Mornings were tougher than what Kyungsoo expected. Waking up a Monday morning, 6 AM, just to go to school was not even exhausting, it was the next level. 

 

Sunday had passed with elegance, leaving behind a decent house tour and a lot of resting from Kyungsoo’s side. He was satisfied with his bedroom, a little smaller than his last one but enough for him to feel comfortable and sleep in. They had four bedrooms in total: Kyungsoo’s, his parents’, a guest room and another one just in case his grandparents wanted to stay over sometime. There were three bathrooms — one that was just beside his own bedroom, blue and white filling the view as he entered the default sized room — another one was inside his parents’ bedroom and the third one was on the first floor, the other’s on the second. The kitchen was definitely the biggest Kyungsoo had ever seen, and it was a pleasure to have the honor to cook on those beautiful marble plateaus. The living room, just as the stairs, was covered in a mixture of dark and light wood, a rustic feeling radiating from it. The dining room table, which was just in between the living room and the kitchen — as they were all connected — was of a dense oak. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough home-looking for him. 

 

Monday came faster than he’d expected. He found himself looking at his own reflection in the mirror that morning, seeing a pair of nervous eyes looking back at him. His chest was covered in a plaid blue uniform jacket — the letters E.C.W.S embroidered in a glistening golden yarn on the upper left side of his chest— his legs in dark ruby-red pants and a white shirt clutching itself against his sweaty back.

 

”I look awful.” He said to himself with a sigh. He straightened his striped tie before taking his backpack and leaving his room to go downstairs. 

 

”Breakfast?” His dad asked politely as he flipped the pancake on the frying pan. 

 

”Not hungry.” Kyungsoo said with a grimace. 

 

”But honey you need to eat something before you go to school.” His mom replied as she put down the coffeemaker. 

 

”I’ll buy something in the cafeteria.” 

 

”But-”

 

”Mom, just- let this one pass.” 

 

Both of his parents looked at him with a face of disapproval, although a little bit of compassion was discreetly showing off on his dad’s side. 

 

”Please?” He asked, his smile sad and his eyes tired. He knew that if he wanted to he could easily play with his parents feelings, but not once did he pull off the lie his mind came up with to get what he wanted. Maybe that’s the reason to why they agreed, maybe that’s why they trust him so much.

 

”Okay, bu-” 

 

That was the cue Kyungsoo needed to leave, his mother’s faint words drowning behind him. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

It was inexplicable how amazing the school looked in Kyungsoo’s eyes. When he passed the enormous gates that separated the luxurious school grounds and the ordinary sidewalk he fell in love with the outstanding architecture. The modern touches by adding a lot of large windows and the antique way the building’s curves were designed made Kyungsoo’s breath hitch. It was definitely a change compared to his old school. 

 

In an instant he was pushed to the ground, not really knowing what was going on until he looked up in confusion.

 

”Oh my God!” The boy shrieked as he rapidly bent down to help Kyungsoo up. ”I am so sorry!”

 

Kyungsoo was at a loss for words. The only rational thing his brain came up with was to brush off the dirt from his pants. 

 

”Luhan! What did you do?!” Another boy yelled as he came running towards the two of them. 

 

”I just- I didn’t see him and I was running and- Actually… this is your fault!” He said and pointed at the other boy. 

 

”My fault?! How can this be remotely my fault? You were the one who knocked him down!” The shorter boy retorted. 

 

”Yeah, but that was because you were chasing me!” 

 

”Because you took my phone! And I don’t want you snooping around my belongings.” The boy said with an annoyed exhale.

 

”But we’re best friends Baekhyun!” The tallest of them said with his mouth agape.

 

”You’re acting like a child.” 

 

”No, I’m not!” 

 

”Yes, you are!” 

 

”No!”

 

”Yes! 

 

”No!”

 

”Ye-”

 

”Stop it!” Kyungsoo shouted, his head dizzy from the intense conversation, more like shouting, the two boys were having from each of his sides. ”This is ridiculous.” 

 

”Tell the baby-faced.” The boy named Baekhyun said while crossing his arms over his chest. 

 

”Yah-!” 

 

And that’s when it clicked in Kyungsoo’s brain that the Luhan guy was very familiar. He stood still for a moment, only staring at the taller blonde guy while he had an argument with the other blonde boy, and when they both abruptly stopped talking it might have been because he looked like a creep. 

