Three happening years had passed. Daehyun's friendship with Yongguk had grown stronger and kids in school even called them the 'Ruler' and the 'Dumpling'. 

'Ruler', 'cause Yongguk was lean and tall, and 'Dumpling' cause Daehyun actually looked like one in his oversized t-shirts and baggy shorts and plump face. Youngjae was a good friend of theirs, popping up randomly to explain the complicated terms Yongguk used on Daehyun much to Yongguk's displeasure.

Now aged 14, Daehyun was getting ready to do whatever he did on his weekends.

"Aw man! I've gotten fatter!" he sighed as the zipper of his pants refused to move. " This . Ah well. I can use this to make a puppet and scare dad in the night." he thought placing the pants on his clothes rack happily. "Ooh. And the singing competition is coming up too! And i'm gonna sing that song called, ' What did Molly do'. Who's Molly anyway?" he mused as he was passing by the mirror and his own reflection caught his eye. "Dumpling" "Fatty" "Giant".

The words his classmates used on him drifted through his mind. " Hmm. Too bad. I think I'll still eat even if it means I'll grow too fat to move from my chair. " he said firmly crossing his arms over his chest. "Besides, I still think i have a few good features hidden under all the skin, and I think I've grown taller too!" he chuckled grinning at himself.

"The fatass is finally losing it" 

Daehyun scowled, at the familiar voice. Yongguk sat at the window swinging his legs back and forth bored.

" You still don't close this window do you. I swear if someone comes in through this and you, I will ignore your shouts." he said.

Yongguk as said before was tall and lean. Also his voice was cracking and Daehyun loved making fun of him for that cause his own voice wasn't cracking yet.

Until Yongguk points out that maybe he was a girl... 

Daehyun couldn't help but sigh at the way some girls got all flustered when Yongguk was nearby. He was a popular athlete in school, but Daehyun didn't know why lot's of girls liked him. A lot..They found his tan skin appealing and yeah, his features were getting more defined because that's what adolescence did.  But come on! So were Daehyun's! He just put on more weight! Girls like chubby guys... right? To cuddle....? No?

Anyway. Back to the girls.

Then they laughed at everything Yongguk said, even when they weren't meant to be funny. Wait. Yongguk wasn't funny. So why did they laugh when he spoke?

'I think i'm better looking than him if not for the weight' he had once told Youngjae who had scoffed and said. 'Please. I'm better looking than both of you' and Daehyun had indignantly told him to prove it. Youngjae had called out to a girl who had showed him the middle finger. When Daehyun called out to the same girl she had waved at him. But that was because he was a friendly kid, and almost everyone liked him.

"What are you doing today?" asked Daehyun plopping down on his bed.

"Damn. I swear the bed broke." snickered Yongguk leaning his body back. "If you fall and die, will the police take me into custody?" asked Daehyun truly concerned over his well being. Yongguk's face came back into view.

"Shut the up"

" YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED A BIT! DO NOT SWEAR IN MY PRESENCE!" shrilled Daehyun not getting the point that Yongguk had never, and will never listen to him.

"By the way some girl gave me a letter. I think it's for me, but she had accidentally put your name on it. She said she wants to date me." said Daehyun glancing at Yongguk who was now making a random shape out of a piece of paper.

" So go. Her name is Tina right? She's a and when she you, don't come crying to me." said Yongguk hopping off the window and throwing the origami tiger he had made at Daehyun.

"Really? How'd you know?' gasped Daehyun.

'He's still gullible' thought Yongguk shaking his head in exasperation. 'He hasn't changed a bit either.'

" I saw her a boy in our class. Oh.. On your table" whispered Yongguk smirking. Daehyun frowned. 

" How can she on a table? That's impossible! Wait.. I still don't even know how happens!" exclaimed Daehyun sitting up in bed. Yongguk groaned and facepalmed.

"How can you not?! You're 14! Go read up on it! Pretty interesting stuff." said Yongguk kicking Daehyun's football around his room. Though he was 14, Daehyun was pretty innocent, and didn't really find the health lesson on interesting when it was taught in school. So now, he was preety confused at the world because he only knew half the lesson taught.

Anyway.

" STOP PLAYING! YOU'LL BREAK MY STUFF LIKE LAST TIME!" he shrilled

Yongguk scoffed. "It was only a glass"

" NO! YOU DESTROYED MY WHOLE ROOM!" 

