what is love? [1/2]
Title: what is love?
Pairing: Sehun/Luhan, side!Kai/Kyungsoo
Rating: g
Summary: Sehun and Luhan tries to find the meaning of love never knowing that they knew it all along. Luhan shields his heart from Sehun, refusing to fall for his younger friend. Can Sehun break the wall around Luhan’s heart?
CHAPTER 1 - In which we'll know the value of Milk
"Why are you crying?" The 10-year-old Luhan asked the skinny boy who was sobbing alone in one of the park swings.
"Ith becauthe they laugh at me... They thsay I talk funny." The boy cried some more. Rubbing his eyes with both hands. "They thsay am a lothser." A fresh bout of tears followed.
"You're not!" Luhan told the kid. His heart went out to the boy who was being made fun of because of his lisp. He doesn't want to see anyone being bullied.
"But ith true. My friendths thay thso." The kid said dejectedly.
"Well, don't believe them. If they say that about you then they're not really your friends. I can be your friend. I do need friends. My name's Luhan." He waited for the kid to look at him. The boy raised his watery eyes to stare at Luhan.
"You look different..." The boy told him.
"Maybe because I'm chinese." Luhan explained. "But I still don't know your name."
"Ith Thehun... So you’re from.. Tschina? But you speak Korean?" The boy asked, confused. Luhan felt relieved to see Sehun stopped crying.
"I learned a little bit before I came here. But I still got to study. I'm new here so I don't know anybody yet. Will you help me?" Luhan said with a smile.
"But I'm juth thseven.. I don't know too much." Sehun said hesitantly.
"But I think you're a bright kid and I'll learn a lot from you. So what do you say?" Luhan held out his hand to Sehun. "Friends?"
The boy reached for his hand and smiled at him for the first time. "Thure!"
The boy jumped and went on talking a hundred miles a minute, some of the words way beyond Luhan's korean vocabulary. But he didn't stop Sehun. He just smiled at his enthusiasm.
"You're going to be my beth bethfriend." Sehun finished. And they were. Bestfriends.
They did everything together. Sehun was always there at Luhan's doorstep every morning, waiting to take him to a new place in the neighborhood. The first few months of living in Seoul was hard for Luhan since it was the first time he left his home in the mainland and everything around him was different from what he's used to. It was also difficult to learn a new language when he hasn't even mastered his Chinese fully. But somehow with Sehun's presence, everything became a little easier. Well, if not easier it was certainly fun, though.
Sehun always did something that will make Luhan laugh. He likes to tell jokes and although Luhan understands only about a half of them, he still thinks his friend is funny. He thinks it's the way Sehun talks with his hilarious expressions and that endearing lisp of his.
Sehun still feels insecure about the way he talks. As his best friend, Luhan believes it's his duty to help Sehun get over it. Positive reinforcement, right? That's the way to go. So he made it a point to always encourage Sehun to talk with people more and participate in class activities. Like that one time during middle school that forever changed the way Luhan will look at milk.
"Are you thure... ehem... sure that this is ok?" Sehun asked Luhan. He was standing in front of his friend holding a piece of paper while Luhan was sitting on a park bench.
"Yes, I'm sure. Now stop stalling and let me hear you're poem."
"I'm not really good with this. Maybe, I'll just pass." Sehun said. “Or I'll just dance in front of class tomorrow."
"Sehunnie, it's your literature class. Why would you dance in front of them?" Luhan asked patiently.
"I'll just say my body is like a poem?"
"Read it, now."
"Milk.." Sehun paused, looked up from the paper and gazed at Luhan.
"Milk?" Luhan asked. "Anyways, go on."
Sehun proceeded to read:
MILK
Milk from School
Top Grade Milk
When You Drink the Milk It has a Rich taste…
"You're laughing!" Sehun accused.
Luhan, who was trying hard not to laugh answered, "No, I'm not! Just go on."
Sehun still looked accusingly at Luhan but he continued:
In the winter, Milk is Aromatic
Milk with Calcium
Double the times better than Normal Milk
Milk with 8g Fat
He looked at Luhan expectantly.
