"someone looks tired," jaemin smiled, passing donghyuck a can of coke. "i am," donghyuck replied honestly, receiving the soda and popping open the lid before the fizzy drink was being downed quickly.

   "how was your first official day?" jaemin asked, leading them along the busy school hallways. "exhausting— you know what? i should probably go back to the dorms and organize my notes. i was in a hurry to write everything down so it's all messy now," donghyuck said thoughtfully. the younger laughed, "that's so unnecessary. who cares if your notes are messy?"

   "i do," donghyuck mumbled quietly with a small frown on his face, well aware that jaemin couldn't hear it. 

   the younger hummed happily to himself, hooking his arms with donghyuck's. "where are we going?" donghyuck questioned, realizing that they were now outside. "jeno is finally trying out for the basketball team," jaemin explained. "i know he'll make it," he added, "he's been asked to come year after year, but he decided that he actually wanted to join this year."

   donghyuck nodded, trying to keep up with the increasing pace of jaemin. "what club is mark in?" he recalled the morning and how mark indeed came to class late with slightly damp hair. the brunette stared at him in shock before shaking his head, "i kind of keep forgetting you're new here."

   they made a turn and headed towards the direction of the after school activities. "mark's in the basketball team. he's the captain actually, and our school's pride." "oh," donghyuck remarked, digesting the new information.

   "do you plan on joining any clubs?" jaemin asked as they approached the gymnasium. the sun kissed male shrugged his shoulders, "i don't know yet. what clubs are there?" "there are a ton," jaemin brought them inside where the sound of basketballs hitting the floor echoed all around them, "i can take you around to look at them later but you only have until the end of the week to decide."

   the older opened his mouth to speak when a new voice interrupted him. "hey guys," jeno beamed, eyes disappearing and forming crescents in its place. "look at you!" jaemin gave jeno a quick hug, "you're already wearing the uniform."

   jeno rubbed the back of his neck, "you were right. the second i walked in the gym, they threw the uniform at me and told me to line up for warm-ups." jaemin wore a proud smile on his face which donghyuck felt himself matching.

   a voice called for jeno, and he lifted a hand to wave, "i gotta get back to practice. you guys staying?" jaemin looked at donghyuck who didn't protest. "we'll stay for a while, then i'll take donghyuck to see some of the other clubs."

   "sounds good."

   jeno gave one last smile before running off to join the rest of his teammates. meanwhile, jaemin lead donghyuck to the bleachers, and they took a seat, watching the team practice.

   "everyone line up!" donghyuck heard someone shout. he followed the voice and was surprised to see that it came from mark. jaemin literally just said that he's the captain, he chided himself. 

   he watched as the team of thirteen players followed mark's orders. "we're going to start drills. i want five laps around as warm up—jeno, you can lead today—and then our usual ten sets of a hundred for dribbling. go ahead and get started while i talk to coach about the dates for our next match."

   once again, everyone listened to mark without interjecting, and they began running laps around the gym. donghyuck watched jeno with a sense of pride for a while before his eyes went to search for a certain canadian.

   he found mark standing by the side while talking to a teacher who donghyuck assumed was also the basketball coach. donghyuck found that he was admiring the short-sleeved shirt and basketball shorts that mark had on which suited him quite well.

   "donghyuck...," jaemin warned softly, "you're staring again." donghyuck shook his head, blushing, wondering how he could make the same mistake twice. he didn't even know what was wrong with him. there was just something about mark that made donghyuck never want to look away.

   "sorry," he apologized, not exactly sure why, "i don't know what's gotten into me." "don't worry, i get it," jaemin smiled although donghyuck wasn't sure that the younger really did. "just don't stare too long, or he'll think you're gross and gay or something." 

   donghyuck knew that what jaemin said was meant to be a joke, but he couldn't seem to catch the punch line. "as if," donghyuck found himself saying back, shoving jaemin's arm lightly. a small giggle fell from his lips, but he knew deep in his heart that it wasn't genuine despite how real he wishes it was.

