Chapter Text
Monday had arrived — but for Yushi, it wasn’t just any ordinary Monday. Sure, there would be plenty of activities as usual, but something new was about to become part of his routine, and every time he thought about it, his anxiety climbed straight to the top.
There were still a few minutes left before classes began, and in the meantime, he was hanging out with his friends in the school courtyard garden. It was a well-used space where students gathered to relax, meet up, and even train, since the cheerleaders made a point of stretching there every morning — much to the delight of the boys, who practically drooled over their perfect bodies.
He sighed nervously again, his gaze fixed on the school gates.
“What’s up with you, Yushi?” Riku asked.
Yushi looked at him, puzzled, wondering what exactly seemed off for Riku to question him so suddenly.
“What do you mean?” he asked, immediately drawing the attention of all his friends.
“You’ve been quiet, sighing all the time, fidgeting with your hands, and staring at the gate nonstop,” Riku raised a brow.
“You’re waiting for someone, aren’t you, naughty boy?” Ningning teased, crossing her arms. The brunette pulled the lollipop from her mouth and gave him a sly grin.
He actually was waiting for someone — someone who had almost made him wake up at dawn just to get to school earlier than usual. Their delay only made it worse. But that wasn’t the only thing making him nervous; there was something else, something he had no idea how his friends would react to.
“Yeah, but…” he began, only to be immediately interrupted.
“Who?” Ningning and Riku asked in unison.
“Could you two let him finish talking?” Ryo intervened, having stayed silent until now.
“I have something important to tell you guys,” Yushi said, and Ryo gave a small, knowing smile.
“I think I know what it is,” he replied, looking at Yushi with that ‘I know everything’ kind of expression.
Ningning widened her eyes and covered her mouth for a second before pointing her lollipop at Yushi.
“Don’t tell me it has something to do with the captain of the football team?” she asked.
“Speaking of him…” Ryo murmured, glancing toward the gates, making everyone turn in the same direction.
Oh Sion walked in, serious as ever, his confident stride impossible to ignore. The red jacket he wore, embroidered with a roaring tiger emblem, announced to everyone exactly who had just arrived. He was tall, self-assured, and had the athletic build of someone who lived on the field. His blonde hair was tousled by the wind, and he brushed his fringe back casually, leaving a few strands to fall across his forehead — perfectly framing his striking face. He was accompanied by his friends Kim Daeyoung, Park Wonbin, and Jung Sungchan, who were also part of the team.
Sion seemed to be in a hurry. He gave a quick glance around, and Yushi noticed the moment their eyes met — before Sion quickly looked away. A second later, he said goodbye to his friends and turned his attention back to Yushi, this time walking straight toward him.
Yushi blinked, swallowing hard.
He could never control his heart — every time he saw him, it would start beating like crazy in his chest, nervous and at the same time longing for him. He lowered his head, trying to hold back the smile that wanted to curl on his lips. He could barely contain himself, but he had to — after all, he didn’t know how things would turn out from now on, so it was better to be cautious.
Yushi stood up clumsily from the bench, leaving his backpack on it, and smiled at Sion. The latter approached, stopping right in front of him with a faint smile. They didn’t say anything to each other — they didn’t need to. Their eyes did all the talking.
Yushi didn’t know what to do with his hands, so he clasped them together. All he could think about was hugging the boy in front of him, or holding his hand, but they had agreed not to do any of that before telling their friends. And right now, those same friends — along with everyone else nearby — were staring at them curiously. He already knew this would happen, he was prepared to be the center of attention in the entire school. After all, everyone was probably thinking: what’s that nobody doing with Oh Sion?
“Guys, I think you already know Sion,” Yushi said, earning a collective look of obviously! from his friends. “Sion, these are Riku, Ningning, and Ryo.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet Yushi’s friends,” Sion said politely, giving a small smile before his attention returned entirely to the boy in front of him.
“Uh… We…” Yushi swallowed, glancing nervously at his friends, who were all staring back at him with wide eyes. “We’re dating.” He exhaled shakily, already bracing himself for their reaction.
“WHAT?” all three of them shouted in unison.
Seeing how nervous Yushi was, Sion stood beside him and took his sweaty hand in his own.
