Is This How You Remind Me? [2/2]
Title: Is This How You Remind Me?
Pairing: kris/lay
Genre: high school au, love!hate, romance, or something that i can't explain
Rating: PG-13
Length: 11k words
Summary: There is no subject of complexity adorning their interactions, it's actually plain simple: Yixing wakes up; everything is beautiful. Then he reminds of Wu Yifan's existence and his whole day is ruined.
{PART 1}
Judging by the way his eyebrows furrow and his nose wrinkles, Yifan is having a hard time with the chemistry assignment. Yixing’s been watching him since he finished it, and the other seems to suffer every time his pencil touches the paper. Perhaps is the guilt that’s been hovering Yixing since Park Chanyeol revealed the reasons behind Yifan’s hate, but Yixing feels like he should offer a helping hand.
“Yah,” he whispers, looking over his teacher in precaution. “Wu Yifan.”
Yifan faces him, eyebrows arched in surprise. “What?”
“Do you need help with this?” Yixing asks, resting his head on his hand, elbow propped on the desk. Yifan frowns, probably in suspicion.
“Fuck off,” the other says; probably thinking Yixing is scorning him for not finishing the assignment.
Rolling his eyes, Yixing reaches for Yifan’s notebook and promptly grabs it. The other tries to retrieve it unsuccessfully. Yixing is quick in scribbling the answers on Yifan’s notebook, right in time for it to be yanked back by its owner. Yifan glares at Yixing, ready to launch a cussing rampage when he inspects the notebook.
It’s funny to see the murderous look in his face changing to disbelief, mouth hanging open and eyes unblinking. Yixing chuckles soundlessly when their eyes lock, Yifan clearly waiting for an explanation as to why Yixing has just given him all the answers to an assignment that’s part of their final grade.
Yifan doesn’t thank him - Yixing is not waiting for it anyway, and when the bell rings, they leave the classroom without a single word.
-
After he’s decided to make up to Wu Yifan for the birthday situation, Yixing’s been resolute on not engaging in any more conflicts with the other. Every time Yifan spits him insults he gathers all the effort he can muster and laughs along. His attitude confuses the hell out of Yifan, it’s really clear through his expressive eyebrows and nose wrinkling. Luhan and Jongdae are confused too.
“Why are you sucking up to that douchebag? I thought you hated each other?” Jongdae questions during lunch break. They can see Yifan’s table from their spot in the cafeteria. His hair is shorter and a way darker, Yixing thinks it suits him better. He looks manlier.
“Changed my mind. He’s actually not bad.” Yixing shrugs and bites his sandwich.
Luhan narrows his eyes and searches Yixing’s face, “Are you sick? Have you forgotten about all the things he’s pulled you through? You broke a leg because of that douchebag and now you want to be nice to him?”
He swallows and looks over Yifan’s table. Yifan smiles at his friends, eats, checks a possible video at one of their phones and laughs pleasantly.
It’s rather easy that he comes to realize Wu Yifan is not an evil mastermind; he is a teenager like any other. He might hate Yixing for some reason but that can change, if Yixing tries hard enough.
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Are you grooving on him?” Jongdae asks, distaste evident in his words.
Yixing widens his eyes, “No! That’s not it, it’s just…” he sighs. “I’m tired of fighting and we were friends once. Perhaps we can be friends again.”
“When were you friends? In the Twilight Zone?” Luhan gawks at him, fingers losing the grip on the fry he was holding. The bit of fried potato falls back on the plate.
“During kindergarten apparently,” Yixing inhales when Yifan notices him looking, smile slowly fading from his lips and face settling into a more serious countenance. “I was really mean to him back then, that’s why he hates me,” he breaks away their unexpected contact and turns to Jongdae and Luhan. “I’ll make up to him now.”
Jongdae snorts and steals a handful of Luhan’s fries. The other barely registers it in his flabbergast at Yixing. “Will you be his bitch now?”
Forgetting his half-eaten sandwich on the plate, Yixing taps his hand against each other to rid it of pieces of bread and stands up. “Mock me all you want, I’ve made up my mind.” He smiles at his friends one last time before spinning on his heels and marching towards Yifan’s table.
When he approaches, the gang studies the unusual visitor, frowning at him then turning to check on Yifan - probably waiting for a reaction -; because Yixing is his nemesis and he should be angry for his presence. Yifan just stares.
“What do you want?” he asks and the weird part is that there is no actual threat in his voice.
Yixing smiles. Maybe this is too much, but he’s promised himself he would try the hardest he could. “Let’s pair up for that History research!”
There is a commotion in the table, all of Yifan’s friends - especially Park Chanyeol - inspect Yixing in doubt, trying to see through him and into the potential master plan he’s orchestrating.
“What?” Yifan astonishes. “What did you just say?”
Yixing’s smile never falters, and the chuckle kinda of comes out naturally after he takes in Yifan’s confused face. “Partner up, You and I, for that History assignment that-”
“Yeah, I got that,” Yifan interrupts him. “Why?”
“Because we’re in that class together.” Yixing shrugs as if that’s enough for a reason, as if they were never against each other and being partners for an assignment is plain obvious.
There’s a pause. No one speaks and Yifan is glanced by all of his friends - except for Park Chanyeol. That one studies Yixing like he can indeed see through him, and he probably can.
Yixing avoids locking eyes with him and focuses on Yifan instead.
“I don’t want to be your partner.” Yifan says and almost instantly, Chanyeol’s hand is in the air.
“Hang on,” he says. “He’s smart, dude. You could use his brain to pass the class.”
After Chanyeol’s suggestion, the other three dudes in the table mutter a few agreements, encouraging Yifan to accept Yixing’s proposal and pass the class with maximum grades. Yixing grins in attempt to give his proposition some support, and when Yifan hesitates in answering, he figures that’s his cue.
“Ok then! Meet me at the library after school ends, we’ll work on that! Bye!” he runs away before Yifan can tell him to forget about it.
When Yixing returns to his table, both Luhan and Jongdae are wide eyed and ogling at him like Yixing is the ultimate crazy. He’s ok with that.
Yifan’s not used to being in the library, Yixing’s never seen him there. Perhaps because he’s not a book person, more into practical things like acting or building wooden shit. When Yixing spots him entering library Yifan looks like he’s afraid people would jump on him, holding on the straps of his backpack tightly and checking his surroundings as he walks. Yixing snorts in amusement, waving him over excitedly.
“Hello!” he chirps. “I’ve already selected a few books for our research. Sit down!”
Yifan slips his backpack off his shoulders and places it on the ground right next the chair he sits on. He sits there awkwardly, staring at the books as if they could offend him at any moment.
“So, I thought we could write about the Triassic period. Do you like dinosaurs?”
