Taehyeon can't claim to have done any good work today but he rarely does. He has a whole year before the important exams so there is still time to gain the ability to study well. Everything worked out well for his sister and she was definitely worse than him in her day.
The night air is refreshing as he walks alongside Bada on the way to the bus stop when they leave school. If Taehyeon is honest, the air feels even better with the way things went tonight.
"It's such a shame for poor Jeongwon," Bada says. "What do you think is wrong with Minjeong?"
"Maybe they've never had secrets before," Taehyeon suggests. He was surprised by Minjeong's outburst too but he hadn't thought too much about it. He has her things but it isn't like he knows where she lives. Bringing her things to school tomorrow will be fine. Taehyeon isn't going to worry about it too much. "They'll be friends again by the end of the week."
"I hope so," Bada says. "Nothing will be quite right if they're not friends."
Taehyeon doesn't quite agree that his life will be greatly impacted by whoever Minjeong is or is not friends with, but he still thinks it is a shame. If he can put a positive spin on this, he would focus on the reminder that he shouldn't risk falling out with Bada.
"Are you hungry? Let's go and eat something. My treat."
Turning away from the bus stop, they walk to the main street at the other end of the small neighbourhood. Most of the popular academies are located around the busy streets here and masses of students have already fallen upon every establishment around. Many of the shops on the street are snack shops, traditional restaurants, and fast food places that are swarming with the kids who need more than convenience store wares to refuel.
Bada isn't very decisive today so they end up doing laps of the street until Taehyeon suggests they stop for hotdogs whilst they come to a decision. Standing under the cover of the heavy-duty, blue tent and warmed through by the steam, Bada looks as happy as ever. Taehyeon doesn't even complain when Bada asks for another hotdog on a stick with even more toppings. Taehyeon is mature and is currently cherishing their relationship. Bada can have whatever he wants.
"I am glad that you are going to start talking to my other friends," Bada says after meandering talk about the impossibility of their future exams. Taehyeon attempts to hide his surprise but he isn't sure about his success. Bada must be drunk on ketchup and corn coating because he keeps on smiling, practically glowing in the night. Some school girls come over to the tent. Taehyeon hopes the stall owner doesn't plan on keeping Bada to attract customers with his very lovely blush.
"What do you mean?" Taehyeon asks.
"That group chat that Minjun asked me to make," Bada clarifies. "To be honest, he asked me so that you can feel more comfortable talking to him. I know you have other friends, but I wouldn't want to add Minjeong to the group or anything because I think we should be able to talk frankly about… gay stuff. You know. I think Minjun is weird but I think he would like you to feel more comfortable talking about that too."
Taehyeon regrets taking a bite of his second hotdog. He holds his mouth open to cool down the imminent burns on his tongue and says, "Am I friends with Minjeong?"
Taehyeon knows that he actually just makes sounds on account of his mouth not being able to properly move to form words properly in fear of fourth degree burns. The bestie telepathy is clearly functioning because Bada understands perfectly.
"You're the one she likes enough to trust with her belongings," Bada offers. "Even though I was there and I was more than willing to look after her pencil case and her books, she considers you to be her friend before anyone else who was studying with us."
Taehyeon supposes that is a fair point, though it is quite a large shock. He needs to sit down but there is nowhere close enough that he can dramatically stagger towards. He settles for leaning heavily against Bada. This makes asking his next question easier too. No need to speak up too much.
"What is your whole deal with those Eoleunjeol boys anyway? Are any of them actually gay?"
Bada's eyes slide to look elsewhere, not that Taehyeon can see what is so interesting. Eventually, Bada says, "I'm not exactly sure. Asking is really hard. It would be so embarrassing if I asked and they were straight. I like them enough as friends anyway."
"What's the point? I thought talking to boys from an all boys' school was supposed to make it more likely that they were like us. What if we're the only two in this stupid group chat who like boys?"
"I hadn't thought about that."
"I need to ask them."
