Archive of Our Own

It was during lunch break that the five people were supposed to be huddled in their usual seats in the cafeteria. They usually gather there, and despite age differences, somehow their group clicks. It doesn't make sense that these boys are in different years; being Grades 10, 11, and 12 yet manages to fit in a tight-knitted pretty well-known group from their university. Their bond formed likely because they've been together for three years already and spent their youths in their own bubble.

"Yo."

The oldest with cobalt-blue locks makes a flashy appearance wearing a goofy look on his face as he meets the eyes of his friends, his duffle bag slung on his shoulder. His hand raised for a stiff hi.

Knowing Yeonjun won’t stop that because he always has tricks to his sleeves, unsurprisingly, he dribbles an invisible ball while walking towards his friends and bouncing in his white sneakers, jumping and shooting the “ball” into the air.

Choi Yeonjun never fails to be extra. His energy doesn’t seem to retire despite of being the oldest in the age (Excuse me, he’s eighteen! He defends.) He's part of the Basketball team and is in his 12th grade, meaning he's in his last year of Senior High School. 

Naturally, he would garner some side glances and completely check outs from his head-to-toe. Despite the older being shamelessly whacky and shit, he’s still effortlessly attractive nonetheless. They can’t really find Yeonjun’s dad jokes un-funny - not when he has a tall nose, fair skin, foxy jet-black eyes, and plush lips that resemble a pouty duckling, like that character Mofy Duck.

The two mentioned friends with whom he made eye contact looked at each other in their seats. The taller one in amusement and clapping for support, and the shorter one wincing at how much of an embarrassment he finds his newly-entered hyung was being.

"Karidi ka, Kuya Junjun. Pawis na pawis."

Taehyun grimaces at the sight of the older like he came from outside and got drenched in the rain. Most basketball players come out looking like that from the court, for obvious reasons, but Taehyun still finds it uncomfortable to be in that soaking state.

The younger is a Grade 11 student, admittedly the sharpest one in their group. Taehyun has blonde hair and snobbish facial features. He has an intimidating poker face in him all the time but he’s evidently handsome. Sharp jawline, a small face, large round eyes, and lips are thin but glossy. He could’ve had admirers lined up for him already if he didn’t only outright cold-heartedly reject a girl two years ago, so you could safely say tons of people pines for him in secret. Kang Taehyun made it clear anyways that he’s not interested in pursuing romance. No chance at all. He’s made it clear and concrete that he’s not emotionally available, even for small crushes or budding romances. But that just him not being wanted to be bothered or waste his time over a trivial thing he thinks he wouldn’t commit forever. Unlike chess, his skill and knowledge would fade but feelings do.

Does it though?

Anyhow, he thinks he’s more interested in chess. To their friend group. And maybe to something else, but he wouldn’t admit that.

"Oy, grabe ka na, Teteng. Wala kong putok kahit pawis ako, ah." Yeonjun claims his seat next to the supportive boy a while ago who is not just a mere friend. The other blue-haired boy – who has a more pastel blue of hair color; unlike Yeonjun who has a vibrant, almost indigo, type of cobalt blue - naturally puts out a space for Yeonjun to occupy next to him.

"Baby, towel oh." Soobin, the pastel blue-haired Grade 12, takes a piece of fabric from his own bag like how he does normally. Yes, Yeonjun was the athlete who should be bringing his needs, but can you blame him if he wants to be taken care of by his boyfriend?

Instead of giving it to Yeonjun, he adjusts his body next voluntarily wipes down his boyfriend's sweat that is dripping from his temples down to his neck, which satisfies Yeonjun immediately. "Parang ang lala naman ng training mo ngayon than usual? Sorry di na kita napuntahan sa practice mo, nag-extend kasi ng time yung class ko kaya dumiretso nalang ako dito sa canteen.”

Besides being Yeonjun's boyfriend who's in the same grade level as him, Soobin stands the mother figure of the group. He's the sweetest and has cute dimples when he smiles. Despite his good-natured qualities, he can be strict at times if needed. He’s the tallest one, too, and is the treasurer of their university’s student council.

If Yeonjun has a charming type of handsomeness, then Soobin would be the prime example of how you would think your first love would look. Aside from him being a total boyfriend material due to his capabilities to do any type of household chores, is a gentleman, and gives a good warm hug; Soobin is very smart as he’s currently running for the batch’s valedictorian. He’s expecting to pass the baton to Taehyun who has already outsmarted him a couple of times already. If the blonde was in his grade, he could’ve beaten the older one already. With kindness, of course.

Yeonjun and Soobin being a couple is the definition of two whipped menaces. No normal couple who are in the right mind to dye their hair together the day they started dating. They even chose the same color because they didn’t want to be the matching type of couple who would choose complimentary colors, they want to be identical. They didn’t want to be soulmates who would complete each other; they wanted to be twin flames.  The older justifies that there’s only one twin flame in the world but you can have many soulmates. He didn’t want Soobin to be his soulmate only and Soobin agreed to that. They think they’re perfectly flawed yet matched somehow. How lucky to date someone you’re sure you’re alike with, right?

They’re sappy, Taehyun thinks. But he liked how they would bounce back from being the most unserious messy beings to being the sincerest ones who communicate their words well, that is why the two have a solid foundation for being childhood sweethearts.

Soobin stands up behind the oldest, putting the towel on top of Yeonjun's head and ruffling the sweat out of his hair with it. Yeonjun melts into his boyfriend's loving touch. He closes his eyes like a cat, smiling dizzily at the way his head is being scratched. "That's okay. I should be the one who's sorry kasi dapat sinundo kita sa class mo." he retorts.

