Reality {4/??}
[Chapter One] || [Previous Chapter]
4.
Kibum didn’t know how to react. When lunch break was over, he lazily dragged his feet to class beside his three old friends. They were fighting. Kikwang was scolding Yoseob for letting Doojun come. Yoseob, who was apologizing profusely, ended up crying the moment he sat down on his desk.
“I’m sorry, okay?” Yoseob rubbed his eyes. “I wasn’t thinking!”
“But still, Yoseob!” Kikwang shouted.
“Yah, stop scolding Yoseob already.” Hyunseung finally spoke up.
But that was the end of all conversation. The four of them let out synchronized sighs. None of them paid attention to what was going on in class. None of them realized that Kibum’s name was being mentioned.
“Seonsaengnim!” Minho raised his hand and stood up. “Do we need partners for the school trip?”
“Yes.” Their teacher smiled brightly. “I will be the one to assign the pairs!”
“Then, can you pair Kibum up with Jonghyun?” A classmate of theirs shouted.
Kibum and Jonghyun snapped their heads upwards in synchronization. Both their eyes and mouths were forming perfect circles. Kibum wanted to protest-to ask to be paired up with Hyunseung instead-but words wouldn’t come out of his mouth. His throat was completely dry. So needless to say, their teacher paired both of them up-Kim Kibum and Kim Jonghyun.
When the bell for last period rang, Kibum smiled at his notebook and closed it. Jonghyun walked towards him and tapped his shoulder lightly.
“Um, Kibum,” he started. “D-do you dislike me?”
“What?” Kibum stared at him, his mouth hanging open. “Why? Do you think I dislike you?”
“No-it’s just-I don’t know-you know-I thought you didn’t-you know-partners for the trip-maybe-ugh!” Jonghyun slapped his forward-hard. “I-if you dislike me, I could ask the teacher to pair us up with different people.”
“No, it’s not that!” Kibum shouted in shock. “It’s just-I don’t know, it’s just that I wanted to bond with some old friends of mine. But I don’t dislike you! I actually quite like you.” Kibum said in a small voice, almost inaudible, but completely loud enough for Jonghyun-and Hyunseung and Kikwang and Yoseob-to hear.
Jonghyun smiled brightly. “Oh, thank God! I really actually wanted to pair up with you. You know, to get to know you better! Ever since yesterday, I’ve been thinking of being friends with you ‘cause I was completely wrong about you! I thought you were just this unfriendly anti-social guy but I was completely wrong! You’re really nice and I like you!”
Kibum blinked at how rapid Jonghyun was speaking. When Jonghyun left, Hyunseung, Kikwang, and Yoseob walked towards Kibum and patted his back. Kibum looked at his friends, completely bewildered. To be completely honest, Kibum hardly understood anything Jonghyun said. All he picked up were “pair up with you”, “unfriendly anti-social guy”, and “I like you”.
“Ooooooooh, Kibum!” Kikwang nudged Kibum with his elbow. “He said he likes you!”
Kibum rolled his eyes and glared at Kikwang. “Seriously, Kikwangie? What are you, five?”
Kikwang shrugged and smiled stupidly while shoving his things inside his bag. “Is Doojun-hyung here already, Yoseob?”
Yoseob nodded enthusiastically and grinned sheepishly. “I’m seriously seriously happy!”
“Wae?” Kibum raised an eyebrow. “Because your boyfriend from another school is here to see you?”
Yoseob nodded innocently. “Ne!”
The other three ended up laughing. They all were happy that Yoseob is happy.
“So, Seungie-hyung,” Kibum tapped the elder’s shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to go home with us?”
“Yeah,” Hyunseung smiled faintly. “There’s a huge chance that Junhyung is there too, so…”
“Yeah, I understand.” Kibum smiled. He then faced the other two. “Wait here!”
Kibum grabbed Hyunseung’s arm and dragged him to the year one wing. They dashed towards room 1-A, hoping to catch up to Taemin and Minho before they left.
“Taeminnie!” Kibum called.
Both Taemin and Minho walked towards Kibum and Hyunseung. Taemin’s lips curled up into a smile-which later turned into a grin.
“Hyunseung-hyung!” Taemin bowed politely. “You study here now?”
“Ne.” Hyunseung smiled.
