chapter 14

                                    

                                          
"Mark Lee, you're being called to the principal's office," his teacher told him after she had gotten off the phone, the students snickering and making dramatic noises from the request. 
                          
'What now?'
                          
The weekend went by fairy slow and it was finally Monday morning, which Mark couldn't stand as he'd see the annoying brat again. Over the weekend, Mark spent most of the time in his room while Yejun was with his grandparents. He finally had some time where he could be alone and think for himself a bit without having to watch Yejun. It wasn't like his baby brother was a bother, but Yejun needed to be attended to and Mark just wanted a break. 
                          
Just one small break was all he asked for after having been taking care of his baby brother for years now the way a parent should. Mark had to be that parent figure to Yejun when he didn't have a parent figure of his own to look after him.
                          
His grandmother understood this and gave him the weekend to relax. Her and her husband spent their time with Yejun, even though the little boy was missing his older brother. But he knew his brother just needed space for a while. Yejun isn't dumb, he's actually very smart for his age and can sense any uneasiness or tension in a room. 
                          
Yejun had to be strong for his older brother. He knows he can't break down into tears since Mark couldn't stand it so he has to pull himself together for him, which is kind of ironic being that Mark was doing the same for Yejun. 
                          
Mark silently stood up from his desk and made his way to the principal's office like he was told. He knocked on the office door and stepped inside, being met with the secretary at the front desk. 
                          
"Hi, may I help you?" He asked and Mark nodded his head while responding. "My name is Mark Lee, I'm here to see the principal because he called me down."
                          
"Ah yes! You can just head inside then," the secretary smiled, using his hands to gesture the way towards the principal's office. 
                          
He walked inside, his principal and some lady were sat in the desk chairs. 
                          
"Mark, please take a seat," the principal ordered him and the teen complied. "I have your guidance counselor with me today and we just want to discuss something for a minute."
                          
"If it's for a minute, then why couldn't we discuss it over the phone?" Mark replied with a hint of sass, causing the two adults to share glances at each other. 
                          
"We've gotten a call over the weekend about you changing addresses. Is that true?" His guidance counselor spoke with a kind tone and a small smile, ignoring what Mark said.
                          
"Yeah."
                          
"Why was it changed? Is there something going on?" The guidance counselor asked, Mark disliking the way she was trying to pry in his business.
                          
"Because it was and it's none of your business. Now if you'd excuse me, I have a class to be in," Mark stated, standing up but halted when the principal called his name.
                          
"Mark. Do not give an attitude. We're just trying to make sure everything is okay."
                          
Mark scoffed and turned around to face them again.
                          
"Everything is great," Mark flashed a sarcastic smile and the other two nodded.
                          
"Alright, if that changes let us know. You're dismissed," the principal said and Mark walked out of the office, not sparing a glace at the secretary who wished him a good day and just went straight to his class.
                          
'People don't know how to mind their business.'

                          
-🌞-

                          
Donghyuck, for the first time in a few years, sat down with his lunch tray at the table with his friends through their entire lunch period. After the whole incident that occured at the winter formal, the tanned male had been a bit more quieter than usual, sharing only half smiles instead of full ones. 
                          
His friends felt bad that he had to deal with a jerk like that and they were really contemplating on jumping the older.
                          
But of course they decided not to, since violence is never the answer...and because Donghyuck begged them not to hurt him. 
                          
The tanned male was too selfless sometimes. How could he still care about someone who broke his heart into a million pieces? No matter what Mark did, Donghyuck would still care about the older even though they won't be encountering each other anymore. 
                          
"Cheer up, babes! With a pretty face like yours, you shouldn't be crying or sad," Jaemin told him, squishing the boy's cheeks with the palms of his hands. 
                          
"He shouldn't be crying but he also shouldn't be compressed so let him go!" Renjun slapped Jaemin's hands away. 
                          
"Guys shut up! Jisung is coming," Chenle slapped Jaemin's mouth, causing the older to glare at him but that glare quickly washed away as Jisung sat down. "My son!"
                          
Jisung was bombarded by an excited Jaemin pinching the younger's cheeks, asking how the boy's day was going and an annoyed Chenle trying to get the younger's attention away from the other. This caused Renjun to roll his eyes while Donghyuck stared at his food, moving it around with his fork. 
                          
"Hyuck, don't play with your food," Renjun scolded and snatched the fork from the younger's hand, scoping the food and holding the fork in front of the tanned male's mouth. "Open."
                          
And Donghyuck did so, chewing the food Renjun had fed him. It wasn't the same without Donghyuck being all smiley and cheerful. It felt a bit gloomy and dull. Donghyuck is the light of everyone's day, he's the sunshine that always peeks through the clouds and shines. That's where he got his nickname 'Haechan' from, because of how bright he is. 
                          
Renjun's thoughts were interrupted when everybody at the table went silent as a tray was placed besides Renjun's, the older turning to look up at the person. 
                          
"Jeno!" The older smiled.
                          
"Hi, Renjun! Hello, Donghyuck, everyone," Jeno smiled, giving a small wave to everyone at the table as everybody returned their greetings, besides Donghyuck. "Would you guys mind if I sat here? I'm still kind of new and I don't know anybody," Jeno scratched the back of his nape and everybody nodded.
                          
"Of course you can!" Renjun told him and pulled the younger's arm to sit next to him, introducing everyone to him.

















                          
-🌞-

















                          
Thank you for reading! I hope you have an amazing day/night 💕
                          
Also, I am going to try updating more chapters within today or tomorrow since I will not be able to later on in the week because I will be with some family members on vacation before school starts next week. I had gotten a bit sick over the weekend, just a small head cold nothing major, so I apologize for not having updated then. I'm still getting over it, but I am able to write now!
                          
This upcoming week and next week are going to be pretty hectic so I apologize beforehand for all the unorganized/unscheduled updates. Thank you for your understanding and I hope I didn't disappoint you too much.