Song Minho. He is the very embodiment of arrogance with a preposterous 'in-your-face' personality. Taehyun really does not know what people see in the other boy. But the biggest question mark occupying Taehyun's mind is, what the hell does Mino sees in him? 

He is just him. He hates to admit it, but he knows that he is a brat. He does not appreciate when things don't go his way. He would be utterly pissed. And Mino, he just belongs to that category. Taehyun does not appreciates Mino at all. To him, Mino is annoying, ridiculous and absolutely cocky all at the same time. From the way he flashes that megawatt smile to the sound of Taehyun's name rolling on the tip of the other boy's tongue. It is almost as if Mino is teasing him. And in all honesty, Taehyun does not like it one bit. 

The younger shares a lesson with Mino every Monday. There is a one year between them, Mino is older. It is advance chemistry and Taehyun has a perfect 'A' for it. But he dreads it when Monday comes, the adrenaline rush is unmistakable. Taehyun pushes the silly thought of wanting to see Mino to the back of his head, reassuring himself that he only wants to know what the week has in store for him. 

Mino waits for the other boy in his seat while having some small chats with his friend, glancing out to the corridor once or twice, checking if Taehyun is here yet. He neatly cuff the sleeves of his white button-up dress shirt to his elbows and he also slightly adjusts the collar. The last thing he wants Taehyun to blacklist him as is sloppy. Mino briefly scans his black fitted jeans but quickly return to search for his friend's eyes to let him know that he is still interested in the conversation that they are engaged in a few minutes ago. He combs his hair back with his fingers before putting the snapback on, back on front. Mino really does not like to bring himself to care about the details. It always has been a hassle. Why bother? Mino bets that he will still look good in just plain tee and shorts. Maybe some accessories, if he is feeling fancy. But no. He wants- no. He needs to look in his best, if he wants to be able to match with Taehyun.

To him, the younger is literally flawless. Middle parted hair in soft driftwood brown, perfection to roots. A pair of beautifully arched droopy brows that sit right above the windows of Taehyun's soul. A small slide of nose to plump lips, that screams 'kiss me' at Mino most of the time. Unknowingly, Mino darts his tongue out to wet his suddenly dry lips. His eyes spot Taehyun immediately when the younger is approaching the door. He marches casually and braces himself by the doorframe, he hopes that his breath is still minty fresh. "Hey, good morning." Mino greets the object of all his affections with easy words and a charming smile. Despite having the headphone on, the younger boy already knows what Mino say. Taehyun reminds unwavering, his gaze trains straight ahead. 

He refuses to acknowledge Song Minho's very existence.

He still remembered the first time he did, there was a knot twisting in his stomach and his heart was doing some weird flipping. Mino was grinning from time to time, eyes crinkled into two crescents. Taehyun swears, he saw a number of stars in them that day. It.. Scared him. And it still does from then. So he figures that, if he avoids any eye contact, he should be fine. Taehyun started to have the aspects of tuning Mino out. Ever since that day at the hallway, Taehyun had came into an agreement that perhaps, disregarding Mino will do some good to him. 

Taehyun barely spares a fleeting look at Mino. He simply pushes the older boy out of his way, since Mino is being a waste of space by blocking him. As Taehyun walks pass, he smells a note of woodsy cologne that he has come to be oh-so-familiar with. Mino bites back a smile at the little contact, but is failing miserably. Mino then get to his seat at the back of the class, where all his friends are talking among one another. They all know that Mino has a crush on the younger boy since freshmen year and they could not bring themselves to care about it anymore. At first, yes, they were surprised. Followed by some ill jest, which Mino would like to correct it as 'see who can embarrass Mino the most'. However, it died down right after because they saw no progression in their buddy's love life. 

"The same old , huh?" Comes a question from no other than his best friend, Jackson. Mino punches Jackson in the arm, facetiously. The Hong Kong native makes a remark on how much of a lovesick fool Mino is and Mino can't be bothered by it.

It is the truth, anyway.

