Getting off the bus, I was looking through the neighborhood in hopes to find Donghyuck. I knew he would never be outside during the evening, but I just wanted to ask the reasons for Jeno's sudden mood swings. My feet stopped at their tracks when someone called out my name right when I got off the bus, "Ryujin!"

Doyoung was standing at the bus stop, and I turned quietly to face him. I maintained my somewhat cool posture, but I felt my cheeks burning instantly as we made eye-contact. I cleared my throat quietly before speaking up nervously, "Hello."

He smiled his gummy, warm smile which made my stomach scrunch together with butterflies forming immediately. He looked around as if he was trying to find what I was looking for and asked quietly, "Is someone listening to us?"

"Huh?"

"Oh, it seemed like you were looking for someone, or as if someone was following you."

I shook my head immediately before fiddling with my backpack straps without realizing it. "I live around here..."

"Oh really? Jeno and Donghyuck live around here too."

"Jeno?"

Doyoung's face immediately seemed to regret what he just said, before clearing his throat subtly. "Yeah, they live around this neighborhood. I know Jeno's older brother."

"Oh really...? I never expected them to be living in the same area."

"Right?"

The moment of silence filled the air as the bus behind me closed its door and took off. We were left with the winds blowing gently across the earth. He placed his notebook into his backpack, before fixing his shoelaces. He bent down and reached over to my foot, tying my shoelaces for me. I jumped gently in surprise as he did so, and he laughed softly before replying, "Don't worry. I just wanted to help tie these laces; I know a few tricks to not make these untie again."

I tried to hide my blushed cheeks behind my hair, as I quietly watched his fingers create a loop through the shoelace, tightening it in a few seconds. He slowly stood up, dusting off the dust from his knees. He turned to look at me, before speaking up again, "How about grabbing a simple dinner? I haven't eaten since Jeno's brother wanted me to leave early as he was studying."

I nodded quietly, as he stood behind me as if I was supposed to take him to a place. I don't really eat around my neighborhood, so I tried to search up some nearby locations that are popular. A small chuckle left from his lips as he seemed to watch what I did, and I felt super embarrassed. The day was slowly getting darker, and the clouds were slowly getting heavier as it was forecasted to pour tomorrow morning. But the words still lingered on the back of my mind...

"Oh really? Jeno and Donghyuck live around here too."
A moment of panic as he revealed something that wasn't supposed to be said...

-

"How could you eat something delicious without me...I feel so betrayed, Ryujin."

Yeji complained endlessly over the phone, as I had jumped to lay down on my bed. I remembered how Doyoung had offered to pay, and how he would pat my head a few times as we ate. He called me a little panda for some reason, and Yeji would make fun of me. She taunted annoyingly, "That means you're ugly. He used to always call me that."

I rolled my eyes before hugging my pillow angrily, "I'm going to hang up on you."

"I'm kidding. But next time, take me near where you live. I want to eat something better."

"I live in the poorer part of the neighborhood. There's not much there. But I promise to take you to somewhere nice."

Yeji laughed loudly through the speakerphone, as I was still smiling and reminiscing of what happened at the restaurant. We chatted nonstop for an hour or so, before I decided to mention about the Jeno and Donghyuck thing,
"Hey is your brother close with Jeno's?"

A moment of silence.

"Um yeah, I think. I'm not really sure since I don't know much about Jeno's family tree. All I am familiar is that Doyoung does talk with Jeno from time to time."

"I heard Donghyuck lives near here too?"

"Do you have a crush on them or something? I don't know a lot about the boys."

"Geez, I'm just curious since I need to do my group project but Donghyuck isn't going to be here."

"Oh.. well, hey let me ask for Donghyuck's number then? Maybe one of the cheer girls have it."

"Alright thanks. Hey it's pretty late, I'll see you at school Yeji."

We hung up after saying our goodbyes mindlessly. The lights flickered as thunder suddenly had struck. I jumped in surprise as it struck without a notice. Yeji had sent me the phone number, as I hesitantly stared at my screen. I wondered if I should even text him in the first place...why does it matter with me?

But something else popped up on my screen, as I stared at the unknown number calling me. The thunder was interrupting me, and I jumped again whenever it hit. I cleared my throat before answering the machine in front of me, "Hello?"

"Hey."

"Whose this?"