CHAPTER ONE | 장

❝CAN YOU BE MY BOOK
BUT WITHOUT THE 'K'?❞

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Within 10 minutes, M/n witnessed a bloodbath.

At first, he really did think that Goo was an ordinary businessman, hence; the load of wealth.

But he was proven wrong because as he thought that Goo was getting overpowered by the numbers, the blonde eventually got the upper hand as he picked up a metal pole by the side and started causing havoc.

It was brutal. Merciless. Blood coated everywhere. It was a sight that M/n was not used to.

Sure, his parents intended for him to be a doctor or a surgeon— a profession that is constantly exposed to the insides of a person, but he hasn't prepared himself to see intentional violence before.

Before he knew it, Goo was the only one left standing atop the mass of bodies.

And M/n was stunned. He didn't know how to react.

"Goo. You just. . . And then. . . This is. . ." M/n was at a loss for words, he couldn't muster up the right things to say. Goo wiped off the excess blood off his hands, which was not that plenty since he mainly used the pole as a tool.

Throwing the metal pole to the side, he approached the boy who seemed too stunned to react properly.

"What if the cops arrive. We'll be in big trouble. What should I excuse? They inhaled a type of virus that caused their inner minds to a jumble and they fought each other? That sounds more reasonable. But I doubt they'll buy it, maybe we should clean up instead and—"

Goo placed a hand behind M/n's head and pushed him against him, letting M/n's head rest against his shoulder. It effectively silenced the boy from panicking and rambling.

M/n arms were on his sides, feeling himself calm down slowly as he gained the ability to compose himself.

"I get that a lot." Goo told, indicating about the trouble.

"You do?" M/n questioned, the blonde nodded, feeling comfortable to have the boy close to him and not anywhere else. "Then, do people get this a lot?" M/n asked, gesturing to Goo's embrace.

The blonde shook his head, pulling him even closer, closing his eyes as he found solace upon having M/n in his arms.

"Nope. Just you."

And M/n couldn't explain how his insides fluttered at that.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" The boy raised his head, looking worried into Goo's eyes. The blonde blinked before taking in the physical damages.

"I don't think so. . ."

"That's not good." M/n shook his head. "Let's go. Lucky you, I know the basics of first aid." He offered the blonde a bright smile, one that he won't usually find on that usually impassive face of his.

Goo was of course smitten as he nodded energetically, returning back to his easy-going personality.

M/n reached for his hand and pulled him towards the exit before running towards the main city, trying to ignore the thugs that were chasing them behind for the damages they caused.

He was getting bold. Really bold.

Feeling his cheeks suddenly tint, Goo took some seconds of realization before returning the hold, running off with M/n, hands interlaced as they escaped together.

M/n swore this was more romantic in his head.

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"Here, I bought you an ice packet." M/n handed it to Goo who sat by the bench across the convenience store.

Gratefully, the blonde received it.

Sitting beside Goo by the bench, holding a first aid kit that he carried with him along his school bag. Wherever he goes, even towards cram school, he would carry it all around incase of emergencies. And it was finally going to be in good use.

"Stay still." M/n told, reaching for Goo's right arm before tending to it, the bruises and scratches. Goo didn't have any serious injuries, nor open cuts— which made it easier for M/n.

"It's nothing though."

"It's not nothing. You were outnumbered and now you have the slightest damages on your skin." He told off.

"I didn't know you liked my skin that much." Goo joked, lighthearted. M/n pushed him slightly with a shake of his head.

"It's not that, you idiot."

"I know, I know. I was only kidding." The blonde grinned stupidly.

M/n finished the last few touches and returned the mini kit in his bag.

"Hey, M/n, was there something you wanted to tell me after our make out session?" Goo brought up, remembering the night where they shared their first kiss.

It might not be Goo's first kiss but it was surely M/n's.

"Huh? Not that I remembered." M/n shook his head before Goo's words sunk in. "Don't label it like that!" He barked, red tinting his cheeks from embarrassment.

Goo only laughed comically.

"Are you sure though?" The blonde asked again as soon as he calmed down.

"Hmm. . . Yeah, I don't think I have anything important to say." M/n nodded. "More importantly, I didn't know you could fight."

"Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"Well, it's not like that. . ." The boy trailed off hesitantly. Goo then sent him a look that told him to be honest. With a sigh, M/n averted his gaze. "It really doesn't." He repeated. "I guess the idea of you being in violence is still new to me, and I guess it's scary. But you did protect me, after all."

