“You're gonna put them in place later.” Sungyeol said as soon as Hoya appeared with his chess books, through the webtoon artist ignored him, he was more interested in understanding what the hell was a Fried Liver Attack. Seeing that Hoya decided to watch the match between neighbors, Dongwoo decided to lay his head on his lover lap and try to get a nap while Sungjong decided he was gonna finish tidying the kitchen with Moonsoo help (that whined, he obviously didn't want to).

And so the neighbors proceeded with their game, dancing with their pieces around each other. At first Myungsoo was doing confident moves, but as the game progressed he was taking a bit more of time to decide his moves, it wasn't like he was stalling on purpose but he recognized that in this game Sungyeol had the upper hand so he naturally had to think a bit more to be able to keep his king, and most of his other pieces, head.

“Myungsoo, here it says that wasn't a smart move.” Hoya said as he inspected Sungyeol book after a particular move.

“Hyung, I know what I'm doing.” Myungsoo said though a bit nervously.

“Of course you do, besides in that particular page it doesn't say anything, it's just a picture of a possible way out that he is reading upside down.” Sungyeol said not even looking at Hoya and the said man ears grew pink.

“You know what, I give up!” Hoya said closing the book and placing on the ground which made Dongwoo shift a bit on his lap.“I'll just keep track of the time.” He then looked at the little clock Sungyeol was using to count the time. “Twelve minutes already flew by, I think you have some chances Myungsoo.” He announced happily.

“Ok, now shut up.” Sungyeol hissed, made another move then looked at Myungsoo. “Your turn.”

Myungsoo bit one of his nails as he thought but then Sunggyu door opened up and he appeared dragging a sleepy Woohyun that was rubbing his eyes. When they arrived at the coffee table he gasped in a happy surprise.

“Are you playing chess? Can I watch it?” He asked in a way that Hoya thought it showed a weird excitement.

“Suit yourself.” Sungyeol said coolly, and Sunggyu beamed while Woohyun walked ahead to make himself comfortable in his father lap.

“….eepy.” He announced in a cracked voice.

“You're sleepy? Let dad finish this game and I'll take you to bed ok?” Myungsoo said, planting a kiss on top of his head. “I just need a couple of minutes more.” He said and then made another move.

“Hum... that's different.” Sungyeol said as he tapped his chin in thinking mode.

“Hyung, Bishop here.” Sunggyu whispered pointing to a particular square on the board.

Woohyun shifted in his father lap to observe the game and only then he observed the pieces on the board so he got one to inspect it closely. “What a pretty thing, it has a real crown.” He said and Sungyeol jaw hung low.

“Woohyun, you can't mess with my game! Put it back!” He ordered.

“He is right Namu, we are playing, it's important that you put his queen back into place, he is thinking about his move and he might want to move this one.” Myungsoo coed and Woohyun pouted but gave the queen back to his father that put into place.

“Hyung, Bishop here.” Sunggyu said a bit louder still pointing to a particular square on the board. Sungyeol sighed in relief when he saw his queen back into place and decided to move her, which apparently left Sunggyu upset. “Hyung! You should have placed your Bishop HERE!” The boy said in frustration as Myungsoo thought what to do next.

“Sunggyu, if you want to watch it's fine, but don't tell me how to play because I know how I played in a lot of competitions since I was younger than you.” Sungyeol said in a warning tone and Sunggyu got angry.

“I wish Myungsoo hyung wins!”

“Whatever Sunggyu, just stay quiet a little bit, I need to finish him before the time is up.” Sungyeol rolled his eyes then urged Myungsoo. “Come on, don't start stalling.”

Sunggyu was angry so he raised from his spot to go sit beside Myungsoo then tried whispering something in his neighbor ear. “Wait, Sunggyu, I'm thinking... what? Can you repeat... How do I know...” After a brief glance at the clock Myungsoo sighed, he couldn't think of anything better so if he was doomed to lose he might as well do it looking like he was trying to beat Sungyeol, so he quickly moved the piece Sunggyu instructed him to move.

“Hum.” Sungyeol chuckled and moved another piece. “A random move won't save you. Don't listen to him, he doesn't know how to play.”

