Chapter 1

OO1. The Roof

“I want to break up.”

I wasn’t expecting to hear those words. Sure, it was obvious Yuri and I wouldn’t last much longer, but I thought it would last till at least Prom.

“Why?”

“Don’t pretend, Minho ,” she said. She took my hand in hers and smiled at me, “We weren’t meant to be.”

I smiled at her, “Friends?”

“Of course,” she giggled. She waved at me before she walked away.

I watched her walk away. There was nothing I could do to stop her. I was a bit relieved actually. It wasn’t that I didn’t care for Yuri, I did, but she wasn’t the one for me. Who knows who that is?

“YAH! LEE TAEMIN!”

I turned right when someone ran into my chest. I looked down to see long red hair, but I couldn’t see the person’s face. It was hidden behind long bangs.

The person who ran into me turned to the direction of Kim Kibum, the school’s well known diva. I heard him chuckle before he ran off in the other direction.

Kibum ran up to me and glared, “Why didn’t you stop him?”

I shrugged, “I didn’t know I was supposed to.”

Kibum rolled his eyes at me, “Some ace you are.”

I watched as he ran after the mysterious red head in interest. Not because of Kibum himself, but because of red head. I’ve never seen him before. I knew he was a male because when he ran into me, it was obvious.

“ Minho .”

I looked over at Jonghyun, who stared at me in interest, “You coming?”

I looked back in the direction Kibum and the mysterious boy ran, “Yeah.”

---

“I was thinking that we could go to the mountains on break,” Donghae said to everyone.

“Oh, that sounds like fun,” Yoochun grinned. “What do you guys think?”

Jonghyun shrugged, “We can stay at my family’s house, so I don’t see why not. What do you think, Minho ?”

I stared at my lunch tray, not really interested in the conversation. I was still thinking about this weird feeling I’ve been having, not to mention I’m still wondering about the mystery boy.

“ Minho !”

I jumped and turned to look at my friends, “What?”

“You really need to stop spacing out. It’s getting really serious,” Eunhyuk said, crossing his arms on the table, “What is up with you?”

“I don’t know,” I groaned, “I just feel different. I’m waiting for something to happen, but the thing is… I don’t know what I’m waiting for.”

Jonghyun stared at me before looking at everyone else at the table, “I’m I stupid or is Minho insane?”

“The first one.”

Everyone looked at Kibum, who was grinning at Jonghyun. “Hey, everyone.”

“Yah, I’m not stupid,” Jonghyun protested.

“No, he’s right,” Yoochun agreed, earning a glare from the captain of the basketball team.

I looked up at Kibum, “What do you want Key?”

“Professor Jung, aka sex on legs, is looking for you,” Kibum informed before he walked away.

Jonghyun rolled his eyes, “He is so fucking gay.”

I patted Jonghyun’s back, “and you so want to do him.”

“Of course,” Jonghyun grinned, “He wants me too!”

“Sure he does,” I said, getting up. I waved at my friends as I made my way to Professor Jung’s office. I knocked and waited for a response before I walked in, “Professor?”

“Come in.”

I pushed opened the door and saw Professor Jung sitting behind his desk, his attention on some papers in front of him. “Sit down.”

I nodded as I walked over to the chair in front of his desk. I took a seat and waited patiently for him to look up. He made a few marks on the paper in front of him before he set his pen down and pulled off his glasses, “How are you, Minho ?”

“Fine, why?”

“You seem distracted lately.”

I wanted to roll my eyes. He’s the third person to tell me I’ve been indifferent lately. I didn’t even think it was that big of deal honestly, but apparently everyone is on Minho watch.

“I’m perfectly fine. Just got a lot on my mind,” I replied.

I saw the look on Professor Jung’s face. He was worried. He’s been a friend of my father for so long and I consider him a friend outside of school. I don’t even know why I’m lying to him.

“Are you going to tell me the truth?”

“Prof-“

“Yunho. Right now, I’m your friend. Now what is wrong?”

I shrugged, “Yunho,… I don’t know what the truth is. I’ll tell you the same thing I told Jonghyun and Eunhyuk. I just feel different. I want something to happen. That’s it. I can’t tell you exactly what is distracting me.”

Professor Jung nodded his head, “I understand… kind of. Minho , if this feeling gets stronger, please talk to me.”

“I will,” I said. We said our goodbyes before I left the classroom. Lunch had ended when I was in Professor Jung’s office and everyone was in their classes. I was on my way to my class when I saw the sign pointing to the roof. I wasn’t a suicidal person, far from it, but I needed fresh air.

I walked up the steps and opened the door, surprised to find it open at all. I closed the door behind me and walked to the railing. I leaned against it and closed my eyes. I liked this feeling… whatever it was. It felt good.

“What are you doing up here?”

I jumped and turned, expecting to see a teacher, but I didn’t. I saw a guy and he wasn’t just any guy. He was the mystery guy who ran into me earlier this morning.

“Are you deaf? I asked you why you’re up here.”

“O-Oh, I needed air,” I replied.

He seemed to be satisfied with my answer since he shrugged. I watched as he walked over to a chair that he probably kept up here. He sat down and looked at me, “Can I help you? You are gawking at me.”

“S-sorry. It’s just I’ve never seen you before until this morning,” I stated.

The boy chuckled, “Well, you’re Choi Minho, the school’s ace player. I wouldn’t expect you to know who I am.”

I walked over to him and sat down on the ground, leaning against the building, “Are you going to tell me who you are so I know?”

“No.”

“Why not?” I asked, disappointed.

He smiled at me, “Because if I tell you, you’d know who I am. It would be more fun if you tried to guess who I was.”

“But I don’t know you.”

“You do actually. I’ve been in your class since kindergarten,” he replied.

I was stunned when I heard that. I’ve known this boy for a long time, but I he doesn’t look familiar.

I looked at his face closely. His eyes were blue, probably wearing contacts. His nose was perfectly fitting on his face. His cheeks were high, but not that bad. His lips were plump. If I had to pick one word to describe him, it would be beautiful.

“How could I not remembering see you?” I asked, not really expecting an answer. The question was more for myself then anything.

“Maybe you were looking, but not really seeing,” he smiled.

I smiled softly, “I feel really bad now.”

“Don’t. People like you and me are different,” he said, leaning back and staring up at the sky.

My eyebrows knitted together, “What do you mean?”

“You, Choi Minho, live your life with goals and ambitions, while live life like it’s my last day,” he said, looking at me. His eyes were sparkling.

“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing to want a future,” I stated, resting my arms on my legs.

He shook his head, “I’m not saying that. All I’m saying is how often do you just sit back and watch the clouds go by?”

I stared at him and by the look on his face, he already knew my answer. Never.

He got up and patted my shoulder, “It was nice talking to you, Choi Minho.”

I jumped up and called for him, “Hey?”

He turned to me and titled his head, “What?”

“Give me a hint. Just one hint to help me figure out who you are.”

He grinned at me, “Lee.”

“What?”

“My surname… is Lee,” he chuckled as he walked down the steps.

I rolled my eyes, an amused smile on my face. Of course his surname would be Lee.

Chapter 2

OO2. What's In A Name?

I spent all night flipping through my yearbooks, but I could not find this mystery boy. He had to be in there, but I kept missing him.

I was getting frustrated and threw my yearbook at the wall. I ran my hand threw my hair, groaning at how pitiful I was. I should have been doing my homework, but I had to find this boy.

---

I made my way up the steps during my free period in hopes of seeing the mystery boy. I pushed opened the door and closed it behind me. I looked around for any sign of him, but it was obvious he wasn’t here.

I sighed as I sat down in the chair he was in yesterday. I closed my eyes and laid my head back, taking in the sunlight and fresh air. It felt great. I looked up at the sky and watched the clouds pass by. It was… refreshing.

---

My chin was resting on my hand as I stared off into space. I spent all night flipping through yearbooks, I didn’t go to sleep till two in the morning and I still couldn’t find out who the boy was. It was pissing me off. It shouldn’t have been so hard.

I jumped when a bag was slammed in front of me. I looked up to see Kibum glaring at me, “Good morning, Key.”

“Don’t good morning me, Choi Minho. What are you going to do?” He asked, venom literally seeping out of his lips.

“Going to do about what?”

“This,” Kibum dumped the contents of his bag on my desk. Scattered throughout makeup and pens and cash were little notes, plastic dinosaurs, and hearts. “This has Jonghyun written all over it.”

I picked up a piece of paper with Jonghyun’s name on it, “I can see that. Why are you coming to me about this?”

“HE is your friend and if I see HIM, I will kill HIM. Deal with him, Minho or I will,” Kibum said, picking out all the things that belonged in his bag. Before he left, I called him. He turned to me, “What?”

“The red head. What’s his name?” I asked.

Kibum stared at me in confusion, “What red h- OH! You mean Taemin? Didn’t you hear me call out his name when he ran into you?”

My face flushed. I completely forgot about that. “W-well, do you know where he is?”

“He’s not here today. Why?” Kibum asked, walking over to me again. He sat in the chair in front of my desk and stared at me in interest, “I didn’t even know you knew Taemin existed.”

“Honestly, I didn’t either till yesterday. I saw him on the roof and we talked, but he wouldn’t tell me his name,” I said, reliving the details in my head. His smile was what I remembered the most.

“Why are you suddenly interested in him?” Kibum questioned.

I shrugged, “I can’t honestly say, but I he’s interesting. Different even.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, it’s not,” I said shaking my head. I smiled softly, “It’s a good thing.”

Kibum smiled at me, “I’m going to give you some advice.”

I leaned forward waiting for him to continue.

“Stay away from Taemin,” he said, getting up.

I looked at him, confusion evident, “Why?”

He glanced over his shoulder, “Because people like you can’t handle people like Taemin. It’s best to stay with your people.”

I watched Kibum leave the room, a frown on my face. I wasn’t expecting that, but he had a point. Taemin and Kibum were different. People talked about Kibum behind his back endlessly. I never joined in because I liked Kibum. He was cool and didn’t care. He was his own person and he was proud and that is more then I can say about other people.

---

When I got home, I ran to my room quickly and started flipping through my years books. Lee Taemin. Lee Taemin. Lee Taemin. He was in every single one of them, but I didn’t notice him. I picked up last years' year book and flipped to the page. I stared at his picture. He doesn’t look that different. He still had reddish hair, but it was shorter and curly.

