**Brace yourselves for the longest chapter I've written yet. Enjoy**

Minseok took Luhan home after their group study session, noticing his uneasiness. Sehun offered to take him home, rather, forced him in his car before Minseok could pull him out, causing another fight between the two. 

"I'll go with Minseok, hunnie. It's late, and I know you're tired," Luhan limped his way towards Minseok, away from Sehun's car, startled as he was pulled back by Sehun's tight grasp at his shoulder,

"Really, hyung. I don't mind taking you." He pouted.

Luhan paused, looked up at Minseok who turned away pretending not to eavesdrop their conversation, Sehun practically got on his knees, nagging Luhan to get in his car, and he sighed. He looked down at his own shoulder where Sehun's hand was clutched, and then smiled up at the younger boy. 

"Sehun. You'll listen to hyung, won't you?" And with that, Sehun sighed, let go of Luhan's shoulder, shot a look at Minseok, and hopped into his car that drove away before he could shut his door fully. 

"Well, that was awkward." Minseok rushed over to Luhan and helped him limp his way to his car. Luhan paused by the door and allowed Minseok to put his crutches inside before helping him in.
 
"I'm sorry that I made it awkward, I mean- you can't deny it. It's my fault why you guys are not in good term right now." Luhan moved in, occupying the space that was usually left empty in between them. 

"Well-" Minseok raised his eyebrows at the sight of Luhan sitting in the seat beside his for the first time, "We wouldn't be fighting if he just stopped blaming me for what happened to you that night."

-

The car grew silent after Minseok had brought up the incident that was the reason for Luhan being in crutches. He realized that he never really got the chance to ask about what happened that night he found Luhan unconscious on the floor. His clumsiness was the answer that seemed to be right, but Luhan never said so himself. 

He looked over at Luhan who kept silent, just looking straight forward at the road. Minseok's eyes landed down by Luhan's legs where his empty hand was resting, calling for his. He thought it better not to make the first move or he'll just make a fool of himself. He already knew Luhan thought he was a freak for taking him to his parents, more, not knowing how to hold hands for the first time in his life. It was really a big deal to Minseok, the first time the spaces between his fingers were occupied by someone he actually might have feelings for. It wasn't the same as holding hands with his friends; Luhan was different. 

Everything relationship-related was brand new to Minseok, even though he saw his friends that were dating each other, everyday. It should be easy, he thought to himself whenever he thought about dating. Kissing seems easy enough in the movies. Going out on dates, no problem.... But yesterday when he experienced his first time of holding hands, he felt as if everything he reassured himself was a lie. If holding hands made him nervous, what more, kissing?  What more, ? And was needed in a relationship. His friends made sure to condition him on that. The more Luhan showed him motives, the more he made excuses as to why he thought dating was a waste of time. It really is. His friends would constantly fight over stupid things, and then they'd suddenly make up after an hour. Minseok didn't see the point in being with someone if all they did was fight and make up. He was longing for something else. Something's serious. 

He was contemplating whether to bring up that night or not. That boy that ran into me in the elevator... He must've had something to do with it. Minseok reminisced that night of Tao's party, when he plucked up the courage to check up on Luhan after irresponsibly leaving him on his own. He remembered that strange man that shoved him aside in the elevator. Could it be... He's seeing someone. Minseok sighed, jumping to conclusions he knew was impossible. That can't be it though. He would've noticed it by now if Luhan had been seeing someone. He peeked over at him who was still staring straight at the road. 

"Hey..Lu," Minseok couldn't keep it in anymore. Luhan turned his head and innocently raised his eyebrows, "What really happened to you that night?"

Luhan's eyes averted away from Minseok's, back to his original state, staring forward only this time, uneasy. "I- I tripped. I guess I was still hungover." 

"You guess? But, someone came out of your room. They wouldn't have come out from mine, I have 24/7 security." Minseok noticed Luhan beginning to act uncomfortably.

"You've also been acting seriously weird recently Lu..." Minseok tried to stop himself from asking too much, "You can tell me anything, you know that." 

