[F41] WANTING PERFECTION
Prompt Code: F41
Title: Wanting Perfection
Rating: pg-13
Side Pairings (if any): HunHan (kind of if you squint REAL hard)
Warnings: -
Word Count: 6,155
Summary: Kim Jongin was perfect in everyway. He was the best in his class, the best in the entire school. Until he came along. Do Kyungsoo was another kind of perfection.
AN: A pile of fluff with a small hint of angst and a bunch of sassy Jongin and Kyungsoo!
His name was Kim Jongin.
He was fairly tall compared to the students in his senior class and his looks could easily be rated a 20 out of 10. With his deep hazel eyes and charming smile, every girl and guy swooned over him. His bronze, tanned skin also made him stand out from other students despite the latest obsession for a paler skin tone. If there were any trends that went around the school, 99% of the time, they were started by Kim Jongin.
Not only was he popular among his friends and admirers, but most of the student body. He was known for being the smartest student in all his classes and had even received several offers from colleges overseas. On the other hand, there are those who believe that his success only comes from his wealthy family. As the only son of the CEO of Kim’s Electronics Inc., Jongin’s family was very well off. Even without any scholarships, the 18-year old would have been able to get into any university in the world after his graduation without a single worry.
Everything he did or said was perfect.
Basically, Kim Jongin was walking perfection.
-
“Hyung! You’re number one..again!”
Jongin laughed as Sehun, his best friend since childhood, rested his head on his desk with a groan. They had just taken the first exams and the results were not surprising.
“When am I not?”
Jongin leaned back in his chair, propping his feet crossed on top of his desk. An autumn breeze from the window blew into the classroom.
“Everything is too easy. The math test, I finished under 10 minutes. The basketball tryouts weren’t even fun. Even the girls here are throw themselves at me.”
Sehun sat up in his seat and rolled his eyes at his friend.
“Well, you’re Kim Jongin. What is there that you can’t do?”
-
“What did you say his name was?” Jongin asks with one eyebrow raised. His arms were crossed over his chest as he sat comfortably in on his bed.
“Do Kyungsoo. Ever heard of him?” Sehun flipped the page of his manga book. He had originally planned to study at Jongin’s house, or rather mansion, but they never ended up doing that anyway.
“No. Who is this kid anyway?”
“A transfer student. Apparently, he’s really smart.”
Jongin scoffed. “That’s what they said about Namjoon hyung and now he’s only second in the school ranking.”
Sehun shrugged, flipping another page. He didn’t have the courage to tell Jongin that the new kid wasn’t any ordinary student.
-
The teenage girls screamed as the short male made a high leap and dunked the basketball gracefully into the hoop. More cheers erupted and squeals from the female students filled the gymnasium.
“What’s all this noise?” Jongin asks in confusion as he steps into the gym.
“Oh Jongin! You’re finally here.” Jongdae calls out. Jongin walks over, watching the match before him. The constant squeak and thump of the player’s filled his ears.
“I thought I was playing second half.”
Sehun crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. “Yeah, you were. But we found someone even better while you took your sweet time.”
Jongin narrowed in eyebrows in confusion. Had Sehun just insulted him?!
“Yah-!” Jongin exclaims in anger. There was another cheer from the crowd of girls.
“What are you talking about? ‘Someone better’?”
Jongdae pointed over to one of the players in the game. Despite his height, he was quick and clever with his steps, scoring another point within a few seconds.
“Who’s he?” Jongin asks, observing the student’s movements. There was no doubt that he was good.
Sehun cleared his throat. “Do Kyungsoo.”
Jongin blinked. “Kyungsoo….?”
“Remember the transfer student? Yeah..that’s him.”
-
Over the next few days, Do Kyungsoo began to get more and more on Jongin’s nerves. Not once did he speak to him. Except that one time in the library when the shorter male was trying to get through the narrow aisles of the book shelves and Jongin happened to be sleeping there. A quiet “Excuse me, sorry.” was all he remembered hearing before Kyungsoo had walked away with a stack of books in hand.
“He’s not even that great. Sure, he’s a little smart..fairly popular with the girls..and the teachers like him because he does all his work-”
“And,” Sehun interrupts Jongin’s rant. “he’s nice to everyone. They say he’s an angel from heaven. To be honest, his looks aren’t bad either.”
