Chapter Text
There always exists a fine line between human relationships.
Secrets exist not only between friends but between lovers and even family members; hence, how thick and clear can the line be between strangers? The truth was, however, it didn't really matter much to Yeon Sieun. Whether it be a classmate, family, or stranger, a line as deep and bold like the ocean protected him. He preferred peace and quiet within the self-built fence of mind. Like a straight-forward math question with one direct path, he swayed away as much as possible from variables and unpredictable unknowns. Rather than being stifled by exhausting friendships and relationships, he'd be stifled by a boring, dull life.
Until someone dared to cross his line the moment he let his guard melt down.
-
It was a day hot enough for the single streak of sunlight through the curtains to warm up the entire classroom. Sieun, who arrived first to school as always, set his backpack down to take out his pencil case and a stack of textbooks routinely. Although, technically, there was always a student in the classroom who came before Sieun, taking up three desks to lay down his tall height.
Ahn Suho.
The guy who uses his bag as a pillow and his jacket as a blanket. The guy who never paid attention to class, going back to sleep even after all the teacher's nagging. In the times he was actually awake - which was primarily, or probably only, in PE class - his energetic voice could be heard a mile away. Exactly the opposite of Sieun. He almost wondered whether Suho ever went home, studied, or ate - almost. It really didn't matter to Sieun, who minded his own business.
Until today, out of nowhere.
Sieun's hand that was habitually reaching towards the curtains suddenly stopped. Suho, who usually slept quietly without a single snore, was quite tossing and turning today, breathing loudly. The tip of Suho's toes that stuck out of his outerwear-blanket came into his sight. While Sieun in his normal mind would've opened the curtains and turned on the classroom lights nonetheless, for some reason, his fingers hesitated. His grasp on the curtain fabric was soon let go.
Well, I can still study without the lights.
It was the first time Yeon Sieun thought for another. It wasn't the last.
–
About 20 minutes had passed since then. Minute by minute, footsteps rushed into the classroom, filling the air with casual conversations. About the breakfast they had this morning. About the game yesterday. About the test next week. Surrounded by countless voices, Sieun took out his earphones from his bag and plugged them in his ears. In muffled silence without a single voice or tune, he picked up his pencil again and turned his gaze to the math problem.
If the limits of these two functions are infinite, then in order to satisfy this polynomial...
When Sieun faintly heard the bell signaling the start of class, he closed his workbook and took out the earphones. Ignoring the sudden return of noises, his hand reached towards his bag to put the earphones back, but his eyes unconsciously landed on the back of the classroom. To Suho's seat.
Now relying on a single desk, Suho was sound asleep with a stuffed pillow by his head. He could almost hear the deep, slow breaths that rhythmically fell with his sleeping shoulders, moving along with his red-and-black jacket. The thin, short hair dancing in the air conditioner made it seem like everything in the world was in peace.
Sieun's gaze quickly came back to the front of the classroom, concentrating on the class.
-
It was the lunchtime bell that everyone - except for two - had been eagerly anticipating for. Drowsy eyes lit up as students rushed out the door, leaving the two in silence. Sieun, who did not want to be pushed and trampled by the crowd, was always the last one to get up, being in charge of the task of turning off the lights. Of course, it meant leaving Suho alone in his dreams to solely guard the empty classroom.
After clearing his desk, Sieun walked towards the back door. Unintentionally choosing the path right beside Suho, his arms brushed against the boy's sleeves, creating a soft rustle of sound that echoed throughout the room. He glanced back to check if Suho was awake, then turned back as if nothing had happened.
At that moment, an unexpected voice spoke up.
"You didn't wake me up today."
Sieun's body slightly flinched at the sudden deep sound coming from Suho, who he believed was soundly asleep. He slowly turned around to meet the clear, bright eyes of a boy he never talked to, so bright as if he was wide awake this whole time.
"...What?"
"You always come to school early, open all the curtains, and turn on all the lights just for you to study. Nerd."
When did he even notice that, when he was sleeping the whole time?
As far as Sieun knew, Suho was the kind of guy who never woke up even in the midst of high school chaos, regardless of whether the lights were on or the students were shouting. He never heard him complain about noises or bright lights, and till now, never saw him awake when it wasn't PE class. Somehow, Suho knew Sieun hadn't opened the curtains or turned on the lights today, which mystified Sieun.
"Were you caring for me?"
"..."
Sieun realized his expression must've been of pure disgust, since Suho frowned then smirked exaggeratedly after reading his face.
"It's a joke. J-O-K-E. You really need to work on your sense of humor."
",,,"
"Great. Seeing your sincerity and enthusiasm, I'll gladly eat lunch with you today."
"...I never mentioned anything about eating together.
"Hey, wait!"
Already deeply regretting his decision this morning, Sieun swiftly left the classroom, leaving Suho and his comments behind. Behind the silent, sturdy walk of Sieun down the empty hallway followed the footsteps of a boy who didn't know how to give up.
It was the moment when the two complete opposites, in personality, appearance, and even desk positions, began to recognize each other.
-
How did I end up with this guy?
Somehow they ended up sitting together, somehow Suho started talking about random things, and somehow Sieun missed the timing to leave, leaving him to suffer from the nonstop chattering throughout the entire lunchtime. Although he detested socializing, he didn't want others to think of him as an ill-mannered jerk, so Sieun suppressed his desire to take out his earphones and just ate without saying a word.
"Hey, you dropped some rice there."
"...Don't worry about it."
"Gosh, you're such a messy child."
At Suho's hand slowly approaching the spot where the rice was dropped, Sieun instinctively swatted it away. Not even a careful push. A full-on swat that made a distinct slap sound of friction. At the deadly chilled atmosphere, Sieun began to feel the slight panic in his chest.
"...What the hell was that."
As the situation became even more awkward, words came scrambling out of Sieun's mouth.
"...I'm not a child."
"Huh?"
"I'm not a child. You don't have to do all that."
"...Seriously, what kind of a person are you? How can someone be so consistently a nerdy brat?"
"...eat your lunch."
Fortunately, Suho was a chill guy who let go of the situation without much thought, and the one-sided conversation between them soon returned. Sieun, with half-embarrassed and half-annoyed eyes, just stared at Suho's plate that didn't seem to decrease weight at all.
"Oh, is it cause I'm not eating much?" Suho asked, alternating his gaze between the still-full plate and Sieun's face. "You want to know why I always skip lunch?"
"...I never asked-"
"I can tell what you're thinking just by looking at your face. It's written loud and clear at that large forehead of yours.
"..."
"I do some delivery work at midnight. Don't really get much sleep. That's why I sleep in class and during lunch. You don't need to worry though, cause I eat a lot during work."
"I wasn't worried."
"Consistent nerd."
Says you- Sieun caught himself trying to refute him. The reality he had forgotten suddenly came closer, reminding him of the line he made himself to protect him from relationships. Time-consuming energy-wasting relationships that always end bitterly. Why am I here, so carefree and relaxed? It would be more efficient to use this time to memorize one more vocab, solve one more problem, anything other than talking to a guy I've never met before. Regaining the sturdy, objective mindset, Sieun firmly spoke out to the boy in front of him.
"...Why do you keep talking to me? We're not even close."
"Dude, we're in the same class, we know each other's faces and names, what else we gotta know to have a chat?"
"...Sorry, but I'll eat alone next time."
"Hey, wait, where are you-"
Sieun stood up from his seat and headed out the cafeteria before Suho could keep up. The variable to his stable life.
There was one more reason to keep the line.
-