The Project 'Buddy'

~8~

"So who's car are we taking?" Sunoo asked as all of them walked towards the carpark.

"Fvcking mine," Jay grumbled, pushing past all of them and storming off to his car.

"Can it fit all of us though?" Taki asked, looking around the large group.

"Oh no! Some of you are taking mine," Heeeeung assured and Geonu's eyes rolled itself. Heeseung caught him and went closer to his brother, giving him a big fake smile while his eyes shot invisible lasers.

"Lee Geonu, is there a problem?"

"Yes Hyung, I think we should talk about your flexing. It's getting out of control," Geonu proudly informed, only getting a smack in the head from Heeseung.

"Pfft, deserved," Niki snorted and Geonu went attacking Niki next.

"Niki why not you follow me? Jake too, and maybe Daniel and Taki and come along too. My car's bigger so it can fit more people," Heeseung suggested.

"Yah, since when did I mention I was taking your car?" Jake Hyung scoffed.

"Since I said so," Heeseung threw back, and Niki, Taki, Daniel and Geonu all made loud "ooohh!"s from behind Heeseung.

"Then that means Nicholas, Jungwon, Sunghoon and Sunoo take Jay's car," Taki pointed towards the black Audi a few metres away from them. Jay was leaning against the front of the car, looking at his phone while waiting for whoever was going to join him come.

"Not gonna lie, he looks kinda hot right now. Imagine this type of treatment everyday Jungwon! Every. Day-OW!" Sunoo sulked as Jungwon smacked his back, smiling ahead as if he hurt nobody's soul.

When Jay looks up from his phone, Jungwon could almost see him groaning. Jungwon bit back a snappy comeback, knowing it'll only make the atmosphere in the car later awkward.

Because of course Sunoo made him sit in the front seat.

Jungwon tugged on the seatbelt, but somehow found it stuck and tried pulling it hard. Jay, impatient to start driving, leaned over Jungwon and tugged the seatbelt once, before pulling it over Jungwon.

Jungwon scoffed softly. "I could have done it just fine on my own."

Jay met Jungwon's gaze and his piercing eyes made Jungwon stopped breathing for a moment. "Well, you were obviously struggling, so thank you Jay," the older whispered, making Jungwon's cheeks flush with embarrassment. Jay snorted a little and sat back in his seat while stepping on the paddle to start driving.
Jungwon turned around, and he saw Sunoo making a mischievous face while Nicholas and Sunghoon looked away, clearing their throats while holding back their smiles.

Jungwon groaned and sank in his seat. This was so not his day.
——
Jay's POV
"Thanks, Jay Hyung!" Sunoo told him, and Jay nodded his head in response. The boy skipped happily into school, with Sunghoon walking beside him.

Wow, look at him, ditching his best friend for a guy he keeps denying he doesn't have feelings for.

Jay locked his car before stuffing the keys in his pocket. He was about to walk into the building when Nicholas clasped his shoulder and made vomititng noises when he saw Sunoo and Sunghoon.

"I was third wheeling so hard!" Nicholas exclaimed, "do you know how many times they glanced at each other and then looked away smiling like idiots like I mean IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER LOOK OR I'LL JUST SNAP BOTH YOUR NECKS TO PERMANANTLY LOOK INTO EACH OTHER'S SOULS-" Nicholas heaved in a breath.

Jay just patted his back. "It's called being single."

Nicholas gawked at him in disbelief. Jay smirked and walked ahead quickly to avoid Nicholas' ass-whooping. He always did that when he was annoyed.
Jay didn't notice though, that he had fallen in step with a feline being beside him.

"Oh seriously? Can you even let me walk in peace?" Jungwon's voice snapped, frowning at Jay.

"Hah! It's not my fault you're walking so slowly," Jay shot back, frowning even harder. They both then just stared each other down, neither one wanting to lose.
"Hey, hey, don't fight like that," Nicholas interrupted, coming in between the two.