I dropped the book and noticed a name in the back. I wanted to punch myself.

‘Another year, Minho . Taemin.’

I rubbed my temples. I felt like a horrible person. He even signed my year book last year. Way to go, Minho . You are the biggest douche in the world.

I rested my cheek on my hand and read some of the other things people said.

‘Ace! This year was great! Let’s go for another good year, Eunhyuk. :D’

‘ Minho ! Call me. –Yuri <3’

‘Dude, if you ignore me this summer, I’m gonna come after you! Your bestest friend in the whole wide world, Jong’

I saw a lot of ‘have a good summer’ and it made him frown. Half the people that signed his year book, we’re people Minho hardly talked to.

‘Choi Minho! Have a great summer, alright? Diva Key~ <3’

‘We don’t talk, but have a good summer! Junsu!’

‘Who are you? Oh! You’re Choi Minho? My bad! –Mir’

I slammed the yearbook shut and buried my face in my hands. Who was I?

---

Jonghyun came over and we were lounging next to the pool, soaking up the sun. Jonghyun was talking about something, but I wasn’t listening.

“You know. I’m getting sick and tired of you ignoring me,” he glared.

I looked over him, “Why?”

“Why I hate you right now? ‘Cause your-“

“Why don’t we talk to Key and Taemin?”

“First off, I talk to Key and second, who is Taemin?” Jonghyun asked.

I sat up, “That’s exactly what I mean! We are surrounded by a whole group of people we call ‘friends’, but the fact is, we ignore everyone who isn’t one of us.”

Jonghyun titled his head and gawked at me, “Dude, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“Can you honestly say that half the people we talk to are our friends? Can you honestly say you like everyone?” I questioned.

“No, but what does this have to do with Key and…”

“Taemin.”

“Taemin, right. What is this all of a sudden?” Jonghyun asked. He stood up and sat down next to me, “ Minho , what is going on with you, man?”

I sighed and looked up at the cloud, “I just want to watch the cloud pass me by.”

I ignored the look Jonghyun was given me, “Are you on crack?”

I punched his arm and chuckled, “No, I’m not on crack. I just want to have a moment to myself. I don’t know. Ignore me, maybe I am going crazy.”

Jonghyun swung his arm over my shoulder, “If something is wrong, Min. You can tell me.”

I smiled at him, “I know.”

Everyone wants to know what exactly is wrong with me, but I can’t figure it out. Maybe, against Kibum’s advice, I should talk to Taemin.

Chapter 3

OO3. Blue

Going against what Kibum said, I returned to the roof in hopes of seeing Taemin and my search was lucky; he was there.

He looked up at me, surprise on his face, “So you really have been looking for me?”

I took a seat next to him, “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, not really, just… surprising. Key told me you asked about me. You know my name now I’m betting,” Taemin stated with a smile.

“You’d be right, Lee Taemin. Wanna know something funny?” I asked.

He nodded his head, “I was looking through my yearbooks before Key told your name and I couldn’t fine you until after I found out your name and then I noticed you signed my year book.”

Taemin leaned back in his chair, “Well, I bet you feel like a douche bag.”

“A huge douche bag. I’m sorry,” I sighed.

He looked and me and shook his head, “Don’t be. I doubt ninety percent of the school has no idea who I am and I’d like to keep it that way.”

I lifted and eyebrow in interest, “Why is that?”

“The people I have around me are people I want around. They don’t pretend to like me and they honestly want to be friends with me and you, no offence, are surrounded by people who probably don’t even know you favorite color,” Taemin stated with a small smile.

I looked down at my hands. I’d have to test that out later. “It’s blue.”

“What?” Taemin asked, looking at me.

“Blue is my favorite color,” I stated looking in his eyes. Yesterday was my favorite color was green, but now it was blue? I blamed Taemin.

Taemin smiled at me and I felt my heart do a tiny flip, “Mine is red.”

“Why?”

He shrugged, “I don’t know.”

I couldn’t help, but smile. Secretly, I was hoping he said that because I was wearing red, but I doubted it.

---

Jonghyun and I were at a new diner that opened up a few blocks away from school when a few other people arrived; Yoochun, Eunhyuk, DongHae, and Changsun.

“I say Professor Kim is jealous of me,” Changsun said, an aggravated look on his face.

“Why would he be jealous of you?” Eunhyuk questioned.

Changsun gave Eunhyuk a look, “Have you seen me? I’m beautiful.”

“Dude, listen to me when I say you don’t even compare to Professor Kim. He’s is very beautiful,” Donghae laughed.

“Can we please stop talking about Jaejoong?” I groaned. It was bad enough I had to listen to Yunho talk about him all day; I didn’t want my friends to be gushing over him either.

“Hey, don’t rub your friendship with the teachers in our faces,” Jonghyun chuckled. He looked up and his mouth fell open. All of us looked to see what he was staring out. There was a guy with his back to us, picking something off the floor. Obviously we were staring at his back view.

He turned around and my mouth fell open. Taemin. His hair was in a messy pony tail, with a black t-shirt, grey skinny jeans and black and white chucks. Not to mention he had an apron around his waist.

He pushed some hair behind his ear before he caught sight of us. He smirked as he made his way over to us, “Can I get you all anything?”

“A sneak peek,” Jonghyun smirked. I punched his arm and he glared at me, “What the hell man? It was a joke. Jesus.”

Taemin chuckled, “So are you going to order something or not?”

“You look familiar,” Eunhyuk mumbled.

“I go to your school,” Taemin replied.

“No, shit,” Donghae said, surprise on his face, “Who are you again?”

Taemin sighed, ready to answer, but I said before him, “Taemin. Lee Taemin,” he looked at me and smiled, “So you work here?”

“Yeah, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night. Why?” He asked.

“Just wondering,” I replied, a smile on my face.

I could tell Jonghyun was staring at me, in interest, but I ignored him as I smiled at Taemin.

After we finished our meal, we headed out. I waved at Taemin as I left. Jonghyun and I separated from the others as we headed back to the school to get our cars.

“That was the Taemin guy you were talking about?” Jonghyun asked when we were a block away from school.

“Yeah, why?” I questioned.

Jonghyun shrugged, “He’s hot. I’m surprised I’ve never noticed him before. I mean, damn, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him.”

I stared at Jonghyun in interest. I already didn’t like where this was going, “And you’re telling me this because?”

“Because I want to ask him out,” Jonghyun shrugged.

“What about Key?” I asked. Jonghyun had the biggest crush on Kibum ever since the ninth grade. Kibum grew up a lot over that summer.

Jonghyun looked at me, “After everything I’ve tried he still hates me.”

“You called him fat in the eighth grade if you remember,” I sighed, shaking my head.

“Yes, I remember and I said I was sorry,” Jonghyun retorted, “But Taemin… wow. Give me the details.”

“What details?”

Jonghyun groaned and put his arm on my shoulder. There was a two inch height difference between Jonghyun and me, so a bystander would find this amusing, “Like what he likes in a guy.”

I shrugged Jonghyun off, “I don’t know. I just met him the day before yesterday.”

“Damn. Well, see you tomorrow,” he said, walking away from me.

---

I wrapped my towel around my waist, and walked out of the bathroom. I picked up my phone when I heard it ring, “Hello?”

“ Minho hyung?”

I smiled softly. I knew that voice, “Taemin, how did you get my number? I’m kind of worried.”

“Oh, please,” I could hear him laughing softly, “I got it from Key’s phone.”

I knotted my eyebrows, “How does Key have my number?”

There was a small silence till we both laughed. Kibum probably had the number of the President Obama, “What do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

“Just felt like saying hello,” Taemin replied.

I sat on the edge of my bed and smiled. It was strange this feeling Taemin gave my, but I liked it, “Hello.”

“Hello,” Taemin replied.

We sat in a comfortable silence till there was a knock on my door, “ Minho? Dinner time.”

I covered the phone with my hand, “Coming,” I removed my hand and sighed, “I have to go.”

“Oh, alright. I do too. I’ll… see you tomorrow?” He asked. I couldn’t help but notice that he sounded hopeful.

“Of course. Rooftop, fifth period,” I replied.

“Alright, tomorrow then.”

“Tomorrow,” I replied. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

Neither of us hung up right away, “This is where we hang up."

I heard Taemin chuckle, “Yeah… bye.”

I smiled softly, “Bye.”

When I heard Taemin hang up, I decided to hang up. I stared at my phone and smiled. I saved Taemin’s name under ‘Minnie’. He would never look at my phone now.

Chapter 4

OO4. I Get It

I don’t know why I was so anxious the whole day. Throughout my first four classes, I’d stare at the clock, watching the big hand every time.

“Yo, Minho .”

I looked over at Jonghyun, who was seated next to me, “Why are you so angsty today?”

“I’m not angsty,” I retorted. I looked back at the clock. Just one more minute.

I tapped my foot against the floor as I waited for that annoying bell to ring. Once it did, I was out of my seat, bag on my shoulder, heading out of the door. I was at the first step when someone called my name. I turned to see Jonghyun, “What is it?”

“Professor Kim wanted to talk to you, but you left class, so I came to find you.”

I groaned inwardly, “Alright. I’m going then.”

---

After my discussion with Jaejoong, which consisted of questions relating to Yunho, I made my way to the roof. I walked up the steps and pushed open the door, ready to see Taemin, but he wasn’t alone. Jonghyun was there.

They were laughing about something, I didn’t know what, but they both looked at me and waved.

Taemin smiled at me, “Hello, Minho hyung.”

I couldn’t help, but smile back, “Hey, Taemin.”

Jonghyun patted my back and smiled, “So this is where you’ve been disappearing to every day during fifth period.”

I gave Jonghyun a look, “What are you doing up here?”

“I saw that you were about to go to the roof, so being the curious person I am, I decided to take a look,” he explained. He looked at Taemin and smiled, “I saw Taemin was up here and we got to talking.”

“Jonghyun hyung is really funny,” Taemin stated.

“Yeah, so funny,” I mumbled. He looked at me and by the look on my face; he knew what I was trying to say.

“O-oh, seems like Minho here wants me to leave. I’ll see you later, Taemin,” he said waving at Taemin. He looked at me, “ Minho .”