" Be quiet or I'll call Tina! " threatened Yongguk as he kicked the football straight at Daehyun who made to catch it, but it hit him square in the face and he howled. " your voice is damn awful! It's like a girls! Grow some balls Daehyun!" said Yongguk unable to believe his ears at the feminine sound.

"You broke my nose!!!!!" yelped Daehyun in alarm, ignoring the insults,as he touched his nose. Yongguk smacked him on the head. 

The door opened and Mrs Jung walked in smiling. "Ahh. What a day! The sun's shining after all those weeks of nothing but rain and gloom!  Hello Yongguk! Aw! You have grown so cute!" she cooed squishing his cheeks while Yongguk kept his temper in control.

" I saw you just yesterday and you said I looked too serious. I highly doubt I've changed drastically" he muttered massaging his cheeks as Mrs Jung tackled her son. 

Yongguk watched impassively as the mother and son wrestled on the floor laughing.

' Boy aren't i glad i have a mother who understands the meaning of space.. Oh wait, the son's equally bad' he thought as Daehyun flopped onto his mother's lap panting driving the air out of her.

" Hey fatass. Get your off  your dying mum." said Yongguk and Daehyun rolled off his mother who gasped for air. 

"Dae. You need new clothes. Why not go to the mall today?" asked Mrs Jung her son's head. "Alone?" he asked scratching his stomach.

'And he's gross too' thought Yongguk wryly.

"Hmmm... You're a big boy. I have to go to work today for something important. The mall's close by! You can surely walk or cycle to it!" she said poking her son's squishy cheeks. Daehyun frowned. "But what if Tina's there?' he asked.

" Tina? Who's that" asked Mrs Jung getting up and helping herself to some sweets from Daehyuns 'secret' sweet stock.

"A . She has already Yongguk. So he knows." said Daehyun seriously rolling onto his stomach and trying to sit up, failing miserably. Mrs Jung stared at Yongguk. " You were ?" she asked. 

" You're son has such a sick mind. I don't even know how is done..." said Yongguk seriously shaking his head at Daehyun sympathetically.

"WHAT! YOU JUST TOLD ME YOU WERE ON MY TABLE!!

" Daehyun!" gasped Mrs Jung before said boy could protest. "The mall. Ok I'll go. But tell dad to come" he said glaring at Yongguk who gave him an evil smile. Mrs Jung sighed.

" He's going on a trip with his schoolmates Dae." Her eyes landed on Yongguk who knew what was going to happen and began brainstorming.

"Uh... My... mum's gonna buy me a dog... so.----"

" Yongguk will go with you!" said Mrs Jung throwing an arm around Yongguk's shoulder and dragging him towards Daehyun who was still attempting to sit. " Sorry. But I hate malls.." said Yongguk truthfully. 

" Why?" asked Daehyun crawling towards the bed and hauling himself up finally.

"I don't like crowded places" he said quietly and Daehyun raised a brow at him from the bed. "You? Don't like crowds? You? are you breaking my leg?" he asked hands on hips. 

" It's pulling your leg. And no I'm not." said Yongguk calmly, removing Mrs Jung's hand from around his shoulder, "I hate going out. I'm not afraid of crowds. It's just... I dunno. I don't like it" he said walking back to the window and swinging a leg over the ledge. There was a crash downstairs and Mr Jung began to yell. Sighing Mrs Jung went to help her husband who had tripped over Daehyun's shoes and gone crashing down the stairs. 

" Well. You told me to face my fears when I told you i was scared of spiders.." said Daehyun. " So, i'm telling you the same thing. And anyway its not like crowds are bad. It's just a mall. No one will kill you. I'll protect you." said Daehyun laughing at himself as he imitated a drama he had watched. Yongguk watched the boy rolling around on his bed laughing and shook his head sighing.  

" Aww! The little baby's shy! Man I gotta tell Youngjae this!" taunted Daehyun as Yongguk reddened a bit

" It'll be fun! we can have lunch too! And play in the arcade! You're not scared of losing to me are you?" asked Daehyun flashing a toothy smile at Yongguk waiting for a reply.

After a while Yongguk nodded slowly. " Okay. Just this once. But remember I will kill you if anything happens." he threatened  before jumping out of the window and climbing the wall to his house.

" HAHAHA! I GOTTA TELL YOUNGJAE!" whooped Daehyun at the idea. "Oh wait.. I don't have a phone.." he said at the realization.

******************

An hour later Daehyun was standing outside his house smelling a flower. "Ooh.. Nectar.." he said poking his toungue out to taste the pollen.

