Tuesday arrived smoothly, it was the chillest day Sehun would have that school year. He only went to receive his books — shiny, new books that smelled more expensive than his entire bedroom — and a MacBook. Oh, heaven had surely had mercy on him, maybe pity too. The queue took some time; all the first years went through an introduction the school provided so they would know how to use their devices. After that he was free, no lessons until next day. 

 

Wednesday started off a little bit rough, although his teachers had told them that some classes were shared with 1A and would be held in the main building they were all cancelled until two weeks later, mainly so the students could adjust to their busy schedule. The lessons were definitely harder — the Chinese teacher was going to be the death of him, he couldn't distract himself one bit or he wouldn’t live up to the expectations everyone he knew had of him. This wasn’t middle school anymore, he told himself. 

 

This is E.C.W.S. 

 

And it certainly was, the massive fee proved it. Although not in Sehun’s case. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”Free computers? My .” Kyungsoo muttered as he opened a new document on his MacBook. 

 

Mrs. Kang had opened the classroom to everyone’s surprise. Apparently Mrs. Hwa, the art teacher, was sick and so the school’s directives had changed the subject to English instead. Mrs. Kang had therefore opened the door five minutes earlier so they could calmly settle down and go get their English books while she scribbled something on the whiteboard. Kyungsoo was surprised to see the bald male teacher from the first day enter the classroom three minutes later to help Mrs. Kang with something. When the clock struck exactly 8AM his seat mate entered the classroom, taking out his computer from its bag and sitting down beside Kyungsoo. 

 

The bald man closed the door and cleared his throat before he spoke. ”Hello 1A, we’ve met before.” He said in a chirpy but manly voice.

 

All the boys stood up and greeted him politely as the Code of Conduct said. 

 

”My name is Mr. Lee and I’m the head teacher of 1B and 3B. Mrs. Kang and I thought that it would be a great way to start the school year, and to get to know your seat mates better-” 

 

Kyungsoo’s guts twisted and turned uncomfortably as he realized where the teacher’s little speech was heading. 

 

”-with a project! It’ll combine both our subjects, which are English and History.” 

 

He could hear how his seat mate sighed heavily.

 

”You’ll have to write an essay, together with your seat mate, about something that concerns English history, whatever you want. And of course, in English.” 

 

Kyungsoo may not have been the most brilliant student in school, but that didn’t stop him from already coming up with some ideas. Although his brain cells told him that his ’mate’ wouldn’t cooperate as easily. 

 

”It’s due to Friday next week. That gives you over a week to work together.” 

 

That’s September 4th. 

 

”But you won’t have any time during our lessons.” 

 

Groans spread across the classroom as the boys protested and tried their best to convince Mr. Lee and Mrs. Kang that they needed more time. 

 

”Boys-” Mrs. Kang started calmly. ”-the degree you get in this essay is probably not what you’ll have when you graduate.” 

 

Kyungsoo didn’t even try to make an argument, he knew that things wouldn’t change. He turned his head to ask his seat mate what he wanted write about but his throat closed itself against his own will when he was going to let the words slip out of his mouth. Jongin’s gaze was hard, narrow you could say. The unexpected eye contact they had made Kyungsoo cringe slightly, too awkward for him to bare. But the other just kept looking at him, no reason behind it. Or so it seemed. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Days passed, weekend came and disappeared. September had creeped up on them and they still hadn’t talked. 

 

Kyungsoo spent his meals chatting with Luhan and Baekhyun, they had oddly encouraged him to sit with them — Luhan may have had second reasons behind it as he kept asking about a ”Mr. Oh”. 

 

It was strange, definitely new to him, having pleasant company during lunch. The blonde guy he’d sat with disappeared or was always busy with other guys. Kyungsoo wasn’t brave enough to walk up to him and start a conversation, frightened that the boy wouldn’t hear through his big earphones that he wore all the time and create a weird situation. 

 

His seat mate was no exception of his infamous bravery. Jongin had not said a word since the first day, and Kyungsoo had ended up avoiding any sort of conversation between them. Once, they received a math problem they had to solve and discuss about and Kyungsoo had tried, he really had tried to start a discussion, but Jongin only answered with hums, both yes’ and no’s. He didn’t even look at him anymore! And when he did it was that awkward eye contact that Kyungsoo preferred not go through again. 

