Chapter 28: C-26

C-26

"Who the fvck had the audacity to throw a pot at you?"

I'm startled when Minho suddenly appears at the classroom door before I can even enter. He grabs my face and turns it side to side.

"Are you blind?" He frowns. "What if Chan-hyung wasn't there, huh?"

He checks my arm and his eyes darken upon seeing a blue bandaid on my elbow. Minho starts walking away but I immediately grab his hand.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll kill Bang Chan."

"Why?!"

"He did this to you."

"No!"

"He told me you were fine but you're not!"

"I'd probably have a crack on my head if he didn't push me out of the way."

I pout as I remember the scary event. Minho's face softens as he checks the gash on my elbow again.

"On a second thought, it doesn't look that bad." He flicks my forehead. "For a scaredy-cat crybaby, you're so damn careless. You shouldn't be left alone."

"Thanks for the concern."

"What do you mean? I was thinking about our project." His ears redden.

"Don't worry, I already passed it. You guys edited it after all." I give him a thumbs up. "Too bad I haven't seen it yet, now I'd have to wait until Ms. Meen finishes grading the whole class."

He averts his gaze. "It's better that way..."

"I hope we'll get good grades because I enjoyed the process of making it." I smile up at him. "I can't believe how three months passed so quickly."

"Don't worry, you'll pass." He smirks. "I can't have you crying your heart out and disturbing my sleep on the rooftop again, can I?"

I groan in embarrassment as I remember our first meeting. He grins teasingly and is about to ruffle my hair when the fateful meeting of our two particular friends finally happens.

"Mate!"

We look back to see two Aussies shouting at us at the same time then looking at each other weirdly.

"Mate?" they both say in unison then point at each other and to themselves with an amazed expression.

"Hey, guys." We walk over to them.

"Woah, you look nice!" I say in awe whilst looking at Chan's now dark hair.

"Thank you, Y/n!" Chan smiles widely. "People do say it looks better than blond. Good choice, eh?"

"His hair looks fried and about to fall off," Minho comments.

Chan glares at him. "You disrespectful twat. I saved your girl but you'll call my hair fried?"

"The only reason that you dyed it back to dark is because you're balding."

Chan closes his eyes and breathes deeply as if to contain himself from strangling Minho. "I--"

"Come to think of it, your English name suits you: Chrispy Bang, crispy hair."

This guy!

"Don't listen to him, Chan. You look cool!" I say before the tension starts to rise and nudge Minho discreetly. "By the way, this is Felix. He's my Australian classmate who helps me with English."

Chan's glare disappears as he faces my classmate. They seem to pass each other's vibe check as the aura surrounding us brightens.

"Good day, Chan-sunbae!" the freckled boy exclaims and shakes hands with the other Aussie.

"Oi, Felix! What'd you mean, bro? You can just call me hyung."

"Really? Aight, Chan-hyung!"

"Y/n, why didn't you tell me about this lil fella sooner?" Chan asks as he and Felix appear to be close already.

"Because she has no reason to talk to you." Minho rolls his eyes. "You keep forgetting that our friendship does not include you and Changbin."

"You little shit." Chan sighs and cracks his knuckles only to put his arm over Minho and attempt a chokehold.

I giggle at their childishness as they continue with their little brawl whilst people pass by, looking scared because they thought the fight is real.

"Is Minho hyung the friend you were talking about? I thought it was Ji-- never mind..." Felix shakes his head and grins widely. "My suggestions were effective, right?"

"I didn't even use them..."

He put his arm over my shoulders. "Won't you thank me, Y/n? Where's my treat?" he whispers.

"Eh?"

"Come on!" He pouts. "I'll give you more advice on how to maintain a strong relationship for free."

"Alright, just tell me when."

He pokes my cheek. "You're the best!"

I didn't notice that the two already stopped play-fighting and they're now staring at us.

"Um..." Chan clears his throat. "Care to separate before worse comes to worst?"

"Huh?"

"In case you forgot, we're still here. If you wanna talk amongst yourselves then leave." Minho looks at Felix coldly.

"Ohoho!" Chan snickers and pats my shoulder before turning to leave.

"What?"

"Tsk." Minho rolls his eyes and walks away.

"Did I just put my life on the line?" Felix shudders.

"Your what?"

"Oblivious same old Y/n." Felix shakes his head and enters our room, leaving me puzzled.

Why is everyone leaving me?

"Hey, wait for me!"

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ

"Minho!"

I immediately run after him before he gets to go farther. When I caught up, I tugged on his shirt to get his attention.

