he was and will always be his superman;

🌼

❝stop moving!❞ jungwoo, who's now at the age of eleven, clicked his tongue while treating the younger's bruises in his face. ❝why did you even bother fighting back?❞

scoffing, the bruised boy clenched his fists upon remembering how that one student made fun of jungwoo for being too feminine when all the older did was scream once he saw a bug. ❝he was talking bad about you! i can't just let that slide.❞

holding back a smile, jungwoo still found it wrong at how yukhei went to have a physical fight with a student when all that student did was make fun of him. putting more pressure on the cotton that he had dabbed on one of yukhei's bruises, the younger hissed and glared at him. ❝where did you even get that dustpan?❞

❝i just had it with me.❞ rubbing his nape, yukhei looked away. he was embarrassed to admit the stupid idea he had during the test he's having in a specific subject. ❝we were asked to bring rulers but i forgot. no one bothered to lend me one so i took the initiative to use the edge of the dustpan.❞

a snort, that was what yukhei received from his older friend.

❝don't laugh!❞

jungwoo ruffled the boy's hair after putting the cotton down. ❝if i wasn't there to stop you then you would have used it as a weapon.❞

❝woo, i don't tolerate
those who makes fun of you.❞

there was it again, the butterflies inside his stomach.

so basically, there was a bug inside jungwoo's classroom and reacted a little bit too much that the usual. his male classmates made fun of him for it and didn't let it die down. being vulnerable as he is, jungwoo felt like crying while seeing all the fingers pointing at him and laughs dedicated at him. he wanted to fight back, gathering the courage to do so since he knew he didn't deserve that kind of treatment, but yukhei suddenly went inside his classroom shouting.

yukhei was running while bringing a dustpan with him. despite of being a year under jungwoo, he still managed to know what was going on and knew that his bestfriend was in trouble. the boy didn't hesitate to run and be jungwoo's knight in shining armor once more, or like what he usually is.

fortunately for his classmates that made fun of him, jungwoo stopped yukhei from using the dustpan but failed to stop him from getting physical with the kids.

which brings them to the school's infirmary right now and jungwoo insisted to treat the boy's bruises that he received from all the punches from his classmates. jungwoo honestly found it unfair, yukhei versus three to five people.

❝it still hurts.❞ yukhei whined, sitting down the provided bed while watching the older who's putting back the first aid kit.

❝you shouldn't have went in for a fight.❞ jungwoo walked over to the younger and placed a hand on his cheek, caressing it softly as he stared straight to yukhei's eyes. the boy sat there, mind blank after seeing jungwoo's flawless face close to his. ❝thank you for standing up for me.❞

one thing is for sure, jungwoo isn't the only one feeling butterflies inside his tummy.

but they were friends and yukhei has been feeling this way ever since they were kids so it's probably just normal between friends to feel this way.

❝next time, don't hesitate to call for your superman when something happens.❞ yukhei said, not minding the close distance they were in. he wanted for jungwoo to be aware that he'll always be there to save his day.

chuckling, the older only gave him a smile. ❝or i have to learn how to stand up for myself.❞ he said, not wanting to burden the younger that much.

that made yukhei frown, thinking that maybe jungwoo doesn't trust him enough. ❝hey, didn't i tell you that i'm your superman?❞

❝you did.❞

❝then why won't you call me when something happens?❞

caressing his cheek, jungwoo looked down on to the younger's lips while thinking of an answer. ❝i can't always rely on you, yukhei. i also have to be strong for myself.❞

❝but what if i want you to rely on me always?❞ holding the older's wrist whose hand is on his cheek, yukhei made jungwoo look up back to his eyes. ❝what if i want to be your superman always and just protect you from the bad guys?❞

it's always the same reason they'll tell to their selves. they felt their hearts beating twice its normal pace and mind going to places after knowing how close they were but they were too young to know what they were feeling, thus they refused to think much about it.

but they would be lying if they'd say that they hated what they were feeling.