 

”Do I have something on my face or…?” Luhan said and touched his features, glancing at Baekhyun to see if the other one had something to pinpoint. 

 

”No, I was just- I mean, I don’t- you don’t have anythi- um… Haven't we met before?” Kyungsoo asked with an awkward smile. 

 

”Wait a second… Wait a second!” The face Luhan made was funny enough to let a laugh escape Baekhyun’s lips. ”Aren’t you the one who sang with Jongdae?! What’s your name again? Kyungsan, right?” 

 

”It’s actually Kyungs-” 

 

”I knew it was Kyungsan. I’m just great with names.” Luhan said with a flash of charisma that made Baekhyun roll his eyes. 

 

”No, but it’s Kyung-” 

 

And just then the bell decided to interrupt his second attempt, making the two new acquaintances give him a hurried goodbye and run off. He was left hanging, although he was already accustomed to such situations so it wasn’t a burden. Although he was still in need to find his destination: the main building. In the papers he had gotten from the school, arriving with the mail, it said that all the first years were supposed to meet at the reception. Usually, the reception is in the main building, so that’s why he was frantically searching for it. He took out the map of the school he had also gotten in the mail and tried to calculate where he was. When he located the gates on the map a smile of triumph spread on his face, which widened when he found the route to the main building. 

 

Kyungsoo had just put the papers back in his backpack when another blonde guy appeared by his side, knocking lightly on his shoulder. 

 

”E-excuse me…” He said, eyes looking on the ground and a shy expression displaying on his features. ”Do you know where the reception i-is?” 

 

His heart melted when he laid his eyes on the boy, he looked so fragile and scared, so genuine to the world surrounding him. 

 

”I’m going there too.” Kyungsoo said with a smile. ”We can go together if you want.” 

 

The boy’s eyes widened for a split second, the sudden glee he felt making him agree. Kyungsoo led them both through the central garden and into the main building, which wasn’t that hard to find since it was right in front of them. They small chatted as they speed walked, both realizing that they were the new kids, the first years. 

 

The boy opened the entrance door, the wooden exit creaking when it reached its end. Kyungsoo stepped forward, the other right behind, and his sight was filled with male teenagers. 

 

”I’m assuming you two are Mr. Oh and Mr. Do.” A bald man said, standing on his toes so he could see them over the river of students. 

 

Kyungsoo nodded fervently, the boy beside him looking around like he couldn’t believe he was actually walking on that ceramic parquet floor. 

 

”Y-yes Sir… I apologize for the delay.” The short brunet said, his head hanging low as he bowed. 

 

”It’s okay. Step forward please.” The teacher said as he waved them to come over. Kyungsoo looked at the boy behind him, unsure of what to do. He couldn’t help but feel like the younger boy, because he looked younger, was having an existential crisis on his inside. Kyungsoo only gave him an encouraging nod and made his way to the front line. 

 

”Sign this next to your name.” The bald man said as he gave him a list with over 50 names written on it. Kyungsoo looked at him, both being in the same height. 

 

”Why?” 

 

The teacher sighed and gave him a pen. ”So we know that you are the student we are looking for.” 

 

Kyungsoo raised one eyebrow but did as he was told, then the man took the list and the pen from his hands to give it to the boy to his side. 

 

”You too.” He said and the boy did hurriedly as he was told. When done he took back the items once again and cleared his throat. 

 

”Alright students!” He shouted, Kyungsoo’s immediate instinct of covering his ears jumping out of him. ”Now that we’re all here, let’s divide you into two classes. When I shout your name you follow me, alright?” The teacher didn’t really expect anyone to actually answer, so he just kept going. ”The rest will stay with Mrs. Kang and follow her instructions.” 

 

Kyungsoo waited patiently for his name to be shouted, but it never came. He saw how the boy on his side was recruited to the male teacher’s group, his expression a tad bit sad when he put the pieces together and realized that they wouldn’t be in the same class. Kyungsoo waved shyly at the boy when they separated, the other smiled and scratched his head, his spare hand waving back at him. 

 

Kyungsoo didn’t even know his name but he felt like he had actually made a new friend, sort of.

 

”Okay kids.” Mrs. Kang said with a jazzy smile. ”Let’s take a tour around the school, shall we?” 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Luhan hated religion. Well, not the actual beliefs and traditions, but more like studying what other people believed in. For what he knew there could be a man that believed in a mythical power that octopuses might’ve developed and in five hundred years students like him would have to study it. Luhan just didn’t see the point in it. 

