Faint Whispers

Chapter 8

Luhan had been avoiding him. During lunch break the next day, Sehun couldn't find Luhan at his usual spot where he eats. He only finds other people taking up the space. He searched the whole cafeteria but no Luhan. He thought that was skipping lunch to avoid the risk of having to see him. To Sehun, it's a stupid decision. But the most important that Sehun is facing right now is that Kris isn't in the cafeteria too.

"Who are you looking for?" Chanyeol asked him with food in his mouth.

"No one." Sehun said and continued searching for him.

"Sit down and eat, we're going to play basketball later." Kai told him.

"Sorry guys, not today." Sehun said and left.

Dumping his food into the rubbish bin (much to his gang's surprise), he walked up the stairs. He wanted to find out.

"You sure you don't want eat lunch?" Kris asked him for the umpteen time.

Luhan closed his History book and sighed. Then he looked up at Kris's worried face.

"I'm sure." He said.

"You don't usually skip lunch, Lu. What's wrong?" Kris sat on the seat beside his.

The two of them are alone at the back of the classroom. The only noise pollution is at the front, where some of the classmates were gossiping about the latest news and using their phones.

"It's nothing really..." Luhan mumbled.

"Why? Is it about your father again?" Kris asked.

"No...He's fine. It's just...It isn't time for you to know yet, Kris." Luhan looked down.

"I see. Alright." Kris said.

Sehun is a very critical topic between them. Luhan never told Kris about Sehun's love for him. Because he feared the worst, like Chen said. He doesn't want unwanted attention, let alone them being love rivals. It's best to keep him in the dark.

"Why not I get you some snacks?" Kris asked.

"No. I'm fine. Really." Luhan said.

"But hyung..." Kris looked at him worriedly.

Luhan hates it. He hates it when someone pities him. He took a breath.

"Kris. If you're hungry, go eat yourself. I'll be fine. I'll be right here studying. Okay?" Luhan said.

Kris pondered for a while before nodding. "Alright. See you." He stood up and turned to the door.

As he exited the back door, he stopped when he saw Sehun there. He looked at him weirdly. Sehun avoided his gaze while Kris continued his journey to the cafeteria, not thinking much. After Kris left, Sehun watched as Luhan wrote down notes diligently. He watched everything. When Luhan pursed his lips, when he sighs, when he frowns, when he smiles slightly. He missed his smile, and he don't think he would get Luhan to do that again just for him.

When Kris came back, Sehun was still there, staring into the transparent window panes. Curious, he approached the younger.

"What are you doing here?" Kris asked.

"Get out of my way Kris." Sehun said.

"This is my class. Why are you staring into it?" Kris asked and looked in. He saw Luhan writing notes and looked back at Sehun.

"You aren't admiring him, are you?" Kris asked.

"You are ridiculous but..." Sehun said and took out a keychain from his pocket. "..give this to him." He handed it to Kris and walked away.

Kris stared after him. After Sehun turned a corner, he looked at the keychain. It then hit him. It's the keychain him and Luhan searched for two days ago. How did Sehun had it in his possession? How is Luhan related to him? But he decided to keep the questions and the keychain to himself. He somehow have the feeling that this has to do with everything.

After school, Kris and Luhan walked to the gates together. Up till now, Kris hadn't told him anything about the keychain nor about Sehun. Kris and Sehun know each other through a project that involves the first and senior year students to have a charity event just a few days ago. Luhan didn't tell Kris about him and Sehun, nor to Sehun about him and Kris. Sehun just knew because they knew each other very well.

"See you tomorrow." Luhan smiled at him. Kris came back to reality and looked at him.

"Yeah." Kris said and watched him leave.

Luhan walked to work slowly. He isn't ready to meet the restaurant yet, because Sehun is in. He isn't ready meet him yet. All thoughts disappeared when he reached the restaurant. With one heavy breath and a shaky hand, he pushed the glass door open. The cool air from the air-condition welcomed him. He walked to the counter, where he saw his manager, the boss (Sehun's dad) and a familiar guy. Chen waved at Luhan excitedly. Luhan walked over, surprised.

"Chen? Why are you here?" Luhan asked, putting his bag down.

"Chen here is going to start working today. He told me that you two know each other." His manager told him.

"Actually we just met two days ago." Luhan said, glancing at Chen.

"Now we're working together!" Chen wrapped his arm around Luhan's shoulder and grinned cheekily.

"I expect no foolishness from you, Mr Jongdae." The boss said sternly and Chen released Luhan's shoulder and straighten himself.

"I expect a proper behavior from you. Make sure you don't create any troubles here. This restaurant is one of the best branch. Your manager here will help you." The boss motioned the the manager.

"Yes sir!" Chen saluted.

"Luhan, I want to speak to you personally. Now." The boss left for the staff room.

Luhan nodded and followed.

"What is it sir?" Luhan asked when the boss closed the door.

"I know about you and Sehun." The boss said.

"Sir, we...are not together." Luhan said.

"I know. That's why I want to make a request from you." The boss said.

Luhan looked up at him.

"Can you go back with Sehun again?"

"I...."

FLASHBACK

Sehun reached home drenched and panting. Water dripping down from his hair and his clothes sticking to his body. His father was surprised.

"Sehun?" His father asked after putting his newspaper down.

Sehun walked in, putting his wet umbrella against the wall.

"Why are you all drenched up when you have an umbrella?" His father asked.

"I ran." Sehun said.

"Go get yourself dry first. Then eat dinner. I have to go to the restaurant to handle some things. We have a new employee coming tomorrow." His father said.

Sehun nodded and go to his bathroom and fetched a clean towel to dry himself. He sat on his bed and continued drying himself. His father came in and sat down on the bed with him.

"Why aren't you at work, appa?" Sehun asked.

"I just wanted to remind you to eat. The house keeper will serve your food." His father said.

"Thanks." Sehun said and threw the towel into the laundry bin.

"What's wrong?" His father asked.

Sehun sighed. "It's about Luhan hyung. I asked him to come back to me just now. But he rejected me because of another guy in his class whom is his best friend. He even returned me the keychain I gave him. I was so shocked and angry so i ran home."

"I see." His father nodded. Seeing how his son had gotten so down because of the rejection, he thought that talking to Luhan would do him good.