"I have nothing to tell you." Luhan scooted over to the other end of the car in his usual spot, leaving the space in between him and Minseok empty. 

-

Everyone had just left their room in the north wing as the bell rang for first period, leaving Luhan and Joonmyeon behind, as they had a lovely spare that morning. Joonmyeon returned from the kitchen with a butler that followed him, holding two cups of steaming hot coffee on a tray. He sat beside Luhan on the sofa, still in his pyjamas. He rubbed his eyes and told the butler to go take a break with the rest of the service team. 

"It's been a weird first week of school, ugh thank god it's Friday," said Joonmyeon, blowing into the hot cup of coffee before taking a sip. 

"I couldn't agree more." Luhan also sipped his coffee, careful not to spill anything. 

"Ever since you got here- not that it's a bad thing- things have been more...fun," he chuckled, "I've never seen Sehunnie cry over a boy before. I've also never seen Minseok talk so much in my life." 

Luhan felt his cheeks start to get hot, and he immediately hid his face behind the cup of coffee he was drinking. Joonmyeon set down his cup and leaned his body on the head of the couch. 

"So, who's it gonna be?" He asked mischievously, smiling at Luhan's red face. Joonmyeon knew something was going on between the boys. The whole group had taken some notice. It was obvious enough, especially when they fought at the hospital over Luhan. 

"What do you mean?" Luhan knew he was making himself look stupid in front of Joonmyeon who probably already knew about the motives he's been giving, "It's..it's not going to cause problems in the group, right?" Luhan asked, his shyness simmering down, and his face returning back to its pale colour. 

"Problem? No, not in the group. But, I can't promise that there's not going to be problems with you three. I mean, when Sehun wants something, he's probably gonna get it. Minseok, well... he's never really dated anyone, so I wouldn't know." 

"I'm not even sure if I like either of them." Luhan confessed, feeling relieved he had someone to open up to for the first time in days. 

"Well from what I can see, you like both. It happens, but, that is what can cause problems."

Luhan felt embarrassed. It was his first week at GyeokBun and he's already caused a fight, numerous accidents, and now, love issues. He's had his fair share of relationships, but it has never been so nerve racking this time round with his new group of friends.

"You're quite the man, Luhan. Just try not break any of their hearts." 

-

The morning had gone by slowly and dreadfully. Sitting in a two hour long English class was torture to Luhan, but music theory class brightened up his morning a bit. His conversation with Joonmyeon that early morning has not yet escaped his thoughts. I didn't even want to like anybody in the first place. He had been mentally shooting himself in the head repeatedly for feeling feelings he never asked for. He wasn't even certain that what he felt for either of them was friendship, or more than that. He came to realization that if Joonmyeon can tell that he liked both of them, that only means the whole group knew as well. He sighed, and felt a weight of disappointment sit on him for causing so many problems with the group, in a matter of only a week. 

He ate his lunch in silence, Minseok sitting beside him, reading a book, in silence as well. The group could feel the tension, but ignored it. Sehun came boasting in, a trail of girls that followed, holding up a booklet that looked like a test, as he joyfully pressed his perfect linear relations mark up under everyone's noses. He shoved Kyungsoo aside who sat in front of Luhan, and he pushed the test booklet towards him, a big smile on his face. 

"Aren't you proud of me hyung?" He flipped open the booklet and began to explain how he struggled in specific questions and how he answered each one, Luhan listening intently. "Well, I wouldn't have passed if Joonmyeon or Baekhyun hyung hadn't helped me." 

The boys at the table were in their own little worlds as usual, Luhan being the only one who paid attention to Sehun. He nodded his head at every word that the young boy blabbed out, admiring his self proclamation as the next Albert Einstein. Although he was engrossed in conversation with Sehun, he couldn't help but notice Minseok's awfully awkward aura. Not that he talked much at all, but he was in his own world, even ignoring Lay who at times attempted to bring up small talk with his best friend.

