flowering // tbz k.sw x male reader

eight //

[m/n] felt an arm on his shoulder and he immediately knew it was Kim Sunwoo. It wasn't even his general energy that gave him away, it was the tell-tale signature grey hoodie that he seemed to always wear, as well as the black headphones in his neck.

"[m/n]-ah, why are you all alone today?"

"I'm studying, Jihoon is tutoring someone, Jungmo and Jinyoung are eating lunch inside. I'm done eating," [m/n] said, looking at the boy before shrugging his arm off. He froze, wondering if shrugging him off was the right thing to do.

"You looked lonely, so I joined you," Sunwoo smiled, putting his head on the wooden table while looking at the other. "You always seem to be studying. Doesn't it get boring?"

"There's always something to study, Sunwoo-ya," [m/n] said, a small smile on his lips. "Do you want snacks? I could get a few for us and we can, uh… talk?"

"Way ahead of you," Sunwoo said, patting his backpack. "I carry snacks more than I carry books, which is inherently a problem."

"It is, but I shouldn't be the one telling you that."

"Sorry, teacher."

"Hey."

Sunwoo laughed, taking his backpack off and putting it on top of [m/n]'s books. "Snack time. Here's the saewoo-kkang — they're my favourite, but I bought two so you can have one."

"If they're you're favourite, you can enjoy them twice," [m/n] said, taking a juice box from his bag and taking the straw off the back. He poked it through the hole and took a sip.

Sunwoo seemed like he wanted to say something, and eventually pushed himself forward to say it. "Hey, [m/n]… I couldn't help but notice that… you haven't called me annoying in a while. Are… are you okay?"

[m/n] blinked once, twice, then three times before taking the straw away from his mouth. Sunwoo seemed rather awkward to be talking seriously, but [m/n] felt that he needed to face the other at some point. "I'm… just trying to be nice. Is that weird? Look, I never mean to be mean, you know? I… I thought it was weird that I kept calling you those things…"

"Was it the puppy eyes?"

"Perhaps," [m/n] chuckled with a nod. "Seeing you become upset, especially after that mock test, genuinely guilt tripped me. I want to be nicer to you, since you're nicer than what my mind says."

"I did those things to impress you," Sunwoo muttered, looking down at his hands. "I thought there was something wrong with me and that I wasn't enough of a person, or something, but I had no idea what to do. I genuinely wanted to be a member of the student council, but I didn't make it in because of my grades. I stuck around, though — to help, yes, but to see you more often…"

[m/n] felt his cheeks burning, but he avoided eye contact, looking away but inadvertently exposed his burning red ears that always seemed to expose him. "S-stupid. I'm not worth stuff like that. Imagine how much free time you would've had."

"But I like being around you." Sunwoo was smiling but [m/n] still avoided eye contact so he wouldn't know that Sunwoo held the biggest grin on his expression. "But even if I do, you seem to like Hwang Hyunjin a bit more than me, so I think… I'll give up for now…"

"For now? So you'll come back?"

Sunwoo realised what his words implied, but even he shrugged. "Do you like Hwang Hyunjin?"

"I don't know what I feel," [m/n] replied, slouching his body in defeat. "I don't know if I like Hwang Hyunjin or if I just really admire him. He's a great guy, and… look, it all boils down to the person liking guys or not, and it's incorrect of me to just assume sexuality."

"Forgot sexuality and look at how someone feels," Sunwoo suggested, a smile on his lips. "If you can feel that 'hey, there's some type of chance that this person likes me because it's hella freaking obvious', then maybe there's a chance, huh? Honestly, I feel that Hyunjin likes you because he's way too nice to you."

"Isn't he just being nice, in that case? And why are you even vouching for Hyunjin right now? Don't you…?"

"You're the confused one, I know what I'm feeling. I'm just helping you."

[m/n] couldn't help but frown. "But your feelings…"

"They don't matter, because what I want is to make you a little happier," Sunwoo smiled softly. [m/n] felt his stomach churn, but he wasn't sure as to why. "Maybe… helping you get with Hyunjin will make you happier, and if that's the case, I'll do my best to help you."

"Yeah, but you shouldn't disregard your own feelings," [m/n] said quickly, feeling his stomach turn again. "I… I don't know what I'm feeling right now, okay? Don't jump the gun, because… you have just as much a chance as Hwang Hyunjin. I'm not looking for a boyfriend specifically, anyways."

"Even if I like you—" [m/n] tensed up at those words. "— I don't want to make you uncomfortable, especially with you being my tutor. I know if I they to break away from you, I'll just want you even more."

Want him — [m/n] felt weird.

"Don't let Hyunjin bother you," [m/n] muttered. "I don't know what I'm feeling right now. I'm confused, so… don't interact with my feelings. Just… be there. We'll see."

Sunwoo's eyes brightened and he nodded. [m/n] felt his body melt at the sight of Sunwoo's absolutely adorable gaze. He didn't know if it was appropriate to cry at that moment because Kim Sunwoo had the most precious look in his eyes whenever he smiled so happily. He looked like a kid and [m/n] liked the childlike sparkle in his eyes.

Maybe that's why [m/n] liked Sunwoo so much. He was just so cute, he didn't know what to feel.