Work Text:
If there's a charm that you'd think is, forever irresistible and just melts your heart in a way that you could call him a drug — it will be Yuma's. It's sorta annoying at some point, the way you'd see him everywhere in the campus; he'll be all over the hallways in every morning because everyone just loves greeting him, he'll be in other section's business at PE classes — either drinking off from someone else's tumbler or being such a beautiful distraction to the ball players. The next thing you know, you're internally screaming at the library because he's there, cramming his assignments that were due yesterday.
Yuma knows that he is attractive, of course. He figured that out when everyone just handed him gifts, especially flowers, or had his locker exploding with chocolates. But he didn't know that he was a distraction, or the reason why some students are as red as tomatoes when he walks pass them.
And then, there's one of his very few close friends, Jo. His name isn't as popular as Yuma's, but everyone knows him as someone who's always with him. He'd be there, awkwardly standing at Yuma's back while he's greeting like thousands of people when he arrives at school. He'd be there, waiting for Yuma to grab his free lunches and snacks because of his little pretty privilege. He'd be there, carrying Yuma's bag because it had gotten a little heavier — reason? Gifts. Again. It never ends.
But Jo never bothered to mind it at all. He barely smiles, but he enjoys being with Yuma. He lowkey loves Yuma. He is in fact, very very inlove with him for four years now. Except, he never really said it. Yuma believes that there are no signs that his friend likes him thay way. But hell no, Jo, being ever so sheepish, actually left thousands of signs for him to see.
"Are you kidding me?" Yuma almost whispered, holding the can of banana milk that he grabbed under his desk.
Jo turned his head onto him. "Don't like it?"
"Since when did I hate banana milk? I mean, isn't this brand always out of stock in stores? I can't even find it at malls."
The other guy chuckled. "Your secret admirer's aware of the things you're obsessed with now, huh?" He kind of teased, watching Yuma chug the milk down in less than ten seconds.
"Ahh, love it.." he kept the can in his bag. And Jo was flabbergasted.
The rest was two hours of neverending discussions about filming techniques. Both of the guys were bored as hell, and couldn't wait to get out. Lunch time came, and the cafeteria was almost empty.
"Are we invaded by the zombie apocalypse?" Yuma wondered.
"You don't know about the general rehearsal? Our candidate for regional dancing comp?" Jo reminded him.
Yuma raised an eyebrow, trying to remember, and when he did, he didn't even speak — he just ran to the gymnasium. Jo was left behind, but he followed Yuma. He's tall, so even though the students were piled up like sardines, he managed to find Yuma, who's now in front of the line.
Everyone's watching the general rehearsal. There were fifteen students as the candidate of their campus' dance competition to be held in Seoul in two days. There's Jo's friends, Taki and Euijoo. He watched them in admiration.
But his focus was then distracted by the volume of Yuma's cheers. He knows who's Yuma is cheering for. It's the guy with the cat eyes, ever so sharp moves, insane body control in the middle — Yixiang. Everyone calls him by his government name, except for Yuma. He has this obsession of calling that guy Nicho, in the most heart melting way.
Jo's ears started to turn red as he kept hearing the sounds of adoration from Yuma. He would often find himself hating the sight of Yuma's arms locked with Yixiang's, or when Yuma's head is on his shoulders when they're "studying" at the library.
But he never showed Yuma that he was upset when Yixiang is around. No, he couldn't make Yuma think that he's jealous or anything. Jo was never that type of guy.
The rehearsal had come to an end, and Jo didn't even realize that Yuma is gone by his side. He then turned his head to the left, only to see him talking to Yixiang. The dancer guy was smiling from ear to ear, as if he was looking at Yuma with love. Jo sighed, ever so deeply, before walking away from the gymnasium.
He grabbed the kisses chocolates from his pocket, opened Yuma's locker, and shoved it in. He even slammed it close out of frustration. Although he's almost burning from his silly little jealousy, he knows that Yuma will once again blush while eating those chocolates on their way home.
Will this all he ever be? A close admirer whose feelings are in camouflage forever? Jo has been wondering, but could never find a way to overcome his fear of being seen.
Saturday. There's no big part of water around, but Jo is drowning — it's the endless homeworks. Yuma has them too, but here he is, laying down like a princess on Jo's bed, as if he also did his tasks.
He's been there for an hour. Jo informed him about how busy he'd be, but he couldn't really do anything when Yuma is finally throwing little rocks at his window.
"You're weird," Yuma broke the silence. "I mean, you're always quiet, but you're weirdly quiet today."
"Maybe because I'm busy?"
"No, it's not that. It's weird. I can't figure it out though."
Jo turned his head to look at him for a second then focused on his notebook again. "Don't have any idea."
"Is this the kind of saturdays you want? Glued on your chair, eyes on your homework, like a loser nerd?" He tried his best not to sound offensive.
"I guess so,"
"I really wanna go out, or throw parties, or just hangout with people who actually knows how to talk." Now his tone is teasing him.
"Then go?" Jo replied cluelessly and looked at him. "What.."
Yuma rolled his eyes at him. "But I want you to come! Like! Come on!"
"But why?"
"Because you're my best friend?"
"But I'm busy.."
