i want to thank those who are still reading this ♥
❝shit jaemin.❞
the person on the other line giggled, ❝why are you in a hurry jeno?❞
❝are you seriously asking me that?❞ jeno groaned, pausing for a while as he was panting hard from all the running. he called for a taxi knowing that he won't arrive at the bus stop in time if he just ran. ❝i'm going to be so late.❞
jaemin laughed, ❝jeno calm down.❞
❝calm down? how can i calm down when the doctor told me that she couldn't go to our house and asked me to let donghyuck go to the hospital for a check up instead.❞ jeno ran a hand through his hair, mouthing the address of the bus stop to the taxi driver before going back to his phone, ❝and i have an exam to take today!❞
yesterday, he knew they'll finish the project late. it was fine as long as he could go home. he wasn't that worried anyways since jaemin has been notifying him about donghyuck and if he's eating properly. but he felt bad for sleeping at his groupmate's house. it was when he was reading the instruction for their final part but he closed his eyes, wanting to take a short nap as he was tired but that short nap turned into sleep. his groupmates didn't bother to wake him up because he look like he never had properly sleep. fortunately, his groupmates finished their work. and now, he woke up at six in the morning remembering about donghyuck. he quickly got out of the house, shouting a thank you at his groupmates that were still sleeping.
❝jaemin i forgot about the things i studied.❞ jeno buried his head to the palm of his hands, mumbling the terms he could remember from what he studied.
❝don't go home, i can take care of donghyuck. i can even take him to the hospital if you want.❞ jaemin said, obviously worried.
this is a special day and he couldn't miss this day. it's either he will take the exam today or go along with the other students which takes place two weeks from now. mark's father was the one organizing this, he can't fail him.
❝i want you to go to school, okay jeno?❞
jeno frowned, ❝but what about donghyuck?❞
❝trust me, i can take care of him.❞
he couldn't see jaemin but he could imagine his reassuring smile. the thought of it also made jeno smile, ❝thank you.❞ but seconds later he paused upon remembering something, ❝but don't you have classes—❞
❝jeno, i know what i'm doing. just go to school.❞ jaemin said, ending the call.
just in time, they arrived at the bus stop jeno said to the taxi driver. he paid for the taxi ride and went to the bus station, luckily finding a bus that will pass by the school. he went inside, sliding his id and sat at a seat that was located at the far back.
he looked down and sighed as he noticed that he was wearing the same uniform. hoping that this will not smell bad, he leaned down to smell the uniform. ❝damn why do i smell good?❞
to be honest, he can't smell anything.
maybe it's because of the cold weather that he kept on sniffing and sneezing. he sighed, just wishing that he doesn't smell bad. he doesn't have to smell good, it'll be very fine if he doesn't have a smell.
❝oh god help me.❞ jeno closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, stopping himself from venting out what he is feeling right now. he was supposedly just going to get worried about the exam he is about to take but donghyuck kept on appearing inside his head.
he wanted donghyuck to send him a goodluck. seeing him was enough but is impossible for now since he has no time to go home and go back here in the town.
❝stop.❞ jeno stood up and almost fell in front when the bus suddenly stopped. he thanked the bus driver before coming down from the bus, noticing that there's not much people at school.
this was nice, at least he could study properly now.
he managed to get inside the scho premises after telling the security guards his name and showing them his id. ❝so if i add and multiply—❞
jeno stopped, pause, froze. he stood up there, jaw dropping down as he saw two familiar people siting at one of the benches placed at the side. one was happily waving his hand up in the air while the other was hugging somehow clothes. jeno walked near them and slowly placed his phone inside his pocket.
❝jaemin?❞
jaemin stood up from the bench and gave jeno a hug, ❝i told you i will take care of donghyuck.❞
❝but—❞
jaemin didn't want him to speak and so he placed his index finger on top of jeno's lips. he was there in front of the older but the older's eyes was looking at donghyuck who is hugging the clothes tightly.
clothes that looked like his uniform.
❝i know you won't be able to change at home for a new uniform so here, we brought you your uniform.❞ jaemin leaned forward to whisper on jeno's ears, ❝there's even your underwear there.❞
which only earned slap on the arm by the older.
donghyuck noticed the two talk and he was feeling left out. he stood up from his seat and went beside jaemin, getting jeno's full attention. jaemin stopped talking and watched donghyuck reaching the clothes to jeno. he noticed the older not budging and so he nudged him, snapping him out from his own world.
❝oh uhm, thank you.❞ jeno glanced at the time and got an hour for him to take the test.
in that case, he still has time to study.
donghyuck nodded, ❝welcome.❞
this was all jeno needs for him to ace the test. now that donghyuck is here, he was confident that he could at least get high grades in all of his subject.