“I can’t believe the captain of the Tigers — the one who led our school team to so many victories — is now dating our friend!” Ningning said dramatically, one hand over her chest and her eyes sparkling at Sion. She looked like she was trying to convince herself this was real. “Can I have your autograph?” she asked tearfully, holding out her phone case.
“Uh…” Sion blinked, a little taken aback. “Isn’t that a bit…?”
“Girl…!” Yushi scolded her.
Sure, she had always been a fan of the team — and a little too obsessed with Sion — but he never imagined she’d lose it right now.
“I’m happy for you, Yushi,” Ryo said, stepping in with a kind smile, which Yushi returned.
He looked over at Riku, but the boy was silent, staring at the ground. Ningning was still gazing at Sion with heart eyes, which made Yushi shift uncomfortably.
Ryo forced a smile and wrapped an arm around Riku. “He’s just shy,” he said quickly.
Riku shrugged him off, shot Yushi one last unreadable look, grabbed his backpack, and walked away in a hurry. The three of them exchanged confused glances — what had gotten into him?
The school bell rang, prompting groans from around the courtyard as everyone slowly began heading inside.
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll be taking Yushi with me,” Sion said, making the brunette blink in confusion.
“No problem, take him wherever you want,” Ningning replied teasingly — earning a smack on the arm from Ryo.
“How can you just hand our friend over like that?” he whispered.
“They’re dating!” she whispered back.
Yushi rubbed his neck awkwardly, wishing his friends were a little more discreet.
“Still!” Ryo protested.
“I’ll catch up with you guys later,” Yushi said before they could start again.
“Don’t take too long,” Ryo replied.
As Sion pulled Yushi away, Ryo and Ningning watched from a distance, still stunned.
“He’s so amazing,” Ningning sighed dreamily.
“He just refused to give you an autograph,” Ryo shot back, making her pout with wide, tearful “Puss in Boots” eyes.
Sion led his boyfriend to a more secluded spot away from everyone. Yushi was still confused — he thought they’d be heading to class. The taller boy walked fast, and Yushi had to quicken his pace to keep from tripping over his own feet. Once they reached a quiet area, Sion grabbed Yushi by the waist, pressing him gently against one of the many trees around. Without another word, he claimed Yushi’s lips in a hurried kiss, and Yushi immediately wrapped his arms around Sion’s neck for balance.
Still a little confused by Sion’s sudden urgency, Yushi just let him take control, responding to every move. He could already feel his lips going numb from how hard they were being kissed, and his air was running out far too quickly. Sion, on the other hand, didn’t even seem close to running out of breath — he kept kissing him with the same intensity, gripping his waist tightly. Yushi knew Sion liked to kiss him like that, deep and consuming, but they were at school — he couldn’t be that careless.
Reaching his limit, Yushi pushed him back by the shoulders, making Sion pull away from his lips only to go straight for his neck. Yushi closed his eyes and leaned his head against the tree behind him, giving him full access. With parted lips, he tried to catch his breath while feeling the soft kisses scattered over that sensitive spot.
When Sion kissed right behind his ear, Yushi couldn’t help but burst into laughter, shoving him away. Sion laughed too, watching as Yushi covered the spot behind his ear with one hand. The blond grabbed his fallen jacket and slipped it back on, grinning as he watched Yushi’s flustered face. He knew that spot made Yushi ticklish — and still, he did it on purpose, just to pull him out of that hazy daze of pleasure.
“I told you not to do that,” Yushi reminded him.
Sion grabbed his backpack from the ground and slung it over one shoulder. Smirking, he wrapped his arms around Yushi’s waist again, pulling him close. Yushi still had a hand covering his ear, which only made Sion want to smile more.
“It’s funny,” he said.
“Because it’s not you,” Yushi shot back, raising a brow.
“Exactly,” Sion replied, making a pout form on Yushi’s lips.
He gently pulled Yushi’s hand away from his ear, and Yushi gave up resisting — instead, he hugged Sion tightly, taking in his scent.
“I missed you,” Sion murmured against his ear, making Yushi shiver. “I could barely focus at practice this weekend — all I did was think about you. And you have no idea how hard it was not to grab you in front of your friends.”
