We Can Be Outcasts Together (Chansoo) [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 6

It had been a few days, and there was still no response from Kyungsoo. Today had been the set date for them to meet at the cafe, and Chanyeol was experiencing mixed emotions. He was scared because of the possibilities that Kyungsoo might either just briefly appear to tell him that he doesn't want to be friends anymore, or that he just wouldn't appear at all. But at the same time, Chanyeol was also sort of excited because he could finally just see and talk to Kyungsoo again, and how he would love to do that. Right on the dot of two thirty, a few minutes after Chanyeol had entered the cafe, he saw a petite frame enter the cafe, wrapped up in a heavy winter parka. Chanyeol saw Kyungsoo's doll-like face peeking out of the hood, and he immediately felt a sense of relief. Kyungsoo had actually made it.

Chanyeol shyly motioned to the boy to join him, and Kyungsoo sheepishly at across from him at the table that Chanyeol had selected.

"Can you please take off your coat? You are going to burn up in here with that on." Chanyeol quietly said to Kyungsoo, who still had his winter parka on.

Kyungsoo did as he was asked, shed his heavy coat and hung it on the back of his chair.

"So..." Kyungsoo started, not knowing what to say.

"What has been going on with you lately?" Chanyeol started, then internally cursed at himself for only starting with smalltalk.

A little while later, surprisingly enough, most of the awkward aura was gone. Chanyeol and Kyungsoo were happily chatting about their lives and what each other had missed. Things were almost back to normal between them.

Almost.

When Chanyeol and Kyungsoo were leaving the cafe, Kyungsoo immediately distanced himself from Chanyeol. Chanyeol noticed this immediately and gave Kyungsoo a quizzical and hurt look. Even though there had been somewhat of a weird feeling circulating with Chanyeol the entire time that they had talked, almost as if Kyungsoo had been hiding something, Chanyeol had chosen to dismiss it. Until now that is.

"Why are you going so soon?" Chanyeol asked, putting a fake casual tone on, trying to hide his anxiety about losing the small boy again.

Kyungsoo then muttered something under his breath, Chanyeol unable to hear it.

"Could you repeat that?" Chanyeol asked, with the same fake-casual tone as before.

"I'm just someone you need to stay away from." Kyungsoo said again. Louder this time.

Chanyeol's casual act immediately dropped as he asked Kyungsoo why he should stay away from him, "Why do you want me to stay away?"

Kyungsoo's eyes were on the verge of years now, but he tried to hold them back as he explained, "I'm just a disappointment to everyone around me. That was why I transferred schools. At first, I was a straight A student, not one grade off point. But then one of my teachers started giving me Fs on every assignment he gave me. Even if I had done everything absolutely right, he still gave me an F. This one subject started to drag down all of my other subjects as well, and then my mom started voicing out how much of a disappointment I was. I couldn't take it anymore, and that is when this teacher told me why he was giving me Fs. He wanted something in return. So I started doing... Favors... For him in return for good grades. Eventually, someone walked in while I was doing him one of these... Favors... And the authorities were called. News spread and I still get bullied about it. That is why you should stay away from me."

Kyungsoo finished his speech by breaking and falling to his knees on the show-covered sidewalk, tears falling down his cheeks, which were pink from the cold. Chanyeol just stood there, stunned as to how someone would ever want to take advantage of an angel like Kyungsoo.

Chanyeol then walked over and helped the smaller boy up. He held him in a tight hug.

"C-Chanyeol no... I don't deserve this..." Kyungsoo said, trying to get away from the hug.

"Yes you do." Chanyeol said, pulling him back into the embrace, "you are my friend. And I will never ever let anyone take advantage of you again, okay?"

The only answer that Chanyeol needed was when Kyungsoo returned the hug and held on to him too.