#leojiweek2017

“Why the hell should I go out with you? You’ve got like, so many piercings and tattoos, and I bet you’ve failed half your classes because you’re too busy skating. Ew. Go away, freak.”

Clutching his books to his chest, Guang-Hong peered around the wall as Leo rubbed the back of his neck before walking away. How could she be so cruel towards someone so sweet behind the facade? He passed by him, downcast and he leant back against the wall, pushing his glasses back up and flicking through the page of the topmost book.

“Hey, uh, Guang-Hong Ji right?”

He looked up to come face to face with none other than Leo himself. Nodding, he ducked behind his books to cover the blush turning his face red. A hand reached out and pushed them down, peering over with a blinding smile.

“Good book choice.”

He winked and released the book, waving and pulling his headphones on and skating away. Guang-Hong didn’t even see him put down his skateboard. Sighing, he pulled out his phone and texted Minami, knowing that he’d be a good person to confide in.

G: leo spoke to me help what do i do

M: HE DID WHAT???

M: HOLD UP

M: SKATER BOY SPOKE TO YOU???

G: yeah

M: tell me everything

G: a girl rejected him (why tho he’s super nice) and i saw everything i’m not even kidding

G: then he walked past and I was ‘reading’ gatsby and he actually knew my name!!! like hello what?? then he smiled at me and said it was a good choice of book before putting on his headphones and skating away

M: YOOO WHAT??? He knew your name??

G: Yah don’t know how though

M: you are super lucky i swear

G: Ikr?

---

The chair next to Guang-Hong scraped against the floor and he jumped, knocking a pen off his desk in the process. Before he could pick it up, a tan hand was passing it back to him and he found myself face to face with Leo.

Again.

“Sorry for startling you. Cute drawings by the way.”

He took the pen and smiled, turning back to face the front of the class as the teacher began the lesson.

---

G: OH MY GOD

G: MINI HELP ME

M: I’m not mini

G: SKATER BOY TOLD ME MY DRAWINGS WERE CUTE

G: I NEARLY DIED

M: WHAT???

M: bippity boppity back up

G: HE SAT NEXT TO ME IN CLASS TOO!!!

M: luckyyyy

G: I’m gonna die

M: nuh pls don’t

---

“Guang-Hong, you can’t hide under a pile of beanbags forever.”

“Yes I can.”

“Seriously? What’s going on?”

Peering round the corner of the isle, Leo frowned as he saw Minami standing there with his hand on his hip.

“Come on, they’re going to kick us out if they find out you’re in there!”

“Nope.”

The beanbags shuffled as a hand stuck out and flipped him off before retreating back underneath. Confused, he coughed quietly, catching Minami's attention.

“Hey, Leo right?”

“Yeah. Everything okay?”

“Guang-Hong won’t come out from the beanbags and won’t explain why.”

He put my basket down and crouched next to the shelf, wincing as his ankle clicked.

“Hey… You want to talk elsewhere? We could, I don’t know, go to a park or a cafe or something like that. My treat.”

The beanbags shuffled to reveal Guang-Hong as he climbed out, tugging nervously on his sleeves as he sat in front of him, eyes downcast. Reaching out, Leo patted his arm gently, biting his lip as he flinched away.

“Where would you like to go?”

He shrugged, so he held out his hand for him to take. Hesitantly, he took it and Leo helped him up, steadying him when he rocked backwards. He led him to the front of them store, Minami trailing behind slightly to give him space. He clutched Leo’s hand tightly, letting him guide him and keep him safe.

“I have some shopping to do still, Guang-Hong will you be okay being alone with Leo?”

Tensing, Guang-Hong took a deep breath and nodded, waving goodbye to Minami. As Minami grabbed a basket and walked back into the store, Leo pulled him outside to where he'd parked his motorbike.

“Ever ridden a motorbike before?”

“N-no…”

“We can walk if you want.”

