look and listen

2

just as minghao had predicted, soonyoung is popular immediately. he's loud and cute and extroverted, and he can hear girls talking about him as he walks down the hall. because soonyoung is older than minghao, they only have one class together: gym. the two are put on opposite teams to play competitive frisbee, and soonyoung teases minghao.

"i promise i'll go easy on you," he says as he shoves minghao lightly.

they're still new friends, and they don't know a lot about each other. one of the things minghao never thought to mention was that he is very good at sports. and soonyoung is not. minghao's team wins 12-5 and his teammates congratulate him, giving him high fives, before turning to soonyoung, who's red in the face and embarrassed.

the bell rings, signalling the end of class, but the group continues to surround soonyoung. minghao sighs and heads back to the locker rooms. lunch is next, and minghao has a feeling he won't be seeing soonyoung in the library.

as he walks down the empty hall in the direction of the library, he hears footsteps behind him. his neck tingles and his heart drops to his feet, and he tightens his grip on the strap of his backpack and quickens his pace.

please, for the love of all things holy, don't let it be chanyeol.

"excuse me, could you show me where the library is? i'm meeting a—oh, hey minghao!"

minghao's shoulders slump forward in relief and he turns around to greet soonyoung. "soonyoung, you scared me half to death, i thought you were chanyeol."

soonyoung tilts his head, confused. "chanyeol? why would that scare you? he's pretty cool."

minghao ducks his head as he resumes walking, now with soonyoung at his side. their shoulders bump. "he's not really," he mumbles.

"oh. well, chanyeol, schmamyeol! this lunch is about us!" soonyoung's eyes disappear as he smiles. minghao desperately wants to touch his cheeks.

minghao shushes him as he opens the door to the library. the two make their way to the counter, where a young woman stands, sticking labels to the spines of new books. she looks up from her work to smile at minghao.

"hi ms. zhong," minghao greets sweetly.

ms. zhong is a young woman in her early twenties who perfectly fits a librarian stereotype. glasses, collared shirts, hair always pinned up neatly. however, she is kind to minghao, and being from china as well, she and minghao are able to speak freely with each other in their native tongues. the two work as a form of comfort for each other in such a hectic environment.

"hello minghao," ms. zhong eyes soonyoung. "and who's this? you're normally alone."