The two engage in the topic of how Yeonjun was extra overworked for today's training, mainly for the following days because of an upcoming regional tournament that their team will participate in.

As usual, Taehyun fades into the background. Not because the two are leaving him out. He just would not want to ruin what they’re having right now.

"Right in front of my salad pa talaga." Taehyun looks down at his vegetable-packed plastic container and stabbed the lettuce with white sauce into his fork hastily. He deadpans to look at the loving couple in front of him, munching the poor lettuce he injured. Literally in front of his salad.

"Tama na kayo, Steban at Junjun. Di pa ba kayo nagsasawa?" Taehyun faux-sighs, but deep down he's happy for his two close friends.

Of course, they would not catch him secretly smiling at the sight of his two very close friends finding happiness in each other’s presence and making a home out of it.

"Killjoy ka na naman." Yeonjun narrows down his small eyes with a pout at Taehyun, who's across the table. "Tawagan mo kasi si Bantot para di ka ma-OP sa'min."

Taehyun snorts and rolls his eyes upon hearing the ever-so-familiar nickname.

During high school, they made up each other with traditionally comical nicknames that matches their original name. Yeonjun is Junjun, Soobin is Steban, and Taehyun is Teteng. The two who are about yet to come will be introduced later. Funny enough, their names sound like they came from a 70’s comedy-action pelikula.

"Oy, andiyan na pala eh." Yeonjun shouts looking over Taehyun's back.

Taehyun spins around expectantly, his senses heightening with one particular person engraved in his mind.

"Totoy~!" Yeonjun calls to the fluffy-looking brown-haired boy approaching them who walks like a penguin. His steps are small and careful. Smiling shyly as other people in the area turned their heads on him at how Yeonjun addressed him rather loudly.

Oh.

Yeonjun splutters. When Taehyun turns his back to the older, he flushes in embarrassment because the older is obviously laughing at him and trying too hard to hide it. Taehyun swore he would stab him with a knife tonight, Yeonjun better sleep with his one eye open.

"Umasa si Teteng Kalbo." Yeonjun bangs his fist on the table while cackling at Taehyun's evidently annoyed face.

Why did Taehyun even do such an obvious idiotic act? Turning around when the untrustworthy Yeonjun was the one who insinuated? Of course, it's gotta be a prank and Taehyun should've known better, but who could blame him when all his common sense can be thrown in the window for one person? He kind of forgot what happened last week which made him sulk. His body seems to gravitate to what it couldn’t have for those past missing days.

"Ano meron?" Huening Kai asks innocently in between while he takes the lonesome seat that is located in the middle of the three.

Kai is the youngest among all of them as he's the only Grade 10 student that they collectively ought and sworn to protect. He's the cutest and the softest, too. The boy loves plushies with all of his heart, too pure for this world to be tainted. He’s good at writing and playing almost all types of instruments. Despite of looking the most angelic, he bears the Greek God visuals among them. He is regarded as the son of Aphrodite for a feature article he starred in back when he won as the best scriptwriter for the Indie Film their school filmed for a regional’s interschool competition (Their school championed!). Since then, the students of their university have regarded him with the title. He has milky baby soft skin, kind hooded eyes, thick eyebrows, a tall sloped nose, and pink lips that are shaped like a huge heart when he grins toothily. If Soobin is the first love, Taehyun is the cold untouchable hottie, and Yeonjun is the flippant yet gorgeous jock; Huening Kai is undeniably everyone’s childhood sweetheart. The kind of crush that would make you feel special despite him being an ultimate darling to everyone. His shyness is cherry-on-the-top that makes him tenfold adorable.

A story that would never be forgotten was that his nickname was supposed to be Neneng, derived from Hue-‘ning’, but the term was used to call for young girls which is why they chose the male variant of the alias, Totoy. Huening laughed at it loudly, he liked it. Though Huening wouldn't mind being called Neneng because he's a sweetheart. He also doesn't care about gender stereotypes.

"Pangit talaga ng ugali mo, Junjun. Magsara ka na! Kuya Soobin, wag mo na punasan yan para mamatay na sa lagnat.” Taehyun mocks with a deathly glare, with an obvious intention of Ad Hominem for Yeonjun because he’s taking offense to the oldest too seriously.

Instead of responding, Yeonjun maturely sticks his tongue out for the sake of being the biggest pain in the neck of the blonde.

Yeonjun really knows how to tease the younger that his cold façade would crack. Nobody in their block would attempt to do that on Taehyun or else they will be damned. Despite the boy hating strenuous sports, he’s still working out. He’s an impatient man, he would rather punch, lift weights, and throw bodies than run a marathon.

Despite Yeonjun seeming like the pest in Taehyun’s life, you wouldn’t figure out he’s only the second most annoying person in his life. Well, Yeonjun is “genuinely” annoying (He still says this in a fond way, but sometimes he couldn’t hold his patience anymore.), but there’s this one person who annoys him the most for a different reason, hence why he’s his favorite nuisance.

Soobin shrugs, continuing to pamper Yeonjun. "Inaasar na naman neto ni Jun yan si Taehyun." He answers the youngest nonchalantly.

Hyuka nods with a tight-lipped smile and takes out his packed lunch.

"Kain ka lang diyan, Kai. Pabayaan mo muna 'tong dalawang isip-bata na 'to." Soobin pats his back. 

"Hindi ako isip-bata, Kuya Soob." Taehyun shifts his glare to the other blue-haired.

