secret misadmirer

by healingtoyou

Summary:

Soonyoung and Wonwoo have been mortal enemies since the two of them had barely even stepped foot into high school, all because Soonyoung knows that Wonwoo's the reason that the school council never accepts Soonyoung's proposal for a dance club. All he's ever wanted is to get back at Wonwoo, once and for all.

Somehow that happens to be in the form of slipping fake secret admirer notes into Wonwoo's locker, and Soonyoung thinks it's the best idea in the world.

That is, until the things he writes stop feeling quite so fake after all.

It's during the first week of his senior year that Soonyoung decides that he needs to get even once and for all, and it's all because of one little accident that becomes the final straw. 

He's been ready for this year to come practically his whole life. He's about to take this whole school by storm, and if he can't do that then he can at least finally start the dance club that he's been wanting to start for the past three years without his motion getting outvoted by the school council like usual. And he's pretty sure one certain member of that council is the reason behind that. 

Jeon Wonwoo. Jeon Wonwoo. Soonyoung can't even think his name without scowling. He doesn't think he's ever hated someone so much in his entire life, and it all started in freshmen year when he sat next to the guy in Chemistry. 

"What happened when you sat next to the guy in Chemistry?" Chan asks, a new freshman that Minghao brought over who seems interested in the dance club (that Soonyoung's been advertising even harder than usual so he can drum up enough numbers to fight back if the school council reject him, again), but Minghao groans. 

"Don't ask him that!"  

"Look at him preparing to go on a rant," Jun hisses to Chan, staring at Soonyoung like he's a specimen in the wild, and no-one can really blame him when Soonyoung is doing things like filling his lungs up with air with the biggest exhale humanly possible so he can get ready for what he's about to say. 

"Basically, I was just sat there, minding my own business, then he ran in like two seconds late and took the seat next to me because it was the only one free. And that wasn't a problem! Hell, I was even happy about it because he was handsome as hell even before he went through puberty - which even hit an already-handsome guy like him like a train wreck, by the way. But, you know, a good train wreck."

"You compliment your enemy like that?" Chan asks in surprise, and Minghao says in a bored voice, "Soonyoung says that a noble rival can always accept their rival's strengths as well as their weaknesses." 

"That's right. A free life lesson for you, Chan," Soonyoung says with a firm nod, and he loves it when the freshman nods back in a way that actually doesn't look like he's making fun of Soonyoung. "Anyway, yeah, he was handsome, but everything was ruined by his horrid personality. He's some mega nerd or something because he could always answer the teacher's questions, which would've been great because he could help me if I was ever struggling, but then-"

"Soonyoung asked him a question and Wonwoo looked at him like he was stupid," Minghao and Jun recite in perfect unison, and Soonyoung bangs a fist on the table, yelling, "HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS STUPID!" 

"Oh man. That's kinda mean of him," Chan empathises with a frown. Soonyoung instantly adores him.  

"Right? He didn't even answer my question. He just looked back at the board and ignored me! I was really mad so I kicked his shin under the table-"

"And somehow you're not the bad guy in this story even though you go about kicking strangers in the shins," Minghao mumbles under his breath, and Soonyoung glares. 

"I didn't kick him hard! But then guess what this bastard did? He kicked me back! Like a little BITCH!" 

"But what Soonyoung tends to omit in his most recent retellings of this story is that Wonwoo did apologise," Minghao says, but Soonyoung rebuts, "After suppressing a smile at my pained reaction. Like a sadist."

"He smiled because your 'pained reaction' was probably you squeaking like a mouse."

"I'm kicking you out the dance club," Soonyoung seethes to Minghao who just smiles.

"Let's see how well you do without me, hm?"

Soonyoung instantly deflates, telling Chan, "He's right. Minghao's amazing at dancing. We'd be nothing without him."

"'We' don't even exist yet, actually," Jun reminds them, and all of them except for Chan let out a forlorn longing sigh. This dance club really is all they've been wanting for as long as all three of them have been at this school, and if it doesn't happen this time, then Soonyoung just knows that'll set up the precedent for this being one shitty senior year. At least Minghao and Chan will be able to try again next year, but Soonyoung and Jun will be gone by then.

"Why don't you guys start the club without the council's permission?" Chan asks, and Soonyoung sighs, patting his head.

"Sweet, sweet Chan. That's basically what we already do, we meet up every Monday at my place to work through choreographies. But we don't have the money to go to or even enter any competitions or anything, so all the awesome choreographies we make are never gonna be shown to the world..."

"That's not true!" Chan argues, making all three of the others look at him in surprise. "I've seen you guys on YouTube. You're so good, and all the other people who watch you think so too."

"My God, this guy's adorable, where did you find him?" Soonyoung asks Minghao with wide eyes, and Minghao snorts, "I didn't, he found me. He's a fan, apparently."

"We have fans," Jun gasps. Soonyoung grabs his hands and echoes excitedly, "WE HAVE FANS!"

"I know they're like this, but I still hope you enjoy dancing with us," Minghao tells Chan exasperatedly while Jun and Hoshi jump around yelling about how cool and awesome they are, but Chan just laughs, and in no time, Soonyoung's got those two joining them in their celebrations too. Fans from YouTube is one step closer to stardom, and hopefully stardom means they'll fucking finally get the dance club they've always deserved. 

 

"Maybe we should sweet-talk Wonwoo this time," Jun suggests when him and Soonyoung are on their way out of school at the end of the day, walking through the parking lot. "You know, if he really is the reason behind us not being able to form a dance club." 

"Nope, we don't even have to do that, and you know why?" Soonyoung asks excitedly, and Jun blinks big eyes at him. 

"Why?" 

"Because, because - and be ready for this because it's the best thing ever - BECAUSE...he's not gonna be part of the school council this year!" 

"What!" Jun yells, slamming his hands against either side of his head like the hyperbolic wonder he is. "What the hell?! Did he get kicked off? So that's how karma works..."  

"I wish, but nah, the seniors can choose when to get alleviated of their duties this year so they can focus on university applications and exams and all that, and a little birdie - Seokmin - told me Wonwoo chose now! Club presidents should also technically step down but don't worry, when we inevitably get our dance club up and running because Wonwoo won't be able to stop us, I'll still be our awesome president for the whole year!" 

"Heard my name?" a low voice calls out from behind them, because 'speak of the devil' is probably one of the biggest quotes that apply to Soonyoung's life. He still gets upset over a time in elementary school when he reluctantly agreed with a classmate that his favourite teacher's voice was a bit boring while said teacher was right behind them, and she wouldn't look him in the eye for the rest of the year. 

Right now Soonyoung would be inwardly retching, but his smile just grows wider as he spins around and beams up at Wonwoo. Tall, infuriatingly handsome Wonwoo who is holding an infuriatingly delicious-looking red slushie, and he blinks in surprise at how happy Soonyoung looks. "Um, it's nice to see you too?" 

"Wonwoo, Wonwoo, I'm so happy right now that even the sight of your ugly mug can't get me down!" Soonyoung exclaims, and it's alright for him to make hurtful comments like that because everyone knows it's not true - in what world could Jeon Wonwoo be ugly? "Wow, I could even HUG you!" 

"Well, I wouldn't say no to that," Wonwoo says, and Soonyoung almost does throw himself at the guy for an embrace before he gets a hold of himself. "What are you so happy about?" 

Soonyoung's just about ready to say everything (and by everything, he means everything), but then Jun slaps a hand over his mouth to stop him and fixes Wonwoo with an icy glare. "None of your business." 

"Oh," Wonwoo mutters, the tentative smile on his face dropping as he shuffles awkwardly on his feet. "Sorry. See you later, Soonyoung?" 

"In your dreams!" Soonyoung yells after him, shaking a passionate fist as Wonwoo laughs back, "You wish I'd dream about you!" while he walks off, and Jun has to hold Soonyoung back as he growls under his breath. Minghao might be vehemently against his tiger agenda, but even he can admit that Soonyoung acts like one whenever Wonwoo's in the picture. 

"But check you, ice prince," Soonyoung says once he's calmed down, hip-checking Jun. "Weren't you just saying something about sweet-talking that guy? Then you went and glared at him like that?" 

"Sorry, sorry," Jun sighs, scratching the back of his head. "I just get so mad thinking about him being the reason we don't have a dance club. Like, sure, maybe he hates you, but what did me and Minghao ever do to him?" 

"Right! And hey, speaking of Minghao, I gotta text him. Let me get my-" 

Soonyoung freezes when he reaches into his pocket and feels no familiar touch of cold glass. "Wha- hey! Where's my phone? I definitely put it in here!" 

"You sure?" 

"Yes, I'm so sure, I remember 'cause I was all like 'damn, where should I put my phone?' and then I put it in this pocket-" Then Soonyoung cuts himself off with the sharpest accusatory gasp, making Jun throw his head back in surprise. "Him. He stole it." 

"Who?" Jun asks confusedly, and Soonyoung narrows his eyes before he points across the parking lot, right at the retreating back of his arch-enemy. His arch-enemy who is probably concocting all sorts of evil ideas of what to do with Soonyoung's poor, poor phone. 

"HEY!" Soonyoung yells loud enough to have everyone in the nearby vicinity stop to look around, including Wonwoo, and Soonyoung shoves his bag at Jun before sprinting right across the lot purely fuelled by blind rage and Jun's cheers of, "GO, TIGER, GO!" 

"Where's my phone, you bastard?!" Soonyoung yelps, skidding in front of Wonwoo and grabbing him by the collar, shaking Wonwoo up enough for his glasses to go askew. 

"What?!" Wonwoo yelps back, looking very frazzled. "What's your phone's whereabouts got to do with-" 

"Don't play dumb with me, smartass!" 

"That doesn't even make se-"

"Empty your pockets, or I'll check them myself! You've got three seconds!" 

Wonwoo raises an eyebrow at Soonyoung. "Look, Soonyoung, as much as I'd love for you to feel me up, I really don't know why you think I'd take your-"

"That's it, time's up!" Soonyoung barks, and Wonwoo's eyes go comically wide as Soonyoung grabs Wonwoo's side and slips his hands into Wonwoo's jean pockets, taking out basically anything he can find. "Sweets, paperclips, a- AHA! Oh, wait, that's your phone. Damn, can't believe you're an Android user, Wonwoo- what the fuck, is this a condom?! Oh no, it's one of those saucer sherbert things. Why the hell are your pockets a whole sweet shop?" 

"I like them. My friends like them," Wonwoo says, sounding strangely breathless. "Soonyoung, please, can you stop-" 

"Now where the hell is my phone..." 

