Chapter Text
(1)
Since the beginning of the week, Suho had constantly bothered his friends to play pool this weekend, and it wasn't even that hard for him to convince them since Baku is just as adamant as him.
For the most part, everyone easily agreed except for two of their friends who apparently liked studying and who actually cared about their grades—Baekjin and Sieun. Because even Juntae who would usually bury his nose in his books had joined forces with Gotak to shake Baekjin and Sieun's iron-like shield of No Fun Until We Finish Our Bazillion Readings.
So, really, what were Baekjin and Sieun supposed to do? Ignore Juntae's pleading puppy eyes? Absolutely not. They would honestly rather be called as a kill-joy by the rest of their friends than to see the sparkle in Juntae's eyes fade.
And thanks to Juntae's powerful convincing puppy eyes, here they are: sitting inside a place where they can play pool, on a lovely Saturday afternoon.
Gotak and Juntae were happily eating some snacks they bought earlier as they attentively watched Baku and Suho play against each other. And honestly, it was never a quiet occasion when those two played together. Good thing, though, is that the owner of the place knows them already—about how rowdy their circle could get during fun times—because if it was the other way around, the owner of the place must have kicked them out already with all the noise Baku and Suho would make.
Meanwhile, both Baekjin and Sieun were only sitting by the couch near where their pool table was.
"I should have brought my math quizlet," Baekjin said as he sighed only for Sieun to hear. "I've got some more items to finish."
Sieun couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh as well. "I actually brought mine."
Baekjin looked at Sieun and said: "But?"
"But Juntae threatened me," Sieun deadpanned. "He said he would spoil the chapters of Kagurabachi I haven't read yet if I open my math quizlet today."
Inevitably, Baekjin stared at Sieun with incredulity and shock. He even narrowed his eyes on Sieun as if he was making sure he was talking to Sieun and not an impostor.
"What?" Sieun asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I can't believe you've actually fallen into the abyss of manga reading now," Baekjin replied, matter-of-fact. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just—who would've thought?"
Sieun would have said something in response, only if Baku didn't beat him to it by loudly celebrating his win as the final verdict. "Ha! I beat your non-existent ass again! Oh you wanna be me so bad, don't you?"
"Bro, you can celebrate your win without dragging my fat ass in here," was what Suho had replied.
Gotak shook his head in amusement and Juntae chuckled at Baku and Suho's exchanging of words, while Baekjin and Sieun could only roll their eyes in annoyance.
"Baekjin-ah, did you see that?" Baku loudly asked, a huge smile still plastered on his face.
Baku gave his pool stick to Gotak before walking to where Baekjin was sitting when he didn't receive any response from the latter. "I told you I'd win. This is so much fun compared to studying, right?"
This time, it was Sieun who shook his head in amusement as he left his seat to leave the two. All Baekjin could do was roll his eyes again. "Of course that's what you would say, you idiot."
"Dude, you gotta unclench sometimes," Baku said. "Life is too short to just be studying. Live a little, okay?"
"Good god, you're such a pain in the ass."
"Well, why are you here then?"
"Because you wouldn't stop bothering me?" Baekjin admonished, raising a brow. "And maybe I'm a masochist."
"Damn, okay, baby," Baku raised both of his hands as if he was surrendering. "You need to chill out. Come on."
"Jesus, where are you dragging me again?"
"To get you some ice cream, good sir."
Slowly, Baku saw the glint in Baekjin's eyes by the mention of ice cream. He couldn't help but laugh. "I knew ice cream could fix your grumpiness."
"Shut the fuck up. I want mint chocolate."
"Sure, grumpy old troll."
Baku instantly earned a kick on his shin.
(2)
They have a thirty-minute break before their final period starts, and usually, Baku would drag Gotak to play basketball with him since Gotak is the only one willing to play the sport with him. After all, Suho saves their free time at school for naps (and he doesn't even play basketball so, like, what's the point?) so Baku doesn't bother him at all—not even Sieun or Juntae for that matter. And most definitely not Baekjin.
Baekjin was never sporty. He has so much respect for people who do sports, however, he didn't see the appeal in any of it and the sweat it would allow him to perspire after. The truth is, he didn't enjoy moving so much. He didn't even know how to throw a punch when some of his classmates would bully him in middle school, not until Baku had taught him how to defend himself in situations like that. Baku once said that he had a honey punch —a punch that doesn't hurt at all. At first it offended him. But then it became a joke between them as Baekjin made some more improvements in his skills thanks to Baku and his own efforts.
Those were the only times Baekjin had physically trained for anything, and the rest of his history was simply associated with books and solving math problems. Because the moment he learned how to scare his bullies away was also the moment he stopped engaging himself in such stupid, immature school-backyard fights. He had better things to do anyway.
