Ri Xiuchen opened the lid to the microwavable ramen he had just gotten from the store his grandmother owned. He ran a hand through his short feathery black hair with sorta like bangs resting in his forehead that he sometimes pushes off to the side. He had these chocolate brown eyes that almost look black but you couldn't see them that well since he was squinting thanks to the sunlight. He sat straight up and tall, looking back over his shoulder, his skin looking quite glowing in the sun.

His eyes landed on his friend, who was talking to the cashier unni, which was typical of him to do. He waved his hand trying to get his friend's attention. "Baek Hyeon? Hello! Come on!" He called out, glad there was no one really around to see him. He got side tracked way to easily, and he was not about to eat alone and have no one to talk to about anything.

He wondered how his friend ever got things done by himself without someone helping him not get sidetracked. The world may never know how he does it, but whatever he does it works. He had known him for quite a long time, growing up together has impressed him with how easily sidetracked Baek Hyeon could get.

Lim Baek Hyeon turned his attention to his friend who had been trying to get his attention. He have a shocked look and bade the unni goodbye as he walked out. His thick sandy blonde hair ruffled up in the light breeze, making it a bit messy. He gave this boyish-sheepish grin on his lips which made the little freckle on the right side almost in the middle of his bottom lip get squished a but. His eyes are this warm brown that look happy and holds innocence in them. "My apologies Xiuchen!" He sat down beside him.

Xiuchen rolled his eyes at his friend, beginning to eat his ramen. "You really need to stop flirting with unnis, I am sure they aren't too keen on your flirtatious personality." He told him bending down to the bowl as he put the noodles into his mouth. Maybe his friend didn't flirt like normal boys, but smiling a charming smile and being all cute was flirting for him.

Baek Hyeon tilted his head to the side at what his friend has said, pausing got a moment before trying to figure out a reply. "One, one smile and they can't resist! I know I get sidetracked with everything and my mom says I'm not ready to date. Yet you have to admit you will never know until you try and get out there." He gave the little speech so proudly.

Xiuchen sighed, raising an eyebrow at him, not understanding since he had never really wanted to date. "I am sure the time will come to when you can date. Yet for now, just please don't try and flirt with every girl. Who knows whose girl you will flirt with." He could only imagine what would happen if that did happen.

Baek Hyeon popped open the bottle cap of the glass bottle of fruit flavored juice, orange to be exact, taking a sip from it before setting it down. "Isn't this going to spoil your dinner?" He knew that it was couple hours until supper, yet again, it was normal for boys to eat a lot. He knew what his friend's mother would say about him eating so close to super.

Xiuchen set down his chopsticks on the napkin, looking up at his friend, his eyes showing a bored look by his words. "No it won't, but it will keep me until my father gets home, if he comes home on time tonight." His father a majority of the time had to work late because of his boss, and that mean he barely saw him, expect on the weekends. That was the only time they could spend together without knowing his father would have to go to work.

Baek Hyeon shook his head at his friends words, nudging him in the arm with his hand. "Oh come on, Xiuchen, he will come home. You said yourself he said that he has lesser hours now than he had before." That was a good thing, yes he may have to stay a little bit over, but he still comes home earlier than than normal.

Xiuchen poked his chopsticks at the noodles in his bowl, ending up nodding slightly at what his friend had said. "Yet you know his work, it is highly unlikely even with lesser hours they not will hold him over. Who knows what reason this time will they hold him over for." It seemed like his father's job make every chance they could to have their employees stay over the time they would get off.

Baek Hyeon took a sip of his flavored juice and set it back on the table his fingers tapping on the glass. "Why not think on the optimistic side and hope that he does come home early for once so you can eat supper at a decent time." His friend lately had been such a downer about life, it wasn't like him to do, yet he would not say what was wrong either. It was a bit annoying to deal with, but he didn't mind trying to find out what was going on.

Xiuchen sighed, after finishing up the ramen in his mouth he had eaten while his friend had been talking. "I do have a little hope that he will, but I do not want to get my hopes up to high so when they come crashing down I get disappointed again." He learned not to get his hopes up and then he would never be hurt by it, disappointed by the obvious, but not hurt. Nothing really had ever gone his way growing up, so, who could blame him?

Baek Hyeon rested his hand on his friend's shoulder for a brief moment before pulling it away. "Look, you have to get your hopes up in order for you to expect the unexpected." He had always done that, yet again, he was pretty resilient. His friend not so much, but he did fairly keep optimistic, at certain times that was.

Xiuchen didn't want to keep getting his hopes up, he wasn't that type of person,  never have been that type of person. "I know, I know. But this isn't one of them times." He just wanted his family to be normal, for them to spend time together like they did when he was younger. Of course that was merely just a childish dream.

Baek Hyeon nudged his friend, taking a sip from the glass bottle before setting it down in front of him. "What do you think about the new noona in our class?" He was curious to what he had thought about her. He had never seen a girl like her before, meaning her personality and body language was that of a small mouse.

