VEINS. － p.hs + h.jy

ONΣ

Hyungseok was painfully oblivious to many things when they regarded him, but he liked to believe that he did his best to pay close attention to the behaviour and needs of his friends, in case he could ever be of use. He knew when Euntae would get peckish and when Bumjae would bring out snacks at the perfect time, he knew when Jinsung was struggling in one of his classes despite his stubborn glare and affirmation that he could handle it, he knew when Haneul needed to chat with someone and he'd purposely start up a conversation with her.

He wholeheartedly tried his best, yet when it came to Jaeyeol, it was different. He didn't need to try, he didn't need to make himself peek over at the dyed blond to see if he was doing alright, because he did so subconsciously, as if his body necessarily had to check every now and again to see whether he was still there.

He was oblivious to many things, but gradually the fog that shrouded his vision began to clear and he could see the most minute of details － belonging to Jaeyeol, of course.

Hyungseok wasn't sure why his gaze would studiously stick and travel along the smooth lines of his classmate's face, but it did and he couldn't help it. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Jaeyeol was like a prince and he regarded himself a pauper, too enthralled by the beauty of wealth and grace that nestled around a kind heart and a silent yet smiling mouth. Or maybe it was because Jaeyeol had always been by his side since the day he'd arrived at the highschool, defending him and treating him well. That may explain why Hyungseok felt such a metaphorical bond to the young man, a connection that seemingly forged itself the moment they first met.

It began with noticing random facts about the blond, like how whenever he sat beside him he smelt of summer, no matter if there were a thunderstorm just beyond the window or a chilling breeze rushing along the barren streets, and of a fruity shampoo sewn with the faint scent of cigarettes.  

Hyungseok would take the seat abreast him, "Morning, Jae!" and Jaeyeol would offer a curl of his lips and a delicate nod, his hair glistening in the sunlight that struck it like threads of finely woven gold, floating over his forehead and draping past his eternally hidden eyes.

Hyungseok's thoughts would drift like dry wood down a steady stream, steadily away from whatever was being explained on the board to the male at his left, breaths quiet and constant, soothing to the brunet whose mind cancelled out any other sound that wasn't the soft inhales and exhales.

Mahogany tinted irises would tentatively glance through thick lashes and land on an unending ocean of ice, with dips and curves of peach toned cheeks and strawberry pink coloured lips, pursed ever so minimally in concentration.

With the gold of the sun planting feather-light kisses on Jaeyeol's entire form, Hyungseok found it impossible a task to guide his eyes away.

Jaeyeol had an air about him that was ineffably attractive, and it made the other's heart skip and jolt, his stomach fasten into a knot as warmth speckled red the tips of his ears. Hyungseok felt as though he were before a masterpiece of art, a spectator gazing up in bewilderment and awe at a grand work of Caravaggio or even Jacques-Louis David, incapable of putting into words how wonderful each detail painted so delicately was, but hungrily yearning for more.

He didn't label such a revelation as him being romantically interested in the guy; after all, he'd never really looked at many people through such a lens before and even then none of them had been male. No, he believed it was merely Jaeyeol's beauty that was irresistible, regardless of who you were and who you were typically interested in. A work of art would not be understood by all, but it could be appreciated by any.

And so, when doing his best to look away resulted in failure, Hyungseok decided he would let himself do just that, allow his eyes to roam and soak in the pale palette of oil paints that made up Jaeyeol's complexion.

Hyungseok had never seen such fair and supple flesh, able to glisten under even the low-cost white lights their school supplied each class with and blindingly shine when illuminated by cascading rays of sun; Jaeyeol's was an exception.

They were, at that time, sat in the library, barricaded by imposing walls of books and papers, Jaeyeol aiding Hyungseok with his studies after refusing to stop his tutoring simply because the latter had managed to raise his grades.

The brunet was watching as the other wordlessly jotted some numbers onto his open notebook and used the tip of his blue pen to indicate a couple numbers, prior to drawing arrows leading to the following step to resolving the problem.

Hyungseok gave a low hum, believing he understood and urging his friend to continue.

Jaeyeol waited a moment and then proceeded, fingers loosely holding his pen as his cursive writing left a small note enclosed in a poorly drawn box above the arrows, explaining why the step was done in a way he knew Hyungseok would comprehend. Hyungseok greatly appreciated the little tips and elaborations that spotted the pages － he tended to forget the reasons things were done very easily － and he watched in appreciative silence as the slender hand moved across the page, bulky rings somehow not inhibiting the fluidity of the movement.

It was the first time Hyungseok realised he could see threads of blue beneath the cream of Jaeyeol's skin, fine and delicate, letting the subtle bumps of his veins protrude in a way that made them look to be paths on a map. The younger of the pair idly wondered where they would lead, for how much farther along Jaeyeol's arms could they be seen, and then his fingertips were grazing mindlessly the top of the blond's writing hand, now frozen still and tensing.

The skin was as soft as he imagined, silky and lacking imperfections, gentle hills and valleys between knuckles and veins.

". . ."

Hyungseok snatched his touch away as if he were seared by a scorching heat, the same that then burnt his ears and cheeks, trickling down his neck beneath the open collar of his school shirt. He clutched his hand to his chest, eyes strained with panic before he wrung his fingers together upon his lap, casting his gaze to the notebook before him.

"Sorry. . ." He murmured, bashful and timid, befuddled by his own strange behaviour and by how easily he had been lured in to wanting to touch what his mind was so curious about.

He peeked from his peripheral vision and saw that a faint pink had dusted Jaeyeol's own face, and then he worried he had made him uncomfortable.

". . ."

"Hm? It's okay, you say? It didn't bother you?" His voice lilted with relief and a smile resurfaced on his lips, "I'm glad. I'll try to stay focused from now on."

Jaeyeol dipped his own head, flipping through his book to start a new page of exercises, but Hyungseok could see the ends of his mouth curl and the image brought warmth to his chest.

Hyungseok had promised to focus more during his tutoring session, but promises were made to be broken when Jaeyeol was so close.

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i mean... it's something lol
hope it's alright
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