Oxymoronic Eyes // Sope

2

It didn't take long for Hoseok to be exposed to the harsh world known as reality. Just because you're different, you're an outsider.

He was a 'brownie.'

Doesn't sound bad if you think of the sweet dessert but in terms of insults, it can be pretty harsh. Ironic really.

It was an insult made for the 'brown eyes.'

———

Hoseok buried his head further into the dark cave of his hood when a group of his fifth grade classmates passed by, snickering and pointing at him. To say that he was used to it would be a phenomenal lie. Because it was still difficult to live with. Who knew school for a 'brownie' would be this bad? How could they discriminate him by the color of his eyes? It was not like they ever did anything bad to them.

The cafeteria was his least favorite place in school. He usually ate lunch in an empty classroom but a new teacher had recently vacated that room. Now he had no other choice. It was either the cafeteria or the bathrooms. The bathrooms are even worst during lunch considering last year a guy thought it'd be funny to pour a glass of toilet water on Hoseok's head. Fourth graders can be a bit harsh, you could say.

So there he sat at the far table of the room that no one else wanted to sit in, receiving looks from anyone who was within eyesight of him.

It had been about two years since Hoseok started going to a private school. He'd already begged his mother multiple times to switch him back to homeschool. But of course, she became furious and brought up the fact that the boy begged her to go to school in the first place.

"You asked for it and now you deserve to deal with the consequences." Were her exact words. He never brought up the topic of homeschool after that last argument.

Although he never really did understood why an innocent nine year-old, that only wanted to experience how it felt like to go to a real school with real friends, deserved to be picked on every single day about his appearance. A part of him that he could not change. Cruel, really.

It's okay, Hoseok. Today's the last day of school. The little boy thought. Tomorrow's going to be the first day of summer.

For the first time in a while, he smiled to himself.

"Hey brownie, what are you smiling at weirdo!" Hoseok heard a familiar voice howl from the nearby table. Sehun, of course.

The chocolate eyed boy ignored him and continued eating his lunch. When he was done, he stood up to throw his trash away and kindly placed his tray in the designated bin.

But of course, Sehun being Sehun, couldn't let go of the situation without embarrassing the other in some sort of way. He accidentally tripped Hoseok when he was on his way back to his table. Laughter erupted throughout the whole cafeteria and the sunshine tried its best to hold back the rain of tears.

It's okay. You're fine. He told himself as he decided to walk out of the cafeteria and head to his class a little earlier than usual.

He hugged his waist, looking down at the floor while walking, when he suddenly heard someone yell for him. "Hey, you!"

Hoseok didn't stop though, afraid of getting beat up if the person caught up to him. He felt them grab his arm and he flinched, pulling it away. "D-don't touch me." The boy looked at the stranger with a glare but the fear in his eyes were evident. I think I've seen him in the sixth grade class.

"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you stopped." The blue-eyed boy, who seemed to be about an inch shorter despite their grade difference, apologized. He stuck his hand out and Hoseok looked at him with confusion. "You dropped your phone back there. I thought I'd give it back before some dumb fifth grader tries to do something with it."

The taller looked at the phone that his mom gave him for 'emergency' purposes, which he soon found out that she just wanted to use it as a tracking device to make sure he wasn't roaming around while being the 'brownie' that he was.

"Oh, t-thanks."

And with that, the sixth grader headed back to the cafeteria.

Once again, a small smile was plastered on the sunshine's face and this time...

It's because someone was nice to him.