[one-shot] it had to be you

[padmik]

it had to be you; pg-13
junhyung/hyunseung
drama, high school!au, fluffy bits

summary: hyunseung's a mute, and junhyung's the resident bad boy who doesn't care to live up to his reputation.



He’s a mute.

That’s the first thing Junhyung learns about the new kid in school. He doesn’t think much about it; he hardly cares about anyone else in this place.

Jang Hyunseung is his name, and he’s a rather skinny young man with bland dark brown locks and a heart-shaped face. All the girls say he’s absolutely beautiful.

Junhyung thinks he’s kind of ugly.

The first time Junhyung actually talks to Hyunseung, it’s in the library. The old lady with the crooked glasses keeps peeking out from behind her counter, shooting glares down the aisle Junhyung is standing in. He never understands why he is a blatant target for the hag, but he assumes it’s because Junhyung holds an unpleasant reputation amongst the school. So what if he punched his literature teacher in the face last year? The punk deserved it. It also doesn’t help that his flaming mane gives off the worst impressions to even people on the street.

He’s shuffling through songs on his music player when movement from the left catches his attention.

Junhyung glances over, spotting the culprit.

Jang Hyunseung, not quite fit for his clothes, is stretching as far as the heavens will let him to reach for a book, and he’s failing miserably, Junhyung notices.

“Here, let me help.” The redhead easily rises on the tips of his toes and pulls the book off the shelf. When he turns around, he takes note of how pink Hyunseung’s cheeks are and the light smile on the kid’s face.

Junhyung holds the book out in front of him, and the brunette takes it with a bow of his head. He mouths, ‘Thank you,’ and Junhyung nods.

“No problem.”

Hyunseung begins to walk away, satisfied with the large text in his hands. Before he turns around the corner, he looks back and waves at Junhyung who nods his head again.

Okay, so he is cute, thinks Junhyung. Cute, but still kind of ugly.

“He’s a nice kid.”

Doojoon shrugs at Yoseob’s comment. “He always spaces out in class.”

“I find it…endearing?” Doojoon shoots his friend a look.

Junhyung hums to himself, trying to tune out of his desk-mates’ conversation.

The door opens and that one strange kid, Kikwang, drags a flushing Hyunseung into the room. They clumsily sprint through the aisle between Junhyung and Yoseob and take their seats behind the latter. Yoseob quirks an eyebrow, and Doojoon just shakes his head. Kikwang dismisses both of them and begins blabbering nonsense about this new soccer move he learned while Hyunseung smiles occasionally.

Junhyung sticks his headphones into his ears to tune that out as well.

He doesn’t miss the way Hyunseung’s eyes light up at Kikwang’s animated commentary.

Junhyung thinks it’s amusing, but he’s still kind of ugly.

The new rumor rotation is that Hyunseung’s got money, but that doesn’t seem plausible to Junhyung with how the kid carries himself like bruised cattle. Dongwoon, the step-brother from hell, casually mentions that he only lives with his mother in some dinky apartment on the other side of town. He doesn’t mind the people over there but his anal mother does and uses that tone.

“Maybe you and Hyunseung should do your project over here from now on?” Junhyung stifles a smirk by eating more rice and Dongwoon gives him an indignant stare.

“You’re such an ass,” says Dongwoon, outright, as they brush their teeth after dinner.

“At least I don’t have my foot up my ass.” Junhyung spits into the sink.

Dongwoon breathes out hard and scratches his gums a little bit. He spits. “She’s your mom too.”

Junhyung splashes cool water on his face before wiping it off with towel. “No, she’s not.” He turns off the lights and walks out, leaving Dongwoon in the dark, complaining how childish he’s being.

The hallways are bustling with too many people for Junhyung’s sake and even though he’s the resident bad boy, he wants to make it to class on time. Except no one’s moving and, it takes Junhyung a few seconds to realize that something must be happening to cause all these damn idiots to flock together. He pushes his way to front and no one dares to oppose him.

The view is better from the back because seeing Hyunseung getting shoved into a locker is unsettling.

The cackling from the audience doesn’t help either.

A big guy delivers the final throw with a heavy book and Hyunseung simply drops to the ground and begins to pick up his fallen items.

The bullies disperse loudly and the crowd follows suit, some even kicking the poor kid’s stuff down the corridor.

Junhyung never lives up to his reputation and he questions why it still haunts him but he doesn’t dwell on that aspect as he picks up a beaten notebook and extends his arm towards the mute.

Hyunseung freezes up (most likely in defense), and it startles Junhyung. He looks around before crouching down and tries again.

“They’re just a bunch of assholes,” he mutters. “Forget about them.”

“Hyunseung!” Junhyung glances up and he gets an eyeful of Yoseob and Doojoon, who is quick to make assumptions.

“What the hell did you do?” he barks, pulling the red head up to his feet. Junhyung rips his arm away from him. The crowd begins to form again.