With determination, Guang-Hong walked over to the bike and folded his arms, waiting for him to come over. He chuckled, pulling out his keys and opening the hatch at the back and pulling out two helmets, handing one over. Slipping it on, he did it up and reached across to offer Guang-Hong a hand.

“Thanks.”

Climbing onto the bike, Leo helped him up, encouraging him to hold onto his waist. It took a few moments but he complied, wrapping his arms around him tightly. He started the bike, driving carefully through the streets until he reached the local McDonalds.

“Need a hand down?”

“I’ve got it, thanks.”

Guang-Hong jumped down, slipping the helmet off and handing it over, and he placed them into the back once more. Offering his arm, Leo smiled as it was taken up.

Sure, he was heavily tattooed and pierced, and sure, he rode a motorbike and listened to heavy metal, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a heart.

---

Guang-Hong knocked on the backstage door, smirking as it opened and the person’s jaw dropped.

“Leo de la Iglesia, I’d like to congratulate you on the fact that your boyfriend has joined us in wearing leather.”

He heard choking from inside and he held up his hand and waved it in front of JJ’s face.

“Fiance actually.”

Cheers echoed around as he was let in, Leo immediately pulling him into his lap and kissing him senseless, much to the delight of everyone else in the room.

---

I’m with the skater boy, I said “see ya later boy”

I’ll be backstage after the show, I’ll be at the studio

Singing the song we wrote

About that girl you used to know

He could see her in the crowd, surrounded by all of her friends that had told her to turn Leo down and he winked, grabbing the front of Leo’s jacket and pulling him in for a kiss for the world to see.

“You look sad, when you think he can’t see you.”

“H-huh?”

“Guang-Hong, seriously, what’s going on?”

“Nothing I swear! He loves me, I know he does!”

“P-”

“Minami, trust me. We love each other, and there’s nothing you need to worry about okay?”

Snatching up his bag, he sprinted away from his friend, wincing as it hit a bruise on his hip. It hurt yes, but wasn’t love supposed to hurt?

---

“GUANG-HONG!”

He scurried into the kitchen, slipping slightly before grabbing the door frame.

“Yes D-”

“Where is my dinner?”

“E-eh?”

Dylan reached out and grabbed the front of his t-shirt, lifting him up slightly.

“You forgot to do my dinner.”

“I’m sorry, I had to stay behind to study t-”

He cried out as his back connected with the ladder against the wall behind him, his lover merely inches away from his face.

“I ask you to do one simple thing and you can’t even do that? Pathetic.”

Hitting the floor suddenly, he curled up into a ball as he was released, sobbing quietly. A hand rested on his shoulder and he flinched.

“Now now, remember that I do these things because I love you.”

---

A sharp crack echoes through the air and he gasps, stumbling backwards with the force of the hit.

“What the hell were you doing with him?”

“Minami and I, we’re just classmates! H-he asked if I could lend him my notes from last lesson.”

“Well I don’t want you talking to him anymore.”

“But I-”

Another crack makes him double over and he struggled to breathe, winded by the blow to his chest.

---

“Hey Guang-Hong!”

Hesitating, he remembered Dylan’s words and walked past Minami, not daring to make eye contact.

---

“Good Morning class. Today we have a new student joining us. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

A tan brunet bounded down the stairs to stand next to the professor, waving to the room.

“Hey there! My name’s Leo de la Iglesia and I can’t wait to get to know you all.”

Tucked away in the corner of the room, Guang-Hong gasped as a sharp pain flashed across his chest. Pressing a hand against it, he watched as Leo mimicked his actions at the front before returning to his seat.

---

With dinner already in the oven, he’d snuck into the bathroom and had taken his jumper off, running his hands over fading and blooming bruises before coming to rest on a single, purple rose, striking in contrast to his skin. He’d heard of soulmates, yet he’d never dared to hope that he, a nobody, could have someone out there that was perfect for him.

And it wasn’t Dylan.

