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Wonwoo smiles from his spot on the top row, watching as the crowd goes crazy as Mingyu dunks the ball in the hoop, making it the last point just before the buzzer goes off. The basketball season finally ends, with their school team on the top. The school is loud, wild and students even hop out of their seats to greet the team in victory.
Wonwoo opens his camera app and records the chaos, grinning ear to ear. He thinks of the times he struggled to get their school name registered into the competition, and how their school made a name for themselves with the trophy. If he sees those administrators again, he’s going to stick his tongue out like Jeonghan did after the grueling meeting.
When Wonwoo sees the star player surrounded by all the players and classes, he figures that maybe it wasn’t so bad after all. Not when there’s someone like he loves like Mingyu on the gym floor, laughing so happily.
The team slowly files out the boys locker rooms after a little while. Wonwoo steels himself and glides down the stairs.
“We did it, hyung!” Mingyu beams widely like he always does. All Wonwoo can do is nod and smile back because this time, Mingyu’s slick with sweat and his jersey clings to his muscles. Wonwoo holds a breath as the younger runs a hand through his slick, black hair. He looks so perfect.
“Good job.” Mingyu’s happiness is contagious, and Wonwoo finds himself giggling silly as well. He brushes a few strands in front of Mingyu’s tan forehead away. “You all worked so hard.”
Mingyu nods, and turns back to his team with a proud grin. “Yep. We’re going to sleep so well tonight.” Wonwoo feels Mingyu drape an arm over his back, his fingers gently clinging onto Wonwoo’s elbow. He can feel the younger’s chest flush against his shoulder. Wonwoo’s breath hitches at the touch, and he slowly leans against it.
“For real.” Soonyoung groans. “Seungcheol hyung, I’m not gonna reply to whatever you send for the whole week.”
Seungcheol laughs, rolling his eyes. “Whatever. I don’t have the energy to anyways.”
The team slowly falls into a comfortable banter until Minghao sees himself out, and the others follow along. Seungcheol nods at both Wonwoo and Mingyu, promising them he’ll say hi to Jeonghan for them. Soonyoung salutes Mingyu saying something along the lines of being able to get home himself tonight. Mingyu laughs and bids his friend goodbye.
“Hyung.” Mingyu gently tugs at Wonwoo’s sleeve to get him to look at him. “Wanna go get something today?”
Wonwoo looks up at Mingyu and nods. “Of course. You’re the winner today.” Wonwoo beams, patting Mingyu’s elbows.
The two hold a long gaze until—
Mingyu wraps him in a tight hug. He can feel Mingyu’s arms confidently hugging Wonwoo’s waist and his head buried on Wonwoo’s shoulder. Wonwoo stands there lifelessly for a few moments, surprised at the sudden contact, but eventually sets his arms around Mingyu’s broad shoulders. His heart is being so fast, he doesn’t know if he can breathe.
“Hyung, I have something to tell you.” Mingyu’s voice is muffled on his chest.
And Wonwoo’s heart sinks. This is the day he’s fretted the most.
He’s been scared to confess for the longest time. He’s been intimidated by the girls around Mingyu who make it impossible for him to simply talk to the athlete. He knows the sheer amount of people madly in love with the high school heartthrob, and Wonwoo doesn’t have it in him to tell Mingyu to say he’s just like them. He’d never compete. Not as someone so busy. Not as someone who has zero experience in dating.
But—if Mingyu liked him, what would be so wrong in having a little for himself too? Wonwoo worked too hard for this school as the student council president to have any time for himself anyways. Wonwoo would give Mingyu a shot, even if he’s the dumbest boyfriend Mingyu’s ever had.
“What is it, Mingyu?” Wonwoo gathers himself together and cards his hands through the back of Mingyu’s head of hair. He could care less at the moist texture. No, not while Mingyu has him in a warm hold like this.
“Would you get mad at me if I told you something pretty important right now?” Mingyu raises his head, and Wonwoo’s hand drops to his shoulder.
“Never.” He shakes his head, mentally preparing himself for Mingyu’s next words. Mingyu’s lips are quivering, and Wonwoo realizes he’s just as nervous about this as he was.
“Well, before that, I made this for you.” Mingyu reaches into his sports duffel bag and pulls out a bouquet of paper flowers. It looks detailed and nothing like a lazy project. The petals are look individually folded and look fragile, just real flowers. Each paper has a pretty pattern and color to it, and the details are impossible to avoid. Wonwoo holds the bouquet close. It smells of nothing, but Wonwoo can’t stop smiling like an idiot.
“How did it not crush in there?” Wonwoo asks, letting his thoughts wander. Mingyu laughs sheepishly.
“I have no idea either.” He giggles, zipping up the duffel bag. “But hyung,”
Mingyu gets up, his cheeks dusted red and eyes looking everywhere but Wonwoo. “I-I, I made paper flowers because I know you’re busy. I know it-it’s been hard as the president, so you don’t have to water them or anything. Just. Them. On your table. As a reminder of me?”
Wonwoo’s heart is erratic, and his stomach warms hotly at the gift. Mingyu is standing there, looking so timid and handsome, the cheesy flirt he is, giving him a gift he made. What did he do to deserve this?
“I-I should’ve been the one to get you a bouquet for the game today.” Wonwoo’s face burns, both out of embarrassment and because of Mingyu.
Mingyu laughs, “No. No hyung. You here is all I need.”
