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Zhang Hao is fresh out of middle and is in his first year of high school . He is a scholar and is always competing with Sung hanbin his arch nemisis for the 1st position in their grade. They were always at odds and rude to each other till one day....
Hao excused himself from his lesson, intent on going to the bathroom. But on his(Hao) way there, the sound of short, sharp gasps makes itself known to him, resounding from the stairwell further down the corridor.
He hurries there, concerned. 'Is someone in pain? In distress? It'd take a fool not to check up on them, especially when they're clearly in need of help.' He thought to himself.
As this person finally comes into view, He freezes.
Of all people he'd have expected to see, Hanbin-his nemesis - was not one of them. He's trembling and clutching his chest and curled up in a ball, and he'd never seen him like this. Ever. He's always been the snarky, sarcastic one.
'What could have possibly reduced him to such a state? 'he thought to himself aproaching him. When he finally got to him he asked ' A-are you ok....?'.
Hanbin glances up at him. He almost looks small like this, but Hao looks too concerned about his current state to think about that for too long. He's never looked so... vulnerable before. Especially not around Hao.
He forces a scoff, though it's rather feeble.
"I'm f-fucking perfect," he manages to say, though even his voice isn't the same. It's almost like he's... afraid of something.
'Your trembling...Do you need some help or some water to calm down?' Hao asked Hanbin ignoring his OBVIOUS lie.
Hanbin hesitates, and for a few seconds Hao think he's (hanbin) going to refuse. But instead, he nods, and he looks... relieved. Like Hao've somehow given him a lifeline.
Hao hands his bottle to habin after quickly refilling it with some water from the near by water tank.Hanbin grabs it, though he's still shaking. As he grips the bottle, he manages to take a few gulps of water, and Hao can see some of the tension leave his face.
He's still not okay, clearly. But Hao's offer has helped at least a little.
His teeth chatter together as he tries to speak. "H-How'd you find me?"
'I mean your voice is probably echoing the corridor...anyone could've heard your gasps and shortness of breath....if the classes weren't going on.' Hao replies.
Hanbin looks away, as if embarrassed for letting himself get this worked up. No one's ever seen him like this, he's always tried to keep up his confident facade, and to not show any weakness. To have Hao of all people see him like this... it's humiliating. He wants to sink through the ground and disappear.
'Were you having a panic attack ?' asks while he (hao) sits besides hanbin on the staircase.
Hanbin looks over at Hao, surprised he could tell. He doesn't know why he(Hao) is still there. Hao of all people. Hao should be mocking him, making fun of him for putting up such a display. Why isn't he (Hao)?
Hanbin's voice is hoarse as he speaks. "Why are you bothering with me? Don't you hate me, like everyone else?"
'I do..but I am not that ruthless to make fun of you when you were in such a terrible condtion...' Hao says trying puting on a nonchalant facade although for some reason he was seriously worried for him(Hanbin).
He blinks, dumbfounded. Hao's not doing what he expected. Instead of continuing to tease him, Hao'd... helped him. he'd (Hao) stayed by his side, He'd given him water, and now he's sitting next to him(Hanbin), looking at him with anything but disgust.
The fact that someone - especially someone like Hao- had bothered to show him some slight act of... kindness? It baffled him. He was not used to such gestures at all.
'Want to go to the infrimary...?' Hao turns to look at him(Hanbin) as he(Hao)speaks in a poliet manner covering his concerned state.
"No."
The firm refusal comes out of him (Hanbin) instinctively. The last thing he wants is for more people to see him in this state. He's embarrassed and anxious enough as it is. He doesn't need to make a bigger fool of himself in front of more people.
'You know staying here will only worsen your condition...' Hao replies worried about him as he(Hanbin) hasn't stopped shaking and sweating bullets.
Hanbin lets out a growl, frustration and anxiety building up inside of him. He glances down at his hands and sees they're still shaking. He can't seem to get them to stop.
He hates having to ask Haofor help. After his initial refusal, he finally looks up at Hao. He looks torn between desperation and annoyance.
"Fine... but the infirmary isn't an option."