" Oh god. "

Daehyun straightened up to see Yongguk staring at him in disgust. " Instead of going through puberty, you're going through the process of losing your mind " he said just as Mrs Jung ran out.

" Come on boys! Get in the car!" she said opening the back door and throwing a pair of jeans inside. Reluctantly Yongguk got in pushing Daehyun, who was having a problem moving his fat to the next seat. 

" Why'd you bring these?" asked Yongguk pointing at the pair of jeans lying between him and Daehyun. 

" Oh those are Daehyun's favourite jeans! He doesn't want to part with them, so i thought you two could give it to be adjusted to the 'Jean's loft' in the mall. My friend works there and loves Dae. She'll do it!" said Mrs Jung as she swerved the car to avoid colliding with a kid.

She stopped outside a shop that read, 'Tea and muffins'

" Okay boys. This is as far as I can take you! Now go and have fun ! And Dae, I'll be home at round 6.00 ok!" she said turning around in her seat to face the grinning Daehyun and bored Yongguk. " Buy Yongguk whatever he wants ok Daehyun. I gave you enough money. Bye kids!" sang Mrs Jung as she drove off. 

" It's 4.30 already! Let's get goin " said Yongguk impatiently glancing at Daehyun who hung his jeans on his shoulder as he led the way to the small cafe. " Let's grab a bite first!" he said over his shoulder and Yongguk scoffed. " I wanna get this over with so let's just go!" he yelled. " DON'T SWEAR! It's on me remember!" said Daehyun as he opned the door to the cafe and waited for Yongguk. Scowling, he made his way to the door and pushed Daehyun inside roughly.

" Good day boys!. Hello Daehyun my man!" said the man behind the counter as Daehyun hurried to order. 

" HI MR LANG! THE USUAL FOR ME!" he chirped . " Oh wait! Is that a new thingy?" he asked pointing at the newly added board to the collection of food.

" Course it is face. Can't you see it says 'NEW'? " asked Yongguk darkly standing beside Daehyun.

" Whoa. Who's this?'' asked Mr Lang taken aback by Yongguk's angry face and language.

" Who this? Why this is my friend. Mr Lang, friend. Friend, Mr Lang" said Daehyun introducing the two parties. " Hello Friend " said Mr Lang. " Order up!" he said going to a couple that just came in.

" What you want?'' asked Daehyun unable to choose. Yongguk opened his mouth to say 'Nothing dickhead' but remembered that he didn't have to pay. A smirk formed on his lips as he glanced at Daehyun who was ogling at an expensive dessrt. 'Lets see...' he mused, eyes glinting as he read the options.

'Hmmm. Let's see. Oh. That looks good. A exclusive ice cream cake with chocolate fudge and fruit tarts and .. And its really expensive... ' he chuckled

" Hey fatass. I want number 15." said Yongguk. " 2 slices of it. And make sure to get me a Double chocolate Chip Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme Frappucino " he added smirking.

"OK I'll get it.! " said Daehyun cheerfully as he made his way to the counter. " Geez. He's like an old man drinking coffee " said Daehyun as he placed the order.

Chuckling Yongguk went to a table that had four chairs and plonked down, pulling out his phone. Daehyun arrived a moment later.

" I always buy pancakes with strawberry and cream. Its cheap. And Mr Lang gives me a milkshake for free! When I get my own money, i will buy this shop!" he said. 

The waiter was staggering towards them with a tray.

" Whoa...You ordered good.." said Daehyun in awe as the waiter left the tray on the table. Daehyun ogled at the huge plate of food and the even larger mug of  coffee.

Grinning Yongguk pulled his plate towards himself and began to eat.

" You wanna share?" asked Daehyun staring at Yongguks food. Yongguk shrugged and Daehyun took a bite.

" Whoa..." he gasped going back to his simple meal.

Soon he finished his pancakes in and sighed in content.

"I have been collecting money for an year now to buy this really cool pair of sandals I had my eye on. It's really expensive but worth it. I spoke to the shopkkeper man and he said that it can withstand anything. Like mountain climbing, rolllerskating, diving, driving, cycling, tornados, rock climbing, quicksand and even wall climbing cause it has suction cups. Plus if Tina comes, I can attack cause it is very strong and I quote the owner. 'You buy, they will die' " smiled Daehyun.

Yongguk looked up from his phone. "What?" he asked. Unaffected, Dehyun repeated everything again. 'He was supposed to get annoyed and give me the silent treatment' thought Yongguk hearing the same thing again.

