ISS 2011: FOR AURELYNN
To: aurelynn
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Technicolour Ways
Pairing/Focus: Woohyun/Hoya
Rating: PG
Word count: 4460
Summary: Woohyun figures that judging someone based on the colours they like isn't really an accurate way to understand him.
Woohyun yawns and flops onto his textbook. The store is empty, spare for a couple of flies, and how the hell does differentiating e to the power of 2x give that answer? He whines, "It's too hot to study Math, or anything for that matter."
Myungsoo walks out from the store room with a brown carton and raises an eyebrow. "Why don't you restock the manga section for me then?" He challenges.
Woohyun shakes his head and waves his hand dismissively at Myungsoo. Working at a bookstore isn't his idea of a dream part time job, but at least it pays for college tuition.
"Um..."
"Oh sorry," Woohyun exclaims and flashes a bright smile at the customer. He scans a whole bunch of reference books and frowns at a metallic blue pen buried at the bottom of the basket. Distance. Like the skies and the seas tearing people from different continents apart.
"Great colour," he says anyway, as he passes the bag to the customer and flashes a smile. He nods, gives Woohyun a small smile in return and heads out.
-
Woohyun doesn't see him until a week later, when he's flipping through magazines instead of restocking them. He hears Myungsoo laughing and pokes his head around the corner.
The same guy is standing before Myungsoo, his hand lightly whacking Myungsoo's arm. Woohyun's eyes fall to the pen Myungsoo's twirling in his hand. It's purple this time round, like the imagination in children that adults have thrown away amidst the hassle of the real world. Myungsoo rolls his eyes with a smile before dropping it into the bag.
He beams, ruffles Myungsoo's hair and strolls out of the store. Myungsoo shakes his head, pauses, and asks, "Oh, you're done restocking the magazine stand already?"
Woohyun shakes his head and leans against the counter, quirking an eyebrow, before asking casually, "Who's that guy? Last time he came, he bought one of those cheap coloured pens too."
"Oh, he's my dance sunbae. He's in your year, hyung."
"Oh," Woohyun shrugs and turns back to restocking magazines.
-
It's green this time round. Not the metallic type, but the colour of grass after it's been showered with rain. Balance; between distance and... imagination?
Woohyun bags it with a couple of comic books and pauses, the bag still in his hand. "I don't believe we've met properly. I'm Nam Woohyun. Myungsoo says we're in the same year."
The guy manages a smile, pushes his black-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose and mumbles, "I'm Lee Howon. Um yeah, thanks."
He tugs the bag out of Woohyun's grip and practically dashes out of the store. Woohyun wrinkles his nose and turns back to his manga.
-
Lee Howon is a lot less eye-catching in school without his huge black glasses. He also sits two rows in front of Woohyun for class and constantly texts on his phone, rather than take notes.
Woohyun catches up with him after Math and calls out, "Hey, Howon-sshi!"
Howon turns around and blinks, as Woohyun slows to a jog in front of him.
"You didn't tell me we're taking the same Math class," he beams.
Howon swallows and nods. Woohyun's vaguely aware of people around them staring and pointing at them. Howon takes a few steps back and gives Woohyun a small smile, "Um, I'm going to be late for class. Bye Woohyun-sshi."
Woohyun blinks as Sungyeol catches up with him. He's never remembered himself to be particularly intimidating, but he shakes the thought out of his head as Sungjong tackles him in a hug and Myungsoo smiles at him on the way to lunch.
-
"I think he hates me," Woohyun exclaims aloud, earning a snort from Myungsoo.
It didn't take a genius to figure out from the careful smiles and small, almost invisible waves that could be easily mistaken as twitching of fingers. Lee Howon is anything but discreet, since he practically fled when Woohyun picked up a file he dropped and handed it to him with a smile. He's seeing more of the distance than the imagination, Woohyun figures.
Woohyun turns the chair around to face Myungsoo, who's sitting on the ground, "No seriously, he practically dashes out of every class we have together and he gives me this really awkward smile when I say hi to him in school."
Myungsoo pushes his History textbook to Woohyun and points at a question, and answers, "Howon-hyung's really shy. He'll warm up to you in time, if you don't scare him off first. Isn't that right, hyung?"
Woohyun nearly topples off the chair as Howon sets down his basket and shoots Myungsoo a glare. Myungsoo stifles a laugh and picks up the History textbook that slides off Woohyun's lap. Woohyun scans the items in silence and bags them just as Howon exclaims, "Ah! Don't put the pen in!"
It's red, like the roses that Woohyun receives from multiple girls on Valentine's Day. Howon pushes the pen towards Woohyun and shuffles his feet, as he trips over his words, "It's for you. I mean, as an apology for being really hostile in school and. I'm not good at this. Making new friends, I mean."
But it's red, like danger. Or maybe, love. "You didn't have to get me anything." He says instead.
"Just keep it," Howon insists as he grabs his bag and sprints out of the store.
Myungsoo smirks, "Still think he hates you?"
"Shut up," Woohyun snaps and flings some eraser dust at him.
-
"Have you ever thought," Sungjong comments offhand, "That you're going about this wrongly?"
Woohyun blinks and bites on his pudding spoon, before he pulls it out and answers, "Going about what?"
Sungjong stirs his soup around and pushes it to Sungyeol, and shrugs, "Befriending Lee Howon?"
"There is nothing wrong with my ways," Woohyun pouts. "I'm as charming as charming gets."
Myungsoo rolls his eyes, and sighs, "Hyung, what Sungjong means is why don't you try befriending Howon-hyung on less intimidating grounds for him?"
Woohyun takes another bite of his pudding and asks, "How much do you know about him, Myungsoo?"
-
"I don't think I'm ready for this, hyung," Sungjong gulps.
Woohyun shrugs, adjusts his pullover and says, "Well, this was your idea."
