-^* Are we clear? *^- | Haobin

-^* final memory ^*-

I headed to the football field, trudging along the grass and spying the tall figure stood awaiting my arrival. I had to admit, something seemed off by how he'd invited me here.

"Hyung, I have something really important to tell you- meet me on the football pitch at 4pm after practice. I'll be waiting for you."
Without another word, he turned and strode down the hallway.

I presumed maybe it was to do with the new dance I was teaching him. Maybe he was worried about something and wanted to discuss it with me alone. We'd been sharing our worries about those sorts of things often with each other, so it seemed normal enough to me.
Hao had been with Yuxuan at a meeting for the music club, so I had told Hao to meet me on the pitch when they were done so that we could head back to my place after.

As I approached Gyuvin, his face was bright red, he scratched the back of his head as he avoided my eye contact.
"What's up?" I asked with a kind smile, watching as he fidgeted nervously. I quirked my head to the side and raised an eyebrow, "is something bothering you?"
He shook his head.
"If it's about the dance I'm fine to go over it again. On Monday I have-"
"It's not...about the dance..." he spoke over me, his tone sharp as his face became more flustered.
I stared at him for a moment.
"Then what is it?"
He seemed like he was fighting himself to say whatever words he wanted to say. I smiled at him again. He reminded me of Hao right now, whenever he'd get annoyed with me he'd react like this.
As he went to speak I stuck my hand out and ruffled his hair.
"The worry genie is worrying, it's okay, I'll get rid of your worries today." I reassured him.
He sighed, not the kind of sigh that shows relief, but a somewhat angry sigh. He seemed agitated by something. Was it me? Had I annoyed him unknowingly? I couldn't think of anything I'd done. Gyuvin and I weren't the type to argue, if he didn't like something I did he would usually just tell me very kindly so that I could correct it, and I'd grown into the habit of doing the same, so we never had issues like arguments or even disagreements anymore.
"Do you remember how I told you that you inspired me to start dancing?"
I nodded.
"Well...I wanted to tell you that I'm planning to try my best to go to that dance college you want to attend, and hopefully be just like you."
I laughed endearingly.
"I'm glad Gyuvin, is that all you had to say?"
He shook his head and took a deep breath.
"Don't go to China. Your dream school is right here in Seoul and I think you'll be ruining your dreams if you go over there..."
I glanced down and smiled sadly. He was right, I was planning to leave behind my dream college to go to China. The schools over there were much harder to get into and with the skills and grades I was predicted to get, there was a slim chance I'd be accepted into a half as good school. It had been eating away at me since I'd agreed to go with Hao, but I was prepared to leave it behind for him.
"You know I can't do that, I'll just have to work harder in China to get where I want to be-"
"Are you really going to give up this because of him?" He stared into my eyes soulfully, almost as if he was pleading me not to go.
"Gyuvin," I sighed, placing my hand on his shoulder as his eyes welled up with tears, "the world is so big, there are so many opportunities out there for me which I'm so grateful of. You don't have to worry about me, you worry about others far too much for your own good and I dearly appreciate it but what I want is to find my path whilst protecting the happiness of the people I love."
His brow furrowed.
"Is he really worth it?"
I smiled softly.
"To me, he's worth the entire world."
"A friend is worth the entire world?"
I nodded. Gyuvin was the only friend I had that hadn't figured out mine and Hao's relationship. Me and Hao had decided not to tell anyone at school, presuming it best to leave it until we finish high school to protect ourselves. Those who knew, only knew because they'd figured it out themselves. Gyuvin was only sixteen, and with so much else to worry about he hadn't quite caught on yet. Besides, I was the one who hung out with him, Hao was only in dance club when he had to be, most of the time he was practicing violin so Gyuvin didn't really see us together as much as everyone else did.
"Was that what was worrying you?"
"Not entirely I-"
"Hanbina!"
I turned my head to see Hao walking onto the pitch, Yuxuan following behind him, staring at Gyuvin and I with a frown.
I waved with a bright smile.
"What were you going to say?" I asked as I turned back to Gyuvin.
Without another word, he took my face into his hands, pulling my lips close to his.
Before they touched, I pulled back and stared at him, shock plastered on my expression.
Before I could create a single thought on the subject, I felt a hard object slam into the side of my face, with force so hard it pushed me to the ground.
As I sat in the dirt, I glanced up at Yuxuan, rage bubbling inside me.
"I warned you, Hanbin. I told you if you dared make him upset I would kill you." He spoke breathlessly as he stared down at me like I was nothing more than the dirt that soaked my clothes.
I stood up and grasped his collar.
"You're saying that to me after you've been feeding him lies this whole time, telling him I've been going around flirting with other guys."
"Well it's not a fucking lie is it? You've just been caught in the act, Hanbin. Don't pretend like you're all innocent now, because we're all seeing the solid proof of how much of a joke you are." He said it in mandarin. He knew I'd understand it, he knew I'd been learning in preparation to go to China. It just pissed me off even more, after months of not understanding his secret chats with Hao, I understood what he said vaguely enough.
I swung at him, my fist hitting him right in the nose.