He Started It by Hitting on Me

The Definition of BFF

I never got in trouble at school. Not in high school, anyway. I never disrespected the teacher (not in front of them, anyway) or caused fights with someone else (not in front of teachers or other people in charge, anyway). Even if I did cause fights, I wouldn't get caught. I was pretty confident I had a flawless permanent record I could brag about but decide not to. I intend to keep it flawless. It's not difficult to not get in trouble. However, it's not difficult to get in trouble.
It doesn't seem true that I, Park Mi Young would not get in trouble but it is. All that seemed to change in one day.
It's a simple Thursday in the beginning of May, and the day could be more humid. It's a cloudy day, with thick air surrounding the gloominess of the sky. The color was gray with a shade of light blue appearing in little corners over the horizon. The windows were kept closed and the air conditioners provided us with cool air running through our thickheaded scalps.
All right, aside from the murky setting, school was even more boring. The classes were full of work, kids were still the idiots that run around our school and lunch was hard to scarf down.
In science, I gave Jonghyun an extra copy of notes for him to catch up on class. I still do not understand the reason why he doesn't take notes so I do it for him. That boy should be damn thankful I'm doing this for him. I waste my own precious time for him and that's really nice of me. That bastard does say thank you, knowing what's in store for him if he doesn't say the magic words.
In English, Hea Won and I kept talking about our college applications. I got mine back and got into the schools I wanted. It finally paid off, all that hard labor my mother put me into and those study sessions that seemed like hell. It had finally paid off. I was going to Seoul National University. That was my first choice. I wanted a college somewhere far, far away from my mother and this whole city but my mother said no. I needed to be here. Now, I'm just wondering what kind of classes I should take when I get there. There are tons of them.
Hea Won got into Seoul National University and she was so happy they let her in. It may be the decent grades she got, but there's always a couple of s in charge of specific things. And when guys see Hea Won, they go nuts. Unless there's a guy who's got skills like a badass lunatic that can beat the crap out of anyone that dares to even lay eyes on Hea Won's bust.
I can already tell Key got in the same college; Hea Won would have been complaining and whining right about now that Key hasn't got in. I wonder what Minho got into. He's smart so he probably got into the same college or maybe even a better one. Was there a better one? I wouldn't want to even think what Onew or Jonghyun got. Let's just keep it that way and not ask why.
History passed, gym passed, science passed again, lunch passed, etc. And now it's time for math.
I had double-period math with an Onew. I really had to sit next to him. I had nothing against Onew; he was just weird. He was weirder than Hea Won, Key, Minho, and Jonghyun and even weirder than Taemin. On second thought, Onew is the second weirdest. I don't think anyone could pass Taemin's level.
I don't know Onew much, even if we did have a "date" a few months back. I only took that date to get Jonghyun's secret. And yet I still don't know...
By the time I made it to my seat, I could see everyone with pencils out and shut mouths. I raised an eyebrow. I didn't know we were having a test today. Hm. I'll probably pass it. I took my seat and zipped open my bag to get a pencil out. I placed it on my desk and took a glance around the room. The first one I saw was Minho.
He was busy rummaging through his bag. "Hey, are you texting or are you tryin' to find a pencil?" I asked. He smiled without looking up.
"A bit of both. Mind if I borrow a pencil?" he asked. I shook my head and went through my own bag until finding another spare pencil. I took it out and handed it to him.
"Here," I replied.
He took it. "Thanks Mi Young," he smiled. I nodded. I turned back around and faced my own desk, getting ready for the test. I tapped my fingers on the desk as I waited because Ms. Kim was taking a while.
I could hear Hea Won and Key chattering behind me and from what I could hear, they were talking about some guy. Key was silently cussing under his breath and Hea Won would sigh and reassure him nothing was going on. If I knew any better, I'd think they were talking about Kang Bae.
I heard Onew sighing calmly next to me. I turned my head to him. He was leaning back in his seat, with his arms to his side and had a drunken smile resting on his face. After a few seconds staring at him, Onew's head turned to face me and he smiled wider with his lips sealed.
"I think the test is gonna be easy," he hypothesized. I gave him a thumbs-up. Before I could turn around, he spoke up again. "I'm gonna get a perfect score," he boasted. I nodded, a thin smile following after. I started to turn my head to face the front. I felt Onew shifting in his seat. "You know, I think-"
"Okay, I get it. You're going to pass. You don't have to tell me a third time," I sighed.
Onew blinked at me once. He looked down. ''I just wanted to say I think you were going to pass too," he mumbled.
This time I blinked. "Oh. Well... good to know," I replied, not being able to say anything. Silence occurred after and I felt the awkwardness begin to tighten both of us in one space. Fortunately, Ms. Kim came waltzing into the room and had a thick stack of papers in her fragile arms. She was standing tall, with her bun tight and done right. Her stare was still cold yet a twinkle was somewhere in her eye. She took a deep breath.
"Good afternoon class,'' she greeted.
"Goo.. noon.. Kim," we greeted inaudibly. Ms. Kim couldn't care less. She started to hand out the tests without another word and soon after a second, people started to zoom through it. I got mine a little later and started to read the problems right before my eyes. It wasn't until a few seconds later that trouble started to stir.
A whimper broke the silence that was surrounding the classroom and it was close by. I ignored it without hesitation, thinking it was probably because of something that surely did not interest me. I heard a gasp after followed by a small almost inaudible smack. I stopped my pencil for a half a second but then went on to continue my test. The whimpering, gasping and smacking stopped as soon as I made it to the last problem on the first page of the test. I relaxed my shoulders. Thank goodness that finally stopped.
Even though the sounds were gone, something else took over. I was still doing the last problem when I felt something staring at me. I sensed it was near me. Very near. Like right next to me...
I turned my head to see Onew right there, peering over my shoulder. His eyes were on my sheet but quickly met mine when he found out I was staring at him. He quickly looked away and took his hand to nonchalantly smooth down the side of his head. I raised an eyebrow but then slowly went back to my work.