“Anyway, Taemin,” Kibum pointed a finger at the younger boy. “Let Hyunseung-hyung walk home with you. Make sure you don’t get seen in the front entrance, arasseo?”
Taemin nodded. “Arasseo. We always go home through the back entrance anyway.”
“Kibum-“ Hyunseung started.
“HUSH!” Kibum hissed. “Anyway, I’ll go back to Kikwang and Yoseob now. Who knows what those two idiots will do?
***
Kibum, Yoseob, and Kikwang chatted happily as they made their way to the main entrance. Yoseob was really happy that Doojun was there. Yoseob felt guilty though-that he didn’t even tell Doojun he was transferring. He felt guilty that he didn’t tell him himself.
As they exited the campus, Doojun and Junhyung were there-sitting on a bench near the football field, eating nachos.
The moment he saw them, Doojun jumped up and ran to Yoseob. He hugged the younger boy tightly before acknowledging the people he came with.
“Oh, Junhyung’s here too?” Kibum faked a smile. Hyunseung was right, he thought. Hyunseung knew that Doojun would bring Junhyung along, not remembering that they were not on speaking terms.
“Yeah,” Doojun smiled while wrapping an arm around Yoseob. “He really wanted to come.”
Kikwang, Kibum, and Yoseob exchanged confused glances. Junhyung wanted to come? Would it be because he knew Hyunseung would be there? Did he want to see Hyunseung? Did he want to talk to Hyunseung?
The three of them sent telepathic signals to each other through their eyes. They all were pretty much thinking the same thing. Could it be that Junhyung came to apologize for being such a douchebag?
“E-er,” Junhyung walked towards them, looking exactly as cool as he was in the picture. “Where’s Hyunseung?”
Ah, I was right, Kibum, Kikwang, and Yoseob thought to themselves.
“He went home already.” Kikwang smiled. “Wae?”
“N-nothing.”
Kibum kept silent the whole time they were there. Kikwang and Junhyung were sharing stories while Yoseob and Doojun-well, they were doing something that could possibly get Yoseob expelled, if teachers were to see them.
Kibum, being the observant type he really was, watched Junhyung’s every move. He was trying to read his body language. He was trying to see through Junhyung’s exterior.
Kikwang left Junhyung to cockblock the couple on the bench. Kikwang loved annoying Yoseob and Doojun. And Yoseob wanted to strangle him for that.
Junhyung walked towards Kibum. Kibum didn’t know what to do. He knew Junhyung would talk to him about Hyunseung. But Kibum didn’t really want to. He didn’t it like it when his friends are being treated like shit.
“Kibum, can we talk?” He asked.
“Wae?” Kibum raised an eyebrow.
“Look, Kibum, you probably already know about what happened between me and Seung. And I bet you’re pretty pissed at me for being an asshole. But you’re the only one I know who’s willing to listen to both sides of the story. You’re the only person I know who wouldn’t take sides.”
Kibum sighed in defeat. He quickly made a mental note never to forget to hear both sides of the story. “Alright, then. Tell me your side.”
“I was an asshole-“
“We know that, hyung.”
“I was stupid-“
“We know that, hyung.”
“I was jealous!” Junhyung paused, possibly waiting for a “we know that, hyung” from Kibum.
“I did not know that!” Kibum gasped. “You were jealous?! Of who?! Of what?! OH MY GOD, TELL. NOW!”
“Him,” Junhyung said bitterly. “Kwon Jiyong.”
Kibum spent half an hour listening to Junhyung’s story-Junhyung’s heartbreak, to be exact. It was hard for Junhyung, Kibum had to admit. Junhyung was hurt, Hyunseung was hurt, and they were both completely stupid.
“You,” Kibum sighed. “are ridiculously stupid.”
“I know.” Junhyung hid his face behind his palms. “I hate that little green-eyed monster inside me. He just had to control my head!”
“Must’ve been tough for you.” Kibum patted his hyung’s back. “But you know, I don’t think you did the right thing in dealing with that. I mean, yeah, Kwon Jiyong is perfect, but Hyunseung chose you, right?”
“Fuck.” Junhyung grabbed Kibum’s hand. “Kibum, slap me!”
“WHAT?!” Kibum shrieked. “ARE YOU CRAZY?!”
“YES!” Junhyung cried desperately. “SLAP ME, YOU IDIOT!”
