The Art of Getting to Know You, for everyone [part 1/4]
Title: The Art of Getting to Know You
For: everyone
Word count: 26544
Rating: PG13
Summary: The idea that Jongin proposes, as it turned out, came in a form of a skinny, pale, brown haired boy with sleepy eyes who didn’t look like he wanted to be there.
“You said, and I quote, “It’s difficult to draw eggs. It’s a test to one’s ability. And yet, I always use egg shapes in my drawing. It’s because my art is exquisite and very highbrow.”” Kyungsoo read the note he made in his notebook.
Kris wanted to comment, because, seriously, who brought and took note during parties, really? But he kept his mouth shut, deciding it wasn’t the time or place and definitely not in position to comment on anything right now.
“And then you said,” Kyungsoo addressed their editor-in-chief, Junmyeon, with half frustration, half disappointment. “You said, and I quote, “Great, Kris. We need someone to work on our new layout, typeface and logo. You’d be perfect for the job!” And then you told me, “Kyungsoo, take note. I have to make an announcement in our next meeting that Kris is our new Art Director.””
Kyungsoo really wanted to blame everything on their two oldest members. But then again, they were all drunk, Kris was bragging, Junmyeon indulging, and Kyungsoo took note. If only he was sober, or didn’t have such weird drinking habit like taking notes, then maybe he could pretend that such thing never happened. But Junmyeon’s words were written in his notebook, he couldn’t run from the fact.
And that was the story of how everyone in the magazine club feeling the sense of dread in their editorial meeting this time. Well, more dread than usual, anyway, deadlines and assignments were never not scary. But they knew how ridiculous Kris’ drawing was. His drawing of a rhino looked like a donkey, and his dragon looked like an obese butterfly. And the worst thing was he was so proud of his skill and would never admit that it was actually a kindergartener level of drawing.
“So, Kris,” Junmyeon started, “Do you agree to share your… um… artistic ability with the rest of the student body?”
“Wrong question,” Kyungsoo muttered to himself, now more than even realize that they could not escape the disaster that was Kris’ aesthetic and talent. Or lack thereof anyway.
Junmyeon should’ve known better than to give the tall boy a question that sounded like a challenge, or testing on his ego. Kris would never back away from a challenge and definitely wouldn’t admit that he had no talent in the artistic department. And now Kyungsoo started to suspect that Junmyeon was actually taking this whole thing seriously. Like he actually thought Kris would be perfect for the position.
“Of course I accept.” Kyungsoo could actually see the panic in Kris’ eyes. “I’ve always told you I want to do more than just writing about sport, right?”
“I still need your help for the dating column, Hyung,” Jongdae finally decided to join the conversation.
“And I’m not taking Kris from that either,” Junmyeon helpfully informed.
Kyungsoo, feeling like single-handedly trying to cancel the apocalypse from happening, summarized the whole job desk that Kris now had in his hands. “So that means you have to write your sport section, part of Jongdae’s column, and on top of that, working on the complete revamped look for our magazine.”
“Uh… huh?” Kris didn’t look too sure now. Well, he never actually did, but now he definitely felt doomed.
“If it’s too much-.”
“No, it’s not too much.”
Kyungsoo slumped in his seat. Stupid athletes and their stupid ego to feel challenged about everything.
“Don’t you also have basketball practice to deal with?” Jongdae eyed him skeptically.
“Yeah, I know. And that’s why I probably should start this whole thing,” Kris made a vague gesture with his hands, “as soon as possible, right?”
“Sure.” Joonmyeon looked grim.
“So can I leave now? So I can actually working on it instead of just talking about it?”
“Sure.” Joonmyeon clearly didn’t even try to stop him anymore. Although if Kyungsoo could argue, Joonmyeon had never really tried to begin with.
“Kyungsoo, the next time I attempt to make a decision at 2 AM, please stop me,” their editor-in-chief asked once Kris left the room.
“No. What you need to stop is letting Kris-hyung thinks he can actually draw, and save him from embarrassing himself and us with his “art”.”
xxx
After spending the rest of the evening fretting about the whole designing problem he was facing, Kris decided to just sleep it off and hoped he’d find the solution in the morning.
Well, he didn’t, but on his defense at least he didn’t lose his 8 hours beauty sleep.
During lunch, Kyungsoo came to his table with a serious look on his face, telling him that he’d save the whole human race from the nightmare that was Kris’ art and helped Kris find a solution for this problem. Kris would’ve let out a relieved sigh if he wasn’t pretending to Kyungsoo that he got everything under control.
“I talked about this with Jongin,” Kyungsoo told him, “and he gave me an idea. I don’t even know why I didn’t think about this before.”
“And what is this idea that Jongin proposes?”
“He’s still proposing.” But just as he finished saying that, Kyungsoo saw Jongin entered the cafeteria with their savior in tow and he waved them to come to their table. “There they are,” he told Kris.
The idea that Jongin proposes, as it turned out, came in a form of a skinny, pale, brown haired boy with sleepy eyes who didn’t look like he wanted to be there. Jongin introduced him as Zhang Yixing, a junior, Jongin’s senior in dance club and apparently the student council’s go-to guy for anything design related. Which meant Yixing was already used to work with Junmyeon and Kyungsoo- who were, on top of being the editors of their magazine, respectively the president and member of their student council-to know their preference in design.
“So, you see, right now Yixing-hyung is already very busy with the regular student council bulletin, posters and now there’s preparation for prom night.”
“And also our club practices. Twice a week,” Jongin added.
“Consider yourself very lucky that he’s willing to design for us the whole-.”
“Kyungsoo, I don’t need someone else to design the whole new look for our magazine. I just need someone to help me. Because, you see, I’m a retro kind of guy. Sure I can draw perfectly with pen or pencil, but I don’t do digital. And I suppose, I have to go digital to do the layout. So I just need help. Just a little help.”
Kyungsoo stared at the older boy with a straight face. “Sure,” he finally said, deadpan. “As I was saying, you’re lucky that Yixing-hyung agrees to-.”
“Kyungsoo, I actually haven’t decided to accept this,” the boy called Zhang Yixing finally talked.
