Every time Haemi is around, Changjo and Niel is prepared for their act. And as the time goes by, the more they are together, the more they get used to each other’s presence.

It was another time when Haemi gave Changjo another surprise visit at school. And of course, this caused the school to go wild again. She made her way to the school’s canteen after the principal told her that Changjo and his friends might be having their lunch.

She happily skipped her way there and stopped at the entrance. She was expecting him to be having his lunch quietly with his friends next to him. But her smile turned upside down the moment her eyes caught sight of them… with his girlfriend sitting close beside him. He was sitting next to her, a spoon in his hand raised before Niel’s lips. Changjo is feeding her and this angers Haemi. He never does this kind of act. Not to anyone she knows. She huffs and decided not to approach them and turns around to leave. She will have another of her visits when that girl isn’t around her man anymore.

When Haemi left, Niel and the rest couldn’t help but cheer at how successful they are.

“Another score for us.” Chunji laughs and pats Niel’s back.

Niel grinned as he opens his mouth and let Changjo feed him.

And there is this time too, when Haemi saw Changjo at the mall. Haemi felt excited seeing him alone. She was about to approach him but stopped when she saw Niel jogging towards him, giving Changjo a light peck on the cheek and a tight hug, causing the man to chuckle at how lovely his girlfriend is. She felt heat boiling in her head and she huffs away. This isn’t a right time to approach him.

It seems like she couldn’t get to Changjo anymore so she tries to think of an idea, a plan to get closer to him even with his girlfriend around. She stopped calling and sending him messages. She also did stopped visiting him in his school. But she didn’t stop hoping for Changjo to notice her.

One day, she met him unexpectedly at the park. It confused Haemi for a bit to why he’s not together with Niel or to anyone with his friends. It’s not that she’s complaining, but she thought it’s a bit weird seeing him alone.

He was walking on the green grass with his hands safely placed inside his jean pockets. He seems like he’s in deep thought and Haemi couldn’t think of anything to what could be in the man’s mind. Must be work? He has always been workaholic since they grew up.

“Jong Hyun!” She decided to call for his attention. The called man turned his head and saw her. She could easily see the frown forming on his lips. But even so, it never stopped her from approaching him.

“Jong Hyun, it’s been a while.” She greeted him with a small smile. Changjo only looked at her before turning his back on her. He doesn’t want to see her, Haemi is aware of that and it upsets her.

What has she done for him to be this cold to her?

“Ya, Jong hyun~” She calls again and trails after him. But no matter how many times she calls for his name, he never looked back at her. He never did.

Changjo kept on walking while Haemi quietly followed him from behind. She gave up calling his name. She doesn’t mind if he doesn’t speak, as long as he can be with her at this moment, everything is alright.

They passed a familiar swing which caused Changjo to stop on his tracks. Haemi felt her heart skipped a bit. Did he remember? It was the swing they both used to ride when they were still kids. She would ask Changjo to push her and play with her. And at that time, both of them were happy. She could always see the smile on his lips. She could be with him without him being ignorant towards her.

“Jong Hyun, do you.. remember that swing?” She hesitantly asked, peeking at Changjo from behind.

‘This is where I first met Niel…’ Changjo thought as a scene of him and Niel plays in his mind.

He was so young back then. He was sitting on the ground beside the swing, crying with a bleeding knee. He was pushed again by the bullies and he couldn’t do anything. He was weak. He was small.

He felt hopeless and alone until someone came up to him.

“Hey, do you need help?”

Changjo looked at the hand stretched out to him. He looked at the owner of the hand and he squint his eyes at the light behind him, he was glowing. He never trusts anyone so easily it made him wonder what caused him to easily trust this new kid. Maybe because of his bright, friendly smile? Or maybe the way the other kid looks at him with so much security in his eyes? Or is it possible, because he already liked this kid?

The moment he accepted the other kid’s offered hand, he felt something he couldn’t explain. He felt electricity struck before him. He was scared, but seeing the kid’s comforting smile, he felt safe.

“Don’t cry. From now on, I will protect you! I’ll be your hyung!”

Changjo saw the light in his eyes. Hyung? He thought he looked like a girl more than a boy. But nevertheless, meeting him brightens up his dull mood.

“We’re friends now, okay? So if you need anything, just call out ‘Niel!’ Niel!’” He couldn’t help but let out a laugh at how loud and cheerful this boy is. Changjo nodded at the other boy and gave him a small smile. Because of the boy’s lively attitude, it made Changjo forget about his bleeding knee.