 

He sighed deeply as Mrs. Paeng kept gibbering about some elephant god, eyes wandering to the windows that showed the corridor. His seat was seated right in the center of the classroom, third row starting from the front. The tables were paired up two and two, and they weren’t in the position to choose who to be seated with. Minseok, a nice guy, a little too quiet for Luhan’s liking, was the owner of the chair next to him. They never talked unless it was necessary, and that was a rare occurrence in Religion class since their teacher talked away the lesson. 

 

He leaned his head on his left hand, elbow on the table and right hand beneath it. 

 

”I’m bored”

 

Luhan sent the text, his foot stomping the floor impatiently as he couldn’t wait for an answer. 

 

”Pay attention in class or you won’t graduate”

 

His eyebrow quirked as he smiled at the text.

 

”You know I hate religion”

 

”Doesn’t mean you can skip it” 

 

Another sigh escaped Luhan’s lips. He knew his best friend was right, he somehow was always right, but he wanted to deny it.  

 

”Why are you even answering me? You’re never on the phone in class”

 

”First years…”

 

”First years?” 

 

”Yeah, they’re doing the tour around the school” 

 

”Really? I haven’t seen them pass yet”

 

” you. I can’t concentrate because they’re so damn loud and there you are, slacking when you can study” 

 

”Love you too Baek” 

 

He laughed a little bit too loud when the younger’s reply never appeared, although it didn’t matter because, just his luck, the first years’ voices slowly penetrated his ears, muting his laugh for any one else to hear it. Luhan looked out of the window once again, now seeing how a bunch of dorky, jock-looking and overall quite young boys walked pass the classroom, Mr. Lee marching them through the building. Groups had visibly already started to form, guys jumping on each other and laughing as they sometimes stared inside of the classroom. Luhan chuckled, remembering how similar it had been when he first started E.C.W.S; Nervous, glancing everywhere and overall pretty alone. He sighed once again. 

 

He put his phone in his pocket, eyes still not leaving the window from his sight. Groans and complaints were head in the room’s atmosphere, the seniors getting annoyed by the newbies. 

 

They passed by quite slowly, taking their time to enjoy themselves. Luhan couldn’t remember his class being so vocal and messy, so immature. 

 

But between all those kids, one caught his attention a little bit more. Tall lean body walking with his shoulders slumped together, hands in his pockets and hair simply styled to the side, blonde strands sticking out over his pale face. He was definitely an outsider, a guy who preferred walking alone. Luhan looked at him mesmerized, taking in every inch of what he could see. He was unsure if the boy was aware that he was staring, but when he casually turned his head and looked back Luhan’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes, beautiful hazel eyes, eyed him curiously and Luhan shot his head immediately in Minseok’s direction, pretending to have a deep conversation with the elder. Cheeks had flushed red and his breath was uneven, blood being pumped out faster to his arteries. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”This is the A building, where you will spend most of your school time.” Mrs. Kang said in a cheery voice while opening the door for them to pass. ”There are two main corridors where the classrooms are located. The dining room and the library are located in the main building.” She took them through one of the corridors and suddenly stopped. ”These will be your lockers. The janitor will come by later and give you your spare key.” Those were her last words before taking them to their classroom. 

 

When the door opened most of the boys around Kyungsoo rushed inside, each one excited and competing against each other to get the best place. Inevitably, Kyungsoo was left to enter with the last ones, nervously looking if there was any place for him to sit, and secretly he wished there wasn’t. But what he was met with was much worse than he’d expected; the tables were paired up in groups of two — which meant he was bound to have a seat mate and that displeased him to no end. Everyone seemed to have taken their places except for two, one being Kyungsoo. The other guy looked at the only two seats left, both having a seat mate, while Kyungsoo looked down and waited for him to pick. The first free table was fairly close to the whiteboard but the guy beside it looked like he hadn’t taken a shower for a month. Kyungsoo was soon left alone standing when the guy beside him had almost ran to take the seat beside the other guy who didn’t have a seat mate. But when he was just about to sit down the dark haired male, tan skin and deadly expression, that theoretically would soon be his seat mate, growled at him and whispered a threat the other boy gulped and apologized quickly, going back to the stinky guy in the front. Kyungsoo made his way to the very back where the single free table was left, his legs shaking uncomfortably. 

