❝hey chenle?❞

chenle slightly flinched from his seat when someone poked his shoulder and looked to the side, he saw jisung staring at him looking all so worried. ❝yeah?❞

❝are you alright?❞

honestly speaking? ❝of course, why wouldn't i be?❞ no. he's not fine.

and jisung know him that well to see through his lie. the younger male squinted his eyes and leaned closer to the chinese, making move a little back. ❝i don't think you are.❞

the two stayed that way and just noticed how close they were. do you see one of them move away? nope. they stayed that close, just looking at each other's eyes. being this close, they just realized how much they missed each other being so intimate. with that small gap left in between them, chenle was silently waiting for jisung to close it and trust me, jisung too wanted to close the gap between them. so what's stopping him?

the small voice inside his head that's reminding him that they are just friends, that's what is stopping jisung.

❝a-anyways..❞ jisung cleared his throat the moment he snapped back to his senses and moved away, sitting back on his seat properly. ❝it's lunch break.❞

the chinese blinked, eyes going to the wall clock to check the time. ❝it is?❞

jisung nodded his head and stood up to arrange his things. ❝you were busy with your thoughts to even notice the class ending.❞

❝i guess i was.❞ chenle replied and also went to fix his things, carrying the books that he needed to put inside his lockers and placed one under his desk.

❝what were you thinking about?❞ jisung asked with full curiosity and started to walk of out their room together with chenle.

shrugging, chenle didn't want to tell it to anyone. ❝just somethings.❞ especially to jisung.

noticing the change of chenle's mood, jisung pressed his lips into a thin line and thought of something that'll cheer up chenle. macaroons was the first thing in mind but he couldn't be flash and go to the nearest shop to buy one. maybe some funny jokes will do? ❝have you listened to chogi says by gaycity123?❞

chenle's chuckle then echoed down the silent hallways. ❝is that even a question? you should know by now that gaycity is my favorite group.❞

they could remember talking about that specific group one time and jisung couldn't help but get jealous when chenle told him that his bias was chickensung meanwhile chenle declared that he has a much more amazing voice than jisung's bias who was dolphinle.

good old times.

jisung smiled, ❝knock knock.❞

knowing that this will fail badly, chenle decided to play along with jisung. ❝who's there?❞

❝etch.❞

chenle furrowed his brows, thinking if that word even exists. ❝etch who?❞

taking a deep breath, jisung gathered all his energy and put it in his joke. ❝bless you etch who.❞

chenle almost stumbled down the stairs when jisung said that joke. scruching his nose, he turned to jisung and slowly shook his head as a no. ❝i disapprove.❞

the younger let out a good laugh as he repeated his knock knock joke. ❝it's funny.❞

the younger's laugh then made chenle smile a little. he looks so happy and seeing that also made chenle happy. it's probably normal for friends to feel that way to the other. ❝did jeno hyung tell you that?❞

❝actually, jeno told that to jaemin. jaemin told me that joke one time and i thought that i can make you laugh if i tell that joke to you since i laughed so loud when jaemin told me that.❞ jisung said while walking right next to chenle as they made their way to their lockers. ❝i just want to make you smile since you look down.❞

opening his locker and placing the books he brought with him inside, chenle placed both his index fingers on the corner of his lips and lifted it up to form a smile. ❝see?❞

❝you look weird.❞ jisung laughed at chenle who lifted his lips a little bit higher.

chenle laughed along with him and jisung paused for a moment to just admire how amazingly beautiful chenle is when he laughs. and did he ever mention that chenle's dolphin laugh is his favorite? he could just listen to his laugh all day and wouldn't even care if he goes deaf.

❝it's your turn to space out.❞ chenle then waved his hands in front of jisung's face. ❝earth to park jisung?❞

❝huh?❞

❝what were you think about?❞

jisung stayed frozen when chenle leaned forward towards him. ❝your laugh.❞

❝my what?❞

the younger just then realized what he had just said and may have thought that chenle might misunderstand. ❝i mean, you laugh is beautiful. it's not annoying or anything, it's perfect. i was just thinking about how i can make it as a ringtone.❞ he doesn't even know what he's blabbering about.

❝your ringtone?❞ chenle held back the urge to smile wide. it undeniably made him all fuzzy but chenle kept it in, he had to. friend don't feel this way, do they? ❝let's go, they are probably waiting.❞

nodding his head, jisung went beside chenle and the two walked together towards the cafeteria with their hands always brushing each other. their thoughts were running wild on questions whether to hold it or not but just when they were about to make up their minds, one of their classmates approached them. approached chenle specifically.

what jisung didn't like was, this guy is looking at chenle like he was somekind of food.

❝you know, despite of that video spreading around, i honestly find your voice amazing.❞ the guy said. chenle could remember him not joining the people who makes fun of him so it's probably fine.

❝thank you so much.❞

jisung didn't even notice himself glaring at that person, throwing knives with his eyes and chopping the guy like he's meat, and also didn't notice himself scooting closer to chenle like a possessive and jealous boyfriend he is.

❝i wish you luck tomorrow!❞ the guy said, flashing chenle a cute smile before walking away.

there is so much going on that chenle lost track of time. tomorrow's the grand day for the girls to wear those expensive looking gowns and for the boys looking all the same with their suits. now being reminded of him singing tomorrow, chenle couldn't help but feel nervous at what could possibly happen tomorrow at the grand ball.

but his nervousness  disappeared all of a sudden when he felt something gripping his hand very tight.