"Uh... that was enlightening." Luhan bit his lip.
"I knew it! I thsuck!" The 12-year-old-Sehun pouted.
"No, you don't. How many times do I have to tell you that? Maybe you just have to write something that you're really interested in. Write about something you love."
"Can I write about you?"
Luhan was a little surprised with Sehun's question. "Well, I'm not that interesting." He said with a little laugh.
"You're someone I love." The boy said with a shrug.
Luhan didn't know what to say, so he did what he always does when Sehun says something impertinent. He flicked the younger boy's nose with his fingers.
"Ow!" Sehun rubbed his nose. "Just wait, I'll be taller than you someday! So tall that you won't reach my nose any longer!"
"You wish." Luhan said with a smirk.
And maybe Sehun did wish a lot since after a few years he grew taller than Luhan, though not much since the older guy can still reach his nose and can still definitely give it a flick whenever he wants to. With Luhan's help, Sehun became more open with people. That's when they became friends with Jongin, Kyungsoo and Chanyeol. They saw the three friends hanging out in the park, Kyungsoo singing, Chanyeol playing the guitar and Jongin dancing to the beat. Jongin was already Sehun's classmate but they have never spoken with each other before. But seeing that they both love dancing, they became fast friends. Luhan felt ancient whenever he was with them and he said as much to Sehun but the kid just told him that he looks the youngest anyway.
Some afternoons, they spend their time in the park with Jongin and Sehun hurting their backs dancing (and wrestling), Luhan and Kyungsoo singing duets and Chanyeol... chasing butterflies. But most of the time, Sehun and Luhan spend it together talking about their plans for the future. Luhan already decided that he wants to be a singer so he worked hard to pass the entrance exam for the Seoul University of Performing Arts. And he did pass.
Sehun felt depressed when Luhan graduated high school, saying that they won't get to hang out so much any longer but he soon found a solution to that. Luhan was surprised the first time he saw Sehun at the street corner near the bubble tea place, waiting for him that day. And the day after. And the day after the next. So it became kind of a ritual. Sehun will wait for him; they'll get bubble tea and walk home together.
CHAPTER 2 - In which we learn how to count
LuHan felt a hot blush starting from his neck climbing towards his scalp. He really can't take it but he couldn't look away either. Sehun was once again doing that dastardly thing of waiting for him at the building entrance and making a heart sign with his hands when he sees Luhan approach. Luhan can hear his classmates whispering and pointing at Sehun and so he hurried to him to stop him from embarassing himself, and LuHan, further.
"Sehunnie, what are you doing?"
"Luhan-ssi! Just came to pick you up as usual. Let's walk home together." Sehun said with a big smile.
Luhan felt a strong urge to say no but what came out was an "Okay."
That's actually his problem. Saying no to Sehun. He just can't. Everytime he starts to say it, he chokes on the word and ends up saying yes, all the time. Maybe its because of Sehun's earnest expression or Sehun's sweet puppy eyes (Yeah, he's a sucker for those) or whatever. He just can't say no.
"You know, our dance department is gonna have this big, really big, showcase and I'm gonna be in it! Cool, huh?" Sehun said excitedly as they were walking outside the university gates.
"That's great." Luhan said distractedly. Sehun had his arm linked to Luhan's. He kept on noticing people looking at them and whispering. Not bragging or anything but he really is one of the most popular guys in school. Always on top of his class and very talented to boot. He was dubbed the 'Angel' of the Voice Department in their performing arts school. Aside from his extraordinary good looks, the teachers say that he can bring the audience to tears when he sings. But he feels that it's not the reason why they kept looking in his direction today.
Luhan looked at Sehun. He just entered the university having passed the auditions last semester. He is quickly becoming popular because he really is a great dancer and he has high marks in the looks department as well with his milky white skin and soulful eyes. But Luhan knows it's not the reason for the attention, either. He knows it's because they're together.
They know Luhan has been confessed to a lot. And he has kindly rejected every one of them, saying that he's focusing on his studies and he has no time for relationships right now. But seeing as how he was always with Sehun, everyone will think that he was just saving himself for him. A younger guy - a freshie who is 3 years younger than him in age and atleast a decade younger in mind.
