“Damn it Sehun! How bloody long does it take for you to pack away a tent?”

“Well sooorrryyyy!! It’s not my fault I’m a scout boy like you Xiumin, or should I say; troupe leader baozi”

“Come back here you runt of a maknae!!” Xiumin yelled as he chased after the youngest around the campfire.

“Chen Chen! Control your boyfriend!!”

“First of all he’s not my boyfriend,” Xiumin stopped in his tracks as his heart dropped. “And second of all, respect your elders. Wait ‘til your Suho hyung hears about how sassy you’ve been all weekend.”

“Pfft, not as sassy as you and your boyfriend,” Sehun retorted.

“But seriously hyung, when are you going to confess your feelings for Baozi hyung?” Chen sighed as he scratched the back of his head in thought. He hated having this conversation. He and the older boy had been close friends since University, even though they knew each other from high school. Chen had only started to have special feelings for Xiumin when they were both accepted into the scientific research team within the CIA.

“I don’t think I ever can. He doesn’t like me Sehun. Do you see how me confessing my feelings could potentially up our friendship?” Sehun nodded in agreement.
He’s been there for me ever since the beginning. Even in high school when I barely knew who he was. He was always there to support me like a German Shepard. When I was at my worst, he was there to look after me and bring me back up. And even though I pushed him away, he’d always come back when I needed him the most. But when was I when he needed me?? I ran like a coward… that is why he would never love me.”

