a/n: sorry for not updating this story in two weeks ):

"YOU'RE never gonna stop, huh?" Wonwoo questions, raising a brow as he glances at Minghao who automatically gave another individual a disgusted expression when they tried to talk to him. The look wasn't intentional, it was just how his face reacted whenever someone nearby came and tried to interact with him.

"What? Not my fault my face muscles do that." He defends, but Wonwoo only rolls his eyes as he continues his work. "Don't be too worried about me and other people. It's not that deep."

"It's not that deep, is that gonna become your new catchphrase or something? Cause I'm gonna get annoyed of it real quick Hao."

"You shouldn't care so much when it comes to my relationships with other people. It will only drive you insane Wonwoo." Minghao, trying to get the words through the boy's thick skull. He didn't want Wonwoo to be concerned with him, he hated when his friends wasted their brainpower on him when they can be focusing on other important things. "That mostly applies to Jun and me."

"Well, I didn't bring up Jun," The older states, pushing up his glasses that were falling slowly from the bridge of his nose, "besides, Jun isn't a bad guy. There is nothing wrong with being friends with him. You're too caught up in your romance cliche, popular guys and 'unpopular' students can't get along. No one will think he's weird Hao, nor will anyone think you're weird as well."

It was the mere truth, Wonwoo didn't know how long he'd be caught up in those thoughts but he wondered what made Minghao so afraid of speaking to others. He was aware that he and his parents had a slightly unstable relationship, knowing that they abused their power on Minghao as he was forced to do many activities that he never really seemed to enjoy. Although some helped him in the long run, naturally he was a gifted boy who was smart. He didn't need all the extra things to boost his profile. "Yeah.. I know..." He finally replies, giving Wonwoo a small smile, "but, I don't think things will change since everyone knows I'm cold."

"Things can change Minghao, that's only if you put yourself out there. You just need to take some tiny steps, Soonyoung and I will help you out. You know that right?"

"Yeah... I know...it just feels weird to break out of my comfort zone. I feel like people will judge me if I start acting differently," Minghao answers, "it doesn't really matter since not everyone here will follow me after high school. But, I don't know."

"You're correct, you'll most likely never going to see everyone in this school after graduating so what's the point of letting loose now?" Wonwoo questions, looking straight into the boy's eyes. There was no guarantee that this would charm his way into directing himself in another path, one that would hold a bit more happiness. "You've got nothing to lose Hao, you know that. You're definitely not gonna lose Soonyoung and I."

The ravenette doesn't know if he should admit his truths, because it seemed as if he had no right to. Hypothetically, if he did decide to try and change his ways, what if it comes to the point to where him and Jun create a bond. Knowing that the captain would be ecstatic to see Minghao finally opening up to him, it was a possibility that they could lose their spark and fall apart. In all means, what if Jun got tired of him? They're from two completely different worlds, Jun had to abide his duties of being the academy's trustworthy captain while Minghao lived in his own shadow. They wouldn't stick for long...

"If you're worried about losing people along the way, that's how life is. You would be the one telling me that."

Minghao directs his attention towards Wonwoo, "Hao, you might believe some people are the complete opposite off you. But, you're wrong." The younger boy grits his teeth after hearing his words, there was no need to start any commotion but he slightly felt attacked within the situation he was in.

"I'm going home." Minghao shortly states, not even replying to the boy's statement. Wonwoo doesn't mind, he was self aware that he's pushed too many buttons but sometimes that's what it took. To irritate the boy into deep thought, he doesn't watch Minghao pack his things and leave. It's only a minute or so until Minghao is out of his sight.

Their disagreements never bothered Wonwoo, his pure intention was to get the truth drilled into Minghao's head.

☆

Arriving home, Minghao found no trace of his parents in the building. Only a simple note on the kitchen counter explaining how they both would be out late. There was also a small checklist, it held the expectations of what Minghao should do while they're gone. All relating to school or extracurriculars such as practicing the instruments he's been forced to play for the past years. "As if," He scoffs, knowing that there'd be no way in hell he'd follow any of the rules. There wasn't a way where they could get solid proof of him completing the tasks anyways. Unless they installed cameras which would be crazy, but not impossible. "mom and dad really think I'm that dumb?"

He walks towards his room, well, more of stomps. Minghao had some pent up anger from his conversation with Wonwoo, only because his heart was fully aware that he was indeed correct. There was no need to hold back with the points he's made, but, there would always be a hole that his parents filled. Making things much more difficult for himself. He of course disliked the way he was being treated, Minghao's socializing skills were ass, he himself felt like an ass and it was all because of his parents. The boy was smart, of course he knew that he was his own person and could act like his own person while at school. But, his mother had no issue on having personal meetings with his teachers and superiors to get a feel of how her son was doing.

Nobody's parents did that.

