aversion | bbangnyu

9

"Hey," Yeri said softly as she let herself into Chanhee's room, "Your mom let me in."

The boy was sitting in the center of his bed, random textbooks and papers spread all around him. With a sigh, he set down his pencil and looked up at the girl expectantly.

"I was sad earlier so I tried to go shopping but then I saw this candle I knew you would've liked then I was crying in the middle of the aisle," Yeri explained as she set a small candle down on the table next to Chanhee's bed. "I'm sorry," she admitted softly.

A small smile formed on Chanhee's lips before he reached out to grab the candle and smell it. "I do like it..." he whispered, almost using those words as a way to say it's okay.

Yeri moved a few of the books and sat down next to him. "I shouldn't have said anything about your love life Chanhee. I know it's harder for you...especially in our school."

"It's okay," the boy spoke, forcing a smile on his lips, "And I'm sorry too—all that matters to me is whether you're happy or not and if that's with Hyunjae then I just have to accept that."

Yeri squeezed her eyes shut and let out a harsh breath. "You we're right..." she whispered so quietly Chanhee almost couldn't  hear her words.

"I'm sorry, what?" the boy asked, a small smile forming on his lips.

"You we're right," she said again just a little louder this time, "Hyunjae doesn't care about me...and I'd rather have you over him any day."

Squeezing his eyes shut, Chanhee brought a hand up to fan himself. "Why do you have to come and say such sweet shit, Yerim?"

Yeri lunged forward and wrapped her arms around the boy, trapping him in her grasp. "You're my soulmate, Chanhee, I don't need anybody else!" She teased as she tried to kiss him.

"Oh my god!" The boy screeched as he tried to push the girl away from him, "You're the reason I don't like girls!"

A laugh slipped out of the girl, "I think there's a lot more to that than just me..."

"Maybe..."

"Did you go to the game last night?" Yeri asked as she let the boy go and laid down next to him.

He nodded, "I wasn't sure if I was going to go without you...but then Younghoon actually told me to go."

"Why would you listen to that jerk?"

"He said it was the last game before I graduated and I thought that was a good point."

A small pout formed on Yeri's lips, "We missed our last game together..."

"That just means we're not allowed to fight anymore," Chanhee said softly which caused the girl to nod wildly in agreement. 

✨✨✨

"Congratulations on winning the game," Younghoon's father said flatly as his son walked past his office.

The boy froze when he heard his father's words. He wasn't quite sure if the man was sincere or if he was simply mocking Younghoon.

"Come in here."

Following orders, Younghoon slowly walked into his father's office and stood in front of his desk. His eyes were glued to his feet, too scared to make eye contact with the man.

"I've talked to many administrators this morning, a lot of colleges want you, Younghoon," the man spoke.

Younghoon nodded, "I was told there were a lot of scouts in the the crowd."

"Since you won last nights game, you can have the rest of the week off from practicing. But so you don't lose your skills, I expect you to keep practicing every morning and night until you're on a college team."

Younghoon frowned at the man's words. He hadn't enjoyed basketball for years and just the thought of having to play it in college made him want to cry. He truly didn't care how many offers he got, it would never change his mind. "Sir?"

His father's eyes snapped up in irritation when he heard something other than a mere yes sir. "What is it?" He hissed.

Taking a deep breath, Younghoon worked up the courage to speak out against his father's wishes. "What if I don't want to play in college?"

A loud laugh echoed through the room. "You do what I say, Younghoon, is that clear?"

"Yes sir."

"If you ever feel like speaking out against me again, I will not be so kind. I am the reason for your success and I expect nothing from respect from you."

"Yes sir," Younghoon almost whispered before leaving the room as quickly as he could.

There was a frown on the boy's lips while he tried his hardest not to cry. He quickly left his father's office and went to the safety of his own room.

"He doesn't listen to a word I say..." Younghoon muttered as he rummaged through his backpack for the math homework he needed to finish. 

As he sat down and took one look at his assignment, the boy just broke down. Not understanding logarithms normally wouldn't make Younghoon cry, but that plus eighteen years of pent up anger towards his father was just enough to cause a breakdown.

He threw his notebook across his room as hard as he could before face planting into his bed. Younghoon cried and cried into his pillow muttering about how much he hated math from time to time. 

The first person that Younghoon thought about in his melancholic state was the same person he couldn't get out of his head any other moment of the day. It wasn't any girl he had a crush on, it was the boy he saw every day in math class, Choi Chanhee. And for the first time he wished Chanhee was sitting right next to him, helping him with his homework.

Chanhee had been the first person that helped Younghoon without first trying to help themselves. Even if that had been as small as giving him a bandaid, it was still the first time Younghoon felt like somebody had cared.

———

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