A month later

It was Wednesday and Jisung already wanted the week to be over. People always said that junior year was the hardest year and Jisung prepared himself for it but it was a slap to the face. He didn't expect it to be this hard. He was only three months into the year but it felt more like three years and it was only going to get worse.

Currently, the six boys were just hanging out since they finished all their class work. They were just waiting for the next subject to start.

"Did you guys hear about the new student?" Felix said.

"Another one? I swear to god we get a new student every other week. I'm surprised this school isn't overpopulated yet." Seungmin scoffed.

"It's not overpopulated because half of them leave after a month because of someone." Jisung said, staring right at his boyfriend.

Minho held his hands up in surrender. "The last person I punched was Hwajoon and he actually deserved it."

"Whether he deserved it or not, he still left the school because of you which further proves my point."

"No, he left because he couldn't take the embarrassment."

"That you caused."

"Are you mad at me for punching him?" Minho raised his eyebrow.

"No, of course not!"

"Then why-"

"You guys sound like an old married couple. Shut up already." Hyunjin interrupted making the couple close their mouths. "Anyways, what's the new kid's name?"

"Uh, I don't remember. Moonshin? Moonbin?" Felix furrowed his eyes, trying to remember when his eyes suddenly lit up, "OH! Moonjin! His name's Moonjin. He's also in our grade, but he's in another class obviously."

Jisung felt Minho tense up almost instantly. Hyunjin and Changbin snapped their neck towards Minho and looked at him with wide eyes. Jisung looked up at his boyfriend and he looked sick, his eyes darting between Changbin and Hyunjin. Jisung looked at Seungmin and Felix and they had the same confusion written all over their face.

The boy looked back at his boyfriend. "Are you okay? You suddenly turned pale. What's wrong?"

Minho slightly relaxed his tense self and looked down at his Jisung. "Yeah I'm fine, don't worry." He smiled but there was something off about the smile. It looked, forced.

Jisung decided to let it go. "Well I hope this Moonjin guy isn't like Hwajoon." He said to Felix.

"Yeah me neither, we don't need another one." Seungmin said.

"Maybe he's a nice guy." Felix shrugged.

Before anyone had a chance to reply back, the teacher cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"I'm going to be opening the wall up and don't ask any questions yet, I'll answer everything after I open the wall." The teacher said while he walked to the back of the classroom.

The wall that separates the classroom Jisung's in, and the classroom beside his, isn't a real wall. It's this thick door like thing, that folds open, and when it's folded open, there's nothing that distinguishes the two classrooms and it basically merges into one giant classroom.

When Jisung's teacher opened the wall, he saw the students in the other classroom looking as confused as the students in his classroom. The students in the other classroom were juniors too.

The teacher from the other side walked over to where Jisung's teacher was standing. "You're all probably very confused on why we opened this wall. Well we have assigned a science project to you all and since me and Mr. Park are assigning the same project, we thought it would be more fun to explain it at the same time."

The students groaned at the mention of the new project, but the teachers ignored it. "We have chosen your partners for you and for the most part, you'll be partners with people in your class, but some of you will be partners with someone from the other class."

"It is a science project. It's very vague because we want you and your partners to be creative and to explore all the ideas. But essentially you and your partner will have to create a project that produces a chemical reaction." Mr. Park added on.

"You will not be presenting it but you will have to write a paper on how your project produces a chemical reaction and what that reaction is."

"You will have a month to turn it in. Any questions?" No one raised their hands. "Alright, we're going to tell you your partners now."

Please let me be with someone that's not a bitch. Jisung begged.

"... Lee Minho and Seo Changbin... Hwang Hyunjin and Kim Seungmin... Lee Felix and Jung Wooyoung."

Jisung waited for his name to be called. All his friends had their partners, Jisung honestly didn't care who was his partner. He just didn't want a rude person.

"Han Jisung and Park Moonjin."

Hm? The new kid?

Jisung felt his boyfriend tense again and he didn't know why. What was causing him to tense up?

"Okay those are your partners, you have about five minutes to meet up with them and briefly talk. Go."