Taehyeon pays for the last of their hotdogs and makes his way towards the convenience store on the corner of the street. This is serious. Only snacks made of preservatives and artificial colours and flavourings will steady his nerves right now. On the way to the convenience store, Bada repeatedly asks if Taehyeon will actually ask the question. He will ask but not in a careless way. He still needs to preserve some modicum of dignity.
Bada is entrusted to make the right snack choices whilst Taehyeon dawdles after him along the aisles. His eyes are fixed on his phone screen. Since he was added to the group chat the last time, Minjun has been doing his best to convince everyone to introduce themselves. Just reading the messages back is painful and Taehyeon can't believe that someone as handsome and popular as Minjun would stand for talking to themselves for so long. He really is an impressive guy.
Ignoring whatever Minjun has to say to everyone else, Taehyeon sends a message of his own.
← New Friends
Mo Taehyeon
I'm doing a survey. How many girlfriends has everyone had?
22:37
Bada makes an irritated sound. His face is equally inflamed.
"What?"
"What are you doing? You're being weird," Bada whines.
"I know what I'm doing."
← New Friends
Year 3 class 7 Lee Minjun
What sort of survey is this? It isn't for school, is it?
22:37
Mo Taehyeon
No.
It's just normal.
A normal friend question.
I'm just curious about everyone.
22:38
Year 3 class 7 Lee Minjun
To make it fair, should we include boyfriends too?
22:38
Kim Bada
That sounds very fair
Extremely
We're v inclusive here
22:39
Taehyeon narrows his eyes at his phone screen. Bada's bumbling aside, Taehyeon senses something off in Minjun's message. Why would he be so keen to include boyfriends in the tally? Is he employing some sort of telepathy himself? If so, the signal range is much further than whatever Bada can manage. Bada has toddled off to a different aisle and needs to ask what kimbap filling Taehyeon wants. What kind of friend would forget that the answer is always spicy tuna? Before going to tell Bada off, Taehyeon needs to try to sound Minjun out.
Mo Taehyeon
That's fine to include those if anyone here has had one
22:40
Park Pilgyu
?
22:40
Mo Taehyeon
A boyfriend
But answer about girlfriends too.
Let's be fair on Minjun too and include the number of people we have been out with for a specific purpose.
22:41
Bada returns, holding a vegetarian monstrosity in hand and a confused expression on his face. "What does that mean? What purpose are you talking about?"
"Don't worry about it. He'll know what I'm talking about."
"When can I find out what you're talking about in our public group chat?"
Bada does make a very good point. On the other hand, Taehyeon doesn't want to get into any trouble.
"It's a secret, I think," Taehyeon says, hoping these broad strokes are easy enough to follow.
"A secret," Bada repeats. The reproach in his tone is densely reminiscent of Minjeong's earlier disappointment and Taehyeon is quick to offer a compromise.
"It isn't my secret to tell. I'll ask about it and let you know what it means as soon as I can."
"Alright," Bada agrees quietly. He waddles off rather forlornly towards the sweets aisle.
← New Friends
Mo Taehyeon
Is anyone going to answer the question?
22:43
Choi Siwoo
0
22:43
Mo Taehyeon
3
Cool
22:43
Bae Woobin
1
22:44
Park Pilgyu
1
22:44
Taehyeon waits. There are two people who still haven't responded. Both of them are suspiciously quiet considering how talkative they had been before. There is one person who Taehyeon can directly ask about their silence.
Well. Bada isn't making this easy.
Taehyeon runs through a few aisles and still doesn't find him. Instead of wasting energy, Taehyeon checks the mirror and squints at the screen for the security cameras. Got him.
Taehyeon creeps around slowly before leaping onto Bada's back and subsequently flinching away when Bada shrieks.
Guilty and terrified, Bada clutches his chest whilst allowing Taehyeon to pick up all the snacks that were dropped in the ambush.
"What was that for?" Bada asks weakly.
"You're hiding from me," Taehyeon points out. "Answer my question. How many people have you been out with?"
"Was that question for me too?"
"Obviously.
"But you already know the answer," Bada says innocently.
