[Ren's POV]
Those words are already spreaded. Choi Minki is gay and Kim Jonghyun is his boyfriend. It's okay if they only talked about me, but they don't need to bring JR. I felt sorry for him, but he seemed like he knew nothing about this rumor, so I didn't say anything to him.
Nobody talked to me in class. But I knew they talked about me before I came. I put on my earphone and put my arms and face on the table. When I about to close my eyes, Minhyun entered my class and came to my seat.
Minhyun: "You've heard about it, right?"
Ren: "Yeah. But Jonghyun doesn't know about it, yet."
Minhyun: "Baekho must have told him. Want me to talk to him too?"
I nodded. I looked at him.
Ren: "I shouldn't meet him for awhile, right?"
Minhyun: "I guess it's the only way until this rumor goes down."
Sigh. It won't be easy, but I had to. I can't do this to JR. But I can't see him suffering because of me. My existence would only burden him after this.
Minhyun: "I'm leaving. Bye, Ren."
Ren: "Bye, Hyun-ah."
After Minhyun left, Mr. Kim came into the class. The class started and I took out my notebook.
It's break time. I went out to go to the cafetaria. I heard people whispering when I passed. But suddenly, someone stopped me. It's JR.
JR: "Don't listen to them. Sandwich?"
He handed me chicken sandwich he bought in the cafetaria. I took it from him.
JR: "Let's go. Baekho and Minhyun are already there."
I followed him. I guess he took me to the rooftop, where people rarely go there. When we arrived at the rooftop, I saw Baekho and Minhyun eating their meal.
Me: "Where's Aron?"
Baekho: "Studio."
Minhyun then asked me to sit next to him, meanwhile JR sat next to the wall, leaning. I opened the sandwich JR gave to me and ate it. Minhyun finished his meal and started to talk to JR.
Minhyun: "Kim Jonghyun, we need to talk."
JR: "Leave me alone."
Minhyun: "Do you need to be like this?"
Minhyun looked at me. I only nodded at him.
Minhyun: "Ya, we need to talk before the rumor becomes big."
JR: "If I really date Ren, is that a problem for you?"
Three of us surprised with JR's words.
JR: "If I really date Ren, we're the one who get through this. Not you, not Baekho, not Aron, not anyone else."
Minhyun: "But JR, you--"
JR: "Ren is the one who I really need to talk to right now, not you."
Minhyun left him and gave me a sign to talk to him. I went to JR's place.
Me: "Stop putting yourself into problems, Jonghyun-ah. I'm okay if people hates on me, but not you. I can't see you being hated by people. Please, just let's keep a distance for awhile, Jonghyun-ah. For your goodness."
He suddenly laughed.
JR: "For my goodness? C'mon Ren it doesn't make sense. Listen Minki-ya, if you're sure that rumor isn't true, then let it be. Rumors are just rumors. Even if that's true, so what? I don't care if you're straight, gay or else, the important thing is if you're comfortable with it, then live your life."
Me: "That's not that easy, Jonghyun-ah. We live in a society where people judge us whatever we do."
JR: "Now let me ask you a question. Are you really gay or not?"
I looked into his eyes. He seemed so serious. I shook my head.
Me: "No."
JR: "Then problem solved. Overcome your fear, Choi Minki."
He stood up at left me downstair. Baekho and Minhyun followed him.
Baekho: "Ya, you're not leaving?"
Me: "Nah. I need to think first."
I lied against the wall and closed my eyes. JR's right. I need to overcome my fear. But my fear right now isn't that rumor. My only fear is him. What if he got hurt because of me? I've never been a good friend of him, but he always give me everything. I really don't deserve his kindness.
[JR's POV]
My way to class felt so heavy. Maybe I was too harsh to Ren. And why he's not going downstair? Classes started in 5 more minutes, though. Ah, maybe he just need some time to be alone.
Something strange happened. Everybody was in front of wall magazine board. I passed the crowds to see what's happening. When I saw it, I startled. It's a collage of my photos with Ren. When we held hands, when he leaned on my shoulder, and the last, when we accidentally slept together on the school trip last semester. It's a proof. I was mad and took it off from the board and tore it. Everyone there yelled at me.
Me: "Useless."
I left the crowds. Aron stopped me and grabbed my collar.
Aron: "You crazy guy. Why don't you listen to me, you idiot?"
I grabbed his collar.
Me: "Just mind your own business, Kwak Aron. You'll never know how precious Ren is for me. More than myself."
Everyone was staring at us. He then took off his hand from me.
Aron: "Control yourself. We'll talk about this later. Let's go back to class."
We walked to class. When I arrived, I saw Hyuk in my seat. He looked at me and smiled.
Hyuk: "JR-ah, that's okay."
I confused. I sat down next to him.
Me: "What do you want to say, Hyuk-ah?"
Hyuk: "I know that you feel burdened with this rumor, but you don't need to be worry. You're a great person, Kim JR. You're not running away from your problem, you even defend your friend. Choi Minki must be lucky to have a friend like you."
Me: "No, Hyuk. I haven't done anything for him. He's the one who sacrificed a lot for me. I guess it's just my payback for him."
Hyuk patted my back.
Hyuk: "I believe both of you can endure this. Cheer up, dude."
He smiled again and left. Then, Baekho came from the restroom.
Baekho: "Everyone's talking about you, Kim Jonghyun."
JR: "Let it be."
I put my arms and face on the table. I heard Baekho sighed.
JR: "Wake me up when Ms. Jung come."
Baekho: "Aish, okay okay."
I closed my eyes and took a nap for a while. I felt so tired today. Then, I thought about Hyuk's words back then. Why does he care about me? It's just a week since he became my classmate, but I felt like he already knows me well.
I have a lot of fears right now. I'm afraid that I can't be a good friend for him. I'm afraid that he will leave me. I'm afraid, nothing will be the same again between us.
