The face....

JAEHYO PERSPECTIVE:

Zico’s been avoiding me recently. I contemplate as I walk out of the bathroom with a towel over my long hair. I was thinking about cutting it, but...after Zico said he liked it like this... well that settled that matter. But he’s gone on another one of those soul-searching journeys of his..., which wouldn’t be too much of a problem at any other point but a new gang has rolled into town and we could really use him right now. I...really need him right now. To at least explain what the is going on. I’ve taken to overseeing the gang’s business while he’s MIA...much to Kyung’s distaste. He’s probably just upset that I’m around Zico so much...Stupid Cucumber. Still seems to kinda resent me.

“Hey Bibum. Any sign of Jiho?” I call to Minhyuk who’s sprawled out on the couch with the small one on his lap as they feed each other animal crackers. I narrow my eyes a bit, trying to bite back a groan. It’s not that I’m too upset anymore about Minhyuk...I’ve resigned to my fate a bit with that one. It still hurts a bit but more of a dull pain in the back of my heart. More so now is the envy, why does their relationship seem to work so effortlessly?

“Hm?” he looks up with a giraffe in his mouth. “Jiho? No, did he go off again?” He gives one of those horribly attractive yet evil smirks, “What’d you do this time Jaehoo?” His kitty looks up a bit confused and curious at me. I frown.

“I didn’t do anything! It’s just like last time. He stared at me with that really intense look of his for a while. Then stormed out.” I throw my hands up in the air in frustration. “No explanation. No nothing!” I whip the towel off my shoulders and throw it on the couch. Pulling a hairband off of my wrist with my teeth. I can taste the glue and cotton, a bit better than the bitter taste of rejection, for something that you didn’t even do wrong. “He could’ve at least told-“

“I heard him mutter something about your face.” Pyo comes in with Taeil. Great the other happy couple.

“About my face?!” I can’t help but sound majorly offended as I pull my hair back into a ponytail. “What about it? I have a great face!” Okay now I’m pissed. Not only did he leave with no explanation.... he thinks something is wrong with my face! That is one of my best features. How could he not like it?

“At least this time he didn’t leave you looking like a hot mess.” Ukwon pipes in. I turn and glare at him. Which of course causes Minhyuk to chime in to defend the runt.

“You were a mess all hot and bothered like that.” Minhyuk smiles a bit at the memory, bastard.

“I—I...” I take a deep breath, “ it.” I can hear the horrible but all too familiar sound of Park-cucumber’s laugh. With a groan I turn to see his long mocking face. And I just can’t deal with it now. “I’m going off to find Jiho and drag him back with me.”

“Good luck.” They all say sarcastically. I bite my lip, I don’ always loose, despite popular belief. Just cause he’s our leader doesn’t mean he’s the strongest. We’re pretty equally matched! I slam the door behind me and set off on my own journey. Since last time Zico came home by himself I have no idea where to start.

Knowing Zico he’s probably just wandering aimlessly trying to collect his thoughts. Which just means it’ll make it that much harder to find him. I sigh and start towards the ramen shop; he’d probably end up there since he’s been out for a while. I feel something wet hit my face, I wipe it off and look up at the greying sky. Ahg...I should’ve brought a coat. I look back towards the apartment building...no too much work...and I can’t go back in there now...Just means I’ll have to find him fast. Beat the storm.

“Zico!” I call into the night. As I tear down the street towards the ramen shop, hopefully I can remember the way. It was....left, left, right? Yeah. I smile as I can see the corner shop, which is right across the street from my destination. Increasing my pace as I close in... a wave of disappointment starts to dawn on me. The lights are all out and it doesn’t look like he’s been here... “Aish!” I hit my fist against the wall beside the door. That single drop has turned into a light drizzle and though I’m protected under the overhang in front of the café, I know I’ll have to go back out into that to find Zico. But where could he be? I scratch my head and groan.

Maybe...the school building? I remember finding...and eventually fighting with him up there during breaks or after school. He would always be sitting up there...supposedly thinking about life- more like skipping class. Luckily for me the school isn’t too far from here. Which is what caused that whole mess in the first place...Ugh I better get going before the rain gets any worse. I once again set out in search of our MIA leader.

I make it to the school in good time, but the rain has started to fall a bit harder. Likewise it doesn’t take me too long to get to the roof, and because I’m close with one of the teachers who I type up the comments for and being from a wealthy family I can do a lot of things. Like getting a extra key to the building. It makes it a lot easier to get up to the roof than what Zico probably had to do if he is up there. I think to myself as I jog up the stairs. At least it’s warmer in here; the wind has started to pick up outside, but its not too bad yet. At the top of the stairs I reach the door and throw it open.

