For the first time in what felt like forever, the air between Jongyun and me wasn't stiff or charged with fifteen years of unspoken awkwardness. It was just... easy. I was halfway through a story, gesturing with my chopsticks for emphasis.

"...and then Mrs. Kim slams that pop quiz down on our desks. I swear, I saw my entire academic career flash before my eyes. It was tragic."

Jongyun let out a soft chuckle. "You say that every time. And you always get an A."

"A guy can still have a healthy sense of impending doom," I retorted, grinning. "It's about the drama of it all."

He took a sip of his water, a faint smile playing on his lips as he glanced at me. "Yeah. And then you guys quit," he remarked, his tone light and casually amused.

He was talking about the library. Yunjin and I had bailed on our part-time job there last week right after the quiz story had occurred, leaving Jongyun as the lone assistant receptionist holding down the place.

"About that," I said, seizing the opening. I leaned forward, my voice dipping into a more hopeful, conspiratorial tone. "Why don't you try something new too? Come work at the cafe with us. We're drowning over there. Seriously, we could use the extra help." I pictured the three of us behind the counter, a good group. It was a nice picture.

Jongyun didn't even need to think about it. He just shook his head, a lock of his perfectly styled hair falling across his forehead. "Nah. I can't do three jobs, Songjae. My schedule's a nightmare as it is."

I leaned in closer, unable to resist teasing him. "Then can't you quit the one at the convenience store? It's just a few shifts."

He looked at me then, his expression morphing into one of mock, grave seriousness. "Woo Songjae," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I get free snacks there."

A loud, undignified snort of laughter escaped me. "Pfft."

"And what?" he protested, a faint pink blush creeping up his neck. He pointed a finger at me, but the effect was ruined by the way he was fighting a smile. "Don't you judge me. Food is everything, okay?! It's a valid life choice."

I held my hands up in surrender, my shoulders still shaking with laughter. "Okay, okay~" I drawled, stretching the word out. I watched his face, the adorable, pout he was sporting, and felt a weird, warm sense of contentment. This was new. This was good.

The shrill bell rang, cutting our moment short. We had to leave now if we were to safely drop our plates in the canteen bin without being caught in a stamped. We glanced at each other and nodded as we stood up and walked towards the canteen. The distance between us was planned so people wouldn't assume we were eating together the entire break.

The cacophony of the school canteen-the clatter of trays, the shriek of laughter, the low hum of a hundred conversations-all hit me at once. And then, that spell was broken too as the canteen erupted into the chaotic sounds of everyone getting up at once.

"Drama club after class?" I asked as we dumped our plastic trays, the clatter echoing in the hall.

"Yeah," he nodded, falling into step beside me. "Don't be late. I'm not covering for you if you are."

We walked out into the hallway, the same distance stretched between us, as I snickered to myself. Who knew Jongyun could be so defensive? And seem cute when he did that?

The air in the classroom was stifling. Sitting next to Yuri was like sitting next to a humming power line; you couldn't see the current, but you could sure as hell feel it. The teacher's voice was a distant, droning monotone. I gave up pretending to listen and turned my head to the window, watching the fluffy white clouds slowly bruise into a dull grey. I picked up my pencil and started tapping it against the edge of my desk-restless and impatient.

My notebook was open to a blank page. Without really thinking, my hand started to move. A soft, round bunny took shape. Then a little house behind it, with a crooked chimney. I added some blades of grass at their feet, and then, because my brain was nowhere near linear algebra, the grass started shooting tiny, ridiculous rainbows into the sky. I was so lost in my stupid, detailed little world that I actually jumped when her voice cut through the silence.

"You draw well."

Yuri's tone was a sweet whisper, syrupy almost, but it felt like a trap. I didn't look up, just gave a quick, jerky nod. "Thanks." I could feel her smile aimed at me, wide and unwavering, and it made the hairs on my arm stand up. I started tapping my foot under the desk, a silent, frantic prayer for the clock to move faster. Just end the class already.

Tap.

Something small and light hit the back of my head. I turned, my eyes scanning the rows behind me. The guy directly behind me just shrugged, his face a mask of genuine confusion. My gaze dropped to the scuffed tile floor. A single pink eraser, half-hidding a crumpled ball of paper.

Curiosity got me. I bent down, my chair scraping slightly, and scooped it up. I glanced at the teacher who was now facing the board, scribbling problems on it. I looked down at the eraser in my hand and peeled the paper away. I'd know that neat, almost-too-perfect handwriting anywhere.

'Are you bored?' it read.

