Hung Up On The Stars • ChenJi

ten

When he admitted the tiny possibility of being an asexual to Chenle, he reacted with just a nod and "Cool, but don't hold yourself back if you think otherwise in the future. I am not doubting you but the stigma you imposed on yourself would become a barrier for your happiness and pleasure." He is thankful for all the further stupid questions like "Oh you haven't met the right people yet" or "What about your girlfriend or boyfriend?" weren't asked by Chenle.

He liked that he could trust Chenle for his matters and hoped that the feeling was mutual. He sometimes vented things that got heavy for him and coincidentally, he was there every time he needed. Somehow he had the answers that Jisung didn't know he needed before. They bonded a lot with each other during their summer breaks and Jisung prays to God for them to live in a connection that was bonded with more than just the power of coincidence.

He can't afford to lose Chenle, his happy virus.

It was just another day for Jisung when he needed Chenle's help in mathematics. They both sat on the last bench to the corner and Jisung obediently listed what all was said to him to do so. The exams were nearing and he made sure to invest all the time available to put into his studies. He even decided to quit school basketball because of getting busy and the daytime exhaustion becoming too much for him to handle. Complying with the promise Chenle made, he helped him now and then with Maths and persuaded the other guys to do group sessions too (although half of the time it ended up with throwing each other off or dozing off)

"It's been a while since Hina talked to us, right?" Chenle chimes in.

"Yeah, I haven't seen her in a long time."

Chenle hums and yawns by losing interest in the long run. He drank water and put his head on Jisung's shoulder. Jisung relaxes for some time too.

"Oh Hina," Jisung calls out as he sees her from a distance. She waves from there and comes with a shy smile.

She raises her hand for a hand-fi but he crisscrosses his fingers to give her a scissors gesture. She slaps away his hand unamused.

Both Jisung and Chenle giggle tired.

"Where have you been all these days, Hina?" Chenle asks.

She dramatically holds her head in her hands and explains all her complaints with so much determination and action like any typical old woman with fake expressions of sorrow and exasperation. They all make fun of her antics but at the same time acknowledge her pain of going through all the things she underwent. Jisung even moves forward faking a "pat pat, It will be alright," by brushing her hair.

In the process he sees chocolate in her hand and with a familiar habit, he asks, "Is this for me?" And she bobs her head as an "okay" and hands him over the chocolate. He eats it completely not even sparing a single piece for Chenle despite him asking for one making him utter, "oh fuck off, asshole." Jisung just giggled.

"Also, what brings me here is-"

"Hmm. What about it?"

She fidgets with her collar of her shirt, probably struggling to say something.

"You alright?" Chenle asks, concerned.

"Yes, I am just- Jisung, can I have you for a moment?" She is a bit nervous.

Jisung and Chenle look at each other's faces and later at hers.

"Chenle, excuse me," Hina leaves with Jisung.

He notices a strange note in her sweaty hand and Jisung is the one who looks at her suspiciously now, nevertheless he walks beside her.

When they get to the front row, Adam just comes and shoves himself on their way with an expression that Jisung describes as an 'asshole'. They stop their stride with a sense of startlement and annoyance. This set of boys were the ones with whom Jisung and his friends stayed away. They used the image of a rowdy to portray their fake manliness imposing fights and disturbances between themselves or by just nagging at others.

"Get out of our way, Adam," Hina warns.

"Just tell me where you heading to and I will leave you both." He says sitting on the bench and stretching his legs blocking the way.

"Just freaking leave, will you or not?" She says raising her hands pointing her index finger at him.

"Oh," he says quite amused, and takes the white note from her hand and raises it, not letting her take that back.

Jisung grows angry over him and tries his best not to hit the said person's head to the metal bench.

"Adam, just mind your business and let us mind ours, will you?" Jisung says, biting his tongue.

"Give that back to me, moron."