That's the reason why Baku has never bothered asking Baekjin to play basketball with him, since there is a high chance of Baekjin injuring himself if he ever did play basketball. However, there is even a higher chance of Baekjin punching Baku in the face if Baku ever bothered him to play any sport with him. And, well, Baku cares about his own life. So no thank you.
But today, though, for some reason, instead of going straight to Gotak's desk to drag him to the field, what Baku did was to make a detour and confuse Gotak. He slightly tilted his head on the side in confusion, and all of it was noticed by Juntae. Of course, it was Juntae. He notices every little, subtle thing Gotak would make.
"Tak-ah, what's wrong?" Juntae curiously asked, causing Sieun to look back at Gotak too as soon as he heard Juntae's question. Sieun suddenly stopped caressing Suho's hair.
Gotak narrowed his eyes, following the figure of Baku that's now escaping their classroom at the speed of light. "Baku went out without dragging me to play basketball," was his reply to Juntae.
"Does that make you upset?" Juntae carefully asked, all the while Sieun was just watching them interact.
Gotak shook his head no. "Honestly? Not at all. I'm actually relieved since I wasn't even in the mood to play. It's too hot outside."
"Would you like to buy a drink in the cafeteria?"
"Sure," Gotak smiled so handsomely. "I would much prefer that."
Once he and Juntae had stood up from their seats, Gotak felt Sieun staring at him. "What?"
Sieun simply shook his head and smirked. "Nothing."
Gotak would have asked the reason why Sieun had smirked like that, but Juntae was quicker in taking action. He nudged Gotak's arm and pointed outside the doorway using his thumb. Gotak was immediately swept away and nodded at Juntae—but without failing in hearing Sieun's snort before he and Juntae had completely left the room. Later, he would ask Sieun about it.
But for now, while Gotak and Juntae made their way to the cafeteria, Baku has finally made it to the place his feet were so eager to bring him.
It was the school library.
Wow, okay.
That's new.
This is something that isn't Baku-coded. No. Nope. Not at all, because Baku could only count in one hand the times he had visited the school library of his own volition. He didn't even know where the school library was until he secretly followed Baekjin that one time during a free time. Someone might ask: Why did you even have to follow him secretly in school? and Baku would probably say: Why the fuck not?
Baku sure has high emotional intelligence, however, it sadly doesn't make up for the fact that he can be effortlessly careless sometimes, enough to put himself in trouble.
But, yeah, okay. Seriously. Why is he even in the library?
He doesn't even have any reason to be there since reading books bore him to death, as does the loud silence within the space of libraries. Nonetheless, he still made his way to the fiction section of the library, skimming his fingers against the perfectly lined-up books in each rack. He only stopped doing so until he found the perfect book—something light and isn't quite thick.
Baku took the black small book with him and scanned the reading space where several students were occupying some tables, doing their own readings and assignments. And once his gaze had landed on the most familiar figure in the small crowd, Baku smiled and walked towards said figure.
In the most ridiculous and annoying Baku-style, he greeted the other with a book hitting at the back of their head.
"Hi, honey," Baku playfully said, voice intentionally lower in octave than usual.
This time, Baekjin, the other, exhaled a deep breath and slowly shifted his position to see Baku who was standing so proudly behind him, teeth flashing. "Don't honey me, you bastard. You just threw a book at me!" he admonished, now glaring at Baku. Some students looked at them in disbelief for making such noise, but were thoroughly ignored by the two.
"What are you doing?" Baku simply asked as if he didn't distract Baekjin just now. He even sat next to Baekjin.
"I don't know, motherfucker," Baekjin said, sarcasm blossoming in his mouth. "Do I look like I'm crossing a fucking tightrope to you? Obviously I'm studying, you dingbat!"
"Yeah, sounds about right, honey."
"I don't have time for your bullshit, Baku. Come on, spit it out. What do you want from me?"
Baku raised his pointer finger, signalling Baekjin to wait for a moment while he took something from the pocket of his slacks. Once he took it out, Baku put it on top of Baekjin's book.
"A granola bar?" Baekjin curiously asked.
"Thanks for stating the obvious," Baku said, earning an eye roll from Baekjin. But even before the latter could say something in return, Baku reached his hand to softly pat Baekjin's head. Baekjin's hair wasn't gelled up today, rather, it was left unstyled and yet still fluffy—Baku's favorite. "You study so much even in your free time that you're supposed to be having a break. I know this granola bar isn't much, but eat it while you're studying. And don't you dare say no."
Baekjin looked at the granola bar atop his book and it is his favorite kind. He masked his delight by rolling his eyes again on Baku. "Thanks, I guess."
"You're so allergic to thanking me, but I guess I'll take that."
Baku finally stood up from his seat to leave Baekjin to himself once again. "Final period is in five, though."
"How about you do me a favor and put back the book you just threw at me?"