Luhan felt happy, yet upset at the same time. How is it be possible to feel this way? Happy with Sehun's presence and HIM in general, but upset- guilty, for Minseok's unusual cold attitude. He knew that his baozi was only worried for him, the reason being for why he asked so many questions last night in the car. But Luhan didn't want Minseok to get involved with what he was going through now, he didn't want to add to the list of problems he has already caused the group. He didn't want to re-live the scary experience, and he definitely did not want to bring up the black mail texts he's been getting recently. Luhan has already caused too many problems, and he didn't want to add to it anymore. 

He limped to his biology class alone, still a bit uncomfortable without his crutches, the guilt of making Minseok unhappy drilling into his brain. He irritably sighed and scratched his head, mad at himself. His baozi didn't even touch his food. 

He was early for class as usual, and he sat alone as the class piled up. His head was buried in his arms, resting against a pile of books, feeling more frustrated as the time went by. The class began, and their teacher began to write down the lesson plan for the day. Everyone copied the notes right on par with the teacher's pen, expect for Luhan. He couldn't find the strength to pick up his pen or even concentrate. Joonmyeon's conversation with him, now began to add to his guilt, and then the blackmail texts added to his anxiety. He was feeling everything at once, and it was beginning to overwhelm him. 

The board was full of notes now, but Luhan's notebook was empty. The teacher's words entered his one ear, and went out the other. The teacher scolded him after a while, telling him to copy down the notes. The board was full of messy Hangul, and he didn't even try to read it. He picked up his pen, and instead, found that he was writing Minseok's name over and over again on the page. Kim Minseok Kim Minseok Kim Minseok...

Half an hour went by like a century, and Luhan had filled up a whole page of Kim Minseok's name. While the teacher was at his desk, on his laptop, Luhan's phone buzzed, and he had mini heat attack. Whenever his phone rang, he'd get anxious and worried, fearing the blocked number's disturbing texts to pop up. He looked over at his busy teacher, and pulled out his phone. 

"Hyung, look out the door." Sehun's text was abrupt and plain.

Luhan slowly tunrned his head to the door and caught sight of Sehun jumping up and down, waving his arms. Luhan eyes widened and he shook his head, signalling Sehun to stop, or else they'd both get into . Sehun paused, and pointed at his phone, telling Luhan to check his. Sure enough, his phone vibrated. 

"Let's skip. Hurry, don't be a ."

"No Sehun. I can't just walk out of class."

"If I did, then you can."

Luhan sighed, turned around again, and firmly shook his head. He knew he would get in trouble. He held a reputation as a scholar at GyeokBun, and he did not want it ruined just because of Sehun's desire to skip. 

"Oh come on hyung...for me?"

Luhan took a good long look at the text, and looked back again at Sehun who was pouting at the door's window. He pursed his lips, and scratched the back of his neck, casually scanning the room to make sure no one was looking. Maybe it'll clear my mind off of everything. He thought that it could possibly be a good distraction. Why the hell not.

Slowly gathering his books, he squatted down, level to his desk, and crept his way to the door. The girl beside him stared at him in shock, but he put his finger to his lip and winked at her. dropped open, followed by a nod. Successfully, he made it through the door without tripping, and Sehun wrapped his arms around him immediately, and pulled him away from the door, towards the nearest exit. He forgot to close the door and he tried to force himself back to the classroom, out of Sehun's hold. He already wanted to go back. 

"Sehunah this was a bad idea!" Luhan hissed as Sehun pushed him out onto the train shelter. 

"Oh god who cares?" Sehun pulled out a snapback from his bag and fixed his bangs before placing it on nicely. Luhan couldn't help but stare at the younger handsome boy. 

"You'll treat me to bubble tea, won't you?" Sehun grabbed his arm and dragged him onto the train. 

"Ye- but we just had bubble tea yesterday Hunnie." Luhan whispered. The train was completely empty and silent, and thank the heavens, automatically controlled. Sehun laughed, his eyes disappearing into moon shapes, like they always did. 

"Why are you whispering?" Sehun mocked him. They chased each other around the moving train, until Sehun stopped by the door at the Pyeonghwa Garden stop. Luhan followed him through the tall trees, with no question, until they reached the gate of the school. 

