Chapter Text
He’s not going to lie; Lee Daehwi was having a really bad day.
He tried to grin and bear it – Daehwi’s not known at the ‘school’s sunshine’ for nothing – but something had it out for him today; he’d overslept his alarm and was late to his first class, his lead in his pacer broke and he didn’t have any backups, he forgot his money at home so he could only eat the small leftovers that his friends left (and there weren’t many because, hey, he’s friends with Yoo Seonho) and, lastly, for some reason, his Physics teacher refused to give back his assignment today, only explaining curtly that he’d have to go and meet him tomorrow with Ha Minho about something.
Plus, everyone kept whispering and talking quietly, which unnerved him – he rarely was in the dark about … anything.
Perhaps the silence and stares from everyone was the final straw, however, because next thing Daehwi knew, he was sitting cross-legged on the floor of an empty English room, crying softly into his hands and ignoring the steady buzzing of his phone. It was an hour after school ended, and Daehwi was normally home by now, but he couldn’t bear to drag himself out and face the world with puffy cheeks and red eyes.
It’d just been so hard for him lately – the anniversary of his father’s passing was coming up and he’d been getting more calls from his mother in America about it, he couldn’t sleep as well because his roommate Park Woojin kept sneaking in and out in the early hours of the morning, either from dance practice or his boyfriend (or both) and he hadn’t been able to shake this sickness that left him breathless after physical education and coughing up gulps of water. Daehwi would’ve informed his mother about it, but she was in America and couldn’t do anything but worry.
He just … he really missed her, okay? Daehwi was only sixteen years old, and he was already living alone in a completely different country from his family. He was grateful for the opportunity – after working so hard, he’d gotten an exclusive and prestigious scholarship for one of Seoul’s best high schools, and free boarding at off-campus accommodation – but sometimes he just wanted to lay his head in his mother’s lap and watch awful reality shows with her.
Even thinking about his mother brought fresh tears to Daehwi’s eyes, and a broken sob escaped him as he furiously scrubbed at his face.
“No, no, this won’t do,” he mumbled to himself, each breath punctuated with a shaky inhale and more tears. He was so absorbed in trying to compose himself, he didn’t even notice the two figures in the doorway.
“Lee Daehwi?”
Park Jihoon and Bae Jinyoung, on the contrary, had a pretty good day.
Jihoon and Jinyoung both managed to get through the day with a decent amount of rest, food and they both were pleasantly surprised with results from their classes – especially Physics.
However, the couple had both noticed their younger best friend throughout the day – Jihoon and Jinyoung always noticed Daehwi, no matter what.
(“Why do you guys always watch Daehwi, when you’re dating each other already?” “Stop talking, Seonho.”
“It’s obvious you two are in love with him – hurry up and tell him.” “Butt out, Woojin-hyung.”)
Jihoon had noticed how, when others had stopped talking to Daehwi, and he thought no one was watching, his shoulders would slump and he seemed … exhausted. And when he never got his Physics assignment back, only a sharp comment on how he had a meeting about it the next day, Jihoon noticed the hurt and confusion on his face.
Jinyoung noticed the way he’d drag his feet around, even though he still had his usual peppy and bright persona. Even when they – being their entire friendship circle – met up for lunch, Daehwi held that façade incredibly well. He also noticed Daehwi’s habit of picking at the desk in Physics, a nervous characteristic he had.
(Both Jihoon and Jinyoung also noticed the disgusted look on Ha Minho’s face during class, but neither of them like to think about that asshole)
Thinking back, they both remembered how Daehwi had suddenly missed a whole week of school without saying anything their other friends, making it back only three days before the due date for the assignment – Daehwi was so behind, he had to beg Ha Minho, one of the more … difficult classmates, to help. All throughout this, Daehwi was so skinny and pale, and so many people had swarmed over the boy, expressing concerns and worries, but he’d brushed them off with a bright smile and an energetic “I’m fine!”