Myungsoo smiles and throws them a thumbs up as Kim Sunggyu walks to the middle of assembly square and puts down a giant stereo. Students pause as Sunggyu starts moving to the flow of the music, and Jang Dongwoo places a giant box down on the ground next to the stereo, before moving to the beat in sync with Sunggyu.
Woohyun approaches the box just as Lee Howon appears and joins in the dance. Just as Myungsoo had overheard, the trio were raising funds for flood relief in Thailand. He smiles, drops a couple of dollars into the box and mutters, "Let's give them a run for their money."
He flicks off the stereo and the trio turns to him, eyebrows raised. He tosses the CD in the stereo to Myungsoo, before popping in their own mix and pressing play. Lee Howon approaches him and hisses, "What do you think you're doing, Nam Woohyun."
Woohyun throws him a smile, "Dancing."
Sungyeol starts moving to the beat as Sungjong joins in and Myungsoo cheers from the sidelines. Woohyun smirks and does a back flip, his feet moving to the rhythm, lyrics falling from his lips. Dongwoo's jaw is hanging slack and Sunggyu rolls his eyes slightly, his arms crossed across his chest, although he doesn't stop staring. Howon alternates between watching them and the people who pass by, throwing dollar bills into the box. Woohyun throws a grin as he spins and catches a glimpse of Myungsoo. He's vaguely aware of girls chanting his name, mixed with Sungyeol's and Sungjong's, almost drowned by squeals.
By the end of the mix, Myungsoo's beaming from ear to ear, as he throws water bottles to them. Woohyun laughs and switches off the stereo as Sungyeol sits on the ground and downs the water.
"That was amazing!" Dongwoo exclaims, bouncing on his soles.
Sunggyu makes a small grunting noise and nods without a word. Howon approaches Woohyun and stutters, "W-why did you do that?"
Sungjong exclaims happily from the ground, "Dance battle!"
Woohyun shrugs, "People are more attracted to 2 dance groups fighting it out. I figured you'd raise more money that way."
Myungsoo makes a soft snorting sound, which earns him a sharp glare from Woohyun. Howon blinks and counts the money in the box, before sighing, "You're not interested in helping the flood relief, are you?"
Woohyun pouts and whines, "I'm a charitable person too, Howon-sshi!"
Howon rolls his eyes and passes Sunggyu the money, grabs his duffel from the ground and says, "Regardless, you did help us raise quite a significant amount. Let me buy you coffee or something."
Woohyun beams and prods, "Starbucks?"
Howon sighs and shrugs, avoids Woohyun's eyes as he mumbles, "Just hurry pack up and meet me at the main entrance before I change my mind."
He turns and strides off with Sunggyu, as Dongwoo bows to them and throws them a wave, before scurrying off to catch up with the other two. Woohyun turns to face his friends, just as Sungyeol lies down flat on the ground and Sungjong covers his ears with his hands.
"Mission accomplished!"
He screams and tackles Myungsoo into a hug, as Myungsoo winces at his temporary hearing loss.
-
Howon raises an eyebrow as Woohyun flashes him a peace sign and walks back to their table, a Chocolate Cream Chip muffin and a Caramel Macchiato in hand. He passes Howon his drink and sets the spare change on the table. Howon takes a sip of his Caramel Macchiato and asks, "How'd you know she'd give you a discount?"
"It's in my nature to charm all living beings."
Howon blinks at him, before he doubles over with laughter, his eyes crinkling into crescents. Woohyun makes a face and reaches across the table to whack him, his fingers lingering on Howon's jacket sleeve, as Howon catches his breath.
Howon clears his throat, shifts back in his seat, and picks up whipped cream with his straw. Woohyun stirs his drink and glances at Howon, "Hey, just out of curiousity, why'd you buy so many coloured pens?"
"Oh," Howon shrugs and answers, "Just for doodling purposes when lessons get boring, I guess. And colours make my notes more attractive and tempting to study."
Woohyun raises an eyebrow and takes a long sip of his drink, before mumbling, "So that's where the imagination comes from."
Howon blinks. "What?"
He flails around a little, before succumbing to Howon's questioning glare and answers, "It's just, I kinda drew conclusions about you based on the colour of the pens you were buying."
"Oh, like how green is supposed to be about balance?" He asks.
Woohyun's eyes widen and he leans forward, smile bright like a kid on Christmas morning, exclaiming, "Wait, you know about colour representation too?"
Howon scratches his head and laughs nervously, "Yeah. I was kinda trying to figure out what your rainbow jacket said about your personality."
Woohyun brightens and starts babbling about how grateful he is that at least someone appreciates his rainbow jacket, and he talks about Sungyeol and Sungjong and how Myungsoo bullies him, even though he's the hyung and he rattles on and on until he notices Howon laughing and he stops, bites his lip and realizes belatedly that he's rambling.
Howon smiles at him, and says, "Nam Woohyun, you're everything I didn't expect from a popular kid."
Later, when Woohyun's bus is approaching, Howon smiles and waves as Woohyun boards the bus. He takes a seat near the back and opens the window.
"Goodbye," Howon says.
Woohyun frowns and replies, "Don't. Never say goodbye, because goodbye means going away, and going away means forgetting."
Howon blinks and asks, "Then what do I say instead when we're parting ways?"
"See you around," Woohyun yells as the bus pulls away and he sticks his head out the window, watches Howon wave at him until he's completely out of sight.
-
"Good morning, hyung," Myungsoo greets, his eyes still glued to his textbook.
Howon smiles and ruffles Myungsoo's hair, earning a glare in return. Myungsoo scrunches up his nose and says, "I'll be near the manga section if you guys need me."
With finals coming up, Myungsoo spends every second he's not restocking items or bagging books committing every word in his notes to memory. Woohyun, being bored out of his wits and having a lousy attention span, manages to squeeze Howon's number out of Myungsoo, after hours of pestering and promises to let Myungsoo study if he gives in.