 

It had taken Kyungsoo seven days to sort things out. 

 

”Jongin.” Kyungsoo said firmly as he turned his body completely to the right. But then his voice failed him.

 

The guy quirked an eyebrow as he waited for something to happen. 

 

”E-essay.” Kyungsoo managed to get out, although stuttering, his eyes helplessly trying not to make eye contact. 

 

”What about it?” Jongin suddenly said, tone neutral but uninterested. 

 

The sudden long answer, definitely unexpected, gathered Kyungsoo’s senses back to what could be his normal state around Jongin when they ignored each other. ”We should start writing it.” 

 

And then Jongin’s hums returned. 

 

Kyungsoo was going to say something but Mr. Kwon spoke up and interrupted his thoughts. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Luhan hurried to take his things when his math class ended, hatred towards Mr. Kwon fuming out of his ears. He was pissed, clearly bothered, no one should talk to their students like that. 

 

”I hope you don’t do as bad as you did last year.” Luhan muttered, imitating his math teacher’s voice in a despicable tune as he slammed his locker shut. He officially hated Tuesdays.

 

Luhan texted Baekhyun telling him that he’d be going to the dining room and that they’d meet there as he walked to his destination. His eyes were looking down on his phone, which basically let him completely defenseless when he rounded the nearest corner, turning to go to the main building, which also led to him bumping himself head first with someone he had obviously not seen. 

 

”!” Luhan shrieked as his brain registered that he had dropped his phone. He bent down quickly to check if it had damaged or just plainly scratched, it was a goddamn new one, for s sake.

 

”Oh my- I’m so sorry! I-I did not meant to-”

 

”It’s fine.” Luhan said with a sigh as he put his phone back in its case. 

 

But there were details, details that Luhan hadn’t noticed. Like for example who the boy, who had crouched right in front of him, was. So when he looked up he sure wasn’t expecting that face looking worriedly back at him.

 

”Mr. Oh…” Luhan said under his breath. 

 

”What?” The blonde boy answered with a slight frown, not quite catching what the other had said. 

 

”N-nothing!” Luhan suddenly screeched as he immediately stood up. He brushed off his phone against his uniform jacket nervously, pretending it was dirty when he’d picked it up. 

 

”Are you sure it’s fine? I will pay the reparation or something…” The boy trailed off, scratching his neck insecurely. 

 

”There’s no need to. I mean look, it’s perfect! Like newly bought!” Luhan answered with an unnatural light voice, laughing awkwardly afterwards as he with shaky hands put his phone in his back pocket. 

 

”Okay…” The boy’s voice trailed off again, eyes accidentally locking its gaze with his. 

 

It was really brief, like when he had seen him pass by the hallway during that horrible class, but Luhan saw longing in the boy’s eyes, which was quite odd — out of all the things he could’ve possibly imagined could appear in the glist of that boy’s eyes ’longing’ wasn’t on the list. Intrigued, he couldn’t help but not break the invisible connection they had, which visibly put the other boy in an awkward position since he rapidly looked away. 

 

”Um… Yeah, sorry once again.” The boy said, looking up a moment, directing his gaze to Luhan but avoiding his eyes, and walked passed him, shoulders slightly slumped together. 

 

Luhan didn’t react, he just stood there, not really seeing what was in front him because of the blurred thoughts crossing his view. But he could make out one thing, one thing he wouldn’t let slip away again. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Sehun stood by his locker waiting, as he usually did, for Jongdae to appear so they could go and eat together. He felt a bit shaken after the almost unrealistic encounter he had had  barely a minute ago with that oddly feminine boy. 

 

Where have I seen him before?

 

He seemed so… So incredibly familiar. Like someone he could’ve seen on TV or heard on the radio. Sehun swore to himself that he had at least heard his voice before, somewhere, but he just couldn’t recall exactly where or when. 

 

Sehun opened his locker as he waited, leaning on the door with his right shoulder, facing the inside of it, and took out his phone to see if he had gotten any notifications. 

 

And indeed he had; one from his boyfriend.  

