Dong Hyuck "Haechan" Lee has a cute appearance and a vibrant personality. Due to his special charms, he is able to make friends quickly. He strives to show the only positive side of himself to others, but underneath the surface, there are still unre...
Summary Two teens with different backgrounds meet at an unexpected place, the school rooftop. Hwang Renjun is coping with a mental illness, while Lee Dong Hyuck hides a traumatic past with a smile on his face. As they get to know each other, they realise they are not alone in this world.
Content Warning The story you are about to read may contain themes or elements that may be upsetting to readers.
Prologue
Haechan's POV
Someone once told me that there are no such things as coincidence. Everything that happened was meant to happen.
"Now, I remember who said that. It was my guidance counsellor, Mr Suh." He assured me that nothing was a coincidence and that everything you were going through at the moment was intended to play out exactly as it was. Be thankful for the lessons it has taught you and embrace them. I didn't think much of it at that time and just shrugged it off, but...
That day, when I saw you for the first time, standing on a narrow ledge six stories above the ground and you were crying your heart out, my heart sank, and I felt helpless. But it made me wonder; was it just a coincidence, or was I meant to be there?
Lee Dong Hyuck turns to face the boy perched on the ledge of the school's rooftop. Though the sound of his weeping is faint from a distance, he can hear it as soon as he steps on the rooftop. He inches closer, trying to get a closer look, and when he is close enough, he sees him, Hwang Renjun, with parted lips. Renjun slowly turns his face in Dong Hyuck's direction from the long drop below him while weak, sincere tears stream from his watery eyes and cascade piteously down his wasted cheeks.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
He glances at him, and the sight of him crying like that makes his heart ache, and he breaks down in tears as well. One question is floating in his mind, and that is, what on Earth could have happened to make this person feel like the world is ending at this exact moment?
"What are you doing here?" Dong Hyuck tries to get closer towards Renjun. Their eyes locked on one another. "Hwang Renjun, right? I think we are from the same class."
"Go. I just want to be left alone." Renjun raises his voice as he gazes back to the ground.
"Me too, and maybe we can be alone together. How does that sound?" Dong Hyuck musters up the courage and climbs the ledge carefully. He stands on the ledge and positions himself to be side by side with Renjun. Any sane person can tell that only the bravest of hearts will do such a thing, and they might be right because Dong Hyuck is not one of those people, but he puts on a brave facade for Renjun.
"What are you doing?"
"Being alone."
"I am literally standing next to you. How is that being alone?"
"I am alone in my mind. See, try guessing what number I am thinking of right now." He grins, gazing at Renjun at his side.
"I don't know. 34, 35, maybe."
"Wrong. The answer is nothing but wait, was that a reference or something?"
"You are weird. I am going to go." Dong Hyuck's grin fades. Renjun heaves a sigh, his brows knitted and shakes his head. He leaps off and comes to land on the roof.
"Come on. You can get off now." Renjun extends his hand to Dong Hyuck and inclines his head towards his shoulder, towards the rooftop. Dong Hyuck trembles as it seems that his tough mask has finally worn thin. He takes Renjun's hand and lands on the rooftop but not before he pulls Dong Hyuck close to his chest.
"I want to make you clear that I wasn't thinking of doing what you are thinking. Please don't misunderstand. I only came here to get some fresh air and inspiration. Fine dust just happened to get into my eyes. But I'll push you off that ledge if you dare tell anyone at school about this. Do you hear me?" Renjun whispers into Dong Hyuck's ear. From the tone of Renjun's voice, he can clearly tell that Renjun is serious about it. He walks away, shoving his hands into his pocket.
"Loud and clear." Dong Hyuck stands there, not sure whether to remain there or not after Renjun threatens him like that. However, Dong Hyuck is not the kind of person to sit back and listen, so he chases after him. They cross paths once more in the school hallway. When Renjun notices Dong Hyuck following him, he turns away, but Dong Hyuck eventually gets to him and grasps Renjun by the sleeve, begging him to stop.
"For the last time, what are you doing?"
"If you don't mind, I want to be your friend."
Renjun lets out a little gasp. "Friend? What are you talking about?"
"A friend is, according to the dictionary, means..."
"I know what a friend is. Do you think I'm dumb or something? What I don't understand right now is what you are trying to say..."
"I want to get to know you better by starting off as a friend."
"I'm sorry, but that is a no from me. I don't know you. We hardly ever spoke to one another, and I have no intention of doing so in the slightest." Renjun pushes aside Dong Hyuck's hand and walks away from him.
"But if you have any problems, any problems at all. I will lend an ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a friend to count on. No matter how big, no matter how small, I will always listen to your problems. Even during the day or night and the ever-changing seasons, I'm going to be there..."
"Too bad because I don't need any of that from you." He walks away, leaving Dong Hyuck, who watches him from afar.
"But I want to, Renjun. I'm not going to make the same mistake again...."