 

”Please Mr. Do, could you hurry up?” Mrs. Kang said with a constant tap of her shoe on the floor. 

 

Kyungsoo was caught by surprise and looked at her while quickly nodding. ”Y-yes of course.” But when he turned to sit down he made eye contact with a pair of eyes he had already seen before. 

 

His mouth slowly opened as his mind tried to take in what was happening. 

 

Water splashed to the sides as the body fell down, arms flailing upwards in the desperate attempt to get some air. His eyes widened in fear as he saw how the poor boy tried with all his force, with all his will, to keep himself afloat. The clothes hung heavily down his body, dragging him to the bottom. The water kept intruding his mouth to access his lungs. He was unable to think of a proper solution when the other was drowning before his eyes. 

 

The teacher had started yelling at him, but Kyungsoo hadn’t understood a thing she’d said, neither had he really listened, until his new seat mate grabbed his wrist and pulled him down with a bounce. 

 

”What the is wrong with you dude? Wanna get yourself a detention on the first day?” The tanned boy whispered when Mrs. Kang had stopped glaring and their classmates had stopped caring. 

 

”S-sorry.” Kyungsoo was still in shock. He couldn’t believe that the boy he had saved two days ago sat beside him. Which led to another thought; Jongin hadn’t recognized him yet. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

The introduction went more or less fine. Kyungsoo had gotten his key to the locker pretty fast since his last name was high up in class list, which meant he got out of there quick enough to not have any more awkward moments in front of everybody else. 

 

They had spent another hour after that class to get to know the school grounds; the library, the soccer field, their private gym, which Kyungsoo was surprised they even had, the department of art & music, the tech floor and some hangout place to just chill. He was kind of intrigued why they didn’t visit the B building, like it was a place they should go to. 

 

”Mrs. Kang…” He said carefully to not annoy her again. 

 

”Yes Kyungsoo.” She answered while writing something on the board, everyone else already gone for lunch. 

 

”Sorry for what happened before.” He said, eyes looking down in shame.

 

”I guess you’re a shy person.” And Kyungsoo couldn’t help but nod fervently. ”It’s okay, I’ve been through much worse students.” 

 

Kyungsoo gave her a huge grin and thanked her with his whole heart. She smiled back, genuine about his upcoming question. 

 

”But Mrs. Kang…” He said a step outside of their home classroom. 

 

”Yes?” She answered, tilting her glasses a little to see him better. 

 

”Why didn’t we go to the B building?” 

 

She quirked an eyebrow and sighed. ”All you A students always want to go to the B’s.” Kyungsoo couldn’t help but laugh lightly through his nose when she said that. ”The school doesn’t show you around in the other building because you’re practically never there and it’s an exact replica of this building. But if you wanna go it’s a free entrance.”  

 

Kyungsoo nodded comprehensively and left with a goodbye. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”So… How’s it going? You like the school?” 

 

”It’s to be honest. I have to sit next to this really weird guy who almost got us a detention.” Jongin answered. 

 

”You and your dramatic problems.” His best friend said with a laugh. 

 

”Who has dramatic problems?” Said a voice behind them. Startled, they turned around to meet their oldest friend and his lover. 

 

”Jongin has.” Chanyeol said as he pointed at the youngest. ”Hi Jongdae!” He said, a smile on his face. 

 

”I don’t! And please Minseok, don’t do that.” Jongin replied, although expression almost flushed. 

 

But Minseok only laughed while Jongdae unlinked his arm from his boyfriend’s grasp. The oldest looked at the other in confusion, which led to an unexpected quick peck on the lips from Jongdae’s side. 

 

”I gotta go, Sehun’s probably waiting.” 

 

A grin spread across the elder’s face. ”Why are you so damn cute?” 

 

”Baby, I was born this way.” Jongdae sang with a playful smile that couldn’t stop Minseok from laughing. 

 

”All right, go, before I won’t let you.” And Jongdae did so, but not before he stole another peck. 

 

”You guys are so corny.” Jongin said with a face of disgust. ”It almost made me gag.” 

 

Minseok laughed and gave him a pat on the back.   

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

The food was oddly enough tasty, something Kyungsoo wasn’t used to. He took a spoonful of the radish kimchi, along with some rice and a nice portion of Samyetang. There were loads of things he could choose from, all from traditional Korean food to Chinese to any other cuisine-famous country. He spotted a bowl of Seokbakji when he waited in the queue to get his baked potatoes, which somehow caused him to think about the inevitable; Where was he going to sit? 