He pulls himself(Hanbin) up, still slightly unsteady but more balanced than he'd been previously. He leans against the wall and lets out a breath, trying to calm his breathing. He keeps his gaze fixed on the floor, unable to look in Hao's direction. He still feels humiliated. He's never felt so vulnerable, so ashamed.
'Wanna get some support...' Hao says while taking one of his hand and putting it on his (hao)shoulders.
Hanbin stiffens under Hao's touch. Any other time he(hanbin) would have snapped at Hao for daring to touch him, especially while he's in such a state. But right now he's too overwhelmed with the sheer panic he'd experienced, and he's honestly too weak to protest.
Without meeting Hao's gaze, he puts his hand on Hao's shoulders, and grips it almost desperately as though he's afraid he'll fall otherwise. He lets out a shaky breath.
'So, now were do you wanna go ? ...' Hao asks him wiling to provide him aid and help still acting nonchalant ,hiding his concern for him (Hanbin).
Hanbin lets out a scoff, but it's half-hearted. He can't even be bothered to sound bitter right now. He's exhausted and tired of keeping up his constant façade.
"The nearest empty room, I guess," he mutters. Hopefully there is an empty room somewhere nearby, he doesn't really feel like walking around a lot right now. He wants to sit down and try to collect himself.
'I'll call the nurse..there ok...' Hao said looking at him with concern in his eyes which gave Hanbin butterflies.
Hanbin tenses at the mention of calling the nurse. His anxious expression changes to a panicked one. He hates the idea of anyone seeing him like this, let alone a medical professional.
"No, no, don't... just, just take me to an empty room, please," he (Hanbin) says, his voice almost pleading. He's desperate to just go somewhere quiet, somewhere without people. He hates people seeing him in such a state.
'fine..now relax stop stressing...' Hao says with a frown.
Hanbin lets out a sharp huff. Of course Hao'd tell him to relax. He glances over at Hao, tempted to make a comment at his(Hao's) bluntness. But he keeps his mouth shut for once. He's too weary to argue with Hao.
He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to get his heartbeat to slow down, trying to get his breathing to even out. It's... difficult. It feels like there's a tight knot in his chest.
The two of them walk down the hall. Hanbin's steps are slightly more unsteady than before. He's exhausted and he's still shaking. His hand grips Hao's shoulder tightly, his fingers digging into the fabric of his (Hao's) uniform. He's(Hanbin) desperate to hold onto something, his anchor to the real world.
He (Hanbin) tries to calm his panicked thoughts. He wishes he wouldn't get so worked up. He wishes he was strong enough, in control enough to not let these anxious feeling get a hold on him. But how is he supposed to manage that?
'just a little more ok...' Hao says as looks at hanbon's exhauster expression.
Hanbin nods faintly, trying to focus on something other than this anxiety. But his heart is pounding, his breath hitching in his throat. There's nothing he can do to stop the horrible feeling of dread that's building up inside of him. He hates being this vulnerable. He can't help but cling to Hao, the only person that had decided to stay with him, the only person who'd helped him. In the back of his mind he's desperate for Hao support and he hates it yet finds comfort in it.
'I'll do you a favour and I'll skip this period and stay with you till you calm down...' Hao says acting cool like he doesn't care but deep down he doesn't want to leave his side..NOT YET...even though they have always been rival but Hao can't deny that he felt butterflies in his stomach when Hanbin approached him on their first day of school . Although he pushed those feelings aside thinking Hanbin was straight and he probably hated him just because they have always been academic rivals .
Hanbin glances over at Hao, a bit surprised at his (Hao's) offer. He's (Hanbin's) grateful, but right now he's too preoccupied with dealing with his own anxious thoughts. It's hard to think rationally when every part of Hao is on high alert.
"Fine..." he (Hanbin) mutters through his labored breathing, though he'd be lying if he said he wasn't glad to sit down to be with Hao for a while. Hanbin always thought of Hao as an cold , boring person who only cared about study but yet he was strangely attracted to him(Hao) although he(Hanbin) always made comments on him(Hao) but , that was all just to just to hide his(Hanbin's) actual feelings from Hao.
