"Wake up you useless scums!" a shrill voice came through the speakers in each room, and they were all up and about in a second, getting things together for school. Eight boys with two adults and only three bed rooms, crashing into each other was now a routine rather than accident. In five minutes all were standing next to their chairs in the dining room, waiting for permission to be seated. The door opens, and two elderly, a man and a woman, walk in, sitting on either ends of the table. The man takes a look, then waves his hand, and they all sit in complete synchronisation. Another wave, and they start eating. Finishing in ten minutes, they stop whatever they do as the woman stands.

"Which one of you brought this? WELL!?!" she held up a shiny empty biscuit packet. Jisung's eyes shook, but before he could make a move, Lucas put his hand on the boy's leg, stopping him from standing. He stood instead, followed by Mark, both earning a glare from the old lady, and terrified looks from the six others. They don't like it, but have no choice when the elder twins take blame for their doings, even if an accident. They hated it when these two were protecting them to a point where they lost their freedom.

They were all brothers here, but these two were real. Lucas and Mark being twins did everything together. Same went for Jeno and Jaemin. Twins who never left each other's sides, even during classes. Then there's Renjun and Chenle, born a year apart and inseparable. But when all together, they put these facts aside, and become one family.

Soon, they were entering through the school gates, both the elder twins pulling down their sleeves to hide the cane marks on their arms. They separated from the rest to head to their class, while the six others walk to theirs. Somehow, the old man has some kind of power over the school, so the six younger ones were put in the same grade, despite Chenle and Jisung being a year younger than the rest. Only Lucas and Mark were a year higher. They always sat together, whatever the class, or even during recess. They are never seen apart, and that's because they don't know. To them, it is normal for people who lived together since they were infants to always be together, and not make friends since they were banned from socialising, but they didn't know it. They think it's as a protection, from bad influence.

The six younger ones sat in their places, next to each other. Three rows of two, they filled up one side of the class, and no one else ever sat with them. No one until today.

"Alright class. We have a new student today. Come here, why don't you introduce yourself?" a girl steps to the front, all smiley.

"Hi guys! My name is Oh Lami! Hope we can be friends!" she cheered. The students simply clapped and the teacher looked around the class.

"OK, how about... Chenle, take the extra table from the back and join it with Renjun and Haechan's row. You will sit there, while Lami will sit next to Jisung." although not called out, all six of their eyes widened. Not one of them has ever sat with a stranger before, let alone a girl. Chenle did as told, and the girl skipped her way next to Jisung, who looked out the window to avoid eye contact. But that failed when she tapped his shoulder.

"Hi! Nice to meet you!" she put her hand out to shake, but Jisung simply bowed his head and looked away, leaving the girl flustered.

<>

Mark and Lucas had different sitting placements. Theirs were rows of three, and the two sat on either side with their bags in the middle seat to avoid others from sitting. But that wasn't for long either.

"Good morning class. There's a new student today with us. Please introduce yourself." the girl stepped forward.

"Hello. I am Oh Koeun. Nice to meet you all." she was very chic.

"Alright then. Um... Ah. Mark and Lucas. Remove the bags and let her sit with you." the two boys looked at each other with terrified expressions. They put their bags down, and Mark shifted next to Lucas, letting her take the outer most seat in their row. She nodded at the two, as if to say hello, but they both simply looked away, and she rolled her eyes, focusing back on the teacher.

Soon recess came, and the eight boys met at their usual table, taking out their packed lunches, while others lined up for the school lunch. On the other side of the room, Lami came in and waved at Koeun, then running and hugging her.

"Sis! How did your first classes go?" she tugged her arm as they lined up, earning an annoyed look from the elder.

"Good. Except, I have to sit next to two guys, and they're like, super weird. It's as if they're stuck on an alien planet, so they don't communicate. Like what the hell is wrong with them?"

"Shh. Don't swear. Anyway, I sit next to a guy like that too. He did communicate, but very shyly. Like he's talking to a bad guy. I'm not bad, right?" Koeun shakes her head and passes her sister a tray to take food. They walk to a table, and sit, when Lami suddenly nudges her sister.

"There unnie. That's the guy I sit next to... Wow. Are they a family?" she points to the table the eight were sitting at, and Koeun scoffs.

"Must be. See those two with bigger eyes, they're the ones I sit with. Must be genetics."

"But honestly, they're all so cute." Koeun looks at her with disbelief.

"Yah Oh Lami. We didn't come here to look at guys, especially those. Remember, study only. No boyfriends." they finished eating, and Koeun left for the toilet while Lami waited at the stairs, which were wet from students throwing water around. She slipped, and screamed as she nearly fell down the stairs, but an arm grabbed her, and pulled her back up. Her eyes closed, tears suddenly fell as she stood up straight.

"H... Hey. A... Are you, OK?" she slowly opened her eyes, and looked at the direction of the voice. She wiped her tears, and looked around to see his 'brothers' staring at them.

"Th... Thank you, Jisung right?"

"Lami! Are you OK? I heard you scream! Are you hurt?" Koeun came running and inspected her body head to toe. Lami stood still as she finished by fixing her uniform, then turned to the boy.

"Oh my gosh. Thanks so much. I owe you a treat one day." he bowed to the older girl, and went back to his group and walked away. The two girls walked hand in hand to a nearby bench and sat down.

"What happened? Do you feel... Are you..."

"I'm fine." she cut off Koeun. "Just a little, like... I did cry a tiny bit. No one saw, well maybe Jisung, but that's all." she looked down as her sister pet her head. Koeun walked her back to her class, then left her alone. She sat in her seat, head down in her arms as the class slowly filled up.

"Ah... Ex... Cuse... Me..." she peeked up, and saw Jisung trying to get in to his seat. She smiles, and pulled her seat forward for him to pass.

No one ever smiled at him like that, or even the others, so Jisung felt something churn up in him. A feeling he never felt before, but it felt nice. And he hoped to feel it again soon.

<>

Koeun returned to her class, and saw the two boys already in their seats. She huffed and made her way to them, sitting in her place. Class started as usual, and they were given a writing work. After a while, Lucas dropped a pen, earning looks from others in the super quiet classroom. Both Mark and Koeun watched it as it rolled its way until Koeun's table. Mark reached his hand down to pick it up, but instead his hand touched something else. Softer and warmer than the pen and the floor, he felt something inside him, and it made him shed a tear, and he didn't know why.

"Um... Can you let go... Wait, are you crying?" a voice allowed him to come back to reality, and he realised his touch was on an hand. Koeun's hand. He quickly wiped away the tear he unknowingly released, and grabbed the pen, passing it back to his brother.

What was that feeling? Why did it feel so familiar? He has no clue.

~