SKINNY || HYUNHO

I

Hyunjin looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and sighed deeply. Every day started the same way, with a growing sense of dread in his stomach. It wasn't the typical nervousness about difficult classes or exams, but the constant fear of the taunts and malicious comments his classmates hurled at him mercilessly.

He put on his favorite hoodie, a garment that already showed signs of wear but gave him a sense of comfort and security. At least with the hood up, he could hide from the world a little. As he walked to the bus stop, he mentally reviewed what he had to do today. It was Monday, and Mondays were always the worst.

Upon arriving at the school, he headed straight to his locker, hoping to go unnoticed. However, he had barely opened the metal door when he heard Derek and his friends' familiar laughter.

"Hey, look who’s here!" Derek shouted with a mocking smile. "What’s for lunch today, Hyunjin? The whole cafeteria?"

Hyunjin felt the heat in his cheeks but said nothing. He lowered his head and tried to ignore them, pulling out his books as quickly as possible.

"Careful not to choke!" added one of the boys, provoking another round of laughter.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want to lose our school mascot!" Derek sneered. "Maybe if you stopped eating so much, you'd fit through the door easier."

Hyunjin slammed his locker shut and hurried to the classroom, fighting back tears. Upon arrival, he found a surprise. The principal, Mrs. Kim, was waiting with a new boy by her side.

"Ah, Hyunjin, just in time," Mrs. Kim said with a kind smile. "This is Minho. He's new to the school. I’d like you to show him around and help him get oriented."

Minho, a boy with dark hair and curious eyes, smiled at him. Hyunjin shyly returned the smile, nodding.

"Sure, Mrs. Kim," Hyunjin replied, trying not to show his discomfort.

"Thank you, Hyunjin. I know you'll be in good hands, Minho," said the principal before leaving.

When they were alone, Hyunjin took a deep breath and looked at Minho.

"Well, let’s go. I’ll show you where everything is," he said, pointing down the hallway.

Minho walked beside him, observing every corner with interest.

"What’s this place like?" Minho asked, in a friendly tone. "It's always a bit intimidating to change schools."

"Yeah, it can be," Hyunjin responded, trying to sound casual. "This is the library. It's pretty quiet if you need to study or read."

Minho nodded, and Hyunjin continued showing him the different classrooms, the cafeteria, and the gym. As they walked, Hyunjin tried to keep the conversation light and avoid any situation that might reveal his status as a bullying victim.

"And what about the classmates?" Minho asked, seemingly interested. "What are the people like here?"

Hyunjin hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to lie, but he also didn’t want Minho to know the truth so soon.

"Well, there are all kinds, like in any school," he finally responded. "There are nice people and... others not so much."

Minho glanced at him sideways, as if he could sense there was more behind those words, but he didn’t press further.

After finishing the tour, they arrived at the back yard, a less crowded place where Hyunjin often hid during recess.

"I like to come here sometimes," Hyunjin said. "It's a good place to relax."

Minho smiled and sat on one of the benches.

"Thanks for showing me everything, Hyunjin. I hope we can be friends."

Hyunjin felt a lump in his throat. The idea of having a true friend was something he could barely conceive. He nodded with a shy smile.

"Yeah, that would be nice," he replied, feeling a spark of hope for the first time in a long while.

As the two boys talked, Hyunjin couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, Minho could be the change he so desperately needed in his life. But for now, his biggest challenge was to keep his secret safe and protect his new friend from the dark side of the school.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the first period. Hyunjin led Minho to their shared homeroom class. They entered, and Hyunjin quickly directed Minho to an empty desk near the back. He could feel the eyes of his classmates on him, some curious, others filled with disdain. He swallowed hard, hoping Minho wouldn't notice.

Throughout the morning, Hyunjin tried to focus on the lessons, but his mind kept drifting back to Minho. Was it really possible to have a friend who didn't judge him for his weight? During breaks, he made sure to stay close to Minho, guiding him through the maze of hallways and crowded lunchrooms. They chatted about their favorite subjects, hobbies, and the latest video games. Minho seemed genuinely interested, asking questions and sharing his own experiences.

During lunch, Hyunjin led Minho to a quieter corner of the cafeteria. He dreaded this time of day the most, as it was prime time for Derek and his cronies to launch their verbal assaults. As they sat down, Hyunjin's heart pounded in his chest. He scanned the room, hoping to spot the bullies before they saw him.

"So, do you have any hobbies?" Minho asked, breaking Hyunjin's anxious thoughts.

"I like drawing," Hyunjin said quietly. "And reading. What about you?"

"I love dancing," Minho replied with a smile. "And I play the guitar a bit. Maybe we could hang out sometime after school? You could show me some of your drawings, and I could teach you some guitar chords."

Hyunjin's eyes widened in surprise. "That sounds... really nice," he said, a small smile forming on his lips.

Just then, Derek's voice cut through the cafeteria noise. "Hey, Hyunjin! Trying to hide, huh?" Derek's mocking tone made Hyunjin's stomach churn.

Hyunjin glanced at Minho, who looked back with a confused expression. "Who's that?" Minho asked.

"Just... no one important," Hyunjin mumbled, lowering his gaze.

Derek approached their table, flanked by his usual followers. "And who’s this? Your new bodyguard?" Derek sneered, looking Minho up and down.

"Leave us alone, Derek," Hyunjin said quietly, his voice trembling.

"Or what? You'll sit on me?" Derek laughed loudly, and his friends joined in.

Hyunjin could feel tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He looked down at his tray, suddenly feeling disgusted by the food in front of him. Maybe if he ate less, they would stop.

Minho shifted uncomfortably in his seat but said nothing. He looked from Derek to Hyunjin, seeming unsure of what to do. After a tense moment, Derek finally moved on, still laughing with his friends.