Xiuchen pursed his lips together as he thought back to when he had saw her in their class. "She seems very shy, sweet, but very shy, she never talks or have you hear her talk?" He didn't recall if she ever did speak a word, it was quite odd that she remained silent all throughout class and just gave body language to reply.

Baek Hyeon shook his head at his words. "No, I haven't heard her talk, but I have noticed when people talk to her she is on her tablet then looks up at them." He knew his mother always got on to him about doing something when someone else was talking. It was rude but sometimes people just caught you at a bad time when you were busy.

Xiuchen scratched the side of his neck, tapping his chopsticks on the side of his bowl. "Why would someone need to type on a tablet when someone is talking . . . unless." He was trying to figure out all that it could mean. He was thinking outside the box here, he knew there were many things that it could be but most didn't apply to such a girl as her.

Baek Hyeon leaned I'm, looking very curious and very interested in what his friend was saying.  "Unless what?" He always hated when people paused before telling what they were going to say. It was annoying and the suspense was not his favorite thing, when it came to these things not other things.

Xiuchen rested his chin in his hand, curling his fingers up so they rested against his cheek. "Unless she can't speak, that would be the only reason someone would be on it when someone is talking. She doesn't seem like the type of girl to be rude when someone is speaking." He couldn't think of anything else that it could be.

Baek Hyeon had to admit that did seem a bit right, but it was quite a stretch and that was a bit hard to believe. "That does seem plausible, or she could have lost her voice for some reason and will get it back soon." She could have been sick had just gotten over it, but not regained her voice again. He wasn't going to think she was completely unable to speak.

Xiuchen shrugged his shoulders eating some of the ramen, making sure to get it all in his mouth. He chewed up what was in his mouth before he began speaking again. "Either way, I will try and talk to her one of these days to introduce myself." He wanted to meet her she seemed like the kind of person to easily make friends.

Baek Hyeon shook his head at his words, resting his cheek in his hand. "What will Deu Ree say or do? She has the biggest crush on you and gets jealous when you speak to other unnies without her permission or presence?" That girl was a bit controlling over anyone who she deemed her territory.

Xiuchen rolled his eyes, she was one girl he did not like at all. She was too pushy and didn't take no for an answer. "She isn't my mother, so, she has no right to tell me what I can and can't do. I am a year older than her, and she needs to learn I don't feel the same." She was bossy, even though she was a year younger, she still would boss everyone, no matter how old, around.

Baek Hyeon shrugged his shoulders, taking a sip from his drink. "She may realise that later than sooner because she still does everything she can to woo you and show everyone you are hers." He wished he had a girl who was so clingy over him, but no, he had no one. Though he was kinda glad he didn't have the stress of clingy girls, he did want to know what it felt like.

Xiuchen sat back in his chair, lacing his fingers together and resting them behind his head. "No she doesn't, why on earth would she need to do that? I am not hers and no matter what she thinks I will always say we are not a couple." He was tired of the girl, he wished she would just move on to another guy and leave him alone.

Baek Hyeon pursed his lips and reached over, patting his shoulder. "You may be blind to her little things she does but I see them with my own two eyes. She is trying to send you subliminal messages that you are to be together." He waved his hands around his head and in front of his eyes. "She is trying to low key make you think she is yours."

Xiuchen shook his head, giving a short laugh at his words, finding them hilarious. "Now you sound like a lunatic, stop with this nonsense. That is utterly ridiculous and you can not seriously tell me you believe what you are saying." He hoped his friend was just playing around with him, it sounded so crazy, it couldn't be real.

Baek Hyeon nodded his head, taking another sip of his drink before twirling around the juice inside the glass. "No, but it does sound cool and something she would do if she isn't already doing it. How knows what that girl can do if she wants, money is power in this world, and her family has it." He paused confused at his own words, or more like wording.

Xiuchen understood the majority of what he was saying even if it came out wrong. "Money may be power, yet I want nothing to do with money to use for my own gain. It is there to be financially stable and help others with, not to lavish yourself in riches." Yes his family had money, but they never used it for personal use but to help others. He of course didn't know of his family's wealth, but he did know he had college paid for.

Baek Hyeon looked at his friend, marveling at how smart he was at such a young age. "You sound very wise for a person your age, you really take after your father with knowing your way with words." He was only joking with him, hence he nudged him and gave a laugh. It was true he was pretty wise, always giving advice, good advice.

Xiuchen looked over at his friend, smiling and resting his hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, yet in all honest, I think that is the only thing I got from my father." He couldn't tell if he had gotten anything else from his father. He barely saw him anymore, yet again, his mother said he was just like his father.

Baek Hyeon nodded to what his friend had said. "No, you got more than that! Genetics, good hair, nice smile, goof personality-" He was cut off by his friend, you couldn't blame him for getting him cut off. His words would make anyone blush, only because they were kind words that were flattering to be heard.

Xiuchen ran a hand through his hair, tipping his head back. "Aish, you really seem to be sucking up to me with all this flattering stuff. What do you want?" He poked his arm, then ruffled his hair with a chuckle. His friend must have wanted something or else he wouldn't be sucking up and saying all this little stuff that was flattering.

