the two boys sat outside the school building on one of the secluded benches out back. if anyone saw them, they'd be minced meat. the only dilemma jisung could see now was that chenle didn't know how bad this really was. mrs. jo was lovely, and he respected her a great deal...but she'd really messed up this time.

"listen, we need to work around our separate classes to the best of our abilities," he started, hands out on his lap as he moved them with his thought process. "i'll draw and paint you after classes everyday to build up a decent collection, and maybe we'll finish early and get this nightmare over with."

"what would actually happen if people realised we associated with each other? realistically, what could they do?"

"jeez, it's social suicide, man. i'd be alienated and bullied or something, and renjun wouldn't be able to hang out with me anymore!" the more he worked himself up and conjured more horrendous ideas in his head, the harder it was to calm down. "i have one friend here that i trust so far, and i don't want to lose him..."

"oh..."

"please try to culture yourself with the school rules before we meet up next. come to the art room after dinner tonight, and lay low. make some friends, don't look sketchy, and for god's sake don't tell a soul we have talked."

"i won't," chenle crossed his heart, his adorable feline-like eyes squinting into crescents with a smile. "thanks for putting up with me though. i appreciate how stressed you must be about this, and i'll ask around about etiquette and whatnot. do i have to participate in...what are they called? battles?"

"wars," jisung murmured bitterly, "and no, you don't. only warriors really fight in those. i'm not one, and you don't look like one either."

i'm relieved, i guess, the older thought, scratching the back of his neck and glancing off into the distance towards the wall encompassing their top-notch academy. his white uniform rustled against the gentle breeze passing through, and he couldn't help but peer at his distracted partner in crime who's black attire was particularly beautiful on him. "thank you."

"you keep saying that," the brunette scoffed. "don't thank me, just cooperate until this is over. i'm happy to get along with you," he extended his hand for a western-styled handshake, "but under complete secrecy."

"deal."

jisung slumped into his dorm room after school that evening and chose to get dressed into casual wear before heading to the art room. his roommate, renjun — who also happened to be his closest friend — was in front of their floor-length mirror fixing his uniform.

"hey jun."

"hi ji, how are you?"

"frickin' tired. i have a hellish art project for the next two months and i'd rather die," he grumbled while stripping out of his clothes. the smaller was a second year, and also a member of the disciplinary committee. one of his multiple jobs in this school was to wander the dorm building at night with the ivory's counterpart and ensure that nobody got up to no good. this, actually, was how he met his secret boyfriend — lee donghyuck, ivory's fuckboy.

"yikes, make sure you sleep too. don't stress too much, okay? first year isn't supposed to kill you."

"yeah," the taller murmured. he was tempted to tell the pretty male that he had a model now, and that this boy he had to draw wasn't someone he should've been hanging out with...but he couldn't bring himself to broach the subject. as wonderful as renjun was, he was seriously overprotective and unnecessarily judgemental towards the white uniforms. he may have been dating one of their worst students, but he was clever; hyuck was wrapped around his finger and acted like a good boy where he was concerned. otherwise, the rest were worth less than shit to him.

"i have a job to do before dinner. will you be okay on your own for a little while?" the older enquired while watching his roommate's reflection beside him.

"mhm."

"ji."

"what? i'll be fine, okay? go get laid or something—"

he earned himself an aggressive punch to the chest, but he knew he wasn't actually in trouble. ever since renjun had bravely confessed to him that he and donghyuck were a thing, it was just daily teasing from there. in complete honesty...he was jealous. he both wanted renjun's attention all the time, yet wanted a boyfriend as well who'd accept his high-maintenance personality.

"see you soon," the older hummed, squishing the taller boy's cheeks to be annoying before patting his shoulder and exiting the room. "eat lots of food."

"will do."

click. the door closed in his wake and jisung was left standing alone in the bedroom with his crowded thoughts. he couldn't seem to categorise all of them, floundering and sighing once he realised that life was just complicated. he couldn't catch a break. "fantastic," his deep voice resounded around the room, and there was nowhere to hide. he just needed to soldier on and get the next two months finished with.

dinner came and went in a matter of moments, it seemed. broken daydreams and half tuned conversation met the first year's ears and eyes, and instead of eating a lot like he told renjun he would...he didn't. jisung had no real appetite right now and no motivation to put on a smile for his peers. 'make some friends' both his teachers and his friend had advised him, yet here he was.