Kibum’s mouth hung agape. He stared at Junhyung like he was an alien trying to speak in Latin or something. Junhyung looked at Kibum, still pleading for the younger slap him or hit him. He was pleading for Kibum to ‘cause him physical pain.
“That’s enough.” A voice interrupted Junhyung’s pleading. “Are you trying to make me hate you?”
“Hyunseung-“
“I hate violence.” Hyunseung said sternly. “Let go of Kibum’s hand, now.”
Junhyung immediately let go of Kibum’s hand. He waited for Hyunseung to say more. But it was stupid. Hyunseung left without a word. Junhyung mentally slapped himself for being such an idiot.
“Well on the bright side, he doesn’t hate you.” Kibum said, hoping it could cheer the older guy up.
“What?”
“He said, ‘are you trying to make me hate you’,” Kibum said matter-of-factly. “So that means he doesn’t hate you.”
“You’re right!” Junhyung jumped. “YOU ARE SO FUCKING RIGHT!”
Junhyung left Kibum there, trailing after Hyunseung. Kibum sighed and turned around, only to be face-to-face with Kim Jonghyun who-as per usual-had a stupid smile painted on his face.
“Oh, you’re still here?” Kibum asked.
“Yeah, well-you know-it’s-I actually-the trip is tomorrow.” Jonghyun managed to say after stuttering so many times.
“Oh shit!” Kibum slapped his forehead. “Shit, I don’t think I can go.”
“Why not?” Jonghyun frowned.
“My parents are out of town and they have our driver with them.” Kibum bites his lip.
“I’LL PICK YOU UP!!!” Jonghyun shouted. Loud enough to make Yoseob, Kikwang, and Doojun’s heads to turn and stare at them.
“O-okay.” Kibum nodded silently.
Jonghyun grinned again. “I’ll pick you up at 6:30 am!”
“Alright, 6:30.” Kibum smiled before Jonghyun turned to leave.
Jonghyun walked away slowly, taking in what he just saw. Kim Kibum-Mr. Popular, the guy who doesn’t talk to anyone-just smiled at him. And Jonghyun’s heart fluttered.
Now he’s even more excited to be partners with Kibum for the trip.
A/N: Now I shall sleep! 'Cause if I don't, Minho will kill me. XD
[Next Chapter]
4.
Kibum didn’t know how to react. When lunch break was over, he lazily dragged his feet to class beside his three old friends. They were fighting. Kikwang was scolding Yoseob for letting Doojun come. Yoseob, who was apologizing profusely, ended up crying the moment he sat down on his desk.
“I’m sorry, okay?” Yoseob rubbed his eyes. “I wasn’t thinking!”
“But still, Yoseob!” Kikwang shouted.
“Yah, stop scolding Yoseob already.” Hyunseung finally spoke up.
But that was the end of all conversation. The four of them let out synchronized sighs. None of them paid attention to what was going on in class. None of them realized that Kibum’s name was being mentioned.
“Seonsaengnim!” Minho raised his hand and stood up. “Do we need partners for the school trip?”
“Yes.” Their teacher smiled brightly. “I will be the one to assign the pairs!”
“Then, can you pair Kibum up with Jonghyun?” A classmate of theirs shouted.
Kibum and Jonghyun snapped their heads upwards in synchronization. Both their eyes and mouths were forming perfect circles. Kibum wanted to protest-to ask to be paired up with Hyunseung instead-but words wouldn’t come out of his mouth. His throat was completely dry. So needless to say, their teacher paired both of them up-Kim Kibum and Kim Jonghyun.
When the bell for last period rang, Kibum smiled at his notebook and closed it. Jonghyun walked towards him and tapped his shoulder lightly.
“Um, Kibum,” he started. “D-do you dislike me?”
“What?” Kibum stared at him, his mouth hanging open. “Why? Do you think I dislike you?”
“No-it’s just-I don’t know-you know-I thought you didn’t-you know-partners for the trip-maybe-ugh!” Jonghyun slapped his forward-hard. “I-if you dislike me, I could ask the teacher to pair us up with different people.”
“No, it’s not that!” Kibum shouted in shock. “It’s just-I don’t know, it’s just that I wanted to bond with some old friends of mine. But I don’t dislike you! I actually quite like you.” Kibum said in a small voice, almost inaudible, but completely loud enough for Jonghyun-and Hyunseung and Kikwang and Yoseob-to hear.
