Villain kids

28

Soft giggles stirred Donghyuck from sleep. His brows furrowed, confused.

Then his eyes focused.

Sungchan.
Jaemin.
Chenle.

All standing near his bed. All smiling like gremlins who'd just seen Santa in his boxers.

Something was wrapped around him. Arms.

His heart skipped. Eyes wide, he turned his head—

Hyuck: “Oh shut up.”
He panicked, gently shaking the figure beside him.
Hyuck: “Mark… Mark, wake up.”

Now fully aware of his surroundings, Donghyuck flushed red.

Mark groaned in protest, only pulling Donghyuck closer. But as muffled giggles reached his ears, his eyes snapped open.

Mark: “…Oh.”
Cue tomato-red cheeks.

Jaemin: “Good morning, lovebirds.”

Hyuck: “Good morning? What do you mean good morning?!”

Chenle: “It’s 7 A.M.”

Mark: “WHAT?!”

The prince launched out of bed, hair a mess, face panic-stricken. Then—like in a drama—he skidded back, planted a kiss on Donghyuck’s cheek and forehead, and bolted.

Silence.

They knew better than to tease further. Push Donghyuck too far and he’d set the castle on fire with his words alone.

Hyuck: “Yeah yeah, cute, whatever. Why didn’t you wake us sooner? What if Mark gets in trouble?”

He glared at the tallest.

Sungchan: “You looked so peaceful. So adorable. I couldn’t ruin that. Plus—”
He smirked.
“Got some very good pictures.”

Hyuck: “You’re the worst.”

Sungchan: “Mark’ll come up with something. Don’t worry, Hyuckie.”

With a roll of his eyes, Donghyuck stood up and walked out—ignoring every question they threw at him. So committed to ignoring, in fact, that he didn’t realize he was doing the same in class.

Not to students.
Not to friends.
Not even to the teacher.

Until—

A touch on his arm jolted him. Jeno. Smirking.

Hyuck: “What?”

Teacher: “Donghyuck. I’ve been trying to get your attention. You’ve ignored everyone—including your friend. Are you feeling alright?”

Hyuck: “I think… I’m sick or something. Yeah.”

Teacher: “Jeno, escort him to the nurse’s office. He’s clearly unwell.”

Jeno blinked but nodded, slinging Donghyuck’s arm over his shoulder like a soldier dragging his battle-weary comrade.

Once they were out:

Jeno: “So... care to explain why Jaemin and Sungchan burst into giggles every time someone says your name near the word Mark?”

Hyuck: “I’m in love.”

Pause.
Hard stop.
Jeno.exe has crashed.

Jeno: “…I—what?!”

Hyuck: “Did I say something wrong?”

Jeno: “No. Just… WHAT?! You’ve had crushes, hookups, dramatic flings—but the L word?? You practically throw up at emotional commitment!”

Hyuck: “Yeah well… he’s different.”

His voice softened. Thoughtful.

Hyuck: “I feel good around him. I could curse someone out, and he’d say I speak like poetry. You know how nasty I can get…”

Jeno: “Been on the receiving end, thanks for the reminder.”

Hyuck: “But with him—it’s like he gets me. Not in a surface way. Like… our lives are parallel. Yeah, we all have pressure to live up to our parents. You. Chan. Ji. Jaemin. Chenle. But he—he hears me when I don’t even speak. He knows what I mean. How did I find someone like that, Jeno? And how do I know he really feels the same? What if I’m wrong?”

Hyuck: “How did you know, with Jaemin?”

Jeno was quiet for a beat. Then:

Jeno: “You never really know.”

He sighed.

Jeno: “I know I love him. I thought I couldn’t love anyone like that. But he’s… him. Yeah, he flirts with everyone. But I’m the only one who’s seen him cry. Who knows why he flirts. Why he hates this place. Why he stays.”

He paused again, searching for the right words.

Jeno: “Love isn’t certainty. It’s not perfect symmetry. It’s… knowing you can count on someone. Trusting them with the things you’ve never said aloud. And even if they leave someday, you walk away knowing you gave each other the best love you could. No regrets. Just love, and growth.”

Donghyuck stared at him. Silent. Processing.

Then—softly—

Hyuck: “…You’re not as dumb as you look, you know.”

Jeno: “Wow. The romance lasted six seconds. New record.”

They both snorted, walking quietly toward the nurse’s office. Or maybe not. Maybe they’d ditch and sit under the tree near the fountains.

Love made rebels out of all of them.