Chapter Text
It's about fifteen minutes before the morning bell rings. Students group together with their friends in the halls and classrooms they shouldn't be in. The day before the weekend gets everyone in a buzzed frenzy of excitement, making plans with one another.
Kyunghoon makes his way through floor where his class is without looking at anyone. Pieces of conversations zip past his ears. They're things he doesn't quite care about, but underclassman admittedly can say some humorous things out of context. The words all blend together as Kyunghoon turns the corner to the hall his class is. Once he does, he suddenly feels a hand around his arm. He jumps and whips around to see two boys.
Heechul's friends, he realizes. The ones that talk about me.
"Heard you're hanging out with Heechul tomorrow," says the boy who grabbed him in a low voice. He hasn't let go of Kyunghoon's arm. "I'm just warning you now that if anything happens to him, you're getting the shit kicked out of you. I'm not playing."
"Hyuk, that's too much." the other boy warns. He turns his head behind him to see if anyone, most likely Heechul, was coming toward their way. Some girls were watching the three from the side.
"Ignore him, look at me."
Kyunghoon does what he's told.
"I don't care if Heechul likes you, but be a pussy little bitch and you're in for it." He yanks Kyunghoon's arm so that they're nose to nose. "Got it?"
Kyunghoon doesn't move. The grip on his arm tightens and twists, hard, making him wince.
"I said, got it?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Kyunghoon feels his arm drop limp to his side. This guy is skinny and is shorter than Kyunghoon, but holy shit he has strength. The boy behind him looks a little nervous at the encounter that's occurring and whispers to the other for them to leave before Heechul spots them. They disappear just like that.
Kyunghoon doesn't watch them leave, but once they do he runs his hand over his right arm. In his peripherals, he can see other students watch him. He can't tell in what way but his arm is slightly throbbing and he's not sure what just happened to him. He thinks he might have unintentionally made himself a target of something, but before he can get scared of the idea a voice rings through the hall.
"Kyunghoon!"
Kyunghoon looks up. It's Heechul at the other end, waving his arm high in the air, like how he did when he was saying goodbye to him the night before. He quickly puts his right hand in his pocket and makes a small wave with the other. His ears are suddenly very hot.
"Good morning," Heechul cheerfully greets Kyunghoon, bounding towards him. "Wanna walk to class together?" Kyunghoon nods with a tight smile, and the two walk. Is he the only one feeling the entire world's eyes on them?
"You okay? You look like you witnessed a car pileup."
Kyunghoon cleared his throat. "What? I'm alright. Did you sleep well last night?"
Heechul frowned. He didn't expect such a quick answer. "I slept fine. You?"
"Fine."
The two approach the classroom door and Kyunghoon opens it, letting Heechul step inside. Once he does, students inside all cheer his name as a greeting. They always do. Kyunghoon walks past it all and sits right in his seat in the back.
Everyone seems to like Heechul, but who wouldn't? He likes to charm all of the girls with a single grin or wink, and the boys laugh at whatever he says even if it isn't that funny. He's overall very likeable around here, so Kyunghoon can't help but wonder what Heechul meant when he said he knows how hard it is to be the new kid and not have friends. When was Heechul a loner? How did he climb his way out of it? Kyunghoon does not want his secret to popularity by any means, but the questions are still there.
The bell rings and Heechul makes his way to his desk in front of Kyunghoon. He smiles at him and Kyunghoon smiles back. Heechul looks down at Kyunghoon's lap as he sits and points as a question. Kyunghoon follows Heechul's gaze, leading to his arm. He was unconsciously rubbing at where the boy from earlier grabbed him. Immediately, he puts his hands on his desk instead, making Heechul's eyebrows knit together. Before he can say anything else, the teacher entered the room and everyone stood up at once. Kyunghoon motioned for Heechul to do the same, and he does. Everyone bows and says good morning in unison. When the teacher allows for everyone to sit down and begins reading the day's agenda, Heechul turns around to Kyunghoon.
"What was that?" he whispers.
"Hm?"
"Your arm. Did you hurt your arm? I saw you holding it earlier too."
Kyunghoon can't lie but he doesn't want to say Heechul's friends approached him, so he simply just doesn't tell him. "It does hurt. Don't worry about it though, it'll be better as the day goes on. Face forward, you'll get yelled at."
Heechul obeys but not without a lingering skepticism written on his face. Once Kyunghoon is sure Heechul is fully paying attention to the teacher, he slowly massages at his arm again.