Suddenly, something tapped me on the shoulder. I turned my head back to Onew again and he pointed towards the window, which was on the other side. I turned my head towards the window and furrowed my eyes when I saw nothing interesting. I rotated my head back to the right and saw Onew smiling as he wrote down something on his paper. He looked up immediately and gave me a thumbs-up. He was smiling.
I furrowed my eyes at him and went back to my test once again, turning the page over so I could get to the next problem. It took me almost 10 minutes to do the whole second page but during those ten minutes, I was disturbed.
I heard a chair squeak a little and heard cloth moving. In fact, I heard the squeaking chair and cloth moving near me. Knowing where it was coming from, I automatically turned my head to face Onew. He was moving slowly right next to me, his arm barely an inch away from mine and he was peering at my paper. He quickly found out he was caught as his eyes bored into mine. We both kept staring at each other. I gave him a blunt glare and he got the message, moving slowly away from me as he stared at the ground.
I sighed in frustration as I went back to work, covering the paper with my free arm. I heard him mutter under his breath and I couldn't help but to smirk. Looks like I got him now.
But I thought wrong.
It wasn't until a few minutes later that Onew decided to come back. And this time, he was going to go through another way. I felt something poking the bare skin on my leg my skirt showed off. I twitched at the touch, knowing it was a guy who was touching me. And it was an Onew at that too. I shot my head in his direction. He was looking right at me.
"Mi Young-ah, can you please help me?" he whispered silently.
"Didn't you get enough help already?" I barked silently.
"I don't understand the test."
"I thought it was easy."
"That's what I thought, but I turned out to be wrong."
"Then don't jinx yourself next time."
"Mi Youngie poo... please help me?"
I rolled my eyes. "No," I answered quietly. Onew pouted. I groaned mutely in disgust.
"Please?" he asked again, trying to act like Taemin.
"No."
"Please?"
I felt his finger jab my flesh and I widened my eyes. "What are you doing?" I hissed.
He didn't seem to notice he was doing something. "Mi Young, pleaseeee help me? I won't ever bother you again. I don't make any promises."
"Then what's the point in helping you?!" I asked incredulously.
"I just want to pass the damn test!" he barked. I widened my eyes in shock. He said it loud enough for the whole hallway to hear. Everyone in the classroom turned his or her heads towards us. Both Onew and me kept staring at each other, Onew getting over his undirected yelling and me keeping that shocked expression I had on. It's just a test.
There were a few more moments of silence until I heard the tapping of high heels making their way towards us. I groaned in my mind. Oh no. Ms. Kim appeared in front of us with her arms folded. She did not look pleased. "What's going on here?" she asked, breaking the silence. We didn't dare to speak. However, both of us knew one of us had to.
She raised an eyebrow. "Well?" she asked.
I looked down. Onew's mouth started to stutter. "W-well, y-y-you see M-ms. Kim..."
"Yes?" she raised another eyebrow.
"I... wasn't able to... uhm... find a decent pencil. The one I had just broke so I asked Mi Young for a new one. She kept saying no, so I got frustrated and had to scream," Onew lied, smiling weakly.
Ms. Kim didn't look like she bought it one bit. "Lee Jinki. Tell me the truth."
He looked down. "I didn't know the answers on the test," he answered quietly. There was no need for more explaining.
I continued to look down. Ms. Kim sniffed. "Is that so?" she asked. Onew nodded. Ms. Kim sighed. "Well then. I guess I have no option but to stop you from taking the test and give it to you another day," she sighed. Onew didn't say anything.
"And for both of you, you will have to stay after school so you could think about cheating next time."
I quickly looked up. "But Ms. Kim," I started. "I didn't cheat."
"Yes I know, but you were also interrupting the class.''
You , no one was paying attention to us! I blinked at her with my mouth open. "But Ms. Kim-"
"Do you also want to take the test another day?" she interrupted, raising an eyebrow. I stared back at her, my mouth still open. You could almost hear the wind in the classroom. I sighed silently and looked down.
"No," I answered quietly.
"Then I suggest you quiet down and continue you exam. And Jinki- don't lie to a teacher next time," Ms. Kim warned as her hands unfolded and went by her side. Onew kept looking down. Ms. Kim kept her head held high and walked her black heels to her desk. "Everyone go back to your test," she ordered. All the students lowered their heads and went back to scribbling.
I closed my eyes for another second and then went back to filling out the answers on my test, ignoring Onew's apologetic stares.
My blood was boiling and my mouth wanted to burst out with screams and shrieks of anger. The pencil underneath my fingertips was pressurized and the tip felt like it was going to break any moment. My eyes were melting into the inky words on the white paper. I almost had the urge to rip the freaking paper.
It shouldn't seem like a big deal to get detention. It wasn't. But would it look good to my mother? Or to the college I've been accepted to? I've already been accepted so really, it shouldn't matter. However, there's still that vicious woman that has full custody over me. She would find out one way or another and when she does, things are really going to get complex.
An hour later, class was over and people handed in the tests to Ms. Kim. She placed them onto her desk and she crossed her legs as she sat on the desk. Both Onew and I sat in our seats, still looking down. I see a hand placed on top of my desk and a pencil soon appears on it. I look up. I see Minho smiling at me. "Good luck Mi Young," he winked. He went out the door, along with Hea Won and Key who waved bye to Onew and me.
The door closed behind them and now it was just we three; Ms. Kim, Onew and I. Ms. Kim barely spoke- she just stared at us legs then went to look at us. "You'll be staying in here for two hours. Both of you are not allowed to go out under any circumstances. If you have a bathroom emergency, talk to me first. Otherwise, you both are to sit here and think about cheating, being rude or lying. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to... the bathroom," Ms. Kim got up from the desk and left the room without another look.
It was only Onew and I now. The only sound that could be heard in the room was the silent wind tapping at the closed windows. I could hear Onew tapping his fingers against his lap. Both of us were looking in opposite directions. Onew sighed shortly after. "So...how's life?" he asked weakly.
I slowly turned my head towards him. He was looking down at his knee but he could tell I was looking at him. He brought his head up too. I raised an eyebrow. "How's life? How's life? You're asking me how life is?" I asked.
Onew blinked. "Mi Young. You know I didn't mean to-"
"I know you didn't. You should have known you were going to get in trouble," I pointed out.