“Sungjong, Moonsoo come here!” Hoya screamed. “Hyung, wake up!” He demanded and Dongwoo sat up while the teenagers came from the kitchen (and they might or might not have swollen lips), only to see Sunggyu whispering on Myungsoo ear and him moving another piece.

“What is happening?” Sungjong asked as Moonsoo wiped his lips behind him.

“Hummmmm.” Hoya teased but Sungjong came close to him and slightly shoved him. “It's about to end.” He said and Sungyeol moved another piece.

Both Sunggyu and Myungsoo eyed the board and Myungsoo eyes seemed desperate, but some seconds later Sunggyu was whispering things in his ear again and the young dad moved his king nervously.

“I can't believe you did this.” Sungyeol was happily surprised. “Check!” He got his bishop and was already moving to threaten Myungsoo king when Hoya screamed.

“IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER!” The webtoon artist got up to jump over Sungjong, hug him and twirl him around while his boyfriend looked confused everywhere, still too sleepy to comprehend it.

“Oh god, that was so difficult.” Myungsoo let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and let his body fall to the ground, bringing Woohyun with him as Sunggyu frowned at the commotion, not understanding.

“He didn't! He is in Check.” Sungyeol pointed.

“You said he had to last fifteen minutes!” Sungjong said as he struggled to get out of Hoya's grip and Sungyeol was about to complain when he eyes the clock and, yes, Sungjong was right, it counted 15 minutes and 21 seconds already.

Sungyeol ears got red, he couldn't believe he lost because of the time. He had to admit Myungsoo played way better than what he expected which made the game very interesting which, in turn, made him forget about the time set up. At least he knew it wasn't because of his tactics because he would never forgive himself if he lost...

“Hyung, it's still your turn.” Sunggyu said because he was not understanding what was going on and stopped Sungyeol thoughts.

“It's ok Sunggyu, indeed I said I would consider that Myungsoo won if he lasted fifteen minutes playing with me.” Sungyeol said a bit upset.

“But he won!” Sunggyu insisted.

“We already know that buddy!” Dongwoo chuckled and patted the boy's hair.

“No, hyung, you're not understanding, Myungsoo hyung won!” He insisted while Myungsoo and Woohyun sat back and then the small eyed boy moved one of Myungsoo's knights to where Sungyeol king was before getting the piece and giving to Woohyun so his friend could look at the little crown up close. “Checkmate!”

“Wait, what?” Moonsoo, Sungjong, and Hoya gasped together as they approached the table to inspect the game.

“We really won.” Myungsoo said surprised he then turned to Sunggyu with a bright smile and raised his hand for a high five, thing that the boy promptly complied.

Sungyeol jaw hung low, he was completely taken aback, how he didn't notice that as soon as he made the move to trap Myungsoo king he made his own be in the open? Maybe he was too eager to win Myungsoo touch back (the normal kind)? Maybe he didn't think Myungsoo would win because Sunggyu was suggesting things in his ear? And rather than angry he was surprised that Sunggyu figured out a way for Myungsoo to win the game in three moves?

He seriously underestimated the kid brain and now he was extremely confused if he was happy he discovered Sunggyu had some genius genes in him or sad because he knew exactly the implications that might have on Sunggyu social life, which would basically turn him into a mini version of himself, honestly he didn't wish it on anyone.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! IN YOUR FACE SUNGYEOL! YOU LOST, YOU LOST, YOU LOST!” Hoya shouted and danced in place as Sungyeol just kept looking at his brother with his jaw still hung low and an unreadable expression. “FINALLY! FINALLY! FINALLY~~~!”

“Hoya, you don't need to be so happy, it is just a game.” Dongwoo half chuckled half scolded.

“That shows that he is human too!” Hoya pointed back, still as happy and Sungyeol looked down the table.

“I thought that out of everyone here you'd be the one knowing how human I can be after seeing me bleeding so many times.” Sungyeol said seriously and suddenly the atmosphere changed and felt heavy.

“How could you!” Sungjong hissed at his cousin, hitting his arms until Moonsoo held him.

“Yah, stop!” He complained before turning to speak to his other cousin. “Sungyeol, I'm sorry, this was not what I meant, you know this right?”

