(for streamingvoices) opposites attract
❊ for: streamingvoices
❊ title: opposites attract
❊ pairings: kai/d.o
❊ rating: pg13
❊ word count: 4.8k
❊ summary: Kyungsoo thinks anyone who doesn’t spend their time in school concentrating isn’t worth his time - especially someone who rides rollerblades around the campus. Meet Kim Jongin: your favourite troublemaker who likes to skate instead of walk.
❊ a/n: I really liked writing this fic because Jongin was given a different persona than he usually is in fics. Whereas he’s usually the cold, chic and mysterious, he’s a bit different in this! Easily put, it’s more Jongin/Kyungsoo rather than Kai/Kyungsoo, if you get my gist. Kind of fast paced therefore unrealistic so this is your warning! Anyways, shoutout to my favourite Misaeng fan for being ! Thanks also go to mods for running this fic exchange and a last thank you to anyone who reads + comments! Your love is always appreciated!
“Oppa!”Kyungsoo stops in his tracks and he looks to his left where there’s a huddled group of three girls, one holding a box wrapped neatly in ribbon. He raises an eyebrow, already dreading what was to happen. Frankly, it seemed like they’d let anyone into the boarding school nowadays, no matter how expensive. Didn’t these children have better things to do, like study, rather than fool around?The girl in the front holds out the box bashfully, bowing her head slightly. “I stayed up late last night to build this cake for you.” Kyungsoo stares at the box in her hand, at her squealing friends and then back at the girl. Kyungsoo hopes she doesn’t actually think he knows her name.Kyungsoo is about to open his mouth and tell her to keep her cake but there’s a yell from the building behind them, causing the four to glance at the math department. A tall, tanned boy rolls out the door, grinning widely as he ducks his head, avoiding the teacher’s attempt of twacking him with a newspaper. Kyungsoo glances down and scoffs at the appearance of roller blades on the rose haired boy’s feet. It’s astonishing to see the teacher chase the student around for a while before the teacher gives up and goes inside to call authority. “Aigoo, they let anyone into boarding school nowadays,” one of the girls behind him tsk’ed and Kyungsoo couldn’t agree more. “Yah, Kim Jongin! When will you stay out of trouble?”The rollerblader looks over to them and his smile doesn’t fade once as he skates over to the group, coming to a halt right next to Kyungsoo. He glances at the cake in her hands and then at Kyungsoo before laughing. “Yah, Sungyeong, you’d think with your name you’d be a little more successful with your confessions*.”Sungyeong huffs and Kyungsoo stares up at the supposedly Jongin. Rollerblades with a school uniform? Kyungsoo is pretty sure that’s against the rules. He’s taller than he looked a few seconds ago and just to spite the boy who was already beginning to annoy him, Kyungsoo bitterly picks at the box in the girl’s hands. “Thank you. I will eat it well.”Jongin grimaces, recoiling with disgust as Sungyeon sticks out her tongue with her friends giggling. “I’ll see you around then,” Sungyeong says, bowing slightly before glaring at Jongin as she walked off.Kyungsoo watches as the three girls ran off, all in hysterics just because Kyungsoo had accepted her cake. Kyungsoo opens the box a bit, just to peek at the cake and saw that it was mint. Yuck. Was that legal? A mint cake?“Nice. You did her a good deed. Are you actually going to eat it though? Because if not, dessert is my favourite meal. Just saying.”He looks over to the tall roller bladder with no expression. “It wasn’t given to you therefore it’s not yours to take.”Jongin holds up his hands in defence and laughs, his eyes forming crescents. “Geez, just trying to help you out since you looked all disgusted when you just looked at it right now.” He pauses. “’Disgust’ is too mean of a word, right? Let’s say you looked revolted.”“I don’t need your help,” Kyungsoo mutters, beginning to walk away. “Plus, you should also know ‘disgust’ and ‘revolted’ are synonyms. You would know that if you listened in class.” What an idiot. People like this Jongin really irritated Kyungsoo; did they not come to school for education? His parents certainly didn’t send him to school to rollerblade in class, for fucks sake. Unfortunately, the sound of rollerblades across the cement followed, and the same figure appeared by his side. “Woah, who said I don’t go to class? I go to class. I probably have a better attendance record than you. I bet I’m in class more often than you.” He yawns. “Although it’s often to clean the chalkboard erasers, but it still counts.”Kyungsoo comes to a halt, causing the boy to stumble on his skates. “Why are you following me?”“Following you? Hm, I suppose I am.” He frowns, rubbing the back of his head. “I don’t know. Because you’re interesting, I guess.” Jongin suddenly grins at Kyungsoo but honestly? Kyungsoo’s unmoved. He didn’t really care if the imbecile found him ‘interesting’. “That’s nice. Now stop following me.” Kyungsoo turns on his heel and begins to walk in the opposite direction. His next class was in the other direction but he figures he can take the long way around if it meant ditching the parasite. “Okay, wait - ““What?” He was wasting studying time as he spent his time talking to Jongin.“I just wanted to know your name.”Kyungsoo considers not telling him. After all, why share a piece of information with him when they were never going to meet again? The campus was big enough for you to run into a stranger only once. But Kyungsoo realizes that the only way to get rid of the moronic skater was to just simply satisfy him. “Kyungsoo. Do Kyungsoo. Happy?”Jongin grins again. Just what was the fool so happy about? “Very.” Kyungsoo rolls his eyes and begins to walk again. Behind him, the mellow voice called after him: “It was nice to meet you, Kyungsoo. I hope to see you around some time soon!” Kyungsoo scoffs. Most definitely not.