❝i don't like how that guy smiled at you.❞ jisung said, watching at the student that's still visible from their sights.

❝jisung?❞ chenle chuckled.

to be very honest, chenle missed this side of jisung so much. when they were still at an unknown relationship, jisung would always be jealous of everything. chenle honestly doesn't find it creepy, annoying, or whatsoever. it felt nice having someone to claim him as theirs.

❝you're holding my hand.❞ chenle pointed out.

snapping jisung out from his thoughts real quick and panicked when he saw them holding hands. he then let go and placed both his hands inside his school pocket to keep his hands all to himself. ❝l-let's just go, i'm hungry.❞

jisung was walking so fast, chenle could see him being flustered. ❝wait for me!❞

but the question was still inside chenle's head, should he tell jisung?

🐋

❝you really didn't have to wait for me until practice is over.❞ chenle said with a pout while kicking the stone that's on the ground.

chenle's practice for the grand ball end up a little bit late since it's going to be their last day of practice but that didn't stop jisung from waiting. chenle was surprised that the practice went well. he didn't feel vomit neither did he feel like vomiting. maybe tomorrow, chenle is hoping, everything will alo end up well and he won't embarrass himself in front of many people.

jisung shook his head. ❝look, it's night, who knows what would happen to you at night?❞

the chinese smiled at jisung being worried. ❝i'm older than you, just saying.❞

❝do you know how to fight?❞

❝do you?❞

jisung proudly lifted his chip up with his hands on his hips. ❝i destroyed a vacuum cleaner once with my bare hands, there would be no problem in fighting.❞

hearing what jisung just said made chenle furrow his brows in shock. ❝you destroyed a vacuum cleaner?❞

❝yeah. it stole a kis—❞ jisung stopped speaking the moment he realized that he was slowly exposing himself. ❝i have my reasons.❞

❝poor vacuum cleaner.❞ chenle honestly felt bad for the vacuum cleaner for having to feel jisung's wrath.

❝uh chenle..❞ jisung then started to play his fingers, cursing at himself mentally for being so nervous in front of chenle.

❝hm?❞ chenle hummed.

❝have you—❞

"hey mister!"

both chenle and jisung looked down and saw a kid raising a lollipop up. jisung was silently hating the kid for cutting him off meanwhile chenle was cooing at how the kid looked when he was pouting.

❝what is it?❞ jisung said sternly, obviously annoyed.

the kid went to walk in front of jisung and poked the wrapped lollipop on his right leg. ❝you destroy.❞

❝what?❞

❝destroy the barrier.❞ jisung could guess that this kid plays those online games by the way he uses his words.

crouching down with a smile, jisung took the lollipop and hit it softly on the kid's forehead. ❝you mean get the wrapper?❞

the kid nodded slowly and watched jisung removing the wrapper on his lollipop, watching closely and finding it amazing how big jisung's hands are. the kid couldn't help but place his small hands on top of jisung's. that sight honestly melted chenle's heart. jisung interacting with a kid is such a sight to see.

what would it look if he's with his child?

❝where are your parents?❞

❝they told me to wait here.❞ the kid answered and cheered when jisung gave him the lollipop. ❝thank you so much!❞

❝welcome.❞

after greeting the kid a goodbye, they walked away with chenle's eyes still on the kid until they turned to a familiar corner and the kid finally disappeared out from his sight. the two once again walked in silence. but not until jisung decided to break it and asked what he was supposed to ask a while ago.

❝have you found a date for tomorrow?❞ jisung questioned, shrugging his nervousness off.

chenle pressed his lips in a thin line before shaking his head as a no. ❝but i'm part of the performers so it's okay not to have one since i'll be staying backstage most of the time.❞

❝oh.❞ that somehow relieved jisung.

❝how about you?❞

❝nope.❞ jisung said with a popping p. ❝i'm park jisung, i'm going to be fine without a date. not like we are not allowed to attend if we don't have a date.❞

❝but then, you'll he lonely.❞ chenle said, squinting his eyes only to see two familiar houses not far from where they are walking.

❝you also don't have a partner so i don't get why you're saying that to me.❞ jisung said back.

❝well—❞ chenle heaved out a sigh surrendering. ❝fine, we both are going to be lonely.❞

❝i don't think so.❞ jisung said after stopping in front of chenle's house to drop him off first. ❝there's two of us not having dates so we are not lonely.❞

chenle rolled his eyes as he understood what jisung actually meant. ❝really now jisung?❞

the younger only chuckled and opened the chinese's gates for him to enter. but before that, ❝chenle!❞

the older jumped from his place when jisung shouting his name when he's just right next to him. ❝jisung!❞

rubbing his nape, jisung had a small smile on his face. ❝although you're not my date, can i pick you up here tomorrow at six?❞

who is chenle to say no? ❝of course.❞

❝but i'm not asking you to be my date okay? i'm just picking you up here and we'll go to the venue together. but if you want—❞

chenle went inside and closed the gates. ❝jisung, i already said yes. go home and sleep.❞

having a wide smile plastered in his face, jisung nodded his head violently and waved his hands at chenle. ❝goodnight chenle.❞

❝sleep well jisung.❞ chenle said with a smile before walking towards his house but before he could open it, he could have sworn that he heard jisung shout so loud.

❝yes!❞

chenle then went inside fhe house giggling. one day, he'll tell jisung one day. at a right time and at a right place.

for now, he's just going to enjoy and accept what they have.

⚊ t b c ⚊