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Anxin just stood there in disbelief. He didn't expect that his previously silent and peaceful life would now be replaced with a life full of responsibilities and chaos. The tranquil university life he has been running on for the past two years will now cease to exist because of an assassination attempt on his quiet life.
The reason behind this is because his ever so loving best friend Chen Kaiwen decided to nominate him for the Class President position in the election of their class officers just for funsies. He kept rejecting it yet even their professor didn't mind the election and encouraged him more. He even mentioned that he would be excellent for the job so he shouldn't worry that much. But what he worries about is his quiet and solitude space would be affected by this.
And he wasn't wrong.
The moment his name was written on the board by their professor, everything went down.
Anxin prayed so hard for his blockmates to not vote for him but God answered his prayers in a different way because the whole class raised their hands, even the resident troublemaker of the class named Lee Sangwon raised his vote. Anxin remembered that he was mouthing “lower down your hand” to Sangwon but the man just gave him a cheeky smile and stuck his tongue out, like he was mocking him. Anxin frowned yet quickly reverted to his normal stoic face and pushed the rim of his eyeglasses upward.
He will never forget the smirk that was plastered on Sangwon's face after his name was written on the board in huge letters like his professor really manifested for him to win.
It seems like the troublemaker has something else planned for him.
(ᗒᗩᗕ)
“Congratulations to our new president!” Kaiwen announced, clapping hard and smiling wide, like he won the lottery.
Anxin rolled his eyes, “You set me up so bad. Bring me back to my peaceful life!” He stated, hitting Kaiwen on his forearm hard that he winced in pain.
The day after he was elected along with the other officers, they were tasked to attend the oath-taking ceremony to officially announce the start of their term as officers. After that, they were given a two-page list of what they need to complete in a span of one month to prepare their block for the academic year. Additionally, Anxin was ordered separately to make a class list of their block. He thought it's going to be easy yet his professor demanded that there should be a 1x1 photo of each student on the list that he will create. He doesn't want the bond paper printed one, he wants an actual photo which made Anxin stress out because he isn't that close to his blockmates at all to ask for their pictures even if it's badly needed. He contemplated a lot but he had no other choice but to obey so he still worked on it.
Anxin was always a quiet one, he just put on his earphones and studied in peace, that's how he survived the 2 years of college life before Kaiwen ruined it for him.
Now, he has to approach all 42 students for their picture.
It all went well, but someone just had to make his miserable life even more miserable.
Lee Sangwon, the troublemaker. The student Anxin manifested to magically not cause him problems yet now, the deadline is near for his task but he still couldn't finish it in advance because Sangwon refuses to give him his picture. He kept doing everything aside from cooperating that even Anxin’s vice-president, Jiahao tried to help but to no avail. Sangwon was a stubborn bastard, according to Anxin’s description.
It has been three days yet Sangwon still hasn't passed his photo. Even his friends, Leo and Kangmin already gave theirs, the whole class did, it's now only him who hasn't done it. Whenever Anxin tries to approach him, he will always run away while laughing, intentionally ignoring him, or even just straight up refusing to give anything— which truly results in a headache for Anxin. He always finds a way to make Anxin’s life as a president harder than it is.
On Wednesday at exactly 1:30 pm, Anxin decided to approach Sangwon again. This time, he talked to all of his blockmates to not let him escape no matter what, they were confused at first but Jiahao and Junseo, his co-officers explained the reason why. Sangwon’s unruly behavior is so bad that Anxin had to plan something like this just so he can move on to his next duty because the damn class list took all of his time.
When Sangwon arrived in their room covered in sweat as the droplets from his hair fell down to his face straight to his neck, his black coat was hanging on his shoulder, and his necktie was loose, Anxin immediately smacked Kaiwen’s legs to lock both doors.
Anxin swears he didn't glaze up on Sangwon’s appearance today. He ignored the fact that his hair was wet because of sweat, and that his white polo is now looking a bit see-through as he was wet all over, and that his boba eyes aren't looking too adorable looking left and right because of confusion. He didn't look at him from toes to head, Anxin didn't look at him.
“Seems like you're locking me now huh.” Sangwon said with a smug face.
