Beautiful | haobin

Twelve

After school, Zhang Hao and Hanbin make their way to the library since it'll be their first tutoring session. "Are you ready to become the best math student Mr. Cheong has ever seen?" Hanbin asks him once they sit down.

"I'm so bad at it. Are you sure your tutoring is that great?"

"Oh, of course. I've tutored many students before. Most of them were failing and they all passed with high scores. As long as you pay attention, I'm sure you'll be able to pass next month's exams."

"Okay, good. I really want to go to Jeju."

"Well, let's get to work then." Hanbin opens his notebook.

-

"I told you I'm that bad." Zhang Hao frowns, seeing Hanbin cross out his answers again.

"It's okay, it's only the first time." Hanbin tells him. "It's getting a little late, so we can leave this for tomorrow, okay?"

"Finally." Zhang Hao closes his notebook and immediately stands up. He was tired of just sitting there. "Do you have any plans right now?" He asks him, seeing it's only 7:20pm and Hanbin seems to be in a rush.

"Yeah, I have to go to work. My shift starts at 7:30."

"Wait, really? You should've told me. We could've ended this earlier."

"Don't worry, it's just around the corner." Hanbin tells him. "But I should really get going. Anyway, don't give up. It was only your first tutoring session, okay?"

"Yeah, I'll try. See you tomorrow." He waves as Hanbin rushes out of the library. "He should've just told me. We could've ended this earlier." He mumbles to himself.

"Zhang Hao?" He hears behind him. "What are you doing here?"

Zhang Hao turns around and sees Jiwoong. Oh no. He can already feel his face heating up. 'Stop it, Zhang Hao.' He thinks to himself. "Oh... I was just studying for math."

"For math? Is Mr. Cheong giving us a test?" He also has Mr. Cheong's class, but it's at a different time.

"Not that I know of." Zhang Hao shakes his head. "I'm just trying to prepare myself for next month's exams."

"Oh, that..." Jiwoong realizes what he's talking about. "If you want I can help you."

"What? No, don't worry about it."

"No, really. You're my best friend's boyfriend. He finally moved on from a very toxic relationship and I'm so grateful towards you since he seems so happy now. I can help you."

"No need to repay me. I'm glad I can make him just as happy as he makes me." Zhang Hao tells him, assuming this is something a real boyfriend would say.

"Okay, but let me know if you change your mind."

Zhang Hao is tempted to accept his help, but maybe it wouldn't be the best idea. Yes, getting to spend time with his crush would be a dream, but he doesn't want him to see just how bad he is at math. Plus, he probably wouldn't even be able to pay attention since he'd be too busy looking at him.

"Yeah, I'll let you know. Thanks for the offer."

"See you in school tomorrow then."

"Yeah... bye." Zhang Hao smiles at him and Jiwoong walks away.

As soon as he walks away, Zhang Hao almost wants to scream. Wow, this is the most he's ever talked to him and he even offered to help him. "Wow, I need to tell Ricky and Tae-" He starts, about to call them, but his smile fades when he remembers he can't. "Ugh." He sighs and picks up his books before making his way out of the library. "Wow, I hate not being able to tell my best friends everything." He mumbles to himself.

Zhang Hao
You'll never guess what
just happened

Zhang Hao texts the only person he can say this to.

Sung Hanbin
What is it?

Zhang Hao
It's too risky to
say through text 👀
Just call me when
you get out of work

He, Ricky, and Tarae sometimes use each others phones since none of them had anything to hide... but it's different now. Zhang Hao now has something he can't tell them so he has to be careful with the texts he sends Hanbin, just in case Ricky or Taerae see their texts. He doubts they'd go that far into his phone, but just in case.

As Zhang Hao starts making his way home, his phone rings and he sees Hanbin is calling him back.

"I thought he was working." Zhang Hao mumbles to himself and answers the phone. "You'll never guess what just happened." He repeats the same thing he said through text.

"What is it?" Hanbin asks him, curiously.

"It's too risky to say through the phone." Zhang Hao jokes.

"Oh come on... what happened?"

"I thought you were working though. Are you not busy?"

"Don't worry, there's no customers right now. So are you going to tell me what happened or am I going to have to wait until I see you in person tomorrow?"

"Okay okay, I'll tell you." Zhang Hao can't help but smile. "Right after you left, I saw Jiwoong at the library."

"Really? Did he see you?"

"He did. He actually offered to tutor me."

"What? Seriously? You accepted, right?"

"What? Of course not."

"Huh, why not? You'd get to spend more time with him." Hanbin tells him.

"Yeah, but he'd also see I'm dumb." Zhang Hao frowns. "I'd rather him not see me like that."

"Well, look at the bright side. He had never offered to tutor anyone."

"What is that supposed to mean? Don't get my hopes up, Hanbin. He just sees me as your boyfriend. He says he feels grateful towards me since I helped you move on from your last relationship. I mean, what did I expect? There's no way he'll start liking me as long as he thinks we're together. He's your best friend."

"Yeah, I get what you're saying, but don't get your hopes down either. Once Juwon finally leaves me alone, we can tell only Jiwoong and our friends that our relationship was fake."

"Okay." Zhang Hao just nods. "By the way, did Juwon try talking to you today?"

"He didn't. I'm surprised."

"Well, hopefully he gave up for good and stops bothering you."

"I don't know... his behavior seems a bit suspicious. Hopefully not, but it feels like he's planning something."

"Don't worry, Hanbin. Maybe he just gave up because he thinks you're with someone else now." Zhang Hao tells him. "I told you it'd work."

"Yeah, hopefully."

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow in school. I just got home."

"Okay, good night, Zhang Hao."

"Have a good night, Hanbin."