"I thought God was with me on this one," Onew defended.
"God is never okay with cheating, Onew," I snapped.
"There was a possibility!" Onew argued back.
I glared at him, my eyes burning through his eyes. Onew stared back at me with huge eyes. He looked down. "I'm sorry," he apologized. I sighed and looked at a desk on my left.
"It's okay..." I forgave him. I could tell he was smiling now, his eyes beaming with happiness.
"So... we're good?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, we're good," I assured. Onew laughed heartily and clapped his hands. Silence occurred shortly after.
"...So... now what?" he asked. I shrugged.
"I have no idea," I answered.
"Well, we can't sneak out right?'' he asked. I looked at him and shook my head. He nodded.
"Right...then...want to talk about something?" he suggested.
"Like what?" I asked. Onew looked up to the ceiling and furrowed his eyes, taking an extended period of time to answer my simple question. He took his pointer and tapped his chin. His eyes never left the ceiling.
"Hm... well, I just wanted to know... have you found out about Jonghyun's secret yet?" he asked me. I shook my head no. Onew's eyes closed for a mere second and he let out a long sigh.
"Of course," he muttered. I hoisted an eyebrow.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Onew shook his head. "Nothing. But now I have another question."
"Shoot," I urged him.
"Wanna find out about Jonghyun's past?"
I was taken aback at this. This was out of the blue and so unexpected. Jonghyun's past? He has a past? I thought for a second about what Onew just said right then but soon after everything started to fall in. When Taemin and I went out on a date (I guess it was a date), Taemin had brought up the topic of never liking anyone and how he didn't want his first love to go wrong. He started to bring up everyone and how their love lives were, including Jonghyun. It was excellent timing when that waiter came over to interrupt us and since then, I never got to know. Wouldn't it be perfect to know now? Jonghyun got a hold of my past with my so-called friends so why can't I? I want to know too.
"Yeah. I'd like that. Do you know everything?" I asked, curious.
"I know what I was given. I'll tell you how much I know, okay? And don't worry; my information is reliable," Onew winked.
I smiled a bit. "All right Onew. Now spill."
Onew laughed a bit. "Well... all five of us were in the same primary school. We were all in different classes but always had recess at the same time. We've never really met though. But then all that seemed to change because of one meeting..."
-----------------
(Flashback)
"I choose you, you, you, you aaaaand..." a young boy with black hair stood in front of six boys with a soccer ball under his arm. He was hesitating to pick one more person, not knowing who would be better. Finally, he pointed at a guy. "You."
The boy who had got chosen smiled widely and jogged his way over to the pack of boys. Everyone was happy they got picked. Everyone except one. There was a boy that had a frustrated, defeated look on his face from not being picked. Even though he was not on their team, he wasn't going to let it go easily. "Yah! Why didn't you choose me?" the boy asked.
The boy with the soccer ball shrugged. "You didn't seem to be fit for it," he answered. The other boy furrowed his eyes.
"I am fit! I'm not fat and I have strong limbs! I could have been as good as any other guy on your team!" he argued.
"You're too short," the boy with the soccer ball stated bluntly. The other boy's mouth dropped.
"No I am not! I'm tall enough for my age!" the boy defended. The boy with the soccer ball scoffed.
"Yeah, right," the boy with the soccer ball started to turn around. The other boys started to follow him. The supposedly shorter boy could feel his blood boiling even more and his body couldn't seem to take it anymore. That same boy started to run after the team that left him behind. He stopped right in front of the boy with the ball in his hands.
"Yah, pabo! If you think I'm really not that athletic then you want to see who can beat each other in a competition?" he asked, determined to win at his challenge.
"I didn't say you were athletic-"
"Are you chickening out of a challenge?" the supposedly shorter boy smirked, folding his arms. The boy with the soccer ball sighed.
"Fine. If you really want to-"
"Great, then come over here." The two boys walked over to a pair of monkey bars and the "shorter" boy pointed at it. "Both of us have to climb these monkey bars. We have to hang there upside down until one of us fall. That'll show which one of us is better," the "shorter" boy, explained.
The boy who was challenged looked up at the monkey bars and just stared at them. He nodded shortly after. "Okay. When do we star-" He couldn't finish his sentence because the "shorter" boy was already climbing up the monkey bars. He hung himself over them and pointed at the other boy.
"Haha, I already beat you at being first here. Neh neh neh," the "shorter" boy stuck his tongue out. The other boy grumbled under his breath and climbed up the monkey bars, settling himself on top of them and then hanging himself over. His bangs were moved out of his eyes.
The "shorter" boy let his arms dangle. "I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win," he boasted. The other boy rolled his eyes as time passed by. They both dangled from the monkey bars as the blood started to rush to their heads. Both of them were getting lightheaded but they had a considerably amount of pride in themselves to forfeit.
The "shorter" boy got impatient. How long was this guy going to give up? He wanted to win already but the athletic boy was never, ever going to lose to him. Speaking of the athletic boy, he was watching kids play upside down and birds flapping their wings over the place. He could suddenly feel the blood bubbling around his brain.
The "shorter" boy clenched his teeth together. "Yah! Give up already!" he barked. The other boy sighed in response. The "shorter" boy furrowed his eyes. "I said give up already!!" he yelled again.
Those two boys weren't alone. There was one other boy, younger than both of them who were staring as he worried for one particular boy. "Minho hyung, be careful," he called out, biting his lip. The mellow boy looked at the younger boy who called out to him.
"I will be. Just stay out of the way if this idiot falls," Minho warned the younger boy. The "shorter" boy scowled at him.
"You shouldn't be talking. I'm not an idiot! I'll win and I'll rub it in your face, so ahahahaha!" he howled, pointing at Minho. Minho rolled his eyes once again.
"What a babo," he stated. The "shorter" boy got mad again. He pointed at Minho and shook his finger.
"You're the babo! You're a pabo! You're a- AY!" the ''shorter'' boy's legs slipped off from the monkey bars and he fell down onto the warm sand of the playground. He fell on his and his vision turned upright, making his head feel a little dizzy. His eyes were crossed until he shook his head and rubbed it. "Ugh...my head," he muttered.
