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Everyone knew Hanjin, even if they didn't, they somehow knew. He was what mothers would call “a perfect boyfriend material”. Genuinely kind and an amazing gentleman. Everyone was head over heels for him, including his classmate Kyungmin.
Let's just say that Kyungmin is very unique. Many of his psychology major friends diagnosed him with many disorders and also his mbti is esfj which makes him “the kindest friend everyone has ever had.” Hobbies? Long forgotten. Interests? Watching sports and obsessing over sportsmen if you could count that as an interest. Sleep schedule? Cooked, he has something he made up which is morning insomnia, the second the sun rose, he wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. That's why he developed an insane addiction to fan fics, crazy but can't blame him, what else would a highschooler do in his free time?
Jihoon and Dohoon always made fun of him for reading fan fics until he got them hooked on it too. That was as he said “the biggest victory of my little life.” Reading many fan fics has made him frankly delusional and also very fond of love. He'd always make up some fantasy about him and Hanjin and even write a fan fic about them, which got a good number of readers, despite his not educated writing. So when he read a fan fic about how a secret admirer got his way with his crush, he knew what he had to do.
….
“Really?” Dohoon said, not believing the words coming out of Kyungmin's mouth. “You're going to leave little gifts in Hanjin's locker?” He continued, looking amused and sorry for Kyungmin at the same time. “You may go to the same class but there's no way he chooses you Kyungma” Jihoon chimed in, mouth full of rice as always. “Shut up you two, I'm going to prove you wrong!” He declared loudly and went back to his classroom.
Hanjin was there early from lunch break and when Kyungmin walked in he could notice a small smile forming on Hanjin's face. He was listening to music, head down looking at his shoes like he always does. “What are you going to prove your friends wrong about?” Hanjin asked and Kyungmin stiffened, he genuinely couldn't form a single coherent thought. “Umm.. I.. we.. bye!” He said and bolted out of the door before anyone could see anything.
When lunch break finally ended, Kyungmin returned to the classroom and relief washed over him as he found Hanjin chatting about something with his friends, not even paying him a glance after that awkward encounter.
His relief was short-lived after a professor paired them for a class assignment. “Hanjin and Kyungmin, you'll be a pair for this assignment, any questions?” Kyungmin had been too caught up in his fantasies with Hanjin, he didn't even hear the professor. His hand shamefully rose up as he said “Could you please repeat what we are doing again?” His voice was so small he barely even heard it. After the professor explained everything again, Hanjin moved to Kyungmin's seat so that they could discuss.
But before any school related thing was mentioned Hanjin brought up something that made Kyungmin's blood run cold. “Why did you bolt out of the door like that?” Hanjin asked, genuine confusion written all over his face. Kyungmin had three options, bolt out of the door again, say the truth or lie. “I remembered i had something really urgent to do. I'm very sorry” of course he chose to lie.
“Don't apologise, it's nothing really” Hanjin said with that beautiful smile of his, Kyungmin dreamed of more often than not. Then, he and Hanjin naturally got lost in the conversation about the project they were assigned. It wasn't the ideal conversation to have with Hanjin as he wasn't the smartest one out there but it was nice seeing him looking all lost for the first time.
Kyungmin didn't even notice it, but Hanjin was staring for a really long time. “Sorry, do I have something on my face?” He asked, dropping his head in embarrassment. “No, no” Hanjin said, that smile showing up once again. “You just look… really cute when you're focused” Hanjin said so quietly that Kyungmin almost missed it. He couldn't stop the blush from spreading across his face and he quickly put his hands up to cover his blushing face. The bell, Kyungmin's saviour, started ringing and Kyungmin, once again bolted out of the door like a man on a mission and his only mission was to avoid the most beautiful person he had ever seen.
He ran up to Dohoon and Jihoon like they were his only lifeline. “Hanjin. Said. That. I. Look. Very. Cute. When. I'm. Focused.” He said in a loud whisper as they started walking forward. God forbid he has one second of peace, before he knew it he fell face down on the pavement and someone's hand just caught him in time. He looked up, his mind saying please don't be Hanjin, please don't be Hanjin but his wishes weren't heard as when he looked up one and only Han Zhen was looking at him all concerned.
“Kyungmin? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” He asked, his voice gentle and soft just like cotton candy. “yeah.. i.. okay.. AM OKAY! sorry” he stood up and immediately found Dohoon and Jihoon who were standing by the fence laughing their asses off at Kyungmin's clumsiness and embarrassment.