To prove his standpoint, he schools his expression in neutral and sits straight. Taehyun does not want to admit that he’s childish despite being the second youngest in the group. His age is closest to Huening Kai than the middle person of the group. He refused to acknowledge who that person is.

"Talaga bang hindi ka isip-bata, Taehyun?" Huening Kai side-eyes him with a shit-eating grin. Taehyun senses something sinister behind that smile.

"Bakit mo pinapatulan si Kuya Beomgyu?" the youngest continues.

Taehyun could almost pierce Hyuka's poor body with his murderous stare. His ears do pick up the name like has some selective hearing.

Yeonjun silently cheers for his banter being supplied, taking Huening Kai into his allegiance mentally.

"Baka ibang klaseng patol yung gagawin niyan ni Taehyun kay Beomgyu." Soobin adds up, much to Taehyun's surprise, because Soobin rarely participates in immature banters but now, he's being a menace like his boyfriend. Soobin under the influence of his boyfriend is not Soobin, he’s turning into a mischievous rabbit that Taehyun wants to hunt at this moment.

The younger grunts with the three's irritating smirks directed at him. What did he do in his past life to earn such insufferable friends that are doomed to stick in his lifetime? No, he could certainly drop them. He has a choice. He mentally takes note to post a Facebook status about him looking for another circle of the friend group. Anyone, than these shits who knows him from head-to-toe. He has nowhere to hide around them.

"Ano bang problema niyo?" Taehyun huffs in annoyance, losing his appetite for his food. He crosses his arm while his eyebrow furrows.

What agenda are his friends pushing on him this time?

Yeonjun is the first one who nudges him. "Bakit di mo pa kasi aminin na may crush ka kay Beomgyu?" 

His eyebrow could almost fly from how much it rises.

Because nobody in this friend group has ever talked about his status with Beomgyu. Not that he has something going on with the other boy, but what the heck?

Why would he have a crush on Beomgyu? How did Yeonjun draw the most ridiculous statement he’s heard in his entire life? This is even more ridiculous out of all the stupid jokes he said, out of all the pranks they did to the university anonymously. Heck, this is the biggest joke of his life than Yeonjun’s existence (He loves having a comeback like this.)!

Soobin places the wet towel on top of his seat. His point finger is placed on his chin as he studies the blond through his stare. Taehyun starts to feel conscious of this. "I don't think crush lang, eh." Soobin declares.

Taehyun scoffs in disbelief, rolling his eyes. "Ako? Crush si Gyu? Di ako talo." He brags with confidence, chins up, and smiles proudly as if his stance justifies his statement. 

Soobin notices Taehyun's leg shaking under the table. The older smirks. Force of habit so Taehyun consciously stops.

Why would he have a crush on that snotty, the most annoying creature-in-the-world, impulsive brat? Taehyun is too far to stoop to that level. As he repeats in his mind like a mantra, Choi Beomgyu is just totropahin.

A friend. A pal. Amigo. Not someone who he can swap spits with. Now that Taehyun thinks of that, it’s actually not that bad of an idea-

Yeonjun turns to raise a brow at him. His expression is more grim than playful. "Hindi, eh. Suspicious ka kasi these past few days, Kang Taehyun."

Taehyun gulps upon hearing his full name rollover Yeonjun's tongue. He knows it is a serious matter of confrontation when Yeonjun does that, asserting his "older brother" figure in their pack. Taehyun knows it. It needs no equation to calculate that Yeonjun is intending to beard him, right here, right now. His heartbeat picks up at a faster pace. Taehyun does not know how to avoid the situation no matter how much he calculates. Sure, he could just run or make an excuse, but that would further prove their point. Taehyun does not want to lose. He must defend himself no matter what.

Defending himself morbidly is totally unnecessary. Taehyun knows that he doesn't have to try too hard if he's deemed innocent, but he wanted to end the discussion right now. They have plenty of time today, anyway. If him confronting the situation now would make his friends stop talking about the issue, then so be it.

"Junjun, wag ka naman masyadong seryoso." Taehyun nervously chuckled, waving his hands in defense. A void of emotion in the older's eyes as they stared at each other. 

"Iniisip ko lang." Yeonjun props his elbow on the table relaxing his chin on top of his palm, enigmatically musing at Taehyun. "Naalala ko kasi nung time na nag-aaral tayong lima sa library 2 months ago."

Taehyun grimaces. "Ang tagal na 'non?" Would he really expect Taehyun to believe whatever Yeonjun's talking about?

"Makinig ka muna kasi."

Yeonjun takes them back into detail. 

It was one warm afternoon in late October, the sky filled with neon orange hues that cast naturally tinted lights on the window sill of the library that the five were about to enter. 

 

They agreed in their group chat to meet up after class in the library to hang out, bringing different kinds of snacks as they tiptoed inside the place, only to confirm Kai was right. The empty library was left accidentally open by the librarian. So being the little rats that they are, they did not waste the opportunity and hogged the place as their own.

 

The five connected the tables together, splaying and bragging about their not-too-surprising surprise snacks. Yeonjun bought out really spicy chips that they took the challenge in eating. Soobin bought mint candies, reminded by his boyfriend who loves mint chocolate. Beomgyu brought out the beloved gummy bears that he often nibbles in class. Taehyun carried a pack of chocolate. And of course, Huening Kai wanted to spice things up so he smashes the Bamboozled Beans into the table, beans with different flavors. If luck favors you, you will pick the normal fruit bean. But if fate wants to throw shit on your face, your hand will grasp for the disgusting taste of a bean.

 

After fits of teasing and laughter from their snack time, they sat on their respective seats with their textbooks and home works and studied together. 

