Selcouth

X.2

The night of the candidates being called up onto the stage..the room was quiet and nervously uneasy. After sleeping at Jess's place for one more night, Jaemin called me over to watch the voting take place in his living room. Donghyuck and Jisung were both also in presence as they knew they couldn't be with their own family during this moment. Eating dinner with Jaemin's mother and siblings was one of the most nerve wrecking dinner that I have ever experienced. They were all so quiet and lifeless as they knew they were waiting for the moment. Jaemin, as well, was not his usual state of behavior; he picked at his food with his fork as if it was something that was disinteresting.

After about an hour, we all gathered into the living room where the speakers were blasting with music and talk. Both Jeno's father and Jaemin's father were standing on stage with the most nervous expressions. It wasn't as extravagant as the actual president campaigns, but it was still fairly a big talk. Two largest corporations facing off in order to make sure they win the titled position. My father's background was always being drunk and late to work- it was something unimaginable.

Pacing around nervously, Jaemin's mother tried to calm herself down as her husband was being broadcasted all throughout television. His face as well was not reflecting confidence, but rather worry as he knew he wasn't able to receive much more sponsors unlike Jeno's father. Watching the tv endlessly made my head ache with pain but Donghyuck kept his hand within my hand as he intertwined our fingers together. I knew he was taking this difficulty as well as he knew there would be consequences for both sides if the other wins.

All of a sudden, Donghyuck leaned into whisper into my ear, "Despite who wins tonight....I wanted to formally say that I really like you...and that I want to go on an actual date with you."

I slapped him gently onto the shoulder to the point that I was kind of taken aback of why he would confess all of a sudden. My expression seemed to explain it all as he started to pull back from being scared of being hit by me once more. I leaned close to whisper back with a small tease to lighten the mood, "I might go on a date with you, but I can't say I like you back just yet."

Donghyuck widened his eyes with disbelief as he scoffed in return. I knew that Jaemin's family was too busy to even care about what we were saying as I smiled without even thinking about it. He smiled back gently and held my hand tightly as he replied with a slight whine, "But we even...held hands..and stuff. You can't do this to me."

I hushed him quickly as he continued to whine against my ear quietly as I tried to get his attention back onto the television. The host was now going to announce the winner as the atmosphere got serious once more. The heat radiating from Donghyuck's hand was expressing how nerve-wrecking this moment was going to be. It was going to determine the future of the reality that was to be placed on the whole education system but also between the two families.

The moment was finally here.

There were cheers and cries. I turned to look at Donghyuck, who stared at the television without any expressions as his eyes already described the emotional turmoil he was going through.

The winner was..

-

"Is Jeno not here today as well?"

The teacher looked at us quietly as she closed the attendance book when one of the students asked. "He is currently on leave of absence. He will be back soon hopefully."

She left the classroom without another announcement, leaving all the students confused and worried for the class president. Donghyuck was absent as well as he decided to go back home to find out what happened with the aftermath of the election. But no one seemed to approach me today as all were still trying to figure out the results as well.

Stopping at my locker, I turned to face Yeji who walked towards me. I could feel the presence of her dramatic self as she soon arrived in front of me, but her face did not scream anger or plans of deception. It was the exact opposite. It was a face of unknown worry and grief, as the dark circles under her eyes was prevalent through her uneven makeup.

"Hey..where is Donghyuck?"

Her voice was shaking silently as she tried to mask it with keeping her voice quiet and inaudible. I closed my locker soon after she asked, gripping onto my binder as I replied slowly in return, "He said he was going back home...he probably might be going on his way to the house right now."

Yeji shook her head as I could see tears running down her cheeks instantly as I widened my eyes in shock. I never seen her act this before as she walked closer to me and whispered back, "You have to stop him. Doyoung oppa told me that no one is responding in the household right now."

She was really warning me out of worry, which I never really expected from her cold blunt personality. I knew she wasn't lying as she grabbed onto my forearm for support as her hand shook continuously. It was like she held onto me for support but it was a sign that I had to go and stop the further madness from spreading. She warned once more as she pushed me away from my lockers, causing me stumble down the hallways. Her desperate eyes stared quietly at me with grief as she called out weakly, "Go and stop him. He will be in danger if he goes. Oppa will come and take you."

I dropped my binder and books onto the floor as the students all stared at me as it fell onto the crowded hallways loudly. I ran down the hallways with all my might as I knew I had to go stop him. Something felt off the moment Yeji pushed me, and I knew that it was a true sign of worry from her. She knew more things than I did, and she really never acted like this way ever. A few students all tried to walk away from the route that I was running in, as they all stared me with whispers growing along.

Doyoung was waiting in front of the school for me as he was nervously biting his fingertips. I arrived within a few minutes as running constantly was a difficult thing to do. Doyoung looked up to greet me as he himself was anxious about the whole situation, "We have to get Jeno and Donghyuck out. It's not safe."

I nodded in response as I replied back breathlessly, "I have heard from Yeji."

"Let's go."

Hurrying into the car, I kept dialing Donghyuck's number as he wasn't responding at all. Before Doyoung could drive out of the school, he slammed onto the brakes without notice, causing me to hit my head against the dashboard in front of me. Holding onto my forehead with pain, we both look up annoyingly as Jaemin was blocking the car from leaving. His face was angered but yet he seemed like he was going to get on as well, as he was pointing to the backseat.

Getting in immediately, Doyoung angrily asked him, "Are you fucking crazy?!"

Jaemin looked over at me apologetically as I continued to rub the spot as the pain slowly subsided as he then replied with a deep sigh, "Let me come too. Minah told me about it."

Doyoung shook his head before turning the engine back on, as he warned us before starting to drive recklessly, "Watch out. It's going to be a little bumpy."