"Achoo!"

Jaemin rubbed his nose as his eyes rapidly scanned the letters on the pages. The thing was, he had been okay in the library for a while but suddenly, the growing day allowed heat to creep in and the lonely books that had gathered dust became too uncomfortable to be around for too long. That's when he decided to venture up the stairs and was pleasantly surprised to see that they led to the roof. Unfortunately, the dust travelled with him and he sneezed.

"What in the world?" Jaemin whispered, his eyes widening every now and then at some parts of the book.

It was by 'luck' that he had found a perfect book explaining the stigma that Satanists and Wiccans faced. But the more he read, the more he wanted to cry. Not just thousands of individuals but it was also himself that was the cause of such behaviour against them. Others treated them badly mainly for the name of their religion without even learning anything except what the antis wanted them to know. He was guilty of that. His Mother was one of those that only looked at the name and automatically assumed. It made him want to turn and release the floodgates.

The book was detailed, the crimes committed against them, the imprisonment, death sentences from the olden days, the way churches would go through rituals to cleanse them, the modern day tactics of mercilessly belittling and bullying them, and to make it worse, the comments that would lead to things like them committing suicide from the unbearable hate and pressure.

Jaemin felt sick. He felt so sick to know that just that morning he had truly and honestly knocked out someone just because he didn't believe the same as him. He felt like something inside clawed at him, as if it were trying to come out and drag out a new view of the world. Something inside told him that he had to change and become a Na Jaemin that everyone would love. But, the majority of individuals can't unlearn something in an hour. The mentality may have shifted but that didn't mean that something they had believed would leave them immediately. So that meant he'd have to practice being kind or at least not running each time someone got close to him.

He wondered how it felt. By the standards of the majority of the Earthly population, there was absolutely nothing wrong with him being a Christian. Not a single thing to look down upon but with people like Renjun and Jeno, suddenly thousands upon thousands hated them just because their religion was different. They had the support of their family but that didn't mean they had the support of the outside world. He could figure. Not being able to hold onto someone besides immediate family for support could feel like a grape withering away in the sun.

The way they thought would be discarded, stepped on, looked down on, left to air dry and eventually, the confidence they had been given at home wouldn't be reciprocated in public and in no time, they would wither into themselves and like the many before them, they'd pass without anyone having a care.

Jaemin wanted to care.

Who knew that Wiccans didn't believe in war and their goddess was an advocate of peace? Who knew that Satanists believed that no one should ever be harmed unless that person harmed them first?

It was such a different view than what Jaemin had been made to believe. Such a difference that he could almost feel whiplash from the wrong information he had been given circulating and contradicting what he was now learning.

Satanists didn't worship Satan as their lord but simply acknowledged him, Wiccans didn't curse people with evil wishes, Satanists supported everyone as long as they didn't hurt anyone, and Wiccans promoted the growth and wellbeing of nature. Satanists respected everyone once they were the ones that entered someone else's territory and Wiccans were kind hearted by nature.

Then there was Jaemin.

The Jaemin who was repulsed at the idea of other religions, the one who didn't support anyone, the one who would chant verses in his head when he'd be near other students, and the one who didn't know but could feel the tiny attraction he felt for black haired Lee Jeno.

"I'm going to hell for treating them so badly," Jaemin whispered to himself, tears welling up in him as guilt consumed him in heavy waves. Two months it had taken for him to come to this conclusion. And those two months would never be a regret in his life as long as he always came to the same conclusion he was having at that moment.

But then, a feeling came over him and he nearly gasped out loud. The sensation once again reminding him of a Russian Doll─ Matryoshka─ his outer layer coming off and inside, a new one appearing. But, his did not come off and instead, only cracked but he couldn't dwell in that happiness for too long for the new layer did not fall off and he had nothing except the softening of his mind. The old him still lay present and battered and only when the outer layer would fully crack would he be a new person.

"Jaehyun has always been a better person and I doubted him," Jaemin commented miserably. "I'll be a better person now."

And Jeno, who had decided to follow a while after walking with Jaemin, now sat on the stairs right below the roof and smiled.

That would be something he could now use but he couldn't tell the others just yet.

._._.

"Are you gonna stare at me all day or?"

"Yeah, Kunhang, will you stare at him all day like a fool?" Renjun asked, simply repeating after Dejun.

"Shut the hell up, Ren. You're not one to speak. I saw the way you stared at the black haired boy. Gay as shit if I can say."

Renjun felt his face flame up, grabbing a book before launching it at his brother's head.

"HEY! JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL I STRANGLE THE LIFE OUTTA-"

"TRY IT! TRY IT!" Renjun shrieked, standing to face his brother. "NOT ONLY WILL YOU LOOK STUPID INFRONT OF YOUR CRUSH BUT I'LL GET YOU BANNED FROM HERE AND TELL JENO TO BEAT YOU TO A PULP!"

"YOUR LOVE CAN'T DO SHIT!"

"Guys, I don't think you should be fighting like that," Dejun commented, the other boy he was always with seated firmly against his side.

"Yeah. Especially not about Dejun in front of me," the boy added.

The room instantly quieted and like in most situations, Renjun snickered at Kunhang's sudden behavioural shift.

"Oh shit. Who the hell is that cutie?" Kunhang just about purred. "What's your name?"

"Yangyang and I'm not interested in you."

Kunhang sighed, sitting back down as Renjun continued snickering.

Speaking of crushes, where the hell was Jeno?

But Lee Jeno was out being sneaky because really, he was in a problem with himself now and it was more than complicated. It was something of a love triangle, with himself being the centre and the arrows heading in both directions.

