─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

❝ Without the sun, the moon wouldn't shine. Stars, actually, are small suns. I don't want to be one like everybody else, though. If you are the moon, then I am the star shooting across to the sky to reach you who's far away yet so close ❞

🎼

C H A P T E R  T W O

KEVIN WAKES UP right away to the bright sunlight streaming through the blind vanilla curtains, cascading down his face with a racing heart.

A shock expression was evident on his face, eyes wide.

Another nightmare.

He runs a hand through his garnet bed hair, a sigh escaping his lips as his eyes finally take in the room he's in. Or it's a  daydream.

He's in Jacob's room, on his bed—never mind—the right side of the bed is empty: the sound of his phone ringing alerting him back to reality.

His eyes round in utter amazement going through the missed messages, anxious about replying to them, but because his dad is calling him right now, he figures he should answer him first.

"Hey, dad . . . " Kevin begins, phone close to his left ear.

"Kevin? Are you okay? You didn't come home last night. Is everything okay? Where are you?"

The boy would lie but he knows too well that is not happening.

There's concern dripping in his dad's voice. He can see his face vividly in his mind.

The same brown eyes as his sparkling full of disquiet, arms folded across his chest, leaning against the kitchen island. Breakfast on show decorating the dining table. It makes the boy's heart pang with guilt.

"I'm okay, just a little tired. I'm at Jacob's house . . . " he tells him.

His eyes wander around the room, landing on the very clothes thrown over a chair he was wearing last night, causing heat to spread up to his cheeks.

Kevin screams.

He quickly disconnects the call before his dad can reply.

It all makes sense now. He remembers what happened from the prom to kissing Jacob, then throwing up, which is great. Jacob probably doesn't like him anymore, he thinks.

It's kind of obvious, but then who changed his clothes?

If it was him, maybe, just maybe,  the brunette cares about him even after all that?

Kevin feels his cheeks redden at the thought and shakes it off, gaze catching the time on his phone, and mouths a holy shit, realizing he's going to be late for school. He can't afford any more tardies, otherwise, he'd have to write the finals.

He doesn't want that.

Kevin slides out of bed, trying to figure out what to wear when he finds a yellow sticky note attached to the nightstand, reading a short apology about last night.

Hey, don't worry about yesterday night. I took care of it and the rest was my younger brother.

He genuinely cares about you and knew I was going to busy tomorrow.

It's no trouble, so don't sweat. Your health comes first, Kevin. You can borrow my brother's clothes. You guys have almost the same body mass index, so the uniform will fit you

— Jacob

Kevin swears his cheeks are on fire.

Well, at least the concern and affection are there, that counts, although it's not Jacob's uniform.

He changes into the clothes fast as possible after the quick morning routine his dad nags about all the time. He decides to skip breakfast and takes a glance at himself in the mirror, nodding, and giving his reflection a small smile.

Then, he's out of the house, catching the bus just in time.

He mentally thanks the angels that are on his side today and finds a seat, head leaning against the window, reminding himself whatever happens today will be for a good reason.

He shouldn't get his hopes up too high, though. The buzzing of his phone pulls him out of his trance. The young boy sits up straight, scanning over the message, trying to recall the number in his creative mind.

832 - 175 - 9654

the uniform isn't yours but it's a perfect fit

Kevin's heart jumps at the twisted compliment.

At the same time, anger boils within him for the person being so blunt. He looks over his shoulder, searching for the owner of the number, messaging him.

He can't figure out who with everybody on their phone.

Regardless, Kevin types out a reply, hitting send.

Kevin

I'm borrowing, you got a problem? Also, what's with the lowercase and the absence of proper capitalization?

Kevin feels a smile grace his lips, waiting for the person to reply.

What he receives makes him laugh despite the difference from the first message.

832 - 175 - 9654

I do have a problem. how can you be so stupid?

Kevin

Ouch. That hurt. Care to explain?

832 - 175 - 9654

1) the uniform you are wearing is mine

2) it's quicker to write in lower case

3) you didn't eat breakfast

Kevin wants to laugh so hard right now. His cheeks are hot.

He can feel it, the thing is when he's caught for whatever reason, he easily stumbles over anything, and his face says it all. He didn't eat breakfast, spot-on, random person.

Kevin

You can't just assume it's yours and that makes sense. Do you have super listening skills or something that you can hear my stomach growl?

832 - 175 - 9654

I thought you were the smart one here. the smell gives it away, we learned this in freshmen ap biology class. I don't but your cheeks look less round, which explains you haven't eaten since last night

Kevin is going to scream. His face is beat red. He's afraid of worrying the rest of his classmates, so he sucks in a breath and then releases it. He furiously texts back with all his anger in one simple message.

That should do it.

Kevin

shut up

832 - 175 - 9654

make me ;)

Kevin

STOP IT

832 - 175 - 9654

If he's being honest right now, the senior doesn't want to lose the person's contact.

It was so sudden and it came like a breezy summer day, taking away the uncomfortable heat.

Their random conversation brings a smile to his face, thinking over it, and how he feels light-hearted. He's waiting for the person to text back before he realizes it and the next second the bus stops, the doors opening.

His classmates stand up and push through each other to reach the school's front gate, rushing only because of finals week.

Kevin is walking in between the rest of them through the aisle, questioning what he ever did to deserve being in the middle of such chaos, that is until someone pushes him from behind.

He stumbles over, landing in the grasp of firm arms holding him by his waist.

Slowly raising his head, his mocha eyes trail up, meeting cerulean eyes, their gazes locking just like last time, and the young boy's heart pounds, the same rhythm as before.

Words of apology drown in the back of his throat, focusing on the warm gaze of the smaller but strong male. Another push sends him practically falling into the boy's arms this time, catching the other off-guard, but his reaction is still fast. Changmin's hands find their way around Kevin's waist, his grasp firm to keep him steady.

Changmin's not a liar, so he knows his heart is pounding fast. He's shocked by the close proximity. The only thing he can do is not let go of him, his arm coming around him when some other classmate pushes through.

"Be careful. Watch where you're going or else you'll fall," Changmin says, his voice soft, a smile gracing his lips.

"I didn't ask for you to catch me, oh knight in shining armor," Kevin retorts, pushing himself off him. He doesn't need saving from anyone, he really doesn't.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A U T H O R 'S N O T E

I was contemplating on writing this bus scene or heading straight to the English classroom scene but then this bus scene unfolded pretty well. It came on paper just the way I wanted. I'm happy? Yes! I feel like I could have described more, yet again, it still works.

This chapter was inspired by one of the scenes from "Fish Upon The Sky," which is quite interesting, the title, I mean. The story is also similar in an aspect because Kevin's searching for true love. He doesn't realize someone has genuine feelings of endearment for him, and he is just too oblivious

As always, thank you for reading 💖💖

Another thing, updates will resume after two weeks. I did mention I'm writing a standalone/connected to the story work, it won't be up unfortunately this weekend.

I need time to collect myself from the sudden news of a very dear friend of mine even though we were not that close, part of me feels the pain.

All the while connecting the dots together, I found out what she meant by I don't have enough time left, so I want to write as much as I can and be with you guys. Please keep her in your prayers, as she is in mine.