A:N/ Part 2/2 of your double update (aka today's chapter)

- -

L. Joe shuffled the weight of his bag from one shoulder to the other, as he settled himself against one of the steps. He wouldn't admit this to anyone, but he was starting to get tired.

His initial excitement and elation had long since subsided in favour of concern, and depression. He was starting to become convinced that CAP wasn't coming. He'd never had a moment alone with CAP in which to remind him of their plans, and he had no way of contacting him, to check that he knew they were supposed to meet up an hour earlier.

But CAP had winked at him the day before, so he'd been certain there was no reason to worry.

Now that the time had dragged on, his conviction had weakened, leaving him uncertain about what he should do.

He was starting to consider the idea that maybe the whole thing had just been a vicious joke. He wondered if the other guys were hiding in the bushes nearby, just waiting to see what he would do. He wondered if they were laughing at him. He was so convinced they were there, that he'd even considered getting up and checking whether or not there was someone hidden in those bushes before his common sense caught up with him.

He kind of wanted to just give up and go home. But at the same time, this was his first opportunity to meet up with his idol. He didn't want to make a bad impression on CAP: he didn't want him to think that he was impatient and inconsiderate. Worse still, he didn't want to miss out on an opportunity to hang out with his idol, simply because he was a little too impatient.

He'd waited an extra three hours at university today, just to be able to hang out with CAP, would that wait really be worth it, if he just up and left because the other boy was a little bit late? But then, just how long should he wait, before he recognised that enough was enough? Just how long should he sit there, alone, before deciding that CAP wasn't coming?

He really wasn't good at handling situations like this.

L. Joe fished his phone out of his pocket, looking at the screen anxiously, praying that he'd see a message from CAP flash across his screen, but the screen remained blank. With a defeated sigh, L. Joe unlocked his phone, typing out a quick message to Ricky, in the hopes of killing a few more minutes while he waited.

He would've contacted Chunji, but he didn't want the other boy to know where he was. Chunji knew his schedule about as well as he did. Chunji would know something was up, if he told him where he was, and CAP had asked him to leave Chunji out of it. He didn't want to worry Chunji, and he definitely didn't want to make him feel jealous.

Ricky was less likely to ask questions.

His phone flashed, lighting up with a reply, drawing a thin smile onto L. Joe's lips. It was nice to know that there was someone talking to him: making him feel less alone, but the smile froze the moment his eyes scanned the reply he'd received from the other boy.

His heart throbbed painfully, and his eyes welled with tears, that he tried to ignore. His cheeks probably coloured considerably with his shame, despite the fact that no one else would know what he was embarrassed about.

Apparently Ricky was out with CAP and the other guys, because they'd all gone out for laser tag, and a movie. They were probably going to go get something to eat afterwards, so they were going to be busy all evening. L. Joe kind of wanted to ask when they'd planned the outing, not having heard the other boys talk about it during the week, but he told himself not to.

He wasn't sure there was an answer he could get that would lessen the ache in his chest at the knowledge that he'd been forgotten.

Chunji was right. He'd trusted CAP and all it had done was get him hurt. He'd have to think twice before he did something like this again, he told himself bitterly as he packed up, finally heading home.

- -

L. Joe still hadn't fully recovered from the bruise to his ego, the previous Friday had caused him, after the weekend. CAP had given him no indication that he was apologetic about it, which told L. Joe that his sleight was either intentional or completely forgotten about by the other boy.

He'd tried to keep his disappointment to himself, but given how flustered being around CAP made him as a result, he found himself quite relieved when he went to the library, in search of books for an upcoming assignment, instead of hanging out with the group. Though he didn't spend all his time hanging around Chunji and his friends, he was far less likely to run into any of them in there.

Or at least, that was what L. Joe had thought.

While walking passed one of the tables, on his way to the reserve section, he spied an all too familiar figure seated at a table, several books surrounding him.

L. Joe considered moving on, as though he hadn't spotted his friend, but he didn't give in to the temptation. Screw CAP. He wasn't going to allow the previous week to make him avoid Chunji. It wasn't his fault that CAP had embarrassed him: he hadn't even been aware of what they'd been going to do, so why should he get ignored as a result of it?

Besides, he was really curious what had brought Chunji into the library. The place hardly seemed the sort of place Chunji was likely to occupy: the rooms too dark, and filled with a musty smell of old books. Chunji's attractive face seemed to brighten up the whole place, even with his face down turned, focused entirely on the book resting before him on the table.

Decision made, L. Joe stalked over, sliding into the seat opposite of the boy, waiting for Chunji to realise he was there, not wanting to startle him. It took him a few moments to look up from the page, a tired smile lighting up his face. L. Joe couldn't help but wince at the dark circles he could see surrounding the other boy's bright eyes.

“Someone looks tired.” he stated, pointedly, giving the other boy a concerned look. Chunji had to do a few assessments the previous week. That meant, that at least theoretically, he should've been able to get at least a few days break, and yet here he was holed up in the library, surrounded by books.