“I didn’t do shit,” he spits back and he can feel something coming, possibly a punch (“Doojoon, not right now!” hisses Yoseob), but Hyunseung’s arm is holding Doojoon back.

He didn’t do anything. Sign language. Doojoon doesn’t register it but Yoseob does and repeats the sentence.

Doojoon scoffs, “This guy is all kinds of bad news. Look at him.”

“Sorry we all can’t be the fucking Yoon Doojoon, token Golden boy--”

Doojoon lunges again and the end results consists of a three-day suspicion. And a couple of ice packs.

The lecture he receives at home is full of empty threats because daddy isn’t home enough to lay down the rules. Of course, Junhyung has to speak his mind about that which grants him another ice pack for his cheek.

Junhyung’s all about not giving a shit until any type of relationship gets in the way. The one with his father hasn’t counted for years because the second he brought another woman home, Junhyung gave up. His mother is the only one that ever matters, and even his literature teacher won’t bring her up anymore. A broken noise is enough. Dongwoon tries only because he knows Junhyung won’t-can’t-put his hands on him because that’ll probably get him sent back to juvie.

Not like that did anything remotely positive for him.

Other than that, there isn’t much else to care for. Especially since she’s dead.

A note is shoved under his arm and it takes a few or so taps to get Junhyung to lift is head from his desk. The person next to him is a blur for approximately five seconds before it takes shape into a doe-eyed Hyunseung. He looks a little better from last week.

Junhyung opens his mouth but he’s too dazed to really speak and Hyunseung’s pointing at the note that’s now stuck to his sweater sleeve. Hyunseung kind of laughs which grants him a light grin in return.

Doojoon stares at him funnily from across the classroom.

Junhyung peels the note off his arm and reads it. You’re Junhyung, right?

Yes, he writes back, messily.

Hyunseung scribbles something else and hesitantly hands it back over. You’re not as horrifying as the rumors say.

Depends on the person who’s saying it, I guess. Like my lit teacher.

Hyunseung cocks his head and contemplates. Junhyung’s on the verge of falling asleep again until the note comes back to him.

Well thank you for not treating me like your lit teacher then J

Now Junhyung understands what Yoseob meant by endearing.

“Jun, can you help me?”

The redhead raises his head from the book in his lap to glare at the person standing at the foot of his bedroom door. He pulls one earphone out. “What?”

Dongwoon twitches at the tone, but pushes it aside a second later. “Can you help me for a second?”

The earphone goes back into its rightful place and the music begins to play shortly after. Out of the corner of his eye, Junhyung can see Dongwoon tapping his fingers against his door hinge.

Five minutes pass.

“Fine.” Irritated, Junhyung slides off the bed and bumps past Dongwoon, stomping towards the other’s room. “Oh. It’s you.”

Hyunseung looks up from the floor, wide-eyed. He waves shyly, cheeks coloring themselves rose.

“Hmm, you know each other?” asks Dongwoon, slipping past the redhead and walking over to the television. “Come help me?”

Junhyung’s mingling in the kitchen for a quick snack when two sets of footsteps come swinging around the corner and he’s positive one person just crashed into the kitchen table.

Dongwoon’s ‘that fucking hurt’ confirms his speculation. “Don’t swear,” he says, ripping open a bag of salty chips.

“That’s pretty holy coming from the guy who was suspended last week,” huffs Dongwoon, heading for the fridge.

He peaks over his shoulder and Hyunseung is pulling on the hem of his shirt sleeves while observing the décor in the kitchen. He catches Junhyung’s eye and turns pink on cue, but he doesn’t look away.

“Why is your face so fucking red?” comes Dongwoon’s voice and Junhyung thinks he’s talking to Hyunseung, but Hyunseung isn’t responding and ventures into the living room. Dongwoon has to ask again for the red head to realize he’s asking him instead and Junhyung doesn’t have an answer for that.

“Stop swearing.” He slaps his brother in the back of head before rushing back into his room.

Lunch is occasionally spent alone for Junhyung, and he usually spends most of the time roaming the grounds but today, it’s raining and Junhyung mentally claims that cats are his spirit animal. His eyes are glued to the chick in front of him whose thong is sticking out and damn, neon green is an ugly color for a thong-

Can I sit here?

The note is bright blue, better suited for Junhyung’s eyes. His handwriting is pretty too.

“Uhm, sure,” comes a reply without much thought. Hyunseung takes the seat, wearing a smile so bright, it almost rivaled the sun. Too bad it wasn’t visible today.

“Don’t you usually sit with the dynamic trio?” Who are staring at them from across the cafeteria.

Hyunseung silently chuckles, and scribbles down another note.

You’re a pretty funny guy.

You’re the only person who laughs at my jokes, muses Junhyung.

