[Fic] Dare you to move : three
Title: Dare you to Move
Pairing: Jaemin
Length: Chapter 3/10
Genre: high school AU,angst,drama
Warnings: bullying. bullying
(Plz don't hate/bash me, there has to be excessive bullying for there to be a bodyguard. :P)
Story request by rikuma, i hope you like it! <3
Summary : Changmin is the loser who everyone bullies at school. He's also the only son of the city's governor. Will an undercover bodyguard be able to protect him from everything without spilling his secret?
A/N: hope the yoomin scene here isn't too confusing ....:S
*************
Previous Chapters:
| one | two |
**
Changmin hadn’t wanted to go home that day. There were still three more hours until Yoochun was to show up at the front gate to take him away. He’d always requested extra time after classes finished to study and make use of the school library or such.
He’d never have guessed the time would be spend as a countdown instead. Long minutes agonizing over what he was to tell the older man when he saw the state of his face. How he was to explain to his parents what had happened at his first day in the new school, the one famous for outstanding scholars and taught by professors graduated from no lower than Seoul National.
He didn’t want to show his face. Not at home. Not at school the next day.
It felt like the worst day of his life. Far worse even than the day his arm was broken. At least then he’d had the right and reason to cry as if the world was ending. He’d had a reason to avoid it all and hide away. He’d had an excuse to clutch at Yoochun’s hand and ask him shamelessly to sit by his side and tell him stories of his past university days.
Most of all he couldn’t bear to see the look that was sure to cross Yoochun’s face when he picked him up later. He’d deliberately ignored the friendly wave and handsome smile beamed at him from where he leaned against the side of the car like always. Instead he’d ducked his head mumbling that he was tired and slunk into the backseat like an animal retreating to its den to lick its wounds.
Yoochun had paused only for a moment, then strode easily back around to get into the driver’s seat. The ride home had been wrought with cheerful conversation flowing back at him from the front, Yoochun neither commenting nor faltering despite the way each word of Changmin’s stunted and clipped the dialogue to shreds.
He didn’t want to talk so Yoochun talked enough for the both of him and seemed content to make him merely listen. Changmin zoned out, slumped low in the backseat to avoid the curious glances back through the rear view mirror, not paying attention to the actual words but rather to the rise and dip of the smooth baritone voice, soothing and comforting. He could listen to Yoochun’s voice forever.
It wasn’t until his brain belatedly understood that his mother was personally preparing a congratulations dinner for him that night for his first day back at school that he shot upright in his seat. Forgetting the state his face was in as he stared at the back of Yoochun’s head.
“No! She can’t do that!”
Yoochun’s brow creased, concerned eyes flickering to look at him then widening almost comically, Changmin’s name falling from his lips as he roughly slammed on the breaks.
Changmin realized too late that Yoochun had seen, and there was nothing for him to do but sit stiffly frozen to his seat as Yoochun pulled over and promptly twisted around in his seat to pin him with concerned eyes.
“What the hell happened to your face?” His voice was unthreatening and steady, but the spark of fire in his eyes scared him slightly, reminded Changmin yet again of just what Yoochun actually was to him: a body guard.
He’d been pathetic and forgotten that fact again over the last few weeks spent recovering in close confined quarters with Yoochun by his side nearly twenty-four-seven. He shouldn’t have let himself disregard or forget that all that was in this for Yoochun was his reputation and the satisfaction of Changmin’s father to a job well done.
If he hadn’t protected Changmin well then he would be reprimanded, warnings or pay cuts. Changmin knew there had been the occasional threat to fire him over the years as well, but Changmin had always pleaded his case and declared he couldn’t do with anyone other than Yoochun.
To Yoochun he was nothing but a charge, a young boy he catered to, giving into his whims and childish demands. A boy he was payed to watch and care for, and Yoochun was a man who hated failure or complications in a job he worked so hard to perfect.