The next day, Kyungsoo’s 3PM studying break is disrupted by the sound of rollerblades in the library.Kyungsoo looks up from his book, unamused as Jongin skates around the table he was sitting at once, twice and three times before coming to a halt next to him, grinning from ear to ear.“Told you we’d meet again,” he exclaims and Kyungsoo gives him a sarcastic smile before going back to his book, hoping that Jongin would get the hint that he didn’t want to talk to him. “What are you doing?”He supposes not.“Reading. You know, in the library.” Kyungsoo eyes the wheels on his feet. “Where rollerblading isn’t allowed.”Jongin scoffs, sliding into the wooden chair across from Kyungsoo. Great. “The librarian loves me. She won’t mind.” Kyungsoo stares at Jongin as he unstraps the shoes to-go then at his ridiculous hair, resting peacefully on top of his head and then back at Jongin to catch his eye as he throws his rollerblades onto the table. “What? You like my hair, huh? ” “No,” Kyungsoo replies simply. “I think it’s insane.”He laughs, leaning forwards in his chair. “Liar. You like my hair.” Kyungsoo glares at him, looking back to his book but he can’t focus because Jongin is still sitting in front of him and Jongin happened to smell like clean laundry and strawberries. Annoying, Kyungsoo looks back up at Jongin who smiles at him adoringly. “Can you go away? You’re annoying me.”He pouts. “That’s not very nice. Is it because you don’t have hair like mine?” He eyes Kyungsoo’s hair. “Your hair is okay. I mean, it’s boring but it’s okay. I can hook you up with my hair dresser if you’d like - ““I’m not jealous of your hair,” Kyungsoo interrupts, shutting his eyes shut. “Liar.” Jongin stands up, jumping on his chair and then stepping up onto the table. What was he -- “Everyone! I have an announcement!” Kyungsoo gawks in horror as the loud mouth looked down at him with a sleepish grin. “This boy over here, is named Kyungsoo and he, in fact, is jealous of my hair.”Kyungsoo holds his breath as the entire library stares at him. In the distant, Kyungsoo hears the librarian shouting and Jongin laughs again, hopping down from the table and quickly slips his feet into his rollerblades. Jongin looks at Kyungsoo, eyes twinkling before he winked. “Kim Jongin! How many times have I told you, you are not welcome in the library if you are going to make a commotion?!” The librarian shouts as she hurries over, rage in her eyes. Jongin stands up, stretching his back before rolling his neck. Incredible. Someone as stupid as him surely could not exist. Kyungsoo looks down at his book, just as the librarian approaches their table. As if he wanted the librarian to even get the idea that he was associated with such an agent provocateur.“You heard it here first, folks!” Jongin is still shouting in the library, his voice getting farther away but still loud in clear. “Do Kyungsoo - “ Kyungsoo can’t help but look up at the mention of his name only to see the skater point at him. “ -- loves my hair.” The librarian shoos Jongin out of the library (though she doesn’t have much trouble because he willingly skates out) and sighs, turning around to catch Kyungsoo’s eye. “Do you know him?”Kyungsoo shakes his head. The librarian’s eyes gleam as she stares at him over her magenta lens. “He certainly seemed to know you. Kyungsoo.”Kyungsoo laughs warily, closing his book. “Lucky guess? I’m leaving anyways so I won’t be of much trouble.”With all eyes on him, Kyungsoo hastily slides his chair across the wooden floor (cringing at the sound) and walks out of the library, his footsteps echoing in the empty study hall. Once outside, Kyungsoo sighs, leaning his head back as he closed his eyes. A massive headache was beginning to grow all because of the obnoxious skater. Who skates in a library anyways? “Daebak.” Kyungsoo turns around and comes face to - well, chest. Slowly, his gaze goes up and finds the giant staring down at him with an amazed face. Kyungsoo considers this: perhaps it was pretty odd that he got kicked out. He is, after all, a smart senior. He raises an eyebrow, studying the raven haired tree. Or maybe he was just as surprised that such an alien like Jongin went to the same boarding school. “What is it?” Kyungsoo finally asks and the student straightens, his eyes widen.“You know Kim Jongin?”Kyungsoo rubs the back of his head. “Um, no.”Chanyeol smirks, sneering. “Don’t lie now. I saw him with you with my very own eyes!” He takes another step towards Kyungsoo, who takes another step back. “I’m Park Chanyeol, leader of the Kim Jongin fanclub!” He grins, showing all his teeth as he holds two fingers to his chin.He has a fanclub? Kyungsoo mentally groans. “Fanclub? What is there to idolize about the idiot?”Chanyeol recoils, biting the knuckle of his index finger. “Aigoo. How pitiful.” His expression relaxes again as he takes another step forward (another step back for Kyungsoo). “But tell me, how did you get to know Kim Jongin? I mean, he’s popular but he isn’t seen with many…people. A lone wolf; that is Kim Jongin.”Dumbfounded, Kyungsoo stares the second biggest idiot at their boarding school. He considers going up to the admin and requesting the removal of some students. “Um,” Kyungsoo clears his throat. “I’m not associated with Jongin so I hope you can stop asking me questions about him.” With that, he turns on his heel and walks as fast as he can away from the lunatic, despite the calls he was shouting out.Kyungsoo just hoped that today was a coincidence and that he’d never have to see Jongin ever again.
“I need you to tutor a student,” Kyungsoo’s psychology professor says to him one day after a class. “Tutor?” Kyungsoo echoes, his eyes wide. “Oh, I don’t think…” He lets his voice trail off, letting his teacher fill in the blanks. Whatever the prof would think the reason was, Kyungsoo didn’t really mind. He just…didn’t want to do it. “I’d really appreciate it. The student’s a good person, overall. Causes some trouble here and there but, his intentions are always good in the end. I’d like for you to help him.”Kyungsoo sighs. So it looked like he’d have to come up with an excuse himself. “I’d love to help but I don’t know if I have enough time…” Which wasn’t a lie, really. Between other classes, homework, volunteer and homework, where would he find a slot to slip in tutoring?“Don’t be silly. Besides, if you help me I think I can bump up your mark a bit. Put it in as extra credit or whatnot. Although I probably can’t bring it up much with your mark being so high.” His professor laughs. “Think of it as a good deed to me then. Helping your favourite professor out, hm?” He pats Kyungsoo on the back, forcing him to nod solemnly. “When do you want me to meet your student?” Kyungsoo asks, giving him a meek smile.His professor thinks for a moment. “How about tomorrow? You can use my classroom.”“Fine.” Kyungsoo says his goodbyes, bowing before making his way to the door.“Oh, and Kyungsoo?” Kyungsoo turns around on his heel, one foot already out the door. “The student’s name is Jongin. Kim Jongin.”
