The next morning, he got to school at the usual time. Himchan wasn't there yet, but a few of his other classmates were. He sat himself at his desk, waiting for his friend to come. He was oddly nervous, which wasn't a nice feeling. Not in this case anyways. It wasn't nervous butterflies, but more like a twist in his gut. It was like a bad premonition.

The jackets entered the classroom, one of them sporting a split and swollen lip. If eyes could kill, he would be dead now, as the glares they were sending his way were not to be joked with. Before the situation could evolve however, someone bumped into one of them, knocking them out of balance, one by one, like dominoes.

“Oops, sorry,” Himchan's voice apologized, though he didn't sound sorry at all. A second later, he emerged from behind the jackets, wearing a mischievous and brilliant smile, that he sent Yongguk's way. He couldn't help but smile back at his friend, following him with his eyes all the way to his seat.

“Himchan, you-” the jacket with the swollen lip started but was cut off by the bell. Himchan grinned happily, as the teacher arrived and told the jackets to sit down. Yongguk found that he was grinning too, and tried to wipe it off his face, as it only seemed to piss off the jackets more.

Sometime during the lesson, Yongguk fell asleep, and it wasn't before someone was poking his arm, that he woke up again.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Himchan greeted him when he looked up.

“Morning,” he mumbled and stretched.

“It's only lunch break, but I thought I'd wake you up in case Sunghoon and his lackeys try something,” his friend told him, and Yongguk nodded before yawning. With half closed eyes, he looked around the classroom. It was almost empty, only a couple of girls remaining.

“Where are they?” he asked Himchan.

“I don't know, probably off torturing someone with their stupidity,” his friend answered.

Yongguk couldn't help but chuckle. “What if they try to bully someone though?”

“They won't, they usually hang out in the cafeteria where there's teachers, or out back where everyone knows not to go,” Himchan replied.

Yongguk nodded. That was good.

“So are you excited about finally handing in our history project today?” Himchan asked. “We're early, so I'm thinking we can work on the presentation this weekend? If you have time?”

“Yeah, sure,” Yongguk agreed and couldn't help but smile brightly at the prospect of spending more time with his friend. It was still weird thinking of the other like that, but it also felt nice. Who knew he'd get a friend in school?

A thought popped up.

“Do you really think they'll do something?” he asked his friend.

“I don't really know. All I know is that they're angry and don't like being humiliated,” Himchan answered. “So far they haven't done much, but I did have a fight with Sunghoon after school one day.”

Yongguk's mouth dropped open. “What?”

“What?” Himchan replied, looking slightly confused.

“You were in a fight with one of them?” Yongguk asked. “Like an actual fight?” He hadn't seen this one coming.

Himchan nodded. “Sunghoon followed me after school, warning me to stay out of his way,” he told Yongguk. “And then he tried to hit me, so we got in a little fight, but I got my point across.”

Yongguk's head was swimming. His friend had gotten in a fight. He had not seen this coming in any way. Himchan seemed so peaceful. The thunderous face his friend had made yesterday, flashed through his mind. So maybe Himchan wasn't as peaceful. He could get downright scary. However, the way Himchan said it like it was nothing, made Yongguk think, maybe his friend wasn't as nice as he thought. On the other hand, the jacket had been the one attacking first, so it was self defense.

“I can see you thinking,” Himchan interrupted his thoughts. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Yongguk answered, not sure if he should say anything before he had thought this through. How would he tell his friend, that he had the thought that he wasn't as nice as first thought? That would just end up in a weird thing that might break their friendship. Maybe. Yongguk didn't want to break their friendship, because Himchan is nice. He had his heart in the right place and a moral compass that pointed in the right direction. His friend also made Yongguk happier and the thought of ruining their relationship was a little too much to handle now.

“Are you sure?” Himchan asked, looking concerned. “Because you've spaced out twice now.”

“Sorry,” Yongguk apologized.

“It's fine, but I have to admit I'm curious,” his friend smiled softly, before it dropped and was replaced with a frown. “You don't think I enjoyed being in a fight, do you?”

Yongguk's eyes widened. That was pretty close to what he had been thinking. He shook his head. No, he didn't think that, though he was in doubt for a moment.

“Okay, good,” Himchan nodded slowly. “'Cause despite however satisfying it is to see Sunghoon not get what he wants, a fight is not the right answer.”

Yongguk nodded in agreement. “It never is.”

“Either way, we should be ready for something to happen,” Himchan told him. “I don't think Sunghoon and his lackeys share our philosophy.”

“Me neither,” Yongguk said, giving his friend a half smile.

“So,” Himchan said a little loudly. “It's time we switched subjects to something less depressing. Do you think we could look over your collection of music too? You've told me you have loads of different music, but I haven't actually seen the CD's.”

Yongguk chuckled happily. “Yeah, sure,” he nodded. The brilliant smile Himchan gave him in return made his heart beat a little harder and a little faster. He had come to love that he could make Himchan smile this way.

Someone poked his arm and Yongguk looked up to see Himchan's crotch in front of him. It was the familiar hoodie that sat around the other's hips that allowed him to recognize it instantly. Looking up, he found, unsurprisingly, Himchan's face. It looked stony and slightly angered. Yongguk turned his head and found one of the jackets. Oh. So that was why.

“I'd suggest you get out of here, Sunghoon,” Himchan told the jacket icily. Yongguk shook the sleepiness off himself and stood up, and placed himself next to his friend.

