Two

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"Hanbin, are you okay?" Fourteen year old Zhang Hao asks him once they meet up at the tree house next to Hanbin's house.

"Yeah, I'm okay." Hanbin sighs. "It's just... it feels like no one cares about me."

"What? Why do you say that?"

"Well, today was supposed to be a special day for me, but no one remembered." Hanbin looks down, feeling his eyes water.

"Really? What day is it today?" Zhang Hao pretends not to know. "Why's it special?"

"No reason." Hanbin shakes his head.

"Oh, don't look so down." Zhang Hao tells him. "Lucky for you, you have me." He takes a gift box out of his pocket. "Happy birthday, Hanbin! Don't say no one cares about you. I care a lot about you."

"You remembered." Hanbin can't help but smile.

"We've been best friends for almost nine years. Of course I remember. Now open your gift."

Hanbin looks down at the box and opens it to see a necklace. "Wow... it's so pretty."

"I know right! I actually got one for myself too so they can be matching best friend necklaces. We've been friends for all these years but I noticed we don't have a matching item."

"Thank you, Zhang Hao!" Hanbin pulls him in for a hug. "I'm lucky to have you as a friend. You've never forgotten my birthday and you've always been there for me."

"Don't grow up so fast, though. It's making me sad."

"You're just a year older than me." Hanbin tells him. "No, we're actually the same age right now since your birthday's next month."

"But still, I'm older than you. I remember when we first met. You were the biggest crybaby I've ever seen. Even Ricky, who was just three at the time, called you a crybaby."

"Well, I fell that time and scraped my knees. Did you expect me to laugh?"

"You've got a point." Zhang Hao nods and stands up. "Come on, let's go get you a cake from the bakery."

"Wait, really?" Hanbin immediately stands up.

"Yeah, I saved up some money just to be able to buy it for you today."

"Wow! Thank you, Hao! I promise I'll buy you the biggest cake next month!"

-

Their friendship was doing so well that year. As promised, Hanbin had bought Zhang Hao a big cake for his birthday.

They celebrated their 9th year as being friends. Hanbin had bought matching bracelets, so they could match with the necklaces Zhang Hao had bought the month before.

The two were inseparable.

Sometimes at school, people would think they were dating since they were always together. But they didn't care. They knew they only saw each other as friends anyway.

But sometimes things can change drastically from one day to another.

-

"Hanbin, how could you tell the whole school?!" Zhang Hao yells at him as he can't help but cry. "I trusted you with this information! You're the only one who knew! Why would you tell anyone?!"

"What? I didn't say anything, Zhang Hao. That's your personal life and I'm your best friend. Why would you even think I told anyone?"

"Then how does the whole school know, Hanbin?! They keep making fun of me online! I trusted you with that information because I thought you wouldn't say anything! I told you to keep it a secret!"

"Hao, I promise I didn't say anything." Hanbin shakes his head as he feels tears rolling down his cheeks. "I'm your best friend. No matter what happens, I'll always support you. I wouldn't do something like that. I know how judgmental our school can be. Why would I tell anyone you like him? Why would I tell anyone you're gay?"

"You're what?" They hear a voice behind them... Ricky.

"I hate you!" Zhang Hao yells at Hanbin as he feels like his life is ruined. His mom would never accept him if she found out. So if Ricky tells her anything, his life is really over.

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