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Everyone at school knew that Martin and Juhoon couldn’t stand each other.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Martin was the school’s golden boy.
Basketball captain. Straight-A student when he actually bothered to study. Loud, confident, charming, and annoyingly good at almost everything he tried. He had the kind of smile that made teachers forgive him for being late and the kind of popularity that meant he could walk into the cafeteria and immediately have ten people calling his name.
Girls liked him.
A lot.
Juhoon had never understood why.
Well.
That wasn’t entirely true.
Juhoon understood perfectly.
And maybe that was the problem.
He knew exactly why everyone liked Martin.
He knew because he had been hopelessly in love with the idiot for almost a year.
Juhoon was the complete opposite of Martin.
He was quiet.
Reserved.
Always carrying a book.
Always prepared.
Always sitting somewhere near the window during lunch with his headphones in and his notes neatly arranged in front of him.
He wasn’t unpopular, exactly.
People respected him.
They just didn’t know what to do with someone who could answer every question in class correctly and then spend his lunch break reading instead of talking.
Martin, meanwhile, seemed to know exactly what to do with him.
He bothered him.
Constantly.
Their families had been rivals for decades, and that rivalry had followed them into school.
The two boys were expected to compete.
So they did.
Martin would beat Juhoon in basketball.
Juhoon would beat Martin in exams.
Martin would brag.
Juhoon would roll his eyes.
Juhoon would win an academic competition.
Martin would complain dramatically about the unfairness of the universe.
Everyone thought it was hilarious.
Nobody knew that after school, Martin would text Juhoon:
you looked cute when you beat me today in PE
And Juhoon would stare at the message for five minutes before replying:
you deserved it.
Followed by:
come over later.
my parents aren’t home.
⸻
Monday morning began like every other day.
Juhoon stood at his locker, carefully arranging his books.
He heard laughter coming from the other end of the hallway.
He didn’t have to look.
Martin was there.
A group of basketball players surrounded him, and several girls were walking alongside them.
One of the girls said something that made Martin laugh.
Juhoon glanced over.
Just once.
Martin caught him.
Their eyes met.
Martin’s smile changed immediately.
It became softer.
Private.
The kind of smile that didn’t belong to the popular basketball captain.
It belonged to Juhoon.
Juhoon quickly looked back into his locker.
A few seconds later, Martin passed him.
Their shoulders bumped into each other.
Subtle enough that others wouldn’t have a second thought about it.
Then Martin’s fingers lightly caught Juhoon’s wrist.
Juhoon froze.
Martin didn’t even stop walking.
He simply squeezed his wrist once and continued down the hallway with his friends.
Juhoon stared after him.
An involuntary smile appeared on his face.
Idiot.
⸻
Between second and third period, Juhoon was walking down the stairs when someone suddenly grabbed his backpack strap.
He was turned to face the person.
Martin.
“What are you doing?”
“Following you.”
“Why?”
“I missed you.”
“We saw each other this morning.”
“That was three hours ago.”
“That’s not a long time.”
“It is.”
Martin took his backpack from his shoulder.
“Give me that.”
“I can carry it.”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
Martin slung the backpack over his own shoulder.
“Because I want to.”
Juhoon stared at him.
“You know someone could see us.”
He says looking around.
Fortunately, everyone had already entered their classes.
“Let them.”
“Martin.”
Martin grinned.
“Fine.”
He stepped closer.
Juhoon’s heart immediately started beating faster.
Martin lowered his voice.
“I’ll give it back.”
He handed the backpack over.
Their fingers touched.
Then Martin suddenly leaned down and gave Juhoon a quick kiss on the lips.
Juhoon’s eyes widened.
Martin was already walking away.
“Martin!”
Juhoon whispered loudly in disbelief.
Martin turned around, walking backward.
“What?”
He was laughing.
“You—”
Juhoon glanced around.
Nobody seemed to be around.
He lowered his voice.
“You can’t just do that.”
Martin’s grin widened.
“Why not?”
“Because someone could see.”
“But nobody did.”
“You don’t know that.”
Martin shrugged.
“See you later, baby.”
Juhoon watched him disappear around the corner.
Then he touched his cheek.
He was smiling.
Again.
⸻
By lunchtime, Juhoon had recovered.
Mostly.
He sat at the rooftop table with a book opened in front of him.
No one goes there.
It’s one of those quiet’s places where Juhoon doesn’t have to pretend to be anyone.