Yushi sighed and rested his head on Sion’s shoulder. He had spent the whole weekend the same way — unable to study, unable to think of anything else. He just couldn’t get enough of him. Sion had asked him out on Friday, and between Sion’s Saturday practices and Yushi’s argument with his mom on Sunday, they hadn’t managed to meet even once. They’d only texted, both desperate for Monday to come so they could finally see each other again.
“I missed you too,” Yushi admitted. But then his eyes widened, and he quickly stepped out of Sion’s arms. “We’re late. Really late!”
“Ah, crap!” Sion groaned, already starting to run and pulling Yushi along by the hand. “How many minutes do we have?”
“Two!” Yushi panted, nearly tripping as they ran. Sion, of course, looked completely unfazed. That’s when Yushi remembered something. “Wait — You didn’t leave any marks on my neck, did you?” he asked between breaths as they neared the building.
“No,” Sion replied, glancing at him with a teasing grin. “But your lips are swollen.”
Yushi didn’t know what was worse — the thought of hearing his friends’ teasing comments for the rest of the day, or realizing that part of him actually liked hearing that.
~🏈~
After what felt like an eternity in the cafeteria line — during which Yushi endured being shamelessly stared at by a group of girls at a nearby table — he and Ryo finally returned to their table with their trays, each holding a sandwich and juice. According to what they overheard while waiting, the bibimbap being served that day had undercooked noodles and the chili paste was twice as spicy, so the sandwich had been their safest bet.
They sat down across from Ningning, who was staring fixedly toward the other side of the cafeteria, her untouched bibimbap sitting in front of her. When she finally noticed them, her gaze snapped to Yushi, who was quietly focused on his sandwich.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, puzzled.
“What, I can’t sit with you guys anymore?” he asked, feigning offense.
“That’s not what I meant. But shouldn’t you be over there sitting on a certain football player’s lap?” she teased.
Yushi rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to be nosy or invade his space when he’s with his friends,” he replied.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Yushi,” Ningning warned, leaning forward and glancing toward the other side of the cafeteria. “If I were you, I’d be paying a little more attention.”
“Why?” he asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.
“Because while you’re over here worried about invading that god’s privacy, his little fan club has no problem shoving their boobs right in his face!” Ningning said sharply, glaring across the cafeteria. “Look!”
Yushi stopped chewing, hesitating for a moment before turning to look at the table on the other side. And sure enough, it was exactly as she said. Most of Sion’s teammates were sitting with him — two of them had cheerleaders perched on their laps, while others surrounded the table, some even daring to sit on it. One girl in particular — a gorgeous brunette named Karina, the head cheerleader — sat at the corner of the table, turned slightly to the side but still facing Sion. She was chatting animatedly with him and Wonbin.
The big game was coming up that weekend, so the cheerleaders had been training nonstop, practically living in their uniforms. Their cropped tops left their toned stomachs exposed, and their short skirts barely hid the shorts underneath.
Yushi felt his food turn bitter in his mouth. The sight of that girl’s bare legs so close to Sion’s hands made something ugly twist in his stomach. For a split second, he imagined knocking her right off that table — and immediately looked away.
“Go get him, Yushi!” Ningning urged, eyes blazing.
“No,” he said simply, forcing himself to take another uninterested bite of his sandwich.
“What?” she snapped. Ryo raised his brows at him.
“Are you sure, Yushi?” he asked, sounding concerned.
“Sion can take care of himself,” Yushi said, trying to sound calm. He wanted to trust him — trust that Sion wouldn’t cross any lines.
“You don’t get jealous?” Ryo asked, curious.
At first, Yushi hadn’t minded much. He knew Sion was always surrounded by people, that came with being who he was. But lately… certain things had started to bother him more than he wanted to admit.
“You know what?” Ningning slammed her hands on the table and stood up. “I’m going over there to drag that girl away myself.”
Yushi’s eyes widened. He immediately stood up too, catching her arm before she could storm off.
“Ningning, don’t!” he hissed near her ear, feeling his nerves spike as people began to turn and stare.
“I can hit her for you,” she whispered back, as if that were a perfectly reasonable offer.
“What? No one’s hitting anyone. Sit down,” he said, pulling her back toward the table. Ningning made a face but let him guide her.