“Hanjin's going to think that you're an elementary school kid if you keep up with this act” Dohoon said between chuckles. “At least I'm not chasing Junghwan around like a yearning whore” kyungmin shot back, annoyed at all the teasing. Dohoon gasped loudly at that before saying “I'm not chasing Junghwan around, where have you heard that?” “Believe it or not Dohoon, you and Junghwan and Jihoon and Youngjae are the main talk of high school” now it was his time to chuckle, enjoying every second of it.
“I just need to stalk Hanjin a teeny tiny bit on social media to see what he likes and then I'll be on that list too.” Kyungmin said, puffing his chest out.
….
The group chat was renamed to “yearning whores”
Dohoon:
Ya! Lee Kyungmin!
What the fuck is this?
Jihoon:
Hahahahahaha
Suits you Dohoon
Kyungmin:
just wanted to tell yall that i love Hanjin
Dohoon:
you little shit
And with that Kyungmin continued the rest of this very eventful day. He maybe stalked Hanjin a bit too much on social media and saw that Hanjin is actually from China. He had never told anyone that. His Korean was really good so no one ever suspected anything. And that's how naturally Kyungmin's plan formed. He'll leave Chinese snacks in his locker so Hanjin would fall for this supposed person who keeps leaving him Chinese snacks.
And with that he happily arrived 20 minutes early to school looking for Hanjin's locker, and finding it was very easy since it wasn't his first leaving stuff in Hanjin's locker. Thankfully no suspicious people were near Hanjin's locker so he smoothly left some snacks and a note.
Hanjin! Have a good day today! You're really cool
He cringed at himself but he had to continue with his plan until the end. Let's not forget that note was written in Chinese. He slowly retreated to the classroom, looking through the window because his seat had a great view on Hanjin's locker.
He watched slowly as Hanjin opened his locker, took out some books and stumbled upon Kyungmin's little gift. Kyungmin's heart dropped to his shoes as he realised that Hanjin will read the cringey note he left.
He saw Hanjin's expression change from surprised to something soft, almost loving. He quickly tucked the note in his pocket and entered the classroom with a wide smile.
Lunch break rolled around and Kyungmin quickly ran up to his friends. Dohoon and Jihoon looked like they were ready to laugh their asses off. “My plan’s working!” He said in a loud whisper. “Really?” Jihoon said, nearly spitting out his drink. “Yeah” Kyungmin said, feeling victorious. “He smiled at the note and clutched it the whole three periods!”
“Congratulations, you might actually get Hanjin” Dohoon said, not able to hide the sour expression on his face as Junghwan walked past them. “What’s with your expression?” Kyungmin asked. “Junghwan rejected me and is now with Youngjae” Dohoon sulked. “WHAT THE FUCK!” Jihoon shot up from his seat faster than the speed of light. “NO, NO!” He yelled angrily. “I fucking hate my life, I'll kill them both with my own bare hands, I swear to God!” Jihoon said and angrily stormed out of the cafeteria. “What an asshole Junghwan is” Kyungmin muttered and left to his classroom where he once again found Hanjin alone.
“Oh hey Kyungmin, what's wrong with your expression?” Hanjin asked, looking worried? “Nothing much, just my two friends got heartbroken…” Kyungmin said, wanting this conversation to be over with, surprising himself he formed coherent words in front of Kyungmin. “Oh that's too bad, i always thought Junghwan would end up with Dohoon and Youngjae with Jihoon.” Hanjin said, his own expression matching Kyungmin's. “You know what i found in my locker today?” Hanjin said, a small smile forming on his face and Kyungmin's heart completely stopped.
“What?” He asked, trying not to sound as obvious. “Someone left me some Chinese snacks and a note written in Chinese, that's so sweet!” “You're Chinese?” Kyungmin asked, surprised by his good acting. “You didn't know?” A laugh left Hanjin and it felt so natural. Kyungmin suddenly thought about their first encounter in first year of high school when Kyungmin's Chinese notebook fell down and they both rushed to pick it up. He saw a flicker of surprise in Hanjin's face but he thought nothing of it until he found out that Hanjin is Chinese.
“I didn't.. So that means Hanjin isn't your real name?” Kyungmin asked, dropping the acting completely. “Yeah” Hanjin chuckled lightly “my real name is Han Zhen, my Korean teacher gave this name and I've been rolling with it ever since” Hanjin looked so cute Kyungmin wanted to pull him in a kiss right then but he had to keep his composure and sanity. He got flashbacks of him the previous night writing the note in Chinese thinking if Hanjin would like it or not, and now seeing Hanjin talk about it with a big smile made his heart hundred times lighter.
