Streetrat <Jeongcheol>

27

Seungcheol didn't want to go to school. Not after what happened yesterday. He thought facing Jeonghan was a problem before, but now it just seemed impossible. What would he say to him? What could he say to him? It's not everyday when you lash out on your boyfriend because all he wanted to do was help, and then punch him in the face.

He wanted to hide under his blanket for the rest of time, but he knew if he did that, even more people around him would get hurt. So he got up, and got ready. Kissed his mom and sister goodbye and he was out the door, reluctantly making his way to school.

-

Jeonghan dabbed small bits of makeup on to his heavily bruised cheek. A big purple mark just under his eye was hard to cover up and he wouldn't get it completely done, but he tried. Though there was also the small cut on his cheekbone that still stood out like a sore thumb.

He sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror. He would've cried, the sight triggering the awful memories of the pat few days, but he was cried out. There was nothing left. At this point, all he was, was an empty vessel, carrying nothing but the cold vacant soul of someone who had nothing left. Or, that's what it felt like anyways.

Jeonghan and put all of the blame on himself. It was his fault everything had gone to shit. If he had just kept his damn mouth shut, none of this would be happening. Seungcheol would still be here, he would be happy. Everything would be normal, but it's not, because Jeonghan had to go and ruin it all. It was his fault. That's what he told himself.

He threw on a plain black t-shirt and jeans and left his hair alone, brushing it out first before leaving it to do whatever it pleased.

He trudged out to his car and made his way to school, dreading every moment. He knew that getting physically hurt by Seungcheol set the target on your forehead for the rest of the school. That's what Mingyu had told him a while ago. So Jeonghan was, in a way, prepared for the shit he was about to be given.

And of course, he wasn't surprised when his parking spot at school was spray painted with all kinds of insults. Jeonghan only sighed, keeping his head down as he went into school.

-

By the time 5th period had rolled around, Seungcheol was ripping his hair out trying to get Jeonghan out of his head. He's been on edge all day, pushing away anyone who asked him what was wrong. He couldn't listen in any of his classes, which worried his teachers. He just kept his head down.

Jeonghan wasn't in 1st period, so Seungcheol was forced to give their presentation alone, and from memory. But he didn't care anymore. At this point, he accepted the fact that he missed Jeonghan terribly, but he still couldn't say it.

He sat by Wonwoo who stayed quiet most of the time. Though he was his best friend, Wonwoo knew not to push him over the edge while he was in a bad mood. But towards the middle of class, Wonwoo was tired of the silence.

"You won ya know?" Wonwoo said.

Seungcheol wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about. He poked his face out from under his arms enough so that one eye was showing.

"What?"

"The whole school hates Jeonghan now," the younger boy continued, "you've won."

Seungcheol sighed. Why did this matter? Why do people still care about the war between Seungcheol and Jeonghan. He thought that was over a long time ago. There was nothing between them anymore. Absolutely nothing.

"His parking spot and his locker were graffitied, none of his classes have been peaceful. I think some people have even keyed his car. We did it."

Before Wonwoo could say anymore, Seungcheol pushed himself out of his seat and left the classroom without any explanation to anyone.