Friday
As Jisung had rightly predicted, the blazing sun was just as strong as it had been the past few days. The blond was staring out the window of the computer lab, willing his guesses for tomorrow not to be true, but deep down he knew that come Saturday the weather would swing to torrential rain and possibly even thunder.
"Just my luck.. bet I jinxed it."
"Oh lighten up, Ji, Come play
Fire boy and Water girl with me."
"No thanks, Lix, you know I'm bad at it."
Felix and Jisung had rushed to the computer lab that lunchtime, as it was the one room in the school that had good air conditioning. However getting a seat was a battle, especially in this heat. Even though it was nice, most students had taken to staying indoors so they skipped out on a sunburn. This meant that the computer lab was packed with kids, but thankfully Felix and Jisung had bagged themselves two computers right next to the vent where the air con came out.
Felix looked up from his computer screen and focused on Jisung. The sun rays shone through the glass at a certain angle so that it lit up the blond's sandy locks, as well as highlighting his honey tanned skin. His expression was bored and blank, but the light brought out the golden speckles in his hazelnut brown eyes, making them seem almost caramel. Jisung sighed, and his cheeks puffed outwards as he did so, before he scrunched up his nose and went back to mindlessly staring out across the school yard.
Felix's own cheeks flushed pink, and he turned away hurriedly when his heart rate picked up. Would now be a good time? The boy bit his lip in anticipation, wondering if he should bring up what was on his mind; the thing that had been on his mind for the past couple of months. But he didn't know where Jisung's mind was at the moment, and he didn't want to interrupt his thoughts. Then again, this could be the best mood the blond would be in that week, and so if Felix didn't say anything he might not get another chance to make sure Jisung was listening.
The snowy haired boy's eyes trailed up to look at the screen. The two characters of the game he was playing stared back at him, as if telling him to do it, or not to. I'll close my eyes, and if I look at fireboy I ask. If I look at watergirl, I won't. Felix couldn't believe himself- he was using a video game to decide. The boy squeezed his eyes shut tightly, waited a few seconds, then opened them again. His eyes were immediately drawn to the orange character. Meaning a yes. Fuck.
Felix glanced back at Jisung, who's gaze hadn't budged from the scene outside the window. Trying to act casual, Felix stretched and gave a loud yawn. Jisung side eyed his friend, chuckling.
"What you laughing at?"
"It's just your face, when you yawn."
"What's wrong with my face when I yawn?!"
"Nothing nothing, it's cute that's all."
Felix bit the inside of his cheek, trying to calm his nerves. Jisung's somewhat flirty comment was not helping the situation, but it did give the younger a boost of hope. Breathing in, Felix spoke as clear as he could without letting his voice shake.
"Jisung, can I tell you something?"
The blond sat up from the low windowsill, noticing the pensive tone in Felix's voice. "Sure Lix, what's up?" The snowy haired boy blinked as he stared down at his finders, and a dorky smile slid onto his lips.
"Y'know we've, we've been friends for a good while now."
"Yeah, since the start of highschool,
so that's what, 6 years or so?"
"Aha yeah.. well, you remember
when I told you I wanted to be friends?"
"Of course I do, how could I
forget! You were a nervous wreck."
"Mhm." Felix gulped back the lump in his throat, willing himself to continue without fucking any of this up.
"Well, what if I told you, told you that.."
"Told me what, Lix?"
"What if I told you that, that I now
wanted to be.. to be more than, friends?"
There was silence between the two boys. It took Jisung a moment to process what Felix had meant, and by that point the younger was staring straight at the blond with round, optimistic eyes. That hopefulness in Felix's pretty chocolate irises stung Jisung's heart like a thorn, because he knew that it was about to fall apart.
Because Jisung couldn't say yes.
Felix and Jisung had become friends at the very start of highschool. Back then Felix had been much shorter than Jisung, a good ten inches below the blond. He'd had dark brown hair and a soft, kid like face that was covered in freckles.