'here we are...' Hao says as they finally reach the classroom and he makes Hanbin sit on the floor as he couldn't see any chairs nearby.
Hanbin lets out a trembling exhale as he plops down on the floor, finally letting go of Hao's shoulder as he(Hanbin) slumps down. He leans his head against his hands, his breaths still short and sharp as he tries to collect himself. To stop the anxious thoughts spiraling in his mind.
'Do you need something to hold perhaps something to squish...'
Hanbin hesitates for a moment, trying to decide whether he should accept Hao's offer. It might help to focus on something other than the anxiety. But he's (Hanbin's) also hesitant to reveal any additional weak points. He doesn't want Hao to see him (Hanbin) as weak. But the need to do something, anything, to make this discomfort stop is a lot more appealing than his (Hanbin's) stubborn pride.
"Yeah..." Hanbin mutters after a while, and he nods faintly. A stress ball, or something like that. He'd use anything to calm his mind down right now.
Hao goes to find something for Hanbin that he (Hanbin) can squish on 'Hmm..there's nothing here ..then take this...' Hao offers his hand to hanbin to squish on while he sits down next to him.
Hanbin hesitates for a moment, his eyes fixed on Hao's outstretched hand. Hanbin's unsure. A part of him (Hanbin) wants to reject Hao's offer, to not reveal any more of his(Hanbin) weaknesses to Hao . But on the other hand... he's (Hao's) the only one who can help him(Hanbin) right now.Hao's the only one willing to. So he(Hanbin) decides to give in to the need for reassurance and comfort.
"Fine..." Hanbin mutters, and slowly puts his hand in Hao's.
'Squish it as much as you want..and I promise I wont scream...' Hao says with a reasssuring smile.
Hanbin hesitates for a moment more, as if contemplating if this is the right decision. Should he really let himself be this vulnerable, this weak? He glances at Hao, and the genuine reassurance in his (hao's) expression finally pushes away his doubt. Taking a deep, shaky breath he(Hanbin) grips Hao's hand almost desperately and begins squeezing his (Hao's)palm, focusing on squeezing and releasing Hao's fingers over and over, trying to distract himself (Hanbin) from the anxious thoughts in his mind. Hanbin squeezes his eyes shut.
Hanbin slowly starts to calm down a little, his breaths becoming a little less labored, less sharp. The pressure is helping, it's providing him with some level of comfort and security in this vulnerable state. He can feel himself clinging to the simple act of squeezing Hao's hand like a lifeline, using it to ground himself(Hanbin) to the real world, stop him from being lost in his panicky, anxious thoughts.
'feeling better...' Hao asks Hanbin.
Hanbin nods faintly, his grasp on Hao's hand still tight. A small sense of calm has returned to him(Hanbin), and some of the tension has left his body. He's no longer shaking so badly, and he's no longer struggling for breath. But right now he feels... exhausted. This panic attacks have been taking a lot out of him, and in this moment he's too tired to fight against the act of needing reassurance. He hasn't felt this vulnerable and weak in a long time.
Hanbin closes his eyes for a moment as he lets out a weary sigh, feeling his body slowly relax.He doesn't even know why he's letting Hao see him like this. He(Hanbin) doesn't know why he'd even accept Hao's help. But right now, with the sheer relief of his(Hanbin's) anxiety abating... he can't find it within himself to protest. He's too exhausted. For once there's no snarky comments, no biting words. He keeps his eyes closed as he focuses on calming his breathing, feeling his heart rate slowly decrease as he slwoly drifts to sleep his head falling on Hao's shoulder.
Hao sighs of releif as he notices Hanbin falling asleep and looking clamer than before . Hao decides to pick hanbin up and drop him off at the infirmary.Hao then heads back to his clases now that he knows that Hanbin's feeling better than before. As the classes went on Hao was awfully distracted as his mind kept going back to Hanbin.
Soon the classes got over and Hao quickly grabbed his stuff as he shot a glance at Hanbin's bag . Hao decided to pack it for him(Hanbin) and get it with him(Hao) to the infirmary so that he (Hanbin) doesn't have to worry about his belongings.