I watched him leave before I took a seat next to Taemin, “Was he bothering you?”

“Not really, why?” Taemin asked curiously.

“Jonghyun… can be a handful sometimes,” I said with a shrug. “If he wasn’t bothering you then it’s okay."

“Mmm,” he hummed. He poked my shoulder, “Did you send him away ‘cause you wanted to be alone with me.”

“You wish,” I chuckled.

He laughed, “You don’t have to lie, Minho . I’m pretty amazing and you know it.”

I just smiled. I didn’t want to say that he was completely right. “So how long have you been working at the diner?”

“A few weeks. It’s pretty boring though. I wouldn’t have even applied if it weren’t for the fact I had nothing better to do,” Taemin explained tapping his foot on the ground, humming to himself, “Hyung! I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“Remember how we told each other what our favorite color is, why don’t we play twenty questions?” He asked with a smile.

I nodded my head, “Sounds fun, go ahead.”

“Alright,” he tapped his finger on his chin, “Pop or rap?”

“Both. Pop because it is something you can dance to and rap because I like to rap,” I said with a grin.

He lifted an eyebrow, “You… rap?”

“Yes, I rap and no, I’m not going to,” I chuckled, “My turn. Math or science?”

“Neither, both are useless,” he said, with a shrug.

I couldn’t help but laugh. He really was funny.

---

We talked the whole time, until the warning bell for sixth period went off, “We skipped lunch,” he said, getting up.

“We did,” I said, nodding my head, “Maybe we could grab a late lunch after school.”

“Choi Minho, are you asking me out?” Taemin asked, as he was walked down the stairs.

I shrugged, “Would you say no if I said it was?”

He stopped and looked at me, “No, I would defiantly say yes if it was.”

“Then… it’s a date,” I smiled.

He smiled back to me, “A date. See you after school,” he said, before he walked away, hands in his pocket.

I watched him walk away, a dorky smile on my face. I was excited for after school and that meant I would be anxious all throughout sixth and seventh periods. He really does things to me.

“I told you to stay away from him.”

I sighed before I turned around to face Kibum, “I don’t want to stay away from him.”

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kick your ass?”

“Jonghyun is trying to get with Taemin.”

The look on Kibum’s face didn’t surprise. I knew that Kibum liked Jonghyun even though Jonghyun did call him fat. He liked the attention Jonghyun gave him. He liked playing hard to get and he just loved telling me about it.

He sighed, “If you hurt him, I was castrate you, Choi Minho.”

“Accepted, but keep Jonghyun at bay,” I said. We shared a nod before we went our separate ways.

---

I was casually leaning against my car as I waited for Taemin. I was the first one out of class and I felt like such an idiot. I never acted this way. I had no idea what was wrong with me.

My face lit up when I saw Taemin walking my way. I saw him wave to someone before he walked up to me. He looked at my car and grinned, “This… is your car.”

I looked at my Aston Martin, then back at him, “Yeah, why? You don’t like it?”

“No, I love it! You have to let me drive it,” he said excitedly.

“Oh, no, not going to happen. This is my pride and joy,” I said, shaking my head.

He pouted at me, “You’re one of them.”

I titled my head, “One of who?”

“One of those guys who loves his car so much, it’s like his life source,” Taemin explained opening the door to passenger’s seat, “You have leather coverings? Damn.”

I couldn’t help, but laugh, “Yes, I do.”

“ Minho !”

I looked over to Eunhyuk running over. “What is it?”

“Coach wants everyone in the gym for practice,” he said, catching his breath.

I looked over at Taemin in apology. He shut the door and smiled, “It’s alright. Basketball calls or is it soccer?”

“I’ll make it up to you tomorrow,” I said.

“Don’t worry about it,” he replied. He waved at me before he made his way over to Kibum who was watching us from his pink convertible.

I turned to Eunhyuk and glared, “Dude,” I punched his arm as I made my way inside.

“I didn’t know,” he whined as he followed me inside.

Chapter 5

OO5. Foul Play

I felt horrible for leaving Taemin. It was going to be a date. Out first date! I feel like a school girl right now, and it’s his fault. He does this to me.

Jonghyun was staring at me, “So… I guess that means Taemin is off limits.”

“Yes, off limits,” I said, looking at him, “Seriously though, why give up on Key?”

Jonghyun sighed, “Well, one, he hates me and two, if something did happen between us, my mother would cut my balls off for sure.”

“I did not need that mental image,” I shuddered. I knew how Jonghyun’s mother could be. She wouldn’t honestly go through with it.

I stared out the window, looking at the trees blow. Something caught my eye. Taemin. I watched as he talked with some of his friends in the courtyard. I saw him look in my direction, but I was about fifteen feet away in my classroom. There was no way he saw me. When he turned away, I knew he didn’t see him.

I sighed, and looked at my notes or what was supposed to be notes. Instead there were little doodles. Little hearts that said M+T. I groaned as I ripped the paper out and made it into a little ball. He turned me into a complete girl.

“ Minho .”

I saw the ruler tapping on my desk and I immediately shuddered. I looked up to see Mrs. Yang smiling at me. “Front of the class.”

I looked at Jonghyun, who was trying hard not to laugh. I mouthed something vulgar before I made my way to the front of the class.

---

I was on my way to third period when I saw Taemin, leaning against his locker. I made my way over to him and smiled, “Hey.”

He didn’t even look at me. His eyes were focused on the floor. I sighed and poked his shoulder, finally getting his attention, “I didn’t mean to leave you yesterday. I had no idea coach was going to call and early practice. I said I was going to make it up to you. I really like you.”

He stared at me for a minute till he reached for his ears, pulling out his ear phones, “Were you saying something?”

My face flushed as I walked away, feeling completely embarrassed. I kind of confessed and he didn’t even hear it. I’m such an idiot.

“Wait, Minho hyung,” he called, grabbing my arm to make me stop. He smiled at me, “Did I just embarrass you? I’m sorry. Go ahead; say what you were going to say. I’m all ears.”

I thought about for a second till I looked at him ready to answer, but he pointed at something, “What’s that?”

I sighed and began walking away, but he pulled me back, “I’m kidding, I’m just kidding. Geez. Let’s just go to the roof.”

He wrapped his arm around mine and pulled me to the roof, but I stopped him, “I have to go to third period.”

“Just skip it,” he said with a smile.

“I-I can’t do that. I-I’ve never-“

“There is always a first,” he said, pulling me to the roof. As we headed to the roof, I heard Eunhyuk call to me, but I was already going up the steps.

---

I spent the rest of my day on the roof with Taemin. I almost completely forgot we were in school till the last bell rang.

I jumped up and started to panic, “We skipped the rest of school! Shit, my dad is going to kill me!”

Taemin casually leaned against his chair, “Is it really that big of a deal?”

I looked at Taemin like he was crazy, “Of course it is! If someone finds out I skipped-“

“They’ll what?” Taemin questioned, “They’ll say it was a sudden act of rebellion and move on. Face it, Minho hyung. People won’t care. You skipped five classes. You’ll get caught up in no time.”

I rolled my eyes, “I’m not like you. I can’t just skip and be okay with it. This isn’t who I am.”

Taemin stood up and looked at me, “Then why did you stay?”

I stared into his blue eyes. He should know why I stayed. I stayed because I wanted to make him laugh and smile. I wanted to listen to him talk about his life and the things he liked. I wanted to be around him.

He patted my shoulder, “This is the kind of person I am. If you can’t handle it, stop coming here. Bye, hyung.”

I heard the door to the roof slam shut and I cursed myself for being so stupid.

---

I walked into the gym and looked up. Everyone was looking at me, “What?”

“You skipped all of your classes today,” Eunhyuk said, walking over to me, “I saw you with that kid from the diner. Why did you ignore me?”

“I didn’t hear what you said,” I shrugged, “It was just a few classes. What is the big deal?”

“The big deal?” Jonghyun asked, glaring at me. He kicked the soccer ball at me, but it missed, “You skipped FIVE classes Minho . Not one, not two, but FIVE! We have our big game tonight and our Ace player is on the bench.”

My eyes widened, “What do you mean I’m on the bench?!”

“You skipped classes, Minho . The punishment is being benched,” Couch Choi said, walking out from locker room.

“Siwon, you can’t do this. It is the first time I've ever skipped. Don't I get a warning?” I asked, walking over to him. Siwon was my brother and coach of the soccer team, and he just loved torturing me.

Siwon smiled at me, “Actually, I can. When I became coach of this team, it is I who has the right to bench players when they mess up. This right here, little brother, is justice.”

“This isn’t justice! This is total bull shit and you know it,” I yelled.

Siwon pointed to the bleachers, “You’re benched. Take a seat while we practice before the game.”

I glared at him, not stepping down till I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Jonghyun’s, “Just sit down before you get kicked off the team.”

I shot my brother one last look before he walked away calling to the team, “Twenty push-ups, now!”

Jonghyun patted my back before he ran over to the team. I sighed and threw my towel on the bleachers. I held my hands to my hips as I chewed on my lip. I made a huge mistake and I was pissed.

---

I was sitting on the bench watching my team play against our rival school. I kept pacing back and forth on the side of the field, calling out to my team. I didn’t like this feeling.

“ Minho hyung.”

I turned to see Taemin leaning against the railing of the bleachers. “Can we talk?”

I turned to look at my team say moved, “STAY TO THE LEFT!”

I took slow steps to Taemin, keeping my eyes on the field, “What do you want?”

“Key hyung told me it was my fault you aren’t playing right now and I want to say I’m sorry. I didn’t actually think YOU’D get in trouble,” Taemin said, staring out at the field.

I looked up at him, “Why do you think I wouldn’t get in trouble?”

Taemin looked down at me, “Because you’re Choi Minho. THE Choi Minho. I thought that everyone ate out of the palm of your hand.”

“Why do you think that? Because I get good grades, I’m good at sports, I’m always at school and I’m popular? Really low of you, Taemin. Real low,” I grounded out.

He seemed a bit taken back, “Well, excuse me. You aren’t exactly from my neck of the woods, so of course I’ll bunch you up with the rest of your ‘friends.’”

“That is it,” I pulled myself up using the railing, so I was now standing in front of Taemin, glaring down at him, “I’m sick of this. You act like you know me, but the truth is you don’t. Yes, I get good grades. Yes, I come to school and have lots of friends, but I’m nothing like any of these people.”