"Your head? My face. Get off of me!" The "shorter" boy looked down to find a boy under him, slapping his . The "shorter" boy quickly got off. He scratched his head.
"Sorry," he mumbled. The boy that was squished by him sat up and folded his arms. The "shorter" boy looked at the fallen boy twice. He had angular cheekbones, creamy skin, feline, sharp eyes and a headful of dark hair. He looked down from staring at him too long.
"Yah, watch where you're falling next time. My hair must be ruined because of you!" the boy spat, running a hand through his hair. The "shorter" boy blinked.
"You should watch where you're going; I was bound to fall there!" he yelled back.
"Then next time, do it on the other side!" the other boy exclaimed.
The "shorter" boy growled. Suddenly, another boy with a fork in his hand jogged up to the boy who was still sitting down. "Key, are you okay?" he asked, patting his back. The boy held out his hand to Key and he took it.
"That idiot should know where he's falling next time," Key muttered.
"I'm not an idiot! And I told you, I was bound to fall there!" the "shorter" boy argued. Key stuck his tongue out.
"Yah! Don't stick your tongue out at me!" the "shorter" boy yelled.
"I could if I want to!" Key yelled back.
"Yah!"
"Yah!"
The boy next to Key with the fork watched them as he slowly realized what was going on. While they were bickering, Minho and the younger boy ran up to them. "Hey you," Minho called out to the "shorter" boy. "I won."
The "shorter" boy, who was too involved arguing with Key widened his eyes and his mouth hung low.
"N-no fair! I fell accidentally!" he defended. Minho shrugged.
"Rules are rules. You said whoever fell first will determine the better athlete," Minho explained.
"But I fell because of an accident!!"
"What would that be?" Minho asked.
"Uh... I was pointing...? Uh..." the "shorter" boy mumbled. Minho folded his arms.
"Yeah, I win."
"No fair!"
"Whatever."
"I'm going to kill you..." the "shorter" boy tried to hit him however; someone interfered before anything could happen. The younger boy stood in front of Minho, with his arms widened.
"No! Don't hit hyung!" he yelled.
The "shorter" boy furrowed his eyes, as his fist was held in mid-air. "I thought you were a girl..." he trailed off. The younger boy pouted.
"Why does everyone keep saying that...?" the younger boy asked himself.
"Aigoo, he's so cute!" Key cooed, bringing himself towards him and pinching his cheeks. The younger boy giggled under the touch of Key's fingers. Then he snapped back to reality.
"I'm not cute! I'm handsome!" the younger boy exclaimed. Key kept on pinching his cheeks.
"Don't touch him," Minho muttered, grabbing the younger boy's arm and bringing him next to him. Key scoffed.
"Well then..." Key went back to the boy with the fork.
The "shorter" boy sighed in frustration. "I want a rematch," he told Minho. Minho shook his head.
"For a short person, you're a handful," Minho sighed.
"Yah, I'm not short!"
"Wow, this is fun," the boy with the fork laughed. The "shorter" boy glared at him.
"And who are you?" he asked.
"Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Lee Jinki, but everyone calls me Onew," the boy with the fork smiled.
"Why do you a fork in your hand?" Minho asked.
"I was eating before I came here," Onew answered.
"That makes sense," the "shorter" boy muttered. Onew smiled.
"What's your name?" Onew asked Minho.
"Dibididi, my name is Minho," he replied.
Onew nodded. "And yours?" he asked the younger boy.
The younger boy smiled. "Lee Taemin," he answered.
Key went over to Taemin and pinched his cheeks again. "So cute!~" he cooed. Minho sighed.
"What's your name?" Minho asked Key.
"Key. That's all there is to it," Key answered, flipping the bangs out of his eyes. Onew bit his fork.
"Do you guys wanna share my lunch? There's a ton left.. I could have finished it myself but you guys are probably hungry too, right?" he asked.
Taemin nodded. "I'm really hungry. I didn't eat anything." Key gasped.
"I'll feed you then. Come on, let's go~" Key took a hold of Taemin's and started leading him towards the bench. Minho sighed and followed after them along with Onew. Everyone was walking with each other but that left one person left out. The "shorter" boy blinked in disbelief.
"Hey!" he called out to them. The four boys turned back. "What about me?" he asked.
"Nobody wants you," Minho stated bluntly. The "shorter" boy pouted in disappointment.
"He's kidding! Come on, there's room for one more," Onew suggested, gesturing for him to come. The "shorter" boy smiled and ran over to them, all walking in the same pace now.
"What's your name?" Onew asked him.
"Kim Jonghyun," he answered. Onew smiled.
"How nice," Onew complimented. Jonghyun smiled.
"Thanks."
"I think it's an ugly name," Key muttered.
Jonghyun fumed with anger as he glared at Key. "Ignore him; he's still mad about you falling on him. So, you have any friends?" Onew asked. Jonghyun hesitated before shaking his head.
"No. I'm usually alone most of the time," Jonghyun answered shamefully.
"No surprise there," Minho muttered. Jonghyun's cheeks burned.
"Yah, are you always going to be like this?" Jonghyun asked. Minho shrugged.
"It's funny to see you get so mad," Minho smirked. Jonghyun's cheeks burned again.
"Yah!" he yelled.
"Minho hyung, it's not nice to be mean. Say sorry," Taemin whispered. Minho rolled his eyes.
"Whatever," he mumbled. Taemin smiled at Jonghyun.
"He apologized," Taemin said. Jonghyun smiled shyly.
"Thanks," he said to Taemin. Taemin nodded.
"Ah! We're here!" Onew announced as he ran over to the bench where his lunch was. The boys sat down and started to eat, getting to know each other as they ate and knowing more information. They asked each other how old they were, when their birthdays were, what did they enjoy to do, etc. It got them a bit closer to each other. Just when recess was going to end, all five boys decided to do something before they all went their ways.
"Let's play tomorrow. And this time, I'll get the food for all of you guys," Key announced.
"We're going to play? Soccer?" Minho eagerly asked.
Onew nodded. "Yeah, but everyone has to play," Onew instructed, gesturing to Jonghyun. Minho rolled his eyes.
"Fine. Taemin, let's get you to your class. Taemin?"