Baku happily made a salute gesture to Baekjin before leaving.
(3)
It's interesting how Baku's absence for two days was louder than his own self when he's around, and best believe Baekjin wouldn't admit it—at least not in front of Baku.
The thing is, Baku hasn't been to school for days for he caught himself with a cold, which later on led to a fever, after devouring a tub of ice cream after playing basketball with Gotak instead of being a normal person by drinking water first. Certainly, Baekjin felt no sympathy for Baku since he put that upon himself.
However, the lack of the reverberation of Baku's loud voice in the classroom was so evident. Especially in the hallways whenever he greets their schoolmates as though he is a politician. It kind of felt weird even for Baekjin and Sieun who easily gets annoyed by the sheer loudness of Baku's deep talking voice. He is like a machine that has no control of his volume.
The past two days were rather uneventful and simply decent—a stark contrast to when Baku is around, where laughter is much bigger and audible. Even Suho who has some good humor would agree.
Baku is quite frankly the life of their circle. If anything, Baku is the personification of life. Even if Baekjin wouldn't dare say it out loud, he knew that Baku is the ripple in his own silence.
Maybe that's the reason why he's feeling this way, in which there is something missing even if he's always been telling Baku to shut up.
("Will you please, for the love of god, shut the fuck up or I will sew my ears to a goddamn necklace?"
Baku has a serious case of: lack of social anxiety. He just shouted in the middle of the skating park that he wished male pregnancy was real.
It's not like Baekjin was against it, because surely, men deserved to experience how painful it is to carry and give birth to a child. But did Baku seriously have to shout it in an open space? Like, okay, sure. Maybe do it when he's not around?
Well, that's done anyway.
Baku is shedding happy tears as he laugh his ass off together with Suho, because of course it is Suho who would gladly entertain him.
"Seriously, shut the fuck up before they call the cops on us!" Baekjin admonished, thinking he shouldn't have come here.
"Shut up," Baku used air quotes on the words when he said it. "You've been overusing it, baby."
But all Baku had earned was Baekjin's middle finger saluting on his assery.)
Baekjin has gotten used to everything about Baku. Simple and clear. So of course, when Baku is not where he is supposed to be, Baekjin would find things incomplete.
Well, gone are those days, honestly.
If it was any other person, it would take them several more days stuck in their bed running a fever. But this isn't about another. This is about Baku who can overcome a high fever in just two days.
Baekjin didn't even have to look to know if Baku is back. He need not do anything at all, because Baku will always make it to a point where his presence is known. Even from across the hallway, Baekjin could already hear the familiar deep voice of Baku as he greeted their schoolmates.
And as soon as Baku had entered their classroom, he looked at Baekjin and said, "Miss me?"
That was enough for Baekjin.
Hearing Baku's voice and seeing Baku being himself again is enough for Baekjin.
So he said, "I wondered where my headache went."
And of course, Baku laughed, equally happy to see Baekjin again.
(4)
Anyone would know that the person who could easily tick Baekjin off is none other than Baku.
However, as much as Baku finds delight in annoying Baekjin, he is also the person who knows Baekjin like the back of his hand. He knows Baekjin's favorite film (The Paradise of Thorns), his favorite color (moss green even though he wears black more), his favorite day of the week (Thursday), his favorite way of cooking eggs (softly scrambled with milk), and among other things.
But one of Baku's most favorite facts about Baekjin is Baekjin's love and admiration for the people who took care of him in the orphanage he grew up in.
Baku remembered the first time Baekjin took him to the orphanage back in middle school. He thought it was Baekjin's parents' house, only to later find out that he was an orphan who grew up with fifteen other kids. He also remembered how that made Baekjin anxious, thinking that Baku would stop being friends with him merely because he was an orphan. But in the end, Baku was different from the rest of the kids in middle school.
Those were some of their most memorable memories as kids. It's even more precious now as a young adult to visit the orphanage again—a time when Baekjin's demeanor easily changes into something carefree, like he didn't have to hide himself away.
Baku has always adored moments like this, when Baekjin is genuinely smiling and laughing with the kids while they play around the small garden. It was nothing but pure. And it all made Baku want the time to freeze, even just for a moment, to watch Baekjin happy like this a little longer.
The ringing of the collective laughter of the kids and Baekjin is more than enough to make a skip in Baku's heartbeat.
And as it always happens, the high of their happiness will always fall at ease—in the comfortable silence that Baekjin appreciates just as much.
The kids were now back inside the house, while Baku and Baekjin stayed outside where the old steel bench was. The sun is about to set and their hearts beat softly against their chests.
"Huh," Baku said after taking a big gulp of his orange juice, causing Baekjin to avert his gaze from the sky to where Baku is sitting. "When you're not scowling at me, you don't look like a mean dog."