Jisung stood up, about to go find his partner when someone grabbed his wrist. He looked at Minho with confusion.

"Tell the teacher you need to change your partner now." He said sternly, not making eye contact with Jisung.

The shorter boy furrowed his eyebrows, "Huh? Why?"

"Just do it."

Before Jisung could say anything, someone interrupted their conversation. "Han Jisung?"

The mentioned boy turned around and was face to face with the new guy. He was the same height as Minho and had black hair that covered his forehead. He wore all black and had a slim face. "Yeah that's me." Jisung smiled. He felt Minho's grip on his wrist tighten, not enough to hurt him but tighter than before.

"Would you look at that! I'm partners with Minho's boyfriend? This'll be fun. Don't you think so Minho?" Moonjin looked behind Jisung and smirked at the gang member.

Minho suddenly pulled Jisung behind him and stood in front of him protectively. He had rage bubbling inside him and glared fire at the new kid. "Don't even fucking think about it or I'll do the same to you as I did to Jaewoo." He said through his clenched jaw.

Moonjin's smirk quickly turned into a scowl once he heard the name Jaewoo. He glared daggers at Minho.

Jisung was totally lost. Why was his boyfriend talking like that to the new kid? What did Moonjin mean? Do they know each other? Who the hell is Jaewoo?

"What do you mean?" Jisung asked the new kid.

Moonjin glanced at Jisung and smiled, he stared back at Minho, "Minho knows exactly what I mean." He smirked again.

For some reason Minho lost his shit and grabbed Moonjin's collar. "If you fucking do anything to him-"

Moonjin didn't look fazed at the fact that Minho grabbed his shirt and was threatening him as he interrupted him and said, "Relax Minho, I'm not the same person as I used to be. I've changed... or have I?" He winked.

That was enough for Minho to raise his fist at Moonjin who didn't even flinch. Before Jisung could even process what was happening, Changbin and Hyunjin quickly ran to Minho's side. Changbin grabbed the fist that was about to hit the new kid. "Don't do it Minho. Remember the rule." He whispered into his ear.

Minho hesitated before he shoved the new kid away from him. The gang member huffed out in annoyance and Moonjin just smirked mockingly to Minho.

"Please go back to your seat." The teacher announced.

Moonjin smiled at Minho before he turned to Jisung. "I'm looking forward to work on this project with you Han Jisung." He winked at him. Jisung shifted uncomfortably on his feet, there was something about the way Moonjin said his name and the wink that didn't sit right with him, but he ignored it. Minho, on the other hand, was not very fond of it as he tried to pounce him, but Hyunjin and Changbin was holding him back. They held him until Mr. Park had closed the wall.

Minho slumped back at his desk, not saying anything. Jisung wanted to asked so many questions but he decided to give Minho some time to cool off first.

-

After the bell rang for the last time of the day, Jisung quickly packed up and sat on his desk, facing his boyfriend, who was leaning on his desk with his head hung low.

"Jisung talk to Mr. Park and tell him that you need to change your partner." Minho demanded again, not giving Jisung any explanation.

"Why do you want me to change partners so badly? What's wrong with Moonjin?" Jisung asked a bit frustrated.

Minho stayed quiet.

"Jisung you really need to get a new partner." Hyunjin said.

Changbin agreed, "Like now."

Jisung look at them in surprise. Why are they telling me to change my partner too? It was his turn to stay quiet.

"Jisung, I'm begging you, change your partner please." Minho finally looked up at his boyfriend and Jisung saw a void of pure desperation in his eyes. The shorter boy's eyes softened immediately.

"Okay." Jisung said softly. "I'll talk to Mr. Park right now." Minho looked almost relieved.

"I'll meet you at my locker after I'm done talking with him." Jisung turned to his friends, "You two can walk home without me, I don't want you to wait for me and I'll just have Minho take me home." Jisung said and Minho and his friends nodded their heads, leaving the classroom.

As Seungmin and Felix were leaving the classroom, they turned around and looked at Jisung giving him a look that said 'what the hell is going on?' Jisung just shrugged back.

