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six

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song recommendation: bath - offonoff

The heels of my school shoes click against the polished hallway floors. Donghyuck chatters animatedly beside me, to our senior, Mark (who Hyuck is obsessed with). "Hyung, are you going to audition for the talent show?" He hangs onto Mark's sleeve, his voice dripping with artificial sweetness. I have never seen him so disgustingly clingy before.

"Na Jaemin." A threatening voice makes me stop walking. Donghyuck and Mark still continue on their way to class, not noticing my absence per usual. Swivelling on my heel, I turn to face Huang Renjun. His eyes are burning with anger. "What have you done to Jeno?"

"What do you mean?"

"What did you to do to make him want to paint again?" Renjun grabs hold of my shirt, crumpling it in his fists.

"Why is Jeno painting a bad thing? He's the best artist in our school. Art is his passion, why would it be such a bad thing?" He scoffs at my questioning, rolling his eyes.

"Because everytime he picks up a paintbrush, he hates himself more."

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I can't concentrate. Renjun's words echoing around my brain, causing an avalanche of negative thoughts. He hates himself more. What does that even mean?

"Can you stop banging your head against the desk? It's annoying." Donghyuck complains, picking dirt from under his nails. "You've been acting weirder everyday, Jaemin."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I fidget with my hands, scratching dried paint off of my fingers.

"Even Mark thinks you're being strange, and he's oblivious to everything."

"He's just oblivious to your flirting, Hyuck" Scoffing, I roll my eyes, "or he's just playing dumb."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He mimics me from before. The bell rings, signalling the end of the school day. Hyuck stands up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I'm going to hang out with the boys if you want to come." I nod solemnly, following Donghyuck as he leaves the building and heads into town.

We walk to our favourite café: Neo Coffee Tech. Inside the warmly lit room, seats some of our younger friends. Donghyuck slides into the seat next to Mark, immediately plastering on his nicest smile to try and woo the older boy. I roll my eyes, plopping down next to Park Jisung, the youngest of our friends. He's staring at another table, eyes glued to a blonde-haired boy who's chatting animatedly to none other than Huang Renjun. "Who's that and why are you staring at him?" I nudge Jisung, and he looks surprised.

"Hyung! How long have you been here for?" His cheeks flush red, as he glances back over at the boy and then back at me.

"Long enough to see you checking out that guy over there. Does my baby Jisung have a crush?" I pinch his cheeks and he pouts angrily.

"His name is Zhong Chenle. He's a year older than me but we go to the same dance school." Jisung rests his head in his hands, staring dreamily at Chenle who turns to make eye contact. Waving brightly at Jisung, Chenle grins at his admirer. Renjun glances over to our table to see who Chenle is looking delighted to see. He notices me, immediately widening his eyes and getting to his feet.

"Do you know Chenle's friend?" Jisung whispers in my ear, to which I reply that we are "only acquaintances."

"Na Jaemin, I need to apologise," he rubs the back of his neck out of awkwardness "my previous actions were uncalled for and Jeno is making me say sorry to you, so... I'm sorry, I guess?" His ingenuine apology forcing itself through his frown.

"Jeno wanted you to apologise, why?"

"Just make sure you're at art club tomorrow. He might explain it to you, he might not. Don't force him to tell you anything though, or else I will kill you." He saunters back to Chenle.

"So much for an apology." Jisung mutters.

A/N

how long has it been since I updated????? way too long TT..... I'll update regularly now (ik i say that everytime but i mean it i swear!!!),, I've come up with a schedule I think (?)

also wayv has my whole heart !!!!!!!!! i love one (1) man and that man is qian kun :((((

ty for putting up with my bullshit yeet

- c