Chapter Text
Few weeks passed by and we’re back to school. Summer really does flies so fast when things are good. At least for Jihoon. After that group date we had at the Serenity Café, Jihoon finally had the balls to go out on a date again with Hoshi without our help. Good for him. I mean- Don’t get me wrong, I love Jihoon and I’m not bitter – okay maybe I am. A little bit. But they don’t have to know that!
In my defense, everyone in our group already had their fair share of relationships. Jihoon was the most current one to experience it obviously. And me? The oldest? Ha. I don’t know if I’ll totally blame myself for my own loveless life but looking back at it now, maybe 90% of it was indeed my fault.
“Marco’s outside Kylo! Aren’t you gonna see him or something?” I heard my sister shouts. Not a minute after, a knock resounded in my door. I groaned. “Tell him I’m busy!!” I shouted back.
“Didn’t you say that last time too?”
“As far as I can remember, I had my door to my room locked. How the hell did you open it?” my sister just shrugged at my comment. “Oppa…” I hummed as a response.
Why aren’t you talking to him anymore?”
“He’s boring. I don’t like him. Now can you get out please?”
I slapped myself in frustration. It’s totally my fault and now I’m being jealous over something that I, myself, prevented from happening!
“What’s with the face Ky?” Joshua is standing in the door way of our classroom with his arms crossed. I’m supposed to have a lunch with them thirty minutes ago at the cafeteria but I suddenly lost my appetite.
“Lunch time’s almost over. Aren’t really you gonna eat anything?” I shook my head. “Oh well, aside from the food you totally missed, you also missed a very important news.”
“What news?”
“Hmm… should I tell you? You’re no fun these days.”
“Oh, come on Josh! School’s no fun, okay? I hate all the teachers here!” And that is really 200% true, because apparently all the gods from above decided to have my last year in senior high a living hell. If the teachers are not boring, they don’t give a fuck. Others are even monsters, picking a fight on students who didn’t even do anything wrong! “Now, tell me about the news before I lose my mind here!
Apparently, the “news” Joshua was talking about is Choi Hansol’s birthday. Since I didn’t join their lunch a while ago, which turns out to be a little gathering for both my friends and the ‘elite squads’. You know who I’m talking about. Anyway, Choi Hansol invited all of us to his birthday party this upcoming weekend. I’m not really surprised. I’ve grown fond of the boy too, and with Jihoon always hanging out with Hoshi these past few months, there’s really a big possibility we’d get invited.
“What’s the theme of his birthday party, again?” I ask, probably for the nth today. It’s a Friday morning and we’re all huddled up inside my bedroom choosing outfits for tomorrow. The only thing I’m really thankful for right now, is Pledis Academy’s new rule which states that “Friday class is no class.” Which means long weekend for us every week. “Hansol said it doesn’t really have one. Just a typical party for hormonal teenagers under twenty.”
“Isn’t he, like, sixteen though?” I ask, frowning. “I think he’s too young for that kind of parties.”
“Hyung, did you forget that sixteen is the new eighteen today? Especially since Hansol is half-American.”
“So, does that mean Seungcheol is half-American too?” I didn’t know that. “Yes. But only Hansol was able to live in America for a few years.” I hummed in understanding. That explains it.
Seungkwan clapped his hands to gain our attention. “Enough about the Chois. What are we going to wear?”
Once again, we were back to the real issue at hand which is choosing our outfits. For the years I’ve known the ‘elite squad’ and for the few months that I’ve gotten close to them, this is actually the first time we’re going to their house. Specifically, the Choi Mansions, so obviously we’re all agitated at the idea. In the end I only chose shorts and a white long sleeve polo. I don’t really feel like showing up too formal or too casual so I opted for such outfit.
The next day, everyone is huddled again inside my room. This time we are all dressed and ready for the party, even though it’s just three in the afternoon and we aren’t expected until later at six. Talk about excited.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t buy him any gifts? I know he’s rich and all but wouldn’t it be… rude?”
“Why would it be rude?”
“You know… to show up empty handed.” I heard Jihoon snort at the end of the room. “You serious right now?” Jihoon ask Seokmin. “You know what Seok, you’re too kind for your own good. And I’m not saying we shouldn’t be kind to the Chois because they’re rich rich but Hansol already assured us not to get him anything for his birthday.”
“Jihoon is right Seok. Even if I wanted to buy him some gifts, I think it’s better to just do what Hansol ask us to do.” Everyone nodded, agreeing to what I said.
By 4:30pm, we were on the way to the Chois Mansion where the birthday party is being held. We used Joshua’s car to get us there because apparently, all of us are expecting to go home together as to not embarrassed ourselves further. Although I’m not really sure what’s there to be embarrassed about. It took us almost two hours to get there, just in time for the party to start and obviously, all of us were undoubtedly in awe.
I mean – we’re not poor per se, in fact we’re much capable of buying things without worrying about not having enough money. All of us even live in a very decent village. But the Chois… damn the Chois and their super rich ass parents. Walking inside their mansion is like walking straight to Beverly hills and I’m not even exaggerating, if Kwan’s dropped jaws haven’t proven that already.
Once we showed the guards our invitation, we were ushered inside the Mansion where a lot of guests were already there. Good thing because our outfits actually matched the ones wearing by the guests already present here. We spotted a lot of students who also went to Pledis Academy and majority of them that are there are Hansol’s batch or Seungcheol’s, which apparently also the same batch as I am.