"Soonyoung-"

"Alright, your pockets are clear, now empty your bag-" 

"SOONYOUNG!" Wonwoo yells hoarsely, probably the loudest that soft voice of his has ever been, and it startles Soonyoung so much that he trips over his own feet and stumbles into Wonwoo who sucks in a deep breath and exhales a whispered, "Shit." 

And shit indeed, because Wonwoo's infuriatingly delicious-looking slushie is now infuriatingly all over Soonyoung, staining red into his clothes and neck all the way down to his knees. All Wonwoo and Soonyoung can do is stare at the atrocity that is Soonyoung's newly dyed outfit in horror. 

So when Soonyoung looks at Wonwoo and sees how barely any of it got on him, he sees red. No pun intended. 

"Soonyoung, I'm so-"

"This was such a good fit!" Soonyoung whines, stamping a foot on the ground but he wrinkles his nose when it lands right in a puddle of melting slushie. "Minghao chose it for me, fuck, he's gonna kill me." 

Now Wonwoo's pretending to look apologetic, this bitch. "Seriously, I'm so-" 

"Don't even," Soonyoung growls, shoving an accusing finger in Wonwoo's face, then Soonyoung waddles back to Jun like a particularly ruffled penguin. He frowns when he sees that Jun's taking pictures of him. "Jun! Did you not see what he did?"  

"Don't get me wrong, I'm angry at him, but you also look really funny," Jun snickers, before yowling when Soonyoung slaps his chest with a slushie-covered arm. "OI!" 

"I hate him, I hate him, I hate him," Soonyoung cries, only feeling some sort of solace when Jun lets Soonyoung wrap himself with his jacket while they hurry out of the parking lot. "Everyone was staring. I bet someone filmed it. Who's gonna join our dance club now if there's a viral video of its president getting slushied?!" 

"Don't worry, you'll still have me, Minghao, and Chan," Jun reassures him with a pat on the back, before yelping, "Hey!" when Soonyoung just groans in reply. 

(But it really means the world to Soonyoung that he still has those three. More than they could ever know.) 

 

It's seven pm, and after an extensive shower full of scrubbing away at places that weren't even red just to feel clean again, Soonyoung is wrapped up in a warm blanket and stabbing a spoon into a tub of ice-cream while he watches re-runs of Wizards of Waverly Place. He's still boiling with rage, but watching the magical shenanigans of his favourite show back when he was a kid is helping a little bit. 

I gotta get back at him, Soonyoung thinks, sinking down into his blanket with a scowl. I gotta make it so malicious and cruel that it'll end everything and he won't even dare to cross me again. How's that for going out of high school with a bang! 

One of the characters in the show has been getting notes in their locker from a secret admirer, and that makes Soonyoung feel satisfied because he used to kinda have a crush on the guy. He's all nerdy and lanky and apparently Soonyoung has a type, so he's glad the guy is getting the love he deserves. 

"So tell me more about this whole secret admirer thing with your brother," the uncle asks the guy's little sister. "You're the secret admirer?"

Soonyoung gasps in pure shock and betrayal, dropping his spoon. 

"Yeah," the sister giggles, and Soonyoung is so ready to hurl a blob of ice-cream at her. "For the last three weeks, I've been dropping notes in his locker, saying that he's cute and sweet and a bunch of other stuff that he's totally not." 

"Justin is totally cute and sweet!" Soonyoung hollers, and he really does throw his spoon at the TV even if it misses and lands in his mother's potted aloe vera plant on the windowsill. He can't believe this. Wonwoo has got him so worked up that now he's throwing a tantrum over fictional characters; but to be fair, Soonyoung actually is a bit upset that his childhood crush is getting swindled like this. 

But thinking of Wonwoo, Soonyoung can feel the beginnings of an idea form in his mind as he gets up to retrieve the spoon. He looks back at the TV, eyes narrowed, and thinks that the fake secret admirer thing really was mean. And smart. And as far as Soonyoung can tell, he's pretty sure that those two things put together is the textbook definition for malicious. 

Wasn't he just wanting to think up something malicious to get back at Wonwoo once and for all? 

"MOM!" Soonyoung yells, eyes lighting up. "CAN I BORROW YOUR PERFUME?" 

 

I love that you're the most handsome person I've ever seen, and I can't believe you're just as cute too. 

 

It's been seventeen seconds since Soonyoung put his absolutely wonderful love note, typed up on pink paper (which he stole from his older sister's diary which he didn't read because he's a good brother!) and sprayed in perfume and everything, in Wonwoo's locker. He's currently peeking around the corner waiting for Wonwoo to arrive. This was the first thing that Soonyoung did the instant he got to school today, and he belatedly realises that he hasn't even packed his bag yet. Oh well. That can wait. 

Then a familiar soft voice calls, "Soonyoung!" 

Oh. Shit. Soonyoung hadn't thought this would happen, but he still spins around and tries to look as casual as possible when Wonwoo jogs over to him, a frown on his face. "Oh hey, Wonwoo! How're things?" 

"Um. Good?" Wonwoo says unsurely, looking wary. "Hey, I just really wanted to apologise for yesterday, I didn't mean to-" 

"Oh, psssh, that's all slushie juice under the bridge," Soonyoung dismisses with a big smile, because there's absolutely no way he's going to pretend like Wonwoo's fake apology means anything. "It's all good now." 

Wonwoo practically lights up like a (very chiselled) diamond after Soonyoung says that, which is a little confusing but Soonyoung is not about to be swayed by a pretty face. "Really? I'm glad. Oh, and, did you find your phone?" 

"Yeah, Chan found it in the classroom of the last class I was in, sorry about that." 

"Who's Chan?" 

"I'm not telling you! I'm not letting you defile my sweet protégé."  

Wonwoo wrinkles his nose. "How the hell would I 'defile' him?" 

"With your presence, duh," Soonyoung says because it's obvious, and Wonwoo rolls his eyes.

"Sure, sure. See you in Calculus, then." 

"Not if I see you first!" Soonyoung says with a finger gun, before mentally kicking himself because that was totally not cool. But Wonwoo's not cool either so that still makes the guy laugh, sending Soonyoung a small sweater-pawed wave before he walks off towards his locker. Soonyoung has to cover his mouth to muffle a gasp because it's finally showtime. 

Or maybe not, because he hears Minghao yelling from down the corridor, "Oi, Soonyoung, hurry your ass up, we have that meeting with the school council right now!" 

"AH, right!" Soonyoung yelps, and Wonwoo and fake secret admirers are all forgotten about in seconds as Soonyoung races down the hallway to grab Minghao's hand for good luck before they both bolt to the student council meeting room. 

"Why are there two of you? We only asked to meet with Soonyoung," is the first thing they get told when they reach the meeting room out of breath and dishevelled, scrutinised under the eyes of the pristine student council. Soonyoung squawks in offence as he wraps a protective arm around Minghao. 

"I'll have you know that this is my very esteemed vice club president, Xu Minghao! I expect you all to treat him with respect!" 

"Alright, alright, settle down," one of them chuckles. "Now, guys, I know we've done this a lot over the years and it's always been bad news." 

"And whose fault is that?" Soonyoung whispers loudly to Minghao who tells him to shut up. 

"But not this time. The teachers have been able to find the budget that you guys need this year, and since you seem to have a handful of loyal members, the club should be good to go. You're free to use the drama studio after school on any day except for Tuesday and Thursday because that's when the theatre club uses it so take your pick for club days, and you can use it on the weekend too if you book beforehand." 

Soonyoung isn't sure if he heard a word past 'but not this time'. He's not sure if he's even standing on his own two feet anymore. He feels like he's floating, a jumble of words just going through one ear and out the other, and the only thing filling his brain right now is pure, unadulterated joy. 

"So we have a dance club?" Minghao asks just to make sure, voice slightly strained like he can't believe what he just heard and Soonyoung can sure relate. He wants to hug every single one of the angels in this room when they smile at them. 

"You have a dance club."  

"WE HAVE A DANCE CLUB!" Soonyoung roars to the entire school body as he and Minghao run down the halls seconds later with arms wrapped around each other's shoulders jumping around like frogs and yodelling in happiness. "WE HAVE A FUCKING DANCE CLUB!" 

"We do?" Jun asks with wide eyes when they finally find him at his locker and Minghao instantly links arms with him. "We do?"  

"WE DO!" Soonyoung cries, real tears in his eyes, and he waves his arms about when he spots Chan at the end of the corridor. "CHAN! WE DID IT! WE'RE GONNA BE A DANCE CLUB!" 

Chan brightens up with that infectious smile of his, running over to the three of them who instantly drag him into a group hug. "That's so awesome, guys! We're gonna make history!" 

Soonyoung sweeps into Calculus ten minutes late after the four of them squealed excitedly over all the plans they have for the year and what they could do to recruit more people but then Minghao had finally reminded them that they had places to be. Soonyoung's teacher looks mildly unimpressed, but when Soonyoung tells him with sparkling eyes and a big bright smile, "Sir, we FINALLY got our dance club!", the teacher seems to give him the benefit of the doubt. 

Soonyoung shoves himself into his seat next to Wonwoo (Soonyoung has no idea why Wonwoo chose to sit next to him at the start of the year either, okay), so ready to seize the day. Wonwoo raises an eyebrow at Soonyoung while he dumps the content of his bags loudly onto his desk, before blinking when Soonyoung whips his head around to stare at him. "Wonwoo. Wonwoo!" 

"Soonyoung. Soonyoung!" Wonwoo mimics him, smile teasing. "Congrats on the dance club." 

"Oh yeah, I bet you're suuuuper mad about that," Soonyoung says smugly as he hunts for a pencil, and Wonwoo doesn't reply for a moment. 

"I...don't know why I'd be mad about that, but I'm happy for you." 

"Pfft, yeah, right. Like you'd be happy about something good happening to me!" 

"Aha, I see. I guess you're right, then," Wonwoo teases, his smile growing bigger, and Soonyoung is going to stab him with his pencil once he finds it. But he just scoffs instead before deciding to ignore Wonwoo for the rest of the class, even if he feels begrudgingly grateful when Wonwoo silently slips him one of his own pencils. 

Wonwoo can pretend all he likes, but now that Soonyoung managed to get his dance club the instant Wonwoo's no longer on the student council, that cements in Soonyoung's mind that Wonwoo was the reason that they kept getting rejected before this year. Seriously, Soonyoung is never going to forgive him. Ever. 

It isn't until the end of class, and Soonyoung's the only one left in the classroom scratching his head over the problem he's been working on, that he realises he didn't get a chance to get anything out of Wonwoo about his secret admirer note. 

