Head Down

◤sixteen◢

Donghyuck has been ignoring Jeno for three days, and Jeno has just about had enough.

The person who feels the most awful isn't Jeno, nor is it Mark or Jeno's mother, but Youngho.

Youngho feels like absolute shit for what's happening with Donghyuck. He already knows that the boy's life at home is far from what he wants it to be, and he really tries to fix the broken bond between them. At the same time however, Youngho understands why Donghyuck doesn't want anything to do with him anymore.

Donghyuck had always had a... Special connection to Taeil, something which Youngho found endearing and adorable. Youngho used to adore coming home everyday to the sight of his precious son and husband sometimes doing homework together, playing with a puzzle, or eating dinner when he was home late. Youngho knows that Donghyuck and Taeil's relationship is something irreplaceable, and as much as he tries, he won't be able to find someone who will be as much of a parental figure to Donghyuck than Taeil had been.

So he thought that at least he could marry Hayoon, Jeno's mother. Youngho knew that the two of them were best friends, that they spent every fleeting moment together. They've been together ever since the two of them knew how to walk, hell, Hayoon and Youngho were neighbours for over a decade. Youngho thought that it made sense: fall in love with Hayoon, secure the principal position to make up for the lack of income, give Donghyuck a second parental figure, and let him be brothers with Jeno.

Youngho thought his plan was flawless. But it all started to fall apart after he brought home the divorce papers.

Taeil has been confused, but after he heard Youngho's story, about how since they've been struggling financially for a while, he sought out the position of principal at the local high school. It was a prestigious, powerful, and generously paid position. Youngho, however, wanted out of any scandal before he accepted the position. He knows that the town they live in was old schooled, traditional, and to put it bluntly: homophobic. He didn't want his personal affairs to interfere with work, he didn't want that to jeopardize a set future for him and Donghyuck.

So Taeil signed the papers, albeit with a broken heart, but the thought of Donghyuck living in a way which Taeil couldn't give him; an income, a brother, a bit of privilege, signing the papers wasn't that big of a feat. Taeil, no matter what, will always put his son, Donghyuck's, importance before his own. Legal papers could say otherwise, but no matter what, Taeil will always think of Donghyuck as his very own son. There was no denying it, especially after everything they've went through together.

As a thank you, as if to compensate Taeil, Youngho had offered him the position of a math teacher at the school he was now in charge of. Taeil wanted to deny at first, because he would never want to seem as pitiful as to accept a job opening form his ex-husband. But then, after some thought, Taeil realized that if he were to work at this school, it would be the only way he'd be able to see Donghyuck on a daily.

And, once again, Taeil always puts Donghyuck first.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Mark hyung, I'm gonna be staying for a bit after school today, so don't wait up, okay?" Jaemin informs, sending Mark a smile which makes his heart beat a mile per minute. Mark truly thinks he needs to find a way to get rid of these feelings he has for Jaemin. At first he had been afraid fo getting rejected, but now Jaemin has a boyfriend. Mark couldn't keep pining over someone who wasn't available. He wasn't that pathetic. "Did you hear me?" Jaemin asks again, and Mark finally snaps out of his thoughts, acknowledging the other's words.

"Uh, yeah, it's whatever," the elder mumbles out, even though he knows it isn't whatever. He and Jaemin barely get to hang out anymore, save for whenever the younger just lets himself into Mark's house, but that couldn't happen often enough. He supposes it could be a good thing though, perhaps the distance will help Mark get over his feelings faster.

"Y'know," the pink haired male starts. "Since Jeno and I hang out often—" Mark thinks often is an understatement, "—why don't you and Donghyuck try to spend some time together?"

Mark almost chokes over thin air, but he manages to regulate himself before embarrassing himself.

"What?" Is all he asks the younger, but Jaemin understands, since the other's facial expression makes him seem scandalized. Jaemin thinks that Mark was over-dramatic like that, but he wouldn't want his best friend any other way.

"I'm jut suggesting a past time," he continues. "You and I thought that Jeno wasn't the best person, but look at how he turned out! Jeno is a sweetheart!" Jaemin gushes, making Mark scrunch up his nose in distaste.

"Doesn't mean Donghyuck will be too," Mark mutters under his breath. He doesn't want to say that Jeno still seemed like an asshole. At least not to Jaemin's face. "Just enjoy Jeno before he makes me mad again."

"Mark hyung..." Jaemin sighs, shoving his shoulder. "You're so pessimistic."

Mark simply grumbles, continuing to walk forward.