Howon plops down in Myungsoo's just vacated seat and pulls out his Math textbook. Woohyun puffs out his cheeks, "How does this make you any different from Myungsoo?"
"At least we're studying the same content."
Woohyun rolls his eyes and stares at his text, until his eyes start to water and his head slips from his hand onto the book. He hears the scraping of the chair next to him and rubs his eyes as he sits upright.
"Where are you going?" He whines as Howon stands up and heads out, his bag still resting on the seat next to Woohyun.
He makes a face, but returns to staring at his text. Moments later, a brown Starbucks cup is held in front of him. Woohyun glances up at Howon in a thin jacket, his left hand hovering before his mouth as he blows small puffs of air against it. Woohyun reaches for the cup, his fingers brushing against Howon's frozen ones, as Howon reclaims his seat.
"Thanks," Woohyun smiles.
Howon shrugs and flips a page in his book with trembling hands. Woohyun reaches into his bag, pulls out his grey scarf and leans towards Howon. Howon freezes, his fingers gripping the page so tightly that Woohyun thinks he'll rip it, as Woohyun wraps the scarf around his neck.
Woohyun's still breathing into Howon's personal space as Howon turns to look at him, his fingers brushing Woohyun's hand off the scarf, his breath falling in little puffs against Woohyun's cheek. Woohyun blinks as Howon leans a little closer and oh god, Howon can probably hear how fast his heart is racing right now.
A soft cough and Howon is suddenly gathering his books and standing up, mumbling something about having to go for tuition. He dashes out of the store without a look back and promptly trips over the doorframe. Myungsoo smirks and leans against a bookshelf, as Woohyun utters a curse under his breath and proceeds to sleep on his book, studies be damned.
-
It surprises Woohyun that Howon still drops by the bookstore with snacks and coffee for both him and Myungsoo. Sometimes, he just pops by to deliver snacks and pick up more of those cheap coloured pens that write more smoothly than expensive gel pens, Woohyun discovers. Most of the time, he stays to study with Woohyun and wake him up from his naps by plucking his earphones into Woohyun's ears and blasting hip-hop music.
Howon hands him a multi-coloured glossy pamphlet one day and Woohyun just blinks at him. He says, "I'm joining it."
Woohyun smiles and gives him a reassuring pat, exclaiming, "I'm sure you'll do well."
Howon shrugs and answers, "A couple of really good dancers have already signed up for it though."
"Can they do a split?"
Howon stares at him and bursts out laughing, "No, probably not."
Woohyun grins and replies, "Then we don't have a problem, do we?"
"It means I won't be around as often."
A tight knot forms in Woohyun's throat as he shrugs and says, "Well, you have to practice that perfect choreography, don't you?"
Howon beams at him and slides a box of markers towards Woohyun. He continues, "It helps to draw out your emotions when you're bored."
He hops off the counter and waves to Woohyun, yells a "bye Myungsoo, see you at practice" and runs out with a half spin, Woohyun's heart trailing unnoticed behind him.
-
Woohyun draws on the cover of his exercise books, on cardboard boxes after they're emptied of their contents, and almost on Myungsoo's beloved bamboo pillow, until Myungsoo notices and yells at him, before walking off with it tightly tucked between his arms.
He draws rainbows and Digimon and Starbucks cups. He fills up the empty spaces in his life with random doodlings and reassures himself that the emptiness comes from study boredom and not the absence of a certain kid with geeky spectacles.
"Draw something for Howon-hyung," Myungsoo says one day when Woohyun's exhausted all the covers of his exercise books.
Woohyun blinks at him, grins and squeezes Myungsoo into a hug, "You're a genius, Myungsoo!"
He grabs his jacket and runs out of the store just as Myungsoo yells, "Can't you at least leave after our shift's over?"
He runs and runs, until he reaches his favourite high tops store. Woohyun grips the doorknob, twists it and enters.
-
"He's all the way inside, practicing on stage," Dongwoo tells Woohyun and points him in the right direction with a toothy grin.
Woohyun thanks him and approaches the stage. Howon's moving to some English song with a smooth beat, his body moving in perfect sync with the song. Woohyun pauses at a chair along the side of the auditorium and watches as Howon fumbles, trips and curses.
Before he can say a word, Howon signals one of the dancers to restart the music and starts dancing again. Woohyun smiles and turns to look at the poster plastered on the auditorium wall. First place prize: Scholarship to renowned American Dance Academy.
He swallows and turns his attention back to the stage. Howon has a pretty good chance of winning this. Woohyun casts a final glance at the stage, leaves the package at the edge of the stage and slips out of the auditorium without turning back.
-
"You're freaking him out," Myungsoo nags as Woohyun attempts to steal a piece of meat from his lunchbox.
Woohyun stuffs a large lump of rice into his mouth, just so his mouth has something to do. Myungsoo sighs and puts down his chopsticks, "Hyung, seriously, he's worried that he might have done something wrong to make you avoid him ñ"
"I'm not avoiding him," Woohyun insists and regrets it immediately as Myungsoo fixes him with a death glare.
"Sure, you're just locking yourself in the store room when he pops by."
Woohyun turns away from him and mumbles, "It's easier this way when he leaves."
"Get a clue, hyung, for God's sake."
Woohyun continues stuffing food into his mouth and clenches his fists, blinks back his tears, and wonders who exactly he's trying to fool.
-
He receives a text at 2am. I'll wear them later for the competition. The shoes, I mean.
Woohyun blinks and lazily types back, Good luck, before he closes his eyes and slowly counts the seconds ticking past.
Howon's reply comes in after exactly 85 seconds. Thanks. Come watch me?
Sure.
He doesn't.
-
Howon's sitting on the steps to his house when he reaches home after a study session with Sungyeol that night. When he approaches, Howon stands and dusts the snow off his jeans. He waves awkwardly at Woohyun and says, "I did it, like you predicted."