Felix had taken an interest in Jisung on the first day. The currently blond locks on the boy's head were once brown too, a little lighter than Felix's and straighter. The older hadn't changed as much as Felix had in the highschool days though. He still had his cheeks, and he was pretty much the same height after 6 years.
Perhaps that's why Felix had now developed different feelings for his friend.
As for Felix, well, he'd of course changed dramatically. His hair was as white as the clouds but as brittle as ice, his jawline was sharp and his freckles had faded everywhere except his cheeks. He'd shot up past Jisung in their 4th year, and had stayed a constant couple of inches above the blond.
Perhaps that's why Jisung hadn't developed different feelings for his friend.
The Felix from 6 years ago had been, in a lot of ways, Jisung's ideal type, despite Jisung of course not being interested in dating at the age of 11. But as much as Felix was handsome now, had a much deeper voice and had matured past his youth, the blond couldn't bring himself to feel anything more than a mutual friendship towards the snowy haired boy. A friendship that was now not so mutual.
There was nothing to not like about Felix either. He was a ball of positive energy, the true sunshine in Jisung's life, and always made the blond feel safe and happy when they were together.
Felix was the person Jisung ran to when he was panicking about his exams.
Felix was the person to cheer Jisung on every sports day when the blond was doing his 400 metre sprint.
Felix was the person to give Jisung constructive feedback on his baking.
Felix was the friend Jisung had always wanted to have.
But he couldn't love Felix the same way Felix loved him.
Jisung had to say something quick, as he could see the wishfulness in Felix's eyes falter. Why does everyone I love hold their feelings in their eyes, for me to see?
"Felix.. you know I love you a lot but, but I don't feel that way about you.." Jisung's whole body ached when he saw the light in the snowy haired boy's eyes go out. That light that he knew so well, that was at the centre of Felix's personality. It was as if the blond had put out the flame with his words. That one rejection being enough to blow out the warmth in Felix's soul.
Felix felt his eyes prick with tears, but he blinked them away as fast as they came. He forced himself to smile, though it wasn't one of joy or sorrow. It was just one of empty pain.
"That's, that's okay, it's what I, I expected." Jisung went to reach and grab Felix's hand, but at that moment the bell sounded out in the distance. Felix had dance, and Jisung had to go pick up Heijin and Heihyun from a friend's house. The world was forbidding the blond from making anything better, because as much as Felix said it was okay, the frail sound of his voice told Jisung it was anything but.
"I have to go, so do you."
"Wait Felix-"
"I can't be late, Jisung."
Jisung could only watch in dismay as his friend began packing up his things with a sense of urgency. The chance was escaping out of the blond's hands, and he quickly stood up, half hoping it would make Felix stop. But it didn't. Without looking back the younger got caught in the crowd of students who were all migrating towards the door, and soon disappeared out of Jisung's sight, like he had been a mere illusion.
Jisung stood still as the room emptied of everyone, leaving him alone. The blond slumped into his chair and placed his head in his hands, thinking about what he could do. There wasn't much he could do, as he'd ran out of time and was now choosing to waste it while considering how not to.
Why don't I like Felix that way?
Jisung did know why, but at the same time it was something he wasn't really sure about. Something in his heart was pulling him towards someone else - Minho. Sure he'd only known the brunette for less than a week, but there was something about Minho that made Jisung feel something. It was like a sickly sweet nasua that made him loopy with exhilaration every time he made the walk to the older's house. It made him flustered and embarrassed every time Minho laughed at his stumbles or goofy actions. It made his heart twist with nerves every time he found himself staring at Minho when they were talking, or vise versa when he caught Minho staring at him. He couldn't feel the same way.. Could he?
~~~
Minho was a little confused when he was called to see the head of his ward, as the senior GPs tended to pay little attention to him. But still he went along, knocking on the door of Mr. Chwe's office and entering when his name was called. Minho was anxious to say the least as he sat across from his boss, and even though it wasn't really a boss-worker dynamic, the brunette still felt a little intimidated being his senior GP. Probably because he tended to get criticized for random, insignificant things by the rest of his ward, and even though it was a professional environment gossip still traveled fast.