I craned my neck, looking everywhere for the birthday boy. Joshua is already holding a glass of champagne in his right hand beside me, Jihoon is nowhere to be found, and the duo, Seokmin and Seungkwan were already making way into the cocktail station.
“There’s too much people in here!” I said over Joshua’s shoulder, loud enough for him to hear. There’s a soft music playing in the background, so everyone is still either sitting with their group of friends or mingling with others. I figured, no grinding bodies for the mean time because it’s still too early, and surely, we’ll have our dinner first, right? Because I really am hungry right now and the sight of dessert tuck in the corner isn’t helping at all.
“We should go to their garden, I guess? I think the main event is held there.” I nodded and Jisoo led the way to the garden. I didn’t even question his ability to know the way towards the garden because I was still busy looking for the birthday boy.
In the middle of going to the garden, I finally bump with Hansol who’s hands are wrapped around his brother’s shoulder. Seungcheol is holding a very cute muffin in both of his hands while frowning, probably not happy with whatever his younger brother making him do. “Kylo hyung!” I smiled so wide for the birthday boy. He instantly engulfs me in a hug, living Seungcheol to frown more in the back.
“I’m guessing the word no is out of option for the birthday boy huh?” I said, referring to Seungcheol. He only nodded his head and gave a quick smile to both me and Josh. “Anyway, happy birthday Hansol!” I pat Hansol’s cheek, which earns a blush from the younger.
“You’re finally blushing on this kind of situation, huh? Remember, you’re still a baby Vern. You’re not allowed to flirt.” Seungcheol said, giving his younger brother a very stern look. Hansol only pouted. “I know that hyung. I just admire Kylo hyung…” Hansol defended himself but Seungcheol only glared more at him. Joshua and I watched the two bickers with each other, soft smile displayed in our faces. The sight is almost comical to watch… and quite frankly very unexpected but I guess there’s more to the Chois that we haven’t discovered yet.
“Chill hyung! Not in a romantic way, gosh!” Hansol turned to us and sigh. “Anyway hyung, I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough tonight so I think its best I go find more people to interact with. Seungcheol hyung is such a bummer here.”
Joshua and I nodded. “Yeah. You should go birthday boy. I think your brother would be delighted to lead us to the garden.” Joshua chimed in, which surprises both me and Seungcheol. I lowkey elbowed my best friend while giving him a look that screams ‘what do you mean lead?! Seungcehol can fucking go too!!’ but the slut only ignored me.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea Joshua hyung! Seungcheol hyung, please take care of them!”
Seungcheol can only nod in response as the younger run off to God knows where. Which left me and Joshua with the now indifferent Seungcheol. The frown in his forehead is now long gone. But I don’t think that’s a good idea. Seeing Seungcheol with no expression at all is (gulp) kind of scary if I’m being honest. “So cheol, where’s the garden?” Joshua asks which snapped me from my intrusive thoughts. Cheol then signals us to follow him while he made his way to the far-left corner of the room. There’s an open door situated there and we entered from there.
What greeted us was unsurprisingly a very huge garden. Unsurprising because of-course, at this point I’m not gonna associate the Chois with the word ‘small’. It doesn’t seem fitting at all with all the things I’ve observed from them. The only thing I’m quite surprised though is the fact that the garden is filled with fairy lights which I never expect Hansol will approved of for his birthday party.
“Hansol is a sucker for Peter Pan. As much as he wants to experience doing adult things, he just can’t deny the fact that he’s still a baby at heart.”
I looked at Seungcheol with awe. It’s like he heard our unspoken question. And the way he said it? It’s exactly what a brother would sound like when he loved his brother so much. I never really peg Seungcheol to be the type to care that much. Not with the way he’s interacting with us. Oh well, I guess I read the signs wrong… again.
“Well… I personally think Hansol deserves to enjoy more of what youth can offer him. It’s not every day we get to experience what we want as a child.” I can feel Seungcheol nodding beside me.
“Yeah, I totally agree. That’s why we let him do things in his own way.”
“Why are you acting as if Hansol is your child? Guys, we’re just 20 too! What are you talking about?!” We all laugh at Joshua’s comment. “I should probably… you-
“Yeah. You should go cheol. You have a lot of guests to entertain too.” I gave Seungcheol a quick smile and an awkward wave. At this point, I’m not really sure why I still feel like walking on egg shells when it comes to Choi Seungcheol. I sigh when he’s finally out of sight.
Joshua then turned to face me and gave a questioning look.
“What was that?”
“What was what?” I feel like I know what he’s talking about but I still feigned innocence. Joshua gave me a look that speaks ‘really? You’re trying me? Me????’ I almost rolled my eye with the exaggeration but refrained from doing so.
“What’s wrong with what I say?” I ask him instead.
“That’s the point! It feels like there’s nothing wrong but the way you two interact with each other… I just don’t get it!”
“Then don’t try to understand Josh. You’re overthinking things!”
“Am I, really? Or is it you overanalyzing things?”
“What – why would you even think that?!” My eyes widened in disbelief. I thought this was just Josh being the tease that he was, but him saying I am overanalyzing things? What was that supposed to mean?!