"who's that new kid?"
"he looks scary. isn't he a junior?"
"he has pierced ears? that's kind of hot."
donghyuck ignored the whispers as he walked down the unfamiliar halls of his new high school. it was only his first day, but it looked like he already had a bad boy reputation. however, he couldn't really say anything with his piercings, ripped jeans, and dyed hair.
he pushed open the door of his new class and he wanted to run away when everyone's head turned towards him. if he wanted less attention then he should've arrived on time, but it wouldn't really make a difference since he was a new kid.
"you must be lee donghyuck, yes?" the teacher asked as she stopped her lesson.
donghyuck nodded and looked everywhere besides her. he could hear more whispers and he sighed. he wished he could just run out of the class and away from the harsh stares of the people around him.
"you can take a seat wherever you'd like." the teacher turned around and continued to lecture her students.
donghyuck spotted an empty desk at the back of the room and he hurried over it, taking care not to bump into anything. he sat down, put his backpack on the floor, and stared out the window to his left. he didn't really care for the teacher's lesson, but he didn't care about many things.
"jeno, you're late again."
donghyuck's eyes snapped to the front as a boy walked in. his name seemed somewhat familiar, but donghyuck couldn't really remember where he'd seen him.
"yeah, sorry. it won't happen again." jeno said as he walked towards the back of the class. he noticed a new student sitting in the desk next to his and he smirked.
donghyuck watched as jeno sat down next to him and gave him a small smile that was obviously fake. he rolled his eyes and continued to look at the window, turning his face away from jeno.
"i'm jeno." the boy whispered to donghyuck, nudging him lightly. "you're donghyuck, right?"
"how do you know my name?" donghyuck turned towards the stranger with a confused expression. he wanted to slap the smug look off of jeno's face.
"i was friends with mark, do you remember him at all?" jeno put an unnecessary emphasis on the word 'friends.'
donghyuck's eyes widened at the mention of his old friend. just his name brought back painful memories that his mom forced to the back of his mind. he longed to see mark, even if it was just a glance.
jeno noticed the boy freezing up and his smile grew. he thought for a moment and lightly tapped his fingers on his desk, which annoyed the other boy. he took this moment to scan over donghyuck's new appearance. his ears glittered with piercings, two on his right ear and three on his left. jeno actually liked his new hair color, which was a purple-red shade. he thought it suited donghyuck.
"anyways, you can sit with me at lunch if you want. i know you're new so you probably don't have anyone to sit with." he offered. his voice sounded kind and inviting, and it contrasted with his intimidating appearance.
"i want to sit with mark." donghyuck mumbled. he wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone or make new friends. he just wanted to go back to mark, he wanted everything to be how it was years ago.
"suit yourself, i guess. you're always welcome to sit with me, though." jeno shrugged and turned his attention towards the teacher.
donghyuck heaved a heavy sigh and glanced at jeno. hopefully, sitting with him would only be his last resort.
just so y'all know, donghyuck looks like how he looked during the cherry bomb era
