First

Kyungsoo

I wish I could start this with some interesting and fun tidbit about my life, but the truth is, my life was anything but fun and interesting back then. My life was, in a word, factory-made. Ever since I can remember, my future has been planned out for me: be top of my class, get into a top university, and become a top lawyer. I know that must sound super privileged, right? Just another spoiled rich kid whose only issue in life is not being able to choose his future career. For a long time, I thought that, too, so I didn't complain and just followed along. In fact, there was a time when I never even saw that anything was wrong. 

But, as is the routine with stories like this, that was before someone unexpectedly came along and changed everything. 

I won't start there, though. I should start at the beginning of that first day. It was just any other morning for me: get up, get dressed, make myself look socially presentable, and eat breakfast with mom and dad. 

"Good morning," my dad said brightly as he exited his home office and joined my mom and I in the dining room. 

"Morning dad," I replied with a small smile. He sat down diagonal from me after giving my mom a brief kiss on her cheek. 

"So, what are everybody's plans for the day?" he asked, straightening out his napkin as he laid it on his pant leg. 

"I'm meeting up with some of my old high school friends for lunch this afternoon," my mom said before taking a sip of her coffee. "Then there is a PTA meeting early this evening, which means I won't be able to see you come home, sweetie. But I should be home shortly after." I just nodded silently, biting off a piece of dry toast.

"That sounds like it should be fun," he replied. "What about you, son? What have you got going on?" I looked up and scanned their faces with my eyes as I chewed, then swallowed. 

"Just school," I said. "I think I have some after-school programs today, too." He nodded his head slowly, most of his attention on his breakfast. My mom had made a full English-style breakfast that day, my dad's favorite.

"Good, good," he said without looking up at me. "Your mom showed me your last grade report. I was happy to see an improvement in math. I always thought math isn't important in law, but I learned the hard way when I got to university. You're better off doing well now."

I just nodded again and took another bite of toast. I was glad my mom was there with us because I never knew how to talk to my dad. It seemed the only interest he took in me was related to school. Not that it really bothered me at that point. I was so used to it.

I finished eating what I could and said my goodbyes before heading to school. I pulled my earbuds out of my bag once I was outside and connected them to my phone before rummaging through all my songs. I began walking slowly as I scrolled, sighing lightly. I was feeling abnormally indecisive that day, which I suppose I should have seen as a sign. I ended up just hitting shuffle.

The walk to school was usually the most peaceful part of my day. There was nothing hanging above my head besides the clear sky, and nothing around me except the calm, morning breeze. Before him, those were the only times I really felt like myself.

An exhale escaped my slightly parted lips as I approached the opened school gates. I followed the relatively large crowd of students into the building, immediately heading to my classroom. A little more than half the class was there when I walked in and took my seat. 

"Mornin', Soo," Luhan said from his seat beside me. 

"Hey," I replied. "Hi, Xiumin." He was beside Luhan, still finishing his breakfast, so he just waved. As I began taking out my things for the first class, I felt someone poke my back and turned around to see Baekhyun walking past with Suho. I smiled and Suho waved as he made his way back to his seat in the back. The bell rang shortly after the teacher's arrival, the announcements played, and then she began class.

"Alright, let's pick up where we left off yesterday," she said, putting her reading glasses on. She hadn't even begun the reading from the book when the door opened and Kim Jongin, or Kai as he had preferred to be called back then, walked in. He was usually late to class on most days, and from what I knew in that particular moment, he never had a reason. He didn't say anything as he casually walked to his seat. "What is your excuse for being late to my class this time, Jongin?" she asked anyway. 

"Uh, one: it's Kai, for the millionth time," he said in a rather sarcastic tone, "and two, I'm sorry my life doesn't revolve around school. I have more important responsibilities to tend to." 

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Next time, it's detention," she said. 

"Yeah whatever," he said carelessly, dismissing her as he sat down. A few whispers came from around the room, a few students glancing over at him. 

"Now where was I?" she mumbled to herself as she turned around to the board, glancing between it and her copy of the textbook. 

I looked back at him for a second. How do I describe Jongin back then? In terms of high school cliches, he was like the bad boy, the one that appeared to not care about anything, the one other students' parents warned their kids to steer clear from. But that doesn't feel accurate. He was best described as a recluse. I always saw him talk to the same few people, but even then, he seemed so disconnected from everyone. Even though I don't think I realized it, he often reminded me of myself, like he was carrying the burden of the world on his back without complaining. 

Sometimes I wonder if we could have helped each other more. 

Kai

Why was it that no matter how early I woke up, the clock always seemed to be ten steps ahead of me?

I rushed around the apartment like a chicken with its head cut off. I glanced at the clock when I finished preparing her lunch, sighing a little when I realized I wouldn't have time for a proper breakfast. I decided I would just grab something on my way to school since I was going to be late anyway. 

"Taeyoung-ah, come here! Your breakfast is ready," I called loudly from the kitchen. About a minute later, I heard her footsteps approaching. 

"I'm here, I'm here," she said as she sat down at the table. I chuckled and carried her lunch bag over to her. "Cereal again? I had this yesterday," she whined, glancing up at me.

"I know, sorry, kid," I said with an exhale, running my hand through her hair a couple of times. "We don't have anything else. I'll stop at the store after school, okay?" She nodded, smiling as much as she could. "Eat up, okay? I'm gonna finish getting ready and then we'll leave."

"Okay, oppa," she said, reaching for the nearly empty bottle of milk on the table. I left the kitchen and went to our bedroom where I quickly made the bed and threw my school stuff in my bag. I went across the hall to the bathroom next, putting on deodorant and briefly brushing my hair. 

Taeyoung was almost finished when I got back out into the kitchen, which gave me enough time to throw together a quick lunch for myself. We left shortly after, with just enough time so that she wouldn't be late. 

"Bye, oppa!" She waved at me when arrived at her school. I waved back and waited until I saw her disappear inside to run to the bus station. There was some luck on my side, as I made it just in time to catch the bus before it left. 

"As punctual as ever, Kai," the driver said and I smiled and chuckled. He always had the morning route, so seeing him in the morning was one of the few highlights of my day. "Here, my wife brought these home from her bakery last night," he said, handing me a few small muffins wrapped in plastic wrap. "Oh, and I brought this, too. We bought these for our grandkids, but they never finished them." He gave me a little bottle of strawberry milk, too. 

"T-Thanks..." I said, staring down at them for a moment. "You didn't have to, though."

"Don't mention it." He batted his hand at me. "I figured if I knew you, which I do, you would show up at the very last second without having had any breakfast." He smiled at me kindly. Still feeling kind of speechless, I just tried to smile and bowed at him before going to find a seat. The bus started moving moments after and I sighed, staring down at the muffins and milk in my hands. I knew he was just trying to be nice, but I hated feeling like a charity case and I hated it even more that it was obvious I needed help. Asking for help was something strong people did and I was anything but strong. 

Still, I was starving, so I unwrapped the muffins and milk. By the time he reached my stop, I finished the milk and ate two muffins, figuring I could save one for Taeyoung when I saw her later. 

A/N

Ah yes, here we are, another day, another cringey old fanfic lmao. I will say, though, I am excited to edit this one and make it better because despite how old it is, this fic is kind of dear to me. I'll probably end up doing something similar to "Dare" where I combine chapters since the structure is pretty much the same as that one was. 

Look forward to more edited chapters soon! xoxoxo