Jonghyun smiled brightly. “Oh, thank God! I really actually wanted to pair up with you. You know, to get to know you better! Ever since yesterday, I’ve been thinking of being friends with you ‘cause I was completely wrong about you! I thought you were just this unfriendly anti-social guy but I was completely wrong! You’re really nice and I like you!”
Kibum blinked at how rapid Jonghyun was speaking. When Jonghyun left, Hyunseung, Kikwang, and Yoseob walked towards Kibum and patted his back. Kibum looked at his friends, completely bewildered. To be completely honest, Kibum hardly understood anything Jonghyun said. All he picked up were “pair up with you”, “unfriendly anti-social guy”, and “I like you”.
“Ooooooooh, Kibum!” Kikwang nudged Kibum with his elbow. “He said he likes you!”
Kibum rolled his eyes and glared at Kikwang. “Seriously, Kikwangie? What are you, five?”
Kikwang shrugged and smiled stupidly while shoving his things inside his bag. “Is Doojun-hyung here already, Yoseob?”
Yoseob nodded enthusiastically and grinned sheepishly. “I’m seriously seriously happy!”
“Wae?” Kibum raised an eyebrow. “Because your boyfriend from another school is here to see you?”
Yoseob nodded innocently. “Ne!”
The other three ended up laughing. They all were happy that Yoseob is happy.
“So, Seungie-hyung,” Kibum tapped the elder’s shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to go home with us?”
“Yeah,” Hyunseung smiled faintly. “There’s a huge chance that Junhyung is there too, so…”
“Yeah, I understand.” Kibum smiled. He then faced the other two. “Wait here!”
Kibum grabbed Hyunseung’s arm and dragged him to the year one wing. They dashed towards room 1-A, hoping to catch up to Taemin and Minho before they left.
“Taeminnie!” Kibum called.
Both Taemin and Minho walked towards Kibum and Hyunseung. Taemin’s lips curled up into a smile-which later turned into a grin.
“Hyunseung-hyung!” Taemin bowed politely. “You study here now?”
“Ne.” Hyunseung smiled.
“Anyway, Taemin,” Kibum pointed a finger at the younger boy. “Let Hyunseung-hyung walk home with you. Make sure you don’t get seen in the front entrance, arasseo?”
Taemin nodded. “Arasseo. We always go home through the back entrance anyway.”
“Kibum-“ Hyunseung started.
“HUSH!” Kibum hissed. “Anyway, I’ll go back to Kikwang and Yoseob now. Who knows what those two idiots will do?
***
Kibum, Yoseob, and Kikwang chatted happily as they made their way to the main entrance. Yoseob was really happy that Doojun was there. Yoseob felt guilty though-that he didn’t even tell Doojun he was transferring. He felt guilty that he didn’t tell him himself.
As they exited the campus, Doojun and Junhyung were there-sitting on a bench near the football field, eating nachos.
The moment he saw them, Doojun jumped up and ran to Yoseob. He hugged the younger boy tightly before acknowledging the people he came with.
“Oh, Junhyung’s here too?” Kibum faked a smile. Hyunseung was right, he thought. Hyunseung knew that Doojun would bring Junhyung along, not remembering that they were not on speaking terms.
“Yeah,” Doojun smiled while wrapping an arm around Yoseob. “He really wanted to come.”
Kikwang, Kibum, and Yoseob exchanged confused glances. Junhyung wanted to come? Would it be because he knew Hyunseung would be there? Did he want to see Hyunseung? Did he want to talk to Hyunseung?
The three of them sent telepathic signals to each other through their eyes. They all were pretty much thinking the same thing. Could it be that Junhyung came to apologize for being such a douchebag?
“E-er,” Junhyung walked towards them, looking exactly as cool as he was in the picture. “Where’s Hyunseung?”
Ah, I was right, Kibum, Kikwang, and Yoseob thought to themselves.
“He went home already.” Kikwang smiled. “Wae?”
“N-nothing.”
Kibum kept silent the whole time they were there. Kikwang and Junhyung were sharing stories while Yoseob and Doojun-well, they were doing something that could possibly get Yoseob expelled, if teachers were to see them.
Kibum, being the observant type he really was, watched Junhyung’s every move. He was trying to read his body language. He was trying to see through Junhyung’s exterior.