“That's so nice of that person, I'm glad!” He said, wanting Hanjin to know that he's genuinely happy for him. The class started and Kyungmin once again got lost in his thoughts. He doesn't even know why but this day brought back so many memories. Especially when he and Hanjin were assigned a room on a trip to China. Hanjin looked so happy to be there, gushing about the beautiful Shanghai view and muttering something which was probably something in Chinese. They had a lot of fun on that trip and Hanjin practically clung to him the entirety of that trip. Kyungmin enjoyed it more than he probably should and bragged to Doboon and Jihoon the entire second year.
“Kyungmin, mind sharing what's so interesting about Hanjin?” The professor asked and all 23 heads turned around to stare at him. Heat crept up his face and he felt embarrassed like never before. “I…. ummm.. just zoned out, yeah i just zoned out… hehe” He wanted to break himself in 6 pieces and sell them and hang himself. After the class ended he slowly approached Hanjin. “I'm sorry if it seemed like i was staring, i just zoned out, sorry, I'm really sorry” he said, almost getting on his knees if he had to. “No, no, it was cute, don't apologise” Hanjin just left, leaving a flustered and embarrassed Kyungmin behind him. Hanjin called him cute two times in the span of two days, he could die happy.
…
kyungmin:
HE CALLED ME CUTE
AGAIN!!!!!!
Dohoon:
you look like a girl in love
Jihoon:
technically he is a little girl in love
kyungmin:
shut up whores
tomorrow I'm gonna step up my game hehehe
Kyungmin woke up with determination no human had ever seen. He had everything planned out for his second secret admirer duty. He once again arrived at school, checking the whole place for anyone but to his absolute surprise the school was completely empty.
He slowly crouched down and put some snacks and a note in Hanjin's locker, then positioned himself to watch everything unfold without getting caught.
Hanjin slowly approached his locker smiling to himself as he thought about yesterday's findings. He secretly wanted to find it again but didn't know if he possessed that kind of luck. Much to his wishes after taking out some books a small bag filled with some chinese snacks and a note fell out and Hanjin's smile spread wide.
He grabbed the note reading it carefully
Hellooo! Surprised to see this again! I hope you like what snacks i picked out this time
P.s
Here's my number if you wanna chat >.<
Kyungmin watched how Hanjin's hands moved as he took out his phone entering the classroom. Slowly a silent ding was heard from Kyungmin's phone but thankfully no one else had heard it. A lot of students were on their phones because the professor was absent so he took out his phone, looked at Hanjin's message and as less obviously as he could started typing back.
Hanjin:
who's this hehe?
ninimini:
why would i reveal myself so easily?
he heard Hanjin's phone get a notification and his heart nearly jumped out of excitement. He just needs to keep typing so it doesn't seem like it's him.
hanjin:
thank you for the little gifts and notes you've been leaving it's so cutee
but … why do you do that?
ninimini:
uhh you're welcome!
isn't it obvious why i do it?
Kyungmin was straightforward, he may not be the most confident when talking but when he's texting everyone falls in love with him.
hanjin:
you're someone from my class right?
ninimini:
why would i tell you that Mr. Hanjin
you're supposed to be guessing my identity not getting everything from me, right?
hanjin:
just give a teeny tiny hint please?
ninimini:
when you beg like that i can't refuse
the hint is that
I'm younger than you
hanjin:
I'm a 4th year, everyone is younger than me
ninimini:
well too bad so sad, you wanted a little hint
bye
hanjin:
okay :(
Kyungmin couldn't stop the side smile from spreading and he quickly started writing something not to seem suspicious. Now that Hanjin had his number everything would be a little harder.
The professor came and his fun quickly got ruined but playing Hanjin was the most fun he had in a while.
When lunch rolled around Hanjin was surprisingly not in the classroom but in the cafeteria. Usually Hanjin stayed alone in the classroom or sometimes he would go out but today he was seen in the cafeteria. All the girls suddenly started getting all over him but he pushed them away until he noticed the table in the far corner.
“And i was saying ‘you need to g-” Kyugmin got interrupted by Jihoon nudging him hard and when he looked up it was no other than Hanjin himself. “May i sit here, the girls swarmed my table” Hanjin asked shyly, Jihoon and Dohoon exchanged weird looks but let him sit anyway. “Sooo what brings you here Han Zhen” Dohoon asked suspiciously. “I was bored in the classroom and wanted to be here but many people swarmed my table so i spotted Kyungmin and went here” Hanjin said, completely unaware of Kyungmin's burning ears.