"Damn, Soonyoung," Jun whistles when Soonyoung tells the others all about his little scheme after their first official dance club practice. The world has never seemed so beautiful to Soonyoung until today. "That's kinda harsh." 

"I love it," is Minghao's contrary response. "Crush his spirit. Wreck his soul. Break his heart." 

"Easy, easy," Soonyoung laughs, patting Minghao's back. "I too think it's the best thing ever. Imagine Wonwoo getting all excited and heart-fluttery over these fake things! It makes me wanna puke!" 

"And that's a good thing?" Chan questions. 

"No, but it also totally makes me want to dance in joy. When I reveal that it was me all along and he cries or does some other gross thing, then that's when I'll finally win." 

"It's honestly a small price to pay for crushing our dreams for three years," Jun shrugs, having seemingly warmed up fast to the idea. "Yeah, I like it."  

The door creaks open then, and they all turn around to see a familiar face peek through sheepishly. "Hi guys, I think I left my beanie in here yesterday, can I look for it?" 

"Seokmin!" Soonyoung cheers loudly as Minghao immediately gets up to run over to the guy. "'Course you can, come in, come in!" 

Seokmin is one of the theatre club kids and one of Minghao's closest friends along with a member of the football club, Mingyu, so Soonyoung and Jun have hung out with both of them a fair amount too. Soonyoung thinks Seokmin is awesome and they get along like a house on fire, but the only thing that Soonyoung can fault him on is that if Seokmin's not hanging out with Minghao, then he's hanging out with Wonwoo. 

"Seokmin, we're club-venue buddies now!" Soonyoung says excitedly when Minghao makes Seokmin join them in their little huddle on the floor after they find his beanie, and Seokmin beams. 

"We are! I'm honestly super happy that you guys have got your dance club now, it's all Minghao talks about." 

"Yeah, speaking of, why the hell are you besties with Wonwoo, then? Don't you know this guy hates him?" Soonyoung accuses, pointing at Minghao who crosses his arms and nods. Seokmin lets out a loud sigh. 

"I know, I know, but I'm not besties with him, he's just always sort of been in my friend group, you know? He's always been around because he and Mingyu are childhood friends. Then I accidentally said last year that it was kinda awkward between the two of us whenever we're alone, and since then he's made it his mission to make things more comfortable for me and hang out with me a lot and..." Seokmin trails off, eyes widening. "Oh my God. I think I might be besties with Wonwoo." 

Soonyoung, Minghao, and Jun all groan in unison, but Seokmin fights back, "Guys, he's actually really cool! He's so nice and smart and kinda lame but in a good funny way! And he's always buying his friends stuff, he always lets me get like the most expensive drinks from the school café, can you believe that?" 

"I bet he just does that to assert dominance and shove it in everyone's faces that his family's got money," Soonyoung huffs, but Seokmin shakes his head. 

"It's all his own money, he's got a part-time job and says he likes treating people with the money he makes." 

"Woah, that's cool," Chan says in awe, and Soonyoung quickly covers the kid's mouth with his hand. 

"Okay, fine. You can be friends with him if you want but you better remember that he's the dance club's mortal enemy, so don't let him show his face around here." 

"You got it," Seokmin says sincerely, slapping a hand of mutual understanding against Soonyoung's. 

The five of them part ways not long after that, the others heading home while Soonyoung trudges over to the library to borrow a book to use for his History assignment that was set yesterday. He smiles at the librarian over the counter when she tells him the due date of the book, then he walks off, ready to go home and sleep the day away. Even if he got the book he needs, it doesn't mean he has to start the assignment right away. 

But in his excitement to get some rest, he doesn't look where he's going and bumps right into something tall and hard. Soonyoung groans at first, but the tall and hard something moves which terrifies Soonyoung enough for him to jump back a good few feet. "Oi!" 

"Huh?" the something says, turning around, and Soonyoung gets momentarily blinded when sunlight through one of the library windows reflects off of Wonwoo's glasses. "Oh, Soonyoung." 

"You can't be blocking people's paths like this when you're as long as you are," Soonyoung scolds, and Wonwoo smiles sheepishly as he steps to the side. 

"Sorry. Though I gotta say, that's the first time someone's ever called me 'long'." 

"You are, it's freakish, you look like some kind of...uh..."

"Beanpole?" Wonwoo suggests, and snickers when Soonyoung gasps, "Yes! A beanpole! Exactly!" 

"At least I'm not Mingyu." 

"Ugh, don't even talk to me about him. I get mad just thinking about how long he is." 

Wonwoo grins in a way that makes him look like such a dork, but it's still cute. Soonyoung wants to pinch his ear. For purely malicious reasons. "Then see you, Soonyoung." 

"Oi! I can leave when I want to leave," Soonyoung huffs, a little hurt that Wonwoo wants him to go already. "And I'll choose that moment to be now but it's not anything to do with what you said." 

"Okay," Wonwoo laughs, and Soonyoung properly notices for the first time ever that Wonwoo's nose scrunches up when he does that. "Then see-"

"Don't say it again!" Soonyoung barks, and Wonwoo stifles his laughter as he decides to settle with a wave by the time Soonyoung's already turned his back to him.  He's just about one step out of the library and wondering what's gonna be for dinner when he hears a tentative but loud, "WAIT!" 

Soonyoung turns in surprise to see Wonwoo wincing, looking around to make sure there are no librarians threatening to pop out at any second to tell him off, before he jogs over to Soonyoung and gently takes his wrist to pull him out the library. Soonyoung short-circuits a little at the contact, absent-mindedly staring down at Wonwoo's hand on his skin, and he doesn't even realise that Wonwoo is saying something to him until a few moments pass. 

"-just wanted to ask."

"Huh?" Soonyoung asks dumbly, but Wonwoo doesn't make fun of him for not listening. He just looks nervous as he quickly lets go of Soonyoung's wrist and rubs his arm, looking down. 

"I just...uh..." 

"Spit it out, dude-"

"Why do your friends hate me?" Wonwoo does indeed spit out, and the rush of words shock Soonyoung so much that he goes silent again. Wonwoo seems to be searching Soonyoung's face for an answer, eyes narrowed and his lower lip anxiously caught between his teeth. "I just- I know it's a loaded question, and you might not even know why, but...it sucks because I think they're really cool, you know? Minghao's always the best-dressed person in a room and I see him reading books that I really like sometimes, but every time we cross paths, he glares at me like I'm dirt on his shoe, and he's good friends with Mingyu and Seokmin but he never hangs out with them if I'm there. Usually he just straight-up leaves if he sees me coming over." 

"Wonwoo, that-"

"And Junhui," Wonwoo continues without even taking a breath, and Soonyoung can't believe that this is the most he's ever heard Wonwoo talk in one go. "We were paired for an English project one time last year and we got along really well, he's funny as hell and he actually didn't seem to mind me most of the time. But then he suddenly seemed to remember that he hated me or something and after the assignment was over, he wouldn't even look at me, and I know I'm ranting but I- I'm curious." 

"You sound more hurt than curious," Soonyoung says, before instantly raising a hand over his mouth because that really wasn't meant to be said out loud. But Wonwoo just smiles a little sadly, shrugging. 

"I guess. I just wanna know if I did anything wrong, because, then I can try to fix it?" 

Soonyoung can't even fathom what he's hearing right now. There is virtually no way that Wonwoo doesn't know what he's done wrong and, hey, if Wonwoo wants to make it up to Minghao and Jun, why doesn't he want to make it up to Soonyoung? Is he not cool enough to Wonwoo for an apology or something? 

Soonyoung wants to feel angry, he wants to feel the familiar heat in his veins that he usually feels when he thinks about Wonwoo. But when he sees the guy chew on his lip nervously as he looks down, he seems so sad that it actually gets to Soonyoung. He knows that this might all be a ploy, because Seokmin's said something about Wonwoo being a good actor before, good enough to replace one of the more main roles in a play despite not even being part of the theater club; but Soonyoung just can't help it. 

"I'll talk to them about it," Soonyoung blurts out, and he instantly curses himself a million times when Wonwoo looks up, the expression on his face hesitantly hopeful. 

"Really?" 

"Sure. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Minghao might be holding a grudge over something you don't even remember and Jun's just supporting him in it." Soonyoung mentally apologises to Minghao for making him sound so petty. "I doubt it's worse than that."

Soonyoung feels a little helpless when Wonwoo's face breaks into a big smile, and his nose scrunches up again, suddenly so cute for such a sharp nose and Soonyoung feels compelled to boop it.

He doesn't, obviously.

"Thanks, Soonyoung."  

"Whatever, loser. You going home?" 

"Yep, let's go," Wonwoo says, and Soonyoung doesn't know how that was an invite for Wonwoo to walk with him but he can't say anything about it now. "You want something from the café?" 

Soonyoung scoffs. "Not unless you're buying." 

"Uh...I thought that was implied?" 

Soonyoung seizes up, staring at Wonwoo. It's happening. If he doesn't play his cards right then he'll become just like Seokmin, a pure beautiful soul who has sadly been captured in the enticing webs of Jeon Wonwoo. 

"No way!" Good, that's a strong start. "I'm not gonna let you assert your non-existent dominance by buying me something." 

"Soonyoung," Wonwoo chuckles, looking genuinely amused. "You're ridiculous. I just wanna buy you something as thanks." 

"Huh? Thanks for what?" Soonyoung asks in honest-to-God confusion, and Wonwoo raises an eyebrow at him before just grabbing his hand and tugging him down the hallway. Soonyoung short-circuits all over again. 

 

 

I love the way your nose scrunches up and your eyes crinkle when you smile. 

 

"Guys..." Soonyoung starts reluctantly when he finds his friends at lunch the next day, and he feels even more burdened when they all look at him expectantly. "So. I've got something to ask of you, and...I don't think you're going to be happy about it." 

"Do we need to contribute some of our own money to the club budget? Honestly, I saw it coming," Jun sighs, already very into his freshly-appointed role of club treasurer, but Soonyoung shakes his head. 

"Not that. I-"

"Do we need to make dance competition costumes?" Chan asks excitedly, and Minghao yells "DIBS!" loud enough for almost all the students in the lunch hall to stare at him.

"No, no, guys, you won't be able to guess this, seriously. It's about Wonwoo." 

"Wow. You seriously never shut up about him," Jun says which is so out of left field that Soonyoung has no clue how to reply for a solid minute.

