His Paws On My Palms [DoShin]

CHAPTER 22: A HEARTBEAT AWAY

The unexpected collision had brought them closer than ever before. Shinyu, still reeling from the pain and the shock of the fall, found himself leaning against Dohoon. His hand instinctively wrapped around Dohoon's waist, seeking a sense of stability. The warmth of Dohoon's body, the scent of his cologne, and the gentle sway of the bicycle all combined to create a sense of overwhelming comfort.

"Why can't I stay like this forever with you, Dohoon?" his thoughts echoed, a silent plea for time to stand still.

Dohoon, oblivious to the turmoil raging within Shinyu, focused on getting him to the clinic. He pedaled steadily, his mind preoccupied with Shinyu's injury. A pang of guilt for the accident tugged at his heart, adding to the weight of responsibility he felt.

As they rode, Shinyu couldn't help but think about the strange turn of events. He had been so determined to avoid Dohoon, yet here he was, clinging to him for support. The accident had forced them into a situation that felt both awkward and exhilarating.

"I thought it would be easier for me to just avoid you, but what happened today... I wonder if this is a sign for me to not lose you," Shinyu mused, the world seeming to slow down around him. His thoughts drifted, a hazy mix of confusion and hope.

The air between them was thick with unspoken emotions. Shinyu longed to speak, to express his gratitude, his confusion, his growing attraction. But the words seemed to get stuck in his throat, trapped by a mixture of shyness and fear.

"Would I be brutal if I wished this would happen to us frequently? I wonder how many wounds I can stand just to experience this," Shinyu whispered inaudibly, a silent question to the universe.

Dohoon, meanwhile, was simply focused on getting Shinyu to safety. He didn't notice the way Shinyu's hand tightened around his waist, the way his head rested against Dohoon's back. He didn't notice the subtle shift in the atmosphere, the unspoken longing that hung between them, a silent conversation only their hearts could understand.

"I wish we met sooner, it would've been meaningful if we grew up together..." Shinyu's voice trailed off, lost in a daydream of what could have been.

The ride to the clinic was short, but it felt like an eternity to Shinyu. Each bump in the road, each turn in the path, brought him closer to Dohoon, both physically and emotionally. The closeness was intoxicating, a heady mix of fear and excitement.

As they arrived at the clinic, Shinyu felt a pang of regret. The accident had brought them closer, but it had also exposed his vulnerabilities. He was afraid of what this new closeness might mean, afraid of what it might lead to.

"We're here," Dohoon announced as soon as he stopped his bicycle. He noticed that Shinyu's arm was still wrapped tightly around his waist.
"Hey?" he called him again, his voice gentle.

"Huh?" Shinyu finally concluded his daydreams, his eyes blinking open as if waking from a deep sleep.

"I said, we're here, you can release me now," Dohoon said, pointing to Shinyu's arm around his body.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I fell asleep," Shinyu defended himself, but he was actually reluctant to release his arms. He had grown comfortable in the warmth of Dohoon's embrace, a feeling he didn't want to let go of. Eventually, he had no choice but to do it, or else he would waken up the beast of his own anxieties.

He sighed heavily, already longing for that closeness. As Dohoon helped him off the bicycle, Shinyu knew one thing for sure: he couldn't deny the feelings that were stirring within him. He had fallen deeply for Dohoon, and he was afraid, but he was also strangely excited.

"What happened here?" The school nurse asked as soon as they entered, her voice professional yet laced with concern.

"I accidentally hit him with my bicycle on the road," Dohoon answered, his voice firm but apologetic.

Unexpectedly, it was the first time Dohoon admitted he was to blame for something between them. Dohoon saw the expression of the nurse, it implied that they were careless. However, it was the truth, so he didn't really mind it.

"Let him lie on the bed first," the nurse instructed, her gaze shifting to Shinyu.

"Can you walk on your own?" Dohoon asked, his voice soft.

"Why are you asking him? Just help him out," the nurse surprisingly reprimanded Dohoon, her tone sharp.

