Lee Jihoon wasn’t quite sure how it happened but after his first meeting with Pledis High’s notorious Golden Boys he found himself seated on his own living room couch with his back straight and hands settled politely in his lap while Kim Mingyu paced in front of him, waving his hands exaggeratedly and lecturing him on how he had completely ed up with Jeon Wonwoo passed out in the chair next to him.

Casting a depressed glance in his direction, Jihoon could only wish he had the liberty to be unconscious. Listening to Mingyu go on and on (and on!) was only wearing at Jihoon’s already frayed nerves. The taller boy was oblivious to Jihoon’s faltering attention span, continuing to rant on about how his ‘entire life was ruined’ and that ‘by the end of the week there would be nothing but a poor, empty shell of disappointment’ and that he had ‘just no idea how much trouble he had gotten them into’ and how Mingyu wished he had just ‘kept his big mouth shut’ (the last part Jihoon took offense to). It wasn’t like Jihoon had wanted to get into a fight in front of the whole student body, and technically Yoon Jeonghan had started it.

Gosh I’m starting to sound like an elementary child, Jihoon thought to himself. It really didn’t matter who had started what, Jihoon was going to have to end up facing the consequences. He was dreading what they were going to turn out to be.

“Do you know what happens when you get on Yoon Jeonghan’s bad side?” Mingyu then made a slitting motion across his neck. “You die.”

“Ah, is that so?” Jihoon sighed, only half listening. He wished Mingyu would get tired and go back to his room. He had homework he wanted to finish by ten so he could sleep.

“Not die as in murdered in a dark alley kind of death, but more like a slow torturous cut off one limb at a time kind of death.”

“Really? You don’t say.”

“And do you have any idea what happened the last time someone talked back to Jeonghan? They were expelled and dragged off campus by men in suits. No one has seen him since.”

“How interesting.”

“And the time before that, there was this freshman that got gum stuck in his hair. My god it was almost like the world had ended. The poor girl was traumatized for life. I’m pretty sure there’s still a lawsuit going on.”

“Fascinating.”

Mingyu paused, stopping in his tracks to stare down at Jihoon. The disheartened glare the boy was giving him made him almost feel bad. Almost. “Are you even listening to me?”

Jihoon winced slightly, straightening to stretch his stiff limbs. He rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Not really.”

The taller boy groaned and threw his hands into the air exasperatedly. “Jeon Wonwoo, I give up! If he wants to commit social suicide than who am I to stop him? After everything I’ve done to help? I should be given an award for how much patience I’ve already shown already.” He turned to his best friend to look for sympathy and clasped his hands together like the older boy could somehow magically salvage the situation.

Wonwoo, who was passed out in the armchair with a book over his face, started when Mingyu yelled his name. He picked up the fallen book and rubbed his eyes, blinking in confusion in his friend’s direction at being so rudely woken up. “Did you finish yelling at Jihoon yet?”

Mingyu could only glare. “I hate you too.”

Wonwoo merely sighed in response, putting the book on the coffee table and stretching his arms. “Listen, Gyu, there’s nothing we can do,” he sighed, patting his friend on the arm. “The situation with the others already happened and nothing we do will change it. And no, I am not getting on my knees to beg for forgiveness and neither are you. Jeonghan’s going to get his revenge in his own sick way and we’ll just have to deal with the situation as it happens. Hopefully Seungcheol won’t get involved.”

“What a nightmare that would be,” Mingyu groaned and Wonwoo pat him consolingly on the back.

“Why are you guys getting so worked up over this?” Jihoon asked, honestly over worrying about the situation. Sure, Mingyu had a bunch of stories but it sounded more dramatic than it probably was. The Golden Boys seemed more obnoxious than anything. “I get it, they’re rich spoiled brats. But they’re students, not gods. What kind of horrible misery could they really put me through?” That I’m not already being subjected to, Jihoon added to himself.

The two exchanged wary glances before Wonwoo shook his head dejectedly. “I’d really rather not think about it… Maybe you should just take tomorrow off, Jihoon,” he suggested warily.

Jihoon’s eyes narrowed. “And show them that I’m afraid of them? No way. I’m not running away. Whatever stupid and childish revenge they have planned out, I’m going to face it and show they can’t just get away with whatever they want.”

Mingyu stared at him for a good solid moment before he stood and slowly turned away, going to the doorway to put on his shoes. “I give up. He’s crazy.”

Wonwoo could only sigh while Jihoon glared after the Silver. “Really? I’m the crazy one here?” He called after him as Mingyu closed the door behind him. He turned his glare onto Wonwoo. “Me? Really?”