“How so?” Taemin asked, his voice rising, “You’re exactly like them and you know it!.”

I glared at him and he glared at me. We stayed like that until our attention slipped with the sound of the end of the game. I turned my attention to the score board. We lost. “Shit,” I said, hitting my hand on the railing.

Taemin rolled his eyes, “See, one of them.”

I buried my face in my hands. I really hated my life right now.

“I told you not to hurt him.”

I groaned as I pulled away from my hands, “I’m really not in the mood for your umma shit right now, Key.”

Kibum has his hands on his hips as he glared at me, “You’re not the first one to pick his future over Taemin, but I was hoping you’d be different.”

“How so?”

“Well, for starters… you already feel it.”

My eye brows knitted together in confusion, “Feel what?”

“The strain and stress of wanting something different. The need for adventure and trouble. I felt it too. Why do you think everyone other then you and Jonghyun hate me? Because I moved on,” Kibum explained.

I thought about. During freshman year, Kibum was around more often, but then he started to change and then all of sudden everyone talked about him except for me and Jonghyun. We’d been friends for so long, we couldn’t hate him.

“You know why I can’t give up,” I said.

Kibum smiled sadly, “The power a parent has over his son is a sad one. See you later, Minho .”

I jumped down off the railing, ready to talk to my team, but they were glaring at me. I would have cared if at that moment, something didn’t hit me.

I started backing away from them and I saw Jonghyun’s eye widened, “ Minho , don’t do it.”

“I have to,” I said running away from them. I pushed passed people as I looked for any sign of Taemin. I stopped and let my eyes search for him. I saw Kibum’s pink convertible heading out of the parking lot and I tried to run for it, but someone caught my arm. I turned and my eyes widened, “D-dad.”

“We need to talk,” the old man said.

Chapter 6

OO6. There Will Be Hell To Pay

I cringed at the thought of my father, Soo Man, will do. Not only was I without a girlfriend, Yuri was someone my father liked very much, I missed classes and I didn’t participate in the big game of the year. My dad is defiantly going to skin me alive.

I took slow steps to his office. I hesitated over the golden door knobs before I sucked it up. Be a man, Minho , I told myself. I grabbed the knobs and turned them, letting myself into the grand office. I made my way to my father’s desk, seeing his writing important things down on the documents scattered neatly on his desk.

I took a seat in oak chairs that rested in front of his perfectly crafted oak desk, waiting patiently for him to notice my existence.

He stopped writing, and pulled of his glasses. He crossed his fingers are stared at me. He just stared and that was how I knew he was very angry. When he was just angry, he yelled, but when he was furious, he just sat that until I caved, then he yelled at me.

“Dad-“

“No,” he said, shaking his head, “Listen to me. I’ve spent so much on you. You have lots of nice things, a wonderful education, so why are you doing this to me?”

“Dad, I-“

“No, listen,” Soo Man said sternly, “I understand that adolescents look for adventure. They want to break the rules. I was a teenager once, I had those urges, but I surpassed them and do you want to know why? Because I was successful. I had a future and look at me now, people quiver in fear when they hear my name. I am powerful. You can be too, if you follow the path I set out for you.”

“It was a mistake, it won’t happen again,” I said, emotionless.

Soo Man smiled softly, “Good, now get out.”

I got up and walked out of the office, closing the door behind me. I walked to my room and shut the door. I looked around and everything and sighed. The feeling of being a prisoner in my own home was back.

I looked at my nightstand where the yearbook was. I sat down on my bed and opened to the page I memorized. His picture was there. I just kept looking at it. It was weird, I’ll admit, but I wanted to see him and I couldn’t. He was what could have ruined my chances at a future. Lee Taemin was a distraction that I had to get rid of.

---

I walked into school, ignoring the whispering and stares I was receiving. I never really cared, but I felt irritable and I knew something was going to set me off.

I walked past Jonghyun, and he obviously didn’t like that, “Yo, giant! Pay attention to us people who lack height.”

I groaned as I turned to Jonghyun, “I’m not in the mood, Jonghyun.”

“Whatever is stuck up your ass needs to be retrieved. Seriously, first you are so distracted and now you’re a jackass. Dude, you really need some Midol and you need it now,” Jonghyun said, crossing his arms, “I am your friend,” he said, glaring at me before walking away.

“Fuck,” I muttered with a sigh. Now I pissed off the one person in my circle that I actually considered a friend off. Point two to douche bag, Minho . I honestly deserve an award.

“You really in the running for asshole of the year, aren’t you?” Kibum asked, walking up to me, his diva-ish smirk on his face.

“As raining champion, are you nervous?”

“Not in the slightest. I can hold my own,” Kibum grinned.

I couldn’t help, but smile. The things Kibum said no matter how vulgar was always entertaining.

“So what happened? Why are you so pissed off?” Kibum asked as he walked beside me.

“My dad ripped me a new one last night, but he didn’t even yell. He just spoke, calmly. I don’t like it. He’s planning something, I know it,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

Kibum nodded his head, “Parents suck, but they are out paycheck till we actually get one.”

I chuckled softly, “That sounds about right.”

“Of course,” Kibum smiled, “I’ll see you later, Minho .”

“Bye,” I said, with a small wave.

---

I spent my whole day lost in my one world. My world involved me, just looking up at the sky and relaxing, but something was missing, or maybe it was someone.

Everything reminded me of Taemin. The desks, the chairs, the stupid clock that seemed to mock me. He entered my life just barely and now he won’t go away. I was supposed to be ridding myself of him, but no matter what I did, he was still at the front of my mind, smiling and joking. I missed hearing his voice. I missed Taemin.

When the fourth period finally ended, I quickly made my way to those stairs. There were thirteen. I ended up counting them because I was nervous. If I went up there, I’d be going against what I promised my father. I promised to get through school, go to college and take over. I planned on having a future. Watching the clouds pass me by wasn’t a future, but it is what I wanted.

Once again, my hands hesitated over the door knob; another object that was created to laugh and mock me. They were everywhere it seemed.

I turned the knob and pushed my way through the door. The first thing that caught my eye was the slim figure, sitting on the railing. My eyes widened and my heart raced, “Taemin!”

He turned to me and stared at me in interest. Before he could say or do anything, I grabbed him and pulled him off the railing. I gripped his shoulders, “What were you doing?!”

“Sitting,” he said, blankly, “What did it look like I was doing?"

“It… you… railing…”

He smirked at me, obviously he found my lack of words amusing, but in the end I ended up smiling at him, “You weren’t going to jump were you?”

“I like living, surprisingly enough, plus it’s not worth it. Life can suck so much, but why give up, you know? Life goes on and it will continue to suck. You just need to find the right people to help you survive,” Taemin said with a shrug.

“You sound like a philosopher,” I chuckled.

Taemin smiled, “I’m no Socrates*, but I think I have a way with words.”

Chapter 7

OO7. The Beginnings Of A Storm

When I entered school this morning, things felt different. It wasn’t me that was different this time, it was everyone else. There was more whispering and gossip going on. That could only mean one thing; a new student.

I made my way over to Jonghyun. I had apologized earlier telling him what happened between me and my father. We were back to normal, “what’s going on?”

He shrugged, “New girl.”

“Shall we go question the school diva for information?” I asked, a knowing smile on my face. I already expected Jonghyun to agree.

“Sounds like a plan,” he said, already walking in Kibum’s direction. He was so predictable.

We found Kibum with Taemin, which made me very happy. I greeted Kibum before I turned my attention to Taemin, “Hey.”

“Hi,” he said, biting his lip, obviously trying to hid his smile.

“I’m guessing you want the low down on the new girl?” Kibum asked. He was defiantly all knowing.

Jonghyun nodded, wrapping his arm around Kibum’s waist. I noticed the look in Kibum’s eyes. He was very happy with the situation right now, “Her name is HyunAh, Kim HyunAh. She is eighteen and came here from Japan after living there for three years. That’s all I know. But there is one thing I think you’ll find interesting, Minho .”

I titled my head, “And what is that?”

“Her father is best friends with yours,” Kibum stated. He eyed me, already knowing what I was thinking. My father was the reason she was here. I saw Jonghyun giving me the same look.

Taemin didn’t notice the look and I was thankful. I didn’t want him to know about what my father could be planning. Taemin and I weren’t even actually dating yet. He didn’t want this to end before it even started.

---

I was sitting at my desk, looking over my homework when to finely manicured hands landed on my desk. I looked up to see a red haired girl. I have a feeling this was HyunAh, “You must be HyunAh?”

“And you must be Minho oppa,” HyunAh said taking a seat next to me. She pouted slightly, “I was looking for you this morning. Soo Man ahjusshi told me, you’d help me out, but I couldn’t find you. Yuri offered to help me.”

“That was nice of her,” I commented, returning to my homework, but she obviously wasn’t going to have that.

She grabbed my arm, “Oppa, where is the cafeteria?”

“It’s-“

“Thanks,” she said pulling me up and forcing me out of the classroom.

I tried to pull away, “I have somewhere I have to be.”

HyunAh stopped walking and smirked, “What will your father say if he finds out you ignored me the whole day?”

I groaned. This girl was going to annoy me, “Fine.”

She smiled as she pulled me to cafeteria. We passed by the roof’s stairs and I felt terrible. I’m sorry, Taemin.

---

I was heading to my car when I heard someone calling for me. I turned to see Taemin walking over. I smiled softly, “Hey.”

“Hey,” he replied, “Where were you?”

“HyunAh found me,” I shrugged, “Sorry. I tried to get away, but she used the father card on me. Please forgive me.”

Taemin chuckled, smacking my shoulder, “I’m fine. One day with out the great ace, Choi Minho, will not kill me.”

I gave him a smug smile, “Is that so?”

“Very so,” he said wrapping his arms around my neck. We shared a small kiss before he pulled away, “If you don’t come tomorrow, I will hunt you down, Choi Minho .”

“I got it,” I chuckled.

“Oppa?”

Taemin and I turned to see HyunAh standing there with Yuri. I smiled at her, “Hey, Yuri.”

“Hey, Minho ,” she said smiling back at me.

HyunAh looked Taemin up and down, “Who is this?”

I looked at Taemin, “This is Taemin. He’s my…,” I wasn’t sure what he was to me.

