Chapter Text
The male Science teacher was teaching the class when suddenly the bell rang. " Alright everyone. That'll be the end of our lesson. Goodbye class. " The teacher said and left. Sieun was left out hanging because of the homework questions. It became really difficult for him.
As he stared at his notebook, someone tapped his shoulder. " Sieun. " Juntae said. " Do you have the questions for Science? "
" Oh. " Sieun grabs his notebook and held it in his hand. " Why? "
" I need to copy the questions real quickly. " Juntae said. Sieun gave him his notebook and the Math teacher went in.
" Alright everyone take a seat. I hope you all prepared for a test today, grab a pen and paper. " The female Math teacher said. Everyone sighed as they obedied her, " If you're sighing, the door's right there. "
The teacher gave papers to each row and once everyone was finished, they passed their papers to the front fo the teacher to take. Everyone was excited and nervous at the same time because the teacher will reveal their scores.
" Geum Seong-je. Twenty out of twenty, you've done a great job so far. " The teacher said and Seongje's friends clap for a moment before stopping. " Yeon Si-eun.. Nineteen out of twenty. Si-eun, good job. " The teacher said before looking at him.
Sieun felt like he had stabbed himself with a knife. 1 point away. 1. POINT. Away.
His hands shift to his hair, his palms on his head with his eyes closed and breathing slow. The noises in the classroom made it worse; what's wrong with him? He hadn't been hit in the head, did he?
Seongje nudged him, Sieun didn't look and was too bothered by the noise. Seongje tilts his head slightly before snapping his fingers at his face. It made Sieun jump a little but at least he had his attention on him.
" Hey, " Seongje said holding a carton box with banana milk. " Cheer up, I know you hate losing. "
Sieun still doesn't trust him, after all. He's the classroom president and the most known prankster. He definitely did do something to it. " No thanks. " Sieun said and turned away from him. Seongje rolled his eyes and still puts the banana milk on top of his table.
" Drink it up before it's too late. " Seongje said before walking away to his seat. His hands on his pockets. Sieun looked around before opening the carton box and tried a little.
It tasted like dogshit.
Sieun spew the banana milk's liquid to his seatmate and apologized before glancing to Seongje, looking confused as his friends laugh. But that doesn't matter.
What matters is why was he doing this? Sieun was Seongje's most victim to prank. Almost every month, including some of Sieun's friends who join in with Seongje, forced or for fun.
After school, everyone was talking out the entrance. Sieun was staring into nothing until someone puts their shoulder around him.
" How's the drink. " Seongje said. Sieun looked at him confused and surprised.
" What are you doing? " Sieun asked.
" Gotak left me while we were cleaners. " Seongje replied with a chuckle in the middle before looking down and mumbling " That fucking bastard ." under his breath.
" Don't you have something to do? " Sieun asked with clear annoyance and Seongje laughed by how much he wanted Seongje to leave him.
" I do. " Seongje said. " Do you wanna eat together or something? " Seongje said before Sieun shoved his arm away from him.
They looked at each other before Sieun snapped and said coldly, " We aren't close. Leave me alone. " And walked away. Seongje sighs and puts his hands in his pockets as he stood there watching him.
Sieun got in the bus and sat near the window. Later on, he got off. He was texting a very close friend of his until he bumped into someone. A man with a mask who looked mysterious. The man ran as Sieun randomly heard a shout. " He stole my bag!! " The pregnant woman said.
Sieun looked back and the man was gone. He hid his phone back in his pocket and ran to chase him. Running wasn't his skill so he got tired easily but didn't want to give up. He finally caught him just a moment later.
" Hi, Sieun. It's nice to see you again. " The masked man said. Sieun's eyes widened and his grip softened. He felt his smirk behind the mask.
" Who are you. " Sieun whispered, and the man took the chance to try and stab him and run away but Sieun was pushed away
" Fuck! " The masked man yelled angrily as he saw the knife flew. The familiar student held him to the ground as he talked to the police on his phone.
" Yes. They're here with me right now, please hurry. " Sieun narrowed his eyes to the student who spoke. Sieun got up and grabbed the purse which was on the man's hand. He looked at the pregnant woman which was still far away and ran to her and gave her the purse.
" Oh thank you, you're such a handsome young man. Let me treat you something good. " The pregnant woman said and scuttled in her purse.
" Oh. I'm fine, you don't have to. " Sieun said but she still gave him money.
" Please. Your eye bags are visible. Eat with that handsome man too. " As she cups his hands before leaving with her husband.