Junhyung wonders if Hyunseung spends more time at his house than his own because every time he comes downstairs to snag a coke, there he is, with Dongwoon, doing something absolutely stupid in the living room.

“That doesn’t look like an environmental science project to me,” states Junhyung, loud and purposely bothersome.

Hyunseung covers his mouth in mirth, while Dongwoon flips him off.

After a while, Junhyung finds himself joining in, but only if they’re playing video games and Hyunseung will give him the controller.

He always does.

“He’s too good for you, y’know.”

Junhyung looks up at a disgruntled Dongwoon stand in front of his door. “What?”

“There are so many people in this town you can deflower or screw or whatever you call it.”

“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.” Junhyung closes his textbook and sets it on the desk in front of him. “And don’t say deflower. Sounds too O’ Verona.”

Dongwoon groans. “Just leave Hyunseung alone, okay? He’s been through too much to get involved with you.”

Junhyung doesn’t take offense to much but that’s kind of low blow. He turns back around and slips all of Hyunseung’s scribbles under his textbook.

After the school day has ended, Junhyung catches numerous voices about a block away from the school and it doesn’t sound like someone’s going to make it home without shoe prints engraved into their skin. It’s a Friday, so he kind of pities the fool who’s going to spend his weekend crying under the sheets.

The rough grunts grow louder as Junhyung strolls down the sidewalk towards the cheapest convenience store in town. He spots the gang immediately, having their fun on the neighborhood playground.

He stops and watches.

He’ll never understand the concept of bullying. Poor kid-

Fuck.

Junhyung’s not much of a fighter but he’ll defend anyone he deems even the slightest important to him.

His mother is one. Hyunseung somehow squeezed his way on that list.

It’s four against one (two if Hyunseung’s capable of getting off the ground). Junhyung doesn’t have the upper hand no matter what but he manages to knock down one guy who’s caught off guard.

And instantly, he manages to mess up, because Hyunseung’s looking at him with scared eyes that glimmer with a hint of hope.

The simplest distraction presents him with a two-man beat down.

Junhyung catches Hyunseung running away before he blacks out.

The room he wakes up in is not his own. Junhyung tries to sit up but his ribcage is throbbing and he wonders if this beat down will leave him kicked out of the house for tonight. Explanations aren’t important to daddy.

He attempts to sit up again, to figure out where he might be, but Hyunseung comes rushing in with antiseptics and disinfectants and other household medical supplies. He pushes him back down on the bed.

Don’t move.

Hyunseung drops down on the bed and begins to uncap bottles and pull up cotton balls and wraps and ice packs. His eyes are red and brimming. He has a few cuts and bruises to boost.

Neither says anything as the handiwork is being done.

Hyunseung’s room is a memory of an old life, and Junhyung is already trying to connect the pieces while Hyunseung is digging around for first aid supplies.

Picture frames are placed sporadically around the room, all full of faces Junhyung doesn’t know, but they’re repeated. He spots an older woman in a few and she has Hyunseung’s eyes-his mother. There’s a couple of photos with a man as well, one that screams the perfect family and another that tells of a father and his son.

Dongwoon only mentioned a mother.

Minutes pass by until Hyunseung’s finished and he starts tidying up the items. He stands up, arm stuffed with supplies, and Junhyung tugs on his shirt.

“Why didn’t you fight back?” he asks, breathless.

Hyunseung shifts around awkwardly before indicating that he’d return. Junhyung doesn’t let go. He forces his body to sit up, facing the mute.

“Why didn’t you fight back?” he asks again, tone more aggravated than before. He grips Hyunseung’s arms.

“Why the fuck didn’t you fight back?!” The supplies fall and scatter around them when Junhyung pushes Hyunseung up against the wall.

He isn’t attempting to break free and it only pisses the red head off more. He wants to hit him-anything to stir a little bit of anger, and he’s mentally close to considering it except Hyunseung’s breathing offsets and that scares Junhyung more than anything.

A panic attack or not, he loosens his grip because guilt is a feeling that Junhyung doesn’t like.

“Of all the people in this shitty town, it just had to be you.”

Hyunseung fidgets at the comment.

Fucking Jang Hyunseung.

The cut on Junhyung’s lip hurts considerable less when he kisses Hyunseung.

He doesn’t taste sweet and he’s barely a decent kisser, but those butterflies do flutter in Junhyung’s stomach regardless.

Both boys hardly break apart before a soft, “Hyunseung, I’m home,” vibrates through the thin walls, and Hyunseung pushes Junhyung off. His hands start flailing, making signs Junhyung doesn’t understand, but he understands body language and ‘you have to get out’ is the first thing that makes sense.

Thankful for fire escapes, Junhyung moves quickly, barely disappearing before the woman from the photos waltzes into her son’s bedroom and proceeds to freak out over her child’s minor injuries.