“I'm his VERY good friend,” Taemin said for me, a bright smile on his face, “You’re HyunAh, the new girl right?”

HyunAh nodded, “And you are leaving.”

Taemin did a double take, “Excuse me?”

“Leave… now,” she said making a shooing motion.

Taemin chuckled, looking at me, “I don’t need this. I’ll talk to you later, Minho .”

“Taemin-“ He was already too far away. I turned to HyunAh and glared, “What the hell was that?”

“What? Yuri and I need you to drive us to the mall. He was standing in front of the door,” HyunAh said, opening the messenger door before she got in. I looked at Yuri and she shrugged before getting in.

I sighed as I got in. I didn’t want to be their chaffer for the day.

---

The mall was terrible. I was dragged all over the mall, and now I was waiting outside another store, eight bags surrounding me. Rich girls sure can shop.

“Leave me alone, Jonghyun.”

I turned my attention to the noise. I saw Kibum walking away from Jonghyun.

“Just listen to me!”

“No! Go away!”

I got up and stopped Kibum from leaving, “What is going on?”

Kibum turned away from Jonghyun, glaring at random bystanders. Jonghyun groaned, “Key confessed to me and I laughed-“

“You laughed at him? Jonghyun, what the fuck?” I yelled.

“I didn’t mean to laugh! I thought he was kidding! I thought he still hated me for calling him fat,” Jonghyun tried to explain.

Kibum turned to Jonghyun, “Even if you thought it was joke, you shouldn’t have laughed at me! It took me forever to take Minho ’s advice in the first place!”

“You told him to confess?” Jonghyun asked.

I shrugged, I don’t honestly remember telling him to confess, “I don’t think so.”

“You didn’t say it right out, but you were indicating for me to confess, so I did and this asswipe laughed at me!” Kibum yelled, hitting Jonghyun’s chest.

Jonghyun grabbed Kibum’s wrists and pulled the smaller boy to him, their lips meeting. He pulled away and smiled, “I’m sorry.”

Kibum blushed, pouting slightly, “You’re forgiven.”

I smiled softly. Finally they were together and in a way, it was thanks to me. I deserve a pat on the back.

“ Minho ! Next store!”

I groaned inwardly. It was obvious that I wasn’t getting a pat on the back any time soon.

Chapter 8

OO8. I Don’t Like Him. I Don’t Like Her.

I made my way to the roof after sneaking away from HyunAh, It was difficult, but I had the help of Kibum and Jonghyun.

I opened the door and walked over to the red head, who had taken control of my mind only a few weeks ago.

I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around his chest, “Good afternoon.”

He smiled and leaned back, “Good afternoon.”

I pulled away from Taemin and sat down in the chair Taemin brought for me. I stared up at the sky and sighed happily. This felt right. This is what I needed.

“I don’t like her.”

I looked over at Taemin, one eye open, “Who?”

“HyunAh noona. I don’t like her,” he said, a frown on his face.

“Why?” I asked. I wasn’t HyunAh’s biggest fan, but she was brought up getting whatever she wanted and I understood that.

“She acts like everything is about her and that everyone should drop everything they are doing and give her their attention,” Taemin stated, a scowl on his face, “She even told me to move and I wasn’t even in her way. She just couldn’t walk around me. She’s a spoiled brat who gets what ever she wants.”

“I get whatever I want,” I said, looking at my hands.

Taemin sighed, “But you don’t act like the world revolved around you. She tried to make Mir kiss her shoe when he felt down in front of her, Minho ! She has to be stopped.”

I nodded my head. He was right. She may have leverage over me, but she has no leverage over everyone else.

---

I was in my last period of the day when HyunAh came up to me. I inwardly groaned. She really knew how to ruin my day, “Hello, HyunAh.”

“Hello, oppa,” she said taking the seat next to me. She rested her chin on her hand as she stared at me.

“I actually needed to talk to you about something,” I said, setting my pencil down. “You need to stop.”

She gave me a look, “Stop what?”

“This primadonna shit. You can’t tell people to kiss your shoe,” I said, shaking my head at her.

She rolled her eyes, “I didn’t tell him to kiss my shoe. I told him since he was already on the floor to clean my shoe.”

“You can’t tell someone that!”

“Then what use are they! People like us make the money and people like them are a waste of space,” HyunAh said, “And that Taemin boy, is the biggest waste there is. I don’t like him.”

“HyunAh, don’t talk about Taemin like that about Taemin like that,” I said getting up and walking away. I didn’t want to listen to this.

---

“I think we should go out tonight,” Jonghyun said, smiling like a fool.

“I’m taken,” I mumbled looking away.

Jonghyun punched my shoulder, “Dude! We haven’t spent any time together since we got boyfriends.”

I ran a hand through my hair, “Is that what me and Taemin are?”

Jonghyun gave me a look of interest. I shrugged my shoulders, “We kissed, but we’ve never once actually said ‘hey, I like you. Be my boyfriend’.”

“Then maybe you should make the first move,” Jonghyun suggested.

I nodded my head, a smile on my face. Maybe I will do just that.

---

I asked Taemin to meet on the roof after school the next day. I was pacing back and forth as I waited for him. He came a few minutes after the dismissing bell came out.

“What is with the big meeting?” Taemin asked, walking over to me.

“I wanted to ask you out.”

“Um, haven’t you already done that?”

“I mean, I want us to officially go out. As in boyfriends,” I said with a nervous chuckle.

He gave me and amused look before he wrapped his arms around my neck, “I thought we were.”

“We are?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Mmm, yes we are,” he said pulling me down to kiss him, “And don’t you dare forget it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, kissing him softly.

OO9. Back Off

My face felt weird. I can’t explain it, but I think it had to do with the fact I was grinning like an idiot. Officially Taemin and I are a couple and I couldn’t be happier. I spent most of my day with him; in the morning, in the hallways, during fifth period and he even came to watch practice with Kibum.

I looked up at them and waved. They both waved back at me. I felt someone nudge my side, it was Jonghyun, “So is it official?”

“Is what official?”

“You and Taemin, duh,” Jonghyun said, bouncing a soccer ball on his feet and legs.

I looked back up at them and smiled, “Yeah, we are.”

“And you’re ‘annoying, trying to ruin your life’ stalker?”

“HyunAh? Haven’t seen her and I’d like to keep it that way,” I replied, kicking the ball out of his possession, a grin on my face.

“Yah! Choi Minho!”

I just laughed as I ran over to the team, leaving Jonghyun to retrieve the ball.

---

I was on my way out of the locker room when I heard yelling. I turned the corner to see HyunAh with Taemin. They were glaring at each other.

“Face it, Taemin. You lost,” HyunAh said with a wicked smile, “So stay away from MY Minho.”

Taemin scoffed, “Even if what you are saying is true, do you honestly believe Minho will be happy? Face it, HyunAh. He doesn’t love you,” he said mimicking her voice.

“You bitch,” she said, slapping him across the face, “Stay away from him!”

I decided it was time to intervene. I pushed Taemin behind me and glared at HyunAh, “what the hell are you doing?”

“Oppa, I was just-“

“No, you were just being a bitch. Taemin is right. Whatever you are planning with my father isn’t going to work, HyunAh. Just leave me alone,” I demanded.

She crossed her arms and smirked, “We’ll see.”

I watched her walk away before I turned to Taemin, cupping his face, “Are you alright?”

Taemin pushed me away and rolled his eyes, “I’m fine.”

I didn’t like the fact he pushed me away. I took his hand in mine, “What did she say to you?”

“Who cares?” Taemin questioned, looking at me. “The fact is she is right and I’m just going to have to accept it.”

“Taemin, I’m not going to leave you!”

“YOU WILL! People like you never stay!”

“I’m not like the other people you’ve come to know! Sure, we fought when I wasn’t in the game, but I won’t leave you because of some girl! This isn’t some drama,” I retorted. I was pissed and he could obviously tell because he was feeding off of my anger.

Taemin shook his head, looking away from me, “It isn’t you leaving me because you want to, but because you have to! People like me don’t get along well with people like you, so let’s just move on!”

“I don’t want to move on! I’m in love with you!”

“No, you’re not! You’re in love with the feeling I give you!”

I was silent. I didn’t understand what he meant. I was confused and angry and I just wanted this to stop. I wanted to the fighting to stop. I wanted to be happy with Taemin.

“You are in love with being free. I make you feel free. You said you never just sit back and watch the clouds, but with me you can,” Taemin said, touching my face, “Even if you love me and you want to be with me, you won’t choose me. I’ve seen this story dozens of times with the same ending. I don’t want it to happen to me again.”

“Taemin don’t do this,” I begged.

Taemin smiled sadly, “Don’t come to the roof anymore. I won’t be there.”

I watched Taemin walk away from me. Tears threatening to fall, but I held onto them. I refused to cry. He dumped me because he thought my feelings were false. He was beyond wrong. Of course I loved the feeling of being free. It was a feeling I rarely felt, if ever. I felt free because I was with him, not because of the things I did with him, though me never did much.

---

I was sitting on the bleachers. I don’t know how long I was there or what time it was. All I know is it was Saturday and I’ve been here for a long time. I had been staring at the sky pass me by and it wasn’t as fulfilling as it was a few days ago. Taemin wasn’t here with me.

“Need some company?”

I turned my head to see Lee Jinki, the school president, “I don’t mind some company.”

Jinki sat down and looked up at the sky, “Can I evaluate your situation?”

I chuckled softly, “What?”

“Can I give my opinion?” Jinki asked, but in a way I could understand.

“Sure, go ahead,” I said, shaking my head, a smile on my face.

“I know what is like to be told what you have to be and do. You’ll never believe this, but my parents want me to drop out of school,” Jinki said with a smile.

I turned my head to him in surprise. Lee Jinki was the second smartest kid in school behind his long time boy friend, Shim Changmin. Jinki was liked by everybody and wasn’t apart of any of the cliques. He was around everyone; the jocks like myself and Jonghyun, the brains like Changmin and Kyuhyun, the popular like JaeJoong and Luna, and the loners like Taemin and Kibum. He knew everyone and everyone knew Jinki.

“My parents are hippies. They think school is a ‘way to corrupt your inner being, man’,” Jinki said, making a strange voice. I started laughing and he joined it, “I moved out, I have a job and a stable relationship without the interfering of my parents.”

