Chapter Text
23 August 2015
Chen Kaiwen was 10 years old (fine, he was actually 9, but he was turning 10 in a few months, so it doesn’t really matter) when he first saw Park Donggyu, and Kaiwen thought he was the prettiest person he had ever seen in his entire life.
Kaiwen was new in the town, having just moved from China to S.Korea a week ago because of his parents’ work. He didn’t have any friends yet, and his korean wasn’t that great either, but school was starting in about a week, he hoped he could make some friends then. His older brother, Jiahao, had already made a friend, whose name is Sangwon, he lives on the same street as them, three houses away, and he seems particularly fond of Anxin, their younger brother. He always says how cute of a kid Anxin is. If Kaiwen was being honest, he was a little bit jealous, he wants to be called a cute kid too.
Back to the present, Kaiwen was at the park with his brothers and Sangwon, who was playing hide and seek with Anxin. Jiahao was reading a book on the swing. Kaiwen was on the swing next to him trying to distract his brother when he saw a kid, maybe his age, coming into his vision rushingly, then the boy sat on the bench in front of him, looking like he had cried.
As a naturally curious child, whom his parents and older brother always scolded him for because he’s too noisy, and that’s rude, he got up from the swing and started walking towards the other boy.
Kaiwen went in front of the kid and introduced himself “Hi! I’m Kaiwen” he said with the biggest smile he could offer. The other one stared at him with a suspicious glare because who was this random child thinking he was to come and interrupt his crying time like that.
Seeing that the boy kept staring at him while saying nothing, Kaiwen started to talk in his broken korean “I’m sorry for disturbing you, but I’ve noticed you looked a little upset so I wanted to come and cheer you up a bit.”
The kid looked up and they made eye contact, and at that moment Kaiwen swore his heart stopped beating for a few seconds and his breath remained stuck in his throat. This boy has some of the most beautiful eyes Kaiwen has ever looked into. They are so brown and mesmerizing.
“Hello! I’m Donggyu, Park Donggyu” the boy says in a raspy voice, ‘probably from all that crying earlier’ Kaiwen thought.
“Donggyu.” Kaiwen tested how it sounds on his tongue. “I like it, it’s very pretty, and it suits you.” Donggyu giggled. This boy for sure wasn’t korean, he was obviously struggling to talk. Donggyu thinks he sounds very cute and funny.
“How do you know it fits me? You just met me now.” He asked the boy in front of him, who was smiling like Donggyu was the most fascinating person he ever saw. He never had someone look at him like that. People don’t even notice Donggyu most of the time. He’s used to being in the shadows, to no one paying any attention to him, not even his own parents.
Kaiwen laughed at the boy’s response. “Well yes, but I have a feeling we are gonna be good friends in the future.” He told Donggyu, who looked a little shocked at this boy’s confidence. “If you don’t mind me asking, why were you crying earlier? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I just want to cheer you up a bit.”
Donggyu thought for a few seconds about whether to tell this kid or not because it was none of his business, but then again maybe it was better to tell someone than keep all of buried deep inside, and so Donggyu told him about his parents, how they are never home, and how they have so many expectations from him, and how nobody notices him, so he feels extremely lonely at times. And Kaiwen? Kaiwen listened to everything, occasionally offering Donggyu some affirmations. He also thought that perhaps his korean wasn’t that bad for a nine years old who had a minimum of lessons before he moved here.
That’s how their first meeting went. That day Kaiwen stayed with Donggyu until his brother called him to go home. And Kaiwen was right, ever since that moment, they had become inseparable.
☆☆☆
It’s a monday morning. First day of school, Kaiwen was officially a junior. He was beaming with excitement because that means in two years he will be out of this shitass school. Yes, he hates school, the only good thing about it is that he’s with his brothers and best friend, Donggyu. Speaking of Donggyu, Kaiwen wonders when he will come to class, it has already been half an hour since the class started, which was weird cause he was never late anywhere, especially not school. Donggyu was a very punctual person.
He missed Donggyu. They haven't seen each other since the start of summer because Kaiwen, Anxin, and Jaihao spent the holiday in China with their grandparents. Of course, he and Donggyu spoke on the phone every day, but it wasn't the same as seeing him in person, so he was very happy when he flew back to S.Korea. He wanted to surprise Donggyu, but he found out the other wasn’t in Seoul that week, you can imagine the disappointment he faced, so he didn't have a chance to see him yet.
Now he was at school and the first period had already started, yet Donggyu was nowhere to be seen. Kaiwen would know because both of them shared most of their classes, another reason he was very happy about. Last year, they only shared a few, it was very depressing for Kaiwen. He loves spending as much time as he can with Donggyu.