Laughing, he pulled on his jumper and slipped out, resuming preparing their dinner, as if he’d never left.

---

“Hey, you’re Guang-Hong Ji aren’t you?”

“Huh? Me? Uh, y-yeah that’s me.”

“Sorry for startling you, the professor said that you were probably my best bet for catching up on the work I’ve missed.”

“Ah, I’m not sure I’m the best.”

“Nonsense, everyone speaks high praises of you. Is there any chance I could borrow your notes?”

Dylan wouldn’t want me to.

“I’ll help you catch up.”

Before he could think about what he was doing, he handed over a piece of paper with his email address on it and waved goodbye, hurrying to catch his bus home.

---

“I can’t be bothered with this tonight. Order me takeout.”

“Yes Dylan.”

Taking the plate back into the kitchen, he called up the company and placed Dylan’s usual order.

“Done.”

“Go to bed. I have people coming around.”

Bowing, he backed into the kitchen to put away his apron and as an afterthought picked up a knife and slipped it into his pocket. He didn’t want to take any chances with Dylan’s friends.

---

“Thanks for taking time out to help me with this, I’m sorry if I’ve been a pain.”

“No no, it’s fine, I don’t mind. I… I rather like getting out of the house for something other than school.”

Leo smiled and pulled him into a hug. He flinched slightly before squeezing tightly, allowing himself to be enveloped by the warmth that was Leo de la Iglesia.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don’t feel the same way.”

“Huh?”

He felt a hand over his heart, where the purple rose shared by his soulmate lay against his skin.

“Did… did I see wrong? I could have sworn that you… Oh, I am so sorry if I got this wrong.”

“You mean, you think we’re soulmates? I… I think we might be. Do you have a purple rose over your heart?”

“I- how did you know?”

He pulled down the neck of his jumper to reveal the soul mark, taking Leo’s hand and pressing it against his chest.

“Oh. Y-you are?”

“Yeah, I am.”

Dylan won’t be happy. And I don’t care.

Running his hands through Leo’s hair, he pulled him close and pressed their lips together, pouring everything he could into the kiss.

---

“HOW DARE YOU KISS SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME!”

“HE IS MY SOULMATE DYLAN!”

Guang-Hong found himself pinned to the bed, Dylan hovering above him with a wicked grin.

“Oh yeah? Let me remind you who the hell you belong to.”

“G-get off me!”

Struggling, he screamed and yelled as loud as he could as Dylan tried to remove his clothes. Kicking and thrashing, he spotted a knife on the bedside table and reached out for it, snatching it up from where he’d left it weeks before.

“LET GO!”

Bringing the knife down, he pushed himself against the headboard as Dylan jerked back, clutching at the newly-opened cut on his cheek.

“Why you l-”

He drew back his foot and kicked forward, hearing a crunch as his foot connected with his nose. Rolling off the bed, he stood and held out the knife in front of him with shaking hands.

“You don’t own me.”

“Guang-Hong please, I lo-”

“Love me? Hell no you don’t. Leo does, and Leo means it. You have battered and bruised me for years, and now? Now I’m leaving you, forever.”

Opening the door, he snatched up his bag and phone, fleeing down the stairs and out of the front door. He slipped the knife into his pocket, dialing a number he’d memorised.

“Hey Leo? Yeah, um, I was wondering if there was any possibility that I could stay with you for a while? I… I can? Thank you! I’ll be over as soon as possible, love you!”

So, it had been a bad day, but now the sun was shining and the children were playing, and yes he had a knife in his pocket but he was free.

His words trailed off as he turned away from the keys to look at the young, Chinese prodigy. The boy looked at Leo with large, questioning eyes that reflected in the afternoon sun, becoming pools of light. 

“Oh...I’m sorry. I wish I could help, I would love to see you again at one of the concerts.” Guang-Hong replied, his expression, not quite sad, but sympathetic.

