𝐏𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐄 •ﻌ• [ᴄʜᴇɴᴊɪ]

7: ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ

Chenle dragged himself out of bed as the shrill sound of his alarm echoed through the apartment. The sunlight filtering through the curtains seemed almost too bright, making him squint as he shuffled to the bathroom. He flipped on the light and winced at his reflection in the mirror. Dark circles underscored his eyes, making him look like he hadn't slept in days-which, in truth, he hadn't.

❝Great,❞ he muttered to himself. ❝You look like a zombie, Chenle.❞

He leaned closer to the mirror, inspecting the bags under his eyes and the dullness in his usually bright gaze. The stress and sleepless nights were taking a toll, and it showed. With a sigh, he turned on the faucet, splashing his face with cold water in a futile attempt to wake up and refresh his tired skin.

After patting his face dry, he reached for his concealer. He wasn't accustomed to using much makeup, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He dotted the concealer under his eyes, carefully blending it in with his ring finger until the dark circles were somewhat diminished. Next, he applied a bit of foundation to even out his complexion, followed by a light dusting of powder to set everything in place.

As he worked, he tried to ignore the gnawing feeling of fatigue that clung to him. The makeup was a temporary fix, a mask to hide the exhaustion that lurked beneath. He knew it wouldn't fool anyone who looked closely, but it was better than nothing.

Chenle pulled out his phone and texted Yangyang a quick update.

Chenle: Trying to cover up the lack of sleep with makeup. Wish me luck.

Yangyang replied almost immediately.

Yangie: Good luck! You'll look great, don't worry. And remember, talk to your friends soon. I'm sure they'll understand.

Chenle smiled at his friend's encouragement. He needed that boost of confidence to face the day. Putting his phone down, he took a deep breath and gave himself one last look in the mirror.

❝Okay, Chenle,❞ he whispered. ❝You can do this. One step at a time.❞

He gathered his things, making sure his backpack was packed with everything he needed for the day. His reflection in the mirror looked slightly more presentable, the makeup doing its job of hiding the worst of his tiredness. Satisfied that he wouldn't draw too much attention to his sleepless night, he headed out the door.

The walk to the university was brisk, the cool morning air helping to clear his mind. As he navigated the bustling streets, he tried to focus on the positives: new opportunities, new friends, and the possibility of finding a solution to his sleepless nights. The conversations with Yangyang had given him a sense of direction, a plan to talk to his friends and hopefully get the support he needed.

Arriving at the university, Chenle could feel the energy of the campus buzzing around him. Students hurried to their classes, chatting in groups, or immersed in their own thoughts. He spotted a few familiar faces and exchanged quick greetings, his makeup doing its job of masking his exhaustion well enough.

He met up with his study group in the library, their usual meeting spot before classes. As he approached, one of his classmates, Minji, looked up and smiled.

❝Morning, Chenle! You look... fresh today,❞ she said with a hint of surprise.

❝Morning, Minji,❞ Chenle replied, forcing a cheerful tone. ❝Just trying out a new look, I guess.❞

Another friend, Hyunsoo, raised an eyebrow. ❝Late night studying?❞

❝Something like that,❞ Chenle said, avoiding their gazes. ❝You know how it is.❞

They nodded sympathetically, assuming his tiredness was due to the typical student grind.

Chenle felt a pang of guilt for not being entirely honest, but he wasn't ready to spill everything just yet. For now, he just wanted to focus on getting through the day, grateful for the small reprieve his makeup had provided.

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