Chapter Five

Strange Feelings

***

“Thanks Minho, even though helping me was not part of your to-do list today...” Kibum whispered against the taller boy’s shirt, feeling slightly embarrassed at the fact that the other saw him in this state. He wiped the remaining tears on his cheeks as the taller smile a little bit and ruffled his hair.

“You’re welcome.” The taller boy replied, slightly pulling away, the other also retreating back.

The feline-eyed raven focused his gaze on the ground as his mind wondered why Minho, of all people, was the one who helped him. Isn’t he supposed to ignore Kibum since Jonghyun will probably hate him too? So why did he... before Kibum could finish his train of thoughts, he was pulled to an embrace by an unfamiliar body yet familiar scent, his eyes widening at the sight of Jonghyun glaring at Minho.

“What happened?” The brunette said coldly at his best friend, arms wrapping at Kibum protectively while the latter was shocked at Jonghyun’s actions.

Why is Jonghyun hugging me?

Minho inserted his hands at his trouser’s side pocket casually while arching a brow at Jonghyun, also intrigued by his best friend’s behaviour, “He was trapped inside the men’s room, looks like someone did it on purpose.”

Jonghyun’s eyes focused on the boy in his arms and studied his features, feline eyes asking so many questions even Jonghyun can’t answer. He doesn’t know why he has this sudden sensation of wanting to protect Kibum and be the one to wrap his arms around the other’s boy’s frame to guard him from harm.

Pulling him by the hand, he felt Kibum’s soft ones encased to his own and led him towards the school bus waiting for them. Once they arrive a few meters before the said vehicle, he let go of the hand he was holding and halted. Kibum quietly putting his arms on his side while the other forced the foreign feeling that resulted from the sudden coldness of his hand to go away, Kibum staring at Jonghyun’s back.

Kim Kibum, what are you doing to me?

Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to the boy who seemed to be the cause of all his problems all these years, Minho also stopping beside Jonghyun, furrowing his brows at the brunette’s actions.

“Can’t you take care of yourself even for just a day?" he snapped at Kibum, the latter flinching a little at Jonghyun's outburst.

Why is he angry all of a sudden? Kibum frowned, lowering his head.

Pissed off, mostly about the weird feelings he has been developing lightly, he walked back to their school bus. Minho tapping Kibum's shoulder before following the enraged brunette, both of them not noticing the moistness gathering on those feline eyes.

***

Once they arrived at the mansion, Jonghyun got out of the car first, leaving Kibum baffled at the other’s bipolar behaviour. He bit his bottom lip before going out of the car after a few moments, going directly towards his room. Once he was changed to his normal clothes, he went to the kitchen and saw JinHae preparing something at a baking sheet, nose catching a faint smell of baked cookies.

“Hey Kibum-ah, want some?” she gestured to the freshly baked cookies placed at the kitchen island, Kibum nodding while sitting at the kitchen counter.

“So how was your tour?” She asked while continuing her work, Kibum grabbing some cookies at his reach.

“It was... nice.” He said, mind wondering back to Jonghyun’s weird behaviour earlier.

“No interesting thing happened?” she asked, glancing at Kibum for a brief moment before smiling lightly at Jonghyun who just entered the kitchen counter with a soccer ball in hand, walking towards the fridge situated at Kibum’s front.

“Ah... no. Nothing.” Kibum answered quickly, a bit too quickly for his liking, forcing himself to never glance at Jonghyun’s direction, thanking his lucky stars because of what Jonghyun said to JinHae.

“Noona, I’ll be at Kris’ house. We’ll be practicing soccer for our next game.” Jonghyun monotonously informed, nodding at her direction.

“Okay, just come back before dinner time. Your mom said she’ll be having a late night shift again.” She smiled at him, Jonghyun nodding at her while snatching some cookies, exiting the kitchen.

Kibum heard the main door close before smiling back at JinHae, the latter offering the baking sheet for Kibum so that he can place it at the oven.

***

Friday came, Kibum’s most hated time of the week since it’s all about clubbing and physical education, the most hectic day ever.

He dropped his hand on his knees as he panted heavily, temple glistening with large beads of sweat. They’re currently told to run 15 laps around the closed basketball court, some of his classmates passing him as he stopped in the middle of running, trying to regain his breath.

After a few seconds, he tapped his chest several times before running back again, successfully completing the laps instructed by their instructor. Once the class was dismissed and free to go, most of them proceeded to the school locker rooms to shower or change their uniforms. Some of them going home directly since it’s the last period for the morning, the afternoon classes were all about different