before this.

20. ( mw )

title : papers and pens, and maybe you.
duo / pairing : minwon
genre / inspired by : i saw this one tiktok about academic rivals to lovers and went "hmm what pairing fits this?" as i saved it to my collection to write about in the future.. my mind immediately went to minwon.
word count : 1321 words

—— 🎓

wonwoo wasn't always the smartest — he had to study, or else his grade would be paying the price in later exams. though, of course, among those study sessions and multiple missed hangouts with empty promises to make up for all of them (who's even surprised, because soonyoung is) — his closest friends were still with him through out all.

he was studying for his next exam for biology when his phone pings with a new message from a shared group chat with his friend group with others — usually, he would never reply as it was on mute, but he's guessing jun or soonyoung tagged him somewhere for a hangout they know his answer to.

we are abandoned children🥲 no we're not soonyoung

jihoon's
@ wonwoo
pls respond to me wonwoo
WONWOO

wonwoo
what

open the door
is there smth wrong
why are we spamming for wonwoo

wonwoo
i'm studying

jihoon's
i think i know who your rival is

wonwoo's message bubbles shows up a few times, and then disappears again — that spoke to soonyoung on the other side of the phone as his boyfriend, jihoon stares at him weirdly.
"i know who wonwoo's little academic rival is." he grins and the younger shakes his head, deciding that it was better to rest his head on the boy's shoulder than scold him about respecting privacy — either way, soonyoung would never listen to his scolding.

"who do you think it is then?" mumbled jihoon as soonyoung vibrated in place. the younger sighed as he held both of his boyfriend's puffed out cheeks — forcing him to make eye contact with the younger as he settles himself on soonyoung's lap. "mingyu, kim mingyu."

jihoon's hands stop cupping the older's cheeks, which makes soonyoung whine from the lost of heat from his boyfriend's touch. "mingyu? that's a weird speculation even from you."

"yeah i know, but you know, mingyu's always giving that sly smile when he sees wonwoo and we know they both share same classes as they're classmates in the same year — !"
"mingyu's a year younger but okay, yes, they're classmates and practically, i guess i can see it, but mingyu isn't even in the top ten of top students." jihoon knows because he's always in the top three, always nestled closely to wonwoo whom is always within the glimmering gold number one.

"but still, he could have competition in the class and it could be mingyu." soonyoung blurts out with a soft tone to his boyfriend and jihoon nods. "true, but let's just see tomorrow okay? let's take a break."

soonyoung muzzles closer to jihoon's warmth, "i love you."
jihoon smiles brightly, "i love you too." before they both shut their eyes together.
jihoon feels his body being lifted up easily, and he assumes soonyoung has managed to pick him up to drag both their sluggish bodies to soonyoung's bedroom for a more comfortable sleep.

he feels soonyoung's lips against his forehead, whispering a good night as he slumped besides him, yet snuggles even closer.

wonwoo is stressing and it didn't help that kim mingyu was only staring at him. "what are you looking at?" he harshly spoke even when his skin ached for the younger's protective touch. mingyu was always naturally smart, and always managed to stick closer to wonwoo during classes more than during recess.
the younger only continues to stare at him, "i'm looking at my boyfriend obviously."

wonwoo can't help but blush.
"quit it." mingyu grins at the reddened face of his lover, he itches closer to him on the bed, and pressing a kiss to his lover's check with a grin.
"how can i? i worked hard to get good grades in all classes to impress and get your attention and you decide to declare an academic war on me afterwards."

mingyu pushes all the books off the bed gently, making sure that none of the pages are creased and goes back to pampering wonwoo with butterfly kisses all over his face. "and look at us now? all happily in love — always second to you in class but never in the top ten under my name so your friends don't suspect a thing of us."

he kisses wonwoo on the lips, luring a quiet moan out of the older below him, "don't you think i deserve an award? for doing so much for your happiness."

wonwoo's fingers clutch onto mingyu's thin shirt, almost tearing crescent shaped into the fabric as mingyu kisses the corner of his lips, his voice going deeper than usual, "so what do you say, my love?"
the older whines and mingyu makes him open his eyes.

"i want words, not sounds my love. i need your full consent every time we have sex okay? i don't want to unintentionally hurt you." and wonwoo's arousal softens, "mingyu, i always want this with you even without words. if you don't want to hurt me and do it tonight that's fine. we have school the next day either way and i can't be limping in the hallways can i?"

mingyu faces the older, recognizing all his features and dives into wonwoo's touch — burying his face within the older's neck before sighing. "i love you so much wonwoo. you don't understand how much.." he whispered against the skin of wonwoo's neck, making him slightly giggle at the touch.

his heart squeezes.
"i love you too mingyu, i don't think i would have it any other way."

the exam goes relatively well in wonwoo's book and mingyu knows it as well. he's glued focused on wonwoo's features as they wait for the teacher to call out their names for their papers. mingyu is called out first.
"you did well, mingyu." and the younger smiles at the teacher — he walks back to his seat as wonwoo takes his boyfriend's paper in his hands, his eyes immediately landing on the bond red numbers permanently sketched into the paper.

ninety-eight percent.
wonwoo turns to mingyu and flashes a happy smile to him, "congrats." he spoke as mingyu grins. wonwoo is called next and he takes the paper.

the teacher and him don't exchange words so wonwoo's heart is racing — mingyu takes the paper and looks at the mark for him, grinning. "you're fine, don't worry."
wonwoo takes the paper from the younger's grasp, and stares at the red numbers.

ninety-nine percent.
wonwoo's tension goes down immediately, and he smiles at his grade, mingyu smiling alongside him.

"i still remember when you were always so tense when we got our papers, always peeking over my shoulder to make sure you were always higher than me." the younger whispered as he laid down on the table, staring up to look at his boyfriend who looked back at him.
wonwoo's cheeks redden, and he hopes none of their classmates can see the obvious blush that paints itself on his cheeks, "i was competitive okay — it was usually jihoon who usually got similar grades than me."

"i should be glad i can match your pace then, darling."
he grows redder, "s — stop using those names in public please."

"why? embarrassed sweet pea?" mingyu grins, "then should i call you wonie in public? cupcake? honey? sweets? or maybe.."

he shuffles a laugh to himself as the teacher begins doing corrections for the paper for the students who want to continue getting good grades, luckily, the class doesn't manage to fail the class which works in their favor as the teacher is known to get mad over students who fail.

mingyu mouths something to the boy, "i love you." to which wonwoo mouths it back too.