---

   "here's the last one," jaemin reached out his arm to showcase a door, "the music club." donghyuck twisted the knob, pushing the door open and allowing himself to walk inside. "where is everyone?" he asked. donghyuck walked around the empty room, fingers tracing the piano before heading towards the brass instruments.

   "they don't meet as often as other clubs since there aren't many events," jaemin explained, reading the announcements on the bulletin board in front of him. 

   the sun-kissed male walked to the front of the room to get a view of the whole place. there were many instruments and empty desks. a mural of a music staff and notes decorated every wall of the room. "the art club did that," jaemin said when he noticed donghyuck admiring it.

   although the place only help both him and jaemin, he could see it as a happy place— a fun place. maybe it could become a space for him to be himself and fully enjoy music. 

   "what club are you in?" he asked jaemin. the brunette grinned, "dance. it's really fun." donghyuck recalled how jaemin's eyes had lit up when he introduced him to the dance studio and now it made sense why he looked so relaxed there.

   "hmm," donghyuck hummed in acknowledgement. he walked around the room slowly, taking everything in. when he stood in the center of the room, he closed his eyes and imagined students making music together, laughing together, and simply feeling content. 

   "what are you doing?"

   donghyuck opened his eyes to look back at jaemin, "i think i want to join this club." 

   "do you play any instruments?"

   "i used to play the piano but i'm sure i can pick it up again."

   "there are often singing recitals and band performances around the holidays."

   "that's even better, i love performing."

   jaemin frowned at his enthusiasm, continuing to speak while donghyuck began to grow more and more excited.

   "this club is full of nerds."

   "i'm sure they're great people once you get to know them."

   "the other students might bully you—"

   "jaemin!" donghyuck stopped him, spinning on his heel to face the brunette. "are you trying to stop me from joining?" the other looked down towards the floor, face showing hints of shame. that look enough gave his unsaid answer away. 

   donghyuck took his wrist in his hand and gently squeezed it. "why are you doing this?" he asked softly. "because...," jaemin mumbled before clearing his throat and speaking louder, "there's someone in this club that i don't want you to get close with." "unless that person committed arson or killed a man, i don't think it's worth whatever you're doing," donghyuck offered a small smile which jaemin didn't return.

   a moment of silence passed when donghyuck finally let go of jaemin's wrist. the younger still looked equally upset as before. this had to be the longest donghyuck had ever seen jaemin go without talking.

   "are you going to keep trying to stop me, or are you going to help me sign up?" the tan male asked. he watched while jaemin seemed to struggle to find the right words to say. after patiently waiting for a minute or so, donghyuck sighed, "it's alright, i'll do it myself."

   just slightly disappointed, donghyuck began walking to the door when jaemin called him. "wait!" he hurried to catch up with donghyuck and grabbed his arm. "i guess there's no way around this and i can't half-ass it either," he muttered. 

   the older waited quietly while jaemin thought of how to explain the situation. "last year, jeno and i always went around the school and hung out as a trio with another friend," he began. "mark, right?" donghyuck questioned. jaemin shook his head, "someone else, someone from our year... we were really close, and we always had fun together until one day they told jeno and i something that ruined everything."

   donghyuck watched how jaemin's usual rapid and often confusing speaking was rather slow. his eyes darted from one place to another, but never met donghyuck's eyes. 

   "you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," donghyuck said softly, suddenly feeling guilty that he may have put pressure on jaemin into telling him something personal. "no," jaemin refused immediately, "you're my friend and i trust you, donghyuck. i want to tell you this now rather than later."

   another pang of guilt—donghyuck remembered that he had yet to tell jeno and jaemin about how he got into the school to begin with. 

   they drowned in silence and donghyuck was starting to wish that he had just chosen another club to be interested in. right when donghyuck was about to tell jaemin that he didn't have to tell him if he wasn't ready, again, the younger began speaking.

   the ravenette listened without interrupting once and even though he had mixed feeling about the whole situation that jaemin explained, he let jaemin know that he would keep what happened in mind and perhaps consider another club instead. "no hurt feelings?" jaemin said and stuck out his hand, returning to his pretty smile that donghyuck was quite fond of and had missed during the short period of time that seemed to last ages. "no hurt feeling," donghyuck agreed, shaking his hand.

   there was a brief second before they both giggled and jaemin replaced the handshake by pulling him in a hug. donghyuck expected it to be quick, and was surprised when he tried to pull back but jaemin still held on tightly.