After they finally left the classroom, Jisung walked up to the teachers desk. Mr. Park looked up, "Ah Jisung. What's up?"

"Can I have my partner changed for the science project please?" Jisung asked politely.

"I think you're a perfect partner for Moonjin. He's new and you're the class president, you can help him feel welcome. I think you guys will work well together."

"Can't you get one of the students from the welcoming committee to help him feel welcome?"

"Unfortunately, this is a class project, they don't do that for projects."

"Don't you think if he was partners with someone in his class it will be better since he's going to be in that classroom for the rest of the year so it's better if he makes a new friend that's in his class?"

"That's true but since this is his first project at this school, we want him to be with someone that will be helpful to him and I think you're the best person for that."

Jisung internally screamed. "Mr. Park please, I have to get a new partner."

"Jisung I never thought you would ever have a problem with being partners with a new kid. Why are you being so persistent about getting a new partner I see no problem with the choice I've made."

"I just really really need a different partner. Just this one time." Jisung begged.

"No Jisung. I truly think you're a good person for Moonjin. And he also asked for you to be his partner so I think it's perfect."

Jisung stopped. He asked to be my partner? How did he even know who I was?

"Okay Mr. Park." Jisung said skeptically, looking at his teacher suspiciously before walking out the door to his locker.

"Did you get it changed?" Minho asked, hopeful.

"Nope. Mr. Park wouldn't let me change and trust me, I came up with every excuse to have him change my partner." Jisung packed up.

Minho tensed up again. His eyes were emotionless which made it hard for Jisung to read them. Not like Minho's eyes were easy to read in the first place, but now it was just impossible.

"Minho what is wrong? Why do you get so tense whenever someone mentions his name?" Jisung slammed his locker out of frustration. Minho didn't say anything, he just grabbed his hand and led them to his car. He started it up and began the way to Jisung's house.

"Minho stop ignoring me. What the hell did he mean when he said you would know exactly what he meant? Why aren't you telling me anything?" Jisung huffed.

"...I know you have a lot of questions. And I promise I'll answer them all eventually... But for now you just have to trust me and just take my word and listen because I will hate myself if anything happens."

If anything happens? What the hell does he mean by that?

"Please just trust me on this."

Jisung stayed quiet for a second. There has to be a really good reason on why he's not telling me. Right? If he really wanted to tell me then he would. Maybe there's just a good reason on why he won't tell me and I just have to trust his word.

"Okay. I trust you."

Minho relaxed a little. He took one hand off the steering wheel and held Jisung's hand, pulling it up to his lips and kissing it. He then pulled up to Jisung's house.

Jisung debated on whether or not he should tell Minho the fact that Moonjin asked to be his partner. He knew for a fact that Minho would not take it lightly and he really didn't want another Hwajoon situation to happen. Ultimately he chose to tell him.

"...Uh," Jisung started saying and Minho turned to look at him after he parked his car. "When I was talking with the teacher, he said that Moonjin asked to be my partner and that just made the teachers further believe that partnering me with him was a great idea." Jisung quietly explained.

Minho looked away from Jisung and his grip on the steering wheel was brutal. His knuckles were the color of paper and he was shaking from how hard he was grabbing it. His breathing increased and became heavier. His jaw was visibly strained.

Oh fuck.

"Haha, maybe that's not true. Maybe I didn't hear that from the teacher and I'm just going crazy and hallucinating. Forget I said anything." Jisung awkwardly tried to laugh it off, wanting to get Minho to calm down, but obviously that didn't work.

He looked deep in thought. About what? Jisung couldn't tell you. He could be plotting death or he could be thinking about all the possibilities on why Moonjin would ask the teachers to be partners with Jisung specifically.

He gently placed his hand on Minho's cheek, pushing it so he could look at him. "I don't know what you're thinking about and I know that you don't want to tell me yet, which is fine, but I don't like seeing you this mad or stressed over something that doesn't even seem like a big deal." He pouted.