First class was over, so Kaiwen got up from his seat and went to find his brothers. In the meantime, he texted Donggyu to ask him where he is and if he's fine, he tried to call him, but there was no response.
Kaiwen spotted Anxin first. He was walking out of his class with his best friend, Lin. Kaiwen ran to catch them up while yelling Anxin's name. "Xin, Xin. Wait for me." Anxin stopped his walk abruptly and turned in his older brother's direction, making Lin bump into him “What the hell, Anxin?”
"Sorry, sorry. Hi, Wenwen-ge!" Anxin greeted him, staring a little weirdly at him seeing that he was alone. He thought Donggyu would be with him since they are so inseparable, you can never see one without the other. He decided to ask his brother. "What about Donggyu hyung? I thought you both shared the same class?"
"Well yes, we do, but Donggyu didn't come to school yet." Anxin was a little taken aback cause the Park Donggyu he knew so well never skipped school, not even once, so he thought that was a bit strange. Anxin wonders what happened that made the class president Park Donggyu not come to class today. "Whoa! Really? He never skipped school before, ge. What happened?"
Kaiwen didn't really have an answer to that since Donggyu didn't respond to his messages or calls yet. "I don't really know. He hasn't answered my texts yet."
"Wow, ge! That's crazy! He never ignored you before." Anxin exclaimed. Kaiwen was starting to get concerned because Anxin was right, Donggyu always responded to him in a matter of seconds. Now it's been an hour, and Kaiwen knew nothing about him since last night.
"I know, right? I really hope he is okay. I'm getting a little bit too worried. He's never done that before. Skipping school and not answering, you know?" Anxin understands how his brother feels cause if Sangwon hyung didn't respond to his texts, he would feel the same way. "It's okay, ge! Maybe he's busy with his family. I'm sure Donggyu hyung is fine. Let's go find Jiahao ge and Sangwon hyung."
They didn't take long to find them. Once the three spotted Jiahao and Sangwon, alongside Junseo, Jiahao's boyfriend, Anxin immediately ran to hug Sangwon. "Sangwon hyung, I missed you so much!" They hugged each other very tightly,"Anxinie, I missed you too!" Sangwon exclaimed, his smile instantly appearing when he heard Anxin's voice. Kaiwen thought there's definitely something between those two, but they weren't ready to accept it yet. He cannot blame either of them, though, he knows that feeling all too well.
It's not that he’s afraid of accepting it, but rather that he's scared of ruining their friendship. Donggyu is the most important person in his life, aside from his family. He absolutely cannot lose him for some stupid feelings he's havering now. Plus he hasn't seen any signs of Donggyu returning the same feelings as him. Maybe in time his feelings will change, Kaiwen wasn't really sure about that fact, though.
"Hello! Earth to Kaiwen. Are you still with us?" Jiahao nudged him, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Why are you alone? Where's Donggyu?"
"Oh, I don't know."
That surprised Jiahao a lot. His brother and Donggyu have never spent a second away from each other ever since they met. "What do you mean you don’t know? You both are always stuck together."
"Well, I said I don't know. If I knew, I would've told you." Kaiwen rolled his eyes and snapped. This question was getting annoying cause he really wished he knew where Donggyu was. He was getting very worried. He was not used to Donggyu not answering his texts like that.
The others looked at him with shocked stares for a few seconds before Jiahao decided to talk, "Whoa, easy tiger. I was just asking." He raised his hands in surrender to his brother. "Whatever. Let's go before our break ends."
So they all decided to go to the vending machine on the first floor to get some snacks. Kaiwen was still thinking about Donggyu, and why did he suddenly disappear when he had never done that before. Kaiwen prayed to whatever god or gods were above that Donggyu was alright and nothing happened to him.
☆☆☆
It's the last class for today, and Kaiwen still hasn't gotten any signs from Donggyu. He's now fully concerned, and he couldn't wait for school to be over so he could go check on Donggyu at his house.
Oh gods, his anxiety was rising the longer he stayed in this goddamn class, and time was passing so slowly. It felt like the universe was enjoying seeing him suffer too much. Kaiwen really, really hoped nothing had happened to Donggyu. He cannot picture a life where Donggyu is not with him.
There were 15 more minutes of this class, but for Kaiwen, it was more like hours. He started to have a countdown mentally. He was very desperate to get out of the classroom. He needed to see Donggyu now, or else he would implode. This situation was driving him to the deepest corners of insanity.
