the other half | haechan

one

DONGHEE POV

"donghee!" donghyuck's voice rang over the phone. 

"hey."

"how's things?"

"good. will you be coming home?"

"i don't know. i'll see how it is, okay? why, do you miss me?"

"maybe."

"well i don't miss you."

"lee donghyuck, you little,"

"mum!"

"alright, i gotta go. exams coming up."

"woah, do i hear that my sister is studying?"

"giselle's dragging us to her house to study..."

"that sounds more realistic. how long will y'all be studying for?"

"until 9? i don't know."

"wow, that's a good 5 hours."

- time skip -

"i give up," ningning huffed. giselle rolled her eyes, and said in annoyance, "please, we need to do this. our exams are in a month!" "you've complained 6 times already now, within the span of 28.57 minutes," karina said. "why are you counting?" giselle questioned. "because i'm bored. duh!"

winter was drifting off and i was just playing with my pen subconsciously. "you guys! seriously!" giselle yelled. "w-what? what just happened?" winter asked, coming back to reality. everyone just stared at her but she was still oblivious. "i'm hungry. y'all wanna go grab dinner?" all of us agreed with her, except giselle of course, who was fuming. 

"you know what, i have cup noodles and i'll go get it. y'all stay here and do your work. geez, i don't even know how you still do well like this, winter," giselle complained. ningining pointed at her and raised her brow. "she's crazy." "y'all, we should leave early, or at least convince giselle to let us rest earlier," karina slurred. "i don't know, i told my mum i'll be back by 9," i said. 

"did you really expect to study till 9?" ningning held up a pillow, hurling it at me. "how am i supposed to know? aeri literally doesn't hang out with us or reply to our texts durimg exam periods!" i yelled. the door opened, with an obviously done giselle, "i heard that, now let's get back to work."

- time skip -

"okay, fine ningning! let's stop here today, happy now?" giselle hissed. ningning grinned, "yay! thanks! but you owe us a meal, after exams end." "yes yes, very well. get out of my house, now."

the 4 of us left, heading down the alley to the bus stop. "it's scary here," i commented, huddling closer to them. "i know! it sucks to not have a drivers' licence," winter complained. "this is why you bring a pocket knife with you wherever you go!" ningning said, whipping out one. the 3 of us were appalled by the youngest's actions, but we weren't too surprised. 

i got onto the same bus as karina and headed in the direction of my home. we were neighbours, she just lived a few units down our street. that's why i had known karina for the longest, way before i knew the others. we attended the same childcare centre, held by one of the retired ladies in our neighbourhood. karina and my other 3 friends were the only ones who knew about my relationship with donghyuck. 

"okay, bye, donghee! see you on monday," karina sighed as she dragged herself home. i entered my house, which was quiet. my mum had probably left for my grandmother's house. she goes there on some nights to look after her, it's rotational with her siblings. i shut the door and headed upstairs to my bedroom to put my things down. 

the lights were switched on in the stairway, my mum probably forgot to switch it off, or my dad was home. i continued scrolling through my phone as i reached my room and opened the door. a young man was lying on the bed across the room from mine. that bed was far away from mine as i had requested for it when i was younger and pettier. it was usually empty, but it wasn't today. 

"donghyuck!" i exclaimed with joy, running towards him to give him a hug. he had layered brunette hair now, which made him look good. "oh my gosh, donghee!" he said, hugging back. 

"i thought you weren't coming back."

"i said i'd see how things are. and i could, so, surprise!"

"didn't you say you didn't miss me?" i said sarcastically, pulling away, and dropping my things on my table which lined the windows. donghyuck kicked me playfully, "you donkey..."

"also, donghee, you've lost a lot of weight. what the hell happened?"

"nothing."

"nah, did someone dump you? are you pregnant?" he fake-gasped. i slapped his arm, before leaving to take a bath. we spent the night sitting across each other, me listening to donghyuck tell me about his america tour, while i shared some incidents that happened back here. i enjoyed it, as it was a rare opportunity to get to chat with my brother, who was always so busy with his idol life.