“Are you sure this is okay?” Chen asks nervously

Kris gives him a reassuring pat on the shoulder “Don’t worry too much about it yeah? We’ll just wait and see what happens” Kris says

“Oh look his coming!” Sehun announces, bouncing with excitement

Chen quickly looks down at the table as Xiumin approaches

Xiumin doubles back as he spots Chen w-w-what?! He gives Lay the ‘what the heck?’ look to which he responds too with a Lay smile; that mischievous and mysterious smile that makes you want to wack him across the head

“I hope you don’t mind ge, I met Chen here yesterday and invited him to join us” Tao says cheerily

Chen finally looks up and his eyes meet Xiumin’s. He can tell his nervous; Minseok still has that habit where he chews at his bottom lip whenever he feels anxious…

“Hi” Chen says lamely

Xiumin takes a glance at his panda, then at Kris who’s scaring the out of him with his stare “Hi” Xiumin says back

They continue to stare at each other “Sit down ge!” Lu Han says breaking the silence

So Xiumin sits down, across from Chen. Chen breaks the stare, not wanting to scare Xiumin more and continues eating silently

“Tao I don’t think this is a good idea” Chen whispers, not wanting to disturb the people in the library. Tao gives him the ‘are you kidding me?’ look and rolls his eyes

“Come on ge, if you don’t man up now then what’s the point of coming here? It was for Xiumin right?”

Chen hangs his head low

“Look one step at a time. Make him feel comfortable with you once again and we’ll go on from there” Tao explains “I don’t know what really happened in the past but if you succeed in making Xiumin feel comfortable around you, he’ll surely explain it to you”

Chen sighs “What if I did something really bad but I just couldn’t remember?”

“Then I’ll Wushu your ”

Chen gulps

“Look just trust me okay? We want to help”

Chen considers it for a while, thinking thoughtfully to himself

“Okay”

The table is eerily silent and well…awkward

Lu Han, Sehun, Tao, Kris and Lay, notice the not so subtle glances Xiumin and Chen make to each other. They share knowing looks

Sehun fed up with the silence does something he wouldn’t normally do…spills water on Kris’ face.

“W-WHAT- WHAT THE HELL SEHUN!” Kris’ loud voice booms throughout the cafeteria.

The table of friends look up in shock

“I-I- it was so silent so I…sorry hyung” Sehun mutters, cowering back and gripping onto Lu Han who in turn gives Kris a stare that says ‘do not touch my Sehunnie’

It’s quiet again…until the sound of Xiumin’s laughter resonates throughout the cafeteria

“Y-you should’ve seen your face it-it was fun-funny, Sehunnie you’re so funny” Xiumin says in between his fit of giggles

Chen stares at Xiumin…and then he cracks up laughing too

Soon everyone is laughing, even Kris

“You’re lucky I love you Sehun-ah otherwise I would’ve kicked your ” Kris says mockingly as Tao sweetly wipes his face with a napkin

And after that, conversation ran smoothly as they talked of hobbies, movies, food and other random stuff but hey, better than nothing right?

“Oh, I have photography class now!” Xiumin exclaims, standing up from his seat

“Wait photography? Hyung, you kept our promise?” Chen asks with wide eyes.

Everyone’s head jerks up to stare at Chen and Xiumin

Xiumin blinks “Of-Of course I did Jongdae” he says in a small voice

And Chen reveals the brightest smile Xiumin has ever seen, successfully taking his breath away “I’m glad” Chen murmurs, eying Xiumin with so much affection

“U-um yeah. I should go” Xiumin turns to walk away but stops, turning back around just take a leap of faith Minseok. You miss him. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him again…as long as you can keep your feelings hidden

“Do you have a class right now Chen?”

Chen’s surprised but nonetheless happy that Xiumin is freely speaking to him without freaking out and running away

“No I don’t, my class was this morning. Why?”