Junhyung spends the night getting berated, but at least he doesn’t get kicked out. He’s put on house arrest which doesn’t mean much.

They see each other in the halls but Junhyung isn’t sure if Hyunseung is avoiding him or he’s avoiding Hyunseung. Hyunseung doesn’t sit with him at lunch on the rainy days so he’s settling with the first choice. Doesn’t help that Doojoon is burning holes in his back throughout the day. So much for giving a damn.

Dongwoon keeps shooting him unnecessary glares from across the kitchen table while mom babbles on about the economy and daddy just shakes his head because she’s not making valid points.

He’s still getting those ungodly stares as they brush their teeth afterwards.

“I told you not to get close to him.”

Junhyung spits. “You said not to steal him. There’s a difference.”

“He doesn’t need someone with your anger streak…”

Junhyung turns off the faucet. “And he doesn’t need friends who make his decisions for him.” He turns off the lights.

The homework is discarded for the night. Junhyung simply lies on top of his covers staring at a familiar scribble he found on his locker that morning.

Are you mad at me? I’m sorry. I’m not good at this, I’m sorry. I don’t really know what to write…

He balls up the note.

Its past midnight when Junhyung wakes up with the ink on the note is printed on his palm. His lights are off and his door is closed (courtesy of step-mom) and there’s something hitting his window. Sounds like rocks.

He sits up on the bed and brushes his hair down before moving towards the window. When he pulls open the blinds, Hyunseung is staring up at him from the ground, arm outstretched.

He drops the remaining rocks and motions for the other to open the window. Junhyung complies.

“What are you doing here?” he questions at a normal volume. Everyone in this house goes comatose at night.

Hyunseung shrugs.

Junhyung taps the sill on the window. “Do you want to come up? I don’t feel like going outside.”

He lets his visitor in through the front door because climbing windows isn’t everyone’s forte. They sneak up upstairs and Junhyung locks his door, for more reasons than one.

Silence falls around them and during that time, Junhyung thinks as many times as Hyunseung’s been to this house, not once did he come to Junhyung’s room or even stop to take a peak.

Something gets knocked over and Hyunseung hands fly behind his back.

Now he’s breaking his stuff.

Junhyung bends down to pick up the fallen object. Hyunseung’s eyes are full of apology when he stands back up. A smile somehow breaks through.

“Don’t worry about it.” He sets it back on the desk. “It was just something like I made for my mom a long time ago.”

Hyunseung makes a face that tells Junhyung too much.

“Dongwoon sure does like to tell everyone else’s business, doesn’t he?” it’s a rhetorical question but Hyunseung doesn’t have anything to write a reply down on anyway.

He flops down on his bed, face up.

“But so do you, huh?”

Hyunseung plays with his fingers, embarrassed.

“I guess I should be mad that you told Yoseob who was bound to spill, and maybe more mad that you told Dongwoon because he thinks I’m devil spawn and you’re the new coming of Jesus. But I’m not.” Junhyung closes his eyes.

The bed dips hesitantly and Junhyung can feel the other’s breath on his cheek. Can feel his warmth against the right side of his body…

He opens his eyes and turns on his side, staring into tired eyes. “What makes me mad is that I don’t know shit about you.”

Hyunseung opens his mouth, as if he wants to speak but he can’t. How long since, Junhyung can only wonder. He wants to ask but Hyunseung’s fiddling with something in his pocket and he pulls out a little note folded three times over.

It’s dark and Junhyung doesn’t like to strain his eyes but he’ll take anything Hyunseung gives him.

The last time I fought back, my dad ruined our life.

Short and simple, but enough to give Junhyung an odd sense of comfort. He isn’t sure of how he should respond, but Hyunseung beats him to it by flattening that piece of paper in-between them and resting his head under the Junhyung’s chin.

They fall asleep just like that.

When the sun rises, birds singing like its spring and the sky painting itself with oranges and pinks, Junhyung and Hyunseung are still wrapped around one another.

Hyunseung occasionally runs his fingers through Junhyung’s hair and he can tell it’s rough and dry-damaged from all the products, but Hyunseung keeps playing with it.

“I’m thinking of bleaching it.”

The face he receives is skeptical.

“Like you hair is any better.”

Hyunseung laughs.

He knows no one’s going to accept them; the resident bad boy who doesn’t even live up to his reputation and the new kid everyone’s so gun-ho on protecting.

Junhyung’s all about not giving a shit what others think until relationships get involved. His dad doesn’t count. Neither does his new wife. Dongwoon’s a nuisance. The dynamic trio isn’t worth the time.

His mother is the only one that’s mattered.

And somehow, Hyunseung found his way onto that list as well.

There’s another blue note in his face.

I think you look perfect in red.

And a smile that rivals the sun, which Junhyung definitely needs to compare whenever they get out of bed.

Oh, it just had to be you, muses Junhyung.

It had to be you.