Jongin glared at his friend. “Not bad my ass! He looks like an awkward penguin.”
Sehun rolls his eyes, leaning against his locker. “You’re just jealous.”
“Of what?”
“That he’s getting popular so quickly. And he’s good at everything.”
Jongin scoffed and slammed his locker shut. “As if! He’s not better than I am. Just watch, when midterms come around, I’ll still be number one.”
Sehun raises his eyebrow. “Sure, whatever you say.”
Testing week came sooner than anyone expected. winter break passed and eventually two months passed.
“H-Hyung..” Sehun stuttered as he watch Jongin approach him.
“Hey. What’d you rank this time?”
Jongin tried to steal a glance at the large paper taped on the wall with everyone’s scores and names.
“8th…” Sehun says, fearing the moment when Jongin sees the results.
“8th? You’re usually 7th. Who moved up?”
Sehun could feel himself getting more and more nervous. “Well..more like you moved down.”
Jongin laughed. “Ha ha, funny.”
“No, Jongin, you really did.”
The older male studied Sehun’s concerned face and immediately turned to the list. Everyone soon began to see the change and parted to the side, allowing Jongin to walk through the crowd with ease.
“Kim Jongin..2nd..” Jongin read in his head. This had to be a joke.
If he was second..then..who’s first?
Jongin’s eyes looked up one more row. That was when he saw the name.
“1st…..Do Kyungsoo.”
There was silence around him when the realization hit him. Suddenly people began to whisper and Jongin felt light headed.
“Jongin!” He could hear Sehun call out to him before he fell to the ground and blacked out.
Jongin found himself in the nurse’s office, resting on one of the beds in one corner of the room. Sunlight streaming in from the window beside him made him blink furiously and squint when he opened his eyes for the first time.
It took him a minute to remember what had happened but when he did, his head began to hurt.
“You’re up.” A calm, deep voice says. Jongin slowly sits up and looks over at the person entering the room. Jongin had to look twice to make sure he was seeing things clearly.
Do Kyungsoo.
“What are you doing here?” Jongin’s words came out harsher than he had intended.
“How do you feel?” Kyungsoo asked, walking over and reaching a hand out to touch Jongin’s forehead.
The other male immediately pushed Kyungsoo’s wrist away when it was just inches from his face.
“Don’t touch me.”
The doe-eyed boy simply shrugged and walked over to the nurse’s desk.
“Where’s Ms. Kim?” Jongin asks suspiciously. Kyungsoo seemed to know where everything, as he pulled out a notebook from one of the stacks and began writing in it.
“She’s on a lunch break.”
“And what are you doing here?”
Kyungsoo turned to look at him for a short second. “I’m the nurse’s assistant.”
Jongin raised an eyebrow. Him? A nurse’s assistant?
“Well then, I’m leaving.”
Kyungsoo looked at the clock and scribbled something down. He didn’t even spare Jongin another glance.
Jongin walked to the exit before pausing at the doorway.
“Did you..cheat on the exam?”
Kyungsoo’s pen stopped moving and Jongin watched the shorter male frown.
“Why would you say that?” He glared at Jongin for having such an assumption.
“No one has ever gotten a high score than me.”
Kyungsoo studied Jongin’s face. “Glad to be the first.”
Jongin scoffed. “I’m not congratulating you, squishy.”
The other male blinked at the sudden nickname but went back to his writing.
“I’m declaring us rivals. You better watch out because this is the first and last time your name will be on top.”
Kyungsoo thought nothing of Jongin’s threat and even waved him off.
Jongin left with a scowl and a new determination to remain the school’s best student.
-
“You alright?” Sehun asked as Jongin read over the textbook.
“Yeah, perfect.”
It was Sehun’s first time seeing his best friend so concentrated in his studies. Every Time they hung out or attempted to study, Jongin would dismiss the topic of studying, using the excuse that he didn’t need to study. He was always first.
“Perfect my ass, Jongin. You clearly hate this kid for beating you-”
“Don’t mention it. Ever.” Jongin glared and Sehun only rolled his eyes. He laid on Jongin’s bed, watching the other male read books for hours at his desk.
“I’m just saying, I told you so.”