The two were too busy with their heart to heart convo that they didn’t notice that Xiumin was no longer anywhere to be found. He had left long ago. He needed space to breathe and get away from Chen. Even though they were just friends, he felt a pain in his chest every time Chen said those things. Xiumin had the biggest crush on Chen since high school. You could say that over time, Xiumin fell in love with him, so deeply in love that there was no going back.

~~~~~

Chen was one of the school coolest guys in high school. It was his sharp jawline and charming voice that lured in the girls and landed him in the kingka group. Xiumin was a boy, just an ordinary boy with exceptionally high grades. He was that one nerd with the really nice ghetto and twerking skills. They were from two different people from two different worlds. Fate itself wouldn’t have guessed that they would cross paths if it wasn’t for that afterschool detention.

Chen was waiting under the street lamp for his parents to pick him up after his afterschool detention. Apart from the dimly lit street lamps it was pitch dark outside, not to mention really cold. His phone beeped to signal that he had received a text message. He groaned as he locked his phone. His parents were out late tonight, as usual, and couldn’t pick him up. He didn’t really expect them to make the effort because they cared more about social gatherings then the wellbeing of their only son. Even though he saw it coming, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. He is always trying to impress them and make then proud of him, he even took up forensic science because he thought that they might be proud of him.

He slowly started to make his way through the deserted streets to his favourite café. It was a small cosy pastry café on the corner of a busy street. Every Wednesday at half past 3 he would go to the café and ask the chubby faced worker at the counter for a chai latte and a box of macaroons. Then he would walk over to the corner booth and sit in the window seat, back facing the wall. He’d stay there until closing hours and walk roam the streets aimlessly before going home, and today wasn’t going to be any different.

Chen’s P.O.V

The steam from the latte was fogging up the mirror. I drew a smiling mandu on the window pane even though I was nothing close to happy. I could see the workers cleaning the tables and packing up the shop. I waited for a bit longer before heading out the front door. I thought I’d take the long way home to clear my head. You see, it might be from my parents absence, but I feel like I’m empty. I am soon to graduate from high school and even though I did well on my final exams and I’m going to attend Seoul University… I don’t feel like it’s good enough.

As I continue to ponder about the things I’m missing in life, I heard a muffled cry come from an alley a few feet away. I peeped my head in to find the chubby faced waiter from the café and a couple other older guys as well. One guy had a hand over the waiter’s mouth and his head in a tight lock while the other guy was yelling  at him, his words too slurred to be interpreted from my distance. It was obvious that the two were drunk and had found someone to pick on because they thought it would be funny. I decided to step in and help the out the little guy.

“Yah! I don’t have anything! Let me go! Leave me alone you creeps!” the man didn’t let go and his friend just started yelling even louder. I could tell that the victim was scared out of his wits. I strut over there being the confident saviour I was and yanked the arm off from around his neck. I grabbed onto his arm and manoeuvred him to my side, away from the drunk men.

“Didn’t you hear what he said? Leave him alone.” I looked the man in the eyes with my best poker face. If I was being honest with myself, I would say that the longer they were around the more my confidence was being drained. I turned around with the boy at my side and left the alley before things got ugly. The man continued to yell and come after me but luckily for me they stumbled and fell on their faces. Tsk tsk tsk, drunkards these days, I thought to myself.

“Gwaenchana? They didn’t hurt you did they?” I asked once we reached a well-lit area with people around. I placed a hand on his chin and examined his face, then body for any cuts or bruises. All I got in reply was a slow nod as he glued his eyes to the ground. I just saved him and he couldn’t thank me, or even yet look at me? That was my initial thought until I saw his giant blushing cheeks. The sight itself brought a smile to my face because I really wanted to reach out and pinch those mandu cheeks.

“What did you say your name was again?” For the first time he looked up at me and spoke.

“X-xiumin.” His eyes were dashing around from the ground, to the cars, to the buildings. They were looking everywhere but at me of course.

“That doesn’t sound like a Korean name,” I wandered out loud. “Are you not Korean?”

“I am. I used to study in China and got used to the name. my real name is Minseok.”

“Ahh, well then. Since you have a nickname, and I have a nickname, why don’t we call each other by our real names. Neh? I’m Chen, but to you; I am Jongdae.”

“Yeah, I know.” I was a little surprised. I knew I was popular but I didn’t know that I was that popular that even the waiter knew my name.

“You know? But I don’t believe we know each other yet.” He looked a bit uncomfortable and hesitant to answer but did anyway.

“We actually go to the same school. We’ve been in the same Forensic science class together since 9^th grade…” Never in my life had I felt like such an . I don’t recall on seeing him anywhere other than the café but apparently we have been sharing classes since 9^th grade, 9^TH GRADE PEOPLE!! He looked a little hurt but at the same time like he saw it coming.

“Don’t feel bad,” He started “You don’t really think a kingka would acknowledge someone like me, so I’m not disappointed.” He sounded so sure but one look at his face and you could tell that he was lying. I was about to offer him to hang out sometime to make up for being a prick but he started speaking again.

“I should really get going now.” He pulled his hand from my grip and turned to walk away. It was only then did I notice how much being a kingka got to my head. I had been expecting him to melt at just the touch of my hand around his this wrist. His reaction was one that I had never encountered before and it made me look forward to my next forensic science class. That night I walked home with a light heart and a stupid grin I couldn’t wipe away no matter how hard I tried.

Xiumin’s P.O.V

Well…that was weird. I didn’t really know why, but I was dreading my next forensic science class. Even though he wouldn’t notice me, I knew it would feel weird to be in his presence. Especially since I have been crushing on his since the first time I accidently over heard him singing. What do you expect from a kingka anyway? This isn’t some Asian fanfic where the cool guy likes the dorky kid, this is reality and there is no place for dreaming of the impossible when it came to science!

