Chapter Text
If Da On thought yesterday was bad, today was just a whole new level of terrible. After ending things with Tae Kyung last night, Da On couldn’t fall asleep last night, opting to stare at darkness of his ceiling. His mind playing a cruel game of replaying the last conversation he had with Tae Kyung, which explained the dark circles under Da On’s eyes. Saying that Da On was exhausted was simply just an understatement. He could barely drag himself out of bed when his alarm rang, signalling the start of a new day.
A start of a new day but nothing has changed. As much as Da On wants to pretend the whispers weren’t there anymore whenever he passed though the hallways, he couldn’t. Although the whispers have gotten significantly lesser, they were still there.
“Weren’t they holding hands in the student council last time?” Da On heard a familiar voice asked as he turned the corner. It was the same voice that started his entire headache.
“That’s… because they’re really close,” another familiar voice hesitantly explained, a voice that Da On has been hearing on a constant for the past 3 years.
“Lee So Hee,” he called out tiredly, walking up to the group, barely sparing a glance at the boys So Hee was talking to, “what are you doing here?”
“I was explaining what happened to everyone” So Hee said cautiously, side eyeing the boys in front of them, unfamiliar with the cold attitude that Da On was giving off, “since you’re not saying anything, everyone was curious about it.”
“Right,” Ki Bum piped up, “can you tell us what happened?”
Da On turned to look at his classmates, studying them carefully, his eyes especially focused on Ki Bum who seemed to be the most opinionated. He was over the fear that consumed him yesterday because his rationale brain was telling him that there was nothing to fear if there weren’t any relationship he was in that was at risk of being exposed. Now, he simply just wanted everything to pass over and be considered “old news”.
“That’s enough,” Da On said, his tone leaving no room for any rebuttals or arguments, “I don’t know why you find it so interesting, but stop talking about it now.”
Just as the latter was about to argue in defence, his taller friend to grab his arm and hold him back, immediately silencing him. Offering an apology, the boy led the other two back to class, leaving So Hee and Da On behind.
Face blank and mind barely processing anything, Da On could barely register most of So Hee‘s ramblings and reassurance but the noise was getting on his nerves. “So Hee,” Da On interrupted, “don’t do this ever again.”
So Bee blinked in surprise, the obvious hurt apparent on her face and honestly, Da On couldn’t care less about it anymore. On other occasions, Da On would thank the girl for her misguided help but right now, that’s the last thing he needs. Reminding her that break time was over, a clear message that Da On just wants So Hee to leave, Da On nodded at her and walked away.
He doesn’t know why but somehow his feet managed to lead him to the council room. It has only been two days since the entire fiasco started but somehow it felt forever. He paused at the doorway, hearing the usual chatter that came from Namgoong. Da On stopped by the doorway, peeking in and watching the scene in front of him.
A strange feeling stirred in him watching Tae Kyung focused on a mobile game with Namgoong coaching him from the sidelines. His mouth twitched as Tae Kyung furrowed his eyebrows and pouted when things were obviously not going his way in the game.
I’m glad he’s okay , Da On thought to himself as he allowed himself to linger for a few more seconds, attempting to remember this Tae Kyung in his mind, instead of the heartbroken one from last night. He backed away slowly chasing that last few seconds before he turned around and made his way to the teacher’s lounge. The exhaustion that weighed Da On dissipated just a little with Tae Kyung’s smile firmly etched in his mind. Maybe if Tae Kyung is doing okay, then Da On could be okay too.
Out of the many things that Da On got wrong in his life, probably thinking he’ll be okay would be one of them. Why else did he feel a sense of dread as he approached the classroom which his math teacher was currently in. The exact classroom which Tae Kyung would be having his study period in. It’s pretty hard to forget something which Da On was committed in memorising.
Da On stood outside the classroom, contemplating his next move. He knows he could easily get someone else to pass the notes to his teacher and avoided the room altogether but Da On couldn’t do that. He doesn’t want to do that. Maybe something in him yearns taking every opportunity he can to sneak a peek at Tae Kyung, especially since he has been avoiding the council room and he knows the usual route that his (ex)boyfriend takes which was useful for Da On to ensure he arrived exactly once Tae Kyung leaves, barely managing to get a glimpse of the back of the boy’s head. It was greedy of him, Da On acknowledges, wanting something he willingly let go off.
But that wasn’t going to stop him for entering the classroom. So Da On took a deep breath before he placed his hand on the doorknob to turn and open the door. Walking towards his teacher, Da On wonders how Tae Kyung would react seeing him in his class? Would the younger boy purposely ignore him? Would he attempt to be civil and give a nod or a wave in his direction?
Da On turned to face the students who’s focused on the textbooks in front of them. Namgoong managed to catch his eyes and excitedly waved at him, bouncing in his seat like a little kid who saw his favorite friend. Da On offered smiled back and continued to scan the classroom. His eyes immediately stopping at the boy he was looking for. Despite the slight feeling of happiness at being able to see the younger boy, the overwhelming feeling of sadness took over him especially when Shin Woo seemed to sense a pair of eyes staring at his general direction.
It seemed that Tae Kyung caught onto something and turned to look Shin Woo, looking puzzled. Before Tae Kyung could asked, Shin Woo reached out to grab Tae Kyung’s face, forcing the latter to keep his eyes on him. Da On stood frozen for a few seconds, unsure on how to react. But Da On had never been good in reacting so instead, he swallowed and turned to his teacher who called for his attention, praising him for a job well done. Da On stiffly bowed in reply and made his way out of the classroom, the sight of Shin Woo and Tae Kyung burning in the back of his mind, the precious image of a smiling Tae Kyung long gone.