Deep down Changmin knew Yoochun really cared for him, but given the day he’d suffered through, given the state of his body, his emotions, he couldn’t see anything but the way Yoochun had lied to him. Denied him. Rejected him. Pretended to like and care for him, given Changmin unrealistic expectations and hopes, caused him a whole slew of emotions he didn’t understand, all when really Yoochun was just doing his job.
He crossed his arms and looked determinedly away, a stubborn set to his chin, jaw going rigid as he clenched his teeth together to prevent the wrong words from spilling out.
Trying to gather his pride he lifted his face defiantly. He couldn’t bear for Yoochun to see him so weak and pathetic again, mere days after he’d been beaten to the point of hospitalization. It had ruined everything he’d been building over slow long years. It had reminded Yoochun of how young and helpless he was. Of how different their roles were, their ages, and it burned deep in his chest.
“I...got into a fight.” He declared loudly. A lie that burned his tongue and sounded rash and ugly to his own ears. Not something to be proud of, but he figured a fight was something between equals, something grown men engaged in. Something Yoochun himself took pride in doing well.
He wanted Yoochun to see he was strong, could take care of himself, was a young man and not a boy. Was worthy of something besides the affectionate glances of an adoptive older brother, something besides the professional actions of a man employed to protect him.
He wanted Yoochun to understand. Wanted to see the pride in his eyes, his shoulders to relax and his face to melt into one of those grins that made Changmin’s heart race just a little too fast. He wanted him to joke and ask him what the other guy looked like. Wanted him to treat him like the mature man he wanted to become to reach Yoochun’s level.
Concern if not approval. He wanted so many things in that moment. But the disappointment he saw in Yoochun’s eyes instead cut him through the core. He gulped for air as Yoochun pinned him with hard almost angry eyes, regret and just pure burning disappointment. It made him forget all he wanted to say after that, made him want to take the words back, made him want to just cry instead and have Yoochun reach for him in warm comfort that only he could give.
Because over the years the way he idolized and looked up to the other had inevitably developed into something more, a head over heels schoolboy crush, and he couldn’t rationalize his feelings or emotions where Yoochun was concerned. And he’d just made a mistake. Lied and caused Yoochun to be angry with him.
He blinked the tears away as he struggled to continue to meet Yoochun’s dark eyes. The soft curves of his face were hard and unforgiving, eyes boring into him with a look he’d only had directed at him a few times in the past. The one that reprimanded him for doing something wrong, something he knew he shouldn’t.
And this time Changmin couldn’t lie to himself and pretend that the reason behind the look was just that Yoochun cared. He couldn’t force himself to believe in his usual fantasies when the sinking feeling of his crushed heart was so hard to breathe around.
Yoochun finally spoke. “And why would you do that?”
Changmin swallowed painfully around the lump in his throat. Lips trembling with the effort to hold back the onslaught of hurt angry tears pushing and jostling behind his eyes.
“Th-they pissed me off!” He had to nearly shout the worlds to keep his voice from breaking and betraying his state on the brink of tears, yet the sentence ended with a pathetic sniffle that sounded loud and dirty in the confined space of the car.
Yoochun continued to watch him, silent or a moment. Something in the harsh lines of his serious face softening as Changmin sniffed again, biting his lip fiercely as he struggled to control himself. It hurt where his teeth dug into the split bleeding wound, but it almost felt good. Gave a reason for the tears now gathering rapidly at the corner of his eyes.
“Changmin-ah...” His name heaved into a sigh and Changmin looked at his lap in shame.
“D-don’t tell F-Father.” A weak mewling jumble of a plea as tears slipped free to trickle down his cheeks, hot wet tracks against throbbing red bruises.
Yoochun’s hands were tugging his own away from where his fingers had curled tightly into the material of his pants, and he blearily registered that Yoochun was glancing over them quickly for any signs of broken skin or bruising. It was obvious he’d never once lifted his own fist whether that be in attack or defense.
Another sigh that gusted through the hair on the side of his head before arms were wrapping around his shoulders, soft warm lips pressed gently on the crown of his head.
“Don’t you lie to me again, Min.”
