“Today we’ll be doing a hands-on activity on learning about the different parts of the body. And as a surprise activity, you will all be dissecting frogs!”

“EEEEHHH???” The class exclaims as they are shocked by what they are about to do.

The teacher laughs hysterically in response to the class. “Oh come on! It won’t be bad! Alright, let’s move to the lab. The frogs are waiting~!”

Minseok couldn’t help but sigh at his ‘crazy’ teacher.

“Minseok! Let’s go!” Suddenly a cheerful Luhan appears in front of him. As usual, he has that foolish cheesy smile, Minseok thought.

Everyday, since the day Luhan called him ‘friend’, Luhan had constantly been by his side in school. Luhan would always talk to him in between classes. Sometimes even during class. It’s not any different than before, but for Minseok, it feels like the fact that Luhan is actually thinking of him as a friend and is happy hanging out with him which makes it all different now. Although he has somehow gotten used to Luhan’s company, he now has to be used to him being his friend. But Minseok still doesn’t acknowledge him as one. He just can’t fully trust him yet.

Aside from that, there’s also another thing that has been bothering Minseok. Ever since that day, he couldn’t help but think of the sudden questions Luhan threw at him.

“Why do you wanna be left alone?”

“... are you really happy being like this?”

Minseok thought of the answers to Luhan’s questions. As for his reason of being alone, he just doesn’t trust people anymore. As to why that is, Minseok thinks Luhan doesn’t need to know. As to him being happy alone, Minseok thinks he’s fine as long as nothing bad happens to him or to others. Minseok feels he’s better off alone. No one gets hurt that way, Minseok thought.

Then why is Luhan so persistent in making friends with me? Minseok still doesn’t understand. Is there really no ulterior motive? Does he really just purely want to be friends with me? The thought of that feels so foreign to Minseok that he couldn’t believe it’s real. It can’t be, Minseok thought.

But, there he is right now. Beside Minseok. Smiling as if he’s the happiest on earth. And although Minseok constantly denies it to himself, a small part of him is also actually relieved and happy.

“Minseok?” Luhan calls him. Minseok is startled.

“Are you alright? You’ve been spacing out since a while ago. Are you sick?”

Luhan’s hand reaches for Minseok’s forehead so he could check his temperature, but Minseok quickly moves back and avoids his hand.

“I’m… I’m fine…”

“Are you sure?” Luhan looks worried. Minseok nods. Luhan sighs. “Alright! But tell me immediately if you’re not feeling well, okay?” Minseok nods again.

“Alright everybody! Quiet!” the teacher shouts as she enters the room. “You’ve all worn your lab coats right? Okay! You’ll be splitting up into pairs! Each pair will have one frog and one set of equipment. Understood? Now pick your partner!”

“Partner?” Minseok whispers and looks at Luhan who is now surrounded by people.

“Luhan! Wanna be my partner?” a girl classmate asks.

“No, pick me Luhan!” another girl classmate claims.

“Sorry girls but my buddy’s gonna pick me!” a guy classmate interrupts.

Minseok continues to quietly look on. Luhan seems to be pretty popular, Minseok thought. If that’s the case, I’ll have to find another partner. Through observation Minseok thinks that Luhan is the kind of person that can’t easily say no. For sure, Luhan would have a difficult time declining them, Minseok thought.

Minseok turns around and walks away.

“Sorry, but I’ll be Minseok’s partner!” Luhan boldly claims.

This statement made the crowd around him stop and look at Minseok who had stopped walking.

Luhan walks towards Minseok. “That’s right. Minseok and I will be partners! Sorry guys!” And he flashes that smile of his.

Minseok doesn’t know how to react. He’s frozen. He didn’t think Luhan would say that.

“Are you okay, Minseok?”

“Why?... Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Why didn’t you become one of their partner?”

“What? What are you talking about Minseok?” Luhan giggles.

Minseok looks at Luhan. He’s confused with why he’s giggling.

“Did you think I won’t reject them? Haha! Come on, Minseok, I think even the readers know that we’ll end up being partners. Haha!”

Minseok looks away. He feels embarrassed now.

“I already told you that you’re my friend and I want to stay by your side. In this case, it’s a no-brainer that I’ll choose you as my partner… Or are you perhaps avoiding me?”

Luhan moves closer to Minseok. He puts his face closer to Minseok’s to see his reaction. Minseok just looks away out of irritation and embarrassment.

“No, I’m not… I’m not avoiding you.”

“Good. Then if you’re not, please look my way.”

Minseok slowly turns and looks at Luhan.

“Please don’t think of unnecessary things. Okay?” As usual, he has a big grin on his face. A somehow comforting smile.

That smile. Minseok wonders if he’ll ever get used to it.

And so their activity began. Luhan does most of the touching or handling with the frog, while Minseok does the cutting and picking out of the organs. Minseok finds it easy working with Luhan because both of them exert the same efforts. Luhan handles the frog pretty well. Somehow he seems manly while holding down and pinning the frog. Minseok also notices that Luhan doesn’t fool around while they’re dissecting. In fact, he’s pretty serious about it. This surprises Minseok knowing that he usually has a foolish personality. Maybe he also values studying? Minseok thinks. But right now, as they are working together, Minseok realizes that he suddenly became comfortable around Luhan. The embarrassment and annoyance he had a while ago disappeared. Right now, whenever Luhan smiles, whenever Luhan checks if he follows the lesson, and whenever Luhan asks if he’s alright, Minseok feels a warmth he hasn’t felt before. It’s Luhan’s warmth. The warmth of a friend. Luhan’s warmth and kindness are reaching out to Minseok, waiting to be noticed and acknowledged.

“Countless lives of frogs were sacrificed today in order for you to learn. Please remember our lesson today, and the life of your frog. A moment of silence please.” the teacher says.

The class becomes quiet.

“Alright! Good job everyone! Now I have an announcement to make! Since we learned about the different parts of the body through our precious frogs today, we’ll be having a report next week about the different human body systems!”

“EEEEHHH?!?” the class reacts in unison.

“Don’t ‘EEH?’ me! Reports will be done by pair, and your pair today will be your partner for next week’s report. Understand?”

“Ooh! We’re partners again Minseok!” Luhan smiles.

Minseok nods. Right now, Minseok feels at ease. Somehow, he’s glad that he ends up being partners with Luhan again. He already experienced working with him today, and he seems to be serious in studying, so work would be divided equally between them, Minseok thought.

But also, maybe, a part of Minseok wants to feel that warmth again.

And this report is just an excuse for him to be with Luhan.

A/N: Hello! It's been a long time since I updated. Thank you for patiently waiting for updates! And of course, thank you for continuing to read this fanfic! :)

Unfortunately, I will still be irregularly updating this fanfic. Please bear with me.

I hope everyone's doing well. Chapter 5 had quite a good reaction from you guys. I'm guessing that one's your favorite so far? Hehe. Chapter 5 is also my favorite so far :) I hope this chapter is alright for you guys. Honestly, I'm having a bit of writer's block so I can't write well these days. It took me time to finish this, and I admit I didn't get to write this chapter with my best. But I promise I'll try my best in the future! Hehe sorry for this long message, I'm just really thankful for the people reading this fanfic. You make me happy, and I hope I make you happy too :) Take care always! Until my next update! :)