CHAPTER 17: To Die For (2430 words)

“To Die For” – Sam Smith

 

“Pink lemonade sipping on a Sunday
Couples holding hands on a runway
They're all posing in a picture frame whilst my world's crashing down
Solo shadow on a sidewalk
Just want somebody to die for
Sunshine living on a perfect day whilst my world's crashing down
I just want somebody to die for

I long for you
Just a touch (does that scare you?)
Of your hand
You don't leave my mind
Lonely days I'm feeling
Like a fool for dreaming”

 

A/N: For your quarantined pleasures. I'm updating again tomorrow ;)

 

School wasn’t bad. Mingyu had come early before school. Got Wonwoo all dolled up like he had for the movie the night before. Did his make-up, put a wig on him, this one shorter but still brown, similar to his old style but slightly more current. Wonwoo felt pampered almost. The boys ate breakfast together, listening to music and doing Wonwoo’s physical therapy routines for the morning before Mingyu had wheeled him out to the van and taken him to school.   They had arranged their schedules so Wonwoo had a very minimal amount of classes, and most of his classes were with Mingyu. The only classes they didn’t have together was Mingyu’s upperlevel biology class and math classes. Wonwoo had math and science with Seungcheol though, so he would take over “Wonwoo duty” (As Jihoon called it) during those hours. Then at the end of the day, Mingyu had volleyball, so Wonwoo could go watch, as he had a free period, meet with teachers during this time, or Jisoo and Jeonghan coud come pick him up.   The first day went by quickly, relatively uneventful. People noticed, people stared but Wonwoo didn’t seem to notice when he was with Mingyu. Mingyu made a point to be extra dorky so nothing else could be in Wonwoo’s mind. He made himself enough of an embarrassment that it would be impossible for Wonwoo to feel embarrassed.   Seungcheol had a different approach however. Aggressive was a good way to put it, in a typical temperamental Seungcheol style. Each person who stared got a heavy glare. If they continued to stare, they got a threat.

It did little to help Wonwoo’s anxiety, as now he felt even more like a direct outcast, a darker cloud than ever before. But he felt protected, and he knew Seungcheol was trying his best so he couldn’t hate him for it. He just hid his blush and pushed through, knowing he had to do this for his friends.   By the end of the week, he felt a little hope. Things were getting in a routine. It wasn’t his old schedule, but it was a schedule. Perhaps the change would be over for awhile.   As the second week of school started, Wonwoo could no longer ignore a few of the issues. He could walk decently well him a crutch for him to use for the bad leg. However, it tired him out greatly, so they were not ready to put that into play yet.   “Eat your yogurt” Mingyu said with a laugh, pulling out the dairy-free, vegan, organic, and everything else a rich white mom would want, yogurt that Mingyu packed in his lunch everyday. Mingyu measured out and stirred in a few cancer meds.   “My daily cocktail.” Wonwoo answered dryly to the unsaid questions in the stares from Seungcheol. It had been over a week and a half that Wonwoo had been going to school again. Still, Seungcheol seemed to still be having trouble adjusting to Wonwoo’s current state. Wonwoo knew he didn’t mean it personally, it was change. Wonwoo didn’t like change either. Seungcheol also still felt guilty for Wonwoo passing out last week, he blamed himself.   Cheol nodded, forcing a smile and going back to eating his kimchi. Mingyu glanced up, following Wonwoo’s line of sight. “Got something to say Choi?” Seungcheol looked up, rolling his eyes at Mingyu.   Yes, Wonwoo’s issues were both decreasing and multiplying. People in your life tend to do that. They make life a lot less lonely, but they’re a lot of ing work too. The issue that he faced now was conflict. Wonwoo didn’t like conflict. He found it tiring and impossible to make everyone happy. He didn’t care about much, so it annoyed him when other people did. Plus, the conflict he had to deal with now was irrational to Wonwoo.   Wonwoo glanced to the right and then to the left at the boys he sat in between at lunch every day. Seungcheol on his left, Mingyu on his right, the two boys constantly bouncing back and forth from talking to Wonwoo, then glaring at one another, and then bickering until someone told them to shut up. He just shook his head and ate his bitter but otherwise tasteless yogurt.   Mingyu was always annoying, but especially so during lunch. After lunch, he went to math with Seungcheol. The boys definitely did not get along since the incident last week. Seungcheol was Wonwoo’s first best friend. Mingyu knew him better than anyone now.   Lunch ended and Seungcheol wheeled him away from the table, not bothering to give Mingyu time to fuss over him. For that, Wonwoo appreciated him.   Seungcheol pulled his chair into the class and sat down at the table next to him. “You know you’re kind of a right?”   Wonwoo laughed, “Yeah.” He’d always appreciated Cheol’s tendency to just blurt things out nonchalantly. He knew there was probably reason behind the words, but Wonwoo didn’t care. It didn’t offend him, there was a million very “-like” things Wonwoo did, shamelessly.   “You’re different now.” Cheol said, pulling out his notes and Wonwoo’s.   “You say that a lot.”   “Just getting used to it.”   “Convincing yourself it’s not a bad thing?” Wonwoo said with a smirk. Seungcheol didn’t reply to that.   MINGYU POV Advanced Calculus passed by too slowly. Mingyu watched the clock, wondering how Wonwoo was doing. He was difficult enough t