Anxin felt it. He knows a war is about to happen so he composed himself and fixed his glasses. He gave one last touch to his hair before turning his back, staring at Sangwon’s messed up look. Anxin’s glad he doesn't smell or anything because he knows Sangwon just played soccer outside since he's a varsity player. He prepared himself for the worst thing to come.
Everyone in the room was silently waiting for whatever's about to unfold in front of them. All of them are all eyes staring at how Anxin stood from his seat, holding the folder of his class list that was assigned for him to do, and faced Sangwon straight to his face.
Anxin was only a few centimeters taller than Sangwon yet the way he postured himself in front of the man made him seem like he's towering over Sangwon, his broad shoulders that were enhanced more by the prescribed uniform coat he is wearing were enough to engulf Sangwon’s presence as a whole.
Sangwon cleared his throat and brushed his damp hair using his bare fingers before opening his mouth, “I won't give you my picture.” He said, trying to sound confident about his claim and put his hands on his pocket so Anxin wouldn't notice his hands trembling.
Not because of fear, but because of how nervous he is.
Sangwon has always liked Anxin, yet he doesn't know how to approach him or what to do around him because Anxin has always been closed off to the public, with only some people dared to actually become close with him, and Kaiwen is the best example. The universe knows how much Sangwon despised Kaiwen’s antics and the way he got close to Anxin before he did, the way that he had the guts to actually do something to get near Anxin, to reach for his heart.
But he didn't do anything— he couldn't do anything. That's why the moment that he became the class president, Sangwon just knew what he should do to be close with Anxin, or at least enter his space that he has been wanting to ever since.
Pestering Anxin is the best way, the only way.
“You will give it now or you won't like what I would do.” Anxin muttered, composed yet annoyance was laced in his tone.
Everyone was murmuring around them. Kaiwen’s face widened as the most introverted person in their class just threatened the most unruly student in their class.
“Make me! I’ll make your life more miserable if you force me!” Sangwon said, provoking Anxin.
Anxin stepped closer to Sangwon, their faces a few inches afar of each other and his lips curved into a smirk, “Really? I would like to see you try.” He muttered.
Sangwon immediately backed off as his face flushed in embarrassment mixed with giddy feelings. He felt his whole body shaken as Anxin’s eyes stared straight at his soul, as if he was making a thorough check up of his entire being.
He never had a close contact with Anxin before so seeing him up close like this is enough to make him lose his sanity. Sangwon rushed to the door and unlocked it while panicking internally, sprinting outside and far from Anxin because if he didn't leave anytime soon, he knew he would literally lose his breath.
Anxin just chuckled, motioning for everyone to just do whatever they want as the show has ended already.
He's in for the ride. He will play the cat and mouse game with him for as long as he likes.
(─.─||）
After what happened, Sangwon started avoiding Anxin like he's some contagious virus being studied and kept protected in the fourth level of Biosafety as per Center for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC) who will fatally infect him. Infect him with his charms that would become a trigger for him to combust.
Anxin was just really likeable despite his naturally quiet nature, everything he does is God-given. The way he answers every math problems correctly, whenever he recites, every time that Anxin speaks Chinese when talking to his friends is just endearing, everything is just so perfect. Sangwon refuses to believe that he could even match Anxin as he's just a troublemaker student with a mid-level grades, there is no way that Anxin would even allow Sangwon to court him, what more of being his boyfriend.
All of it was just impossible, too good to be true.
Not until one day, Sangwon overheard a conversation from his female blockmates that Kaiwen is about to confess to Anxin.
His heart sank. His confident shoulders were brought down by the heaviness of the information he accidentally eaves drop on. His heart was beating fast, he was panicking so hard that the Sangwon who's normally composed and proud of himself ceased to exist at that very moment.
He felt the crack, the leaves of the trees cascade down as his knees weaken. The cold breeze of sadness enveloped him, he trembled in dejection. His tears that he has been trying so hard to restrict from falling down escaped the prison he built to protect himself.
Sangwon’s heart was beyond repair.
It was something he has been dreaming of doing, yet Kaiwen is about to do it again before him. Sangwon knows he couldn't let himself lose again, yet sadness and doubts swaddle him.