“I'd suggest you watch your backs,” the jacket threatened them.

“Is that a threat?” Himchan asked, looking threateningly at the jacket.

The jacket's eyebrow flinched. “It won't end well for you two,” he said.

“You know you can't get away with bullying people and beating them up. The teachers will find out,” Yongguk said, finding his voice had dropped to a threatening tone.

“Are you gonna go tattle to the teachers, Yongguk? Can't you finish a fight on your own?” the jacket mocked him.

“At least it's better than trying to make yourself feel better by picking on others,” Yongguk replied.

“We all know from psychology that bullies have little to no self worth,” Himchan added. “I'd suggest you don't take this somewhere you'll regret.”

The jacket stepped threateningly forward. “You're the one who's going to regret getting in my way, Himchan. Both of you are going to regret the day you started at this school,” he said and pushed the table into their thighs, before stomping out of there.

Yongguk looked at Himchan, who looked right back.

“We should get out of here,” Himchan said after a moment of silence, but didn't move or break eye contact.

“Yeah,” Yongguk agreed, but he didn't move either. Himchan's eyes were actually very beautiful. The way they were slanted and the dark color of his iris. He could get lost in those eyes. They were really fascinating, and the way they looked at him was so soft. Fascinating.

After an eternal, yet too short moment, Himchan broke contact. “Come on. Get your stuff,” he said and picked up a bag by his feet. Yongguk nodded and picked up his bag. With that, the two of them went out of the classroom in silence.

Yongguk felt like something had happened between the two of them, but he wasn't sure what. All he knew was that the atmosphere was heavy with something. Himchan was looking at the floor thoughtfully as they walked through the almost empty halls.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked when they reached the front doors.

Himchan looked up at him, still as thoughtful as before. “I'm not sure,” he answered.

“How can you not know what you're thinking about?” Yongguk questioned confused.

His friend chuckled. “I really don't know, my mind does weird sometimes,” he grinned. Yongguk couldn't help but chuckle too, and nodded. His own mind did weird stuff too sometimes.

“How about I walk you home?” Himchan suggested. “I'll tell you about our dear history teacher's surprised face.”

“Of course,” Yongguk nodded and started walking home, with his friend beside him. “But-uh... why would our history teacher be surprised?”

“Did you forget about our finished report?”

He had. “Uhm, no?”

Himchan laughed happily. “Of course you didn't,” he said in between laughter. Yongguk really liked that laugh. It was so happy. Which was obvious since he was laughing, but this laughter was probably the happiest he had seen his friend laugh. It made him happy too, that his friend was happy. It also made butterflies flutter around his stomach. All in all, it was just perfect. He really liked it.

“And then he laughed really happily,” Yongguk told his friends. “Like really laughed. It was great to see him that happy.” He had been telling them about what had happened today after school with one of the jackets. The part about Himchan walking him home and staying for an hour had been included too, because he wanted to tell someone. Especially all the times he had made Himchan laugh and Himchan had made him laugh. They were like little precious moments, that he needed to express his thankfulness for.

“Aaaw, that's great,” Hyosung cooed.

“I think I'm about to puke,” Youngjae complained.

“Shut up Youngjae, you like seeing Daehyun happy,” Hyosung shut him up. “You can't deny Yongguk that feeling of bursting at the seams because he made another person happy.”

Youngjae opened his mouth to say something but didn't seem to come up with anything.

Yongguk just watched his screen in confusion. “But me and Himchan are just friends,” he said. “It's a different relationship.” Why would Hyosung compare Himchan and his relationship with Daehyun and Youngjae's?

“Aaaw, you like seeing me happy, Youngjae?” Daehyun smiled through the screen, completely ignoring Yongguk.

“Shut up,” Youngjae muttered, with a blush on his cheeks.

“Sorry Youngjae,” Hyosung apologized, sounding too cheery to be anything like apologetic. “But yes Daehyun, you should hear the way he gushes over your smiles when we talk without you and Yongguk.”

Youngjae blushed even more and looked down in his lap. He looked thoroughly embarrassed. It was kind of cute though, and Yongguk was happy to see that his two friends still got on so well. Daehyun was looking all kinds of happy at the moment, smiling from ear to ear and a little further.

“I love you too, Youngjae,” Daehyun said softly. Youngjae looked up from his lap in shock and Yongguk could see Hyosung was holding a squeal back. He himself could feel the ache of smiling this much in his cheeks.

“Uhm, Daehyun, can I come over?” Youngjae asked, looking all kinds of flustered and happy.

“Always,” Daehyun answered.

Youngjae nodded. “I'll see you guys later,” he said and hung up.

“I'm gonna go too,” Daehyun said, wearing a soft smile. “I'm getting company.”

“Go and be cute together,” Hyosung smiled back and Yongguk nodded in agreement. Daehyun waved at the camera before hanging up too.

“Well Yongguk, it's just you and me now,” Hyosung said after a moment of silence. “So tell me all about Himchan,” she continued, inviting him to tell her more.

Yongguk smiled at the computer. “You're too nice,” he told her.

“Nah, I'm doing this for sake of my own non-existing love life,” she waved him off. “I need entertainment,” she continued before he could ask more, and gave him an eager look. “So tell me more,” she demanded and with a laugh, Yongguk continued talking about his day with Himchan.

And I'm back with another installment of The Life of the Painfully Oblivious

I found some daejae photos on my phone, so I was feeling it when I wrote that last part. ;)

Until next time ^^

Peace out (^_^)v