5

                                    

                                          
They decided on the group that would confront Jaeseong before school started. Chanhee refused to let Changmin go, but insisted that he himself would go. Juyeon and Hyunjae were going. Sunwoo volunteered, and Haknyeon decided to go too. The others stayed together inside the gym.
They eventually ended up finding Jaeseong on the rooftops. Chanhee stormed up to him before anyone could stop him. "Ya, Lee Jaeseong."
The mentioned boy turned around to face the group. "I was wondering when that little rat would tell on me."
Chanhee's eyes flashed with anger. "What makes you think that we didn't figure it out ourselves?"
Jaeseong smirked. "You? Figure things out? Huh, I thought you were too dumb to figure anything out! I mean, if you aren't dumb, why are you always second place when it comes to grades?"
Hyunjae came up next to Chanhee. "Stop bringing up irrelevant things. Why did you do that to Ji Changmin."
"Why, do you care? You too, Juyeon? The cold, heartless Lee Juyeon is caring for someone? You've gotten soft, I see."
Juyeon rolled his eyes. "So what if we do? Is it wrong to care for people? Maybe if you actually had friends, you'd learn to care."
Jaeseong's right eye twitched. "Huh, the old you would be embarrassed to ever admit to having friends or weakness."
"Since when was having friends a weakness?" Haknyeon asked. He was perched on the ledge, his chin resting in his hand, watching the argument as if it were TV. Even the way he said his words sounded genuinely curious instead of harsh. Sunwoo sat on the ground in front of the other, scrolling through his phone.
Jaeseong scoffed. "Why even bother bringing them?"
Haknyeon shrugged. "Moral support. Now answer me. What makes being caring a weakness?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Jaeseong replied. "You would prioritize Sunwoo in a fight, and that could endanger you. Caring for people is a weakness that everyone falls for, but me? I won't."
Haknyeon tapped Sunwoo twice, the other moving to let Haknyeon get up. Haknyeon crossed his arms, walking to Jaeseong. "So, if I punched you right now, who would come to your rescue? The kids who you bully? The guys who help you out so that they can avoid being bullied? Look at you, Jaeseong. Sunwoo and me? At least I know that I have someone who'll watch my back." He then stood in front of Jaeseong. His gaze had turned harsh. "Hurt Changmin, and you'll see just how many people we have on our side versus your side."
With that, he turned around and stormed off. Hyunjae had to drag Chanhee away before the boy ended up fighting Jaeseong. Sunwoo and Juyeon followed, them all walking back.
They arrived at the gym, not saying anything. Changmin bit his lip. "Well?"
It was silent for a few moments until Hyunjae broke the tension with a smile. "Ya, Haknyeon was so cool. And the way that Chanhee was so ready to fight Jaeseong. I literally had to hold him back with all my strength. Changmin, you have yourself an amazing friend. And Juyeon!" He turned towards his friend. "You... care about us? I'm literally crying!" He wiped away imaginary tears.
Juyeon slapped his best friend's arm. "Shut up, of course I care about you guys. Like it or not... you all are the closest things to friends I have."
Hyunjae may have actually teared up, but we'll never know because he wrapped his arms around Juyeon and buried his face in the other's sleeve. Eventually, the others decided to join the hug as well (though, the less skinshippy ones were just kinda putting in an arm).
Whispers grew around them. 
"Is that Heo Hyunjoon? I didn't know he had friends."
"Ugh, isn't that the pink-haired broom from earlier? I swear, he needs to get his nasty hands away from my babies."
"Isn't it strange how they've all been hanging out together? I've seen them all in the detention room together too, just talking. They weren't friends before recently-"
"Can you all shut up?"
A girl with auburn hair glared at the gossipers. "Jeez, you all can't just mind your own business can you?"
She then stormed off, briefly glancing at a pair of dark brown eyes hidden behind wide-rimmed glasses. 
The boys by then had separated from their hug. Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Who's she?"
Younghoon shrugged. "Kim Haneul. She's new here, I think."
Chanhee smirked as he saw the eye contact between Haneul and the girl with glasses. He casually walked over her, leaning in towards the girl's ear.
"I think Byeol has a little crush," he sang in a teasing voice.
Byeol turned around, her eyes wide with shock. "C-Choi Chanhee? You know me?"
Chanhee nodded. "You're the girl who sits next to me in math. You handed me an eraser with your name on it a while back. So, you like her?"
The girl turned bright red. "N-no!"
Hyunjae observed the interaction, surprised that Chanhee would remember such an unimportant person.
Juyeon poked the other. "Stop giving him heart eyes."
"I am not!"
"You so are!"
Juyeon ran off, Hyunjae chasing after him. 
Changmin smiled. Here, with his friends, nobody could hurt him.