“He can’t be that bad.”Kyungsoo turns to Jongdae, a classmate he liked to hang out with sometimes because he was one of the people that could keep up. “You don’t know the half of it. How have you not seen him? He has a fanclub.”“Fanclub? Man, he has to be pretty cool then, no?” Jongdae laughs, shoving his hands in his pockets as Kyungsoo groans. "Why do you hate him so much anyways? He seems like a nice enough guy.""Uh, for starters, he doesn't take his studies seriously and second of all, he seems troublesome. Rebellious. We're total opposites!" Kyungsoo exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. "You know, opposites attract," Jongdae sings, nudging him from the side as Kyungsoo rolled his eyes. “Maybe you should get to know him better. I mean, you’re already in this mess so might as well deal with it.”Shifting his bag on his shoulder, Kyungsoo considers this. “No, when you’re in a mess, you clean it up nicely.”“Never cry over spilt milk, Kyungsoo,” Jongdae teases, wagging a finger in his face. “I don’t want to sound rude but I could be doing better things that tutor someone like him,” Kyungsoo says, swatting his hand away. “Besides, who rides around a school with rollerblades? Rollerblades.”“I still can’t believe he does that. Are you sure this ‘Kim Jongin’ person is real or someone in your imagination? I mean, maybe all that studying has made you a little coo-coo.” Jongdae taps the side of Kyungsoo’s head, laughing again as he clutched to his stomach. “Then what’s your plan, Jimmy Neutron? How are you going to ‘clean it up nicely’?”
It’d be fine, right?His professor would understand that Kyungsoo suddenly had something really urgent to attend, and at last minute, needed to cancel today’s tutor session. The next tutor session, Kyungsoo would have to study for an exam and the one after, Kyungsoo had to suddenly babysit. Kyungsoo figures he’d come up with excuse after excuse until his teacher understood and just left him alone. It wasn’t being cowardly; he was making his own life easier. Selfish? Maybe but who wasn’t a little? Kyungsoo knocks a second time, glancing at his watch before reaching for the doorknob.“Professor?” Kyungsoo calls into the classroom. He takes a step in, closing the door behind him. “May I speak to you for a moment?”Kyungsoo sighs, walking to the closest desk and takes a seat, tapping his fingers. Fine. Perhaps he had gone to the bathroom, run to the office to drop off the attendance or was in a meeting. Fine. Kyungsoo would wait. It probably wouldn’t take long. Just then, the door clicks open, making Kyungsoo turn around in his seat, relieved. “Perfect timing. I was just waiting - ““Oops. Sorry to make you wait.” Jongin stands at the door, balancing on those dumb wheelies, bag in hand. Kyungsoo stares at him for a moment, amazed at his incredible timing before shaking his head.“Wheres Prof?”“Are you here to tell him you’re cancelling my tutor sessions?” Jongin asks, skating over, plopping himself in the seat next to Kyungsoo’s, beginning to undo his rollerblades. “Because he said you’d try to do that so he made me come an hour earlier than he told you.”Savage. “No,” Kyungsoo replies, folding his arms. “I was going to ask a question about his lecture but it’s fine now. I figured it out while I was waiting for you to show up. Which is incredibly rude of you, by the way. Making someone wait, I mean. I’m doing this out of my own time, you know.” “I said sorry.” Jongin wrinkles his nose, placing his skates on the table before pulling out a notebook from his bag. “Well, tutor away. Teach me all there is to know about psych.”“It’s not as easy as that.”“Then teach me why it isn’t as easy as that.”Kyungsoo gives him a look, making Jongin laugh. “Okay, you know what? No offence, Jongin, but I really can’t be here just fooling around with you.” Kyungsoo stands up, staring down at Jongin who wears an amused expression. It was annoying Kyungsoo. “So, tell prof that I tried but you’re just not concentrated enough.”“Oh, come on, Kyungsoo. Why are you always so uptight?”“Uptight?” Kyungsoo repeats, raising an eyebrow, slightly irritated. “I’m not uptight.”“Prove it.” Jongin leans back in his seat, wiggling the pencil he held in his hand. “There’s this concert out of town in a week. I have an extra ticket and the person who was originally coming with me decided to bail. It’s too late to sell them and I don’t want them to go to waste.”Kyungsoo already knows what he’s asking for but still, he questions Jongin: “What are you trying to say?”Jongin lets his head fall back so that he was staring up at the ceiling, his mouth in a small pout, as if he was thinking of the right words to say. Finally, he answers.“Come with me.”
It was practically impossible for Jongin to be asking him out because after all, they had barely known each other. Kyungsoo knew two facts about Jongin: 1.) his name 2.) he liked to rollerblade so really, even tutoring him was already a big task. And now, what? He wanted him to go to a concert out of town with him? The answer was simple, no?So why was Kyungsoo doodling in the side of his notebook while his teacher was discussing politics? Kyungsoo lets out a quiet groan, running his hand through his hair, frustrated. Maybe he was over thinking it. It’s possible Jongin was asking him to go as a friend. An acquaintance. Kyungsoo closes his eyes, massaging the back of his neck. But why? Well, Jongin had said he had an extra ticket that he didn’t want to go to waste, right? So, maybe, Kyungsoo was overreacting. Nothing to it.
The next day Jongin trails behind him, circling him when he got the chance, asking for him to go with him. "It'll be fun!" Jongin sing songs, skating beside Kyungsoo after he had picked him up from a class (god knows why he did). "We can get to know each other better!" "What about classes?""We'd be gone for just a day. You won't miss much."Kyungsoo scoffs. "Easy for you to say.""Come on! Kyungsoo, it'll be tons of fun! Trust me!" Kyungsoo wants to point out he barely knew him, let alone trust him but he's in a good mood because he had gotten his test back with pleasing results so he keeps his mouth shut. "Hey, how about this: come with me and you can stop tutoring me, yeah?"Kyungsoo stops short. "Just let me think about it, okay? Give me some room, Jongin. You've been bugging me all week."Jongin stares at him before nodding. "Okay. Sorry,” he says before rollerblading off.
“No?” Jongin towers over him, leaning against the door frame to his dorm. Kyungsoo manages a cough, shifting awkwardly on his feet. All the work he had done to find Jongin’s dorm, from asking strangers to studying maps, and here he was, in such a position. He stares at the ground and notices Jongin’s not wearing his rollerblades. Of course; who would wear rollerblades while in their own dorm? Kyungsoo, somehow, felt nervous. “Can't say I'm surprised. Oh well, too bad, I guess. It’s alright then. I’ll just find someone else.” Jongin gives him a small smile, shrugging before closing the door.That was it? Kyungsoo sighs, but for some reason, the heavy feeling in his chest wasn’t gone. If anything, it had gotten heavier.