 

Sure the dining room was huge, but so was the school, hence a number of students, and that meant that there were no available tables. 

 

Kyungsoo cursed under his breath when he turned around to confirm his suspicions. He walked slowly, looking around to see if there was any possible human being that he could sit with, or maybe he just had to ditch the place and eat in one of those toilet stalls like every typical American high school girl or boy that’s bullied, fat or ugly in movies. A sigh escaped his lips as he realized the horrible truth — he had absolutely no friends, nor anybody acquaintance enough to care. But then, out of nowhere, he saw someone quite familiar, someone he had seen before, someone that fortunately sat alone in a corner. A smile spread across Kyungsoo’s face when he convinced himself that the blonde guy from before would be genuinely happy to have someone to share his lunch time with, so he made his way to the table. 

 

Although Kyungsoo had always been sort of clumsy. 

 

So when he accidentally barely bumped into a really tall guy he was so embarrassed that he quickly apologized and scurried off.  

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”Sorry!” The short brunet said hurriedly. 

 

”It’s oka-” But Chanyeol didn’t even have the time to answer him before he was out of his way. 

 

”See! He’s weird as .” Jongin said with a judging look at the back of the small guy. 

 

Chanyeol turned his head in a sharp turn and looked at him with a stern face. ”Is that your seat mate?” 

 

”Yeah dude, he’ so ed u-”

 

”Shut up.” Chanyeol cut him off as his expression changed completely in realization. And he wasn’t the only one, Minseok hadn’t taken his eyes off of the boy who now sat down with his boyfriend’s best friend. 

 

”Chanyeol… That’s-” 

 

”No, it can’t be.” The younger answered the oldest of them. 

 

”Guys…” Jongin said slowly, not understanding a thing of their coded conversation.

 

”It is! I swear it is!” Minseok shouted and made eye contact with Chanyeol, who ran his fingers through his styled brown hair. 

 

”We’re probably just mistaking him for someone else.” 

 

”I was the one who ing took him out of the water Chanyeol!”

 

”Guys!” Jongin shouted and stood in between them. ”What’s going on? Why do you care so much about him?” 

 

”Jongin, listen-” Minseok said slowly and put a hand on the youngest’s shoulder. 

 

”He’s the one who saved you.” Chanyeol interrupted, pointing at the now grinning boy. 

 

Jongin looked at him even more confused. ”What are you talking abo-?”

 

”The festival!” Chanyeol took both of his shoulders and shook him in annoyance, Minseok retracting his hand in surprise. ”When you almost drowned! Ring a bell?!” 

 

Minseok pushed Chanyeol away, waking the interest in some of the students around them. ”Leave the boy alone. Maybe he doesn’t remember!” 

 

Jongin’s brain was going crazy, memories out from the day of the festival slowly had enough light and focus to be able to decipher. His friends’ voices were blurred out by his mind and a flashback almost made him stumble. 

 

There was a brief second, a moment, when he turned around in the water and saw the boy standing by the pool, his horrified state watching him go away. It wasn’t audible since no words were spoken, but the slow shake of his own head and his somber brown eyes letting tears slip down made it clear that Jongin didn’t want the other boy’s help. 

 

Humiliation hit him like a tsunami, his fists clenched together and his knuckles turning white from the force. Jongin didn’t think about it twice before turning around and heading straight for his target. The blonde guy in front of his seatmate looked up at him with a questioning look, but he ignored it completely. He was going to get his revenge.  

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”C-can I sit here?” Kyungsoo asked with a soft tune. He’d hoped that the blonde guy would hear him even though he had his earphones on and the music on the highest, but of course he didn’t. 

 

Kyungsoo cleared his throat and daringly sat down anyways. The blonde looked up from his overly filled tray and raised his eyebrows in surprise, even taking off his earphones. 

 

”Hi!” Kyungsoo said, voice cracking a bit, which made the other boy laugh a little. 

 

”Hi.” 

 

”Can I sit here?” 

 

”You already do.” The blonde said with an adorable smile. 

 

”Yeah…” Kyungsoo responded with an awkward smile. ”But I can leave if you wa-” He said standing up.

 

”No!” The blonde answered really quick, also standing up and putting a hand on his arm to stop him. ”Stay. I don’t mind.”  

 

”Really?” Kyungsoo said as he sat down again. 

