Road To Cloud 9

3

Interesting Day At Lunch

   Jongseob had left the blonde boy to go find a table, while he went to go stand in the lunch line. Although quite a few students had decided to cut in front of him, he wanted to say something, but they didn't hear him when he tried.

   He let out a sigh, he was used to this behavior by now. He was like the school's ghost, never seen or heard. He could probably get away with plenty of things if he wanted to, he chose not to though. If he acted out his peaceful time of being an absolute ghost would go away. Trying not to glare a hole into the people in front of him's head, he waited until it was his turn to grab lunch. And of course, there was only a small sliver of smoked fish and barely enough for a bowl of soup.  Reluctantly he paid full price and went to go sit with Shota.

  It was hard spotting him at first until he stood up and started dramatically waving his arm. Jongseob gave a small awkward smile as he headed to the table and sat across from him. Looking at his unappetizing meal, Jongseob started to eat. Until someone's sudden voice made him jump and almost choke on his food.

"That's not a lot of food Seob. Can I call you that? I'm going to call you that." Shota started to ramble on, his words almost combining together and not making any sense.

"You're talking faster than earlier?" Jongseob raised a brow, mainly at the fact that the boy was putting a piece of baked chicken on his tray. "And thanks? I guess?"

"Oh well, normally I talk much slower since Korean isn't my first language and sometimes I mix up Korean words and Japanese words." Shota explained, as he then gave Jongseob some of his rice. "I don't really care about mixing words, just makes communication better when I slow down."

"Ah, that makes sense. By the way... why do you keep giving me more of your lunch?" Jongseob pointed at his tray which was now full.

"You didn't get much, and I don't want my new friend to starve." Shota smiled as he started to eat. "That would suck."

   Jongseob just awkwardly laughed as the rest of the two eating was turned into, Shota talks about the first thing that comes to mind. Jongseob kind of found it nice, mainly annoying, but nice. He took a liking to the boy that just appeared, being quiet at first but now overly extroverted.

  When Jongseob finished his food he was about to stand up and put his tray away when someone approached their table, sort of blocking his way. Now, he was perplexed, no one approaches him and he doesn't talk to anyone, so whoever this person is, why are they here. Then he saw how Shota's expression went flat and pieced two and two together. He slowly sat back down and tried anything not to make eye contact with anyone. 

"Haku Shota... Do you have what we asked for?" Someone with dark brown hair with a single streak of blonde said, his voice giving off, one more push and I'll snap.

"Ji Jaeyoung. Go fuck yourself." Shota said as he simply flipped the person off. Jongseob was staring in awe, what was wrong with him? Did he not notice the four other people that look equally pissed off?

"You just don't know when to quit? Was this morning's alley ass-kicking not enough for you?" Jaeyoung scoffed, slamming his hand on the table causing the metal trays to make a sound, as well as draw everyone's attention.

"He was the alleyway kid???" Jongseob whispered under his breath in a surprised expression. Now he really wanted to get out of here, and he tried until someone grabbed him.

"Where do you think you're going?" One of the people that were behind Jaeyoung asked.

"Listen, I really don't have anything to do with this! So if I could just... go back to class?" Jongseob frantically said as he squinted his eyes to prepare for pain. Which he got, by being thrown into the table. 

"Look at this guy? Practically wetting his pants!" They laughed as Jongseob groaned in pain, trying to identify where exactly he was hurt.

"Maybe if you got that stick out of your ass, you'd actually score some dates." Shota said as he stood up, fully prepared to fight. Jongseob just stared at him with a face that screamed, what are you doing???

"Big talk for a punk that's face is covered in bandages." Jaeyoung laughed as he approached the boy he was taller than, their foreheads touching.

  Before Shota could say anything in retaliation, the loud steps of which could only be identified as a teacher entered the lunchroom. Now the silence was even louder, everyone looking away to not get in trouble by default.

"You boys! What's going on?" The teacher shouted as she pointed at the table they were out.

"Nothing miss, we were just discussing after-school study plans." Jaeyoung said acting so sweet it would make someone physically sick. The teacher bought it, allowing the boys to do whatever they were doing. "Tomorrow, after school, under the bridge." Jaeyoung whispered into Shota's ears before he and the others walked away.

-

   Worried for Jongseob, who had gotten thrown into a table, Shota immediately took him to the nurse's office. On the way there, and during his small treatment, was awkward. Neither boy saying anything and just avoiding looking at each other. 

  After the nurse said he could leave whenever he wanted, was when they finally looked at each other. Shota having a face of guilt and Jongseob having one of confusion.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't think they'd drag you into it." Shota apologized, bowing his head a little bit as well.

"What do they even want? It seemed pretty harsh."

"I just owe them some money. From me sort of ruining one of their schemes." 

"Why didn't you just walk away? Seems like the simple and most obvious choice."

"Well they were taking advantage of some people that couldn't defend themselves and I couldn't just walk away and do nothing."

"But now you're in trouble, I really don't get it..." Jongseob, the boy who was always overlooked, never thought an option would be to retaliate. He wasn't even aware he could be noticed by anyone till today.

"I'm just that type of person I guess." Shota shrugged his shoulders. "I like fighting, I like helping people. Why not do both."

   Now Jongseob was slightly scared of the boy beside him. No wonder he antagonized them, he wanted them to hit him. Weighing his options, being basically a target by walking with a walking bounty mark, or, never get noticed again. He'll take never being noticed.

"We should... we should get back to class." Jongseob stood up, quickly walking out the door.

"Wait for me!" Shota shouted as he caught up with him. 

How was he supposed to get rid of a boy that seems to be more clingy than a tick. He had a taste of being noticed, and he'd rather not. Now he just had to find a way out of it.