۵ besides ۵ ~ markhyuck ⊱ book two of the absence series ⊰

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    "has anyone seen donghyuck today?" the older boy asked his group of friends containing his best friend, a boy named jaemin, and a Chinese transfer student named renjun.

    "he said he was sick when I called him this morning. we usually walk to school together, but he said he was feeling a bit under the weather." the Chinese transfer said, taking an orange slice from his orange and giving it to jaemin.

    "he has seemed a bit off lately... I am just worried about him." the older boy said, tapping his foot against the cafeteria floor and frowning slightly.

    "I'm sure he is okay. he usually doesn't take sick days unless he really needs them, so maybe he was trying to fight it off but decided to take a sick day. Don't worry too much about it." jaemin said before eating the orange slice renjun offered him, hoping that the Canadian would believe his lie.

    "and besides, donghyuck is one of the strongest people I know. he'll be okay." jeno said to the Canadian boy, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a reassuring smile before turning to glance at the rest of the group, who kept their heads down in silence.

    "it seems like you all know something I don't. and it seems important. what is going on?" the older asked his friends, looking at them with a confused expression.

    "what are you talking about? we know just as much as you do." renjun said, technically not lying to his close friend, raising his eyebrow.

    "I am having a hard time believing that." the older said, crossing his arms over his chest and knitting his eyebrows together.

    "believe what you want, mark." jeno said before standing up from the table and exiting the cafeteria to head to his next class while everyone else started to pack up their things.

    "why is he acting like that? first, it was donghyuck acting strange and now jeno? please don't tell me you guys are going to do the same thing." the older boy said jokingly, grabbing his backpack and looking at his other two friends who remained silent.

    "mark, there is something you need to know. something about donghyuck." jaemin said to the older, resulting in renjun grabbing his arm.

    "no, jaemin. he said not to tell him." renjun whispered to the younger boy, a worried expression taking over his face.

    "renjun, that's the love of his life. he deserves to know what is going on." jaemin said, placing a hand on renjuns small thigh, who sighed and turned towards the confused Canadian standing in front of them.

    "take a seat, mark. we have a story to tell."