Mino and Taehyun both sit at the back, but they are apart from each other. Mino at one end, Taehyun at another. Regardless of the seating arrangement that frustrates Mino to no end, never once does he let Taehyun to be out of his line of vision. It is more like, he can't let the younger boy to be out of his line of vision. Each time, Taehyun makes him breathless. But Mino thinks that it is strangely beautiful for Taehyun to be able to do that; Robbing air out of his lungs forcefully and Mino can't help but to go back for more, because he wants to feel breathless. He claims in the most sick way, saying that it makes him feel somewhat- Alive.

Taehyun has his headphone on, blasting music into his ears in attempt to mute the boisterous laughter from the background. Say him bias against Mino or whatever, every little things that the older do, it annoys him to the core. Like right now, he can feel a strong gaze at the side of his neck. Don't care, don't care, don't care. Taehyun creates a mantra in his head as he shoots Mino mentally in the eyes a numerous of time. The relatively cooling weather draws the energy out of him as sleep kiss his eyelids with much fondness, as if telling him, you can pause the suffering for a while. Taehyun is in between awake and unconsciousness when Professor Jung walks in for the chemistry lesson. Taehyun stops the music in his phone and hangs the headphone by his neck, reluctantly.

Every lesson, Professor Jung makes it a point to ask his students if they have any discomfort with how things should work in class or basically, anything that he can help with. And sometimes, Taehyun prays for nothing more but the skip of speech. He is certain that it is not a difficult task to fulfil. Oh lord, shut up. He groans, burying his face deeper into arms. Mino on the other hand, gives the other boy his universal attention. He stifles back a chuckle because, the face that Taehyun make is surely adorable. Mino subconsciously massages a particular spot on his neck, making a sound halfway wincing halfway mewling. It will be going through hours of craning, like what he does every Monday. 

Mino quietly observes the other boy. He watches Taehyun being carry into an eternal darkness with an promising return. "Does chicken nuggets and milk tea sounds good?" Mino asks as he dig his hands into his backpack, rampaging softly. He loosen up a bit when he finds it, lips curve into a delighted smile. Despite being apart from one end to another, Mino can only hear the soft snoring emitting from Taehyun. It craves a path into his heart. It is not a good thing though. It makes his heart all hollow and the amount of need rips through him is infinite. And there it is again, aching at the lack of Taehyun. 

Mino doodles at the corner of his notebook's page, trying to ignore the pathetic buzzing in his left chest. Just like that all the way until lunch time. Mino pats down on his thighs, dusting off the eraser dusts. He puts on his most confident smile as he makes his way to Taehyun's seat. Mino places their lunch on table before he taps the other boy on the elbow a few times. Taehyun wakes up after Mino's third try. The middle-parted hair boy yawns and stretches in his seat. Adoration sparkles in Mino's eyes but Taehyun refuses to let the other know that he too, know what that look means. "Chicken nuggets and milk tea today," Mino pushes the food to the middle, "Eat up." Taehyun takes a piece and starts to nibble at it, feeling indifferently. Taehyun does not wants to admit this but he can safely say that he knows just enough about Mino to make this conclusion. Persistent. Mino always press on whereas to Taehyun's displeasure, he is always the one that gives in. It is definitely not because he is Song Minho or whatever bull reason, obviously. He would like to remind himself every so often that by doing so, Mino would speak to him less. And as we all know, Mino never shut up. Ever.

Taehyun does not eat in the cafeteria because firstly, the long chain of queue will be the death of him. He hates waiting, other than Mino himself. Secondly, he does not have any friends and sitting there alone occupying one big table that was meant to be shared, he will be label as a sore loser, snob and whatever people like to describe him as. He does not want that. Especially when he has hear enough things about himself going around.

