Chapter Ninety (1/2)

Jun looked at Huening who lost against Yeosang.  His eyes then shifted to the girl who had equally-narrowed eyes.  His eyes softened and walked her away from the group.  She cracked her neck and tightened the knot on her uniform. "You're up next with Mingi."  Jun said as he looked at the students nonchalantly. Yeji nodded.  "By observation, Mingi doesn't pay attention to past fights."  She commented as she folded her arms and leaned on the wall. "But you can't roll out nonchalantness."  Jun put his finger up.  "That and you know he might do something against the rules."  He commented, looking at that blue hair on the white wall.

Yeji held her chin.  "He usually goes to kick the ankle first, shoving the opponent's side as they're falling down."  She remembered most of his fights.  "Not to mention sometimes he brings weapons.."  She narrowed her eyes as she remembered the small knives he brought the other day.

Jun put a hand on her shoulder.  "Don't go too hard on him."  He smirked. "You give me too much credit."  She got off of the wall. Jun's smirk turned into a sweet smile.  "I wouldn't say it if I knew you weren't too strong for Mingi."  He said.  His voice was charming and flirty.  Yeji just walked past him and to the class.  "Let's go, Mingi!"  She said.

Mingi smirked and looked at Yeosang.  "Watch how you conquer a girl."  He said. Yeosang clenched his fists behind his back.  He really wanted to punch the lights out of Mingi.  Friend or not, Yeosang has this new hatred for him that he doesn't understand why he has.  Mingi isn't an enemy, but for some reason, his blood boiled when Seokmin met him.

Mingi walked away from the angry male and up to the girl.  He assumed his attack stance and Yeji had a neutral stance.  Once the gong went off, Mingi went to kick her ankle.  However, she spinned on her knee.  With the first spin, she kicked his calves.  With the second spin, she kicked his back.  And with the final spin, she leaped past him and put a foot on his back.  "The match is over."  Jun called as Mingi didn't get up in three seconds. Yeji bowed and walked to Jun.  Mingi huffed and walked up to Yeosang.  "That's not fair!"  He kicked the wall.  "How the hell did she do a triple spin on her knee?"  He said angrily.

Yeosang held his chin.  "Hm, I wonder if having master as a title means that the person is good at what they do.."  He said sarcastically. "I'm really getting tired of your attitude, Yeosang."  Mingi looked down at him angrily. Yeosang narrowed his eyes on the other.  "I haven't enjoyed your attitude too much either."  He returned. Mingi noticed the class dismissed for lunch.  "Well, we have the dojo all to ourselves now."  He commented.  "You want to get some anger out?"  He asked. "Yes, let's talk."  Yeosang moved from the wall to the center of the room with Mingi. "What made you so fricken pissed, Yeosang?"  Mingi asked, folding his arms.

Yeosang's breathing started to pick up.  "Maybe because I told you to stay away from Dokyeom."  He said.  "He's already taken and doesn't need to hang out around someone like you."  He continued, clenching his fists at his sides. "I'm allowed to hang out with him, you know."  Mingi replied.  "It's not like you're his dad or brother."  "When we were younger,"  Yeosang started, "Dokyeom told me to consider him my dove.  So really, he is my responsibility."  He held his heart.

Mingi huffed.  "What, did he tell you that when your sister died?"  He asked with a smirk.  "He was probably just trying to make you feel better."  "Dokyeom wouldn't humor me like that."  Yeosang said through clenched teeth, a tear clearing daring to come from his angry eye.

"Or was it when Woozi said he hated you?"  Mingi asked with a proud glare.  "Cuz I can see how he would want to make you feel better with that too."

Yeosang fought himself.  He told himself he wouldn't hurt Mingi over his emotions.  He told himself he wouldn't let his relationship with Woozi get in the way of their friendship.  "Just.. don't go with Dokyeom.  Please?"  He asked as he loosened his fists.

"I'll be with him if I want to be."  Mingi replied.  "I have to meet him for lunch now.  See you in an hour."  He started walking away from Yeosang. "Don't go-"

Yeosang's speech was cut off by Mingi punching him right in the cheek.  Mingi watched as Yeosang's unexpected body fell down to the floor with the force of his punch.  "Don't get in my way, Yeosang."  Mingi muttered angrily before leaving the room.

Meanwhile, in the auditorium, Seokmin looked around at the students.  "Alright, seems like you got your lines down, Jongho."  He said, straightening up for lunch break. "Pretty easy considering I only get high notes."  Jongho smiled sarcastically.

"You have a problem with the line distribution?"  Woozi asked, walking up to Jongho and Seokmin.

