Slightly triggering mentions of self harm ahead. Proceed with caution

"Hey, Donghyuck" no not again. I signed placing my books back on the locker before turning back.

"You snitch" a blow. Before I even can defend myself I was on the floor with him grabbing my collar, getting on top of me. He hit me hard. It felt like he was venting out his anger on me. Blood dripped down my chin as I struggled to get out of his grip.

"Le-leave m-me a-alone" I managed to stutter out as he threw me one last blow before backing away. I choked the blood out before grabbing a napkin from my pocket to wipe the excess blood from my chin. From the corner of my eyes, I could see his figure being dragged away by the teachers. Great.

"Donghyuck-ah, did he hurt you that bad?" Came a voice from the side as I looked to see Yangyang kneeling down beside me. I shook my head slightly before passing him a smile. He had always been there for me. My best friend. My brother from another mother.

"C'mon let's get you to the infirmary." He said leading the way not forgetting to throw glares at the gang. They scoffed with the pink-haired male calling us names. We tried to not be bothered by it. After all, it wasn't a new thing. Mark and his gang knew how to get on our nerves.

"Sicheng ge!" Yangyang yelled as soon as we both got inside, Sicheng hyung gasping as soon as he saw me. He rushed towards our side, carefully placing me to bed. I whimpered as soon as my back hit the bed, my nose scrunched at the awfully familiar smell of disinfectants.

"Did he beat you up again?" I nodded slowly as his fist curled.

"That bitch-"

"Hyung it's not a new thing. He always does this." I tried to tell him as he scoffed. Shaking his head he rubbed alcohol on the infected area making me whimper.

"Still that doesn't justify his actions hyuck. He's hurting you. Plus I can't believe that he's the son of Mr. Lee. He's way too good to have someone like Mark as his son."

Sicheng said as yangyang nodded. Well, that was true. Mr. Lee was the founder of the school. If I hadn't been to this school for some time it would be surprising for me to know that Mr. Lee is the father of Mark.

"Ge is there any way we can report Mark?" Yangyang asked as Sicheng sighed.

"I wish we could. Those six kids...they're getting away with everything just because they're rich. It's really sad to know that laws are with those who have money and power...people like us should keep our distance from them."

"Donghyuck if he hurts you once again I won't hesitate to bitch slap him," Yangyang said as Sicheng nodded. I sighed as my wounds were treated by hyung. I closed my eyes.

I don't know when exactly I woke up. I could see sicheng was busy with treating someone. His back was facing me and I whimpered a bit when I tried to move.

"Donghyuck! Don't move" he warned still not looking back as I sighed before slumping back to the pillow. I let out a small groan since the force was too much.

"Oh, you're here you-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence Chenle!" My ears perked up at the name. Chenle? What was he doing here? Shouldn't he be there with Mark acting like the minion he is?

"He's the one who got hyung in this position" Chenle bit back as I got up from my bed only to see Mark laying on it with bruises making me frown. What even-

"We all know the truth Chenle. Don't need to act like Donghyuck did it when in fact your hyung right here hit him so badly to the point that he was dragged to here." Sicheng said as the two younger males scoffed. I sighed shaking my head. There's no use in telling these brats.

"Are you his savior or what?" Jisung bit back as sicheng scoffed before moving towards Jisung.

"What if I am?" He tilted his head as Jisung muttered a profanity before moving away. Of course, that little brat acts like that.

"Hyung don't get into a fight"

"As expected from Lee Donghyuck" Mark's voice was annoyingly loud making me scowl. Just because he got a head start doesn't mean that I can't fight back. I can and I will, if necessary.

"What do you want Mark?" I asked annoyed leaning forward as the said male scoffed. I smirked before backing away.

"Cat got your tongue? Just because you got an advance over me today doesn't mean that that'll always be the case. And what if I complained about you?"

"I'll ruin your life Donghyuck," Mark said gritting his teeth as I scoffed.