Changjo shook his head and looked away. He shouldn’t be thinking about these things now. He has other problems in his mind he needs to take care of. He doesn’t need any distractions. He needs peace of mind that’s why he’s at the park in the first place.

He proceeded on walking and kept his head low.

Haemi pouted and looked back at the swing. And a memory flashed in her mind.

Little Haemi peeked from behind a rock as she watch Changjo cry on the green ground. She was about to approach him but she was scared that the bullies might hurt her too. She sobbed as she only watched her best friend cry on the swing, alone. She couldn’t do anything, she was still a kid. She was scared.

“Hey, do you need help?” She raised her head when she heard a new voice. She didn’t get his name but she could never forget how that boy stole her best friend from her. The moment Changjo made new friends with this kid, he stopped playing with her. And that’s when he started avoiding her.

Haemi sighed and glanced at Changjo. “I remember now…” She muttered. She saw Changjo sat on a nearby bench. She frowns at how he still refused to acknowledge her.

Changjo sighed heavily as he rests his elbows on top of his knees. He needed air to relax. He felt too much pressure from his work and school all together. He needed time to think for himself. He needs to breathe some clean air. He raised his head and straightened up his back. He planted his palms on the bench he was sitting as another memory flashes in his mind.

Changjo happily approached Niel sitting on the bench and handed him a hair clip he bought with his mom.

Niel tilted his head and examined the small gift.

“An angel winged hair-clip?” Niel looked at Changjo with large, curious eyes.

Changjo only smiled and nodded excitedly. He took the clip from his hyung’s hand and attached it on Niel’s long hair.

“It’s because you have long hair.” Changjo grins, his eyes shrinking. He clipped it on Niel’s hair before lightly patting it, making sure for it not to fall.

“And because you’re my guardian angel so you need wings.”

Niel felt happy it made him envelope the other boy into a tight hug.

“Thank you!”

“Ya, Jong Hyun. How long are you going to stay here and ignore me?” Haemi couldn’t wait anymore. She saw Changjo freeze but didn’t turn around to face her. She kind of expected that.

Changjo growls and shook those thoughts away. “Why am I thinking of these?” He thought. He started to realize he has been thinking about his hyung a lot from the past few days. He couldn’t stop his brain from having Niel in them. He couldn’t control it anymore.

 “What do you want?” Haemi finally heard Changjo speak after a moment of silence.

Haemi inhaled deeply and crossed her arms above her chest, she knows she has to tell him what she has to or he’ll walk away again without listening to her, like what he usually does. This is the only opportunity she can get of having Changjo alone.

“Jong Hyun…” She started calmly.

“If I can’t be with you…” She trailed. “… then can I be a friend at least?” Her brave act was replaced by a hesitant one. She waited for Changjo’s answer as she plays with her fingers.

Changjo raised his head and stared at her suspiciously. What is she up to now?

“Friends? What are you up to?” It doesn’t even sound like a question anymore. He raised his right eyebrow in suspicion. He couldn’t help but doubt on her offer.

“Aniya! I just want to be with you, but if I can’t be with you the way I wanted it to be.. then I’ll be just a friend.” She gave him a wide, honest smile. “I promise! I want to be friends!” She beams, raising her right arm as if vowing.

Changjo only stared at her, still suspicious.

“Whatever.” He sighs and stands up before stalking off.

Haemi’s shoulder slumped down as she watches him leave, baffled.

“Should I take that as a yes or a no??” She tries to call after him but Changjo only proceeded on walking.

Haemi let out a sigh and blows on her bangs.

“I’ll take that as a yes then.” She giggled and hugs herself before turning around to leave too.

--

It’s finally Friday and Teen Top couldn’t get more eager for the class to end. Chunji and CAP are already both in their senior year while L.Joe and Niel are still in their junior year, leaving both maknaes as sophomores. But this gap didn’t stop Teen Top from hanging around together even though their schedules doesn’t match.

It was PE time for Niel. He has the same class with L.Joe when it comes to physical fitness and he’s more glad to have his hyung with him in one of his classes. He had a smile on his face as he walks side by side with L.Joe towards their locker to change.

“You seem happy.” L.Joe noted as he looks at Niel.

Niel glanced at his hyung and shakes his head, the smile not leaving his face.

“It’s nothing.” He answers as they stand in front of their locker. L.Joe opened his locker and took out his PE uniform, not breaking his eyes from Niel’s form. He couldn’t help but notice Niel’s behavior getting lively every day.

“Oh. So you’re smiling over nothing now?” L.Joe raised an eyebrow and smirked in amusement at him. Niel chuckles and waves it off. He just felt a little lighter, and a little glad. They’re having PE, his most favorite subject. And he’ll be together with his hyung. Isn’t that enough reason to be happy?

