𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃 | 𝐁𝐋

FIVE.

PAST

"Why can't you be like Juwon?" The singing teacher reprimanded, "he's got such a busy schedule, but he can always make time to come to class on time. You're always late."

...I had to help my grandmother, Y/n thought quietly, she was making a fuss.

But instead, a flimsy excuse went out from his lips. He fumbled with his fingers clumsily, not daring to look at her in the eye.

"I don't know. I lost track of the time, then I..."

Truth to be told, his life was getting harder this past few days. Any last bits of his sweet, kind, grandmother had disappeared into a haze of paranoia and spite. His grandmother had recently been diagnosed with dementia, and from the looks of it, it was pretty bad. Y/n was seen as a stranger in her eyes.

"Always the same few words," His teacher snorted, "look at Juwon. Look at the amount of classes he has to balance; the amount of work he puts in. And you can't even get a melody right. If this continues, consider your solo gone."

Y/n's lips parted, tears threatening to spill over.

"You hear me?"

Y/n's bottom lip quivered. He knew it wasn't Juwon's fault, but he couldn't help but hold a small resentment for him. It wasn't his fault either!

Y/n kept his head bowed, ears burning.

He couldn't really do anything in this situation.

"..Yes, teacher."

"Good. Then run along. Have you memorized your lyrics yet?"

"Yes."

"Juwon's waiting for you. Close pair, are you?" The teacher's face suddenly broke into a large smile, as if forgetting the harsh words she spoke earlier, "it's such an unexpected friendship. Considering he's...you know. Out of your league and everything like that. The heir to a conglomerate, what a lucky kid."

Y/n didn't miss the underlying scorn in her voice.

He bowed once to her, and scurried off to find Juwon. When he did, Juwon was lying on the floor, chest heaving up and down.

Y/n pressed a finger to his cheek, and Juwon opened his eyes, smiling lazily at Y/n.

"What's up?" Juwon sat up, "I was waiting for you."

Why can't you be like Juwon? You're always running late.

"Things happened," Y/n said vaguely, "so..yeah. Sorry about that."

Juwon shrugged it off. That was one thing Y/n liked about him—he was rarely angry, especially at him. He was Juwon's special person. He was happy with that. He knew Juwon was surly and cold to the other kids. Practically emotionally stunted and the emotional capability of a rock. Yet with Y/n, he seemed more lit up. He was sweet, kind, and enthusiastic to help.

This was why Y/n could forgive him so many times.

Juwon looped an arm through Y/n's.

"Well then," He said, "let's go practice! We have a duet coming right up."

—

"How's your grandmother doing?" Juwon asked, licking the Cornetto cone he held on his fist. The ice-cream oozed out of his fingers, making his hand all sticky and pink. Y/n sat by the side of the convenience store, licking his own lemon popsicle. It was cheaper, and in Y/n's opinion, tasted alright.

"She's fine," Y/n struggled to capture the tiny drops spilling on his palms, "I mean. She's sixty-eight. It's not that old."

"You said she was struggling to retain memories."