 

During that time, Beomgyu and Taehyun were particularly seated next to each other. Their shoulders brushed and their legs touched with the proximity. Huening Kai does pay no mind while eating the share from Beomgyu's gummies as he skims through math homework. It was Yeonjun and Soobin, who were latched together, heads hidden behind a large Physics textbook on top of the table but gets the opportunity to peek at the other two and gossip. Nobody will suspect as the youngers would assume they were only flirting.

 

It is normal for Beomgyu and Taehyun to be sitting next to each other most of the time. Not only because they are in the same grade level, but also because they've known each other the longest as they were the ones who bought the friend group together. 

 

Beomgyu used to be a Basketball player during 8th Grade, hence, meeting Captain Yeonjun on the court and clicking with him too easily. Getting along with Yeonjun means getting the friendship package with his mutual understanding, Soobin (they weren't dating then but young love was certainly blooming). 

 

Huening Kai was a lost kid picked up by Taehyun whom he adopted. Not literally, though. Huening Kai was a Grade 7 transfer student. Taehyun, being the student model that he is, got assigned to tour Hyuka around the campus but the timid boy was too nervous to become friends with anyone so he took him in under the welfare of him and Choi Beomgyu, albeit the kid became Yeonjun and Soobin’s son.

 

That is how they got together and meet during their free time to hang out. 

 

Usually, the couple wouldn't have any suspicions about the two because Taehyun and Beomgyu are them. You know? They're predestined to stick to each other ever since the beginning.

 

But then the couple wasn't sure anymore if they were breathing the same air as Taehyun and Beomgyu. It was subtle, but it has always been there. A very faint thin thread tied between the two. With the way they giggled themselves, their legs rubbing together snugly, and the way Taehyun was leaning into Beomgyu to whisper sweet nothings. Their smiles were nothing but the brightest, replacing the sun that was climbing down the earth.

 

It was like the air was doused with a pink aroma that the two older caught a whiff of, only to realize that the scent has always been there but they never paid any attention to it.

"Ang korni, ha."

Taehyun snorts upon hearing Yeonjun's recollection, slapping the table. "Saang libro mo yan nakuha, Kuys? Anong fairytale ba yan parang ang interesting basahin. Sobrang fictional."

"Gago, hindi. Ganon talaga nangyari." Yeonjun hisses defensively, annoyed at the invalidating Taehyun. He turns his head to Soobin for confirmation and caught his partner throwing bored looks at Taehyun, like he was already expecting this would happen. Yeonjun knows that Soobin has the same memory as him, they'd even talked about it vaguely on the phone weeks ago.

Soobin unwraps his arms to his boyfriend and takes his former seat lazily, "Sige kunwari di ganon yung nangyari nung time na 'yon. Pero nung nasa park tayo, may sinabi ka sa'kin." He smirks at Taehyun, taking the trip-to-memory-lane challenge they're playing even further.

"Anong park? Kailan na naman yan?" Taehyun's face scrunched in confusion. 

This was five months ago, dating a lot way back than Yeonjun's testimony. It was only two of them in the park: Taehyun and Soobin. Taehyun invites Soobin for a pet walk together, them being the only people in the group who had house pets. Soobin owns a tiny white-brown-toned Pomeranian pup named Sean, while Taehyun brings Hobak, his beloved orange Persian cat.  They were strolling down the park, summer leaves falling on their way as they walked through the stone trail, with leashes in their hands, engulfed in a serene lulling breeze in the middle of 8 AM. The duo is the most silent and thoughtful. They prefer to think things over than to act rashly, though Soobin would lose all his logic around his boyfriend. Taehyun gives that to him.

 

"Normal bang matulala ka tapos bigla-bigla kang mag-iisip ng random scenarios sa ulo mo?" Taehyun randomly asks the blue-haired as they marched under the shed of tall yellow-green bamboo trees.

 

Soobin is nothing new to Taehyun's random burst of thoughts. The boy is a curious one after all.

 

"Dipende." Soobin contemplates.

 

" Meron kasi yung parang sobrang nagdidaydream na to the point na they could not ground themselves to the reality anymore, pero normal lang naman mag-form ng scenarios sa ulo mo. I do it a lot too. Visualizing before making it a reality." Soobin seriously answers, thinking Taehyun needed a deep answer or something. Both of them talk pretty intensely over the smallest kinds of stuff.

 

Taehyun's body tenses and it took time for him to form a response. He hums in question. "Making it a reality? Pero like, really random kasi. Nag-pop out nalang out-of-nowhere."

 

Soobin squints his eyes at the younger, trying to get the gist of what he's talking about. "Ano bang klaseng scenarios naisip mo?"

 

"Ewan ko." Taehyun looks down sheepishly and slows his walking.

 

As if he's thinking it through.

 

"What if parang i-date ko si Beomgyu?" Taehyun raises his head, confused to himself.

 

"Ha?" Soobin stops in his tracks, almost stumbling, making Taehyun successfully halt, too. He must've misheard it, right?

 

"Ano kasi..." An unrecognizable modification of Taehyun flashed over Soobin's eyelash. The blonde boy was rubbing his knees together nervously and biting his own lips. And wait, is he blushing? Oh my god. "Hindi ganyan sa iniisip mo. Parang napanaginipan ko kasi nung isang gabi na ano. . ."

 

He pauses hesitantly, looking up at Soobin. Only to find the taller's eyes were looking at him with patience and ease. "Tuloy mo lang."