"Oi! That- that's not true! Hey!" Soonyoung eventually responds intelligently, and it doesn't help when Minghao and Jun laugh at him. At least Chan stifles his own laughter and gives Soonyoung a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, the angel. "Just, listen. I want you guys to stop hating Wonwoo." 

Minghao drops his chopsticks. Jun snorts his drink. 

"You," Minghao says lowly while he slams Jun's back to stop him from choking, "seriously want us to stop hating the guy who stopped us from getting our club for years? Without a single apology?" 

"Look, I'll still hate him!" Soonyoung tries to reason, even though he's only ever won like three arguments against Minghao out of the hundreds they've had. "I'll hate him enough for all of us! But this feud was only ever meant to be between me and him, and I don't think it's fair for you guys to hate him too. And about that apology, he seems like he really wants to make it up to you two. Just ask him to buy you a whole four-course meal and I bet he'll do it." 

"Wait, he told you this?" Jun asks incredulously, and Soonyoung nods. 

"Don't judge me, but he looked really sad about it and it...it just got to me, okay? Let's think about it, we've finally got our dance club and grudges are really bad for the positive energy we're garnering right now, so how we about we let it all go?" 

"To be honest, I do really like that kind of thinking," Minghao hums pensively, and Soonyoung can't believe this might be win number four for him. "And I'm getting really tired of Mingyu and Seokmin telling me to give him a chance...you sure about this, Soonyoung?" 

Honestly, Soonyoung's not. It's much easier to do something when you have your friends to back you up, and, as dramatic as this sounds, Soonyoung doesn't know if he has enough hatred in his heart to loathe Wonwoo alone - he's never been one for grudges. But it's better this way for everyone so he just paints on a grin and nods. "Yep! But at least keep supporting me on this secret admirer thing, 'cause I need you guys to be there when it gets juicy." 

Speaking of that, when Soonyoung goes to Chemistry later in the day (a class that he's been doomed to share with Wonwoo since freshman year), he spots Wonwoo holding a familiar piece of pink paper. Soonyoung can even catch a whiff of the perfume from here. 

"Ooh, what's that?" Soonyoung asks casually, nudging Wonwoo who jolts and quickly folds the note up. He doesn't put it away, though, and he has a slightly embarrassed smile on his face when he looks at Soonyoung. 

"Don't tell anyone, but I think it's a love note. One of those secret ones." 

"WOAH!" Soonyoung yells a little too overenthusiastically, before lowering his voice when the teacher gives him a look. "Now who the hell would send you love notes?" 

Wonwoo shrugs, looking down at the note with a strange expression on his face. "No clue. They even typed it so I can't check anyone's handwriting." 

"So it's not signed or anything?" 

"Nope." 

"How long's this been going on, lover boy?" Soonyoung teases, and he marvels at the way Wonwoo's ears burn pink when he says shyly, "Uh...like, a week? Two weeks? But it's not a big deal." 

"Why not? This poor soul's pouring their heart out to you, Wonwoo!" 

"Nah, it's not like that. The notes are like two sentences max." 

"Still! You feel like you're falling for the poet behind the words?" 

Wonwoo snorts, shaking his head. "No. I still don't know them, so I don't really feel anything towards them. I just think they're sweet, and kinda selfless." 

"Selfless?" Soonyoung asks, confused. "Why?" 

"It's like...the things they write make me feel happy, but they're not getting anything out of it. I don't know who they are so they're not getting any credit." Then Wonwoo pauses to think, while all Soonyoung can think is that he feels a little warm knowing that the dumb things he's been writing have been making Wonwoo happy. Strange. "Well, I guess me being happy about it is something they could get out of it since they like me, but that won't mean much." 

"No," Soonyoung suddenly says, surprising both himself and Wonwoo. "If-If they really like you, then that'll mean a lot." 

Wonwoo's eyes twinkle at Soonyoung when he looks at him. They're nice eyes, if Soonyoung's being honest, sharp in form but gentle in expression. "You think so?" 

"Yeah but I'm not usually right, so don't take my word for it." Nice save, moron. 

"Give yourself more credit," Wonwoo disagrees, crossing his arms over his desk and resting his face in them in a way that makes his glasses ride up his nose. "You're not dumb." 

"Reverse psychology won't work on me, Jeon," Soonyoung affirms, flicking Wonwoo's fancy round annoying glasses so they go askew, and Wonwoo just laughs instead of correcting them. 

"This is cute," Wonwoo says, smoothly changing the subject as he fiddles with the little tiger keychain hanging off Soonyoung's phone. "You really like tigers." 

Soonyoung has to refrain from saying 'duh' as he sits there with his tiger-patterned backpack, his tiger-striped notebook, and his orange and black ensemble. 

"What does it say on the back?" Wonwoo says as he turns it around, squinting his eyes. "Ho-shi?" 

Soonyoung's eyes widen and he quickly snatches his phone away from Wonwoo who sits up again, quickly raising his hands in surrender. "Oh, woah? Sorry?" 

"No, it...ugh, it's nothing," Soonyoung sighs, shoving his phone into his pocket. There's no use telling Wonwoo about this. He hasn't even told Minghao or Jun yet, or like anyone else that he holds in regard above Wonwoo for that matter. But Wonwoo looks at him with such encouraging eyes, as well as a sense of reassurance that he doesn't mind if Soonyoung tells him or not, and Soonyoung doesn't know how he does that. Seokmin is seriously right about Wonwoo's stupid acting. "Okay, fine, I'll tell you. It's really dumb, though." 

"You're always dumb," Wonwoo teases, before bursting into quiet laughter when Soonyoung yelps, "You just said I'm not dumb!" 

"I know, I know, I'm joking. Keep going." 

"I think...if I ever get the chance to be a dancer, or get famous, or anything - I'd like to use Hoshi as my stage name." 

"Ooh," Wonwoo gasps softly, which makes Soonyoung unconsciously smile a little. "Really?" 

"Yeah. I like its meanings. It means 'shining star' in Japanese, which is what I really want to be. And it also comes from the Korean for 'tiger's gaze' which is just SO cool. That's how I first thought of it." 

"I definitely see that tiger gaze of yours whenever you glare at me," Wonwoo says amusedly, before following with a more fond tone, "That really is cool." 

It's strange. Wonwoo should be making fun of Soonyoung right now. Even Minghao would and he's one of Soonyoung's best friends, so what the hell is going on? Why is Wonwoo actually making Soonyoung feel supported and not like he's being totally lame?

"You're weird," Soonyoung mumbles as a weak reply before trying to focus on the lesson, and even though he adamantly tries to ignore Wonwoo for the rest of class, it seems to be getting harder and harder to do that these days.

 

I love how you support people. You lift them up, make them feel validated, and getting that feeling from you is kind of the best thing in the world.

 

Week four of senior year rolls around in no time, and that means week three of official dance practice. Despite their recruitment methods not working out so well (even with all four of them asking their extensive network of friends but all of them saying they're committed to other clubs), they're having the most fun in the world. 

Practices might be tiring but they're invigorating all the same, and it's a time for them to hone their talents and feel like they're the best dancers on the planet. Chan is amazing at both dancing and creating choreography, and he's the sweetest when he gets shy over the others hyping him up. Minghao seems to want to look more into contemporary dance this year to get out of his comfort zone and Soonyoung feels so proud of him. Jun is a pillar of eccentric constancy as always, with Soonyoung always wondering how on earth he's always so different when he's dancing than how he is in real life but he loves both sides nonetheless.

Soonyoung and Minghao have also finally been getting around to searching up dance competitions and events within their age group, and there's a really small but neat-looking one that's coming up next month. 

"Okay, guys, our supervisor's going to be visiting us today so be on your best behaviour," Soonyoung calls out when they meet up after school for Monday practice, and Chan questions, "Like...a coach?" 

"Nah, it's just a teacher who's going to supervise the trips when we go out to events and other adulty stuff. When I emailed her, she told me she doesn't know anything about dance but she'd still love to help out." 

They warm up while they're waiting for the teacher to come, Chan and Minghao giggling as Soonyoung and Jun roar at each other throughout their pair stretches because they're feeling so fired up. They're just about ready to start working on their choreography piece when the door opens, and Soonyoung immediately gets them all lined up. 

"Good afternoon!" Soonyoung calls out, saluting, and the teacher smiles at him. 

"Good afternoon, guys." Then her smile falters a bit, and she looks around. "Are there some people who still aren't here yet?" 

"Oh, no, it's just us. We're a small club," Soonyoung says sheepishly. "We tried to recruit but it didn't really work out...but we'll do well even if it's just us four, promise!" 

Despite having said all that, Soonyoung senses a bad feeling deep in his gut when the the teacher's smile completely drops and she looks at Soonyoung head-on, suddenly seeming...pitying. "Soonyoung, I thought you would've heard. All school clubs need at least five people. That's been a club policy in this school for years." 

"Five?" Jun squawks as Minghao and Chan look at each other in alarm, and Soonyoung says with his voice raising more and more with each word, "B-But why? We've already got all the people we need for a club! I'm president, Minghao's vice president, Jun's treasurer, and Chan's secretary - we've already filled out the club forms! We're an official club!" 

"But clubs can still be dissolved if they don't reach the official requirements," the teacher says, her voice gentle and apologetic. Soonyoung hates it. "The reason for it is purely because there are many people who want to open up different clubs in this school, so the easiest way to assess what we can give money to is what clubs have the most members, and the school council made it sound like you had quite a few." 

Damn it. That's probably Soonyoung's own fault for being loud enough about this dance club to sound like he was trying to vouch for hundreds of people.

"I'm afraid if you don't get another member soon, we won't be able to give you any of your budget." 

"But we don't need that many to enter competitions!" Soonyoung yells (God, yelling at a teacher is the last thing he ever thought he'd do), and Minghao comes forward to take hold of his hand but it doesn't do anything. It doesn't make any of this better. "We already had one ready, the one I told you about in my email, we- we were working towards it and everythi-" 

"I'm sorry, Soonyoung, but I need to go back and tell the board about this," the teacher says, sounding resigned as she turns around to walk out the door, and Chan and Minghao need to hold Soonyoung back when he shakes a fist at her retreating back and hollers, "SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU WOULDN'T LET BLACKPINK FORM A DANCE CLUB? HUH?!"  

"Soonyoung, hey, it's okay," Minghao tries to reassure him, but Soonyoung whirls around to face him and fumes, "No, Minghao, no, it's not okay because how is it ever going to be okay that we finally got what we wanted and now it's being torn away from us when we barely got a taste of it?" 