The student then puts his arm around Sieun's shoulder. " Did you hear what she said? " The student said before turning to him. " Let's eat together! "
Sieun turned to him, he groans softly as he realized it was Seongje. He shoved his arm away from him again. " I would rather give this to something else. " And walked away.
" Hey, I saved your life! " As Seongje chased him.
----
Later on, Seongje and Sieun are both found at a convenience store eating noodles, although Seongje paid for it. Sieun is just starting blankly at Seongje as he slurped the soup.
" My tongue burns. " Seongje exaggerated as he fans his mouth with his hand. He noticed Sieun looking at him. " Oh by the way, why didn't you go to cram school? " Then Seongje drinks his soda.
" I don't want to. " Sieun said. " I had planned to meet a friend but that happened. "
" Mhm, yeah. " Seongje said as he munched noodles. " Where's your friend's place? Is he rich or something. "
Sieun just stared at him, " I don't wanna talk about it. "
" Also, the masked guy, who was he? " Seongje asked another question.
" Do I look like I know? " Sieun narrowed his eyes at him. For such a smart guy, you're asking that kind of question?
" I mean. He called your name, you must've recognized him with his eyes? " Seongje took another drink to his soda. " He had a bandage on his nose. Any idea? "
Sieun sighed. " No. "
" This fuckin'.. " Seongje huffed sarcastically, his reply was so boring even the CCTV camera turned away from them. " Hey. I saved you, you should answer with respect. "
" Okay. " Sieun said nonchalantly again. Seongje snorts.
" Si-eun, what do you like that makes you happy? " Seongje said with a small, sarcastic smile. Sieun looked at their surroundings.
" A specific friend. " Sieun said.
" Anything other than that..? " Seongje said quickly, his tone impatient.
Come to think of it, what DOES Sieun like? All he can think about is Suho. " A specific friend. "
Seongje sighs and mumbled, " You're such a boring person. " Seongje said, eyes narrowed. Sieun asked him a question.
" Why are you doing this to me? " Sieun asked.
" What? "
" You're being nice today. That's rare, considering you love pranking me. " Sieun added and Seongje laughed.
" Actually.. I like you. " Seongje said with a small smirk.
They were silently looking at each other for a moment. Seongje tilts his head with a closed smile and blinking slowly two times as if he's flirting with him which is obvious.
Is he being serious? Sieun thought and widened his eyes slightly, disgusted. Seongje laughed again before pinching his cheeks.
" Are you blushing? I meant that as friends, idiot. " Seongje said, still looking at him with mesmerizing eyes on purpose. Sieun huffed and looked away.
" I'm not. We aren't friends. " Sieun said.
" Oh, come on. I can tell we are because we're eating like this together. " Seongje said then Sieun got up and walked away out of annoyance.
" Hey, where you going? " Seongje said.
" Away from you, I'm tired with your bullshit. "
-----
Sieun wasn't at the convience store anymore.
He was at the hospital. Suho's hospital.
He checked on the small rectangular glass before going in. He settled himself at the chair next to him and exhaled sadly.
" Oh, Su-ho. " Sieun said. " I wish you were here. " He looked at Suho. There were tubes around him and his breathing can be heard.
" There's so many things going on.. " Sieun huffed, not just any huff. A huff that sounds like a sad laugh. " I've been.. struggling to do my homeworks. I know you'll be disappointed at me, but.. " Sieun paused. His eyes were still focused at Suho's face. Sieun leans back at the wall behind him. There was uncanny silence and comfort in the room at the same time.
" Seong-je's acting weirder. He randomly tried to be nice to me and pretend we're friends. " Sieun huffed. " What would you say, Su-ho?.. I don't plan on becoming friends with him, but.. " Sieun cuts himself off and sighed. Sieun continues everything that happened around his life as he fidgets his fingers.
He comes back at his apartment, knobs unlocking and the door opening. As he was facing his bedroom and walking towards it, he saw his mom in the corner of his eye.
His mother was leaning on the wall with her arms crossed. Her expression was stern, " Where have you been? Have you been missing cram school? "
Sieun looked at her, " I was at my friend's apartment. " Sieun answered flatly.
" Si-eun, you have grades below ninety. How will you get a great job? Or even a university? " The mom said, her tone hinting disbelief. " You know you're failing yet you went to your friend's apartment. "
" I'll try my be- "
" Don't you know how much this hurts me? I worry about you Si-eun-ah. It makes me worry more if you don't go to cram school. " She said and went to her bedroom, not giving him a chance to speak up. Sieun looks down at the ground with the ceiling light shining his eyes.
" So many things... " Sieun mumbled. It either had no expression or too many expressions to describe in the tone.