Chapter Text
“You’re trying too hard, Suho,” his coach said.
It wasn’t the first time he’s heard those words. Especially from his coach. But, it still stung.
He’s so used to hearing the opposite. His teachers always tell him that he doesn’t try hard enough. Or that he doesn’t try at all.
“I’m sorry,” he usually says, just like now.
“Suho, you can’t keep saying that.” His coach sighed.
“I’ll work harder.”
“That either.”
Suho didn’t like talks like this. He didn’t really like talking to people in general. He preferred going to the gym to avoid talks like this. He would have his headphones on, blocking out the rest of the world.
“Look, Suho,” his coach began. He tapped his foot against the gym floor. “You can’t be going into the ring like this.” Pat, pat, pat.
“…like what?” Suho asked, even though he had a feeling.
“Your mind is in another world. And I know things are tough right now, especially with your Hal—”
Suho interrupted. “What is it?”
His coach paused and looked up at Suho. His coach was getting older, wrinkles all over his face. Stubble on his chin and above his mouth. He wasn’t good at shaving. Wasn’t the best coach either, but Suho didn’t say that out loud.
“You need a break.”
Suho found himself wandering to a park. A park he didn’t even know existed. Clearly nobody else did because it was empty. The only other living organisms around him were the crickets chirping and birds flying through the sky. Maybe some other nasty insects as well.
He stood in the grass, looking up at the moon. He didn’t consider him sentimental enough to think of some corny metaphor. He just thought it was pretty.
He should probably go home, eat something, sleep. Do homework or at least pretend to. Though, there was no point in pretending when there was nobody to scold him gently. There was no point in cooking when there was nobody to eat with.
Suho let out a deep breath and began walking again. Not towards home. But towards somewhere else. Another place to sleep. And shower.
A bark. He heard it through his headphones. Which wasn’t surprising considering he wasn’t playing anything. He never played anything. Not a big fan of music.
Suho paid no attention to it. People were always walking their dogs. But during the night? Suho questioned that slightly.
But then the barks got louder. And louder. Until Suho was on the ground. And his face met the grass. Thankfully, not the sidewalk. He really didn’t feel like going back to the hospital.
“What the fuck…”
He slowly got up from the ground and was soon face to face with a dog. Obviously. A…terrier? No, this one looked…it’s eyebrows were pretty aggresive. A schnauzer…? He thinks?
This dog was black and white. Pretty fluffy. Pretty cute. And small. How did Suho get knocked down by such a small dog? If it was something like a golden retriever then it would make more sense. But this dog…no.
Then, Suho felt a weight lift off his back. Literally. Next, a voice came. It was soft, slightly low, somewhere between trying to maintain calmness and freaking out.
“I’m so sorry.”
Suho fully got off the ground and turned. There was boy there now. Maybe he was around Suho’s age. He looked the part. He had dark brown hair that covered his forehead, slightly chubby cheeks, and wide apologetic eyes that reflected the stars in the sky.
“My dog—” The boy stopped himself. “He got…excited.”
Suho chuckled lightly. Normally, he would’ve been slightly pissed. And he should be considering what just happened to him a hour ago but he couldn’t be. For some reason.
“It’s okay. Not your fault,” Suho dismissed. “Well, maybe you can try putting him on a leash next time.”
The boy bit his bottom lip. “We’re not used to—” He stopped himself again. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Suho titled his head just slightly. “Is this your private spot or something? Sorry about that then.”
The boy seemed shocked. “Oh.”
“Oh?”
He shook his head and looked like he was thinking about something before he spoke up again. “Have a good rest of your night, sir.” He even bowed.
Suho raised a brow. He couldn’t help but be slightly amused. “Sir?”
The boy didn’t reply and just walked around Suho. He leaned down to pet his dog. “Max…” he breathed out. “Be careful.”
He turned to Suho, those dark eyes back on him again. Suho felt strangely…ashamed? Something of that sorts.
“Huh?”
“I said be careful,” the boy said. His voice was more blank now.
“Oh? You were talking to me?” Suho stupidly pointed at himself. “I thought you were talking to the dog.”
The stranger looked between the two of them, Suho and the dog. “Both of you.”
Suho couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. “You know, you should be careful also. You’re the one that fell on top of me.”
Suho watched as the boy grew slightly embarrassed. Even if it was dark outside, he could see the pink blooming on the tip of the other’s ears.
“I should get going.”
The boy was quick to turn around and walk away. And Suho smiled. “Have a good night.”
Suho liked the quietness of the school at night. It was the complete opposite of how it was during the day. Rowdy. Annoying. But Suho was able to sleep at both times regardless.
He showered in the locker room, steam bouncing off the walls. He always preferred warmth over the cold.
He changed back into his school uniform. He needed to wash it probably. But that meant going back home.
In his classroom, he pushed three seats in the back together. It was the closest thing he could get to a bed. He even had a arm pillow that he used both at night and during school.