As Hao started putting Hanbin's books and notebooks in his (Hanbin's) bag , Hao noticed Hanbin's diary. Although he (Hao) knew it wasn't ethical to open anyone's diary and go through it but he was just to tempeted when he looked at a rose peeking out of Hanbin's diary ...which looked oddly familiar. As curiosity got the best of him Hao opened Hanbin's diary and started reading it.
He swiftly turned the pages until he reached the page with the Rose . His (Hanbin)eyes widened as he saw the title ..."My love gave me a Rose"...Hao felt a pang in his heart as thought that Hanbin already had someone. As he went on with the contents of that page , he froze when he read 'HAO GAVE ME A ROSE TODAY , I don't think he (hao) is that cold of a person ...hmm..maybe I should not pass comments on him tomorrow'. Hao stood there as if someone had just aided his broken heart from moments ago.
Hao after getting back to his senses quickly packed Hanbin's bag and rushed to the infirmary.He(Hao) wanted to confirm if what he read was true..IF HANBIN REALLY LIKED HIM.
Hao quickly pushed through the crowd and reached the infirmary where he saw Hanbin still asleep. He(hao) sat on a chair beside the Hanbin's bed admiring his beauty as his heart thumped louder by second. He (Hao) doesn't even remember when he suddenly felt the fatigue taking over him and he (hao)felt asleep right besides Hanbin.
A few moments Later:-
Hanbin slowly starts to stir as . He(Hanbin) lets out a faint groan as his eyes open up to a blurry world. He's still in a sleepy daze, his thoughts muddled together and his mind still hazy from sleep. The world is a blurry mess as he slowly starts to regain consciousness.
"Mmmm... where'm I...?" he mumbles, his voice quiet and drowsy.
His mind slowly starts to wake up as he glances over at Hao, seeing that he(Hao) have fallen asleep next to the bed. Hanbin huffs faintly, a quiet scoff leaving his lips. He can't wrap his head around you being this nice to him, or this attentive to him.
He just sits there, staring at Hao's sleeping form in a silent daze. He can't quite wrap his head around it all...
After a moment he reaches out a tentative hand and gently pokes Hao's shoulder, his touch oddly hesitant and gentle.
"Hey, wake up..." he mutters, his voice still a little weary but lacking the usual bite to it. He's (Hanibn's) too baffled by Hao'spresence, too unsure on what to do with this unexpected kindness he's(hao's)showing.
Hao wakes up baffled , "Oh you are up.", he says stretching his arms.
"Why are you still here?" Hanbin asks quietly, his voice lacking his usual snarky bite. He can't understand why Hao'd do this, why he'd (Hao's) go to such lengths to take him (Hanbin) to the infirmary and watch over him. He can't understand the kindness he(Hao) showed him(Hanbin), especially when he's(hanbin's) always been such a jerk to Hao.
Hao gradually gets back to his senses..
Hao gradually gets back to his senses. 'Hmm...I wonder why too' Hao says while he pins hanbin to the infirmary bed as his starts to blush yet manages to smirk a little unlike his usual personality of being emotionless. (there was no one around at that moment).
"W-W-W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING" Hanbin asks surprised as he feels his heart going crazy and a his cheeks getting hotter by the second.
'IF YOU LIKED ME FROM THE START THEN WHY COULDN'T YOU SAY IT" Hao asks him(Hanbin) scolding him yet with gentleness as his(Hao)hands are shaking and his grip on Hanbin is getting weaker by the second.
"Because... I WAS AS SCARED AND NERVOUS AS YOU ARE RIGHT NOW ,ALSO I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU LIKE ME BACK" Hanbin says as he feels Hao's grip getting weak and turns the table's around by pinning Hao to the bed and staying on top of him with a red face and heart beating faster by the second.
'..Y-You thought I didn't like-' Hanbin shuts Hao's mouth by kissing him.
Back to the present :-
"Hmm...well thats how your uncle met your uncle" a male says as he's narrating the story to his children.
"Now dad, tell me how you met dad!!" the children say in excitement.
Matthew scoffs , "Well kids its for later right now you both sleep." he says as Gunwook enters the kid's room and Matthew shoots him a smile.