A somewhat consolatory silence sits in the air and Taehyun allows himself to be indulgent in it before the other boy opens his mouth. When Mino does, Taehyun fishes out his phone and begins to tap away. Occasionally, Taehyun will take a sip of his milk tea. Mino just rambles on and on and on, he won't stop any time soon. Taehyun grumbles, "Will you keep quiet for a moment? I'll appreciate it." Mino snaps his mouth shut despite being in the middle of his sentence, even pouting like a kicked puppy for a brief period of time. Brows pinch closer, eyes wider and lower lip jut out. But Taehyun does not take back his words.

Honestly speaking, Taehyun does not comprehend any of the things going on. Mino and  him have nothing in common, nothing at all. They are so so different yet... Mino has a crush on him? This is nonsensical. Repeated attempts of drowning both that stupid bright smiles and the feeling of being loved, he has come to give them some acknowledgement. Never fully because Mino's overall being is too much for him to handle. Also, he tends to push people away. He does not see why he should not do that with Mino. The other boy should be no exception.

The silence is short-lived. 

"You think too loud," Mino points out, snorting a little as he stuff the last piece of nugget into his mouth. He wipe his lips with the back of his hand before continuing, "You still have the cheeks to demand me to shut up?" And that smile. The ing smile that Taehyun will not hesitates to slap across. He is positively certain that he will only be deeply satisfy when he leaves a handprint on the other boy's cheek. "Isn't it tired to frown?" Mino titters, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Taehyun wonder how many more minutes to the end of lunch time because Song Minho is getting on his nerves. "I can't help it when you're around." Taehyun retort back, sourly. And that makes Mino let out a loud airy guffawing.

Taehyun-ah, talk to me more. I wanna hear your voice. However, Mino does not say this. He talks about anything and everything else, leaving out what he truly wants Taehyun to be cognizant of. 

x

The rich baritone crack-up is ringing in Taehyun's head, activating the alert sign in him once more. His heart does a double flip. The familiar thumping he has been trying so hard to get rid off. The desperate quench something he can't quite put a finger on. He is afraid that Mino can hear the heartbeats, he is afraid that Mino will find out his inner turmoil. 

The next few days are as per usual. Mino will still purposely make an effort to talk to him, bring him lunch and sometimes walk him to class. By then, Taehyun already has everything back it place. The thought of Mino at the back of his brain, nonchalant attitude and biting words. 

On Thursday when Mino is on his way to the other boy's class, he overheard a conversation that destroys his mood instantly. Fists tight, like he is holding back a unknown anger. His eyes are blind with seething red. His mind is blank. Nevertheless, he walks to Taehyun's class. "Hey," Mino pulls a chair from the front. "Let's eat." And his lips lift into a bogus smile. Taehyun raises a brow, clearly amuse by Mino's odd behaviour. He says nothing. There is a tension in the air and Taehyun wonder if this is the due to the absence of Mino's voice. Before Taehyun know it, words like 'are you alright?' flows out of his mouth and he question himself, Am I alright? Mino's eyes lit up for a moment, like the soft rays of the afternoon sun. But it vanishes in a fraction of second. "Since when the high and mighty Nam Taehyun cares about anyone else's well being?" Mino has a lopsided grin on. 

Taehyun cross his arms by his chests, leaning back on his chair. "I don't care." The younger boy pierce his gaze into Mino's soul. You know the feeling where every bit of you went still except for the tight clenching of your heart? Mino casts his vision downwards, "Aww, don't worry. I'm fine." And he turns his bad boy charm on, hoping that Taehyun will let him get away with his act. What comes next is totally unexpected and in Song Minho's wish list. Taehyun laughs. Taehyun actually laughs in his three years of university. He thinks, this is what an angel sounds like. Mino does not catch on the underlying sarcasm. The laugh is momentary, feigned and somewhat empty, but Mino does not quite grasp it. Too overjoyed by the fact that his crush just ha-ha. Taehyun roll his eyes at Mino's absurdity.