 

”Have to study, can’t eat :*”

 

Sehun sighed, shoving his phone in his locker. He was done with Tao’s behavior and he didn’t have the energy to even care. 

 

”I’m Jongdae.” 

 

The sudden memory of his best friend’s dorky face smiling widely as he stood on that stage a little over a week ago made him smile. He had been so cute up there, although he would never actually say that. 

 

”And I’m Luhan everybody!”

 

And even if Sehun did not expect the sudden shove he was pushed against his locker anyway. He didn’t even have time to actually register the memory of the blonde boy on the stage together with Jongdae when he heard the same voice that was introducing itself in his memory coming from the body who had immediately retracted after the impact. 

 

”Oh my God! I’m really, really sorry! I didn’t actually mean to- I-”

 

Sehun turned around, a smile making his eyes crinkle. The shorter blonde boy looked almost terrified and he just couldn’t help but smile widely. 

 

”-I was running to find you and I saw you and I really didn’t think this would happen and I’m so sorry and I just kind of run into you, although it wasn't on purpose, I swear!” Luhan said in record time, his hands twitching nervously together. 

 

”Calm down Luhan, it’s fine.” Sehun said with a laughing smile. ”I guess we are even then.” 

 

”Well, technically you didn’t run into me before, it was kind of mutual.”  Luhan said with a relieving sigh. ”Wait… How do you know my name?” His eyes widening slightly in shock. 

 

”You were MC:ing the festival a week ago, right?” Sehun said and Luhan nodded slowly, still not getting it. ”You said your name.” 

 

”I did?” Luhan said, frowning as he tried to remember. ”Oh, yes I did! I totally forgot that.” He said with an amused chuckle, which strangely made Sehun chuckle too, even start laughing. And the situation became so weird to the point of them both laughing without any actual reason. 

 

Suddenly Luhan didn’t seem to hate Tuesdays just as much anymore. 

 

Although eventually Sehun had to wipe his eyes off of the tears that threatened to fall. 

 

”I haven’t laughed so much in such a long time.” He said with a fond smile. 

 

”Me neither.” Luhan answered, smile just as big. 

 

And this time, neither of them avoided the eye contact. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”BAEKHYUN!” 

 

Said guy jumped in surprise when he heard his friend shout out his name across the dining room. He had almost dropped his tray in confusion as he stood in the food line waiting for his turn to take some kimchi. 

 

”I think Luhan wants to talk to you.” Kyungsoo said from behind him, taking some pork soup. 

 

”Thanks Sherlock, couldn’t have figured that out without you.” Baekhyun answered as he gave him a look, missing Kyungsoo rolling his eyes. 

 

”Baekhyun! Baekhyun! Baekhyun!!” Luhan screamed as he ran up to him, jumping up and down in excitement. 

 

”What?!” Baekhyun yelled back just as loud. But apparently that wasn’t loud enough for Luhan to prioritize him as his eyes landed on Kyungsoo instead and run up to him. 

 

”Oh my God, Kyungsoo! Kyungsoo!!” Luhan shrieked, jumping like he had done before. Kyungsoo’s eyes widened in absolute shock, fearing what was coming. But to his surprise Luhan grabbed his tray and gave it to Baekhyun, who managed to take a hold of it without making it tip over even though he had been literally shoved with it, and hugged him really hard. 

 

”Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Luhan excitedly said really fast. 

 

”F-for what? What did I do?” Kyungsoo asked confused, arching his eyebrows to Baekhyun as if he was also asking him, but he only received a glare in response. 

 

Luhan retracted with a huge smile plastered on his face. ”You told me his last name, you kind of knew him, you were there when he heard my name, you basically introduced him to me!” He answered, using his fingers to point out how many things he had contributed to him finally meeting-

 

”You mean the Oh guy?” Kyungsoo asked, still a bit confused. 

 

And when Kyungsoo, and Baekhyun, thought Luhan couldn’t possibly smile wider he did. 

 

”That must hurt.” Baekhyun said as he exchanged a look with Kyungsoo. 

