Fighter ( Park Chanyeol X Male reader )

They Never Know

Eunil shuffled out of his room, the echo of their fight clinging to him like dust. Sleep had been a distant dream, his mind replaying the harsh words and the heavy silence that followed. His eyes, red-rimmed and puffy, felt like sandpaper against his tired lids. Every muscle in his body ached from pain.

The walk to school was a blur. Every car horn, every shout from a passing kid, felt amplified, a constant assault on his already frayed nerves. He pulled his hood low, hiding the evidence of his sleepless night. He yearned to disappear, to melt into the concrete sidewalk.

School offered a fragile sanctuary. The forced cheer of the hallways, the murmur of classmates, all created a white noise that pushed back the turmoil within. He found his usual seat at the back of the class, his gaze fixed on the textbook. But the words swam before his eyes, their meaning lost in the fog of his emotions.

Mrs. Park's voice droned on about the importance of negative space, but Eunil's mind was a million miles away. He stared at his blank canvas, the stark white mocking his inability to focus. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his dad's disappointed face, heard the hurtful words they'd thrown at each other.

A nudge at his elbow startled him back to reality. He looked up to see Chanyeol, who was already trying to ask him a million questions after last night's ordeal.

"Hey, you okay, man?" Chanyeol whispered, his voice barely audible over Ms. Park's lecture. Eunil managed a weak smile, the corners of his lips not quite reaching his eyes. Chanyeol wasn't convinced. He peered closer, his brow furrowing. "You sure? You look like you haven't slept." 

Eunil shook his head, his gaze flickering back to the canvas. He wasn't ready to talk, not yet. Just as he was about to mumble another excuse, Ms. Park's voice cut through the classroom.

"Eunil, " she said, her voice laced with a hint of urgency, "would you mind running an errand for me? I need someone to take these papers to the teachers' lounge and pick up these things from the closet, right away." Before either of them could respond, Ms. Park thrust a stack of papers into Eunil's hand. "Thanks, Eunil. Be quick."

Eunil's protest died in his throat. He mumbled a reluctant "okay" and stood up, Chanyeol's concerned gaze following him as he shuffled towards the door. He turned and walked away, the weight of the papers and the unspoken words a heavy burden in his hands.

Eunil shuffled down the deserted hallway, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead like angry wasps. Mrs. Park's list crinkled in his sweaty hand, a flimsy shield against the knot of worry tightening in his stomach. The silence felt heavy, a stark contrast to the usual cacophony of students between classes.

Suddenly, a group of boisterous voices shattered the quiet. Rounding the corner, Eunil spotted Minseok and his gang – three lanky juniors notorious for skipping class and picking on anyone unfortunate enough to cross their paths. Laughter hung heavy in the air, laced with malice.

Eunil's heart hammered against his ribs. He tried to appear invisible, shrinking into the nearest wall. But it was too late. Minseok, with his greasy blonde hair and a cruel twist of a smile, spotted him first.

"Well, well, well," Minseok drawled, sauntering over with his posse trailing behind him. "Look who it is – little Eunil, running errands like a good little boy."

Eunil mumbled a greeting, his voice barely audible. He kept his eyes downcast, focusing on the scuffed floor tiles.

"Whatcha got there, pipsqueak?" Minseok sneered, snatching the list from Eunil's hand with a lightning-fast move.

Eunil flinched, a surge of anger battling with his usual dread. "That's Mrs. Park's stuff," he managed, his voice barely a whisper.

Minseok scanned the list with mock seriousness, his eyes widening in exaggerated surprise. "Oh no, markers and construction paper? Sounds dangerous. You sure you can handle this, shrimp?"