small words || jeongcheol

04: circle time.

"Jeonghan-ah!"

The boy was startled by the familiarity of Seungcheol's deep voice. He cleared his throat before calling out.

"Yeah, what?"

"Come downstairs, please!"

"Give me two seconds, god!"

It's not like he had to be polite to his nurse, Jeonghan reasoned. He'd practically ignored Nurse Josh when he dropped by his room earlier, asking how he was doing, replying in only monosyllables. He had only gone downstairs for breakfast because Seungcheol had asked him twice and he didn't want a row from Dr Kim, who would obviously have everything reported back to him.

He'd been awarded five points for having two sticks of celery and a glass of water for breakfast. This points lark was easier than he thought. Celery was basically water, but he could already feel the calories-

"I'm so fucking done," Junhui groaned, trudging through the doorway and flopping down on his bed. "The fuck do you want?" he spat.

"Nothing," Jeonghan replied. "Where have you been?" he asked curiously.

There was mud on the carpet from Junhui's Docs.

"Just in the garden," he said, shrugging. He coughed slightly.

"You shouldn't smoke," Jeonghan remarked, going back to his book. He'd smelt it on the taller boy as soon as he'd walked into the room.

"You're right," he replied, chuckling, "Kills my appetite. Not that I'm worried about that sort of thing."

"Sure," Jeonghan muttered. He was just wearing black leggings and a loose gray t-shirt, having thrown on a beige knitted cardigan because he was cold. His dark hair fell about his shoulders softly.

"Anorexia?"

"You asked me that yesterday," Jeonghan said irritably.

"No I didn't," Junhui said simply, sitting up. He peeled off his sweater, leaving him in a black tank top, his tanned arms visible.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you did," Jeonghan corrected him, letting the book fall into his lap.

"I only met you this morning, stick," Junhui said hotly.

"I'm not a stick."

"Yes, you fucking are, look in a mirror, would you?"

"Leave me the fuck alone. I did meet you last night and you introduced yourself as 'June'. I don't care how batshit you are, but I do care when you insult me," Jeonghan snapped, his cheeks starting to get hot.

"Let me get one thing straight," Junhui hissed, stalking over and moving his face close to Jeonghan's. "That wasn't me last night. You don't understand us at all, so we'd be fucking pleased if you just left us all alone, especially Junhui."

"What the fuck, dude..." Jeonghan said weakly, drawing back from him.

"Yo, kids!" Seungcheol yelled up the stairs again. His heavy footsteps sounded and Junhui moved away from Jeonghan.

"Holy shit," he muttered under his breath.

"Jeonghan, I thought I told you to come downstairs," said Seungcheol poking his head into the room.

"I told you 'two seconds', jeez," Jeonghan huffed, pushing off from his bed.

"You, too, Junhui," said Seungcheol. He glanced at the boy, who was hurriedly pulling on a bright pink sweater.