New year, new me?

Childhood friends

Did you know that Ten likes dancing too?” Kris asked Tao as they walked home from the bbq, the air was warm, and Tao felt at ease, physically he felt at ease, his mind wandered from the conversation with Baekhyun, to right now, where he was walking with Kris in the warm summer air at night. The light poles shone as they walked, the orange light reflecting on the ground “No, I didn’t” he answered.

Kris let out a hum and the conversation died out, Tao didn’t know what to talk to him about, Baek and Chan? Yuwin? SHINee? Soccer? “How’s it going at the company?” Kris asked Tao with a smile, Tao noticed his surroundings, the bridge that went over the Han river. He walked towards the ledge and rested his arms “It’s…” He trailed off, there was nothing special about it, it was just Tao, learning how to work in the business, it was so awful that he’d rather overdose than take over the business. But he couldn’t say that to Kris, could he?

It’s boring as hell, legit ugh, I’m not excited for when I’m supposed to take over” He said instead with a smile, head resting on his arms. He didn’t notice how Kris gave a small smile and a sigh of relief as he saw Tao smile “Well guess we gotta run away” He blurted out, he didn’t think that much about it, but Tao’s heart made a small jump at the word “we” and he tried to ignore it, but he had to ask. He turned to Kris with a small smile “We?” he asked, and Kris just shrugged “Yeah, can’t let you go alone can I? You’ll probably get yourself killed” He finished, before breaking out in a smile, which caused Tao to laugh, while his heart jumped around inside him. How couldn’t he love him when he said things like that? Kris had his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath before speaking “It’s good to have you back Tao”

 

Immediately Tao felt warmth creep up from his heart. He could hear the sincerity in his words, and the look in his eyes told him that he wasn’t kidding “I…” Tao didn’t know what to say “It’s just you’ve been out of it lately, and I was worried, but you seem fine” he spoke again and at this time, Tao felt a feeling somewhere between sorrow, guilt, and love?

His heart broke, but he felt whole listening to the words that spilled from his mouth.

Kris took a few steps closer and stopped right in front of Tao. Their height wasn’t that different, Kris and Tao were around the same height still. Tao held his breath as Kris suddenly pulled him into a hug.

 

Please tell me what’s on your mind” He heard Kris’ shaky voice let out, was he crying? The feeling of a burden was suddenly placed on his shoulders, as he responded his hug and held his arms tight around him I can’t he thought You’ll hate me, won’t you?

Pl-please” He pleaded, he felt a wet spot on his shoulder and realized that he was indeed crying “I….” Tao started out, but he couldn’t finish.

How was he supposed to tell Kris what he wants to hear when it’s an upright lie? He can’t lie to him, neither could he tell the truth.

I’m… I’m sorry” He spoke, his voice almost inaudibly as he tightened his arms around Kris’ back “I’m sorry” he spoke again.

  •  
  •  
  •  

It’s so hard” He spoke, his voice breaking “It’s so, so hard” tears spilling from his eyes, his arm covering his eyes. He was placed on his bed on his back as he was talking to Johnny over the phone.

It’s been over a week since the episode had happened, and Tao was so torn. His feelings were messed up, and overwhelming, an ocean of guilt spilled, together with an ocean of love, and he can’t see land anywhere “Tao I know it’s hard okay?” He heard Johnny’s voice speak “And I want nothing more than for you to be loved okay?”

"Okay?” He asked, but more for confirmation “But you can’t just keep loving a guy who’ll never love you back okay?” Tao nodded for himself, tears spilling out as he laid there in darkness alone, sad, burdened “I know, but as soon as I try to fall out, he comes crashing in!” He heard Johnny sigh “I know I shouldn’t say this, but I do know a way of forgetting all of that pressure”

"What’s that?” Once again he heard Johnny sigh “You’re gonna hate me, but I know this place- you’ll have to sneak out”

 

 


It’s been a few weeks since break and Tao was stressed… Again! It’s as if the world just love pissing him off!