"As if you haven't already made my life a hell."

"Stop acting all brave donghyuck. Cause once I decide to ruin your life for real it'll be really hard for you to lead your once-normal life. I'll make you pay"

"Lee, if you are that brave prove it. Don't be all talk and no action. It's quite boring you know."

"You'll regret it donghyuck. You will learn once and for all that messing with mark lee will be the end of one's life."

"Sure Lee. Looking forward to it." I said before turning towards Sicheng who had his lips pressed into a thin line. Walking forward I pulled him into a hug whispering

"Thank you hyung. I'll be taking my leave" 

"But hyuck you haven't even healed yet. Lemme at least call Yangyang" I nodded my head before sitting back. The jisung kid was glaring at me while chenle who stood beside him scoffed. I rolled my eyes in annoyance before turning my eyes towards mark who seemed to be having an unsettling expression on his face. He almost looked like a psycho. Shaking my head I let my eyes fall on the floor as if they were the most interesting sight. But I can't deny the fact that they're more interesting than the three males present inside the same room.

Soon enough yangyang came as I waved sicheng hyung goodbye who seemed to be preparing to go home. Mark had already left with his minions and it was just us three alone.

"Hyung take care."

"You too hyuck. take care. Don't let anyone hurt you. Also, stop that habit of yours. If I see you doing it once again I won't hesitate to call your parents." I nodded, hanging my head shamefully before walking outside the room to meet yangyang. If anyone knew about my little secret it would be sicheng and yangyang. I had not intended to let it out to anyone but somehow it ended up happening once when I was badly beaten up by mark and his gang. Yangyang took me to the infirmary and was surprised to see the scars that spread across my arm.

I had a bad habit of cutting my arm. I wanted to stay clean yet I found myself being drawn back to the old habit. 

"You're feeling better now, right?"

"Of course yang. Feels a lot better"

"So you coming to the party tonight?"

"There was a party? At where?"

"Seriously Donghyuck? How can you forget? Lami invited us both!"

"Right. Sorry. I forgot about it." 

"That's okay and hey, don't you dare ditch the party. You stood me up for half an hour last time. Don't you dare do it this time! "

"of course not yangyang. I'm feeling good. I'll be there by eight"

"you better. see you soon"

"See you"

I entered my house only to be met with the sight of my parents fighting over something as usual. there in the corner was my little sister dongsook curled up into a ball. Throwing my bag over to the couch I went over to her picking her up and making my way towards her room. As her brother, this was the only thing I could do for her. She shouldn't go through the things I went through. She shouldn't be seeing the sights I saw.

"Won't papa and mama stop fighting?" She had asked me once as I sighed before running my fingers through her hair.

"Don't mind them Dongsook. They'll make up eventually" I had said though I knew if they continued this any longer our family would rip apart. not like it wasn't, to begin with. But then again I couldn't let my sister know about it. She's just eight. Too young for this wicked world. She shouldn't be exposed to these kinds of conditions in the first place. No matter how hard I tried to make our parents understand the importance of a peaceful environment they don't seem to understand that.

"Do I really have to go to the party? I can cancel it anytime after all" I whispered to myself as I tucked Dongsook into the bed. It wasn't her bedtime but still, it was better to lull her to sleep than to let her see the fight that was taking place in the living room. 

Once I was sure that she fell asleep I made my way out of the room turning the lights off heading upstairs. I didn't even spare a glance towards the fighting couple as I got inside my room deciding to take a bath. I threw in a bunch of clothes once I was done. Looking presentable enough I headed downstairs. Dad was nowhere to be seen. Mom was on the floor hugging her knees close to her chest. Her face was red due to crying and her eyes were puffy.

"Donghyuck-ah where are you going?" she asked as I looked to my side sighing.

"Over to yangyang's. From there to lami's" she nodded.

"Is dongsook asleep?" she asked as I nodded.

"Good" was all she said as I began to walk towards yangyang's house. something about her behavior was unsettling. 