And another eye roll.
Jo frowned at that sight. He's used at Yuma being kind of mean all the time. The dynamic is really cute, if you'd think about it — but it's frustrating for both parties.
"You're so weird but I like it," Yuma commented again. "Like, you're so quiet, but your eyes are always speaking so it's like you're also loud. You're so dumb, but you're actually smart at some point. You're like a tower, but you're like the smallest person I know. You get me?"
Jo can't even comprehend the instructions of his homework, and Yuma decided to drop the three most contradicting sentences ever. Jo dropped his pen and threw his head back. He stared at the ceiling, and then shut his eyes for a few seconds. Yuma had a feeling that he pissed Jo off, but that's far from what the other guy's truly feeling.
Jo is on the verge of confession. But he feels like it's not the right time. Yuma's eyes were glued on him, as if he's ready to take if he's going to yell. But hell no, he wasn't going to — he's just frustrated and he hates how Yuma is all right about what he just said.
"You okay..?" He asked, with a hint of worry.
Jo sighed. He then pressed both his palm on his face.
"Oh my god are you turning into Incredible Hulk? Look, Jo, I'm sorry for—"
"You're as dumb as me."
Those five words silenced Yuma, as if his tongue was completely cut off. Jo removed his palms from his face but didn't look at Yuma. He was too embarrassed, plus he just said something that he's not supposed to — although it's true.
"What?" Yuma finally managed to speak after a minute.
"I'm sorry, maybe I'm just tired."
"You're always like a bomb in the verge of exploding. Come on, tell me. What's wrong? What is it that you really want to say?"
Jo could only speak about what his heart wants to when he's drunk. But today, there's no liquor around, yet he felt like he wants to let it all out.
"How come you know you're pretty and don't expect a close friend to like you?" Was the best words he could spit out.
"I'm lost, Jo. Just be straightforward for once."
"We've been friends for six years, and I've been inlove with you for four. Have you never even noticed? Like, have you never even wondered what I feel about you?"
To be honest, for Yuma, this is the longest moment he heard Jo speak. But he's still lost, because Jo never really treated Yuma more than friends.
But it was big deal — to Jo, it was the most sincere he could offer. To follow Yuma around like he's his shadow, to buy him foods even though he's not hungry at all, to come with him anywhere Yuma wants to even though he gets sensory overload easily, to be just there for him, even if Yuma never asked for it.
"Who do you think sneaks in your favorite sweets in your locker every after lunch time? Who do you think leaves snacks and that stupid banana milk under your desk? Who do you think turns in your assignments everytime you miss it? Your admirers only bring you gifts when it's Valentine's Day or your birthday, but I get you the things you like and do stuff for you on normal days — everyday. They don't know anything about you, they just know you as Nakakita Yuma, the charming campus guy who looks like a cat. So how would they know that you like marshmallows and miso soup with mushrooms?"
Yuma, was then again, silenced. Jo was never this vocal. I mean, he would hear Jo recite laws and chemical reactions, but the guy won't ever talk about his feelings or anything personal. It took him a little while to process what Jo just said, and then finally managed to speak.
"All this time, it was you?"
"For the past four years."
"Then I'm not dumb! You just never told me! Oh please.."
"Haven't you ever felt anything?"
"From you? Heck no. All you do was stare at me with those stupid pretty eyes, give me half of your cookies, and let me copy your homeworks. That could be romantic but you never did those with romantic intentions. Come on now!"
"So.. oh, okay." Was all he could reply.
"Goddamnit Jo, how could you hide those feelings for so long?" And Yuma could only wonder.
"Because I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"See? You're dumb. I'm afraid because of our friendship. I can't lose a friend—you know you're one of my only four close contacts. If I confessed to you and rejected me, do you think we'll be the same way?" He explained. "I'm sorry if I kept calling you dumb, but.. it's half true, at least."
Yuma once again processed the stuff that came out of Jo's mouth. This might have been the longest talk they had for the past six years.
"And how could I ever have the chance to talk about it? You're always all over your Nico. You're like a magnet when he's around. You act like you're inlove with him but never made a move."
Yuma cackled at him. "I'm clingy to all my friends, excuse me?"
"You're not clingy to me."
"Probably because you never let anyone touch you? Oh, come on!"
Yuma was right. Jo could blame him all he wants, but in the end of the day, it's Jo who never really showed his true intentions, and never let his guard down.
"When will you ask me to be your boyfriend?" Yuma asked out of nowhere.
Jo looked at him with his blushing cheeks. "Huh?"
"You're inlove with me. Don't you have the itch to make me yours?"
"Do you even feel the same way?"
"Why do you think I never leave your side? If I was inlove with Nico, I'd be on his bed, not yours. But I kept staying with you every weekend even though you're boring."
He's mean. But he's lovely. And so, Jo, even though in disbelief, is hopelessly inlove with him.
Yuma got up from his bed and pulled both of Jo's arms. "Cuddle with me like a loving boyfriend."
Jo couldn't fight back — I mean, he doesn't want to. He's been waiting for this. He just never expected it to happen so fast, like he just wished from a genie in a bottle.
"From now on I'll be giving meanings to everything you do for me."