And Changmin couldn’t hold back the soft sob that tore from deep in his chest. Deflating and crumpling into the strong safe circle of Yoochun’s embrace.
“I’m s-sorry-” He cried into the folds of Yoochun’s shirt which was wet with his tears, and the other only shushed him, hands running comforting circles on his back.
No matter how hard he tried to change it, he just fell back into the same role as always, the one formed since the first time they met. A little crying boy who needed the protection of an older brother who knew exactly what he needed to make it all better.
He hated it even as he couldn’t bear to be any other way. Yoochun wasn’t so wonderful and special to him without that, and he couldn’t deny that he needed this. The only person he bared himself to, showed his weakest side, broke down and clung to him like he did every time.
He was too ashamed now to think of anything else. Ashamed of lying, of blaming Yoochun for not knowing how he felt. Ashamed of being hurt and bullied the very first day at an entirely new school. A fresh start he’d ruined completely. His heart sinking as he thought of what his father and mother would think or say.
Shamed all over again at the thought of showing up to a celebration dinner in such a state, to confess what had happened to a mother who would be distraught and cry, to a father that had so many things to worry about that adding another about a little bullying that Changmin should have avoided if not handled by himself was too unbearable to imagine.
Even wrapped in the all accepting embrace of Yoochun, Changmin found himself feeling increasingly inadequate and weak, and he dreaded the days to come since he knew nothing would change. He wouldn’t or couldn’t change and he knew he’d continue to be picked on and singled out regardless if they believed his family background or not. And he was terrified of facing each day with the threat of them hanging over him.
He didn’t know what to do and no matter how many times Yoochun whispered into his hair that everything would be okay he fervently negated each word in his head. Nothing would ever be okay about this or about him and he wearily closed his eyes to it all.
**
The dinner had been a disaster of course and he’d cried again as his mother babied him and then sat on the side of his bed stroking his hair away from his flushed face until he’d fallen into an exhausted sleep.
He’d begged them not to do anything, to let him handle it, to not interfere or make a big deal of it, wanting to let it just blow over and pass. He didn’t think they would listen to him if the way his father’s brows knit together the whole time were anything to go by. And not with the way his mother cried over him softly even as she was wrapped in his father’s arms, he’d seen them when he’d gotten up for some water and they’d thought he was still asleep.
The next day he knew something was different as even though he kept his eyes on the floor in the halls, avoided other students as much as possible, more than once he caught them doing much the same to him in turn. One girl even murmured a low apology when they bumped shoulders before scurrying away.
He didn’t know what his father had done or said, but although it seemed to have spread as quickly as the rumors of the day before, it seemed to have also upset the four in his class. Nor did it stop them from cornering him after class ended.
They didn’t say anything or hurt him as they merely jostled him between them, marching him out the door and down the hall to the bathroom where he could hear other voices laughing cruelly at what sounded horribly like someone choking and sputtering water behind the closed door of one of the bathroom stalls.
They ignored the group and the sounds of bullying right on the other side of the door as they proceeded to shove him around, intimidation and threats falling thick and fast. Careful not to harm him visibly, but the damage had been done already. Changmin was terrified of them and they seemed to be fully aware of it.
“You dare to show your face today after that trick daddy pulled?” Pushing him into the waiting arms of the boy behind him.
Who shoved him back forward to pitch into another in front. “Don’t think we’re fooled, Shim. Somebody bailed you out but it sure wasn’t the Governor.”
The leader whose name he now knew was Jisung caught hold of him and instead of throwing him back again pulled him closer to glower into his face. He looked angry.
“We don’t believe you. Nothing changes after the way you embarrassed us in front of the whole school yesterday. And don’t forget showing off all day in class. Not acceptable, Shim.” He sneered directly into his face. “I’m personally making it my responsibility to remind you of your place, so don’t you worry about that.”
He wasn’t prepared for the sudden way Jisung pushed him away again, nor for the way he wasn’t caught up but how the boys behind him stepped to the side to let him fall through. He fell heavily, the back of his head cracking sickeningly against the tile lining of the wall.