Kyungsoo finds the boarding school is much too small to be the second largest boarding school in Korea. He realizes this because he begins to see Jongin everywhere. And when he doesn't see Jongin, he notices himself looking for him. "It's like he's haunting me," Kyungsoo explains to Jongdae one afternoon, scanning the area as the two of them worked on their assignments. "No, it's guilt, Kyungsoo. He's been nothing but nice to you and you shot him down for no valid reason. He even was willing to give up his psych mark." Jongdae stops typing, his fingers hovering mid-air. "You know, if it's bothering you so much, just tell him you'll go.""I already told him no," Kyungsoo groans, watching Jongdae work on his laptop. "Besides, you can't just retake up an offer you already declined. Have you no shame? What if he's already found someone to go? He has a fanclub, for fucks sake.""Have you tried asking?" "Would you?"Jongdae considers this. "Well, no, but then again I wouldn't have declined just because I'm a huge dick.""I'm not a dick," Kyungsoo snaps, making some people eating near them turn and give them dirty looks. "Besides, the concerts in two days. He should be leaving today to reach the city. Isn't it too last minute?"
“No. Besides, why can’t you go?”
“Um, class? I can’t afford to lose - “
“Oh, come on, Kyungsoo. I know you’re like the smart senior but really? Missing one day of class won’t kill you. Everyone’s skipped at least once.” Jongdae shakes his head, ruffling his hair. "You need to stop making excuses, Kyungsoo,” Jongdae scoffs, not bothering to look up from his screen. “Now quiet, this paper is due in fifteen minutes and I’m under the word minimum by 800 words.”
Was it true? Had Kyungsoo been making excuses?
Kyungsoo practically drags his feet across the floor as he makes his way back to his dorm. In a way, it felt weird not seeing Jongin or hearing the familiar sound of the wheels from his rollerblades clack over the building’s tile floors. What was it? The feeling in the pit of his stomach wouldn’t go away (no matter how many times he went to the washroom).
Maybe he had been too hard on Jongin.
Click, click, click, click.
Kyungsoo’s eyes widen and turn around to the sound, seeing Jongin’s familiar figure and bright purple rollerblades approach him. “Jongin!”
The younger male’s skating speed slows down as he reaches Kyungsoo. Jongin was already tall but the skates added another inch of height, making Kyungsoo seem even smaller. “Hey Kyungsoo.”
“The concert. It’s in - it’s tomorrow, isn’t it?” Jongin nods slowly, shoving his hands in his pocket. This seemed too much like kdrama’s, Kyungsoo thinks as he plays with his own fingers. “Um, I hope you have a fun time tomorrow with whoever you’re taking.”
Jongin looks at him weirdly before shrugging. “I wasn’t able to find someone.”
His unusual short and bland replies were making this harder for Kyungsoo. It’s not like he was asking him out. “I can go. If you want.”
He raises his eyebrow. “Yeah?”
Kyungsoo takes a deep breath. “Yeah.”
Shrugging, Jongin begins to skate away. “Okay. Meet me in Building B in two hours.”
After calling Jongdae and asking him to pick up papers from his profs for him tomorrow, Kyungsoo begins to pack his duffle bag. What is there to bring with you for an overnight trip out of town? Where was this ‘town’ anyways? Jongin could be kidnapping him for all he knew.
After an hour of packing and deciding what to wear, Kyungsoo manages to put together a decent amount of things in his bag before trudging down to Building B. While walking, Kyungsoo begins to think of Jongin. He had been doing a lot of that recently, he realizes.
Jongin was fairly cute. Hell, he was really attractive with his brown eyes and sleek black hair. He had a fit body, slender and tall; it made sense that he had a fanclub. He thinks back to the time when they first had met, Kyungsoo’s first impression of Jongin being that he was being chased out of a classroom. Had any teacher ever chased a student out of a classroom? If they hadn’t met like that, cake in Kyungsoo’s hand, Jongin in rollerblades and messy wind hair, would Kyungsoo’s first impression of Jongin been different?
Kyungsoo had never really thought of any guy, or anyone (besides his mother) this often. Was it weird? Did he...? Kyungsoo shakes his head. Impossible.
When he reaches Building B, Jongin is standing at a café, the stupid rollerblades still on his feet, holding two coffees and when Kyungsoo arrives, he hands one to him. “Here. We have to go catch a bus. It’s coming in a few minutes. We have to leave before a prof notices.”
Kyungsoo stares at the coffee in his hand, the steam beginning to heat up his face. “Wait, Jongin.” Kyungsoo calls out, causing the rollerblader to stop short. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Kyungsoo shrugs, adjusting the duffle bag on his shoulders. “You seem nice enough and I was really rude to you, I think.”
Jongin considers this, thinking for a minute before giving him a meek smile. “It’s fine. I’m not really type, I get it.”
“N-no, it’s because…” Kyungsoo rubs the sides of the coffee cup, thinking of the right words to say. “I don’t know. You might be my type?”
He sets down his coffee on the table, leaning on the side, as if waiting for Kyungsoo to finish. Why was he doing this? Jongin might not like him back and he would be even more embarrassed than he was right now. Jongin was probably used to this treatment anyways, with a fanclub. He wonders if he maybe should have looked up that Chanyeol kid first before doing this.
“I mean, I had this heavy feeling in my stomach ever since you asked me to come with you to the concert - “ Kyungsoo remembers it was against the rules of sneaking out and drops his voice. “ - And I thought it was because I ate something bad, or because I didn’t want to go but after I declined, the feeling still wasn’t gone. The feeling was with me till I’m here with you now. But really, the feeling never really leaves when I’m with you, I guess. I don’t know.”
Jongin laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Are you saying you like me?”
“Opposites attract?” Kyungsoo suggests, mentally grimacing at the choice of words. What a ditz. Kyungsoo would have to blame Jongdae for placing that phrase in his mind. “I think I wanted to go on this concert trip with you to learn about you more. Like why you wear those skates all the time and why you’re such a mischief-maker.”
“I’d like to learn more about you too. Like why you use words like mischief maker.” Jongin laughs, running a hand through his hair. “Plus, I think you’re pretty cute when you’re irritated. So, maybe when this out of town thing is over, we can go on…a real date.”
Kyungsoo nods, feeling the warmth from the coffee spread across his body. “I’d like that.”
