Judging by the drama club’s reputation, Taemin had expected scarce attendance for their performance… and he was right. There were only 10-15 people in the theater and he had heard one of the members complaining that people only came to make fun of the performance. It was always the costumes, the awkward acting of the members, or the choice of the story itself.

Cinderella didn’t exactly attract many but the few who watched didn’t get even the slightest opportunity to boo them after they had booed in the beginning when the play was being introduced.

It went well and the teacher promised to treat them all to lunch after they had successfully wrapped up everything. After lunch and checking out the rest of the fest, they decided to call it a day and caught the bus home.

The bus was pretty empty and Jinki fell asleep almost immediately in one of the seats. Taemin was exhausted and would’ve also fallen asleep, lulled by Jonghyun’s soft humming, but his humming suddenly stopped, “All you did today was wear contacts and style your hair and everyone was flabbergasted.”

Taemin chuckled, “By everyone, do you mean the club members?”

“Them and those three people from the audience.”

“They were complimenting everyone…”

“Not everyone got the same compliment as yours.” Jonghyun shrugged, “Well, get used to the attention.” He smirked, resting back in his seat, “This is just the beginning.”

When Taemin went to school next week, he couldn’t help but think Jonghyun was right. He was making the effort as Jinki had suggested, but there were just small changes to his appearance– ditching glasses for contacts, just a little gel in his hair, changing from sweaters and loose pants to jackets and skinny jeans.

People were looking at him, noticing him, greeting him. People he knew but never talked to and people he didn’t even know. He got compliments for his performance in the play which was perplexing because all the people complimenting him hadn’t even watched the play during the fest. But soon his perplexion was cleared when he walked into the cafeteria for lunch and found the little TV playing the drama club’s performance.

“It’s been playing on the TV near the vending machines as well.” Jinki supplied when Taemin was staring at the little TV, something a mix of horror and embarrassment beginning to build on his face when seeing his cringeworthy entry.

Apparently, all the performances were being broadcasted but whenever Taemin encountered a little TV, it was always the drama club’s performance that was being played.

“You’re reading way too much into it.” Jinki snickered when Taemin had expressed his thoughts on how it seemed like it was only the play that was being aired, “In the morning it was the dance club’s performance. I saw it when I got some juice from the vending machine.”

Maybe, Taemin was reading too much into it. After all, it was a 180-degree turn from where he was last week. He was someone people entirely ignored… or made fun of, like Haneul and his group. Haneul was constantly giving him such threatening glares and one of his attempts to diss Taemin had fallen flat now that Taemin no longer had the traits that had apparently classified him as a ‘loser’ or a ‘nerd’.

People from his class came casually to ask him for help or just to chat in between the classes… he could barely catch an alone moment in the music room and Taemin, though, was still processing this change around him, couldn’t really say he disliked it.

Though everything had somehow changed… there still was one thing that had remained unchanged and that was Minho. He was just the same, talking the same, treating him the same, no compliments, no attempts at flirting or being nosy, unlike how others were doing. 

It had Taemin torn apart because one part of him thought that Minho’s behavior towards him wasn’t based on measly things like outward appearance… and another part of him thought that maybe this change of appearance just wasn’t enough to make Minho notice him in any other way. 

The more Taemin thought of it, the more it twisted his heart because it seemed like both of his assumptions were true. Minho just had no intention of looking at him in any other way… and if that was the case, nothing Taemin changed or did, could sway Minho’s heart.

“Hey, handsome.” Taemin looked away from the window he had been watching soccer practice from, taken aback at the loud call, finding Miyoung, the one who had played Cinderella, taking the seat beside him. Another guy had flopped into the seat in front after turning the chair. Taemin recognized him… they were in the same class all of last year. His name was Nam Woojin. Taemin remembered his name as it was one of the few names that were called for roll call around his own. They might have even exchanged words a few times… but other than that he had never quite interacted with him.

“Hi, Miyoung…” Taemin answered, a little embarrassed of both the compliment and the fact that he might’ve just been caught red-handed watching Minho. “What’s up?”

“Meet the reason why you were chosen as the Prince,” She ended up laughing in between as she pointed to Woojin, “The guy who literally broke a leg and gave you his spot. Woojin.”

Woojin extended his hand for a shake, smiling, “Hey, such a pleasure to finally meet you.” 

Taemin politely shook his hand, “Same here.”

“So this guy watched the recording of the play and was hella curious about you–”

“Miyoung–”

“And pestered me to introduce you to him.” She got up, “And my job is done, so bye~”

Taemin just watched her leave the class and looked at Woojin next, who was feeling just as awkward as him, maybe more.

“I’ll kill her–” He grumbled, scratching the back of his neck, “Sorry, I even greeted Jinki and Jonghyun as you guys are new members. It’s not like– Just ignore her. She’s just teasing.”

“No problem.” Taemin smiled slightly. “Is your leg okay now?”

“Yeah, it was just a sprained ankle, not a broken leg. Miyoung told everyone I broke my leg so she could use the pun. Even the teachers think I actually broke my leg.”

“I can’t really blame her,” Taemin let out a chuckle, “It’s a good pun.”