“T-Then.. what did you need to tell me?” Wonwoo can feel a cold wave of fear rush over him, but he also feels a wave of warmth of courage override it. He’s a mess of emotions, and he keeps his eyes down at the bouquet in his arms to hide that from Mingyu.
“Can I say it while hugging you?” Mingyu asks, and Wonwoo looks up curiously. “I-I can’t say it while looking at you. H-Hell, I couldn’t even say it in front of myself in the mirror.”
Wonwoo can’t help but chuckle, holding the bouquet in his left hand and opening his arms. “You never have to ask.”
Mingyu pulls him close, burying his nose against Wonwoo’s temple. They’re way too close, too intimate to be two people who are just interested in each other. They look like a couple of many years, not two students from the opposite sides of campus. Wonwoo holds his breath, resting his hands around Mingyu’s biceps, ready for what’s next.
“I like you. A lot.” Mingyu’s voice is next to his ear, quiet and small like a whisper. Nothing like the yelling from the eariler victory. “I like you so much I don’t know what to do with myself.” Despite the low volume, his voice is bold and confident, as it always is. It’s sure of itself, and its words.
He can hear Mingyu take in a small breath, and Wonwoo lets out the breath he was holding.
“You’re so—“ Mingyu’s breath hitches, and Wonwoo nods to encourage him to keep going. This time, Mingyu lets go and looks straight at Wonwoo. “You’re the hardest working person I know, you’re so pretty, and you’re just the person I can’t stop thinking about. You tutor me with math but I keep losing focus anyways. I keep looking forward to when practice ends so I can spend time with you. I’ve had this massive crush on you since the first day at school.”
“I-I-“ Wonwoo stutters and Mingyu gently pulls him closer by his waist.
“You don’t have to say anything. I’ll wait until you’re ready.” Mingyu smiles, his eyes crinking into pretty moons. He looks like a dream, and Wonwoo doesn’t want to wake up.
“No.” Wonwoo shakes his head with a smile. “I’ve been wanting this—you—for a long time too.”
Mingyu’s eyes widen, and Wonwoo nods to confirm it. “I-I know I’m awkward, and it’s hard for me to call and text you. But I’m always opening my schedule for you, even when sometimes it’s hard. You make me so happy when I’m tired. Jeonghan says I should just take it easy, but seeing you boosts my energy.”
Wonwoo laughs as Mingyu’s lips purse into a shy smile. He pinches the little baby fat just above his cheeks, and lets go.
“I like you a lot, too.” Wonwoo confesses, his face hot.
And it takes one moment for Mingyu to register Wonwoo’s words before he cups Wonwoo’s cheeks and leans in for a fleeting kiss. Wonwoo has zero experience in dating, let along kissing, for being someone so unavailable and busy. But Mingyu leads the way, hungrily kissing him as if Wonwoo would fade away if he let go. He can feel large hands tug at the back of his pullover, needy and wanting. Wonwoo can’t help but groan against Mingyu’s lips, trying to get accustomed to the new touch.
It doesn’t take long for Wonwoo to match his pace, and the two let go for a breath. Mingyu’s eyes are half-lidded and gazing at Wonwoo’s lips, wanting more. Wonwoo sets the bouquet on the bench, grabbing Mingyu’s jersey to give him just that. This time, Wonwoo rests his hands over Mingyu’s defined chest, making the kiss languid and slow.
Mingyu complies, his hands returning to Wonwoo’s hips and gently stroking the bone there with his thumbs. Wonwoo feels so loved and fragile, as if he were the bouquet himself.
“You picked up fast.” Mingyu chuckles when they let go. Wonwoo leans his head on his chest, not willing to let the taller see him like this. “I’m your first right?” Mingyu mumbles in his ear.
“Yep.” Wonwoo admits, burying his face against the smooth fabric of Mingyu’s jersey. He tries to sound like the older one, deepening his voice. “First.”
“So cute.” Mingyu coos anyways, and Wonwoo’s insides do flips. And for the first time, Mingyu pats his bottom. Wonwoo flinches at the foreign contact, and the two laugh.
“You’re so touch deprived.” Mingyu notes, and Wonwoo sighs defeatedly, leaning back to look at him.
“Yeah. You could say that.”
“I could say that, but I won’t because I’m going to change that.” Mingyu smiles cheekily, looking like the cheesiest high school flirt in the world. And Wonwoo falls in love all over again. He tiptoes and cups a hand on Mingyu’s cheek to give him a small peck.
“I’m ready for that, then.” Wonwoo announces the words they’ve figuratively tip-toed over for months now. The months of ‘it’s okay if you’re not ready’, weeks of ‘if we dated, I won’t ever pressure you’ and days of ‘I’ll wait for you’ are at an end. Mingyu’s smile is radiant, full of pure happiness and relief. Wonwoo wishes he said those words eariler if he knew he’d get to see the beautiful sight, but nonetheless.
“Okay. But first let’s leave this place.” Mingyu chuckles. “The janitor is probably on the way.”
“You’re right.” Wonwoo laughs along, grabbing the bouquet and his backpack.
“You don’t have anything to take care of right?” Mingyu asks, slinging his duffel bag over one arm. “I can wait.”
“Nope.” Wonwoo grins. “No more waiting. Let’s go.” And boldly, he reaches for Mingyu’s hand, who naturally laces his fingers with his.
“Okay.” Mingyu answers back, and they leave the gym with lighter burderns of their shoulders.