Wonwoo smiled weakly, almost sadly like he could already see Jihoon’s funeral and he was picking out which suit to wear as they lowered his body into his grave. “Get some sleep,” he said, ruffling Jihoon’s pink hair. “You’re going to need it.”

Jihoon awoke the next morning feeling just as horrible as he had waking up the day before. Ever since he had arrived at Pledis High he hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep in days. He felt like he was waking from a bad dream every time he opened his eyes. He wondered if he was ever going to get used to living at this school. He missed Busan like crazy and if he hadn’t promised his mother he would already be on a bus back.

Dragging his out of bed, he glanced sleepily at his mirror. Messy pink hair and horrible eye bags stared back at him. He was pretty sure he had looked better after all-nighters writing songs in the past.

Straightening his hair, Jihoon stood a little firmer and gave his reflection a determined glare. He had been warned of what the Golden Boys might try and today he was going to show them he was not afraid of their childish games and that he would not back down. “You can do it, Lee Jihoon.”

Feeling slightly rejuvenated, Jihoon took a shower and dressed quickly, putting on his nice blazer and throwing his finished homework and textbooks into his bag. After he finished packing for the day he went into the kitchen to make breakfast.

There was a sticky note on the refrigerator written in Wonwoo’s neat handwriting. Thanks for breakfast, it was delicious! J

Jihoon smiled to himself before he went to whipping something up to eat. After a quick meal, he left some rice and a few boxed side dishes in the refrigerator for his roommate before heading out the door to class.

However before he could get far, Jihoon stopped short, one foot just across the threshold. Placed in front of their door was an obnoxiously large teddy bear, nearly as tall as himself, holding a stuffed heart and fabric flowers. Its button eyes and sewn mouth smiled mockingly in his direction.

“What the hell-” Jihoon was at a loss for words, wondering who had done this. He glanced around but no one stood out. The hallways was busy as students passed him on their way to class, the teddy bear gaining attention as small groups clustered together caught sight of it and whispered as they passed. Jihoon gaped at the monstrosity for a few seconds before grabbing its ear and yanking it into the dorm.

Thinking it was for Wonwoo since the boy seemed like he would have a lot of admirers, Jihoon attempted to heave the teddy bear onto the counter but barely managed to lift it a few inches, struggling with the weight. Breathing heavily, Jihoon finally noticed the note that was attached to the flowers and was surprised to see it was his name embroidered on the front.

For my kitten, the note read on the inside. Jihoon gagged and nearly dropped the parchment in shock. Kitten? Was this really for him? He had to check the envelope just to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him. Who the hell was this from? It couldn’t possibly be that Seungcheol guy from the day before, could it?

Thinking it was some kind of prank, Jihoon scoffed and hit the teddy bear lightly on the head. Some students who had witnessed the scene yesterday had probably thought it would be a fun joke and decided picking on the new kid would be enjoyable. How childish.

Feeling slightly bad for taking his anger out on the stuffed animal, Jihoon pulled the teddy bear to the middle of the room and heaved him onto the couch before heading out the door again, throwing the note onto the table without another thought. Thanks to that unexpected event he was going to be late to his class.

Disgruntled by the morning’s events, he was stunned when he was stopped just outside the dorm’s front doors by a man in a full butler suit who a bouquet of fresh roses into his arms. “For sir Jihoon, from sir Seungcheol,” the man said dramatically.

“W-what?” Jihoon gaped, but before he could fully grasp what was happening the butler had already flounced away. Jihoon could only grasp the flowers and stare after him in shock. His previous theory of this being a prank didn’t seem so likely anymore, but neither did it seem possible to really be from Seungcheol. “Is this Seungcheol guy serious?”

Unable to find anywhere to throw the flowers away (his mother had always taught him not to litter), he continued on his way to his science class when he was stopped once again just a few steps down the street. “For the light in my sir Seungcheol’s eyes!” The man proclaimed before dropping another bouquet in his arms.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” was all Jihoon could bite out before the second butler too disappeared. This was getting ridiculous. However it seemed there was no escape. The event continued his whole way to class for he couldn’t seem to go ten steps without another man in a butler suit accosting him in his route to shove another bouquet of roses into his hands. To top it off they all said such nauseating love proclamations that made Jihoon cringe rather than his heart pound. Not only was he getting strange looks from anyone who passed him, but he was also having difficulty carrying the gigantic pile of flowers that he had somehow accumulated. What a day it was already turning out to be.

Grumbling words that his mother would not have been proud of, Jihoon ran the rest of the way to class and was finally able to find a trash can that he could stuff the flowers in. Because there were so many the flap got stuck but that wasn’t really his problem anymore.