 

Taehyun clears his throat. "... Na nasa iisa kaming kama— hindi ganon!" He raises his hands defensively after seeing Soobin's disgusted look. "Magkayakap lang kami sa iisang kama. May damit, of course. Tapos, we held each other's arms as I leaned on him. It was oddly warm and comforting - being near to him. Parang totoo, pero hindi kami naging ganon. Never." Taehyun sighs.

 

Soobin founds nothing wrong with that. It is literally impossible for Taehyun and Beomgyu not to reach that point. Albeit the two are opposite pairs of friends, they're affectionate to each other with lots of fond bickering.

 

Taehyun continues. ."...Tapos after n'un, next morning parang biglang lumiwanag si Beomgyu sa mata ko. Tapos parang gumagaan yung pakiramdam ko sa ngiti niya? Like I anticipate it so much even though I literally see it everyday. It's like. . . I can't get enough of him?" Taehyun growing unsure of what he's saying, too. "Para akong kinakabahan na ewan. Parang di na ko makahinga pag sobrang lapit niya to the point na naamoy ko yung pabango niya."

 

Soobin nods understandingly. It heavily sounds like a... crush to him but he did not tell Taehyun that.

 

And then Taehyun continued to ramble about Beomgyu's beautiful long hair. Taehyun told him that he did not expect his best friend to grow his hair longer than usual, making Beomgyu even prettier in his eyes. Taehyun told him about Beomgyu's smiles that he proposes to be a solution for World Peace. Like Beomgyu's smile could actually heal the world with the way it is an unexplainable scenery to look at. His heart undeniably skipped a beat at the sight of it. He also talked about how Beomgyu is getting dreamier each day, he's unstoppable. 

 

Soobin did not think it through during that time thinking it was normal for Taehyun to think sort of random not-so-platonic way to Beomgyu with how close they are. He thought it was fleeting, eventually passing by because their friendship is more important.

 

But it doesn't seem like it with the way it intensified in the present.

It is evident in Taehyun as he becomes a big flustering heated mess. His face and his ear are tinted with foreign rosy red, one that the trio rarely sees. Sure, they could make Taehyun crack in laughter and make him show emotions, yet he in this state is what they expect to see the least (except Soobin). His mouth was agape, memories flashing right through his eyes like it was yesterday. 

"Sara mo bibig mo baka pasukin ng langaw." Soobin retorts at him with a smug. Taehyun and Soobin may be both book-smart, but Soobin is emotionally-smart. This is his biggest checkmate on Taehyun if he were playing chess with him, To Soobin, proving Taehyun wrong is like defeating a chess master.

Taehyun deliberately shuts his mouth and averts his gaze from his close friends. Huening Kai is still confused if he really saw Taehyun look like a tomato a while ago, while Yeonjun is engrossed, staring at Taehyun making sure he gets a sight of any emotion he shows. Clearly, he's being held as an entertainment value here.

How is he supposed to counter Soobin? It was very detailed and his reaction already gave out the truth. It would be stupid to lie it didn't happen and Taehyun, in fact, didn't want to look stupid even though he hates how he feels lightheaded and queasy at the moment.

"Subukan mong i-deny. Halatang-halata ang katotohanan sa sinabi ko." Soobin mercilessly points out some more, as if it wasn't painful enough that he's obvious. Soobin likes being right so much. If Taehyun were in his place, he would gladly do the same. It's a shame he's in the opposite position. The victim of all of this.

Yeonjun was chill. Until he wasn't upon realizing Soobin's story. A chunk of information finally registered in his tiny brain (From Taehyun's point of view). "Five months ago?! Ang tagal na n'on?!" the oldest shouts, almost standing from his stool. 

Yes, it was five months ago. Well, Yeonjun didn't even have to point it out. And certainly, Soobin snitching was totally uncalled for! He's the victim here, being ganged up by his stupid friends with their stupid memories. Why can't they all get their heads to get hit against the wall and forget? (He doesn't mean literally.)

"Oh, baka may gusto ka pang idagdag, Hyuka?" Yeonjun elbows the youngest suggestively, his pearly teeth showing, and Taehyun could see the horn in his head. Spawn of Satan! He curses in his head.

The maknae slowly shakes his head nonplussed and Taehyun sighs in relief. Soobin and Yeonjun, on the other hand, look at each other and coo about Hyuka's innocence. Taehyun is glad that the attention was diverted to their precious lamb because his heart is one close to exploding from pressure. He can't breathe. It was unplanned for him to be cornered for a talk like this.

"Ay, Ayan na pala si Kuya Beomgyu!" Huening Kai gave a heads up to the near presence approaching their table coming from the main door. 

Taehyun definitely saw with his two eyes how Yeonjun directs his smirk at him before rising to his chair and clapping loudly to recognize the not-so-surprising appearance of their last member.

Yet, somehow his steps near make Taehyun flinch. Taehyun was about to die of a heart attack a while ago, and now out of nervousness. They all planned to execute him, for real. Taehyun knows. He's been absent from this table for a week, and certainly, their group conducted a concrete plan on how to put him on the edge (They didn't.).

"Sa wakas! Bantot! Nakarating ka rin." Yeonjun greets the newly comer long-haired boy cheekily grinning at Beomgyu. His foxy eyes disappear into thin lines.

Beomgyu flips the oldest off and he gets flipped back, very mature of Yeonjun.

"Pakyu, Junjun. Benito kasi pangalan ko, hindi Bantot. Ginagawa mo kong mabaho, eh."

Beomgyu, as per usual, takes his rightful space next to the blonde boy who's obviously not batting an eye at him and pretending to eat his god-awful salad (Yes, Taehyun doesn't really like salads but he swore he would live a healthy lifestyle by now and exercise. He doesn't want his pride to crumble by disproving his own statement, so he poorly attempts to eat.)

