[36]

[36]

𝑀𝐴𝑅𝐶𝐻

Jehyun and Seojun entered the classroom hand in hand. the whole school practically witnessed the two become official so they weren't that shock. it also hasn't reach the news since the students knew to keep their mouths shut. even if they were offered money, they were rich enough to get rid of their statements. plus, they want the celebrity to have a normal school experience since he wouldn't be returning next year.

"welcome you two! " Chen greeted from his seat. thankfully he isn't pregnant or else he would be kicked out of the school. of course he didn't escape Jehyun and Jin's nag about partying and hooking Up. but that is a story for another time. and the guy, he still doesn't know the name but has no plans on knowing it anyway. it was a two time thing. not like they're going to Meer again anyway.

jin and Hiro, despite the entire school knowing as well, kept this underwraps. they didn't want everyone to see their display of affection thus they acted normal in front of the public eye. Jin being clingly when it's just the two of them.

Joshua on the other was surprisingly happy despite being rejected. he and Chen talked things out and came to the agreement that they wouldn't mention about the incident, even when they fight. they went back to being normal friends. alas his lovlife isn't that simple. after his father learned about him catching feelings for the butterfly, the old man forced him to spend time with his fiancee. thus the reason why didn't spend that much time with the rest.

Jayden and Junghoon were back to being a couple after a good three year off. the media nor does Junghoon's family know about this. Jayden's company on the other hand knew but didn't make an effort to break them up. three years was long enough.

Niommi, even thought no one is asking, left the school after the party night. something to about it not fitting her schedule. it's safe to say that she wouldn't be inferring anytime soon.

and that that should be for our characters as of the moment. despite February passing, love was still in the air.

putting down his bag, Jehyun twisted his body to Chen who was filling out an application form. "Chen, what's with the form? "

pausing, Chen looked up and at jehyun. "I'm going to join the archery team"

"and why are you doing that? " jehyun wasn't keen on the idea of the butterfly joining, especially when Chen was a walking hazard. he prayed that no one would get hit if ever Chen would be part of the team.

"because I'm tired of being single" putting his pen down, Chen turned his full attention to his best friend who gave him a confused look. "I'm not spending the games alone while the two—three if Joshua is going to be there—while cheering for your partners"

"I hope you realized that Seojun wouldn't be joining since March is project month for actors right " entering their conversation, Jin placed down his bag beside jehyun's as he was moved to sit beside him after Niommi left. the Chinese was wearing a hoodie two sizes big for him that obviously belong to the lobster that isn't with them.

"say—" the two best friend tried to look for the lobster who was usually wrapped around Jin. "where's hiro? "

"practicing" jin yawned. it was then did they realize that Jin looked like a zombie. the poor Chinese had bags under his eyes that were slowly closing.

"hey! " snapping his fingers in front of Jin, who was startled, Chen narrowed his eyes. "why do you look tired? don't tell me you—"

"of course not! " closing his eyes, thankful that he was able to stop Chen from embarrassing him, Jin let out anoyher yawn. "hiro's practice for the games start at 4 in the morning. he told me about this is and said I would go with him"

"and why would you do that? " it was jehyun's time to ask. he was worried that the older would end up over fatigued die to this so called practice.

"I didnt want him to be lonely" jin answered. this made the two friends snort.

"or, you're lowkey being possessive " Chen narrowly dodged the hand that came his way before turning his head to Jehyun who nodded his head in agreement. "see even Jehyun agrees and he rarely agrees with me. "

this made Jin sigh. heavens was he friends with idiots. it also confused him why their conversation of Chen joining the archery team swiveled to him and Hiro. "aren't we supposed to talk as to why Chen is joining the archery club"

"oh right, about that" remembering their first topic, Jehyun gave Chen a challenging look. "don't even think of lying your way out of this chen"

"goodness! " Chen let out a exasperated sigh as he raised both of his hands. "I just want to bring pride to out school"

this made Jin snort. "sure as if you aren't going to shoot someone from Hana Academy "

"and maybe kill someone" Jehyun added.

"Gosh you make me sound like some type of serial killer." Chen gathered all the papers on his desk, those paper being unfinished homework that he plans on copying from Joshua. speaking of Joshua, where was that rat? "where's Josh? "

looking around, both Jehyun and Jin shrugged in response.

"dunno" jin took out his phone. "maybe with his dad or something"

"for the last time Chen, I'm not going to accept you in the team" watching the council president sigh again, Jehyun couldn't help but feel sorry for letting his persistent best friend continue to pester the already stressed president. thus the reason why he got up from his side of the table in the cafeteria and dragged the bitterfly to sit beside him.