"hey, excuse me," a young girl suddenly wandered over to him with her hair tucked behind one of her ears and a bright smile. "can i check something with you?"

jisung froze in his place and stiffly nodded while running through each and every life choice he'd made in case he fucked up. "what is it?" her black skirt ended along her mid thighs, and she swept it under her as she sat down in the seat opposite him. the closer she got, the prettier she got.

"well, my friend is in your art class. do you know song kia?"

"not really."

"that's okay, she told me you tended to focus on your work a lot. anyway, she said you guys have a life drawing module now where you need a model, and that you might be looking for one. are you still?"

holy shit, a pretty ebony girl is approaching me about modelling? what is this sudden luck? "maybe. why?"

"i just wanted to see if i was an option. i've sort of been interested in getting to know you, and i enjoy modelling in general. my skill set for the school is photography, you see."

"oh, i get it." makes sense, but why me? why not one of the other talented artists? it would be stupid to turn her down. as he contemplated the pros and cons of this offer, he saw more good in accepting her help than bad, and at least she was ebony. it was a brilliant opportunity. "what did you say your name was?"

"he's late," chenle sighed as he sat on one of the art tables in the mostly empty room. mrs. jo was cleaning up after doing a bit of artwork herself, and she wore a pleasant grin since the cute student had shown up on time about five minutes ago.

"don't worry, i'm sure he'll show."

"i don't think he likes me, miss. is the class hatred really that bad?"

"yeah, unfortunately. he's not like that though, and i'm pretty sure he's just awkward. let him breathe, and he'll open up to you like a cat. it took me a while to get through to him as well."

"really? maybe that's it."

chenle wasn't entirely convinced, however, and he felt a little nervous now that he'd made his appearance yet wasn't exactly shown the same courtesy. he was doing the artist a favour, not the other way around...so this was a bit awkward.

"he's not usually this tardy," the woman mumbled quietly, looking out the window and seeing how the sun was almost entirely submerged beyond the mountains. she was a little concerned as well, and she'd really hoped that this project would do a world of good for jisung, not a lot of bad.

another ten minutes seemed to flow quite slowly, and it was getting quite ridiculous now. the ivory student stood up from his spot and wandered around the room to admire a few canvases and clay sculptures. everything was of a high standard, and he could only wish he had such talent. his skills were completely in theatre and music.

"i'm sorry, le," mrs. jo pouted and held her bag on her forearm, "i really wanted to stay until he got here, but i have to go. i'm also running late now."

"that's okay, i'll see you tomorrow."

"you can go as well, if you'd like. he's being rude this time, and he can't expect you to wait forever."

"mhm, i'll give him five more minutes."

yet five minutes turned into another ten, which became a solid twenty, and it was already long past the assigned meeting time. in fact, now was supposed to be when they packed up and said farewell...yet nothing had come of the night. it was a massive disappointment, he'd admit, but again he had no idea what he was even supposed to expect. maybe he'd see him tomorrow and ask what happened.

as chenle tiredly pulled his first two buttons open around his neck in order to breathe more, he started to trail towards the door and weakly pull the handle. yet at the same time, the whole frame was thrown up and he got hit across the arm in the process. "ow!"

"woah," another boy gasped, eyeing the chinese teenager up and down with wide eyes. "sorry about that...chenle?"

"yeah," he murmured, rubbing his shoulder. "you weren't coming, so i was about to leave—"

"you stayed here all this time...for me?"

"obviously. we made a deal, and i held up my end. you just didn't...hold yours?"

"i'm so sorry," he gushed and placed his hands on the other's shoulders without even thinking about it. "I shouldn't have left you alone. i thought you'd have gone ages ago."

"jisung," chenle frowned, stepping out of his hold and glancing to the floor with disappointment gracing his pretty face. "is the deal still on? just say it. if you don't want to draw me, tell me. please..."

"it is. one hundred percent," the student assured him. "someone offered to model for me today, but i turned her down. a war broke out in the canteen again and i couldn't escape, since the ivory dudes were barricading the exit."

"that's so farfetched."

"it's the truth. so," he breathed heavily and caught his breath after rushing out excuses, "please give me one more chance. i won't be late again."

the older looked up and down skeptically, narrowing his eyes, but not having a mean or grudge-holding bone in his body. in the end, his heart concaved from that adorable pout the younger wore, and he turned around to start wandering into the classroom again. "fine."

"wait, what are you doing?"

"we're starting aren't we?"

"what? now?"

"mhm," chenle smiled cutely, sliding his jacket down his arms and appearing as though he'd been sent from above on divine wings. "no better time than the present."