A grin threatened to break out on my face. I glanced diagonally across the room. Jongyun was watching me, his expression completely neutral, but his eyes-his eyes were laughing. I shook my head just a fraction and scribbled a response below his words.

'no. Annoyed.'

I folded it carefully and passed it discreetly to the guy behind me, who passed it along without a word. I watched its journey until it landed in Jongyun's waiting hand, a single row behind me, second column. What would the class care? They would simply assume two smart students are exchanging smart secrets. That was possibly one way of getting away with it. He read it, then his eyes flicked pointedly toward Yuri and back to me, a single eyebrow raised in question. I gave him the tiniest, sharpest nod.

And then he did it. He contorted his handsome features into the most gloriously stupid, cross-eyed, tongue-lolling gargoyle face, aimed directly at the back of Yuri's head. A choked laugh burst out of me. I slammed my fist over my mouth, my shoulders shaking uncontrollably recalling the other classmates around. If they figured we were fooling around, it would only bring more moths to the flame. I met Jongyun's gaze, and we just looked at each other, sharing a silent moment of pure, idiotic joy.

We spent the rest of the class like that, a secret comedy team trading silent jokes with our glances now and then. The heavy, awkward weight that had been between us for fifteen years just... evaporated.

The bell was a merciful sound. But my relief was short-lived.

Yuri turned to me immediately, her eyes sharp and curious energy, as if she'd sensed the shift in the atmosphere. I snapped my gaze away from Jongyun, my heart doing a nervous tap dance against my ribs.

"Songjae." Her finger tapped my shoulder.

"Yeah?" I said, aiming for casual and landing somewhere near strangled.

"Do you want to join the dance club this semester?" she asked, her voice dripping with sweet, hopeful suggestion.

My response was a knee-jerk reaction, pure panic. "What? No!" It came out too loud, too harsh.

She blinked, her smile tightening at the edges. "Uh-huh?" she pressed, not backing down.

I was mentally flailing, scrambling for any excuse, when a calm, steady voice cut through my panic.

"He is volunteering at the drama club." Jongyun was suddenly there, leaning against my desk from behind me, both hands at my either sides. He said it like it was a simple, unassailable fact of the universe.

I grabbed the lifeline like a drowning man. "Yeah," I nodded, probably a little too eagerly. "Drama club. It's a... huge time commitment."

Yuri's eyes lit up with a terrifying gleam. My stomach plummeted. Wrong thing to say.

"Oh! That's even more perfect," she said, her smile widening into something triumphant.

"What do you mean?" I asked, dread coiling cold in my gut.

"The dance act is the grand finale. And the drama club only has one short scene in the middle. You'll have plenty of time to help both clubs!" She looked unbearably pleased with herself, like she'd just checkmated me.

I shot a desperate, wide-eyed look at Jongyun. Help. Me.

"Yuri, hey." Yunjin's voice, sharp and confident, sliced through the tension before Jongyun could say anything. She appeared as if on cue, well, she did sit in the seat right in front of me, slinging her bag over her shoulder. Her eyes did a quick sweep-Yuri's triumphant smirk, my panicked expression, Jongyun's calm presence-and she instantly understood the battlefield. That was Yunjin for you.

"Yunjin. Perfect timing," Yuri said, turning her charm offensive on a new target. "Songjae should volunteer for the dance club, right? He'd be such a good fit-"

Yunjin didn't let her finish. "I know, right?" she agreed, her voice carrying a natural, unquestionable authority. "He'd be amazing. It's a shame he's so swamped with other things." She then pivoted seamlessly, turning the full force of her attention on Yuri. "How about you volunteer? You've totally got the vibe for it."

Yuri's smile froze solid. She was completely blindsided. "I- me?"

"Sure!" Yunjin said, as if it were the most obvious idea in the world. "You've got the rhythm. It'll be fun. You'll be great."

Trapped, outmaneuvered, and socially obligated to agree, Yuri could only stammer. "S-sure," she said, the word sounding like it was pulled from her. She tried to smile, but it was a strained, thin thing. "I can do that."

I looked down at my desk to hide my own massive grin. Yunjin could be an absolute force of nature when she wanted to be, and in that moment, I loved her for it.

"Songjae." Jongyun tapped the back of my hand, pulling me from my victory lap. "It's drama club time."

I nodded, standing up so fast my chair legs screeched against the floor. "Right. Yeah. Let's go."

As we walked out into the corridor, I caught a snippet of conversation from a huddle of our classmates.

"Wonder what it would be like if two of the best looking boys became friends?"

They glanced over at me and Jongyun walking in sync, their faces full of open curiosity.

I just shook my head, a private smile touching my lips. If only they knew.