Now, the two could see that Daehwi was, in fact, not fine, and he’d probably been in this state ever since he returned.
“W-What are you doing here?” was the next sentence Jihoon spoke, voice soft as he gently set his bag down, Jinyoung following. Seeing the younger in tears twisted both Jinyoung and Jihoon’s insides, but they kept their composures, moving further into the classroom. Daehwi sniffed pathetically, rubbing furiously at the incoming tears and shook his head.
“I-I’m fine, hyungs,” he murmured, voice small and weak. Jihoon moved closer until he wasn’t too far from Daehwi, crouching down in front of him, whilst Jinyoung sunk down next to Daehwi, against the wall.
“Daehwi, I can see that you’re not fine. What happened?” Maybe it was Jihoon’s constant questioning or the imploring, concerned look on his face, or Jinyoung’s soft touches to Daehwi’s shoulders and legs, because next thing they knew Daehwi was sobbing into his hands again. Jihoon was frozen for a moment before he moved again – sitting down right in front of Daehwi and gently prying his hands from his face, quietly shushing him and stroking his skin comfortingly.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay Daehwi, hyungs are here. Come,” Jihoon whispered, situating himself so he could easily pull the younger into his lap and hold him tightly. Daehwi’s arms wrapped around Jihoon’s shoulders and pulled him tight, face burying into his shoulder and tears already soaking through Jihoon’s uniform.
Jinyoung moved to sit beside the two, one hand dragging up and down Daehwi’s back, fingers catching on the ripples in the shirt and nails lightly scratching against the coarse fabric, the other resting where Daehwi’s leg was on Jihoon’s.
Jihoon repeated his quiet shushes into Daehwi’s ear, moving Daehwi around so he was firmly sat in Jihoon’s lap and his legs around Jihoon’s waist, his free arm around Daehwi’s lower back to keep him steady. He met Jinyoung’s eyes, only to see the younger fighting back tears too as he stroked Daehwi’s back.
After a few minutes of heartbreaking crying, Jihoon could feel the sobs subsiding and Daehwi’s body stopped shuddering. His head shifted before pulling back slightly, and Jihoon found himself staring into watery, red-rimmed eyes. From behind, Jinyoung fished for the handkerchief he always carried in his jacket, before handing it to Daehwi.
“Here – don’t worry, it’s clean,” Jinyoung murmured, moving to let Daehwi slowly extricate himself from the two to clean himself up and throw the tissues away. As Daehwi was returning, however, Jihoon and Jinyoung allowed themselves to inquire just once.
“Daehwi … are you okay?”
Daehwi was startled – he’d just finished sobbing into his hyung’s shoulder and basically ruined his shirt, and made Jinyoung give up his handkerchief, yet they were still worried about him. He could feel something churning inside of him, but pushed it down.
“I-I’m … I’m better now, thank you Jihoon-hyung, Jinyoung-hyung,” he mumbled, bending down to grab his bag only to have Jihoon grab it instead, scrambling to his feet with Jinyoung close behind..
“A-Are you going home now? We can walk you, if you’d like …” Jihoon’s voice trailed off, and Daehwi – for the first time today – could feel a small, watery smile spread tug at his lips.
“If you’re fine with it, hyungs …” The two couldn’t contain their smile, and Jinyoung gently wrapped an arm around Daehwi’s shoulders, Jihoon wiping at a stray tear on his cheek before leading the teenager out of the classroom with both his and Daehwi’s bag in his arms.
“We’d always be fine with this, Daehwi.”
hit that jae jae @kimhwannie
wow did i really just see that?
hit that jae jae @kimhwannie
like is this the real life?? someone STRAIGHT UP wanna say that abt him??
hit that jae jae @kimhwannie
in front of MY SALAD????
sing sang seong @ongs_woo
what is @kimhwannie talking abt?????
king daniel @catgod
@ongs_woo you don’t want to know.
sammy boy @poc_king
whoever is spreading those rumours, thanks a lot. you really know how to unnecessarily attack someone
Ha Minho @hahaminho
@poc_king don’t defend your boyfriend when it was confirmed he cheated. hes lucky to even pass that class now
sammy boy @poc_king
@hahaminho he’s not my boyfriend, he’s my best friend, and i don’t remember asking for your unwarranted and wrong opinion. when have you EVER had any friendly inclinations towards daehwi hyung? no one likes you, fuck off.
