Chapter 21

                                    

                                          
Ahoy!
Another sad chapter...
I have a thing for angst, don't I?
Vote and Comment!
AKD
---- ---- ---- ----
"Where are you going?" Jaehyun asked from the living room, looking at Mark who was dressed up and had his car keys in his hand. 
"In case you haven't noticed, my boyfriend needs me." Mark lied. 
He had gotten a call about a meeting with Mrs. Lee, Donghyuck, and his manager about 20 minutes ago. 
"So those articles.." Jaehyun said, looking for a way to bring this up, "They don't bother you?" 
"The media needs a story," Mark shrugged, "Guess it was a slow news day." 
"How's Donghyuck taking it?" Jaehyun asked him. 
"He didn't really know about it until I called him," Mark told him. "Are you done with your 20 questions or...?" 
"Give him my best," was all Jaehyun said. 
"I'll give him something, alright," He muttered under his breath, opening the front door.
---- ---- ---- ----
"Are you sure you're okay?" Sicheng asked as Donghyuck put his sunglasses on to leave Sicheng's house, already hearing the paparazzi outside his gate. 
"I will be," Donghyuck said, putting on a straight face as he heard his car pull upfront with the driver. 
"Text me, alright?" Sicheng said, worried. 
"Thank you for everything, Sicheng," Donghyuck said, hugging him. 
"I'm always going to be here for you," Sicheng answered, squeezing Donghyuck tighter to him, knowing he shouldn't, but he couldn't help it. 
Donghyuck braced himself as Sicheng opened up the gate. He tried to block all the screams, shouts and accusations with his headphones, but still couldn't drown them out. 
If he had his way, he wouldn't have even left the house, fearing the cameras and flashes, but Mrs. Lee called a meeting after screaming at him through the phone for 15 minutes. 
Donghyuck's red, puffy eyes were hidden behind sunglasses as he made his way through the sea of people, practically jumping into the back of his car, his chest heaving up and down. 
Donghyuck wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball and wallow in his sorrow, but he didn't have that luxury.  
"Sorry about that, Donghyuck," His driver, Kun, said as he entered the car, locking it immediately. 
"S'not your fault. Kun," Donghyuck said, sniffling, "I'm sorry you had to go through that. These paparazzi can be so brutal." 
"It's my job," Kun said with a reassuring smile, glancing at the mirror to look at him. "Are you alright?" 
"I've been better," Donghyuck admitted. 
Kun had been Donghyuck's driver for as long as he could remember. Donghyuck didn't see him as a driver, though. 
Kun was his confidant of sorts. 
He's seen Donghyuck at his worst and seen him at his best. Kun was always there for him, literally and figuratively. Their relationship always reminded Jaemin, his best friend, of Mia and Joe from Princess Diaries. 
"If it's any consolation," Kun said, "I never believe what the media is reporting." 
"Thanks, Kun," Donghyuck said with a small smile.