Luhan didn't want people to think that and he had already denied that they have a relationship more than a million times. But how will they believe him if Sehun shows up everyday, dogging his heels and acts as if.. as if they were a couple. Luhan's mind shied away from the thought. He was just a younger brother to him, right?
"Your school is great! I knew I was right to study here. Not only do I get to be with you, I also really get to dance!" Sehun beamed at Luhan.
"I told you that being with me shouldn't just be your only consideration in choosing a university. What if our programs really sucked, what would've you done then?" Luhan tried to talk some sense into Sehun.
"Well, I wouldn't care so much. Atleast I get to walk home with you everyday, that's more important to me."
"You are... I give up." Luhan shook his head and flicked Sehun's nose with his fingers.
"Ouch? That hurts a bit this time." Sehun complained.
"That's the idea."
Luhan felt a lot older when he went into college. It might be the environment, the people or a change of priorities perhaps? It's like he entered a new world and he has to change or else he'll fall apart. The subjects were tougher, the training more rigorous. He became more serious with his plans for his future. He had assignments to do and the musical piece for the recital to practice so he was not really sure what he was doing with Sehun in the bubbletea shop as if he has all night to relax.
"I'm getting chocolate today, what'll be yours?" Sehun asked. Luhan already tasted all the flavors about a hundred times each.
"Just choose for me."
Sehun happily sauntered off to the counter to get their orders. Luhan sat at their regular table and sighed. A year ago, Sehun told him that he wanted to go to Luhan's school for college so that they can be together more often, atleast until Luhan graduates. Luhan had some doubts if going to the same school will be okay for them both. He knew that Sehun thinks he is in love with him, everybody knows it. He started confessing to Luhan since he was sixteen and he's now eighteen. He always treats it as a joke, but Luhan knew he couldn't take much more of it. Cause what if he lets down his guard? Total disaster.
Sehun's a great guy. Anyone will be lucky to have him as a boyfriend. But Luhan's never really taken him seriously and he's got a list of the reasons why:
1. Luhan is 3 years older. (That's reason enough for Luhan cause it automatically results to number 2)
2. Sehun is younger. (In a LOT of ways)
3. Sehun is grateful to Luhan (Gratefulness doesn't necessarily translates into love which brings them to 4)
4. What if Sehun grows up and realizes that he doesn't really love Luhan? (Then they will end up in number 5)
5. Luhan will be the one to end up heartbroken cause he had to admit, he's already more than halfway in love with Sehun. The real kind.
Luhan will repeat those reasons in his head again and again whenever Sehun does something that makes him fall for his friend more. And that's tough. The heart shape (which got bigger) that Sehun makes when they see each other embarrasses him, yes, but Luhan can't deny that that's what makes him love Sehun a little bit more each time. So Luhan has to learn how to shield himself against Sehun's charms. But that shield has been taking serious hits lately with Sehun going to the same school.
His thoughts were interrupted as his friend sat down beside him and placed the drink in front of him.
"Got you chocolate, too." Sehun said with a smile.
"Sehunnie, we have to talk." Luhan began. "I'll be busy with my recital for the next weeks and I don't think you should wait for me any longer. I might go home late and..." Luhan looked up to see Sehun's shoulders slump. Somehow he became reluctant to continue. Why was this so hard?
"How late will you be?"
"I'm not really sure."
Sehun leaned closer to Luhan. "You know that's so... Great!"
Luhan was surprised to hear Sehun laugh.
"I was actually going to say that I might not be able to walk home with you until my practice for the showcase ends. But now we can actually still go home together! It's awesome, right?"
Luhan felt himself nod. This was not really going his way. But he doesn't have the heart to try to dissuade Sehun, atleast not tonight. And he realized he felt better with the thought.