❝well i still need to study so..❞ jeno raised the clothes, ❝thank you much for this.❞
jaemin smiled while donghyuck still had that poker face. jeno smiled back at both jaemin and donghyuck even though donghyuck just stared at him with no emotions. one step, two step, jaemin noticed jeno looking unsatisfied. he nudged donghyuck, whispering to him something.
the boy bit his lower lip, ❝jeno!❞
honestly, that voice will always get jeno's attention. the mentioned boy turned around while raising a brow. half thinking that he might have left something at home and half thinking that donghyuck would at least send him a goodluck.
but what he wasn't expecting was a smile.
donghyuck smiled, ❝goodluck.❞ he then smiled widely, ❝do your best!❞
wanna bet jeno's going to perfect all the test he's going to take today? and it's all because of donghyuck. it's all because of his smile, all because he came to send him goodluck.
this was a good start of something new.
🏵
❝jeno i want ice cream.❞
❝can you take me on a walk?❞
❝jeno do you think it would be nice if we adopt a cat?❞
jeno this, jeno that. these past weeks was filled with donghyuck wanting everything, shouting jeno's name to get what he wants. jeno isn't even complaining, why would he? donghyuck was slowly changing to his old self. he was smiling like he used to, he was laughing loud like he used to, he was savage like he used to, he was like what he was back then. not all of the time though since there are times donghyuck would stare at no where and start thinking about life but most of the time, donghyuck was like himself. it was worth it, jeno said to himself.
it was worth doing everything for him.
seeing him happy was also making him happy. it was also making him fall even deeper, making it hard to keep it in. but he always have this in thought, their friendship will be destroyed if he's going to tell donghyuck about what he feels. that way, he'll be able to keep his feelings a secret.
❝jeno..❞ the said boy hummed, facing donghyuck who was just standing beside him, ❝i can't believe you finally graduated.❞
jeno rolled his eyes as donghyuck was wiping his invisible tears. well, awhile ago he did cry. as his name was called on stage, he got a glimpse of donghyuck crying in between jisung and chenle. jeno felt bad for jisung who needed to comfort two crying babies which were chenle and donghyuck.
jaemin arrived, holding renjun's hand and gave donghyuck his phone, ❝can you?❞
donghyuck giggled, ❝of course i can take a picture.❞ he moved backward and focused the camera to them, ❝say dream!❞
❝dream!❞ the three took many pictures with different poses. the best one of all was with renjun in the middle, arms om jaemin's and jeno's waist.
jaemin took his phone back with a thank you, ❝let's take a picture, the four of us.❞
❝make that six!❞ jisung appeared together with chenle who's holding a cup of ice cream.
❝who's going to take a picture?❞ donghyuck questioned
❝i am.❞ a voice made the six boys turn around with a face that can't be explained. the man then giggled at their faces, ❝congratulations on graduating boys!❞
renjun, jaemin, and jeno took a bow, showing gratitude to the man.
a woman then suddenly came, clinging on her husband's arm, smiling at the boys who finally finished their highschool life. but her attention then went to donghyuck who was just standing beside jisung, hand on his stomach. she couldn't help but walk to the walk with a frown on her face.
❝c-can i..❞ she pointed at the stomach that showed a small baby bump. donghyuck nodded slowly and just watched her caressing his stomach, ❝oh my god.❞
donghyuck panicked as he saw her crying.
❝baby, hello. this is your grandma..❞ she bit her lower lip, ❝i can't wait to see you.❞
the husband smiled, ❝so who's phone?❞
jeno raised his hand, ❝mine.❞ he gave his phone to mark's father before going back to where his friends are.
she was hesitating if she should hug donghyuck. not because she was mad or anything, she was afraid that maybe donghyuck got mad at her for looking like she hates him after what happened do to her son. donghyuck saw her and is the one giving her the hug inside. the woman cried even harder as she got to hug donghyuck.
❝hon, they still need to take a group picture.❞ the man said, poking his wife's shoulder
❝wait, i'm still into this drama.❞
the boys laughed at what she said, even donghyuck who was slowly separating himself from her. she gave donghyuck a smile before going to her husband's side. donghyuck turned around and saw a space in the middle, next to jeno.
he stood next to the flustered boy and noticed him raising his hand and then putting them back down, again and again. he rolled his eyes playfully and took jeno's hand, placing it on his shoulder.
❝i'm s-sorry my hand is sweating—❞
donghyuck giggled, ❝it's okay.❞ he wrapped his arm on jeno's waist and faced to where the camera is. jeno flinched at donghyuck's touch. it was sending butterflies inside his stomach and it sure wasn't healthy.