“Don't you usually stay in the classroom?” Jihoon asked, side eyeing him. “Yeah, but since i have no one to talk to and my earbuds are dead i got bored pretty quickly” he replied, the kind smile never leaving his beautiful, gorgeous features. “And who do you talk to that wasn't there?” The duo asked in union like they've been preparing for this day. “Kyungmin, or some of my friends” “uuuuuuu” they both said but quickly shut up after Kyungmin started cursing at them with his eyes.
“I'm gonna go to the bathroom” Hanjin said and disappeared. “WHY DO YOU TWO HAVE TO BE SO FUCKING WEIRD!?” he asked, his voice rising after every word. “Didn't you see his face when he mentioned your name? He's completely in love” Jihoon said defensively and Dohoon quickly backed him up. Just then Kyungmin's phone buzzed.
hanjin:
where are you now?
ninimini:
in front of you
hanjin:
I'm literally in the bathroom
ninimini:
well idc
hanjin:
you seem so rude for a boy so in love with me
ninimini:
kidding I'm at the cafeteria
hanjin:
ohhhhh
ninimini:
what's that supposed to mean?
hanjin:
i was in the cafeteria a few mins ago
ninimini:
i saw you, you were sitting with Kyungmin, Jihoon and Dohoon
they seem pretty cool though but I'm younger than them :(
hanjin:
yeah they're cool
especially kyungmin
he's my classmate
Kyungmin threw his phone and started blushing like crazy. The school nurse mistook his blushing cheeks for a fever and sent him home.
hanjin:
where are you now?
ninimini:
at school why?
hanjin:
oh nothing I was just checking something
Kyungmin was feeling so victorious, he'd completely deceived Hanjin. He got him wrapped around his finger. He had a plan for tomorrow but first he'll need to perfect his Chinese more.
Kyungmin:
guys Hanjin said that I'm cool
I'm dead literally dead
dohoon:
where the fuck are you?
jihoon:
yeah, we've been looking around for almost 30 minutes but you're nowhere to be seen, even Hanjin has started looking for you.
kyungmin:
i started blushing really really hard and the nurse mistook it for a fever and sent me home
but if Hanjin asks, I've got a fever, okay?
jihoon:
okay whatever
Kyungmin thought nothing of that until a knock was heard on his door. He looked through the peephole and quickly put his fever look on. “Kyungmin, are you okay?” Hanjin asked, his brows in a deep furrow. “I could be better” he said between fake coughs. Kyungmin slowly looked at Hanjin's hands and he saw pharmacy bags in his hands. “I bought you some medicine since I know you live alone.”
Kyungmin almost started crying right at his front porch. His throat closed up a bit as he quickly thanked Hanjin and closed the door.
“I'm going to marry this mother fucker”
….
Kyungmin woke up ready to get Hanjin once and for all. Hanjin clearly liked the little gifts he had been leaving so it's only a matter of time when he starts liking the actual person behind it.
Today was something a bit more straightforward than usual and he hid behind not to see Hanjin's reaction for the first time since leaving gifts in his locker.
Hanjin opened the note and started reading it
Text me in exactly 42 minutes! After you activate the little timer at the bottom and i just want to say it to you but ninimini is very confident in texts but not much in person, that's a little hint!!
Btw you're very pretty today :)
Kyungmin again cringed at himself because of that note but he was a pathetic loser and he'll accept it. He'll do anything just to get Hanjin all for himself. He saw Hanjin entering the classroom with the biggest smile known to man and surprisingly his eyes landed on Kyungmin. Kyungmin looked at him weirdly basically saying why are you looking at me? but they kept the eye contact until the professor walked in.
While waiting for Hanjin's message Kyungmin was brought to the past once again remembering how Hanjin used to be so tiny and cute. His hair was black, he looked so adorable, Kyungmin basically fell in love at first sight. And now the thought of maybe getting Hanjin all to himself made him so giddy.
hanjin:
42 minutes are up
why did you tell me to text you?
ninimini:
great question gorgeous
i actually want you to meet me at the school rooftop at the second lunch break
hanjin:
ohhhh that sounds pretty romantic if you ask me but I'm no a romantic guy
ninimini:
what if i want to kill you up there how would that be romantic ?
hanjin:
anything with you is romantic ninimini
ninimini:
wait hanjin you're a very oblivious person
how did you not hear my friends call me that nickname
hanjin:
no i didn't
wait my professor is approaching me
“Hanjin, hand over your phone right now” professor Seo said loudly, her voice echoed in the school halls. “But Miss, please” Hanjin pleaded but she wasn't having it, she basically snatched it from his hand and put it in her drawer. “Come pick up this after we're done with classes today” she said sternly and continued teaching. Hanjin looked crushed.