“Yeah, it really is a good one.” He cleared his throat, getting up, “Sorry again if I disturbed you. Seriously, it was really nice meeting you, Taemin. I’ll see you around.”

“Sure,” Taemin answered, “Bye.”

Taemin sighed when Woojin had left, the awkwardness was all forgotten when he heard the whistle and turned back to the soccer field, his eyes finding Minho effortlessly. The other guys from the team had thrown water on an unsuspecting Minho and Minho had turned around, his eyes wide as he shouted at them after grabbing his water bottle, chasing after them to get revenge.

Taemin chuckled, his laughter fading into a sigh of adoration when Minho had finally gotten his revenge and was smiling victoriously.

He turned back to his homework but his gaze settled on his phone. He picked it up and saw his reflection on the screen. “What am I even doing…” He whispered to himself.

Maybe it was a lost cause, maybe this was all just meant to remain unrequited… and though Taemin felt it was hopeless to try… and though he also felt content with what he currently had, he just couldn’t help but feel tempted to try for more. 

This was what had changed the most, coming to harbor a temptation, a desire for more, a hope that grew aimlessly stronger.

And he couldn’t repress that hope, couldn't resist that temptation despite knowing how he probably had no chance at all… and he blamed it all on the little thing fluttering in his heart… which he now realized was not so little after all.

Valentine’s day was a spectacle, if anything. The Events Club had decked the entire school with reds and pinks. Posters of cheesy one-liners, short romantic poetry, quotes from romance films covered almost every usable inch of the walls and noticeboards. Love songs played in the cafeteria, on the little TVs around the building. There was a dress code which even teachers followed. Students scampered and scurried, trying to give their crush chocolates. Every break, the hallways, the cafeteria, the break rooms, the fields, the classes– literally every space was occupied and the murmuring was so lively, there was quite a good share of squealing and cheering, especially for couples who got together on this day.

The dress code was red and Taemin didn’t have anything in red except for a sweater, which he had hurriedly changed into from his denim jacket after seeing Jonghyun’s text before leaving for school.

The moment he walked into class, his eyes fell on the chocolates on the desks… and as he got closer to his seat, he noticed the mountain on Minho’s desk. It was really a harsh contrast to the small pile on his own–

Wait. A small pile? He blinked, realizing that there actually was something on his desk. Last year he had gotten absolutely nothing (except for the customary Ferrero Rocher from Jinki, which he got as cover-up when Jinki would drop some for Jonghyun). He hadn’t expected to get anything except that this year as well. Though the thought was overwhelming, he actually hoped he didn’t get anything because he couldn’t return the favor nor the feelings. He took his seat after dumping his bag, making sure if the chocolates on his desk were really his.

He felt a little lost and embarrassed on seeing his name on them and someone from class had called out to him, asking who had given him chocolates… but before he could answer, Minho had entered the classroom, holding a white rose. Their classmates were going ooooh~ and Minho just rolled his eyes as he walked to his seat.

Taemin was about to greet him but Minho had extended the white rose to him and it wasn’t just Taemin whose heart had almost stopped… but also the entire class, from how everyone had gone suddenly silent, gaping at both of them.

“Someone in the hallway asked me to pass it to you.”

The anticipation in the air had dissolved at his words and Taemin’s heart had immediately fallen. He managed a smile and accepted it, chiding himself that it was his own fault that he had so quickly, easily and foolishly developed such an absurd expectation, which had led him to fall into a deep pit of disappointment.

“Who was it?” Taemin asked when Minho had sat down.

“Um… I’m not sure.”

The teacher had walked in and Taemin carefully put the rose on the side of his desk, his disappointment slowly easing as he gazed at the pure beauty of the flower. 

A coincidence, he thought to himself… because white roses were his favorite flowers and no one knew… perhaps not even his mom.

And another, he snuck a glance at Minho, who was stifling a yawn, trying to focus on what the teacher was saying.

Maybe, it meant nothing, like it always seemed, getting entangled with Minho in peculiar ways. Maybe, it was for insignificant, explainable, obvious  reasons that they crossed paths more often. 

And all that mattered was that they were crossing paths but Taemin had perhaps long crossed that mindset of being satiated with only that much… because all he could feel on seeing that rose was the height of his expectations, that wild flutter in his heart, a moment of b, fulfilled hope, an overflowing, joyous heart. It was a rush, an overwhelming gust of emotions that had left him shaken. He had almost tasted it… what it might be like if his feelings were requited. When it was gone, he knew so well he wanted those winds to stay.

Coincidences, he realized, could be cruel sometimes, despite being beautiful.

During the common free period, Jinki and Jonghyun had joined Taemin instead of going to the music room. Taemin had handed over his chocolate boxes to Jinki, eyes on the soccer field, where Minho was in conversation with a girl, holding the box of chocolates she had just extended to him.

Jinki had already unwrapped two of Taemin's pile, tasting pieces from them and was on his third, but instead of pulling out a piece of chocolate, he pulled out a little note. It was only folded once so it was impossible not to have read what was written inside. Jinki cleared his throat, successfully grabbing Jonghyun’s attention and both of them looked at Taemin, who was still looking out the window. Jinki finally knocked the table when Taemin hadn’t responded to Jonghyun calling his name.

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