Soobin distracts Huening Kai and Yeonjun into a topic about the latest Marvel film because the three are the nerdiest of the group. Of course, Taehyun and Beomgyu could participate in the conversation if they cared enough. Soobin knows they wouldn't bother. Taehyun isn't a fan, unlike them. Though he sits in to watch, he can't remember which installment of the series they were even though he could still name some main characters of the shows. Beomgyu, on the other hand, had zero interest in action films. The boy watches everything except action films. It makes him doze off in what the trio YeonBinKai claims to be the "most exciting part", with the supervillain and the hero having an epic face-off.

The two best friends should thank Soobin for buying time for them to talk.

"Buti nagpakita ka na dito." Beomgyu scoffs at Taehyun, in a non-offensive way. His voice quiet but loud enough for Taehyun to hear.

Taehyun remains unfazed. Although the tip of his ears reddening with the way Beomgyu's warm presence is next to him, like a heater. Beomgyu smells like peppermint and chamomile, a scent he undoubtedly missed getting a whiff of these past few days.

"Bakit bawal?" He comebacks sarcastically.

Unnoticed by others than him, Taehyun felt an arm snake around his waist from behind. He involuntarily drops his plastic spoon as he lets out a small surprised yelp that nobody noticed except the boy next to him because nobody would assume that Taehyun was the one who let out a high-pitched tune. 

"Nope. You are very much free to sit here, next to me. As you should." Beomgyu tells him, two octaves deeper than Taehyun expects him to sound. His face close to Taehyun's right cheek. 

Taehyun's heart might've dropped like an anchor on the shore at that point. 

"What I didn't like was that iniiwasan mo ko for a week already to the point na hindi ka na kumakain sa table natin. Dahil ba 'to sa pang-aasar ko sayo about sa pag-ggym mo last week?" Beomgyu slowly continues, his voice saccarine. 

Taehyun is sinking deep into his honey-laced voice. "No." He persisted. Though the answer was written otherwise on his face. 

The long-haired clicks his tongue, staring deep into Taehyun. The latter shivered, missing this attention that he used to bask in daily, not until he decided to avoid Choi Beomgyu for the sake of his tiny pride and. . . something else. 

"I'm sorry, Hyunnie. Hindi na dapat kita inasar. I was just playing around. I didn't know that you would take it seriously, that was insensitive of me."

Beomgyu grips his waist harder and Taehyun was stupored, certain that he already forgot the incident last week and not even taking in Beomgyu's apology properly.

All he wanted was this.

His warmth. His presence. His everything.

Just like old times.

"I observed your waist getting slimmer and curvier. Is this because of the gym? You should tell me more about it."

If Taehyun's heart couldn't beat anymore louder, it wouldn't have, but it did. It drives him crazy and makes him lose his stupid head over a stupid gentle boy who notices the most unnecessary things he would get flustered upon. How did he notice that? It's not like Taehyun let him know. Sure, they're extremely close, but they still have some boundaries, especially regarding their own insecurities. Sometimes, Taehyun would forget that Beomgyu is good at assurance and picking things up. The blonde was conscious of his waist measurement. It is one of the body parts he focuses on to get shrink. Side planks are his favorite activity to do, starting from the moment he wakes up. 

Beomgyu notices that Taehyun is still silent and won't turn a glance at him so he pouts. Is it really this hard to convince his best friend? He knows Taehyun is more hard-headed than normal people, but why must he make it so difficult for him?

Luckily enough, the three seem like they don't have any plans of stopping from gushing about those Marvels movies he couldn't pick up on so it definitely buys more time to win the idiot. 

His annoyingly stupid oblivious idiot.

"You don't like my compliments?" Beomgyu whines, fully wrapping both of his arms around Taehyun's waist, his favorite place. Beomgyu doesn't mind if it grows bigger or smaller, it is still his favorite armrest. Though, he's genuine that Taehyun's lovely waist indeed got slimmer. "I'm serious! Pumayat talaga, oh! Para ngang mas naging prominent yung abs mo. Di'ba gusto mo yun?" He appeals with a charming smile. Hope it works.

Taehyun grunts at him but his redness not going unnoticed so Beomgyu thinks otherwise of his best friend's words. "Beomgyu, sinabi ko na ba sayong nakakainis ka talaga?"

Taehyun means that in a fond way. Beomgyu knows. 

Beomgyu beams at him proudly. "Of course, you did. I'm the most annoying prick in your life, as I should."

With a newfound determination in his eyes, obs switched into a heated and feverishly lazy gaze at the younger blonde.

Taehyun stares back at him, bewitched and stunned. Beomgyu looks fucking hot relaxing in his chair. His arms still groping Taehyun's waist, a lovelorn expression painted into his perfect face. Regardless, Beomgyu is smexy. He's both pretty and handsome. He has round eyes, thick eyebrows, a tall nose, thin lips, and a v-shaped jaw. Beomgyu could be a playboy if he wants to because he's insanely attractive. His prominent Adam's apple, lazy smirk, and deep set of brown pupils are to die for. Of course, Beomgyu's hair that Taehyun has raved about to Soobin. He does not need to explain how much he adores and badly wants to tug his long jet-black hair that hugs the frame of his face down to his neck. That wolf haircut be damned!

Taehyun must've been hallucinating because why the fuck would Beomgyu look at him like he was his everything as well, but beyond comprehension? It's impossible. 

"I should only be the one who has the right to annoy you and still have a place in your life, the closest one which is being by your side, as I prefer." And Beomgyu would gladly do it forever.