Yushi sat back down, sneaking a glance toward Sion’s table — only to realize some of them had noticed the commotion. Great.
“Fine, whatever,” Ningning muttered, crossing her arms. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
She took another bite of her bibimbap, immediately grimacing. Ryo rolled his eyes and pushed his juice toward her as she fanned her mouth, the spice clearly hitting too hard. Within seconds, she was coughing.
“Have you seen Riku?” Ryo asked Yushi once the noise settled down.
“I haven’t seen him since this morning,” Yushi replied.
“I ran into him between classes when I went to the bathroom, but he barely said two words,” Ryo said, recalling the encounter.
Ningning finally stopped coughing and perked up at the mention of their friend.
“We’ll talk to him later,” she said, smiling slyly at Yushi. “Right now, there’s something else we need to discuss.”
“What thing?” Ryo asked.
“Tonight. Seven o’clock. Yushi’s house,” she declared.
Yushi took a sip of his juice. He could already guess what was coming — his friends were dying to know all the details about his relationship with Sion. He glanced once more toward Sion’s table, where the guys were now tossing a leather football between themselves, laughing loudly.
~🏈~
“I want every detail,” Ningning demanded.
They were lying on the fluffy rug in Yushi’s bedroom, the boy sandwiched between his two friends.
“From the very beginning, when you first met, when you started sneaking around,” she said, emphasizing the last part dramatically. “All the way up to when you decided to make it official.”
“I don’t remember ever seeing the two of you together,” Ryo commented.
“I do,” Ningning said. “I remember Yushi didn’t even like Sion.” The brunette tried to hold back a grin. “But I always thought it was weird how every time I ran into Yushi somewhere, Sion just happened to be there too.”
“It’s true,” Yushi admitted. “I didn’t like the reputation the guys on the team had. I mean, they acted like they were better than everyone else, and the rest of the school worshipped them. And Sion, being the captain, was the worst of all…” he paused, thoughtful. “I’ll admit, I judged him just because he was popular. I thought he was selfish, arrogant, and full of himself.” He smiled, a little embarrassed by his own immaturity back then. “When I volunteered to cover for the librarian during the night shift, he used to come by with Wonbin and Daeyoung. They’d do their assignments and use a few books, but they talked way too much. The other students would get annoyed and complain to me, so… I ended up scolding them.”
“Oh, I wish I could’ve seen that!” Ningning said with a grin.
“Wonbin and Daeyoung never came back after that, but Sion kept showing up. One night, I caught him drinking behind the library. I was honestly shocked to see him like that. But I took the bottle away and threatened to report him to the principal.”
“He didn’t do anything to you?” Ryo asked.
“Not that night,” Yushi replied, making Ningning roll over dramatically with an impatient expression.
“Spit it out already, Yushi! You know I don’t have the patience for your suspense!” she whined, making both Yushi and Ryo laugh.
“I don’t know… I just couldn’t figure him out,” Yushi said. “After that night, he started going out of his way to bump into me at school. Somehow, he always showed up in the library right when I was alone, shelving books.”
“That’s called being smart, sweetheart,” Ningning teased.
“He’d throw stupid pickup lines at me every single day, just to annoy me,” Yushi said, making Ningning burst into laughter. “He did it on purpose. I think he actually liked seeing me irritated. He even started walking me to the bus stop — uninvited.”
“He probably already liked you,” Ryo said.
“But I didn’t think of it that way,” Yushi admitted. “I mean, I knew he was interested, but I thought it was just for fun — that I’d end up being another random name on his list.” He sighed.
“Well, the rumors about him definitely didn’t help,” Ryo added. “No party went by without gossip about what he’d done, and Sion’s name always came up.”
“That’s what scared me. But I was already starting to like having him around — his dumb pickup lines, his help with the books, the way he’d bump into me in the halls. The smirks, even when they were teasing, the looks he gave me…”
“You’re making me blush,” Ryo murmured, covering his red cheeks with his hands.
“He’s the one who should be blushing, not you,” Ningning said, shaking her head.
“Then he kissed me for the first time — in the library, while helping me put books away. That’s when it hit me. I realized I already liked him,” Yushi said softly, remembering how shaken he’d been.