Not a rival.
Not a perfect student.
He was halfway through a chapter when someone dropped into the seat beside from him.
Martin.
Juhoon looked up.
“You’re supposed to be sitting with your team.”
“I am.”
“You’re here.”
“I’m visiting.”
“You’re annoying.”
“Someone could’ve seen you come up.”
Martin leaned forward.
“You missed me.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Martin smiled.
Juhoon tried to read.
A minute passed.
Then Martin’s knee nudged his underneath the table.
Juhoon ignored it.
Another nudge.
He looked up.
Martin was smiling.
Juhoon shook his head.
Martin nudged him again.
Juhoon finally kicked his shoe lightly.
Martin laughed.
“You started it.”
“You were bothering me.”
“Same thing.”
Juhoon went back to reading.
Then, when Martin wasn’t looking, Juhoon leaned and gave him the quickest little peck on the boy’s cheek.
Martin froze for a second.
It was uncommon for Juhoon to start physical contact in public.
Juhoon immediately sat back down and opened his book unbothered.
Martin slowly turned toward him.
Juhoon’s ears were red.
“What?”
Martin stared.
“You kissed me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“You imagined it.”
“Juhoon.”
“Read your book.”
“You kissed me.”
“You’re being loud.”
Martin’s cheeks had gone pink.
Juhoon secretly loved it.
Martin was fearless about almost everything.
But somehow, one tiny unexpected kiss from Juhoon could completely short-circuit him.
Juhoon smiled behind his book.
Martin immediately wrapped his arms around the boy and swarmed him with kisses.
⸻
After lunch, they nearly got caught.
Martin had cornered Juhoon in the quiet hallway behind the auditorium.
Not literally cornered.
He was simply standing too close.
Very close.
“You’re avoiding me.”
“I’m not.”
“You haven’t looked at me in ten minutes.”
“I was in class.”
“Still.”
Juhoon smiled softly.
“You are needy.”
“Because I need you all the time.”
That made Juhoon’s expression soften.
Martin reached out and gently fixed a single strand of hair in Juhoon’s forehead.
“It was out of place.”
“Thank you.”
Martin’s hand lingered.
Juhoon looked up at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Martin wrapped his arms around him.
Juhoon immediately relaxed.
He didn’t resist.
He never really did.
Instead, he slipped his arms around Martin’s neck and rested his cheek against his collarbone.
Martin smiled.
“This is my favorite.”
“What?”
“This.”
Juhoon looked up.
“You hugging me?”
“Yeah.”
“You literally hug me every day.”
“And?”
Juhoon smiled.
“I like it too.”
Martin’s expression became ridiculously happy.
“Really?”
“Don’t make me repeat it.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“No.”
Martin squeezed him.
Juhoon laughed quietly.
Then footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Juhoon immediately pulled away.
“Someone’s coming.”
Martin listened.
The footsteps got closer.
Juhoon grabbed his hand.
“Come on.”
They hurried into the nearby supply room.
Martin covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
Juhoon glared at him.
“This isn’t funny.”
“It is a little.”
“You always do this.”
“I didn’t know anyone was coming.”
“That’s why you have to be careful.”
Martin looked at him.
Then smiled.
“You worry about me.”
“Of course I do.”
The teasing disappeared from Martin’s face.
Juhoon realized what he’d said.
He looked down.
Martin gently squeezed his hand.
“I worry about you too.”
Juhoon smiled.
They stared silently at each other for at least 10 seconds.
“You are so handsome.”
Martin said.
His hand cupping the side of Juhoon’s neck.
His thumb gently caressing the boy’s right cheek.
Juhoon immediately blushed.
Looking down in embarrassment.
“You need to stop saying things like that it makes me-“
Before he could finish Martin pulled him flushed against him.
Their lips connecting in a warm peck.
Juhoon’s eyes were wide open for a moment before he completely relax against the other boy’s touch.
The sweet kiss slowly turning into an intimate and passionate one.
Martin backed Juhoon until his back touched the wall.
His hands pressed him against the wall and tightened around his boyfriend’s tiny waist.
Juhoon was completely melted into the kiss until he heard footsteps outside the room.
He instantly pulled back.
Not abruptly.
Just putting space between the two mouths.
Martin was so dazed from kissing Juhoon that he barely noticed the other boy’s face.
Before Juhoon could even say anything,
Martin leaned in again.
