"wow, these are all looking really good, guys," mrs. jo smiled excitedly as she wandered around the tables of her art class and inspected the work. "i know this is hard for some of you, but you got into this academy from talent and it shows. i promise for those if you that enjoy fictional art, abstract and cartoons we'll do a module on those next."

"i'm still confused about the close-up section of this project, miss," a small girl raised her hand and waved their teacher over. "i've been drawing my model's eyes and fingers and stuff, but i'm not exactly sure what it is you're looking for."

"basically i need you to...."

and that's where jisung tuned out. he spread his portfolio so far in front of him and took a proper look at the effort so far. he could clearly define where he'd started and where he was now...and it amazed him that he'd improved so much. maybe chenle had a magic effect.

or maybe his muse was starting to look a little better in his eyes.

the boy was no idiot, and he was starting to cop onto his emotions now. renjun hadn't given up on pestering him, though had toned it down a little to avoid arguments. the more jisung thought about what he could've answered his best friend with, the more he realised he was ending up just like him.

falling for the enemy.

his gaze shifted over each image of chenle he had, and his finger gently swiped over the oil pastel picture he'd done of his model when lele was posing on the chair for him. damn it, and here i am telling him to go make friends and not to be suspicious...i'm a hypocrite.

"ji, this is all looking really good. i'm impressed," mrs. jo hummed from behind him, and he flinched out of his own daydreams and returned to reality.

"yeah?"

"definitely. the detail is getting stronger in these areas here, and you've been experimenting with different media, haven't you? you're a brave man trying to use chalk pastels."

"they're a nightmare," he whined and picked up a rough image that could be somewhat defined as a boy standing under an archway. the canteen's archway at night, to be precise. "this one was the only one that didn't smudge under my hand."

"they're tricky, i'll give you that. we can practice those more as a class i think, it looks like a lot of you want to love them but struggle to."

"sounds fun. i can't wait for this stress to end," he chuckled awkwardly, but the underlying meaning behind it was much more than just the artwork. his teacher sighed with a fond smile and leaned in a little to lower her voice while everyone else chatted around them.

"ji, how's it going with chenle? i'm aware this must be taxing for both of you — the sneaking around."

"it's okay. he's really good company, actually, and he treats this as though it's his project too."

"oh? that's good to hear. you were so against at the beginning."

"yeah, well...i judged a book by its cover. i should know better than anyone that we don't choose our classes and the uniforms are just clothes."

"nice job. you've learned a life lesson and made a new friend from this endeavour. god, i am such a good teacher."

"way to toot your own horn!"

"psh, i'm right though. i'm glad you're enjoying this more than before ji, i'm smelling an honours grade around the corner."

holy shit, that would be amazing, he inwardly smiled and watched as the woman tapped his shoulder and wandered off to critique another student. wait 'til i tell chenle!

chenle, jeno, mark and donghyuck all stood against the canteen wall out of trouble as another war broke out when an ivory student called an ebony one a 'fucking clown'. then proceeded to tell them they were a joke.

food was flying, the usual weaponry was out, and for once hyuck didn't feel like running in and helping. he had a late night with his boyfriend getting up to no good, and his energy had been sapped.

"how are these things resolved?" chenle asked softly, glancing at the others and watching as mark shrugged with a small, lopsided grin.

"weapons run out and both sides fall back. it's like a retreat almost, but if they go on longer than ten minutes either kun or ten will interfere and cut it short. as well as when actual punches are thrown."

"oh..."

"actually, i've been meaning to ask," donghyuck hummed and nudged mark's shoulder with a snide smile, "how're the roses?"

"i don't know," he pouted and stared off into the canteen in a daze. "their messages are so vague and i can't tell who they're from. if someone has a crush on me, just say it. flowers are pretty, i'm impressed...but i don't know who it is in the first place."

"mhm, i suppose that's the point," jeno murmured and leaned his head back on the wall. "you're supposed to figure it out, right?"

"i'm oblivious. even i'm aware of that."

"then take your time."

chenle and donghyuck, both on separate sides of the two boys, gave each other a look. the older had informed the youngest of them when he'd started sitting with them that jeno was too shy to fess up to his crush and played this game to prolong the inevitable. one rose a day would have a message on it telling mark how special he was, and the poor boy was at a loss for words.

he couldn't see that his own best friend was pining for him and anxious about it.

chenle almost felt bad that he already knew about it and yet this story was already two years old. his own experience with romance was small...negligible, even. he recognised the swelling adoration for his artist increasing, but he knew he'd have to keep that one quiet. once these two months were over, jisung would've probably dropped him like a hot drink.

as much as he didn't want that, he also wanted to fit in here. if hating ebony was all this side of the room ever asked of him, then maybe he'd just have to grow accustomed to it. donghyuck continued to tease mark and jeno as the ravenette got lost in his own head.

he couldn't wait for another art session.