aversion | bbangnyu

21

"Chanhee," Yeri called out, trying to get the boy's attention. He had invited her over after school, but the second they walked through the door he had been utterly engrossed in his phone. Pushing herself up into a sitting position on the elder's bed, Yeri took a deep breath before trying once again, "Choi Chanhee!"

Looking up from his phone with wide eyes, Chanhee let out a small hum, "What is it?"

"You invited me over just to stare at your phone," she grumbled before getting up only to sit on the floor next to the boy. "What are you even doing?"

"Nothing."

Not giving the boy any time to react, Yeri reached over and snatched the device from his hands. A gasp echoed through the room as she examined the screen. "You've been texting Younghoon this whole time! You're such a traitor!"

"We're just talking...I don't know how that is being a traitor."

"Chanhee you're choosing to text him instead of hang out with me." She glanced over the texts before muttering, "Are you two a thing or something?"

Taking his phone back, he quickly shook his head. "Why would you even ask me that?" He grumbled.

Yeri's head fell to the side as she looked at the boy in disbelief. "You're going pottery painting with him this weekend!"

"No—we're deciding between going to the museum downtown or pottery painting."

"Oh so just like a date?"

"It's not a fucking date!"

Yeri crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. "You and Younghoon are going to spend a whole day together going places where couples would normally go—please give me one good reason why I shouldn't think this is a date."

"Oh I don't know...the fact Younghoon doesn't like boys!" Chanhee hissed.

"Yeah...keep telling yourself that..." the girl whispered.

"What?"

Pulling her legs up against her body, Yeri shrugged. "I just think that Younghoon cares about you too much for it to be normal."

"That doesn't even make sense, Yeri."

A silence fell over the two as Yeri carefully thought about what she wanted to say next. "In class last week—the reason I could kinda tolerate him is because in biology—these stupid boys were saying stupid shit about you and Younghoon got them to shut up. It's just...the way he talks about you, Chanhee. I will always defend you—you know that, but the way he cares about you just feels so different than the way I do...because I'm not in love with you."

Reaching out to place a hand over the girl's mouth, Chanhee shook his head once again. "You could've gone without saying love," he muttered.

"I don't know much about Younghoon, but there's a big difference in the way he treats you and the way he treats his friends."

"I just think you're crazy." 

✨✨✨

"Chanhee, I think you're really cool. I like you."

"Chanhee...I think you're really cute and I like your height—no that one doesn't sound right."

"I like you a lot, Chanhee, I think I want to date you."

A dramatic sigh fell from Younghoon's lips as he threw the basketball he had been holding in front of his face. He had been standing in the middle of the school gymnasium practicing how he wanted to tell the boy about his feelings, but all of his ideas just made him sound like a stalker.

Jogging across the court to retrieve the basketball, he mumbled, "just think—think of something to say..."

His whole life, Younghoon had not once confessed his feelings to anybody. Sure he had tons of girlfriends in middle school, but he was never the one to make the first move. Now that the metaphorical ball was in his court, he suddenly forgot how to play.

"Chanhee, you're the only person that makes me happy. I really l—no that one is just creepy..." he whispered as he shot the basketball from the half court line. "you make me happy but you're not like the only thing that's ever made me happy. Like it's not like a I can't live without you type of situation. But I like you. Ok that one is just really long..."

"Choi Chanhee—ok no last name. Chanhee, you have...you're...when I'm with you I forget how shitty everything else is, you're the first person that's ever cared about me and...and—god I can't do this!" 

Kicking the air in frustration, Younghoon lost his balance and almost found himself on the wooden flooring. "I don't have the words for this..." he whispered before walking over to retrieve the basketball once again.

As he held the ball in his hands, a small smile flickered across his face while he recalled the time he tried to teach Chanhee how to play basketball. The boy truly was truly the worst at the sport, but Younghoon was just happy he agreed to try it. 

Chanhee made Younghoon feel as if somebody truly cared; moreover, the boy made him happy. Of course he had a good time with his friends, but he never had fun like he did with Chanhee. Everything was so different with the younger. 

Things actually made sense when he was with Chanhee. He didn't have to worry about saying the wrong thing or not fitting in with them. Chanhee accepted Younghoon for who he was and never made him feel like he needed to change.

Nothing felt right unless he was next to Chanhee. And that was why Younghoon felt as if he needed to share his feelings.

———

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