He saw stars as the world spun, not really feeling it when they spat on him, nor understanding that seeing their backs and hearing echoing laughter spiral slowly into his ears meant that they were leaving.
A while later and he slowly came to, vision clearing while the back of his skull throbbed with a dull ache. The bathroom was empty and quiet and he looked around himself brokenly. He didn’t think he could push himself up, not that it was physically impossible, but that he was too humiliated to bear having to face anyone outside in the hall after the encounter.
The boys in his class had it out for him, and he realized there was nothing he could do, nothing even his father could do, to get them to leave him alone.
Changmin’s depressing thought line was interrupted by the sudden sound of a raspy cough from inside one of the stalls. He turned wide eyes too see the door hanging partly ajar. A pair of dirty sneakers were protruding from within.
Scrambling to hands and knees as the way his head was spinning threatened to make his face meet the floor once more, he crawled over to peek hesitantly inside. There was a heap of a boy laying on the floor curled around himself, soaking wet and bedraggled. His eyes were closed, face chalky pale.
He remembered the sounds of earlier, and recognized the look of someone nearly drowned in a toilet, shuddering to think that things like that happened here. It was the first time he’d seen another student besides himself get bullied, and he was at a loss for what to do.
“Are you okay?”
At the sound of his voice the boy gave a violent start, eyes flying open, the twitch of his body setting off another round of coughing. He didn’t move from his position, just staring up at Changmin from his place on the floor with wide eyes.
They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment, words failing as all that needed to be said seemed to pass through the gaze alone. And then the other was smiling, hesitant and small at first, but as Changmin nearly gaped at him it blossomed into something sweet and sunny.
“H-hi!” The first time he heard the bubbly friendly voice and he felt an strange tug of understanding, a feeling that he instantly liked the other, wanted to get to know him, wanted to make friends.
And it really was that easy. A hand offered, pulling him up to lean against the wall and they sat there smiling at each other like idiots. His first friend in years, and that was how he had met Junsu.
*****
tbc~
Pairing: Jaemin
Length: Chapter 3/10
Genre: high school AU,angst,drama
Warnings: bullying. bullying
(Plz don't hate/bash me, there has to be excessive bullying for there to be a bodyguard. :P)
Story request by rikuma, i hope you like it! <3
Summary : Changmin is the loser who everyone bullies at school. He's also the only son of the city's governor. Will an undercover bodyguard be able to protect him from everything without spilling his secret?
A/N: hope the yoomin scene here isn't too confusing ....:S
*************
Previous Chapters:
| one | two |
**
Changmin hadn’t wanted to go home that day. There were still three more hours until Yoochun was to show up at the front gate to take him away. He’d always requested extra time after classes finished to study and make use of the school library or such.
He’d never have guessed the time would be spend as a countdown instead. Long minutes agonizing over what he was to tell the older man when he saw the state of his face. How he was to explain to his parents what had happened at his first day in the new school, the one famous for outstanding scholars and taught by professors graduated from no lower than Seoul National.
He didn’t want to show his face. Not at home. Not at school the next day.
It felt like the worst day of his life. Far worse even than the day his arm was broken. At least then he’d had the right and reason to cry as if the world was ending. He’d had a reason to avoid it all and hide away. He’d had an excuse to clutch at Yoochun’s hand and ask him shamelessly to sit by his side and tell him stories of his past university days.
Most of all he couldn’t bear to see the look that was sure to cross Yoochun’s face when he picked him up later. He’d deliberately ignored the friendly wave and handsome smile beamed at him from where he leaned against the side of the car like always. Instead he’d ducked his head mumbling that he was tired and slunk into the backseat like an animal retreating to its den to lick its wounds.
Yoochun had paused only for a moment, then strode easily back around to get into the driver’s seat. The ride home had been wrought with cheerful conversation flowing back at him from the front, Yoochun neither commenting nor faltering despite the way each word of Changmin’s stunted and clipped the dialogue to shreds.