Xiumin’s nervous again and Chen chuckles under his breath

‘This is too cute’ Tao mouths to his friends and boyfriend who nods in agreement

“W-would you, I mean, can you walk me? To my class?” Xiumin asks, cheeks flushing a cute shade of red which makes Chen’s heart flutter

“Sure. I’d love too”

Jongdae sometimes can’t believe that Minseok’s older than him, his too cute and adorable to be older than him. Actually sometimes when they’re together, some people mistake them thinking Jongdae is older. Minseok pouts “Don’t I look mature enough?” And Jongdae will always reply by pinching his cheeks softly and cooing “You’re too cute Minnie, that’s why”

The two walk through the hallways quietly

“You know, whenever we walked together, it was different to this” Chen says

“What do you mean?” Xiumin asks, eying the boy beside him. Chen smiles at him

“We’d always walk like this” And surprising Xiumin, Chen grabs Xumin’s hand, linking them together. “There. That feels better”

Xiumin doesn’t know how to react but stops and stares at Chen. Chen chuckles “Come on Minnie. We don’t want you to be late to class now do we?” tugging at Xiumin’s hand, he pulls him forward and there walking through the halls, hands linked together

“Say Xiumin, remember that time I thought I could fly and climbed up your roof? Then refused to come down unless you’d let me jump off and show you my power?” Chen says laughing

Xiumin laughs at the fond memory “Of course I remember that. You scared me!”

“I only got off when you climbed through your window and joined me, saying that if I wanted to jump then you were going too as well. That’s when I thought ‘but Minseok hyung doesn’t know how to fly! I have to protect my hyung’” Chen says in a childish voice, imitating his voice as a kid

Xiumin laughs louder “Oh wow you’re really something Kim Jongdae” without realizing, Xiumin was softly squeezing Chen’s hand

Chen notices, squeezing back.

They continue walking, recalling their memories as children until they reach Xiumin’s classroom

“Oh?” Chen says noticing the figure standing by the door

“Xiumin!” the person says happily “Oh! Joon!”

Lee Joon notices their hands linked together and Chen prays that Xiumin won’t let go…

Xiumin just pulls Chen along with him and Chen’s prayers are answered as Xiumin doesn’t let go, instead just keeps softly squeezing at Chen’s hand

“Ready for class?” Xiumin says cheerily

And Lee Joon notices a spark in Xiumin’s eyes that wasn’t there before. Is it because of this kid behind him?

He hides his anger and responds back just as enthusiastic “Yeah! Uh, so who’s this?” Lee Joon asks indicating Chen

“Oh this is Jongdae” Xiumin introduces him, still oblivious to the fact that they’re holding hands “Hey” Chen says cheekily. He can sense the anger through Lee Joon for some reason, but he can tell his not happy with the fact that Chen’s here…with Xiumin…my baozi!

“Are you two uh, together?” Joon asks, now indicating to their interlaced hands

“Huh? OH!” Now noticing and remembering that they are in fact holding hands, Xiumin pulls away, blushing hard

“N-no were not” he says hanging his head down

That response pains Chen’s heart but he doesn’t say anything

“We should go in now hey? Um see you Chen” Xiumin gives Chen one last smile. Oh no, not so fast Chen grabs Xiumin by the arm and pulls him into a tight hug

“See you MinMin” Chen whispers, letting go and giving him a bright smile

Xiumin blinks back but smiles as well I love your smile so much Jongdae

Chen looks at Lee Joon and tries hard not to laugh in his face, seeing the distaste Lee Joon has already for him

“Nice meeting you. Look after my Minnie arasso? See you guys!”

“YA KIM JONGDAE!”

And with that, Chen winks at Xiumin before walking away casually

“Aish” Xiumin mutters under his breath. His heart feels like it has just jumped out of his chest and is now walking beside Chen. But then again, his heart was always with Chen.

“Should we go in?” Lee Joon says smiling at Xiumin

“Y-Yeah”

Lee Joon doesn’t like this Kim Jongdae. Not one bit.