“You’re such a great friend.” Jongin says sarcastically.
Sehun laughed. “It’s a good change. To actually see you trying- and suffering.”
“It was by one point! One stupid point, Sehun!”
“Every point counts.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Jongin groans, closing the fifth textbook that evening.
“Take a break.”
“If I don’t, my brain is going to explode.” Jongin rolls Sehun’s body over and lays on his comforting bed beside the taller male.
“Why don’t you try to befriend Kyungsoo? Some of my friends say he’s genuinely a nice person. Maybe he could give you tips-”
“No! Never!” Jongin exclaimed, pulling the blankets over him like a cocoon. “Doing that would mean surrendering to that squishy penguin. I refuse to do that.”
“You and your pride.” Sehun shakes his head and goes back to his romance manga.
-
“We’re partnering up for this project and I expect the work to be done equally between both students. “ The teacher announces and Jongin rolls his eyes. He hated group projects. One, because they were boring and a waste of time. Two, he was always paired with the worst students in his class.
Jongin didn’t bother to listen, closing his eyes and folding his arms over his chest, until his name was called out.
“Kim Jongin and….Do Kyungsoo.”
His eyes shot open and there was immediately a frown spread across his face. Sehun tried to hold in a laugh.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
During lunch, Jongin finally decided to approach the shorter male who sat with Luhan, the Chinese flower boy. He took his time walking over and when he stood beside Kyungsoo, he, unsubtly, coughed to catch his attention. His friend noticed Jongin before the Kyungsoo slowly turned around. The minute he saw Jongin’s face, his curious expression dropped.
“It’s you..”
Jongin was slightly offended by his greeting but brushd it off. “We’re partners for the English project.”
Kyungsoo shrugged. “So?”
Why is he being so rude, Jongin thought. “So, we have to work on it. Don’t expect to get an A just because you’re with me. You have to put some effort into it and you can’t rely on m-”
“Hold up,” Kyungsoo frowned. “I wasn’t planning on leeching off your grade. We both don’t want to work with each other so why don’t we just do our own parts?”
Jongin didn’t know what to say. Did Kyungsoo have something against him?
“Uhm..we have to make a poem.” He said lamely. “How is that going to work?”
Kyungsoo sighed, “Never mind, let’s just talk after school.”
“Why not now-”
Kyungsoo looked to Luhan apologetically. “Because it’s my lunch time and I’d rather be eating than arguing with you.”
For some reason, his response made Jongin angry. No one had ever rejected his conversations. If anything, anyone would have been honored to talk to him. His time was precious.
“Fine, meet me at the entrance 5 minutes after the bell rings. We can go to my house.”
Luhan’s eyes widened and Kyungsoo narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t want t-”
Jongin didn’t want to hear another word from the shorter male. “See you later.. squish.”
-
“I can’t wait to try out all the flavors! The free sampling is only today and I’ve been waiting a whole week for this”
Kyungsoo laughed at Luhan’s excitement as they exited their last class before realizing he had to meet the Jongin after school.
“Shit, Lu, I have to meet Jongin after school. I can’t go today..”
Luhan frowned, walking with Kyungsoo down the hall. “Are you really going to work with him?”
Kyungsoo felt guilty. He knew how much Luhan wanted to go to the ice cream store. He,too had been looking forward to going but Jongin’s arrangement had ruined his plans. “Should I just not go?”
“He’s Kim Jongin.” Luhan says.
Kyungsoo nodded. “I know.”
Luhan shook his head. “No, he’s the Kim Jongin. He’s the best student in this entire school. People would kill to be in your position.”
“He’s too full of himself.”
By the time they reached the exit of the school, it was 3:07. Jongin was leaning against the wall beside the doors scrolling through his phone. Kyungsoo motions Luhan to stand beside him.
“Hey.” Kyungsoo says. Jongin immediately looks up.
“You’re late.”
Kyungsoo ignored his comment. “I was supposed to hang out with Luhan today but because of you, I can’t.”
Jongin’s eyes flickered to Luhan, who quickly looked away.
“Your point?”
“So, it’s only fair that Luhan comes with me.”
Luhan’s eyes widened in surprise and he tugs at Kyungsoo’s arm but the shorter male didn’t pay any attention to him.
