✓LOVER BOY | hwang hyunjin

13. Florid

Lunch period brought forth the whole of school in the cafeteria hall. Yeseul could barely breathe in that tightening crevice, so as soon as the plate of hers was fixed with a sandwich and apple juice, she rushed out of the hall, towards the garden where Hyunjin and Jeongin had saved her a seat.

The sky was richly blue. Clouds were barely hanging down, making the campus brightly lit by the August warmth. Yeseul mindlessly walked down the gravel, her eyes admiring the flower beds flourishing in their deepest hues of growth. As she neared the growing creepers against the walls, her eyes met Jeongin and Hyunjin, who were busy laughing in the shaded place, sitting on the cement ledge. Yeseul found a smile growing out of her lips. She quickened her pace.

"Good afternoon." The greeting interrupted their conversation. Both looked up, happy by the presence of their friend.

"Yeseul! We almost thought you'd bunk us." Jeongin joked, taking a sip from his shake.

"Too bad there were barely any empty places. Otherwise I might have thought of doing that." Yeseul sighed, taking a seat beside Hyunjin.

"We were just talking about you." Hyunjin pushed forward a teasing gaze. Yeseul scoffed.

"What was it about?"

"Hyung, do you think we should tell her about it?"

Yeseul felt her ears turn warm when Hyunjin shifted in his seat to look at her, taking a moment to think. "Don't you think she'll be mad, as usual?"

"Hwang Hyunjin." Yeseul shook her head, hair falling over her cheeks that were sprawled over with a blush. "You prove that you aren't a good friend. Talking about others behind their backs. That's such a loser act." She pierced her juice box with the straw, taking a deep sip, the sour coldness satisfying her tastebuds.

"But Yeseul," He pushed the piece of hair that obfuscated Yeseul's face, behind her ear. The girl couldn't explain why her heart sped under the touch of his fingertips. She slightly recoiled.

"What?"

"You gave me a hard time by taking my glasses." Hyunjin chuckled at the confusion lacing her face.

"I never took your glasses." Her eyes slowly moved down from Hyunjin's face, towards the dangling glasses that hung down from his shirt.

"Are you sure about that?" Hyunjin pulled the glasses, holding it in front of her.

"Yeseul, think harder. Hyunjin was almost beat up by the girls he kept walking in like a drunk log."

"Jeongin, drunk log is a bad metaphor." Hyunjin glanced at the boy. He in return sipped aggressively at the almost empty banana milk.

"Wait. You were the one who took my glasses!" Yeseul pushed a palm on her mouth. "Hyunjin, do you know the amount of problems I faced because of your blurry glasses?"

Hyunjin blinked. "What?"

Jeongin snorted.

"What was that note that you left me?" Yeseul narrowed her eyes at the boy.

"Bro. What in the dictionary of accusations?" Hyunjin mumbled under his breath.

"You left me a note, calling my glasses ugly, although we have the same frame."

"No, I didn't?" Yeseul was confused, and so was the accused boy. A moment of silence passed over them. Hyunjin slowly looked at Jeongin, who was suddenly very quiet.

"Jeongin. Do you have anything to say?"

Jeongin shook his head. "No."

"Jeongin. Why did you write that note?"

Yeseul pulled the crumpled paper from her pocket, opening it up. She handed it to Hyunjin. His eyes scanned the paper. "Do you recognize the handwriting?"

Hyunjin put his arm around Jeongin's neck. "You dare lie to me?"

Yeseul shook her head, getting busy in eating her untouched sandwich. She leaned back in the cold wall, eyes watching the ground.

"Hyung, your round, thick rimmed and transparent glasses are ugly." Jeongin tapped at the tight hold of the boy, mimicking his description. Hyunjin wasn't impressed. He held him even tighter.

"You made me look like a fool. Die, you disloyal peasant."

"Hey." Yeseul elbowed Hyunjin. He recoiled away from the red faced Jeongin who fell down, gasping. "Easy, tough boy. You'll kill him for real."

"That's what I intend on doing."

Yeseul looked displeased. She poked Hyunjin's wounded arm. "Stop bullying, Jeongin."

"Ow! What the hell, Yeseul?" Hyunjin held his arm close.

The girl tried standing up from her seat, but the boy was quick to put his arm in front of her. Yeseul blinked, her heart frantically beating in her chest, but the boy was unaware of it. His face was too close. "Not too quick."

"What are you doing?"

"Apologize to me. Otherwise I'm not leaving you." He looked at her smugly. Yeseul could feel the closeness turn her ears warm.

"You hurt Jeongin. I'm not apologizing. You apologize to him."

Hyunjin glanced at the beaming guy. "Sorry, Jeongin. I should have treated you better."

"You're good, Hyung. But can I eat your lunch?"

Hyunjin ignored him. "Okay. Now you say sorry for intentionally poking at my wound."

Yeseul had no other ways to get out of the place. Giving in, she sighed, looking up in Hyunjin's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you blushing so hard?" He teased, his voice barely a whisper.

"I'm not."

"You totally are." Hyunjin smiled, the breeze rustling through the creepers. Yeseul felt the gaze on her melt her down. She gave in, leaning closer, their noses almost grazing against each other. Hyunjin felt a skip in his chest. He swallowed, trying hard not to back up. Yeseul stopped, eyes not breaking the contact.

"Two friends behind the bushes. They might kiss." Jeongin sang, snickering.

Yeseul smiled at the boy when he pulled himself away.

"You're weird."

"Sure, Sherlock." She walked away, her hand resting on her chest, the smile she wasn't aware of spilling out.

"Hyung. Are you blushing?"