soliloquy ↬ chensung

Ch.32

Scene:  The Third Encounter:

Chenle gulped as a playboy smirk tugged at Jisung's lips. The boy was certainly in character. "Sitting with us?" He asked charmingly and swept the props from Chenle's hands, guiding him towards a seat intended to be in a classroom.

"Us?"

Jisung nodded towards Donghyuck, who sent a small wave. "Hey, Roomie."

Chenle nodded in acknowledgement and sat down opposite him. Jisung did too, and they both smiled friendlily at him, as they'd taken him under their wing already. The audience was watching them intently, big smiles on their faces and proud focus. Chenle could even just about see his mother and father, the latter having come back from another business trip to watch him tonight. "Do you two have basketball practice after this?"

"Yup," they answered in unison. Jisung was inwardly cooing at how Chenle had taken a moment to compose himself by looking out at the audience and badly wanted to squeeze his hand reassuringly. He seemed to be getting into it now though, as his eyes held a more solid quality. "Watching us again?"

"Sure."

"But make sure to leave enough time for that history essay," Donghyuck reminded him, "because Mr. Kim doesn't take kindly to late hand-ins."

Chenle nodded and smiled. "I will." He glanced to side-stage, where Renjun was ushering some other characters to move on as background faces in the 'classroom'. "I think Ms. Lee is coming in now."

Jisung cleared his throat awkwardly and sent Donghyuck a knowing stare to urge him not to mention any of his inappropriate behaviours with the maths teacher to their new friend. Inwardly, he chuckled because he knew that Jichan pretty much forgot all about engaging in that sort of thing when he developed feelings for Chinhae. Not yet though... He wasn't supposed to like Chinhae yet. But his actor very much did.

•・•・•

"That was so scary!" Chenle exclaimed as he chugged a bottle of water, waiting with Jisung and Donghyuck for their next scene.

"You killed it out there, no doubt," Donghyuck assured, referring to both of them.

Jisung smiled and pulled Chenle into a comforting side hug. "It's nice that we all have each other. Thanks, Donghyuck."

The bustle around them continued as characters ran on and off stage, did quick changes and hydrated. The trio hung around with scripts and chatted lightly, laughing at Jisung's attempts at keeping them all calm. He especially focused on the boy he liked since it was his first time acting.

The next scene was when they all began to develop feelings.

"Go on, guys, you have to enter from the other side." Donghyuck shooed them away and they shuffled off together, shoulders brushing as others moved around them.

They found themselves standing on the other side, watching the play through the curtain. The older boy was enthralled by how wonderful the performance was going since he wasn't able to appreciate it when he was the one out there. And Jisung looked at Chenle as though he was the only boy in the world.

"We can do this," he cutely grinned and raised his arms triumphantly to give an encouraging push towards Chenle.

The Chinese boy nodded enthusiastically. "You really get into character. I barely even recognised you in the last scene."