Chapter Text
The morning sun had barely crested the horizon of Byeohwa High School when Keonho stood in front of the full length mirror in the second floor hallway, engaged in what could only be described as a battle of strategic sartorial elegance.
For any average tuesday, Keonho’s school attire consisted of a rumpled white shirt, top two buttons perpetually undone, untucked hem, and a necktie that spent most of its life stuffed in the bottom of his backpack like a forgotten gym sock.
Today, however, was different.
Today was a masterpiece of precision.
He smoothed down his crisp blazer, tweaked his collar, and spent a solid three minutes ensuring his necktie was knotted that would make an aristocrat weep with pride.
He flicked a stray speck of dust off his shoulder, adjusted his hair in the reflection, and gave himself a slight, approving nod.
"Looking dangerously handsome," Keonho murmured under his breath, giving his reflection a wink.
"It’s practically a public service."
"Who are you winking at? Yourself? Because if that mirror cracks, you're paying for it."
Keonho turned on his heel to see Seonghyeon strolling around the corner. Keonho’s jaw nearly hit the polished linoleum floor.
Seonghyeon.
Was a guy whose usual uniform aesthetic could best be described as 'I rolled out of bed three minutes ago and caught the bus by leaping into the back of a moving truck'.
Today he was looking like he had just stepped off a runway.
His school shirt was pressed so sharp it could cut paper. His blazer was pristine. And most shockingly of all, dangling around his neck, impeccably tied and perfectly centered, was his standard issue school tie.
"Hold on," Keonho said, squinting as if blinded by a bright light.
"Is that... a tie? On your neck? Did someone hold you hostage this morning, or did you accidentally join the debate team?"
Seonghyeon smirked, resting one hand casually in his pocket while he brushed an imaginary piece of lint off his lapel.
"Please. I just decided to grace this school with my actual potential today."
"Some of us have natural charisma, Keonho. The clothes are just the frame for the artwork."
"Artwork? You look like a substitute teacher on his first day of internship," Keonho cracked, though he couldn't deny Seonghyeon looked infuriatingly sharp.
"Jealousy isn't a good look on you, bro," Seonghyeon replied, stepping closer and giving Keonho a quick up and down glance.
He did a slow, dramatic 360 degree turn right there in the hallway, letting the soft morning light hit his jawline. He stopped, popped his collar slightly, and gave a smirking eyebrow raise.
"Alright, outfit check," Seonghyeon said, striking a pose.
"Be honest. How do I look?"
Keonho crossed his arms, doing a exaggerated, critically analytical scan from Seonghyeon’s shiny shoes up to his styled hair.
He let out a dramatic sigh.
"Honestly? If looking ridiculously good was a crime, you’d be serving a life sentence without parole," Keonho said with a sly grin, pointing a finger gun at him.
"Seriously, man. You’re gonna make half the grade fall in love with you before second period."
Seonghyeon chuckled, brushing off his jacket with exaggerated modesty.
"Thanks, man. You don't look half bad either. In fact..." Seonghyeon leaned in slightly, narrowing his eyes in mock admiration.
"If I weren't overwhelmingly straight, I'd probably ask for your number right now. You look like a main character in a romantic drama."
"I am the main character," Keonho shot back smoothly, adjusting his own tie.
"So, give it to me straight. How's the overall vibe?"
Seonghyeon did a circle around Keonho, stroking his chin like a museum director inspecting a priceless sculpture.
"The fit? Flawless. The hair? Impeccable. The aura? Pure heartbreaker."
"If anyone turns you down today, they need an eye exam."
The two best friends looked at each other.
They stepped toward each other and executed their elaborate, five step secret handshake: a rapid fire combination of palm slaps, fist bumps, a finger snap, and a synchronized crisp salute.
As they pulled back, both boys turned toward the classroom door at the end of the hall.
"You got it today," Keonho thought to himself, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
"Minhee is never going to see this coming. The tie, the smooth charm. She’s going to say yes to grabbing drinks after school before I even finish the sentence."
Simultaneously, Seonghyeon sneaked a glance at Keonho out of the corner of his eye, his own internal monologue running at full speed.
"You got it today," Seonghyeon thought, holding back a smirk.
" Today’s the day I finally ask Minhee out to that new café down the street. I’ve been planning this for two weeks. There's no way she can resist my charm."
Neither of them had the slightest inkling that they were both marching toward the exact same desk for the exact same reason.
Side by side, walking with synchronized, confident strides that looked like a slow motion scene from an action movie, Keonho and Seonghyeon pushed open the heavy wooden doors of their classroom.
The morning chatter in the classroom died down slightly as a few classmates glanced up, visibly bewildered by why two of the class's most notorious slackers were dressed like corporate executives preparing for a board meeting.
Unfazed by the stares, Keonho and Seonghyeon maintained their smirking composure, striding with absolute purpose straight toward the third row by the window.
There sat Minhee. She was quietly taking out her notebooks.
Keonho reached her desk first leaning smoothly against the edge of the adjacent table with a suave smile.
Seonghyeon, not to be outdone, stepped up right beside him, casually resting one hand on his hip and throwing his best charm offensive smile into high gear.
Minhee looked up from her pencil case, blinking in surprise as two towering, unnaturally well dressed teenage boys suddenly blocked her sunlight.
"Oh! Hey guys..." Minhee said, her eyes darting between the matching ties and pristine jackets.
"Why are you two dressed like—"
Before she could finish her sentence, both boys opened their mouths at the exact same time.
"Hey Minhee, I was wondering if you were free after school today to—" Keonho started, his voice dropping into his smoothest tone.
"—get some drinks and hit the arcade with me because I—" Seonghyeon blurted out simultaneously, cutting right across Keonho’s words.
"—wait, what?" Keonho snapped, his smooth persona cracking instantly as he cut Seonghyeon off.
"—hang on, I was talking first!" Seonghyeon shot back, turning his head sharply toward Keonho.
"No, I literally said 'Hey Minhee' half a second before you even opened your mouth!" Keonho argued, stepping closer to Minhee’s desk to elbow Seonghyeon out of the frame.
"You didn't call dibs on talking to her!" Seonghyeon countered, using his shoulder to bump Keonho back while maintaining a strained, polite smile for Minhee.
"Minhee, ignore him. Are you free after class?"
"Are you free after class with me?" Keonho interrupted again, thrusting a hand out dramatically.
Minhee sat frozen in her chair, her pencil suspended in mid air, looking back and forth between the two best friends like she was watching a tennis match.
Keonho paused.
Seonghyeon paused.
Keonho slowly turned to look at Seonghyeon.
Seonghyeon slowly turned to look at Keonho.
"Wait..." Keonho whispered, pointing a finger at Seonghyeon's crisp tie.
"The tie?"
"The... the blazer?" Seonghyeon stammered back, pointing at Keonho's slick hair.
"You... Minhee?"
"You're here for Minhee?!" they both yelled in unison, their voices cracking across the now dead silent classroom.