"and why is that? " Chen asked, accepting the yogurt that Jin offered from his lunch. opening the cup and scooping a good portion, he shoved it inside his mouth where it stayed for a good five seconds before being pulled out. this of course got disgusted looks from the three.

"because I don't want you to start a school war 3" Junghoon deadpaned, shivering at the memory of a sixth grade Chen who almost threw a punch at that one buff Student from HA. the disagreement between them caused the games to be canceled halfway because of how it almost resulted to a bloodbath. "please tell you haven't forgotten what happened three years ago. "

"please" jin and Jehyun scoffed. Jin was the one who spoke next. "this thing can't remember something he said himself after a second of saying it"

"excuse me" Chen pointed the spoon at Jin. "I do remember what I said "

"oh really" Jehyun didn't waste anytime in offering the butterfly his own cup of yogurt. "what was it then"

"Joshua is stupid" Chen answered confidently while earned a tired look from the three. "hiro is an idiot? "

"nope" Jehyun prised his lips. "you said that the next time you see the man you slept with you'd kill him with your bwo and arrow"

"wait—Chen lept with someone? " this being the first time he is hearing about this, Junghoon sent a look that told him to explain.

"I was drunk ok" Chen huffed. "and I'm going to kill hi because he almost got me pregnant "

"almost!? "

"oh shush it mutt. not like you and Jayden aren't going there"

🌟

closing the giant doors behind him, Jehyun took his time going down the giant staircase that let to the pathway of their school. it was six in the evening as he has to help Chen convince and promise their archery teacher and Junghoon who was the president of the archery club.

taking out his phone, he checked if Seojun messaged him. he wasn't that bothered that his boyfriend was absent for the second half of the day since it was March and like Jin said, it was project month. Seojun also told him about a movie he planned on auditioning. and like the supporting boyfriend he is, he didn't hold Seojun back. even convincing the older to go for it and do his best.

stopping in front of the Iron school gate, he looked behind it, trying to find any sign of Hana Academy students. he didn't want to bump into any, especially after the whole arcade chase. not only that but he also had to be out of their sights as it was Almost the DPG for both schools.

seeing no sign of those ruffians, Jehyun bravely pushed open the doors, giving a small smile at the guards that were inside the guard house and closing tha gate behind him.

would he be joining the DPG? of course not. the month of March was the month of mourning for Jehyun, meaning he wouldn't really let himself indulge in happiness.

crossing the street, he didn't notice the figure that was following him.

"HEY THERE LION CUB"

flinching from where he stood, Jehyun blinked twice, surprised at seeing his boyfriend—who was wearing ahat and a mask—suddenly in front of him.

"lion cub? "

"oh right seojun" Jehyun smiled at the older before placing a peck on his lips which arned a smile from the older. Seojun moved to stand beside him before wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"what took you so long? " Seojun asked, motioning them to start moving . "I wasn't able to pick you at 5"

"oh that, I had to help chen" Jehyun Answered truthfully.

Seojun on the other hand scrunged his nose. "what did that butterfly do this time? "

"oh he didn't do anything. he wanted to join the DPG but Junghoon wouldn't allow him since he might kill someone"

"DPG? " Seojun grew confused.

"it's a school competition between our school and Hana Academy that happens every three years" Jehyun answered. "the last time we did it it almost resulted to a bloodbath because of as you can guess, chen"

Seojun wasn't that surprised when it comes to Chen and starting up a fight. that butterfly does not have zipper in his mouth. "no surprised there"

"how about you Seojun? why were you waiting for me? " jehyun gre curious as to why the older wanted to pick him up when he heard that his grizzly bear had a pack schedule for today.

"I wanted to take you out for dinner"

it was then did Jehyun realize they weren't walking to the direction to his dorm but the direction to the restaurant area of their city. it made his heart beat fast since he found it cute that Seojun found time to take him out for dinner.

❝where to? ❞

❝that's a surprised lion cub❞

❝a chicken shop? ❞ Jehyun looked at the plate of freshly friend chicken then to Seojun who sat across him. he was curious as to why Seojun brought him to a chicken shop. not that he wasn't thankful but the shop was in a small place near the lower side of the restaurant district of their city.

❝yeah. I figured you never tried real fried chicken. here❞ Seojun took a piece of chicken and placed it in front of jehyun's lips, beckoning him to open his mouth. Jehyun hesitantly look a bite, chewing slowly as he tried to decipher the foreign taste.

