closer | haobin ⚠️DISCONTINUED

13

Birds have been chirping louder than ever; the winds blew stronger. It whooshed past the silence, cooling the blood rush in Zhanghao's ears. 

"Is this QnA over?" Hanbin smirked, feeling proud of himself for some reason. 

He tends to normally speak his mind, when he does rarely speak. That is, if he wanted to socialize. It became a habit after being told to speak up, being told to stop being misleading and have more personality in his past. For so long, Hanbin spoke only when he needed to, not when he wanted to. His popularity, although forcing him to socialize, hadn't broken his will to speak.

"No, one more question. Why do you cling to me at school", Zhanghao wanted to know. He had been trying since the third day -- but problems ensued.  

But, feeling indifferent when with Zhanghao, Hanbin felt him talking just for the sake of the other talking. Hanbin had figured out that if he had become buddy-buddy with a quiet kid, he would have been happily dragged away from the crowds of personal fans. And although it was only intended to free himself during school, he had come to be a fond of Zhanghao. 

"Because, you're my method of escape", Hanbin told truthfully, confusing the other. Zhanghao tilted his head onto his shoulder with a scrunching face -- making Hanbin cover his mouth. But his eyes told everything. 

Hanbin coughed once before going further in depth without obligation. "You're my excuse to distance myself with others. I come to you when my social battery runs out."

"Oh", Zhanghao understood, but there were still questions lingering. Zhanghao himself talked a lot whenever was around Hanbin, quite the opposite when he was with Kuanjui and Ollie-- maybe Jiwoong now too. It brought upon guilt that Zhanghao's behavior might have drained Hanbin even more. Thus, he asked, "don't I exhaust you too?"

"Not at all", Hanbin smiled before standing up to rustle the boy's hair. "I heard your doorbell ring, your mother might be waiting."

"Wait, our QnA isn't over", Zhanghao quickly spoke without holding back. He hasn't held himself back when with Hanbin actually -- having many questions and the urge to continue building up a friendship. 

"We can start again tomorrow", Hanbin stood behind the chair has his hands clutched the back of the chair, "but for now, have your alone time to ponder", and he pushed. His arms pushed the chair, along with Zhanghao towards the front door as the seated boy held onto the armrests; his legs jumping up to the seat. Giggles of two voices followed as Hanbin's transport.inc reached their destination. 

"Alright, alright. Tomorrow you better get your answers ready", Zhanghao got off and turned to Hanbin to speak. Hanbin nodded in response and the doorknob twisted. 

"Bye, Hao", Hanbin bid farewell as one arm leaned on his chair, the other in the air swishing back and forth--waving. 

"Bye, Hanbin", Zhanghao reciprocated without turning back. His ears, now away from the cool winds, burned up. It followed to his nose as he couldn't bare turning around to face the culprit who excited his blood cells. 

The door closed as Zhanghao stood, greeting the person who had rung the doorbell multiple times. His mother was not standing at his front door, but instead a friend. 

                                                                     ☆☆☆

"I got you milk", Zhanghao peaked his head in. 

The sliver of the door creaked as the boy's other hand pushed it farther outward, making a bigger entrance to get into the dark room. That hand wandered for the light switch as Zhanghao made his way in.