"That's... great. Congrats."
Howon grins and holds out his hand for a high five as he continues, "Yeah, the shoes you gave me probably provided me with extra luck."
When Woohyun just shrugs, ignores his hand and attempts to sidestep him into his house, Howon reaches out and grabs his jacket sleeve. His voice is shaky like the fingers grasping Woohyun's sleeve, his eyes brimming with questions, as he asks, "Why didn't you come and see me dance today? Is something wrong?"
Woohyun just smiles and answers, "No, something came up at home. It's late; you should go home and pack. I heard Sungyeol saying your flight's ñ"
"Don't you have anything else you want to say to me?"
Don't leave. I don't know how I'm supposed to pass through college without you. I think I'm irrevocably in love with you.
Woohyun bites his tongue, forces a smile and gives Howon a pat on the shoulder, for old times sake, and says instead, "Have a safe flight. I don't think I can send you off, I'm on the morning and afternoon shift at the shop tomorrow."
Howon's jaw tightens and he drops his gaze to the ground. Woohyun's gaze follows his, notes that he's still wearing the high tops, and places a hand on his heart, willing it to stop contorting in ways that makes him want to tear. Howon replies, "Yeah, thanks. Goodnight then."
"Goodbye," Woohyun says instead. He swallows everything, tells himself that this is Howon's dream and he has no right to ruin it all. He walks into his house, presses his back against the door and wills himself not to turn back and look at how long Howon remains standing in the snow or the look on his face when he finally leaves.
-
Myungsoo doesn't talk to him the next day when he comes early for the afternoon shift, and waves a yawning Dongwoo off. After an hour of stony silence and mostly the necessity to have someone, anyone, to talk to on Woohyun's part, he musters up enough courage to approach Myungsoo.
"Look I'm sorry," he starts, only he doesn't finish because Myungsoo's glaring at him, eyes ablaze and fingers curled so tightly around the spine of his book that Woohyun shuts up.
Myungsoo spits out, "Do you even know what you're apologizing for?"
Woohyun glares back at Myungsoo and reminds himself that he's the hyung, and Myungsoo has no right to talk to him with such informality. He grits out, "For missing that dance competition."
Myungsoo rolls his eyes and flings his bamboo pillow to the ground, missing Woohyun's feet by an inch. He snarls, "No, it's not about some stupid dance competition alright. It's for being an idiot, hyung. It's for running away from your problems because it's the easier way out. It's for breaking Howon-hyung's heart after you tried so hard to win it in the first place."
This catches Woohyun off guard and he stares unintelligently at Myungsoo for a few seconds, before uttering, "What?"
Myungsoo sighs and rakes fingers through his hair and flings a book at him. "Howon-hyung asked me to pass that to you."
Woohyun flips through the book, his eyes wide at the doodles in it, the drawings of his scarf, of the coloured pen Howon gave him, of the abandoned puppy they ran into on their way to the library after school, of the shoes Woohyun gave him...
All you have to do is ask, Woohyun-ah.
He drops the book, grabs his coat and runs out of the store, hails a cab and prays that it's not too late.
-
Flight 635, Myungsoo texts, along with a long list threatening to pluck his balls off if he doesn't come back with Howon slung on his arm.
Woohyun stares at the display board and notes that the flight is boarding. He tosses his phone into his pocket and sprints to the gate, his pulse roaring above the chatter of his surroundings.
He catches a glimpse of Howon's colourful high tops, the high tops he drew, and he reaches for Howon's jacket, only managing to get a small fistful.
"Woohyun?"
"Hi," he grins, as he straightens his jacket.
Sunggyu gives Howon a small quirk, signaling him to hurry up. Howon stares at him and Woohyun nearly winces at the ice beneath his brown orbs. "I thought you had an afternoon shift today."
"Myungsoo's covering for me."
Howon shrugs and answers, "Oh I see. Hey, I need to catch my flight. So ñ"
Woohyun's grin fades and he pulls at Howon's wrist desperately, "No, wait. What I mean is, Sungjong once told me that if you can't figure out how you feel about someone, you should list off the things you love about him and..."
He trails off as Howon smiles at him patiently, and pries his fingers off his wrist. Last call for passengers of Flight 635. He turns, drags his suitcase and heads to the gates without a second look back.
Fuck this, Woohyun thinks and continues, "The thing is, I stopped counting with you not because I ran out of things to list, but because I couldn't keep up."
Howon pauses and the knuckles on his suitcase turn white for a split second. When he speaks, his back is still facing Woohyun, and the tremor in his voice is beyond evident, "But you were the one who wanted to forget."
Woohyun shakes his head and takes a few steps forward, whispers, "I don't know what I want."
"Howon," his teacher hisses, "Get on the plane now."
Howon turns to Woohyun, his hand hovering in mid-air before he reaches over, brushes Woohyun's bangs aside, and says, "You have three seconds to figure out."
Woohyun knows he shouldn't, that he can't possibly be so selfish and stupid and childish, but he disregards it the moment he throws his arms around Howon, because it feels like he's finally able to breathe for the first time in days. Howon stiffens, then relaxes and hugs him back with just as much force and mumbles, "God, you're an idiot."
Sunggyu gives Woohyun a light rap on the head and nags, "It took you long enough to figure things out."
Woohyun blinks as Howon pulls away and bows to his teacher, rapid English falling from his lips. His teacher frowns and Howon apologises a couple more times in Korean, before he takes his suitcase and walks towards the exit.
"You coming?" He asks and Woohyun manages to close his mouth and scampers up to him, snuggling against him.
Howon smiles and Woohyun throws an arm over his shoulder. Dongwoo grins at them and gives Howon a not-so-subtle nudge. He teases, "Don't forget about Sunggyu-hyung and I now that you're in love."
Howon flushes, whacks him and splutters, "We're not in love!"
Woohyun laughs and pulls Howon a little closer, because if this isn't love, then it's pretty damn close.
