sunoo huffed, trying to catch his breath as he holds a huge pot of plant using his two hands.

the boy doesn't have a green thumb, at all, but his environmental science teacher was enthusiastic in telling him that he'd gain additional points on his exam if he'll help in arranging and cleaning the zoology garden at the back of their old science building.

technically, when his teacher said that, sunoo was more than willing to help. one big reason is because he almost flunked on the previous exam— another reason is that he thought cleaning the garden would just be a piece of cake.

oh boy i was so wrong.

he grunted as he finally finished arranging all the plants on the left aisle. "goodness, why did i do this to myself?" he whispered.

he looked around to check his work. okay, i just need to get all that dead leaves and then hang some plants on the wall— i'll be done.

sunoo stopped when he felt his phone vibrate inside his side pocket. he's 80% sure that it's just jake, so he picked it up and quickly answer it.

"yo, you need something?" his eyebrow furrowed when he heard some muffled voice on the other line.

"will you shut up gyu— hey sun, where are you?"

sunoo sighed as he hears beomgyu, his classmate, yelling on the background. "i'm cleaning."

"what?—" jake's voice got cut off and was replaced with beomgyu's loud shout.

"sunoo you should've told me you were ditching algebra! i could've joined you!"

sunoo didn't react. he went to get the broomstick and started to sweep all the leaves. he's used to beomgyu being that noisy all the time so he's not bothered by it.

there was a loud thud, and jake was back again. "get off me and let go of my phone you shit— cleaning? where? you're skipping classes?"

"i'm not, sir joon told me that he'll give me an excuse letter. i'm here at the back of the old sci building."

"oh, okay. want me to help you?"

"nope, i'm good. i'm almost done cleaning anyways."

"but it's too hot today, are you sure you're gonna be—"

"i said i'm good, jake. i'll just call you later when i'm done, bye!" sunoo quickly ends the call before jake can go on full mom mode on him.

he was already halfway through finishing his work when he heard some noise coming from outside of their school premises. since he's near the wall, the noise is much more clear.

the zoology garden is located at the back part of the school, basically the farthest from the main gate. opposite of the wall would probably be a lot of small pubs with billiards and computer shops, places that are perfect for students who skip their classes.

sunoo went closer, trying to listen to the voices.

"you stupid, i told you not to go near their place!"

"i was just trying to get a good place to smoke! it wasn't my fault—"

"hyung it is your fault. now those pack of rats are chasing us— oh no they're getting near!"

"it's because of your loud voice riki! shut the fuck up will you?!"

sunoo frowned when he heard tons of yelling and cursing. these people seem too violent. and they're being chased?

he was about to leave when he heard a loud thud, as if something just fell on the ground.

"what the hell?" sunoo almost gasped as he saw the guy who probably just climbed over the wall. the guy struggled to stand up but he still managed to grab sunoo's wrist and pull him closer.

"shh. they're gonna hear you if you talk."

sunoo's eyes widen. his back was against the wall, and the guy's face is only inches closer from his. he was covering sunoo's mouth, trying to keep him from making any noise.

wait, isn't this the guy from last time? the guy from the fountain?

now, what are the odds that i'll meet him again?

--------

jay really can't keep promises.

heeseung already told him countless of times not to go near the school of those assholes who beat him up last time— but he just had to forget about it.

and now, the three of them are being chased by the rats. it was only supposed to be jay, but riki and heeseung saw him while he was trying to run away from those idiots so they didn't have a choice but to join.

"hyung, i left my backpack outside the gate! crap!" riki was already struggling to keep up.

they managed to finally hide when they went to run on the small road leading behind another school.

"you guys can go back, just use the opposite route. don't mind me, i can manage myself." he stared at the wall in front of them. this seems easy.

jay let out a heavy breath and started climbing over the wall.

"wait jay that's trespassing! you moron," heeseung tried to stop him, but he was fast enough to get on the other side. he didn't hesitate to jump.

shit, i landed on the wrong foot. he winced.

"what the hell..." jay quickly looked at the person in front of him who seemed to be at lost for words.

someone just saw me. fuck.

he didn't have the time to explain, so he just pulled the guy and covered his mouth to keep him from talking.

jay heard some mumble on the other side of the wall. it's the rats. he just hopes that heeseung and riki already escaped.

he felt as if the guy's still struggling to speak. "shhh, they're gonna hear you if you talk."

after a few minutes, the noise already subsided so jay figured that they're gone. when he glanced at the boy in front of him, the other was also just staring at him. those eyes.

that's where it dawned him.

the boy from the fountain.

"shit, sorry," he finally lets him go, and sunoo shots him a glare before trying to catch his breath.

ah, my heart rate. sunoo tried to calm himself. he was really shocked earlier when jay just popped up out of nowhere.

"i know you."

sunoo didn't expect him to remember his face. "i know you too, and you're definitely not a student here." he stared at his uniform. it's the same as jungwon's, so they're schoolmates.

jay nodded. "obviously. i was just trying to save myself from bad people."

jay watched as sunoo picked up a broom and place it beside the garbage can. he still looks pale, same as that night when he first saw sunoo.

"it's a good thing that i was the one who caught you." sunoo spoke softly, "you should head back now before someone else sees you."

"right. thanks," jay was still looking at him, as if he's figuring sunoo out. he looks like a normal student, probably a class monitor? plus he didn't ask me further questions as to why i climbed over their school's wall.

he looked really shocked earlier though, but he looks composed now.

sunoo's task is already finished, but he doesn't want to leave unless jay is gone. come to think of it, he always looks like he's in trouble every time i see him. he's probably a trouble maker.

"you... what's your name?" jay suddenly felt warmth when sunoo smiled at him after asking that question.

"jongseong."

sunoo grinned. "oh, that sounds cool. my name's sunoo."

jay didn't respond, which doesn't surprise sunoo. he seems interesting. should i try to get close to him? make him my friend?

but before sunoo could ask him another question, jay already was climbing over the wall again.

"if you see me again next time, just pretend you don't know me." and just like that, jay is gone again.

sunoo couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. he wants to have that kind of life too— thrilling, fun but with a little bit of danger. that's the kind of life that i want.

maybe, just maybe... if i get closer to him, will i get to experience that?

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