"Hey."

No response.

"Lee Minho."

He blinks.

"Why aren't you talking to me?"

We continue walking until we reach the rooftop. He leans against the wall with crossed arms whilst I stay in front of him cluelessly.

"Did I do something wrong?" I pout at his lack of attention.

What should I do to make him talk to me? Should I blackmail him with Dori? That's bad though! It might end our friendship.

An idea suddenly pops into my head when I remember what he always does when I won't talk to him. I blush as I contemplate on doing it, but I don't have other choices.

"Minho?" I reach for his face and lift his chin with my forefinger so he'll finally look at me.

He stiffens at my touch and glares a little. "What are you doing?"

"I just want you to talk to me..."

I slowly withdraw my hand but Minho grabs it, switching our positions. I gasp when he pushes me to the wall with both of his arms on either of my sides, trapping me. He stares at me so seriously, his breath fanning my face at our closeness.

"What do you want to talk about?"

My cheeks heat up at his stare. "I-I just want to say sorry for whatever I did wrong."

"Stop saying sorry for things that aren't your fault." He flicks my forehead.

"Then why aren't you talking to me?"

He looks away and I notice how red his ears are. "Nothing..."

"That's not nothing!"

"Okay, fine!" He glares. "I'm just worried."

"You are?" I can't help but smile. "Why?"

"Duh?" He rolls his eyes. "You're my seatmate."

"Tch." I purse my lips.

He scoffs and checks my bruise again. "This is Chan-hyung's fault."

"Why is this his fault?"

"I told him to replace my protein shake he and Changbin drank but he keeps stalling. If he got there earlier then you wouldn't have a single scratch on you now."

I frown at him as I realise something. "You didn't show up yesterday because you went to the gym?"

"I didn't have a choice!" he says defensively. "Changbin dragged me."

I huff. "Well, it's fine! I was with Jisung anyway."

"He's a bit useless, isn't he? I thought he won't let anything happen to you?"

"Don't say that! He just had to go to the grocery that's why he left first."

"What are you even doing out there so late?"

I smile when I remember what I bought. "I'm glad you asked!"

He squints suspiciously as I open my bag to take a little blue box out. I offer it to him with both hands but he just stares at it cluelessly.

"Are you proposing to me?" he asks. "You beat me to it, huh? I was the one who's supposed to do it."

"N-No!"

I got flustered at what he said so I opened the box myself. I show it to him and he gives me a look of recognition and shakes his head amusedly. I take the bracelets out and wear the white one.

"Look, I finally bought it!"

"Obviously." He takes my hand to see the bracelet closely. "This is what you risked your life for?"

"I got it before the pot incident, okay? The other one's for, um, you..." I look down as I offer him the black bracelet.

"For me?" He chuckles. "What if I don't want it?"

"Oh..." I bite my bottom lip.

"Hey, I said what if I don't want it?"

"Then don't wear it..." My voice wavers.

"Are you going to cry?"

"No!"

He lifts my chin up and cups my face. "Don't cry, you'll look like a reindeer."

"Just give it back if you don't want it..."

"I'm just kidding, geez. You cry so easily." He laughs and wipes my eyes with the sleeve of his uniform.

"You're so annoying!" I whine but he just laughs harder.

He finally wears the bracelet and raises his arm to show me. He shakes his head with a little grin as I smile widely because it fits on him perfectly. "It does suit me, just like you. Satisfied?"

"Yes!" I nod happily.

"God, you're so easy to please..." He smirks. "My turn."

"Hmm?"

"Look at your surroundings better next time."

"But it came from above?"

"Then get your eyes fixed or it's your head."

"I already did! My eyes are very clear now and I haven't worn glasses in years." I blink up at him.

"Ah, Y/n..." He groans and covers my face with his hand. "You'll be the death of me."

I peak through his fingers. "You know, I could've been the ultimate good girl to your bad boy if only my eyesight was still bad." I giggle at my silly thoughts.

I wait for Minho to say that I'm clichéd, only for him to move his hand that's covering my face to the top of my head, and starts petting my hair with a soft smile on his lips. "Yes, you are."

The bell signalling the start of classes rings loudly throughout the whole school, but all I can hear is my fast heartbeat. My whole body feels warm and I'm overcome with an epiphany. I now realise what the weirdly nice sensation in my tummy is for.

I think I have a crush.

Oh no!

••••••••

You can imagine a better one but here's how the bracelets are (coz I'm basic heh):

Have you ever received a friendship bracelet before? How does it feel like living my dream? </3