It comes to a halt when Taehyun's classmates return to the classroom. It is like the spell between them is broken. Mino snaps his out of the trance, dumbfounded. He stands up. Just as he is about to leave for his next lesson, he turns back to look at Taehyun. The younger boy has his headphone on like before, sitting crossed-leg on his chair and being engross in a book. ", stop being so flawless.." Mino curses under his breath, throwing the plastic container down the bin in displeasure. His expression twists into what agitation is exactly like. Mino brushes it off though, thinking that it is the heat getting into him. Frying up his brain, making him unable to think straight. 

When Jackson sees Mino coming a few minutes earlier before the start of class, he can already sense something is wrong. 

A quiet Mino is making his stomach churns. His best friend looks deflated. In spite of the friends crowding around him and wanting to have a chat, Mino completely blocks them out. He is just sitting there, lost in his own thoughts. "What's up, Mino." Jackson shoo the others away. He hooks an arm by Mino's shoulder, "Something wrong?" Mino shakes his head, grumpily. Jackson gives the other an one arm hug which is health-giving in some ways. Mino feels better and also at the same time, ty too. It does not make any sense, but it is how it is. "Y'know, I'll still find out right?" Jackson watches Mino with cautious eyes. The tanned boy does not let his madness runs free, but he can already taste the foul words inside his mouth. He moves over a little and Jackson sits down beside him, knees touching. It is uncomfortable, yet Mino cannot bring himself to care, he needs someone to cling to. 

Jackson rub circles on his lower back. "Wow, I never know you looked like a piece of when you're sad." Mino murmurs out a ' you.'

"What kind of damn best friend are you." Mino scoffs, detaching himself from the warmth. Jackson grins, now touching his neck sheepishly. "C'mon. Cheer up, you." They both know that they are going to make a hole out of Jackson's wallet.

The second thing that Mino will want to jolly well make a hole, is Seulgi's skater skirt.

Taehyun has been leafing through the same paragraph for the umpteen times, until he is all fed up. He grunts at the book before closing it. It is English lesson and Taehyun thinks, it is the best to focus in class now. And so like a piece of paper with messy penmanship thoughts, he erases it until it is clean again. Taehyun write down key points for pronunciation. The previous blur phase of beating around the bush is out of the window in entirely. The boy blows a raspberry when the school bell chimes. He pull at pieces of his hair, "I need a haircut soon." Then someone with the hairstyle of shaved sides and gelled quiff sneaks into his head despite the protest. Taehyun ruffles up his hair in pique as he paces down the chock-full hallway. He stops by his locker, in need of clearing some on the heavy textbooks in his arms. There is a beautiful girl standing by his locker and Taehyun can't differentiate if she is waiting for him or just hanging around. He cancels the first option in a New York minute, because he have no friends. Not a single friend to begin with.

Taehyun does not spare her a look. Prior to his wrong guessing, the girl actually talks to him.

"Hi, I'm Seulgi." The said girl speaks in a silvery voice. Clear, light and pleasant. "Is there anything you need?" There is a huge contrast to Seulgi's politeness. It is cold, monotone and straight to the point. After Taehyun punches in the code, he stacks the load into his locker. "Uh. You see.." Taehyun swings the door shut. Upon laying his eyes on the girl before him, he is felonious. He bet he makes her flinch just with the response of his. "Yes?" He speaks warily this time round. Seulgi fiddles with the accessories on her wrist, eyes dare not to meet Taehyun's. "I think I-" And someone comes out of nowhere to tug Taehyun away, letting the incomplete sentence to be engulf in the brimful of students. 

It leaves him flabbergasted at the sudden assault. Taehyun assumes the person is a man, because a girl's hands can't possibly be so coarse. The guy that pulls him have one of his hands covering his eyes and the other, solidly on his wrist. Taehyun feels sick at the skin in contact in his. He is grossed out.

"Don't touch me," Taehyun spurts out, venom coating his words. He wants to shake off the man and instead of escaping, he wants to retch over the toilet bowl. It is akin to a colony of red ants crawling under his very skin. Before he know it, he is already out of school in the guidance of the other. Taehyun take big gulps of fresh air, hoping to clear the nasty feeling in his system. Just when he turns around to see if he can catch who the person is, the other boy disappears like a wisp of spring air. Only the smell of forest after a downpour, lingers.

