Seventeen: Unexpected Family

01

it was 9:30 in the morning and Minghao wanted nothing more than to go home. Although he was a top student, he wasn't one who honestly liked school. Sure he was a great student, his teachers bragged about him, he never made anything lower than an A, and he even was musically talented. However, this didn't stop the constant feeling of loneliness that Minghao felt 24/7. Besides his two best friends, Minghao didn't have or care for anyone else.

Due to his mind wandering during his second-period class, the time had rolled around for lunch to start. Half of the school made their way to the cafe as it quickly began to fill up.  Minghao spotted his two friends and quickly made his way over to them with a shy smile plastered on his face.

"Hey hao!" the younger said,
"Hey Chan"
the older one couldn't help but smile at the younger one. Innocence and happiness radiated off of him all the time.
"Hey Hao", the lower pitch voice rang out from beside Chan, His deep voice and black hair made The older stand out when spoke.
" Hey, Wonwoo."
as Minghao sat down, a comfortable silence rested on the three best friends. No one talked to them, and they didn't mind it either. Ever since they were little it's always been them and only them.

The three best friends knew everything about each other.
"So, anyone interesting in your Classes Hao?"
the older asked taking a break from his gross-looking sandwich, the only kind Wonwoo ever ate.
"kinda", Minghaos eyes wandered carelessly to the table across the cafe. Where a certain boy with dirty brown hair sat. His facial features draw in anyone who dares to look long enough. The boy used to have Bleach blonde hair during The second semester of Junior year, but now he had changed it once again to a brownish color for senior year. The boy was ethereal. Minghao didn't know when, why, or even how it was possible. The boy had caught Minghao's attention freshman year. The boy was always happy and he was super smart too.

Wonwoo and Chan glanced at the area Minghao and been staring at for five minutes. When the boys had laid their eyes on him, they knew exactly why Minghao had completely zoned them out

Kim Mingyu

"Minghao!"
the boy snapped his back to his two friends, who gave him the "you got lost in him again" kinda look.
Honestly, Minghao wasn't sure what it was that drew him in so much to Mingyu. He thought he was pretty straight for the most part. after all, he had dated girls more than once.

Finally, the bell to end lunch was over. The three boys slowly packed their things away dreading the next class.

Calculus

Not only was Math the most impossibly unbearable class, but it had the worst people in the class as well. Mingyu wasn't only just pretty, he was hella popular, along with about four other people, he and his friends rein over the school.

As the three boys walked into their next class, which they thankfully all had together, they made their way to the very back hoping just to pass the class and go home.  Chan and Wonwoo were seated next to each other and Minghao sat behind them in the very last Row.  They watched the clock tick and with every passing second before the bell rang, the hope that maybe those five popular kids didn't have this class grew. That hope was crushed 15 seconds later when all five of them walked in.

Minghao mentally groaned and his face twisted at the thought that the five boys were going to be very annoying. Other than Mingyu and one other, no one else cared about class and just goofed off. The bell rang and the class was beginning. While taking notes just ten minutes into class, the teacher looked up and narrowed her eyes at the group of boys

"Lee Seokmin, Kwon Soonyoung. Would you like to share with the class what's so funny you keep interrupting it?"  the teacher didn't look pleased at all, and the pair's other three friends snickered at them getting into trouble already.

" I was just telling Seokmin about soccer"
Soonyoung smiled as the teacher rolled her eyes and went back to her lesson. Minghao was watching the altercation between the students and the teacher, but in the process, he and Mingyu accidentally locked eyes. Minghao is pretty sure Mingyu had no idea who he was  or that he even existed, so Minghao turned back towards the front and began taking notes again as his stomach churned with butterflies. 

However, Minghao also noticed something else. Wonwoo had a longing look plastered on his face as he stared at the group of boys. Minghao gave his friend a sympathetic look. Other than Mingyu, Seokmin, and Soonyoung, there were two more people. Yoon Jeonghan and Wen Junhui.

Last year Junhui and Wonwoo were really close. So close in fact that people started to spread rumors that they were dating. This affected Junhui way more than Wonwoo.  Wonwoo had caught feelings for the other, and it seemed like he had also caught feelings. After rumors started spreading Junhui publicly embarrassed Wonwoo, calling him out for being gay. That day broke Wonwoos heart, he had fallen for Junhui and he turned on him just to protect his pride, not even considering how wonwoo was feeling. Sometimes I catch Junhui looking at Wonwoo, and sometimes I like to "accidentally" step into the line of sight and block his view. Wonwoo was depressed for a long time because of him. I'm not letting him get hurt like that again.

----

Finally, after Minghaos last period he could go home. He walked into the tiny apartment that he lived in by himself. Minghaos' parents died when he was super young in a car crash, so he never really knew them. He had lived with his grandparents until two years ago when they passed as well. At the time Minghao was allowed to live with Chan and his family until he got a part-time job and was able to pay a small rent for this somewhat nice apartment.

The only people who know about Minghao's life are his friends and teachers. Minghao didn't mind living like this, but next semester, he, Chan, and Wonwoo were moving into a medium-sized apartment together, and he couldn't be more excited to live with his friends. Minghao showered, ate, and finished his homework just in time for when he usually went to bed. Junior year was quite hectic and now this was the last first term of high school he will ever have. Minghao couldn't help but smile as he went to sleep, ready to face any challenges the next day.  Ready for his last year of high school as a Senior.