The day of the competition arrived and Donghae was a wreck. He kept pacing back and forth back stage as he took a sneak peek at the audience. Donghae was a friendly person. He recognizes many of the faces in the audience. It was hard not to when each class had printed a huge poster of their representative to cheer for them. His class definitely went all out as his was comparable to Siwon's whose class was way too confident that he would win. The sudden realization that his class was cheering for him and hoping that he would win suddenly dawned on Donghae and felt the pressure ten times fold. 

"Hae!"

Donghae turned around at the familiar voice and saw that Hyukjae had snuck himself backstage hiding behind the curtain.

"Hyuk? What are you doing here?"

"Giving you moral support, duh." Hyukjae said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He then motioned for Donghae to come closer as though he was about to tell him the biggest secret in his life. 

"Here," Hyukjae whispered as he took out a misshapen seashell from his pocket. "I can't be here long but if you hold on to this, it will bring you luck! And then, we can win for sure."

Donghae's face showed puzzlement but he took the said item from Hyukjae anyway. He stared at it in his hands and smiled. Written in very small but neat handwriting that was very familiar to him were the words, "You got this! I love you~" and Donghae's anxiety immediately melted away. 

"Thank you, Hyukkie."

Before Hyukjae could even respond, their moment was interrupted by the MC. 

"Choi Siwon, everybody!" Loud cheers were heard everyone and even a few screams of "I love you, Siwon!" resonated among the students. They both saw Siwon walk back towards them as he bowed and waved goodbye to audience. 

"Oh, Hyukjae-ah!" Siwon exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "What are you doing back here?"

"Oh..um..I was- I was just cheering Donghae before he goes on stage," Hyukjae explained awkwardly.

"What? Yah, that's not fair." Hyukjae looked down guiltily since he was technically breaking the rules by coming backstage. "You didn't give me any moral support before when I went on stage." Siwon pouted as he joked around with the both of them. Hyukjae caught on what Siwon was doing and laughed along half-heartedly while Donghae couldn't help but be proud at the fact that Hyukjae did something that can only be for him. 

"Up next, class 6-A!" Their attention was caught by their stage MC and Donghae felt his anxiety rise through the roof. "The hidden diamond in the rough. The good looking next boy neighbor that everyone loves," The MC hyped them up as he read the card Donghae's class gave him for his introduction. The latter couldn't help but blush hearing how his class set up his introduction. "Are you ready to fall in love with our next contestant.....LEEEEE DONGHAE!"

Cheers and screams (mostly from 6A) were heard all around as some people started a chant for Donghae's name. Donghae wanted nothing more than to run away at that very moment but then he felt someone squeeze his ice cold hands. Upon turning his head at the only culprit, he saw Hyukjae give him an encouraging smile and a quick "fighting" stance before leaving the back stage to join their class in cheering for him. 

"Hey, relax," Siwon encouraged as Donghae took a deep breath in and out to calm his nerves. "I know you're only doing this because Hyukjae talked you into it, but don't feel pressure, ok?"

Donghae smiled at the small encouragement. "Ok. Thanks."

"Yeah, worst case scenario, I can always bring Hyukjae along with me as a plus one."

Siwon turned around as soon as he finished his "joke" completely missing frozen expression on Donghae's face and the scowl that proceeded thereafter. Oh, it's on. 

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~

The contestants are now all back onstage, lined up in a row as the contest came to a close. The whole place was screaming their own winners' name that it was very hard to determine who would win. Donghae didn't mind the noise as his eyes focused only on Hyukjae who was very good at hyping their classmates up in chanting his name. He couldn't help but think that no matter what Hyukjae does, he is very good at getting people to follow after him. He could probably start a cult and people would happily drink the kool-aid for him (well, at least he was since he never checks where Hyukjae makes or gets the food/drink he gives him). 

"Alright! Now, for the most awaited moment," The MC effectively silenced the students as they all wait in anticipation to hear who the won. "The CLASS that wins this year special trip to Japan is," he paused for dramatic effect as he opened the envelop,"....it's a tie! Class 6D Choi Siwon and 6A Lee Donghae!"

Cheers erupted from the two classes as the rest clapped and cheered a congratulatory cheer to the winners. Donghae and Siwon fist bumped each other as a student representative hung the sash around their bodies indicating that they were their school's Best Youth of the Year. Amidst the chaos of students' cheers and the rush of the competion being over, Donghae's eyes focused on one person in the crowd only. The only one making a viictory cheer as though he had won war and smiling so wide that you can't help but fawn over how you can practically see his gums and the genuine crease his eyes makes. That's the face that anyone can fall in love with. 

Anyone. 

Everything else was pretty much uneventful after the contest was over. Everyone impatiently awaited for their week of vacation off moreso for the two classes that won. They counted the days before they can finally go to Japan without their parents and enjoy what it has to offer. Not to mention the free hot spring and free food they were all gonna get to try. It was all very exciting and the day could not come fast enough. 

"Yah! Lee Donghae, stop taking out my things," Hyukjae scolded as Donghae played around with another "cool" shirt he found in Hyukjae's suitcase.

"Wait a second, isn't this mine?"

Hyukjae scowled and snatched it from Donghae. "No. It's mine."

"Are you sure?" Donghae taunted as he continued to pretend the shirt was his. "I'm pretty sure I've worn that shirt before."

"And I'm pretty sure you've worn half of my wardrobe."

Donghae could only laugh out loud as Hyukjae's words rang true. He kept on bothering his friend a while more teasing him here a