"Okay, where are you really taking me?" Sehun began to clim the fifteen feet tall gate. 

"Just follow me," he grunted, jumping over to the other end. Luhan lifted himself up with no problem, and jumped down into Sehun's arms. He let him down, and grabbed his hand, pulling him through more trees. 

Luhan let him pull him across the forest-like garden that was way beyond their school now. He watched Sehun lead him, warning him of the branches or logs on the ground he could trip on, clenching on to his hand so protectively. 

"We always take this way up here." They were now facing the highway opposite to their school. 

Sehun let go of Luhan's hand, and admired the scenery of passing cars before them, like he had accomplished something great. It was quite a beautiful scene, Luhan didn't deny it. The side they stood on was isolated, green, and quiet, and just on the other street was a swarm of cars that created harmonies of tires screeching and horns honking. Sehun began to walk closer to the highway where the trees began to lessen, pulling his hyung behind him. He halted in front of a short and old looking tree, pulled out a pocket knife, and turned to Luhan.

"Woah, Sehun. What- what are you doing with that?" Luhan backed off as Sehun shoved the pocket knife out to Luhan, the most innocent smile on his face. 

"Look," he pointed at the bark of the tree where initials were engraved.

WYF, KJM...Luhan knew what Sehun meant now. He grabbed the knife and carved in his initials XLH beside Sehun's, and the younger boy jumped of joy as he did. Luhan leaned against the tree and closed his eyes for a moment. He mind was beginning to clear up, and he thought that maybe skipping biology wasn't such a bad idea after all. Moments later, he opened his eyes to find Sehun doing the same, leaning against the tree trunk beside him, eyes shut. Luhan watched him as he breathed in the air, a smile printed on his face. After just seconds, he jumped away from the tree and began wiping his uniform.

"I never liked nature," Sehun began to walk towards the highway, "And I still don't like it." 

"Why'd you take me here then..if you hate it so much?" 

Sehun shot a look at him, as if the answer weren't so obvious. "Your name needed to be carved beside mine, and I needed to make sure of that." Luhan held back his laugh, he couldn't believe how immature Sehun actually was. 

"It's a tradition, to carve your name there if you're part of the group. Joonmyeon hyung and Kris hyung were the first who did." 

"Why that tree though? I mean, there's a whole bunch of other pretty looking trees. Why so specific?" 

"I honestly don't know. I got my name carved with Jongin and Tao last year, when Kris hyung brought us." 

Luhan was stopped by Sehun before crossing the busy highway. When it was clear, they made a run for it, crossing over to the endless streets of stores. Sehun rapidly walked into a small cafe where he ordered a chocolate boba for himself and Luhan. He paid, forcing Luhan to sit and wait. 

"I thought I was gonna treat you," said Luhan, the excitement he had held back to use his credit card for the first time, disappeared. 

"No way, when it comes to bubble tea, it's always going to be on me. I have a membership here, like, this cafe is my home."

Luhan laughed at Sehun who expressed his love for chocolate boba, and explained all of the flavours he's ever tried in his life. They ordered food, this time on Luhan, and sat and talked in the booth of the cafe for over two hours, surpassing the school bell. Luhan left the cafe with Sehun, with a smile on his face, and relieved thoughts.

He did not regret skipping class at all, in fact, he was already thinking of what sort of adventure Sehun would take him on again, feeling a rush of excitement for his next biology class. He did not receive black mail the whole day, and he was feeling good. The younger boy cleared his mind of everything. The break-in stranger incident, the blackmail, the continuos intimidation of Kris, and the misunderstanding with Minseok. But in that moment, when Minseok's name popped into his mind after two hours of almost forgetting, his guilt hit him, and everything just haunted him again all at once. Sehun took him across the highway, through the garden, and back to school in the west wing where they had another soccer meeting, an impossible way to escape Kim Minseok. 

He peeked his head into the classroom and most of the boys were there already, including Minseok who sat in the back right by the door as usual. Luhan took in a deep breath before approaching him. Act like a man, Luhan. You're a man. He took his seat beside Minseok, who looked up from his phone and gave a faint smile at him.