“No, you screwed up!” Sungjong hissed at him again.

“I did, didn't I?” Hoya sighed dramatically.

“This is a metaphor, isn't?” Dongwoo asked in concern when he noticed Hoya apologizing with such sincerity.

“Sungyeol, I don't know what this is about, but I didn't mean to hurt your ego, I...” Myungsoo was about to apologize but was interrupted by his neighbor.

Sungyeol finally looked up, forced a smile and started putting the pieces of his chess inside their box. “You aren't hurting anything Myungsoo, I know I am not invincible and it's not the first time I lost a game of chess. When I played internationally I didn't place that high in the competitions, so don't worry, you aren't hurting anything. And you were good, you were the most challenging match I had in a while. Now you just need to tell me what you want, the winner takes it all, right?” When he finished his speech and putting the pieces back in their box he looked at his neighbor expectantly as the others waited to hear Myungsoo demand.

Noticing that everyone was paying attention to what he would ask Sungyeol, Myungsoo decided not to ask anything right now, not only he hadn't thought completely about his feelings and what he wanted from Sungyeol, whatever this would be he wanted this to be something just between them.

“I'll tell you later, Woohyun is sleepy and will stop functioning soon, so I should hurry to give him a bath and place into bed, it's almost his bedtime anyway.” Myungsoo said as he got up himself and Woohyun up to leave.

“That's it? We won't know what you will ask for?” Dongwoo asked surprised, not really realizing that Hoya inadvertently changed all the atmosphere for Sungyeol and the whole gang as well.

“I don't have anything in mind right now and this is might be useful later, so yeah I should be going.” He explained as he got Woohyun in his arms and the boy promptly let his head rest on his dad's shoulder. “Thank you all for coming watch my game and having me over for dinner.”

“Wait, Myungsoo, can Sunggyu sleep over today?” Sungyeol suddenly asked which got everyone surprised, as for the said boy he thought Sungyeol was angry at him because he won the game and was sending him away and suddenly he was taken by his fears.

“Hyung, are you sending me away? I'm sorry, I won't win over you anymore!” The boy said shifting in his place nervously with the biggest puppy eyes.

“Sunggyu, I'm not mad at you, I'm quite surprised, I already knew you were quite smart, I just didn't know you might be some levels above what everyone thought. If you want to play chess with me you can always ask, but you should let people finish what they started alone. I'm not mad at you, just surprised I swear. The reason I am asking Myungsoo to have you over is that I want some time to be alone.”

“Sungyeol, I'm sorry...” Hoya tried to apologize again although Moonsoo and Dongwoo hadn't the slightest idea why Sungyeol ignored them and continued talking to Sunggyu.

“When it's morning you come back and I will wait for you with delicious food ok?” He explained getting close enough from his brother to pat his hair once, which made the boy nodded, then he looked up at Myungsoo. “Is it fine with you?”

“Of course, it's always a pleasure to have Sunggyu over.” Myungsoo easily agreed and then Sungyeol got up.

“Sungjong, prepare Sunggyu pajamas and a toothbrush for him and closed the door before you leave.” He ordered, effectively and gracefully kicking everyone out. “And, Myungsoo, you forgot to put some ice, this will look ugly tomorrow.” He pointed to his own cheek to show his neighbor what he was talking about and then headed to his room only to lock himself inside.

“What was that?” Moonsoo dared to ask as soon as Sungyeol closed his door.

“Hoya hyung royally ed things up by making him remember the worst part of his life.” Sungjong half explained glaring at his guilty cousin before he got Sunggyu up. “Let's prepare you for a sleep over, and, Hoya hyung, you know he won't want to see you so soon.”

Hoya sighed deeply and looked down to his feet.

_____________________________________________

Sungyeol evening had been nice, he had a new experience: going to a place full of people to watch a friend playing some sport he wasn't interested in before, but he caught himself enjoying it, cheering and worrying when the said friend was injured. Then he ate a delicious meal and had a challenging game, not that Myungsoo was a prodigy in chess or something but he lasted fifteen minutes when Hoya and Dongwoo on their best days wouldn't last five. Everything had been just perfect and then Hoya had to mess everything up by making him remember the days when he was bullied.