Niel opened his locker and saw a water bottle inside with a pink sticky note attached to it. He blinked and looks around in hope to see who would leave him this small gift. He had been receiving small gifts with a note attached to it. He had been keeping the notes of course, but he’s still curious to who would give him such things.

“What’s that?” L.Joe asked and took the bottle from Niel’s locker without warning.

“Keep the smile on your face. It brightens my day..” L.Joe read the letter out loud for Niel to hear.

“So this is why you’re smiling like an idiot.” L.Joe says as he stares at the note before looking up to Niel, waving the pink sticky note in the air.

Niel scratched his head shyly. He snatched the note and quickly tosses it inside his locker. He took his PE uniform and pulls L.Joe with him.

“It’s nothing. Let’s just go.” He whines. He doesn’t want to talk about that now. He doesn’t want to explain for he too doesn’t know where it comes from. But surely, the bright feeling he’s having is not from that note. But because his hyung is with him.

Niel and L.Joe stood side by side as their professor assign tasks for them.

“Ten laps around the field!” He announced and blows on his whistle.

Niel glanced at L.Joe with a cheeky grin.

“First one to finish wins.” He challenged. L.Joe rolled his eyes and without warning, he sprinted off.

Niel blinked his wide eyes and points at L.Joe.

“Ya! Not fair!” He laughed and runs after him. It didn’t took him long to finally able to reach his hyung. Thanks to his long legs.

“You’re so slow.” Niel commented. L.Joe glared at him as he catches his breath, slowing down into a jog.

“Why don’t you proceed and leave me behind?” L.Joe offered sarcastically, shaking his head.

Niel only grinned and faced the front, jogging next to his hyung.

“Why would I leave you?” He asked, not looking at L.Joe. “I won’t leave friends behind.” He added and pulled his tongue out at L.Joe.

L.Joe only smiled and looks at the front too.

“… friends.” He thought. “That’s all we’ll ever be.” He sighed as he tries to push those thoughts away.

“What’s the note about?” L.Joe asked after a moment of silence. Niel just frowned at this.

“It’s nothing, hyung.” He rolled his eyes at L.Joe’s persistent attitude towards the water bottle. He doesn’t want to talk about something he doesn’t know.

“Having an admirer?” The older mused and lightly punches Niel’s arm.

Niel chuckles and shakes his head.

“Why can’t you just ignore it?” Niel whines as he lightly pants. He felt his sweat rolling down in his shirt as they continue to jog around the field.

“Don’t I deserve to know?”

“Psh.”

“Come on, tell me!”

“No!” Niel refused and jogs faster.

L.Joe runs after him and smacks his head from behind.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll have no choice but to kiss you here and now.”

Niel blushed and looks away.

“Don’t say things like that!” He started running faster just to avoid his hyung.

“Whoa. Look at them go.” Ricky says as he watches L.Joe and Niel run, passing through the other runners on the field. He stood next to Changjo as he placed both his arms on his hips. Changjo is sitting down on the bleachers with his laptop on his lap as they wait for their instructor to come.

Changjo ignored Ricky as he types for his paper work on his laptop. Even though it’s PE time for them too, Changjo brings part of his company work to school. He doesn’t even need to attend school anymore but he knows he has too. He sighed as he busily continue his work on his laptop.

L.Joe kept on asking Niel while Niel stubbornly refuse.

This chase was interrupted when a ball flew and hits Niel on the face, knocking him down on the ground with a bleeding nose.

“Niel!” L.Joe widens his eyes and quickly runs on Niel’s side.

Changjo looked up from his work and saw Niel on the ground. He immediately set is laptop aside and stood up. He was about to go to them but he couldn’t leave his things behind.

He cursed as he watch. He doesn’t have a choice. He glanced at Ricky who has his eyes on Niel too.

“Hyung, watch for my things too. I’ll just hel—“ Changjo was about to run towards Niel’s direction but he already saw L.Joe on his side, helping him.

“Niel, you okay?” Niel let out a weak laugh as he holds his now bleeding nose.

“This is nothing!” He tries to excuse as his nose continued bleeding. He let out a weak laugh for them not to worry.

“Omo! I’m so sorry!” A girl appeared and kneels down beside Niel. She bowed her head numerous times and kept on apologizing.

“It was my fault!” She admitted honestly and kept her head lowered.

Niel glanced at her; she was the girl he noticed that time when Haemi first visited their school. He narrowed his eyes when he saw the familiar clip on her hair.

“That clip…” He thought.