CHAPTER 3 - In which we learn how best to strike a pose
Sehun was smiling even after he walked Luhan to his house just a block away. He was smiling when he arrived home and was still smiling when he reached his room. He plopped down on his bed and opened the gallery on his cellphone. He smiled some more when he opened his album of selcas. All of them has Luhan in it. He got a new one today, just before they turned into Luhan's street. In the picture, he had his tongue out (as usual) while Luhan looks exasperated but not really annoyed, he hopes. This picture was the 417th in this memory card. He's actually got hundreds of them saved on his pc. He makes it a point to shoot one before he ends the day with Luhan.
Browsing through the pictures, Sehun felt his heart swell with tenderness. No matter what Luhan's expression is in a photo, he treasures every one of them. He saves them because it somehow lets him take home a piece of Luhan to carry him through the hours that they are apart. He has been in love with his friend for what feels like forever. That day when Luhan asked him to be friends, he felt his life change.
He never really knew what friendship was until he met Luhan. He has always been a frightfully shy kid. He had felt so insecure because of his lisp which he wants to believe already lessened because of Luhan. With his bestfriend's encouragement, he became more confident with himself. He learned to open up to people. He now had more friends like Jongin and the gang but none can compare to his bestfriend.
Sehun looked at a picture of him and Luhan smiling derpily at the camera. It was taken during Chanyeol's birthday two Novembers ago. It was that day he realized that he wanted to be with Luhan, really be together with him. He wanted to be able to say that he was his. He wanted to hold hands as they walk together. He wanted to see his love reflected in Luhan's beautiful eyes.
But his friend has been getting more distant lately. Sometimes he feels that Luhan was uncomfortable when they are together. "Am I being too forward?" Sehun asked himself. It's just that it has been 2 years now since he started hinting to Luhan that he wanted to be more than friends but Luhan still doesn't take him seriously that's why he became more showy in public. That and also the fact that he was annoyed to know that a lot of guys have been sniffing around Luhan in the university.
He was particularly suspicious of that Minseok guy who was always around Luhan. Sehun knows that only a blind person wouldn't fall for those doe eyes and sweet smile but he is still jealous nonetheless because Luhan has been in college for 3 years now and 2 of those while Sehun was not around. What if someone else gets Luhan? He won't let that happen.
Troubled with where his mind is taking him, he dialled a friend's number.
"Yeah?" Jongin answered on the second ring.
"I have a problem."
"Then what did you call me for?" Jongin joked.
"This is Kyungsoo's number. Please give the phone back to Kyungsoo." Sehun said as he rolled his eyes.
"Fine. Fine... Hey, shorty, it's Sehunnie." Sehun heard Kyungsoo shriek and then, "Why did you throw my phone? My phone?! And get your dirty shoes off the sofa or else... Hello?"
Sehun can hear Jongin laughing in the background. "You shouldn't let him get away with that."
"Who says I will?" Kyungsoo answered. "No dinner for him tonight. Well, why'd you call?"
"I have a problem."
"I thought so. What is it? No, don't tell me. It's Luhan isn't it?"
"How did you know?"
"Sehun-ah...You only ever talk about two things: Dancing and Luhan. You wouldn't have any problems with dancing so it's safe to say it's about Luhan. So spill."
"Well. ith.." Sehun cleared his throat, his lisp becomes pronounced when he's nervous. "It's because, I don't know what to do. Lately, even of we're together, Luhan seems a little distant. I tried to ignore it but I can't deny its there."
"Have you tried just talking directly with Luhan? Or ask him if there's anything wrong?"
"Well, no. How can I possibly do that? I'd be so nervous, even I wouldn't understand what I'll say."
"But, you know, it may be time for you to do something. It's actually tiring to watch the two of you run around in circles for the past two years. Sehun-ah, everybody knows you love Luhan and I bet he does, too. And I'm pretty sure he feels the same way."
"Really? Really really?" Sehun asked excitedly.
"For us to know for sure, tell him directly that you love him. Or better yet, make a grand gesture so that he can't resist and he'll know that you're serious this time."
"A grand gesture?" Sehun asked, the wheels on his brain already turning this way and that. "A grand gesture, right." He smiled.
"You already thought of something? What is it?"
"You'll find out soon."