He had locked himself in his room because it was not like he always liked to talk about this with anyone and went straight to bed, he wished for the next day soon, but at the same time he knew the night would be something hard to get through, because he would be lucky if he managed to sleep without having nightmares. Truth to what he thought he slept because his body was tired, but his brain brought to surface flashes all his nastiest memories and he had the worst night of sleep he had in a while.

“How do you do this?”

“I don't know!” Sungyeol half cried in exasperation. “Please let me go!” He pleased referring to two bulkier guys holding his arms.

“Of course you know, spill it if you want to go.” The older boy hissed at him.

“I don't... I'm just like that!” Young Sungyeol insisted. “Please!”

“Are you saying you're a genius or something?” The guy asked in anger and Sungyeol hesitated for a second, he knew that his choice of words would make a difference.

“I don't know how it works... it's easy for me to learn. Please!”

“Hum.” The guy hummed and tapped his chin as if thinking. “You don't know.” He used an innocent tone and Sungyeol quickly nodded. “I also don't know and both my friends here also don't know.” The guys said changing his tone to a more dark one and Sungyeol heart started beating even faster than seconds ago, he wasn't liking to where this was going. “But we can't stay like that.”

“Yeah, we can't!” One of the guys holding Sungyeol backed their leader up but the next second he was a bit confused. “What will we do?”

“EASY.” The guy said in crazy glee. “You remember how we dissected a frog on our Biology class last week?” The two gorillas didn't seem to have caught up on what the guy meant, but Sungyeol somehow did and he absolutely didn't like it, even more, when the guy pulled a Swiss knife out of his pocket.

“No, no, no, no, no, NOOOOO!” He started to scream and try to get free but it was no use because these boys were older and bigger and he beside them he was just a

“Why don't we open up his skull and take a look inside?” The guy suggested wickedly and both guys looked at each other in a fear and hesitation. “Oh come on, we won't kill him! Just hold him down.”

The guys promptly laid Sungyeol on the ground with his belly facing down despite his screams and desperately tries to get free, then their leader sat on his spine and grabbed him by the hair. “Let's see what you have inside your head.” He said and started making cuts on Sungyeol scalp.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!” Sungyeol screamed desperately and as loud as he could as the guy made random cuts on his head and he felt blood fall from his scalp, pass his ears to his cheek and then fall on the ground below him.

He didn't remember how long this torture lasted or how much he screamed and cried, but he was sure he used all of his voice to try to get some attention, but all his efforts had been useless, he studied in big a board school and, this late at night, being dragged inside the music room, which was soundproof, he was sure no one would listen to his cries.

When he was about to faint from the pain, the guy got up from his back and kicked his ribs once. “Now every time you lay your head on a pillow you will remember how smart you are HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.” He let out a sick laugh that almost made Sungyeol throw up right on top of the blood that already escapes him. “School break starts tomorrow so I advise you to keep your mouth shut so we all can enjoy some time apart of each other because if you tell this to anyone, I will hunt you Sungyeol and you won't want that happening.”

With that last threat, the three guys left, leaving Sungyeol laying on the floor in a pool of his own blood until his world faded to black.

Sungyeol woke up gasping for air and with his heart beating super fast and he quickly placed his hands on his scalp and noticing that there was nothing out of usual there he finally calmed down a bit. Back in school he was so bullied and received so many graphic threats that when he had nightmares he had troubles knowing if those images really happened or was a product of his imagination. And even when he dreamed of things that happened, he wasn't sure that they happened in the same intensity he remembered, sometimes it seemed like they were a thousand times worse.

Sungyeol ran his fingertips on his scalp again and sighed. Some of his physical scars were still there, just like many of his emotional one, in a place that wasn't easy for the eye to find. Looking at his window he saw that the sun was already shining, probably not for that long, signaling a new day and a new beginning and just like his father had advised him a lot of times before, he would live one day at the time.

He got totally up and after a quick stop in the bathroom, he went unlock his door then went for the kitchen to make breakfast. He hated to admit when Hoya was right but indeed he liked to cook in order to ask for forgiveness and since he promised Sunggyu a feast, he shall give him one.

