It had been a few days since Yeonwoo started helping with the student council - he left home earlier than usual and came home quite late, and although his parents felt worried they were comforted by the fact that Yeonwoo was making more friends and he seemed a little happier than usual. 

 

Today was a day like any other, when the bell rang for their club period Yeonwoo hurriedly and happily packed everything into his backpack and got ready to leave - San and Wooyoung were already busy with council things since they had to arrange things with their clubs and then work out a budget they got a period extra to work on that - so that meant Yeonwoo was left to go on his own today but he didn't mind it he was excited. 

 

He had gotten quite close to all the members of the council, especially those his age, but most of all Yeonwoo was just really happy he could see and interact with Seonghwa without anyone thinking it was odd. 

 

"Are you ditching me again for the council of nerds?" Yeonwoo heard a voice call from behind him, he couldn't help but instantly feel nervous. 

 

The owner of the voice placed themselves in front of Yeonwoo forcing the boy to speak to them. 

 

"It's not like that, Taekyung, I'm helping with the festival so I have to be there" Yeonwoo retorted to the boy who just rolled his eyes and let out a chuckle. 

 

"Yeah sure~ and you probably think they're your friends huh? They're probably just using you since your fathers the principal so they can get away with more that way" Taekyung said with a smirk, Yeoneoo could feel himself wanting to roll his eyes but he fought back the urge. 

 

"They're not like that, they're actually really nice," Yeonwoo said, trying to figure out how to get out of there before the situation escalated any more than it already did. 

 

"Wait…  don't tell me… do you like one of them? Are you gay Yeonwoo?" It almost sounded like Venom was seeping from Taekyung's words - "oh my, your parents would be so upset to learn about this… their reputation… '' Taekyung said with a smirk. 

 

"Tae I am not gay! I'm not in love with anyone - actually I hardly have time to think about love because I have to keep my grades up, I'm helping the council because my dad wanted me to so don't let that head of yours wonder too far" Yeonwoo said with a straight face, there wasn't a hint of emotion in his eyes or voice - that's when Taekyung realised he overstepped, but before he could even utter a slight apology Yeonwoo already moved passed him. 

 

"Yunho!" The boy called out and joined the taller Taekyung could feel his blood boil - just who were they to come and take Yeonwoo from him? 

 

**

 

Yeonwoo happily joined Yunho and the two walked towards the council, and although Yeonwoo did his best to hide it Yunho was quite observant. 

 

"You okay?" Yunho asked the boy in a worried tone. 

 

"Yeah, I had a small disagreement with a friend but it's okay now" Yeonwoo said reassuring the boy. 

 

Yunho didn't really believe him, it was obvious something was bothering him but Yunho also felt he hadn't known Yeonwoo quite long enough for the boy to trust him enough to open up. 

 

When the two got to the student council room they quickly knocked before entering, Yeonwoo wasn't paying much attention at first - his mind still fully focused on Taekyung's words. 

 

But when he turned his focus to see who was in the room he found Hongjoong and Seonghwa in their own little world - Hongjoong was busy writing something down while sitting at the table and Seonghwa was leaning down over Hongjoong - watching what the other was writing. 

 

Yeonwoo could feel his chest tightening, but he had no choice but to ignore it, 'we'll never be together anyway' Yeonwoo thought to himself. 

 

Honestly at this point Yeonwoo wanted the day to be over already, he wanted to go home and melt into his bed and forget about the whole day. He also didn't even feel like heading back to class after the council meeting - he was just feeling sick. 

 

While they waited for everyone to arrive Yunho briefed Seonghwa on what the 2nd years wanted to do for the festival and Hongjoong was still in his own bubble writing - Yeonwoo found himself resting his head on his arms, he was exhausted. 

 

**

When everyone arrived Seonghwa was ready to start the meeting but he quickly noticed that Yeonwoo was fast asleep, he couldn't help but feel a little worried. 

 

"He had a fight with his friend… he said it wasn't anything major but I could tell something was bothering him" Yunho said to Seonghwa almost as if he read the olders mind, Seonghwa nodded a little. 