"Well, goodluck."
After saying their goodbyes, Sehun ended the call and once again opened the selca he took with Luhan today. He zoomed in on Luhan and saw that the expression in his eyes was not really exasperation but was something else. He looks kinda confused? Worried?
"Whatever it is, I'll wipe it all away." Sehun promised to himself as his fingers traced the troubled look on Luhan's face.
CHAPTER 4 - In which we learn that love sometimes hurts...a lot
4:40PM, his watch read as Luhan glanced at it for the nth time today. He was practicing with Jongdae for their recital which will be held in two weeks. He should be concentrating with their song but he keeps getting distracted by his watch.
"Luhan, let's take a break. I'm parched." Jongdae said good naturedly.
"Okay. Five minutes?"
"Maybe you should stop for today." Minseok said from the doorway. Luhan turned to look at his friend who has been watching them practice. Minseok came closer.
"We still haven't covered the bridge part and the recital's in two weeks." Luhan said.
"Don't worry; you still got plenty of time. Look at Jongdae, his other foot is already out the door." Jongdae, who wasalready going out the door, stopped in his tracks and laughed.
"Sorry Luhan, I am kinda tired. Let's finish it tomorrow." Jongdae said with a sheepish grin.
"Oh, alright." Luhan watched as Jongdae left and then resumed reading the music sheet.
"Aren't you going?" Minseok asked.
"Where?"
"I passed through the Dance department and heard that their showcase was today. Aren't you gonna watch?"
Luhan stopped his reading and looked at Minseok."Oh, was that today?" He feigned disinterest. "I didn't know."
"I thought it was the reason you kept on looking at your watch. But isn't your friend gonna be there? Sehun-ah?"
"Well, yeah." Luhan answered, a little flustered with Minseok's questioning.
"And you're still not gonna watch?"
"I really don't need to watch. I already see him dance every day. Besides, it's already 5pm and the Lee Soo Man hall is six minutes away from here and it' probably finished anyway. Right?" Luhan rambled.
"It's just 4:50, and if you leave now you'll get there just in time for the main performance." Minseok smiled knowingly.
Luhan abruptly stood up, picked up his bag, and without another word, ran for the door. Luhan heard Minseok laugh as he left. "Say hi to Sehun for me!"
He was out of breath when he reached the auditorium. The venue was quite full and the people were all standing and dancing in abandon. The last performers just started and the song was so loud he can't even hear himself think. He squeezed his way through the crowd to get closer to the stage. Suddenly someone grabbed his arm.
"Luhan!" Kyungsoo pulled him to his side. "I'm glad you're here! The last performance just started! I thought you weren't coming!"
I thought so, too.Luhan said to himself. The showcase had been on his mind all day. He decided more than a week ago that he wouldn't come. He thought it was time to separate himself from Sehun atleast a bit at a time. But when today arrived, he was plagued by second thoughts. It was so hard to resist coming here. He knew Sehun will be disappointed if he didn't show up. He'll probably not talk to him which will actually serve Luhan's purpose of distancing himself. But Luhan was probably made of softer stuff. Look how easy it was for Minseok to convince him to come.
"I'm so weak." Luhan sighed to himself. "Anyways, there is still next time."
"What did you say?!" Kyungsoo shouted above the noise.
"Nothing, I was just..." Luhan stopped midsentence as three guys went to the center of the stage for the second part of the performance. A spotlight first focused on their friend Jongin who was in the middle which explained the sudden roaring of the audience and Kyungsoo's painful clutch on Luhan's arm. But Luhan's gaze locked on the man to the left. The guy's hair was brushed up to reveal a slight widow's peak. His expression was fiercely concentrated. Their eyes met and Sehun smiled at him. Luhan's breathe caught.
He watched transfixed as Sehun danced and moved his body sinously with the song. The dance was building to its climax and Luhan's heart was beating as loudly as the music.
It was Sehun's turn in the spotlight. He executed a complicated set of moves and did it so effortlessly that the audience hollered in approval. All Luhan can do is stare.
