it has been a whole two months since his encounter with jeonghan at the beginning of the school year. seokmin is sitting in his last class of the day, usual spot. minghao sat directly in front of him and mingyu, to his right. this was his favorite class of the entire day. not because it was interesting or anything of the sort, but because he gets to be with the people that cared for him most. seokmin wasn't allowed to hang out with anyone after school because his mother was fairly strict about his outings. so seeing them at school was the closest thing. they didn't mind at all.

minghao is actually good at paying attention in class. he was a master at multitasking. seokmin could watch him spin his pen in one hand, write notes with the other, all while looking at the board, forever. mingyu on the other hand, is a daydreamer. he's a quiet, shy puppy. but his mind speaks like a hamster on a wheel. he always looks like he has stars in his eyes when he's deep in thought.

seokmin decides to start their daily conversation this time by writing a note. he tears out a page from his notebook and starts to write on it.

hey mingyu, how was today?

he sets his pen down and folds up the piece of paper into a small square. making sure no one is looking, he pokes mingyu's shoulder to get his attention, and tosses the note onto his desk.
now to wait for a response.

after a few seconds, the note is tossed back onto seokmin's desk.

great! i met a cute guy named seungkwan this morning!

'so...he's met someone.' seokmin thought. he picked up his pen and wrote back.

cool. i'd like to meet him sometime. :)

fold the note and toss it back.
wait for a response. get it back.

i'm sure you'd like him! he's really sweet and caring, like you. ♡

mingyu's classic platonic hearts. but seokmin couldn't help but feel his heart jump and let a light blush graze across his face in embarrassment. mingyu liked to tease him. especially with his small lovey gestures. seokmin looks to his right to see mingyu, with a smile that held all the stars in the galaxy.

seokmin didn't know how to respond as he flashes a shy smile back. the bell was going to ring in a few minutes so he folds the note into a neat square and puts it away in his backpack. everyone starts packing up to leave as the bell chimes to announce everyone's freedom. seokmin gathers his books together and carries them in one arm as he slings his backpack over his shoulder with the other. seokmin likes being the last to leave the class. it helps with averting bumping into anyone and having to talk.

minghao and mingyu collect their things together and walk up to seokmin's desk, where he stood piling up his books to carry in his arms. "you ready to go, seokkie?" minghao asks with his usual, shy smile on his face. minghao was never one to talk. he'd never raise his voice and would fidget with the hem of his cremé colored cardigan. but he always had that soft twinkle in his eyes where his emotions shone most.

with a nod from seokmin, the three boys make their way through the halls and out onto the school courtyard. it's chilly autumn day outside. multicoloured leaves are scattered everywhere on the pavement and on the grass. seokmin shudders a little and squints his eyes as the cold air hits his face. his soft brown hair flies up, revealing his forehead. he lets out a giggle as he sees minghao's hair do the same. the only difference being, seokmin doesn't mind the breeze at all. while minghao squints his eyes and uses a hand to shield the wind from hitting directly in his face. mingyu only laughs at him and continues to jump around, enjoying the crisp, clear weather.

they continue walking, until they make it to a place they liked to call their little paradise. it wasn't much, but it was like their second home. a place where they could hang out and talk about their lives. it was under a big, beautiful, purple wisteria tree. it felt almost enchanting under its flowering vines. it was seokmin's favorite place to be. he would spend hours upon hours, writing in his journal, sitting in the shade of its protective field.

it was a convenient place for them all. it was set in the center of where the streets divide into the neighborhood. they had to part ways here.

"well, see you guys tomorrow!" seokmin shouts as he uses a hand to project his voice out and the other, to wave goodbye to his friends.

"byeee seokmiiin~!" mingyu turns around and shouts back with a wave, already walking backwards in the direction of his house.

minghao only tucks a strand of his jet black hair behind his ear before waving and giving off a soft smile. they all make their way home.

seokmin walks up the steps to the front door of his house. he fumbles in his backpack pocket before pulling out the keys. he inserts the key into the lock that unlocks the door with a click. seokmin shoves the keys into his pocket and steps into the house.

"i'm home," he says as he kicks his shoes off and nudges them with a foot until they're lined up against the wall near the door.

there's no response.

seokmin lets out a sigh, knowing very well he wouldn't get answer no matter what. ever.

he quickly runs upstairs and straight to his room. possibly the only safe place on his house. he tosses his backpack aside and sits down onto his bed. he lays down and look up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling. they have been there ever since seokmin was just a small child. he's never taken them off the ceiling since then. it was one of his favorite memories of his parents. sticking them onto the ceiling as he sat atop his dad's shoulders and his mom passed him the stickers one by one. it was a good memory. one he never wanted to forget.

because sometimes the good memories can make you forget the bad ones. even if it is for a moment.