"Aww, does he have to go?" Key asked, pouting as he held onto Taemin's cheeks. Minho nodded slightly, taking a hold of Taemin's arm. They left and waved goodbye to the other boys. Key sighed. "Well, I guess it's time for me to go too," Key said. He waved goodbye. "Bye Onew! Bye short person!"
"I'm not short!" Jonghyun yelled. Onew laughed silently. He patted Jonghyun's shoulder.
"Don't take things too seriously; everything happens for a reason," Onew smiled as he walked away.
(Flashback end)
-----------------
"We met again after that day and again after that. Soon, it became everyday and we were inseparable. We shared secrets and we ate the same thing. We went to the same places and we argued for no reason. We acted like complete retards in private and in public. When one of us was down, the rest of us would cheer him up. That's where Jonghyun came in.
When I dated a girl in intermediate school and she left me because she really didn't like me as much as I did, Jonghyun offered to be there in my time of need when no one else would..."
------------------
(Flashback)
Hiccup.
A hunched over body silently wept in a corner of his dusky room, sunlight baring out of a compact opening from the shades draping over the windows. His head was buried in his arms, the salty tears staining his shirt. The cries coming out of his mouth were silent but agonizing to the inaudible world. He'd bite his lip every time a single tear would shed and the hiccups becoming worse with every minute.
Hiccup.
That moment. It happened too fast. Too soon. It was in the blink of an eye, not giving him any time to say what he felt. That moment with that girl he thought was the one for him...
How wrong he turned out to be.
"Onew oppa."
"Deh?" Onew turned around to face Eun Mi, his girlfriend who was staring right back at him. When he saw her face, his eyes lit up with contentment and his heart warmed his body. Eun Mi stared at him with a blank expression written on her face.
Onew stared at her with worry filling his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, leaning in closer to see her face. She shifted back and hung her head a little low. Onew furrowed his eyes in confusion. "Eun Mi-yah?..."
"I can't do it."
Onew stared at her for a moment. "Can't do what?" he asked without hurrying. Eun Mi stared at the ground for what seemed like ages until finally staring eye to eye with Onew again and this time, there was hint of a cold glint in her eye.
"I can't be with you." Onew's heart stopped in mid-beating. He furrowed his eyes slightly.
"Why... not?..." Onew asked.
Eun Mi sighed. "I thought you were a nice guy, really I did. But as time passed by you were just... not what I had in mind. I'm sorry," Eun Mi apologized, not bothering to bow for her apology. Onew's heart dropped in disappointment. His shoulders slumped and he couldn't keep a straight face.
"But what's wrong with me? I didn't do anything. Is it really okay to do this? Eun Mi, why can't we just talk about this-"
"We've talked. We talked now. And now we're done."
"Eun Mi-yah! What did I do?" Onew asked.
"You did nothing; I just found you boring. You really don't have any talent." Eun Mi left without another word, strutting away from Onew. Onew couldn't do anything but to stare at her leave him, just like that. In a minute or so, she left him. Just like that.
Hiccup.
Onew's tears came out rushing again when he thought about what had happened between him and Eun Mi. Her name couldn't even roll on his tongue like it used to. The thought of her name sent a stab to his chest. Onew plopped his head back on his arms again.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Slowly, Onew's bedroom door started to creak until it was fully open and the creak alerted Onew that he wasn't alone now. Since it was dark, Onew couldn't see who this figure was. However, Onew brought his head up only to say, "Umma leave the door closed! I thought I told you that!"
The on switch for the light turns on but Onew is oblivious to the fact. Footsteps slowly came towards Onew, who had put his head back down in his arms. The silent tapping of shoes stopped in front of him. The figure bent down and tapped lightly on Onew's shoulder. "What do you want, umma?" Onew asked grudgingly as he pulled his head up. He raised his eyebrows because the person in front of him wasn't his mother; it was his best friend.
"Hey there, hyung," Jonghyun whispered as he smiled weakly. Onew stared up at him. He quickly looked down.
"What?" he snapped. Jonghyun scratched his head at how hard and cold Onew's regular smooth voice sounded.
"I, uh... came by to give you something-"
"Eun Mi?" Onew asked hopefully. Jonghyun blinked at him as a sadden glaze ran over his eyes.
"No hyung..."
"Then leave." Jonghyun sighed quietly. This kind of Onew was something Jonghyun and everyone else was certainly not used to.
There was only way for him to return back to normal and that meant to hurt him.
"Eun Mi's a . She's probably sucking someone's right about now. I think she's a . A no-good, selfish ugly who-"
"Stop talking about Eun Mi like that!" Onew had gotten up and grabbed Jonghyun's collar, pushing him against the wall with great force. Jonghyun's head banged against the wall, causing a small dizziness stirring in his head but he stayed put with it. Onew and Jonghyun were almost leaning into each other's faces and Jonghyun could see the outrage in Onew's natural sweet like honey eyes.
Onew shook Jonghyun once. "Why are you barging in my life trashing Eun Mi like that? Can't you see that I love her? I love her! I love her so much that I think about her everyday, every second. She's amazing; you just haven't seen her yet. She's amazing."
Jonghyun didn't blink once. "Did she ever say she loved you back?"
Onew widened his eyes in shock. Not because of what Jonghyun said but what he has come to realize. After Jonghyun asked his question, Onew thought about it for a second and he became aware that Eun Mi never really did say she loved him. After months of being considerate and buying chocolates and flowers like an ethical boyfriend would, not once did Eun Mi say the three words people all over the world yearned for.
Not once. Not ever. Never. Onew was never told the words, "I love you." And now he would never get them from Eun Mi. Onew's grip on Jonghyun loosened but his wandering look never withdrew from his face. Jonghyun stared cautiously at him, wondering what his next move might be. After a couple of minutes, Onew returned back to the world and his eyes averted to Jonghyun who never stopped once staring at his hyung.
Onew blinked. He blinked again and again to keep the substance from coming out. "Jonghyun..." But blinking could not solve his problem. He quickly collapsed, his knees hitting the floor with a great thump and tears started to overflow his eyes. It came rushing down as if it were two waterfalls and Onew buried his face in his hands, crying with sound this time. Onew has never liked a girl. Eun Mi was the first one to catch his attention and now she's gone. All gone.
