commensalism (n.)
/kəˈmɛns(ə)lɪz(ə)m/ an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.
- - -
minghao, for the first time in a long time, felt in love.
he felt high on the addiction that was wen junhui. dizzy with his adoration and affection. intoxicated with his sweet gestures and his gentle touches. he really didn't deserve any of it.
was this what it was like? to be completely and utterly infatuated with someone? is this what jisoo meant when he told minghao how much he loved chan?
maybe it was.
he had to do something-- it was always jun making the moves, throwing flattering comments and making minghao feel like he was the only one of importance.
and so that's how he ended up at a cutesy flower shop at the corner of town, putting together a set of whatever reminded him of jun. he was planning to pick up junhui from school, and surprise him with a load of cute gifts and kisses. it was the least he could do.
jun, unlike himself, deserved the world. minghao would go to the ends of the earth to satisfy him.
minghao still felt lightheaded from a couple of days ago, when jun cupped his face and kissed him as if feng wasn't even asleep next to them. and he kept doing it, over and over, until minghao was reduced to nothing but a flustered, shivering mess.
he wanted that feeling again. minghao wanted it forever.
so, with a memory induced grin, minghao pours his emotions into the bouquet of roses and carnations, thinking of a certain student with each flower.
- - -
"c'mon channie, let's go."
hansol was pretty much dragging the young boy out of his seat by the time class had ended. after a few more shakes, the american boy gives up and simply sets the boy on his back, gesturing for jun to follow him out of the classroom. the professor eyes them oddly-- there's just a group of boys exiting the classroom, seungkwan stuffing his face with candy, soonyoung yawning obnoxiously, chan asleep on hansol's back, and jun simply following, wondering why he was friends with such people.
the hallways were surprisingly empty. then again, after school hours were literally the only free-time they truly got in high school. then it was homework, work, or whatever. better savor it.
"oppa?" came the voice of a girl, and what was hilarious, was that all the boys in the group turned at the name.
"jun-oppa." she clarified. the girl was pretty, jun would admit. but minghao was prettier.
the other boys gave junhui wary glances before leaving the two alone, the girl looking down at her toes with a heavy blush coating her features. her hair covered most of her face, but the tint was still prominent. jun knew where this was going. he'd just have to act like he didn't.
"hm?"
"i--" she cuts herself off with a mumble, forcing herself to look up at jun. "i w-wanted to tell you s-something..."
"what is it?" jun presses. he doesn't mean to come off as rude, but he's genuinely curious. thinking about how he'd have to reject this poor girl.
"i-i-i really like you..."
- - -
placing the flowers and chocolates gently on the passenger seat, minghao starts his car with a smile.
- - -
"you do?"
the girl nods, pushing her hair behind her ear and finally looking up at junhui. she has a small smile, an innocent one at that, which makes jun's heart fall even more into the depths of guilt.
"j-jun-oppa, do you like me too?"
"uhh..." what is he supposed to say in a situation like this? he ought to just break it to her that he has someone already, someone who makes his world brighter and his body numb. "well, i--"
"i can show you." she suddenly intervenes, moving dangerously closer, until jun's back is pressed up against the lockers. where did this sudden change of mood even come from? jun has to get away, before someone gets the wrong idea. he doesn't want her, he wants minghao.
- - -
let out a breathy laugh, minghao parks his car, taking the love-filled items into his arms and walking towards the front entrance. the sunlight makes the joy in his eyes more prominent.
- - -
"what--"
a pair of lips covers his and silences him, but as she presses up against him, a sense of panic settles in as jun attempts to push her away. the girl refuses, practically stepping on his feet to keep him in place despite the actions of protest coming from junhui. he wants to get away.
the girl attacks his mouth, slipping her tongue in forcefully and making jun squirm. he continues pushing at her and trying to kick his legs, but damn, this girl is strong.
"stop--" the student finally manages to break away, shoving the girl off of him and wiping his lips in disgust. that's no way to confess-- he feels terrible and violated.
there's the sound of a box clattering to the floor.
jun looks over, and that's when everything stops. there stands minghao, his beautiful minghao, teary eyed and staring, clutching a beautiful bouquet of flowers to his chest and covering his mouth with his hand. a box of chocolates sits at his feet, having popped open and leaving the insides to fall open and dirty themselves upon the floor.
oh god, oh god, oh god, jun thinks. no, no, no--
"m-minghao--" jun begins, quickly moving away from the girl and approaching his beloved. minghao only walks further backwards, tears streaming down his ethereal face. why does he have to look so pretty when he cries? "it's not what it looks like--"
"don't." the librarian whispers. his tone is so calm, so even. jun hates how minghao is smiling and allowing his face to be soaked with tears. he hates the girl, he hates the kiss, he hates everything.
"minghao, please--"
"don't." he repeats. there's a bit of coldness to his tone, as he looks down at junhui's swollen lips, and how the girl casually wipes the saliva from her mouth. though when he meets his lover's eyes again, his sobs return.
"minghao--"
but the librarian is already turning, dropping the flowers to the tile and giving jun one last broken glance before ignoring the student's cries and sprinting out of the school.
- - -
haha
-j