"I know. I know, okay? But we'll be fine. We could try to raise the money for the competition fee ourselves again, and try to figure out how to get there. Maybe we can recruit another person. I know we already tried everything we could, but we'll do it all again," Minghao tells him, and that's when Soonyoung notices the slight shakiness in his voice. There Minghao goes, trying to be strong for all of them when that should be the club president's job. That should be Soonyoung's job. 

"I'm sorry," Soonyoung whispers, and he wants to fight the tears that bead in the corner of Minghao's eyes when the junior shakes his head and quickly tugs Soonyoung into a hug. Soonyoung grips him as tight as he can, and the tears threaten him more when he feels Jun's long arms wrap around them. Soonyoung sniffles before barking, "Chan, get over here!" 

There's the tell-tale noise of running footsteps, then the kid wiggles his way into their group hug. It's a good sign that they can still laugh when Chan manages to get his hair stuck in Minghao's bracelet, and they all hug each other as tight as they can, not one of them accepting that this is the end. It can't be, not if they've got anything to do with it. 

But even so, it's a long time until Soonyoung leaves the studio. He can't bear to think that this really might be his last time in here, and if he leaves, the magic will disappear. If he leaves, maybe his fighting spirit will disappear too, and he'll give up just like he did halfway into junior year, and the year before that. 

Minghao, Jun, and Chan are long gone when Soonyoung finally decides that he has to leave because he's too tired and hungry to think straight. Minghao had offered a sleepover, but Soonyoung had waved him off, telling him to get some good rest. So now Soonyoung trudges out of the school alone, wrapped up in his massive tiger-striped jacket with his bag barely hanging onto his shoulder while the sun sets, and he looks out onto the school parking lot. It looks so desolate, empty. Dark. Just like how Soonyoung feels. 

That's when he breaks. Big fat tears fill his eyes so much that he can't see anymore, so he wobbles over to the side and crouches down in front of the nearest bush, tucking himself into a ball as he cries into his knees. He feels dizzy, light-headed, cold, and all he wants to do is not be here but he can't find the strength to pull himself up and walk home. Maybe he'll sleep here. He'll let a teacher find him tomorrow morning, and only then will he start caring about this stupid world again. 

"Hoshi?" 

Soonyoung almost scoffs when he hears that. He probably imagined it, because there's nothing meaner than his subconscious using his 'stage name' to make him feel like even more of a failure. 

But then footsteps crunch against the gravel pavement, and he hears it again, louder. 

"Hoshi!" 

This time, Soonyoung recognises the voice. 

"Hoshi, what the hell?" Wonwoo asks him in alarm, crouching down in front of Soonyoung before taking hold of his face. Soonyoung blinks his eyes open wearily when he feels the touch. Everything is so blurry and it hurts to look but despite all that, Wonwoo is still so pretty. "What are you doing here? What happened?" 

"I-I failed," Soonyoung sniffles, and Wonwoo's long fingers seem so tender as they brush away his tears. "I usually fail but this time I thought I didn't fail but then I actually did fail so it's even worse!" 

"Hoshi," Wonwoo tells him, his voice sounding as warm as a campfire. "I'm sure you didn't fail. And even if you did, I know you'll pick yourself back up and try again even harder, because that's just the type of person you are." 

"But this is my last chance, this- after this year, I won't be here." 

"What's this about?" 

Soonyoung almost tells him. He almost says everything, because Wonwoo's gentle hands and soft voice are bewitching him, but he just about manages to remember who he is before he ruins everything. 

"Why would I tell you?" Soonyoung snaps hoarsely, making Wonwoo blink in surprise, hands stilling. "I bet you're having a fucking field day right now, seeing me cry. Bet you'll cross this off your bucket list or something because you're so lame." 

"Hoshi," Wonwoo mutters, sounding almost hurt, and Soonyoung wishes that Wonwoo would stop calling him that because it's doing things to him. "I seriously have no idea what you think of me, but I'd never want to see you cry. Ever." 

"You laughed at me when I cried in Chemistry in sophomore year." 

"'Cause I warned you not to get so close to the flame and you made a whole fuss about you not being a baby! It was an 'I told you so!' laugh!" 

"Still a jerk," Soonyoung mumbles, but he doesn't shove Wonwoo away when he pushes Soonyoung's hood down and wipes away some more of his tears. Mostly because he's too tired, and being pampered like this feels so nice. "U-Um. Wonwoo?" 

Wonwoo hums gently, eyes narrowed in concentration as he swipes the pad of his thumbs under Soonyoung's eyes, and Soonyoung has to tell him. He just has to, even if he doesn't know why. 

"I didn't get my dance club." 

Wonwoo's narrowed eyes grow big in no time, and fix themselves onto Soonyoung's teary ones. "What?" 

Soonyoung sniffs, looking down. "I thought I got it, but, we need five members. We've only got four." 

"Oh," Wonwoo says, sounding relieved for some reason. "Can't you get another one? I know you have loads of friends." 

"Yeah, but me and the others already tried everything we could during the last couple weeks. No-one wants to join us, no-one, and I bet people are just going to laugh at us if we try recruiting again. Obviously we'll still try but...honestly? I'm so tired. Each year I wanna give up earlier and earlier, and this year's been the worst." 

"I'm sorry," Wonwoo murmurs and when Soonyoung looks up again, he truly does seem sorry, eyes downcast and a concerned frown on his face. Soonyoung sighs and pokes the guy's cheek. 

"Don't make your handsome face wear a look like that. I just- I don't even know why I'm this upset? I already know Minghao and Chan are going to keep going even after me and Jun are gone but - I know how hard things are going to be once I go to dance school, after high school's over. How I'll probably be the only person who's never been to a dance competition because I could never afford the fee or because my parents couldn't drive me there because they'd be working or because I couldn't even get my school to start up a measly dance club."

"Hoshi-"

"It could be years and years until I get a break, you know? Years until I win anything, or until I get a gig, and I'll be all alone. I won't have Minghao or Jun with me, and after everything I've built with them over the years, you're telling me I won't even be able to experience one single big event with them? Why isn't life fair, Wonwoo?" 

"I don't know," Wonwoo says so quietly, and this time his hands let go of Soonyoung's face to slip under Soonyoung's fingers, squeezing them gently. They're a bit wet because of Soonyoung's tears, but Soonyoung doesn't care. It still brings him so much comfort. "But I've always thought your passion is amazing. You really love dance, and you love Minghao, and Junhui, and you sound like you already love Chan, too. So...can I ask you something?" 

"I'm already telling you my life story, ask away," Soonyoung says scornfully, and Wonwoo smiles. 

"Okay. But don't laugh." 

"Why would I laugh...?" 

"'Cause I'm about to ask you if I can join your dance club." 

For a moment, Soonyoung and Wonwoo just stare at each other. Wonwoo's face is getting increasingly pink while Soonyoung sits there, stars whirling around his head as he wonders if he really just heard that. 

"I said don't laugh," Wonwoo says nervously to break the silence, but Soonyoung is nowhere near laughing. He just shakes his head in disbelief, still not sure if this is real life. 

"You? You dance?" 

"Well, no, not really. Though I like dancing to girl group songs sometimes," Wonwoo says shyly, and Soonyoung almost dies right there when he tries to imagine Wonwoo dancing to Signal by Twice. But then Wonwoo squeezes his hands again, and his voice is so earnest when he continues, "But I'd like to try! I'd do my best, seriously, if you want me to. But also I don't even need to dance, you can enter all your competitions with your new budget and I'll just cheer the four of you on from the sidelines. I'll just be there for the membership requirements."

"Who are you?" Soonyoung whispers, breathless. "You've changed. You're not my Wonwoo." 

Wonwoo blinks rapidly. "Y-Your Wonwoo?" 

"Are you serious? Like a hundred percent serious? You're not messing with me? Because if you are, that's literally the meanest thing in the world and I might beat you up so watch-"  

"Hoshi. I mean it," Wonwoo tells him with a soft laugh, and Soonyoung has to smile, too. There's no way he can't. 

"You've been calling me Hoshi." 

Wonwoo nods, grinning like he's proud of himself. What a dork. "Is that okay?" 

It's more than okay. It's way more than okay because Soonyoung absolutely loves it, and it's the final straw before he leans forward and wraps his arms tight around Wonwoo, pulling him in so that the guy's face gets smushed into his chest. Wonwoo makes an alarmed noise that sounds both squeaky and raspy at the same time, like a cat who's been caught up in the rain, and Soonyoung must be seriously tired if he just made that connection. 

Soonyoung doesn't say anything, because he's confused, and he has no idea what he could even say, but he just knows that he doesn't hate Wonwoo right now. He really really doesn't hate him, and it feels like freedom. 

Wonwoo doesn't say anything either. He just slides his arms around Soonyoung too so he can get even more squished into Soonyoung's massive puffy jacket. 

"How did you know it was me here?" Soonyoung asks eventually after they've hugged for what feels like both minutes and hours at the same time, voice small. Wonwoo laughs, "Anyone can recognise this coat of yours from a mile away, you know." 

"Why were you still here so late?" 

"Got caught up in a book. I only realised the time when a librarian told me they were locking up for the night." 

"God, you're such a nerd." 

"But you still love me," Wonwoo teases, and it's such a weak joke but Soonyoung doesn't even have the heart to rebut it right now. "I was hoping to see you today, anyway, 'cause Minghao didn't leave when I hung out with him and Seokmin and Mingyu after school yesterday. Did you talk to him?" 

Soonyoung nods, and Wonwoo hugs him tighter. "Thanks." 

"We should get home," Soonyoung sniffles eventually, pulling away from the hug so he can wipe his face which is basically dry already because of Wonwoo, and Wonwoo helps him up, offering his arm for Soonyoung to hold onto while they stumble across the parking lot. "Ugh, I'm so hungry..." 

"I can buy you food," Wonwoo offers, but Soonyoung waves a hand. 

"Hush, Prince Charming, you don't need to fix all my problems. Ma's probably got food at home. I bet she's been calling me but my phone's dead." 

"You can use mine." 

"Can you stop treating me like a damsel in distress for a moment?" 

"Just wanna help," Wonwoo says with a grin, popping the 'p' of help. Soonyoung smacks him with a puffy arm. "Also, um. Well, this is kinda dumb, but can I ask you something?" 

"I love dumb, hit me." 

"O-Okay. Uh, so, do you think...does my nose scrunch up when I smile?" 

Soonyoung raises an eyebrow at the guy for asking such a weird question, but answers as best as he can. "Yeah, sometimes. It's really noticeable when you laugh." 