 

”I know his name!” Luhan screamed, exploding with emotions. ”Sehun, Sehun, Sehun, Sehun. Oh God his name is so handsome, like I can’t stop saying it! Oh Sehun. Oh Sehun! Sehun Oh. Oh Hunse. It’s just… so y!” His voice changing from really light and loud to husky and quiet.

 

Luhan was simply just squealing around, his food long forgotten, when Kyungsoo decided to ignore him and get his tray back, which Baekhyun gladly handed him over. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Kyungsoo dreaded his next class. He refused to participate in any activities that included running, dodging balls, and overall using any of his muscles for the amusement of their teacher. He knew that it wasn’t completely true, but why did Mr. Song make them do 50 sit-ups as a warm-up then? It was a ridiculous amount of exercise in Kyungsoo’s opinion, but nevertheless he was forced to do it. What surprised him was the amount of students in his class that were completely fine with it. 

 

Kyungsoo huffed as he felt his stomach muscles ache. ”This is bullshi-” He mumbled and got interrupted by his teacher, who was crouching right next to him. 

 

”Name?” Mr. Song said unimpressed with a list in his hands. 

 

”Do Kyungsoo.” He answered unwillingly as he kept doing his sit-ups. Only 10 to go.

 

Mr. Song nodded as he wrote on his paper. ”Do you work out regularly?” 

 

Kyungsoo was rather taken aback at this direct question. He knew that everyone, or most of the students, were staring at them and it was highly uncomfortable to be the spotlight of embarrassment. 

 

”No, I do not, neither am I intending to.” Kyungsoo answered after his last sit-up. 

 

”Well, maybe you should.” Mr. Song said, his eyebrow slightly arched at the forwardness of his student. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”Babe civics ended early let’s meet”

 

He didn’t even have to wait a minute before a reply appeared on his screen. 

 

”You want me to skip math? Are you crazy?!” 

 

”You can just pretend to go to the nurse or something”

 

Yifan was slightly getting worried when it took longer than usual for the other boy to answer, but sighed in relief when he saw the reply pop up. 

 

”See me in five”

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”Alright students, let’s see if your IQ is above 10.” Mr. Song said to the class, the boys forming a semicircle in front of him. ”Let’s begin by dividing you into four teams.” 

 

And that’s how Kyungsoo ended up to be the fourth in joining a group where he knew no one. 

 

Great. 

 

They just stood there, on the right side of the middle of the hall, waiting for the fifth and last member. 

 

But when Kim Jongin turned out to be the fifth member and Kyungsoo wished he had just ended up in a group where he actually didn’t know anyone. 

 

”Okay, so, the first one who joined the group has to touch the wall and not let go of it. That goes for you too Ilhoon.” 

 

One of the boys in Kyungsoo’s group rolled his eyes and put his hand against the wall, annoyingly huffing. 

 

”Now, don’t freak out boys, but you’re gonna hold hands.” The teacher said, chuckling when he heard the amount of protests the students were throwing at him. ”Enough!” He shouted firmly. ”Hold your group members’ hands in consecutive order of joining so you stand in a row.” 

 

Kyungsoo jumped in surprise when he felt his hand being taken, looking up to see it was a tall, brown haired boy who was dragging him to stand in a line beside him. Kyungsoo looked back and saw Jongin making his way over, stopping when he was right next to him. Kyungsoo gulped when Jongin took his hand, holding it loosely, and opted to look away, distracting himself by scanning the other members of his group. 

 

”Alright, that could’ve taken less time, but let’s start! Your mission is…” Mr. Song paused dramatically, some students groaning impatiently. ”You all have to get your arms crossed without letting go of each other, nor letting go of the wall. Begin!” 

 

A common shout of ”What?!” spread across the teams, frowns dominating the facial expressions. 

 

”That should be easy.” The guy on Kyungsoo’s right side said with a bored expression. 

 

Everyone in the team looked at him expectantly, but he didn’t look like he was going to say anything else. 

 

”Wanna explain today or tomorrow Dongho?” The guy with the hand pressed against the wall huffed. 

 

”It’s simple. We just have to go under each others’ arms.” The brunet answered. 

 

The other four boys looked like human question marks before Dongho specified what he meant. 

 

”You, the last one.” He said to Jongin, the latter looking up with a quirked eyebrow. 