He didn’t want to talk so Yoochun talked enough for the both of him and seemed content to make him merely listen. Changmin zoned out, slumped low in the backseat to avoid the curious glances back through the rear view mirror, not paying attention to the actual words but rather to the rise and dip of the smooth baritone voice, soothing and comforting. He could listen to Yoochun’s voice forever.
It wasn’t until his brain belatedly understood that his mother was personally preparing a congratulations dinner for him that night for his first day back at school that he shot upright in his seat. Forgetting the state his face was in as he stared at the back of Yoochun’s head.
“No! She can’t do that!”
Yoochun’s brow creased, concerned eyes flickering to look at him then widening almost comically, Changmin’s name falling from his lips as he roughly slammed on the breaks.
Changmin realized too late that Yoochun had seen, and there was nothing for him to do but sit stiffly frozen to his seat as Yoochun pulled over and promptly twisted around in his seat to pin him with concerned eyes.
“What the hell happened to your face?” His voice was unthreatening and steady, but the spark of fire in his eyes scared him slightly, reminded Changmin yet again of just what Yoochun actually was to him: a body guard.
He’d been pathetic and forgotten that fact again over the last few weeks spent recovering in close confined quarters with Yoochun by his side nearly twenty-four-seven. He shouldn’t have let himself disregard or forget that all that was in this for Yoochun was his reputation and the satisfaction of Changmin’s father to a job well done.
If he hadn’t protected Changmin well then he would be reprimanded, warnings or pay cuts. Changmin knew there had been the occasional threat to fire him over the years as well, but Changmin had always pleaded his case and declared he couldn’t do with anyone other than Yoochun.
To Yoochun he was nothing but a charge, a young boy he catered to, giving into his whims and childish demands. A boy he was payed to watch and care for, and Yoochun was a man who hated failure or complications in a job he worked so hard to perfect.
Deep down Changmin knew Yoochun really cared for him, but given the day he’d suffered through, given the state of his body, his emotions, he couldn’t see anything but the way Yoochun had lied to him. Denied him. Rejected him. Pretended to like and care for him, given Changmin unrealistic expectations and hopes, caused him a whole slew of emotions he didn’t understand, all when really Yoochun was just doing his job.
He crossed his arms and looked determinedly away, a stubborn set to his chin, jaw going rigid as he clenched his teeth together to prevent the wrong words from spilling out.
Trying to gather his pride he lifted his face defiantly. He couldn’t bear for Yoochun to see him so weak and pathetic again, mere days after he’d been beaten to the point of hospitalization. It had ruined everything he’d been building over slow long years. It had reminded Yoochun of how young and helpless he was. Of how different their roles were, their ages, and it burned deep in his chest.
“I...got into a fight.” He declared loudly. A lie that burned his tongue and sounded rash and ugly to his own ears. Not something to be proud of, but he figured a fight was something between equals, something grown men engaged in. Something Yoochun himself took pride in doing well.
He wanted Yoochun to see he was strong, could take care of himself, was a young man and not a boy. Was worthy of something besides the affectionate glances of an adoptive older brother, something besides the professional actions of a man employed to protect him.
He wanted Yoochun to understand. Wanted to see the pride in his eyes, his shoulders to relax and his face to melt into one of those grins that made Changmin’s heart race just a little too fast. He wanted him to joke and ask him what the other guy looked like. Wanted him to treat him like the mature man he wanted to become to reach Yoochun’s level.
Concern if not approval. He wanted so many things in that moment. But the disappointment he saw in Yoochun’s eyes instead cut him through the core. He gulped for air as Yoochun pinned him with hard almost angry eyes, regret and just pure burning disappointment. It made him forget all he wanted to say after that, made him want to take the words back, made him want to just cry instead and have Yoochun reach for him in warm comfort that only he could give.
Because over the years the way he idolized and looked up to the other had inevitably developed into something more, a head over heels schoolboy crush, and he couldn’t rationalize his feelings or emotions where Yoochun was concerned. And he’d just made a mistake. Lied and caused Yoochun to be angry with him.
