Wooyoung had skipped school for two days, and when San asked him why he'd been absent through texts, the other boy just replied with 'problem with the 'rents'. And despite how nosy, loud, and infuriatingly curious Wooyoung could get, San had still craved for his company. Because sometimes, Wooyoung could get pretty... soft and considerate with him, and San had always found himself looking forward to those moments. They were his favourite.

School was quiet and kind of draining without Wooyoung making him laugh, flustering him and sneaking him snacks whenever the teachers weren't looking, but San wasn't lonely. Mostly because of a certain redhaired male that'd saved him from Yunho and his irritating friends that Monday morning.

Mingi had met him by the school garden at lunch on Tuesday, and even when San acted like his stupid awkward self a majority of the time, the taller boy didn't seem to mind that. He'd even shared his sandwich with San, briefly commenting on how skinny he looked. But it hadn't been said in spite, so San wasn't uncomfortable.

"You know," Mingi begun during the second half at lunch, "I'd always wanted to talk to you ever since last year. But you seemed reserved, and I didn't wanna make you uncomfortable, since we weren't friends."

He'd then commented on how he stopped attending school a few months in because he had to take care of some health problem he had.

At that point in time, San had gotten so curious about it that he couldn't help but blurt out: "What kind of health problem? I mean -- that is if you wanna tell me. I'm sorry if I came off as rude."

Mingi's smile didn't falter as he replied San. "Bone cancer." He softly nudged San's side, chuckling at the flabbergasted look on the shorter's face. "Don't tell anyone, though."

San had just shakily nodded, his throat feeling way too dry to speak. His fingers curled themselves over his slacks. "I-I won't. I'm sorry..."

"It's fine, don't worry." Mingi grinned, and quickly changed the subject. But all San could think about was if he was doing the right thing by accepting Mingi's offer for friendship.

That Tuesday night, his nose bled while he slept.

Wednesday was the same; Mingi hung out with him at lunch and during study hall as well. He'd managed to distract San from all the stares he'd gotten from Yunho in study hall, but he'd came to soon realize that Yunho wasn't staring at him specifically. No, he'd been staring at Mingi the whole time. But Mingi never paid him any attention, too concentrated on reading through his notes and talking to San.

"He isn't bothering you, right?" Mingi'd asked him a few minutes before the bell rang for the next class.

"Who?" San asked, even when he knew who Mingi was talking about.

"Yunho," Mingi replied. "He still bullies people, but I don't want you to be one of them."

San then snuck a glance at Yunho's form that sat some seats away from them. His face was in some book, but he wasn't even reading it. His eyes still drifted to Mingi time and time again.

San looked away. Did Mingi really not notice Yunho's stares?

"He's not," San answered truthfully. He still felt wary of the guy though.

Mingi smiled, packing up his stuff. "Good."

* * *

Wooyoung was back at school on Thursday morning. San spotted him by the school gates, roughhousing with a few of his friends and Yunho as well. Their voices were loud, asking about Wooyoung's previous whereabouts and why he didn't text them all that much. Wooyoung just gave them all vague answers.

When Wooyoung's eyes met San's, he just winked, which sent San's heartbeat rising through the roof.

San then hurried past the gates, not wanting the other guys around the area to see the blush on his face.

During math class, Wooyoung took the seat next to San, kicking at his leg to alert his attention.

"Hey, Choi," Wooyoung spoke, that familiar and highly attractive smirk gracing his lips. "I went back to my parents earlier this morning. Did you miss me?"

San's fingers played with the buttons of his school shirt. "We...we texted a lot, so... not really."

Wooyoung laughed. "Yeah. But, did you miss my face, prettyboy?"

San couldn't think of a reply, his pulse elevating. Luckily, the teacher entered the class at that moment, rendering the entire class silent. San heaved a relieved sigh, but his mind was still replaying that prettyboy over and over again.

As soon as lunch came around, San made his way towards the back of the school to meet with Mingi by the gardens. He convinced himself that the taller boy was fine now (after all, Mingi said so himself), and that nothing would happen to him. San was tired of pushing others away, and for once, he wanted to befriend someone without his problem complicating everything. And plus, it wasn't like he spent every single second with Mingi.

"Choi, where are you heading to?" Wooyoung's voice cut into San's thoughts, and San was grateful for the distraction. He didn't want to feel guilt for something he unfortunately had no control over.

"The gardens?" The dark haired boy continued. "Didn't know you liked going there now."

San noticed Mingi sitting at their usual bench, the taller's fiery locks falling into his eyes. "...I eat here with Mingi now for lunch."

Wooyoung had seen Mingi too, but his expression betrayed nothing. "Cool."

Once they got to where Mingi was, San rubbed his arm, suddenly feeling anxious for no reason at all. "Uh, this is Wooyoung. Wooyoung, this is Mingi."

Wooyoung sat next to Mingi, running his hand down his hair. "I already knew you since last year."

Mingi watched him with a smile, but it didn't really reach his eyes. San busied himself with sitting down on the other end since the bench fitted all three of them.

