'Our dance department will be merging with the drama and music sectors to work towards our upcoming project,' Madame Sissone announced.
Yes; ironically, that really was her surname. But as much as boys made fun of the young dance teacher's title, she was an excellent coach. She had always been Jongin's favourite teacher, ever since she said that she had 'never seen a dancer with so much passion' and that he had 'great potential' three years back. Since she was an international champion, he would be an idiot not to believe her.
'The project will be a formal competition, held in the main hall, in order to showcase your talents to the rest of the school and your parents, if they do choose to attend.'
Several groans could be heard. Nobody liked it when parents were involved.
'Between this lesson and next, I would like you to think about which routine you will perform. If you have any issues or enquiries, please come and see me before then. Dismissed.'
The students filed out of the dance studio, quiet murmurs and pockets of conversation following in their wake.
Routines swirled around in Jongin's mind as he considered his options. He wanted to pick carefully and wisely, so as to display his talents fully.
He was still undecided when he met Kyungsoo - and Baekhyun, although he didn't take any notice of the small male - outside their choir classroom.
'Did you get the news, too?' Jongin asked when he caught Kyungsoo's irritated expression.
'Yeah,' the smaller replied, his frustration evident even in that one word. 'I'm not doing it.'
'We have to,' Baekhyun said, but he didn't look any more pleased than his friend.
'I hate to say it but he's right,' Jongin agreed, then shot Baekhyun a glare, which was soon returned with equal malice. Kyungsoo frowned at them both before facing back the way they were walking.
'But it's just pointless,' he sighed. 'Even more pointless than my father sending me to a public school if I'm just going to take the company anyway. Why would I need to learn geology if I'm just going to be sat in an office all day? Just the same as why I wouldn't need to work on my performance skills unless I was going to be a singer.'
'You might end up as a singer,' Baekhyun shrugged. 'You never know.'
Kyungsoo scowled at him. 'Not if my father has anything to say about it.'
'This assignment has really put you in a bad mood, hasn't it?' Jongin chuckled.
'Yes. And I'm not doing it.'
Grinning and shaking his head at his boyfriend, Jongin pushed open the door to their history classroom and sighed.
Today was the deadline for their projects, and they were to present them in front of the class. Jongin hadn't thought much about this presentation before, but now that it was time, his nerves were kicking in. He wasn't confident talking in front of big groups of people, so he was relying solely on Sehun and his chatterbox ways to get them through the end of the project.
On the other hand, Baekhyun and Kyungsoo didn't seem at all fazed, which only made him feel worse.
'Let's get this over with,' he murmured to himself. He entered the classroom with the other two close behind.
~
After the presentations and the dismissal of the class, Kyungsoo waited outside the room for Jongin. Soon after, the tanned male emerged and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
'What's the matter?' Kyungsoo asked, taking Jongin's hand as they began to walk. He held up the hand and raised his eyebrows at the taller when he realised the bronzed hand was trembling against his. 'Were you really that nervous?'
Jongin nodded weakly and tensed his hand in an attempt to still it.
A light chuckle escaped from Kyungsoo's lips as he let their hands dangle between them. 'You didn't speak a single word.'
'I was terrified,' Jongin whined. 'I hate talking in front of loads of people.'
'Really? But you're so loud.'
Jongin glared at the smaller. 'Only with friends.'
Ignoring the glare, Kyungsoo nodded. 'Huh. Weird.'
'You're weird.'
'Don't bully me,' Kyungsoo pouted.
The taller boy chuckled, squeezing his boyfriend's hand teasingly. 'I'm just kidding, don't worry. I'm the victim, not the bully.'
The pout immediately fell from Kyungsoo's plump lips, only to be replaced by a look of hurt and concern. He tugged on Jongin's arm, pulling him to a stop. 'Yah,' he said quietly, his voice filled with pity. 'Why would you say that?'