He blinked the tears away as he struggled to continue to meet Yoochun’s dark eyes. The soft curves of his face were hard and unforgiving, eyes boring into him with a look he’d only had directed at him a few times in the past. The one that reprimanded him for doing something wrong, something he knew he shouldn’t.
And this time Changmin couldn’t lie to himself and pretend that the reason behind the look was just that Yoochun cared. He couldn’t force himself to believe in his usual fantasies when the sinking feeling of his crushed heart was so hard to breathe around.
Yoochun finally spoke. “And why would you do that?”
Changmin swallowed painfully around the lump in his throat. Lips trembling with the effort to hold back the onslaught of hurt angry tears pushing and jostling behind his eyes.
“Th-they pissed me off!” He had to nearly shout the worlds to keep his voice from breaking and betraying his state on the brink of tears, yet the sentence ended with a pathetic sniffle that sounded loud and dirty in the confined space of the car.
Yoochun continued to watch him, silent or a moment. Something in the harsh lines of his serious face softening as Changmin sniffed again, biting his lip fiercely as he struggled to control himself. It hurt where his teeth dug into the split bleeding wound, but it almost felt good. Gave a reason for the tears now gathering rapidly at the corner of his eyes.
“Changmin-ah...” His name heaved into a sigh and Changmin looked at his lap in shame.
“D-don’t tell F-Father.” A weak mewling jumble of a plea as tears slipped free to trickle down his cheeks, hot wet tracks against throbbing red bruises.
Yoochun’s hands were tugging his own away from where his fingers had curled tightly into the material of his pants, and he blearily registered that Yoochun was glancing over them quickly for any signs of broken skin or bruising. It was obvious he’d never once lifted his own fist whether that be in attack or defense.
Another sigh that gusted through the hair on the side of his head before arms were wrapping around his shoulders, soft warm lips pressed gently on the crown of his head.
“Don’t you lie to me again, Min.”
And Changmin couldn’t hold back the soft sob that tore from deep in his chest. Deflating and crumpling into the strong safe circle of Yoochun’s embrace.
“I’m s-sorry-” He cried into the folds of Yoochun’s shirt which was wet with his tears, and the other only shushed him, hands running comforting circles on his back.
No matter how hard he tried to change it, he just fell back into the same role as always, the one formed since the first time they met. A little crying boy who needed the protection of an older brother who knew exactly what he needed to make it all better.
He hated it even as he couldn’t bear to be any other way. Yoochun wasn’t so wonderful and special to him without that, and he couldn’t deny that he needed this. The only person he bared himself to, showed his weakest side, broke down and clung to him like he did every time.
He was too ashamed now to think of anything else. Ashamed of lying, of blaming Yoochun for not knowing how he felt. Ashamed of being hurt and bullied the very first day at an entirely new school. A fresh start he’d ruined completely. His heart sinking as he thought of what his father and mother would think or say.
Shamed all over again at the thought of showing up to a celebration dinner in such a state, to confess what had happened to a mother who would be distraught and cry, to a father that had so many things to worry about that adding another about a little bullying that Changmin should have avoided if not handled by himself was too unbearable to imagine.
Even wrapped in the all accepting embrace of Yoochun, Changmin found himself feeling increasingly inadequate and weak, and he dreaded the days to come since he knew nothing would change. He wouldn’t or couldn’t change and he knew he’d continue to be picked on and singled out regardless if they believed his family background or not. And he was terrified of facing each day with the threat of them hanging over him.
He didn’t know what to do and no matter how many times Yoochun whispered into his hair that everything would be okay he fervently negated each word in his head. Nothing would ever be okay about this or about him and he wearily closed his eyes to it all.
**
The dinner had been a disaster of course and he’d cried again as his mother babied him and then sat on the side of his bed stroking his hair away from his flushed face until he’d fallen into an exhausted sleep.