“So what did you do?” Ningning asked.
“I pulled away. I quit the library job and avoided him around school,” Yushi replied. “He kept his distance too. And just when I thought he’d completely forgotten about me… he cornered me in the bathroom.”
“Oh my God…” Ningning muttered.
“He kissed me again and said he liked me. So… I decided to take the risk, even knowing I could get hurt.” Yushi stretched, then sat up, rubbing his sore back.
“How did I never notice any of this?” Ningning asked, baffled.
“I was scared of how people would react,” Yushi said with a small smile. “So I decided to keep it quiet. I didn’t want anyone interfering while we were still figuring things out.”
“And quiet you were! Even your best friends didn’t suspect a thing,” Ningning said, sitting up and crossing her arms.
“I suspected,” Ryo admitted, standing up. “You two might’ve avoided being seen together, but I always noticed the looks you gave each other.”
“That’s true,” Ningning said. “Sion was terrible at hiding it. I used to think, ‘Why is that football player looking at my friend like he wants to eat him alive?’” she added, making the other two burst out laughing.
That’s when Yushi’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked the message and immediately frowned.
“What is it?” Ryo asked.
“It’s Riku,” she said, standing with a serious look.
“Is he okay? What did he say?” Yushi asked, worried.
“I texted him asking if he was fine, and he told me to go to hell!” Ningning said, clearly annoyed.
“Do you think he’s mad at us?” Ryo asked.
“I’ll talk to him tomorrow, don’t worry,” Yushi said, trying to reassure them both.
He really was worried about Riku. He was always so kind, so warm with everyone. Yushi cared about him deeply — he even saw him like a brother. But lately, Riku had been pulling away, avoiding him, and that morning’s look… the one he gave Yushi right after he introduced Sion as his boyfriend… it still lingered in his mind. He had his suspicions about what it meant, though he desperately hoped he was wrong.
~🏈~
Yushi had left his things in the classroom to go find Riku. He searched the courtyard, the cafeteria, the bathrooms — he even went down to the second floor, hoping maybe Riku was hanging out in someone’s classroom.
He asked a few of Riku’s friends, but no one knew where he was. Yushi was starting to run out of places to look. For a moment, he thought maybe Riku hadn’t come to school at all — until he spotted him standing on the balcony that overlooked the garden, near the emergency stairs.
Climbing the last two steps, Yushi stopped behind one of the columns and quietly watched him. Riku was leaning against the railing, chin resting in his hand, lost in thought as he stared into the distance.
He looked sad. The sight made Yushi’s heart ache, that familiar sting of guilt and helplessness rising in his chest. But that feeling was quickly interrupted — replaced by startled surprise — when a pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him into a tight embrace.
He gasped softly, startled, as Sion pressed a kiss to his cheek and then to his neck.
Yushi wanted to melt into the affection, to savor the warmth he loved so much — but not here. Not now.
He quickly grabbed Sion’s hands, pulling him away and pushing him behind the column, away from Riku’s sight — and anyone else’s, for that matter.
Sion looked at him, confused, and Yushi gave him an awkward little smile. Sion glanced around the area, brow furrowing as he crossed his arms.
“Something wrong?” he asked, suspicious. Yushi shook his head quickly.
“No. Why?” he said, trying to sound casual. But with Sion, nothing ever slipped past unnoticed.
“You look nervous,” Sion said, scanning him from head to toe.
“Well, you did scare me,” Yushi lied — though it wasn’t entirely untrue.
Sion kept watching him closely. He could tell Yushi was anxious about something; the way his fingers fidgeted together and his gaze darted anywhere but his eyes were dead giveaways. That was what Yushi always did when trying to calm himself — or come up with a weak excuse.
“Come here,” Sion said, and Yushi finally looked up. His nervousness only grew as he noticed Sion taking a step closer.
“Sion, not here,” he said quickly, crossing his arms.
“Why? Are you still embarrassed?” Sion teased, smirking.
“There are people around — what will they think?” Yushi said, pouting.
“You’ve gotta stop worrying about that,” Sion said, gently tilting his chin up. “They’ve got nothing to do with us. It’s none of their business.”