“What a weird person,” Jihoon thought to himself as he made his way to his locker, glancing around suspiciously like he thought another butler would come flying out from behind a door. He really hoped this Seungcheol guy would lose this weird interest he had in him. Jihoon didn’t think he could hear another nauseating confession. He opened his locker to grab his books when a shower of rose petals exploded from the open door like a scene from an anime opening. All he could do was stare, hand half extended, dismayed. At a loss for words, he slowly closed the door and turned around.

“Announcing the entrance of sir Lee Jihoon, the Bronze Prince to sir Seungcheol’s Golden heart!”

“Jesus Christ,” Jihoon jumped a foot in the air when another man in a butler suit raised a freaking trumpet and announced his entrance into his science class. “Are you serious right now?” He snapped once he had gotten his bearings. He was quite sure his face redder than his hair.

The man bowed before he shuffled from the room, unfazed. When Jihoon turned back to the classroom the students had gone eerily silent. Twenty faces stared up, scrutinizing him and Jihoon couldn’t help but feel like he was being judged for slaughter.

However what really caught his attention was the monstrosity that was sitting on his desk. Placed carefully in the middle of the room was the most horrifyingly pink bouquet of flowers he had ever seen. It sat in a pink pot and was filled with paper flowers and candy, and had an overly glittered sign that read in big letters, For my most adorable pink kitten, Lee Jihoon. Love, your Seungcheol.

Jihoon couldn’t help but throw up a bit in his mouth. He was quite sure he had never felt so embarrassed in his whole life. The class broke into whispers when he rushed to his desk to get rid of the hideous gift.

“That’s him? Lee Jihoon?”

“He doesn’t look like much. Pretty scrawny if you ask me. And he’s so short!”

“That’s the Seungcheol likes? How dare he think he deserves my perfect Seungcheol’s heart?”

“I bet you he’s using Seungcheol for his money. What a gold digger.”

“He’s only a Bronze! How pathetic. How can he even let himself be seen in public?”

“Isn’t he the one who get into that fight with Yoon Jeonghan yesterday? He’s got some nerve to be seducing his best friend.”

“He thinks just because Seungcheol likes him he can do whatever he wants?”

“Another worthless Bronze.”

“Someone should put him in his place.”

Face as red as a tomato, Jihoon ignored the vicious remarks that his classmates were saying and grabbed the flower pot from beneath, trying to remove it from the classmate but nearly falling over because of its weight. He could hear the class laughing as he was forced to drag the thing out of the room. Once outside he tried to push it into a trashcan but it was too big to fit so he just ripped off the sigh, scowling at the note, before heading back inside.

Unable to lift his head out of pure mortification, Jihoon wrung his hands and headed to his seat. The whole class was still gossiping even class president Yuju began to take attendance. When he was sitting someone behind him kicked his chair and his pencil flew away.

There was a knock on the corner of his desk and Jihoon looked up into the smirking face of Lee Seokmin.

“I warned you, didn’t I?” Seokmin asked nonchalantly, an almost smug smile on his face. Jihoon had the sudden urge to punch him in the jaw. “You should’ve taken my offer when you had the chance. Sadly, I’m going to have to take that proposition off the table. There are just some fights I don’t want to get involved in.”

“ off,” Jihoon could only hiss in response. Seokmin cocked an eyebrow, chuckling like he found the situation funny. There was a knowing look in his eyes, and if Jihoon looked closer, pity.

“Good luck, Lee Jihoon. You’re going to need it.”

By the end of the day it seemed the whole campus had heard of the morning’s events. Lee Jihoon’s name was known across the whole school in a matter of hours and everyone seemed to recognize him as, ‘that Bronze Lee Jihoon, Choi Seungcheol’s newest target.’

To say he was annoyed was an understatement. He was mortified by the confession, but what really puzzled Jihoon was why. Why had Seungcheol, the school’s most popular student, taken an interest in him? He wasn’t wealthy, or particularly good looking, or the smartest student in school. Yeah he had stood up to Jeonghan, but that was a onetime thing and Jihoon didn’t think he was going to do it again. He was just another Bronze that was prey to the lions of the den. He was just Lee Jihoon.

The rest of his morning went as well as he had thought it was going to go. At math class Mingyu had already filled Jihoon’s desk with another student so that he couldn’t sit next to him, and avoided his gaze throughout the lesson. Jihoon let him be, if Mingyu wanted to pretend he didn’t know him than so be it. In Language Wonwoo had given him some space, but he could feel the dark haired boy casting him glances every two minutes. He wanted to ask Wonwoo if this was a frequent event at Pledis, since Seungcheol seemed like a flirt, but the other boy seemed preoccupied so Jihoon decided he would speak with him later. Hansol was the only one who treated him normally, the two getting into a long conversation about the extracurricular activities that were being offered at Pledis.

