─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

❝ Tell me bout your dreaming. I believe I was there too.  I could sense your breathing, lying in a different room. Cuz laws of the universe. Always there to observe, you shimmer. Your inner compass is taking you there ❞ — Fireflies, NCT DREAM

🎼

C H A P T E R  N I N E

KEVIN THROWS A SMILE TO HYUNJAE halfway between sincerity and irritation. "I don't want to have to tell you twice, but you're not going to change my mind. Whether the world is against you or loves you, only you will love or hate yourself the most. Change is something we all need to grow into our potential selves. I'll never be yours," Kevin says, voice firm.

Kevin wants another love story, and this time, to not portray him as the main character.

His feelings for the guitarist in his heart have cracked, and though the pieces linger for the presence of his childhood best friend, he knows it's better to keep a distance now.

He prefers to save the heartbreak by at least letting go of the guitarist.

No matter what initiative he takes playing the side character, the world revolves around him, and he's in the center.

Everything connects to the center like a chain of nerve communication signals proceeding toward the terminal destination. For the world, it's the sun, and planets orbit around the ball of extraordinary energy.

For Kevin, it was Jacob.

Love makes a person do foolish things anyway.

"What makes you so positive, Moon?" The corner of Hyunjae's lips curls into a sly smirk as he steps forward, causing Kevin to step back only to find himself planted against the wall.

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same, Hyunjae?" Kevin says, confidence lacing his voice, and he's trying hard not to sound mean or insensitive. Kevin is tired of falling in love just like that, allowing people to get close to him, and hurting him in the end.

"Can't you give me a chance?" Hyunjae props up a hand against the wall above his shoulder.

Kevin feels somewhat trapped between answering and ignoring Hyunjae, so he doesn't hesitate to build up the courage to tell a white lie.

It doesn't come out.

"No. Haven't I told you? I will never be yours," Kevin's heart races, holding his ginger irises glowing like a fox. If there's one thing his mom taught him, it was to fight back.

He's not afraid of what would happen if he gives the basketball player a chance, but the sincerity in his tone. It's the diamonds stars glittering in his eyes and—

"Kevin!" A voice calls.

Hyunjae turns his head to look behind him, and he's ripped away by a pair of hands like a strong tidal wave. He falls on the tiled floor, and pain throbs in his bottom all the way up to his arms.

When his eyes land on the tall and lean figure rushing toward Kevin, every fiber of his body lights up in flames, burning from shame.

Hyunjae's gingerbread eyes widen in realization as a breath catches in his throat. Memories of their past come in flashbacks painted in color before slowly fading into grey tones, recalling the argument that made them go their separate ways.

Hyunjae and Younghoon are no longer friends or lovers but strangers.

Desperately wanting to apologize, he stands up in a flash, almost stumbling while walking forward, and steadies himself.

Younghoon turns around, giving him a death stare. The words that slip out of his mouth are reminders of their past. "Do you even realize you broke Kevin and Jacob's friendship?"

Hyunjae and Younghoon hold each other's gaze, anger and sadness swirling in the depth of their irises. Kevin can't give an exact definition for the fire crackling between them. It scares him, hearing wolves and dogs barking on their sides.

He doesn't want this to turn into another fight. "Hey, Younghoon, I'm fine," Kevin voices.

"I'm sorry, Kevin," Hyunjae says, glancing at him and then at Younghoon.

Apologizing again has never felt this hopeless, full of regret and honesty.

He knows it's too late.

Walking out of the locker room in despair, leaving Younghoon again as if a thunder cloud floats above him.

Younghoon turns around to hug Kevin, arms closing around him tightly.

He hates how he remembers the stories Hyunjae left behind and how they're a lasting effect on him, unaware that he misses him.

It was all a fever dream.

It was never a happy ending.

"Are you okay?" Kevin doesn't remember the last time Younghoon held him this tight, arms encasing around that he's sure his hands are clenched. Younghoon's heartbeat is a bolt of silent lightning striking inside his chest. Younghoon pulls away and takes in Kevin's shocked expression, brows furrowing.

"It's a long story, but are you okay?"

"I'm okay, just a little surprised," Kevin says, feeling a smile tug at the corner of his lip, "do you want to talk about this long story of yours?"

"Fine, because it's you, and you're my best friend, but first, let's go get our graduation gowns."

"I can't believe we're graduating."

"Me too."

Kevin doesn't say anything for a while, and neither does Younghoon.

Receiving his graduation gown, he turns to meet Younghoon's shining celestial eyes, grasping the silk of the gown dress. In the back of his mind, he wants to reach the destination, but he forgets it's also the moments in between.

Every second counts and is meaningful in a way. He just needs to look at the picture from different lenses. It's the same with piano, every touch is poetry, and every music note on his music sheet is there to guide him.

Kevin turns around, watching the cafeteria light up like fireflies. He's going to miss the pinch of salt on oranges, tangerines, and eggs with french toast served for breakfast.

"I think the band is back," Younghoon says, watching the boys on the stage, a smile slipping across his mouth. He wonders if a miracle must have fallen like a shooting star.

Kevin shifts his gaze to the stage, landing on the Changmin sitting on the piano bench, and it hits him like a comet. He wants to be on stage, playing the piano with vivid emotions, fairy dust, and shining stars.

Because when Changmin meets Kevin's gaze, the background of the cafeteria speed, and it's only the two of them looking at each other. Even though Kevin wants to write another love story, he can't be positive that the story is real.

But he knows the butterflies in his stomach, the sudden thump of his heart, and him drowning in the sea of Changmin's blue irises are symptoms of falling in love.

And Changmin's part of the school band.

These aren't really a good recipe for a love song.

But Kevin wants to break the rules.

Of course, he needs to graduate first. He doesn't want his dad to worry more than he is. Kevin might have been a bit harsh towards his dad over their argument about his mom, not realizing he misses her too.

It's his mom's birthday tomorrow on graduation day. Would she be proud of him?

I miss you, mom, he thinks. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

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

I'm back writing Baby You Are! I'm going to try updating weekly, meaning every Friday, so I hope you guys will stick around, and stay with me until the end. It's going to be an emotional rollercoaster soon, prepare for your hearts 💖💖

This is a sweet and short chapter following the longer chapter. We finally get to see Kevin moving on, and deciding for himself. 

Kevin is going to make the decisions and will be responsible for himself as he graduates, and moves back to South Korea to complete his studies. If you haven't figured it out, Kevin wants to be a pianist, but there's a pure reason why. 

As for Changmin, he's going to become a professional dancer, and the band is reunited, hooray! 

But why? What do you guys think? 

As always, thank you for reading and giving this book a chance. If you liked the chapter, please vote, and leave some comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts and interact with you