Yoseob watched from behind the lockers, with only his eyes and fringe visible if people were to look at him. His palms were slightly moist, out of nervousness perhaps. Many students passed by him, some saying hello to him in the process, but he didn't react as his eyes and mind were focused at only two students that were a distance away. Two students that he had purposefully planned and forced to 'accidentally' meet in the hallway.     His line of sight fell on Junhyung who was at the moment, passing the container with a slice of the cake inside to Kikwang, apparently offering him to have it. The shorter of the two had looked surprised at the gesture, since they never even had shared a real proper conversation prior to this and suddenly he was being offered a slice of cake, homemade even. Junhyung's lips were moving and Yoseob figured that the taller one was telling of how he had tasted the cookies because of him and was impressed by it.     True enough, there was a twinkle in Kikwang's eyes and his lips had curled into a bashful smile, obviously pleased at the praise being offered by the oh-so-eloquent Junhyung. Yoseob knew that he would have sweetened his words and made the praise sound even more beautiful than it already is. He continued watching as Kikwang, who now had a more comfortable and relaxed posture, started saying some things while Junhyung's eyes grew wider, the excitement apparent in him as he nodded furiously.      A few seconds later, both males parted ways with Kikwang walking to the opposite direction while Junhyung walked towards Yoseob, breaking into a short jog as he neared the smaller male. "He invited me to his place!" He announced gleefully, "we are going to do some baking after school today!"     "Great! I'm so happy for you!" Yoseob beamed, patting Junhyung on the back for a job well done.      "Thanks Yoseob, it's really all thanks to you! I'm going for class now, update you tomorrow alright?"      The smaller male nodded as he waved goodbye to Junhyung. Behind that wide smile and happy demeanor, Yoseob could feel the sullenness that was settling inside him. He had kept reminding himself to not be someone selfish, to know where he stands and where he should remain. However, he couldn't help but let his heart fall upon seeing how Junhyung was so happy from just being invited to Kikwang's place.      It was one thing to do what his mind wants him to do... And another to do what his heart wants him to do. Sighing dejectedly, he turned and walked to his class, whispering softly to no one in particular, "dear heart, you are so useless... Physically, you always were. Now, even emotionally, you are also disappointing me..."     ------   The next day, Yoseob went to school, with his lips forcefully stretched wide and bright, in search of Junhyung.     

"How did it go, how did it go?" Yoseob asked excitedly, his feet hardly able to keep still as he circled around Junhyung in anticipation as soon as he found the man. He had spent the night thinking what would have happened during the time when the taller male had went to Kikwang's place, right after the elaborate backstage orchestrating from Yoseob, for a baking session.  

    "Hmmm...", Junhyung tilted his head and looked up at the ceiling, seemingly thinking, before looking back at the smaller male who was now bouncing on the spot, "it was alright, I guess? He doesn't really speak much and we mostly talked about the steps of baking the cake and his cookies... Ouch!" He held the back of his head as Yoseob had smacked it hard, "what was that for?!"     "You should have the sense and the initiative to steer the conversation in a different direction, like another interest topic! It was the perfect opportunity!"     "Well I wanted to but it was hard! There was no time for that and we were so busy with just talking about baking. There were so many steps and so many ingredients involved!" Junhyung was shifting his weight around his legs, trying to explain how it wasn't his fault that there were not much conversation between him and the new student, non-baking wise. "He's not like you two days ago where we could talk about anything even while being busy!"     "Why are you comparing us?"     Junhyung paused for a moment, 'yes why am I comparing them?' He shook his head and pouted at Yoseob, "I'm just saying that we are comfortable as friends while Kikwang and I are just starting to get to know one another. So let's just take it slow alright?"     "All that effort for nothing", Yoseob rolled his eyes and mumbled under his breath. He gave a huff and eyed Junhyung "Fine, so what's the next step?"     The taller male knitted his brows and shrugged his shoulders, "there's a next step? Look..." He thought for a moment, trying to find the right words, "I admit that there was some attraction at the first meeting and I was really excited for yesterday. But after talking to him yesterday... It's not that he's boring or what but I'm pretty sure the attraction would only go as far as it already is. It felt exactly like what I had with Dongwoon, it is purely... Superficial. I mean, sure I can slowly build on my friendship with him but perhaps, that's all we will ever be."     "How can you be so sure?! And you were so excited when you first saw him! Plus, the day before you met him, you said that you never fell in love before and I thought that this was it!"     