Additional Notes: *Sung = victorious, Yeong = person with courage
❊ title: opposites attract
❊ pairings: kai/d.o
❊ rating: pg13
❊ word count: 4.8k
❊ summary: Kyungsoo thinks anyone who doesn’t spend their time in school concentrating isn’t worth his time - especially someone who rides rollerblades around the campus. Meet Kim Jongin: your favourite troublemaker who likes to skate instead of walk.
❊ a/n: I really liked writing this fic because Jongin was given a different persona than he usually is in fics. Whereas he’s usually the cold, chic and mysterious, he’s a bit different in this! Easily put, it’s more Jongin/Kyungsoo rather than Kai/Kyungsoo, if you get my gist. Kind of fast paced therefore unrealistic so this is your warning! Anyways, shoutout to my favourite Misaeng fan for being ! Thanks also go to mods for running this fic exchange and a last thank you to anyone who reads + comments! Your love is always appreciated!
“Oppa!”Kyungsoo stops in his tracks and he looks to his left where there’s a huddled group of three girls, one holding a box wrapped neatly in ribbon. He raises an eyebrow, already dreading what was to happen. Frankly, it seemed like they’d let anyone into the boarding school nowadays, no matter how expensive. Didn’t these children have better things to do, like study, rather than fool around?The girl in the front holds out the box bashfully, bowing her head slightly. “I stayed up late last night to build this cake for you.” Kyungsoo stares at the box in her hand, at her squealing friends and then back at the girl. Kyungsoo hopes she doesn’t actually think he knows her name.Kyungsoo is about to open his mouth and tell her to keep her cake but there’s a yell from the building behind them, causing the four to glance at the math department. A tall, tanned boy rolls out the door, grinning widely as he ducks his head, avoiding the teacher’s attempt of twacking him with a newspaper. Kyungsoo glances down and scoffs at the appearance of roller blades on the rose haired boy’s feet. It’s astonishing to see the teacher chase the student around for a while before the teacher gives up and goes inside to call authority. “Aigoo, they let anyone into boarding school nowadays,” one of the girls behind him tsk’ed and Kyungsoo couldn’t agree more. “Yah, Kim Jongin! When will you stay out of trouble?”The rollerblader looks over to them and his smile doesn’t fade once as he skates over to the group, coming to a halt right next to Kyungsoo. He glances at the cake in her hands and then at Kyungsoo before laughing. “Yah, Sungyeong, you’d think with your name you’d be a little more successful with your confessions*.”Sungyeong huffs and Kyungsoo stares up at the supposedly Jongin. Rollerblades with a school uniform? Kyungsoo is pretty sure that’s against the rules. He’s taller than he looked a few seconds ago and just to spite the boy who was already beginning to annoy him, Kyungsoo bitterly picks at the box in the girl’s hands. “Thank you. I will eat it well.”Jongin grimaces, recoiling with disgust as Sungyeon sticks out her tongue with her friends giggling. “I’ll see you around then,” Sungyeong says, bowing slightly before glaring at Jongin as she walked off.Kyungsoo watches as the three girls ran off, all in hysterics just because Kyungsoo had accepted her cake. Kyungsoo opens the box a bit, just to peek at the cake and saw that it was mint. Yuck. Was that legal? A mint cake?“Nice. You did her a good deed. Are you actually going to eat it though? Because if not, dessert is my favourite meal. Just saying.”He looks over to the tall roller bladder with no expression. “It wasn’t given to you therefore it’s not yours to take.”Jongin holds up his hands in defence and laughs, his eyes forming crescents. “Geez, just trying to help you out since you looked all disgusted when you just looked at it right now.” He pauses. “’Disgust’ is too mean of a word, right? Let’s say you looked revolted.”“I don’t need your help,” Kyungsoo mutters, beginning to walk away. “Plus, you should also know ‘disgust’ and ‘revolted’ are synonyms. You would know that if you listened in class.” What an idiot. People like this Jongin really irritated Kyungsoo; did they not come to school for education? His parents certainly didn’t send him to school to rollerblade in class, for fucks sake. Unfortunately, the sound of rollerblades across the cement followed, and the same figure appeared by his side. “Woah, who said I don’t go to class? I go to class. I probably have a better attendance record than you. I bet I’m in class more often than you.” He yawns. “Although it’s often to clean the chalkboard erasers, but it still counts.”Kyungsoo comes to a halt, causing the boy to stumble on his skates. “Why are you following me?”“Following you? Hm, I suppose I am.” He frowns, rubbing the back of his head. “I don’t know. Because you’re interesting, I guess.” Jongin suddenly grins at Kyungsoo but honestly? Kyungsoo’s unmoved. He didn’t really care if the imbecile found him ‘interesting’. “That’s nice. Now stop following me.” Kyungsoo turns on his heel and begins to walk in the opposite direction. His next class was in the other direction but he figures he can take the long way around if it meant ditching the parasite. “Okay, wait - ““What?” He was wasting studying time as he spent his time talking to Jongin.“I just wanted to know your name.”Kyungsoo considers not telling him. After all, why share a piece of information with him when they were never going to meet again? The campus was big enough for you to run into a stranger only once. But Kyungsoo realizes that the only way to get rid of the moronic skater was to just simply satisfy him. “Kyungsoo. Do Kyungsoo. Happy?”Jongin grins again. Just what was the fool so happy about? “Very.” Kyungsoo rolls his eyes and begins to walk again. Behind him, the mellow voice called after him: “It was nice to meet you, Kyungsoo. I hope to see you around some time soon!” Kyungsoo scoffs. Most definitely not.