Yifan looks at Yixing in hesitation, nodding curtly. Yixing smiles and pushes a few dinosaur books into Yifan. Instead of the books, Yifan keeps his eyes on Yixing.
“Why do you want us to be partners?” he asks.
“Because,” Yixing sighs. “Aren’t you tired of fighting?”
Yifan seems like he’s thinking, eyes wandering around before focusing on Yixing one more time. “Maybe…” he tries, afraid that he might be giving up too soon. You’re not, Yixing wants to say.
“Can’t we try this? I mean, not hating each other?”
They hold each other’s eyes for a minute, and Yixing feels his mouth slowly pulling upwards, a smile outlining his features. Yifan only nods, but that’s already enough.
-
The next day Yixing finds another drawing at his locker. This time he’s sleeping on his arms, on the school desk, and there are a few words written right beneath the figure.
You’ve put a spell on me. And now I’m yours.
He stares at it blankly before gasping; a loud sound of surprise leaving his throat as realization quickly sinks in. That phrase… It… Can’t be. Yixing reads it repeatedly, trying to assimilate the words, the drawing and the person that has obviously slipped that into his locker. He fishes the previous drawing from where he’s been carrying it around on his backpack and inspects the lines and traces. They’re the same from today’s drawing, evidently the same artist. Yixing didn’t even know Wu Yifan could draw.
He finds Luhan lazily walking in his direction, attention solely on his phone, and rushes in his encounter.
“Hey,” Yixing hurries. Luhan lifts his eyes from the device and smiles.
“Minseok is coming back home!” he squeaks.
“Great, now look at this.” Yixing shows him the new drawing.
“Secret admirer strikes again,” Luhan laughs. “Any closer to his identity?”
“Actually I am,” He announces, making his friend look up from the paper and wait for his explanation. Yixing looks around for possible eavesdroppers and lowers his voice when he speaks. “It’s Wu Yifan.”
Luhan’s face scrunches. “What?”
“See that phrase over there? Yeah so last week, when we were arguing over something stupid, I sang a song from the movie Hocus Pocus. I put a spell on you and now you're mine.” Yixing shakes his head absent-mindedly. “He retorted saying he would never be mine, not even under spell. I ignored it because it was so trivial… Now this. I think it’s him Luhan. I think he likes me.
“Besides, when we were in kindergarten, he asked me to be his boyfriend. Well, he didn’t exactly ask me, but it’s close. I think he’s the one.”
Luhan gaps at the paper, scratching the back of his neck before puffing his cheeks and releasing the air. “I didn’t know he could draw.”
“Yeah, neither did I. Do you think I should say something?”
“Nah,” his friend answers. “Pretend you don’t know about it. He is the one drawing you, so he should say something.” Luhan inclines his head to the side, seemingly pensive on the piece of paper in his hands. “This is a little weird. He can’t suddenly like you, feelings grow on you. When did he have time to develop feelings for you when he was so busy trying to make a hell out of your life? Does he like you ever since kindergarten?”
“No, he hates me since kindergarten.”
“Then since when does he like you?”
It’s actually a great question. One Yixing resumes to leaving unsolved for a while.
-
Yifan, to Yixing’s surprise, never says a word about the drawings. It’s Yixing who engages in watching him more attentively, closely, following him around during break time and secretly watching drama club rehearsals in order to be sure Yifan is the so-called secret admirer. There are many things about Wu Yifan that one could only learn by sticking next to him.
Like how he’s always humming to a song, or how he reads phrases from posters as he walks and how he licks his lips when he’s impatient. Yixing thinks these particularities make it somewhat easier to wear Yifan down as a human being, for all he knew about the other was the spawn of Satan that hates his guts.
One day Yifan catches Yixing in one of his observations, narrowed eyes and parted lips taking in Yixing’s interested countenance. Yixing holds his look, waiting for something, anything, but nothing happens. Only Yifan looking somewhere else. He’s not sure what he’s waiting for, to be honest. Perhaps he wants Yifan to admit that he’s the secret admirer.
That never happens. However, Byun Baekhyun happens, hands all over Yifan during drama club rehearsals, eyes trained on him and geometric smile working on bewitching his costar. Yixing narrows his eyes at him. He doesn’t trust Byun Baekhyun and he’s sure to make it noticeable as he unintentionally knocks Baekhyun’s books down from his desk in Chemistry that same day. The boy looks at him in annoyance, crouching to pick his material up. Yixing smirks as he walks to his seat. He only notices Yifan’s eyes scrutinizing him when he seats.
“What’s wrong with you, jackass?” he inquires, moving to help Baekhyun with his material. Yixing scowls at them.
“It was an accident.” Yixing says when Yifan returns.
“That was on purpose!”
“Are you concerned for your girlfriend’s books?” he’s angry. It doesn’t make any sense. Isn’t Yifan his secret admirer? So why is he helping Baekhyun and getting mad at Yixing for messing his books just a little?
Yifan’s blushing and this alone is enough to infuriate Yixing.
“Don’t mess with Baekhyun ok, he’s a nice guy.” Yifan says.
“So he’s a nice guy and I am the jackass?”
“Of course, you’re-”
“Mr. Wu, Mr. Zhang. Mind sharing the topic of your discussion?” the teacher asks.
“Wu Yifan is protecting his girlfriend’s honor!” Yixing hisses, hands grasping at the sides of his chair instead of piercing holes in his palms because of the strength he’s putting into his fingers right now. Yixing deeply regrets trying to be nice to Yifan.
“He’s crazy!” Yifan protests.
“That’s enough!” the teacher announces, silence quick in falling over them. “Both of you, out of my classroom. Now!”
-
Yixing had forgotten how awfully cheesy and pathetic Luhan looks when Kim Minseok is around. Minseok is a short, ginger-like little thing with eyes as sharp as foxes’ and cheeks as plump as bread. He’s sweet too, and smart, and ushers Luhan around like a shepherd, allowing to be touched and held close. It’s more than obvious the feelings are mutual. Yixing feels like an intruder just by standing next to them.
It’s strange that he doesn’t feel the slightest bit of jealousy when he’s been mentally preparing for the moment of Kim Minseok’s return. Something might have changed, perhaps in the way he sees Luhan, perhaps in the way he sees himself, but something has definitely changed.
Jongdae notices it too.
“You don’t look murderous or angry.” His friend states.
Yixing sighs, laughing faintly. “There’s no need to be angry. They like each other. Each other. End of story.” He shrugs, takes an impulse on the safety bar behind them and skates down the ramp.
They’re at the skate park. Jongdae’s been pestering Yixing to ride his inline skates so they could skate in the park together, so he did. It’s been a while since he last rode those skates and it might have been messy at first but now he feels like he’s getting the hang of it back.