He would in a heartbeat.

He knows why and it's driving him mad to only find out the reason after losing Taehyun for the stupid one week of being neglected.

"Okay, fine. We're good. Just don't look at me like that." Taehyun, once again, bashfully shifted his gaze away from Beomgyu. Beomgyu really has to stop looking at him like that or else he will assume!

On the other hand, Beomgyu hates it so much when Taehyun decides to look at other things when he's literally beside him. Like he's the least interesting to take a glance at. Has Beomgyu lacked expressing what he wants to show today? Like a puppy, he wants Taehyun's affection for him alone. He does not care if he appears needier and clingier than usual. He needs Taehyun. He misses him. He misses his strawberry scent and his undivided attention. He needs it under his skin and he blabbered about it with Yeonjun and Soobin a few days ago who grew tired of him pining.

"Tangina, ayaw pa kong tingnan." Beomgyu pulls away from Taehyun, grumbling childlike. He formulates the stupid, yet to him is the most brilliant plan he's ever had in his life. like it was the most rational option to resort to times like this.

His best friend doesn't want to give him attention. What does he do?

He leans forward.

Taehyun felt a set of soft sensation brush on his cheeks, specifically on the side of his lips. It lasted like that and with every passing second, his heart thumps unbelievably harder in his chest; hammering his body. Almost like he's in pain with how heavy it pounds.

Yeonjun almost dropped his sandwich, followed by a string of startling curses, not believing with his eyes. Huening Kai screams like a dolphin covering his mouth. Soobin froze with the sight, too stupefied to even form a coherent reaction.

Beomgyu is kissing Taehyun's side of the face. It wasn't merely a fleeting dip of lips to the side of Taehyun's lips. It was a full-blown ten-second peck on his cheeks, a little inch to his mouth.

The time stops in the cafeteria. Nobody dared to breathe at that moment. 

When Beomgyu pulls out innocently, he licks his own lips. Taehyun couldn't blush any harder from the sight.

Beomgyu almost purrs in satisfaction. "Hmm. You taste sweet. Did you eat chocolate again?" He asks the malfunctioning Taehyun. "No, wait. I kinda want to lick you. Oh my god." He puts his hand on top of his mouth from the realization.

Does... Choi Beomgyu ever realize that... His intrusive thoughts are overtaking him?

"Beomgyu." Taehyun calls the raven-haired boy in a trance. His eyes were wide and his system was shocked.

"Hmm?"

With Taehyun still processing whatever the fuck happened a while ago, all while being eaten by his feelings at once, he needs to breathe. 

And for him to breathe, he needs to say—

"Mahal kita."

Mumbling the two words with a sense of relief washing him after letting it out. Like letting go of the butterflies that gathered and multiplied in his heart after being stuck for too long.

Taehyun swore he saw and heard Yeonjun falling out of his stool, with Hyuka panicking by lending a hand, and Soobin replacing Yeonjun's position in cursing.

 He only realized what he had said after releasing the words from the tip of his tongue. 

No way did Kang Taehyun confess-

"Ano?" Beomgyu asks out in a light tone, sparing a glance to giggle at Yeonjun's absurd fall as if he wasn't the cause of it. He's a more dangerous menace.

Taehyun couldn't exactly figure out what the long-haired older implies as he refuses to make a single eye contact with him afterward. Also, he was too shy and too prideful to repeat his words. Although he became certain that it is true upon voicing it loudly.

He is truly, in love with his best friend. It wasn't like the sudden "Oh" moment. It's just that, it has been there but he kept it buried and denied it because no way in a million years, or even in the next lifetime would he get loved back romantically by his gorgeous best friend. It's not about their friendship that is at stake here. He knows he can trust Beomgyu and vice versa. He's also aware that ever since he started to grow non-platonic feelings for him, he's accepted the fact that his heart chose to call that friendship off.

All he did with the remaining months of pining in secret for his best friend was to wait and lie. But he never hides.

Hence why his friends' allegations against him were true. He just wanted to gaslight them, until he gets the direct answer.

But you will never catch a Kang Taehyun gamble everything in two slipped words over his hard work. So, he scoffs and rolls his eyes at Beomgyu begrudgingly. He didn't expect his first confession to go in a waste bin just like that.

"Wala. Sabi ko 'Mukhang tanga'."

Now, let's just bury that rekindled feelings shall we, Taehyun? He convinces himself. It's stupid. It wouldn't matter anyways—

"I said 'what' not because I didn't hear it, but because I want you to repeat it." Beomgyu cups the side of his shoulders and turns Taehyun's front onto him.

When their eyes met, Taehyun's knees almost buckled, and gave out from his seat. He could've fallen forward and hit his head on the table, knocking himself up all because of the awareness that his confession is heard. And that he couldn't back away. 

Choi Beomgyu knows that Taehyun is in love with him. Actually, the whole school knows by now.

Should he say 'Joke' or 'It's a prank!'? It wouldn't be believable because he's not Yeonjun, and he looks so serious all the time. What now?

Taehyun wants to pull away from Beomgyu or tear the older's pitying stare at him, but he doesn't have the willpower to do so. 

He's left to say the truth that Beomgyu has heard.

The older made it clear that he only needs confirmation, not retraction. It means he wanted Taehyun to be honest with himself. 

So he sighs in defeat.

"Beomgyu, mahal kita." Again.

But this time, clearer, softer, and more prominent. Like he has established it, pledged with an oath. Stamped with security and sending it flying through the air for his best friend to receive without any sense of doubt. 

It was his last string of assurance.

