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The summer heat had turned the Sunshine High library into a silent, air-conditioned fortress. Nicholas was buried behind a wall of practice exams, his highlighter moving with mechanical precision. His ‘Reaper’ aura had returned, but this time it was fueled by caffeine and the sheer pressure of being a senior.
The chair across from him scraped back. Nicholas didn't look up, assuming it was the librarian.
"You look like you're decaying, Nico-hyung," a familiar, chirpy voice whispered.
Nicholas blinked, his eyes stinging from hours of reading. Harua was sitting there, nursing a melting popsicle and looking entirely too refreshed for someone in the middle of a heatwave.
"I brought you a strawberry latte," Harua said, sliding a plastic cup across the table. "But it comes with a side of 'Student Council tea.'"
Nicholas took a long, desperate sip. "If it’s about the budget for the Summer Festival, I don't want to hear it. Juju is already stressed enough."
"Oh, it's not about money," Harua leaned in, his eyes sparkling with that specific brand of mischief that usually meant trouble. "It’s about the new recruit. Have you heard of Taki? The freshman?"
Nicholas shook his head, his pen hovering over a math problem.
"He’s the new 'Festival Assistant,'" Harua continued, his voice dropping into a dramatic whisper. "And let me tell you, he is everywhere EuiJoo is. He’s cute, he’s energetic, and he follows the President around like a lost duckling. He even brings Euijoo specialized 'energy mist' so he stays cool during outdoor meetings."
Nicholas’s pen stopped moving. "He’s just a helper, Harua. Being President is a big job."
"Sure, sure," Harua smirked, leaning his chin on his palm. "But he’s a very devoted helper. I saw them in the auditorium earlier. Taki was fixing the President’s collar because it was 'crooked.' And EuiJoo just smiled that 'Angel' smile. You know the one. The one that makes underclassmen faint."
Nicholas felt a sharp, unfamiliar prickle in his chest. Usually, he was the one being chased by admirers while Euijoo fended them off. He wasn't used to the roles being reversed.
Taki. A freshman. Someone who was actually there at school with Euijoo while Nicholas was trapped in this library cage.
"Is that so?" Nicholas said, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly tone that made the student at the next table shiver.
"Mhmm," Harua nodded, suppressed glee threatening to break through his face. "Taki told the Kendo club that the President is his 'role model' and that he wants to be just like him. They’re basically inseparable this week."
Harua watched Nicholas closely. He wanted a reaction. He wanted the ‘Reaper’ to storm down to the auditorium and reclaim his territory. He wanted to see if Nicholas was just as possessive as the ‘Mad Man’ Euijoo.
Nicholas sat in silence for a long moment. He looked at his practice exam, then at the strawberry latte. Slowly, he capped his highlighter and began packing his bag.
"Where are you going, Hyung? The library doesn't close for three hours," Harua teased.
"I’m tired of studying," Nicholas muttered, his jaw tight. "I think the Student Council needs an... 'external audit' on their festival progress."
As Nicholas walked toward the auditorium, his charcoal-grey summer shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal his lean, muscular arms, Harua trailed behind him like a delighted spectator.
They reached the double doors just in time to see EuiJoo standing on the stage, pointing at a lighting rig. And right beside him was a smaller boy with bright eyes, holding a portable fan toward EuiJoo’s face.
"President! You're sweating again! Please stay hydrated!" the boy—Taki—chirped, reaching out to hand EuiJoo a water bottle with a hand-drawn "Good Luck" sticker on it.
EuiJoo laughed, patting the freshman’s shoulder. "Thanks, Taki. You're a lifesaver."
Nicholas stood in the shadows of the doorway, his eyes narrowing. He didn't move. He didn't yell. He just stood there, his ‘Silent Reaper’ energy radiating through the room until the temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
EuiJoo froze. He didn't need to look. He knew that specific chill anywhere. He turned his head, his eyes widening as he saw Nicholas leaning against the back wall, arms crossed, looking devastatingly handsome and terrifyingly quiet.
"Nico?" Euijoo whispered, his ‘President’ mask crumbling into a look of pure, panicked guilt.