There are always a lot of people from school at the skate park, most of them not even skating at all, just enjoying each other’s company (like Luhan and Minseok, sitting on the grass and whispering and giggling to each other). Wu Yifan is there too, riding his shiny black rollerblades with the confidence of a pro. Occasionally he shoots Yixing a glance.
Ever since Park Chanyeol’s brought back memories of the past, Yixing’s been able to remember a few details. They used to hang out even after the birthday incident, and one of their favorite pastimes was racing in the park. Yifan was always a better skater than Yixing, winning every single one of their races and grinning triumphantly afterwards, skating past Yixing in such speed he would knock the other down mercilessly. Yixing would always fumble to stand up - he’s always hated balancing himself on roller skates.
“Yeah, but I figured you would be at least sad. Aren’t you into Luhan or something?” Jongdae and his skateboard catches up with Yixing, both of them riding dangerously close, the fear of tripping long forgotten.
“I was confused, now I’m not.” Yixing flashes him a smile and speeds up. Something flies in his eye and he loses balance. When Jongdae screams ‘Hyung, watch out!’ it’s already too late; Yixing falls limply on something way too padded to be the ground. When it groans, he realizes it’s a person.
“Ugh”
“Oh my God, I’m sorry.” he stands up, rubbing his wrist on his eye and blinks in order to stop the blurriness.
“Shit, my elbow.” The person says and when Yixing regains focus, he notices he’s just whacked Wu Yifan down. He swears it was unintentional.
Yifan looks up at him, a pained expression, and hand supporting his arm so he could check on his elbow. Yixing sees a little bit of blood there, nothing serious, but a scratch nonetheless.
“I’m sorry,” he breathes still a little out of air. “I’ve got a few band aids on my backpack, come along.”
It’s easier than he thought it would be to get Yifan following him back to where his backpack lies next to Luhan and Minseok. Yixing quickly fishes the bandage in one of his backpack pockets and positions Yifan’s elbow so he can apply it. Before he could remove the protection on the band aid, a giggle by Luhan startles him, and he turns around to shoot them an annoyed glance.
“Are you jealous?” comes Wu Yifan’s question and Yixing reminds he should apply a bandage. He removes the protection and places the band aid on the wound. Yifan hisses a little at the touch.
“No. And even if I was it’s none of your business.” He zips his backpack closed and stands up, offering Yifan a hand so he can stand up too.
Yifan accepts the hand. “They look good together.”
“I know.” Yixing shrugs, crossing his arms on his chest.
He looks around, taking in all those people skating, chatting, dating, and having fun amongst friends. The fact that he’s talking, civilly talking to Wu Yifan in this kind of environment is oddly good. Clearing his throat, Yixing gazes at Yifan.
“I know about the drawings you know. You’re very obvious.”
Yifan’s chuckle surprises him. “It was intentional. I was expecting you to come confront me about it way sooner.”
Yixing is dumbfounded. So… He’s been played? He frowns in confusion, arms uncrossing and feet wavering on the skates.
“Was it a prank?”
Yifan shrugs, both hands running through his dark locks as he smiles mirthfully. “Let’s race. If you win, I’ll tell you.”
“Yah, Wu Yif-” in the next moment, Yifan is already skating away. Yixing could let him fool himself, racing alone and be washing with embarrassment, but he’s hella curious. So he follows him.
He knows he has never won a race against Wu Yifan, and according to past results, this one is pretty senseless as the ending is already determined. However, Yixing follows Yifan’s trail as fast as he can, dodging people and dogs and skateboards that barge in the way in favor of winning at least one race against his nemesis.
It’s useless and he wears out, losing speed as the wind blows pleasurably in his face. Yixing breathes, leaving it for Yifan to notice he’s not being trailed anymore.
The other spins his skates graciously, riding slowly and naturally in Yixing’s direction.
“You lost. As usual.” He remarks. Yixing hums. “It’s been a long time you don’t come to the park. Have you lost your skates?”
Yixing snorts and narrows his eyes at the other “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“Give me a good reason why I should.” Yifan hides his hands in his pockets and shrugs, watching Yixing intently as he waits for an answer.
This, the way they’re talking to each other, the way they’re interacting. This is different, Yixing notices when Yifan blinks at him, eyebrows relaxed and amusement feebly painting his features. It’s almost as if they’re aren’t what they are, as if Yixing hasn’t referred to Wu Yifan as his nemesis his whole life. This sounds like flirting, and the idea of doing so isn’t the slightest bit revolting to Yixing. It’s… Pleasing.
According to Luhan, feelings grow on people. That thing in his stomach making it flutter as Yifan’s eyes scan his face and drops to his neck then to the part of his collarbones that’s exposed by the t-shirt - is that some kind of growing?
Yixing feels a little constricted. He fists his t-shirt and inhales.
“Aren’t you curious to know what I think about it?” he tries so hard not to let his voice falter.
Yifan’s eyebrows furrow just a little; he’s probably taken by surprise. “Do you think about it?”
“Someone’s been drawing me and writing me love confessions. Of course I think about it.” Yixing brushes his hair away from his face. “So, was it a prank?”
It takes him a minute and a few sighs and hair brushes, but Yifan eventually answers. “No,” he breathes. His cheeks are burning red and he avoids Yixing’s eyes. “It wasn’t.”
Yixing can’t even refrain the smile that spreads across his face, and he’s glad Yifan is embarrassed enough to look down so he can’t see it. Once he’s controlled his features, he asks, “If you like me then why would you be such a pest to me?”
Yifan looks up, eyes wide. “You started it!” he claims. “You said you hated me when we were children, have you forgotten?”
“What?” Yixing questions.
“I haven’t,” the other sighs, blinking as he thinks his words through. Yixing awaits. “Remember my birthday party? I gave you the cake and you threw it on the floor and ran away. I went after you, but when I reached you, you said you hated me.” a laugh interrupts his sigh and he shakes his head. “I couldn’t even eat that cake afterwards. My mom spent a whole night baking it and I really wanted to taste it.”
The words hit right into Yixing’s memory, just like the wind that blow softly and coolly in their faces, or the orange-like shades of the sunset painting their skins. Yifan’s report activates his memory and he remembers it. Not all of it, but some flashes, images that blink at the back of his eyes. He sees the white and blue cake, piled on the floor. He sees a much younger (and cuter) Yifan’s dejected face as he crouches next to him on the ground to ask if he’s ok, why are you crying, Xing-ah? He sees, to his confusion, a dinosaur t-shirt as well.
When he looks at Yifan (that thing in his stomach flutters when his eyes meet Yifan’s), he knows he’s got a debt to pay.
“Come on,” Yixing says, softly pinching at the sleeve of Yifan’s shirt.
“Where?” the other questions.
“Come on!” he insists and skates away. He can hear the rolls of Yifan’s skate following closely, and he doesn’t even inquire when they skate out of the park.
That’s one of Yixing’s favorite bakeries. They have the most beautifully decorated cakes in the whole wide world, and perhaps this is right kind of apology he needs to offer so they’ll have a clean slate. Surprisingly, it’s not odd to come to realize he wants a clean slate. Yixing touches the showcase glass and points to a few children cakes that are on display. Yifan is right next to him, their arms brushing against each other. None of them moves away.
“So, which one do you like?” Yixing asks, looking up to contemplate a lower-lip biting Yifan, his own way of refraining a smile, because smiling is admitting he’s content about this, that he would love to eat one of those cakes.
“Is that your way of saying that you’re sorry?” the taller asks, moving his eyes away from the cakes and into Yixing’s own.
“That’s my way of apologizing for what happened when we were children.” He thinks about it. “And for what happened after it too. Now you’ve also done a lot of shit, where’s my apology?”
Yifan laughs, it’s spread, wide and loud. Yixing doesn’t think he’s ever seen him laugh like that. It feels good. “Buy me the cake and I’ll think about it.”
“How do you like the dinosaur one?” Yixing points to a pink and green dinosaur cake - it’s the prettiest one, and the most delicious-looking too.
Yifan licks his lips and nods, “I like it. I want that one.”
They take the cake all the way back to the skate park and share with both of their friends. Despite Chanyeol’s huge mouth and appetite, Yixing contains him from stealing the first slice and promptly gives it to Yifan.
“Clean slate?” he suggests.
Yifan seemingly thinks about it, but the hint of a smile on his face gives the answer out.
-
One would say luck works in mysterious ways (“Isn’t it god?” asks Jongdae). Maybe luck has worked for his Math teacher to catch a horrible flu and grace his students with three free periods.
Yixing’s been enjoying this godsend freedom alongside Yifan at the library. It’s been exactly two months since their clean slate started and since when, it’s like years of perpetual hate had never happened. It’s easy to fall into comfort with Yifan, skating together and baking dinosaur cookies when they feel like. Yixing watches Yifan’s terrible school plays and in exchange, he gets a drawing.
That’s what they’re doing now. Yixing helped Yifan to rehearse for the upcoming play and he’s now watching the other draw Buzz Lightyear (just because Yixing really likes him and Yifan has already drawn him an awful lot of things).
Yixing has his head leaning on the arm Yifan uses to steady the paper and it’s a comfortable position. He likes that Yifan doesn’t seem to bother.
“Will you color it for me?” he questions, thinking about Yifan’s set of gorgeous 120 colored pencils. Once he drew Yixing a gorgeous colored dinosaur, his favorite so far.
Yifan stops sketching on the paper and places the pencil carefully down, watching Yixing’s face as he waits for an answer. The way he studies the other makes it seem like there’s something on Yixing’s face, a smudge or something. He worries, a hand reaching for his cheek.
“Is there something on my face?”
Yifan merely shakes his head. He looks peaceful and so sure of it when he inhales and announces, “I like you.”
Yixing chuckles, curling his arms around Yifan’s forearm. He's used to clinging like this, so close Yifan would later complain Yixing's scent is all over him. “I know that you douchebag.”
Yifan doesn't look like he's satisfied. He sweeps Yixing's hair away from his eyes and holds to prevent it from falling. “Do you like me?”
This takes Yixing aback. He blinks a little dizzily, averting his eyes from Yifan's. His fingers loosen from the grip around the other's foream and Yixing slowly disentangles from Yifan. The moment he locks eyes with Yifan again, he wishes he hadn't, for his eyes stare at Yixing more intently, resolute on digging an answer out of him.
“Why are you looking at me like this?” he asks.
It's not words that he's met with. Yifan comes further, the hand on Yixing's hair sliding down to his jaw, a thumb on his chin bringing his face up.
That thing on Yixing's stomach flutters and keeps fluttering, heartbeats fastening and breath hitching. Yixing knows what's to come, and it's not like he hasn't thought about it; he has. It's just that he's really anticipated it and now he's lost on how to react.
Yixing's lips part, gaze escaping from Yifan’s eyes to his mouth. He captures how it slowly opens; and the swivel of Yifan's tongue over it. When Yixing swallows, Yifan surges forward.
Both of their mouths are open, so they fit perfectly against each other. Yifan sucks on Yixing's bottom lip and Yixing hums, eyelids way heavy to be kept open. The kiss is slow, gentle and savory, Yifan's tongue licking Yixing's and both hands buried into his hair, bringing him impossibly closer.
When they part Yixing gasps for air, hands fisting Yifan's T-shirt.
“I asked,” Yifan whispers, capturing Yixing’s bottom lip between his and sweeping his tongue over it, pressing their mouths together before separating them just that little bit that will allow him to speak. “Do you like me?”
Yixing is eager in his answer, hand sneaking on Yifan’s neck and pulling him closer. “Yes.” he says as he brushes his lips on Yifan's closed ones in a desperate request for more. "Yes, I like you."
Yixing can almost taste his grin, bright and happy as he wraps his arms around Yixing's waist and kisses him breathtakingly.
"If I ask you to be my boyfriend now, will you run away?" Yifan questions.
"I don't know, try asking nicely." Yixing smiles into the kiss.
Everything feels like a dream. Until something comes like a wrecking ball and knocks them both to the ground, rudely interrupting their glorious moment.
"FUCK! JONGDAE MAN!" Chanyeol's voice irrupts. "THEY WERE MAKING OUT, YOU JUST RUINED IT!"
Yixing wriggles underneath Yifan, who touches his cheeks and turns his face right to left to inspect it. "Are you OK?"
He nods, accepting Yifan's offered hand to stand up. Yixing kicks a familiar pink and blue skateboard out of his way, glaring at a seemingly regretful Jongdae.
"Kim Jongdae!" he yells. "Don't skate at the cafeteria!"
"I'm sorry hyung," Jongdae whines and rubs his palms together. "Chanyeol pushed me too much and then..."
"You shouldn't even be riding that thing in the school building!" Yifan complains and touches Yixing's cheek. "Could've gotten Yixing hurt!"
Jongdae, instead of apologizing, frowns. "You two were making out in the cafeteria, that's something you're not supposed to do!"
Chanyeol just smiles knowingly. "So, are you a thing now?"
Yixing looks up at Yifan and the taller gently caresses his scalp. They gaze at each other for a while and Yixing suspects Yifan too, is trying to come up with an answer. Truth is they were always a thing; sometimes nemesis, occasionally skating partners, eventually dinosaur lovers, other times friends. However, Yixing's favorite part is that they were always in each other's lives, whether as archenemies or childhood friends.
So he sighs and answers, "I think now we're something more."
A/N: I think I should give up on fanfic.
If you reached this point, thank you very much /pats your shoulder/ you've suffered a lot.
Pairing: kris/lay
Genre: high school au, love!hate, romance, or something that i can't explain
Rating: PG-13
Length: 11k words
Summary: There is no subject of complexity adorning their interactions, it's actually plain simple: Yixing wakes up; everything is beautiful. Then he reminds of Wu Yifan's existence and his whole day is ruined.
{PART 1}
Judging by the way his eyebrows furrow and his nose wrinkles, Yifan is having a hard time with the chemistry assignment. Yixing’s been watching him since he finished it, and the other seems to suffer every time his pencil touches the paper. Perhaps is the guilt that’s been hovering Yixing since Park Chanyeol revealed the reasons behind Yifan’s hate, but Yixing feels like he should offer a helping hand.
“Yah,” he whispers, looking over his teacher in precaution. “Wu Yifan.”
Yifan faces him, eyebrows arched in surprise. “What?”
“Do you need help with this?” Yixing asks, resting his head on his hand, elbow propped on the desk. Yifan frowns, probably in suspicion.
“Fuck off,” the other says; probably thinking Yixing is scorning him for not finishing the assignment.
Rolling his eyes, Yixing reaches for Yifan’s notebook and promptly grabs it. The other tries to retrieve it unsuccessfully. Yixing is quick in scribbling the answers on Yifan’s notebook, right in time for it to be yanked back by its owner. Yifan glares at Yixing, ready to launch a cussing rampage when he inspects the notebook.
It’s funny to see the murderous look in his face changing to disbelief, mouth hanging open and eyes unblinking. Yixing chuckles soundlessly when their eyes lock, Yifan clearly waiting for an explanation as to why Yixing has just given him all the answers to an assignment that’s part of their final grade.
Yifan doesn’t thank him - Yixing is not waiting for it anyway, and when the bell rings, they leave the classroom without a single word.
-
After he’s decided to make up to Wu Yifan for the birthday situation, Yixing’s been resolute on not engaging in any more conflicts with the other. Every time Yifan spits him insults he gathers all the effort he can muster and laughs along. His attitude confuses the hell out of Yifan, it’s really clear through his expressive eyebrows and nose wrinkling. Luhan and Jongdae are confused too.
“Why are you sucking up to that douchebag? I thought you hated each other?” Jongdae questions during lunch break. They can see Yifan’s table from their spot in the cafeteria. His hair is shorter and a way darker, Yixing thinks it suits him better. He looks manlier.
“Changed my mind. He’s actually not bad.” Yixing shrugs and bites his sandwich.
Luhan narrows his eyes and searches Yixing’s face, “Are you sick? Have you forgotten about all the things he’s pulled you through? You broke a leg because of that douchebag and now you want to be nice to him?”
He swallows and looks over Yifan’s table. Yifan smiles at his friends, eats, checks a possible video at one of their phones and laughs pleasantly.
It’s rather easy that he comes to realize Wu Yifan is not an evil mastermind; he is a teenager like any other. He might hate Yixing for some reason but that can change, if Yixing tries hard enough.
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Are you grooving on him?” Jongdae asks, distaste evident in his words.
Yixing widens his eyes, “No! That’s not it, it’s just…” he sighs. “I’m tired of fighting and we were friends once. Perhaps we can be friends again.”
“When were you friends? In the Twilight Zone?” Luhan gawks at him, fingers losing the grip on the fry he was holding. The bit of fried potato falls back on the plate.
“During kindergarten apparently,” Yixing inhales when Yifan notices him looking, smile slowly fading from his lips and face settling into a more serious countenance. “I was really mean to him back then, that’s why he hates me,” he breaks away their unexpected contact and turns to Jongdae and Luhan. “I’ll make up to him now.”
Jongdae snorts and steals a handful of Luhan’s fries. The other barely registers it in his flabbergast at Yixing. “Will you be his bitch now?”
Forgetting his half-eaten sandwich on the plate, Yixing taps his hand against each other to rid it of pieces of bread and stands up. “Mock me all you want, I’ve made up my mind.” He smiles at his friends one last time before spinning on his heels and marching towards Yifan’s table.
When he approaches, the gang studies the unusual visitor, frowning at him then turning to check on Yifan - probably waiting for a reaction -; because Yixing is his nemesis and he should be angry for his presence. Yifan just stares.
“What do you want?” he asks and the weird part is that there is no actual threat in his voice.
Yixing smiles. Maybe this is too much, but he’s promised himself he would try the hardest he could. “Let’s pair up for that History research!”
There is a commotion in the table, all of Yifan’s friends - especially Park Chanyeol - inspect Yixing in doubt, trying to see through him and into the potential master plan he’s orchestrating.
“What?” Yifan astonishes. “What did you just say?”
Yixing’s smile never falters, and the chuckle kinda of comes out naturally after he takes in Yifan’s confused face. “Partner up, You and I, for that History assignment that-”
“Yeah, I got that,” Yifan interrupts him. “Why?”
“Because we’re in that class together.” Yixing shrugs as if that’s enough for a reason, as if they were never against each other and being partners for an assignment is plain obvious.
There’s a pause. No one speaks and Yifan is glanced by all of his friends - except for Park Chanyeol. That one studies Yixing like he can indeed see through him, and he probably can.
Yixing avoids locking eyes with him and focuses on Yifan instead.
“I don’t want to be your partner.” Yifan says and almost instantly, Chanyeol’s hand is in the air.
“Hang on,” he says. “He’s smart, dude. You could use his brain to pass the class.”
After Chanyeol’s suggestion, the other three dudes in the table mutter a few agreements, encouraging Yifan to accept Yixing’s proposal and pass the class with maximum grades. Yixing grins in attempt to give his proposition some support, and when Yifan hesitates in answering, he figures that’s his cue.
“Ok then! Meet me at the library after school ends, we’ll work on that! Bye!” he runs away before Yifan can tell him to forget about it.
When Yixing returns to his table, both Luhan and Jongdae are wide eyed and ogling at him like Yixing is the ultimate crazy. He’s ok with that.
Yifan’s not used to being in the library, Yixing’s never seen him there. Perhaps because he’s not a book person, more into practical things like acting or building wooden shit. When Yixing spots him entering library Yifan looks like he’s afraid people would jump on him, holding on the straps of his backpack tightly and checking his surroundings as he walks. Yixing snorts in amusement, waving him over excitedly.
“Hello!” he chirps. “I’ve already selected a few books for our research. Sit down!”
Yifan slips his backpack off his shoulders and places it on the ground right next the chair he sits on. He sits there awkwardly, staring at the books as if they could offend him at any moment.
“So, I thought we could write about the Triassic period. Do you like dinosaurs?”
