and any hint of smile quickly fades away. “Inho.”
“Sangwoo,” Inho says, returning the look of displeasure.
The tension in the air is palpable as Gihun looks back and forth between the two. He wonders if it’s because of how the whole class president race played out. Gihun doesn’t want to force it, but he thinks the two should look past it one day. They’d make great friends.
“Ready to head home, Gihun,” Sangwoo says to Gihun, despite having his eyes on Inho the whole time.
“Uh. . . yeah, give me a sec,” he says before placing a hand on Inho’s shoulder. “See you around.”
Inho turns his head to face Gihun and the icy stare that was directed towards Sangwoo instantly melts. “Definitely.”
Gihun squeezes the shoulder, before walking off and joining Sangwoo. The two walk side by side as they head to the train.
“He finally approached you, huh?” Sangwoo points out.
“What do you mean?” Gihun asks. Inho didn’t seem the type to be too nervous to approach someone, but who knows, he has had only one conversation with him. Sangwoo looks his way and picks up on something Gihun doesn’t see.
“Nothing,” Sangwoo answers.
“Does he want something from me?” he asks as he points a finger to himself. “I did give him a cigarette, you think he wanted a smoke this whole time?” Gihun asks. Sangwoo laughs, a small and quiet thing.
“I don’t think it’s that,” he says, continuing to be vague. “You gave him a cigarette though? I feel like you owe me one now,” Sangwoo says.
“What?! For what reason?”
“For giving one to the enemy,” he answers, and it’s a joke. . . for the most part.
Gihun gives him a play kick to the back of his leg. “You’re just trying to bum a cigarette off of me too now, huh?” he jokes along with him.
The two of them share a laugh and continue heading home. Sangwoo noting that he has to keep a closer eye on Inho now.