“What if in return Kris-hyung has to do whatever you ask from him?”
“Jongin-.” Kris tried to argue, to object, but Kyungsoo gave him another one of his death glare. And the next thing that usually comes after that was his infamous headlock. So Kris opted to shut his mouth. Kyungsoo was scary for such a tiny person.
“I still don’t know how I can put everything in my schedule though,” Yixing muttered with a frown. And Kris must admit that the boy looked cute looking all confuse and worry.
“I think you can do the layout quickly, since you’re already used to doing it. We just need to wait for all the articles to be edited and approved by Junmyeon-hyung,” Kyungsoo explained, “The main problem is the new logo and typeface for our cover. That’s when he,” Kyungsoo pointed at Kris with a nod of his head, “would need your help the most.”
“Um…” Yixing bit down his lower lip, still looking unsure.
“Hyung,” Jongin addressed Kris, “maybe you should at least try to show your good intention by buying Yixing-hyung his lunch.”
“Jong… I…” Again, Kris wished he could say his own term and condition for this arrangement, but of course Kyungsoo was shutting him down again with his glare. The only thing Kris could do was to let out a defeated sigh and comply. “Fine,” he mumbled before standing up and asked Yixing about what he wanted to have.
“Sandwich, cola and pudding.” The sleepy, quiet younger boy suddenly looked bright and spirited at the mention of free lunch.
After Kris left them, Kyungsoo started his speech to try and coax Yixing into agreeing to help them.
“Hyung, I know it’s a lot to ask this from you. But if you’ve seen Kris-hyung’s drawing, you’ll understand why I must prevent him from designing the new look of our magazine by himself. He makes my drawing from when I was in preschool looks like a masterpiece. And I’d help him myself if I can. But I’m not as good as you are, and everyone else in the club is either busy or as bad as I do. So, please consider this as you helping me.”
“Kyungsoo, you know it’s not that I don’t want to help you. But my schedule is sort of already full as it is. I don’t know how I can fit him in there.”
“Just order him around then. Help make your life easier,” Jongin, as usual, suggested the most brilliant of ideas. “Tell him to pick you up in the morning, drive you home after school, buy you lunch, do your homework,” he started his list, “You know, Kyungsoo said Kris-hyung spent a few years in Canada. So you can practically just leave all your English homework to him.”
Yixing turned to Kyungsoo, as if asking if he agreed with Jongin. Or if it was a good idea at all.
“I can’t say I endorse cheating for your homework,” Kyungsoo threaded carefully, “but desperate time calls for desperate measure, so…” he ended with a shrug.
Yixing picked on his lips, a habit he had for when he’s thinking. “Well, I guess,” he sighed, “I’ll do that.”
Kyungsoo almost uncharacteristically squealed when he heard Yixing’s answer. But he opted to hug the older boy instead. And Jongin, didn’t want to feel left out, attacked Yixing from his other side.
“Thank you, hyung!” Kyungsoo said with his signature heart-shaped smile finally gracing his lips. “I’ll cook something for you!”
“Hmm.” Kris, who had returned from buying lunch for Yixing, stood in front of the three-way hug between Jongin, Yixing and Kyungsoo, and wondered about what just happened while he was leaving. “I take it you agree to help me?”
Yixing nodded, (dazedly?) serenely patting the heads of the two younger boys who were still squeezing him in the middle. “You can start by driving me home this afternoon,” he said with a smile.
And for the first time, Kris noticed the deep dimple on his right cheek. That was so cute. And Kris was weak with anything cute. So he knew, that was pretty much a goodbye to having any control in this partnership.
xxx
As he promised, Kris drove Yixing home after they were done with their respective extracurricular activities. Yixing had a dance and Kris with his basketball practice. And apparently even to find the time to discuss their project wasn’t as easy as Kris thought would be.
“So basically, you’re busy every day after school?” Kris asked, navigating the road as Yixing pointed out the way to his home. “What about the weekend then?”
“And I usually have something on Saturday. But Sunday should be okay. Turn left at the next intersection,” Yixing told the taller boy.
Kris was actually familiar with the area. The direction that Yixing had been telling him was the route he took every day. “I think we’re actually living in the same area,” he told Yixing.
“Good,” Yixing chuckled softly, “Then I won’t feel too guilty to have you picking me up in the morning.”
“Oh, now I also have to drive you to school?” the blond boy tried to sound cross just because he felt he should at least show some resistance.
The truth was he didn’t really mind. Yixing’s home was on the way. And he’d promised to do anything he asked anyway.
“Yes, on top of buying me pudding every day for lunch,” Yixing added with a straight face. Although, Kris didn’t miss the way the corner of his lips quirked upward.
Kris scoffed then, but this time not only to show his objection. He was actually trying to cover his own laugh because Yixing was, for lack of a better word, interesting.
Zhang Yixing, Kris found during the short time they’d been knowing each other, looked spaced out most of the time, like he wasn’t even there sitting in the car next to Kris. But then suddenly he’d move his head from side to side in tune with the song in the radio and give teasing comment like the one he just did.
“By the way, this deal between us, can you please keep it a secret from everyone. Especially Junmyeon.”
“Oh? You don’t want anyone to know someone’s designing the new look for you?”
“Helping me, Yixing,” Kris put emphasize on the first word, “Helping me designing the new look.”
Yixing couldn’t help but to laugh once again, suddenly reminded of what Kyungsoo told him about Kris’ drawing. “Sure. I completely forgot about that,” he told him in the most indulging tone. “And speaking of forgetting, I actually think I may have time to meet you every Friday after classes. The student council don’t produce bulletin this month. So I’ll be free. You can just come to our room. I mostly do my design there.”
“And by our room, you mean?”
“The student council room, of course. Or office, if you want to make it sounds official.”
Kris let out a desperate sigh. “Are you serious?” He glared at Yixing. “Who’s our student council president, Yixing?”
“Junmyeon,” Yixing answered without thinking. Then there was a frown, a pause and Kris could almost hear the thought process inside Yixing’s head. “Ah, we have to keep it a secret from him.”
“Yes! And I just told you this not a minute ago!”