 

”Yes?” 

 

”Go to Ilhoon and walk under his arm, the one against the wall.” 

 

Jongin reluctantly did as he was told, taking the row with him. Once he had passed under he stopped, leaving Kyungsoo on the other side of the male. 

 

”Don’t stop, continue!” 

 

And that’s how Kyungsoo found himself walking under the stinky armpit of a teenager he barely knew. When they had completed that round they realized that Ilhoon had his arms crossed. 

 

”It worked!” A guy with extremely prominent lips shouted with a content smile. 

 

”I told you so.” Dongho proudly said. ”Now, go under Daniel’s arm.” He told Jongin, the other doing as he was told once again.

 

They continued like that, walking under each others’ arms, until they were done, and surprisingly, they won. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

After the long pass of unnecessarily playing soccer while Mr. Song yelled at them for being slow Kyungsoo was almost tired. He never intended to play soccer and neither did he actually do it. Standing in one of the four corners of the field, changing corner when he had been standing still for a while, was enough for Kyungsoo to end the day. Although he couldn’t quite be relieved yet. 

 

He hurried to the locker rooms, trying his best to arrive the first so he wouldn’t have to change in front of everyone else.  Luckily the showers had curtains, dividing the shower heads into individual stalls. Kyungsoo took his towel and entered the nearest one in record time, cleaning himself as fast as he could. When done he ran to his clothes and had enough time to put on his normal shirt and his underwear when the rest of his classmates stormed inside; and he couldn’t help but let a silent curse escape his lips. Kyungsoo considered taking a seat on the bench, towel wrapped around his waist even though he had put on his boxers, and wait it out but when he saw Kim Jongin enter through the door, wiping his sweaty forehead with his forearm, he remembered something of vital importance.

 

Without a second thought Kyungsoo made his way over where Jongin was heading. His confidence had been boosted to overflow when he remember the essay that was due ’til Friday, completely forgetting that he was still clutching his towel around his waist.

 

”We need to talk.” Kyungsoo said as he followed the other to his bench.

 

Jongin raised both his eyebrows as a response, waiting for the other to explain. 

 

”We’re going to write the essay today.”

 

”Alright.”

”And I don’t care if you’re busy or not.”

 

”I said alright.” Jongin said with an amused chuckle. 

 

Kyungsoo’s confidence faltered, something in his brain ticking him back to ’reality’. He was just going to apologize for being rude when the other took his shirt off in front of him. 

 

”I’ll meet you in the library then.” Jongin said and turned away from the conversation.

 

Bewildered, Kyungsoo couldn’t help blinking various times at the sight of the boys tanned sweaty skin. What got him out of his trance wasn’t his shy, awkward personality but the realization that Jongin was about to take his pants off. The shorter male almost jumped out of the shock of catching himself boldly watching his seat mate undressed before his eyes. Kyungsoo took the wise decision to immediately leave the other male alone and put on his own pants while the rest of his class showered.   

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Sehun’s only real goal had always been getting good grades- no, getting the best grades. He studied continually and never had a study free day, unless he was deadly sick, which, luckily, never happened. But even though studying was his passion, the only thing Sehun found himself being good at, he had grown a hatred towards his Chinese lessons. He had never found the language difficult but his teacher was oppressing him with the pretense of him trying to make Sehun show his classmates if he really was better than the rest, a student worthy of the scholarship he had gotten. 

 

And Sehun was kind of tired of it.

 

That’s why the blonde boy found himself walking inside the school’s library, looking for a place where he could be alone and study. Sehun had remembered that during the tour around school Mr. Lee had said that there were ten privet rooms, five on the east wing and five on the west, for students to use when they needed to talk while studying.   

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Kyungsoo was pacing around. He’d noticed that he didn’t have Jongin’s number nor did he know where they were supposed to meat, I mean, the library is basically the whole freaking second floor. So instead he opted for walking in eights just by the door until the other would arrive. When he finally decided to appear Kyungsoo went up to him with firm steps.

 

”You’re late.”

 

”Well, hello to you too.” Jongin said defensively, walking past Kyungsoo. The other followed partly confused as to where he was heading and partly undignified for the brush-off. 