Kyungmin thought this was soo funny so when lunch time rolled around he started yapping to dohoon and jihoon. “We were chatting i was getting flirty then just i hear her voice loud and clear ‘Hanjin give me your phone now’ i was honestly starled a bit but then i just started laughing like a maniac” he said through more waves of laughter. Dohoon and Jihoon looked at him like he was completely out of his mind, which he probably was but that's a talk for another day.
After that Kyungmin went back to the classroom to find Hanjin just sitting in his chair like a statue. “Hanjin?” He said quietly but Hanjin didn't move he just stared straight ahead. “Hanjin are you okay?” He asked once again, in a more worried tone and that seemed to get a reaction out of Hanjin. “I'm so bored” he said. “She took my phone and now i can't text my friend” he said, pouting a little and Kyungmin couldn't help but laugh because he looked so cute.
“What's the name of your friend?” Kyungmin asked, already knowing the answer. “Well he's kinda my secret admirer and his name is ninimini” hanjin said, a small smile returning to his features as he talked about Kyungmin's alter ego. “Who the fuck names themselves ninimini?” “I don't know, it sounds a bit silly but i love him, he's really kind” Hanjin talked about ninimini like he hung every star on the earth.
“Well i hope you get to talk to him soon!” Little did Hanjin know he had been talking to ninimini basically his entire high school period.
Kyungmin completely missed 6th period - the period before the second lunch break. He doesn't even know why he did that, maybe it was his nerves eating at him or maybe it was just the fact that he'll confess to the Hanjin. He was sitting on a chair that he took from a classroom and next to him was a copy of all notes he left out and a another chair, meant for Hanjin of course. The door cracked open and Hanjin looked so surprised it looked like he got whiplash.
“W-w-wait, you're NINIMINI?!” He basically screamed in something that sounded like excitement so Kyungmin took it as that. “Took you long to find out silly” Kyungmin said, suddenly getting the confidence as if the Kim Dohoon possessed him himself.
“So all the times I've talked to you about ninimini was actually me talking to you about you?” Hanjin asked, still in disbelief. “I need to know if this is real” after Hanjin said that, Kyungmin didn't even hesitate anymore he leaned in and pressed a kiss to Hanjin's lips.
“I think that this convinces you that everything happening right now isn't a dream” he said, licking his lips with pride.
“I liked you ever since we've first seen eachother and I've been so pathetic about you for 4 years straight so i finally did something about it” Kyungmin said waiting for Hanjin's reaction. “I've fallen in love with you since the China trip we took, your Chinese sounded so natural i fell straight for you there and have also been very pathetically in love with you ever since”
“So… do you wanna kiss and skip the rest of the school or come back to class” Kyungmin asked “definitely the first option” Hanjin said, already pressing his lips against Kyungmin's.
epilogue <3
Hanjin and Kyungmin were sitting side by side at their graduation party and then they saw Junghwan and Youngjae kissing in the corner. “They're so shameless” Kyungmin said, looking utterly disgusted. “Yeah, like why were they giving hints to Dohoon and Jihoon just to reject them coldly” Hanjin said, feeling sorry for Dohoon and Jihoon.
“You know” Kyungmin started “i was really bold while texting you now that i think about it. “Yeah you were, i never thought that behind the flirty texts it was actually lee kyungmin who bolts out of the door whenever i try to talk to him” Hanjin chuckled and Kyungmin pulled him into a kiss to shut him up.
The graduation party was going really well, everyone was talking about old memories, stupid trips, failures, clumsy moments. It was really nice having everyone huddled up and talking about many memories. “Remember when Hanjin had a secret admirer?” A girl from their class said. “Literally 7 months have passed since that, i’d count it pretty recent” Kyungmin said, feeling embarrassed about it.
Just then Hanjin spotted something and nudged Kyungmin so hard he nearly fell off of a chair. “Do you see what i’m seeing?” Hanjin said after a long dramatic gasp. And then Kyungmin spotted it too. It was unmistakably his two best friends kissing in secret. “How the fuck did that happen?” he muttered and squeezed Hanjin’s hand in disbelief. “Guess the yearning whores finally found happiness”