"It's fine, I can-" Shinyu wasn't able to finish his sentence when Dohoon grabbed his arm and wrapped it around his shoulders.

"Dohoon..." he whispered, his voice a soft murmur.

"Just walk with me," Dohoon responded, his voice low and reassuring. But Shinyu's focus was on him, his eyes locked on Dohoon's face. He even put all his weight on Dohoon, who was struggling to support him.

When finally they were near the bed, Dohoon thought of releasing him, but his action led to something awkward for all of them inside the clinic.

He fell on the bed along with Shinyu, they were glued to each other while Shinyu's body was on top of him. Their eyes met, Shinyu was studying his face quietly until his eyes reached Dohoon's lips. The bone on his neck moved awkwardly, a sign of his nervousness.

"What are you, a modern statue?" The nurse interrupted them as she cleared her throat, her amusement evident in her voice.

The realization hit them both, and when Dohoon gained his sense, he pushed Shinyu on the side, which forced him to lay down in discomfort. Shinyu complained in pain on his knee after what Dohoon did, his voice laced with a hint of accusation.

"Hey, why did you do that?" The nurse said in panic, her voice rising in concern.

"I...I still have class..." Dohoon poorly reasoned out and immediately walked away, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Dohoon!" Shinyu called him, but the guy was undisturbed, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

"Alright, that's too much of a show," The nurse said, shaking her head in amusement. "This generation!" she added, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

"Can you please bring him back?" Shinyu pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.

"What are you, a child? Enough, let me clean your wounds first," the nurse said, her tone firm but not unkind.

With no choice left, Shinyu finally accepted that Dohoon would never care for him that much. While he appreciated him for helping him, it still doesn't mean that Dohoon had finally opened his gate to let him enter his world. A wave of disappointment washed over him.

"Aww!" Shinyu reacted to the pain when the nurse started cleaning his wounds, his voice a soft whimper.

"It will really hurt, so be patient," the nurse said, her voice soothing.

However, inside Shinyu's mind, it meant something else.

"It does, and I am losing my patience," he thought, his frustration growing.

"What did you say?" The nurse clarified, her brow furrowed in confusion.

He went back to his senses and faced the nurse who was looking at him fiercely.

"You're that popular guy here, right?" she asked, her voice sharp.

Shinyu started to feel uneasy with how the nurse was looking at him. She was mad for what he just said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it, I was thinking of something else," he explained, his voice apologetic.

"I'm done cleaning your wounds and applying aid, you can rest here for a while. I'll just notify your teachers," the nurse said, her tone softening slightly.

"Thank you, Miss," Shinyu responded, his voice subdued. He covered his eyes using his arms while still thinking of Dohoon, his mind replaying the events of the day.

Meanwhile, Dohoon was just sitting on his seat and still couldn't get over what happened to them from the collision to the clinic. But what really bothered him was the scene when Shinyu was staring at him while his body was on top of him.

The real reason why he pushed him was because he felt his heart beating so fast. It was inexplicable, it wasn't out of fear or something, it was different. The fact that he also felt Shinyu's heartbeat bothered him more.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jay suddenly interrupted him, his voice concerned.

"Yeah," Dohoon retorted, his voice flat.

Jay was still thinking about the family matter of Dohoon. He thought it was the reason why he saw him not feeling well.

Respecting his privacy, Jay didn't dig more and just let Dohoon play over his thoughts.

A few minutes later, the teacher arrived, it was Miss Lin.

"I just received an email from our clinic. Shinyu won't be able to participate in our class for today. He needs to rest for a while," Miss Lin explained, her voice calm and professional. Half of the class started murmuring, their voices a mix of concern and curiosity.

"I know you all care for your classmate, so please, in the meantime, don't go to the clinic all at once," Miss Lin said, her voice firm but gentle.

Some dropped their shoulders in disappointment and hopelessness.

"Miss Lin, may I know what happened to him?" a student asked, their voice filled with concern.