❝it's good! ❞ he exclaimed after swallowing. The Chicken tasted different. a good different actually. he took his own pice and ate it. ❝how do they make it this good? ❞

❝simple❞ Seojun picked up his own. ❝chicken and cheap ingredients that they level up❞

❝it's so different from the one back home. how much does this cost again? ❞

❝a good 200❞

❝200!?❞ Jehyun chocked on the chicken that he ate. Seojun, being the good boyfriend he is, handed his lion cub a glass of water.

❝why are you that shock? ❞ Seojun took a tissue and wiped the oil the chicken left on jehyun's cheek.

❝it's just... it's not the price I was expecting. I thought it would be at leasy 10000❞ Jehyun answered.

Seojun shook his head. his lion cub was missing out on life. he couldn't really blame him though. he grew up in the upper side of their city. the place of kings and queens. the place run by the big three. ❝Jehyun be honest with me, when was the last time you went to the down district? ❞

❝woah❞ Jehyun looked at the lantern covered skies. Seojun took him a much smaller park in their city, telling him that it was for those who want to make a wish. all they had to do was write it on a piece of paper and attach it to the lantern before letting it float to the sky. ❝I didn't know this existed ❞

Seojun chuckled, wrapping his hand around his lion cub's waist. ❝those from the upper district dont know that this practice exist actually. if the upper district had the lily boats as a way to make a wish, the lower district has these lanterns. they say, if you're really desperate on your wish, you should make it here since the lantern goes to the sky, making it easy for the heaven to reach it and have you wish come true❞

❝wow, you know a lot ❞ Jehyun turned his head To face the older, eyes soft before letting his lips lands on his cheeks.

❝my mom told me that❞ Seojun said. ❝she would take me here whenever it's march so that we could light a lantern and make a wish❞

❝your mom much be nice❞ Jehyun couldn't help but feel envious at what his boyfriend said. his mom wasn't the caring type. she had favorites which was his brother if that wasn't clear enough and mostly spent her time running their business. his parents are divorced so he doesn't know how his sad is doing. ❝I wish I could meet her. you'll introduce me to her right? ❞

❝yeah and I'm sure she'll like you. she never judged me about my choices❞ Seojun answered, tightening his hold on jehyun's waist. ❝how about you? when are you going to introduce me to your parents? ❞

Jehyun shrugged. ❝maybe when my mother arrives from the states❞

❝and your dad? ❞

❝I don't know where he is. the last time I saw him was when I was five and my brother was seven❞

❝I'm sorry to hear that hyun❞ Seojun felt bad. he forgot that families from the uppers side were different, they were money and power hungry. ❝how about your brother? ❞

❝m-maybe next time❞ Jehyun couldn't imagine his brother meting Seojun. ❝why don't we stop this emotional talk and light our own lantern and make a wish? ❞

❝I like that idea hyun❞

❝what are you going to wish? ❞ Seojun asked, eyeing Jehyun who was still writing his wish on his paper and was crouching on the ground. his own was already tied on the lantern and was ready to be raised to the air.

❝it's a secret. if you tell a wish, it wouldn't come true❞

Seojun snorted, rolling his eyes. ❝do you still believe that? that isn't real lion cub❞

Jehyun pouted and stood up from his former position. ❝quit being that way Seojun. my brother told me that❞

a right his brother and future in-law. Seojun wanted to slap himself for being stupid. ❝right, you done? ❞

❝yup! ❞ rolling the paper into a tube and tying it to the string and attaching it to the lantern, Jehyun smiled at Seojun who let out his hand to be held. ❝let's do it together❞

❝let's❞

the couple walked to the area where other wishers we letting go of their own lanterns. Seojun looked at jehyun who looked excitedly at the lantern s floating. he smiled at the feeling of his heart beating rapidly. it was beating that way because of Jehyun and only Jehyun. ❝on the count of three. one❞

when you make a wish, never say it to someone else or it wouldn't come true. do you believe this? yes, no, maybe.

❝two❞

Seojun went closer, not like he wasn't moments ago, his hand wrapped around jehyun's shoulder who didn't mind.

❝three❞

watching both lantern float to the sky, Jehyun couldn't help but fixate his eyes on them. he didn't notice his boyfriend who looked at him with loving eyes.

are you curious what one of them wished for? don't worry, they're not the one saying it. well... for on thing, being together was part of it.

❝I love you Jehyun ❞ spinning the lion cub like he did before to face him, Seojun bended to his height before sealing their lips together in a sweet kiss.

❝I love you too Seojun❞

"𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑦?" 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑜 𝑎𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑡.𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑏𝑜𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠.

"𝑦𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑎𝑚.𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 " 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑, 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟.

𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑙𝑖ck𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑒, 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡. "𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝.𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡" 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑔 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑."𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑦"