The 1 Rule - haobin

kindly encounter

Ricky is standing next to the entrance gates that lead to the school, looking at his phone. Next to him, Gyuvin who is looking over Ricky's shoulder.

"Hey" I say, wiping my eyes.

"Hey!" Ricky says, looking up "you look like you didn't sleep a lot"

"Thanks, I guess" I respond, giving Gyuvin a smile as he says hi to me.

"Hey Gyuvin," I say "can you pass me the econ homework? I forgot to do it"

"What makes you think that I did it?"

"You didn't?" I ask, shocked

"Of course I did," Gyuving says while laughing, passing me the papers "here. By the way, I didn't do the last question so that's for you to do"

"Yeah, sure. Thanks by the way."

"No problem. I'll go in first" he says, walking to the school building. I feel a pat on my arm and turn around.

"Hanbin~" Ricky says, holding onto my arm, clearly wanting to ask for a favour "you know that I love you right?"

I look down at him and scoff at the puppy eyes he's giving me.

"What do you want Ricky"

"Well, I don't really feel like going to English class today.."

"Ok?"

"And I really want to go somewhere today.." he pauses and gives me a dramatic sad look "but I have no one to go with"

I immediately understand what he means, and start shaking my head.

"Nuh uh. I already skipped English so many times this month. I can't afford to do it again," Ricky shakes me slightly and gives me a sad face "I said no. At this point the teacher will already fail me."

"But just one more time? Please?" He says

"No. Ask Gyuvin"

"He already said no. I don't want to pester him anymore"

"Then stop pestering me as well"

"Yeah, but that's different. You're my friend" He says in a whiny voice, which makes this situation even more annoying. I raise an eyebrow and laugh

"And he isn't?" I ask.

"No.. I mean, yeah he is. It's just not the same," He says in an annoyed voice "please! I'll buy you something!"

I obviously notice how he tries to get away from the topic of Gyuvin, so I comply.

"What will you buy me?" I ask

"Whatever you want," he looks at me with a hopeful smile, clearly wanting to skip English class "is that a yes?" He asks, and I nod

"One more time wouldn't hurt, I guess. Let's go right now, before the gates close. I don't want to get caught jumping over the fences" I say

We walk slowly, taking all the time in the world.

"You wanna know something?" Ricky says. I hum in response "yesterday when I was going back home from my extra classes, I saw someone getting bullied"

I look at him, as he looks regretful.

"Really? Bullying?"

"Punching and hitting. Y'know, the physical stuff" He says. I shape a circle with my mouth, not knowing what to say.

"I didn't do anything about it. I just walked away as if nothing" he says quietly

"Why?"

"What do you mean by why? Those punches looked harsh. And anyways, there were lots of people. I wouldn't stand a chance," Ricky says "and now that I think of it, it was pretty close to your house."

"Damn. Hopefully Jude didn't see what happened. She went out yesterday to buy us food" I say, not being Ricky's turn to hum in response. 

"I swear, kids these days are too violent. It's actually getting scary" I say, making Ricky laugh

"We're not even that much older than them. And anyways, I bet you that there's bullying in our grade as well" 

"Maybe. Still, that's not an excuse"

"Yeah, I guess."

We enter a convenience shop, and I eye the ice creams inside the freezer. I pick one out and take it to Ricky, who is already waiting for me.

"Ok, let's go pay. This one's on you" I say, heading to where we can pay for our food. I give the cashier my ice cream and Ricky's chips, giving him what I hope was a kind smile.

"That'll be 2,800 won" I nod, and look at Ricky. He approaches slowly and eyes me

"Yeah, about that..."

"Ricky... don't tell me you didn't bring money"

"It's not that I didn't bring it, it's that I forgot it"

"It's the same thing? You dumbass," I say, before turning to the cashier "Sorry, but we don't need to buy them anymore. Thank you though"

The man smiles and nods in understanding. I reach to grab the food to put them back in their place, but before I can do anything, a hand gently hands money to the cashier. I look up, seeing a boy, almost my height, with thin lips and kind looking eyes.

"It's on me!" He says, before looking at me and giving me one of the kindest smiles I have ever seen in my life "Weather's hot, ice cream is well deserved"

I nod in agreement and smile in return. Ricky pats the boy's back aggressively

"Thanks! I personally think chips are better, but ok" Ricky says, before taking the food and passing the ice cream to me.

The boy looks at me and motions to the napkin that I forgot to take.

"Thanks" I say, both to the cashier and the boy, before walking out from the warm shop. I turn around once I'm outside, to see the boy talking with extrovert Ricky. I walk up to them and smile once again at the boy.

"Seriously, thanks. Summer's really affecting the temperature these days" I say, mentally hitting myself for whatever the fuck I just said

"Yeah, no shit sherlock. It's literally summer, what did you think? That it would be cold?" Ricky says, between laughs. I poke him in the ribs, making him back away. I stick my hand out and look at the boy

"I'm Hanbin" I say. The boy takes my hand and shakes it

"Zhang Hao" 

♡♡♡

Ricky not so rich no more huh?

No but like seriously I'm actually kinda proud of this chapter

Like its actually much better than the last chapter

Omg I'm actually so happy rn as well bc tmr is my last day of school before summer break and I also got complemented by my strict ass English teacher today!!!!

And just to make everything even better I'm listening to 'Moth to a flame'

(non k-pop related, but listen to 'Moth to a flame' by the Weekend)