Jackson heaves a dry sigh, "You can stop this once, but what about the second time?" Wild mix of acrimony and dismay fill Mino's every veins. "I'll do whatever." Mino dig his hands into his front pockets, swallowing down mean words behind his cage of teeth. After all, Jackson will not be up for it. He has a certain restrain toward girls, spouting nonsense about manners. Mino is a gentleman too, really. But this is the first time Mino felt so threatened by someone. He strolls by Jackson's side, at the heels of a group of girls. He has his eyes set on a perplex looking Taehyun. 

Just keep walking, Taehyun ah. Don't stop to find that guy or wait for Seulgi to catch up. 

"We shall see, you retard." Jackson roll his eyes. Mino shrug his shoulders, "See how I bring home the glory yeah."

Jackson tells Mino a lot of things. They always talk deep into the night, sharing secrets and everything they hold close to. Mino tells Jackson a lot of things regarding Taehyun. They always talk deep into the night, finding a missing puzzle and everything they claim useless. But what Mino does not tell Jackson is how he always lie on bed, eyes wide even after a 'good night.' Having scattered thoughts of football practice and the apple of his eye. Mino does not tell Jackson how his love towards Taehyun is not just a 'kid stuff'. Having second thoughts of losing a friendly match and letting Taehyun go.

"Da ra dat dat dat dat dat dat, baby don't worry." Mino sings quietly to himself.

A sentence sparks an interest in Mino. 

"It is not what you do. It is how you do." And for the first time Mino thinks, Jackson is wise. Sort of. 

Because it is suffocating, Jackson cannot stands it. "If this doesn't work, oh my god. Lord, just take me." The Hong Kong native mumbles while making sure that his trainers are tight. "With that being said, go for your football training. And please, stop frowning? Just because you can't have Taehyun, doesn't mean you have to look like him. Gosh." Right after, Jackson runs off to his training. 

Mino is stuck. 

"How I do? I don't even know what to do in the first place. How am I suppose to improvise if I don't know where and what to begin with?" He jogs lightly to the field, heavy in the head. On a spur of moment, a football flys in his direction. He is on the ground next, be about how much he hates today. "Woah! Why didn't you dodge the ball like always?" One of his teammate runs to him and stretches a hand out. Mino slaps that hand away and rufuses to stand up. Maybe I should give Jackson a call after both our practice? I need help. At least, I need to start somewhere. Wait no, hold on. Should I? No wait, what does Jackson like? I will use that as a bait.

The captain of the football team stares at on the sunlit grass, until Jackson pulls him up. "You can't do anything without me huh?" He sighs. "Go lead your team, you guys need to do stretchings. Right?" Mino nods. "Breathe and go." He does what he was told, breathe and go. He can't lead anyone if he can't concentrate. Undoubtedly, it works. He kick his legs a little, as if he is dancing on the spot and off he goes. Not before he says, "Meet me tomorrow!" Jackson shouts back in reply to his statement, "No, dude. You meet me! At my house and this is final!" Mino will never say this out aloud, he is genuinely happy to have a friend like Jackson Wang.

And on some days, he askes himself, "Why can't I fall for him instead?"  

There were days when Jackson are unbearable. There were days when Jackson are unreasonable. There were those days, definitely. One of the advantages of having that rough little prince as best friend is that, you can always rely on the other to pick you up. The tanned boy smiles, feeling so much better. 

I can't simply give up without a fight, I'm not the football team captain for nothing. I need to try again and make it work. Somehow. 
 

x

A thunder tears the sky apart. Taehyun never let his eyes leave the celestial sphere until he feels a light drizzle of rain on his skin. It is strangely comforting. He wants to sleep forever and never wake up, because the reality just aren't his cup of tea. The fresh new wounds that littered his torso, lures him into finding an escape. He will never forget the eyes that keep glaring, insults that keep hurting and belt that keep landing. Sometimes, the walk down th