 

Jongin went to the very end of the east wing of the library and entered one of the four privet rooms that were open — the only remaining door closed, indicating it was being used. Kyungsoo followed him inside and closed the door after him.   

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Sehun stopped when he arrived infront of the privet rooms. The second and the forth room were occupied, which made him naturally choose to go to the third. But just as he was going to go inside the second room’s door opened up and a familiar giggle made it to his ears. Sehun turned his head and was met with the inevitable truth.

 

”Tao?”

 

”Oh my God, Sehun! I-I can e-explain, I swear!”  

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”So… Since we have to write about English history I thought-”

 

”The Boston tea party.” Jongin interrupted Kyungsoo as the latter took a seat next to him by the table.

 

”You want to write about a war?”

 

”Why not?” 

 

”It’s not the most fun thing to write about if I’m going to be honest…”

 

Jongin raised both his eyebrows and gave him a look. ”You have a better idea?” 

 

”Well, since we get to choose whatever we want about the British history I thought we could write about poetry, our prime focus being Shakespeare.”  

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Wu Yifan stared back at Sehun while Tao was clinging onto the younger’s arm asking-, no, begging for forgiveness. But Sehun did nothing. He just stood there, eyes fixated on Yifan’s although noticing even the smallest details. How the much taller guy not so discreetly continued to button up the las buttons of his shirt, how both boys’ hair was all messed up even though they’d try to fix it, and maybe the most important — how Yifan did nothing to cover up the hickey so visibly marked on his neck. 

 

”Sehun, I swear to God we weren’t doing anyth-”

 

”Stop it Tao.” Sehun said and harshly shrugged Tao’s hands off of him. ”I tried to deny it for a very long time.” He said after taking a deep breath. ”But I’ve known that ever since you met him” His eyes briefly looked at Yifan; who silently stood by Tao’s side. ”you gradually stop loving me, if you ever did, and if not you just stopped seeing me as you boyfriend and more as a gum you chew once and then spit out.”

 

”No, Sehun, that’s not true-”

 

”Yes it is!” Sehun shouted, earning a couple of hushes from the few students nearby.

 

”No, Sehun, please, we- we can fix this-”

 

”Tao, stop, you’re just hurting you lover’s feelings.” Sehun said and took a step back. ”I think it’s better to just cut things off now.”

 

”No, please, Sehu-!”

 

But before he could finish his sentence Sehun was already inside the third privet room, closing the door with a loud thud and locking it. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”You heard that?” Kyungsoo perked up. 

 

”What?” Jongin answered with furrowed eyebrows.

 

”Like… A loud bang or something.”

 

”A loud bang? That’s impossible, the walls are soundproof to the exterior.”

 

”Yes, but not the ones between the rooms.” Kyungsoo stood up and went to the wall the sound had come from, one ear against the hard surface.

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Sehun sat down with his back pressed against the door, hot stingy tears falling down his cheeks. A sob erupted from his vocal cords and his breathing became weak and unsteady, shoulders shaking along his inhales and exhales. He pressed his knees against his chest as he leaned his head back and let the teardrops fall.

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”I can’t hear anything.” Kyungsoo said after a moment of just standing there with his ear pressed against the wall.

 

”You know, I’d like to go home as soon as possible and this is just delaying our-”

 

”But what if something happened?” Kyungsoo turned his head to Jongin and looked at him.

 

”Then it’s none of your business Kyungsoo.” 

 

Somehow the fact that Jongin had said his name with such a serious tone made the shorter give up on the argument and sit down by his side once again.

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Sehun’s tears didn’t stop falling, he couldn’t stop them even if he endlessly tried to wipe the remains of his sorrow from his cheeks. His vision was blurry and he sniffed back the evidence of his crying. Sehun took out his phone from his back pocket with wobbly hands, trying his best to find Jongdae’s number in his contacts list. Once he found it he pressed the call button. 

 

But after various signals his best friend didn’t answer.

 

Sehun tried again, and again, and probably five more times but the phone seemed to be turned off. 