"At last you showed up" Yangyang commented before opening the door to his brother's car. Xiaojun was supposed to drop us there.

"Yangyang don't you dare have drinks. I'm done with bailing you from mom"

"Yea yea Jun I understand" 

The car was filled with banter between the two and embarrassing stories that I couldn't help but chuckle to. These were the times when I got a break from school and an escape from the problems I had at home.

"We're finally here boys," Xiaojun commented as we thanked him before getting out. as expected the house was filled with teenagers who were here to get drunk to their fill. Most of them were familiar. My eyes trailed over the crowd and was soon met with a pair of eyes I expected. The pink haired male was situated in the centre along with the younger ones. He was smrikimg at me. But to my surprise, the other three were not present.

"Isn't it a bit suspicious that the other three are not here?" I whispered to myself as yangyang turned to look at me.

"Who?"

"I'm talking about mark and his minions. But it's really strange to not see mark, renjun and jeno tho...don't you think it's suspicious?"

"They might be drinking somewhere else. Let's just enjoy the party"

I nodded. After all I'm here to forget about my worries. Even if Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung were sitting across us I couldn't be bothered much.

"Hyuck I'm going to drink something, you coming?" Yangyang asked as I shaked my head as a no, looking for a seat amongst the sea of crowd. Yangyang smiled before patting my back disappearing behind the blinding lights. I sighed looking away though the weird feeling of a pair of eyes watching each and every moment of mine kept bothering me.

"You seem like you need some company" came a voice that I knew so well that I didn't even need to double check to know it was Jaemin. Looking at him I was greeted by his annoying ass smile with his two minions Jisung and Chenle cocking their heads side to side.

"What do you want Jaemin?" I asked irritation visible in my voice as he scoffed in disbelief. Placing his hands on his chest dramatically he raised his brows before looking at the two.

"You heard that boys? The loner is picking up some attitude!"

"It seems like he hasn't learned a thing hyung" piped in Chenle as Jisung nodded his head. As if thinking the youngest placed his fingers on his chin tapping.

"You said you have a sister right?" Said Jisung to himself as my blood boiled. It didn't take me much to understand what his intentions were. I rose from my seat before grabbing his collar. Gritting my teeth I pulled him in closer.

"Dare lay a finger on her and you're done"

"As if!" He scoffed clapping my hands away from his dress shirt."I don't have any sort of wicked intentions but if that's what you want- I'll gladly do-"

A punch. That was all it took to let him fall on the floor. Chenle moved to his side and helped him get up while Jaemin was fuming. I smirked.

"You-"

"Stop fighting you all!" Came a voice as we turned our attention to Koeun who seemed to appear out of thin air. She was standing there with her hands folded on her chest.

"This isn't a place for you all to fight. Jaemin and Chenle, take Jisung upstairs. First room when you turn left. There's a first aid kit. And Donghyuck follow me" Koeun instructed as I sighed before nodding. Throwing one last glare at the trio I moved along with Koeun.

"Donghyuck!" Jaemin called out as we both halted. Though the music was loud we were still able to hear him.

"Don't think that this will end here. The night is still young. We're ruthless and you know it better than anyone right?" A smirk was tugging on his lips.

"You never know what happens right? Some may call it coincidence but I would like to call it a well planned incident." A step forward and Jaemin was facing me.

"You're still young. You have a long way to go. Do you want to end it by fighting against us? Do you want your whole family to end?"

"Don't involve my family into this!" Grabbing his collar I yelled only to get a chuckle from him.

"Calm down hyuck. Your anger is gonna be the death of you, you know..."

"Hyuck! Come with me! Right now!" Grabbing my wrist Koeun pulled me away from the trio who, to add to my irritation, were having those annoying smirk.

"The game is yet to start hyuck. We don't have anything to lose...but You...you have. Remember that"

TBC 
That's for this chapter and yes I had to add lami and koeun. Plus Ningning is debuting! I'm so happy for her.