✔︎ retrouvaille | yang jungwon

ep. 04

It was one year ago. The class was noisy and Ni-Ki had his earphones on full volume. The seniors came into the class, dramatically asking the kid sitting behind him for the usual, money. He couldn't hear a thing and was focusing on his Korean homework. The seniors got the money and laughed, almost walking off when they noticed Ni-Ki.

The left side of his earbud was ripped off and his senior hugged him and acted as if they were close. "Hey Ni-Ki !" The boy was speechless and shaken up. "You're gonna lose your hearing if you keep your volume on high !" The older laughed. He returned the earbud in his hand before leaving the class.

Ni-Ki didn't know when all of this started. The bullying from seniors didn't affect him though they just like to mess with him. He couldn't remember when he started turning up the volume of his music all the way up so he couldn't hear what they were talking about. Those seniors kept pushing him around as if he was just a junior but worse.

"Hey, can you cover for me ?" The guy lit up a cigarette as he saw Ni-Ki holding a box and stopped him. "If my parents call you, just say I'm at your house for a sleepover." Ni-Ki had it. He didn't want to do any of the dirty shit he was asked.

"Ok. You could've just texted me."

He just said yes. The boy wasn't going to do it. His hood was up, wearing all black with the canvas shoes. His signature look. "Why do you sound so cold ?! Anyways, wanna join us ? I can show you around-" Ni-Ki shook his head before yawning. That senior didn't care if he was acting up or not because he knew- well he thought that Ni-Ki always does what he asks.

And that's all that matters.

"No thanks, I need to catch up on sleep." The senior laughed it off and said an advice but he couldn't hear it. But it was something in english. He was a foreigner afterall. His headphones were playing music with volume all the way up again. The boy walked over to Mrs. Song's greenhouse, smiling slightly and passed the box of flower seeds, gardening things and anything else she left at one of the classes.

"Ah, thank you so much !" She said in that warm old lady voice, smiling sweetly.

.

"I don't and WON'T go to that camp. So go and find someone else to do shit for you." The senior kicked the vending machine. Ni-Ki thought, 'I always do things for you but now when u really need help you are not willing to.' The boy clenched his teeth hard, neck veins popping up. "Let's go, I think that flower woman ratted us out for smoking." The senior said to his friend group.

The others had left but the senior stayed, not finishing his words and taking a drink from the machine. "They called our parents for the meeting, for fucks sake." The older scoffed and Ni-Ki just stood there. Right, Ni-Ki thought. This was very normal.

.

"FASTER ! A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE GREENHOUSE !!"

Chaos. It was pure chaos with the teachers and students running out of the school.

"I REPEAT EVERY ONE PLEASE EXIT THE SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY ! A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE GREENHOUSE !"

Ni-Ki was shocked with the sudden panic and ran to the back of one of the hallways. He knew, he knew Jake would be there. He went over to the older and yelled at him out of frustration. Ni-Ki knew Jake wasn't the type to bully with strength but mess with people's mental state. "JAKE ! Did- Did you do this ?!" He asked, still panting.

"Ah, even the school janitor smokes. I think she had a tobacco plantation too." Jake said while the rest of the friend group laughed. "She even called us out. It's karma." Ni-Ki was so young and innocent a year ago. He didn't believe in crimes and was always obedient to rules. "T-This was an accident, wasn't it ? You guys smoked and by mistake-"

Jake cut him off with a cocky tone "Obviously, it was a mistake." He laughed out loud. Jake leaned forward, his face so close to the junior. 

"Would you believe me if I said that ?" 

Ni-Ki was silent but eyes still locked with Jake's. Someone shouted the older's name and he pushed Ni-Ki's shoulder.

"Just keep your mouth shut, got that ? You're right. They won't let this slide so be prepared to take the blame if anything happens."

"Remember, I was the one who protected Sunoo. I was the one who did you a huge favour. I was the one who saved you. You- You just keep quiet. I know you very well. You don't have the guts to even call me out. So be quiet. It's your specialty is it not ?"

...

Jake chuckled before running away, catching up to his friends.

Ni-Ki was hesitant. If Jake didn't bring Sunoo up, he would have dared to just run to one of the teachers. But he was mad at the same time. Why did Jake bring Sunoo up ? He was ready to move on without his best friend but no. He ran after the senior. Not caring what would happen but he wanted to let his emotions out.

The boy grabbed Jake by the collar and punched him hard in the face, retrieving a few gasps from the girls of the group. Jake stood back up. Ni-Ki ran away, seeing that the fire was close to them. One of his friends wanted to chase after him but Jake stopped him. "Let him be. He was mad. I know. But it's worth it. He's going to keep his mouth shut by hook or by crook."

.

Ni-Ki didn't know where he was going but for the first time, tears flowed down as he ran with the wind harshly blowing into his face. He stopped in what seemed like a forest. The boy sat down, placed his hood up. Ni-Ki couldn't cry. He tried but something was stopping him. Pain and lack of love given to him.

It was already night time and he was still there, listening to music and rocking back and forth. 

"There you are." 

Someone spoke up. Ni-Ki didn't have his volume all the way up this time. He was glad.

Because in front of him was Jungwon. Yang Jungwon. That was how they met.

[03032022]

1142 words

time started : 20:02p.m 

time ended : 20:47 p.m

There now you know Ni-Ki's past story. Continuation of next chapter to see how Jungwon and Ni-Ki's friendship grow. Now the question is, who was Sunoo to Ni-Ki ?

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