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Technicolour Ways
Pairing/Focus: Woohyun/Hoya
Rating: PG
Word count: 4460
Summary: Woohyun figures that judging someone based on the colours they like isn't really an accurate way to understand him.
Woohyun yawns and flops onto his textbook. The store is empty, spare for a couple of flies, and how the hell does differentiating e to the power of 2x give that answer? He whines, "It's too hot to study Math, or anything for that matter."
Myungsoo walks out from the store room with a brown carton and raises an eyebrow. "Why don't you restock the manga section for me then?" He challenges.
Woohyun shakes his head and waves his hand dismissively at Myungsoo. Working at a bookstore isn't his idea of a dream part time job, but at least it pays for college tuition.
"Um..."
"Oh sorry," Woohyun exclaims and flashes a bright smile at the customer. He scans a whole bunch of reference books and frowns at a metallic blue pen buried at the bottom of the basket. Distance. Like the skies and the seas tearing people from different continents apart.
"Great colour," he says anyway, as he passes the bag to the customer and flashes a smile. He nods, gives Woohyun a small smile in return and heads out.
-
Woohyun doesn't see him until a week later, when he's flipping through magazines instead of restocking them. He hears Myungsoo laughing and pokes his head around the corner.
The same guy is standing before Myungsoo, his hand lightly whacking Myungsoo's arm. Woohyun's eyes fall to the pen Myungsoo's twirling in his hand. It's purple this time round, like the imagination in children that adults have thrown away amidst the hassle of the real world. Myungsoo rolls his eyes with a smile before dropping it into the bag.
He beams, ruffles Myungsoo's hair and strolls out of the store. Myungsoo shakes his head, pauses, and asks, "Oh, you're done restocking the magazine stand already?"
Woohyun shakes his head and leans against the counter, quirking an eyebrow, before asking casually, "Who's that guy? Last time he came, he bought one of those cheap coloured pens too."
"Oh, he's my dance sunbae. He's in your year, hyung."
"Oh," Woohyun shrugs and turns back to restocking magazines.
-
It's green this time round. Not the metallic type, but the colour of grass after it's been showered with rain. Balance; between distance and... imagination?
Woohyun bags it with a couple of comic books and pauses, the bag still in his hand. "I don't believe we've met properly. I'm Nam Woohyun. Myungsoo says we're in the same year."
The guy manages a smile, pushes his black-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose and mumbles, "I'm Lee Howon. Um yeah, thanks."
He tugs the bag out of Woohyun's grip and practically dashes out of the store. Woohyun wrinkles his nose and turns back to his manga.
-
Lee Howon is a lot less eye-catching in school without his huge black glasses. He also sits two rows in front of Woohyun for class and constantly texts on his phone, rather than take notes.
Woohyun catches up with him after Math and calls out, "Hey, Howon-sshi!"
Howon turns around and blinks, as Woohyun slows to a jog in front of him.
"You didn't tell me we're taking the same Math class," he beams.
Howon swallows and nods. Woohyun's vaguely aware of people around them staring and pointing at them. Howon takes a few steps back and gives Woohyun a small smile, "Um, I'm going to be late for class. Bye Woohyun-sshi."
Woohyun blinks as Sungyeol catches up with him. He's never remembered himself to be particularly intimidating, but he shakes the thought out of his head as Sungjong tackles him in a hug and Myungsoo smiles at him on the way to lunch.
-
"I think he hates me," Woohyun exclaims aloud, earning a snort from Myungsoo.
It didn't take a genius to figure out from the careful smiles and small, almost invisible waves that could be easily mistaken as twitching of fingers. Lee Howon is anything but discreet, since he practically fled when Woohyun picked up a file he dropped and handed it to him with a smile. He's seeing more of the distance than the imagination, Woohyun figures.
Woohyun turns the chair around to face Myungsoo, who's sitting on the ground, "No seriously, he practically dashes out of every class we have together and he gives me this really awkward smile when I say hi to him in school."
Myungsoo pushes his History textbook to Woohyun and points at a question, and answers, "Howon-hyung's really shy. He'll warm up to you in time, if you don't scare him off first. Isn't that right, hyung?"
Woohyun nearly topples off the chair as Howon sets down his basket and shoots Myungsoo a glare. Myungsoo stifles a laugh and picks up the History textbook that slides off Woohyun's lap. Woohyun scans the items in silence and bags them just as Howon exclaims, "Ah! Don't put the pen in!"
It's red, like the roses that Woohyun receives from multiple girls on Valentine's Day. Howon pushes the pen towards Woohyun and shuffles his feet, as he trips over his words, "It's for you. I mean, as an apology for being really hostile in school and. I'm not good at this. Making new friends, I mean."
But it's red, like danger. Or maybe, love. "You didn't have to get me anything." He says instead.
"Just keep it," Howon insists as he grabs his bag and sprints out of the store.
Myungsoo smirks, "Still think he hates you?"
"Shut up," Woohyun snaps and flings some eraser dust at him.
-
"Have you ever thought," Sungjong comments offhand, "That you're going about this wrongly?"
Woohyun blinks and bites on his pudding spoon, before he pulls it out and answers, "Going about what?"
Sungjong stirs his soup around and pushes it to Sungyeol, and shrugs, "Befriending Lee Howon?"
"There is nothing wrong with my ways," Woohyun pouts. "I'm as charming as charming gets."
Myungsoo rolls his eyes, and sighs, "Hyung, what Sungjong means is why don't you try befriending Howon-hyung on less intimidating grounds for him?"
Woohyun takes another bite of his pudding and asks, "How much do you know about him, Myungsoo?"
-
"I don't think I'm ready for this, hyung," Sungjong gulps.
Woohyun shrugs, adjusts his pullover and says, "Well, this was your idea."