 

"With Taekyung? But he always ignores Yeonwoo!" San said a little annoyed, he had observed the two's dynamic for most of the year, Yeonwoo got dragged around like a ragdoll and Taekyung was the one who usually made their plans because whenever Yeonwoo suggested something, Taekyung would get worked up about it, 

 

He felt their friendship was one sided, Yeonwoo saw Taekyung as a friend and Taekyung saw Yeonwoo as a doll that he owned - San hated it, that's why he wanted to befriend Yeonwoo and get him away from Taekyung but he couldn't help but feel they were the reason the two fought to begin with. 

 

Seonghwa felt like someone lit a fire inside him, he was angry but who wouldn't be - he didn't like Taekyung he knew what Taekyung was like behind Yeonwoo's back but he never fully had evidence to expose him. 

 

Seonghwa went over to Yeonwoo to wake him up but when he touched the boy he could feel that the younger was burning hot, he instantly felt his heart drop. 

 

"He's burning up" Seonghwa said his voice was a little shaky, he never knew how to handle it when people around him got sick. 

 

Everyone almost jumped out of their seats, it was unexpected, Yunho especially felt bad for not noticing since he was with Yeonwoo only a few minutes ago, San and Wooyoung didn't feel that great either since they had classes together. How did it go unnoticed? 

 

"We should take him to the infirmary, and tell his dad as well" Hongjoong said trying to keep everyone calm - he knew they all got fond of Yeonwoo in a short amount of time, so they couldn't help but panic a little since they didn't know much about him but he wanted everyone to be calm so they could get everything sorted so the boy could be comfortable. 

 

"Seonghwa, you should take him to the Infirmary, Wooyoung you can go inform Yeonwoo's dad about what's going on, San you should go inform your teacher, the rest of you are dismissed for now - we will meet after school to discuss the festival plans" Hongjoong ordered - he was appointed as the vice president for a reason - that reason being he knew how to be level headed in even the most panicked situations. 

 

Seonghwa slowly picked up Yeonwoo, Jongho decided to tag along and carry both Seonghwa and Yeonwoo's backpacks and San hurried to their home room while Wooyoung hurried off to the principal's office hoping that Yeonwoo's father wasn't in a meeting or anything

 

Wooyoung gave a slightly timid knock - he was in such a hurry he didn’t even speak to the secretary, luckily she knew that Wooyoung was part of the council so she assumed it was something important to do with the festival, so she didn’t mind him hurrying past.

 

Once Wooyoung heard the “come in”  from inside the office he hurriedly opened the door which surprised the Principle a little, he honestly didn’t expect one of the council members to be in such a hurry to see him and usually it was Seonghwa or Hongjoong who came to speak to him so it was a little odd to see Wooyoung standing there out of breath.

 

“S-sir” Wooyoung said still trying to catch his breath properly - “Yeonwoo is in the infirmary - he has a fever and he seems a little unwell” Wooyoung finally managed to say, the principle immediately dropped his pen and looked at the boy in shock.

 

“Uh Seonghwa Hyung is with him right now Jongho also went with him - everyone was a little surprised - he fell asleep before the meeting and when Seonghwa Hyung went to wake him up he felt that Yeonwoo was a burning up” Wooyoung started to speak quite fast he was nervous and he wasn’t exactly good with explaining these things to people especially if it’s parents of a student.

 

“Thank you Wooyoung - You can head to class. I will call Yeonwoo’s mother to come pick him up” the principal said with a thankful smile.

 

Wooyoung quickly bowed and was about to run out of his office when he remembered “San excused Yeonwoo from the rest of our classes, just in case” Wooyoung quickly said and then left.

 

**

Seonghwa had sent Jongho back to his class - asking Jongho to just stop by his class to excuse him since he will be staying with Yeonwoo until he knows whether the boy will be going home or not.

 

He watched the boy sleeping - the nurse gave him some medicine and then told Seonghwa to let the boy sleep as it seemed he was a little stressed out which probably brought on the fever he had - Seonghwa couldn’t help but wonder what exactly was the fight with Taekyung about to make him end up like this.