Goo reached hand over M/n's face before pinching his cheek with a pouty look on his face that was meant to tease M/n.

"Awe, isn't my baby cute?" He teased in a baby voice. Of course, it fueled M/n's embarrassment.

"Stop it, people are looking at us weirdly." M/n looked away with a light blush that wasn't too evident.

"Let them stare." Goo muttered in his ear as he pulled M/n's head into his chest, holding an uncomfortable one-sided hug.

"Oi!"

Goo let out a loud and consistent laugh as he saw M/n's face, finding it incredibly adorable. "Kidding." He breathed before releasing M/n who was already flustered enough to pass as a tomato.

The day was getting darker already, and now, M/n has completely forgotten about his watch and the time. It was not like he was rebelling, but he was finding himself his inner peace. And he can only grant it when he is around the blonde.

He really did love him, although his love was still one of an amateur's.

"I'm tired." Goo yawned before laying his head on M/n's lap, using it as a pillow as he laid on the bench.

"You're getting really bold." M/n mused, shaking his head with a small hint of a curve up at the corner of his lips.

Goo tilted his head to the side, his face facing M/n's stomach, he then relaxed as he inhaled the boy's scent.

"You smell good." He breathed.

"Well, of course. I wash my own clothes." M/n referred.

"Not that. I mean your scent."

"Oh."

Goo turned his face back to the sky once again. It felt surprisingly comfortable this way. It felt nice although he hadn't properly asked M/n out.

"You know, it was on a day like this too. Right at this convenience store."

M/n played with Goo's hair as he hummed, motioning for the blonde to continue since he didn't know what he meant.

"That day. You gave me banana milk."

"I gave you what now?" M/n turned to him, brows furrowed. He does remember buying banana milk from here all the time on his way back home but he doesn't really remember giving someone as flashy as Goo a banana milk.

If he did, he would have remembered the blonde.

"You gave me banana milk." Goo stated. "And you dropped your ID, so. . ." He looked away, whistling. Was he gonna admit he stalked M/n just to get close to him? No.

"You stalked me."

Because he didn't have to admit it since M/n already had it figured.

"I guess that's why my ID was found hanging outside the classroom window." M/n told.

"I wasn't planning to return it, but I know you needed it."

In the midst of their talk, M/n felt his phone vibrate, meaning there was a text. Goo obviously felt it as well since he was laying on his lap.

M/n had to pry Goo off his lap to stand up and take his phone out.

It was another text from his father, saying how he found a good scholarship abroad. He didn't understand their obsession with wanting him to get away from all the distractions in this country, but he wasn't very happy.

He preferred it in Korea, it felt more like home. And he was already used to the way that schools worked here. Plus, he was a citizen.

"What's with the look?" Goo questioned curiously.

"It's nothing. My parents just developed a constant obsession with wanting me to go study abroad thanks to the loads of opportunities out there."

"So, are you going. . . ?"

"No." M/n shook his head firmly. "I prefer it better here than in a foreign country."

Goo reached for his hand and intertwined them.

"I'm glad. That way, you won't be so far away from me." The blonde doesn't think he could survive having that much distance between them. A 30-minute ride was already unbearable for Goo, what more for a whole country away.

"I don't think they'll be very pleased with me though."

"Then live with me." Goo stated with no hesitation. "Runaway with me, M/n. We can live in one of my many houses, I can take care of you better than they can."

M/n pursed his lips into a thin line.

Was it a good idea? The boy doesn't really know. What if Goo grows tired of him, surely, a man like him has a lot of people who he can please. Meaning he can get people who are way better than him.

Goo would only grow tired of him, and M/n didn't want that. How can he say that the blonde was really serious although M/n already feels strongly for him.

"It's not that easy." He shook his head. "And we don't even have a label yet."

Goo was speechless. Oh, yeah— they lacked a label. Well then, he just has to ask him out right? Opening his mouth to say the simple words, he paused, unable to properly say it.

Damn, why was there no voice coming out of his mouth?

He loves M/n. He was positive. Although he had a few lovers in the past, he never really got as serious as he is now.

But, he realized he didn't know how to ask someone out properly.

The way he asked out those other people was with the usual plain and straightforward way. Nothing special. But he can't lump M/n with those people, he was special, meaning he deserved a better and grand way.

But the blonde hasn't prepared anything yet.

Sighing, Goo figured he had to ask Gun's advice on this.