He thought that Sunggyu would wake up around nine like he always did on Sundays, but he had just finished turning the stove off when he heard someone attempting to open his door. He quickly poked his head out of the kitchen just in time to see Sunggyu trying to enter their apartment on the tip of his toes.

“Sunggyu!” He called and the boy jumped in the air.

“Hyung!” The boy gasped in surprise.

“Sunggyu what are you doing here so early?” He inquired his brother motioning him to come to the kitchen.

“I... I couldn't sleep.” The boy stuttering admitted and hesitated but followed his brother.

“Grab juice in the fridge so we can eat, I just finished cooking this.” Sungyeol said as he waved his hair above the dish he cooked so the smell could go Sunggyu way and he saw Sunggyu interest on it as soon as his the small eyes twinkled. “Come on, I'm hungry.”

He got the plate and went for his small dining room as Sunggyu quickly opened the fridge to grab a bottle of juice Sungyeol had made earlier then ran towards the living room. Sungyeol served both and they started digging on the food and after a couple of minutes, Sungyeol tried to pick up a conversation with him.

“So why couldn't you sleep?” Sunggyu stopped eating immediately and looked down at his bowl.

“I made hyung upset.” He mumbled lowly.

“You didn't make me upset, I already told you that.” Sungyeol smiled as gently as he could. “Hyung was upset for his own reasons, but none of them had anything to do with you.” Sunggyu took some time to process this information so Sungyeol decided to change the subject. “Did you interrupt our game yesterday because you wanted to play?” He asked and Sunggyu bit his lips and shifted in his seat, he wanted, but he didn't want to admit. “Do you want to play against me? I promise I won't be mad at you if you win.”

“Yes!” Sunggyu looked up with bright eyes nodding away, oh how we wanted!

“Then finish your bowl, I'll let you set up the board while I do the dishes, then we can play.”

Sungyeol used that match to test Sunggyu and he discovered something about the boy, Sunggyu didn't seem like some genius, he would have to test the boy IQ other way but he was surely prone to problem-solving, had a better than expected understanding of the game rules, and sometimes he could predict Sungyeol moves, but other times he seemed completely lost, probably because he hadn't played this game often, but if he were to be taught, Sunggyu could provide at least some entertainment for him in a couple of years.

After the first match, Sungyeol was giving his brother a few tips and teaching him how to defend to a specific opening when they heard what it seemed to be Woohyun scream. They looked at each other in apprehension before they stumbled up and crossed two doors, only to practically invade the neighbor's apartment.

What happened? Sungyeol asked in concern, wondering how could they even hear Woohyun scream when he hadn't a voice yesterday, and Sunggyu ran to hold his friend hand and try to calm him and Woohyun could only point to his father. Both brothers eyes then wandered to the young dad and now they understood what it was: Woohyun got a scared after he saw his dad cheek and the young adult was now hiding it.

“Come on Woohyun, don't be afraid.” Myungsoo said hurt as he tried to hide his cheek.

'Is it that bad?” Sungyeol asked and Woohyun nodded as fast as he could.

“...ollen! ...urple!” Woohyun said worriedly though his voice still cracked.

Sungyeol sighed. “Let me see!” He ordered and tried to approach Myungsoo that danced away from him and kept hiding his cheeks, he didn't want Sungyeol to see him like that. “Come on Myungsoo.” He insisted as he tried to corner his neighbor. “If you'd knew what I already went through you would know that a swollen cheekbone is nothing.” He finally managed to corner Myungsoo and tried to pull his wrists away so he could see the neighbor face. “Come on.” He tried to coax while giving a gentle pull, knowing too well that if Myungsoo wanted he could just push Sungyeol away and keep his hand there. “Come on.”

Myungsoo lowered his head as low as he could and let Sungyeol gently take his hand out of his face then looked at the neighbor from below his lashes and he wasn't sure he was gonna be ok, Sungyeol was this close.

Sungyeol couldn't see all the damage so he lifted Myungsoo chin to inspect his face and all he could think of was that Woohyun was right to get scared, Myungsoo cheekbones was heavily swollen and in various shades of purple and blue that spread around his eye, that Myungsoo could barely open because all of that swelling. He instantly made a face.