 

He felt himself get angrier at Taekyung than he already was but he managed to keep a smile on his face like usual - which he was happy he could do because he heard the door of the infirmary open and when he checked he saw a familiar lady - she was Yeonwoo’s mother.

 

“Ah Mrs. Jin '' Seonghwa said a little surprised - he got up to greet her, she smiled happily seeing Seonghwa was next to her son.

 

“Seonghwa, right? You’re Mr. Park’s son, correct?” She asked immediately recognizing him from her meetings with Mr. Park.

 

“Yes Mrs. Jin, are you here to pick up Yeonwoo?” he asked, glancing at the sleeping boy.

 

“Yes, though…” she trailed off a little, “I have to be at a meeting once I dropped him off, no one else is home, so no one will be able to look after him - I am a little worried” she said, glancing at Seonghwa.

 

“I-if you don’t mind, my junior already excused me from the rest of my classes for today - uh would it be okay if I took care of Yeonwoo for you?” Seonghwa asked - he was really hopeful - he wanted to get closer to Yeonwoo, he was never really sure why but since he first met Yeonwoo he had been observing him from a distance - it didn’t seem like the boy liked having people around or at least that was what Seonghwa thought at the beginning but he soon learnt the truth behind why everyone avoided Yeonwoo.

 

“I would love that - I will let my husband know as well, give me your and Yeonwoo’s backpacks, I’ll carry them, could you maybe bring Yeonwoo for me Seonghwa?” she asked sweetly and the boy nodded happily.

 

He carefully handed over their backpacks and then turned back to Yeonwoo and slowly took the blanket off him and picked him up from the bed so as to not wake him up.

 

Seonghwa followed Yeonwoo’s mother all the way to the car, he carefully placed Yeonwoo on the back seat and took a seat beside him making sure Yeonwoo’s head was resting on his lap.

 

It was a few minutes into the drive that Yeonwoo’s mother finally spoke up.

 

“Seonghwa, can you be honest with me?” she asked looking in the rearview mirror.

 

“Of course Mrs. Jin”  Seonghwa said with a small smile.

 

“Did something happen to Yeon?” she asked seriously, Seonghwa wasn’t planning on lying to her but he really hoped she wouldn’t ask that question.

 

“Uh I’m sure you are familiar with Taekyung” Seonghwa asked and she nodded.

 

“From what my friend Yunho told me it seemed like Taekyung and Yeonwoo had a fight - but apparently when my other friends who are in Yeonwoo’s class saw him this morning he was really smiley and happy but after that fight it seemed like Yeonwoo completely zoned out and when we were about to start our council meeting I went to wake him up and he had a fever” Seonghwa explained carefully - he didn’t know the details but he did realise the moment he mentioned Taekyung Mrs. Jin’s face fell - it seemed like Mrs. Jin wasn’t very fond of Taekyung either.

 

“Taekyung you say? I really can’t stand that boy - Yeonwoo usually gets stressed out with Taekyung - especially if they fight. It's like Taekyung knows exactly what to say to make Yeonwoo his puppet” she said in a frustrated tone.

 

“I feel the same - I know some things about him and I can’t tell Yeonwoo yet since Yeonwoo sees him as a friend so I need to find some evidence first” Seonghwa said and she nodded a little.

 

“Please protect Yeonwoo for me” she said with a small smile, Seonghwa nodded and glanced down to the boy who was sleeping on his lap.

 

When they got to Yeonwoo’s home his mother helped Seonghwa get Yeonwoo settled - she told Seonghwa to make himself at home and left soon after.

 

Seonghwa left Yeonwoo to sleep and wandered around the house a little, he came across a lot of family photos in the living room and couldn’t help but smile at the little Yeonwoo in the photos, he soon realised that Yeonwoo also had a much older sister who already had children of her own, which made him quite curious about their since Yeonwoo was only a 2nd year in high school and she already settled down.

 

He hoped that one day Yeonwoo would be more open with him but until then he planned on staying by Yeonwoo’s side and getting Yeonwoo away from Taekyung before he got seriously hurt.