“I know. But you know how it is, these things can't be helped.” Chunji answered, flipping a few pages of the book distractedly. “Why is that? I thought your tasks were due last week. Shouldn't your load be pretty light this week?” L. Joe questioned.

“Yeah they were.” Chunji agreed simply, closing the book he'd been flicking through, and picking another one up off the table, and opening that one instead. “Then what's all this for?” L. Joe asked.

“Well, you see it's Niel's last year, and he has a research essay due in a few weeks, so I'm just helping him out a bit. Just looking for some books that might help him with it, that he can have a look at later.” Chunji explained. “So what, you write his essays for him?” L. Joe questioned, trying to work out what Chunji was doing.

“No of course not. I just have access to the university library, and he doesn't because of his school hours. He would have to skip school for several hours just to be able to come here. I on the other hand, spend everyday here. I have some time to spare, so I pick up some books for them to use. They still have to read the books themselves, and find whatever other sources they can, and write the essay. I just borrowed the books for them. But to do so, I have to read them first to make sure that they're relevant.” Chunji explained, irately.

“Okay, okay. Relax. I didn't mean anything by it. Just curious that's all.” L. Joe assured the other boy, waving his hands in front of himself defensively. “I just didn't realise that you looked out for Niel in the same way that you do for CAP, that's all. You know helping with his assessment tasks and all.”

“Not just them. I do this sort of stuff for Ricky and Changjo too. I'm basically in charge of everyone's education.” Chunji explained with a yawn. L. Joe's eyes widened in shock. “So wait, you're taking care of not just your own education, but that of 4 other boys as well? How can you do that?” he demanded, amazed.

“Why is it a problem? I'm just helping them. They still do their own work. Believe me, the marks they get reflect that.” Chunji protested. L. Joe looked at the other boy confused, “But doesn't that just make it all worse?” “Worse for who?” Chunji asked, getting flustered by his confusion.

L. Joe took a moment to look at the other boy, “Okay, hang on a second. I just meant that you have so much on your plate. How can you handle taking care of so many people, as well as yourself, all the time?”

“Oh” Chunji exclaimed, clarity finally sinking in. “I thought you were talking critically about the fact that I help them so much. You know that it's not in their best interests or whatever. You know because they wouldn't be able to do the work themselves, but they can. I make sure of that. I've never done an assignment or written an essay for them or anything. Everything they do is completely their own work.” he explained, seemingly getting more flustered as he spoke, as though he feared that L. Joe would argue with him.

“Hey, calm down. I know. You only pick the books up for them, to do their own assignments I get it.” L. Joe promised, clutching Chunji's delicate wrists in his own hands to force Chunji to look at him, as he tried to assuage the other boy's concerns. Chunji sighed, visibly relieved to hear that L. Joe did indeed understand the situation. “Besides with all the work you're already doing, there's no way you'd have enough time to do 4 people's assignments!” he teased.

“True. I am so tired.” Chunji stated, but another easy smile made its way onto his face, now that he'd relaxed.

L. Joe reclined back in his own seat, releasing the other boy's wrists from his light grip so that he could rest his hands over his eyes. He felt so bad for Chunji. He did so much to look out for his friends: to try and help them achieve their full potential, and they all just opened their hands and said thanks. He didn't know enough about it, to be sure, but to him, it just felt like they took advantage of Chunji's kindness. He just couldn't imagine someone like CAP showing Chunji the proper gratitude for all his hard work. The guy couldn't even be bothered to meet up with him for something that was supposedly his private passion. He didn't even have enough manners to let him know that he wasn't coming.

He opened his eyes, silently observing the other boy go about his work, and he couldn't help but feel his dislike of their treatment of Chunji grow a little. If Chunji ever looked after him like Chunji takes care of the others, he'd make sure that the other boy knew he appreciated what he'd done. He'd do whatever he could to try and repay Chunji for his kindness; the other boy already had far too much on his plate.

He felt kind of bad that he hadn't offered to help right away, but at the same time, what could he do: it wasn't any of his business really, now was it? It wasn't his assignment and he wasn't entrusted to help them, like Chunji was. Still, it felt like such a shame that all the pressure and all the weight had to fall on his shoulders.

“Oh, before I forget. CAP's having a kind of get together at his place on Friday night. Would you like to come?” Chunji enquired energetically. L. Joe wasn't really the sort of person who liked going to parties, but Chunji just looked so hopeful at that moment. “Who's going?” he asked, instead trying to buy himself some time before he had to try and answer that question.

“Just the guys. CAP, Changjo, Niel, Ricky, me and hopefully you.” Chunji stated, listing the boys off easily. “So will you come?” he tried again, biting his lip cutely as he waited for L. Joe to answer him.

No wonder everyone thought he was attractive: if Chunji went around looking that cute all the time. No one would be able to resist his charm. Sure enough L. Joe felt himself capitulate, managing a sigh, “Yeah, sure. I'll come.” he confirmed, making Chunji bounce slightly in excitement, drawing a smile to L. Joe's lips.