Harua nudged Nicholas’s arm, whispering, "So... are we jealous, Hyung? Or are we just 'observing'?"
Nicholas didn't answer. He just uncrossed his arms and started walking down the center aisle, his eyes fixed solely on the ‘Angel’ on the stage.
The tension in the auditorium was thick enough to choke the stage lights. As Nicholas reached the foot of the stage, the rhythmic thud-thud-thud of his heavy boots on the wooden floor sounded like a countdown.
EuiJoo, meanwhile, was doing high-level mental math. One strawberry bread? No, this is a "Matching Muffler" level of upset. I’m going to need at least three breads, a specialized apology latte, and probably a three-hour Cinnamoroll movie marathon.
Nicholas stopped at the edge of the stage, looking up. He didn't growl. He didn't even scowl. He just tilted his head, his silver earrings catching the light, and gave a razor-sharp, polite smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I finished my mock exam early," Nicholas said, his voice smooth and deceptively calm. "I thought I’d drop by to check on the festival progress. After all, as the President’s private consultant, it’s my job to make sure the vision stays... focused."
He emphasized the word private just enough that EuiJoo’s heart did a nervous flip.
Before EuiJoo could jump off the stage to bridge the gap, Taki—ever the bright, oblivious sunbeam—jumped in. He climbed down the stage steps and stood right in front of Nicholas, beaming.
"A consultant! That’s amazing!" Taki chirped, holding his portable fan toward Nicholas now. "I’m Taki, the President’s Lead Assistant! You must be one of the legendary seniors! Are you here to help with the color palette for the banners? The President was just saying we needed a 'sharp eye' for the aesthetic!"
EuiJoo felt a cold sweat break out. "Taki, maybe we should—"
"It’s okay, President!" Taki interrupted, turning back to EuiJoo with an encouraging thumbs-up. "If he’s your consultant, he can help us move these heavy speakers too! You were worried about your back, remember? I told you I’d help, but I’m not as strong as a senior!"
Taki then turned back to Nicholas, his eyes wide and innocent. "Sunbae, you look really strong! Can you stay and help the President all afternoon? I’ll go get us all more energy mist!"
EuiJoo stood frozen on the stage, caught between his oblivious, hardworking assistant and his furious, Private Consultant boyfriend. The fact that the freshmen didn't officially know they were dating made this a minefield. To Taki, Nicholas was just a helpful, slightly intimidating upperclassman. To Nicholas, Taki was the ‘Energy Mist’ boy who was currently occupying his spot next to Euijoo.
"Help all afternoon?" Nicholas repeated, his gaze flickering up to EuiJoo. The ‘Reaper’ energy was simmering just under the surface. "I suppose I could. Since the President is so... busy being looked after by his new assistants, I wouldn't want him to overexert himself."
"Exactly!" Taki cheered, completely missing the sarcasm. "President, isn't it great? Now you have two of us to take care of you!"
EuiJoo looked at Nicholas, his eyes pleading for mercy. Nicholas just raised an eyebrow, a silent challenge in his expression that said: Explain this, Juju. Or start buying the bread now.
The atmosphere in the auditorium had shifted from productive school prep to high-tension psychological thriller. EuiJoo felt like he was standing on a landmine, and unfortunately, the person holding the detonator was his supposed friend, Harua.
Harua had hopped up onto the stage, picking up a roll of blue ribbon and humming a cheerful tune that set EuiJoo’s teeth on edge.
"So, Taki-gun," Harua started, his voice dripping with faux-innocence as he began tying a bow. "You’ve been working so closely with the President lately. You must know his schedule better than anyone, right?"
"Oh, yes!" Taki chirped, oblivious to the way Nicholas’s grip on a nearby speaker stand tightened until his knuckles turned white. "I make sure he has his vitamin water every two hours. And I even stay late to walk him to the gate!"
"How devoted," Harua cooed, glancing over his shoulder at Nicholas, who was vibrating with a silent, ‘Reaper’ fury. "It’s so rare to find an assistant who cares so much about the President's... well-being. Most people are too intimidated by him, don't you think?"
"Intimidated?" Taki laughed, shaking his head. "No way! The President is the kindest person I've ever met. He even let me share his umbrella yesterday when it started drizzling. He’s like a big brother!"