Right, of course, how romantic.
Well, it's not like Baekjin knew anything about romance either. "If I poke your eyes with my fingers you won't see me scowling at you anymore."
Baku snorted and lightly punched Baekjin's arm. "But honestly, it's so nice to see you like this."
"Like a nice dog?" Baekjin raised a brow.
"Like you're so happy."
Baekjin blinked and slowly looked at the sky again. "I am. Of course I am."
"Then I'm happy too."
Happy like the tangerines above the sky.
(5)
Juntae's gasp was so loud it woke Suho up from his precious nap, even some of their classmates became quiet like the blanket of silence had draped on them.
"Why?" Suho immediately asked as soon as he saw the horror on Sieun's face, his voice a little hoarse from sleep. "What happened?"
Then slowly, he followed Sieun's line of sight—and, well, Suho was quick to understand why the room was eaten up by shock and silence. Because, Jesus H. Christ, Baku had accidentally spilled his chocolate drink on Baekjin's most precious math quizlet.
"Fuck," Baku cursed in shock and pure fear. "Jin-ah, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to spill the drink on your quizlet—it was an accident!"
As if Baekjin's silence wasn't already enough, Gotak had to smack Baku upside the head for being so careless.
Juntae was quick on his feet to help save the pages on Baekjin's quizlet, a pack of tissue in his hands, and Sieun also left his seat to lend a hand.
"Thanks, guys," Baekjin said as he dabbed a bunch of tissue papers on his ruined quizlet. "But I'll clean this on my own. Can I take this pack of tissues with me, Jun-ie?"
Juntae blinked. "Uh, yes, of course."
As soon as Baekjin was done trying to save the quizlet, he left it opened on his desk to allow it to dry before he excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving his friends a little breathless.
"What are you waiting for?" Sieun asked Baku once Baekjin was away from the classroom. "Go after him."
For some reason, Baku couldn't find the courage to move. But he must be grateful that Suho was kind enough to sacrifice his arm pillow as he threw it at Baku's now paling face.
"Okay, okay, I'll go after him!" Baku announced.
"As you should, dumbass!" Gotak shouted.
Baku ran to catch up to Baekjin. He knew he had fucked up and that he needed to properly apologize. But he would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous at all, because he is.
Mad Baekjin was never a good idea.
And speaking of Baekjin, Baku had caught a glimpse of his figure walking towards the restroom. Baku ran faster—so fast that he actually made it to the door before Baekjin could lock it.
"Baekjin, hey," he softly said while his hand was still tightly holding the knob of the door to keep Baekjin from locking it completely. "Let me in? Please?"
"And then what? Spill a drink on my uniform?"
Baku swallowed the lump in his throat. "No, of course not. Why would I do that?"
"I don't know, maybe it's because you like annoying me so bad?"
"Baekjin, babe, I'm not an asshole."
Baekjin rolled his eyes, still not letting Baku in. "Well, you look like one."
Okay. Maybe Baku deserved it. So he'll take it. But he can't seriously stand having some weird distance between him and Baekjin. He must fix this—by, well, by using a little of his strength to finally make a huge opening in the doorway.
Baekjin was caught off guard. He was unable to stop Baku from coming inside the restroom. So he just simply let him in while he busied himself in the sink to wash his hands, they've become sticky because of the chocolate drink earlier after all.
And of course, Baku wouldn't easily back down. "Do you really, truly, hate me now?"
Without missing a beat, Baekjin said, "I wish that was possible."
Baku felt his chest open with butterflies upon hearing Baekjin's response. He couldn't stop his feet from making their way to Baekjin and finally rested his forehead against Baekjin's shoulder blade.
"I'm really sorry, baby," Baku whispered. "How can I make it up to you?"
Baekjin wiped his hands clean using the remaining tissues in Juntae's pack as he made sure to buy a new one for Juntae later. "Buy me ice cream," was what he said.
"Just ice cream?" Baku inevitably lifted his head up to look at Baekjin in surprise. "I mean, it should be more than that. I literally almost ruined your precious quizlet."
This time, Baekjin found the sweet liberty to flick Baku's forehead. "I don't need much—just promise you won't do it again and you'll be careful next time or else I'd pluck your teeth out."
Baku visibly grimaced and it made Baekjin snort. "Ew, that's a little gross. But yeah, I'll try not to break that promise."
"Okay, let's go."
As soon as they got outside the restroom, they were surprised by their friends standing in front of the door.
"Did you guys finally kiss?" Suho asked.
Baku smirked. "Well—"
"Shut the fuck up."
"Make me, then!" Baku shouted when Baekjin walked back to their classroom. "Hey! I know you wanna kiss me so badly!"
Baekjin only flipped him off.
What Baku didn't see, though, was Baekjin's cheeks that were burning in crimson.