| "I'm just worried because you also said you were fine after last lesson - but then ended up calling me crying in the afternoon."

He was crying?
Because of.. me?

Chan froze in place.
"That was because of... Never mind, but I'll bring these to him quickly. It looks like he forgot those."
Quick steps coming closer towards him, eventually leading to Felix bumping into his chest.
"Sorry!.. Chan?", the smaller boy looked up into his eyes. "Ah, uh, are these yours? I- "

Sooner than Felix could finish his sentence, Chan had already snatched the headphones out of his hands. Yet, he was still quite puzzled, surprised, shocked. "Yeah.", he said shortly, adding - barely audible - "Thanks."

Hurriedly turning away from him, he was just hoping Felix hadn't opened the case and went through the small notes.

.
.
.

The bell rang, they got dismissed.
The school day was finally over.

"So, mind telling me what's keeping your head so busy that you were mentally absent the whole lesson?" Chan was torn back to reality due to Minho's voice. They were on their way home.
"It's just.. well, I may or may not have kinda overheard a conversation between Felix and Jisung while getting my headphones.", he explained roughly.

"And what's so spe-"
"I think, I might have made him cry."

Minho stayed silent.
Both having their gazes fixed on the way ahead, not searching for the slightest eye contact.

"I thought I wouldn't care but I can't help but think about it. Imagine the scenery of him crying in my head... something about it makes me feel uneasy."
He lowered his head, studying the rock pattern on the ground. Chan bit on his lip harshly, chewing on the soft skin.

The situation triggered memories in Chan.
There was after all a reason why Minho was his only friend.

.
.

"Hey, what's up with that guy over there?" 
"Oh, him? Right, you don't know him yet since you're new - but I'm serious, stay away from him. I heard he bullied and even blackmailed a friend of his until the guy committed suicide.
Everyone is aware of him being such a horrible person. I don't even know how this asshole can go to a high school like this."
"Careful, I think he can hear you."
-
"Haven't you heard? He apparently has a real bad drinking habit. Like he's a total junkie."
"Judging by his looks, he might as well have a drug problem hahha"
-
"Stop looking at him! What if he picks on you next?"
-
"He looks so scary.."
-
"What an asshole!"

.
.

The whispers kept getting louder.
The voices became clearer.
He started tasting blood in his mouth.

Chan made himself believe, he didn't care anymore.
Made himself believe, it didn't get to him anymore.
Made himself believe, he had let it go.

But he hadn't.

And Minho knew.
He stopped in his tracks to look the other dead in the eyes.
"If you start to think about what happened in the past I will punch you."
He placed himself in front of Chan, forcing the older to stop as well.
Speaking more softly he said,"How do you know he cried because of you?"

"Jisung said something about Felix calling him crying in the afternoon.. the day after our art lesson.", Chan recalled his memory.
"So you assumed you were the cause of him crying afterwards?"
"Yes."

Minho sighed. Debating what he should tell Chan now. Not knowing what was the actual case, he couldn't decide what to say or do.
But he knew it felt right as he pulled Chan into a hug. Not a long one, not a romantic one.
Though enough to reassure comfort and support. He patted on the older's back before quietly saying, "You should talk to him, you know, Felix... I don't want you to get eaten by your thoughts which I am sure will happen if you won't do anything."

After letting go, he looked into Chan's eyes.
"I know you Chan since we were 7. You make yourself believe you don't care but in reality you do. And you think about it. A lot.
So please, I know it's difficult for you but try to talk to Felix. I'm sure it's for the best."

.
.
.

A couple of days had passed. For once in a while Chan actually wanted to follow Minhos advice regarding Felix. So in order to do so he waited for their next sport lecture together.
He couldn't help but notice that Felix was always the first one to be changed, before anyone else arrived.

As he entered the changing room 10 minutes earlier than usual, he spotted Felix putting on his shoes. He was already wearing his sports clothes. Long joggers, a shirt with a loose sweater above.

Felix's looked up as he surprisingly heard someone other than him enter the room so early.
Their eyes met.

Chan had thought this through a lot before.
But now as he stood right in front of him, in front of Felix, in front of someone he usually despised, it was hard to figure out a way to start.

"Oh, you probably came looking for this, right?"