“Let’s get you to the clinic.” L.Joe offered and helps Niel stand up, wrapping Niel’s arm around his shoulder. Niel couldn’t take his eyes from the girl as L.Joe guided him to the clinic.

An hour already passed since L.Joe took Niel to the school's clinic.

L.Joe is in the library arranging the books in order. He glanced at his watch and thought about Niel. He decided to visit him, saying his excuse to the teachers inside the library. He took his things as he left.

Niel was still lying down on the white single bed when the door opened, revealing L.Joe with a plastic bag in his hand.

“I bought snacks.” L.Joe announced with a smile. Niel frowned at him.

“Why did you only come now?” He whines and sits up. “I’m not needed here anyway; I just had a bleeding nose.” He says with a pout.

“Just follow what the nurse told you, pabo.” L.Joe shook his head and sat at the edge of Niel’s bed.

“I’m needed at the library but I still visited you here so be thankful.” L.Joe says as he took the snacks from the plastic bag.

“So you’re saying books are more important than me?!” Niel rounded his eyes at L.Joe, whining a little bit.

L.Joe stopped to glance at Niel for a moment.

“No. You’re more important than anything.” He smiled wholeheartedly. Niel smiled back and looks down, hiding the pink tint on his cheeks.

Changjo decided to visit Niel in the clinic while the others still have their class. He was walking down the hallway quietly as he holds a small paper bag on his right hand. He wanted to visit his hyung earlier but he couldn’t for he too has his own class, but now since they’re all dismissed, he can visit him.

He stopped in front of the clinic and stood before the door. He was about to take the knob in his hand when he heard someone talking inside.

 “Why did you even let that ball hit you, pabo.” He heard a familiar voice spoke. He figured it was L.Joe. He took steps on his side to take a peek inside through the glass window and saw L.Joe handing Niel a juice.

 “I didn’t see it coming!” Niel whines and frowns widely, crossing his arms like a kid. He refused to get the drink from his hyung.

“Don’t be stubborn and have this. You know I have to get back to work in the library. I was just asked to take care of you.” L.Joe insists on giving Niel his drink.

“Just leave.” Niel frowned wider. “Asked by who?” Niel was about to give a name but stopped himself. He felt a little disappointed when he found out L.Joe was only asked to take care of him. Doesn’t he care about him?

“I was asked by me. I was too worried about my love’s health so I came to check up on you.”

Niel coughs and blushed deeply. L.Joe panicked a little and handed Niel’s juice again.

“Ya! Drink this!”

Niel took the juice and sipped on it. He glanced at L.Joe and gave him questioning eyes.

“What did you call me?!”

L.Joe chuckled and shrugs.

“Jagiyaaa~” L.Joe purs as he leans closer to tease Niel more. Niel blushed even more as he leans away while helplessly trying to push his hyung off him.

“Get off!”

Changjo unconsciously balled his fist as he looks at the ground, his back now against the door. He turned around a bit to take a quick peek inside through the glass window again. They looked so happy with just each other’s presence. He felt his insides churn in displeasure seeing Niel act like that with their hyung.

He’s not needed. Why did he even thought of visiting him when their hyung is already there to take care of him?

Changjo sighed and turns to leave; dropping the small now crumpled paper bag he’s holding. He bought medicines for Niel and placed it inside the paper bag. He even asked the nurse what drug could make the pain go away or anything to help someone who’s wounded. But seeing Niel being taken care of by someone else, he felt he’s not needed.

He was about to walk away when he came face to face with Ricky.

“Oh! Changjo.” He greeted Changjo and tilted his head. Changjo only stared at Ricky but didn’t speak.

“You okay? You look angry or something.” Ricky pointed out and pokes Changjo’s cheeks.

“I’m not.” Changjo growls and pushed Ricky’s hand away.

“Did something happen?” Ricky tried asking. He noticed the paper bag on the floor before looking back at their maknae.

“Nothing.”

“Ohhh-kaaay~ OH! By the way, is Niel hyung okay now?” He beamed as he squats down a bit to take the small paper bag on the floor beside Changjo’s feet.

“Why don’t you ask L.Joe hyung?” Changjo muttered lowly. “They’re together, he’ll know.” And with that, he left without another word.

Ricky watches Changjo’s back as he leaves. “What’s with him?” He muttered, confused. He glanced at the window beside him and saw Niel and L.Joe.

Preview on the next update: Haemi’s visit

Teen Top is lazying around their dorm when they heard a knock on their door. L.Joe volunteered on answering it as he stood up from the couch.

He opened the door and his eyes widened seeing the person before him.

“Annyeong!” Haemi waved her hands at him excitedly.