Just before they reach the bus stop, Minjun suddenly holds out his phone and ever so gently taps it against Taehyeon's chest. Even in the cloudy tinge of the streetlights overhead, the burning in his ears is bright as it spreads into his face.
"Because we're friends, we should have each other's numbers. Can you give me your number? I won't text you too much if you're worried about that. It's for just in case."
This is something that Taehyeon hadn't ever expected. Pinching himself right now might be weird so Taehyeon just takes Minjun's phone and tries not to make too many mistakes when inputting his phone number.
As much as he would love to blame the many typos on his trembling hands, he doesn't want to actually admit that his hands are shaking just because of this. He's just surprised. This is no big deal though. Popular and handsome boys Taehyeon fancy always ask him for his number.
Minjun smiles even wider than before when he has his phone back. His eyes shouldn't be brimming with sparkles over this.
Taehyeon takes another few steps towards the bus stop. They are only a few yards away and maybe if they stand out of the pools of soft amber cast by streetlights, Minjun won't look quite so enthused over having Taehyeon's phone number. Right away, Minjun calls Taehyeon and grins his way through the uncomfortable amount of time it takes Taehyeon to dig his ringing phone out of his bag. Minjun even insists on seeing what Taehyeon saves his contact as after the missed call. That doesn't seem fair seeing as Taehyeon didn't get to see what Minjun had called him. He pretends that doesn't matter and saves this new contact as a very safe and neutral 'Year 3 Class 7 Lee Minjun'.
If the contact name is disappointing, Minjun doesn't say anything. He very clearly looks put out by the name but he doesn't insist that Taehyeon change it. Instead he asks how long it will be until the bus arrives. Apparently 18 minutes is long enough (or somehow short enough) that Minjun decides that he should wait with Taehyeon.
They swap a few more favourites and Taehyeon takes the opportunity to ask about Minjun's timetable. Having it explained to him several times doesn't clear much up. The school seems to be fudging something to avoid their grading statistics from being dragged down. Then again, Taehyeon refuses to believe that Minjun could single-handedly skew the averages. Unless Minjun really is capable of scoring minus numbers on his tests it doesn't make much sense that he would be pulled out of his other lessons.
The bus comes before Taehyeon can fully make sense of anything but that doesn't matter. The bus pulls away from the kerb before Taehyeon gets a seat but he catches sight of Minjun waving.
When Taehyeon gets to a seat he tries to pretend he isn't screaming on the inside.
←Kim Bada
Mo Taehyeon
Would you pinch me if you were with me right now?I feel like I am dreaming.
23:09
Kim Bada
What happened?????
23:11
Mo Taehyeon
I have spent so long just talking to Lee Minjun of all people. Is my life real?
23:11
Taehyeon doesn't deliver an entire play by play of the evening since he called Bada, but he gives up enough details that Bada sends lots of celebratory messages and stickers until he presumably falls asleep.
Taehyeon is tired too and he wonders what tomorrow will bring. Maybe more dreams that edge beyond reality.
By the time Taehyeon arrives home, he is ready to sleep but somebody else has something to say about that.
"Your academy doesn't finish this late. Where have you been?"
Taehyeon's sister stands in the doorway to the kitchen. Her damp hair is dripping onto the towel around her shoulders as she folds her arms and glares at Taehyeon.
"I was at a party."
Taeri scoffs. "Who would invite a dork like you to a party?"
"A guy on the basketball team invited me," Taehyeon shrugs. That sounds casual and nonchalant. Even his sister can't take issue with that.
Taeri's bare feet slap against the floor as she approaches and she stares up into Taehyeon's face. Not satisfied with whatever she sees, she says, "Bada isn't on the basketball team. Everyone knows that you don't have any other friends so nobody would have invited you anywhere. If you're being bullied you should tell me. I can fight them for you if you let me know. If you don't admit that you're being bullied, I will happily let the bullies turn your face into a cauliflower."
"I really did go to a party," Taehyeon insists. Taeri scoffs.
"My own brother is a bread shuttle and he can't even admit it."
Taehyeon is tired and he wants to go to bed but he apparently has a test to revise for. He really doesn't have the time for another Taeri in his life to make things difficult for him.
"Stop projecting," Taehyeon grumbles. "just because you were ugly enough to be a bread shuttle when you were in school it doesn't mean that I'm the same as you."
"Oi!" Taeri yells with a fist raised in the air. "You're uglier than I am."
Taehyeon pushes past her and grabs himself a drink of water to help him through the hours of revision. He's already tired but he will need to try not to fail tomorrow's test.
Alone in his room, Taehyeon boots up his computer so that he can log into Dynasty of Destruction for the daily bonus. Whilst his computer is wheezing into life, Taehyeon sits at his desk and scowls at the pile of school books in the corner of his room. He has no idea what the test is for tomorrow. All he can do is text Han Taeri for a clue.
← Han Taeri
Mo Taehyeon
What lesson is our test in tomorrow????23:57
Nothing.
Taehyeon supposes Taeri must be deep in revision herself. Taehyeon sighs and supposes all he can do is revise just about everything in every lesson he'll be having tomorrow. He is pretty confident the test won't be in P.E. or Civics so he starts his revision with Maths.
Whilst falling asleep over his quadratic equations notes when his phone chirps at him. Great. His newest enemy Han Taeri is about to let him know that all the reading he has done was a wasted effort.
← Kim Minjeong
Kim Minjeong
Is it true about Kim Bada kissing Ryu Sujeong?
00:18
Mo Taehyeon
I don't know what you're talking about.What's our test tomorrow?
00:18
Taehyeon really doesn't have time to get into how he is potentially on the path to ruining his friendship with Bada. All the same, he is kind of scared by just how much Minjeong somehow hears. She might just be the most connected person Taehyeon knows. He really isn't going to be able to keep a secret from her for very long.
As usual, Minjeong isn't forthcoming with any information that Taehyeon is asking about but somebody else sends a text that makes Taehyeon forget all about that.
← Year 3 Class 7 Lee Minjun
Lee Minjun
Goodnight, Taehyeon. Have lots of sweet dreams.
00:19
It isn't quite the message Taehyeon was expecting but he can't say that he is disappointed by it. A goodnight text message from Lee Minjun. Despite everything, Taehyeon thinks that he could die happy right now. He doesn't need anything more than this.
Well. Taehyeon might be exaggerating here. He would like a lot more than this but he didn't ever dream of getting this far. Imagine, the boy he likes tolerates him enough to send a goodnight text message.
Taehyeon can't stop grinning. Unbelievable.
But now he needs to respond. What is he supposed to say back which won't sound insipid and stupid?
Taehyeon thinks really hard. Really, really hard. Taehyeon thinks so, so hard that he comes up with the perfect response. And then Minjun says that he's in love with Taehyeon and they should get married. Wow. How should Taehyeon respond to that? Is it too soon? Maybe, but that isn't going to stop Taehyeon from agreeing wholeheartedly!