The next day, Kyungsoo’s 3PM studying break is disrupted by the sound of rollerblades in the library.Kyungsoo looks up from his book, unamused as Jongin skates around the table he was sitting at once, twice and three times before coming to a halt next to him, grinning from ear to ear.“Told you we’d meet again,” he exclaims and Kyungsoo gives him a sarcastic smile before going back to his book, hoping that Jongin would get the hint that he didn’t want to talk to him. “What are you doing?”He supposes not.“Reading. You know, in the library.” Kyungsoo eyes the wheels on his feet. “Where rollerblading isn’t allowed.”Jongin scoffs, sliding into the wooden chair across from Kyungsoo. Great. “The librarian loves me. She won’t mind.” Kyungsoo stares at Jongin as he unstraps the shoes to-go then at his ridiculous hair, resting peacefully on top of his head and then back at Jongin to catch his eye as he throws his rollerblades onto the table. “What? You like my hair, huh? ” “No,” Kyungsoo replies simply. “I think it’s insane.”He laughs, leaning forwards in his chair. “Liar. You like my hair.” Kyungsoo glares at him, looking back to his book but he can’t focus because Jongin is still sitting in front of him and Jongin happened to smell like clean laundry and strawberries. Annoying, Kyungsoo looks back up at Jongin who smiles at him adoringly. “Can you go away? You’re annoying me.”He pouts. “That’s not very nice. Is it because you don’t have hair like mine?” He eyes Kyungsoo’s hair. “Your hair is okay. I mean, it’s boring but it’s okay. I can hook you up with my hair dresser if you’d like - ““I’m not jealous of your hair,” Kyungsoo interrupts, shutting his eyes shut. “Liar.” Jongin stands up, jumping on his chair and then stepping up onto the table. What was he -- “Everyone! I have an announcement!” Kyungsoo gawks in horror as the loud mouth looked down at him with a sleepish grin. “This boy over here, is named Kyungsoo and he, in fact, is jealous of my hair.”Kyungsoo holds his breath as the entire library stares at him. In the distant, Kyungsoo hears the librarian shouting and Jongin laughs again, hopping down from the table and quickly slips his feet into his rollerblades. Jongin looks at Kyungsoo, eyes twinkling before he winked. “Kim Jongin! How many times have I told you, you are not welcome in the library if you are going to make a commotion?!” The librarian shouts as she hurries over, rage in her eyes. Jongin stands up, stretching his back before rolling his neck. Incredible. Someone as stupid as him surely could not exist. Kyungsoo looks down at his book, just as the librarian approaches their table. As if he wanted the librarian to even get the idea that he was associated with such an agent provocateur.“You heard it here first, folks!” Jongin is still shouting in the library, his voice getting farther away but still loud in clear. “Do Kyungsoo - “ Kyungsoo can’t help but look up at the mention of his name only to see the skater point at him. “ -- loves my hair.” The librarian shoos Jongin out of the library (though she doesn’t have much trouble because he willingly skates out) and sighs, turning around to catch Kyungsoo’s eye. “Do you know him?”Kyungsoo shakes his head. The librarian’s eyes gleam as she stares at him over her magenta lens. “He certainly seemed to know you. Kyungsoo.”Kyungsoo laughs warily, closing his book. “Lucky guess? I’m leaving anyways so I won’t be of much trouble.”With all eyes on him, Kyungsoo hastily slides his chair across the wooden floor (cringing at the sound) and walks out of the library, his footsteps echoing in the empty study hall. Once outside, Kyungsoo sighs, leaning his head back as he closed his eyes. A massive headache was beginning to grow all because of the obnoxious skater. Who skates in a library anyways? “Daebak.” Kyungsoo turns around and comes face to - well, chest. Slowly, his gaze goes up and finds the giant staring down at him with an amazed face. Kyungsoo considers this: perhaps it was pretty odd that he got kicked out. He is, after all, a smart senior. He raises an eyebrow, studying the raven haired tree. Or maybe he was just as surprised that such an alien like Jongin went to the same boarding school. “What is it?” Kyungsoo finally asks and the student straightens, his eyes widen.“You know Kim Jongin?”Kyungsoo rubs the back of his head. “Um, no.”Chanyeol smirks, sneering. “Don’t lie now. I saw him with you with my very own eyes!” He takes another step towards Kyungsoo, who takes another step back. “I’m Park Chanyeol, leader of the Kim Jongin fanclub!” He grins, showing all his teeth as he holds two fingers to his chin.He has a fanclub? Kyungsoo mentally groans. “Fanclub? What is there to idolize about the idiot?”Chanyeol recoils, biting the knuckle of his index finger. “Aigoo. How pitiful.” His expression relaxes again as he takes another step forward (another step back for Kyungsoo). “But tell me, how did you get to know Kim Jongin? I mean, he’s popular but he isn’t seen with many…people. A lone wolf; that is Kim Jongin.”Dumbfounded, Kyungsoo stares the second biggest idiot at their boarding school. He considers going up to the admin and requesting the removal of some students. “Um,” Kyungsoo clears his throat. “I’m not associated with Jongin so I hope you can stop asking me questions about him.” With that, he turns on his heel and walks as fast as he can away from the lunatic, despite the calls he was shouting out.Kyungsoo just hoped that today was a coincidence and that he’d never have to see Jongin ever again.
“I need you to tutor a student,” Kyungsoo’s psychology professor says to him one day after a class. “Tutor?” Kyungsoo echoes, his eyes wide. “Oh, I don’t think…” He lets his voice trail off, letting his teacher fill in the blanks. Whatever the prof would think the reason was, Kyungsoo didn’t really mind. He just…didn’t want to do it. “I’d really appreciate it. The student’s a good person, overall. Causes some trouble here and there but, his intentions are always good in the end. I’d like for you to help him.”Kyungsoo sighs. So it looked like he’d have to come up with an excuse himself. “I’d love to help but I don’t know if I have enough time…” Which wasn’t a lie, really. Between other classes, homework, volunteer and homework, where would he find a slot to slip in tutoring?“Don’t be silly. Besides, if you help me I think I can bump up your mark a bit. Put it in as extra credit or whatnot. Although I probably can’t bring it up much with your mark being so high.” His professor laughs. “Think of it as a good deed to me then. Helping your favourite professor out, hm?” He pats Kyungsoo on the back, forcing him to nod solemnly. “When do you want me to meet your student?” Kyungsoo asks, giving him a meek smile.His professor thinks for a moment. “How about tomorrow? You can use my classroom.”“Fine.” Kyungsoo says his goodbyes, bowing before making his way to the door.“Oh, and Kyungsoo?” Kyungsoo turns around on his heel, one foot already out the door. “The student’s name is Jongin. Kim Jongin.”