"Oh," Wonwoo says, seeming surprised by the honest answer. "Right. I see. It's just that one of the secret admirer notes said something about that, so, just wanted to see if it was true." 

Oh. Oh shit, Wonwoo's right, Soonyoung did say that. He had written that on a whim, typing it up quickly in the morning so he could print it and grab it on his way out the front door. 

"How's that going, by the way?" Soonyoung asks with a teasing lilt to his voice, hip-checking Wonwoo which actually makes the guy stumble a little. But once Wonwoo's regained his footing, he simply shrugs. 

"I don't know. It's just...nice. I don't know how else to explain it. It's nice knowing someone likes me so much. I wish I could thank them."

Soonyoung can feel a heavy feeling inside him when Wonwoo says those words, but he firmly rejects the chance of it being guilt. Why would he ever be guilty after everything Wonwoo's done to him?

Because it seems like he's trying to make it up to you and you're going to seem like the jerk who can't let this feud go, Soonyoung's subconscious tells him, and his mouth goes dry.

"I'm going this way," Wonwoo says when they leave the parking lot, gently disentangling their arms, and it snaps Soonyoung out of his thoughts. "See you, Hoshi." 

For the first time ever, Soonyoung replies with a genuine, "See you, Wonwoo." 

 

I love how you might be one of the nicest people I know. You're always helping people out even if it's the last thing they think you'll do. Even if they don't deserve it. 

 

As expected, it's an explosion of mixed reactions when Wonwoo shows up for Friday dance practice. 

Soonyoung had already told everyone that he'd found a new person and settled everything with their supervisor too, which became the basis of another very emotional group hug (though this time the emotions were good ones). But Soonyoung doesn't quite tell them who the person is, because he honestly has no clue how he could possibly explain it. 

Which is what leads to three pairs of wide, blinking eyes staring right at Wonwoo when he ducks through the studio doors with an awkward smile. 

"Hi?" 

"It's Wonwoo, everybody!" Soonyoung cheers, throwing jazz hands Wonwoo's way, and Wonwoo does his own tiny pair of jazz hands too even though his sweater sleeves are covering his hands so you can't really see them. "Let's welcome our newest member!" 

Now the three pairs of eyes are on Soonyoung, relentlessly judging and incredulous. Soonyoung gulps. "Um. Sorry, Wonwoo, let us talk for a moment?" 

"Sure, sure," Wonwoo agrees good-naturedly, and Soonyoung yelps when Minghao immediately grabs him by the neck of his shirt and drags him over to where Jun is. 

"What the fuck, Soonyoung? Wonwoo?" Minghao hisses, but he doesn't really look mad. Just confused. "How the hell did you pull this off? And, not to mention, why?" 

"I have no idea but he's the one who offered, okay? I don't know what on earth was going through his head when he did but it seems like he's following through, which is nice! He's saving us!" 

"Seems suspicious," Jun says with narrowed eyes, stroking his chin. "Very suspicious."

"Look, I don't really get it either, but...Wonwoo was really cool to me yesterday, after everything that happened," Soonyoung says quietly, looking down at his feet. "And I think maybe he's matured or something. Maybe he wants to make it up to us really bad and that's why he's doing this." 

"It's really nice of him and all but does he have no idea how to actually say the word 'sorry'?" Minghao asks, eyebrows raised. "Has the topic of him being the reason for us not getting our dance club ever actually come up between you two?" 

"...not quite," Soonyoung says sheepishly, but he quickly tries to defend himself when Jun and Minghao share an exasperated look, "but it's because I don't wanna make it a big thing, okay! We fight in taunts and jabs, that's our whole dynamic, I don't want to end up having an actual fight with him because that's not worth my time. Or my beautiful face. Or his beautiful face." 

"Oh my fucking God, so you're telling me that Jun and I have been outwardly hating him for years and the guy probably has no clue why?" 

That's kind of exactly what Soonyoung is saying, but Minghao looks absolutely murderous right now so he can't say that out loud. "I'm sure he knows! Come on, there's no way he doesn't." 

"Then let's ask him right now," Jun suggests, and Minghao pats the guy's knee, saying loudly, "Good idea, Jun! Let's do that!" 

"Wha- hey! No!" Soonyoung yowls, throwing his whole body forward to stop the two of them from getting up. "No fighting in dance practice!" 

Minghao glares at him, looking like there's a fiery insult right on the tip of his tongue, but they all pause when they hear the loud hearty laugh of their youngest member. 

"No, no, you're doing it! You got it!" 

"You sure?" Wonwoo's wary voice says, sounding a little muffled. "I don't feel like my limbs are where they're supposed to be..." 

"You're doing great, you just need to...ah...now you just look like a turtle..." 

The other three turn around to see what's going on, and Soonyoung has to gather all his willpower so he doesn't burst out laughing when he sees Wonwoo spinning around on his back like, as Chan so eloquently put it, a turtle. "Wonwoo, what the hell are you doing?" 

Wonwoo immediately staggers back onto his feet at the sound of Soonyoung's voice, glasses crooked and face flushed. "U-Uh...I was trying to b-boy?" 

"If you're gonna have any luck with that, then you need some training from the b-boy master," Jun says, and Minghao hops up, throwing out his arms and milking the cheers and applause that Soonyoung and Chan shower him in. That seems to make Wonwoo relax a little, a grin spreading over his face as he holds a hand out to Minghao. 

"Then can you teach me, b-boy master?" 

"Yeah, you got it," Minghao says with a small smile, taking Wonwoo's hand and Soonyoung feels a swelling sense of accomplishment when the two do some sort of bro-hug. It's weird and very peculiar to watch but Soonyoung is the reason they can do that now. Life is so strange and wonderful!

From then on, practice is smooth-sailing, full of laughs but also praise for the way Wonwoo throws himself into everything confidently even if he knows he's going to fail. But he's an amazingly quick learner, and Soonyoung just knows that once they train the stiffness out of him, he'll be a stellar dancer in no time. 

Soonyoung doesn't know how his life has come to this, teaching his arch-enemy his life's passion. But he's also not sure if he's ever smiled this much before, so he thinks that maybe it's not the worst turn of events.  

 

I love how you surprise me every day. I don't know how you do it, because after three years of knowing you, I feel like I don't know you at all.

But I think I really wish I do.

 

Soonyoung knows. He knows that his love notes don't even sound like love notes anymore. He knows that Wonwoo has noticed that too, because Soonyoung sees him in class or at his locker, furrowing his eyebrows as he reads through the note.

Soonyoung has sent a grand total of eight notes by now and he can't even remember half of them, doomed to have no clue if he's written incriminating things or not because something's been going on with his heart recently when it comes to Wonwoo and he doesn't know what it is. But he does know that it feels dangerous. Unknown.

"President?" a voice calls while Soonyoung is peeking around the corner with his latest love note clutched tight in his hand, staring at Wonwoo's locker nervously. He jumps three feet when a hand lands on his shoulder. "Oh, sorry!"

"Ah, it's just you, Chan," Soonyoung sighs when he turns his head to see the freshman looking at him worriedly. "Sorry, sorry. I'm kinda out of it right now."

"That's okay," Chan reassures him because he really is an angel. "What are you doing?"

Soonyoung sighs yet again, sparing a glance at Wonwoo's locker one more time. "Chan, I...this is going to sound so, so stupid, but. I don't think the fake secret admirer notes that I'm sending Wonwoo are even fake anymore."

Chan's mouth drops open. "Wait, wait, wait, so...you really like him now?"

"No! I don't know! I just- I think I at least don't hate him like I thought I did and it's messing with me!" Soonyoung whines, clutching his head, and he feels wholly grateful when Chan pats his back. "And now I'm feeling guilty about these stupid love notes, which I literally thought would never happen because all I've ever wanted to do is get back at Wonwoo!"

"I don't know any of you guys' history, so I might not be the best person to say anything," Chan starts, looking around to make sure Wonwoo isn't listening which is probably something Soonyoung should've done before he started yelling about all this. "But I think Wonwoo will be happy to know you don't hate him. You guys seem to really get along during dance practice, and I see the way he looks at you. It's fond, you know? Kind of revering, too. Like you could jump off a cliff and he'd follow you."

"Chan, that's morbid," Soonyoung says, even though he sort of wants to cry. "I don't get along with Wonwoo. We're enemies. Arch-enemies. It may seem like we're just playfully teasing each other like friends but it's actually carefully calculated jabs that weaken the mind and spirit!"

"Wonwoo doesn't look very 'weakened' when you guys are together," Chan tells him with an amused but gentle smile. "And neither do you."

That stumps Soonyoung so much that he never does end up slipping today's 'love' note into Wonwoo's locker.

 

 

All five of the dance club are leaving school after practice, chatting amongst themselves. Soonyoung is scrolling through his phone, trying to see if the tickets for the upcoming SHINee concert in their town are on sale yet, but frowns when he sees that they're not.

"What's wrong?" Wonwoo asks him, and Soonyoung shakes his head as he pockets his phone.

"Nothing."

"You looked upse-"

"I said nothing, Wonwoo," Soonyoung snaps, loud enough for the others to hear too. Wonwoo seizes up while Jun and Minghao exchange a look, and Soonyoung instantly feels horrible. "Oh God. I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's fine," Wonwoo mumbles, sticking his hands in his pockets. Soonyoung mentally punches himself, and the rest of the walk across the parking lot is in tense silence.

"See you guys!" Chan waves before he hurries off, and Minghao waves at Soonyoung too before he links arms with Jun and the two make their way down the road. Soonyoung expects Wonwoo to follow them since he knows the guy walks that way home too, but he blinks when he sees Wonwoo still standing there, a nervous look on. He doesn't look like he's going to move anytime soon.

"What are you still doing here?" Soonyoung asks him point-blank, and Wonwoo's face is already brushed pink from the cold but now it turns even pinker.

"I wanted to walk you home," Wonwoo says, sounding embarrassed. Soonyoung's eyebrows almost fly off his forehead with how fast they raise. "And I still want to but now I feel kinda stupid, so I guess I'll just...yeah-"

"What is this?" Soonyoung finally blurts out, because he can't take it anymore and he needs answers. "Why are you being so nice to me? What the hell happened to you?"

Wonwoo's brow furrows. "What?"

"You were nice about my stage name. You saved my dance club. You comforted me when I was crying. Now you want to walk me home? You better tell me what's going on because I've been confused for like a really long time now and it's not fun!"

"Soonyoung," Wonwoo begins slowly, voice low, and it's the first time he's said Soonyoung's real name in a while. "We're friends, right?"

Soonyoung stares for at least a minute. Then another. 