"Hey- I- hi." Luhan managed to say. 

His Korean has improved a lot in the last week, but he was making a fool of himself right now. Minseok chuckled, and looked away while grinning, something he always did. He moved over to the end of his seat, making space, and gesturing Luhan to sit beside him, like they did before. Luhan pursed his lips which transformed into a grin, and he took his seat beside Minseok. 

Their coach got up in front of the class, and explained a project he was assigning them while soccer season has still not officially started. Luhan was excited for the project. He's always been good at designing, and winning the design contest for their soccer jerseys would earn him extra credit. He was determined to win, to win with Minseok whom he had mentally chose to work with automatically, until the coach announced that he wanted to assign them partners. The classroom was filled with groans, Luhan being one of them. He thought this would be the perfect way to open up to Minseok again, and to maybe even tell him about what really happened that night. His guilt was eating him up, and he wanted to tell Minseok, everything.

"Kim Minseok and Goo Seungjo." Minseok got up to sit with Seungjo, someone he obviously already knew and got along with. 

"Jung Jihoon and..Xi Luhan," the coach dragged his pen across the page of names he held, and nodded, "Yes, you two are the only ones left. You're partners." 

Luhan glanced at the other end of the classroom where Jung Jihoon sat, uninterested, typing away in his laptop.  'Why are you even talking to me? Just go bug someone else.' Luhan reminisced their first, not so good first meeting. He at least tried to befriend him, but it was Jung Jihoon who had the bad attitude. Luhan sighed to himself, we're never gonna win, as he walked over to the isolated boy. 

He took a seat beside him, and watched Jihoon shut his laptop close, shoving it into his back pack. He moved his whole desk over an inch away from Luhan. What the hell is he doing? Luhan watched Jihoon chip the ends of his pencil with his finger nails. He sighed again, knowing Jihoon wouldn't talk to him first even he was paid to. 

"So, do you have any ideas on what kind of design you want to do?" Luhan asked, trying to sound friendly, but he couldn't sound pleased, not when it was Jihoon who told him off the first time they met. 

Jihoon looked different than when they first met a week before. His long black hair was now cut, and styled up, similar to his own, making his face clear and visible to see. Jihoon was handsome, Luhan couldn't deny it, but he had a personality which made him unattractive in every aspect.   

Luhan patiently waited for an answer, but after five minutes of staring at Jihoon chip away the wood of his pencil, he almost lost it. 

"Look, I know you despise me for some reason" he lowered his tone when a few heads turned their way, "But, you should know that I hate this as much as you do." 

Jihoon was still silent, chipping away. Luhan sighed loudly and scoffed. "You're making me look dumb as right now, Jihoon. Can you at least look at me?" 

Still, he acted as if Luhan did not exist. Luhan could not believe that such a person existed. So arrogant, selfish, and rude. Last time he checked, he was being was the one being friendly to him, yet here he was, being ignored. 

He made eye contact with Minseok who glanced their way. Minseok raised his eyebrows in concern, noticing Luhan's anger through his face and flushed cheeks. Luhan tilted his head over at Jihoon and rolled his eyes, gesturing to Minseok why he was so mad. Minseok turned away, with no reaction, but seconds later, Luhan's phone vibrated in his hand.  

"What's up?" The text was vague and to the point. Luhan pursed his lips at the text. He knew Minseok was trying not be too forward, the awkwardness between them still clashing. 

"Jung Jihoon. He's such a jerk." Luhan saw Minseok giggle when he looked down at his phone. 

"Yeah, I never got to know him. All I know is that he's our age..I think."

Luhan looked over at Jihoon who continued to chip his pencil, almost down to the lead itself. What a weird kid.

"He was rude the first time I met him, and he's still rude and weird." Luhan didn't need any other words to explain Jung Jihoon. All he way was a cold guy, even colder than Kris. 

"Ah, that's why you asked him last time?"