Junhyung laughed at the confused wide eyes of the smaller male, "how could you link both days up? Both are separate conversations and who falls in love at first sight? What did you think this is, a fairytale?" He patted Yoseob's hair and started playing with the stray strands of hair absentmindedly, noting how amazingly soft those locks were, "love isn't just based on the first meeting. It's deeper than that. I may not have experienced it yet but it's definitely not as simple as 'oh wow that person is good looking' you know?"     The smaller of the two lowered his head, looking to the ground now, muttering softly to himself, "it's definitely not as simple..." Shaking his head, he removed Junhyung's hand from his head, ignoring the disappointing loss of warmth and tingling feeling that he had, "I'm sorry, I guess I was too eager that I didn't consider that. So... There's no next step?"     "Not for now, but if you want to invite me to your place again for more baking, I would gladly--"     "Seobie", Doojoon interrupted them, enclosing his fingers around Yoseob's wrist and tugging it gently, "let's go." The smaller male quickly nodded, following the footsteps of the male who was pulling him away, "sorry Junhyung, I have to go for class, see you around!"     "Walk home together later?"     This time, before Yoseob could even say anything, a harsh "No" from Doojoon was given, stunning both the other males. Yoseob, who recognized that hostility and meaning behind it, immediately lowered his head dejectedly and averted eye contact from Junhyung.     "Who are you to decide if he should walk home with me or not?" Junhyung challenged, eyeing curiously at the menacing aura that was emitting from Doojoon now. He knew that Yoseob's two best friends never liked him based on how they would always be scowling at the side when he talks to him but he never really understood why. This, was however pushing it as Doojoon was openly objecting to their interactions.      The cat eyed man didn't even bother to reply as he resumed dragging the smaller male away but Junhyung never gives up. He shouted at their disappearing backs, "Yoseob, 5 at the gate, I'll wait for you!" He was about to head to his class himself when he saw the smaller boy turning back meekly, nodding quietly as if afraid that he would get caught by Doojoon. Smiling to himself, Junhyung walked towards his class, a little bounce in his steps now.     ------     "Why was he at your place?"     Yoseob played with the hem of his shirt nervously, afraid to look in the eyes of both his friends now. They were having the same class in a bit and since it was early, there were hardly any other students around. "I wanted to teach him how to bake, so that he can use it as a conversational starter with Kikwang."     "Don't you like him?" Hyunseung asked, taking a seat beside him, now slightly confused by the smaller male.     "But I can't force him to feel the same way as I do. Since I can't be with him, I must try to make him happy by bringing him together with the one he likes", Yoseob finally looked up, eyes determined.     "He likes Kikwang?"      "Well..." Yoseob paused, thinking of the conversation he just had with Junhyung, "maybe not as much as I thought that he did. I don't know. I just, I just want him to be happy." He saw how Doojoon was about to say something but he quickly held his hands out to stop him before continuing, "I know. I know you guys think I'm silly for falling for him. But really, he's a very nice guy. Why can't you all trust me on this?"     "We don't think you are silly for falling for him."     Yoseob blinked at Doojoon, not expecting that answer at all. The cat eyed male gave a heavy sigh and sat on the other side of Yoseob, "I know, I may come across as overbearing, as overprotective--hey you don't need to agree so readily!" He whined as Yoseob had begun nodding furiously. The smaller gave a sheepish grin, earning a light tap on his forehead as Doojoon continued, "but the reason why I'm not letting him near you is really because he hangs out with Dongwoon and all. I know you find him nice and I know you like him so much, I can see it in your eyes. But Seobie, his friends are not the kindest out there. I don't want them to hurt you."     Hyunseung hummed in agreement, "Seobie, if you hang out with him too often, his friends might try to get you involve in all their childish antics and you, being one who always want to help others, might do stuff that would harm yourself. It's best to steer clear of them."     "So... As long as I promise not to have any interactions at all with Dongwoon and gang, I'm allowed to hang out with Junhyung?" He asked nervously, eyes darting from Doojoon to Hyunseung repeatedly.     The two males looked at one another in seconds of silence before finally giving in with a heavy nod, "yes."     Still not believing his luck, Yoseob decided to reconfirm and asked, "so if I meet him to walk home together later... that would be okay?"     Doojoon rolled his eyes and grunted, "yes."     "Thank you!" Yoseob squealed as he grabbed them with each of his arm, "thank you for finally, finally letting me hang out with him!"     "It wasn't that long..."     "Oh please, ever since I met him in our first class together, you guys were forever all 'no, don't get close to him', 'he's bad news' and stuff like that! You don't know how long I've been waiting for this day!"      Hyunseung suddenly became still as he stared at the ground while Doojoon lowered his he