Nicholas didn't say a word. He just picked up a heavy wooden crate—one that usually required two people to move—and set it down with a bone-shaking thud. He looked perfectly calm, his expression a mask of senior-level stoicism, but the ‘Jealous Boyfriend’ aura he was radiating was practically freezing the sweat on Euijoo’s neck.
EuiJoo took advantage of Taki turning away to grab more tape. He scurried over to Harua, grabbing his arm and whispering fiercely.
"Harua, stop it! Look at his face! He’s going to go back to being a 'Reaper' full-time if you say one more word!" EuiJoo hissed, his "Angel" mask cracking into a look of genuine panic. "I’m already going to have to buy ten strawberry breads. Do you want me to go bankrupt?"
Harua just gave him a Cheshire cat grin. "Me? Provoke him? I’m just making conversation, EuiJoo-ya. Besides, it’s good for him to realize how popular his boyfriend is. Keeps him on his toes."
"Harua, please—"
"Go back to your assistant, Mr. President," Harua teased, pushing EuiJoo back toward the center of the stage. "He looks like he’s about to spray you with more energy mist."
EuiJoo stumbled back, finding himself face-to-face with Taki again.
"President! Your face is all red!" Taki exclaimed, reaching up with a cool, damp towel. "Are you getting heatstroke? Here, let me—"
"I’ve got it," a deep, low voice interrupted.
Nicholas had appeared on the stage without a sound. He didn't push Taki, but his presence was so massive that the freshman instinctively stepped back. Nicholas took the towel from Taki’s hand, his eyes locked onto EuiJoo’s.
"I think the President has had enough 'help' for today," Nicholas said, his voice a calm, dangerous velvet. He began to dab EuiJoo’s forehead with the towel, his movements slow and deliberate—a public claim that even the most oblivious freshman couldn't ignore.
"Taki-gun," Nicholas said, not looking away from Euijoo. "Why don't you go help Harua with the banners? He seems to have a lot of 'energy' to share today."
Taki blinked, finally sensing a shift in the air that felt less like ‘help’ and more like ‘get out’. "Oh! Right! Of course, Sunbae!"
“Nico, can you help me get some supplies in the storage room?” EuiJoo use this opportunity to drag out Nicholas from the ‘fire-pit’ situation
“Sure, Mr. President” Nicholas stomp out first into storage room
The storage room was cramped, smelling of dusty stage curtains and forgotten props. The moment the heavy metal door clicked shut, the ‘School President’ mask and the ‘Silent Consultant’ facade both shattered.
EuiJoo didn't even have time to turn on the main light. In the dim glow of the hallway leakage, Nicholas finally exploded.
"Energy mist, Euijoo? Energy mist?" Nicholas’s voice wasn't a growl anymore—it was a sharp, wounded snap. He paced the three feet of available floor space like a caged lion. "And the umbrella? I thought that was our thing. I thought the only person allowed to stand that close to you while it rained was me."
"Nico, it was drizzling! He’s a freshman, I couldn't just let him get soaked—"
"He has hands, Juju! He can hold his own umbrella!" Nicholas stopped pacing and turned, his eyes flashing. This wasn't the scary Reaper who threatened people with glares; this was a Nicholas who was whiny, stubborn, and mean. "And the collar? You let him touch your neck? I’m the only one who gets to fix your clothes. I’m the one who bought you the matching muffler. Do you even care about the 'World Bible' rules anymore?"
EuiJoo stood frozen. He had seen Nicholas angry, and he had seen Nicholas soft, but he had never seen Nicholas this petty. It was a revelation: jealousy turned his cool, composed boyfriend into a high-maintenance disaster.
"I care! Of course I care!" EuiJoo stepped forward, his face heating up until his ears were a bright, panicked red. "I didn't even notice he was doing it! I was thinking about the budget, and the lighting, and—and I was thinking about how much I wanted to finish so I could go to the library and see you!"
Nicholas crossed his arms, leaning back against a stack of gym mats. "Didn't look like it. Looked like you were having a great time being 'Big Brother' to a human puppy."
