“Hey, wake up. Puppy.”

Soobin opens his eyes and mindlessly extended his hand to reach for something then he realizes he’s not in his room. “Ah right,” he muttered and takes a seat.

He saw Yeonjun who just finished taking a bath because his hair is damp and looking at him.

“Good morning,” Soobin greeted in his hoarse sleepy voice. “Can you open the window?” he asked looking at the only window of Yeonjun’s room.

“No, get up in there and have a breakfast,” Yeonjun refused and went out of the room.

“Why is he so grumpy this early in the morning?” Soobin whines and get up out of bed.

He went to the window and open it a bit to let the wind wander inside the room. He closed his eyes for a second and breaths in and out before smiling.

“Be good to me today,” he whispered and went out of the room.

Yeonjun prepared some French toasted bread and milk because he noticed Soobin’s mom always giving Soobin milk. He saw Soobin scratching his eyes on his way to the dining table.

“You already ate?” Soobin asked and drinks the milk right away.

“Yeah,” Yeonjun shortly reply and open his phone to read Huening’s messages why he didn’t come home.

“Thanks for the food,” Soobin expressed and started biting the bread. Then a sudden thought crossed his mind. He just remembers what happened last night and he gasp and paused.

“Why? Is it that hot?” Yeonjun asked him.

“N-no… n-nothing,” Soobin just shook his head and continued eating.

Yeonjun slid his phone back to his pockets. “Soobin, why don’t you want the doors lock and always open the window when you wake up?” Yeonjun asked him in curiosity.

“J-just… Just a habit,” Soobin replied trying to sound casual.

“A habit? And you’ll freak out if someone locks your door? I don’t think so,” Yeonjun pressed trying to hear the real answer.

“L-let’s not just talk about,” Soobin replied and continued eating.

After those, Yeonjun lends Soobin some new clothes to wear for the second day of the event. They ride on the motorbike and headed to school together.

Gossips started and malicious eyes caught them as they arrive together at the school. Yeonjun didn’t care about those but Soobin does, he feels being judged and he hates attention.

“Do whatever you want today,” Yeonjun stated and leave the younger as he went on his way.

“What the hell did I just saw!?”

“Hey! You startled me!” Soobin reacted and even hit Beomgyu’s arm. “It’s nothing,” Soobin replied and they started walking.

“There’s really something between you two, tell me,” Beomgyu insisted.

“Nothing,” Soobin answered and shook his head.

“Okay! I won’t ask anymore. Let’s just watch today the dancing contest!” Beomgyu gives in and invited the other.

“Sure! Let’s go! And I want to try some booths on the field too! I saw one of the juniors is having bingsu, I wanna try it!”

Choi Yeonjun’s in his usual place— rooftop, reading a book while lying on a wooden bench and blocking the sun through his book and his other arm is being his pillow.

He’s peacefully reading when someone barged in and he hears their excessive panting. “B-boss! Do you know Lim Taekwang? The topdog of XX All Boys School? He’s looking for you outside! He wants to fight,” Taemin reported.

“He’s with his two underlings too, Boss,” Chul added and growls to release a breath.

“Tell him to fuck himself,” Yeonjun just replied and flip another page as he continue reading.

“He said if you won’t come down right now, he’ll beat one of our students. H-he’s holding someone earlier, our junior,” Chul answered.

“Why would I care about it?” Yeonjun replied casually, still eyes are on the book.

The two didn’t just sighs because they know they know that Yeonjun won’t really move in his seat. They just left from where they are standing and closed the door of the rooftop.

Yeonjun put his book on his chest and closed his eyes because of the sunlight. He sighs as he remembers Lim Taekwang’s face. He’s been into fight with the other students for so many times that he can’t recognize them already.

“Dude that was awesome! I really expected MOA are going to win! They are so synchronized and energetic!” Beomgyu expressed after watching the awarding of the dance competition and on their way to the field for foods.