Leo stared at him, studying his face in the soft, golden tones of the slowly setting sun, possibly for a bit too long. Guang-Hong frowned slightly and touched his finger tips to his face. “What? Did I say something wrong? Is there still sauce on my face?” he asked, and Leo tensed his shoulders as quickly looked back down at the piano.

“N-No, no! Nothing like that! Just-thinking...” He said, hastily trying to hide his reddening cheeks and ears. He heard Guang-Hong laugh softly and took a deep breath. He felt like his heart was about to leap from his chest.

“So, uh...any more requests before you have to go to your concert?” Leo asked, daring to glance at the beaming pianist next to him. Guang-Hong smiled and scooted closer to Leo, propping his elbows up on his knees and resting his chin in his hands. “Do you know any Robin Spielberg?”

A yellow rose upon my bed? Why, they are jealous of me, the one who seems to have it all yet cannot find himself any happiness in this world of riches and backstabbing. If anyone should be jealous, it is I, for I cannot have what I desire most in the world. I cannot bring myself to introduce myself to the one that I desire. They twirl and spin under the candles hanging over the dancefloor, men and women alike falling at their feet. Yet they dance on, blissfully unaware of the love and heartbreak around them.

My diary, I tell you this for I know that I can trust you with my deepest, darkest desires, as murderous and selfish as they may seem at times.

---

Another day passes and I still cannot bring myself to even remain in the same room as them for great periods of time, for fear that I may slip up. A bouquet of yellow roses was left upon my bed, and so I formed them into a crown of jealousy and let my company know that I saw the people and I did not care one bit for them, focusing on nought but my own emotions. I am the jealous one here, jealous of everyone who touches the one that I desire.

My diary, I fear that this may slowly destroy everything I’ve worked so hard for.

---

I left a bouquet on their doorstep last night, attempting to convey my feelings. I shall write them here, lest I forget for the future.

Agapanthus: Secret love

Yellow Acacia: Secret love

China Aster: I will think of thee

White Camellia: Perfected loveliness

I think it sums them up perfectly.

My diary, I pray you are never found, for they will know too much about me that I hide from the people around me.

---

Mania is all-consuming, destructive and a desire to keep what is not one’s own property. I must stay far away from this love, for I do not wish to destroy anything I have with them. I must seek the more… mild forms, such as ludus and agape. Heaven knows whether or not I will achieve this, but one can hope.

---

Dear diary,

These words that I write are futile, for now sooner than they are dry for they will be nothing more than ashes as I burn them to a crisp. I cannot allow this to simply lie around, not when they could come across it at any moment. They are mine now, loyal to me and me alone.

I do not need this anymore.

---

Guang-Hong closed the book and sighed, tossing it into the fireplace with finality. There was no need for him to keep it anymore, no need for a record of the months he’d spent pining after the one person who now meant so much to him.

“Guang-Hong? Are you ready to greet the guests?”

He turned, reaching out and pulling his love into his lap.

“I’d much rather stay here with you Leo, keep you safe and sound.”

Leo giggled, shuffling in his lap and wrapping his arms around his neck.

“I’d rather we were here too, so those girls cannot stare. You are mine, you know that right?”

“I wouldn’t dream of being anybody else's.”

---

We are not conventional lovers, not at all. Guang-Hong wishes to keep me safe and sound, away from the crowds that I dance among. I am willing to kill to keep him close, so that he will never even think to look at anyone else with the adoration and loves he showers me with. Does that make me crazy? I don’t think it does. Anyone who truly loves their significant other would want to do the same.

People say we are jealous, and I suppose we are. That’s not a bad thing is it, it just means we love each other with everything we’ve got. I may be from a lower class than Guang-Hong is but he chose me, out of everyone available to him and he fought to get me. I have every right to be jealous of those who dare try to take him away from me.

The pressure of being a professional and having an image to keep up can place so much weight on such a young man...it can get to be too much sometimes.