Selcouth

O

"Ren?"

"Donghyuck?"

"Jess!"

"Oh hey Ryujin."

Jess stood in front of our table with an unknown boy along with her. But it seems that Donghyuck knew who he was, as his round eyes stared up at the foreign male. The boy, Ren, turned to me and bowed kindly, "I'm Ren, Jess's cousin."

"Oh hello, my name is Ryujin. And I'm not related to Donghyuck."

Donghyuck rolled his eyes cockily as he fiddled with his mask. He wanted to take it off, but no one seemed to force him to. Jess spoke up quietly, "What are you guys doing here?"

"She owes me a meal."

"On the record, you forced me to meet you."

I crossed my arms and glared at the other male, who was staring at me through his darn mask. Ren whistled softly at this tension forming, but he intervenes, "It was nice knowing you.. but we must go. I'll call you later Hyuk?"

"Don't."

"Ah right. Him?"

"Yeah. I'll text you first when it's safe."

They seemed to know each other's situations very well. Was the "him" Jeno? Or particularly someone else....

"What the hell Ryujin, stop trying to make it obvious that you're curious. And no, I'm not going to answer."

I murmured and copied what he said under my breathe, as Jess waved before leaving the shop with Ren. I leaned in towards Donghyuck and asked quietly to not let anyone hear, "Who is he-"

"Back off. If you get any closer, people might think we're going to kiss or something."

"You're gross Donghyuck."

Donghyuck let out a weak chuckle as he leaned towards me and ruffled my hair as I backed up towards my own seat. He rested his palms on the table and replied hesitantly, "He was my close friend. He is also a transfer student. But I don't want to say more."

"It's so annoying that you never say anything."

The food that we ordered soon came out with the steam released from the freshly-made dumplings. I watched the other eat the food hurriedly as if he has been starving for days. He then looked up to stare back at me before passing me a plate as well. I didn't feel as hungry, and I let him eat more of the food. His state has left me speechless; what had happened to him?

We ate without another word since we both didn't really know what to say afterwards. Checking the time afterwards, I tried to dismiss myself so that I could call my brother. But he stood up alongside with me, before saying, "Thanks. That was delicious."

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Are you crazy? You're thinking of going back to the abuse and stress?"

"Where else can I go?"

"Jeno's?"

Donghyuck stopped in tracks before turning around, where I saw tears forming within his round, doe eyes. The first time that I have seen him cry ever within the months we have been hanging around each other. He bit his bottom lip quietly before wiping the falling droplets from his eyes with his ragged sleeves. "Someday you will know what each thing means, and why I had to be this way. And it all starts from a selcouth dream of wanting to be a regular high school student. But that doesn't really happen in reality. And the person who broke that dream was Jeno."

I stood there, speechless, as more tears dropped down his damp cheeks quietly. He didn't even dare to hide his face anymore, as he took off his mask and I gasped in shock. I covered my mouth with my hands, as he revealed his half-beaten chin and lips. His neck. His arms. He showed it quietly before putting on his hoodie and his mask once more. "Stay out of it if you don't want to end up like me. I beg you. The last thing I want is someone to chase after an innocent person. Have your distance with Jeno, but you need to know. He isn't just the Class President. He is something more than that."

He then limped out of the restaurant without another word. All the music and the lights blurred out from the canvas; all I could remember was the badly bruised face of Donghyuck's emotionless face.