 

Suddenly, the realization that he didn’t have anyone else to talk to, call or chat hit him in another wave of tears. Tao had left him for another guy that Sehun treated as a friend, which only left him with Jongdae and his own grandma, but the first one was out of reach and he feared that the second one would get all too worried for her own good if he called her in his current state. 

 

His chest started cramping. It hurt a lot to breath and fear took over his mind; the fear of being left alone. 

 

Sehun’s mind let his body go on free will as he stood up, put his phone where it was before and with all his force slammed a chair against one of the walls.

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

”You heard that too, right?! Something’s going on-!” Kyungsoo worriedly stood up and ran towards the door ready to go out before a hand grabbed his arm. 

 

”No! Listen, you can’t just go there an-”

”Why not?!” Kyungsoo answered, his body turning around to face the taller guy. ”What if something serious is going on?”

 

”We can’t just interrupt-”

 

”Interrupt?! Interrupt what? Someone getting beaten?!”

 

”You don’t kno-”

 

Another loud unsettling sound reached their ears making Kyungsoo slightly jump in surprise.

 

”Fine.” Jongin said and released Kyungsoo from his grasp. The teenage boy went to the table and pushed all their stuff to a corner. 

 

”What are you doing?! Look, we need to go and check if everything’s alright.”

 

But Jongin didn’t answer, instead he put a chair on the side of the table and another one on top of it. Kyungsoo looked at him perplexed as he climbed on the first one to later climb on the table. 

 

”Are you insane?! Get down before you hurt yourself!”

 

”No, you get up, we are going in the vents.”

 

”What?! No, no, no, no-”

 

”Yes, we are.” Jongin said and grasped his arm again, dragging him on top of the chair. ”Trust me, nothing’s gonna go wrong.” 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Sehun had flipped the table, taking all the surrounding chairs on the fall. He was just about to hit the wall to let his anger and frustration be at ease, punishing himself for being such a fool, when he heard his ringtone. Not even thinking it through he grabbed his phone and clicked on the green button.

 

”Hello?” He said, his voice rusty.

 

”Hi! So- O-oh my God you actually answered.”

 

”Who’s this?” Sehun said almost disappointed to hear that it wasn’t his best friend. 

 

”It’s- I don’t think you even remember me but I’m Luhan.”

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Luhan knew that it hadn’t been his smartest answer but improvisation never got the best of him.

 

”Luhan?” The voice from the other end of the line said. 

 

A smile broke off on the blonde’s face and knowingly he nodded. It took a moment for him to realize that he hadn’t really answered, even if Baekhyun had been signaling that he should respond verbally. 

 

”Yes, yes! I- Yes, it’s me.” Luhan’s grin made his best friend pretend to vomit. 

 

”What- How did you get my number?”

 

”How I got your number? Well, I obviously stalke-” 

 

Baekhyun’s flailing arms indicating abort mission almost punched him in the face.

 

”-never stalked. I never stalk anybody, nope.” Luhan panicked said with an awkward laugh. ”I… I have some… Contacts? Yeah, contacts.” 

 

Baekhyun exhaled in relief as Luhan had somehow understood what he meant. 

 

”…Okay…” Sehun answered.

 

Luhan panicked again and covered the phone with his hand. ”Oh my God, he thinks I’m weird. Baekhyun he thinks I’m really weird!” He whispered, holding his phone as far away as he could. 

 

”Shut up, he doesn’t, just talk to him.” Baekhyun whispered back harshly. 

 

Luhan nodded his head slowly and cleared his voice. 

 

”So… I was just wondering. Would you like to hang out or some-”

 

”Yes!” Sehun answered a little bit too quickly. ”I-I mean sure, why not? Are you still on the school grounds?”

 

Luhan’s eyes widened and as he tried to melt the accepted invitation he blinked a million times. ”Y-you mean now? Like, right now?”

 

”Sure.”

 

”A-alright.”

 

”I’m in the library, meet me here.”

 

Tuesdays, Luhan concluded, were days filled with mixed feelings, but absolutely delightful. 

 

 

⋆⋆⋆⋆

 

 

Sehun hung up. He had no idea why he had agreed to hang out with a guy he barely even knew, someone he had met literally twice, but he supposed that the imminent fear of being lonely, of being alone took over his rational thoughts.