Yifan looks at Yixing in hesitation, nodding curtly. Yixing smiles and pushes a few dinosaur books into Yifan. Instead of the books, Yifan keeps his eyes on Yixing.
“Why do you want us to be partners?” he asks.
“Because,” Yixing sighs. “Aren’t you tired of fighting?”
Yifan seems like he’s thinking, eyes wandering around before focusing on Yixing one more time. “Maybe…” he tries, afraid that he might be giving up too soon. You’re not, Yixing wants to say.
“Can’t we try this? I mean, not hating each other?”
They hold each other’s eyes for a minute, and Yixing feels his mouth slowly pulling upwards, a smile outlining his features. Yifan only nods, but that’s already enough.
-
The next day Yixing finds another drawing at his locker. This time he’s sleeping on his arms, on the school desk, and there are a few words written right beneath the figure.
You’ve put a spell on me. And now I’m yours.
He stares at it blankly before gasping; a loud sound of surprise leaving his throat as realization quickly sinks in. That phrase… It… Can’t be. Yixing reads it repeatedly, trying to assimilate the words, the drawing and the person that has obviously slipped that into his locker. He fishes the previous drawing from where he’s been carrying it around on his backpack and inspects the lines and traces. They’re the same from today’s drawing, evidently the same artist. Yixing didn’t even know Wu Yifan could draw.
He finds Luhan lazily walking in his direction, attention solely on his phone, and rushes in his encounter.
“Hey,” Yixing hurries. Luhan lifts his eyes from the device and smiles.
“Minseok is coming back home!” he squeaks.
“Great, now look at this.” Yixing shows him the new drawing.
“Secret admirer strikes again,” Luhan laughs. “Any closer to his identity?”
“Actually I am,” He announces, making his friend look up from the paper and wait for his explanation. Yixing looks around for possible eavesdroppers and lowers his voice when he speaks. “It’s Wu Yifan.”
Luhan’s face scrunches. “What?”
“See that phrase over there? Yeah so last week, when we were arguing over something stupid, I sang a song from the movie Hocus Pocus. I put a spell on you and now you're mine.” Yixing shakes his head absent-mindedly. “He retorted saying he would never be mine, not even under spell. I ignored it because it was so trivial… Now this. I think it’s him Luhan. I think he likes me.
“Besides, when we were in kindergarten, he asked me to be his boyfriend. Well, he didn’t exactly ask me, but it’s close. I think he’s the one.”
Luhan gaps at the paper, scratching the back of his neck before puffing his cheeks and releasing the air. “I didn’t know he could draw.”
“Yeah, neither did I. Do you think I should say something?”
“Nah,” his friend answers. “Pretend you don’t know about it. He is the one drawing you, so he should say something.” Luhan inclines his head to the side, seemingly pensive on the piece of paper in his hands. “This is a little weird. He can’t suddenly like you, feelings grow on you. When did he have time to develop feelings for you when he was so busy trying to make a hell out of your life? Does he like you ever since kindergarten?”
“No, he hates me since kindergarten.”
“Then since when does he like you?”
It’s actually a great question. One Yixing resumes to leaving unsolved for a while.
-
Yifan, to Yixing’s surprise, never says a word about the drawings. It’s Yixing who engages in watching him more attentively, closely, following him around during break time and secretly watching drama club rehearsals in order to be sure Yifan is the so-called secret admirer. There are many things about Wu Yifan that one could only learn by sticking next to him.
Like how he’s always humming to a song, or how he reads phrases from posters as he walks and how he licks his lips when he’s impatient. Yixing thinks these particularities make it somewhat easier to wear Yifan down as a human being, for all he knew about the other was the spawn of Satan that hates his guts.
One day Yifan catches Yixing in one of his observations, narrowed eyes and parted lips taking in Yixing’s interested countenance. Yixing holds his look, waiting for something, anything, but nothing happens. Only Yifan looking somewhere else. He’s not sure what he’s waiting for, to be honest. Perhaps he wants Yifan to admit that he’s the secret admirer.
That never happens. However, Byun Baekhyun happens, hands all over Yifan during drama club rehearsals, eyes trained on him and geometric smile working on bewitching his costar. Yixing narrows his eyes at him. He doesn’t trust Byun Baekhyun and he’s sure to make it noticeable as he unintentionally knocks Baekhyun’s books down from his desk in Chemistry that same day. The boy looks at him in annoyance, crouching to pick his material up. Yixing smirks as he walks to his seat. He only notices Yifan’s eyes scrutinizing him when he seats.
“What’s wrong with you, jackass?” he inquires, moving to help Baekhyun with his material. Yixing scowls at them.
“It was an accident.” Yixing says when Yifan returns.
“That was on purpose!”
“Are you concerned for your girlfriend’s books?” he’s angry. It doesn’t make any sense. Isn’t Yifan his secret admirer? So why is he helping Baekhyun and getting mad at Yixing for messing his books just a little?
Yifan’s blushing and this alone is enough to infuriate Yixing.
“Don’t mess with Baekhyun ok, he’s a nice guy.” Yifan says.
“So he’s a nice guy and I am the jackass?”
“Of course, you’re-”
“Mr. Wu, Mr. Zhang. Mind sharing the topic of your discussion?” the teacher asks.
“Wu Yifan is protecting his girlfriend’s honor!” Yixing hisses, hands grasping at the sides of his chair instead of piercing holes in his palms because of the strength he’s putting into his fingers right now. Yixing deeply regrets trying to be nice to Yifan.
“He’s crazy!” Yifan protests.
“That’s enough!” the teacher announces, silence quick in falling over them. “Both of you, out of my classroom. Now!”
-
Yixing had forgotten how awfully cheesy and pathetic Luhan looks when Kim Minseok is around. Minseok is a short, ginger-like little thing with eyes as sharp as foxes’ and cheeks as plump as bread. He’s sweet too, and smart, and ushers Luhan around like a shepherd, allowing to be touched and held close. It’s more than obvious the feelings are mutual. Yixing feels like an intruder just by standing next to them.
It’s strange that he doesn’t feel the slightest bit of jealousy when he’s been mentally preparing for the moment of Kim Minseok’s return. Something might have changed, perhaps in the way he sees Luhan, perhaps in the way he sees himself, but something has definitely changed.
Jongdae notices it too.
“You don’t look murderous or angry.” His friend states.
Yixing sighs, laughing faintly. “There’s no need to be angry. They like each other. Each other. End of story.” He shrugs, takes an impulse on the safety bar behind them and skates down the ramp.
They’re at the skate park. Jongdae’s been pestering Yixing to ride his inline skates so they could skate in the park together, so he did. It’s been a while since he last rode those skates and it might have been messy at first but now he feels like he’s getting the hang of it back.