Kris was baffled when he only heard laughter in return. And if he had to be honest, if anything, Yixing sounded amused and not at all bothered by his own forgetfulness.
xxx
On the first weekend, Kris tried to contact Yixing, just like the younger boy told him. But apparently Yixing had an open-mic performance on Saturday (which led Kris to wonder about how many non-academic activities that Yixing was involved in). And when Kris tried to call him again on Sunday, Yixing told him to just wait until he contacts Kris.
Now Kris started to worry, because the fact was they only have less than a month to work on everything. So he thought it’d be great if they could start working on it as soon as possible. But with Yixing’s uncooperativeness, Kris thought that he might have to start thinking about Plan B. Like maybe started to pester Kyungsoo to help him instead.
“…so I told him, there’s no way Chelsea win this time, right. I mean, like half of their starters have some kind of injuries. But Minseok just didn’t-.” Luhan stopped his rant when a 187 cm of a giant plopped himself across from him and right next to his best friend.
And to his surprise, his best friend’s only reaction was to squeal, “My pudding!” like an overgrown puppy at the sight of chocolate pudding that Kris put on the table. Well, to be fair, his said best friend, Zhang Yixing, always looked like an overgrown puppy, but that didn’t mean Luhan can ever stop marvel at the fact.
“What are you doing?” Luhan asked Kris.
But instead of replying, Kris frowned at him. “You know him?” he asked Luhan back as he pointed at Yixing with a nod.
“Of course I know him. I’m the one who helped him settle when he first moved to Korea.”
“Oh. You never told me about this.”
Luhan, never one who could control his expression, dropped his jaw, baffled. “Since when do I have to tell you everything? Just because we’re the only Chinese in our year, doesn’t mean I have to report everything to you, Bènbèn!”
Hearing the nickname, Yixing, who had been quietly watching the exchange between the two older boys, burst out laughing.
“Oh, you think it’s funny, Dàndàn?” Luhan challenged, “Do you realized that if you two were put together, you’re bèn dàn!”
Kris’ expression only grew darker because of Luhan’s remark. And it didn’t help that Yixing only laughed harder, whole body shaking, as if it was the funniest thing he heard in a long time.
“Anyway,” Kris sighed helplessly, “When are you going to stop avoiding my question?” he asked Yixing, and completely, and deliberately, ignoring Luhan.
“I’ve told you,” Yixing’s lips started to purse and he frowned in frustration, just like he did this morning when Kris asked him about the same thing on their way to school, “Stop asking me this. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.”
“And when are you gonna be ready?”
Yixing pouted harder. “I’m ready when I’m ready. You can’t rush this kind of thing.”
“What’s going on between you two?” Luhan asked the two with narrowed eyes. He thought he knew what this is about, but at the same time, he was also completely lost.
“Kris has been forcing me to do something for him!”
“Forcing you?” Kris screeched, “You agreed! And I’ve been nothing but nice and polite!”
“I agree to do it. But doesn’t mean I can do it now. Doesn’t mean I can do it when I’m not ready.”
Kris was about to argue, when Luhan put his hand on the table and startled the other two.
“He said he’s not ready. That’s it,” Luhan said firmly, “You have to respect his decision, if you’re a gentleman.”
Kris first thought was, ‘That escalated quickly’ and second was ‘I’m doomed’. Because despite not being best friends, Kris knew Luhan well enough to know that when he had that look and he used that tone, it was almost impossible to change his mind.
“Whatever you think it is,” Kris warned, “it’s not it.”
“Of course it is what I think it is,” the older boy replied hotly, “Don’t even try to make your intention sounds pure and innocent.”
“His intention is not pure and innocent at all,” Yixing mumbled around his little plastic spoon inside his mouth.
“See!”
“He doesn’t even know what you’re thinking about,” Kris argued.
“He told me to keep it a secret. He said no one should know that we do that together,” the youngest of the three helpfully babbled.
“Look, Yixing.” Luhan had his best friend’s hand tightly in grasp. “Whatever he says or does, don’t do anything just because he asks you to, okay? He’s trying to take an advantage of you and you’re not going to let him.”
Kris groaned and got up from his seat. He decided it was useless to convince Luhan that he wasn’t trying to sleep with Zhang Yixing. And to make matter worse, he didn’t know if Yixing was seriously clueless or only playing him.
xxx
The next time Kris saw Yixing again was after his basketball practice. He thought Yixing was supposed to have prom night committee meeting that afternoon and would go home right after without him. But instead, here he was, talking outside the locker room with a freshman boy who was apparently Kris’ fan and wanted to ask him to be his date for prom night.
It wasn’t something new for Kris, of course, having someone ask him out on a date or confessing to him. But it was somehow unnerving to have someone who was waiting for him and looked mildly amused by the whole process.
Kris sent the kid away after telling him he would give the invitation a thought. He seriously had not yet thought about who he wanted to go with to the prom, although he already had a suit ready since three months before. It really was just the matter of who he felt like to take for his date.
“Poor kid was so nervous to talk to you. You should’ve just let him down easy,” Yixing told him with judging look.
“Why do you just assume I’m going to reject him?” Kris asked him back, feeling offended by the suggestion.
“Because our dear basketball team’s ace must have everyone asking him to go the prom with them. And then, you’ll forget about little Taotao.” Yixing rolled his two fists next to his cheeks as if he was crying.
“Little Taotao.” Kris couldn’t help but to knuckle the younger’s head, despite the cute act. “Don’t get close with stranger so easily, dumbass. And why are you even waiting for me anyway?”
“Because I’m feeling like having a burger right now.”
“Because you’re feeling like having a burger right now?”
Yixing nodded. “And because you’re paying.”
Kris let out an exasperated sigh. He should’ve seen it coming.
xxx
If Kris thought Yixing’s dimples were distracting, then he had to admit that he was wrong. What distracting was Yixing, sitting right across the table from him, with his uniform shirt unbuttoned and a low-cut tank-top underneath. That expanse of pale chest and cleavage, someone please told Kris how to look away from it.
“You have impressive boobs,” Kris found himself talking before he could even stop himself.
Yixing, in return, scowled and pulled his collar of his tank top higher, which was pointless really, because it dropped right back.