Honestly, he was so distraught he had no choice but to take a walk in the school garden to calm down. It was more of a revelation to him than anything else when he had been sneakily climbing down the balcony stairs after another day of silently watching Jaemin move.

He didn't even know it was possible for himself to like two people, nevertheless want to be with them simultaneously.

He wasnt stupid. He knew what a poly relationship was but not that he wanted to be in one.

It was obvious as to why he wanted Renjun. They spent so much time together and he was just too damn adorable to not resist. Honestly, Jeno wondered how someone hadn't already asked him out but then again, the black haired was always around and seemed to be a natural repellant with his muscular body. It didn't help that virtually everyone knew he enjoyed sports which made him another threat to those who didn't have the body strength that he possessed.

Then there was Jaemin who wasn't supposed to be in the top choices but he was because for some reason, after the moment he cried on the roof for being a judgemental person, Jeno found that shift to make him an entirely different person.

Not a different person in physical attributes but different mentally. He had audibly witnessed his sorrow and that kind of made a spot on his heart go soft. It had given him an easier way to take a liking to him.

It was sudden but it was the same feeling he had had when he first started noticing Renjun's cuteness. And that had happened an entire month and a half after school had officially started.

"Sometimes life would be easier if I were straight," Jeno sighed, taking a seat on a bench.

"But then life would be plain boring," a voice responded and Jeno nearly felt his soul drop from the unexpected reply.

He turned and was met with Kunhang making his way into the garden with his hands stuck in his pocket.

He smiled simply, remembering what had happened the several nights before because of him and that seemed to catch the newcomers attention.

"What's got you all smiley? Surely not me," Kunhang joked. "You were just complaining about the lack of heterosexuality in you so that means theres someone. Tell me."

Jeno sighed. He didn't feel ready enough to discuss his sudden emotions. Nevertheless, emotions he had just acquired.

"It's nothing really," Jeno tried. "I do like a someone but it's more than complicated."

Kunhang nodded, understanding the vague answer was all that he was going to get. He was a pushy, loud, demanding at times type of person but he understood people and didn't force anyone to speak. As a Satanist, it wasn't his place to continue doing anything or give advice for the first commandment of the Eleven Satanic Rules of Earth instructed him as such and he'd listen.

"You don't have to say anything," Kunhang explained, a small smile on his face. "I understand."

"I'm sorry that I can't tell you more," Jeno laughed sheepishly, scratching his arm absentmindedly.

"No need to worry. It's not my place to know your business. Especially a stranger's business. I just know your name and that's about it." The two relished in each other's presence, simply watching the minutes go by as they immersed themselves in their own reveries with silence until Kunhang broke their trance. "Wanna hear a very little bit about my current crisis?"

Jeno side eyed him but nodded, black hair falling over his face.

"Sure. Wouldn't mind."

"Y'know Dejun and Yangyang?" Kunhang started, Jeno nodding. "They're dating. I like them both but they're dating and I can't just butt into their relationship like that. I have enough decency but I mean, mayhaps something could happen, y'know? And they're both Buddhist. I know that doesnt matter but I don't know much about their religion. I just know I'm a Satanist and we don't actually give a shit about someone's religion if you wanna date them but it could be different for them. What if it matters which religion they date?"

Jeno thought for a little bit. trying to figure out what he could tell Kunhang. He knew very little of Buddhism but from what he did know, he knew it was probably a bit helpful for Kunhang.

"They don't care what religion you are," Jeno said helpfully. "Yeah, they have their daily prayers and aren't as strict as many religions but when it comes to what you believe, as long as you respect them I think you'll do fine. You just have to keep in mind that they have prayers and you can't make them feel bad for doing that although you don't pray, okay?"

Kunhang nodded thankfully, keeping that information in storage for later use.

"Thanks. I guess I just find it stressful because my brothers have everything in order. Renjun isn't dating but he doesn't stress over things like this and my older brother has had his life in order for years," Kunhang explained tiredly.

"Years? How come he's had it together for so long?"

"He doesn't like sitting still. My Father is a fortunate person and because of that, he wants Yukhei to follow in his footsteps as the first born. Yukhei doesn't mind because the benefits that come with it match his preferences. Renjun and I don't care because it isn't something we want but our brother does and to make it all the better for him, he's dating the one person my Father wanted him to date."

Jeno quirked an eyebrow, intrigued at the information.

"Huh? But does he want to date the person he's with? I mean, why would he want to do all that for benefits if he doesn't like his partner?"

Kunhang laughed lightly, patting Jeno's shoulder as he began explaining.

"Yukhei has been dating his boyfriend since they were sixteen. He loves him way too much. Two years after they got together, when Yukhei was eighteen and his boyfriend had just turned nineteen, our parents, who are business partners, proposed that they should date if they want the benefits to prosper greatly since both families only have sons. They proposed the idea to them because they didn't know they were dating and Yukhei in all his bravery, boldly planted the most disgusting kiss onto his boyfriend's lips to show it wasn't a problem and said it was a done deal. Our parents were more than delighted and since then, I've just always noticed that Yukhei has everything he wants, Renjun has a determined mind and doesn't worry about anything, and I'm still wandering lost. I'm sorry for unloading this on you."

"No, no, it's fine. I'm glad you could talk to me," Jeno said warmly, gently patting his back.

Once again, they remained seated in silence until Jeno announced he had to leave, bidding his crushes brother goodbye as he made his way back.

Boy was it much more complicated than he thought to have two crushes.