There are always a lot of people from school at the skate park, most of them not even skating at all, just enjoying each other’s company (like Luhan and Minseok, sitting on the grass and whispering and giggling to each other). Wu Yifan is there too, riding his shiny black rollerblades with the confidence of a pro. Occasionally he shoots Yixing a glance.
Ever since Park Chanyeol’s brought back memories of the past, Yixing’s been able to remember a few details. They used to hang out even after the birthday incident, and one of their favorite pastimes was racing in the park. Yifan was always a better skater than Yixing, winning every single one of their races and grinning triumphantly afterwards, skating past Yixing in such speed he would knock the other down mercilessly. Yixing would always fumble to stand up - he’s always hated balancing himself on roller skates.
“Yeah, but I figured you would be at least sad. Aren’t you into Luhan or something?” Jongdae and his skateboard catches up with Yixing, both of them riding dangerously close, the fear of tripping long forgotten.
“I was confused, now I’m not.” Yixing flashes him a smile and speeds up. Something flies in his eye and he loses balance. When Jongdae screams ‘Hyung, watch out!’ it’s already too late; Yixing falls limply on something way too padded to be the ground. When it groans, he realizes it’s a person.
“Ugh”
“Oh my God, I’m sorry.” he stands up, rubbing his wrist on his eye and blinks in order to stop the blurriness.
“Shit, my elbow.” The person says and when Yixing regains focus, he notices he’s just whacked Wu Yifan down. He swears it was unintentional.
Yifan looks up at him, a pained expression, and hand supporting his arm so he could check on his elbow. Yixing sees a little bit of blood there, nothing serious, but a scratch nonetheless.
“I’m sorry,” he breathes still a little out of air. “I’ve got a few band aids on my backpack, come along.”
It’s easier than he thought it would be to get Yifan following him back to where his backpack lies next to Luhan and Minseok. Yixing quickly fishes the bandage in one of his backpack pockets and positions Yifan’s elbow so he can apply it. Before he could remove the protection on the band aid, a giggle by Luhan startles him, and he turns around to shoot them an annoyed glance.
“Are you jealous?” comes Wu Yifan’s question and Yixing reminds he should apply a bandage. He removes the protection and places the band aid on the wound. Yifan hisses a little at the touch.
“No. And even if I was it’s none of your business.” He zips his backpack closed and stands up, offering Yifan a hand so he can stand up too.
Yifan accepts the hand. “They look good together.”
“I know.” Yixing shrugs, crossing his arms on his chest.
He looks around, taking in all those people skating, chatting, dating, and having fun amongst friends. The fact that he’s talking, civilly talking to Wu Yifan in this kind of environment is oddly good. Clearing his throat, Yixing gazes at Yifan.
“I know about the drawings you know. You’re very obvious.”
Yifan’s chuckle surprises him. “It was intentional. I was expecting you to come confront me about it way sooner.”
Yixing is dumbfounded. So… He’s been played? He frowns in confusion, arms uncrossing and feet wavering on the skates.
“Was it a prank?”
Yifan shrugs, both hands running through his dark locks as he smiles mirthfully. “Let’s race. If you win, I’ll tell you.”
“Yah, Wu Yif-” in the next moment, Yifan is already skating away. Yixing could let him fool himself, racing alone and be washing with embarrassment, but he’s hella curious. So he follows him.
He knows he has never won a race against Wu Yifan, and according to past results, this one is pretty senseless as the ending is already determined. However, Yixing follows Yifan’s trail as fast as he can, dodging people and dogs and skateboards that barge in the way in favor of winning at least one race against his nemesis.
It’s useless and he wears out, losing speed as the wind blows pleasurably in his face. Yixing breathes, leaving it for Yifan to notice he’s not being trailed anymore.
The other spins his skates graciously, riding slowly and naturally in Yixing’s direction.
“You lost. As usual.” He remarks. Yixing hums. “It’s been a long time you don’t come to the park. Have you lost your skates?”
Yixing snorts and narrows his eyes at the other “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“Give me a good reason why I should.” Yifan hides his hands in his pockets and shrugs, watching Yixing intently as he waits for an answer.
This, the way they’re talking to each other, the way they’re interacting. This is different, Yixing notices when Yifan blinks at him, eyebrows relaxed and amusement feebly painting his features. It’s almost as if they’re aren’t what they are, as if Yixing hasn’t referred to Wu Yifan as his nemesis his whole life. This sounds like flirting, and the idea of doing so isn’t the slightest bit revolting to Yixing. It’s… Pleasing.
According to Luhan, feelings grow on people. That thing in his stomach making it flutter as Yifan’s eyes scan his face and drops to his neck then to the part of his collarbones that’s exposed by the t-shirt - is that some kind of growing?
Yixing feels a little constricted. He fists his t-shirt and inhales.
“Aren’t you curious to know what I think about it?” he tries so hard not to let his voice falter.
Yifan’s eyebrows furrow just a little; he’s probably taken by surprise. “Do you think about it?”
“Someone’s been drawing me and writing me love confessions. Of course I think about it.” Yixing brushes his hair away from his face. “So, was it a prank?”
It takes him a minute and a few sighs and hair brushes, but Yifan eventually answers. “No,” he breathes. His cheeks are burning red and he avoids Yixing’s eyes. “It wasn’t.”
Yixing can’t even refrain the smile that spreads across his face, and he’s glad Yifan is embarrassed enough to look down so he can’t see it. Once he’s controlled his features, he asks, “If you like me then why would you be such a pest to me?”
Yifan looks up, eyes wide. “You started it!” he claims. “You said you hated me when we were children, have you forgotten?”
“What?” Yixing questions.
“I haven’t,” the other sighs, blinking as he thinks his words through. Yixing awaits. “Remember my birthday party? I gave you the cake and you threw it on the floor and ran away. I went after you, but when I reached you, you said you hated me.” a laugh interrupts his sigh and he shakes his head. “I couldn’t even eat that cake afterwards. My mom spent a whole night baking it and I really wanted to taste it.”
The words hit right into Yixing’s memory, just like the wind that blow softly and coolly in their faces, or the orange-like shades of the sunset painting their skins. Yifan’s report activates his memory and he remembers it. Not all of it, but some flashes, images that blink at the back of his eyes. He sees the white and blue cake, piled on the floor. He sees a much younger (and cuter) Yifan’s dejected face as he crouches next to him on the ground to ask if he’s ok, why are you crying, Xing-ah? He sees, to his confusion, a dinosaur t-shirt as well.
When he looks at Yifan (that thing in his stomach flutters when his eyes meet Yifan’s), he knows he’s got a debt to pay.
“Come on,” Yixing says, softly pinching at the sleeve of Yifan’s shirt.
“Where?” the other questions.
“Come on!” he insists and skates away. He can hear the rolls of Yifan’s skate following closely, and he doesn’t even inquire when they skate out of the park.