Luhan remembered when he asked Minseok awkwardly about Jung Jihoon for the first time last week. He was intimidated by Jihoon, which why he hesitated asking about him in the first place. 

"Yeah, he's even scarier than Kris."

Luhan checked the time on his phone and realized he's been texting Minseok for ten minutes, just ignoring his partner. He looked up and saw Minseok laughing at his phone, but constantly talking to his partner at the same time. 

"Kris is not that scary...when you get to know him. Try talking to Jihoon again, ask about his goalie tips or something."

Why was Jung Jihoon even in this class? If he couldn't talk or make proper contact with Luhan, what more with the whole team...during games? He put his phone down and decided to try again. 

"You've been on the team for three years now, I've heard. You're probably a really good goalie."

Luhan already knew Jihoon has been on the team since freshman year, and that he was a superb goalie, but it was hard to make small talk with such a cold guy. Jihoon did not respond. The silence and awkwardness between the two began to fill with anger as Luhan grew impatient with him. 

"Such a waste of time." Luhan said under his breath, as he sat back against his seat, pissed.  He picked up his phone again, about to send Minseok a reply.

"Then why are you still trying?" The same, annoyed, low and deep voice came out of Jung Jihoon, right when Luhan sat back. He was stunned, and looked over at Jihoon.

"Because I'm not a douche bag." 

"You're so stupid." 

"What make you say that?" Luhan shoved Jihoon slightly, his anger overtaking him. Is he being serious?!

"I've been ignoring you for the past half hour, and you're making yourself look dumb. Why don't you just give up?" 

"At least I'm trying. Why do you hate me so much?! What did I do to you?" 

The conversation between the boys began to grow louder, numerous heads turning in their direction. Minseok got up from his seat and got in between the boys who were almost shouting at eachother. The coach ran into the room in the middle of the commotion, and helped Minseok separate Jihoon and Luhan who were both now standing up and shoving each other as they ranted. 

"You both are so immature! This attitude is unacceptable. You are in high school, boys," he shoved them apart, and shook his head, "Im assigning you both another partner project. The time to do it is up to you two." Their coach forced them to shake hands, and they began to plan their project, separately.

-

Sehun pouted as Luhan kept quiet, not telling him why he was so angered when he entered their room in the north wing. Only Kris, Joonmyeon, Lay, and Sehun were inside. The rest of the boys went home already. Luhan left Minseok behind who worked on his partner project right after the soccer meeting. He buried his head in his arms, and curled up in the end of the sofa. Sehun hurried to his side and tugged on his arms, but Luhan just shrugged him off. Kris sat down across from them, and chuckled.

"What happened now?" He asked, placing a cloth on his lap, preparing to eat the food the chef had just prepared for him. Sehun walked over to him, letting go of Luhan, and managed to get a few bites from Kris. 

"It's this kid on the soccer team. Jung Jihoon. He's my partner for a project and he's just so- so rude and- I don't even know." Luhan rubbed his face roughly, answering Kris. 

"You need him beat up?" Kris sounded as if it was routine. He sounded as if he would actually do it...and maybe he would. Sehun chuckled by his side. 

"N-no," Luhan stuttered. As much as he hated Jung Jihoon, he didn't see the need to him beat up, "But, it could get him to know his place..." 

"I like how you think." Kris said bluntly. 

Luhan felt uncomfortably...happy. He was making small talk with Kris, whom he feared. He was actually talking to him. He felt accomplished, but still had anger lingering in him. 

"Don't even think about it." Joonmyeon scooted Kris over, and stole the chopsticks in his hands, and began to eat his food. Kris of course didn't mind, instead, massaged Joonmyeon's shoulders as he ate. 

"Yeah I know, I know." Kris sighed. 

Luhan looked confused, trying to understand what they were talking about. But, he still couldn't get Jung Jihoon out of his head. That because of him, they had to do two projects now. And still, everything he wished he could forget, kept coming back to him. The break in, the blackmail, Minseok. And now his fear of Kris, lessened.