Jongin frowns. “ I only invited you, not this flowery deer.”
“Then I guess I’ll just go with Luhan to the ice cream shop and you can work on the project alone-”
“Yah!” Jongin raised his voice but Kyungsoo didn’t seem affected. “Are you blackmailing me?”
Kyungsoo shrugged, his expression not amused. “Maybe.”
Jongin groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “Whatever, fine. But you two are leaving on your own.”
Luhan was speechless but Kyungsoo only smirked, following behind Jongin who lead them to his car.
-
“You live..here?!” Kyungsoo asks in awe as they park right outside the most expensive apartment building he and Luhan can only dream of living in.
Jongin steps out from his car, slamming the door shut. Luhan on the other hand was being cautious, scared that if he broke the car by closing the door too hard, he’d be in debt for the rest of his life.
Jongin swung his keys around his finger and beckoned for them to walk in.
“Aren’t you going to park the car in the parking lot? It’s just sitting out in the front.” Kyungsoo asks, holding onto the straps of his backpack. Luhan looks back and agrees, noticing that it was the only car parked on that sidewalk. It would be a shame if such a luxurious vehicle had gotten stolen.
Jongin laughed at Kyungsoo’s oblivion. “Sweet cheeks, I own that parking spot.”
Luhan’s jaw dropped and Kyungsoo huffs.
By the time they make it up to Jongin’s penthouse, Luhan’s jaw was on the floor and Kyungsoo felt that he was in the wrong apartment. Compared to his own living space, this was a place that only royalty could ever afford.
“Let’s get started.” Jongin says, as they take a seat around a small dinner table. The sun was shining through the large glass windows and everything was clean and organized. Luhan sat beside Kyungsoo awkwardly as Jongin waited for Kyungsoo to take out his notes and papers.
“It’s due in three weeks and we have to present it in front of the class for a full grade.” Kyungsoo explained.
Jongin yawned and nodded. “So what do we write about?”
Kyungsoo pulled out the assignment sheet.
“We have a few options…we can write about society, justice, friendship, or love. I think we should do lov-”
“Hell no, I’m writing any of that sappy crappy shit.” Jongin interrupts him, making Kyungsoo frown.
“It’ll be shit if you write it.” the shorter male mumbled.
Jongin rolled his eyes. “Why is she giving us so long to just write a stupid poem?”
Kyungsoo took out a blank sheet of loose-leaf and a pen.
“Its not as easy as you may think.”
Three hours later, Jongin was completely brain-exhausted. “I hate this.”
Kyungsoo scoffed. “You didn’t even do anything.”
Jongin sat up from his slouchy position. “Yes, I did!”
“’I hate school and people’ is not poetic.”
“Yes, it is! And, it’s relatable so people will understand.”
Kyungsoo groans, leaning back on the chair. Luhan had left an hour ago after his mother called. Now, Kyungsoo was stuck with an unhelpful Jongin. They barely got one stanza for their poem.
“You’re helpless, Jongin.”
The younger male blinked. “That’s the first time you’ve said my name.”
Kyungsoo raised his eyebrow. “So?”
Jongin stared back at Kyungsoo. His eyes were large and intriguing.
“Why don’t you like me?”
The shorter male was taken back by the sudden question. For once, Jongin seemed like a normal teenager.
“Am I supposed to?”
Jongin pursed his lips. “Everyone does. You will too, eventually.”
No one really knew how it happened but Kyungsoo and Jongin began to talk more frequently in school, and outside of school. At first, Jongin would randomly go up to Kyungsoo, explaining that he had thought of a new line for their poem. At first, Jongin was offended that Kyungsoo thought his lines were lame and uncreative but slowly he began to care less.
Kyungsoo thought his lines were ridiculous and laughed that them, encouraging Jongin to try harder. That was all Jongin wanted to hear. His laughter. His voice. Jongin had slowly begun to fall for Kyungsoo’s stubborn personality. Although Sehun had teased him about it a few times, Jongin wouldn’t say anything more about his feelings.
A few days later, Jongin built up to courage to subtly ask Kyungsoo for his number, using the project as an excuse. Kyungsoo gave it to him, nonetheless, for the sake of their grade. The shorter male went to Jongin’s apartment 3 more times but the project would be neglected after hours of talking. Jongin enjoyed Kyungsoo’s company, even if they argued most of the time.
