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Chenle was skeptical about all the excuses jisung makes, and sometimes doubtful too, but never prudes. Jisung thinks he was tired of all of the false answers of ''I am tired'' all the time. When Chenle inquired about his dark bags under his eyes, Jisung bluntly said, "Thanks, I know I am ugly," unimpressed.

"Literally nobody said that."

Jisung didn't respond to his comment further and struggled to complete his lunch pack and when he couldn't, he took a few chocolates from Hina to compensate for his nonexistent appetite. When he said he just liked her sweets more, she looked at him incredulously but upon further consultation, he was quick enough to shift the subject of the conversation. Chenle insists that he sleeps properly and that he was too tired for a high school student and he was giving too many reasons for small things.

"Chenle, Please give me some time and space," Jisung confesses with defeat and slightly notices a small disheartened expression on Chenle's face.

"I am trying to help you but fine. But just know that friends talk about everything," he pointedly says in the last part.

"It's okay," and he just lies one of the million times.

Not just his friends, he keeps things from everybody, from his brother too, mostly because he is embarrassed. Periodically he gets dreams of weird creatures shouting and himself doing dangerous things or infants crying or escaping from demons. The ferocity of night fills his anxiety; the schedule of his nap has become nil according to him.

During the night, he gets probably three or lesser hours of sleep slowing down his memory and not being aware of the events that happened in his dream or reality, the reality seems as deadly as his dreams with the souls running at each other or behind one another, the world is full of competition and the last one loses. Often jisung wondered why he was tired all the time but to be honest, Jisung was running the race even when standing still which exhausted him throwing him into the den of oblivion.

One day he woke with cold sweat and filthy dirt all over his neck and wet pants. The discomfort of the damp body and sheets brought him out of the temporary break but the look of utter startlement filled his eyes. He stares at the wet mattress with disgust and emptiness. He touches his pants and making a bewildering conclusion of googling what has happened to him in the night (because Jesus fucking Christ, Jisung knows he didn't pee on the bed for fucks's sake). He goes through several sites talking about the nightfall problem in boys.

Regardless he is confused again with the thought of having a possible wet dream amidst all the nightmares he endures, he doesn't even have the memory of having such a dream. He feels a lot of ridicule and astonishment but he finally accepts the reality of his body. He groans over all the frustration pouring down on him with the manufacturing of the body changes before becoming an adult. He changes the sheets before anyone notices and rushes to the bathroom to wash up.

Sitting in front of the garden playing pubG, he feels the cold air brushing his bare knees and the occasional cooing of birds loosened him up. Even though the weather seemed quite cold he opted to wear few clothes resonating that being warmer tempts him to become lethargic.

The logic was worthless because Jisung felt lazy anyway.

Just then he receives a call labeled "Big Head"

"JISUNG LISTEN," he almost shivered with the bright, loud voice of Chenle making him think what has happened to excite or terrify him that much.

"Yes, Chenle, which volcano has erupted now? Or are you the said volcano?" He asks sarcastically, chuckling.

"Not as big as a volcano but I definitely have big news."

"And what's that Park?" He further smiles to fuel his excitement.

"Good news and bad news, which one do you want to hear first?"

Jisung doubts if there is any bad news examining the enthusiasm of the said boy. Jisung knows that Chenle won't be telling bad news because of his age-old habit of adding extra emotions and significance to important matters.

When they were younger and worried about Chenle's parents allowing him for the school excursion, Chenle came up with a set of "good news" and a "bad news". The good news was that he could study for the upcoming exams without disturbance or break and the bad news was that his parents didn't agree to send him off with the school.

It was funny but Chenle explained the philosophy behind his feelings that he wants to be neutral and stable in all the times of life, no matter what the circumstances are. He says that we must not mourn on the worst days but look for positivity; neither should we be carried away by happiness without the presence of mind and wisdom.

And it has been a tradition to ask the bad news first all the time.

"Bad news."

"The bad news is that I can't call you my messy baby anymore."

Jisung groans and internally curses his friend.

"Ask me more..."

He sighs, "Good news?"

"Good news is that my nephew is coming here for a few months. And I'm so excited, my lord."

"Oh is your brother?" Jisung asks with recollection of Chenle's words when he rambled about his brother's wife getting pregnant and soon delivering the child and Chenle becoming the youngest ever uncle he knows.

Chenle always looked happy talking about his baby nephew and the joy glinted in his shiny eyes never failed to impress Jisung. Chenle was cute as ever but his smiling figure made him even more pretty and fresh. Jisung isn't even fabricating his words to be more poetic when he says that a smile builds up unknowingly if you are with Chenle.

He is undoubtedly a happy virus.

All the more he is very happy for him as he knows how much Chenle adores his nephew by spoiling him with all the gifts even if he is merely just an year old. He remembers an incident during an English class where their teacher asked about their favorite and most beautiful moment of life and Chenle answered that it was the time when he held Xiao for the first time in his hands.

He is surprised at himself at how he remembers the baby's name with just a one-time mention from Chenle; it's dangerous how much they know of each other and how close they are.

It won't be easy for them to ever let go of each other and Jisung hopes he never has to.

"I have decided everything, one day I am inviting all of you to my house and show you my infamous nephew I keep talking about."

Jisung is surely welcomed by the idea and invitation, "Thank you lele, it means a lot to join your family for seeing your nephew. I will definitely come. "

"If you aren't coming, I am dragging you, no excuses allowed."

"Fine," he laughs.

"Anyways gotta go, dude; and for the last time for a few months I wanna say... bye baby."

"Zhong Chenle, I will kill you," he hisses on the phone, making Chenle laugh.

And then they hung up.

~tbc~

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