“Pervert,” Yixing told Kris with his mouth full of fries, “And it’s ‘chest’, because I’m not a woman!”
“Well I’m not sure about that, I mean, given that…” Kris pointed the general area of Yixing’s chest. “I can’t even stop staring at it even if I want to.”
“Try harder, okay. Kris.” Yixing snapped his fingers to get Kris attention. “Eyes. Up here.”
The older boy made a protesting noise. But he gave up anyway and directed his attention to sip on his coke.
“I thought you’re only into girls,” Yixing commented offhandedly after remembering Kris’ answer about the confession he got earlier.
And the leer that Kris sent him in return was unnerving. “The only thing I’m into is beautiful people, darling.”
That answer almost made Yixing choked, caught between wanting to laugh or throw up. After he swallowed his food, Yixing decided on the first one.
His chest was still heaving when he said, “Well, no wonder you said you don’t like junk food. I wouldn’t like it either if I already have that much grease in me.”
Kris tried to look offended. But Yixing’s laughter was contagious and he ended up with a grin on his own face instead. He enjoyed being greasy anyway. He’d even say it was part of his charm.
“Hey, seriously, Yixing, why are we here?”
Yixing shrugged, “I’m a stress eater. And right now, I just have too many home works, club assignments. Then I also have to deal with you…” Kris only hummed in return, but still Yixing felt his judging look on him. And so he sighed in defeat. “Okay. I admit. I’m currently also procrastinating on all of that. I don’t even want to look at all the work I have to get done this week.”
“This really does not set a good start for us working together.” Kris had his head propped with his hand as he watched Yixing nodded, agreeing, before he shoved the last bite of his double cheese burger into his mouth. “I can’t help but to wonder if you’re going to meet the deadline.”
“Of course I will. I always meet my deadline, you know.” Yixing made a point to make especially affronted by Kris’ comment. “Besides, I don’t want disappoint Junmyeon and Kyungsoo and Jongdae.”
“And me?” Kris asked petulantly.
“Well I don’t really know you. So I can’t say I really care.”
Despite what he was saying, Kris couldn’t miss the dimple that makes itself seen on Yixing’s right cheek. So he opted to just snort at it and flicked a piece of french fries at Yixing.
“Jerk.”
“But honestly, I don’t even know what a guy like you does in the magazine club.”
“A guy like me, huh? What does that even suppose to mean?” Kris challenged to younger to answer his question.
He sat back with his legs and arms crossed. He knew he looked defensive, but he’d heard these kind of comments one too many times. It was as if he was defined by his status in a sport team and his popularity. As if he was nothing more beyond that. And it was irritating.
Yixing stopped focusing so much on his food and looked at him in the eye instead. It seemed like he realized that he just crossed the line with his comment and was trying to backtrack on his words.
“Look, I’m not saying it like it’s a negative thing or anything. But I just think you’re a jock and popular.” And had multiple piercing on both ears and walked down the hallway like he owned it, Yixing wanted to add. “And the magazine club is not usually associated with those things. So I’m just surprised,” Yixing shrugged, “that’s all.”
“Junmyeon’s popular,” Kris pointed out.
“Well, yeah.” Yixing started to fidget uncomfortably on his seat. “But for an entirely different reason.”
“Like what?”
Yixing rolled his eyes, feeling stupid for speaking his mind without thinking it through. He couldn’t get out of the hole he just dig for himself now it seemed.
“Fine.” He raised his hands in defeat. “I think you’re a cool kid. And I thought cool kid like you wouldn’t want to be associated with the kids from magazine club who are, like myself, not cool. I’m sorry that I’m making assumptions when I don’t even know you. It’s not fair for you or the other kids.”
Kris nodded and nibbled on his straw; he could accept the apology. But he pondered if it was even matter to tell more about himself to Yixing or not.
“Junmyeon asked me to join the club. And he’s an old friend,” he finally said. He grabbed into his backpack seating next to him and reached inside to pull out a notebook that obviously had been used a lot. “But I do like to write.” Yixing wasn’t sure if it was okay for him to take a look inside the book. But Kris slid the notebook across the table to him. “It’s like… poems I guess. I just write whatever cross my mind,” he told Yixing as the younger carefully flipping the pages of the book.
Kris watched as Yixing’s eyes darted from one end to another end of a page. His slim fingers absentmindedly traced his lower lip as he basically reading Kris’ thoughts and feelings with rapt attention.
It would be a lie if Kris said the experience was not nerve-wracking. He couldn’t help but feeling judged, not only for his creation, but also himself, as a person. And maybe it was because Yixing had judged him before that he felt the need to show his other self to the younger boy. After all, it wasn’t often he showed his writing to other people. Especially to someone he had only known for a few days.
He didn’t have any expectation for what Yixing was going to say about his writing. But still he was surprised when he asked him.
“Can I borrow it?”
“W- What?” Kris sputtered.
Yixing didn’t tell him that his shocked face was cute. Dumb, but cute.
“I compose songs,” Yixing told Kris with excitement, which quickly turned into self-conscious bashfulness. “Well, I try to anyway. I’m not good or anything. But I want to use your words for lyrics, if that’s okay with you,” he added quickly.
“Uh… sure…?” Kris answered, unsure with his own reply. After all, it was the first time anyone had ever asked such thing from him. “Just return it in one piece,” he warned jokingly.
“Of course I will.” Yixing flipped another page. “I’m forgetful, but not with other people’s property,” he assured Kris as he started to read another entry. “Well,” he shrugged, “most of the time anyway.”
“That’s relieving,” he mumbled to himself, and didn’t give any thought when Yixing didn’t bother him with a reply.
“Kris,” Yixing started after a moment passed. A quiet moment with Yixing read and Kris watched Yixing reading. “What’s your Chinese name?”
“Only my mom calls me by my Chinese name.”
“Tell me anyway?”
Kris really preferred to be just called Kris actually. “It’s Wu Yifan.” He told him anyway. “But I prefer Wufan.”
“Then, Wufan,” Yixing finally looked up from Kris’ messy handwriting, “tomorrow I’ll give you some samples for the magazine logo font.”
Kris didn’t know why, but he sure did feel like he just unknowingly passed some personality test with flying color.