“I got another one.” Jongin says, walking Kyungsoo to his next class.
“Give it a shot.”
“I’m free this Saturday. Will you go on a date with me?”
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “That’s not-”
Jongin stopped and looked down at Kyungsoo, who just realized what Jongin was asking.
“Are you..asking me out?”
Jongin couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. It was the first time he felt this way. Asking out girls was always easy because they threw themselves at him. It wasn’t difficult because he knew they’d say yes in a heartbeat. But with Kyungsoo, Jongin was never sure.
“Yes.”
Kyungsoo blinked. “As friends or..?”
“Are we friends?” Jongin asks. It had never really struck him that they were no longer ‘enemies’.
“I thought so. Unless you still don’t like me.” Kyungsoo replies. His cheeks were faintly pink but Jongin couldn’t really tell.
“If I didn’t like you I wouldn’t ask you out, squish.” Jongin says, his tone almost annoyed. It wasn’t that he was annoyed but rather just really, really embarrassed. Kyungsoo wasn’t helping.
“Well how would I know if you just suddenly ask me out, kkamjong?” Kyungsoo argues, using Jongin’s nickname.
Students began to stare, noticing that he and Kyungsoo were discussing something in the hallway. The late bell rings and Kyungsoo curses under his breath.
“I’ve gotta go, Jong. I’ll see you later!” Kyungsoo yells as he dashes down the hall to his next class.
“Yah! You didn’t-” Jongin groaned. The anticipation was killing him.
-
“He said yes.” Jongin says, feeling his heart thumping heavily.
Sehun raised an eyebrow. “He did?”
Jongin nodded and his face began to feel warm.
“What should I do? Where should we go?”
Sehun laughed. “You asked him out but you didn’t even plan what you were going to do?”
“Well, I didn’t think that he would actually say yes!” Jongin paced from one end of his room to the other.
“Oh please, everyone in the school knows you two are basically an item. Maybe you guys could go out for a movie? Or maybe a nice restaurant dinner..?”
Jongin listened to Sehun’s suggestions but thought that Kyungsoo needed more. He needed to show Kyungsoo that he was serious about him. Of course, he had never done anything like this before but there was something exciting about Kyungsoo being his first.
“I think I’ve got it..”
-
“So, what did you plan for us tomorrow?” Kyungsoo asks, looking over to Jongin who drove back to his apartment. There were only 5 more days till their presentation. It was now Friday and Kyungsoo had to admit, he was anxious to go on the date. It was with Jongin, of all people.
“It’s a surprise.”
Kyungsoo raised an eyebrow. “A surprise? Are you just saying that because you didn’t have anything planned?”
Jongin scoffs. “No! I mean, at first I didn’t but I prepared everything yesterday.”
“So it’s something that needs preparation?” Kyungsoo smirks and Jongin blushes.
“It’s my first time doing something like this..”
Kyungsoo’s eyes widen. “Seriously? You’re Kim Jongin. I’m sure you’ve gone on hundreds of dates and serenaded several girls.
Jongin frowned. “I wasn’t serious about any of them.”
Kyungsoo felt his heart skip a beat at the sound of those words. Was Jongin serious about him? They were barely past the stage of friendship.
“And me..?”
Jongin stops at a red light and steals a glance at Kyungsoo.
“You’re different.”
-
“You said yes?!” Luhan exclaims.
Kyungsoo nodded. “Why are you so surprised?”
“I mean, I knew you liked him from the start but-”
“I-I did not!” Kyungsoo denies, fixing his shirt. Jongin had told him to dress nicely but not too formal. He settled on a white button up shirt tucked into some black skinny jeans. Hopefully Jongin wouldn’t be expecting too much.
“Liar. You always made googly eyes at him. I swear your eyes were going to pop out- Ow!” Luhan held his arm in pain. Kyungsoo scowled.
“I did not do any of that nonsense. Now stop bothering me, I need to meet up with Jongin in an hour.”
Luhan huffed before mumbling. “Liar.”
