"Okay class, 'yan na yung results ng midterm exam niyo sa math. Mag-aral kayo kung gusto niyo," the math professor says before leaving. He’s only stayed for about 10 minutes to hand out his students' papers. According to Changmin, "Kapal ng mukha nito, 'di naman nagtuturo."

"Sunwoo," Haknyeon calls out after keeping his paper inside his bag. "Anong score mo?"

Sunwoo confidently shows his paper, a big 90 written on the top right. Haknyeon smiles widely while approaching him and says, "Hala, ang galing! Pwede magpatutor? 79 lang ako eh."

"79???" Sunwoo exclaims in disbelief. Haknyeon is one of the top students in the class. It is impossible for him to get a grade lower than 85, maybe even anything lower than 90. "Talaga????"

"Oo eh. 'Di ko masyadong na-gets yung previous lesson. Pwedeng magpatutor? Ang panget kasi kung line of 7 pa rin ako sa finals."

"S-sure. Sabihin mo lang kung kailan."

"Mamaya? Start na tayo. Sabay na tayo maglunch lagi."

Sunwoo's heart rate suddenly increases. Sabay na sila maglulunch? Everyday????? It's like they're having a date daily. Sunwoo nods enthusiastically and replies almost too loudly.

"SURE. DATE- I MEAN TUTURUAN KITA ARAW-ARAW."

ㅡ

"Tara na?"

"No, dito muna ako. Mauna na kayo."

Younghoon looks at Sunwoo and the other just shrugs. They give Juyeon a pat on the back before leaving the room with the rest of the class.

Juyeon is seated on the far back of the classroom, on the right where the windows are. He looks gloomy, different from his usual state. He looks out the window and sighs.

"Okay ka lang?" someone asks from the other side of the room. "Umalis na friends mo kanina pa ah."

Juyeon turns his head to look at the person. It‘s no other than his crush since his first year in this school, Choi Chanhee. Chanhee is forced to stay behind in the classroom because he’s asked to do some paperwork that their math professor is too lazy to do, as what Ji Changmin has said before leaving with Haknyeon.

"Uh, I'm, uhm, okay... lang... ako," he responds with a low voice. "Naiistorbo ba kita? Sorry, alis na ko."

"No, it's fine. You can stay. You don't look okay though. Dahil ba 'to sa math midterm?"

Juyeon thinks about it for a while before nodding. Pretending he’s okay when the other can definitely see that he’s not is pointless.

"I saw your grade," Chanhee says and points to the papers given by the math professor. Juyeon cringes and looks away. 'Nakakahiya ka,' Juyeon says to himself. 'Ang talino ng crush mo, ta's makikita pa niya na bagsak ka.'

"'Di kita ijujudge. Medyo mahirap din talaga yung lesson. 'Di ko nga naperfect eh," Chanhee continues. He is the smartest in his class, so if 'di niya naperfect 'yung test. Mahirap talaga 'yan. "Kahit medyo nahirapan din ako, do you want me to teach you?"

Juyeon raises his head and looks at Chanhee. He is incredibly shy when comes to his crush, but he really needs help. Hindi na siya mag-iinarte.

"O-okay lang ba sa'yo?"

"Okay lang. I'll help you. Friends naman tayo."

Friends.

Chanhee said they’re friends.

Juyeon slightly blushes. He barely even talks to the other; they‘re just working on a group project for two days. Chanhee acknowledging Juyeon as his friend is a huge step considering the latter never really does anything but stare at the former silently for the past few years. Juyeon has thought this was a bad day. With him getting a 73 on his math midterm, he feels really bad and thinks his day won’t get any better.

"Thank you, Chanhee."

"No problem. Tara, libre kitang ice cream para 'di ka na malungkot d'yan."

But Chanhee proves him otherwise.
ㅡ

Haknyeon and Changmin finally receive their orders after about 15 minutes of waiting in line. "Fast food pero napakabagal," complains the irritated Changmin, "Food na lang dapat tawag dito kasi 'di naman fast, puta."

The two of them are about to look for seats together when they see Sunwoo and Younghoon also doing the same.

"Hyung, kay Sunwoo na ‘ko sasabay maglunch. Bawi na lang ako sa'yo sa dismissal. bYEEEEE," Haknyeon says and leaves before the other can scream profanities at him.

"Sunwoo," Haknyeon calls the younger boy. "'Di ba ngayon na tayo magstart? Dun tayo umupo."

"OKAY!"

Sunwoo cheerfully goes with Haknyeon and leaves Younghoon who is already sitting on the table they’ve found together.

"Hay nako Kim Sunwoo, pasalamat ka mabait akong kaibigan," Younghoon says to himself while looking at Haknyeon and Sunwoo's backs. "Willing akong suportahan lahat ng kalandian mong pokpok ka."

"Hoy," a voice startles Younghoon. It’s no other than the love of his life, Ji Changmin, already settling himself on the seat in front of him. "Dito na 'ko. Wala kang choice."