 

”Yeah.” He nodded back. 

 

”Thank you!” He grinned, which made the other boy laugh again. 

 

They ate, talked between their munches and laughed quite often. It was the best lunch experience Kyungsoo had had in months.  

 

He had just taken a sip from his glass of water when he felt how someone gripped his uniform from behind, dragged him up and then pushed him into the nearest wall.

 

The old feeling of being scared, the one he knew so well, built a knot in his stomach. Kyungsoo tried helplessly to get out of the grip but the person was pushing him way too hard against the hard surface for him to even move that he gave up and looked at the face inches from his. 

 

”J-Jongin?” He said in a trebling voice.

 

”It never happened, okay? Forget about everything.” He whispered and stared intensely into Kyungsoo’s eyes. ”What happened before, during and after the incident.” 

 

Kyungsoo nodded understanding what he was talking about although not really getting why Jongin was acting like that and why he hadn’t done it before if he had recognized him. 

 

”What the do you think you’re doing?!” The blonde guy shouted as he took a hold of the tanned boy and pushed him away from Kyungsoo.

 

There was a moment when Kyungsoo thought Jongin was going to attack his newly made friend but suddenly a guy as short as him stood in front of the brown haired. 

 

”Don’t you dare hurt him.” He said menacingly, eyes hard on the other. Jongin lifted his arms in surrender but didn’t stop himself from chuckling. 

 

”Can I tell him one last thing?” 

 

”If you touch-” 

 

”Not that guy.” Jongin answered with a roll of his eyes. ”This guy.” He said as he walked over to Kyungsoo. 

 

The blonde guy tried to stop him, but the shorter told him something that apparently calmed him down.  

 

Jongin leaned in next to Kyungsoo’s ear and whispered. ”Forget about the kiss as well.” 

 

The older of them two couldn’t believe how stupid his seat mate was, so when he was about to leave he couldn’t contain himself. 

 

”Wait…” Kyungsoo said, which made Jongin turn around. ”I think you should know that CPR is not a kiss.” 

 

And before he could fully take in the face Jongin had pulled he ran off.

 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”-and he’s so cute and handsome and he seems to be so polite and charming and completely breathtaking. If you’d just seen him Baek, he was beautiful!” 

 

”And three years younger than you Luhan, stop daydreaming.”

 

”Love has no age Baekhyun.” 

 

”It won’t end well.” 

 

They were walking down the main hallway of the B building heading towards the dining room for lunch. 

 

”You don’t know that.” Luhan reproached. 

 

And of course Baekhyun didn’t actually know that, but he had this unceasing feeling that a relationship between Luhan and his presumed prince charming would end up horribly wrong.

 

Luckily, or unfortunately, they saw a figure run in their direction, the dark brown haired boy slowing down when he saw them. Luhan recognized him immediately, which made him doubt if he should go up to him and talk to him, but his kindness had overpowered his body and he couldn’t help but walk forward with a worried face. 

 

”Are you okay Kyungsan? Why are you running?” The elder said as he put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. 

 

”I-I’m fine, thank you.” The boy said having a hard time breathing. Luhan was taken aback when he brushed off his hand with a smile. 

 

”You sure?” Luhan said anyway, not taking the small detail too personal. 

 

”Yeah, don’t worry.” The boy bowed gratefully. ”And my name is Kyungsoo, not Kyungsan.” 

 

Suddenly Baekhyun started laughing out loud, hand shadowing his stomach as he bent over. 

 

”Why are you laughing?!” Luhan said, confused over his best friends behavior and embarrassed on his behalf.

 

”You’re so stupid!” He laughed, wiping away his imaginary tears. ”Kyungsan.” And another row of laughter erupted from him. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”What’s he doing?!” Minseok shrieked as they watched their fellow friend grip his savior’s uniform and push him onto the wall. 

 

Unlike Chanyeol, Minseok didn’t hesitate in running up to the scene and intervene, but the tallest of them only sighed with a shrug of his shoulders. He didn’t like being in the middle of fights nor attracting unnecessary attention, specially on the first day. So he just his heel and went to fill his tray with food, later on sitting down at the table they’d conquered long time ago. 

 

He sat alone first, but his older friend Joonmyun appeared by his side just a few minutes later, his phone in hand. 

 

”Who’re you texting?” Chanyeol asked as he slurped his soup. 

 

”What?” Joonmyun said confused, not really listening to what Chanyeol had said.