"Right. You're Yunho's friend, right?" Mingi answered.

Wooyoung nodded. "Yeah."

"I thought so, since I always see you around him," Mingi said, his tone bordering on stern. "And I'm sure you've seen the many times he bothered other students, correct?"

The air around them turned more rigid, and San wanted to say something before things escalated and got worse.

Wooyoung's face still remained blank, though. "I can't really control what Yunho does, since he doesn't take orders well, but I swear he's a nice person. I already told him to leave San alone since we're friends, and he'd agreed."

San looked up then, and caught Wooyoung staring at him. At this, the dark haired boy simply smiled, causing San to look away since he didn't know what else to do.

Mingi noticed the stares they'd exchanged, but he fortunately didn't mention anything about it. He took a sip of his drink. "That's good, I guess."

"But, really," Wooyoung said, glancing at Mingi. "Yunho may not seem like it, but he's a nice enough guy. He even sleeps with a teddy bear, and one time he even cried while we were watching a romcom at his house."

Mingi raised an eyebrow. "Why are you telling me this?"

San couldn't help but wonder that too.

Wooyoung just shrugged. "No reason. I just don't want you to think of him as a bad person."

"Really? Is that it?" Mingi questioned.

"Yeah," Wooyoung nodded.

Mingi sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, looking like he was contemplating over something. "...I already know that Yunho likes me."

If San had been drinking something, he definitely would've spit it out after hearing Mingi's statement.

"Wait, really?" Wooyoung looked surprised.

"Yes. But there's no point," Mingi continued. His eyes seemed far off, at someplace else entirely, and San had a feeling he wasn't only talking about Yunho's possible crush on him.

"Why?" Wooyoung was asking. "Are you like, homophobic or something?"

Mingi shook his head. "No."

"But you're straight, right? Is that why you're not interested?" Wooyoung pressed, and San glared at him.

"Wooyoung, don't be rude," he warned. Mingi, however, just looked humoured by the whole situation.

"I'm not straight, but I'm not gay either. I like whoever I happen to like," Mingi explained. "I'm also good at sensing who likes who. That's why I quickly noticed the many, many times Yunho has stared at me."

At this, San picked his nails, his movements rougher than usual. He sincerely hoped that Mingi hadn't noticed how quickly his face burned whenever Wooyoung grinned or smiled at him.

"Then you guys should hang out. Maybe you'll find that you like him more than you'd expected?" Wooyoung tried again.

Mingi raked his fingers through his red hair. His smile looked close to disappearing completely off his face. "It's no use. Why like, or fall in love with someone that you will eventually lose? That would just hurt you both in the end."

San gulped, as he'd never anticipated hearing those kind of words coming from Mingi's lips. Mingi, who he'd seen as friendly, calm, and smiley, had just uttered sentences that didn't fail to verbally stab him in the gut because of how scarily relatable they were. They hit far too close to home, and San had to wonder: Were these the thoughts that Mingi frequently had?

"Shit, you're insanely pessimistic," Wooyoung replied after a couple seconds of tense silence.

"Just being realistic," Mingi countered. He'd gone back to smiling, but his brown eyes looked hollow. There was nothing in them anymore.

"But... that doesn't mean you can't try." San shocked himself by speaking out loud. Mingi's words kept echoing inside his head, and it made this sense of dread envelope him. It made him feel insecure and... hopeless.

Mingi and Wooyoung both looked at him, and he cleared his throat.

"I mean -- everyone will die one day, right?" San stuttered, inhaling a sharp breath. "But, that doesn't stop most people from going after what they want, even when they know they'll die someday..."

Wooyoung blinked, before nodding fervently. "Yes -- San's right. We all know death's a bitch and it'll come for us one day, right? But we still continue living, because that's what humans fucking do. They live."

Mingi took a bite out of his sandwich. "Just simply existing sounds easier. It makes everything less stressful in the end."

"Aish," Wooyoung groaned. "You're making everything so depressing. Hey -- don't laugh." He pointed at a chuckling Mingi. "This is serious. I have an idea. We should go get some ice cream later so you'd stop making me feel so horrible."

"I'm sorry," Mingi apologized. "I just -- I felt like ranting for a bit. But, ice cream does sound good."

Wooyoung grinned. "Favourite flavour?"

"Cookies and cream."

"Ehhhh."

As Wooyoung and Mingi launched into an argument about which ice cream flavour was the best, San thought over Mingi's words from earlier.

Why like, or fall in love with someone that you will eventually lose? That would just hurt you both in the end.

Just simply existing sounds easier. It makes everything less stressful in the end.

San watched Wooyoung, observing the latter's delicate features, his bright smile and his twinkling eyes. He was so beautiful, it made San so unsure of himself at times. Because what did someone like him, ever find in someone like San?

Wooyoung's eyes locked with his, and he cracked a smile that was meant solely for him. Instantly, San's ears darkened in colour.

...And why did San have to like him?

* * *

a/n: thoughts?