always ↬ leading me on || l.dh • h.rj • z.cl

·twenty one·

"Hyuck, I don't know what's wrong with you," Jeno said. His voice was steady, but Donghyuck could sense his frustration through the way his jaw clenched as he spoke. "We need to talk about this. Whatever's going on in your head — we need to know."

They were standing outside the double doors of the school's infirmary as Jaemin stared worriedly at his two friends. He could feel the tension rising in the air and it was suffocating. Like a thick mist had wrapped itself around his neck and cut off his airways.

The brunet cleared his throat loudly and pushed the two boys forwards, "let's do all of that inside, yeah? Y'all are acting weird just standing in the middle of the corridor like this."

‣‣

None of them were prepared for what they were about to walk into though, Chenle and Renjun kissing. The blonde's hands were placed delicately atop the other's cheek as he used them to bring their heads closer. There were many bottles of antiseptic scattered around the bed in which they both sat.

Jaemin let out a scandalous gasp that caused the two to break apart from each other. Chenle nearly threw himself across the room with the speed in which he pulled back, Renjun seemed less bothered and more annoyed than anything else.

The ravenette glared at them and ushered Chenle back, muttering something to him in a language that the others couldn't understand. The boy he was addressing frowned and shook his head, saying something back to him and then proceeded to read the labels on the bottles he had found.

Jeno shuffled his friends towards one of the other beds on the far side of the room, door swinging shut behind them. Jaemin gawked comically at the Chinese boys as they passed by, and the albino deducted that they were either both oblivious to his curious gaze or they were really good at ignoring people. He figured it was probably the latter.

After sitting Donghyuck down, Jaemin went to find the things they needed to patch him up while Jeno dragged out a chair and sat on it.

"Why the fuck is the nurse never here when you need her," the youngest cursed as he rifled through the draws.

"Jaem, it's okay y'know. You don't need to go all medical surgeon on me."

Jeno turned around in his seat, shooting the orange haired male a raised brow, "he needs to go more than medical surgeon on you, shithead, you need a brain doctor."

"Nana, did you hear that? Do you see how mean he is to me?" he whined, causing the brunet to chuckle.

"Don't worry Hyuck," he leaned in to whisper in the other's ear as he returned to the bed, "I'll beat him for you."

"HeY, I can hear you two!" Jeno pouted.

On the other side of the room, Renjun and Chenle sat in moderate silence as the younger dabbed antiseptic on his friend's wounds.

"Gege, all the antiseptics are here," Chenle's Mandarin came out quite, gaze zeroing in on the little cut on the underside of his jaw. Renjun hummed, knowing what his best friend was hinting at.

Chenle's movements halted to a stop and Renjun locked eyes with him; awaiting his next words, "t-they won't have anything to disinfect his wounds."

"And?" he questioned. Renjun knew Chenle would say something like this. No matter how much someone would hurt him, he'd still always think of them first. He'd worry for them even when he only got hurt out of doing so. It was one of the reasons why the elder felt so strongly about protecting him, he was pure in that way. Never holding grudges and never trying to hurt anyone intentionally. In the end, he took all of the pain by himself - all alone, not wanting to cause trouble to those around him.

Chenle truly never knew the way in which he let the world scar him.

"G-ge..." he trailed off, looking down as if ashamed of himself, "I'm sor-"

Chenle cut himself off when Renjun let out a tired sigh and took the bottle of antiseptic out of his hands. The black haired boy capped it and threw it across the room, in the direction of where the other three males were sat.

A loud 'ow' sounded through the air and Jaemin turned towards them, while rubbing the back of his head. "What was that for?"

"It's antiseptic you idiot. If you're here to help him, at least clean the cuts properly." Renjun motioned towards Donghyuck with his head and then abruptly stood, his younger friend following suit.

They started to make their way out when they were stopped by a cold voice. Jeno had stood up from his seat and approached them.

"Stay, we need to talk. Properly. No insults and no fights. I've had enough of everyone's bullshit."

Renjun's eyes narrowed, already feeling hostile towards the male who was standing in front of him. He didn't like his tone, not really hearing what he was trying to say. Chenle gripped his arm and made the elder turn to him.

"Gege, please just say yes. Please don't fight anymore. I don't like it, you're getting hurt like this," his irises were shaking as he blinked rapidly and held his gaze on the ground. "Renjun ge, stop making enemies because of me. Please, I'm begging you."

His words made Renjun gulp. A sudden feeling of guilt swirled around in the pit of his stomach — weighing down on him. Chenle didn't have to beg him for anything, yet here he was, pleading with him for something so small as not getting defensive.

"I'm sorry Lele," he replied, "I'm sorry, I'll listen to you."

Jeno was watching the two as they exchanged words in Chinese (he'd guessed that was the language they were speaking), his patience was honestly wearing thin, but he didn't want anymore unnecessary trouble.

Renjun had turned back to face him again, voice strong and sturdy when he worded an 'okay'.

Jaemin exchanged a look with Haechan, watching from their spots at the back of the room. He leaned in closer to the tan boy, chuckling as he spoke, "look, we're finally making some progress."