Sunshine's Secrets {NCT Donghyuck/Haechan}

Chapter 2: Artificial Laughter

Haechan hits Mark, a hand covering his mouth to stifle laughter after the elder had told the interviewer some lame joke. The rest of NCT 127 laughed along, Haechan made sure to sound as natural as possible, faking laughter was something he had practiced over time. Smiling and looking 'fine' was one thing, but laughter was so much harder to fake.

Now, it's not that he needs to do it all the time. Mostly the jokes were funny enough to get him to actually laugh, but that day in particular he feels too numb inside to react genuinely to any humours thrown. His face bears a listening facial, paying attention to each person talking, but his mind runs wild.

It thinks of that one time his voice cracked on stage, how ne needed more practice, how he nearly tripped his hyung one time live all because he wasn't focusing. "And then there's this..." and there goes the other jokester.

Haechan inhale and lets out his artificial laughter, he was lucky that his laugh always sounded a bit awkward and was easy to imitate, there's that really short half a second pause between each syllable. "he he he he" and sometimes he adds the pitch to be higher to sound more convincing or throws himself back.

No one can ever tell his real laugh and his fake one

"Haechannie, hyungs going to see a movie. Spiderman: The Homecoming, is it? I heard it's funny" Dooyoung calls out to him one day. The elder surprised to find said boy, bandana on his head, sweats, sneakers on and a bag slings over his shoulders. "Oh, Sorry hyung. Gotta practice, but thanks for the offer" He sheepishly smiled at his hyung.

"What?! But we just finished practice like....an hour ago? And isn't Dream's practice being until way later?" he was really looking forward to spend some time with the unit's maknae. "Yeah, I just thought of going ahead. There's a reason I always learn the choreographies faster" he says, adding a cheeky grin hoping Dooyoung would just buy it and leave him be.

"Why you! But I already got us tickets sooo you can't refuse Haechannie! Go changed and meet us in the van downstairs in 15 minutes! Hyung's waiting!!" Before the other could protest, the other hyung had already run off. But Donghyuck wasn't annoyed or mad, he was fear stricken if anything.

A 10-minute interview is nothing but to pretend for a whole 2-hour movie, on top of it in a cinema where he couldn't just leave and stay as he likes as how he did at the dorms. The thought itself made him shuddered, he could tell he's going to have fatigue smeared all over his face by the time the movie is over.

He cursed at himself, out of all days, it just happened to land on that one day he feels too empty to feel anything let alone give reactions throughout a movie.

He had planned to use these last ounces of his energy to practice NCT Dream 'Go' choreography and maybe a song or two from NCT 127 but that won't happen now. He puts down his bag, which only had his phone, iPod and two bottles of water also his lyrics and choreography note book.

Changing into some sweater and jeans, he applied makeup because he needs to look 'alive' somehow, plus he's convinced that him without makeup could make Medusa looked like Cinderella. He jogged downstairs after shoving his phone inside his pocket and grabs a facemask.

Mark was waiting at the door along with Jungwoo, Taeil and Johnny. The first thing he noticed was Mark getting ready to tackle him, but he was late to react. The others were laughing, even Mark and his ridiculous loud hiccup-like laugh while still pining the youngest of the unit to the floor. Donghyuck was stunned, but he really just isn't feeling it today.

"Donghyuck you okay? I didn't hurt you or anything right?" Mark quickly got up, pulling the other up with him. "What? No, why?" Donghyuck could feel the panic rising from within, what? What could've given him away even for just a second?

"You weren't laughing"

Oh, shit. He forgot he was supposed to laugh in that sort of situation. "Ah nothing, I'm just a bit tired from practice just now" please, please for the sake of his mentality, don't pester anymore. The car honk from outside signalled it was time for them to go. "Are you sure?"

"I'm fine Mark, Just tired really"

No, I'm NOT fine. I'm ANYTHING but fine....

"Let's go, or we're gonna miss a good free movie!!"

*laughs* I can't feel anything, it's so empty

"Yah!! You brat!! Is that how you thank your hyung!? Haechannie, you're lucky I love you!!"

*laughs* Do you though? I'm so meaningless....so tired

"Hyung, quit yapping and go already!!" "Wow you impatient brat!! Haechan we might call you that now!"

*laughs* .... help me...please