“He can’t be that bad.”Kyungsoo turns to Jongdae, a classmate he liked to hang out with sometimes because he was one of the people that could keep up. “You don’t know the half of it. How have you not seen him? He has a fanclub.”“Fanclub? Man, he has to be pretty cool then, no?” Jongdae laughs, shoving his hands in his pockets as Kyungsoo groans. "Why do you hate him so much anyways? He seems like a nice enough guy.""Uh, for starters, he doesn't take his studies seriously and second of all, he seems troublesome. Rebellious. We're total opposites!" Kyungsoo exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. "You know, opposites attract," Jongdae sings, nudging him from the side as Kyungsoo rolled his eyes. “Maybe you should get to know him better. I mean, you’re already in this mess so might as well deal with it.”Shifting his bag on his shoulder, Kyungsoo considers this. “No, when you’re in a mess, you clean it up nicely.”“Never cry over spilt milk, Kyungsoo,” Jongdae teases, wagging a finger in his face. “I don’t want to sound rude but I could be doing better things that tutor someone like him,” Kyungsoo says, swatting his hand away. “Besides, who rides around a school with rollerblades? Rollerblades.”“I still can’t believe he does that. Are you sure this ‘Kim Jongin’ person is real or someone in your imagination? I mean, maybe all that studying has made you a little coo-coo.” Jongdae taps the side of Kyungsoo’s head, laughing again as he clutched to his stomach. “Then what’s your plan, Jimmy Neutron? How are you going to ‘clean it up nicely’?”
It’d be fine, right?His professor would understand that Kyungsoo suddenly had something really urgent to attend, and at last minute, needed to cancel today’s tutor session. The next tutor session, Kyungsoo would have to study for an exam and the one after, Kyungsoo had to suddenly babysit. Kyungsoo figures he’d come up with excuse after excuse until his teacher understood and just left him alone. It wasn’t being cowardly; he was making his own life easier. Selfish? Maybe but who wasn’t a little? Kyungsoo knocks a second time, glancing at his watch before reaching for the doorknob.“Professor?” Kyungsoo calls into the classroom. He takes a step in, closing the door behind him. “May I speak to you for a moment?”Kyungsoo sighs, walking to the closest desk and takes a seat, tapping his fingers. Fine. Perhaps he had gone to the bathroom, run to the office to drop off the attendance or was in a meeting. Fine. Kyungsoo would wait. It probably wouldn’t take long. Just then, the door clicks open, making Kyungsoo turn around in his seat, relieved. “Perfect timing. I was just waiting - ““Oops. Sorry to make you wait.” Jongin stands at the door, balancing on those dumb wheelies, bag in hand. Kyungsoo stares at him for a moment, amazed at his incredible timing before shaking his head.“Wheres Prof?”“Are you here to tell him you’re cancelling my tutor sessions?” Jongin asks, skating over, plopping himself in the seat next to Kyungsoo’s, beginning to undo his rollerblades. “Because he said you’d try to do that so he made me come an hour earlier than he told you.”Savage. “No,” Kyungsoo replies, folding his arms. “I was going to ask a question about his lecture but it’s fine now. I figured it out while I was waiting for you to show up. Which is incredibly rude of you, by the way. Making someone wait, I mean. I’m doing this out of my own time, you know.” “I said sorry.” Jongin wrinkles his nose, placing his skates on the table before pulling out a notebook from his bag. “Well, tutor away. Teach me all there is to know about psych.”“It’s not as easy as that.”“Then teach me why it isn’t as easy as that.”Kyungsoo gives him a look, making Jongin laugh. “Okay, you know what? No offence, Jongin, but I really can’t be here just fooling around with you.” Kyungsoo stands up, staring down at Jongin who wears an amused expression. It was annoying Kyungsoo. “So, tell prof that I tried but you’re just not concentrated enough.”“Oh, come on, Kyungsoo. Why are you always so uptight?”“Uptight?” Kyungsoo repeats, raising an eyebrow, slightly irritated. “I’m not uptight.”“Prove it.” Jongin leans back in his seat, wiggling the pencil he held in his hand. “There’s this concert out of town in a week. I have an extra ticket and the person who was originally coming with me decided to bail. It’s too late to sell them and I don’t want them to go to waste.”Kyungsoo already knows what he’s asking for but still, he questions Jongin: “What are you trying to say?”Jongin lets his head fall back so that he was staring up at the ceiling, his mouth in a small pout, as if he was thinking of the right words to say. Finally, he answers.“Come with me.”
It was practically impossible for Jongin to be asking him out because after all, they had barely known each other. Kyungsoo knew two facts about Jongin: 1.) his name 2.) he liked to rollerblade so really, even tutoring him was already a big task. And now, what? He wanted him to go to a concert out of town with him? The answer was simple, no?So why was Kyungsoo doodling in the side of his notebook while his teacher was discussing politics? Kyungsoo lets out a quiet groan, running his hand through his hair, frustrated. Maybe he was over thinking it. It’s possible Jongin was asking him to go as a friend. An acquaintance. Kyungsoo closes his eyes, massaging the back of his neck. But why? Well, Jongin had said he had an extra ticket that he didn’t want to go to waste, right? So, maybe, Kyungsoo was overreacting. Nothing to it.
The next day Jongin trails behind him, circling him when he got the chance, asking for him to go with him. "It'll be fun!" Jongin sing songs, skating beside Kyungsoo after he had picked him up from a class (god knows why he did). "We can get to know each other better!" "What about classes?""We'd be gone for just a day. You won't miss much."Kyungsoo scoffs. "Easy for you to say.""Come on! Kyungsoo, it'll be tons of fun! Trust me!" Kyungsoo wants to point out he barely knew him, let alone trust him but he's in a good mood because he had gotten his test back with pleasing results so he keeps his mouth shut. "Hey, how about this: come with me and you can stop tutoring me, yeah?"Kyungsoo stops short. "Just let me think about it, okay? Give me some room, Jongin. You've been bugging me all week."Jongin stares at him before nodding. "Okay. Sorry,” he says before rollerblading off.
“No?” Jongin towers over him, leaning against the door frame to his dorm. Kyungsoo manages a cough, shifting awkwardly on his feet. All the work he had done to find Jongin’s dorm, from asking strangers to studying maps, and here he was, in such a position. He stares at the ground and notices Jongin’s not wearing his rollerblades. Of course; who would wear rollerblades while in their own dorm? Kyungsoo, somehow, felt nervous. “Can't say I'm surprised. Oh well, too bad, I guess. It’s alright then. I’ll just find someone else.” Jongin gives him a small smile, shrugging before closing the door.That was it? Kyungsoo sighs, but for some reason, the heavy feeling in his chest wasn’t gone. If anything, it had gotten heavier.
