You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 8

The next day, the air at school felt different. Seungcheol wasn't sure if it was just the aftereffects of his conversation with Jeonghan or if something had shifted in the atmosphere. He had started to feel more confident walking through the halls, less paranoid about seeing Jaehyun around every corner. Maybe it was the knowledge that he wasn't alone anymore, that he had people watching his back.

As Seungcheol made his way to class, he spotted Jeonghan with Mingyu and Seungkwan, laughing loudly by the lockers. They looked so carefree, like nothing could touch them, and for a brief moment, Seungcheol wondered what it would be like to feel that unbothered by the world.

Just as he was about to pass by unnoticed, Jeonghan spotted him and waved him over, his face lighting up in a way that still caught Seungcheol off guard.

"Seungcheol! Over here!" Jeonghan called, loud enough for a few other students to glance their way.

Seungcheol hesitated for a second but eventually walked over, feeling a little out of place among Jeonghan's more popular friends.

Mingyu grinned when Seungcheol joined them. "Hey, man. How's it going?" he asked, his voice friendly.

"Good," Seungcheol replied, though his tone was a bit quieter than the rest of the group.

Seungkwan, who had been fiddling with his phone, glanced up and smirked. "Look at you, hanging out with the cool crowd. Who would've thought?"

Seungcheol gave him a shy smile, still not used to being included in their dynamic. But before the teasing could continue, Jeonghan cut in.

"Enough of that, Seungkwan. He's one of us now," Jeonghan said with a wink, slinging an arm casually over Seungcheol's shoulders, pulling him closer to the group.

Seungkwan chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I was just joking."

Seungcheol couldn't help but feel a little flustered with Jeonghan's arm around him, but he didn't pull away. There was something comforting about being so effortlessly brought into their circle, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

As they chatted, Seungcheol noticed Hansol and Dino walking down the hallway. Hansol waved casually when he saw Seungcheol, and Dino followed suit, though both seemed slightly amused to see Seungcheol with Jeonghan's group.

Jeonghan must have noticed Seungcheol's eyes wander, because he leaned in and whispered, "Your nerd friends are watching."

Seungcheol laughed quietly, rolling his eyes. "They're not nerds."

Jeonghan grinned. "Sure they aren't."

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of class, and the group began to disperse. As they parted ways, Jeonghan gave Seungcheol a light punch on the arm. "See you later, okay?"

Seungcheol nodded, watching as Jeonghan, Mingyu, and Seungkwan headed off in the opposite direction, their laughter echoing down the hall. For a brief moment, Seungcheol stood there, feeling like he was finally stepping into a new part of his life—one where he wasn't invisible anymore.

But as he walked to class, that nagging feeling of unease crept back in. Jaehyun hadn't made an appearance today, but Seungcheol couldn't shake the thought that it wasn't over. He knew Jaehyun well enough to understand that he wasn't the kind to let things go easily. And if Jaehyun still saw him as a threat, it was only a matter of time before he did something about it.

Seungcheol entered his classroom, trying to push those thoughts away. He wasn't alone anymore, he reminded himself. Jaehyun didn't have the power to make him feel small again. Not with Jeonghan, Mingyu, and Seungkwan in his corner.