"He likes her," Mark observed. Donghyuck glanced up, and followed his gaze. He was looking, where Jeno and Nari were stomping away while the others cheered.
"Yeah," Donghyuck agreed. "He does."
"They seem like really cool people," Mark continued, leaning back on his hands. Saeron's head was resting in his lap. She was sleeping again.
Earlier, Mia had informed her that she'd gotten a spot on the softball team, and there had been a brief moment of joy in her eyes.
She had even managed to play one game, before curling up against Mark.
Donghyuck eyed the two of them.
Then he looked over at Jeno and Nari again.
Jaemin and Suji were arm in arm with Chenle, squishing him uncomfortably between them.
Mia stood off to the side a little, until Renjun grabbed her arm and pulled her a little closer, demanding they go next.
He deflated a little more. His phone seemed to weight down his pocket.
Mark turned to face him. "Hyuck," he said, "you know, whatever's bothering you, you can tell us."
"Hn." Donghyuck made sure not to look at him.
"I don't know what happened on Halloween – and I know we may haze you a lot – but we're your friends. We'll listen."
Mark sounded sincere, and that only made Donghyuck feel ten times worse. "I'm fine," he lied. "Just need some air, I think. Be right back."
He got up to leave. Mark looked like he wanted to follow, but with Saeron weighing him down, he couldn't move. He settled for watching Donghyuck leave, burning holes into the back of his jacket.
Outside the arcade, Donghyuck breathed in the fresh air. He unzipped his jacket, letting the breeze in.
Not for the first time that night, he took out his phone and scrolled through the email's address book. Of course, she wasn't there – he'd deleted her, after all.
"Hey."
Donghyuck glanced behind him. It was Jeno, leaning against the wall and sliding down to sit. "Sup?"
Checking his phone one last time, Donghyuck went to sit beside him. "Ah, nothing. Just needed a break from having too many dumbasses in one room."
Jeno snorted. "Yeah, I hear you on that one. You have some really dumbass friends."
"Yeah, I know."
"Like Jaemin"
"Yup. Total assface."
"And Chenle."
Donghyuck was starting to grin. "What, you don't like Chenle? Jealous?"
Jeno barked out a laugh. "Of what? I beat his high score on the Hammer."
"Yeah, and then he declared you his rival."
"Yeah. Is that normal around here?"
"Pretty much." Donghyuck started ticking off his fingers. "Renjun's my rival. So is Jaemin. Mark was at one point. Hey, you could be one too!"
Both of them were chuckling now. Without really noticing, Donghyuck checked his phone again. Jeno leaned forwards. "Okay, what's up with that?"
"Hm?" Donghyuck glanced up. "Oh, uh - nothing."
"Nothing, my shiny metal ass. You've been glued to that thing all night."
Donghyuck bit back a snort, but half of it escaped. "No, it's actually nothing. There's nothing for me to look at. I'm just, like...addicted to checking it."