“I told you this would look ugly, you didn't put ice!” Sungyeol accused.

“I did, but maybe it was too late.” Myungsoo rebuked.

“Maybe it was not enough.” Sungyeol suggested a middle ground and Myungsoo shrugged. “Do you think it's broken?” He asked and the neighbor quickly shook his head. “Are you having double vision or something? Does your eye hurt or something?”

“No.” Myungsoo answered almost in a pout.

“You should go to see a doctor.”

“I don't have money or time for it, finals start tomorrow, I need to study.” Myungsoo said resolutely.

“Are you sure?” Sungyeol asked and Myungsoo wondered when Sungyeol would go out of his personal space, he was starting to have some urges that were becoming difficult to avoid.

“Yes, I'm sure.”

“Then we'll try to treat this at home, I have this ointment somewhere... I'll apply on you, don't worry, I'm gonna help you every step of the way.” Sungyeol said confidently and finally gave a step back. “Keep a look on Sunggyu, I'll go pick the ointment in the first aid kit on my car.” After that Sungyeol ran out of Myungsoo apartment leaving Myungsoo a little stunned.

“Hyung, you look ugly.” Sunggyu said bluntly but Myungsoo couldn't care less because Sungyeol used 'we' and he said he would help and would be by his side, and there was something in those words that made him feel lightheaded and with fluttering heart, it had been a while that another person that wasn't Woohyun was able to make him feel supported and happy.

He liked it.

_____________________________________________

When Sungyeol came back he couldn't find Myungsoo and the kids in his neighbor apartment and then he decided to go to his own apartment only to find Sunggyu saying that it was for Myungsoo and Woohyun to eat Sungyeol food and that his hyung wouldn't mind because he made too much.

Although Sunggyu didn't say any lie Sungyeol wondered when he started cooking double and when exactly he and Myungsoo got so comfortable to go inside each other apartments like they owned the place. Of course, they had some unspoken rules (both Sungyeol and Myungsoo rooms were forbidden territory), but they pretty much went everywhere else and touched pretty much everything on the allowed territory, but Myungsoo was courteous, if he ate Sungyeol food, he always washed the dishes and left the kitchen sparkling. They seemed like a very efficient team lately, always complimenting when the other couldn't do something.

Sungyeol hated when Hoya was right. And in this case Dongwoo too. But he didn't hate this kind of relationship he achieved with Myungsoo and, although now he wasn't that touchy anymore ( a thing that left Sungyeol thinking the protection of his heart was making Myungsoo restrained to the point of not be his real self) he still liked him.

As soon as Sungyeol made himself known he dragged Myungsoo out of the kitchen and put the ointment on his cheek, massaging as gently as he could to make the blood circulate, despite Myungsoo's hissed and then he let the neighbor and his son eat as he searched the web for the right ways to treat this. When Myungsoo finished washing the dishes Sungyeol had already made a list of instructions he should follow.

Myungsoo couldn't help but to feel a little flustered, he didn't know how to act, Sungyeol didn't want to be touched because he said he didn't want to develop feelings but, as Myungsoo thought and thought, it seemed like he already had some.

Despite enjoying all the attention he was receiving, Myungsoo decided to continue the behavior he was pulling the past week, he still had to figure a lot of things in his head and it was not like he would have the time to think about it when the exams were around the corner, he would wait for both his and Sungyeol exams to be over so he could send Woohyun off to his mother house for a week or something so he could have some time to think about what to do with his life, yes, this was definitely what he would do.

After breakfast, the two adults decided to study and that meant that the kids would have to do the same. The time passed too quickly and suddenly they were already having lunch and then dinner, and, though the time wasn't enough for the adults to review everything, it definitely was for the kids, that ended up sleeping early, one on top of the other and both of them on top of their notebooks.

The next day everyone was in a hurry, they had to drop the kids early to arrive early in college since they both had exams and work presentations in their first class. As soon as they got out of the car they were already running inside until they parted ways for the day.

During lunch Sungyeol went down to the cafeteria to eat something, he hadn't had time to prepare his lunch this morning and he noticed Myungsoo hadn't anything with him either, so he sat in the cafeteria with his head up in the clouds, thinking if Myungsoo had brought money to eat and would eat properly... or if he did his presentation good. Would Myungsoo be the type to get depressed over bad grades? Would Myungsoo be needing impossible high grades to pass (AN: this poor author case)?