"SURE. OKAY LANG. KAHIT SA LAP KO PA GUSTO MONG UMUPO EH."

"Yuck, no thanks. 'Wag ka ngang ano. Wala kasi akong friends. Ikaw lang kilala ko dito."

"Awww, wala kang friends," Younghoon coos. "Gusto mo ako na lang? Kaso ayaw kitang maging friend eh."

Changmin is about to reply in a sarcastic manner when the other suddenly says, "Gusto ko more than friends eh."

"Puta," Changmin immediately exclaims after. Dahil ba nagccringe siya? Nandidiri? Baka naman kinikilig siya? Siguro nga kinikilig siya, but Changmin is still in denial. Younghoon definitely makes him feel things; he just refuses to acknowledge it.

"Manahimik ka na nga d'yan, baka mawalan pa ko ng gana. Kumain ka na lang."

"Gusto mo ba subuan kita, bebe ko?"

"KADIRI PUTA." Okay na sana ‘yung subuan eh. Pero bebe ko? Really? Ugh. What is Changmin even thinking? Walang okay sa sinabi ni Younghoon! Wala!!!!!!!

—
“S-So, uhm, sa’n tayo m-mag-uumpisa?” Why Sunwoo still can’t talk to Haknyeon without stuttering, he also doesn’t understand. Acceptable reason naman siguro ‘yung sobrang cute ni Haknyeon that he sweeps Sunwoo off his feet, right? Just... look at that smile whenever he eyes his food. Yep, never fails to melt Sunwoo and make him hope that the older will look at him that way, soon. (Which Haknyeon already does, Sunwoo is just too caught-up in his own feelings and admiration to notice.)

“I don’t know, sa chicken and rice, maybe?” Haknyeon says as if he hasn’t already started eating as soon as he’s seated.

“A-Ah, Ano... Uhm.” Sunwoo thinks of ways to tell Haknyeon that he’s talking about their “tutoring session.” But thinking isn’t really his favorite hobby whenever Haknyeon is around. Thinking hates him as much as he hates it; it only ever stops him from interacting with his crush, who by now is on his second plate. Sunwoo stares admiringly as though it’s the only deed he’s capable of.

Dios mio, hindi na yata ngumunguya si Haknyeon. Sunwoo is only half-done with his plate when Haknyeon finishes his second.

“S-San ka ba nahihirapan?” Sunwoo asks, pulse racing. Sana hindi napapansin ni Haknyeon ang slight na panginginig ng kamay niya.

Haknyeon, trying to stall their tutoring, hands the other boy his ice cream sundae, even though he knows it isn’t what the latter is referring to. “Dito. Ang hirap buksan eh.” It is true, though. Hindi niya matanggal ang takip ng sundae niya. It’s getting in the way of his eating.

Sunwoo takes what’s being handed to him. However, when he thinks he’s gathered enough strength to remove the plastic lid, Haknyeon decides to make that strength wobble as he reaches his hand out to the younger’s lips, wiping away the gravy stain on it.

The plastic lid may have been torn, but it doesn’t matter. It’s going to the bin, anyway. Haknyeon takes it from Sunwoo, muttering a, “Thanks.”

—
“H-Ha?” Juyeon thinks he is already done with the stuttering phase with Chanhee. They’ve talked on the way to the ice cream shop and somewhere along it, he has already gotten over the shyness. Or at least, he thinks. Not until Chanhee has elaborated ONE topic TWO times, and he still doesn’t get anything that the former has been saying.

Chanhee, slowly losing patience but still trying to be nice, holds back his sigh and says, “Kumain muna tayo,” just in time for their orders to be served.

“O-Okay.” Juyeon is nothing but apologetic. Naubusan na yata ng laway si Chanhee sa kaka-explain sa kanya. They start eating and he tries to free his mind, para naman kapag tinuruan siya ni Chanhee mamaya ay may pumasok sa utak niya, kahit kaunti.

Halfway through eating, he urges Chanhee to teach him again, thinking he’s already ready to learn. But, an explanation later, Juyeon plainly gives up and sincerely says, “Sorry, bobo lang talaga ako.” : c

This catches Chanhee offguard. He feels bad that Juyeon feels that way (even though he has nothing to do with it) and tries to comfort him, saying, “Hala, hindi ka naman bobo!!! Sabi sa ‘yo mahirap lang talaga yung lesson ngayon, pero magegets mo rin yan. Kaya nga kita tinuturuan eh!!! Ako bahala sayo!! Saka, mas bobo pa rin si Eric kaya wag kang mag-alala!!!”

“HOY HYUNG!!! Ikaw ha!!! Binabackstab mo ako!!!” Eric suddenly shows up from nowhere and takes a spoonful of Chanhee’s ice cream.

Juyeon gets a little jealous even though he thinks he doesn’t have the right to be. Gusto niya ring maka-indirect kiss si Chanhee!!!!