Jongin shuffled from foot to foot when he realised the mistake he had made. It seemed like this wasn't such an easy subject for Kyungsoo to talk about, even though Jongin himself could rattle off plenty of self-humiliating jokes. 'It's true,' he murmured.
Kyungsoo sighed, but still looked incredibly and unnecessarily upset. 'I don't know if it's a good thing that you're so cheerful about it or not,' he grumbled.
Feeling bad for his attitude, Jongin flashed a bright smile and carried on walking. 'Hey, look on the bright side. It's not happening anymore!'
Although there was still a trace of sadness, Kyungsoo smiled. 'Yeah, that's at least something good.' Then his smile faded and he looked up at Jongin. 'But it could happen again at any time... I didn't know him for long, but by the looks of it, Jonghyun had a lot of other friends who would be willing to take his place.'
'Then all I can do is be prepared,' Jongin said, trying to reassure Kyungsoo with raised eyebrows and a soft voice.
'I won't let it happen again,' Kyungsoo grinned, clinging onto Jongin's arm and allowing a spring to slip into his step. 'I'll protect you!'
Laughing, Jongin pressed a quick kiss to Kyungsoo's temple. 'Thanks, hyung.'
Kyungsoo giggled, and Jongin couldn't resist stealing another kiss. He was glad they were in an empty part of the school, since they were still keeping their relationship low for the very reason that the bullying might continue.
'Speaking of the bullying,' Jongin said as the thought came to his mind, 'I heard Taemin is coming back tomorrow.'
He glanced at Kyungsoo just in time to see him cringe. 'Yeah. I heard that, too.'
'Well, it can't be that bad,' Jongin said. 'It's not like he'd do anything. He always looked like he disagreed with what they were doing and he did try to help me one time.'
'Then why did he stay with them?' Kyungsoo huffed.
'He didn't have much of a choice, hyung. You don't just walk away from Jonghyun. It doesn't work like that, unless you have a death wish.'
'Well I still don't like him. He should've told someone, at least.'
'Don't worry about it,' Jongin said softly.
Kyungsoo looked up at the younger through his lashes. 'I care about you, Jongin. Of course I'm going to worry.'
'Hyung,' the dark skinned boy called after a moment of silence.
'Yes, Jonginnie?'
'I really like you.'
Kyungsoo laughed. 'I really like you, too.'
Jongin grinned, and was just about to plant a kiss on the elder's cheek when he noticed two of their juniors just rounding the corner. Kyungsoo seemed to notice, too, as he squeaked and quickly pulled away from the taller male.
But the two younger boys, who Jongin soon realised were also holding hands, were too busy giggling with each other to notice them until they passed.
The boys looked up at Kyungsoo and Jongin and their cheeks flushed pink quickly, but they didn't let go of each other's hands.
'Hey, Jongin,' one of them greeted timidly. His boyfriend giggled, but it was an embarrassed giggle and they both bowed at their seniors.
In the meantime, Jongin's eyebrows had become lost in his hair and his lips were parted in shock. They actually knew his name? They actually knew him?
When an excited nudge from Kyungsoo brought him back to reality, it was too late. But Jongin quickly glanced over his shoulder to see the boys doing the same and shot them a too joyful sounding, 'hey!'
'See,' Kyungsoo hissed once he had turned back around, 'people like you!'
'They're juniors,' Jongin argued, although a slight smile was still gracing his lips. 'I'm sure they were just being polite.'
Kyungsoo tutted and clung onto his boyfriend's arm again. 'Stop being modest. You saw how embarrassed they got, like they were talking to a celebrity!'
'I probably am one in this school, more than I think, but for all the wrong reasons,' Jongin said, his tone suddenly disheartened and sullen.
Kyungsoo was just about to protest when Jongin froze. He was staring at something in front of them. Or rather, someone.
Taemin.
~ A/N
Jonginnie, so cute!
Woo I'm home!! Hopefully I'll be updating lots more over the next two weeks, before I'm back at school^^ Please vote and comment as usual!