The moment Suho closed his eyes, stars began to fill in the usual black space. They were pretty even though Suho never really liked looking at the stars. He liked cloudgazing more.
But whatever this was looked nice. Calming. Like Suho could stare at it forever. He wondered if he could look hard enough he would be able to see outside the Milky Way.
That night, Suho fell asleep looking at the stars even when he was inside an empty classroom with the curtains drawn shut.
He missed the quietness of the night. Now, the school was bustling with noise. Students were talking over each other and laughing loudly. The crinkling sound of wrappers and chip bags annoyed Suho but it also made him hungry.
He didn’t eat dinner. He doesn’t remember the last time he’s had a proper meal. Other than the school lunch. He didn’t even eat breakfast.
When he heard the bell ring, signaling lunch time, he was ready to jump out of his seat. But, he waited until everyone else fled out of the classroom. He didn’t want to bring attention to himself.
He lifted his head, making sure that everyone was gone. And somehow, everyone was. Normally, at least a few people stayed behind. Suho didn’t think much of it. It was probably nothing.
He stretched his back, it popped slightly. Then, popped his knuckles as well. Sleeping at his desk wasn’t good for his body.
The hallways were strangely quiet as well. He could actually see outside the windows. Granted, there wasn’t much to look at. The sun was bright and there weren’t much clouds to cover it.
It wasn’t until he reached the vending machines that the halls began to get crowded again. Everyone was facing the same direction and mumbling.
Suho pushed his way through them and they let him. Because when they all saw him, they moved out and the way and continued to mumble amongst themselves.
“Your eyes…seriously, they piss me off,” he heard someone say. “I’ll gauge them out myself.”
Suho sighed. It was too early for this. Fighting. Bullying. And based off what this guy was saying, it seemed like he was about to cross the line. There goes not bringing attention to himself.
He managed to push his way through the rest of the crowd. Now, he was able to see a student standing in front of another with his neck in his hands.
“Do you think you can move out of the way? Some of us want a quick snack,” Suho said.
The boy turned around. His thick brows were furrowed and he had a weird cocky grin on his face.
“Look who it is,” the boy said. “Are you going to tell me not to cross the line again?”
“Looks like you already are,” Suho responded.
The boy gestured to one of his sidekicks to continue choking the other. It made Suho’s stomach feel weird.
So, he made the first move.
He approached and pushed both of the boys. Not too hard. He didn’t want to hurt them. Even though they were hurting another student.
One of them attempted to punch him though which wasn’t very kind. Suho scoffed. Nobody really knew how to fight. Other than Suho, of course. That’s why nobody picked fights with him. If they were smart, of course.
“I thought I told you not to cross the line,” he said then smirked. “But you’ve really gone too far this time.”
He punched the guy back, actually hitting him in the chin. It managed to knock him out. Weak.
He could sense the other one coming up from behind so Suho knocked him out also. It was strange, fighting at school. In the ring, Suho would actually have to try. Maybe it was slightly nice to always win.
Suho pointed to someone random in the audience. “Go take them to the nurses office,” he commanded. “If you tell them hyung did this, you’re done.”
The boy listened well and dragged one of their bodies off the ground. His friend, Suho assumed, dragged the other one.
Now, Suho could take a look at who today’s victim was. He stretched his arm out, offering a hand. But, nobody grabbed it. He wasn’t surprised. Most people didn’t like him enough to grab his hand.
“Come on, my arm is starting to hurt,” Suho grumbled.
Finally, he turned to look at the ground. At the vending machine where the victim was. But he wasn’t expecting to see what he saw.
Stars. The night sky and the ocean below it. Dark eyes that had tears forming beneath them. Suho felt like he was transported to another world for a second.
“You,” he breathed out. “The dog owner.”
The boy looked different than he did at night. He was wearing a school uniform now, not a plain hoodie and sweatpants. His hair was slightly wet, probably from sweat. And his eyes that once held the stars were now flooding with tears threatening to fall out.
Suho removed his hand and bent down to be in the other’s eye level. Though, the other was definitely avoiding eye contact.
“You alright?” Suho asked.
The other gave him a look and sound that basically told him, What does it look like? Suho chuckled.
“Right. Let hyung take you to the nurses office,” he offered.
The boy ignored him, got up, gave Suho a glare, then left. He limped throughout the people who cleared a path for him just like they did with Suho.
He didn’t know that someone like this went to school. He didn’t even know that dog owner went to his school. How could Suho not know? How was he supposed to know?
Suho didn’t have to know everyone that went to his school. But for some reason, this bothered him. And it bothered him all day.
Maybe it’s because the dog owner was acting different. He wasn’t the flustered and embarrassed boy that Suho met last night. Today, he seemed different. Like there was a wall between the two of them.
Or maybe he was just embarrassed because he also didn’t know Suho was his classmate. That was the only valid reason to Suho.
