Chapter Text
Suho would like to say their first interaction was good, that their second was even better, but that wouldn't be the case, unfortunately. Not with pencils and pens being thrown, a chair swung at his head, as if he was the one that picked on him in the first place, until the teacher finally decided to show up to end the fight.
Honestly, Suho didn't know how everything ended up that way. It wasn't like he sought out fights, or intentionally got on the kid's bad side. He'd noticed the way others picked on him, how they talked behind his back. They called him weird and psycho, saying his eyes looked crazy, like he would snap at any moment. Given, they weren't technically wrong about the last part. Suho just hadn't realized how far he'd go if that did ever happen. Not that Yeongbin didn't deserve it, it was bound to happen eventually.
The kid didn't speak, and if he did, it was only one or two mumbled words that Suho could never hear. He typically only stared, glared, whatever it was, but his eyes, those eyes that held so much emotion in a single glance, they just seemed to piss everyone off. By looking at him, Suho never would've imagined what he was capable of. He was slim, short, shorter than Suho at least, and he just sat at his desk studying, earbuds in like he didn't care about anything else in the world. He only ever looked up when the teachers were giving their usual lectures about keeping up their grades and turning in their homework.
Still, quiet curiosity could only last for so long. Eventually there would come a time where Suho wouldn't be able to keep his questions and interest in the boy to himself knowing that he was quite nosy and pushy, and like his grandmother always says, he always gets what he wants eventually.
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The day started out as any other would for Suho. He was sleeping across a couple desks in the back of the class when the lights had been flicked on causing him to groan while lifting his head, opening one eye with a squint to get a look at who had entered the classroom, and as expected, Yeon Sieun as standing near the now open window. He seemed to be lost in thought for a short moment before he turned around and found his desk, unpacking his books.
Suho had no idea how Sieun was able to come to school over an hour early and immediately start studying. He was like some high powered machine that ran off of his studies alone. He wondered if Sieun ever did anything other than study. He wondered if he ever played video games, if he ever sat and binged a tv series while stuffing snacks away like a bottomless pit- though that was more Suho's thing, he figured.
Since their little fight, Suho had wondered if he should apologize. He didn't exactly want to piss Sieun off anymore than he already had, but he also didn't want Sieun going around thinking that he was some asshole that liked to fight.. Considering their only interactions had consisted of Suho being involved in a fight, with or without him. For once, Suho wasn't sure how to go about an interaction. Usually, he was outgoing and was able to make conversation easily. With Sieun, he knew it wouldn't be that easy. So, against his better judgement, while the classroom was empty other than the two of them, he decided he'd try. He just hoped he didn't end up with a pen in his hand too.
"Sieun," Suho started, scratching the back of his neck a bit awkwardly as he stood beside his desk, unsure of where the start. "I'm not good at apologizing, so how about lunch, hm? No better way to someone's heart than through their stomach, right?" He laughed a bit, clearing his throat when he realized how awful that actually sounded out loud, especially considering that Sieun wasn't even acknowledging his presence.
It took a good thirty seconds for Suho to figure out what he should do next since Sieun wasn't giving him much to work with. He didn't realize carrying a conversation would be so difficult, usually that was what he was good at. He tapped the corner of Sieun's textbook after another moment of thinking, assuming that maybe he was invested in whatever he was listening to in his earbuds.
This seemed to get Sieun's attention, and Suho wasn't so sure that was a good thing anymore by the look in Sieun's eyes. They were so dark, round and beautiful. Well, not beautiful, never beautiful. It just reminded Suho of the reflection of stars over the dark ocean, and he liked the ocean. That's all.
Hesitating slightly, Suho tried to regather his thoughts so he didn't sound completely ridiculous. "Want to get lunch? As an apology, for both of us. I buy yours, you buy mine, kinda thing?" Suho tried again, hoping that he'll get an answer other than that unimpressed stare.
"No," Sieun replied flatly and then he looked back down at his books as if Suho wasn't there. His voice was deeper and quieter than he'd expected, and he hated that he really wanted to hear more of it. He really was losing it, huh?