-
“What should I do Sehun?!” Jongin panicked as he waited for Kyungsoo to arrive at his penthouse. He had decorated his rooftop with string lights and candles, hoping to create a romantic mood. He also, with Sehun’s help, set up a table for two. It was simple and cheesy but Jongin had put a lot of effort into setting it up. He wanted his date with Kyungsoo to be perfect.
“Relax, bro. It’s just Kyungsoo. You see him all the time.” Sehun says, leaning back on the couch.
“No, its not just Kyungsoo! It’s me trying to ask him to be my boyfriend!” Jongin exclaimed, fixing his hair for the ten thousandth time.
Sehun chuckled. “Geez, you really like him.”
Jongin frowned. “What if I’m getting ahead of myself? What if I’m asking for too much?”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure he likes you just as much.”
5 minutes after their meeting time, Jongink was beginning to go crazy.
“It’s 7:05, why isn’t he here?” Jongin frowns. He was too scared to text Kyungsoo. He wanted everything to be a surprise but his nerves got the best of him.
“Chill, it’s only been 5 minutes. Maybe there are alot of people on the elevator.”
“But he would have texted me. Why didn’t he say anything?”
10 minutes became 20 and soon an hour.
“Jong…I don’t think he’s coming.” Sehun says quietly. Jongin stood in the same spot, staring at his door that never opened. His expression had dropped each minute that passed.
“H-He has to..He said-”
“C’mon Jongin, its been an hour. Kyungsoo stood you up.”
Jongin shook his head in denial. “Soo wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t.”
Sehun only sighed, watching his best friend, Kim Jongin, walking perfection, get rejected for the first time in his life.
-
Kyungsoo bit his lip as he waited at Jongin’s locker on Monday. He was scared to face the younger male but he knew it was best to explain it now.
He spotted the brunet walking up the hall with Sehun by his side.
“Jongi-” Kyungsoo smiled and waved at the said male but it struck him like lightning when Jongin passed by him without a word or a glance. Kyungsoo stared blankly, trying to register what had happened.
He slowly put his hand down in embarrassment and people began to gossip.
“Did Jongin just walk by Kyungsoo?!” “It seems like Jongin got tired of that nerd.” “What a loser, sucking up to Jongin like that.”
-
“Did you see his face? He was so..happy? Why was he happy? Does he not know what he did?” Jongin complains as he walks in circles on the school’s rooftop.
Sehun shrugs. “He didn’t seem sad or angry. If that’s what you’re asking.”
“Why isn’t he apologizing and asking for my forgiveness?”
Jongin groaned, checking his phone for any messages from the shorter male.
“Not even a text?” Sehun asks.
“Not one.”
“Do you want me t-”
“No. I’m sure he has a reason. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions..” Jongin says, still hoping that Kyungsoo was who he thought he was.
“Well, make sure you talk to him. He might be hurt if he thinks that you hate him.”
-
“You heard he what?” Jongin’s brain was rejecting the words being thrown at him.
“I don’t know if it’s true but I heard some rumors going around..about Kyungsoo being poor.” Sehun says, looking out at the window. The classroom was all empty except for the two of them
“What does that have to do with me?”
Sehun hesitated to speak. “They….they said he was using you for money.”
Jongin narrowed his eyebrows. “Kyungsoo isn’t that kind of person.”
Sehun shrugged. “I’m just reporting what I’ve been hearing.”
Jongin took a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m not going to believe anything until I hear it from Kyungsoo himself.”
Jongin waited for Kyungsoo’s afterschool club to end inside their homeroom classroom. Sehun left to finish homework and study for their upcoming test, leaving Jongin to think to himself.
What was Kyungsoo to him?
What was he to Kyungsoo?
“Yes…?” Jongin looked towards the door and noticed Kyungsoo outside the classroom. He was just about to call out to the shorter male but noticed that he was talking to someone on the phone.
“Ah..about the money..I’ll get it soon.” Kyungsoo spoke almost quietly, not noticing Jongn inside.
Money..?
“No, don’t worry. I’ll be rich soon.” Kyungsoo laughed. “Just need to get things done with the right people.”
Jongin dropped his backpack on the floor, his hands becoming weak. It couldn’t be true. No, Kyungsoo said it himself.
“Okay, thanks.”
Kyungsoo hung up and turned into the room, letting out a surprise squeak at the sight of Jongin sitting at his desk.
