golden boy

chapter 9

"here! he's here," a tall blonde girl called out and walked to jisung's desk the next day. he recognised her as one of the girls who wanted to hang out with minho. suddenly, the second one, shorter and a little stout, came up to them.

"um, hi? sup?," jisung greeted flatly. he didn't know what they might want but he didn't care. the sooner they spit it out, the sooner they'd get out of his face.

"you really think you can hang out with minho oppa now, huh?," jinri snarkily started. jisung couldn't help but giggle. so this was about minho? ridiculous.

"i don't think you can tell me what to do. neither me, nor your oppa," the boy countered, mirroring her attitude.

"you're just a filthy faggot who will never ever manage to get on a level high enough to lick the sole of his shoe," she hissed and jisung cocked his head up higher, "how dare you act like you could get with minho?"

"how is that any of your business-"

"it is because you have no right to pull him down into your messes," the small girl interrupted through gritted teeth.

"yes. minho doesn't belong to the trash like you," beatrice joined in and took a sip of something that looked like wine from a big straw.

jisung licked his lips distractedly, waiting for the wind to blow over him so he could continue his day.

"keep your dirty hands off him, nasty worm," beatrice started again and let out a frustrated groan when she realised the boy wasn't listening. a group was already forming around the trio.

"hey, are you listening, freak," jinri shouted and picked up the straw from bea's drink, then shook it off onto jisung frantically.

the boy jumped up, looking down at the purple dots that sparkled on his pearl white shirt. his face scrunched in annoyance and he exhaled sharply like a horse and the two girls took a step back. jisung passed by them on his way out.

he went to the restroom and took off his shirt to attempt to wash it in the sink. it was probably grape juice, but the stains didn't go away. his entire shirt was wet but the stupid liquid was permanently tattooed on the fabric.

minho saw the last part of the conversation but he didn't go after jisung because he didn't want to anger him, nor provoke any more talk about the scene. everyone was talking about it as if it was a funny joke though and that bothered him a lot.

~

"just because i got punished by your faithful guard dogs doesn't mean you have the upper hand now," jisung instructed minho who was just getting out into the terrace later on.

"i'm sorry that happened. i didn't know anyone would do that.."

"i believe you," jisung took a tug of a cigarette, "you seem keen on keeping your secret intact. you wouldn't risk sending them after me."

"it didn't wash out, did it?," the taller asked instead of replying, looking at the wet shirt that was sticking to the boy's entire body. he looked so muscular that minho wondered if it was just the lighting or if he looked so good topless too.

"no. it won't. and i asked the responsible teacher if i could go around in my p.e. clothes today because my shirt's wet. he said no way," jisung giggled, "i would still do it but i can't get dresscoded again."

"at least.. put on a blazer. that way you won't be so cold," minho instructed with a worried expression, "sorry, this is my fault."

"no, it honestly isn't," the shorter returned with a smile. he didn't seem fazed by the entire situation, "i've seen you talk to those girls and you aren't encouraging them. they're just delusional and i did go overboard last time. problem is, i was stupid enough to get my uniform wet," he chuckled lightheartedly.

"just put your jacket on. they can't mind that.."

"yet they do," jisung pointed out in a matter-of-fact voice, "once i was hungover last semester and had my own cardigan on top of the uniform because i was cold and i got a warning. thankfully, this semester i've only been dresscoded once so far.."

"really? you get dress coded? but.. i haven't seen you without the uniform?"

"yeah, but once i swapped the buttons for turquoise ones, another time i had very faint highlights in my hair and i.. may have tried to come with hairclips once..," the shorter giggled and saw the other's look of interest.

"there's a higher tolerance for people whose parents have sponsored the school, i guess," he explained, then added, lifting his shoulders, "it's totally legit, i can't argue with that.."

minho thought about hyunjin's accessories, piercings and his dyed hair. he had never heard the words 'breaking of the dress code' before. why did this guy, wet to the bone in this chilly weather, have to suck it up in order to respect the rules?"

"did you tell mr kang that you're wet?"

"yes. but i need to preserve the uniformity of the student body first and ensure the unity of the troops of students, all equally eager for knowledge, etc, etc," jisung giggled. minho rolled his eyes, "you see now why yall are funny to me? it would've cost him nothing to let me put on something dry."

"i get you, yes.."

"and on top of that i don't have any cigarettes left."

"i can help with that," minho put his bag on the floor and kneeled next to it, "that is, if you want a green one.."

"eh.. it'll do. thanks, pretty boy, you know how to lift up a guy's mood," the shorter's laugh chimed like a bell. he took the joint and put it in his mouth, where minho watched it, pressed between the thin rosy lips that inhaled it avidly, "why do you carry them if you never smoke them yourself?"

"oh, i might as well.. on my way home. or i'd make mr song drop me off somewhere else. it's pleasant to hang out, even if i'm by myself."

"i agree. i'd much rather hang out on my own than with begonia and jilly," jisung laughed and took a long tug, then leaned back.

"begonia and jilly," the taller chuckled and sat down, "you're not too shaken by the events?"

"no. if i pay attention to every bastard i'll never have time to just sit back and relax. or do english projects. and the things they said were ridiculous. i might as well laugh about it, instead of complain."

minho nodded and saw the other get up for class, and couldn't help but admire how handsome the boy looked as he watched him bend down to take his bag.

"thanks for the company, see you later, pretty boy," jisung raised a hand and flashed a big smile. minho's eyes sent him off all the way to his window until a smile appeared on his face.