"Stop looking so worried, Lee, I'm not discussing any sort of shit talk." Minho didn't like Mr. Chwe very much. He found him to be too laid back and careless, unqualified if you will. Not that the brunette was trying to be rude, but then again Minho got slandered for just about everything.
"What are we here to discuss then."
"Geez, no need to sound so cold
Minho, it's something good."
"Your idea of good is
somewhat immature."
"Hey, watch it. I'm your
senior, remember?"
"How could I forget."
Mr. Chwe rolled his eyes at Minho's irritable tone. The brunette couldn't believe this dipshit was older than him, yet here they were, wasting time in which Minho could be preparing for his next patient. If his scheduling was correct he was certain he had Mr. Jeon coming in after his break to talk about his ligament replacement, and really he could do with-
"I'm giving you a promotion." Minho jolted forward as if he had been falling, face creasing as he raised his eyebrows. Did I hear that correctly? The brunette had never been awarded a promotion in his life, and due to the history of his ward being complete jerks to him it was hard to believe that this was anything but a sick prank. However Mr. Chwe's unbothered expression told Minho it most definitely was not a joke, otherwise his superior would most likely be laughing his ass off.
"You're being serious, right?"
"I want you to know that I wish I wasn't." Mr. Chwe grumbled, evidently pissed off at just the thought of Minho being given a raise. "You'll get a 10% increase, since I feel nice, but you're required to work extra hours if asked on Wednesdays." The brunette felt like that was less of a promotion and more like he was being forced to do more work for more pay, but he still felt quite proud of the achievement. After doing some quick maths in his head, Minho worked out that he was still a fair bit short on being able to send Heijin and Heihyun to school, but that he'd be able to buy them those science textbooks that they'd been begging for for so long. He could maybe take the boys out for a meal or something too, once he collected his pay cheque next week. Perhaps I could invite Jisung too..
Minho stood up and bowed low, pushing a few hairs that had come loose out of his brightly lit eyes as he straightened up. "Thank you, Mr. Chwe, I greatly appreciate this." The aforementioned scoffed at the brunette's gratitude, as if no amount of 'thank you's could heal the agony of having to give Lee Minho, of all people, a promotion.
"Whatever, now go away would you? I don't need you to shout it for the whole ward to hear." Minho couldn't care less at the snide comment he earnt, leaving the office as fast as he could to go find Chan. He soon tracked him down in the break room, laughing silently as he watched the older swipe up most of the bread rolls from the table of refreshments.
"As a doctor I am required to advise you how genuinely bad carbohydrates are for you."
"Oh shove off Mr-Keto-Diet,
lemme enjoy my bread in peace.
Anyways where have you been?"
"Chwe's office, I got a promotion Chan!"
"Shut up, really?" Chan dropped his food back onto the table to sling his arm around Minho, shaking his friend's shoulders in amazement. "Fuck yeah, bet he was fuming. I'm so proud of you, Min." The brunette couldn't help but chuckle at Chan's prideful fatherly attitude towards his achievement, feeling even better than before now that he shared it with someone who actually cared about him. He couldn't wait to tell the boys and, strangely enough, Jisung as well. Minho didn't know why, but he felt like Jisung would be as ecstatic as Chan was if he told him, a thought that made the brunette feel something flutter in his heart.
The two decided to spend their break celebrating in Chan's office, and after gathering around 90% of the snacks from the refreshment table they made their way back while trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. What Minho didnt know as he used up the remainder of his free time with his friend, chatting about how shitty their ward was and how this was the biggest fuck you to the other GPs in their history of working there, was that he missed a call. A call that also left a message.
"Hi Minho, I guess you're too busy to give a fuck about your full custody. I'm heading to your house now, and believe me when I say if you don't open that door and let me see the kids then I'll break it down myself."