“There you are!” I shout at the lone figure who stands with his back to me. Though I can easily recognize that hair, his body shape, it’s our ‘fearless leader’. He turns to me, a mixture of anger and tiredness in those intense dark eyes. I can feel my body tense up for a second under his gaze, but I’m too annoyed and adrenaline pumped to care.

“What are you doing here Jaehyo?” Zico shouts. “I don’t want to see your face right now!”

“Well, too bad. We need you right now! What kind of leader-“

“What did you say?” Suddenly I have his attention, and he’s right up in my face. I stand my ground. Staring him straight in the eyes as I confront him.

“I said, we need our leader right now and you ran out on us.” He narrows his eyes. “What gives you the right? You know there’s a new gang starting to push up on our territory!” I slap him in the chest. “I’ve been trying to keep thing’s under control while you were absent, but you know how Kyung hates-“ He hits my hand away. Before I know it he has his fist in my collar and he’s lifting me to my toes.

“I need a little alone time Jaehyo! Of course I know that there’s another gang pushing up on our turf. How stupid do you think I am?!” He’s angrier than I’ve seen him in a long time.

“Then how could you run off like that?” I shout as the rain starts to soak into our clothes. I grab his wrist and twist it to make him let me go. Then I shove him back. He glares daggers at me.

“How could you make that face?” He shouts back over the wind, instantly regretting it. Wait what?

“What do you mean by that?” Is he insulting my face again? That ! I’ll et him back for that.

“Nothing!”

“No, you already said that. You need to explain.”

And as with most of our arguments we end up in a fight. We’re pretty evenly matched, but he hasn’t been running around for the past half an hour, so he has the obvious advantage. When the adrenaline wears off I’m pinned up against a wall, nearly panting with what I’m sure is a defiant look in my eyes. Cause I’m pissed. I’m more than pissed. This just isn’t fair! Twice! He’s straight up beaten me twice.

“What? Are you going to insult my face again?” I say while trying to regain my breath. He gives me this weird look that I don’t recognize.

“No.”

I start to laugh coldly. When he leans in and kisses me. I’m so startled that I don’t do anything for a moment. When it actually registers what is happening, and my mind catches up with the time...I freak. I bite down on his big bottom lip, using that opening to push him off of me so I can get away.

This jerk! He’s toying with me! He knows how I feel about him. And now he’s mocking me. This isn’t funny! I bite my lip to hold back angry tears and start to storm off. him. Well at least the rain will hide my tears if they do come. It’s starting to rain full on now and the wind has picked up. I’m cold, wet and upset, and all I want to do is go home.

I feel him grab my shoulder and I whip around to hit him in the face. But he’s too fast and he adeptly pins me up against the wall again. You know I really resent him sometimes. But I’m just too tired to fight back at this point. So I glare at him instead. Why’s he so angry? I’m the one who should be pissed! And before I can do anything about it he’s kissing me again. It’s a bit rougher this time, and I’m left a bit breathless once he’s done. Then as he rests his forehead against mine, I whisper “You bastard.”

“Don’t you get it? Why would I kiss you to mock you? I.... I...I’m attracted to you. Okay!”

“What?” I feel heat creeping up my neck to my cheeks. He...he’s got to be joking right? I look up at him and catch my breath as his intense dark eyes tell me he’s not joking. I cover my face with my hands and slide down the wall. I can’t believe he actually just said that...so it’s not one sided? What does that mean? No...not after what happened with Minhyuk...I-I can’t do that again. I can’t get too attached to him. I curl up into myself. Now I can add confused to the list of problems I have right now. It’s literally pouring down now, but I don’t have enough energy or willpower to move from my spot.

“Jaehyo?” Zico says in a small voice, I can’t see him, but I can’t tell he’s close. His voice is louder than it should have been if he is standing. I can feel something on my shoulder and I try to shake him off. “Jaehyo.” He says again.

“What?” I say though my legs.

“Come on, look at me.”

“No.”

“Jaehoo, get up. We need to get inside!”

“Can’t.” He leans in closer; I can feel his hot breath on my neck.

“What?” He whispers right into my ear.

“I said I can’t!” I snap, flicking my head up and inadvertently hitting him in the chin.

“Eesh.” He glares down at me for a second before rubbing his chin. And I realize he’s shielding me from the rain. “What do you mean you can’t?”

“I’m too tired.” He sighs and gets up. My blood runs cold for a second. Before I see him stretching his legs.

“Okay.” He turns back and bends down with his back to me. “Get on.” I know it’s simple but I felt really happy when he said that. Glancing over his shoulder.

“O...okay.” I smile and haphazardly climb onto his back. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I rest my head on his shoulder. The walk back is quiet and kind of peaceful despite the rain....until.

“You have bony legs.”The face: