BOYFRIEND | takahashi ran

13. aki protection squad

tw:: strong language, homophobia

yesterday's events were something you wish to never go through again. it almost felt like a fever dream. a really painful one.

it was a yet another day at school and the bell for lunch break just went off and as per usual, aki and you tried to beat the lunch crowd but to no avail. high schoolers here were too damn quick on their feet.

" oh my god. is that her? isn't she takahashi's girlfriend? what was she doing with that weird boy yesterday? is she so shameless that she can openly hug another boy in public? "

" what's her name? y/n? embarrassing. even her name sounds like one of someone that would cheat. "

" why is takahashi still with her honestly... he would be better off with someone else. she's not even that pretty."

you heard that conversation between two boys who were walking behind the both of you.

their malicious words were stabbing. it felt as if a dagger was cutting your heart up from the inside. you tried to escape but the stairway was way too packed. your next option was to block whatever they were saying out but it isn't as easy as it sounds.

aki protectively linked her arms with yours. she must've heard them too.

" at this point, i don't think she has any sense of self respect. hana would be better for takahashi anyway. she's prettier too. "

i already know that so please just shut up. you silently begged.

" ... and she plays volleyball as well, what a power couple they would've been if it weren't for- "

" hey is it me or does someone's breath really stink in here, " aki very loudly and sarcastically said as she side eyed the two of them, " imagine talking shit about people you don't even know. how low. couldn't be me. "

" dude... isn't she the gay one with the girlfriend from outside school... hah... two crazy chicks... no wonder they're best friends, " one of the boys spat spitefully, " look they're even linking arms now... is she cheating on her partner too? fucking insane. "

you physically felt aki freeze. to avoid further conflict, you tried to unlink your arm with hers, only for her to pull you in even closer. you tried to speak up, only to be cut off.

" are you pests done? you haven't shut up once in the past five minutes and it's seriously pissing me off. get a fucking life instead of talking smack before knowing the full story. and take a look at yourselves before commenting on someone else's appearance you ugly fucks, " aki turned around and shot back, " 미친새끼 (son of a bitch), this is why i only date girls. "

hearing the curse words rolling out in korean, you knew aki was beyond furious.

" aki... " you nudged her as you shook your head as an attempt to calm her down, signalling to her that it's not worth arguing back.

the boys looked taken aback. they definitely were not expecting a pretty face to actually talk back.

fucking trash.

" 아, 씨발... (ah, fuck...) i'm not dealing with this shit today. 가자 (lets go), " aki rolled her eyes as she practically squeezed through the crowd of people, dragging you along.

the two of you decided to have lunch on the rooftop after taking away sweets from the pastry shop. you both decided that abstinence from humanity would be the best thing for you both right now. it would be a good opportunity to get some peace and quiet.

" sorry you had to hear it from them and i know that i haven't been completely honest with you about my sexuality... i don't know if i like boys but i definitely like girls. i hope you can understand that and not think of me any different, " aki said as she nervously played with the usual strawberry cake on her plate.

you took a seat at the empty space beside aki.

" are you shitting me? i don't care what you're into. you don't have to apologise for shit. you are my best fucking friend and i will always always love and support you, " you said as you patted aki's head, " you have always been there for me... so i want to be there for you too... and for the record, you don't owe ' a coming out ' to anybody. you do you. screw what the other people think. "

aki's lips started to quiver as she started sniffing.

" y/n... thank you for understanding, " she said softly as tears started to well up in her eyes, " to be honest, i've felt like this for the longest time, since middle school... my current girlfriend is the first person i came out to... i haven't even told my parents so i've been meeting her in secret... "

you started to panic as aki's tear drops began rolling down her cheeks, like pearl beads on a broken necklace. you quickly used your sleeves to wipe them away as you rubbed aki's back with your free hand.

" it didn't feel good at all... when i told the two strangers, i felt so outed... how do people even find such things out, " aki cried even harder.

this is wrong.

aki, who has never once shown you a sign of vulnerability was trembling in front of you. your heart hurt. she never asked for any of this. it wasn't someone else's right to openly announce her sexuality. this was downright inhumane. whoever did this was going to have karma, in this life and in the next.

you put the plate of cake away for now as you went up to her and gave her a tight hug.

" aki... you are my precious baby... 하지마 (stop it), it hurts to see you cry, " you said as you stroked her head.

aki returned the hug and replied, " haha * sniffs * your korean has gotten better. "

" yeah, its all thanks to you, " you said as you noticed your blazer getting soaked with tears, " wait here okay? I'll go get some tissue paper, then we can finally eat the cake. "

" okay... " aki softly agreed as she pulled away from the hug, " 빨리 돌아와. (come back quickly.) "

" don't worry, I'll be back before you know it! "

you headed to the nearest toilet, feeling lucky that majority of the students were gathered at the food stalls on the first level. you were about to swing open the toilet door, only to realise that you celebrated wayyyyy too soon...