He’s currently sitting in his bedroom working on a project together with Baekhyun and Yuta, two of his friends who he managed to be placed in a class with after they started their last year in High school; New year, new classes. and he was no longer in class with Johnny.

Hey, guys” Baekhyun spoke, who was laying on stomach on Tao’s bed, his phone in his hand “What?” Tao asked while Yuta went to see what Baekhyun was currently looking at on his phone “Remember that idol Luhan or whatever he’s called?”

Tao nodded “Yeah” He said as he also went to see what Baekhyun was looking at “Well, apparently he’s friend with the heir of the Oh company” They looked at Baekhyun in shock “What?!” Tao plopped right down beside Baekhyun and saw his screen.

It did indeed show Luhan hanging out with a few guys at a bar, one presumably the heir of the Oh company, Oh Sehun “Holy ” Yuta exclaimed “Sehun is pretty damn lucky” Tao nodded “Yep. I’d like to know Luhan as well, wasn’t there a rumor that he was gay?” He asked around, the two looked at him shortly before turning to think about it “I’ll check” Baekhyun went and searched on his phone and after a minute or so there was a hit “Ah! Okay so apparently Luhan is openly gay to the world, and it’s been rumored that he has a boyfriend here in Korea” The two others looked at each other in shock “Are you serious?” Yuta let out “That’s crazy!”

You don’t think that Sehun might be that boyfriend?” Tao asked slowly, this time Baekhyun looked shocked “! If it’s that’s the truth, that’ll wreck the media!”

Holy !” Yuta exclaimed, “Isn’t Sehun around our age as well?” Tao asked, he believes he’s heard that name before, maybe his father mentioned it “2 sec” Baek answered and tapped on his phone again “Yep, he’s 17, almost 18”

And Luhan is what?- 22?” Yuta exclaimed “Yeah, somewhere around the twenties”

It might not be him” Baek let out in a sigh “Who knows” Tao said which ended that conversation.

 

So” Johnny started out as he caught Tao in the hallway “Did you come to a decision?” He asked. Tao had been quite shocked by Johnny’s offer when he was crying a few weeks back.

They hadn’t really talked about it since, and Tao felt quite insecure by the thought of it, he gave Johnny a scared look, the normally sharp, serious eyes turned soft. It twisted inside Johnny as he saw Tao give him that look “I don’t know” He said, a hand reaching to scratch his neck, something Johnny had started to notice Tao did whenever he was nervous or uncomfortable “I don’t... I don’t want to risk getting caught” He said and turned his eyes away “It’s bad as it is, I don’t want to..” he trailed off, and Johnny could feel sadness looming around Tao “..to disappoint my parents more than so” he finished, eyes staring into the ground “Thought you wanted to be rebellious” Johnny let out. He couldn’t say he was disappointed, it was Tao, he thought so much about others, that he sometimes forgot about himself “It doesn’t have to be now you know” Johnny continued, as they walked down the hallway, almost at Tao’s class. Tao nodded his head quietly “Let me think about it okay?” He said before disappearing inside the classroom, where a moody Baekhyun sat “What’s wrong?” he asked him, he was looking out the window, his head placed on the desk “Chanyeol hasn’t answered my texts for 3 days” The two of them were still together even though Chanyeol had to leave for America, Tao never got to know why, but it’s supposedly only a year and then he’ll come back. Had Tao been in that position, he’d broken up, no relationship can hold that long in long distance, but it’s Baekhyun and Chanyeol, not him.

He reached out and Baekhyun’s hair “Maybe it’s the time difference” he proposed “Just a year, he said” Baekhyun let out a sigh and stared at his phone as he’d done so many times, but no notification ever came. Tao kept his hair until the teacher stepped inside the room; Baekhyun’s love life was going downwards while Yuta and Winwin’s was making progress. Well progress and progress, they… got closer, well Yuta invited Winwin to the library and often, just often, does that mean going at it in the corner that has very good privacy, but Winwin’s gotta find that out himself.