She didn't even tell him if she loved him. She left his life without a goodbye.
"W-w-why am I h-h-urting? W-why does it h-hurt? W-when will this f-feeling be g-gone? W-why..." Onew kept repeating the same thing over and over again, his voice cracking even more and the tears never ending.
Jonghyun sat down next to him and rubbed his back with comfort. "Jinki hyung," he whispered. Onew's eyes met with Jonghyun's eyes. Jonghyun stared back at him, his gaze never leaving Onew. Suddenly, Jonghyun smiled.
"Don't take things too seriously; everything happens for a reason," Jonghyun reassured softly. Onew's clearly audible sobbing calmed down when those words were spoken out to him.
"Do you...hiccup! Really think- hiccup! I'll be- hiccup! Okay in the futu-hiccup! Future?" Onew stuttered. Jonghyun looked down at the floor and shook his head.
"No." The answer made Onew's heart do one more disappointing drop.
"I know you'll be okay. You're Onew; hyung of all dongsaengs. The best there is. You'll surely be dominating the years coming," Jonghyun grinned, showing his cheeky smile. Onew sniffed and wiped a tear from his face.
"I'm... the hyung of all dongsaengs?" he asked.
Jonghyun nodded positively. "Why of course! You're so caring, hyung. You keep the rest of us in order and make sure things don't go too far. If it weren't for Key, I'd think you were the umma of the group," Jonghyun teased, brightening the mood up a little. Onew blinked at him.
"D-d-o I really?"
"Mhmm. Really. 100 percent."
Onew's eyes traveled down to the ground. "That's nice to know..." Onew said in a low, soft voice. Jonghyun sighed and patted Onew's back, giving it a reassuring rub after.
"I've got one thing to cheer you up though."
"What is it?" Onew asked.
A bag appeared in front of Onew's face and it had the familiar aroma of fried white, juicy meat. "Let's eat chicken," Jonghyun announced, opening the bag. Onew furrowed his eyes slightly and scratched his head.
"Chicken?..."
"Yeah, chicken. You're too young to drink as well as I, but hey; we should do something to feel the same hangover alcoholics get, right?" Jonghyun smirked, grabbing a chicken drumstick. Onew blinked at the leg.
"And you love chicken, don't you? Why don't you take your frustration out on eating? Eating helps you forget things. Chicken is a savior sometimes, you know," Jonghyun urged Onew, leaning the drumstick towards Onew. Onew's eyes followed after where the chicken was going and by the time it was in front of his mouth, Onew's lips devoured half the leg.
Jonghyun quickly let go and jerked his hand back, widening his eyes at his hyung. "Whoa. It almost seemed like you were going to eat my hand," Jonghyun sighed, putting a hand on his chest. Onew smiled a little while the leg stuck out from his mouth.
Jonghyun and Onew ate the remaining pieces, as Onew ranted about how girls could be cruel and heartless sometimes. Guys had feelings too, so when will girls ever learn? They only cared about themselves and they take advantage of the ones that truly cared for them. Jonghyun agreed, letting Onew take everything all out.
They ate all the chicken that Jonghyun had bought but it was Onew who ate most of it. After the chicken-eating rant was done, Onew leaned back against the wall and stared at his full stomach. It was a bit fatter than 30 minutes ago. Jonghyun leaned against the wall himself and turned his head to his hyung.
"Was it worth letting go of Eun Mi, Onew hyung?" he asked. Onew blinked at the floor, a blank expression plastered on his face for a while. He didn't answer Jonghyun's question straight away as he was thinking about if it really was worth letting go of her. What would life be without Eun Mi? Would it be better or would be a complete disaster? Will Onew ever be the same again?
Questions stirred in Onew's head, dizzying him and blinding him from reality. Was it really worth letting go that so-called love of your life for the future ahead of you?
After a final thought, Onew turned his head sideways to face Jonghyun. Jonghyun tilted his head to the side as he stared back. Suddenly, Onew's blank face was replaced with a wide eye smile.
"I love chicken." Onew took one chicken bone from the empty box and started to gnaw on it as if the white meat of the chicken was still there. Jonghyun furrowed his eyes at his hyung, surprised and kind of scared by Onew's actions and answer but then relaxed his shoulders as he came to realize what had happened.
A new Onew was born.
----------------
(Flashback end)
"I wasn't the only one who he helped. Our little dongsaeng was also in a situation. When Taemin lost in a dance competition, Jonghyun was the one who, well..."
-----------------
(Flashback)
"And the winner is..." Kids kept their heads down as they waited for the announcer to state the winner, all hearts beating with anticipation. They stood next to each other and waited with each second swiftly passing them. The tension was starting to get to them.
"...Yoon Seung Ah! Give her a round of applause!" Girly shrieks started to bounce around the room, a girl jumping with another girl as she heard her name. She hugged several people until running to the stage, showing the audience how excited she was from winning her first dance contest. She bowed in respect then was offered the microphone to say a couple of words in gratitude.
As she kept talking and as her parents and friends were joyful with how they're little Seung Ah won, several devastated kids were mourning around backstage. Some cried in their mother's arms or some just went on a rampage because they weren't so mentally stable. One kid in particular, watched these kids weep or yell while he remained silent.
It was over. What could he do now? There was no point in crying or whining about winning; it was completely over. The kid who had a mushroom haircut hung his head low. This was his first competition and he screwed it. He knew he shouldn't have taken that risk to do the Stab*. He wasn't ready yet for that; but he did it anyways. He could suddenly feel the big lump in his throat but tried to ignore it.
"Taemin!" The mushroom boy's head snapped into the direction where a familiar voice called out to him. He eyed his friends who were all older than him, respectively called "hyungs". Four boys jogged their way to where Taemin was and they surrounded the boy. One hugged him immediately.
"Omo, Taemin- are you all right? It's okay if you didn't win; there are many other opportunities. You better not be crying okay? You're a big boy. We'll feed you to a nice meal. That'll be better wouldn't it? Come on-"
"Key hyung, it's okay. I'm really fine. You're talking too fast too," Taemin smiled, releasing him from the tight hug Key was giving.
