Slopes

t w e n t y t h r e e

<Mark angst anyone??>

<^>

Donghyuck chewed on the eraser-end of his pencil trying to figure out his current math problem. Exams had ended last week and he got high marks on each one, but math had always been a bit tough for him. And just his luck that they started learning Piecewise(s), which just got horribly ugly the deeper you went. What even was f(x)?

"You're...still here?" Mark said with a brow raised.

Donghyuck didn't even bat an eye at the sudden intrusion. He was used to Mark being as silent as a mouse and popping in out of nowhere. "It's not the first time I've stayed past midnight here Mark, I don't know why you seem surprised."

"Well yeah. But I don't think this is the best place to be doing homework." The older boy replies as he begins to take off his outer gear. "It doesn't look like you've practiced at all."

"That's because I haven't." Donghyuck sighed, finally putting his pencil down after finishing his final problem. He stretches, involuntarily letting out a high-pitched screech while doing so, practically making Mark jump out of his skin.

"Jesus are you okay?"

"Yeah. Sorry, old habit I guess." Donghyuck leans back into the Crash Room couch, unbuttoning his school blazer and closing his eyes as he rubbed his temples. "Damn, I've got a major headache." He pauses and lets out a long sigh. "I'm gonna murder my math teacher one of these days I swear to god."

Mark, who was now sitting next to him and untying his boot laces, nods. "What math are you in?"

"AP Cal."

"Oh shit." Mark's mouth opens wide in utter bewilderment. "I mean, I knew you were smart and all that but that's more like college stuff isn't it?"

Donghyuck shrugs. "I mean, yeah? I would rather take AP Statistics but they said I would need to do this first and get the credits."

Mark nods and stands to put his gear in his locker. "Okay. So why are you doing your homework here?"

Donghyuck's face hardens, eyes losing their light just a bit. "Just...didn't feel like being stuck at home." In truth, it was his birthday today. Normally that would make any kid want to stay home with their family and have all the attention on them. Receiving gifts and eating cake till their heart's content sounds perfect to anyone. But no, Donghyuck's birthdays weren't like that. Sure they were semi-fine now, considering he didn't celebrate them. But in the past, it was his least favorite day of the year, because it always reminded him and his parents that it was the day "a mistake was born", as they would so kindly put it.
Thankfully, his grandparents understood his resentment and knew it was best to leave him alone on his birthday, but they still gave him some spending money and bought him a chocolate cupcake with a singular candle. Generally, Jaemin, Jisung, and Hayoon would force him to go out to a cafè and celebrate, but that didn't happen today. Donghyuck had been avoiding his friends because that was the last thing he wanted right now.

Mark gave him a look, clearly confused in the change of tone. "Okay...Uhm," he coughs into his fist. "I think someone is texting you." Points to the multiple notifications popping up on Donghyuck's phone screen, making the younger boy sigh.