“Okay kiddies, we’re going to start ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’,” Dongwoon announced, uneasily looking around at the familiar and unfamiliar faces. In one corner was Kikwang with a group of shiny-eyed first years; in another corner was Sungmin with the second years; and in the middle of the lounging area were Ryeowook and Mir. Dongwoon cleared his throat, trying to be professional amidst all the tenseness, “This play is a comedy that teaches the moral lesson that being earnest is very important, if that wasn’t quite obvious by the title.”

There were some laughs and smiles, thought they did very little to lighten the mood. Dongwoon stifled a sigh.

“You’re cute!” Kikwang called, grinning.

The atmosphere grew worse and if it weren’t for the embarrassed laughter from the underclassmen, the awkward air would’ve been painfully clear. “Thanks,” Dongwoon replied, smiling faintly, “we’re going to start working on the set today so who wants to paint?”

No one offered right away, so Mir raised his hand, looking around at the younger boys. Many of the first and second years immediately volunteered upon seeing Mir was going to paint too. It was a curious thing how so many of them were interested in the awkward boy. They seemed to be attracted to his “cool” attitude.

Dongwoon fought the smirk daring to turn his lips. How cute… “Okay, you guys follow Mir. He knows what’s going on.”

There were resounding nods and “okays” before the oldest Tech Crew member stood up, silently leading the bumbling kids out of the Tech Shop.

“Who wants to learn how to do lights and sound?” Dongwoon prompted.

Sungmin raised his hand, “I can teach them.”

“Ah, that’s good,” the club president stated nodding for Sungmin to lead his band of underclassmen towards the Sound Booth.

Along the way, the black haired boy bumped Ryeowook’s leg and they jolted apart so fast it looked as if one of them would fall over from momentum. Ryeowook immediately lowered his head, saying, “I’m so sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry,” Sungmin fumbled, covering his face and turning away.

Ryeowook glanced up but he was already rushing out of the room. A soft sigh fell from his lips and he fiddled with his fingers, body rigid.

Dongwoon swallowed the pangs, walking closer to the one or two freshmen left and Kikwang and Ryeowook. “Alright, Ryeowook can you give Kikwang a tour of the place? The rest of you can go paint if you want. There’s not much we’re doing today.”

“Oh okay,” Ryeowook replied, “let’s go.” He quickly started off, hearing the new member’s footsteps not far behind.

The Tech President watched everyone depart and then leaned against the wooden cutting table, trying to gather himself. When had club become such a dramatic matter? Why did everyone have to gather in his club? Dongwoon grimaced, eyes shutting tiredly.

Sungmin and Ryeowook were nowhere near recovering from their break up.

Mir was obviously okay with everything which just pissed Dongwoon off to no end.

Meanwhile, Kikwang couldn’t get it through his head that Mir wasn’t trying to steal him. All of the outward flirting wasn’t affecting him, yet Kikwang kept acting as if he were winning some sort of fight – the kind where Dongwoon was the terribly reluctant prize.

It was all too confusing and useless. He just wanted everything to be normal. Even if Ryeowook and Sungmin stayed apart, it would be fine but they needed to start getting over one another or something.

And freaking Mir needed to see that they couldn’t just be in love. They needed to be in love and together as a couple. Dongwoon had been aching for that day and just when he thought it had come, the boy went and said they couldn’t be together because of Kikwang.

Where was the justice?

“Hey Dongwoon, where’s the paint?” Mir interrupted his hectic thoughts. His sleeves were rolled up, bangs clipped back in an accidentally, overly, adorable way. The dark brown locks bounced with casual step.

Why in the hell did he have to be so mindlessly cute? Dongwoon caught Mir’s arm, jerking him forward with the intention to smother that unknowing face and those sweet lips with kisses.

Instead, Dongwoon crashed into Mir’s palm slamming over his mouth. The attacker’s eyes flew open in surprise and he met a confused and hurt pair of puppy-dog eyes. “What are you doing?” Mir questioned softly.

“Try-imf ‘o ‘iss ‘omf…,” Dongwoon mumbled into the hand.

The shorter boy moved away, asking, “What?”

“Trying to kiss you,” he huffed, locking Mir’s wrist to stop him from stopping the kiss again. This time their lips met hurriedly, Dongwoon grasping the slender one’s waist and holding him desperately. They slid apart only to change the angle and deepen the connection.

Mir trembled in the embrace, body turning to mush with each wet kiss. Soon he was leaning into Dongwoon for support, chest heaving with uneasy pants. The attack was relentless though, as if the handsome boy thought Mir was about to disappear for good if the kiss ended.

“S-St…op…!” he managed, but it was ignored as a tongue wrapped around his own, dragging him deeper and deeper. Mir whimpered, eyes fighting to stay open.

Dongwoon his lips, breathing, “Please don’t say that,” another soft peck, “don’t say that when you love me.” He leveled their gazes, hurt engraved in those lovely dark eyes. “We’re in love…why can’t we happen?” he whispered.

“I…,” Mir tilted his head sadly, reaching up to caress the side of Dongwoon’s face, “…I want you and Kikwang…to end on good terms. I-I don’t want him to be resentful. So we can’t be together.” He wanted to eat those words when that breathtaking face leaned into his touch, soft chestnut locks brushing over his fingers.

“…You want me though?” Dongwoon murmured.

Mir nodded, blushing slightly. “Yeah…I want you,” he assured quietly.

“Just making sure,” the tall boy grinned, kissing him again before letting go. “I’ll figure things out with Kikwang. We’ll be together soon.”

He just smiled and nodded. “…Uhm, Dongwoon, where’s the paint? I still need to get back.”

“Oh, right.”

***

Ryeowook dragged his feet through the hallways, trying to process the day’s events. Sometimes he considered dropping club activities but then he just couldn’t do it. Being with everyone was too much fun, even if being near Sungmin was uncomfortable. A part of him couldn’t help but be caught up in that beautiful face and those large dark eyes…Ryeowook shook himself, pressing a hand against the wall for support.

What am I thinking…?He sighed, refocusing on more important matters.

The School Director had asked for a ridiculously complicated task and Ryeowook was supposed to organize the whole thing. In the administrator’s eyes, “It should be up to the students where they spend their Senior Trip” and therefore Ryeowook, as StudGov President, still had no right to make all of the decisions.

That was why now everyone in the graduating class would participate in a team sports competition where the team with the most points would pick a destination among the top three choices voted on by the third years. It sounded easy enough, but Ryeowook had a feeling it wouldn’t be nearly as quick and simple as it seemed. After all, aside from just that, he was busy agonizing over other stuff.

Ryeowook was just about to enter the Honors Dorm – his sweet salvation from the tiresome day – when someone’s hand grasped his wrist. Stifling a groan, he turned around, miserably shadowed eyes meeting Kikwang’s shifty gaze.

“Hello, what are you doing here?” Ryeowook questioned robotically, moving away from the dormitory.  

Kikwang bit his lip, squeezing Ryeowook’s wrist, “Please…can we talk for a little bit, pres?”