Narrator’s P.O.V

The next morning, they both had a double period of forensic science together; lucky for one and not so lucky for the other. When Chen walked through the slide door, he instantly began searching for Xiumin. The latter was cowering away at the end of the second row further away from the classroom entrance, hoping that Chen wouldn’t recognise him with glasses and in uniform. He also didn’t like the sight of girls drooling over the boy he liked while practically shoving their in his face.

“HA! I found you!” Chen shouted triumphantly once he had located the boy since he was the only on actually sitting in his seat, instead of surrounding the said kingka. Everyone turned their heads to look at who Chen was talking to, only to find it being Xiumin. Chen walked over to the empty spot next to Xiumin and sat down.

“That spot… it’s taken.” Chen wasn’t expecting for it to be free but not to be taken either. He thought about it for a bit before replying.

“Come on Minseok, can’t I just sit here?? Please?” Chen pleaded in his cheerful tone.

“A- ANDWAE!! LuLu always sits with me. S-so you can’t sit here.” Xiumin made an X with his hands to prove his point. And at that very moment, Luhan came barging into the class and rushed over to his usual seat, only to find Chen sitting there.

“Minnie, I’m sorry I’m a bit late. You didn’t replace me already did you?” Luhan joked, but Xiumin was unaffected by the joke and didn’t crack a single smile.

“As you can see Chen, Luhan is already here so please get out of his spot,” Xiumin asked politely in a serious tone.

“Chen? I don’t see a Chen anywhere here. Do you see a Chen? I don’t.” Chen was disappointed that Xiumin didn’t use his real name. He really wanted to get to know the waiter and befriend him for some reason. He didn’t care what the reason was, but he wasn’t gonna give up on him now. And almost as if Luhan could read Chen’s mind, he offered to sit next to the weird stoner kid in the back row so that Xiumin and Chen could sit together.

“Okay Chen, what do you want from me?” Xiumin asked once Luhan left. Sure he liked Chen, but he knew better than to get involved with a kingka, nothing good would come of it. Nothing has happened between the two and people were already talking about the chubby faced boy.

Look at him. Who does he think he is to decline Chens offer to sit with a low life like him.

I know right. He should be grateful that Chen would even waste a breath on him.

Just look at his fat face! He will probably never get into a relationship looking like that.

The hurt on Xiumin’s face stood out like a sore thumb. Chen noticed this and straight away turned around to glare at the snickering girls behind them.

“Do you mind?” He asked in mono tone.

“Oh? Oppa, what are you talking about? Of course I wouldn’t mind if it’s for oppa!”

“Good, then shut your trap and stop talking about mandu face like that. And you can’t call him that, only I can call him that. Arasseo?” The girls gasped and stuttered in embarrassment.

“So mandu face, I was wondering if-“

“Don’t call me that.”

“What? You don’t like it when I call you mandu face? Well that’s fine, because frankly I don’t like it when you call me Chen.” Xiumin’s eyebrows were slightly creased by now.

“Well that’s what you’re called. Chen. That’s your name. What else am I supposed to call you?” Xiumin was getting annoyed with Chen being so talkative to him. Every time his soft voice flowed like velvet, Xiumin could feel himself falling harder for the boy.

“Jongdae. You can call me Jongdae.” Chen could only smile as he heard Xiumin sigh in defeat, but the smile was gone as quickly as it came on once Xiumin stood up and picked up his books aswell.

“Wait. Where are you going? Hey. YAH MANDU!! Come baaaccckk~~” Chen whined as he held onto one of his wrists to prevent the other from leaving.

“Let go Chen, you’re being a child.”

“… SHIREO!! I DON’T WANNA!” By now Chen was throwing a mini tantrum and shaking his head in disapproval.

“CHEN! Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. Let go so I can leave already. You’re such a man child, geez.” Xiumin tried to keep himself calm as Chen continued to whine even louder this time, turning his mini tantrum into a full on tantrum.

“WAHH!! Mandu, what are you saying? Are you saying you wanna break up? But Mandu, haven’t I provided enough for you? I gave you everything, isn’t it enough? I was YOUR manchild. Why are you doing this to me Mandu? WAE?!! Tell me!! Why would you leave me like this?”

“Chen… Stop it! What are you talking about ‘break up’? I’m not leaving you, I’m just leaving. Okay? So let go of me and stop making a scene. People are looking at us.” Xiumin tried to free his wrist again but to no avail, he was unsuccessful. There were now students from other classes that had come in to see what all the commotion was about, only to see fake tears streaming down the kingka’s gorgeous face.

“BWO?!! MANDU! How could you say that? What do I mean by ‘break up’? WHAT DO I MEAN?? Was this all nothing to you? You’re not leaving me but you’re just leaving? Are you just going to leave without saying your goodbye now? You want me to just ‘let go of you’. How can I do that?? How can I do that so easily when I loved you so much Mandu? SO WHAT IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT US?!! Are you all of a sudden embarrassed to be seen with me? At least give me an explanation. What did I ever do to make you feel this way? LOOK AT ME WHEN I AM TALKING TO YOU!!... I’m sorry baby, I didn’t mean to yell. Just please look at me, baby just look at me. Baby don’t you know how much you’re hurting me right now? I’m sorry if I hurt you but Mandu you’re killing me right now. Don’t you know that I can’t live without you?”

There was a long pause when Xiumin was left dumbfounded at Chen’s stupid cry for attention.

“I know I’m probably not good enough, not worthy enough of a man for you. Even though this might sounds really stupid and desperate but could you say it, just one more time? Say it. Tell me that you love me . You’re my everything and I’m a lost cause without you. Mandu baby… Saranghae…”

That last phrase really struck Xiumin hard in the heart. He knew Chen was faking, but he couldn’t help but get all flustered over it. He cleared his throat and looked around only to find everyone staring at them with shocked expressions. However, none of them could compare to Luhan’s expression, which was both hilarious and priceless. Xiumin sighed heavily before he continued to try and convince Chen to come to his senses.

“Chen-“

“Baby, please don’t leave me.”

“ALRIGHT I’LL SIT WITH YOU!! GEEZ!!” Xiumin snapped at him, sitting back down in his previous spot. Chen could only giggle like a little school girl as he snuggled into the waiter’s arm that he was still clutching. Everyone still hadn’t moved from their positions while Luhan was on the edge of having a mental breakdown.

-end of flashback-

Author's note: HEY BEAUTIFUL SUBIES!! so like... XIUCHEN YAY! :D omg I love Xiumin <3 <3