The former student's eyes grow wide and he drops a stack of music notes.  "I-well uhm, no- I don't have a problem~"  Jongho's nerves alter his speech. "Seokmin told me how much you thought it was unfair."  Woozi said.  "Don't lie to me, just tell me which lines you think you'd do better in."  Woozi put his hand up. Jongho coughed a little, collecting himself.  "I'd like to do a solo actually."  He said with a little bit of confidence.

Woozi looked him up and down before nodding.  "I'll write you a song,"  He said, "but I expect you to learn the whole song by the time of the play."  He pointed at Jongho.  "And if not, I'm taking your high notes and giving them to Solji-noona."  He said. Jongho swallowed harshly before the siblings left the auditorium together.

"You're meeting up with Mingi, right?"  Woozi asked, walking slowly with the boy. "Yes.."  Seokmin replied.  "I'm surprised he wasn't here during the last minutes of class.."  He scratched his neck.

Woozi hummed.  "I'm wondering what Yeosang's up to, he didn't text me like he normally does..  I'm going to the dojo to check up on him."  He said.  "Have a good lunch, Dokyeom."  He patted the boy's shoulder before walking ahead of Seokmin.

Woozi walked into the dojo and saw Yeosang sitting on a bench there.  He lowered his tense shoulders before walking up to the younger. "What are you still doing here?  We're supposed to be in the gallery with Minghao."  Woozi said, looking at the boy up and down. Yeosang looked up at Woozi with guilt in his eyes.  "I just.. had to stay over to do a couple things.."  He replied. Woozi noticed the circle on Yeosang's cheek.  "You lose in your recent fight?"  He asked.  "Who were you up against?"  He asked, sitting down next to the younger.

Yeosang sighed.  "I rather not talk about it.."  He looked down at his knees. "Well now you're just making me curious."  Woozi commented with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk.  "You really want there to be secrets between us?"  He asked seriously though. Yeosang looked into Woozi's eyes.  He could see a little bit of hurt at the mention of there being secrets.  "Of course not,"  He said, straightening his posture, "I just don't want to talk about it right now.  Not that I'll never tell you." Woozi raised his eyebrows.  "Are you sad?  Hurt?  Angry?"  He asked. "Yes."  Yeosang answered.  "I'd like to talk about it when it's quieter and we can cuddle, okay?"  He held Woozi's hands.

"I.."  Woozi pursed his lips as he looked at Yeosang's honest eyes before that bruise on his cheek.  "Okay.. Let's go."  He stood up with Yeosang.

Meanwhile, Seokmin makes it to the cafeteria.  He gets waved at by Mingi.  He walked up to the table and smiled.  "It kinda disappointed me when you weren't outside the classroom.."  He scratched his head. Mingi shrugged and looked every which way.  "Well I'm here now, so sit down."  He showed the spot next to him. Seokmin blushed and put his hands together.  "You want me to sit next to you?"  He asked. "It's our third date, I figure we can be close."  Mingi smiled.

Seokmin nodded and sat down next to the other.  He widened his eyes when Mingi's arm went around him.  "M-maybe not this close.."  He stuttered as he was gently pulled closer to Mingi in the hold. "We can be closer, you know."  Mingi whispered, sending a shiver down Seokmin's spine.

Seokmin didn't recognize this shiver.  It didn't feel inviting like when Sungjae holds him; when Sungjae kisses him; or when Sungjae texts him, which hasn't been since Sungjae left for America.  "I'm serious, Mingi."  Seokmin looked at him.  "I would like to have some space."  He tried to say firmly, but his stance was weak. Mingi smiled and nodded.  "Kay,"  He pulled his arm back and used his now-free hand to hold his bowl, "go ahead and eat."  He showed the bowl of black bean noodles.

The lingering Jeonghan in him must have influenced Seokmin to ask this question.  "What do you plan on doing after martial arts?"  He asked. Mingi wiped his lips.  "That's a pretty good question."  He said before reaching for his orange soda.  "Probably just work for the school."  He shrugged. "You don't want to do anything else?"  Seokmin raised an eyebrow as he stirred the noodles with the sauce it came with.  "It's not that I don't want to do anything else, I just can't afford to take classes."  Mingi said honestly, picking up some noodles before blowing on them. Seokmin hummed and looked at the table.  "How did you afford martial arts?"  He asked. "Jun was just starting his first class, so his prices were relatively low."  Mingi started.  "So I asked my mom if she could pay for it."  He continued before taking a break from the noodles and focused on the sausage and leaves. Seokmin nodded, remembering that from a while ago.  "So I suppose you're working on weekends to pay her back?"  He asked. "That and I get free meals."  Mingi chuckled.  "That helps with paying bills."  He put his thumb up. Seokmin smiled.  "Wow, three free meals a day.."  He picked up his water.