Chapter Text
“Sieun, please. You’d be the bestest friend ever and I’ll give you so many hugs and money. And chicken. Please!”
His friend was on his knees in Sieun’s own dorm, pleading to him. He tried to use puppy-eyes but it wasn’t working.
His other friends were in the living room. One on the couch scrolling through his phone and the other studying like they actually came here to do.
“Why would I want any of those things?” He responded.
“You don’t want to be my best friend?”
“Why would anyone want to be your best friend?” Their other friend interrupted. “It’s torture.”
“Go Hyuntak!” He shouted. He put a finger over his mouth. “SHHH!”
“What? Leave, Sieun alone,” Gotak said. “How is it his problem that Ahn Suho hates your guts?”
Baku quickly stood back up. “He doesn’t hate me. He’s just ‘tired' of me trying to ‘force’ him onto the basketball team.” He put his hands on his hips. “With him, we could win the championship!”
Gotak through a nearby book at his friend. Sieun let out a sigh. He would have to clean that up later. “Yah! We’ve won before and we can win again!”
“In high school.”
“I think you guys can do it,” Juntae finally spoke up, trying to clear the air. “With or without Ahn Suho.”
“Thank you, Juntae.” Gotak smiled before turning back to Baku. “See, our friend thinks we can do it too.”
Suddenly, all eyes were on Sieun. He already knew where this was going.
“Yeon Sieun, do you think we can win the championship without Ahn Suho?”
“I don’t know who that is,” he deadpanned.
“What!” The three shouted in unison.
Baku grinned. “And that’s why you should go to the library for me! You can finally see the glory of Ahn Suho.”
One. “Why can’t you just go to a different library?” This was probably his millionth time asking this question.
“Because! It’s the only one that has every volume of Slam Dunk!” His friend defended.
Two. “Don’t you have your own?”
“My dad threw them away after I failed my exams.”
“Dude, your dad fucking sucks,” Gotak chimed in once again.
Okay, maybe Sieun did feel a little bad about that but he did literally tutor him and Sieun knew that he wasn’t a bad tutor because Juntae and Gotak passed just as easily.
Three. “Why don’t you check out multiple books so you can delay seeing Ahn Suho until you have to again? Maybe by then, he won’t hate you as much.”
“Doubt that,” Gotak mumbled.
Baku stood there quietly with his hands behind his back. “Well…the thing is…I’m broke.”
Gotak scoffed. “Checking out books doesn’t cost money, dumbass.”
Baku blinked. “Wait, it doesn’t?” He gasped. “Then, why is Ahn Suho asking me to ‘pay up’ everytime I go to check out a book?”
Gotak suddenly bursted out in laughter with Juntae giggling behind his hand. “Dumbass, you’re being fucking played!”
The other’s mouth was wide open as he turned back to Sieun. “Yah, is this true?”
Sieun shook his head in disappointment. “Yes.”
“Ahn Suho, what a smartass,” Gotak exclaimed between laughter. “Maybe we do need him on the team afterall!”
“Yah! You can’t switch up like that!”
Sieun decided to go for Baku’s sake. Only because he didn’t want his friend to go into debt because Baku would definitely make it his problem as well. And because Baku’s begging was too annoying.
Sieun didn’t have any expectations going into the library. He was just going to pick up the rest of the volumes that Baku needed, check them out, then leave. He wasn’t interested in whatever “fued” him and Ahn Suho had.
Everything that he knew about the boy was that he’s on the university baseball team, hates Baku’s guts, and that he’s supposingly attractive. According to his friends. And everyone else around school.
He’s heard rumors about Ahn Suho being a heartbreaker too. But, he never really cared. Sieun was always too busy with his studies until he met his friends. And he barely even remembers how that happened.
But based off everything he’s heard, he could’ve never imagined Ahn Suho working at a library. To Sieun, he seems more like the type to…well, who knows.
The library was backed into a far corner of an alleyway. But, it wasn’t scary. It was somewhat pleasant. It was small too. Sieun wonders how Baku even managed to find a place like this.
Inside, it was as quiet as it was outside. The strong scent of coffee came from the few students who were studying. It blended well with the smell of freshly brought in books.
Sieun walked straight to the section where Slam Dunk was located. It was almost all the way in the back, far from where everyone else was. Seriously, how did Baku find this place?
He grabbed the few volumes that Baku needed. The character with the red hair instantly caught his eye. At least now he knew who Baku was trying to imitate that one time in high school.
Afterwards, he placed the books in the counter. The cashier had his head laid flat, presumably sleeping. Was this the Ahn Suho that supposingly hated Park Humin?
“Excuse me,” Sieun spoke. The boy still didn’t stir. “Excuse me.”
Sieun let out a sigh. There was still zero sign that the boy was alive besides his soft breathing.
He decided to reach over and tap his shoulder softly. “Excuse me,” he repeated.
The boy finally stirred awake with a groan. He looked up at Sieun with a raised brow. Then, his eyes suddenly widened.
“Yah!” He pointed at Sieun. Suddenly, he was wide awake. “It’s the bookworm!” He smiled as if Sieun was an old friend.
Sieun raised his own brow. “Do you know me?”
Suho’s smile slightly faltered. “You’re Yeon Sieun, right? From Byuksan? Before you transferred.”
“Yes.”
His smile instantly returned. “I knew it. You’re hard to forget.”
Sieun frowned. What was that supposed to mean? He chose to ignore it and pushed the stack of mangas towards the cashier.
The boy picked up the book on the top. “You like Slam Dunk?”
“It’s for a friend.”
Suho nodded. “Right…right.” Then, he paused in the middle of scanning. “Wait…are you…friends with…” Sieun was already so tired. “Park Humin?”
He sighed. “Unfortunately.”
Suho gasped loudly. Then, he smiled. Again. “Isn’t that crazy?” He chuckled. He was definitely disrupting the entire calm library atmosphere from earlier. “I’m also friends with Park Humin!”
That’s weird because last time Sieun checked, Suho was supposed to hate Baku. So, why was he saying that they were friends all of a sudden?”
“Okay…” Sieun pulled out his library card. “Can you scan these for me, please?”
Suho pouted. “I guess…”
Why would Baku want this guy on his team? He didn’t seem like a heartbreaker—then again, it was high school—, he was just a weirdo. Also, then again, Baku and Gotak were both weirdos also. He could fit in well.
After the boy finished scanning, he let out a loud sigh as if the entire action was tiring. He looked back up at Sieun. “Would you like a bag with that?”
“I have a backpack,” Sieun declined.
“Ah, I see.” He cleared his throat. “Well, Sieun-ah, come by soon! Or…I may see you around somewhere else.”
“Is that a threat?” Sieun let slip.
Suho just smiled again. “Nope! I’ll see you soon Sieun-ah!”
A part of Sieun didn’t want to see Ahn Suho again. It was already tiring enough having to hear Baku talk about like he was an old ex or something. Another part of Sieun simply didn’t care.
This was a one time thing. And it was only a favor for Baku who would hopefully solve his “fued” with Suho by the time he has to return. Which Sieun assumed wouldn’t be any time soon knowing Baku. Anyways, Sieun wouldn’t have to see Suho and his weird smile again.