Ha Minho @hahaminho
@poc_king you’ve resorted to insulting me based on how many friends i have – are all of daehwi’s friends as pathetic as him?
sammy boy @poc_king
@hahaminho are you just projecting because you’ve finally realised what a fucking asshole you are and you’re mad that daehwi hyung’s actually an amazing person with people who genuinely care about him
queen somi @so__mi01
thank god @poc_king for finally going off
sungwoon @nth_bboi
i leave for college only to miss samuel go the fuck off
mother monster @minkooo
i love how jonghyun, minhyun and dongho are blatantly ignoring samuel (rightfully) going off
Ha Minho @hahaminho
well they’re not doing their jobs well enough if someone like *** ****** is going around scot-free after cheating
daehwi @magumagu
oh my god …
daehwi @magumagu
this is why everyone was whispering and staring at me today?
daehwi @magumagu
everyone thinks i copied minho hyung’s physics assignment?
daehwi @magumagu
it’s not true …
daehwi @magumagu
@magumagu why would everyone think i’d risk my scholarship?
daehwi @magumagu
@magumagu please, don’t believe minho hyung or whoever else is saying i cheated … i really didn’t …
Ha Minho @hahaminho
last time ****** cheats off of me
sammy boy @poc_king
i really am about to go kill someone be right back
Private Message Þ “School Council – W-Net High”
president onibugi: okay we have to talk about that rumour, guys
Hwang Minhyun: It’s obviously not true. First of all, Daehwi is one of the smartest kids in this school. Second of all, the rumour came from Ha Minho.
Kang Dongho: Even though we all don’t believe it to be true, we still have to investigate. Their physics professor came and talked to me – he expressed concerns because the work was similar, but because it’s Minho and Daehwi we have to take that into account.
Kang Dongho: Minho’s not making it any easier too.
Hwang Minhyun: Okay … we’ll take this to the principal, okay? Also, where the hell is the rest of the Council?
im minaj: sorry im here now
im minaj: woojin called donghyun and i over to their dorm
im minaj : daehwi is really upset abt this
Kang Dongho: It’s fine, Youngmin.
im minaj: jinyoung and jihoon took him to get some food
im minaj: well away from any students
president onibugi: just keep an eye on them, please
president onibugi: ah my head hurts i can already see the paperwork and hear the complaints
Hwang Minhyun: I think Minki is close to killing someone, but I can’t be sure.
president onibugi: fuck me i think im close to killing someone
president onibugi: anyway id better go to the higher ups and get started on this mess
president onibugi: guys even tho we believe daehwis side u have to act impartial now – its still a serious issue and we have to treat it like it is one
president onibugi: people are gonna say we’ll favour daehwi bc we’re all friendly with him, so show everyone that ur all as professional as u are and don’t let anyone say otherwise.
president onibugi: At all.
Hwang Minhyun: I’m never nothing less than professional.
Kang Dongho: I’ll make sure Minki doesn’t commit any murders
im minaj: don’t worry jonghyunnie
nae maeum soge stfu @parkjiji
i’m not even going to begin about how messed up this is …
baejinyoung @lollipophead
@parkjiji thank god bc im tired of hearing u talk about it can we eat the pizza in piece
baejinyoung @lollipophead
@parkjiji i meant *peace …
nae maeum soge stfu @parkjiji
daehwis cry laughing bc jinyoung made such a simple typo wow so pure
baejinyoung @lollipophead
my boyfriend and my best friend are both attacking me okay, it’s a simple mistake i was hungry
daehwi @magumagu
thanks …