Kyungsoo finds the boarding school is much too small to be the second largest boarding school in Korea. He realizes this because he begins to see Jongin everywhere. And when he doesn't see Jongin, he notices himself looking for him. "It's like he's haunting me," Kyungsoo explains to Jongdae one afternoon, scanning the area as the two of them worked on their assignments. "No, it's guilt, Kyungsoo. He's been nothing but nice to you and you shot him down for no valid reason. He even was willing to give up his psych mark." Jongdae stops typing, his fingers hovering mid-air. "You know, if it's bothering you so much, just tell him you'll go.""I already told him no," Kyungsoo groans, watching Jongdae work on his laptop. "Besides, you can't just retake up an offer you already declined. Have you no shame? What if he's already found someone to go? He has a fanclub, for fucks sake.""Have you tried asking?" "Would you?"Jongdae considers this. "Well, no, but then again I wouldn't have declined just because I'm a huge dick.""I'm not a dick," Kyungsoo snaps, making some people eating near them turn and give them dirty looks. "Besides, the concerts in two days. He should be leaving today to reach the city. Isn't it too last minute?"
“No. Besides, why can’t you go?”
“Um, class? I can’t afford to lose - “
“Oh, come on, Kyungsoo. I know you’re like the smart senior but really? Missing one day of class won’t kill you. Everyone’s skipped at least once.” Jongdae shakes his head, ruffling his hair. "You need to stop making excuses, Kyungsoo,” Jongdae scoffs, not bothering to look up from his screen. “Now quiet, this paper is due in fifteen minutes and I’m under the word minimum by 800 words.”
Was it true? Had Kyungsoo been making excuses?
Kyungsoo practically drags his feet across the floor as he makes his way back to his dorm. In a way, it felt weird not seeing Jongin or hearing the familiar sound of the wheels from his rollerblades clack over the building’s tile floors. What was it? The feeling in the pit of his stomach wouldn’t go away (no matter how many times he went to the washroom).
Maybe he had been too hard on Jongin.
Click, click, click, click.
Kyungsoo’s eyes widen and turn around to the sound, seeing Jongin’s familiar figure and bright purple rollerblades approach him. “Jongin!”
The younger male’s skating speed slows down as he reaches Kyungsoo. Jongin was already tall but the skates added another inch of height, making Kyungsoo seem even smaller. “Hey Kyungsoo.”
“The concert. It’s in - it’s tomorrow, isn’t it?” Jongin nods slowly, shoving his hands in his pocket. This seemed too much like kdrama’s, Kyungsoo thinks as he plays with his own fingers. “Um, I hope you have a fun time tomorrow with whoever you’re taking.”
Jongin looks at him weirdly before shrugging. “I wasn’t able to find someone.”
His unusual short and bland replies were making this harder for Kyungsoo. It’s not like he was asking him out. “I can go. If you want.”
He raises his eyebrow. “Yeah?”
Kyungsoo takes a deep breath. “Yeah.”
Shrugging, Jongin begins to skate away. “Okay. Meet me in Building B in two hours.”
After calling Jongdae and asking him to pick up papers from his profs for him tomorrow, Kyungsoo begins to pack his duffle bag. What is there to bring with you for an overnight trip out of town? Where was this ‘town’ anyways? Jongin could be kidnapping him for all he knew.
After an hour of packing and deciding what to wear, Kyungsoo manages to put together a decent amount of things in his bag before trudging down to Building B. While walking, Kyungsoo begins to think of Jongin. He had been doing a lot of that recently, he realizes.
Jongin was fairly cute. Hell, he was really attractive with his brown eyes and sleek black hair. He had a fit body, slender and tall; it made sense that he had a fanclub. He thinks back to the time when they first had met, Kyungsoo’s first impression of Jongin being that he was being chased out of a classroom. Had any teacher ever chased a student out of a classroom? If they hadn’t met like that, cake in Kyungsoo’s hand, Jongin in rollerblades and messy wind hair, would Kyungsoo’s first impression of Jongin been different?
Kyungsoo had never really thought of any guy, or anyone (besides his mother) this often. Was it weird? Did he...? Kyungsoo shakes his head. Impossible.
When he reaches Building B, Jongin is standing at a café, the stupid rollerblades still on his feet, holding two coffees and when Kyungsoo arrives, he hands one to him. “Here. We have to go catch a bus. It’s coming in a few minutes. We have to leave before a prof notices.”
Kyungsoo stares at the coffee in his hand, the steam beginning to heat up his face. “Wait, Jongin.” Kyungsoo calls out, causing the rollerblader to stop short. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Kyungsoo shrugs, adjusting the duffle bag on his shoulders. “You seem nice enough and I was really rude to you, I think.”
Jongin considers this, thinking for a minute before giving him a meek smile. “It’s fine. I’m not really type, I get it.”
“N-no, it’s because…” Kyungsoo rubs the sides of the coffee cup, thinking of the right words to say. “I don’t know. You might be my type?”
He sets down his coffee on the table, leaning on the side, as if waiting for Kyungsoo to finish. Why was he doing this? Jongin might not like him back and he would be even more embarrassed than he was right now. Jongin was probably used to this treatment anyways, with a fanclub. He wonders if he maybe should have looked up that Chanyeol kid first before doing this.
“I mean, I had this heavy feeling in my stomach ever since you asked me to come with you to the concert - “ Kyungsoo remembers it was against the rules of sneaking out and drops his voice. “ - And I thought it was because I ate something bad, or because I didn’t want to go but after I declined, the feeling still wasn’t gone. The feeling was with me till I’m here with you now. But really, the feeling never really leaves when I’m with you, I guess. I don’t know.”
Jongin laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Are you saying you like me?”
“Opposites attract?” Kyungsoo suggests, mentally grimacing at the choice of words. What a ditz. Kyungsoo would have to blame Jongdae for placing that phrase in his mind. “I think I wanted to go on this concert trip with you to learn about you more. Like why you wear those skates all the time and why you’re such a mischief-maker.”
“I’d like to learn more about you too. Like why you use words like mischief maker.” Jongin laughs, running a hand through his hair. “Plus, I think you’re pretty cute when you’re irritated. So, maybe when this out of town thing is over, we can go on…a real date.”
Kyungsoo nods, feeling the warmth from the coffee spread across his body. “I’d like that.”
Additional Notes: *Sung = victorious, Yeong = person with courage