Jungwon huffed out a breath and hugged his file close to his chest as he walked off, and Jay rolled his eyes, while snorting sarcastically.

"Bro, what's up with you? Why are you so pissed off with Jungwon?" Nicholas asked.

"He's just annoying," Jay answered curtly, walking towards his locker, getting his books. Nicholas looked him up and down.

"Yeah like you would even care in the first place," Nicholas joked, pushing Jay's arm. Jay kept quiet. Yeah, why was he so annoyed? So what if this feline human being kept frustrating the shit out of him?
Was Yang Jungwon actually getting on his nerves?
——
Jungwon's POV
"Excellent as always, Jungwon. Good job on the review," Jungwon's teacher complimented. Jungwon bowed his head, humbly thanking his teacher. His teacher smiled proudly at him. Jungwon never failed to disappoint.

Of course. After everything his mother had done for him, raising him alone after his dad left her just before he was born, Jungwon had to make up for all those 21 years of his life.
His mum didn't really care about Jungwon's grades. She mostly wanted Jungwon to be happy. And Jungwon wanted her to be the same, when she'd see his straight A's and when they would celebrate it and some fancy restaurant.

His mum was now successfully working as an assistant manager of this big company and Jungwon was happy for her. They were doing well, even without that asshole who left Miss Yang when her water broke.

Jungwon smiled gratefully and kept the paper neatly in his bag. All his hard work would pay off, he just knew it. After graduation, he could finally relax and spend more time with his mum. Just a little bit more....

"Jungwon-ah!" A voice cause Jungwon to snap out of his trance. He looked over to where Sunoo was standing with Jake. He rushed over to them, and the three of them headed to the canteen for lunch.
"Highest in class, again. Nice job, Yang," Jake congratulated, smirking.
Jungwon brushed the compliment away, smiling. They met Niki, Taki, Geonu and Daniel as they passed by a class and all of them headed to the canteen together.

"By the way, how's MISS Yang?" Sunoo asked, after a few seconds, cheekily, raising his eyebrows.

Jungwon scoffed but grinned. "Still contemplating her life decisions."

Sunoo made a face that was in between disbelief and amused.
"Oh come on, it can't be that hard to go out with the CEO!" Sunoo exclaimed, gesturing at Jungwon.
Recently, the CEO of Miss Yang's company had asked Miss Yang out. Jungwon and his friends had been fan-boying when his mum had told them, but it's been days since Miss Yang had answered the CEO.
"I told Mum already to just do it. But she's all paranoid and says, 'oh but wonnieyah! What if it all goes wrong? What if I have to avoid him at work? Your mum is in a crisis yah!'" Jungwon explained to Sunoo, mocking his mum's voice while spitting out little laughs. "But I know she's also having feelings for the CEO so I'm just letting her ramble now."

"Stoppppp! That's like saying Jake Hyung is catching feelings for Heeseung Hyung but like-OWW!" Sunoo rubbed the side of his head, wincing at the pain of the bonk Jake had just given him.

"Hyung, you okay?" Niki asked, worriedly glancing over at Sunoo.

Sunoo pouted. "Yeah...why did you have to hit me?!" He turned to glare at Jake.

"Because," Jake emphasised, "I do not like Heeseung. That guy's a pain in the ass! Like, does he not know what's the difference between flirting and being annoying?" Jake huffed out a breath and bit his lower lip.

Niki rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like you didn't say you didn't like it," he teased and immediately everyone laughed at Jake, who was blushing bright pink.
Jake hit Niki on the arm and the two of them started bickering all over again.
Jungwon shook his head. Why was this crushing thing suddenly rebounding around him? It gave him a headache...

"Hey, isn't that Sunghoon Hyung? Oh! The rest are there too!" Sunoo exclaimed, pointing to a table.
Jungwon looked over in the direction and groaned. "Can we not?" he whined.

Meanwhile, Niki was in the corner, biting down his lip.

Sunoo shook his head, and pretty soon, all of them were being dragged to the table where Sunghoon, Heeseung, Jay and Nicholas were.