He was still stuck in his thoughts, paying no attention to what the teacher was saying when the bell rang. Once he heard it, he let out a breath of relief, immediately picking up his things and stuffing them into his bag. He said goodbye to their professor as he rushed out of the door, not even thinking of waiting for his brothers. He quickly sent them a text saying he had left and ran to catch the bus to Donggyu's neighborhood.
On the bus ride, a million of possible reasons spiraled in his head on why Donggyu hadn't contacted him yet. He thought of the worst case scenarios, of bad news welcoming him once he sets foot on Donggyu's front porch. His parents telling him that Donggyu was unfortunately not with them anymore. Oh, he was so starting to plan his end as well because if there's no Donggyu, there's no him. What's left to live for if the one he loves the most is not here? Alright, he was in fact going insane. He needed to get off this bus as soon as possible. Good thing there are two more stations left.
☆☆☆
When he stepped out of the bus, the autumn breeze hit him fully, a cold shiver ran down his spine. He forgot how cold it could get in the afternoon, and out of all the rush earlier he left his jacket at school. Great, now he was cold and worried as hell.
Kaiwen was walking down the street to Donggyu's house when he noticed a familiar figure coming out of a convenience store. As soon as he realized who he was, Kaiwen sprinted towards the person.
"Donggyu! Park Donggyu!"
Donggyu turned back at the yelling person behind him just in time to catch his best friend in his arms. They stumbled back a little because of the force Kaiwen slammed into him, but Donggyu balanced both of them while Kaiwen hugged him so tightly like he was afraid Donggyu would disappear any second now. Oh, how he missed his best friend!
Kaiwen nuzzled his nose into Donggyu's neck. "You stupid idiot. Don't ever do that to me again." He was now full on sobbing. He was so scared of all the possibilities he made up in his mind.
Donggyu hugged him even tighter if that was possible while petting his best friend on the head. He felt so guilty for making Kaiwen worry like that, but he had no way of getting in touch with him all day. His father had taken away all his devices and prohibited him from going out all day. He only allowed him to go to the store a few meters away to get some groceries. He was already probably late. Oh, he will so get yelled at when he gets back. But he can't leave Kaiwen, especially not while he is like this. Donggyu already felt too much guilt for making him cry, can't have any more. He will willingly get a punishment again. Everything is worth it if it's for Kaiwen.
"I'm so sorry! I really am, Kaiwen! I didn't mean to make you feel like this. I'm very sorry!" Donggyu repeated constantly, running his fingers through Kaiwen's hair, trying to shush him a little. Oh lord, he never loved someone more.
Once Kaiwen calmed down, and his sobbing came to a stop, he looked up at Donggyu and said in a trembling voice, "I was so worried and scared. Donggyu, I thought something had happened to you. You've never done this before."
"I know. I know, and I'm so sorry, my sweetie. It's a very long story, Wen, but it's alright now, I'm okay, everything is fine, love."
And Kaiwen was about to melt right here on this goddamn street because Donggyu was so sweet, and he felt so extenuated. He thinks he might have fallen if it weren't for Donggyu sustaining his weight entirely. They were still in the middle of the sidewalk, and only now did Kaiwen remember he was wearing just a thin blouse. The cold wind made him tremble. His heart was still beating like crazy, and his breath had shortened.
As he shivered, Donggyu noticed the way his friend was dressed, so he took off his coat and placed it around Kaiwen's shoulders. "Trust you to not get dressed properly in this weather. Do you want to catch a cold? I know you hate school, but I didn't think you would go as far as trying to put your health on line." Donggyu joked, and Kaiwen laughed. "Shut up, you idiot! This is all your fault! I did have a jacket, but I rushed out once class was over and forgot it. I was too worried about you." Kaiwen said, trying to sound offended but failing miserably. He looked like a kicked puppy.
Oh. Donggyu was so in love. This boy, seriously. He needs to stop being this cute, or else Donggyu's heart might explode any minute.
You see, Donggyu accepted his feelings for the other boy a long time ago. It was inevitable that he fell in love. Can you blame him? Kaiwen was a very cute and funny and gorgeous person, always positive, never seeing negativity in any situation, his happiness was directed by the simplest things, Donggyu had never seen someone this optimistic about everything. He was shining so brightly, more so than the sun on a hot summer day in july, so yeah, Donggyu fell for him, and from what he observed, he thought Kaiwen might have too, but he can't be with him, not like that, certainly not as long as he was still living with his parents. Being friends was the best for now. Maybe in the future, once they go to college, it will be different. Perhaps they will have a chance, but until then he was content with what they have so far.
He pulled Kaiwen even closer, and wished for this moment to last forever, but he knew it will eventually come to an end. For a while, though, they will stay like this for some more minutes.