--
Lunch goes as usual. Heechul's friends crowd around his desk and Kyunghoon sits silently with his food. He finishes half of his kimbap before sneaking behind the group to go to the bathroom unnoticed. Once he's inside, he takes his uniform jacket off, unbottons his right arm's sleeve, and rolls it up to his elbow. Only a hint of redness shows around the part of his arm that was grabbed. Thankfully, it didn't look as bad as it felt. He just hopes it doesn't bruise for his mom to see later.
Fear rises in his throat as he remembers what this could mean for him in the future. Heechul's friends, at least the one boy from before, could start messing with him. Kyunghoon guesses it wouldn't be so bad if it was out of protectiveness for their friend, but he doesn't want to be on the receiving end of it at all. He concludes he should just let Heechul navigate their day tomorrow, not say a single word, no matter how much he might not want to do something. If it means Heechul will go back to tell his friends he had a good time without any difficulties with Kyunghoon, then everything will be fine. The last thing he needs is Heechul worrying about him getting harassed in school; they only just met. Being an inconvenience will leave him alone again without someone he likes, without Heechul. For some reason, he's not ready to lose him yet.
--
The day is over. Everyone is packing their things into their bags and chatting away. Some have already ran out the door. Kyunghoon is already set to go and watches Heechul pack his things. Suddenly, he turns to him in his seat.
"Kyunghoon! Did you see my text? You have my number now."
Kyunghoon's eyes grow wide and takes his phone out from his bag. He sees a message from an unsaved number, saying 'it's Heechul!' with a red heart emoji. Heechul smiles.
"Now you can talk to me whenever you want. Oh, and I'll send you the directions to the cafe later."
Kyunghoon nods and puts his phone back in his pocket. He secretly turns the ringer on. "I usually have my phone on silent. Sorry, I didn't notice your message."
"It's whatever, keep it like that. I'm going to be annoying you for the rest of your life." Heechul giggles mischievously, making Kyunghoon giggle in return.
"Thank you." he says.
Heechul softens his face. "For what?"
"For...helping me out. Taking care of me. You didn't have to, you know."
"I wanted to. I want us to be friends. You deserve a good friend."
Kyunghoon is silent at the mention of the word 'friend.' Heechul thinks for a moment and puts his elbows on Kyunghoon's desk. He carefully lays a hand on Kyunghoon's, which was tapping the desk fidgetly. It instantly stop at the touch. Kyunghoon meets Heechul's eyes.
"I mean it. You deserve a good friend." Heechul says earnestly.
A smile spreads across Kyunghoon's face, dimples digging deep. He doesn't say anything back, but Heechul knows he appreciates the sentiment. He also knows Kyunghoon will remember what he said, and that in itself is comforting. Heechul nods and picks up his bag, Kyunghoon following him.
"Walk home with you?" Heechul suggests.
Kyunghoon nods a little too quickly than he would've liked, but Heechul doesn't seem to notice or care. With that, they walk out of the door together.
They make it outside and Heechul's friends are standing around talking until they see him. They all call his name and wave at him. Heechul shakes his head and points at Kyunghoon. Their eyes are all on him now and Kyunghoon can feel himself hold his breath. Most of them shrug it off, but the one that threatened him keeps his eyes on him. He squints and Kyunghoon lowers his head to the ground. Heechul sees the moment and sticks his tongue out at the boy playfully. He takes Kyunghoon's hand and drags him away swiftly, making Kyunghoon almost trip over himself.
They're making their way towards the group and Kyunghoon takes a glance at them. They watch the two leave momentarily before looking away. One catches Kyunghoon's eye, and it's not the one from before. He doesn't know him, but they lock eyes for a moment. It must have only been half a second. Was it another one planning a confrontation with Kyunghoon? He rips his gaze away once the group is far out of sight and instead focuses on his hand in Heechul's.
It's warm, he thinks.
Eventually, they stop at a crosswalk, way beyond school property. Heechul doesn't let go. Kyunghoon doesn't either. Their hands remain clasped.
Heechul is looking forward at the traffic light, counting down the seconds before they're allowed to walk. Kyunghoon attempts to do the same but the warm hand in his cold one is jarring to his senses, to say the least. He loosens his grip to see if Heechul will drop his hand. Once it's clear he won't, Kyunghoon readjusts his hold in Heechul's. His face is extremely hot despite the chill in the air.
Something is changing, fast. Something is shifting.
It has registered in Kyunghoon's mind that he has a very small chance of surviving tomorrow.