   "i can trust you, right?"

   "of course."

   jaemin pulled away finally, but kept a deep eye contact with the shorter male. "do you promise that you won't ever be like him?" donghyuck's breath hitched, but he managed to form the words, barely above a whisper.

   "i promise."

---

   donghyuck was alone in the library after dinner. english was his weakest subject, and he didn't want it to become a problem later on, so he talked with his teacher and asked if there was anything he could do to prevent himself from failing. reading english books and studying grammar had been the most reasonable suggestion which was exactly why he stood in the aisle of english books, scratching the back of his head while trying to figure out what book he should choose.

   reaching for a book on a shelf too high for him was his first mistake. blindly walking backwards while trying to recover his balance was his second, and watching as a heap of books fell down was his third. 

   "fuck," he cursed, feeling slightly more unencouraged.

   "i didn't expect a word like that falling out of a pretty mouth like yours," donghyuck heard from behind him as he picked up a book that had hit him on the head in the midst of the chaos. the younger ignored his burning cheeks and turned to face the surprise visitor before he looked around with a small frown on his face. "i look really stupid for someone who got in this school for their academics, don't i?"

   "no," mark hummed, "only a little," he teased. then he plucked the book donghyuck was holding out of his hands and flipped it over to the cover. "english grammar and vocabulary?" mark met his eyes, eyebrows raised. donghyuck couldn't tell if he was impressed or just surprised.

   he nodded and gently retrieved the book back. "all this mess for one book," he mumbled. "and yeah," he answered mark, "english is my weakest subject. we only learned it for a little while at my last school so we didn't get that far."

   wordlessly, mark began picking up the books and sliding them into place on the shelves. donghyuck did so too, and they worked together as a team until almost all the books were picked up. "i could help you out, you know?" mark said, breaking the peace that they had. "help me with what?" the other asked, puzzled. mark waved the book in his hand before placing it where it belonged, "english of course."

   "right... i keep forgetting that you're from canada," donghyuck admitted. the older laughed, it was a pleasant and youthful sound. donghyuck liked it a lot. possibly a little more than he should've.

   they both reached for the last book at the same time, bumping their heads and their hands meeting in the process. donghyuck pulled back, startled, while mark laughed again and placed the book on the shelf coolly. 

   they stood in the aisle, staring at eachother. both enjoyed the other's presence but didn't know how to keep—whatever the fuck it was— going. "thanks for the help," donghyuck said, suddenly shy. "of course," mark acknowledged him. "and i think i'll have to take you up on that offer for the english," donghyuck hesitated, "and even if you say that it wouldn't be a bother, i don't want to bother you, so only around exam time," he paused, the volume of his voice shrinking, "if you're alright with that."

   "i am," mark wanted to laugh at how donghyuck was acting, but refrained. "well then," donghyuck fiddled with his fingers, "i got the book i needed so i think i'll go the the study room now." "okay, donghyuck," mark said softly.

   "...yeah, going to the study room to study now," he said awkwardly, wishing he wasn't acting so weird. "alright, donghyuck," mark smiled.

   the tan male coughed, wanting to melt into the floor and vanish. "erm- bye i guess," he mumbled, eyes glued to the floor now. "see you later donghyuck-ah," mark decided he had enough fun watching donghyuck, so he did him a favor and left first. the smaller male had just enough time to see his back turn the corner and vanish out of sight.

   when he was sure he was alone, he placed a hand over his chest, right where his heart was beating inside. why was it going so fast?

-----

word count: 2450

i wanted to save this chapter for a desperate time but you guys gave me so much love. take this update as a thank you 

✎ ---- dreaminghyuck⤾