He wasn't at all prepared for what happened next. Just before Sehun's turn ended, he stopped in the center of the stage. Luhan heard him call out, "Luhan-ssi!" And then Sehun raised his arms above his head and made a heart. The biggest one so far.
The audience shouted and cheered. Kyungsoo patted Luhan at the back. He felt rooted to the spot. The dance resumed but Luhan didn't notice.
"I have to go." He told Kyungsoo.
"What? Where are you going? It's gonna end soon..."
"No. I just…“Luhan turned away and made his way through the crowd. He didn't stop walking until he came outside and reached the gates. He looked back at the building and saw that people were also coming out as the performance already ended. Luhan continued walking, hoping that it will help clear his mind. What Sehun did back there was so.. so... outrageous! He fumed.It was also so, so beautiful.
He felt the shield guarding his feelings collapse. And Luhan felt sad. Who would protect his heart now?
"Luhan! Luhan!"
Luhan stopped and saw Sehun running towards him. He was amazed on how his friend was able to gain on him since they were already in the neighborhood park which was some distance away from the school.
"Wait!" Sehun shouted. Luhan stopped and waited quietly for Sehun to reach him. Sehun stopped infront of Luhan and wiped his brows. "Why did you go?"
"I.. I don't know." Luhan said hesitantly.
"Was it because of what I did?" Sehun asked. " Were you... embarassed?"
"No. It wasn't that. It's just..." Luhan lifted his hand, palm up, wishing that the explanation will appear in his hand. "You shouldn't have done it."
"But why? You know... Everybody knows." Sehun took a deep breath. "I love you."
"Stop saying things that you don't know about." Luhan said. "You're still young and ignorant, what do you know about love?"
Sehun looked as if Luhan slapped him. "I may be young but I do know that I love you and all I've ever wanted was you." Sehun tried to touch Luhan's face but he stopped when Luhan turned away.
"There you go again, speaking as if you know things, as if you mean what you say. But the truth is you really know nothing. You don't love me. One day you'll wake up and realize that someone better is out there..."
"No, I won't." Sehun said, his eyes hurt.
Luhan shook his head. "Please, we should just forget what happened and return to the way it was."
"Return where? There was never a time since I met you that I didn't love you." Sehun reasoned.
"I told you. This is not love. What this is is a joke." Luhan said cruelly even as he felt his heart constrict. What you are is the most precious person in the world to me but I can't do this.
"This isn't a joke for me. This is something I never joke about. I love you. You don't know how much courage I have to scrape up to say these words. But I don't care cause this is important to me. You are important to me. Please." Sehun reached for Luhan's hand.
"I can't. Can we just leave this alone?" Luhan can't bear to look at Sehun's eyes. He doesn't want to see there the same tears that are threatening to fall from his own.
"You know, everytime I'm near you, I feel the happiest but there are times I also feel the saddest. Cause sometimes I think you forget that I have feelings and I get hurt. It hurts when I see you with someone else. It hurts when you look embarrassed when we're seen together. It hurts when we get to be close together but I can't call you mine." Sehun let go of Luhan. "But the most painful thing of all is when you won't even give yourself the chance to love me. Am I not really worth it?"
Luhan saw Sehun move further away. He wanted to say something to stop him but he was at a loss himself.
"I think I'll rest for a while. This love thing sure is exhausting... I'll just see you around then." Sehun waved and continued walking down the street, leaving Luhan with a painful lodge in his throat.
Stupid kid. And finally, Luhan let the tears fall. Stupid me.
CHAPTER 5 - In which we learn derps make good friends
It's been six days since the last time Sehun talked with Luhan and he was feeling the worst sort of withdrawal. He could barely get up from the bed everyday to go to school. Because he'll see Luhan there but he'll also remember that the last time they talked, his friend threw the confession he practiced on so much back to his face.
There had been no more walking home together, no stops at the bubble tea place. There had been no selcas and no nose flicking. Sehun sat up and hit the dance floor with his hands. He was there hiding again in the practice room, waiting for 6:00pm, knowing that Luhan will be long gone from the university by then. It hurts to see Luhan walking and talking with his friends as if nothing happened. He also can't take seeing Luhan walking down the road, just a few meters ahead of him and he can't even say hi.