That’s one of Yixing’s favorite bakeries. They have the most beautifully decorated cakes in the whole wide world, and perhaps this is right kind of apology he needs to offer so they’ll have a clean slate. Surprisingly, it’s not odd to come to realize he wants a clean slate. Yixing touches the showcase glass and points to a few children cakes that are on display. Yifan is right next to him, their arms brushing against each other. None of them moves away.
“So, which one do you like?” Yixing asks, looking up to contemplate a lower-lip biting Yifan, his own way of refraining a smile, because smiling is admitting he’s content about this, that he would love to eat one of those cakes.
“Is that your way of saying that you’re sorry?” the taller asks, moving his eyes away from the cakes and into Yixing’s own.
“That’s my way of apologizing for what happened when we were children.” He thinks about it. “And for what happened after it too. Now you’ve also done a lot of shit, where’s my apology?”
Yifan laughs, it’s spread, wide and loud. Yixing doesn’t think he’s ever seen him laugh like that. It feels good. “Buy me the cake and I’ll think about it.”
“How do you like the dinosaur one?” Yixing points to a pink and green dinosaur cake - it’s the prettiest one, and the most delicious-looking too.
Yifan licks his lips and nods, “I like it. I want that one.”
They take the cake all the way back to the skate park and share with both of their friends. Despite Chanyeol’s huge mouth and appetite, Yixing contains him from stealing the first slice and promptly gives it to Yifan.
“Clean slate?” he suggests.
Yifan seemingly thinks about it, but the hint of a smile on his face gives the answer out.
-
One would say luck works in mysterious ways (“Isn’t it god?” asks Jongdae). Maybe luck has worked for his Math teacher to catch a horrible flu and grace his students with three free periods.
Yixing’s been enjoying this godsend freedom alongside Yifan at the library. It’s been exactly two months since their clean slate started and since when, it’s like years of perpetual hate had never happened. It’s easy to fall into comfort with Yifan, skating together and baking dinosaur cookies when they feel like. Yixing watches Yifan’s terrible school plays and in exchange, he gets a drawing.
That’s what they’re doing now. Yixing helped Yifan to rehearse for the upcoming play and he’s now watching the other draw Buzz Lightyear (just because Yixing really likes him and Yifan has already drawn him an awful lot of things).
Yixing has his head leaning on the arm Yifan uses to steady the paper and it’s a comfortable position. He likes that Yifan doesn’t seem to bother.
“Will you color it for me?” he questions, thinking about Yifan’s set of gorgeous 120 colored pencils. Once he drew Yixing a gorgeous colored dinosaur, his favorite so far.
Yifan stops sketching on the paper and places the pencil carefully down, watching Yixing’s face as he waits for an answer. The way he studies the other makes it seem like there’s something on Yixing’s face, a smudge or something. He worries, a hand reaching for his cheek.
“Is there something on my face?”
Yifan merely shakes his head. He looks peaceful and so sure of it when he inhales and announces, “I like you.”
Yixing chuckles, curling his arms around Yifan’s forearm. He's used to clinging like this, so close Yifan would later complain Yixing's scent is all over him. “I know that you douchebag.”
Yifan doesn't look like he's satisfied. He sweeps Yixing's hair away from his eyes and holds to prevent it from falling. “Do you like me?”
This takes Yixing aback. He blinks a little dizzily, averting his eyes from Yifan's. His fingers loosen from the grip around the other's foream and Yixing slowly disentangles from Yifan. The moment he locks eyes with Yifan again, he wishes he hadn't, for his eyes stare at Yixing more intently, resolute on digging an answer out of him.
“Why are you looking at me like this?” he asks.
It's not words that he's met with. Yifan comes further, the hand on Yixing's hair sliding down to his jaw, a thumb on his chin bringing his face up.
That thing on Yixing's stomach flutters and keeps fluttering, heartbeats fastening and breath hitching. Yixing knows what's to come, and it's not like he hasn't thought about it; he has. It's just that he's really anticipated it and now he's lost on how to react.
Yixing's lips part, gaze escaping from Yifan’s eyes to his mouth. He captures how it slowly opens; and the swivel of Yifan's tongue over it. When Yixing swallows, Yifan surges forward.
Both of their mouths are open, so they fit perfectly against each other. Yifan sucks on Yixing's bottom lip and Yixing hums, eyelids way heavy to be kept open. The kiss is slow, gentle and savory, Yifan's tongue licking Yixing's and both hands buried into his hair, bringing him impossibly closer.
When they part Yixing gasps for air, hands fisting Yifan's T-shirt.
“I asked,” Yifan whispers, capturing Yixing’s bottom lip between his and sweeping his tongue over it, pressing their mouths together before separating them just that little bit that will allow him to speak. “Do you like me?”
Yixing is eager in his answer, hand sneaking on Yifan’s neck and pulling him closer. “Yes.” he says as he brushes his lips on Yifan's closed ones in a desperate request for more. "Yes, I like you."
Yixing can almost taste his grin, bright and happy as he wraps his arms around Yixing's waist and kisses him breathtakingly.
"If I ask you to be my boyfriend now, will you run away?" Yifan questions.
"I don't know, try asking nicely." Yixing smiles into the kiss.
Everything feels like a dream. Until something comes like a wrecking ball and knocks them both to the ground, rudely interrupting their glorious moment.
"FUCK! JONGDAE MAN!" Chanyeol's voice irrupts. "THEY WERE MAKING OUT, YOU JUST RUINED IT!"
Yixing wriggles underneath Yifan, who touches his cheeks and turns his face right to left to inspect it. "Are you OK?"
He nods, accepting Yifan's offered hand to stand up. Yixing kicks a familiar pink and blue skateboard out of his way, glaring at a seemingly regretful Jongdae.
"Kim Jongdae!" he yells. "Don't skate at the cafeteria!"
"I'm sorry hyung," Jongdae whines and rubs his palms together. "Chanyeol pushed me too much and then..."
"You shouldn't even be riding that thing in the school building!" Yifan complains and touches Yixing's cheek. "Could've gotten Yixing hurt!"
Jongdae, instead of apologizing, frowns. "You two were making out in the cafeteria, that's something you're not supposed to do!"
Chanyeol just smiles knowingly. "So, are you a thing now?"
Yixing looks up at Yifan and the taller gently caresses his scalp. They gaze at each other for a while and Yixing suspects Yifan too, is trying to come up with an answer. Truth is they were always a thing; sometimes nemesis, occasionally skating partners, eventually dinosaur lovers, other times friends. However, Yixing's favorite part is that they were always in each other's lives, whether as archenemies or childhood friends.
So he sighs and answers, "I think now we're something more."
A/N: I think I should give up on fanfic.
If you reached this point, thank you very much /pats your shoulder/ you've suffered a lot.