“J-Jongin!” Kyungsoo didn’t know what to say to him. I should apologize first, Kyungsoo thought, slowly approaching the younger male. I’ll give him the invitation later.
“So it’s true?” Jongin couldn’t help but feel anger through his veins. Was Kyungsoo just using him?
“What is true?” Kyungsoo asked, watching Jongin grab his bag and make his way towards him.
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know.” Jongin says. His heart wanted to believe Kyungsoo but his brain knew he was guilty.
“I don’t. Look, about Saturday-”
Jongin slammed his hand beside Kyungsoo, cornering him on the classroom wall. Kyungsoo shut his eyes tightly, tilting his head with fear.
“Did you think I was joking?”
Kyungsoo opened his eyes, looking at the hurt and betrayal in Jongin’s eyes.
“Did you think I asked you out for fun? Did you even take me seriously?”
Kyungsoo wanted to speak up but the short distance between their faces made his knees weak. He had no idea what was happening but it was clear that Jongin misunderstood something.
“I always take you seriously-”
“Why do you even bother lying? Just say it to my face.” Jongin breathes out.
Kyungsoo frowned. “I’m not-”
“You’re using me!”
Jongin took a step back, the pain in his chest too unbearable.
“What are you talking about?”
“Everyone knows, do you take me for a fool? This is what I get for caring..” Jongin laughs harshly. “I trusted you Soo.”
Kyungsoo reached into his pocket and held the piece of paper tightly. Why was Jongin saying all this?
“I-”
“Is this why you didn’t mind going to my apartment? Why you let me get close to you? Why? I don’t understand. It was all for money? Are you that greedy for some stupid cash to play with my heart?! Just like everyone said…You’re such a whor-” Jongin was cut of with a loud slap.
Jongin reached up to feel his hot cheek.
“D-Did you just-”
“Yes I fucking did. You…You idiot!” Kyungsoo says, feeling tears well up in eyes. Jongin stared at the shorter male who was now crying before him.
Kyungsoo quickly grabbed the wrinkled card from his back pocket and threw it at Jongin before running out of the classroom.
“Stupid kkamjong..” Kyungsoo mumbled as he felt the warm tears slide down his face.
-
“Jongin!” Jongin didn’t move from his position for another 20 minutes until Sehun came running in, completely out of breath.
“It’s done…” He mumbled, sitting on top of a nearby desk. “I asked him-”
“Those rumors were just rumo-”
“He said it! He said he was going to get the money!” Jongin exclaimed with a pained voice. “He said he needed to get with the right people! He said-”
“He’s not talking about you!” Sehun groans. He was wearing sweatpants and an embarrassing anime T-shirt. He had ran over as soon as he heard from Luhan.
“What else would he be talking about?!”
“Look for yourself.” Sehun pulls out a paper from his pocket and hands it to Jongin. His eyes scan over the card.
“…Poets Award Ceremony?”
“Yeah..Luhan said that Kyungsoo got a call from the organization Saturday night. He was dressed and ready to head over but they called to tell him he had been nominated. The prize is $10,000.” Sehun says almost rushed.
Jongin frowned. “He chose money over me. This doesn-”
“That money is for his mother’s surgery.”
Jongin felt something stop inside him. “W-What?”
Sehun knew Jongin would stress over this. “I know I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this but Luhan explained everything to me..Kyungsoo’s family is really poor. He’s the breadwinner of their family. He’s worked really hard to succeed in his studies and be the top student in all his schools. At the same time, his mother isn’t working because she’s going through her first stages of breast cancer.”
“Did you..cheat on the exam?”
Kyungsoo’s pen stopped moving and Jongin watched the shorter male frown.
“Why would you say that?” He glared at Jongin for having such an assumption.
“No one has ever gotten a high score than me.”
Kyungsoo studied Jongin’s face. “Glad to be the first.”
Jongin scoffed. “I’m not congratulating you, squishy.”
The other male blinked at the sudden nickname but went back to his writing.
“I’m declaring us rivals. You better watch out because this is the first and last time your name will be on top.”
Jongin didn’t know why he felt a rock sink in his chest.
“Why didn’t he tell me any of this?”