Instinctively chasing his lips desperately.
However,
He was met with nothing.
“Martin we have class.”
Martin was too occupied staring at his lips to think about that now.
“Just a few more minutes.”
He said trying to kiss the boy again.
Juhoon placed a hand in his chest to stop him.
“We already left the classroom for more than 10 minutes.”
He continued
“People are going to find it suspicious.”
“I really don’t care about anything other than you.”
Juhoon eyes widen slightly.
Red creeping up on his face and neck.
“We can finish this later, okay?”
Martin whined before letting go of the boy’s waist.
“Pinky promise?”
“Pinky promise.”
Juhoon said leaning up for one last peck before they leave the supply room.
⸻
Friday afternoon was when Martin became particularly reckless.
The basketball team had practice after school, and Juhoon had stayed behind to finish an assignment.
He was walking past the gym when Martin suddenly appeared.
“Hey.”
Juhoon jumped.
“Martin!”
Martin laughed.
“Sorry.”
“You scared me.”
“I missed you.”
“You saw me twenty minutes ago in the cafeteria.”
“Twenty minutes is a long time.”
Juhoon smiled.
“You really are ridiculous.”
Martin stepped closer.
Then, without warning, he wrapped an arm around Juhoon’s shoulders and pulled him against his side.
Juhoon looked around.
“Martin.”
“What?”
“Someone might see.”
“Nobody’s here.”
“You’re always saying that.”
“And I’m usually right.”
Juhoon sighed.
But he didn’t move away.
Instead, he leaned into Martin.
Martin smiled.
“You like this.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Don’t push it.”
Martin laughed.
They started walking down the hallway together.
At the corner, Martin suddenly stopped.
Juhoon looked at him.
“What?”
Martin gently brushed a strand of hair away from Juhoon’s forehead.
“Nothing.”
Then he smiled.
“You look nice today.”
Juhoon blinked.
“You say that every day.”
“Because it’s true every day.”
Juhoon looked down.
Martin laughed softly.
“You’re blushing.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re cute.”
“Martin.”
“Very cute.”
Juhoon finally looked up.
Then he quickly leaned forward and gave Martin a tiny kiss.
Martin froze.
Juhoon immediately stepped back.
Martin stared at him for another second.
Then he smiled.
“You’re getting dangerous.”
Juhoon’s smile softened.
“Maybe I’m learning from you.”
Martin reached for his hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
“Good.”
Juhoon squeezed his hand.
“But you still need to be careful.”
Martin sighed dramatically.
“I know.”
“We can’t let our families find out like this.”
“I know.”
“And we can’t get caught at school.”
“I know.”
“And you need to stop randomly grabbing me in hallways.”
“I know.”
“And—”
Martin gently pulled him into another kiss.
Juhoon stopped talking.
Martin smiled.
“Was that supposed to distract me?”
“Yes.”
“It worked.”
“I know.”
Juhoon hugged him tighter.
For a few seconds, the school around them disappeared.
No rivalry.
No family expectations.
No classmates.
No pretending.
Just them.
Eventually, Juhoon pulled away.
“We should go.”
Martin nodded.
“Okay.”
They started walking.
At the end of the hallway, they separated.
Martin turned toward the gym.
Juhoon headed toward the library.
They made it approximately five steps.
Martin turned around.
“Baby.”
Juhoon looked back.
“What?”
Martin smiled.
“I love you.”
Juhoon’s entire expression softened.
He looked around.
Nobody was nearby.
So he smiled back.
“I love you too.”
Martin’s grin became enormous.
Then Juhoon added,
“And don’t get caught.”
Martin laughed.
“I’ll try.”
“You’d better.”
Martin started walking backward.
“I promise.”
“Martin.”
“What?”
“Watch where you’re going.”
He turned around just in time to avoid walking into a wall.
Juhoon covered his mouth, laughing.
Martin pointed at him.
“Don’t laugh!”
“You deserved that.”
Martin laughed too.
And then they went their separate ways.
Because at school, they were rivals.
Their families were enemies.
Their classmates thought they couldn’t stand each other.
But every time they passed in the hallway, Martin still found some excuse to touch Juhoon’s hand.
Every time Martin wasn’t looking, Juhoon still stole a tiny kiss.
And every time they were alone, they forgot about the rivalry completely.
They were just two boys who loved each other.
And, despite all of Juhoon’s worrying, somehow…
They still hadn’t been caught.