Minho's eyes immediately softened at Jisung's words. "If anything weird happens to you or something please tell me right away."

Jisung gave a confused look. "Why would anything weird happen to me?"

"Jisung please, just promise that you'll tell me immediately."

"Okay, I promise." He said softly and his boyfriend looked a little relieved.

"Anything else I should know?" Jisung said sarcastically.

"Don't hang out with Moonjin alone." Minho replied immediately, almost as if he was waiting for Jisung to ask that question.

Jisung raised an eyebrow, "Minho I was joking."

"I'm not."

The shorter boy opened and closed his mouth several times before asking, "How the hell am I supposed to do the project if I can't hang with Moonjin? He's my partner."

"You can hang with him... Just not alone. Or I can help you work on your project instead so you don't even have to be near him at all." Minho offered.

"I don't think that's how that works." Jisung said. "What if he asks me to work on it at his house?"

"You say no and suggest the library or Rock Cafe or somewhere public, and then you tell me and I'll work on the science project with Changbin at the same place and same time."

Jisung narrowed his eyes at Minho. Why is he being so protective? I mean I knew he was going to protective to a certain extent since he's in a gang and all but he's never cared this much about a person. Not even Hwajoon. Who the hell is Moonjin?

"Fine." Jisung agreed.

Minho smiled for the first time for what seemed like forever, and Jisung missed it. "Thank you." The gang member said.

"There better be an amazing explanation for this."

"I'll tell you soon." Minho said before he pecked Jisung's lips.

-

Jisung sat in his bed watching something on his tv when his brother walked into his room, startling the younger.

"Jesus Christ hyung, a knock would be appreciated."

"Yeah but then I wouldn't be able to scare you." Brian laughed, sitting on Jisung's bed.

The younger rolled his eyes, "What do you want?"

"I wanna talk about your boyfriend."

Jisung started sweating. Did he find out? No he would be more pissed if he knew.

"What about him?" He asked as normal as he could.

"When am I going to meet him?"

"You already did..."

Brian gave Jisung a look that said, 'this little bitch'. "Seeing him carrying you while you were bleeding and injured, doesn't count. Especially when I saw him for ten seconds and didn't even say a word to him."

"I don't want you to meet him. You're gonna embarrass me."

"Your life itself is embarrassing, I don't think you should be worrying so much about me embarrassing you." Brian rolled his eyes.

The younger boy's jaw dropped. "Ok now you're definitely not going to meet him. I'll introduce him to Jihyo noona only."

Brian scoffed. "I'll meet him one day, it's inevitable."

"Maybe you're right, but I'll introduce him to mom and dad before you." Jisung stuck his tongue out at his brother.

Brian's eyes widened, "If mom and dad meet him before I do, then that's a low move on your part."

Jisung laughed. "Why do you even want to meet him so bad."

"Because he's your boyfriend! Of course I want to meet him. I wanna make sure he's good for you. You know, typical older brother things."

"Fine! I'll bring him over sometime." He said and Brian cheered.

"What about you? Are you dating anyone?" Jisung asked.

"Oh would you look at that, gotta go." Brian said, running out the door.

What a child.

Jisung's phone started buzzing and he was receiving a video call from his friends. He answered on his laptop.

"Oh hey Jisung." Seungmin talked first.

"Oh hey Seungmin."

"So what the hell happened in class? Who is this Moonjin guy and why does the gang and Yedam know him?" Jeongin asked.

Jisung sighed, "Felix asked us if we knew about the new kid and Hyunjin asked what his name was and Felix said Moonjin and once he said his name, Minho froze and Hyunjin and Changbin immediately looked at Minho with big eyes. Then we were assigned a new science project and guess who my partner is." Jisung didn't even wait for Jeongin to reply before he said, "Yup you guessed it, Moonjin."

"Isn't he in another class?"

"Yeah but the two teachers decided to open up the wall and explain to both classes at the same time and assign some people to be partners from the other class."

"Oh god. How'd Minho react?"