 

”Who’s got you so in space?” He asked, wiggling his eyebrows. 

 

Joonmyun surprisingly went all red, cheeks flushed like they had never been before. ”Nobody.” 

 

Chanyeol gaped and excitedly tried to see the conversation, only catching a glimpse of a bunch of hearts. ”Who is it? What’s her name?” He asked with a grin. 

 

Joonmyun cleared his throat and put the phone down. ”Nobody. Why are you eating alone? I thought you’d be with Jongin.” 

 

”I was, and with Minseok, but then Jongin freaked out when he met the guy from the festival. Don’t you change the subject-!” 

 

”What?!” Joonmyun said, eyes wide and mouth covered by his hand in shock. ”How- Why- What’s he doing here?” 

 

”No idea, but I’m sure it was him.”

 

”What are the odds…?” Joonmyun said in disbelief, not really asking. ”But what happened?” 

 

”The usual. Jongin got pretty violent and the guy ran off. I think Minseok took Jongin out of here to calm him down.” 

 

”I feel bad for the boy… He saved Jongin’s life and now he gets this.” Joonmyun said shaking his head. 

 

”Oh, and you know what the best part is?” 

 

”There’s more?” 

 

”They are seatmates.” 

 

”No way. So he does go to this school?” Joonmyun was more and more mind-blown as the conversation flowed.

 

”I s’pose. Jongin didn’t recognize him at all when they first met today, that’s what he told me.” 

 

”This is so ed up Chanyeol.” 

 

”No profanities Joonmyun.” A new voice suddenly interrupted, the body sitting down at the table with them. 

 

”Sorry Yixing.” But Joonmyun didn’t look sorrowful at all, quite the opposite actually. His face was shining with happiness, and that was something Chanyeol noticed.   

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

They had no time to talk at all when another boy came running towards them, blonde hair bouncing as he made his way to where Kyungsoo stood. 

 

”Are you okay?” He asked him worriedly and inspected him with his eyes, surprisingly without any problems to breath.

 

Kyungsoo, startled by the sudden preoccupation from the younger, nodded and smiled amazed. ”Yeah, thank you for stepping in. I really wouldn’t have known what to do if you hadn’t pushed Jongin away.” 

 

”No problem.” He smiled back, eyes turning into cute crescents. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly when he saw how the other two guys were looking at him, very different expressions displaying on each. ”I’ll get going then.” 

 

”Yeah, okay, um… I’ll see you later?” Kyungsoo asked shyly. 

 

”I-I hope so.” 

 

They waved a goodbye as the tall blonde boy left, looking back now and then. Kyungsoo turned to see Luhan’s and Baekhyun’s unexpected reactions. The blonde to the left, which was Luhan, was almost drooling, eyes intensely looking at the other boy in the distant. Baekhyun’s gaze was fixated on Luhan’s reaction, putting the pieces together and starting to laugh again. 

 

”Don’t tell me that was him.” Baekhyun said as he waved a hand before Luhan’s eyes, getting him out of the spell he had been put through. Luhan nodded keenly and then he almost threw himself onto Kyungsoo, a million questions sprouting out of his mouth. 

 

”How do you know him? What’s his name? Where’s he from? Oh God, what his name? How long have you been friends? Does he like soccer? What’s his name?!” Kyungsoo’s mind couldn’t take in all the questions when they were all told in 100km/h. ”Wait… Are you together?” 

 

”What? No!” Kyungsoo shouted, the only question he actually understood. ”I met him this morning.” He said trying to calm Luhan down. 

 

”Oh… What’s his name?” Luhan asked, breathing loudly because of his excitement. 

 

”Luhan’s literally had a crush on him since his religion class.” 

 

”And it was the best freaking class I’ve ever had.” Luhan answered mockingly. Baekhyun only rolled his eyes. ”It was love at first sight, okay?!” 

 

”More like obsession at first sight.” Baekhyun scuffed. 

 

”Shut up. Now, what’s his name Kyungsoo darling?” Luhan said, flicking his eyelashes to improve his possibilities of getting the information. 

 

”I don’t know.” Kyungsoo said, trying to contain his laughter. 

 

”What?!” Luhan looked at him unbelievably. 

 

”His last name is Oh, that’s all I know.” 

 

”Oh? Even his last name is hot.” Luhan said dreamy. This time even Kyungsoo rolled his eyes.