barriers | donghyuck

Chapter Seventeen

< Things spoken in Korean will be in italics >

The rest of the night consisted of nothing but headaches and tears dried to your face, and this only carried on to the next day.

Tired eyes scanned the hallways of the school, trying to avoid anyone who would want to talk to you. You were afriad of running into Donghyuck or Mark or any of the other boys, scared you would have to explain everything to them.

You'd skipped any classes you had with them. Performing arts was a no go because you simply couldn't speak to Mark. And your dance class was out of the question. Seeing Donghyuck was the last thing you wanted. Actually, you did want to see him. More than anything in the world. But you knew you wouldn't be able to tell him anything without breaking down. And so you simply didn't show up.

Little did you know that Donghyuck had done the exact same thing knowing that something wasn't right.

You both slumped up and down opposite corridors. Donghyuck desperately trying to find you, while you simply believed he was in class and you wouldn't have to worry about him.

Donghyuck's eyes lit up when he saw you, only you didn't see him right away. The light soon faded when he saw the empty look you were wearing. So much was on your mind, and it could easily read.

Heading down what seemed like a pretty quiet hallway, you turn your body around at the familar touch of your hand. Looking down to see Donghyuck's tan arm pulling you into a janitor's closet, he quickly shut the door and turned on the light before either of you would be caught.

He didn't speak as he pulled you into his warm chest, already feeling your body shaking against him with soft sobs. No words needed to be exchanged as his hands slid down your back resting firmly around you. You just clung to his shirt, never wanting to let him go for you didn't know how much time left you'd have with him.

When you were able to speak at least a little bit, you say "D-Donghy-"

"Sh." Donghyuck immediately stopped you, just wanting you to take another second to calm down while he spoke. "I heard yelling at your house yesterday." Your eyes widen behind his back even though he couldn't see. "What happened?"

"T-they want to move back to America." Your voice shook more as you spoke those words aloud. Hearing you say them, Donghyuck's grip on you noticeably loosened. He pulled away look at your red streaked face.

"What?" He was just as shocked, if not more, than you were when you first heard the news. "How can they..." Donghyuck trailed off in deep thought at what you just said. All memory of any English he'd learned was leaving him at the moment for he couldn't believe what he heard.

"T-they plan on moving next week." You stared at the ground while your shaky hands played with one another. "Donghyuck... I can't leave yo-"

Donghyuk placed his hands over top of your shaking ones, forcing you to look at him. He couldn't remember any words of comfort in English right now as he stared down at you, but his presence was enough, but he could utter once sentence to you. "You will be alright."

He took your head in his hands as he pressed a sweet kiss to your forehead just as the bell went off. Pulling away, he looked out the window seeing the mess of students darting for the lunch room. You sighed against him, holding his hand tightly as you reached for the door handle until he quickly stopped you, pulling your arm back. "We don't have to go to lunch if you don't want to."

You smiled at how thought he was being. "It's okay. I think I need to see everyone." Donghyuk nodded his head, understanding.

Walking into the lunch room, Renjun is the first one to spot you as he waved you both over the the lunch table seeing as everyone was waiting for you both. "Hey guys".

"Hi Renjun" you let out with a voice still scratchy from crying hoping he'd just ignore it.

"Why weren't you in class today?" Mark turned to you with a sudden question. "You never miss class."

Nervously you looked over at Donghyuck, not knowing what to say to Mark. His eyes searched all over your face and he could see you didn't want to break the news to them at the moment.

"___?" Mark pushed on. "Is everything okay? What were you-"

"She was with me." Donghyuck interjected for you, lying through his teeth. Everyone's eyes sitting at the table widened at hearing that, looking between you both.

Donghyuck secretly held your hand under the table, stroking his thumb over the back of yours. Eyes silently thanked Donghyuk. "Doing what?" Jisung couldn't help but ask.

"We were in the janitors closet." You couldn't believe these words were coming out of Donghyuck's mouth. He was giving them the wrong idea on purpose, and it was priceless. If you weren't feeling the way you were now, you would've laughed.

Mark eventually turned away from Donghyuck, smirking and turning back to his lunch. "What am I going to do with you, Donghyuck ah."