" Can't you shut the up?" grumbled Yongguk pushing his plate away.

" I shall ask you a question." said Daehyun ignoring his request, as he pulled his milkshake towards him.

At the lack of response, he shrugged. "What happened to the tap dancer?" he asked. No response. " He fell in the sink!!!" guffawed Daehyun as he laughed loudly slapping the table, tears streaming down his face.

The whole cafe looked at him and Yongguk placed his phone on the table before leaning towards Daehyun and slapping his head. " OWW! What was that for?!! Not my fault that you have no sense of humour!" said Daehyun a little annoyed as the waiter came with the bill. 

Glaring at Yongguk Daehyun grabbed the bill and his wallet that read "Daeloves today" He gasped his eyes widening at the price.

" WHAT?! How.. W-- I -- What?" he asked face contorting in shock. Snickering Yongguk grabbed the bill and glanced at it. " Oh dear. I would've paid for mine but i got no money " he said sighing sadly as he passed the bill back to Daehyun smiling.

" You! You did this on purpose!" spat Daehyun shooting up, pointing at Yongguk accusingly. Yongguk raised his brows.

"Me? No way" he said offended. "It looked good and i couldn't resist. . The way the cream melted on my toungue" he sighed watching Daehyun amused as his hands balled into fists.

" YOU SELFISH MORON!" yelled Daehyun launching himself at Yongguk who scooted to the other side of the booth laughing. But not for too long as Daehyun scooted towards him and pulled him by the collar.

" I DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY!! I'LL HAVE TO POOL IN THE MONEY I COLLECTED FOR ONE YEAR TO BUY THOSE SANDALS!!!" he screamed at Yongguk shaking him.

"Get your hands off me er" said Yongguk calmly.

" WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?"

" I called you a er. Deaf?"

Daehyun stood up and the table shook.

" YOU WILL----" he began  but stopped when Yongguk gasped and pushed him away, standing up.

", , ! you fatass! See what you did!" he swore as Daehyun's fallen milkshake seeped into his jeans.

" HAHAHA! KARMA!" laughed Daehyun.

 Yongguk's eyes flashed angrily, and landed on daehyun's jeans. Seeing the look, Daehyun hugged the jeans tightly to his chest shaking his head. " NO! GET LOST!"

'Hmm.. Favurite jeans huh' smirked Yongguk internally.

" I don't have anywhere to go! So gimme that!" he snapped grabbing the jeans and storming to the washrooms.

"Urgh! I hate him" screamed Daehyun glaring at the bill. 

Minutes later Yongguk came back walking awkwardly, in Daehyun's jeans.

"Man. I can't believe this doesn't fit you. I can barely walk in it." he complaint glaring at Daehyun who ignored him, as he brushed past him, to the exit. Yongguk borrowed a safety pin from the friendly Mr Lang and followed Daehyun, feeling a little better.

' He's pissed. Not my ing problem. Food is more important than sandals'  thought Yongguk  to convince himself  as he watched Daehyun who was kicking a rock agressively. 

They were nearing the mall and Yongguk looked at the parking lot nervously. It was bloody full and the security was having a hard time as more and more cars tooted their horns impatiently waiting to be given a spot. 

" I think I'll stay here. You go." muttered Yongguk. Daehyun spun around, still mad. " Don't be such a coward. Just shut up and follow me" he snapped, surprising Yongguk who sensed that maybe his joke wasn't that funny afterall. Too proud to apologize, Yongguk stood his ground.

"Go on I'll wait" he said again. " Shut up coward. Afraid the crowd will smother you? Well it should. How can someone be shy of being in a crowded place? You call me names but that's just pathetic" sneered Daehyun walking on ahead. Yongguk raised a brow. 'Was this puberty at its peak?' he thought.

He followed Daehyun to the entrance slowly and inhaled sharply, as he noticed the huge crowd inside.

No. He would stay outside.

" You're really being childish you know. I should have come alone. " hissed Daehyun as he walked in, ignoring Yongguk who stood standing at the entrance, looking at the huge crowd.

" Move it kid " said a voice and Yongguk was forced to go on inside. He swallowed and stood stock still jamming his hands into his pocket nervously. He looked around for Daehyun but couldn't see him anywhere.

'Oh you fatass. Are you abandoning me just for that bill?' he swore in his head, panicking till he saw the fat figure near a shop. Sighing, Yongguk made his way to it, till  a group of people blocked his way. Once they moved, Yongguk began panicking again as he didn't see Daehyun in the shop.