"Not good. He told me to tell the teacher to change my partner and I asked why and he just said to do it. Then Moonjin walked up to us and said that being my partner would be fun and then he asked Minho for confirmation and Minho pulled me behind him and said something like, 'don't even think about it'. Then I asked Moonjin what he meant and he said that Minho would understand what he meant and then Minho grabbed him and almost punched him." Jisung heaved after explaining everything in one breath.

"Almost?" Jeongin brought his eyebrows close together.

"Hyunjin and Changbin stopped him before he could." Seungmin answered.

"Yeah and I don't understand why they would stop him now when they've never done it before." Felix wondered.

"Obviously Minho and the gang know who this Moonjin guy is." Jeongin pointed out.

"We just don't know how." Jisung said.

"Anyways continue with your story."

"Minho let go of Moonjin and pushed him to the ground and then the teacher told everyone to go back to their seats and the teacher finally closed up the wall. After the school day was over, Minho basically begged me to go ask the teacher for a new partner. Hyunjin and Changbin even told me to change my partner. So I agreed and I asked Mr. Park to change my partner. But guess what? He wouldn't change my partner."

"Wait he didn't change it?" Felix asked and Jisung shook his head.

"Why the hell not?" Seungmin asked.

"Because he thought it would be great for the class president and the new kid to be partners."

"That's such bullshit."

"Yep. He also mentioned that Moonjin asked them specifically to be partners with me."

"Woah hold up. Moonjin asked to be partners with you?" Jeongin repeated.

"Yep."

"How does he know who you are?" Seungmin asked, not liking what he heard.

"Why would he ask for you specifically?" Felix questioned.

Jisung shrugged. "I don't know but when I told Minho he wasn't very happy."

"Yeah I'm not too happy either." Seungmin scoffed.

"Minho wouldn't tell me who Moonjin is or how they know each other. He said he would tell me at some point just not now and he told me to trust his word which I did and I do, but I still really want to know who he is." Jisung groaned.

"There's probably a good reason why he isn't telling you yet." Jeongin chimed in.

"Yeah yeah."

It was quiet for a second before Felix said, "Oh! When we left the classroom after school, we walked back to the lockers right? And everyone was there, Chan asked where you were and Minho stayed quiet so Hyunjin explained that you were in the classroom talking to the teacher. Woojin then asked what you were talking to the teacher about. Changbin then explained that you were asking to get your partner switched for the project. Then Yedam asked why you would want to get your partner changed and who your partner was. Hyunjin and Changbin looked at each other, hesitating to his name before Minho said 'it's Moonjin' in a really low voice."

"After Minho said his name, Chan, Woojin and Yedam all widened their eyes and froze, staring at Minho." Seungmin finished for Felix.

"If Yedam also knows who he is then it can't be a gang thing." Jisung tried to conclude.

"Well, you never know. Even if Yedam's not apart of the gang, he's brothers with the gang leader so he probably knows everything that's going on with Stray Kids." Felix pointed out.

"This hurts my brain." Jeongin said while rubbing his temples.

"Minho told me to tell him right away if anything weird happens to me." Jisung said.

"Why would anything weird happen to you?" Felix asked.

"That's what I said. But he just made me promise that I would. He also told me not to hang out with Moonjin alone and to work on the project in a public area so that him and Changbin could work on their project at the same place at the same time."

"Okay who the hell is this Moonjin guy and why are they all being so protective of us?" Seungmin asked. "Hyunjin told me not to go anywhere near Moonjin but he wouldn't tell me who he was either."

"Yeah Changbin told me the same."

"Yedam too."

"I wish I knew." Jisung sighed.

»»————-　🍯　————-««

park moonjin and jaewoo are characters i made up, they are not in any group.

sorry for this awkward ending to the chapter. and sorry if my explanation of the wall made no sense.

opinions on moonjin? who do you think jaewoo and moonjin are?

the next chapter is one of my faves (^.^) hehe stay tuned for tuesday

in the next chapter:
- he finally meets them
- a lot is explained
- things get spicy 🥵

tell me what you think is going to happen in the next chapter :)