“I don’t think I could live without my dad. Sure, he sucks, but like Key told me a few weeks ago, he’s a walking paycheck,” I said with a sigh, “Maybe Taemin was right. I am like them.”

Jinki patted my shoulder, “I’m not sure who ‘they’ are, but if you really love someone, why let them go?”

I smiled softly, “Thanks, hyung.”

“Onew,” Jinki smiled, “Just Onew. There is one thing I accepted from my parents and that is I dislike formalities.”

“Are you sure it isn’t your bubbly personality for a nerd?” I joked.

Jinki pushed me, “We ‘nerds’ prefer ‘academic scholars’.”

“No one says that,” I said laughing.

“No, no one really does,” Jinki said laughing along with me.

Chapter 11

O1O. Move

It had been a week since the fight between Taemin and me. I hated acting like strangers. I still went to the roof during fifth hoping he’d appear, but he never did. I found out he actually went to all his classes now, except fifth since he didn’t have class like myself. He found a new hideout, but no one, not even Kibum knew where it was and even if he did, I doubt he’d tell me. He was still mad at me, telling me it was my fault Taemin is so unhappy.

“I can’t believe you broke my dear Taeminnie’s heart. He is so precious,” Kibum sighed sadly, before he glared at me, “I told you I’d kill you.”

“He was the one who dumped me because he thinks I’m not serious about him, but I am!” I defended, but he refused to hear it. “Jonghyun, you believe me right?”

Jonghyun was studying for his math test he had the next period, “Um, whatever Key thinks.”

I glared at Kibum, “What did you do to him?”

“I trained him,” Kibum said, hugging Jonghyun and kissing his cheek. The blonde smiled and kissed his boyfriend before looking at his notes again.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair, surveying the cafeteria. I noticed a table in the far corner where loud noises. I recognized some of the people. Kim Junsu was Yoochun’s long time crush, but the older male was too scared to ask him out. Bang Cheolyang was secretly dating Lee Changsun, but only Jonghyun and I knew that since he only told us. Another person was there, but I didn’t know who it was. He had blonde hair.

“TAEMIN!”

The blonde at the other table looked up and grinned at the person who yelled his name, “Professor Kim, always a pleasure.”

JaeJoong walked up to Taemin and grabbed him by the ear, pulling him out of the cafeteria, “You are in SO much trouble.”

“Shit. Not again,” Kibum groaned. He gave Jonghyun a quick kiss before he ran after the two leaving me and Jonghyun in our confusion.

“What did I miss?” Jonghyun asked.

“Taemin’s blonde,” I mumbled.

“Damnit! First Professor Kim, then Hongki and now Taemin?! People I was blonde first,” Jonghyun groaned banging his head on the table.

I ignored Jonghyun’s whining as I pictured Taemin in my head. I liked him with blonde hair, it is a lot different then his auburn hair color. I just wished I could tell him.

---

I was walking out of my sixth period when HyunAh grabbed my arm. I decided to just let her have her way till at least the end of the month. I had nothing better to do. Soccer ended and basketball was long gone. I had no more extracurricular activities no matter how much Jonghyun and Jinki begged me to join choir.

“Oppa, I was thinking that we’d go out tonight. You know, on a date?” HyunAh asked, smiling up at me.

I shook my head, “Can’t. I have to go see my mother tonight. I’ll be gone all weekend,” I said. It was the truth. Every month I would go to Busan with Jonghyun and we’d hang out with my mom. She was amazing and loved Jonghyun.

“Aw, that is so sweet. Can I come?” She asked.

I wanted to groan, but I thought it was best to just be polite, “It’s a tradition that me and Jonghyun do. Just us.”

“Too bad, we could have had some alone time,” she said, sighing dreamily.

‘Defiantly not,’ I thought to myself. I looked down at my watch when I heard something fall to the ground. I looked down to see books and what looked like paint all over the floor. I looked up to see Taemin covered in multiple colors of paint. People stopped the see the commotion. High school, right?

“You’re in my way,” HyunAh said, a smirk on my face.

Taemin stared at the floor, wide eyed before looking up at HyunAh, “That was all my work and textbooks!”

HyunAh shrugged, “Not my problem. You are honestly just a waste of space. Let’s go, oppa.”

She tried to pull me along, but I refused to move. I pulled my arm out of her grip and knelled down on the floor, picking up the items Taemin dropped.

“Oppa, you’re getting all dirty,” HyunAh said, trying to pull me up.

I pulled my arm away and glared up at her, “Leave, HyunAh. Now.”

She stared at me, angry tears welling up before she stormed off. I turned my attention back to the items on the floor, pulling them into my arms before I stood up and looked at Taemin, “Come with me. I have clothes in my locker for you to borrow.”

“Thanks,” Taemin said, following me to the lockers.

---

I was pulling on a new shirt since my other one was covered in paint when Taemin came out of bathroom in my sweat shirt and my sweatpants. They were obviously too big for him since the sweat shirt should his collar bone and he tied the strings of the pants which I never did.

“Thanks again,” He said fiddling with the sleeve of the sweat shirt.

“No problem,” I said with a shrug, closing my locker. I handed him a bag with his things in it, “Here you go. I tried to clean some of it off, but it didn’t help much.”

Taemin grabbed the bag and nodded, “Thanks… again.”

I smiled softly, “No problem… again.”

He smiled too, but it went away as fast as it appeared, “I’ll get these back to you later.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’ll get these back to you,” he said, bowing before he walked to the exit.

“Taemin.”

He stopped, but didn’t turn around. I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around him, breathing in his strawberry shampoo, “I miss you.”

Taemin pulled my arms off of him and turned to me, “I don’t want to do this again, Minho .”

I sighed, my arms dropping to my sad, “I really love you.”

He looked away from me, “Please don’t do this to me.”

I kneeled down on the floor and he closed his eyes as he bit his lip, still not looking in my direction. I grabbed his hands and looked up at him, tears brimming, “I love you.”

“Please,” Taemin begged, falling to the floor in front of me, his own tears falling. I pulled him into my arms and let him cry. There was nothing I could do, but repeat the same three words over and over again.

“I love you.”

---

We ended up back at my place, skipping seventh period. I didn’t care. No one was home since my dad was away and business and I had Taemin with me.

I pushed him against the door of my room and smiled, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” he replied.

The whole ordeal was amazing. We fit perfectly together. I loved everything about him, nothing was flawed. He was perfect and I was in love with him.

---

I was leaning against the counter, a cup of tea in my hands when he came down in only my sweat shirt. It looked even bigger then it did earlier and I thought he looked amazing. He walked up to me and hugged my waist, resting his head on my chest with his eyes closed and satisfied smile on his face.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, setting my cup down and wrapping my arms around him. I rested my head on his.

“No,” he sighed, hugging me tighter, “I just want to stay like this.”

“Alright.”

We stood like that for a good five minutes till he finally pulled away. He jumped up on the island in the middle of the kitchen as he watched me, “Now I’m hungry.”

I chuckled as I walked up to him, kissing him softly, “Eggs are fine, right?”

Taemin scrunched his nose, “Anything else?”

“Toast? I can’t cook,” I said, scratching the back of his head.

Taemin pouted, before he jumped off the counter patting my bare chest, “I got it.”

I took a seat at the dining table as I watched him walk back and forth in my kitchen. I rested my chin on my palm as I watched. I was so immersed in what he was doing; I didn’t even hear the phone ring. Taemin had to put the phone in my face for me to notice it.

I took it, smiling at him as I answered, “Hello?”

“Dude, you were supposed to pick me up an hour ago! Our train to Busan already left!” Jonghyun yelled into receiver.

“We’ll go to my mom’s next weekend. Something came up,” I said, smiling at Taemin who was still cooking.

“What came up?”

Taemin walked over and took the phone from me, “I did. Goodbye, Jonghyun hyung.”

I could hear Jonghyun yelling through the phone before Taemin hung up on him. He set the phone down and kissed my lips, “The foods done.”

“So fast?”

“Key umma is a great cook,” he said, walking back to the food. He started opening random cabinets for the food, till he looked at me.

“At the very end on the top,” I said, with a smile.

He nodded and walked over. He opened the cabinet and I could already picture his face since his back was turned to me. There was no way he would reach them. He tried getting on his tip toes, but the shirt was sliding up, giving me a nice few of his perfect thighs. He pulled the back of the shirt down and glared at me, “You’re a pervert.”

I just smiled as I got up walking over to him. I easily got the plates and leaned forward, “I forgot they were so high up.”

I walked to the table, ignoring Taemin’s complaining. I set the plates down. I sat down right when Taemin was coming with the food. It set it down and started filling our plates. I just smiled at him.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he said as he sat down.

“I can’t help it,” I said, grinning, “I’m happy.”

He rolled his eyes, “I’m starting to think you’re obsessed with me.”

“Hopelessly,” I replied. He pushed me softly, smiling.

“You a dork,” he chuckled.

“I’m your dork.”

Taemin busted out laughing, “Oh my god, stop with the cheese.”

I just smiled as I watched him laughing. Everything honestly felt perfect.

O11. He’s Full of Surprises

“You’re having a dance.”

“I don’t want one,” I replied as I stared at my math book. Every year since I turned fifteen, my dad tries to force a dance on me. We have the money and I would get whatever I wanted, except I didn’t want a dance at all.

My father sighed, “You have to show off the money you have.”

“I do show off the money I have,” I said, still not looking up at him.

“You’re upsetting me,” he said, rather childishly.

I looked up at him in interest. My father only acted like that when he really wanted something and it was very rare since he usually got what he wanted. “Why do you want me to have this dance?”

“You are eighteen. After you skipped class AGAIN, I figured you aren’t having fun, so this is the perfect chance,” my father said with a bright smile.

I sighed, “Prom is in three weeks. Isn’t that enough fun?”

“Oh, please. That is so trivial,” he said shaking his head, “Plus you’ll win. I know it.”

I rolled my eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if I won. HyunAh, Yuri, and a few others were already campaigning for me. I was up against Jonghyun and Jinki, but neither of them wanted to be nominated. Neither did I, but my father was thrilled when I told him.

“If I have it, can I get a job?” I asked.

My father looked at me suspiciously, “Why would you want that?”