"Daehyun?" he called out weakly looking around. Beads of perspiration formed on his forehead as he ventured further into the mall, his breathing growing shallower and shorter. 

The people's voices got louder and louder till Yongguk felt as if they were in his head. He swallowed and leaned against a wall, gasping, waiting for it to stop. 'I should leave. But I can't leave Daehyun alone here'

'Damn you' he thought bitterly as he ventured deeper into the mall, avoiding the crowds as much as possible. He swallowed and looked around. There were kids running around all over. One pushed Yongguk roughly as they ran past him.

'C'mon fatass.C'mon. Where are you?.' he thought as he began to jog around the mall panic strangling him.

Finally he noticed Daehyun looking around in the first floor and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. 'When did i get up here?' he thought going down the de escalator and swallowed as someone pressed up against him from behind and the side. 

" Daehyun.." he gasped hurrying to said boy who turned around.

" Where were you?" he asked, shifting the bag in his right hand to his left frowning at Yongguk who looked shaken.

" Where were you? Didn't you say we will stick together." replied Yongguk angrily, regaining his usual composture. Daehyun shrugged. "Not my fault that you're so shy . I'm done. Let's go" he said turning around. Yongguk didn't follow Daehyun.

" Hey! Fatass. I got a little problem..." he called after Daehyun who turned around annoyed. " I need some... help." Yongguk said, the word 'help' barely above a whisper.

Daehyun laughed. "Did you say help? From me?" he asked wiping a tear of mirth while Yongguk rolled his eyes.

" Shut the up. The pin broke. I can't walk around holding onto the trousers. Can you buy me a belt? A cheap one?" he asked softly, eyes moving towards a group of noisy boisterous girls, who were laughing at something. Daehyun blinked. " Are you really asking me to buy you a belt? After what you did? The pin's not broken! Its still on!" he exclaimed pointing accusingly at Yongguk.

" It will break! I can feel it loosening!"

" No!" said daehyun turning his back on Yongguk stubbornly and walking towards the exit.

" Why you ing----"

There was a silence. Then the group of girls broke into a fit of laughter. Soon heads turned and the whole mall was roaring with laughter. Confused Daehyun turned around and stopped, mouth dropping open.

Standing in the middle of the mall stood Yongguk, his jeans pooled around his ankles, standing stock still, eyes wide, like a deer caught in the spotlights. Daehyun couldn't help it. He too burst out laughing. 

Yongguk felt his chest constrict and found his body go numb. Wherever he looked, faces were laughing at him, pointing, some even taking pictures. 'It's not happening. This is a dream' a voice told in his head. 

" Daehyun...Help" he called out hoarsely, looking at the laughing boy.

Daehyun was slapping his knees, laughing.

" You know him?" asked a guy pointing at Yongguk, laughing. Daehyun glanced at Yongguk before shaking his head.

" Nope! No idea who that is!" he laughed.

" Daehyun." whispered Yongguk in shock. ' I thought we were friends. Wait. He'll help now ' said a voice in Yongguk's head

" GAH! HE'S A FLASHER!! HEY KIDS! TURN AWAY!" howled Daehyun and the crowd began to laugh harder. 

Yongguk swallowed, face red, eyes flitting around. He couldn't move a muscle.

" Daehyun. Can you come and cover me?" whispered Yongguk, his eyes pleading.

" EWW!!! The flasher is talking to me like he knows me! "  yelled Daehyun while the crowd cheered and booed. 

" Get lost flasher! "

" Disgusting!"

" Where are the guards?"

" Is this how you were brought up?"

Continued the crowd.

" He's your friend? He's only looking at you." said another guy. Daehyun chuckled. " Nope. Why would I befriend a ert? I have no idea who he is!" he laughed. 

" Who did you come with kid!?" asked a man. Yongguk didn't reply as he kept staring at Daehyun steadily, hurt.

Daehyun stopped laughing, noticing the emotions in Yongguk's face. He cringed at the look Yongguk had in his eyes.

Betrayal.

He looked around himself, noticing that almost everyone was still laughing at Yongguk.

'Oh no! He hates crowds!' he thought frantically.

" Yongg--- Yongguk!?" yelled Daehyun, for the boy was gone.

" Where'd he go?" yelled daehyun, looking around frantically. 

" Dude he just ran off, clutching at his jeans!" laughed the guy from before, but Daehyun didn't laugh this time, as he ran to the parking lot, in the hopes of finding Yongguk there. 

*********

A/N : Double update!