Of Fake Smiles and Broken Hearts

twenty seven

Click.

Kyungsoo's seatbelt retracts back to its casing and he held it with his hand to keep it from slapping against the car's interior. The younger does the same and they hear faint clicks and soft, rhythmic breathing. It was the comfortable type of silence. It isn't suffocating nor awkward — just right. Kyungsoo runs his hand through his red locks and raises his gaze to meet Jongin's.

"If you're feeling sick, I could buy you the medicine. I'll be real quick—"

"I can manage." Kyungsoo replies. He reaches over to his side and opens the door, putting his right foot on the pavement to step out of the vehicle when Jongin grabs his arm. The action was sudden and soft, as if the younger didn't want to hurt Kyungsoo. But the older jerked his arm away and hissed in pain, eyes prickling with tears. He cradles his arm over his chest and took deep breaths. Jongin looks at him in panic. His eyes were wide in concern, arms flailing at his sides wildly but refuse to touch the older male in fear that he'll hurt him again.

"What—what's wrong? Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"It's okay. I have a bruise on my arm and—yeah," Kyungsoo makes a crooked grin but it falters. He tugs at the sleeves of his clothes, pulling them until it almost covered half of his palm. He raises an inquisitive eyebrow at his behavior. "I'll be quick."

Jongin eyes him weirdly before nodding. "Okay. I'll be here."

Kyungoo nods his head curtly and steps out of the vehicle, closing the door behind him with a loud thud. The younger male watches him walk towards the store with a small smile in his lips and he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Was Kyungsoo smiling because he's happy that he's with Jongin? Was Kyungsoo smiling because Jongin is with him? The younger ponders on this as he waits; brows scrunched up in deep thought as he drums his fingers on the steering wheel.

His phone suddenly vibrates in his jeans and Jongin quickly snapped out of his daze to get it. There was a Line message from Baekhyun. This is new, he thinks. His last conversations with the brunette were probably a few weeks old by now. He quickly opens the message, expecting that it was probably something that involves inappropriate words and insults. He shakes the thought away when he sees a picture of what seemed like an old school newspaper. It was an article regarding a rumor that the school will close down after the last batch of graduating students because of a random kid who was apparently getting bullied by his classmates. Jongin squints at the image and sees a scanned image of a class picture. A student's head was encircled in red. He looks oddly familiar.

The rumor of a student getting bullied in the school premises have resurfaced again and this time, there was no denying it. A senior named Do Kyungsoo was reported to be a victim of bullying—physically and emotionally by his classmates. It was reported that an enraged parent was seen storming inside the principal's office in demand that this matter will be taken to the court of law. Both sides have kept quiet since the incident. It was clear that the victim, Do Kyungsoo, had been living with the consequences for a few years now.

When Jongin looks up, he sees the older male walk out of the store with a plastic bag in hand. He looks down at his phone and sees Baekhyun's new message. The brunette was asking if they could meet tonight when the door to the passenger seat suddenly opens and Kyungoo sat beside him, smiling softly.

"I have everything I need." Kyungsoo says and Jongin notices the spark in his eyes as the older male clutches the plastic bag in his arms protectively, as if he didn't want Jongin to see what was inside. Everything is wrong.

The younger nods his head and brings his attention back to his phone, gulping audibly. He felt lightheaded. Everything seemed so surreal. He's so afraid that this was the truth. His hands were shaking as he replies to Baekhyun. Let's meet tomorrow. I'm going to spend my night looking over Kyungsoo. Jongin started to pull away from the parking lot and the older male smiles at him as he does so. But Jongin knows that it's a lie. His smile is a lie. Jongin knows that he isn't happy. He's afraid.

He's afraid of Jongin.