Tao chuckled at the thought of that, which did sound a bit inappropriate?

 

When Tao made his way towards the locker room for soccer practice, he couldn’t help but stop by the dance department, curious as to how well Kai was doing.

He walked down the unfamiliar corridors, before spotting the room, with giant windows that let any passerby see what they were doing. Outside there was a sign that said: “Dance team 1” which got Tao curious, because inside he saw Kai, and maybe Dance team 1 was the best team in the school, and that surprised Tao. He’d never seen or heard about Kai dancing before now.

He looked through the window and spotted Kai, and was he good! Tao felt the air leave his lungs as he watched his friend move his body effortlessly in choreography that made Tao nervous if he was to ever to try dancing it.

Wow” He accidentally let out and looked around to make sure no one noticed, but unfortunately, he noticed a small guy standing a few feet away from him, also starring through the window. He didn’t react and just kept standing, Tao noted that the guy had large doe eyes, and plump lips adorable Tao thought as made his way back to the locker room, in embarrassment.

 

Inside the locker room, he quickly started changing, noting the new faces he caught in between. It made him smile that the soccer club was still popular, and would gain new members today, hopefully.

He was standing outside together with the old team, well the rest of it. He was walking in front of them, because as Chanyeol had said, he’d been chosen to be captain even before he tried out for the team again.

When the coach had come and told him that he was the captain, he couldn’t help but smile at the honor, which caused him to bow slightly a few times, before the coach had dismissed him.

 

So there he was the new captain, inspecting the students who would be trying the club out, and smiling to himself, noting the number of first years standing in front of him.

I’m Zitao, call me Tao, and I’m the captain of the soccer team, if you’re lucky, you get to play with me, and already chosen members standing in front of you” He nodded his head towards the soccer team, and continued striding among them.

 

The practice had gone great. The coach had already let the candidates know that he’d seen great potential in most of them.
Tao smiled at himself, feeling rather excited for the new season.

Like this story? Give it an Upvote!
Thank you!
Uta971b
I hope the character sheets helped!! Let me know what character based on their description is the most interesting. Btw, am in a hyperfixation mood with the story, so I’ll post the next one soon

Comments

You must be logged in to comment
Missanion
#1
Chapter 62: When did he ask Tao to run away together? ?Sorry but I don't remember reading that at all 😣. It was a big mistake to take Tao for granted. He did all wrong.
Maryatcutekit91 #2
Chapter 62: Thank you for taking the time to write this, I truly appreciate it and I’m sooooo glad that we get to see what is going on for yifan! But as always take your time and if you feel like you can do it anymore it’s fine :) once again thank you for this amazing chapter 💕
Missanion
#3
Chapter 61: Prioritize your mental health, therapy is really helpful. You have to be physically and mentally well before anything else. When you manage to focus and get out of that storm you find yourself in, you will find the calm you need. You will be calmer and more inspired to write again. My best wishes for you!
Maryatcutekit91 #4
Chapter 61: I really and truly do hope you feel better soon, its a long process but no matter what you should always put your first!! Take as long as you like to have a break and whenever you want to return here just know that there are still people here for you ❤️❤️
Maryatcutekit91 #5
Chapter 60: Wahhhhh sooo many emotions going on at the same time. Where do I even begin??? Thank you for this chapter! I can’t wait for the next one!
sanjida
#6
Chapter 60: Wow😍
Helookpppp #7
.
Missanion
#8
Chapter 60: Oww this was so romantic ❤❤. Tao saying "I love you "to Sehun, Sehun planning that anniversary dinner, Tao feeling anxious and nervious, Sehun being so emotional and honest...loved this chapter.
sanjida
#9
Chapter 59: Woooh this was a rolarcraster of emotion. Thank you for this amazing chapter
Maryatcutekit91 #10
Chapter 59: Whahhhhh this hurt my heart 🤧🤧🤧 thank you for the chapter 💕💕