PART 2
For: everyone
Word count: 26544
Rating: PG13
Summary: The idea that Jongin proposes, as it turned out, came in a form of a skinny, pale, brown haired boy with sleepy eyes who didn’t look like he wanted to be there.
“You said, and I quote, “It’s difficult to draw eggs. It’s a test to one’s ability. And yet, I always use egg shapes in my drawing. It’s because my art is exquisite and very highbrow.”” Kyungsoo read the note he made in his notebook.
Kris wanted to comment, because, seriously, who brought and took note during parties, really? But he kept his mouth shut, deciding it wasn’t the time or place and definitely not in position to comment on anything right now.
“And then you said,” Kyungsoo addressed their editor-in-chief, Junmyeon, with half frustration, half disappointment. “You said, and I quote, “Great, Kris. We need someone to work on our new layout, typeface and logo. You’d be perfect for the job!” And then you told me, “Kyungsoo, take note. I have to make an announcement in our next meeting that Kris is our new Art Director.””
Kyungsoo really wanted to blame everything on their two oldest members. But then again, they were all drunk, Kris was bragging, Junmyeon indulging, and Kyungsoo took note. If only he was sober, or didn’t have such weird drinking habit like taking notes, then maybe he could pretend that such thing never happened. But Junmyeon’s words were written in his notebook, he couldn’t run from the fact.
And that was the story of how everyone in the magazine club feeling the sense of dread in their editorial meeting this time. Well, more dread than usual, anyway, deadlines and assignments were never not scary. But they knew how ridiculous Kris’ drawing was. His drawing of a rhino looked like a donkey, and his dragon looked like an obese butterfly. And the worst thing was he was so proud of his skill and would never admit that it was actually a kindergartener level of drawing.
“So, Kris,” Junmyeon started, “Do you agree to share your… um… artistic ability with the rest of the student body?”
“Wrong question,” Kyungsoo muttered to himself, now more than even realize that they could not escape the disaster that was Kris’ aesthetic and talent. Or lack thereof anyway.
Junmyeon should’ve known better than to give the tall boy a question that sounded like a challenge, or testing on his ego. Kris would never back away from a challenge and definitely wouldn’t admit that he had no talent in the artistic department. And now Kyungsoo started to suspect that Junmyeon was actually taking this whole thing seriously. Like he actually thought Kris would be perfect for the position.
“Of course I accept.” Kyungsoo could actually see the panic in Kris’ eyes. “I’ve always told you I want to do more than just writing about sport, right?”
“I still need your help for the dating column, Hyung,” Jongdae finally decided to join the conversation.
“And I’m not taking Kris from that either,” Junmyeon helpfully informed.
Kyungsoo, feeling like single-handedly trying to cancel the apocalypse from happening, summarized the whole job desk that Kris now had in his hands. “So that means you have to write your sport section, part of Jongdae’s column, and on top of that, working on the complete revamped look for our magazine.”
“Uh… huh?” Kris didn’t look too sure now. Well, he never actually did, but now he definitely felt doomed.
“If it’s too much-.”
“No, it’s not too much.”
Kyungsoo slumped in his seat. Stupid athletes and their stupid ego to feel challenged about everything.
“Don’t you also have basketball practice to deal with?” Jongdae eyed him skeptically.
“Yeah, I know. And that’s why I probably should start this whole thing,” Kris made a vague gesture with his hands, “as soon as possible, right?”
“Sure.” Joonmyeon looked grim.
“So can I leave now? So I can actually working on it instead of just talking about it?”
“Sure.” Joonmyeon clearly didn’t even try to stop him anymore. Although if Kyungsoo could argue, Joonmyeon had never really tried to begin with.
“Kyungsoo, the next time I attempt to make a decision at 2 AM, please stop me,” their editor-in-chief asked once Kris left the room.
“No. What you need to stop is letting Kris-hyung thinks he can actually draw, and save him from embarrassing himself and us with his “art”.”
xxx
After spending the rest of the evening fretting about the whole designing problem he was facing, Kris decided to just sleep it off and hoped he’d find the solution in the morning.
Well, he didn’t, but on his defense at least he didn’t lose his 8 hours beauty sleep.
During lunch, Kyungsoo came to his table with a serious look on his face, telling him that he’d save the whole human race from the nightmare that was Kris’ art and helped Kris find a solution for this problem. Kris would’ve let out a relieved sigh if he wasn’t pretending to Kyungsoo that he got everything under control.
“I talked about this with Jongin,” Kyungsoo told him, “and he gave me an idea. I don’t even know why I didn’t think about this before.”
“And what is this idea that Jongin proposes?”
“He’s still proposing.” But just as he finished saying that, Kyungsoo saw Jongin entered the cafeteria with their savior in tow and he waved them to come to their table. “There they are,” he told Kris.
The idea that Jongin proposes, as it turned out, came in a form of a skinny, pale, brown haired boy with sleepy eyes who didn’t look like he wanted to be there. Jongin introduced him as Zhang Yixing, a junior, Jongin’s senior in dance club and apparently the student council’s go-to guy for anything design related. Which meant Yixing was already used to work with Junmyeon and Kyungsoo- who were, on top of being the editors of their magazine, respectively the president and member of their student council-to know their preference in design.
“So, you see, right now Yixing-hyung is already very busy with the regular student council bulletin, posters and now there’s preparation for prom night.”
“And also our club practices. Twice a week,” Jongin added.
“Consider yourself very lucky that he’s willing to design for us the whole-.”
“Kyungsoo, I don’t need someone else to design the whole new look for our magazine. I just need someone to help me. Because, you see, I’m a retro kind of guy. Sure I can draw perfectly with pen or pencil, but I don’t do digital. And I suppose, I have to go digital to do the layout. So I just need help. Just a little help.”
Kyungsoo stared at the older boy with a straight face. “Sure,” he finally said, deadpan. “As I was saying, you’re lucky that Yixing-hyung agrees to-.”
“Kyungsoo, I actually haven’t decided to accept this,” the boy called Zhang Yixing finally talked.
“What if in return Kris-hyung has to do whatever you ask from him?”