"He's just a kid! Just like Harua to you" EuiJoo practically wailed, his ‘Angel’ poise completely gone. He reached out, grabbing the hem of Nicholas’s charcoal shirt. "Nico, please. Look at me. I don't want his energy mist. I don't want his water bottles. I don't even like the way he fixes my collar—he does it too tight!"
EuiJoo took a deep breath, his voice trembling with a flustered, desperate honesty. "I only want your hands on me. I only want to share our umbrella. I was so stressed all day because I haven't seen you in forty-eight hours, and seeing you walk into that auditorium was the only thing that made me feel like I could actually finish this festival. You’re my private consultant because you’re the only person whose opinion I actually give a damn about!"
Usually, a confession like that would make Nicholas melt instantly. But today, the ‘Reaper’ was feeling particularly stung. He didn't uncross his arms. He just looked down at Euijoo with a huff of icy breath.
"You said he was a 'lifesaver' in front of me," Nicholas muttered, his lip curling in a pout that was half-mean, half-adorable. "Go find your lifesaver then. I have a CSAT mock exam to finish."
He made a move to push past toward the door, but EuiJoo scrambled to block him, his hands flat against the cold metal.
"Nicholas! Stop being so... so difficult!" EuiJoo pleaded, his eyes wide and glassy. "I'm sorry! I'll tell Taki to stay five feet away at all times. I'll tell Harua to shut up. I'll... I'll wear a sign that says 'Property of the 3rd Year Reaper' if that’s what it takes!"
Nicholas paused, his hand on the door handle. He looked at EuiJoo—disheveled, panicked, and completely devoted. The meanness in his chest started to give way to that familiar warmth, but he wasn't ready to give up his ‘angry’ status quite yet.
"Fine," Nicholas grumbled, finally uncrossing one arm to point a finger at Euijoo’s chest. "But you’re buying the strawberry bread. Not one. Three. And you're walking me all the way to my front door tonight. No excuses about 'Presidential duties.'"
EuiJoo let out a massive sigh of relief, his forehead leaning against the door. "Ten breads. I'll buy ten. Just stop looking at me like I’m a stranger, please Nico"
The humid summer night had finally cooled, replaced by a gentle breeze that carried the scent of rain and damp pavement. The Apology Breads—all ten of them—sat in a crinkling plastic bag between them on the porch steps.
Nicholas was already halfway through his second one, his movements slow and rhythmic. The ‘Mean Reaper’ from the storage room had retreated, replaced by a boy who just looked exhausted and a little bit small in the moonlight.
"You’re eating them too fast, Nico. You’ll get a stomachache," EuiJoo murmured, reaching over to wipe a small smudge of cream from the corner of Nicholas’s mouth.
This time, Nicholas didn't pull away. He leaned into the touch, letting out a long, ragged sigh that seemed to deflate his entire posture. "I didn't eat lunch. I was too busy staring at a practice exam and feeling about... well, everything."
EuiJoo felt a fresh pang of guilt. He shifted closer, his shoulder bumping against Nicholas’s. "I'm really sorry about today. I was so caught up in being 'The President' that I forgot to just be 'Juju.' I didn't mean to make you feel like you were being replaced by a freshman with a portable fan."
Nicholas stopped chewing. He stared at the half-eaten bread in his hand, his silver earrings swaying slightly.
"I missed you," Nicholas said, his voice so quiet it was almost lost to the crickets in the garden. "That’s the real problem. I’m stuck in that library for ten hours a day, and the only thing I have to look forward to is a ten-second walk-by in the hall. Then I show up to see you, and you’re... you’re laughing with someone else. Someone who gets to see you all day while I’m drowning in math problems."
He looked up, his eyes glassy and honest. "I hated being mean in that storage room. But I was so jealous it felt like I was choking. I didn't know I could be that petty, Juju. It’s embarrassing."
Euijoo reached out, taking Nicholas’s hand—the one not holding the bread—and interlacing their fingers. He squeezed tightly, his heart aching at the confession.
"You weren't just petty, Nico. You were... terrifying," EuiJoo admitted with a small, sheepish laugh. "I’ve seen you glare at bullies, but the way you looked at Taki? I thought you were going to manifest a literal scythe. I took a note to myself, never, ever provoke the jealous version of my boyfriend again."