"Huh?"

"Yeah. We're friends," Wonwoo tries to state firmly, but his voice is getting louder and less stable by the second. "I know we tease each other and have our jokey arguments and stuff but it's all in good fun. Right?"

Right, he asks? Right? 

"What the FUCK are you talking about?!" Soonyoung explodes, because this is too much for him and he has no clue how to even begin processing any of it. All he can do is overreact. "Me? Friends with you? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Well, I didn't think so, but it seems like I am!" Wonwoo yells right back, loud enough to make Soonyoung wince. But no, there's no way he's going to let fucking Wonwoo make him feel bad.

"You're the worst," Soonyoung seethes, jabbing a finger into Wonwoo's chest. "I can't believe you ever think I'd be friends with you after everything you've done."

"But what the hell have I done-"

"Don't play dumb with me, okay?! I hate when you do that because I know you're not dumb, you're like one of the smartest people I know and I hate it because if you weren't smart then you would've never been on the stupid student council and you would've never crushed my hopes and dreams-"

"Crushed your- Soonyoung, I have literally no idea what you're talking abo-"

"Just stop it already! I know you're the reason we never got our dance club and now that I've finally said it out loud, come at me!" Soonyoung yells, holding up his fists. "Let's fight!"

Soonyoung is more fired up than he probably has been in his entire life (and that's really saying something knowing him), but he still feels a little silly when Wonwoo doesn't move. Actually, Wonwoo looks completely frozen to the spot. But when Soonyoung builds up the courage to meet his eyes, the breath almost gets completely knocked out of him, because they look terrifying.

The usually warm brown of Wonwoo's irises are dark, steely, and his already sharp eyes could now cut through a block of granite. His lips are set in a straight thin line, and even though his arms are by his sides, his hands are still balled up into fists.

Soonyoung thinks he might die today.

Wonwoo's voice is so low when he starts speaking that Soonyoung has to strain to hear him. "I can't believe you. I actually can't. I know you're ridiculous, you always have been, but how the hell could you have thought that I was the reason you never got your club when I was the one who always-"

Wonwoo pauses then, and sucks in a breath before he keeps going. "Look. Our school is cheap as fuck, and we've always had loads of students coming to us about opening up new clubs. We couldn't give you any better treatment than all those other people. That's it. There was never some big ploy targeted at you personally, so get the fuck over yourself, Soonyoung."

Oh.

Soonyoung isn't quite sure what he's feeling right now. Some kind of weight has lifted off him, but he doesn't feel free. He doesn't feel good. Instead, all he can think about is the way Wonwoo is glaring at him like Soonyoung's betrayed him or something, and if Wonwoo's telling the truth - which honestly sounds more and more plausible by the second - then Soonyoung is truly the worst person in the world.

And now, just when Soonyoung's started to figure out just how much he likes him, Wonwoo is finally going to hate him for real.

"I always tried to pitch you to them," Wonwoo continues, voice drawn as he takes a step closer to Soonyoung who flinches. "I was constantly telling them about how much you wanted this club, how passionate you were about dance."

"H-How the hell would you know about my passion for dance?"

"Because we're friends!" Wonwoo shouts, and Soonyoung blinks when he notices a vein actually bulging in Wonwoo's neck. Geez, the guy is angry. "We talk in classes, we talk between classes, we talk when we bump into each other, and you tell me things. Things like how much you like to dance!"

"Oh my God," Soonyoung whispers, clutching his head that's really starting to hurt from all these revelations. "Oh my God. I'm such an idiot. I'm the biggest idiot ever."

"So," Wonwoo says, and this time his voice is quiet, free of anger. Instead it's loaded with something so wounded and weak, and Soonyoung thinks that's a million times worse. "All these years. Have you really hated me?"

"I don't know!" Soonyoung cries. "I thought I did but now you're telling me all this and knowing that you don't hate me is really changing things, and I already knew since like a week ago that I didn't hate you because you're actually so weirdly amazing and nice and I've just been blind to it and, and- and then the love notes started becoming real so I didn't-"

"Hold on," Wonwoo says, voice icy again. "What did you say about the love notes?"

Fuck. Soonyoung's really stepped in it now. He groans, covering his face as he crouches down on the spot because he doesn't think he can bear standing anymore, can't bear looking at Wonwoo's face.

"I'm your secret admirer," Soonyoung mumbles, because Wonwoo deserves an explanation. At least this way, Soonyoung can get beat up with no more misunderstandings left, and he can continue living his life as a free man. "I wanted to really get back at you for everything you- everything I thought you did, and the slushie thing was the last straw."

"I apologised for that. You said you were fine with it."

"Obviously I wasn't being serious, okay, and I didn't think you were being serious either! So I got the idea from a kid TV show to give you fake love notes telling you things that...weren't true..."

There's a beat of silence filled with Soonyoung wishing that he could just disappear. Right here, right now.

"Holy shit," Wonwoo eventually breathes, and the broken tone of his voice is haunting. "You really do hate me."

"NO!" Soonyoung whines, pulling his hood tight over his head. "I don't, and I know I don't because those notes stopped not being true. I don't think I've given you a fake one in weeks!"

"I...wait, I don't get it-"

"And it got to the point where I was meant to give you one today but I couldn't do it because it felt so real but it can't be real, it just can't, 'cause I'm meant to hate you and that's the only thing I've ever known when it comes to you."

There's the soft crunch of gravel as Soonyoung crouches there, wanting the world to swallow him up and take him far away from here. He feels Wonwoo crouch down in front of him and he wants to run away, but his brain is still feeling so overwhelmed from the overload of information from the past few minutes, and he doesn't trust himself to think straight.

But when Wonwoo says, "Look at me," Soonyoung can at least do that.

Wonwoo still looks a little angry. as if he can't help it. But his expression has softened considerably and he holds out a hand. A sweater-pawed hand. Because Wonwoo is adorable. He's always been adorable, and Soonyoung should've been appreciating it since the very start.

"Give me the note."

"H-Huh?"

"Today's note. Give it."

"You still sound really mad," Soonyoung says warily, and Wonwoo grumbles, "Well, it's hard not to be when you find out one of your closest friends has hated you for years."

Soonyoung's jaw drops. "One of your closest- wha- huh?"

"I don't have many friends, okay?" Wonwoo says, furrowing his eyebrows as he crosses an arm and looks away. His crouching position makes him look like a petulant child - Soonyoung wants to pinch his cheeks so bad. "And I've always thought you just get me, even if we don't hang out or anything, even if we only see each other in school. I look forward to seeing you, you know? Every day."

"Every day?" Soonyoung echoes hoarsely, and Wonwoo nods. Now Soonyoung can feel his hands shaking, no clue whether that's from the cold or from his whirlwind of emotions, and he quickly shoves them into his pockets to root around for the crumpled piece of pink paper that never got delivered. Hesitantly, he pulls it out, way too self-conscious of Wonwoo's heavy gaze on him the entire time, and he rests the note in Wonwoo's outstretched palm. "Here."

Wonwoo opens up the note. Soonyoung winces at how many creases there are in the paper, and he watches, painfully, as Wonwoo reads it. It's ironic that his face is completely unreadable the entire time, his quick eyes flicking over the words in seconds.

Then, right in front of Soonyoung, Wonwoo rips the note in half.

Soonyoung almost bursts into tears.

"This," Wonwoo says, throwing the pieces of paper onto the ground, "is wrong. You do know me, Hoshi. You probably know me better than most people. You know I'm a nerd, you know I'm lame, you know I like making people laugh, you know my nose scrunches up when I smile."

"It's really cute," Soonyoung mumbles, and it's a little thrilling watching Wonwoo falter after he says that, pink painting over that cute nose of his. "You're really cute."

"Well, thanks," Wonwoo says, but he's still huffing a little, eyes still sharp as the frown on his face seems to be becoming permanent. So Soonyoung leans forward to take that pretty face in his hands, and he presses a light kiss onto Wonwoo's cheek.

"Are you still mad?"

Wonwoo's so red that it's comical now, eyes bugging out of his head. "U-Uh...well, you...uhhhh-"

"You could've asked me for my number," Soonyoung says desolately, "if you thought we were friends. You could've asked to hang out. To go to a movie. Just something that would've made me realise that we really have been friends all this time."

"I was shy," Wonwoo mutters, resting his hands over the ones that Soonyoung has on his face and he gently pushes them away, but doesn't let go after. "I was waiting for you to ask me. You never did so I thought, ah, maybe he just wants a casual school friendship. I can do that."

"Well, you did it too well, dude."

"Maybe, but what the hell did I do to make you think I was some evil villain who had it out for you and your dance club?"

Soonyoung plays with Wonwoo's hands a little, mostly to distract himself from what he knows is the most embarrassing answer ever to a question like that. But Wonwoo says a warning, "Hoshi. Don't you dare keep more things from me."

"Fine, fine! Do you remember when we first met? You were late to class and you sat next to me?"

"'Course I do. I could never forget trying really hard to control my expression because I was getting flustered over the cute boy I sat next to," Wonwoo says, and Soonyoung gapes.

"Shut up. No fucking way."

"Yes fucking way. Do you know that your eyes lit up when you first saw me come in and I still think about that sometimes?"

"That- you- it was because you were so handsome!" Soonyoung squeaks, and he knows his face must be as red as Wonwoo's now. "I was just happy that there was some eye-candy in this school!"

"I spent the whole first half of that lesson trying to find out a way to talk to you," Wonwoo snorts, shaking his head probably at the idiocy of his fifteen-year-old self, yet Soonyoung points out, "But I talked to you first. I asked you a question 'cause I didn't understand what was going on and you blanked me. Actually, you didn't just do that, you looked at me like I was dumb."

Wonwoo is silent for a moment, so Soonyoung points an accusing finger at the guy and yells, "AHA! You admit you did that!"

"No," Wonwoo says, his voice sounding peculiarly hoarse. "Because I genuinely thought I imagined that."

For the millionth time today, Soonyoung doesn't believe his ears. "What?"

"I-I was looking for a chance to talk to you then suddenly you turned around and talked to me, so I didn't think it was real! I was still tired 'cause I'd overslept that day so I really...really thought I was hallucinating a bit..."

"But you kicked me!" Soonyoung yelps, but Wonwoo shoots right back, "You literally kicked me first!"

"But you kicked me hard!"

"I said I was sorry!"

"I think we've both established that I have no idea how to accept an apology!"

Wonwoo sighs, resting his head on top of their intertwined hands. "God, the more we talk about this, the more ridiculous it's getting. I can't believe you're gonna be an adult in half a year."