He’d begged them not to do anything, to let him handle it, to not interfere or make a big deal of it, wanting to let it just blow over and pass. He didn’t think they would listen to him if the way his father’s brows knit together the whole time were anything to go by. And not with the way his mother cried over him softly even as she was wrapped in his father’s arms, he’d seen them when he’d gotten up for some water and they’d thought he was still asleep.
The next day he knew something was different as even though he kept his eyes on the floor in the halls, avoided other students as much as possible, more than once he caught them doing much the same to him in turn. One girl even murmured a low apology when they bumped shoulders before scurrying away.
He didn’t know what his father had done or said, but although it seemed to have spread as quickly as the rumors of the day before, it seemed to have also upset the four in his class. Nor did it stop them from cornering him after class ended.
They didn’t say anything or hurt him as they merely jostled him between them, marching him out the door and down the hall to the bathroom where he could hear other voices laughing cruelly at what sounded horribly like someone choking and sputtering water behind the closed door of one of the bathroom stalls.
They ignored the group and the sounds of bullying right on the other side of the door as they proceeded to shove him around, intimidation and threats falling thick and fast. Careful not to harm him visibly, but the damage had been done already. Changmin was terrified of them and they seemed to be fully aware of it.
“You dare to show your face today after that trick daddy pulled?” Pushing him into the waiting arms of the boy behind him.
Who shoved him back forward to pitch into another in front. “Don’t think we’re fooled, Shim. Somebody bailed you out but it sure wasn’t the Governor.”
The leader whose name he now knew was Jisung caught hold of him and instead of throwing him back again pulled him closer to glower into his face. He looked angry.
“We don’t believe you. Nothing changes after the way you embarrassed us in front of the whole school yesterday. And don’t forget showing off all day in class. Not acceptable, Shim.” He sneered directly into his face. “I’m personally making it my responsibility to remind you of your place, so don’t you worry about that.”
He wasn’t prepared for the sudden way Jisung pushed him away again, nor for the way he wasn’t caught up but how the boys behind him stepped to the side to let him fall through. He fell heavily, the back of his head cracking sickeningly against the tile lining of the wall.
He saw stars as the world spun, not really feeling it when they spat on him, nor understanding that seeing their backs and hearing echoing laughter spiral slowly into his ears meant that they were leaving.
A while later and he slowly came to, vision clearing while the back of his skull throbbed with a dull ache. The bathroom was empty and quiet and he looked around himself brokenly. He didn’t think he could push himself up, not that it was physically impossible, but that he was too humiliated to bear having to face anyone outside in the hall after the encounter.
The boys in his class had it out for him, and he realized there was nothing he could do, nothing even his father could do, to get them to leave him alone.
Changmin’s depressing thought line was interrupted by the sudden sound of a raspy cough from inside one of the stalls. He turned wide eyes too see the door hanging partly ajar. A pair of dirty sneakers were protruding from within.
Scrambling to hands and knees as the way his head was spinning threatened to make his face meet the floor once more, he crawled over to peek hesitantly inside. There was a heap of a boy laying on the floor curled around himself, soaking wet and bedraggled. His eyes were closed, face chalky pale.
He remembered the sounds of earlier, and recognized the look of someone nearly drowned in a toilet, shuddering to think that things like that happened here. It was the first time he’d seen another student besides himself get bullied, and he was at a loss for what to do.
“Are you okay?”
At the sound of his voice the boy gave a violent start, eyes flying open, the twitch of his body setting off another round of coughing. He didn’t move from his position, just staring up at Changmin from his place on the floor with wide eyes.
They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment, words failing as all that needed to be said seemed to pass through the gaze alone. And then the other was smiling, hesitant and small at first, but as Changmin nearly gaped at him it blossomed into something sweet and sunny.
“H-hi!” The first time he heard the bubbly friendly voice and he felt an strange tug of understanding, a feeling that he instantly liked the other, wanted to get to know him, wanted to make friends.
And it really was that easy. A hand offered, pulling him up to lean against the wall and they sat there smiling at each other like idiots. His first friend in years, and that was how he had met Junsu.
*****
tbc~