Chapter 69

School A/U* Unedited

“I can’t believe you're going to be gone for a whole summer.”

Jiyong looked up from his books as the voice broke his concentration. He was studying for midterms and he was determined to ace it. He needed to keep all of his grades up if he really was going to go to Paris for a study abroad program they only held in the summer. Only the top students in the class had the opportunity to go. He was given the chance.

“You can always come with me?”

Seunghyun groaned. He was sprawled out on Youngbaes twin size bed, his legs and arms hanging off of the bed. There was no way he would be able to go with Jiyong. Sure, his grades were really good and he had gotten accepted but the funds just weren’t there. Plus, if he did go it wouldn’t be to study.

“With what money? Not everyone has rich parents who are willing to fund their child's out of budget education. I’m lucky my grades were enough to get me a full ride here.”

Jiyong found offence at the statement before brushing it off. He knew the struggles that Seunghyun faced financially. His father was in forced retirement from an injury while on the job, and his mother was running a small cleaner that barely covered the rent. His sister sent what she could but with her own family to take care of, it was hard to send any.

The lives the two lives were completely different.

“Besides, how could I leave my mom for any amount of time? Who would help her with the shop? Sure, Dae would stop by to help her every now and then if I asked her but she would miss me to much.”

Jiyong bit the tip of his pen as he watched Seunghyun place and arm over his eyes. They were all excuses, they both knew it. Seunghyun would willingly drop anything for a chance to spend the month in Paris. His mother would push him to go if they could afford it.

“If you had the funds would you go with me?”

Lodging was free, and meals were free. The only thing the school wasn't covering was the actual ticket to get there. It was a great program that required students to get sponsors to help pay. Jiyongs parents sponsored his ticket themselves.

They knew Seunghyun was just trying to make himself better about not being able to go. He had the grades, just not the money.

“I’d rather not entertain the thought. No point getting my hopes up.”

It broke Jiyong's heart to hear the defeat in the other man. Seunghyun had been saving since freshman year, but with the constant problems he faced at home, the money he had been saving for four years were a few thousand short.

Jiyong had offered to pay the difference but Seunghyun had outright refused. He didn’t like feeling indebted.

“I bought you a ticket.”

Seunghyun leaned up from his position. His back going straight and his hair sticking up in strange directions. Jiyong would have chuckled at how cute the other looked if Seunghyuns skeptical look wasn’t there.

“You didn’t.”

Jiyong sighed, getting up from his position at the desk and joining Seunghyun on the bed. He looked the man straight in the eyes in attempt to get the man to believe him. “I bought you a ticket. Whether you get into the program or not, I want you to come with.”

Disbelief clouded Seunghyuns eyes before overwhelming joy took it’s place. He jumped onto Jiyong, knocking the two onto the floor, and kissed his face. Jiyong laughed at the other man's excitement and cried of thank you flooded his ears.

There was no way he was going to go to Paris without the love of his life by his side.