What Can I Do

Chapter 11 ~How's your friend? We haven't heard from him in a while

Dowoon had been staying at Wonpil's house for a few days now and was still adjusting. 

The first night he had been there, Wonpil's parents had come home early from work and saw him sitting on the couch. His parents had been kind and warming the minute they spotted him. 

After Wonpil explained his situation and how he had nowhere to stay, his parents instantly agreed he could stay in his sister's old bedroom. He left out the part where Dowoon had tried to kill himself and Dowoon was eternally grateful for that. 

They immediately took to the boy, even if the first time they tried to talk to him was a bit awkward. They inquired him about his family and the boy's face automatically fell. Wonpil had leaned over and whispered quietly that he was mute and his mom's eyes widened in surprise. 

She immediately apologized at least five times and went to hug the poor boy who looked like he was in shock. He stood stiffly before awkwardly patting her back. Wonpil had watched on with a fond expression, before wrestling his mom away from him. He knew his mom would love Dowoon the minute she saw him and decided to drag him away before she squeezed him to death.

Dowoon looked a bit startled but followed Wonpil back to the room he had prepared for him.

"Sorry about my mom, she's a bit much, I know." Wonpil said sheepishly.

Dowoon shook his head, indicating he didn't mind, and Wonpil breathed out in relief.

"Anyways, this is your room. Sorry for the pink bedsheets. They were noona's before she went to college."

Dowoon was busy looking around, when he turned slightly and Wonpil's eyes noticed the cuts all over his arm and shoulder once again. His brows furrowed and he reached out to touch the cuts. Dowoon flinched and sucked in a breath quickly.

"Come, we have to get those cleaned." Wonpil frowned, leading him to the bathroom.

Dowoon glanced down at his arm, having momentarily forgotten about his injuries. Now that he noticed them, they began to lightly sting. He dutifully followed Wonpil into the bathroom, where Wonpil grabbed some alcohol and a cloth. He instructed him to strip his shirt, which Dowoon did hesitantly. 

Wonpil blushed lightly, seeing Dowoon's lean but slightly toned body. However, he was instantly sobered when he saw the small glass shards still stuck in his arm. 

He sucked in a quick breath, looking into Dowoon's eyes. Dowoon only stared back in slight pain. Wonpil breathed before grabbing tweezers off the counter.

"This is going to hurt." He said, sympathetically.

Dowoon nodded before gritting his teeth.

After Wonpil had taken all of the glass bottle shards out of Dowoon's shoulder, he disinfected and cleaned the cuts before bandaging his arm. He went to the kitchen to get some ice for Dowoon's cheek before coming back to see him sitting on his bed, still shirtless. 

He blushed again before walking up to him and pressing the ice gently against Dowoon's cheek. Dowoon continued to stare into Wonpil's eyes, unnerving him. Wonpil felt his ears turn red and wished for the first time that Dowoon would speak instead of just staring at him.

He noticed Dowoon was still in his tattered jeans and Wonpil had already thrown out the thin long sleeve he had been wearing before. The shirt had been cut several times in the shoulder and was stained lightly with blood. 

Wonpil handed the ice to Dowoon before rifling through his closet to find a shirt that would fit him. Dowoon was about the same size as Wonpil, only slightly a bit bigger and his shoulders were a bit wider.