“Right! Right! One of them are so cute too!” Soobin agreed.

“Should I get her number for you?” Beomgyu suddenly asked and he received a hit from Soobin.

“Stop, I just compliment her not hit on her,” Soobin laughs. “Why don’t you do it?”

“I’m not into girls.”

Soobin paused for a moment that made Beomgyu have more steps gaps away from him. “R-really?” Soobin asked in surprise.

“Yep! But maybe soon, I might since I want a kid of my own,” Beomgyu chuckles as if it was a joke but it’s not.

Soobin almost hopping went to Beomgyu’s side again. “It’s fine! There are science-technology things for it,” Soobin answered.

“Nope! I want it natural. Maybe this is just a fluttering moment of being a highschool student. I’ll enjoy it for now,” Beomgyu stated and smiles again.

Soobin just chuckles as well to his friend. He didn’t know that Beomgyu have this kind of thoughts in his mind. Beomgyu seems mature than what Soobin is expecting and has really a lot in him that no one knows. Just like exactly what Soobin is feeling too.

Both of them started eating some foods their schoolmates made and Soobin feels that he wants to take a piss so he leave Beomgyu first and heads inside the main building but he stopped when he heard someone begging and some thuds.

“E-excuse me? What are you doing?” Soobin interrupted the outside bullies. “Hey! Let him go!” he suddenly shouted when he noticed it’s his junior that gets beating up.

“Trashbin, don’t interfere,” Chul butts in and hold his arm.

“What the fuck is this!?” Soobin yelled and pulled his arms away from Chul. “Is Yeonjun has something to do with this? Where is he!?” he continued yelling.

“Hey, hey, tall guy,” the bully, Lim Taekwang, called Soobin and looked at him from head to toe. “Look who’s here. Those eyes are incredibly sharp,” he noticed Soobin’s glare at him.

“Get out in here or I’ll call the teachers,” Soobin warned him.

“No, no, no, dumbass unless you’ll drag Yeonjun in here,” Taekwang conditioned.

“And if I do?” Soobin asked.

“Then I’ll let go of that wimp and deal with Yeonjun. If not then I’ll beat you up instead,” Taekwang stated.

“Yeonjun won’t come here, Soobin,” Taemin replied. “We already told him,” he added.

“He won’t waste any time with this guy,” Chul added as well.

Soobin sighs. He knows if Yeonjun said “no” it means “no”. But he can’t also stand the kid here getting bullied by someone who’s feeling superior to everyone. He looked at his junior and his eyes are already begging for help, lots of bruises, and on his knees. So, he’ll try. Soobin will try his best.

Soobin runs heading to the rooftop and he saw Yeonjun frowning while reading a book in the same position. “Choi Yeonjun, please,” Soobin pleaded immediately.

“What now?” Yeonjun replied in his bored tone.

“Just for the kid,” Soobin added.

“Why? Who’s he? President’s son?” Yeonjun coldly replied, not giving Soobin even glance.

“You’re really a bad guy. Someone’s expecting for your help but here you are being an assole,” Soobin taunted him.

Yeonjun closed his book and get up from where he’s lying. He glared at Soobin that made the younger feel afraid for a second. Yeonjun walk towards him, gripping his book firmly and swing it to hit Soobin but he stopped midway.

“Stop barking at me, Choi Soobin. If you want to save the kid then go and do it. I’m not Superman,” Yeonjun stated in his cold voice.

“I hate you so much. After what you did last night, you’re just going to be asshole again! I hate you so much!” Soobin madly yelled at Yeonjun then he received a hard slap from him.

Soobin’s fists clenched as well as his jaws after feeling the pain of it on his cheek.

“I did it because you wanted me to do it. Why? Do you think I see you more than a dog now? Fuck you, Choi Soobin. I won’t fucking waste my time fighting those bastard just to help a kid. If your conscience can’t take it then act like a superhero in there but I guess you can’t,” Yeonjun paused.