“I heard their music club is amazing,” Hansol whispered as their teacher went on about some ancient music composers neither of them cared about. “You should join Choir with me!”

“Choir?” Jihoon’s nose scrunched up on its own accord, glancing up from where he had been doodling music notes on his paper. He still hadn’t gotten his music inspiration back but he found himself writing out chords out of habit. “I don’t know,” he said hesitantly, “I don’t really like singing in groups.” Or in public at all.

Hansol pouted. The younger boy was awfully cute. “I bet you have a pretty voice though,” Hansol whispered and Jihoon broke the tip of his pencil in surprise. However the sophomore didn’t seem to notice, continuing on with the conversation. “And I heard they’re accepting compositions from the student body! They’re even letting rappers join in this year. You should join it with me, please? It will be lonely if I have to do it alone.”

Jihoon found himself smiling fondly at the boy. Hansol was a good kid and one of the few Jihoon genuinely liked at this school. He had almost forgotten about the mornings strange events. “I’ll think about it, alright?” He promised and Hansol smiled blindingly back at him.

The rest of the day was thankfully uneventful. Jihoon skipped lunch since he was unsure if Seungcheol would make some grand scene in the cafeteria and he was planning on avoiding the Golden Boys as much as he could. Instead he stayed in his room and ate the lunch Wonwoo brought him while he finished the week’s homework. Popping his joints, Jihoon was pleased when he turned in for bed and it was only ten thirty.

“Maybe I can get some decent sleep tonight,” Jihoon mumbled as he brushed his teeth before bedtime.

“Hey Jihoon?” Jihoon glanced in the mirrors reflect at Wonwoo who had changed into his pajamas and was drinking some milk before bed. He was surprised at the uncertain look that the boy was wearing. “Maybe you should stay home tomorrow.”

Jihoon slowly spit into the sink before rinsing his mouth. “Why? Do you know something?”

Wonwoo shook his head quickly. “No, it’s just… I don’t have a good feeling about tomorrow.”

Jihoon pat his face dry before fully turning to his roommate. “Is it about Choi Seungcheol?” He asked cautiously. He hadn’t gotten to ask Wonwoo earlier about the Gold senior and he was still questioning whether his intentions were true. “What’s with that guy anyway? Does he really like me or is he just playing around?”

The taller boy winced, pulling at the sleeves of his shirt. He had noticed Wonwoo had a nasty case of the sweater paws. “Seungcheol flirts with everyone. I wouldn’t say he’s being fake, but he’s not being genuine either.”

“Ah, I get it now,” Jihoon said, nodding like he finally understood.

Wonwoo’s head shot up. “You do?”

Jihoon nodded, an irritated smile working onto his face. “Yeah. The guy’s a player. Likes to throw his money around so that all the girls will flock to him and he can get whatever he wants. Probably thought I was an easy target he could play around with before throwing me to the side. Well fine, if Choi Seungcheol wants to act like that, then I think it’s my responsibility to shut him down. Put him in his place in front of everyone tomorrow, for good.”

Wonwoo was not tugging on his sleeves a bit harder. “Jihoon, I don’t think that’s the best idea-”

“I’ll show those stupid Golden Boys just who they’re messing with,” Jihoon grumbled angrily as he threw his towel down and stormed into his bedroom. He was going to face Choi Seungcheol tomorrow and put an end to this game.

(A/N: Hello everyone!

I apologize about this chapter being so late. I've been trying to write but school has been getting crazy and it doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. However your comments are lovely and your encouragement is much appreciated! I understand this chapter is shorter than the others, but that is because originally it was much longer and I had to divide it up. Expect another chapter soon (maybe tonight, but I should be wirting a paper...) and some very exciting events happening...

Jihoon will face Seungcheol.

And Kwon Soonyoung will finally appear.

Get your #teamjihoon light sticks out.

Anyway, on a side note, I have started another fic! This story is a bit special to me as it will be dealing with a lot darker themes than Golden Boys. If you're interested in angst and such, please check out my new fic, The Flower that is You has Bloomed. It focuses around the friendship between Jihoon and Jeonghan and the dark circumstances that brought them together (plus I had to add Soonhoon and Jihan, can't stop me). However make sure you read the warnings!

Also, I may be working on a fantasy seventeen fic, but that's for the future (we need more seventeen fantasy au's), so look forward to that too! Would you gusy be interested?

And of course, thank you everyone for your lovely comments, subscriptions and upvotes! They all mean a lot and I'm really glad you guys like this fic! Thanks for reading everyone, love you and look forward to the next update!)