“I want to have my own money. I’ve already been hired, so it doesn’t matter if you say yes or no,” I said, looking back at my homework.

My father laughed, “That is my boy. Doing things assertively. I am so proud.”

I just smiled down at my homework as he walked out. When he was gone, my smile disappeared being replaced with a frown. I looked at the doors to my father’s office, a glare on my face, “He’s planning something,” I said to myself. I had to be ready.

---

I sighed after I greeted about the thousandth person to enter the building. I was exhausted and the dance only started five minutes ago. I would have stayed right there if Taemin, Kibum, and Jonghyun didn’t just enter. I walked up to Taemin and looked down at him, “You look perfect.”

“He better. I am amazing,” Kibum said, brushing off invisible dust from Taemin’s shoulder. He looked around and nodded his head in approval, “I am satisfied with what you have done here, Minho . This will defiantly be all everyone is talking about till Prom.”

“Defiantly,” I replied, already knowing that something drastic was going to happen. I turned my attention back to Taemin, “How are you? I’ve missed you. I’ve hardly seen you this week.”

“Actually going to classes is really stupid. I have tons of homework and I know just because I am here, I won’t be able to do anything tomorrow,” Taemin sighed, “I hate school.”

“We all do, but it is a necessary part of life,” I replied and he just rolled his eyes. I put my arm around his waist and he pulled away. I looked at him in interest, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just hot,” Taemin said with a shrug, “I’ll be right back.”

I watched him walk away, but I lost him in the crowd. I sighed in frustration. I didn’t like that he pulled away from me, even if he was hot. Something felt off and I started wondering what HyunAh told Taemin.

I searched throughout the area for any sign or Taemin, but it seemed I was at a loss. I was about to go searching for him instead of just waiting for him to show up when HyunAh came up to me.

“Oppa, let’s go,” she said, grabbing my arm, but I quickly pulled away. “Oppa?”

“Why are you even talking to me?” I asked, trying to walk away, but I was pulled back again, “HyunAh, Leave me-“

I turned to see my father holding onto my arm, while HyunAh had a smirk on her face, “Follow me.”

---

“Attention everyone! Now it is the time that I announce the real reason I asked my son to put this whole thing together.”

I looked at my father then at HyunAh was standing beside me, grinning. That feeling of doom was very clear now.

“My son, Minho , is engaged to HyunAh.”

“No, I’m not,” I replied, shaking my head at my father. I ignored all the shocked faces and whispers as I glared at my father, “I’m not marrying her.”

“You will, if you know what is best for you,” my father threatened.

I felt HyunAh hug my arm, but I pushed her away, “You can’t control me.”

“If you don’t, your boyfriend will lose everything,” HyunAh said, not looking at me. I looked in the direction of Taemin. He was staring at us with a calm expression.

I glared at her, “That was what you told him!”

She looked at me and smiled, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

I rolled my eyes, “You are unbelievable,” I said before running off the stage and into the crowd. I ignored the questions from people as I made my way over to Taemin. Kibum, Jonghyun, Jinki and Changmin where there as well.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked him.

He shrugged, “I thought if I told you, it wouldn’t be as carefree being with you in this short time, so I used the fact you didn’t know to fix my strange fantasy of us actually being together.”

“You knew this would happen?” Kibum asked confused, “I knew something like this could have happened, but it is like a drama! I can’t even… I don’t know…”

Jonghyun wrapped his arms around Kibum and fanned him with his hand, “It’s alright. Breathe, Breathe, Key stay with me here.”

“This wouldn’t have even happened if you just told me! There isn’t anyway I can get out of it!” I said, staring at Taemin, “Do you honestly care about me?”

“Of course, I do, but there was nothing I could do. If I told you this would happen, would you have still slept with me?” Taemin questioned.

“You did what?!” Kibum asked, ready to launch at me, but the others kept his back.

I just stared at him. He chuckled softly, “I just wanted these last few weeks to be perfect. I didn’t expect us to fight and when we got back to together, I was relieved. I tried to use the fact we fought to keep you away, but I couldn’t, so in a way, I used you knowing full well you’d get hurt and what I was doing and why.”

I couldn’t even think. Everything was confusing. I was hurt because he didn’t tell, but I was happy because he cared enough to want to be with me knowing that it would end. I just didn’t know what I could do.

“Your father is reason I’m doing this, not HyunAh. She told him, but he was the one enforced this,” Taemin said with a shrug, “He tried to pay me off actually to keep quiet, but I didn’t accept the money. Who knows how he got it.”

I looked up at him in shock, “T-Taemin, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Parents tend to push their ideals onto their children. Some do it without realizing it, others to it internally, but you have to remember that you don’t have to do what they ask. Collect their achievements and mistakes and shape it to fit you. You don’t have to do what he wants. There isn’t anything he can take from me,” Taemin said, smiling softly, “I have nothing to offer to everyday society like you.”

“That’s not true,” Jinki said, butting in, “Everyone can do something.”

Taemin chuckled, “I’m not even graduating. When school ends, I’m leaving. There isn’t anything left here for me anymore so why stay?”

“Stay for me,” I begged.

“And watch you with her? I’d rather die,” he said in a monotone fashion, “It was nice knowing you Minho hyung.”

“Taemin!”

He ignored me as he made his out of the building. Kibum quickly followed him after telling jonghyun to stay with me. I felt my friend touch my arm, but I kept my attention on Taemin till he was completely gone, “ Minho , you can fight this.”

I shook my head, “I don’t have any reason to anymore.”

O12. Newcomer

Everything was different. I refused to return to my father. I went to school and back home when I didn’t have to work. I made sure that no one knew where I lived and worked unless I trusted them. Jonghyun, Jinki and Kibum were the only ones who knew where I was and they were the only ones I talked to anymore. Anyone I used to consider a ‘friend’ was out of my mind. I couldn’t trust any of them.

Taemin refused to have any contact with me. He didn’t answer my calls, when he saw me in the hallway he would ignore me, and when I went to the diner, he changed his shift and no one would tell me when it was.

I felt like a zombie after everything that happened. I just wanted to move on and forget everything, but some people refused to let me.

“You already have your own house, a job, just get emancipated!” Kibum said, kicking me in the leg.

I glared up at him, “I am trying to do that, thank you.”

Kibum sat down in front of me and smiled, “Really? How is working out?”

“My father is trying to convince me to stop, but at the same time he refuses to accept that I am in fact gay,” I said, with a sigh. I just had to wait a few more days and I’d be free.

“By the way, what do you do for work?” Jonghyun asked.

“A model,” I said with a shrug, “You’ll see me face in Marie Claire and ELLE next week.”

Kibum chuckled, “You are good. Getting a job as a model?”

“It’s just until I can find something else. I have to wait to I graduate from college before I can do something that can actually last,” I said with a sigh.

“Until then, we are here for you,” Kibum said with a smile.

I smiled back at him, “Thank you both.”

---

I was sitting at the lunch table surrounded by people, other then Jonghyun, that I disliked now. It was a bit ridiculous that they still think that I am one of them.

“Did you see that weird kid? He’s a total freak,” Eunhyuk laughed.

Yoochun sighed, “Can we be more mature?”

“Come on, its not a big deal,” Joon retorted.

“Enough,” Jonghyun yelled, “Enough, please.”

I ignored the looks I was getting because they knew that I would figure out that they were only stopping their conversation not because of Jonghyun, but because of me. I felt someone wrap their arm around mine and I pulled away.

HyunAh didn’t say anything or do anything, because her attention was on something else. She grabbed the cartoon of milk from my tray before he got up. Everyone was watching her as she made her way over to the table in the corner. The table with Taemin.

Taemin looked up at HyunAh, “What?”

“You know, I think you’d look good in white,” she said before pouring the milk on top of Taemin’s head.

Everyone, including myself gasped in shock. None of us expected that.

She dropped the carton on Taemin’s lap and laughed, “No, you’re still a blemish in this almost perfect hallways.”

I was half way over to the table when someone else helped Taemin up. I looked up at him and noticed it was Ok Taecyeon, a member of the basketball team. I never got along with him. He had his own group and I had mine.

“Let’s go, Taemin,” he said, helping the boy out of his chair and pulling him to the exit. He stopped and turned to HyunAh, “The only blemish is you.”

I watched as they walked away. When they were gone, I grabbed HyunAh’s wrist making her look at me, “If you ever do anything to him again, I was personally see that you lose everything.”

“He isn’t the one for you! I am!”

“You don’t deserve anyone,” I said, before roughly letting her go. I quickly ran after Taecyeon and Taemin. I pulled Taecyeon off of Taemin, “I can take care of him.”

Taecyeon pushed me away, “If you could take care of him, he wouldn’t have been in this mess to being with.”

“This isn’t my-“

“Just stop! Minho , leave me alone!” Taemin yelled, tears in his eyes, “Taecyeon, please just take me home.”

“Of course,” Taecyeon said, pushing past me.

I just stood there watching them. That was all I seemed to do lately. Watching as Taemin walked away from me. I hated it. I hated that he kept walking away from me. I wanted him back.

O12. Newcomer

Everything was different. I refused to return to my father. I went to school and back home when I didn’t have to work. I made sure that no one knew where I lived and worked unless I trusted them. Jonghyun, Jinki and Kibum were the only ones who knew where I was and they were the only ones I talked to anymore. Anyone I used to consider a ‘friend’ was out of my mind. I couldn’t trust any of them.

Taemin refused to have any contact with me. He didn’t answer my calls, when he saw me in the hallway he would ignore me, and when I went to the diner, he changed his shift and no one would tell me when it was.

I felt like a zombie after everything that happened. I just wanted to move on and forget everything, but some people refused to let me.

“You already have your own house, a job, just get emancipated!” Kibum said, kicking me in the leg.

I glared up at him, “I am trying to do that, thank you.”

Kibum sat down in front of me and smiled, “Really? How is working out?”

“My father is trying to convince me to stop, but at the same time he refuses to accept that I am in fact gay,” I said, with a sigh. I just had to wait a few more days and I’d be free.

“By the way, what do you do for work?” Jonghyun asked.

“A model,” I said with a shrug, “You’ll see me face in Marie Claire and ELLE next week.”

Kibum chuckled, “You are good. Getting a job as a model?”