To hell with everyone else. That was Sion’s mindset. He wasn’t about to let other people dictate how he treated his boyfriend.
He uncrossed his arms and, before Yushi could react, grabbed him again — switching their positions and pressing him against the column. His hands rested on either side of Yushi’s head, caging him in.
“I don’t care what they think,” he murmured near his lips.
“Sion, I mean it!” Yushi said, pushing weakly at his chest. But when Sion wanted something, it was nearly impossible to change his mind.
“Just one kiss, and I’ll let you go,” Sion bargained, raising a brow. “It’ll be quicker — and draw less attention — than me standing here arguing with you.”
Yushi sighed, defeated. Sion’s lips twitched into a grin. It was either this… or waste several more minutes — minutes he needed to talk to Riku — with Sion holding him hostage and everyone around them staring.
Blushing slightly, Yushi leaned in, resting his hands on Sion’s shoulders, and closed his eyes. His lips met Sion’s in a soft, fleeting kiss. It was supposed to be just a peck — but of course, that wasn’t part of Oh Sion’s plan.
Sion’s hands left the column to find Yushi’s waist just as he was about to pull away. One hand slid to the back of Yushi’s neck, holding him there as he deepened the kiss. His lips moved slowly, deliberately, savoring the softness beneath them.
Yushi responded without hesitation, all thoughts of the world around them fading away. It didn’t matter anymore if people were watching — Sion’s kiss had that effect on him. It consumed everything else. His mind, his body, his breath… all of it focused only on him.
“Not a motel,” he heard that familiar voice say, making him pull away quickly.
He saw Ningning and Ryo walking by toward the third floor. Ningning shot him a mischievous look and a sideways smile. Yushi felt even more embarrassed. He couldn’t help but wonder how many people had seen them like that.
“Your friend is hilarious,” Sion commented, though his expression was serious and frustrated, contradicting his words.
Yushi forced an awkward smile, slid his hands off Sion’s shoulders, and stepped back.
“I have to go — there’s something important I need to do,” he said, and Sion raised an eyebrow, curious.
“Do you need help?” he asked, and Yushi shook his head. The last thing he wanted was for Sion to come along right then.
“Can’t I at least know what it is?” Sion pressed.
“Hmm… later,” Yushi said, making Sion sigh — then he looked at him like he’d remembered something.
“Are you busy tonight?” he asked.
“Not that I know of,” Yushi answered. He actually would be busy, but he was curious what Sion had in mind.
“I need your help. Practice this week is taking up all my time, so I need a quick, practical lesson on Electrosphere for a test tomorrow,” Sion said. Yushi stared at him.
“I can’t believe you have a test tomorrow and you haven’t studied at all!” he said, nudging Sion’s shoulder lightly. “You’re hopeless.”
“I’m serious, Yushi — I had no time,” Sion insisted.
“What were you doing at night, then?” Yushi asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Sleeping,” Sion said, as if that were obvious.
“And in your free time?” Yushi pushed, and Sion gave a sideways smile.
“I was with you,” he replied. Yushi closed his eyes, fighting the urge to punch his boyfriend.
“I could refuse to help you this time,” Yushi threatened, looking stern, and Sion clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture.
“Please, Yushi — you're a great teacher. I’ll learn fast.”
“You know what always happens when you ask to study with me, right?” Yushi reminded him, thinking of how Sion usually ended up grabbing him instead of studying.
“I’ll actually study this time, I promise,” Sion said, trying to look sincere.
“All right,” Yushi relented.
He agreed only because Sion sounded desperate — he also had his own tests coming up. Still, he made a mental note to bring a ruler, just in case. He had a feeling Sion wouldn’t keep that promise to just study.
~🏈~
Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to talk to Riku like he had planned, because Sion took up all his time and then the bell rang, leaving him no choice but to go to class. He resolved to speak to Riku at break, but by then the break had already started and he still hadn’t found the courage to approach his friend. The longer he waited, the more nervous and restless he became. He hadn’t even grabbed anything to snack on — he’d just been keeping his friends company. And, as usual, he had to endure watching those cheerleaders sitting on his boyfriend.
“Go over there,” Ningning urged, eyes fixed on the scene. Yushi sighed and shook his head. “I swear, I don’t have as much patience as you, Yushi! If you keep doing nothing, you’ll lose him. Those girls have no shame!”