EuiJoo turned his body toward Nicholas, his expression becoming solemn and focused.
"But I mean it, Nico. I’m going to make it clear. No more 'Big Brother' vibes. From now on, Taki and everyone else in the Council—and the whole school—will know exactly where I stand. I’ll make sure they know that the President is strictly, officially, and happily taken by the 3rd-year Art Senior who buys him strawberry bread."
He leaned in, resting his forehead against Nicholas’s. "I missed you so much it hurt, too. Every time I looked at my phone and saw it wasn't a text from you, the festival felt like a chore. You’re not my 'consultant' because of your taste, Nico. You’re my consultant because I can’t make a single decision without wanting to tell you about it first."
Nicholas finally let out a real, soft laugh. He leaned back against the porch railing, pulling EuiJoo with him. "Fine. But I’m still keeping the rest of the bread. For 'emotional damages'."
"Take it all," EuiJoo whispered, leaning in to press a soft, lingering kiss to Nicholas’s temple. "I’ll buy you the whole bakery if it keeps my Jealous Boyfriend away for the rest of the week."
They sat there in the quiet of the night, sharing the last of the sandwiches under the yellow porch light—two boys who were too busy for the world, but always had enough time to find their way back to each other.
-
The next day’s lunch bell rang like a boxing round started. The gossip from the Auditorium Incident had already mutated—half the school thought Nicholas had resigned as a consultant, and the other half thought Taki was the new favorite.
EuiJoo, however, had spent his first-period study hall drafting a very different executive order.
The cafeteria was at peak capacity when the doors swung open. Usually, EuiJoo enters with his Council members, but today, he was alone. He walked straight to the senior wing, stopping at Nicholas’s table.
Nicholas was mid-bite into a sandwich, looking exhausted from a morning math drill, when a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see EuiJoo—not the Angel President, but Juju.
EuiJoo didn't say a word. He simply sat down on the bench right next to Nicholas, thigh-to-thigh, and reached over to steal a grape from Nicholas's tray.
"President?" a voice chirped.
Taki appeared, holding two bottles of specialized vitamin water. "I got these for our afternoon meeting! One for you and one for the Consultant-sunbae!"
EuiJoo took the bottles, but he didn't give his usual ‘Big Brother’ smile. He set them down and then, in front of Taki, Harua, and approximately three hundred other students, he reached out and took Nicholas’s hand, interlacing their fingers on top of the table.
"Thanks, Taki," EuiJoo said, his voice clear and projecting to the neighboring tables. "But actually, the 'Consultant' and I are going to be a bit busy during lunch from now on. We’ve realized that being a 3rd-year and a President means we don't get enough couple time."
The sound of three hundred hearts stopping was almost audible. Taki blinked, his portable fan stuttering in his hand. "C-couple time? You mean... like... boyfriends?"
"Exactly like that," EuiJoo confirmed, leaning his head against Nicholas’s shoulder—a move so domestic it practically caused a riot. "So if anyone needs the President, they’ll have to wait until after I’ve finished my lunch with my Nico."
Nicholas turned a spectacular shade of crimson, but he didn't pull away. He squeezed EuiJoo’s hand back, a small, triumphant smirk directed at the stunned freshman.
"Ugh, gross," a voice groaned from across the table.
Harua was sitting there, poking at his rice with a look of deep disappointment. He had been hoping for at least three more days of ‘Jealous Reaper’ drama, maybe a dramatic confrontation on the rooftop. Instead, he got... feelings.
"You guys are so boring," Harua sighed, shaking his head. "I went to all that trouble to stir the pot, and you two just solved it with a hand-hold and some fruit? Where’s the grit? Where’s the 'Reaper' scythe? You’re both just losers in love. It’s sickening."
"Harua, you literally fueled the fire for two hours yesterday," EuiJoo snapped, finally breaking his ‘calm’ persona to glare at his friend. "I almost went bankrupt buying ten breads because of your 'leading questions'!"
"I was doing you a favor!" Harua countered, sticking his tongue out. "Nico-hyung needed to know he’s still got it, and you needed to realize you’re a terrible flirt. If anything, you should be paying me in strawberry bread."
