Renjun sits in a random seat of the stadium, it doesn't matter as it wasn't assigned. He grabs a corn dog from Donghyuck's box of snacks he bought from the food truck and attempts to settle in a comfortable position, yet, fails to find comfort in the huge blaring stadium as this is an environment he isn't used to. A look of displeasement grows on his face. Fragments of self consciousness and anxiety rises through Renjun's expression. He's aware, but had anyone else noticed? He wasn't good with large crowds at all.

"You good there?" A voice beside him rang in concern.

"Yeah, just...this is kinda new for me,"

Donghyuck shuffles in his spot a bit before resting his arm over Renjun's shoulder, an action of comfort. His lips separate into an almost sorrowful smile. Maybe he had regret dragging Renjun to this school basketball game, simultaneously he wanted Renjun to be more exposed to social events and this was a part of it. "You'll get used to it. I'm sorry for bringing you here but you kinda needed it!"

"No, I really didn't, but thanks anyway," as Renjun rolls his eyes at his best friend and looks out onto the stadium floor, he hears a chuckle echo beside him. The players in their maroon jerseys begin to flow in one by one, as if like a bottle of leaked wine, and those faces whom he recognises on the playing floor flashes a feeling of uncertainty in his heart. Jeno, Chenle, Jisung, Mark and Jaemin, the ones that own the school. They're faces he'll never actually talk to, never really look at or talk about at school. The most popular group of people, Renjun had come to watch and perhaps to cry over later. He feels himself sinking deeper and deeper into the hole he dug when he came in. Maybe he could just leave right now and not watch the rest of this game, right?

The thought lingers as he feels tempted, yet knows it's not such a kind thing to do to Donghyuck. Pondering for a second, he finally decides to add,
"Donghyuck, why did you want to come here again?"

He pauses for a second before replying. "You know I'm obsessed with basketball. I've gotta go to at least one school game! But since this makes you uncomfortable..." he trails off. "I've decided this is the first and last game we go to. Don't worry alright bro?" Donghyuck gives his friend a light nudge, as if to show sympathy or some sort of trust. He smiles too, that one sided smile he always had whenever he told Renjun to believe in him.

"I thought you hated everyone in the team. Especially Mark," Renjun protests. The younger pauses again, longer this time like he was in a process of deconflicting his mind over his love of basketball, between his hate for the members. Renjun remembers his friend telling him he would've signed up for the team, if only he could kill off every existing member in it right now. He catches a glimpse of Donghyuck's furrowed brows. He could feel his hate. Did he see sweat dripping down too?

"I love the game, hate the people okay,"

"Mmm. About the tenth time you've said that today,"

"Hey you asked!"

Donghyuck chuckles in disbelief, and as the starting bell rings both of their attention is brought towards the teams down below.

Renjun could fall asleep as Donghyuck screams enthusiastically for his favourite sport. He has no interest for sports, rather he would enjoy going to musicals or ballets, or even just the movies. Perhaps this could be better for him, rather than being stuck at home all day but no matter how many times he tries to think this over, he always brings himself to the conclusion that being at home is indeed better.

"It's starting! I hope our team loses."

Yes, Donghyuck hates them that much.
 

○°
 

"EVERYONE'S FREE TO GO HOME NOW. THE STADIUM CLOSES AT 8:00 PM BE OUT BEFORE THEN. GAME'S OVER," the deafening voice blasts through the speakers. The boys could've sworn their ears were bleeding as they walked down the stairway leading to the exit.

"God, if they say students aren't listening during classes do they even have any idea why?!" Donghyuck protests, only to earn a laugh of agreement from the other boy.

"That's true," Renjun acknowledges his statement.

"That was so damn loud - wait is that the basketball team exiting using the same door as us? Don't they go to their lockers backstage or something?"

"I heard there aren't any lockers in the stadium,"

"That's the most stupid thing I've heard. What do they even spend the school's money on? Useless wall gardens?"

By the time they reached the bottom of the stairway, they were standing in the midst of the players, shoulder to shoulder, as the coach shuffled them along one by one through the door.

"This makes me extremely uncomfortable..." Renjun says as he reaches out to link arms with the younger. He feels himself breathe heavier than usual, trying not to panic in this situation. Donghyuck notices his discomfort and is quick to hold him even tighter. As the uncertainty in the other's expression grew, so did Donghyuck's need to protect him. It's times like these where he would let go of his usual playful attitude and actually care for his friend.

"It's ok, it'll be over real soon. Everyone just needs to get out, then we'll leave too..."

Renjun turns to look at the scuffling members, each emitting strong a smell of sweat mixed with deodorant. He could feel the air turning damp as they passed by, the dampness not only around them but also beginning to reside in his heart. He grips onto Donghyuck even tighter.

As the last the players leave, he feels Donghyuck signal him to move and he does so. He paces himself forward and with the glimpse of the exit light flashing before him, only then did he feel more confident again. Unannounced, loud footsteps from behind suddenly makes itself into Renjun's hearing, becoming progressively faster and louder. Had they not all left yet?

A strong shoulder forces its way past his, pushing him over onto the ground. He falls with a loud thud and could feel his palms burning against the ground.

"Hey! What the hell man? You don't just push someone over and leave!" Donghyuck shouts at the person in front of them, his hands automatically going to Renjun's in order to lift him up. Everyone could feel his anger in this moment.

The person pauses at Donghyuck's bellow, then slowly pivots to face them without a word.

"Na Jaemin," Renjun whispers with his mouth still wide from disbelief.

"Apologise," Donghyuck states. He's imperative, his tone firm with a hint of anger and annoyance.