“Jongin-.” Kris tried to argue, to object, but Kyungsoo gave him another one of his death glare. And the next thing that usually comes after that was his infamous headlock. So Kris opted to shut his mouth. Kyungsoo was scary for such a tiny person.
“I still don’t know how I can put everything in my schedule though,” Yixing muttered with a frown. And Kris must admit that the boy looked cute looking all confuse and worry.
“I think you can do the layout quickly, since you’re already used to doing it. We just need to wait for all the articles to be edited and approved by Junmyeon-hyung,” Kyungsoo explained, “The main problem is the new logo and typeface for our cover. That’s when he,” Kyungsoo pointed at Kris with a nod of his head, “would need your help the most.”
“Um…” Yixing bit down his lower lip, still looking unsure.
“Hyung,” Jongin addressed Kris, “maybe you should at least try to show your good intention by buying Yixing-hyung his lunch.”
“Jong… I…” Again, Kris wished he could say his own term and condition for this arrangement, but of course Kyungsoo was shutting him down again with his glare. The only thing Kris could do was to let out a defeated sigh and comply. “Fine,” he mumbled before standing up and asked Yixing about what he wanted to have.
“Sandwich, cola and pudding.” The sleepy, quiet younger boy suddenly looked bright and spirited at the mention of free lunch.
After Kris left them, Kyungsoo started his speech to try and coax Yixing into agreeing to help them.
“Hyung, I know it’s a lot to ask this from you. But if you’ve seen Kris-hyung’s drawing, you’ll understand why I must prevent him from designing the new look of our magazine by himself. He makes my drawing from when I was in preschool looks like a masterpiece. And I’d help him myself if I can. But I’m not as good as you are, and everyone else in the club is either busy or as bad as I do. So, please consider this as you helping me.”
“Kyungsoo, you know it’s not that I don’t want to help you. But my schedule is sort of already full as it is. I don’t know how I can fit him in there.”
“Just order him around then. Help make your life easier,” Jongin, as usual, suggested the most brilliant of ideas. “Tell him to pick you up in the morning, drive you home after school, buy you lunch, do your homework,” he started his list, “You know, Kyungsoo said Kris-hyung spent a few years in Canada. So you can practically just leave all your English homework to him.”
Yixing turned to Kyungsoo, as if asking if he agreed with Jongin. Or if it was a good idea at all.
“I can’t say I endorse cheating for your homework,” Kyungsoo threaded carefully, “but desperate time calls for desperate measure, so…” he ended with a shrug.
Yixing picked on his lips, a habit he had for when he’s thinking. “Well, I guess,” he sighed, “I’ll do that.”
Kyungsoo almost uncharacteristically squealed when he heard Yixing’s answer. But he opted to hug the older boy instead. And Jongin, didn’t want to feel left out, attacked Yixing from his other side.
“Thank you, hyung!” Kyungsoo said with his signature heart-shaped smile finally gracing his lips. “I’ll cook something for you!”
“Hmm.” Kris, who had returned from buying lunch for Yixing, stood in front of the three-way hug between Jongin, Yixing and Kyungsoo, and wondered about what just happened while he was leaving. “I take it you agree to help me?”
Yixing nodded, (dazedly?) serenely patting the heads of the two younger boys who were still squeezing him in the middle. “You can start by driving me home this afternoon,” he said with a smile.
And for the first time, Kris noticed the deep dimple on his right cheek. That was so cute. And Kris was weak with anything cute. So he knew, that was pretty much a goodbye to having any control in this partnership.
xxx
As he promised, Kris drove Yixing home after they were done with their respective extracurricular activities. Yixing had a dance and Kris with his basketball practice. And apparently even to find the time to discuss their project wasn’t as easy as Kris thought would be.
“So basically, you’re busy every day after school?” Kris asked, navigating the road as Yixing pointed out the way to his home. “What about the weekend then?”
“And I usually have something on Saturday. But Sunday should be okay. Turn left at the next intersection,” Yixing told the taller boy.
Kris was actually familiar with the area. The direction that Yixing had been telling him was the route he took every day. “I think we’re actually living in the same area,” he told Yixing.
“Good,” Yixing chuckled softly, “Then I won’t feel too guilty to have you picking me up in the morning.”
“Oh, now I also have to drive you to school?” the blond boy tried to sound cross just because he felt he should at least show some resistance.
The truth was he didn’t really mind. Yixing’s home was on the way. And he’d promised to do anything he asked anyway.
“Yes, on top of buying me pudding every day for lunch,” Yixing added with a straight face. Although, Kris didn’t miss the way the corner of his lips quirked upward.
Kris scoffed then, but this time not only to show his objection. He was actually trying to cover his own laugh because Yixing was, for lack of a better word, interesting.
Zhang Yixing, Kris found during the short time they’d been knowing each other, looked spaced out most of the time, like he wasn’t even there sitting in the car next to Kris. But then suddenly he’d move his head from side to side in tune with the song in the radio and give teasing comment like the one he just did.
“By the way, this deal between us, can you please keep it a secret from everyone. Especially Junmyeon.”
“Oh? You don’t want anyone to know someone’s designing the new look for you?”
“Helping me, Yixing,” Kris put emphasize on the first word, “Helping me designing the new look.”
Yixing couldn’t help but to laugh once again, suddenly reminded of what Kyungsoo told him about Kris’ drawing. “Sure. I completely forgot about that,” he told him in the most indulging tone. “And speaking of forgetting, I actually think I may have time to meet you every Friday after classes. The student council don’t produce bulletin this month. So I’ll be free. You can just come to our room. I mostly do my design there.”
“And by our room, you mean?”
“The student council room, of course. Or office, if you want to make it sounds official.”
Kris let out a desperate sigh. “Are you serious?” He glared at Yixing. “Who’s our student council president, Yixing?”
“Junmyeon,” Yixing answered without thinking. Then there was a frown, a pause and Kris could almost hear the thought process inside Yixing’s head. “Ah, we have to keep it a secret from him.”
“Yes! And I just told you this not a minute ago!”
