Chapter Text
Flowers bloomed along the pathways as students streamed through the gates of Seoul Arts High School.
The corridors filled with chatters. Everyone eagerly talking how their break went. The first day back was flooded with anticipation and reunion.
Yet amidst the cheerful crowd, one expressed stood out. A worn out look settled on Eom Seonghyeon's face.
Seonghyeon took his usual seat at the back, by the window. His classmates rarely spoke to him or paid him much attention. It had been that way since last year, and nothing had changed.
Seonghyeon never stood out, he didn't get into trouble nor was he constantly praised.
He was just simply there.
He didn't make any efforts to socialize and people reciprocated his energy. He preferred staying out of the spotlight, and over time, people had begun to treat him as though he were invisible.
Seonghyeon kept staring at the window, not noticing that the teacher walked in with a student behind her.
"Good morning, everyone. Today, we have someone joining us. Some of you may already know him from the section next door." The teacher nodded at the student, signaling him to introduce himself.
Seonghyeon sighed softly and looked at the front. "Hi, everyone. Nice to meet you, my name is Ahn Keonho. I used to be a student at section Y-2 last year, the room beside yours. I'm also a student-athlete, swimmer, to be specific." Keonho introduced himself with a smile on his face.
Seonghyeon recognized him.
Ahn Keonho.
His face was hard to miss. He always seen in posters plastered in hallways after water sports events.
"Very well then, feel free to sit anywhere." The teacher said to Keonho, there were 4 empty seats yet only one caught his eyes.
A boy sat by the window at the back of the classroom, his dark hair falling over his eyes as his eyebrows slightly furrowed. The morning sunlight softened his features, giving him an almost distant appearance.
Pretty.
Keonho wondered why anyone wasn't sitting beside someone this beautiful. "I’d like to sit at the back, if that’s alright," he told the teacher.
Without waiting another second, he made his way toward the empty seat beside Seonghyeon and dropped into it with a satisfied grin.
Seonghyeon could only stare at him, dumbfounded.
Out of all the empty seats in the classroom, why had he chosen this one? The other students seemed just as confused. Most of them barely acknowledged Seonghyeon’s existence, yet somehow Keonho had noticed him the moment he walked in.
Keonho turned at him and asked for his name "What’s your name?” Seonghyeon hesitated for a moment before quietly answering, “Eom Seonghyeon." Although Keonho didn't quite catch it, it didn't matter since he was going to read the class masterlist later for his name. Still, the fact that Seonghyeon had answered at all made his smile widen. "I hope we get along."
With that, Keonho turned his attention to the front of the room and listened to the teacher.
Beside him, Seonghyeon let out a quiet sigh and returned his gaze to the window.
__________
After settling in the second week of school, schoolworks eventually started to greet students.
Keonho used the free period to solve a math problem, but after a few minutes, he let out a loud sigh and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
Seonghyeon stopped looking at the window and looked to his left to see why someone was sighing so loudly.
"You forgot to switch signs when you solve for x." Seonghyeon quietly said.
Keonho looked at Seonghyeon. He thinks this was the longest he has spoken to him in 2 weeks.
"Huh?" Keonho, still suprised, asked confused.
"The last step, you forgot to switch signs before solving for x." Seonghyeon responded quietly.
"Oh" Keonho said, blinking. "I did all of that just to mess up the last step. Damn." Keonho caressed his nape, embarrassed.
Seonghyeon observed Keonho, seeing how Keonho reacted so openly frustrayed with himself—that made a faint expression tug at the corner of his lips. Keonho's eyes enlarged when he noticed the subtle smile on Seonghyeon's face. But instead on pointing it out, he could only smile back wider and chuckled awkwardly for his stupidity.
__________
The next afternoon, Keonho found himself staring at Seonghyeon.
His cheek was pressed against his folded arms on the desk, fast asleep. The classroom was empty—just the two of them.
A small smile lingered on Keonho’s face as he quietly watched him.
Keonho woke up Seonghyeon gently. "Seonghyeon...? It's already break time." Keonho's voice was gentle and soft. Seonghyeon softly groaned and sat back up just to stare at Keonho.
Keonho softly laughed at his expression. "You’ve been asleep for a while. It’s been like ten minutes since break started. Aren’t you going to eat something?"
Seonghyeon shook his head.
"You sure?" Keonho asked once again.
Seonghyeon nodded.
Keonho nodded back "Okay then, text me if you want something in the cafeteria, okay? I'll be down there." Keonho kept asking for Seonghyeons number a week ago and after a few days, Seonghyeon gave in.
Keonho gave him one last smile before turning away.
At that moment, voices echoed from the hallway.
"Keonho!" His friends—James, Martin, and Juhoon—called out to him.
"Coming," he replied quickly, heading out to join them.
The classroom fell quiet again. Seonghyeon remained alone, lowering his head back onto his arms, and drifted back into sleep.
After the class ended, Keonho spotted Seonghyeon inside the school building, contemplating whether he should walk under the rain.
Keonho walked towards Seonghyeon and offered his umbrella with a smile. Seonghyeon blinked, confused.
"My umbrella, use it." Keonho grinned.
"Do you have another umbrella?"
"No, just one."
"Then, why are you giving it to me?"
Keonho kept grinning, "It's fine. I'm a swimmer, remember? I'm used to water."
Seonghyeon sighed and knew that Keonho wouldn't leave him alone if he didn't accept his umbrella.
Coincidentally—or maybe not—they ended up walking in the same direction. Keonho casually claimed they lived along the same route. Seonghyeon didn’t argue.
Seonghyeon suddenly stopped which made Keonho look back. Seonghyeon went inside an acai shop. So did Keonho.
At the counter, Seonghyeon reached out for his wallet and slightly frowned when he was short. Keonho noticed his expression and suddenly spoke up. "I'll pay!"
Seonghyeon looked up at him, "Oh uhm... you don't have to."
"Nah, it's fine. Consider it as thanks for the help with problem solving earlier."
Seonghyeon hesitated for a moment but nodded again, a small smile flashing his lips after. Keonho once noticed his subtle smile and smiled even wider.
The rain once calmed, Keonho and Seonghyeon walked out the shop with acai bowls on one hand.
"Wow, this is really good." Keonho stated.
Seonghyeon gave him a small nod.
"Is this where you usually go after class?"
Another nod.
Keonho couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. Seonghyeon glanced at him, "what's so funny...?" he asked quietly.
"Your nods," Keonho said with a smile, "they're kind of cute."
Seonghyeon stopped his tracks and stared at Keonho, caught off guard. Keonho was still smiling, while a faint warmth crept up Seonghyeon’s ears.
He quickly looked away and cleared his throat.
“My house is this way,” he said, pointing toward a right turn. Keonho nodded. "Mine’s to the left."
He hesitated for a moment before looking at Seonghyeon again.
"See you tomorrow?"
Seonghyeon nodded again before turning around. Keonho stayed where he was for a second, watching until Seonghyeon disappeared into the distance. Then he started walking home, still smiling.