Baek Hyeon chuckled, shrugging his shoulders and giving his friend such an innocent look. "Who said I wanted anything? Look, I am just being honest and speaking the truth. I am just saying what I see that your father gave you!" He could see it and he had to point it out again, boost his ego just a bit since he had none.

Xiuchen rested his hand on his face, sighing softly. His friend never ceases to amaze him that was no doubt. "You do surprise me more than my own family. Thank you for those kind words that you have given me. They really mean a lot." It did mean a lot that he thought that of him, he didn't get a lot of nice words.

Baek Hyeon blinked, taking in what he had said for a moment before grinning a wide grin. "Really? That makes me feel are warm inside." He placed his hand over his heart, giving a cute little happy pout on his lip. It did make him feel warm inside, knowing his friend liked his compliment.

Xiuchen waved him off, stuffing some noodles in his mouth and chewing them up before swallowing. "Now you are sounding like a girl, sappy." He pointed out he wasn't to much of a fan of sappy, unless you were a cute girl, or a kid then you could get away with being sappy.

Baek Hyeon took a sip from his juice, shaking his pointer finger at his friend. "My mother says girls like it when guys can be sappy and sweet." That was why his mother liked his father. He recalled their first date, it was so sweet and a bit sappy, how his dad was a big mess around his mom.

Xiuchen leaned over and ruffled his friend's hair, giving a smile with a happy laugh. "I'm not a girl, I am a guy and your best friend who wants to have a man to man conversation." He motioned between them after setting a hand on his shoulder. Of course he was merely joking he did slightly want that.

Baek Hyeon nodded pursing his lips together. However he was right but then he wasn't right. "But we're not men yet, we are still kids, boys," They were not anywhere near being called men yet, and he didn't want to be called a man yet. Only because he didn't feel like he had a lot of responsibilities.

Xiuchen had to correct him and himself for what he had said. "Correction, young men. I too forgot about that. Where is my mind today, I almost failed the math." He was wondering why he was forgetting things and having a hard time keeping things in his head.

Baek Hyeon nodded, he had a point, a very good point. "Oh right, we are young and are men as well, but not quite boys due to the age but still boys because of being a male . . . aiishh, now I am giving myself a headache." He confused himself a lot and this was one of the times when he was giving himself a headache.

Xiuchen laughed patting his back, he felt bad his friend confused himself all the time. He was going to admit it was adorable, but it wasn't always the best in certain ways. "Let's try not to go that deep and just keep it skimming the top alright?" He knew it was an easy solution to not getting confused over what is being said.

Baek Hyeon nodded with a smile leaning back in his chair as his fingers tapping on the neck of the bottle of juice. "Okay, I will do my best to not get that deep about things." He was glad his best friend was so understanding about him not meaning to confuse himself. He was so supportive to him, and he admired that so much in his friend.

Xiuchen stood up and closed up his bowl of noodles. He had quite a bit left over but he wasn't going to finish them here. "Well, I better be getting home. Got a bunch of homework to do along with some chores I better get done for mom." He said picking up the bowl and holding it in his hands.

Baek Hyeon nodded softly bunching his arm standing up as well and grabbing his bottle of juice. "Take care Xiuchen, tell your parents hello for me and don't over work that brain with homework. I often get headaches doing that." He pointed out, dreading getting headaches from trying to concentrate on doing his homework.

Xiuchen took a deep breath and smiled, looking at his friend and nodding again. "I promise. Take care yourself. Later." He turned around and walked to the way home. So many things going on in his head that he wasn't sure if he would be able to get his homework done. His thoughts were mainly about Mailee, she seemed to be unlike the rest and tomorrow he was going to try and talk to her.

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A/N:
Hey guys, sorry this is late. I have been working on Shipwrecked Princess and The Royal Charm Academy since I had the chapters already wrote up so I just added, edited and just shaped it up. You can check out them while you are waiting for an update on this book!

It is a new year and I have told myself I am going to be dedicated to my books and getting them wrote up so at least one book can be complete by the end of the year. Actually I think I may get more than one done. I will also be cutting down the word count a bit and then later when I get an idea add some more onto it.

Chapter Talk:
So we need these two buddies, and one may become the love interest to one of the group with Mailee in it. Not gonna say who but there will be a little romance in this book. It isn't the full part of the book but it is a small part that plays into the book. I already have it planned out and am so excited!

How many of my readers are from insta?

How many are just followers?

How many are browsers?

And whatever other reason you come?

I am really curious to know more about my readers. You guys mean so much to be because without you this book wouldn't be here. I can never thank you enough for reading them, it makes me so happy and honored.

Questions:

Why do you think Xiuchen thought one of the reasons Mailee couldn't talk because she was mute?
For me, I always think someone has social anxiety and doesn't really like talking around people. Believe me, I am that way and my mom yells at me for it and doesn't want to help me at all. It is one possibly to why a person isn't talking uncommon yes, but reasonable.

And lastly, anything else I forgot ask away my pals. I am happy to answer anything!

In closing, all rude, impolite and mean comments will be replied to in a diplomatic way, reported or deleted if I feel like it is attacking me personally.

Thanks for reading!