Eight

Kai

A big weight was lifted off my shoulders after we confessed our feelings. Granted, that was as far as that particular conversation got, but still we were making progress. The time between the party and that afternoon in my kitchen felt short, so we decided taking things slow would be better. Well, as slowly as we could. 

Things still felt the same between us, though, which was relieving because I knew how weird it could get after that kind of confession and I was really hoping that would't happen with him. We carried on as usual, but it seemed like every interaction we had was a little more flirtatious and our little touches felt deliberate. 

Of course, the threat of my parents made me scared to start anything with him at all. We'd have to sneak around and I could probably never tell them, not before I was moved out and independent enough to survive on my own--and even that was wishful thinking. I didn't want to hide him like some dirty secret because that's not how I saw him or the relationship I hoped to have with him. 

But at the same time, I just knew I couldn't sit around and let the chance to follow my heart slip away. I would definitely regret it later. 

Since we were in different classes, the only times during the school day when we could meet were lunch and free period. We decided to eat together outside one day since the weather was nice enough. 

"I never asked you," Kyungsoo started as he took a sip of his drink, "why did you start talking to me after the party? I mean, you never talked to me before then, so why start after?"

I finished chewing and swallowing my food before answering. "Would it be too cliche to say it was because you're a good kisser?" I replied, instantly making him blush and look away. I could only laugh. "No, I mean, it was partially that. I don't know really. I just...you intrigued me."

"I intrigued you?" He was still blushing a little as he chuckled. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know. It means I wanted to get to know you better. It means I hadn't really noticed you like that before, but once I did, I couldn't stop noticing you." He was smiling still, though he looked confused and slightly like he didn't believe me. "Listen, it's hard to describe with words. It makes sense in my head."

"No, it makes sense," he said, letting out a couple of extra laughs and he glanced down at his feet. "I just...no one has ever thought of me like that, let alone said it out loud. It's weird to hear, I guess."

"I'm sure someone has. They just never said anything," I said before taking another bite of food. "I see the way Chanyeol looks at you. I probably would have confessed sooner, but that plus the fact that you guys seem so close made me reevaluate."

"Chanyeol?" Kyungsoo furrowed his eyebrows for a moment and shook his head. "We're close, but not like that. I think I may have had a crush on him when we were younger, but I moved on from that. We're best friends now, nothing more nothing less."

"Does he know that?" I asked, making him look at me again. "I just ask because I don't want to have beef with him because he likes you and you don't realize it. He seems nice and I don't want to come between your friendship."

"You won't," he said with another shake of his head. "Besides, you can't be worried about jealousy when you haven't even asked me out on a date yet. Usually, the jealousy comes after the first date." 

I laughed and set my sandwich down, wiping hands together to get the crumbs off. "Well, in that case," I said as I turned to look at him, "what do you say we go to the movies this weekend?"

"I say...okay," he replied, flashing a small but bright smile at me. 

Kyungsoo

"No fucking way."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that," I answered with a small shrug, pulling out my stuff for the last class of the day.

"So you are going to the movies this weekend?" Tao asked. "That's it?"

"Yeah," I said, giving him a weird look. "I mean, he didn't really talk about doing anything else." They looked at each other with raised eyebrows and small grins.

"That's what they all say," Tao said.

"Then you end up in the backseat of his car and then before you know it, you're no longer a virgin," Luhan finished. 

"You guys are so dramatic," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'm not about to have sex with him on our first date. I wasn't even thinking about that. He doesn't seem like the type to push for it either."

"Okay but how well do you really know him? It's only been a few weeks since the party and if he literally admitted that making out with you made him want to date you, that can't be a good sign for your purity," Luhan explained. 

I just looked at him, pondering the idea for a moment, but shaking my head moments later. "No, I won't let you get in my head and ruin this for me," I said. "If he just wanted to hook up with me, I'm sure he would have said so by now. He probably would have tried something at the party when I was drunk. But he didn't, so I'm gonna follow my gut here and say my virginity will be fine."

Chanyeol coughed out loud, turning all of our heads. "Can we just change the subject please? It seems a little weird to be talking about this right now," he said. A brief silence came over us as I looked at him, still trying to figure out what was going on with him. 

"What's his problem?" Tao mumbled under his breath. I shot him a defensive glare and he backed off right away. 

But I wanted to know, too.

Baekhyun

My favorite place was the music room. There was never really anyone in there, which meant I could be alone with my beloved piano. Other people used it during music lessons after school, but that meant it was all mine during the school day, something I took advantage of more often than I was willing to admit.

The school day had just ended and I was in there, playing random tunes that came into my mind. I was interrupted, though, when I heard the door open. I recognized the person who walked in immediately, my eyes instantly going wide. 

"Oh sorry, I didn't realize anyone was in here," Chanyeol said when he turned around and noticed me, kind of embarrassed.

"It's fine," I said timidly.

"Did I interrupt whatever you were doing?"

"N-No." He nodded and let out a heavy sigh. "A-Are you okay? I only ask because people only usually come in here to hook up or be alone and you're alone, so..."

"Oh yeah," he answered, waving his hand and chuckling. "To be alone then, I guess. Just stressed." I nodded and a silence fell upon us. I was just about to go back to playing when he started talking again. "Have you ever just been so angry at someone for not realizing how you feel about them but that person is your best friend so you can't really be mad at them or tell them how you feel because you're so afraid you'll lose them altogether?" 

I widened my eyes and was baffled as to how to respond. "N-No, I can't say I have," I stuttered.

"I mean, what does he see in him anyway?" he continued, now in full rant mode. Not that I minded. Everyone needed someone to rant to sometimes, even if they didn't really know them. So, I just sat there quietly and let him go on. "He literally met him at a party and just because they were dared to kiss now they have this connection or whatever. I've been there for him since we were little, but he hasn't noticed me after all these years? Make that make sense. It just pisses me off so much, you know?" He was looking at me now, almost as if he was awaiting an answer. "Ugh, who am I kidding? You probably think I sound like an obsessive lunatic who can't handle rejection," he said, now more sorrowful, as he sat in a chair close to the door and lowered his head.

"No, you don't," I said, shaking my head. He looked at me, eyebrows raised. "Okay maybe a little bit. But your feelings make sense." He brought his head up again and faced me.

"You think?" he said. I nodded, a faint smile on my face.

"Yeah, I mean, you clearly like him a lot and it's understandable that you'd be a little envious if he goes out with someone who isn't you," I said, glancing down at the piano keys. "It's frustrating when someone you want to notice you doesn't."

"You say that like you know how it feels," he said. I glanced at him again, trying to hide my blushing face. 

I do know how it feels. Thanks to you. 

"But then again, he is my best friend and I'd rather have him in life as that than not at all, right?" he continued. I looked at him and our eyes locked for a moment before I nodded.

"Right, that makes sense," I said, looking away. He nodded and then sat there for a moment more before standing up on his feet again.

"Well, I'll go. I've already taken up too much of your time," he said as he got up from the bench. I moved a little, as if to stop him, but sat back down, figuring it'd get me nowhere. "Thanks for listening to me though. It was nice to have someone to rant to. Sorry, I didn't catch your name." 

"B-Baekhyun," I said, feeling shy again. He smiled a little and nodded.

"I'm Chanyeol," he said. I didn't have the courage to tell him I already knew that. I forced a friendly smile and then he left. I sighed as I rubbed my hands over my face.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I said as I smacked my hands against my face repeatedly.

He and I were stuck in the same place: the friend zone. Except, I was more like in the acquaintance zone. But we both had the same problem nonetheless. The person he was talking about would never like him the way he liked him and he would never like me the way I liked him.