Sehun threw a pillow at Luhan, snapping him out of his piled up thoughts. He gestured him to join them, who were now all surrounding Kris, eating the big meal, enough to be shared by all of them there. Lay came from the kitchen holding cups with one hand, and wine in the other. Kris clapped his hands at the sight, and stood up to help him. He poured the glass halfway, looked up at Luhan who stared down at the floor sulking, and ended up filling it to the brim.

Luhan took the glass and bowed in thanks to Kris. "Just drink it all away."

-

Luhan was driven home by Joonmyeon himself who owned a glorious Range Rover Sport that he drove once in a while. He stopped by the gate of the building and looked out the window in shock. 

"So my dad wasn't lying...you do live in the same building as Minseok. Don't tell me the same floor thing is true too." Joonmyeon parked his car in front of the drop off zone. 

"It's true." Luhan giggled, looking over at Kris in the main passenger seat whose eyebrows were knit together in confusion. 

"Hey, so you guys have sleepovers often?" Joonmyeon turned and winked at Luhan who felt his face grow hot. He smiled and jokingly punched Joonmyeon's shoulder. 

"Thanks for the ride, see you guys on Monday!" Luhan hopped off the car and overhead Kris whisper in confusion,

"I don't get it." He walked up the steps of the building and made his way up to his apartment. 

He sat and stared at his computer screen for almost an hour before finally deciding to search up Jung Jihoon's number. There were thousands of results, but he was able to narrow it down with no problem once he added GyeokBun Student on the search description. One name and number appeared and Luhan gave it a call. 

"Hello?" The voice on the other end of the line was not nearly as low and deep, and monotone as the Jung Jihoon he knew. Luhan hesitated whether he should confirm if it's Jihoon or just hang up. 

"Hi, I'm looking for Jung Jihoon. It's Xi Luhan, his classmate." There was a mess on the other end of the line, yelps and laughs, and it definitely was not Jung Jihoon's voice. 

"I'm his father..friend- you say?" 

"Ye-yes...classmate, Mr. Jung. We're both in the soccer team." 

There was a short pause before the other end of the line became silent. 

"What do you want?" So it was Jung Jihoon's number. 

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm not busy this whole weekend. We should get together and finish at least one of our projects." 

Luhan tried to sound sincere, but he wanted to end their conversation as fast as he could, and he knew Jihoon felt the same. Luhan heard whispers of the other end of the line, 'Is that your friend? When will we meet him-? Shut up! Leave my room!' Jihoon did not do a good job of covering the mouth piece on his phone, as he overheard the conversation with what seemed to be his family. Jihoon's family was overjoyed at the fact that their son was talking to a friend...a friend, as they emphasized it. Luhan could feel Jihoon's embarrassment through his quivering voice.

"How did you get my number?" He asked, the silence growing louder in the background.

"I searched it up...there was no other way of contacting you-" 

"Whatever. Just, don't use my house phone next time." Next time? Jihoon recited his cell phone number to Luhan and told him to text him instead. Next time. Luhan received a text from him right away.

"Did you overhear anything?" It read. Luhan laughed loudly. 

"No. Why?" He lied, saving Jihoon's embarrassment from himself. There was a long pause before Luhan's phone buzzed.
 
"Nothing. I'm also available. Where do we meet up?" 

"My plac-" the screen on Luhan's phone out, signalling it's dead batter life. It sent, but Luhan couldn't give him the full details. . He charged it immediately and waited for it to turn on again. 

Next time. Did Jung Jihoon really think there was ever going to be a next time? He was only playing nice with him for soccer and soccer only. Friends? Luhan couldn't stand the thought. No. Not in his dreams. 

Hey, I hoped you enjoyed the chapter. Luhan is quite confused about his feelings towards Minseok and Sehun, and he's been beating himself up over the last week :( ㅋㅋㅋ Luhan's relationship with Jung Jihoon is not such a great one, so stay tuned to see where it ends up. I'll be updating real soon again :) 

I changed the title from "Taking My Time" to "Taking His Time". I just realized that the title does not make sense, as I a writing in third person. 

Thanks for reading :)