But he knows crying won't do anything. His heart is about to burst out from sadness but his drive to overtake Kaiwen’s agenda is usurping. Sangwon decides it's now or never.
He looked around for Anxin, even asking his friends and co-officers but he couldn't get any valuable information. Sangwon spent an entire 30 minutes looking for any sight of Anxin but to no avail. He was about to give up when Kaiwen suddenly appeared on his back while he was catching his breath from all the running he did.
“You're looking for Anxin, right? He's in the rooftop of our building. Good luck!” Kaiwen said, his tone is pure happiness.
Sangwon was taken aback from what he heard, his face was crumpled in confusion as he raised his left eyebrow, “Uhh okay?” He muttered, Sangwon was about to add something more but Kaiwen stopped him.
“Stop thinking about things, he's waiting for you. Don't make him wait or I will really steal him from you.” Kaiwen threatened, pushing Sangwon to hurry up, “Just go! My goodness, people are really dumb when they're in love.” Kaiwen exclaimed in bitterness. He's (jokingly) disgusted by the fact that people around him are basically in love and he got nothing for himself anymore.
He immediately went to the rooftop and saw Anxin sitting there in one of the benches in a perfectly straight body. His black eyeglasses framed his face well as his light brown hair was combed up a bit, revealing some part of his forehead. Sangwon noticed the several ear piercings that Anxin is wearing, he was astonished to witness that the model student has metals drilled in his ears.
Both of his ears have dual lobes— to which a hoop earring was on his first lobe and a normal stud earrings on his second lobes while his left ears had a helix piercing on. He also wasn't wearing his typical ironed uniform and a properly buttoned coat paired with shiny black shoes that could literally blind someone's eyes. He doesn't look flawless.
He looked like himself.
“Quit staring and come here.” Anxin ordered, slouching from his seat and manspreading.
Sangwon went back to his consciousness and sat beside Anxin, afraid to look at him as he doesn't have any idea what's on Anxin's mind.
“Why did you make me come here?” Sangwon asked.
Anxin chuckled, “To show you who I really am behind the facade of the previously quiet and nonchalant Zhou Anxin, the president.” He stated, loosing the necktie he is wearing just right in the middle which Sangwon’s peripheral vision caught and he found it hot but he didn't say anything, as usual.
“Why?” Sangwon asked.
“Because maybe if you see the real me, you wouldn't have to be so afraid of confessing. Sangwon, I have always knew. I was just waiting for you to confess. Silly you who thought pestering me is an answer. Well lucky for me, Kaiwen is my best friend whom I can trust on spreading rumors. Look at you now, all sweaty and messed up because of me.” Anxin explained, looking directly at Sangwon whose gaze is still fixated into nowhere.
A gasp escaped from Sangwon's mouth. He didn't expect this at all. Why on Earth would the person he likes do this if he feels nothing for him? He was beyond flabbergasted. The whole universe didn't even give him any signs and now, a confession was happening between them and it's surprisingly not him who confessed first.
Sangwon tried to remain oblivious, “I-I don't understand… you're just tripping…” He murmured, fidgeting on the hem of his uniform while looking down at it.
“Look at me,” Anxin stated as Sangwon's head slowly turned to face him, “Jokes on you, I like you too.” He delightfully said.
Anxin’s face is just a few inches far from Sangwon’s face. He stared at his eyes before staring at his lips and returning his gaze to Sangwon's eyes that reflected the stars. Sangwon closed his lids as he felt Anxin’s hot breath in his mouth, expecting to be kissed on the lips yet Anxin landed on his forehead instead.
“No kissing until your grades rise.” Anxin uttered, winking at Sangwon.
As the sun bids it's farewell, Sangwon placed his head on Anxin's shoulders, resting it while Anxin’s hands drift away to his waist, tugging him closer to his body before holding it firmly.
They watched the sunset that symbolizes the end of a chapter in their lives.
From a troublemaker student pestering a class president to something more than what meets the eye.
Maybe messing with your crush and teasing them helps a lot in forming a relationship with them. As for Sangwon, it's not just about teasing, it's also about creating meaningful coincidences and a way for them to interact with you.