Work Text:
2016, February
“Lee Jaehyun!” Jaehyun startles when his last period’s teacher suddenly smacks his ruler against Jaehyun’s desk. Jaehyun stealthily stashes his phone in his pants’ pocket as he sheepishly grins as the teacher continues, “Jaehyun-ah, I know teenagers have the attention span as short as a pencil, but I still need you to at least pretend to be listening.”
Mr. Han regards Jaehyun with slight contempt, eyeing his posture so Jaehyun swallows and sits up straight making eye contact with the teacher as he says, “I apologize, seonsaeng-nim.”
Jaehyun tightly smiles as some of the students giggle some more at the teacher’s silent raised brow. Jaehyun definitely wasn’t a good student, but at least that wasn’t the worst and he prided himself on usually not disrupting the class, or giving the teachers any trouble. One of Jaehyun’s classmates, Seungyoun, laughs loudly before saying, “Oh, seonsaeng-nim, Jaehyun isn’t paying attention because he’s in love.” The guys in his class start laughing again, not even pretending to listen to the teachers warnings, as the girls giggle behind enclosed palms and hide behind their pale fringes.
The teacher sighs at the commotion, glancing at Jaehyun with slight resignation. “Jaehyun-ah, you’re a student, there are more important things than relationships,” he tiredly chides, as if he’s had similar conversations million years before. Some of the students laugh again, clearly not paying much mind to the teacher’s words; Jaehyun deflated, the situation lasting way longer than he enjoyed.
Seungyoun, leaning casually against his chair, grins at Jaehyun and says, “I’d give up school for Oh Nagyung.” Jaehyun rolls his eyes, used to the jeers his girlfriend gets and tries to tamper his jealousy–it’s not her fault she’s perfect in every way, Jaehyun-ah…
Mr. Han smacks his ruler against Seungyoun’s desk, ordering for the laughter to stop. Apparently mentioning our grade’s best student is the last straw for him… Jaehyun shakes it off, pretending to pay attention until the bell rings, signaling the end of class. Jaehyun can’t get out fast enough, almost forgetting his puffer on the coat rack at the back of the classroom.
Jaehyun slips out of his school shoes and places them into his mesh shoe bag, flinging the bag over his shoulder and allowing it to hit his mostly empty backpack. Jaehyun’s phone starts buzzing in his pocket when he hears a familiar voice from behind him. “Yah, Jaehyun-ah!” Jaehyun turned around; it’s his closest friend, Kim Younghoon, the most handsome guy in their class and the whole school. Jaehyun can’t even be jealous of his friend’s handsomeness, because he was also the nicest guy he’s ever met. “Ready to get out of here?”
Of course, even the nicest men aren’t above a little teasing sometimes.
Jaehyun laughs, watching as some of the lower classmen girls awe and giggle at the sight of Younghoon raking a hand through his hair; he’s already dressed in his outdoor shoes and his long puffer. “I can’t,” Jaehyun simply says, “I’m seeing Nagyung.”
“Didn’t you two see each other yesterday?” Younghoon asks, half-teasing, half-serious–yesterday was Valentine’s day. Jaehyun grimaces, hoping that Nagyung wasn’t too upset that they couldn’t do Valentine’s Day on the exact date–his mother would never let Jaehyun skip Sunday night family dinner, even for his girlfriend.
They start walking towards the basketball court, making simple conversation, post-weekend catch up; Jaehyun usually meets Nagyung at the court, and Younghoon will be on his way home. “Did you get her anything?” Younghoon asks curiously; he has a rule that he followed–no gifts until they were serious. Even birthdays are not exempted. Jaehyun supposes that it’s the reason why Younghoon is single.
“I mean, we’ve been together for a year, so,” Jaehyun says, almost defensively; Younghoon only blinks, and he continues, “Uh, yeah, I got her a necklace actually–” Jaehyun trails off, noticing a familiar figure stalking towards the basketball court, backpack sliding off her slim shoulders in anger. Her usually proper hair is haphazardly tied in a ponytail and her face doesn’t have a drop of make-up.
“Lee Jaehyun! I was calling your phone!” Jaehyun and Younghoon look at each other, both startled at Nagyung’s usually sweet voice that was now tinged in deep annoyance. Younghoon doesn’t hesitate. “I’m leaving,” he quickly says, pretty much running off the basketball court, towards where the bus stop was. Nagyung doesn’t even try to greet a jogging Younghoon, who waves at her before jetting.
“Nagyung-ah, happy-” Nagyung’s attention zeroes back on Jaehyun and she looks not well; he takes a deep breath, preparing himself to give any excuse to avoid an argument when Nagyung suddenly blurts out–
“Jaehyun-ah, I’m pregnant.”
Jaehyun’s eyes go wide as Nagyung burst into tears the moment those words leave her mouth. Jaehyun only remembered holding up Nagyung as she sobbed into his chest, his mind and body completely going dumb with fear and panic.