He remembered the first day they saw each other on the way to school after that disastrous night of the showcase. They accidentally met at the intersection of their streets. Luhan tried to say something but all Sehun managed to do was mumble an incoherent greeting and walked as fast as he could, probably leaving Luhan believing that he really was immature.
"I miss you." Sehun said to the empty room. Atleast here, he gets to say what he really feels. "Why won't you love me back?"
He had never felt this sad before. He told Luhan that he was also sad when they're together but that was nothing compared to the emptiness he's feeling when they're apart. Sehun sighed and tried to flick his nose just like how Luhan does when he says something stupid. "This doesn't feel the same at all." He tried to do it again. "This is not working."
Suddenly a bigger hand, that came with longer fingers, flicked him and hit him squarely in the nose. "Ouch!"
"What are you doing?" Chanyeol asked with his voice booming inside the room.
"What did you do that for?" Sehun asked, his nose still smarting from the hit his friend gave him.
"Well, I saw you talking to yourself and hitting your nose like a sissy so I decided to help." Chanyeol said with a big, toothy grin. His right eye twitching.
"What are you doing here anyways? Don't you have to be in training? Why's a big shot like you here?"
"It's an off day so we were allowed to go home early. But enough about my splendid self. I repeat, What are you doing?"
"I was just practicing." Sehun said defensively.
"Uh huh! Practicing what? Flicking your nose?" Chanyeol said with a laugh. "No, really, what are you hiding here for?"
"Who says I'm hiding?"
"No one's being fooled here, pal. So might as well come clean." Chanyeol patted Sehun's back.
"You know what happened, right? Kyungsoo probably told you everything." Sehun said sulkily.
"What? That you embarassed Luhan infront of the whole school?"
"Was it really that bad?" Sehun asked, unsure.
"For me, it was actually sweet." Chanyeol raised his right thumb to Sehun in approval. "In any case, it was about time you told Luhan how you really feel instead of beating around to it. It wasn't fun watching you two."
"Kyungsoo said the same thing."
"Well, we really shouldn't believe everything that shorty says cause he's doing the same running around with Jongin, but this time he's correct."
Sehun grumbled. "In any case, I was rejected so to answer your question I'm hiding here because I'm hurt and I don't wanna see... Luhan so soon."
"Yeah, right. You miss him." Chanyeol said seriously.
"I do. But it doesn't hurt less whenever I remember what he told me. He said I really don't love him, that I don't know what real love is. He said that I'm young and immature. He said what I felt was just a joke."
"Ouch. But have you thought about what he said? Are you really immature? Do you really know what love is?"
"Yes! No... I don't know. What I know is I just want to be with him."
"Even if he doesn't love you back?"
Sehun fell silent and thought for a while. "Yes, even then."
"So talk to him already!"
"It's not that easy."
"It IS easy. Find him and talk to him. It's that simple." Chanyeol said with a laugh.
"Come on, nothing's that simple. If this love business is so easy, why haven't I seen you fall for anybody?" Sehun challenged.
Chanyeol sobered a bit. "I'm different."
"Uh huh."
"No really, I am. I haven't told anyone about this but.. I feel as if I've been in love before. You know. I can't explain it. Everytime I see someone with potential come along, it's as if my heart rejects that person. It's like it already knows the what true love is and it is still looking for the right person that gave it that happiness a long time ago. I feel like I'm looking for someone I've lost which, I'm saying again, is weird. I haven't been with anybody before." Chanyeol shrugged.
"I suddenly got a headache." Sehun joked.
"Well, I told you I was different. Anyways, I've got to get going. Early training tomorrow and all." Chanyeol stood up and walked to the door.
"Chanyeol? Thanks!" Sehun called out. Chanyeol turned with a salute and left.
His friend was probably right. He had to talk to Luhan. Just not too soon. After all, he was still hurt. But maybe he'll do it sometime next week then Luhan will be the one flicking his nose again, Sehun thought with a smile.
PART II