Key gasped.
"Oh my god, it's worse than I expected. He's actually talking back to me! What did this dance competition do to you?!" Key almost yelled, shaking Taemin's shoulders.
"Calm down Key; he just said you were talking too fast," Minho replied, rolling his eyes. Key stared at Minho.
"Exactly. This means he's going to rebel against me sooner or later. Next thing you know he's going to be kicking me out on the streets and not accepting my food! And I cook good!" Key whined, shaking Taemin again.
"Yah! Calm down! He's simply fine, can't you see?" Minho snapped, slapping Key's head. Key shot his head towards Minho.
"Do that again and I won't be giving you anything to eat next time. See how you like it when you got nothing to eat! Pabo!" Minho rolled his eyes at Key's overdramatic act and shrugged back into the shadows.
"Listen Taemin, if you're sad why don't come and eat with us? My mom will take us somewhere to eat. Maybe that'll brighten your day," Onew suggested, smiling at Taemin.
"We're probably going to a chicken place so how is Taemin going to get any better when you're going to eat everything?" Minho asked.
"You and your back talking; I think it's time you are taught a lesson-" Key grabbed Minho's ear and grudgingly forced Minho to come with him out into the audience. The rest of the group paid no attention to them as they kept their eyes on Taemin.
"You wanna come?" Onew asked Taemin. Taemin shook his head and smiled.
"Aniyo. I have to get some things I left here before I go home. Thanks for the invitation, hyung," Taemin smiled again. Onew shrugged.
"If that's what you want. Bye Taemin," Onew waved as he left with Jonghyun. Taemin waved back until they were out of sight and the door was closed. Everyone else went out too, leaving Taemin alone. Taemin's smile stayed on his face until a few moments later where it began to dissolve into a trembling thin line. His eyes began to blur and everything was appearing into smudges of color and nothing else. He looked down and closed his eyes, causing the tears to drop down on the carpeted floor. The tears continued to fall and quiet sobs came out from the mouth of the mushroom-headed boy.
He rubbed his eyes even as the tears kept running down his face. He was a kid; these tears were bound to come. He was glum from the results and these tears were the effect. He kept crying, his shoulders hunching over slightly and his fists covering his teary eyes.
"This is the worst day ever," he mumbled to himself, still crying.
"Now why would it be the worst day ever?"
Taemin quickly looked up, his heart making a flip inside of him to the surprise of finding none other than his Jonghyun hyung in front of him. Jonghyun had his arms folded and cocked his head to the side when looking at Taemin. Taemin blinked at him.
"J-jong hyung..."
"Why is it the worst day ever? Just because you lost in a dance contest? Pfft. That's nothing. Like Key said, there are many other opportunities. You can do so much better there," Jonghyun started.
Taemin blinked at him. "Hyung-"
"Thousands of people all over the world have failed at many things. Cooking, education, Olympics, sports. Many people did not achieve all these things. They failed once, maybe twice but they never stopped trying. Practice, a wise man had said, makes perfect. So why can't Taemin stop crying and practice because he'll be better than before? Why can't Taemin put his head up high and show these idiots what they're missing out on? Huh? I think Taemin can do that. Taemin can do anything, can't he? He can do anything."
After hearing what Jonghyun had to say, Taemin immediately burst into tears again and this time Jonghyun came over to hug Taemin. Jonghyun chuckled. "I really wasn't expecting you crying again," Jonghyun admitted, patting Taemin's back.
"I-I w-w-will pp-practice more... I-I will..." Taemin trailed off. Jonghyun smiled broadly.
"That's my dongsaeng."
----------------
(Flashback end)
''Key and Minho still didn't like Jonghyun. From what I knew, Key thought he was an obnoxious imbecile who didn't know how to do anything. Minho thought he was just plain stupid. Jonghyun tried very hard to win their trust, but nothing could be succeeded. However, that didn't stop Jonghyun from trying. When Key was in a serious fight with a couple of bullies when he was 10, it was Jonghyun who had saved the day. Being Jonghyun and having the disadvantage of being short, he was hit a couple of times and ended up wounded a bit. Key never thought it would be Jonghyun who would help in any circumstances but he was proved wrong. He took care of Jonghyun when he was hurt..."
-----------------
(Flashback)
"Get up." A boy in bed covered with a blanket and bandages on his face slowly turned his eyes towards a boy who stood in front of him. The boy was holding a plate of food and an unexpressive look lay on his face. The boy in bed had nothing else to do but to get up. He got up, his arms resting weakly against the pillow below him.
The boy with the plate of food sat down next to him, barely making any eye contact. He took the fork and dug into the food. He scooped up some kimchi first and held it out in front of the weak boy's eyes. The weak boy opened his mouth and the food went in there, the vegetable and flavor hitting the boy's taste buds. He chewed slowly, his focus entirely on the boy in front of him.
The boy who was feeding him avoided the constant staring he was given and kept looking at either the plate of food or the floor. After that fight, he wasn't able to look at him at all. After three more spoonfuls of kimchi, they made their way to bibimbap. The boy fed the weak boy for a while and no comment came out from either one of them.
The weak boy kept gawking at the boy in front of him, wondering when his first words will come out of his mouth.
He wondered what this boy had to say. Yet, the boy barely made eye contact let alone spoke. The bibimbap slowly started to finish off from the plate and by the time they knew it, the plate was empty. The boy with the plate started to get off from the bed, turning his back towards the boy in bed. As he got up, the boy in bed cleared his throat.
"So what did my mom say?" he asked.
The boy who had his back turned didn't respond. The boy in bed raised an eyebrow. "Key. What did my mom say?" he asked again.
"Your mom said she'll come after to get you after she gets off from the train. She was busy with something but sooner or later, she'll come and get you." The kid nodded slowly. After Key had put the plate back onto the table behind him, he turned around to face the kid in bed.
There was a drawn-out staring contest between the two; blinking included. Suddenly, Key gave out a deep sigh. "That was um, really brave of you to um, help me Jonghyun," Key finally mentioned. The boy in bed, known as Jonghyun shrugged.