Kikwang left Junhyung to cockblock the couple on the bench. Kikwang loved annoying Yoseob and Doojun. And Yoseob wanted to strangle him for that.
Junhyung walked towards Kibum. Kibum didn’t know what to do. He knew Junhyung would talk to him about Hyunseung. But Kibum didn’t really want to. He didn’t it like it when his friends are being treated like shit.
“Kibum, can we talk?” He asked.
“Wae?” Kibum raised an eyebrow.
“Look, Kibum, you probably already know about what happened between me and Seung. And I bet you’re pretty pissed at me for being an asshole. But you’re the only one I know who’s willing to listen to both sides of the story. You’re the only person I know who wouldn’t take sides.”
Kibum sighed in defeat. He quickly made a mental note never to forget to hear both sides of the story. “Alright, then. Tell me your side.”
“I was an asshole-“
“We know that, hyung.”
“I was stupid-“
“We know that, hyung.”
“I was jealous!” Junhyung paused, possibly waiting for a “we know that, hyung” from Kibum.
“I did not know that!” Kibum gasped. “You were jealous?! Of who?! Of what?! OH MY GOD, TELL. NOW!”
“Him,” Junhyung said bitterly. “Kwon Jiyong.”
Kibum spent half an hour listening to Junhyung’s story-Junhyung’s heartbreak, to be exact. It was hard for Junhyung, Kibum had to admit. Junhyung was hurt, Hyunseung was hurt, and they were both completely stupid.
“You,” Kibum sighed. “are ridiculously stupid.”
“I know.” Junhyung hid his face behind his palms. “I hate that little green-eyed monster inside me. He just had to control my head!”
“Must’ve been tough for you.” Kibum patted his hyung’s back. “But you know, I don’t think you did the right thing in dealing with that. I mean, yeah, Kwon Jiyong is perfect, but Hyunseung chose you, right?”
“Fuck.” Junhyung grabbed Kibum’s hand. “Kibum, slap me!”
“WHAT?!” Kibum shrieked. “ARE YOU CRAZY?!”
“YES!” Junhyung cried desperately. “SLAP ME, YOU IDIOT!”
Kibum’s mouth hung agape. He stared at Junhyung like he was an alien trying to speak in Latin or something. Junhyung looked at Kibum, still pleading for the younger slap him or hit him. He was pleading for Kibum to ‘cause him physical pain.
“That’s enough.” A voice interrupted Junhyung’s pleading. “Are you trying to make me hate you?”
“Hyunseung-“
“I hate violence.” Hyunseung said sternly. “Let go of Kibum’s hand, now.”
Junhyung immediately let go of Kibum’s hand. He waited for Hyunseung to say more. But it was stupid. Hyunseung left without a word. Junhyung mentally slapped himself for being such an idiot.
“Well on the bright side, he doesn’t hate you.” Kibum said, hoping it could cheer the older guy up.
“What?”
“He said, ‘are you trying to make me hate you’,” Kibum said matter-of-factly. “So that means he doesn’t hate you.”
“You’re right!” Junhyung jumped. “YOU ARE SO FUCKING RIGHT!”
Junhyung left Kibum there, trailing after Hyunseung. Kibum sighed and turned around, only to be face-to-face with Kim Jonghyun who-as per usual-had a stupid smile painted on his face.
“Oh, you’re still here?” Kibum asked.
“Yeah, well-you know-it’s-I actually-the trip is tomorrow.” Jonghyun managed to say after stuttering so many times.
“Oh shit!” Kibum slapped his forehead. “Shit, I don’t think I can go.”
“Why not?” Jonghyun frowned.
“My parents are out of town and they have our driver with them.” Kibum bites his lip.
“I’LL PICK YOU UP!!!” Jonghyun shouted. Loud enough to make Yoseob, Kikwang, and Doojun’s heads to turn and stare at them.
“O-okay.” Kibum nodded silently.
Jonghyun grinned again. “I’ll pick you up at 6:30 am!”
“Alright, 6:30.” Kibum smiled before Jonghyun turned to leave.
Jonghyun walked away slowly, taking in what he just saw. Kim Kibum-Mr. Popular, the guy who doesn’t talk to anyone-just smiled at him. And Jonghyun’s heart fluttered.
Now he’s even more excited to be partners with Kibum for the trip.
A/N: Now I shall sleep! 'Cause if I don't, Minho will kill me. XD
[Next Chapter]