Myungsoo smiles and throws them a thumbs up as Kim Sunggyu walks to the middle of assembly square and puts down a giant stereo. Students pause as Sunggyu starts moving to the flow of the music, and Jang Dongwoo places a giant box down on the ground next to the stereo, before moving to the beat in sync with Sunggyu.
Woohyun approaches the box just as Lee Howon appears and joins in the dance. Just as Myungsoo had overheard, the trio were raising funds for flood relief in Thailand. He smiles, drops a couple of dollars into the box and mutters, "Let's give them a run for their money."
He flicks off the stereo and the trio turns to him, eyebrows raised. He tosses the CD in the stereo to Myungsoo, before popping in their own mix and pressing play. Lee Howon approaches him and hisses, "What do you think you're doing, Nam Woohyun."
Woohyun throws him a smile, "Dancing."
Sungyeol starts moving to the beat as Sungjong joins in and Myungsoo cheers from the sidelines. Woohyun smirks and does a back flip, his feet moving to the rhythm, lyrics falling from his lips. Dongwoo's jaw is hanging slack and Sunggyu rolls his eyes slightly, his arms crossed across his chest, although he doesn't stop staring. Howon alternates between watching them and the people who pass by, throwing dollar bills into the box. Woohyun throws a grin as he spins and catches a glimpse of Myungsoo. He's vaguely aware of girls chanting his name, mixed with Sungyeol's and Sungjong's, almost drowned by squeals.
By the end of the mix, Myungsoo's beaming from ear to ear, as he throws water bottles to them. Woohyun laughs and switches off the stereo as Sungyeol sits on the ground and downs the water.
"That was amazing!" Dongwoo exclaims, bouncing on his soles.
Sunggyu makes a small grunting noise and nods without a word. Howon approaches Woohyun and stutters, "W-why did you do that?"
Sungjong exclaims happily from the ground, "Dance battle!"
Woohyun shrugs, "People are more attracted to 2 dance groups fighting it out. I figured you'd raise more money that way."
Myungsoo makes a soft snorting sound, which earns him a sharp glare from Woohyun. Howon blinks and counts the money in the box, before sighing, "You're not interested in helping the flood relief, are you?"
Woohyun pouts and whines, "I'm a charitable person too, Howon-sshi!"
Howon rolls his eyes and passes Sunggyu the money, grabs his duffel from the ground and says, "Regardless, you did help us raise quite a significant amount. Let me buy you coffee or something."
Woohyun beams and prods, "Starbucks?"
Howon sighs and shrugs, avoids Woohyun's eyes as he mumbles, "Just hurry pack up and meet me at the main entrance before I change my mind."
He turns and strides off with Sunggyu, as Dongwoo bows to them and throws them a wave, before scurrying off to catch up with the other two. Woohyun turns to face his friends, just as Sungyeol lies down flat on the ground and Sungjong covers his ears with his hands.
"Mission accomplished!"
He screams and tackles Myungsoo into a hug, as Myungsoo winces at his temporary hearing loss.
-
Howon raises an eyebrow as Woohyun flashes him a peace sign and walks back to their table, a Chocolate Cream Chip muffin and a Caramel Macchiato in hand. He passes Howon his drink and sets the spare change on the table. Howon takes a sip of his Caramel Macchiato and asks, "How'd you know she'd give you a discount?"
"It's in my nature to charm all living beings."
Howon blinks at him, before he doubles over with laughter, his eyes crinkling into crescents. Woohyun makes a face and reaches across the table to whack him, his fingers lingering on Howon's jacket sleeve, as Howon catches his breath.
Howon clears his throat, shifts back in his seat, and picks up whipped cream with his straw. Woohyun stirs his drink and glances at Howon, "Hey, just out of curiousity, why'd you buy so many coloured pens?"
"Oh," Howon shrugs and answers, "Just for doodling purposes when lessons get boring, I guess. And colours make my notes more attractive and tempting to study."
Woohyun raises an eyebrow and takes a long sip of his drink, before mumbling, "So that's where the imagination comes from."
Howon blinks. "What?"
He flails around a little, before succumbing to Howon's questioning glare and answers, "It's just, I kinda drew conclusions about you based on the colour of the pens you were buying."
"Oh, like how green is supposed to be about balance?" He asks.
Woohyun's eyes widen and he leans forward, smile bright like a kid on Christmas morning, exclaiming, "Wait, you know about colour representation too?"
Howon scratches his head and laughs nervously, "Yeah. I was kinda trying to figure out what your rainbow jacket said about your personality."
Woohyun brightens and starts babbling about how grateful he is that at least someone appreciates his rainbow jacket, and he talks about Sungyeol and Sungjong and how Myungsoo bullies him, even though he's the hyung and he rattles on and on until he notices Howon laughing and he stops, bites his lip and realizes belatedly that he's rambling.
Howon smiles at him, and says, "Nam Woohyun, you're everything I didn't expect from a popular kid."
Later, when Woohyun's bus is approaching, Howon smiles and waves as Woohyun boards the bus. He takes a seat near the back and opens the window.
"Goodbye," Howon says.
Woohyun frowns and replies, "Don't. Never say goodbye, because goodbye means going away, and going away means forgetting."
Howon blinks and asks, "Then what do I say instead when we're parting ways?"
"See you around," Woohyun yells as the bus pulls away and he sticks his head out the window, watches Howon wave at him until he's completely out of sight.
-
"Good morning, hyung," Myungsoo greets, his eyes still glued to his textbook.
Howon smiles and ruffles Myungsoo's hair, earning a glare in return. Myungsoo scrunches up his nose and says, "I'll be near the manga section if you guys need me."
With finals coming up, Myungsoo spends every second he's not restocking items or bagging books committing every word in his notes to memory. Woohyun, being bored out of his wits and having a lousy attention span, manages to squeeze Howon's number out of Myungsoo, after hours of pestering and promises to let Myungsoo study if he gives in.