"He caught a minor injury, that's all I can say," Miss Lin responded, her voice tight-lipped.

"Oh no!"

"Poor Shinyu"

"My boyfriend is sick, I hate it!"

They mumbled about it. Hearing all of these, Dohoon felt guilty. After all, he should be there to monitor him as it was his fault, but instead of doing it, he actually left him there. He began massaging his temple to ease the stress he felt, his brow furrowed in worry.

The morning classes finally ended, and it was during lunch time that Jay and Dohoon decided to head to the clinic just to check on Shinyu.

"You said it was not that bad," Jay started the conversation while they were walking, his voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

"Yeah, but I don't know why I am even doing this," Dohoon replied, his voice hesitant.

"Obviously, you care for him," Jay responded, his voice firm.

"I don't know, Jay. I just thought it's human nature to help someone, especially if you're the one who caused their suffering," Dohoon said, his voice strained.

"I don't know about you, but I exactly felt something different," Jay knew what he was talking about, it's just that his friend wouldn't want to acknowledge it.

"Why didn't you take care of him? It's your freaking job, Hannah!" they heard a loud voice suddenly from a distance.

"Seriously? Do you really think I'm his shadow so I can follow him wherever he goes?"

"I will not let this slide. I am gonna tell Aunt Jenny about what happened."

"Go on. It's not like it was my fault."

"You! How dare you!"

Finally, Jay and Dohoon were able to recognize whose voices it was. It was Hannah and Belle, they were fighting over what happened to him.

"Speaking of the devils," Jay suddenly mumbled, his voice low. Dohoon was shocked when he heard that. "Don't mind them," Jay said and told him to keep going, his voice firm.

"Oh! Speaking about who's at fault, here comes the culprit," Hannah suddenly announced, her voice dripping with sarcasm. They all looked at Dohoon, their eyes filled with judgment.

"You were all blaming me when the person who did that to Shinyu was no other than this guy."

"It was an accident!" Jay intervened, his voice rising in defense.

"Step aside, Jay! Why are you defending him?" Hannah demanded, her voice sharp.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm with his cru-"

"Jay!" Hannah interrupted him, her voice cutting him off.

"So it's you?" Belle finally confronted Dohoon, her eyes narrowed in anger. She looked at him with disgust and anger, like she would slap him anytime she wanted.

Dohoon remained calm. He knew it's unnecessary to provoke her, after all, what's the point of it.

"I heard about you, but guess what, I can't find my care," Belle said, her voice judging and collected.

"Likewise," Dohoon bravely responded, his voice firm and unwavering. Belle's eyes zoomed out in surprise and frustration. It was just a word, but it intensified her rage.

"Who are you to say that?" She angrily stated, her voice almost a shout.

"I have no time for you, and you're blocking my way," Dohoon again said casually, his voice nonchalant. Jay was just trying his best not to laugh as much as possible, his shoulders shaking with suppressed amusement.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hannah this time intervened to block him, her voice laced with a threat.

"We want to see Shinyu, Hannah," it was Jay who said it, his voice calm and steady.

"What? Seriously? After what you've done to him?" Hannah scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Think however you want, but I don't owe you any explanation," Dohoon said, his voice firm and unwavering.

"Listen here, you worthless transferee," Belle suddenly attacked him with a sharp word, her voice venomous. "Stay away from Shinyu! I don't want you around him, so get out of his life!"

"Belle, you have no right-"

"Jay, I'm fine. Let's just go. If they don't want us here, then fine," Dohoon decided to just stay away from it, his voice weary.

"But..."

"For the record, I hate it when people associate me with that guy. You want him, then tie him around your neck so he stop coming at me!" Dohoon said, straightforward, his voice filled with annoyance.

"You!" Belle was speechless, even Hannah couldn't say more because if truth was the basis, Dohoon made a sense.

The girls watched Dohoon and Jay's backs walking away. They looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Then, they started pushing each other to who's going first. Then when a nurse saw them, they were nagged and instead told to go somewhere.