"You know my birthday?" Soonyoung asks in surprise, and he can't help but snicker a little when Wonwoo yells a classic, "SOONYOUNG, WE'RE FRIENDS!"

"But I don't know your birthday?"

"'Cause it's usually during the holidays. Don't worry, though, 'cause I'm gonna make you celebrate it with me this year. I'm gonna make you do so many things to make up for whatever the heck this mess of a misunderstanding is."

Soonyoung's fine with that. Really. Wonwoo deserves it, hell, Soonyoung should be grovelling right now, but instead all he does is hop a little closer and tug Wonwoo into the biggest hug he can offer. He adores the way Wonwoo lets go of all his scary angry tension and just melts against him.

"I could never hate you, Kwon. You better believe me," Wonwoo murmurs into Soonyoung's shoulder, and Soonyoung grins, sniffling before he says back, "Thanks, Jeon. Now pick up those pieces of my love note, you littering fiend." 

 

The next day, after Soonyoung's explained everything to his friends over a loaded video chat and has to suffer through two hours of Minghao and Jun screaming in his ears, calls for his two friends actually grovelling in front of Wonwoo, on their knees and everything. Soonyoung almost gets Chan to film it.

"We're sorry!" 

"We'll do anything to make it up to you!"

"It's all Soonyoung's fault!

"We should've known he was wrong about everything!"

"HEY!" Soonyoung whines, but Minghao and Jun both ignore him, yelling out more apologies to Wonwoo whose eyes are wide, a surprised but super smug grin on his face. 

"Well, I could get used to this."  

"But are you mad at us?" Jun asks, a pout on his face as he clasps his hands together and Wonwoo chuckles, reaching out to ruffle the guy's hair. 

"Nah, it's fine. Sure, I was kinda sad about it, but we're good now, right?"

"How the fuck did Soonyoung make you out to be such a monster when you're actually so nice?" Minghao groans, getting up and dragging Jun with him. "This is the worst. If you don't beat him up then I'm going to do it, just watch."

"I work out," Soonyoung tries to defend himself, puffing out his chest, but he scurries back when Minghao spits at him, "I have nunchuks." 

"Not that I'm one to talk but shouldn't we be, oh, I don't know...actually practising during club practice?" Wonwoo asks amusedly, and Chan calls out from where he already seems to have worked up a sweat from warming up on his own, "Seconded!" 

They pretend to grumble about it at first, but soon all five of them are throwing themselves into practice. Since they had already started the choreography for the upcoming competition before Wonwoo joined them, the guy seems fine with sitting out of it despite Soonyoung and Chan's protests that they can easily adapt the piece into a five-member one. But for as much as Wonwoo seems to enjoy dancing with them, he seems to enjoy watching even more, sparkles in his eyes and a proud smile on his face when they land their jumps and synchronise effortlessly. 

"How about for this part, we-" Chan finishes his statement by showing them the move he has in mind, rolling his body back while he hums the beat, and he nods excitedly when the other three copy him perfectly. "Exactly!" 

"Geez, how do you guys communicate like that?" Wonwoo asks from his little spot in the corner, looking both fascinated and terrified at the same time, and Soonyoung beams as he runs over to the guy and pulls him onto his feet because it definitely doesn't seem right for one of their club members to be sitting down during practice. 

"Don't worry, we'll get you on our telepathic wavelength in no time!" 

"More like in a few years," Wonwoo says dryly, but he lets Soonyoung twirl him around even though there's no music playing. 

"So you're saying you'll still be dancing in a few years?" 

Wonwoo shrugs, smiling. "If you'll still be around to help me." 

Yeah. Soonyoung thinks he'll definitely stick around any place that has Wonwoo in it, even just to make up for lost years when they could've been best friends who took over the world. Soonyoung is not about to make the same mistakes again.  

He stays late after practice again, after giving the others a massive hug and telling them to get some good rest and never skip out on meals. Soonyoung may sound like a mother hen but the most important thing of all is that his dance club stays healthy. 

One of Soonyoung's favourite cooldown songs has come up on shuffle from his playlist, and he can feel himself sink into the sound of the keyboard that starts the song, smiling softly as he closes his eyes and moves his body to it. For the first time in so long, he feels calm. He feels like his life is on the right path, and even if he ends up failing the instant he gets out of high school, he's been through enough failures before. He'll know exactly how to build himself back up again. 

He feels not even an inch of tension left in his body when the song comes to a close, and that's probably his cue to pack up and go home. He gets ready to do just that, but yowls when he hears someone start clapping. 

"Ah. Sorry. Did I scare you?" Wonwoo asks innocently from his corner when Soonyoung whips his head around to stare at him, clutching his heart in shock. 

"You- Wonwoo! What are you still doing here?!" 

"I tried to tell you I wanted to wait up for you but you seemed so lost in your own world," Wonwoo says sheepishly as Soonyoung goes over to take a seat next to him. "Also, I just really wanted to watch you dance..." 

"Oh, stop it," Soonyoung scoffs, slapping Wonwoo's arm lightly, but Wonwoo shakes his head. 

"No, Hoshi, seriously. You're amazing. When you dance, I never want to look away." 

Wonwoo sounds so sincere, and Soonyoung doesn't know how to handle it. He just stays quiet, fidgeting skittishly with his fingers, and he's glad Wonwoo starts talking again to fill the silence. "The first time I saw you dance was at the school festival in sophomore year." 

"Oh my gosh, I was so cool, wasn't I?" Soonyoung recalls brightly, lighting up at the memory. That was the first time he ever danced in front of an audience that wasn't his family, and he had practised day and night to the point that he'd sleep through lessons and Wonwoo would always let Soonyoung copy his notes...fucking hell, they really have always been friends.

Wonwoo chuckles, nodding. "You were cool. You were so cool that I got tongue-tied around you for weeks after that." 

"Huh? Wait a second...is that why you stopped giving lame comebacks to all my taunts for a while? I just thought you were guilty about not letting me have my dance club or something." 

"Which I never even did, don't forget that." 

"I know, I know, I won't! Can we go back to you getting all cute and shy because I was just soooo cool?"  

Wonwoo bites down on a smile, hiding his face in his arms. "I kept trying to figure out how to talk to you about it but I just couldn't. It was like, how is this guy in my Chemistry class who accidentally yells things too loud and has a goofy laugh suddenly also this crazy cool dancer with stage presence that sets the air around him on fire? You've always felt like this amazing enigma to me." 

"I can't believe I'm only learning now that you've been worshipping me for so long," Soonyoung sighs, even as a giddy feeling bubbles up his throat and threatens to explode out of him in many a goofy laugh. "I could've lorded it over you for so much longer!" 

"Well, you're not getting rid of me yet," Wonwoo tells him, smile soft and teasing, "so you don't need to worry about that." 

That's true. Soonyoung is going to do everything in his power to earn a spot by Wonwoo's side and hope that he doesn't end up being so stupid that he ruins everything. When he thinks about it, the two of them are a strange pair. Soonyoung doesn't feel smart enough for Wonwoo. He feels like Wonwoo's probably read an entire library while Soonyoung will always prefer movies. But Soonyoung would try to do better, if Wonwoo wants him to.

"You make me want to read a book," Soonyoung blurts out, a singular thought that manages to escape his brain and leave his mouth as a strange non-sequitur, and when Wonwoo stares at him in complete surprise, Soonyoung stares back, waiting. For whatever lame joke Wonwoo will probably say in reply, because if Soonyoung really does know him so well, then that's what he thinks Wonwoo will do. 

But he's wrong. He's wrong in the best way possible, because instead, Wonwoo bursts into raucous echoing laughter that fills the entire studio. Soonyoung feels his heart thump hard in his chest as Wonwoo throws his head back, nose scrunching up hard while he laughs so loud, so long, and Soonyoung did that. 

When Wonwoo makes the ugliest-sounding snort and manages to bang his head on the mirror wall behind them because he's laughing too hard, Soonyoung tells him, "You're so pretty." 

Wonwoo stares at him with eyes as wide as moons, looking like he's about to bust a lung. "W-What is with you right now?" 

"Love," Soonyoung says with a completely straight face, grabbing Wonwoo's hand and pressing it to his own chest. "Love is with me, Wonwoo." 

Wonwoo's definitely not laughing anymore. "Is...is this a confession?" 

"No. It's a threat." 

"It's a what-"

"Even if you've forgiven me. Even if you think I'm the coolest thing since sliced bread. You better never let me stop showing you all the love I should've given you for the past three years." 

Wonwoo sinks down a little at that, looking so shyly happy, and Soonyoung feels like his heart beats solely for this boy. Nothing else. Or, well, maybe dance, but Soonyoung's never going to love anything as much as he loves dance so that's a given. "Then...what happens when you finish giving me three years' worth of love?" 

"Then I'll just keep going!" Soonyoung hollers, banging a fist against the ground. "You're never ever ever getting rid of me, Jeon! Be warned!" 

"And now he's proposing," Wonwoo sighs, muffled by the sweater-paw over his mouth, and Soonyoung's actually not all that against the idea. He kind of wants to say as much but Wonwoo looks like he's going to melt into a puddle any second, so he decides to park it for later. Time to bookmark a Google search of 'wackiest proposal ideas'. "You're ridiculous, Hoshi."

"As I've been told." 

"By me?" 

"By you. The only opinion that matters." 

"Oh God- I'm leaving." 

"You can run but you can't hide!" Soonyoung yells after him when Wonwoo practically legs it out the door, and now Soonyoung finally breaks character to grin, feeling wholly proud of himself. It also helps that he totally knows that Wonwoo will be waiting for him by the school gates. 

He's out the door in no time, because time is precious now after all the years he's wasted being a moron, and he doesn't want to keep Wonwoo waiting for even one more second.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love that you're the reason this is gonna be the best senior year ever. 

- kwon hoshi 🐯♡

 

 

 

Notes:

hc that jeon 'i don't like swearing' wonwoo never swore until that climax w hoshi in the parking lot lmfao

oh my god...guys...fr...writing this was crazy ive just been powering thru it bc i got so excited by the idea

and I AM NOT EVEN JOKING the idea is legitimately from that one wizards of waverly place episode...ive been watching it recently and god wtf its so good. and i know in the end the love notes didnt even end up being a big thing in this fic but it rlly was jus meant to be a segue for these two (mostly hoshi) to get their shit together

if u manage to stumble across this, i rlly hope u like it!!! tho my vision for soonwoo in this fic is queerplatonic, ofc ofc u guys can see it any way u like!!

best wishes for u and seventeen <3