Sungyeol was so concentrated on that he didn't notice his friend, and his girlfriend, sitting in front of him and consecutively snap their fingers in front of his eyes.

“HYUNG!”

“SUNGYEOL!”

“Huh?” Sungyeol got startled for a second. “Chanyeol, Dara noona, is that you?”

“Were you expecting somebody else?” Dara asked and Sungyeol felt his cheeks getting hot, oh no, he knew what was happening, no this couldn't be, it was plainly his imagination pulling tricks on him.

“No.” He answered a bit shyly and Chanyeol squinted his eyes as if he didn't believe it, but at the end he let it go.

“Hyung, I have to review for my exams so I will be direct to the point, is it true that you were spotted in the basketball match that happened last Saturday?” He asked curiously.

“Sungyeol squinted his brows. How do you...” He seemed surprised that Chanyeol knew this but changed his mind. “Ahem, no, where did you take this from?”

“Someone told me they saw you. This person even told me you cheered with green pompoms.” Chanyeol said with a teasing tone.

“Nonsense!” Sungyeol used an outraged tone but he was fully red by now.

“This someone also told us that a player from Seoul U got injured and you went down the bleachers to check on him.” Dara continued.

“Hyung are you having a crush on someone of that team?” Chanyeol got impatient from all those roundabouts, Sungyeol clearly wouldn't spill the beans so easily and ask bluntly.

“Who? Who?” Dara asked wriggling her brows.

“I'm not having a crush on anyone.”

“Hyung, you're blushing, you have a crush. You're acting the same way you did when you started crushing on your last boyfriend if not more embarrassed.” Chanyeol reasoned.

“Was him this cute back then?” Dara asked curiously.

“I was not!” He hissed at Dara that just chuckled and then glared at his younger friend. “I am not having a crush... Chanyeol, why do you insist on torturing me? I can end your academical life, you are aware of this, right?”

“I'm not torturing you, I just want you happy, maybe I can scoop around and discover their uality, I know a lot of people and noona is just as popular.” He offered.

“Just tell us who? Who?” Dara quickly asked.

“No one! No one!” Sungyeol insisted but at this point, Myungsoo entered the cafeteria walking fast and trying to get rid of people that were trying to talk to him so he stopped everything to observe the scene and both Chanyeol and Dara followed his eyes to see who was Sungyeol observing.

“Oppa, are you ok?”

“Yes.”

“Oppa, does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Oppa, do you want me to take care of you?”

“No, can you let me pass?” He ended up asking irritated.

“But oppa, your handsome face...”

“This is no big deal, just think of it as wounds of a battle because it is so.” He hissed. “God, can't a guy just eat?” He asked irritated then made way to the counter where he tried to look for some food, but.... there was none. “Urgh!” He groaned and Sungyeol sighed from the other side of the cafeteria.

“Don't tell me it is him.” Dara said with some pity in her tone.

“What?” Sungyeol flushed. “I said I'm not having a crush!” He insisted.

“Last time I was teasing because your conversation was kind of dubious but it can't be really him right? Didn't he bully you once? Where did you even know this guy?” Chanyeol asked.

“What? Myungsoo would never...” Sungyeol promptly defended and stopped in his tracks when he noticed Dara pity looks intensified. “What?”

“Sungyeol, this won't do.” She tried to say in a gentle tone. “I don't believe he is a bully, and despite this whole nerd x popular kid drama that can unfold, you should snap out of it as soon as you can.”

Sungyeol snorted. “I'm not crushing on him!” The more he said more they didn't believe. And he snorted another time mentally, did they think it was easy? After everything that happened and happens between them, of course, it would be difficult as hell.

“Hyung-ah, noona is right, you should snap out of it, he is straight as I am, or even more. Just look at him.” Chanyeol pointed and everyone turned to look at Myungsoo that at that moment locked eyes with Sungyeol and decided to come over, walking confidently despite having half of his face swollen and exhaling his athletic genes everywhere.