Look at Taehyun now. His one-hour-ago self could've jumped on him with the way he persistently denied his feelings for the boy, but now he's professing his love over his stupid yet smartass (?) best friend who happens to kiss the side of his lips and making him go feral that he loose-confessed. 

Can you believe that the only way to make Kang Taehyun confess was to get kissed? Not even in the lips. And certainly not even an intentional confession.

When he thought they wouldn't get farther as is, of course, it is Choi Beomgyu so it never stops.

He inches towards Kang Taehyun, shamelessly straddling the top of the younger's lap, and fisting the collar of his uniform.

He hurriedly connects their lips. Taehyun felt it more prominently in his sensitive lips than his cheeks. Beomgyu's lips are softer in his lips, it fits better between his upper and lower lip. 

Few audible gasps were thrown here and there but the two did not mind, engulfed in their loudly beating hearts and spinning little minds.

Taehyun does not expect his sweet first kiss to turn out like this.

But if he were to describe the older, he would say something like this: 

 

His best friend, who has a perfect slope of the nose that a sleigh could skid into.

Has milky skin as white as blankets of snow covering the town in cold winter.

Has eyes that are like orbs of a snow globe.

Surprisingly, has lips that are as red as a brick, soft as marshmallows, and as warm as a campfire.

Taehyun could describe him as a home from the winter wonderland, noting that it's actually December that they're doing this.

Kissing in a public university. In front of their friends and their schoolmates.

It would've been embarrassing for Taehyun, but for him, it was romantic. It was romantic to have him in his arms and let the world witness the first time them getting together. It was romantic to finally touch Beomgyu's hair and smoothen the back of his head. It was romantic that it felt magical to have a beautiful boy in his lap that runs his palms on his back. 

Kang Taehyun does not know if he's going to stop anytime soon.

Not until he heard fits of cough, realizing that they'd been angling their head to kiss each other better for the last thirty seconds. 

He lightly pushed Beomgyu who was on top of him. His rational mind regains as if it needed some regeneration to come back after being senseless like that. He only held the hip of the boy in his lap as he scans his surroundings. Soobin was ushering the people outside the cafe to not ogle at Beomgyu and him kissing. Yeonjun was coughing so hard that he was bashing his chest with his palm, still barely moving on from the sudden show, and Kai was the one who dashed to get him some water. Kai was unbelievably calm about this, knowing he's the most innocent yet shows the most minimal reaction to everything that is shocking, even with horror movies and accidental R-18 scenes. Guess Kai is not as innocent as he seems, or he's just naturally unbothered.

"Gago. . ." Yeonjun coughs some more. The water choked him instead of relieving him from being choked by his own saliva out of shock. "Bat biglang confession at MOMOL agad, aatakihin ako sa puso sa inyo."

"Gusto ko tuloy kainin si Taehyun." Beomgyu devastatingly pouts, dismounting from Taehyun and going back to his chair. If only he could pull Beomgyu back to him. He's willing to be his chair, but he considers his poor friends and unfortunate schoolmates who have to witness their PDA moment.

Taehyun was too stunned to comprehend what the older means by that. He admits his best friend could be unpredictable and he loves him for it (finally admitting and accepting to himself that, yes, he indeed loves Beomgyu.), but he will never understand how Beomgyu's mind works despite knowing him for seven years already.

Huening Kai looks at him wordlessly and visibly confused, like his tiny pure mind couldn't access whatever Beomgyu sprawled. 

"Ang tamis kasi. Isa pa nga." Beomgyu was about to dive in for another set of passionate kisses when Taehyun covers his mouth with his fingers. He still feels sick like he's going to pass out at any second from the surge of emotions that washed him for a good amount of minutes. Not that he didn't want to kiss Beomgyu, of course. He needs time to breathe. 

His poor heart doing somersaults, it was an enchanting feeling yet he feels like he was actually going to faint. It's crazy.

Once the cafeteria was cleared from third-perspective audiences and both of them buys enough time, Taehyun decides to pull Beomgyu and pin him to the wall at the secluded side outdoors. He held out his arm on the wall and stared directly into the older's eyes, wanting to be the upper hand because after what happened, Taehyun would not let go of him just like that.

It is so psychotic how Beomgyu gave such addicting kisses.  This new knowledge drives Taehyun to the core. He won't let them come back to what they had before, it will drive him insane further.

"I fucking swear, pag hindi mo ako dinate after kissing me possessively like that, I will—"

His words were cut off by a quick and teasing peck and Taehyun's eyes widened. His arms almost gave out with the way he trembled in panic.

Taehyun swore Choi Beomgyu was already abusing his privilege. Not that Taehyun is against to it, he likes the older's butter-tasting lips. Honestly, if he knew kissing Beomgyu would taste and feel this good, then they would've done this for ages.

"You don't have to threaten me, anymore."

He wraps his hands on Taehyun's waist as he does naturally. The blonde melts into his touch, Taehyun leaning and almost falling for him to catch. Choi Beomgyu perfectly basked the younger's love-struck expression. His eyes are glassy with evident adoration on his dilating pupil all while Kang Taehyun woozily smiles at him, his face scatters a pretty shade of maroon. 

Them blushing together and looks like they're cold under the pile of snow under their black school boots. Tiny stellar dendrites stuck on the strand of their hairs.

But no, they're just in love.

His fingers travel from waist to cup Taehyun's cheek, his fingertips rubbing the curve of his jaw delicately. Beomgyu smiles back with all softness and fondness in the world. Taehyun knows he's in heaven with the sight.

"Date me. Sayo naman talaga ako."