Howon plops down in Myungsoo's just vacated seat and pulls out his Math textbook. Woohyun puffs out his cheeks, "How does this make you any different from Myungsoo?"
"At least we're studying the same content."
Woohyun rolls his eyes and stares at his text, until his eyes start to water and his head slips from his hand onto the book. He hears the scraping of the chair next to him and rubs his eyes as he sits upright.
"Where are you going?" He whines as Howon stands up and heads out, his bag still resting on the seat next to Woohyun.
He makes a face, but returns to staring at his text. Moments later, a brown Starbucks cup is held in front of him. Woohyun glances up at Howon in a thin jacket, his left hand hovering before his mouth as he blows small puffs of air against it. Woohyun reaches for the cup, his fingers brushing against Howon's frozen ones, as Howon reclaims his seat.
"Thanks," Woohyun smiles.
Howon shrugs and flips a page in his book with trembling hands. Woohyun reaches into his bag, pulls out his grey scarf and leans towards Howon. Howon freezes, his fingers gripping the page so tightly that Woohyun thinks he'll rip it, as Woohyun wraps the scarf around his neck.
Woohyun's still breathing into Howon's personal space as Howon turns to look at him, his fingers brushing Woohyun's hand off the scarf, his breath falling in little puffs against Woohyun's cheek. Woohyun blinks as Howon leans a little closer and oh god, Howon can probably hear how fast his heart is racing right now.
A soft cough and Howon is suddenly gathering his books and standing up, mumbling something about having to go for tuition. He dashes out of the store without a look back and promptly trips over the doorframe. Myungsoo smirks and leans against a bookshelf, as Woohyun utters a curse under his breath and proceeds to sleep on his book, studies be damned.
-
It surprises Woohyun that Howon still drops by the bookstore with snacks and coffee for both him and Myungsoo. Sometimes, he just pops by to deliver snacks and pick up more of those cheap coloured pens that write more smoothly than expensive gel pens, Woohyun discovers. Most of the time, he stays to study with Woohyun and wake him up from his naps by plucking his earphones into Woohyun's ears and blasting hip-hop music.
Howon hands him a multi-coloured glossy pamphlet one day and Woohyun just blinks at him. He says, "I'm joining it."
Woohyun smiles and gives him a reassuring pat, exclaiming, "I'm sure you'll do well."
Howon shrugs and answers, "A couple of really good dancers have already signed up for it though."
"Can they do a split?"
Howon stares at him and bursts out laughing, "No, probably not."
Woohyun grins and replies, "Then we don't have a problem, do we?"
"It means I won't be around as often."
A tight knot forms in Woohyun's throat as he shrugs and says, "Well, you have to practice that perfect choreography, don't you?"
Howon beams at him and slides a box of markers towards Woohyun. He continues, "It helps to draw out your emotions when you're bored."
He hops off the counter and waves to Woohyun, yells a "bye Myungsoo, see you at practice" and runs out with a half spin, Woohyun's heart trailing unnoticed behind him.
-
Woohyun draws on the cover of his exercise books, on cardboard boxes after they're emptied of their contents, and almost on Myungsoo's beloved bamboo pillow, until Myungsoo notices and yells at him, before walking off with it tightly tucked between his arms.
He draws rainbows and Digimon and Starbucks cups. He fills up the empty spaces in his life with random doodlings and reassures himself that the emptiness comes from study boredom and not the absence of a certain kid with geeky spectacles.
"Draw something for Howon-hyung," Myungsoo says one day when Woohyun's exhausted all the covers of his exercise books.
Woohyun blinks at him, grins and squeezes Myungsoo into a hug, "You're a genius, Myungsoo!"
He grabs his jacket and runs out of the store just as Myungsoo yells, "Can't you at least leave after our shift's over?"
He runs and runs, until he reaches his favourite high tops store. Woohyun grips the doorknob, twists it and enters.
-
"He's all the way inside, practicing on stage," Dongwoo tells Woohyun and points him in the right direction with a toothy grin.
Woohyun thanks him and approaches the stage. Howon's moving to some English song with a smooth beat, his body moving in perfect sync with the song. Woohyun pauses at a chair along the side of the auditorium and watches as Howon fumbles, trips and curses.
Before he can say a word, Howon signals one of the dancers to restart the music and starts dancing again. Woohyun smiles and turns to look at the poster plastered on the auditorium wall. First place prize: Scholarship to renowned American Dance Academy.
He swallows and turns his attention back to the stage. Howon has a pretty good chance of winning this. Woohyun casts a final glance at the stage, leaves the package at the edge of the stage and slips out of the auditorium without turning back.
-
"You're freaking him out," Myungsoo nags as Woohyun attempts to steal a piece of meat from his lunchbox.
Woohyun stuffs a large lump of rice into his mouth, just so his mouth has something to do. Myungsoo sighs and puts down his chopsticks, "Hyung, seriously, he's worried that he might have done something wrong to make you avoid him ñ"
"I'm not avoiding him," Woohyun insists and regrets it immediately as Myungsoo fixes him with a death glare.
"Sure, you're just locking yourself in the store room when he pops by."
Woohyun turns away from him and mumbles, "It's easier this way when he leaves."
"Get a clue, hyung, for God's sake."
Woohyun continues stuffing food into his mouth and clenches his fists, blinks back his tears, and wonders who exactly he's trying to fool.
-
He receives a text at 2am. I'll wear them later for the competition. The shoes, I mean.
Woohyun blinks and lazily types back, Good luck, before he closes his eyes and slowly counts the seconds ticking past.
Howon's reply comes in after exactly 85 seconds. Thanks. Come watch me?
Sure.
He doesn't.
-
Howon's sitting on the steps to his house when he reaches home after a study session with Sungyeol that night. When he approaches, Howon stands and dusts the snow off his jeans. He waves awkwardly at Woohyun and says, "I did it, like you predicted."
"That's... great. Congrats."