As Jaemin still stands without a word, his piercing gaze only laid on Renjun. It was overwhelming, as if Jaemin was on a total higher status than them, having to look down at the helpless boy on the ground. Had he really had to have their social rankings played out? Donghyuck feels it, and Renjun himself, definitely feels it the most. The seconds seem to pass in slow motion as he waits for someone to say a word, something to break this deafening and awkward silence. He could feel his stare boring into his head, and somehow heat seems to radiate off his laser like eyes too. Jaemin's shadow that overlooks him like a tall tower, engulfs him in literal darkness. This boy is definitely tall, Renjun confirms. He doesn’t even know why he’s staring at him for so long. What is he going to say to him? Maybe, tell him to apologise instead of the other? Or would he punish him for standing in the doorway in the first place?

After what seems like a century, Renjun finally looks up only to make eye contact with the tall player. He flinches, and it is indeed obvious he is extremely intimidated by the intense eyes of the other - not to mention how much taller he is up close than when he saw him from the benches.

Renjun flicks his head down, as if to surrender to this war he inflicted. “I’m sorry.”

Barely audible, and almost like a meaningless whisper than an apology, he forfeits before Donghyuck could say a word to make matters worse.

“Hey! Are you insane? You didn’t do anything wrong-”

“Just let it be, ok? Fighting isn’t going to make everything ok,” Renjun smiles at his best friend, reassuring him that this is the right thing to do.

“...ok. If that makes you feel better.” they simultaneously turn to look at the person before them.

Jaemin stands still, still without a word. Without removing his gaze from Renjun and without making a single sound, not even a breath. Only then did Renjun realise how unnerving the basketball team could be. He vows in his heart to never get involved with them again fearing what would happen if he did, and if they remembered him. Finally, Jaemin opens his mouth to say probably the first and last words he’s ever going to say to the two. “Is that all?” he states in a deep monotonous voice. Uninterested, calm and nonchalant, just like his appearance.

Renjun notices Donghyuck flinch in anger and stops him from charging right into Jaemin. “Y-yes. T-that’s all. I’m sorry for bumping into you. We’ll be going now.” Renjun’s voice trails off at the end into a shaky mess, hoping that was a good enough resolve for all of them. He sees Jaemin’s expression soften, and his lips part for a split second as if to attempt to say one last thing to him - but he doesn’t.

A figure emerges from behind Jaemin and wraps his arm around his shoulder. He was slightly shorter, but still about the same height with a fierce aura radiating off of him.

“ it’s Mark,” Donghyuck curses under his breath, and Renjun could feel his disgust begin to grow.

“Jaemin, what’s taking you so long?” Mark beckons to his fellow player.

Jaemin turns to look at his teammate, and smiles cheekily. Not gonna lie, that was probably the cutest smile Renjun had seen in his life despite his intimidating aura, and knowing Jaemin, he never actually smiles in school which keeps his cool image so significant and undoubtedly, is very popular with the girls. “Nothing, your friend told me I knocked his friend over,”

Mark glances over to them, noticing Donghyuck balling his fists and fighting his last urge to run right over and punch Mark in the face. “Oh f- D-Donghyuck...I didn’t see you there,” he says as he looks to the ground as if trying to hide his face from the others. Jaemin feels the hand on his shoulder quickly increase in temperature, and maybe a little dampness too.

Renjun notices this strange behaviour of Mark and doesn’t fail to report it to his friend. “Is he scared of you? That’s really odd considering how he’s always pissing you off,” he says in a quiet voice.

“I don’t know. I’d cry of happiness if he is,”

“Yeah, you would.”

“He’s never seen me out of school, maybe I look scarier out of uniform.”

Jaemin whispers something into Mark’s ear, and steals one last glance at Renjun before leaving together. That last look doesn’t go unnoticed Donghyuck, who’s been attentive this whole time. “Those little ers! They just left without a word! We couldn’t even stop them! What are we, weaklings?!” he blurts out in anger.

“I mean we are pretty weak compared to them...you know...our social differences...everything,”

“I’m not asking you to be depressed Renjun. I’m asking you to be angry for once. Plus, that Jaemin? Why was he staring at you for so long anyway? Don’t think I didn’t see his last glance at you either. I swear to god if they are plotting somet-”

“Don’t remind me. I could feeling myself slowing deteriorating as he kept doing that.”

Suddenly Donghyuck is quiet, and lays an arm over his friend’s shoulder in sympathy. “Ok, I won’t make you feel uncomfortable. I won’t take you anywhere else anymore either so don’t worry,”

“Thanks,” Renjun smiles. They head toward the bus stop for a night over at Renjun’s.

○°

“Why’d you have to put me in that situation?! Argh I could’ve sworn he saw my face turn red before I could even realise!” Mark exclaims once they were outside, far from the venue of the game and near the main lockers by the field.

“I doubt it. You’re the one who came looking for me anyway,” Jaemin says in his indifferent tone, “was he hot today too?”

“Shut up.”

He chuckles at his friends remark, and without realising, his thought trails to the interesting encounter the boy he’d never seen around before. He could’ve sworn he knows just about everything about Donghyuck because of Mark, including all his friends but seems like it isn’t so. He pauses for a while, as if to process a piece of information before saying it out loud.

“Who’s his friend?” Jaemin asks.

“The one you pushed over? That was Renjun. He’s in our maths class but I haven’t heard him much.”

“Because you keep snatching Donghyuck away from him?”

“I- no-! Shut up! Anyways, how was he?”

“Weak. Timid. Pretty. I don’t stick with people like him,” Jaemin was concise with his words.

“Damn, harsh except for the second to last one,”

“Since when did you treat other people so kindly?”

“He is Donghyuck’s friend…” Mark says slowly, feeling slightly shameful of the lame excuse, but Jaemin already stopped questioning his friend’s unique taste.