At the end of the day, Suho saw him again. He was walking alone down the path in front of the school. And Suho found himself pausing. And he started moving.
He appeared beside the boy before both of them knew it. And the boy seemed to sense him as well. He didn’t do anything but continue walking but Suho could tell in the way he clutched the straps of his backpack.
“How’s Max doing?” Suho asked anyways. The other didn’t respond. “He was really cute, you know? Would love to meet him again.”
The boy paused in his steps and took out his Airpods. When he finally looked at the other, Suho felt his heart stop for a second.
“He’s fine,” the boy stated.
Not only was his attitude different but his voice seemed different. It didn’t carry any lightness and it was like there was a weight on top of the other’s neck.
“Ah.” Suho nodded. “That’s good.”
There was a moment of silence before the boy spoke again. “Why?”
The boy wasn’t staring at Suho anymore but straight at the ground. Not watching where he was going. It was like he was moving on autopilot and Suho was trying to keep up.
“I’m just curious.” Suho shrugged. “Like I said, Max is pretty cute.”
The boy let out something like a sigh. “Not that.”
Suho raised a brow. “What?”
“Earlier.”
“Oh,” Suho dragged. “I was just being your guardian angel.”
“…Mine?” The boy was looking at him again.
Suho grinned. “Only yours.”
“You said you didn’t want them to cross the line.”
“They were crossing the line by messing with you.”
“You didn’t even know it was me.”
“That’s true,” Suho acknowledged. He squinted his eyes. “By the way, what’s your name?”
“My name?” The boy blinked.
Suho nodded. “Yeah. I can’t keep calling you dog owner.”
The other seemed to be processing something in his head because he stood there with a blank face for what felt like eternity. Good thing that they were standing at a street where there wasn’t many people. Suho doesn’t even know how they ended up there.
“Do you actually want to know my name?” The other asked.
“Yes?” Suho titled his head.
He could easily look at the other’s nametag but the other had a gray hoodie covering it now. And Suho just thought it would be better to hear it come from his mouth.
The boy muttered something that Suho couldn’t quite hear. “Huh?”
“Yeon Sieun,” the boy repeated. Yeon Sieun.
“It’s pretty.” Suho smiled.
Sieun stared at Suho for a second before looking towards the crosswalk. He started walking away and Suho debated on whether or not he should follow.
He did.
“Shouldn’t you be going to cram school?” Sieun asked him. “Or home?”
“Nah, I have to go to practice—” Suho paused. “No, I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Sieun sighed. “Why are you following me?”
“Why can’t I?”
Sieun turned around a corner that Suho didn’t recognize. He could be getting coerced right now. Or he could be getting kidnapped. But, Sieun didn’t look like he would hurt him.
“Don’t underestimate me,” Sieun spoke.
“I didn’t say anything?” Suho said, confused.
Sieun turned to look at him. “I can hear you thinking.”
“Really? You can hear my thoughts?” Suho teased. “What a gift you have, Sieun-ah.”
“Sieun-ah?” The other raised a brow.
Suho hummed. “Mmm, we’re friends now. Aren’t we?”
“This is only our second time talking,” Sieun told him.
“So? And techinally, it’s our third,” Suho corrected. “Even if you didn’t talk to me.”
Sieun bit his lip. “I don’t like making a scene at school.”
It was Suho’s turn to raise a brow. “I think you caused quite a scene earlier. There was a whole crowd.”
“I wasn’t the one that caused it.”
Suho shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his windbreaker. “I guess that’s right.”
A part of Suho felt like he should ask if Sieun was alright and what the bullying was about. But, he didn’t want to cross the line. Even if Sieun seemed to not care.
The other talked so casually like he wasn’t on the verge of being choked to death. Or, it at least seemed like it.
Suho glanced at his neck. It was slightly pink and there were what seemed like scars. Did they scratch him too?
“It doesn’t hurt.”
Suho focused on his Sieun’s face again. “Huh?”
“My neck.”
“Oh, sorry for staring,” Suho apologized.
He stared at the road in front of them. They were heading towards an apartment complex.
“Is this your place?”
Suho nodded towards the tall white buildings. Sieun looked up and nodded also. The pair paused in front of the entrance. Sieun’s eyes were back on Suho’s again.
“What?” Suho asked.
“This is my…place,” Sieun said.
Oh. “Right, I should probably get going.” Suho rubbed the back of his neck. “I have work.”
Sieun frowned his brows slightly. “Work?”
“Yeah, at this restaurant. It’s nothing.” Suho smiled. “Don’t worry.”
“I never—”
Suho interrupted, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sieun-ssi.”
He didn’t hear a response from the other as he began to walk down the street again. He only realized then that he had left his bike at school. Curse, he was too distracted by Sieun.
That should’ve told him that the other boy would be bad news. But instead, Suho ended the day with a smile on his face and new name in his head.
Yeon Sieun.