“Sungyeol-ah, I've heard rumors that his every game there's a little kid that follows him around, some people says he has a kid about seven, how much proof you want that he is straight?” The girl tried to say gently. “And with a kid? That's double the trouble, there has to be a mother somewhere.” She said and Sungyeol held himself to not bite his lips, he knew there wasn't a mother but he also knew that Myungsoo seemed like he wouldn't forget her so soon and that would be a trouble if he was to be a girl, being a boy that just meant impossible².

“I am not asking for proof noona, I'm not..” He tried to say but Chanyeol interrupted him.

“Hey, there is no doubt this dude is straight but having a kid this big wouldn't mean he had him like fifteen or sixteen? Isn't that too soon?” Chanyeol wondered.

“It can happen Chany.” She said with a shrug and that point Myungsoo arrived at the table and Sungyeol was thankful to the gods that Myungsoo didn't seem to have heard what his friends were talking about him or else he would enter crazy defensive mode.

“Hey hyung, what a miracle to see you here.” Myungsoo greeted.

“Got hungry, didn't have time to pack lunch.” Sungyeol said with an uncomfortable smile.

“Same as me, but people kept slowing me down to ask about this so when I actually got here there was no more food.” Myungsoo scrunched up his fine lips in a half pout that together with his swollen eye made him weird.

“Oh, I still have half of my sandwich, do you want it?” He offered and Myungsoo bit his lips, he wanted to accept it but at the same time, he thought it was wrong.

“Can I?” He asked hesitating.

“Of course.” Sungyeol smiled a gummy smile and pushed the plate to him.

“Thank you hyung.” He said and grabbed the sandwich without many ceremonies.

“So, hum, how's that?” He pointed to Myungsoo eye/cheek.

“It hurts, I won't lie, but it's better than this morning. That ointment sure helps a lot.” Myungsoo said with a cheerful smile on his face then took a bit of the sandwich. “What I'd be without you, him?” Sungyeol forced a smile, this time he hadn't a retort for that, so once Myungsoo was done chewing he continued talking. “Talking about that hyung, it's time for me to do something for you. I already arranged everything for tonight, my dad will surprise Woohyun and then he will help us both later when you guys arrive home, is that ok for you?”

“That's fantastic.” Sungyeol forced a smile.

“Great, I think I'll go now. Bye!” Myungsoo was about to give Sungyeol a pat on his shoulder but decided against on the last second and then turned around and moved away way faster than he came and when Sungyeol looked at his pair of friends again he saw the two with matching furrowed brows and giving him concerned looks.

“What?” He dared to ask.

“Sungyeol you're in it, you're in it so deep.” Dara said in full pity mode. “And he is taking advantage of it.”

“No, I'm not...” Sungyeol was going to insist but every time it came out more weak. “He is not....”

“Sungyeol you're in it, deep, and he knows it.” Chanyeol repeated it for it to enter Sungyeol thick skull. I don't have the slightest idea of what you were talking about, or who the hell is Woohyun is, but I agree, he knows. “You came to watch his game, you offered him your food, and I've seen you give him the key of your car once, he is totally taking advantage of your feelings.”

Now Sungyeol got angry, what if he had feelings? What if Myungsoo was straight and would never be his? That would be his problem, he didn't need two more people to in his life to say what he could and couldn't do mainly when they didn't know what was going on and their circumstances.

“You know what? I don't care if you think I am crushing on him or not, what if I have feelings? It's not your business and Myungsoo would never ever ever do that. Myungsoo respects me ok? He is completely different from Sangwoo hyung and this time I am sure. He knows I'm gay, and he knows what can happen, still, he treats me like a gentleman.” It was not like Myungsoo didn't treat him good before but he surely improved when Sungyeol asked for it, despite his gestures getting a bit cold.

He got up gathered his stuff and turned around to leave when the two in the table called him.

“But we like you, we are only trying to protect you.” Dara said.

“I don't need protection for someone that can't hurt a fly. You don't know him but I do, and it is not your business!” He hissed before he turned around to go.

Only when he got back to his classroom he noticed how angry he was with the way people talked about Myungsoo and their relationship, and with that, he just realized that yes, he had some feelings for his neighbor. .