Soobin’s eyes are about to burst some warm fluid while hearing what Yoenjun’s saying.

Yeonjun continued, “Stop being so caring to others if you can’t even protect them! Stop being concerned if you’ll just leave them to others! It’s your fucking conscience that’s pushing you then why are you fucking dragging me!?” he shouts at the younger and pushed him harshly but Soobin managed to stand firm.

Soobin lift his head and looked at Yeonjun while his tears are now falling down on his cheeks.

“Yeah, I can’t protect them. Yeah I can’t stand looking at them being hurt but what the fuck could I do!? I can’t do anything but just watch them! And that’s why I’m asking a help from you!” Soobin shouted back at him, letting his tears.

“You can do something but you chose to be a coward, Soobin. You know you can do something to save someone but you choose to be a fucking coward and that’s exactly the reason why are you hurting right now!”

“I wanted—“

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up and I told you to do what you fucking want. Go save that kid or get beat up yourself I don’t fucking care about you Choi Soobin,” Yeonjun raved in Soobin’s face.

“I really hate you,” Soobin muttered. “I hope you’ll get guilty and suffer too,” he added and turn his back.

Yeonjun dropped his book, he grabbed Soobin’s wrist, slam him against the wall, and strangle his neck. “Don’t ever passed on me what you are suffering because I never betrayed anyone,” Yeonjun gritted his teeth in anger.

Soobin resisted and kicked Yeonjun’s stomach that made Yeonjun get pushed away. Soobin’s eyes are in rage and he’s hurt. “What the fuck do you know about what I’m getting through, huh!?” Soobin yelled and come to Yeonjun.

But before Soobin could get a hit, he already thrown Soobin into the air, flipping his back and then Soobin’s back hits the floor. Yeonjun went above him, pulled his collar and aim a punch at him.

“Hey! Hey! Yeonjun! Stop!” Beomgyu appeared and pushed Yeonjun away before he could hit Soobin.

Yeonjun just sits on the floor while watching Beomgyu assisting Soobin to get up. “Are you okay? Let’s go. Don’t worry about that kid, the SSC handled it already.”

Soobin just nods and looked at Yeonjun first who’s still glaring at him until Beomgyu and him took the stairs together. “Hey! Why are you getting fight into Yeonjun?”

“I hate him,” Soobin muttered and wipes his tears.

“Did he hit you? Your cheek’s swollen. You shouldn’t get close with him already. Look at what he’s doing to you.”

Soobin for some reason is bothered rather than being hurt. It feels like Yeonjun knows something from him. It feels like what Yeonjun just said earlier is truth and he’s trying to point out something.

What is it?

“You don’t need to hit Soobin that hard,” Taehyun replied while looking at the field below, sort of monitoring the students.

“I just hate him for being so stupid,” Yeonjun replied and pick up his book. “You know something, right? What have you found out?”

“Just interesting facts about you two,” Taehyun replied and looked at his senior. “How was it? How’s the feeling when you’re seeing someone you hate the most?” Taehyun asked.

“My blood’s boiling everytime I see him. I really wanted to smack him down,” Yeonjun replied and released a growl.

Taehyun nods. “Take it easy, if he’ll found out who you are,” Taehyun pasued. “You two will surely fight each other to death. Do you get what I’m saying Yeonjun? Keep it down if you want him to suffer more or just reveal everything to him in a harsh way then make him feel regret every single day,” Taehyun stated.

“You’re such an evil,” Yeonjun commented.

Taehyun chuckles, “Am I? Not really. I’m just always on the winning side and learning the hard way because easy lessons always forgotten.”

--
A/N: Guys, listen... Did BEHOLDEN just gained 1k reads in a day? Because I updated Chapter 16 at 2.03k reads and then I went out and came back at night to check things and before midnight it's already 3.3k reads. So, did we just...really...gain that much reads...in a day?