❝say dream!❞ the man shouted
they all gave each other a look before shouting in chorus, ❝DREAM!❞
scrolling down his gallery while walking down the silent streets, jeno couldn't help but smile. donghyuck was the one handling his phone during the ceremony and there sure were a lot of meme faces he took.
donghyuck got curious when jeno giggle. he leaned towards the boy and let out a laugh seeing jaemin's face with a forced smile. ❝he looks stupid!❞
❝c'mon, he looks fine.❞ jeno giggled, but that soon was changed when he swiped to see another picture. it was chenle giving jisung an 'are you serious' look, ❝what is this?❞ jeno managed to say in the middle of laughing hard.
donghyuck went to see what he meant and he too burst out laughing, ❝that was when chenle guessed what the principal was about to say and jisung said that it's going to be different. seconds later principal seo's sentence matched with chenle and i can't believe i managed to take a pic of his face!❞
jeno continued on scrolling through his gallery and stopped by a video. he played it out of curiosity, watching it together with donghyuck beside him. they then burst out laughing together. it was a video of renjun walking down the stairs and missed a step but managed to walk continuously, eyes was trembling.
❝that face—❞ jeno stopped and clutched his stomach, feeling it hurt because of the laughing.
❝have you seen his face?❞ donghyuck ran a hand through his hair, face so red from laughing.
the two walked down the streets while laughing and sometimes giving comments at the faces they see, but mostly they were just laughing. their laughing died down after they finished scrolling down the gallery and were now walking im silence.
donghyuck looked down, kicking a pebble to entertain himself.
❝i wanted to ask you this, why dream?❞ jeno wondered why donghyuck wanted them to shout dream instead of smile when taking a picture.
donghyuck smiled, ❝because you guys finally fulfilled your dream and that is graduating. you will now start making another dream.❞
and jeno's dream is to have a job and a family. he definitely can't have a family since it would be hard managing while taking care of donghyuck. plus, there's no one else in his mind except for donghyuck. but for now, he will reach the dream of having a job first.
❝what is your dream?❞ jeno questioned, looking at donghyuck's side view. the moon was shinning down on him and he looked so beautiful.
❝hm..❞ donghyuck paused for a second to think, ❝having a family.❞ he said while caressing his stomach.
jeno smiled at the sight, ❝what do you want to name your baby?❞
❝i never thought of that.❞ donghyuck stopped his tracks to think properly, ❝if it's a girl then i would name her dahyun, don't ask. i love once's what is sarang.❞ jeno giggled at what donghyuck said. he has been listening to a song lately and stumbled on a group named once and his favorite song is what is sarang. there's also a member named dahyun and that's donghyuck's favorite member.
❝and if it's a boy?❞
❝if it's a boy..❞ donghyuck sighed, making jeno laugh out loud. he is really looking stressed just by thinking of a name for a boy. ❝do you want to die!?❞
jeno raised both of his hands in the air as if he surrendered, he also stopped laugh for himself to still live, ❝take your time.❞
donghyuck clicked his tongue, jeno was definitely teasing him. but still, he want back to thinking a name for a boy. a name then popped inside his head, ❝haechan?❞
haechan? jeno doesn't even know if he should laugh or not. laugh because that name came from calling the dog named chan or be sad because mark was the one who made the name up. the silence was signalling the two to just keep on walking while they try to think of another topic to talk about.
and donghyuck was the one who broke the silence surrounding them, ❝jeno..❞
❝yeah?❞
❝thank you so much.❞ donghyuck whispered, but since the streets are not that crowded with people, jeno heard it. ❝for dealing with me. for staying even though i'm such a burden.❞
❝no problem..❞ no problem? it was problem. jeno wasn't only taking care of him but was also taking care of his mother while also managing his school. but seeing this change, jeno thinks that it was worth it. suffering for donghyuck was worth it.
because he finally got to see him act like this. he finally got to see his smile, that genuine smile.
❝can you continue taking care of me,❞ donghyuck thought for a second if he should say it or not but then again it is not or never, ❝even after i give birth? can you take care of me and my child?❞
and get hurt all the way?
jeno smiled, ❝sure.❞
he knows donghyuck meant that he'll be more or like a nanny or a babysitter but honestly, for jeno, it is more appropriate that being called a daddy to a child that's not even his.
god, he loves donghyuck so much that he doesn't mind getting hurt.
donghyuck looked down and noticed their fingers always brushing with each other. luckily, it was a cold evening so he has a reason to hold jeno's hand. this definitely meant nothing. jeno looked away, hiding the blush on his cheeks upon feeling donghyuck's cold hand holding his.
❝thank you..❞ for everything, donghyuck whispered. giggling softly at jeno who is still looking away.
⚊ t b c ⚊