''Huh? For me?" Ethan said, taken aback as he accepted the strawberry flavoured yoghurt from Non other than Dohyun
''Sigh, Yes for you'' Dohyun said.
Ethan not hesitating opened it and took a sip
''Mmm, how'd you know that strawberry is my favorite flavour?"
''It's because it's the only flavour of yoghurt and lollipops I always see you eat.....so I figured that it was" Dohyun replied while looking away which made ethan smile.
It's been two days since the incident and things between them were still awkward but bearable, Dohyun would follow him everywhere without saying a word, ethan thought it might be because he was still scared and wanted protection from him but that wasn't the case at all since all the bullies were expelled,since this wasn't there first time bullying and beating someone.
Lunch time came
''Should we head to the cafeteria?" Ethan asked as they walked out of the classroom
''If you want to... '' Dohyun replied with a neutral face.
It was hard to get a read on Dohyun, the boy always tried to hide his emotions. He spoke little and rarely voiced his opinion and followed ethan quietly, but ethan knew that that wasn't really who he was, whenever Dohyun spoke he would try to sound calm and neutral but he couldnt fully hide his emotions, there was always something in his voice at the end of his sentences, but he couldn'tplace his finger on it. Ethan wanted the boy to be comfortable with him especially now since he had made up his mind to befriend him for real, he wanted to have a genuine friendship with Dohyun but understood that it was still too early to hope for that. All he could do was try to make him comfortable enough, and who knows maybe one day he would eventually open up and and be free with him. So he sighed and grabbed Dohyun's arm and walked towards the cafeteria ''We need to start eating healthy'' he said while handing the boy a tray and lead him to the line ''And besides aren't you tired of tuck shop foods?"
''But…are you comfortable eating all alone?" Dohyun replied glancing around
''Huh? What are you talking about?" they walked towards an empty table and sat down.
''I didnt mean those guys,I meant your other friends, you know the popular ones!…won't they feel bad?"
Ethan just sighed and drank some water before replying casually ''I don't really consider them as friends anymore''
''Ah…I see'' Dohyun said and began eating trying his best to mind his own business but ethan just smiled and leaned in ''Aren't you going to ask why?"
''Huh?, why would I? Thats your personal business after all'' Dohyun said but ethan could see the curiosity in his eyes each time their eyes met so he added ''Oh okay but I would have told you if you asked…anyways I see that you like sausages?" He said and placed his own into Dohyun's plates ''here you can have mine from now on, I dont really like them''
''Oh? Thanks" Dohyun said and quickly finished his food and glanced at ethan's plates ''Why didn't you eat?"
''No apetite, but don't worry it'll come back soon'' he said flatly and stood up ''lets stop by the tuck shop'' he added.
They were on their way back to class when someone bumped into ethan making his ice cream fall to the ground, some staining his shirt, ''what! '' the girl who bumped into him exclaimed and looked up and immediately her expression shifted from anger to excitement ''Ethan!, long time no see! How have you been''
Ethan glanced at her and at his ice cream on the ground and at his shirt and almost let out a sigh but he managed to stop himself and put on a composed expression '' Yes it really has been a long time Seulgi, are you okay?" He said and smiled making the girl blush ''ah! Yes yes I'm okay, but …Is your shirt going to be okay?"
'Going to be okay? Going to be okay?! Hah! How funny'
Ethan just stared at her, irritation growing with every minute he looked at her, she oblivious to his irritation blushed even harder finally covering her face with her hands '' You should give it to me! I can wash it for you" She said in a honeyed voice that irritated ethan even more.
Seulgi was one of leila's best friends and leila would probably jear about everything that happened here, so he took a big long breath in and calmed himself. Even though seulgi looked innocent and cute, he knew just how harsh amd venomous she could be, she was a two faced snake unwprtgly of trust. ''No I'm okay, but thanks…we've got to get going now see you'' he said then left.
Dohyun waited until they were a good distance away from Seulgi who was still standing there?, before handing him another ice cream package strawberry flavour ''Here, You probably need this to replenish your soul''
''Wha-''
''Take a good look in the mirror and you'll understand'' Dohyun cut him off before he could speak.
Time was moving and ethan had to find a way to move out of that house before it was too late. He already had a place to stay and that was his old house where he had stayed with his parents, it was still in perfect condition and well maintained because of his aunt, Mrs kim. She had hired a monthly cleaner to clean the house even if it wasn't occupied. It was a very big house and ethan didn't mind that he would have to stay alone for some time until he joined Hm entertainment as a trainee and would have to live in the dorms, it would just be for six months, as precisely in six months time the company would take in new trainees. And if he remembered correctly Dohyun would be scouted during that time and join Hm as a trainee and later debut. He had to make up a reasonable excuse as to why he would move out, not that he would listen to those crazy people, even if they told him to stay he would leave eventually.
what he was worried about was them following him to his house. He was scared of the thought of being alone in his parents house not knowing what they would do to him.
He had to go see his aunt soon