Kris was baffled when he only heard laughter in return. And if he had to be honest, if anything, Yixing sounded amused and not at all bothered by his own forgetfulness.
xxx
On the first weekend, Kris tried to contact Yixing, just like the younger boy told him. But apparently Yixing had an open-mic performance on Saturday (which led Kris to wonder about how many non-academic activities that Yixing was involved in). And when Kris tried to call him again on Sunday, Yixing told him to just wait until he contacts Kris.
Now Kris started to worry, because the fact was they only have less than a month to work on everything. So he thought it’d be great if they could start working on it as soon as possible. But with Yixing’s uncooperativeness, Kris thought that he might have to start thinking about Plan B. Like maybe started to pester Kyungsoo to help him instead.
“…so I told him, there’s no way Chelsea win this time, right. I mean, like half of their starters have some kind of injuries. But Minseok just didn’t-.” Luhan stopped his rant when a 187 cm of a giant plopped himself across from him and right next to his best friend.
And to his surprise, his best friend’s only reaction was to squeal, “My pudding!” like an overgrown puppy at the sight of chocolate pudding that Kris put on the table. Well, to be fair, his said best friend, Zhang Yixing, always looked like an overgrown puppy, but that didn’t mean Luhan can ever stop marvel at the fact.
“What are you doing?” Luhan asked Kris.
But instead of replying, Kris frowned at him. “You know him?” he asked Luhan back as he pointed at Yixing with a nod.
“Of course I know him. I’m the one who helped him settle when he first moved to Korea.”
“Oh. You never told me about this.”
Luhan, never one who could control his expression, dropped his jaw, baffled. “Since when do I have to tell you everything? Just because we’re the only Chinese in our year, doesn’t mean I have to report everything to you, Bènbèn!”
Hearing the nickname, Yixing, who had been quietly watching the exchange between the two older boys, burst out laughing.
“Oh, you think it’s funny, Dàndàn?” Luhan challenged, “Do you realized that if you two were put together, you’re bèn dàn!”
Kris’ expression only grew darker because of Luhan’s remark. And it didn’t help that Yixing only laughed harder, whole body shaking, as if it was the funniest thing he heard in a long time.
“Anyway,” Kris sighed helplessly, “When are you going to stop avoiding my question?” he asked Yixing, and completely, and deliberately, ignoring Luhan.
“I’ve told you,” Yixing’s lips started to purse and he frowned in frustration, just like he did this morning when Kris asked him about the same thing on their way to school, “Stop asking me this. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.”
“And when are you gonna be ready?”
Yixing pouted harder. “I’m ready when I’m ready. You can’t rush this kind of thing.”
“What’s going on between you two?” Luhan asked the two with narrowed eyes. He thought he knew what this is about, but at the same time, he was also completely lost.
“Kris has been forcing me to do something for him!”
“Forcing you?” Kris screeched, “You agreed! And I’ve been nothing but nice and polite!”
“I agree to do it. But doesn’t mean I can do it now. Doesn’t mean I can do it when I’m not ready.”
Kris was about to argue, when Luhan put his hand on the table and startled the other two.
“He said he’s not ready. That’s it,” Luhan said firmly, “You have to respect his decision, if you’re a gentleman.”
Kris first thought was, ‘That escalated quickly’ and second was ‘I’m doomed’. Because despite not being best friends, Kris knew Luhan well enough to know that when he had that look and he used that tone, it was almost impossible to change his mind.
“Whatever you think it is,” Kris warned, “it’s not it.”
“Of course it is what I think it is,” the older boy replied hotly, “Don’t even try to make your intention sounds pure and innocent.”
“His intention is not pure and innocent at all,” Yixing mumbled around his little plastic spoon inside his mouth.
“See!”
“He doesn’t even know what you’re thinking about,” Kris argued.
“He told me to keep it a secret. He said no one should know that we do that together,” the youngest of the three helpfully babbled.
“Look, Yixing.” Luhan had his best friend’s hand tightly in grasp. “Whatever he says or does, don’t do anything just because he asks you to, okay? He’s trying to take an advantage of you and you’re not going to let him.”
Kris groaned and got up from his seat. He decided it was useless to convince Luhan that he wasn’t trying to sleep with Zhang Yixing. And to make matter worse, he didn’t know if Yixing was seriously clueless or only playing him.
xxx
The next time Kris saw Yixing again was after his basketball practice. He thought Yixing was supposed to have prom night committee meeting that afternoon and would go home right after without him. But instead, here he was, talking outside the locker room with a freshman boy who was apparently Kris’ fan and wanted to ask him to be his date for prom night.
It wasn’t something new for Kris, of course, having someone ask him out on a date or confessing to him. But it was somehow unnerving to have someone who was waiting for him and looked mildly amused by the whole process.
Kris sent the kid away after telling him he would give the invitation a thought. He seriously had not yet thought about who he wanted to go with to the prom, although he already had a suit ready since three months before. It really was just the matter of who he felt like to take for his date.
“Poor kid was so nervous to talk to you. You should’ve just let him down easy,” Yixing told him with judging look.
“Why do you just assume I’m going to reject him?” Kris asked him back, feeling offended by the suggestion.
“Because our dear basketball team’s ace must have everyone asking him to go the prom with them. And then, you’ll forget about little Taotao.” Yixing rolled his two fists next to his cheeks as if he was crying.
“Little Taotao.” Kris couldn’t help but to knuckle the younger’s head, despite the cute act. “Don’t get close with stranger so easily, dumbass. And why are you even waiting for me anyway?”
“Because I’m feeling like having a burger right now.”
“Because you’re feeling like having a burger right now?”
Yixing nodded. “And because you’re paying.”
Kris let out an exasperated sigh. He should’ve seen it coming.
xxx
If Kris thought Yixing’s dimples were distracting, then he had to admit that he was wrong. What distracting was Yixing, sitting right across the table from him, with his uniform shirt unbuttoned and a low-cut tank-top underneath. That expanse of pale chest and cleavage, someone please told Kris how to look away from it.
“You have impressive boobs,” Kris found himself talking before he could even stop himself.
Yixing, in return, scowled and pulled his collar of his tank top higher, which was pointless really, because it dropped right back.
“Pervert,” Yixing told Kris with his mouth full of fries, “And it’s ‘chest’, because I’m not a woman!”