Sehun shrugged. “The award ceremony is tonight. Luhan said that Kyungsoo worked on his poem all day. I guess he’s had more experience than we thought he did.”
Jongin yawned and nodded. “So what do we write about?”
Kyungsoo pulled out the assignment sheet.
“We have a few options…we can write about society, justice, friendship, or love. I think we should do lov-”
“Hell no, I’m writing any of that sappy crappy shit.” Jongin interrupts him, making Kyungsoo frown.
“It’ll be shit if you write it.” the shorter male mumbled.
Jongin rolled his eyes. “Why is she giving us so long to just write a stupid poem?”
Kyungsoo took out a blank sheet of loose-leaf and a pen.
“Its not as easy as you may think.”
Jongin pieced the bits together and widened his eyes. He walked back over the he classroom door, bending down to pick up the paper identical to the one Sehun had given him. He tried to tell me, Jongin thought.
“Where and when is it?” Jongin asked.
“Tomorrow night. It’s at 5:30. Luhan and I are going.”
Jongin frowned, not liking that idea that his best friend planned to go before even he knew. On top of that, Kyungsoo was probably angry at him. He had every right to bez Even he was angry at himself.
“Sehun, I screwed up.”
Sehun snickered. “That’s a first.”
-
“You’ll be fine, Kyung. Just talk like you normally do. Read it to them with all the passion you’ve got in you.” Luhan encouraged, patting his friend’s back.
“What if I stutter or mess up? What if-”
“Stop, you won’t.”
“Bu-”
“I believe in you. You got this.” Luhan smiles and Kyungsoo takes a deep breath, nodding.
“Next, we have Do Kyungsoo.”
He walks up slowly to the mic, looking at the huge crowd of critics and poets. He practiced over and over his lines the past days. But there was only one person he wanted to hear his poem. Someone who wasn’t going to be there.
“Untitled.” Kyungsoo paused before speaking again.
“You and me, parallel lines.
Life can’t be any more different.
Who am I to judge,
For I’m not more but less of what you are.
Who am I to seek,
For you are my friend, my haven, my air.
Who am I to tame,
For you are you and whom I adore.
Who am I to ask,
For you are the stars and the birds that soar.
Who am I to hear,
For your voice is the whistle of the wind.
Who am I to embrace,
For your touch is the gentle petal of a blooming flower.
Who am I to love,
For you already have my heart.
You, you, who I am to love.”
Kyungsoo bowed, feeling his ears redden at the sound of the audience snapping.
“You did great!” Luhan exclaims, giving Kyungsoo a hug.
“I stuttered didn’t I? I should have made more eye contac-”
“Shut up, you were perfect!” Luhan playfully scolds and Kyungsoo laughs.
“Thanks. Lu.”
“And that’s all- sorry! It seems that we have one more poet presenting. Pen name, Kai.”
Kyungsoo hurried back into the audience to watch this last performance.
“Ah ah..” The male dressed in a dark hoodie with a snapback covering most of his face cleared his throat.
“Last First.” He starts.
“My first, my last.
First to beat me at what I do best,
First to help me when I need rest.
First to catch my eye,
First to make me actually try.
First to make me nervous,
First to make me scared.
First to make me love you,
Last to be the one I love.”
Kyungsoo’s eyes widened as he noticed the speaker looking right at him in front row. His eyes and lips were too familiar to miss.
“J-Jongin?” Kyungsoo mutters in surprise. Sehun cringed at how cheesy his friend’s poem was.
“Soo, I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions and I accused you of doing something I know you’d never do. I just want to say…I’m serious about you. You make me so angry and frustrated all the time but you’re different. I admire you for how much effort you put into even the littlest things. You’re caring and kind but you’re the sassiest squish I know. You’re my squish..” Jongin took off his cap and waited for Kyungsoo’s response, as did everyone else in the room.
Kyungsoo walking over to the stairs that led up to the stage until he was standing beside the taller male.
“Now that, was some sappy crappy shit.” Kyungsoo says with a smile and Jongin swoops down to steal a kiss.
Kyungsoo’s ears automatically went red and the crowd cheered and awed.
“H-How did you-”
Jongin ran his hand through Kyungsoo’s hair and held the other male’s hand tightly.
“I’m Kim Jongin. What can I not do?”