“When Yushi finally gets brave enough to go over and kiss Sion in front of everyone, I’ll open a bottle of champagne to celebrate,” Ryo said, smiling.
“And when you lose Sion, I’ll smash that bottle over your head,” Ningning threatened.
Yushi rested his chin on his hand and stared at the table that drew all the attention in the cafeteria. Everyone would give anything to sit there, to be part of the most popular students. He couldn’t imagine himself at that table, even though his boyfriend belonged to that group.
Yushi knew that Sion wanted him to sit there with him, because the glances Sion occasionally threw his way made that very clear. But Yushi also knew that even if he did sit there, he wouldn’t be able to blend in with Sion’s friends. He wouldn’t know how to talk so lively like they did. He wouldn’t know how to act carefree or have that “I’m popular” aura that drew everyone’s attention.
If he sat there, next to Sion, he’d just be a gray dot beside him — making Sion uncomfortable, because then Sion would have to split his attention between him, the gray dot, and his friends, the colorful ones. Two completely opposite sides.
“Don’t be sad,” said Ryo, running his hand gently through Yushi’s hair.
“One sad person in our group is enough. That’s Riku’s job,” said Ningning.
Yushi sighed, wiping the corner of his eyes that had started to tear up.
“I still need to talk to him,” he said.
“If I were you, I’d hurry before the break’s over,” said Ningning.
Yushi was about to stand up but froze when he saw what was happening at the table across the room. Karina was sitting next to Sion, smiling as she handed him something Yushi couldn’t quite see. Sion examined it for a moment before slipping it into his pocket.
While the girl smiled in satisfaction, Yushi felt his heart twist painfully in his chest. But he quickly straightened up in his chair when he saw everyone at that table standing and looking excited.
He started staring at his hands on the table when he realized they were all walking in his direction. He looked up briefly and saw they were heading for his table. They passed by, walking casually, chatting and laughing, some with their arms around each other’s shoulders. Sion came last and left a soft kiss on Yushi’s cheek.
He wasn’t ready for that. Besides being watched by Sion’s friends ahead of him, there were also other students sitting at nearby tables. Not to mention the lump of tears — which he was fighting hard to hold back — stuck in his throat after seeing that scene.
“We’re heading to the field to have a little celebration for the coach since it’s his birthday,” Sion said, crouching beside him with one hand on the table and the other on Yushi’s chair. “Do you wanna come too?” he asked.
Yushi opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. He looked at Ningning, who was sipping from a juice bottle and giving him a look that clearly said just say yes. Then he turned to Ryo, but Ryo only shrugged.
He sighed and looked back at Sion, who was waiting for a positive answer.
“I-I…” he began, but his slightly tearful voice cracked, making Sion frown.
Immediately, Ningning started coughing, pretending to choke on her juice to draw Sion’s attention away. Yushi took the chance to clear his throat and disguise his tone.
“How careless of me,” she said with an awkward smile.
Sion gave a small smile and looked back at him.
“I think I better not,” Yushi said quietly.
“Why not?” Sion asked.
“I don’t think I’m close enough to your coach to join his party,” he replied, and Sion smiled faintly, nodding.
“Up to you,” he said, though Yushi could tell he was a little disappointed. “See you later?” he asked, and Yushi nodded with a small smile.
Sion stood up and followed the others out of the cafeteria.
“The god himself came here and you turned him down,” Ningning commented.
“Stop calling him that!” Ryo complained.
“What can I do if he’s that perfect?” she asked, pretending to be offended.
Ryo rolled his eyes.
“It’s their moment, Ning. I couldn’t just barge into his coach’s party,” said Yushi. He would’ve felt completely out of place.
And besides, Yushi wasn’t in the right headspace to be around such a cheerful group of friends when he felt so down. He also felt intimidated whenever Sion’s friends were around, and he wasn’t sure he could look at Karina without showing his resentment toward her. He didn’t want Sion to notice — otherwise, Sion would start asking questions he wouldn’t know how to answer. That’s why, among other reasons, Yushi sometimes wondered if saying yes to dating Oh Sion had really been the right choice.