“Well I’m not sure about that, I mean, given that…” Kris pointed the general area of Yixing’s chest. “I can’t even stop staring at it even if I want to.”
“Try harder, okay. Kris.” Yixing snapped his fingers to get Kris attention. “Eyes. Up here.”
The older boy made a protesting noise. But he gave up anyway and directed his attention to sip on his coke.
“I thought you’re only into girls,” Yixing commented offhandedly after remembering Kris’ answer about the confession he got earlier.
And the leer that Kris sent him in return was unnerving. “The only thing I’m into is beautiful people, darling.”
That answer almost made Yixing choked, caught between wanting to laugh or throw up. After he swallowed his food, Yixing decided on the first one.
His chest was still heaving when he said, “Well, no wonder you said you don’t like junk food. I wouldn’t like it either if I already have that much grease in me.”
Kris tried to look offended. But Yixing’s laughter was contagious and he ended up with a grin on his own face instead. He enjoyed being greasy anyway. He’d even say it was part of his charm.
“Hey, seriously, Yixing, why are we here?”
Yixing shrugged, “I’m a stress eater. And right now, I just have too many home works, club assignments. Then I also have to deal with you…” Kris only hummed in return, but still Yixing felt his judging look on him. And so he sighed in defeat. “Okay. I admit. I’m currently also procrastinating on all of that. I don’t even want to look at all the work I have to get done this week.”
“This really does not set a good start for us working together.” Kris had his head propped with his hand as he watched Yixing nodded, agreeing, before he shoved the last bite of his double cheese burger into his mouth. “I can’t help but to wonder if you’re going to meet the deadline.”
“Of course I will. I always meet my deadline, you know.” Yixing made a point to make especially affronted by Kris’ comment. “Besides, I don’t want disappoint Junmyeon and Kyungsoo and Jongdae.”
“And me?” Kris asked petulantly.
“Well I don’t really know you. So I can’t say I really care.”
Despite what he was saying, Kris couldn’t miss the dimple that makes itself seen on Yixing’s right cheek. So he opted to just snort at it and flicked a piece of french fries at Yixing.
“Jerk.”
“But honestly, I don’t even know what a guy like you does in the magazine club.”
“A guy like me, huh? What does that even suppose to mean?” Kris challenged to younger to answer his question.
He sat back with his legs and arms crossed. He knew he looked defensive, but he’d heard these kind of comments one too many times. It was as if he was defined by his status in a sport team and his popularity. As if he was nothing more beyond that. And it was irritating.
Yixing stopped focusing so much on his food and looked at him in the eye instead. It seemed like he realized that he just crossed the line with his comment and was trying to backtrack on his words.
“Look, I’m not saying it like it’s a negative thing or anything. But I just think you’re a jock and popular.” And had multiple piercing on both ears and walked down the hallway like he owned it, Yixing wanted to add. “And the magazine club is not usually associated with those things. So I’m just surprised,” Yixing shrugged, “that’s all.”
“Junmyeon’s popular,” Kris pointed out.
“Well, yeah.” Yixing started to fidget uncomfortably on his seat. “But for an entirely different reason.”
“Like what?”
Yixing rolled his eyes, feeling stupid for speaking his mind without thinking it through. He couldn’t get out of the hole he just dig for himself now it seemed.
“Fine.” He raised his hands in defeat. “I think you’re a cool kid. And I thought cool kid like you wouldn’t want to be associated with the kids from magazine club who are, like myself, not cool. I’m sorry that I’m making assumptions when I don’t even know you. It’s not fair for you or the other kids.”
Kris nodded and nibbled on his straw; he could accept the apology. But he pondered if it was even matter to tell more about himself to Yixing or not.
“Junmyeon asked me to join the club. And he’s an old friend,” he finally said. He grabbed into his backpack seating next to him and reached inside to pull out a notebook that obviously had been used a lot. “But I do like to write.” Yixing wasn’t sure if it was okay for him to take a look inside the book. But Kris slid the notebook across the table to him. “It’s like… poems I guess. I just write whatever cross my mind,” he told Yixing as the younger carefully flipping the pages of the book.
Kris watched as Yixing’s eyes darted from one end to another end of a page. His slim fingers absentmindedly traced his lower lip as he basically reading Kris’ thoughts and feelings with rapt attention.
It would be a lie if Kris said the experience was not nerve-wracking. He couldn’t help but feeling judged, not only for his creation, but also himself, as a person. And maybe it was because Yixing had judged him before that he felt the need to show his other self to the younger boy. After all, it wasn’t often he showed his writing to other people. Especially to someone he had only known for a few days.
He didn’t have any expectation for what Yixing was going to say about his writing. But still he was surprised when he asked him.
“Can I borrow it?”
“W- What?” Kris sputtered.
Yixing didn’t tell him that his shocked face was cute. Dumb, but cute.
“I compose songs,” Yixing told Kris with excitement, which quickly turned into self-conscious bashfulness. “Well, I try to anyway. I’m not good or anything. But I want to use your words for lyrics, if that’s okay with you,” he added quickly.
“Uh… sure…?” Kris answered, unsure with his own reply. After all, it was the first time anyone had ever asked such thing from him. “Just return it in one piece,” he warned jokingly.
“Of course I will.” Yixing flipped another page. “I’m forgetful, but not with other people’s property,” he assured Kris as he started to read another entry. “Well,” he shrugged, “most of the time anyway.”
“That’s relieving,” he mumbled to himself, and didn’t give any thought when Yixing didn’t bother him with a reply.
“Kris,” Yixing started after a moment passed. A quiet moment with Yixing read and Kris watched Yixing reading. “What’s your Chinese name?”
“Only my mom calls me by my Chinese name.”
“Tell me anyway?”
Kris really preferred to be just called Kris actually. “It’s Wu Yifan.” He told him anyway. “But I prefer Wufan.”
“Then, Wufan,” Yixing finally looked up from Kris’ messy handwriting, “tomorrow I’ll give you some samples for the magazine logo font.”
Kris didn’t know why, but he sure did feel like he just unknowingly passed some personality test with flying color.
PART 2