Howon grins and holds out his hand for a high five as he continues, "Yeah, the shoes you gave me probably provided me with extra luck."
When Woohyun just shrugs, ignores his hand and attempts to sidestep him into his house, Howon reaches out and grabs his jacket sleeve. His voice is shaky like the fingers grasping Woohyun's sleeve, his eyes brimming with questions, as he asks, "Why didn't you come and see me dance today? Is something wrong?"
Woohyun just smiles and answers, "No, something came up at home. It's late; you should go home and pack. I heard Sungyeol saying your flight's ñ"
"Don't you have anything else you want to say to me?"
Don't leave. I don't know how I'm supposed to pass through college without you. I think I'm irrevocably in love with you.
Woohyun bites his tongue, forces a smile and gives Howon a pat on the shoulder, for old times sake, and says instead, "Have a safe flight. I don't think I can send you off, I'm on the morning and afternoon shift at the shop tomorrow."
Howon's jaw tightens and he drops his gaze to the ground. Woohyun's gaze follows his, notes that he's still wearing the high tops, and places a hand on his heart, willing it to stop contorting in ways that makes him want to tear. Howon replies, "Yeah, thanks. Goodnight then."
"Goodbye," Woohyun says instead. He swallows everything, tells himself that this is Howon's dream and he has no right to ruin it all. He walks into his house, presses his back against the door and wills himself not to turn back and look at how long Howon remains standing in the snow or the look on his face when he finally leaves.
-
Myungsoo doesn't talk to him the next day when he comes early for the afternoon shift, and waves a yawning Dongwoo off. After an hour of stony silence and mostly the necessity to have someone, anyone, to talk to on Woohyun's part, he musters up enough courage to approach Myungsoo.
"Look I'm sorry," he starts, only he doesn't finish because Myungsoo's glaring at him, eyes ablaze and fingers curled so tightly around the spine of his book that Woohyun shuts up.
Myungsoo spits out, "Do you even know what you're apologizing for?"
Woohyun glares back at Myungsoo and reminds himself that he's the hyung, and Myungsoo has no right to talk to him with such informality. He grits out, "For missing that dance competition."
Myungsoo rolls his eyes and flings his bamboo pillow to the ground, missing Woohyun's feet by an inch. He snarls, "No, it's not about some stupid dance competition alright. It's for being an idiot, hyung. It's for running away from your problems because it's the easier way out. It's for breaking Howon-hyung's heart after you tried so hard to win it in the first place."
This catches Woohyun off guard and he stares unintelligently at Myungsoo for a few seconds, before uttering, "What?"
Myungsoo sighs and rakes fingers through his hair and flings a book at him. "Howon-hyung asked me to pass that to you."
Woohyun flips through the book, his eyes wide at the doodles in it, the drawings of his scarf, of the coloured pen Howon gave him, of the abandoned puppy they ran into on their way to the library after school, of the shoes Woohyun gave him...
All you have to do is ask, Woohyun-ah.
He drops the book, grabs his coat and runs out of the store, hails a cab and prays that it's not too late.
-
Flight 635, Myungsoo texts, along with a long list threatening to pluck his balls off if he doesn't come back with Howon slung on his arm.
Woohyun stares at the display board and notes that the flight is boarding. He tosses his phone into his pocket and sprints to the gate, his pulse roaring above the chatter of his surroundings.
He catches a glimpse of Howon's colourful high tops, the high tops he drew, and he reaches for Howon's jacket, only managing to get a small fistful.
"Woohyun?"
"Hi," he grins, as he straightens his jacket.
Sunggyu gives Howon a small quirk, signaling him to hurry up. Howon stares at him and Woohyun nearly winces at the ice beneath his brown orbs. "I thought you had an afternoon shift today."
"Myungsoo's covering for me."
Howon shrugs and answers, "Oh I see. Hey, I need to catch my flight. So ñ"
Woohyun's grin fades and he pulls at Howon's wrist desperately, "No, wait. What I mean is, Sungjong once told me that if you can't figure out how you feel about someone, you should list off the things you love about him and..."
He trails off as Howon smiles at him patiently, and pries his fingers off his wrist. Last call for passengers of Flight 635. He turns, drags his suitcase and heads to the gates without a second look back.
Fuck this, Woohyun thinks and continues, "The thing is, I stopped counting with you not because I ran out of things to list, but because I couldn't keep up."
Howon pauses and the knuckles on his suitcase turn white for a split second. When he speaks, his back is still facing Woohyun, and the tremor in his voice is beyond evident, "But you were the one who wanted to forget."
Woohyun shakes his head and takes a few steps forward, whispers, "I don't know what I want."
"Howon," his teacher hisses, "Get on the plane now."
Howon turns to Woohyun, his hand hovering in mid-air before he reaches over, brushes Woohyun's bangs aside, and says, "You have three seconds to figure out."
Woohyun knows he shouldn't, that he can't possibly be so selfish and stupid and childish, but he disregards it the moment he throws his arms around Howon, because it feels like he's finally able to breathe for the first time in days. Howon stiffens, then relaxes and hugs him back with just as much force and mumbles, "God, you're an idiot."
Sunggyu gives Woohyun a light rap on the head and nags, "It took you long enough to figure things out."
Woohyun blinks as Howon pulls away and bows to his teacher, rapid English falling from his lips. His teacher frowns and Howon apologises a couple more times in Korean, before he takes his suitcase and walks towards the exit.
"You coming?" He asks and Woohyun manages to close his mouth and scampers up to him, snuggling against him.
Howon smiles and Woohyun throws an arm over his shoulder. Dongwoo grins at them and gives Howon a not-so-subtle nudge. He teases, "Don't forget about Sunggyu-hyung and I now that you're in love."
Howon flushes, whacks him and splutters, "We're not in love!"
Woohyun laughs and pulls Howon a little closer, because if this isn't love, then it's pretty damn close.