“It’s just until I can find something else. I have to wait to I graduate from college before I can do something that can actually last,” I said with a sigh.

“Until then, we are here for you,” Kibum said with a smile.

I smiled back at him, “Thank you both.”

---

I was sitting at the lunch table surrounded by people, other then Jonghyun, that I disliked now. It was a bit ridiculous that they still think that I am one of them.

“Did you see that weird kid? He’s a total freak,” Eunhyuk laughed.

Yoochun sighed, “Can we be more mature?”

“Come on, its not a big deal,” Joon retorted.

“Enough,” Jonghyun yelled, “Enough, please.”

I ignored the looks I was getting because they knew that I would figure out that they were only stopping their conversation not because of Jonghyun, but because of me. I felt someone wrap their arm around mine and I pulled away.

HyunAh didn’t say anything or do anything, because her attention was on something else. She grabbed the cartoon of milk from my tray before he got up. Everyone was watching her as she made her way over to the table in the corner. The table with Taemin.

Taemin looked up at HyunAh, “What?”

“You know, I think you’d look good in white,” she said before pouring the milk on top of Taemin’s head.

Everyone, including myself gasped in shock. None of us expected that.

She dropped the carton on Taemin’s lap and laughed, “No, you’re still a blemish in this almost perfect hallways.”

I was half way over to the table when someone else helped Taemin up. I looked up at him and noticed it was Ok Taecyeon, a member of the basketball team. I never got along with him. He had his own group and I had mine.

“Let’s go, Taemin,” he said, helping the boy out of his chair and pulling him to the exit. He stopped and turned to HyunAh, “The only blemish is you.”

I watched as they walked away. When they were gone, I grabbed HyunAh’s wrist making her look at me, “If you ever do anything to him again, I was personally see that you lose everything.”

“He isn’t the one for you! I am!”

“You don’t deserve anyone,” I said, before roughly letting her go. I quickly ran after Taecyeon and Taemin. I pulled Taecyeon off of Taemin, “I can take care of him.”

Taecyeon pushed me away, “If you could take care of him, he wouldn’t have been in this mess to being with.”

“This isn’t my-“

“Just stop! Minho , leave me alone!” Taemin yelled, tears in his eyes, “Taecyeon, please just take me home.”

“Of course,” Taecyeon said, pushing past me.

I just stood there watching them. That was all I seemed to do lately. Watching as Taemin walked away from me. I hated it. I hated that he kept walking away from me. I wanted him back.

I rested my hand on his cheek and smiled, “You really do. I’m so-“

“Don’t be sorry,” He said leaning into my touch, “You were right. I’m holding you back from-“

I acted on impulse, I knew that, but I had to. I wanted to kiss him; feel his lips on mine and it was perfect.

I pulled away, resting my forehead on his, “I missed you.”

He smiled up at me, “I missed you too.”

O12. Newcomer

Everything was different. I refused to return to my father. I went to school and back home when I didn’t have to work. I made sure that no one knew where I lived and worked unless I trusted them. Jonghyun, Jinki and Kibum were the only ones who knew where I was and they were the only ones I talked to anymore. Anyone I used to consider a ‘friend’ was out of my mind. I couldn’t trust any of them.

Taemin refused to have any contact with me. He didn’t answer my calls, when he saw me in the hallway he would ignore me, and when I went to the diner, he changed his shift and no one would tell me when it was.

I felt like a zombie after everything that happened. I just wanted to move on and forget everything, but some people refused to let me.

“You already have your own house, a job, just get emancipated!” Kibum said, kicking me in the leg.

I glared up at him, “I am trying to do that, thank you.”

Kibum sat down in front of me and smiled, “Really? How is working out?”

“My father is trying to convince me to stop, but at the same time he refuses to accept that I am in fact gay,” I said, with a sigh. I just had to wait a few more days and I’d be free.

“By the way, what do you do for work?” Jonghyun asked.

“A model,” I said with a shrug, “You’ll see me face in Marie Claire and ELLE next week.”

Kibum chuckled, “You are good. Getting a job as a model?”

“It’s just until I can find something else. I have to wait to I graduate from college before I can do something that can actually last,” I said with a sigh.

“Until then, we are here for you,” Kibum said with a smile.

I smiled back at him, “Thank you both.”

---

I was sitting at the lunch table surrounded by people, other then Jonghyun, that I disliked now. It was a bit ridiculous that they still think that I am one of them.

“Did you see that weird kid? He’s a total freak,” Eunhyuk laughed.

Yoochun sighed, “Can we be more mature?”

“Come on, its not a big deal,” Joon retorted.

“Enough,” Jonghyun yelled, “Enough, please.”

I ignored the looks I was getting because they knew that I would figure out that they were only stopping their conversation not because of Jonghyun, but because of me. I felt someone wrap their arm around mine and I pulled away.

HyunAh didn’t say anything or do anything, because her attention was on something else. She grabbed the cartoon of milk from my tray before he got up. Everyone was watching her as she made her way over to the table in the corner. The table with Taemin.

Taemin looked up at HyunAh, “What?”

“You know, I think you’d look good in white,” she said before pouring the milk on top of Taemin’s head.

Everyone, including myself gasped in shock. None of us expected that.

She dropped the carton on Taemin’s lap and laughed, “No, you’re still a blemish in this almost perfect hallways.”

I was half way over to the table when someone else helped Taemin up. I looked up at him and noticed it was Ok Taecyeon, a member of the basketball team. I never got along with him. He had his own group and I had mine.

“Let’s go, Taemin,” he said, helping the boy out of his chair and pulling him to the exit. He stopped and turned to HyunAh, “The only blemish is you.”

I watched as they walked away. When they were gone, I grabbed HyunAh’s wrist making her look at me, “If you ever do anything to him again, I was personally see that you lose everything.”

“He isn’t the one for you! I am!”

“You don’t deserve anyone,” I said, before roughly letting her go. I quickly ran after Taecyeon and Taemin. I pulled Taecyeon off of Taemin, “I can take care of him.”

Taecyeon pushed me away, “If you could take care of him, he wouldn’t have been in this mess to being with.”

“This isn’t my-“

“Just stop! Minho , leave me alone!” Taemin yelled, tears in his eyes, “Taecyeon, please just take me home.”

“Of course,” Taecyeon said, pushing past me.

I just stood there watching them. That was all I seemed to do lately. Watching as Taemin walked away from me. I hated it. I hated that he kept walking away from me. I wanted him back.

O13. A Night To Remember

Prom; the greatest night of your life. To me it was on of the worst. Not only was I alone, but Taemin had come with Taecyeon. I didn’t even expect to see Taemin since Kibum told me that Taemin found the whole ordeal a waste of time and money. I wouldn’t have come either if I wasn’t nominated or if Jonghyun didn’t force me to come.

Now I was sitting at table with Jonghyun and Kibum while I watched Taemin and Taecyeon from afar. I could tell that Taemin wasn’t happy to be there or to be with Taecyeon. His smiles weren’t real. They were forced, I could tell.

“Will the nominees please come up on stage?” The principal asked.

Jonghyun and I stood up and made our way to the stage. Jinki came up behind us. We all smiled at each other before looking ahead. HyunAh, Yuri, and Luna came up on stage as well on the other side of the principal.

“Now I will read off the name of this year’s prince,” the old man said, opening up the envelope, “Choi Minho.”

I smiled softly at Jonghyun and Jinki who were congratulating me. The crown was placed on my head and I just nodded my head, looking over at Taemin. He was looking at me too. We had our gazes looked till some screamed.

“HOW DID SHE WIN?!”

I looked over to HyunAh glaring at Luna who seemed stunned. I smiled softly and placed the crown on Luna’s head, “Congradulations.”

Luna touched the crown and smiled at me, “Thank you, Minho oppa.”

I held out my hand, “Shall we dance?”

She took my hand and smiled. I helped her down the stage and the light shown on us. We danced till the song ended and we went our separate ways. I returned to my table and Jonghyun laughed at me, “Did you see HyunAh’s face?! It was so red; I thought she was going to explode.”

“Yuri wasn’t that happy either, but she was calm about it,” Kibum stated with a small smile, “Congrats Minho.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled taking off the crown. I didn’t even want it. It was more proof that I was exactly what Taemin thought I was.

“Congrats, Minho hyung.”

I looked up and saw Taemin smiling at me, “You won just like I knew you would. I voted for you.”

“You didn’t have to,” I replied.

“You’re right, but I did,” he said with a smile.

“Where is Taecyeon?” Kibum asked.

Taemin sat down next to him and shrugged, “He went off with Yoonha noona.”

Jonghyun looked surprised, “I thought he was-“

“My date? No, I’ve dated him before. He’s straight. He thought he was gay, but it turned out he thought I was a girl the whole time,” Taemin said with a chuckle, “He only forced me to come so I can fix some things.”

“Fix what?” I asked.

“Us,” he replied, “Can we go talk outside?”

I nodded and the two of us left the table. We walked out into the courtyard and sat on the fountain in silence. Neither of us wanted to talk first.

“I heard about you and your father. So you’re not marrying HyunAh?” he asked.

I shook my head, “Nope. Even if I didn’t emancipate myself, I wouldn’t have married her.”

He nodded his head, “I see.”

“Taemin.” I said, taking his hands, “I have a job, a nice home for myself. I want to be with you and only you. Please don’t push me away anymore.”

Taemin smiled softly, “I wouldn’t dare.”

I cupped his face in my hands and kissed him deeply. I love him so much.

---

I woke up when I felt the bed shift under me. I opened one eye to see Taemin walking to the bathroom. I sat up slowly, getting used to having my eyes opened again, “Taemin?”

He turned to me and smiled, “You’re awake.”

I nodded and held out my arms to him, “Come back.”

He chuckled, “I need to use the bathroom. Geez.”

I chuckled and leaned back on the headboard, closing my eyes. Everything felt perfect. Everything was right and I wasn’t going to let it go.

I felt a pressure on my leg and looked up to see Taemin sitting on my lap, “How did you sleep?”

“Very well,” I said, wrapping my arms around him. I rested my head on his shoulder, “I love knowing you’re in bed with me.”

Taemin chuckled as he played with the sheet around his waist, “I love you Minho .”

I looked up at him and kissed his lips softly, “I love you too.”

---

“Here is the class of 2010!”

END.