"Anyone could have done it; I took that route just to help you," Jonghyun claimed. Key sheepishly looked down, digging his foot onto the rug on the floor. Jonghyun nodded once to himself as he leaned back in Key's bed. Key's mother was out getting a special ointment for Jonghyun so his wounds would be healed a bit faster. Key was instructed to take care of Jonghyun since he wasn't as hurt as much. And since then, the awkwardness has been getting more uncomfortable each second.
Key kept looking at the ground as Jonghyun drummed his fingers on the blanket. The only sound that was heard was Jonghyun's drumming fingers and kids playing outside. And then, almost too suddenly, Key bowed down in front of Jonghyun. Jonghyun's eyes laid on Key and his eyes enlarged.
"Mm...mianhae," Key mumbled.
"What?" Jonghyun asked, suppressing a smile from his face.
Key sighed shortly as he closed his eyes. "Mianhae. And thank you."
Jonghyun's stifled smile had a difficult time staying back but it finally widened into a wide grin. "I was wondering when I was going to get that."
Key got up from his 90 degrees bow with a look of contempt on his face. "Yah. Don't get so cocky, Kim Jonghyun."
Jonghyun started to laugh, his laughter drumming Key's eardrums and soon enough, Key started to laugh along too.
This laugh started the close relationship between these two complete opposites who are known as Key and Jonghyun.
-----------------
(Flashback end)
"Minho was always the smart one and athletic one. He did something wrong though. Something that caused suspension for him. And we were in grade school so it looks like he did something pretty bad. Everyone spread rumors that he probably mooned a teacher or went in some room that was prohibited. I never knew though. He never talked about it. Anyway, it was obviously wasn't good for him but he couldn't do a thing. Before he could get suspension, Jonghyun went to the principal and suggested Minho do something else..."
------------------
(Flashback)
Minho rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes for a while. He heard the scattering of shoes pass him and the quiet mumblings of kids and teachers. He didn't like the fact he was here. In this specific place. He was close by it, actually.
The principal's office. As much as disliked it, he had to be here. It wasn't a choice; it was an order. He had to go to the principal's office for doing something wrong. It has been a couple of days from doing it and today was the day he had to discuss his punishment with the principal. He shut his eyes tighter and shook his head slightly. He didn't want to think about it; the thing he did wrong. He wanted it to stay away from his head. He kept his eyes shut close and stood nearby the principal's office, waiting when his name would be called out to go in there.
A minute passed. Two minutes had passed. Three minutes. Four minutes. A minute later and Minho opened his eyes. He furrowed his eyes. Why wasn't the principal calling him in? Is he supposed to stand here for the rest of his life? He looked back at the secretary who was oblivious that Minho was a few feet away from her and was still standing there for more than five minutes now.
Before Minho could ask the secretary if he was allowed to go in, he heard muffled voices inside the office. He tilted his head to the side and walked closer to the door, putting an ear on it to hear well.
"...he deserves to do something before suspension. He needs to do something like service around the school! Then Minho does not have to get suspended."
"What would he do around the school so he wouldn't have to get suspended, Jonghyun?"
"...um... well... I don't know. I thought you would come up with it but it shouldn't be too bad."
"I know Jonghyun; schools don't give cruel punishment."
"But then what about homework?"
"You're getting off topic, Jonghyun."
"Oh yeah. Um, anyway Minho should be able to do something around the school. I don't want Minho to get suspended. He wouldn't be the same again. Minho is a very smart guy and maybe- oh! I know! Maybe he should do like some workbook problems! That's enough punishment! Right?"
"...okay Jonghyun. I'll see what I can do. Minho won't get suspended. Now can you please leave?"
Minho's expression turned stony and his ear moved away from the door. He moved away from the door and thought over what he had just heard. Jonghyun, a guy he had no respect for had given him the chance to stay in school and not get suspended. Minho covered his mouth with his hand and rubbed his chin. Why did he do that? Why did Jonghyun stand up for Minho? The primary question was: why?
Suddenly, the door swung open and out came a pleased Jonghyun. He waved bye to the principal who reluctantly waved back and then he closed the door. Jonghyun started to walk but bumped into Minho, who turned his head before Jonghyun could take a good look at it. "Oh! Mianhae." Jonghyun bowed down in apology and then went back to his class.
Minho lowered his head and scratched it awkwardly, thinking once again about the conversation.
He didn't go to the principal's office after that.
A few days later, gym class was taken place outside in the yard with two different classes. Two captains were chosen to pick their teams so they could start their soccer tournament. The majority of the class chose Minho as captain.
He stood in front of the remaining kids who were waiting to be chosen. His finger traveled along various heads until landing on one boy who was sitting on the ground unlike all the other kids who were jumping up and down with their hands raised high. The boy was looking at the ground, uninterested and bored.
"Jonghyun." Jonghyun's head quickly shot up with his eyes widened. He pointed at himself.
"Me?" he squeaked. Minho nodded, gesturing his finger for him to come over on his side. Jonghyun couldn't be happier to oblige. he quickly got up from the floor and ran over to Minho's side, standing face to face with Minho. Minho looked down at him with an expressionless look in his eye. Suddenly, he smirked.
"You better be good or you'll be called short for the rest of your life."
------------------
(Flashback end)
"To you, he may seem like an idiot. An aggressive, corrupted, abnormal bastard who's ignorant and foolish. You and almost everyone else who thinks that are wrong. He isn't like that at all. He appears like it, acts like it, but he isn't. He cares for people. He just shows it by being insensitive, but we all know he cares.
Second year of intermediate school. It was great beginning for all of us. We were all in the same classes except Taemin. He was a first year. We had the same lunch period and did the same stuff like all the time. We are all better together now that we all liked one another. Nobody changed. Everyone was like how they were before. Everything was perfect.
That is, until a certain girl came along in Jonghyun's life that changed almost everything. He had a crush on that girl ever since he was a first year. She was one year older. She was one of those girls; smart, sweet and pretty. Her name was Lee Hyun Ae. She had an effect on Jonghyun and it changed his perspective towards life. Lee Hyun Ae was the reason why he became a playboy. And now I'll explain how."

Stab*: breakdance move