"Right, course not," Suho chuckled a little, feeling his ego deflate a bit by Sieun's rejection. "It would really be worth your time, don't you think? Good food and even better company." Suho joked to try to lighten the mood, but when Sieun looked back up at him when he realized Suho wasn't done, Suho knew that it was time for him to give up. Just this once. Sieun couldn't hate him forever, right?
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Wrong. Suho was very wrong. Every time he attempted to talk to Sieun or get his attention, Sieun brushed him off by walking right past him or glaring at him as if he personally pissed in his cereal. It had been 2 weeks, and he had made zero progress. He didn't know how to get Sieun to talk to him without pissing him off, but that seemed to be impossible. He didn't know anyone else who disliked the idea of having friends as much as Sieun. That's all he wanted, was the be friends with him. He wanted to get to know what lies behind that cold front he always puts out. He seemed cold and annoyed with everything, but Suho could see that he was sad and lonely too. He was just a boy who needed a friend, and Suho was determined to make to be that friend.
"Yah! Yeon Sieun!" Suho shouted as he ran out of the school in an attempt to catch up to the other. He didn't expect to sleep through the final bell, which caused him to miss walking Sieun out of class, and that was how he had planned on offering to walk him home to get to know him better. he knew it was a long shot, but he had to try something since nothing else was working.
He pushed through some groups of his other classmates, jumping up occasionally to see past the many heads in front of him, until he finally caught sight of the back of a familiar figure in that gray jacket he always seemed to wear. Suho pushed a little harder and ran a little faster until he eventually caught up to him, slinging an arm around his shoulder which instantly got Sieun's attention.
Sieun stopped walking in an instant, looking over and up at Suho like he'd grown a third eye or a second head. It would've been a funny reaction if Sieun didn't shove his arm off and continue walking. Suho huffed, quickly going back to his side, not touching him this time. He just walked beside him in silence which seemed to annoy Sieun slightly less than when he'd touched him.
"You hate me, don't you? Is it because of the fight? I didn't mean anything by it!" Suho sighed dramatically. "I just didn't want you to go to far and regret something, like completely smashing in Yeongbin's face, y'know?" And still, his attempts went out the window, Sieun still ignoring him, but not forcing him to go away.
That's how he ended up walking Sieun home- Well, how he ended up following Sieun home. He really didn't mean to in the beginning. He had been so distracted by his own thoughts that he hadn't realized he followed Sieun onto the bus– which ended up going in the opposite direction of his own home– until they were getting ready to get off. So he just continued going with him, Sieun hadn't stopped him, so he assumed he didn't mind.
It wasn't until they reached Sieun's door that the boy turned around and gave him the worst glare he'd seen from him yet. Suho figured he was going to say something, yell at him, tell him to fuck off and leave him alone or something, but he didn't. He just glared at him for a minute and then turned around, unlocked his front door, and went inside, letting the door slam closed behind him. Despite that reaction, Suho smiled. He almost laughed, but he managed to keep it to a small puff of air as he stared at the door in front of him. "What a lunatic.." He mumbled lightheartedly with a shake of his head, turning to leave.
He stopped quickly when he heard the door open again, this time, Sieun was in what looked like his pajamas. A sweatshirt that said 'optimist club' which he found quite ironic considering Sieun was the least optimistic person he knew, and sweatpants that hung loosely from his smaller frame. Suho couldn't help but think of how cute he looked in them, and how he wished he could see him like that more often.
He didn't get to react before a paper was thrown at his face and the door was slammed shut again. It took him a moment to realize what had happened, blinking with his mouth hung open in slight shock and confusion, until he finally leaned down and grabbed the paper.
Leave me alone unless you want to end up like Yeongbin. I don't want to hang out with you, and you don't want to hang out with me. Suho scoffed quietly as he read the note that was written in Sieun's neat handwriting. Rude bastard was Suho's only thought as he pulled out a pen from his bag and quickly wrote something on the paper, folding it back up and sliding it under the door, knowing Sieun would see it the next time he went to the door.
Say it to my face, and maybe I'll change my mind.