As soon as Minghao got into his room, he locked the door and threw his stuff down. He doesn't hesitate to remove his school clothes and change into his pajamas. All he wanted to do was rest and with his parents out the way, he could finally do so. Before getting comfy in bed, he slips off his glasses and placed them on his bedside table. Undoing the covers, he's about to slide in under the sheets until he hears an ear piercing yell from outside. "Who the fuck is yelling at this hour! I'll snip their tongue off!"

Walking over to his window, he doesn't hesitate to push it open. Looking to his right, he viewed no one in the street nearby. But, he sets his attention in the direction right in front of him. Grabbing his glasses in a flash, he puts them on and realizes that the noise wasn't coming from the street. But, from Jun himself.

It was either he was throwing a tantrum or he had built up too much stress to where he finally cracked. In Minghao's perspective, he had a feeling it could be the first one, but, that was only a mere assumption based on his personal feelings. "Hey!" Minghao yells, trying to catch the boy's attention. Of course it worked, because Jun whipped his head towards his window in a flash. "Shut up! I'm trying to sleep and you're ruining it!"

Jun watched the boy's mouth move at a rapid speed, stumbling his way to his window, he unlocks it and pushes it open. "S—Sorry!"

"What the hell are you yelling for?

The older boy sighs, taking a seat at the edge of his bed as he looks down into his lap. He plays with his fingers, noticing his slightly bruised knuckles that were painted with a dark maroon color. "It's..—"

"You don't have to say."

"You have a right to know," Jun finishes, which startles Minghao. He was so firm with his words that it made the boy shiver, "it's volleyball. I'm captain and I'm getting stressed cause the season is coming soon. But, I also participate in performing arts and I have a dance show that lasts for three days. Practice and games interfere with rehearsals. Maybe even shows if I'm unlucky."

Minghao pulls out his chair and sits down in front of his window, "Why don't you just quit?"

"If it was that easy I would have done it already." Jun whines, cracking his fingers as a way to relieve his stress. "Volleyball is fun, well was fun. I've been captain ever since freshman year, if I just end things now, everyone will be disappointed. My parents, my team, coach and everyone around me. I don't think I can handle that...I don't want them to think any differently of me. I'm just gonna pursue and set my attention on something else that I love."

"Seems rough.."

"Tell me about it," The boy rolls his eyes, but after his rant he sets his attention on Minghao who gives him an empathetic expression. "but, I bet other people are going through worse. I shouldn't be complaining."

"Well.." Minghao felt odd to be suddenly opening up to Jun, especially since he refused to waste any of the boy's time. In addition to that, he also worried about the two creating a bond and having a damaging downfall. But, since he was the first to pour out his feelings, he assumed that this wasn't going to do any harm. "..I can somewhat relate to that..being forced to uphold a certain title because everyone has already set a label on you. If you change, people may think differently of you. It's scary."

Jun nods, realizing that his words were spot on. "Yeah..you're right." He wondered if Minghao was experiencing the same thing, if so, he's wondered how long. Personally, this has been eating away at Jun and he'd hate for anyone else to go through it. "Hao..if it's not much to ask, are you speaking based off personal experience?.."

Minghao slightly tenses, with the distance between them, if Jun has incredible eyesight he probably would have caught the change in his body language. There was no point in lying, Minghao was good at concealing his true feelings but with Jun willingly explaining his own situation he felt like it was the right time to say his. It wouldn't be a punishment, in all means after this he could finally breathe since he's finally gained the nerve to tell someone. "Yeah..." His response wasn't faint, but soft, Jun was able to read his lips and nodded once he got confirmation.

"I'm proud of you Hao."

Minghao's eyes widened after hearing those words, proud. They felt so genuine, the sincerity pierced his heart to where it almost made him tear up. Wonwoo and Soonyoung have praised him for his accomplishments many time, but Jun saying it just hit differently. Maybe it was because he was going through something similar, because he knew how good it felt to hear those words when you were going through such a rough time. "T—Thank you..."

"You're really strong for keeping whatever you've been doing up. Your feelings are valid and if you ever want to talk things out just call out for my name okay?"

Minghao's lips started to quiver, he bit his tongue, applying an aching amount of pressure to contain his tears. Jun wasn't able to see from that far, but he didn't want to break down in front of him knowing that he'd keep him from continuing on with his day. Besides, he's cried many times alone. "Okay.." He gives the boy a gentle smile, and Jun's response of course had to be extra.

"Y—You smiled! Oh my god!" He points at Minghao with glee, returning the expression but his was even wider. In fact, his teeth were displayed as he celebrated the victory. "Do it more often, you look cute. Well wait! That doesn't mean you don't look cute when you don't smile, it's just that—"

Unexpectedly, Minghao let's out a small laugh. Which was a definite double win to the older boy, celebrating on the inside to not spoil the moment. He waits for Minghao to speak, "Jun. Go do your work," The boy sits up from his chair and reaches outside to grab his window's handle, "goodbye Jun, and thank you."

After his goodbye, Jun watches Minghao shut his window and disappear. This time, when it came to Minghao leaving him, Jun didn't receive that negative feeling weighing in his heart. But, an uplifting amount of reassurance that the relationship between the two was surely going to improve.