aversion | bbangnyu

15

"Hey," Younghoon said as he leaned over Chanhee's desk, interrupting the conversation him and Yeri were having.

Yeri's eyebrows furrowed together when she heard the elder. She wasn't quite sure why he felt like he needed to be apart of anything her and Chanhee did. And to be frank, she really didn't understand the newly formed friendship between him and Chanhee. "What do you want?"

"Yeri..." Chanhee started. Over the past week, the tension between Yeri and Younghoon had grown. Chanhee felt more like a parent than a friend when he was with both of them at the same time. "Can you stop starting fights with him?"

"No."

"You can just say you're jealous of me it's okay."

A quiet sigh fell from Chanhee's lips as he listened to the two bicker about who was the better friend. Even though he cared about both of them respectively, he felt like a month long friendship was no comparison to one of four years. But he ultimately decided to let them figure that out themselves.

"I'm prettier than you, why would I be jealous!" Yeri hissed.

"Chanhee has more fun with me."

"Well you're ugly, Younghoon."

Younghoon let out a dramatic huff, "why do you keep bringing looks into this?"

"Guys," Chanhee started gently as he inserted himself in the argument, "do you want to know what you could do to make you both good friends?"

"What?" The two snapped simultaneously.

Younghoon realized how rude his tone sounded and quickly apologized to the boy. "I didn't mean to...I'm sorry, yes I do want to know."

"Suck up..." Yeri groaned.

Rolling his eyes, Chanhee wondered how he ended up in such a situation. His life was somewhat normal only a month ago now he had to deal with two people constantly arguing over him. "If you two got along it would make me so happy."

Yeri scoffed, "I will never ever get along with him."

"Hm...not even for the sake of Chanhee? Doesn't sound like you're the better friend to me..." Younghoon said softly, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Will you guys just shut up!"

✨✨✨

"Chanhee—are you doing anything after school?"

Chanhee finished zipping up his backpack before looking up at Younghoon. The elder was standing in front of him, his backpack already on while he played with the straps anxiously. "No...I don't think I have anything to do."

"Do you maybe want to go out—hang out? Like go get coffee or something?"

"Sure," he responded, a small smile forming on his face.

The two walked through the hallways together as Younghoon fidgeted with the strings of his backpack like a child about to start their first day of school. It almost surprised Chanhee how nervous and gentle Younghoon seemed to be when he wasn't around anybody else, especially Yeri.

"I can drive," Chanhee proposed, breaking the tense silence between them, "so we don't have to take who different cars."

Younghoon nodded, "I'll just put my bag in my car then..."

✨✨✨

"What are your plans after graduation?" Chanhee asked softly from where he was seated across from Younghoon in a small coffee shop, "I think it's going the be here a lot faster than we realize."

Younghoon slipped the drink in his hand, wincing when the liquid burned his tongue. He opened his mouth just a bit and took a long breath, trying to cool down the scolding burns on his tongue. "Just a second..." he whispered.

The younger watched in amusement as Younghoon got up to ask the barista for a cup of ice water before hurrying back to the table.

"You're quite dramatic, huh?" Chanhee asked as the boy sipped the cup of water slowly.

"It hurt..." Younghoon pouted before finally setting down his drink. "Anyway, to answer your question...I'm not really sure. But I guess I've always liked the idea of being a nurse."

A smile spread across Chanhee's lips when he heard the elder's answer. "You want to be a nurse?" He asked softly.

"I know I'd have to take chemistry in college and that's a lot of math...but I like to take care of people." Younghoon frowned when he realized how quickly his future was hurtling towards him. "I've never told anybody about that...it'll probably turn out to be nothing more than a childish dream."

"I think you could do it," Chanhee spoke sincerely, "if that's really your dream...you should go for it."

Drinking more of his water, Younghoon shrugged. "My parents want me to play basketball in college so I have a one in a million chance of getting scouted...and there's no way I could handle both of those," he explained quietly, finally realizing how critical the decision being taken from him actually was.

"I think I can say from experience that children are meant disappoint their parents. No matter how hard we try, we can never be their idea of a perfect kid."

Younghoon took a deep breath as he listened to Chanhee, his words resonating a little too deeply. "It's hard though—knowing you're not up to their expectations."

"My older brother—him and his wife don't want kids, so when my dad found out the only person left to carry on the family name was gay...it wasn't a fun time. But eventually he realized the happiness of his children was more important than anything else," Chanhee rambled, "so even if your parents don't agree with the choice you make, they'll come around. And if they don't—well I don't think they're good parents."

Younghoon laughed at the way Chanhee spoke so passionately. He was thankful for the boy's words, as they definitely made him think about what decisions he would soon have to make.

The two continued to talk about future plans as they finished their drinks. Even after the cups were long empty, they stayed, enjoying the other's presence.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm just letting you know we close in ten minutes," one of the baristas said sweetly as she walked up to their table.

Finally looking around the coffee shop, Chanhee realized they were the last customers there. Even the sun outside had long decided to return to its slumber, leaving the two completely alone together.

"I guess I should get you back..." Chanhee said regretfully.

The elder nodded, a melancholic feeling washing over him as they had to say goodbye to such a perfect night.

✨✨✨

Chanhee pulled up next to Younghoon's car in the school parking lot and giggled when he looked over at the passenger seat. Younghoon had fallen asleep on the ride over, his body slumped to one side of the seat.

"Younghoon..." Chanhee said softly as he poked the sleeping boy's arm, "Younghoon."

After a few seconds of calling his name, the elder's eyes fluttered open. "What?" He hummed before raising one of his fists to rub his eyes.

"You fell asleep, we're at the school now."

Waking up just a little bit more, Younghoon looked around and noticed they were in fact in the school parking lot. He let out an embarrassed laugh, "sorry..."

"Are you fine to drive home? Don't want you falling asleep on the way."

"I'll be fine," the elder responded quietly. He unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the car, not wanting to make the boy wait any longer. Before he closed the door, he peaked his back inside and said, "I had a good time...we should go out again sometime."

Clambering into the drivers seat of his own car, Younghoon watched as Chanhee drove away in his rear view mirror.

"Hang out..." he whispered to himself as he recalled the words he just said to Chanhee. 

———

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