"I am not a terrible flirt!" EuiJoo argued, his face flushing. "I was being a polite leader! Unlike you, who is a professional agent of chaos!"
"A leader who didn't notice his boyfriend was about to manifest a dark aura in the storage room?" Harua teased, leaning in. "You're lucky he likes your 'Juju' face, otherwise you'd be eating lunch with Taki's portable fan for the rest of the year."
"Shut up, Harua! Go find your own drama!"
Nicholas watched them bicker, his heart finally feeling light. He looked at Taki, who was now bowing frantically and apologizing for ‘intruding on their sacred time’, and then back at EuiJoo, who was currently trying to steal Harua's side dish out of spite.
The ‘Reaper’ was gone. The ‘Jealous Monster’ was asleep. For the first time all summer, Nicholas felt perfectly, comfortably at home.
-
That afternoon, Nicholas and Harua decided to intrude in the name of extra help for the Summer Festival Preparation. Then the atmosphere in the student council room shifted from ‘chaotic bickering’ to ‘absolute stunned silence’ in approximately 1.5 seconds.
EuiJoo had been mid-sentence, pointing a staple gun at Harua. "Maybe if you spent less time being a professional agent of chaos and more time finding a boyfriend, you wouldn't be so obsessed with my relationship!"
Harua didn't flinch. He just leaned back against a stack of festival banners, crossing his arms with a smirk so sharp it could have cut the heavy summer air. "Oh, EuiJoo-ya. You really think I’m as 'single and bored' as I look? Remember last year, you told me to find a 3rd grader, so I did. Well... he was a 3rd grader. He graduated last year."
Nicholas, who was busy sorting out the stage lighting cables, paused. "Graduated? Who?"
"Maki," Harua said, the name dropping like a diamond in the middle of a dusty room.
Nicholas’s jaw practically hit the floor. He dropped a coil of wire. "Maki-hyung? The guy who speaks four languages and won the national debate title? That Maki?"
EuiJoo’s staple gun clattered onto the table. "Maki-sunbae? The ex-School President? The one who is currently at Korea University for International Relations? The guy who used to give me advice on how to handle the faculty without losing my mind?"
"The very one," Harua bragged, flipping his hair with a level of sass that was honestly terrifying. "He’s smart, he’s tall, and he actually listens to me when I talk—unlike some 'Angels' I know. He even sends me translated poetry for my bedtime stories. What does Nico-hyung give you? Extra strawberry bread?"
Nicholas was actually applauding. He wasn't even jealous; he was genuinely impressed. "Harua... I have to hand it to you. Maki-hyung is a legend. He was the quietest, most remarkable senior in the school. How did someone as loud as you snag someone as composed as him?"
"Opposites attract, Nico-hyung," Harua beamed, his chest puffing out. "He likes my 'energy,' and I like his... well, everything. He’s coming to the Summer Festival as a 'Distinguished Alumnus,' so you two better be on your best behavior. I wouldn't want the former President to see the current President bickering with a freshman."
EuiJoo was still blinking, trying to process the mental image of the stoic, genius Maki holding hands with the human personification of a firecracker. "I can't believe it. I’ve been lecturing you for months, and you were dating the most respected guy in the school history? Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because watching you panic about Taki was way more fun," Harua laughed, sticking his tongue out. "But don't worry. Maki already knows all about the 'Nico-Juju' saga. He thinks you two are 'cute but exhausting.'"
The ‘Reaper’, the ‘President’, and the ‘Puppet Master’ finally settled back into their work, but the vibe had completely changed. The power balance was restored.
"So," Nicholas said, a mischievous glint in his eye as he looked at Euijoo. "If Maki-hyung is coming to the festival... does that mean we have to double-date? I’d love to see the President try to act 'cool' in front of his predecessor."
Euijoo groaned, burying his face in his hands. "It’s going to be a disaster. Harua is going to tell him everything. Maki-sunbae is going to think I’ve turned the Student Council into a romantic drama club."
"Oh, he already knows, Juju," Harua chirped, picking up a paintbrush. "He already knows.”