╸ℌ𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔬𝔴 ╸

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Donghyuck awoke at around seven the next morning, a bit of the sun shining in the room through the blinds.

The sun didn't really burn him, but it still stung a bit to him. But he became alarmed once he noticed Jaemin sleeping on the ceiling.

Once he realized that Mark, Renjun, and Jeno were also in the room, he quietly made his way to the windows and closed the blinds, preventing Jaemin from being burned.

It became a bit dark in the room, so he proceeded to turn on the indoor Halloween lights, to light up the room a bit. But once he sat back down, he realized that he had woken up Mark.

"I'm sorry that I woke you up hyung"

"Never mind that Donghyuck. I'm more concerned about how you're feeling"

"Well.. I definitely feel better than last night"

"So, do you remember what happened? Would you mind telling me what you experienced before Renjun came to help you?"

"Sure.. I woke up close to midnight because I felt weird all in a sudden. I drank some of the water that Renjun-hyung got for me, but it tasted funny to me even though it was fine before I went to sleep. So I got up and went to the bathroom and closed the door behind me, so I wouldn't disturb anyone. I turned the light on, but after looking at myself in the mirror I fell back into the door out of fear"

"Is that when you started to change?"

"I think so, if not earlier. It was so scary.. My skin had somewhat turned into a pale green color, and I looked almost exactly like how that zompire did that night. I wanted to open the door to ask Renjun-hyung for help, but I noticed how sharp his nails had gotten, and I felt like I was losing my mind. So to protect all of you, I locked the door instead to prevent myself from hurting any of you"

"And you let yourself suffer alone to protect us"

"Yes. I can't remember the last time someone showed me as much kindness as you all have shown to me last night. But...I'm really sorry for causing an uproar..."

Donghyuck apologized, staring down at the floor.

"Don't be. It's not your fault. That was your first time experiencing that right?"

The younger silently shook his head.

"It happened once before, but it wasn't as bad as this time. I was still able to control myself though"

"I see. Either way, I'm proud of you for keeping it together as well as you did. A lot of people in your situation wouldn't have been as strong as you"

"Thanks hyung, but I don't feel like I'm worthy of hearing that, considering what I am"

"I think you're being a bit hard on yourself"

"Come on. I know deep down Jeno-hyung and Jaemin don't like me, and I don't blame them. I'm just another zompire that's considered a threat any way you look at it. They proved that to me last night"

"...What did happen last night? Could you tell me if you remember?"

Mark curiously asked the boy.

"I remember. After Renjun-hyung came to check on me and left, Jeno-hyung suddenly ripped the door from its hinges and Jaemin grabbed me and threw me out of the bathroom and into the couch"

"I see..."

"I won't lie, I was having a really hard time. My new instincts were telling me to kill all of you the whole time, but I just didn't want to hurt any of you. I was in a lot of pain and could barely hold on to my humanity, but when Renjun-hyung helped me, all of my pain just went away and I could finally get a hold of myself again. Actually, my life has been so hard ever since I was attacked. I lost my family, and I can barely remember anything about them, who I was before this, or where I came from. I hate myself for leaving home the night that I was attacked, because now I've lost everything, and I'm afraid that I'll eventually end up losing all of the memories of my past life. Those remaining memories that I still remember are all I have left"

"And you put on that happy facade yesterday to try and hide your pain, right?"

Mark asked, having already read between the lines. 

"I hate to admit it, but that's exactly why I did it. I didn't want any of you to think I was suffering more than I already was, since two of you could care less about me. After what happened last night, I don't see why you'd still consider helping me. I'm just a dead hollow shell at this point. T-There's no point in pitying me any longer..."

Donghyuck suddenly burst into tears, feeling the pressure of his life crumbling apart.

Mark could already tell that Renjun, Jaemin, and Jeno were all awake and listening, but decided to let them continue to pretend sleeping.

He gently rested Renjun on the couch, and got up to get tissues to wipe the boy's tears away.

"Donghyuck, do you remember ever seeing Renjun about a year ago?"

He suddenly asked, slightly changing the subject.

"Actually...I do remember. I think you were with him too. He looked really sad though"

"That day, Renjun found out that Jeno and Jaemin were the ones that killed his parents when all three of them were kids. But he didn't know that they weren't trying to hurt them, and there was no other food around when they were starving. Back then, they had just been turned and abandoned by their families. But Renjun came running to the convenience store that I used to work at since I was the only one he trusted. That day you saw us, I was taking him back to my old place until he figured things out. So you see, all three of them lost everything, and Jeno's and Jaemin's lives were rearranged just like yours, but unlike you, they were just kids. In any case, we're a family full of problems"

"..."

"Even though most of them didn't have a home to go back to, they found a home in each other because they shared the same pain. And if I'm being honest, from the first time Renjun and I saw you, it must've been fate that would bring you to us yesterday"

"I'm not sure I follow you hyung..."

"That's fine. Take it how you will, but just know that we're not forcing you to leave or stay. Whatever choice you make will be the end of it"

"..."

"But are you fine with having omelettes and toast for breakfast?"

Upon the older mentioning food, Donghyuck immediately nodded.

"Great~. Also is there anything specific that you'd like to watch while you wait?"

It took him a few seconds to think about it, but his eyes lit up when he was suddenly able to remember that one of his favorite shows had a new season.

"...Now that you mention it, I really wanted to start watching Attack on Titan Season Four before I was attacked"

"You got it~"

Mark smiled and gladly turned on the first episode of the new season before heading to the kitchen.

To Donghyuck's surprise, shortly after Mark left and the episode started, Renjun, Jeno, and Jaemin got up and silently made sure he was comfortable.

Renjun wrapped his blanket around him, Jaemin fixed his hair, and Jeno made sure that the show was at a reasonable volume. Afterwards, they each took a seat on the couch, all three of them surrounding him, and silently watched the show with him.

They continued to enjoy the show together and after Mark brought everyone their food and drinks, he sat on the floor in between Donghyuck's legs and watched and ate with them.

After the first episode ended, while the second one was about to start, Mark was the first to break the silence.

"Welcome to the family Donghyuck"