❝just let me protect you.❞

jungwoo didn't know what he did in his past life to have a friend like him, finding himself too lucky to have him. ❝shouldn't i be the one saying that to you? i'm older than you.❞

❝age doesn't matter, you can also protect me if you like.❞ yukhei then stealthy held the older's hand and intertwined their fingers together, leaning forward just for their forehead to touch. ❝but i want to make it a duty to protect you.❞

there are times jungwoo would like the butterflies but most of the time, he hated how he was clueless as to what they were. he wanted to know so badly as to why he was feeling this way towards the boy but he still does think he was too young.

which is why he only ruined the moment with a laugh. ❝you know, if you are going to say all of these cheesy lines then you could at least give credits.❞

this wasn't the first time jungwoo is like this. yukhei would find him changing the topic dozen of times whenever he's seriously talking with the older. quite understandable since yukhei, himself, also finds it strange to be serious.

but it hurt him how jungwoo won't trust him and his words. ❝i really do mean it.❞

patting the younger's face softly, jungwoo nodded his head. he made sure that he would be reminded of the younger's words. ❝just don't get yourself in trouble next time.❞

❝i might be exaggerating but i honestly would take a bullet for you.❞

jungwoo groaned, already knowing that yukhei is now teasing him. ❝are you practicing yourself to be in a relationship?❞

shrugging, yukhei stayed seating on the bed while jungwoo was busy for whatever he was doing just to distract himself from him. ❝why, did it make your heart flutter?❞

with cheeks heating up and eyes widening, jungwoo turned to face the younger only to see him wiggled his brows. this flirt. ❝it did not.❞

❝you face says otherwise.❞

❝it's just hot in here!❞ jungwoo didn't mean to raise his voice but he definitely was flustered at whatever yukhei is doing to him even though he keeps on denying it.

❝you know why?❞ yukhei smirked, ❝because i'm here.❞

❝god, help me deal with this kid.❞ jungwoo said as he clasped his hand together and shut his eyes tight.

the sight made yukhei laugh really loud, knowing very well that jungwoo was having too much of his antics. "why do you have to be so cute?"

it even made him say something in a language that jungwoo couldn't understand.

pouting, jungwoo placed both his hands on his hips. he looked like a mother ready to scold his son. the difference is, his son doesn't look afraid. yukhei just had a wide grin plastered on his face while staring at the older in front of him.

❝what did you say?❞ jungwoo questioned.

❝nothing.❞

❝are you making fun of me in chinese!?❞ jungwoo wanted to pounce at the younger but he was still hurt so he just threatened to hit him.

laughing out loud, yukhei swiftly caught the older's wrist and pulled him back close. jungwoo still looked upset at not knowing what yukhei said but the younger rather found it adorable than scary. ❝if i tell you, you might fall for me.❞

struggling to take his arm back, jungwoo couldn't smack the younger for saying that. ❝as if! you're so full of yourself.❞

"stop being so cute, god." and yukhei was at it again with confusing jungwoo using his native language.

giving up on it, he knew he couldn't do anything with it. jungwoo just hopes that yukhei isn't talking bad about him or he'll really grill that annoying smirk on his face. with a frown, jungwoo gave the younger a warning look. ❝let go of me.❞

that took yukhei aback, is he really mad? letting go nonetheless, yukhei sat there while waiting for what jungwoo wad going to do to him. he guessed that he might hit him for saying something he couldn't understand but instead, jungwoo cupped his face and leaned forward.

❝what are you—❞

❝my father always kisses my bruises. he said that it would get better faster.❞ that was what jungwoo did.

he leaned forward just to place short and gentle kisses on the bruises in yukhei's face. they were quite a lot considering the number of students he went up to and it made jungwoo guilty that his friend had to receive all those punches for him. and he couldn't even do anything about it but shout for the teacher because he was being held back and he didn't have the strength to pull away.

enjoying the feeling, yukhei closed his eyes with a smile. at this moment, he loved how the butterflies inside his stomach turned to a whole zoo.

❝i actually won't mind getting punched again if it makes me get kisses from you.❞

with that remark, yukhei earned a smack on the head.

⚊ t b c ⚊