Taehyeon does have to wonder. Bada undeniably has more experience than Taehyeon. Whilst Taehyeon can claim to have had 3 past relationships, they were exclusively within online games. Whether anyone else interprets the question to include those relationships is up to the rest of the group chat. Bada, on the other hand, has had a real life boyfriend who he kissed and held hands with for real instead of just having to rely on his imagination.
Taehyeon already found out about Dongmin, whether kissing fits into the interpretation that Bada would add to his total or not. Bada is being very cagey and Taehyeon can't help but wonder how many others there are that he doesn't know about. Suspicious of the refusal to respond, Taehyeon doesn't want to stick with the answer he knows about.
"What number are you going to tell everyone?" Taehyeon asks.
"What number do you think I should put?"
Taehyeon folds his arms. He asks, "Are you going to include Lee Dongmin?"
"No way! What if his glamorous and sophisticated university girlfriend hears? We just kissed one time over the summer. That's it, I promise."
Taehyeon supposes he isn't allowed to be mad. Bada has given him way more information about the Lee Dongmin thing than he deserves. This isn't just a peace offering. Taehyeon has to drop something. He is technically hiding something from Bada himself. Taehyeon isn't allowed to keep badgering him.
"Just put one," Taehyeon relents. He helps Bada carry their treats to the cashier. Bada checks his phone while they pay and his dramatic gasp startles even the sleepy part-timer behind the counter.
"What's wrong with you?" Taehyeon grumbles.
Instead of responding, Bada shoves his phone in Taehyeon's face.
← New Friends
Year 3 class 7 Lee Minjun
8
22:46
"Eight?" Taehyeon groans. This is the worst. He hasn't forgotten that Minjun admitted to having girlfriends just for the purposes of keeping away unwanted attention, but the number still sounds prohibitively high. Replies trickle in with muted surprise. Taehyeon is glad not to be alone in this shock. His own disappointment must be worse than the rest. There is no way he can compete with 8 girls who are probably pretty and interesting.
Bada pats Taehyeon's arm sympathetically. "Do we need to get more snacks?"
There is no need for more snacks. Taehyeon knows that eating his feelings isn't going to help him here. Keeping away from the group chat, Taehyeon is very quiet on the way home. It is a nicer opportunity than he expected seeing as Bada talks about some of the time he has spent with some of these 'new friends'.
"When you get to know them, you'll love them," Bada says when they are sharing crisps at the bus stop. "They're a bit crazy, but they're funny. Siwoo and Pilgyu bicker a lot but they don't fall out for long. It was scary the first time I saw it happen though. We were out shopping a few weeks ago and Pilgyu kept telling Siwoo that there was something behind him when there was nothing there. Siwoo got so annoyed until he blew up at Pilgyu and stormed off. It was really scary and I didn't know what to do. It was the first time I'd spent time with them in person and I didn't know if Pilgyu was saying it wasn't a problem just to calm me down."
"What happened?" Taehyeon asks. Bada grins.
"It really was really fine. Siwoo was waiting for us outside and we went for lunch. I tried not to worry so much. You should be aware of that, just in case they argue when we meet up. Try not to be too surprised, alright?"
Taehyeon tries to prepare himself but he is also intending to run away at the first sign of tension. Seeing Minjeong fall out with Jeongwon is enough conflict for one lifetime. Maybe he is too sensitive.
"I never want to fall out with you," Taehyeon says to Bada. The response is a small laugh and a grin.
"Isn't that what people say before they fall out?" Bada asks. "What did you do? I can accept the Noh Sujeong rumour, but I won't let you ruin my life."
Taehyeon grabs the crisp packet and folds his arms with a huff. "I'm trying to have a heartfelt moment with you, dummy."
Bada laughs and clings to Taehyeon. He is too good at being endearing. Taehyeon falls for every pout and cute expression Bada pulls. "I love you, too."
Taehyeon scoffs. Bada knows his power and presses his scrunched nose against Taehyeon's cheek. Taehyeon's fingers can't penetrate the layers of Bada's coat but that doesn't make a difference. Bada flinches away as the routine usually goes and he laughs.