🍵  MATCHA!

donghyuck doesn’t really like tea that much, unless it’s doused with milk that tends to upset his stomach -- he opts for hot chocolate, which admittedly isn’t better but it doesn’t put his anxiety on edge either. he watches taeyong who looks like a drug dealer and gives a soft smile. he thinks about times when he and taeyong could be out in public anytime anywhere; the thought makes him slightly nostalgic.

“you’re asking me about health benefits?” he asks with a raised eyebrow. “last year at this time i think i was doing coke in a club bathroom.”

taeyong becoming an idol is almost bittersweet. he misses him, didn’t like not being able to see his friends, especially one as good as taeyong. but he is proud of him for doing what he loves, for being in such a popular group that he now has to hide his features under a hat in case some crazy fans mobbed him in this small tea place. 

donghyuck sighs with a smile before he answers. “i’ve been busy,” he tells taeyong. “hired as back up dancer, still working at the daycare, and now i’m doing dance and singing lessons. it’s... a lot but it keeps me sane, i think. i’ve been good... still some bad days,” donghyuck tells him-- remembering when taeyong had visited him in the hospital on a very bad day. “but most days are good. how are you?”

‧ ₊ ˚ TRC FLYERS——— 6!

                                                       ———— for you, @rkhaechan ♡

donghyuck feels a soft grip on his hand and a tug on his arm and upon seeing heejin’s face, he feels a warm feeling surge through him that prompts a smile on his lips. “heej!” says watching her reach for a piece of paper from her pile and then she hands him a flyer from trc, events and information listed. “of course,” he says with a smile. “congratulations, by the way. i was watching the mgas for you really, and cheering you on. but you can’t forget me okay?” he looks at the flyer and then smiles mischievously. “sign it for me? so i can sell it on ebay after you debut.” 

✰┆SWEET NOTHINGS

donghyuck notices the effort but he can see jaemin’s posture declining as soon as he sits up straight. he reminds him now of a houseplant desperate for water, drooping in the window, and donghyuck is heartbroken that jaemin is in this position, feeling so low and looking as though he’s ready to give up. donghyuck only wonders what’s on his mind-- what is he not saying, that his shoulders have to carry instead? donghyuck doesn’t want to pry; he knows that jaemin values space and the trust that in time, he will be able to confide in donghyuck. 

but, for jaemin’s sake, donghyuck hopes it’s sooner rather than later.

“okay,” donghyuck says, almost whispers, watching jaemin after he feels the kiss on his forehead. not even grabbing a bowl for himself, donghyuck waits until he’s well aware that jaemin is eating. it’s almost as though he can feel jaemin cracking, the tension building, and the thoughts in his head start to break himself down and examine himself piece by piece. the only problem is, jaemin is often quite critical, especially toward himself. 

then scene before him, though sad, is also kind of a bit comical. he has to put a hand over his mouth as to not laugh at his boyfriend crying into a bowl of noodles. when jaemin looks up at him, donghyuck can only snicker just slightly. “babe,” he says reaching out to grab jaemin’s hand. “i love you but watching you cry into a bowl of noodles is... kind of funny.” donghyuck sighs, looking at him seriously as he lets his smile fade into a small frown. “you can talk about it, you know? maybe give your brain a break and let me help you through what you’re feeling? i love you, jaem. i just wanna help.”

*shattered.

when donghyuck gets a line of texts, he’s confused. usually people aren’t asking him for help; usually it’s the other way around. of course, he can’t say no especially when he considers saebom to be one of his best friends and so he means to keep her in his life, for better or for worse. he’s happy to return the favor for not abandoning him after finding out about everything that’s happened to him in the past year; not judging him or giving him pity.

he’s looking at his phone, letting jaemin know what’s going on when he hears a loud clatter and feels someone wrap their arms around him. donghyuck takes a loud gulp, reaching up to rub saebom’s back. when she doesn’t say anything, he gets nervous. donghyuck doesn’t think he’s ever seen someone so inconsolable but he knows how important it is to her to be able to use her ankle and be able to run. he’s sure that he’d be the same if not able to dance or sing. donghyuck would feel worthless if he couldn’t do either, for they were just about the only things he was good at. 

but he believes saebom is good at more than just track and wishes that it didn’t feel so monumental for her. 

he lets her go, giving her a small smile as he tucks her hair behind her ear and walks to get her crutches. “i’d offer to carry you bridal style, if i wasn’t so weak,” he says to her softly, handing her her crutches and offering to take her things so she can focus on being mobile. “do you wanna go home? you could come over to my place... if you wanted. i have snacks and video games?”

✰┆SHINE(E)

donghyuck shakes his head. “we can go as slow as you need,” he tells him while looking at him in the mirror. donghyuck looks at his own movements before adding a few more steps when he thinks chan is ready. “listen, i think that people just forget what it was like to be new at something,” donghyuck says before he smiles at his friend. 

“okay,” he says with a nod. “now let me see you put everything together.” he steps back watching chan. “you’re doing good, just need to tighten it up a bit. make sure that you keep the rhythm, you want to count in your head as you go along. keep your chin up and your back as straight as you can.” donghyuck keeps his eye on his friend before nodding his head with approval. “what were you so afraid of dancing for, huh?” 

✰┆GUYS BEING DUDES

donghyuck smiles listening to all of jeno’s suggestions before he shakes his head. “definitely not making things easier,” he agrees. and then he thinks about the question before hand -- truthfully, his favorite games were those he could spend hours immersing himself in. open world maps like horizon or assassin’s creed but he wanted to play something that jeno and himself could both enjoy together. “not really,” donghyuck says with a shrug. “but if you want, i could set up my switch?”

he looks to his collection and notes that he has a lot of nintendo games that the two of them could play -- maybe if jaemin came home soon, they could all play. “i have mario kart or smash? even donkey kong is fun and mind numbing,” donghyuck says looking at jeno and giving it a shrug. “i wouldn’t be a good host unless i let you choose.” he gives jeno a smirk and then gets up to grab something to drink. “you thirsty? hungry?”

Magic Man

“of course the baby is here,” he says. “the moms can’t really bring him out on a date, can they?” donghyuck rolls his eyes playfully and presses his lips together. he supposes not everyone knows that xuxi’s mom is dating his, also supposing they’d rather keep it that way, just incase. but dejun is someone he knows he can trust so he doesn’t mind spilling secrets in short distance. 

“do you want to see him?” donghyuck asks getting up and silently walking to the room where the bassinet is situated in the corner. a frowns folds on his lips when he notices his baby brother rolled around onto his belly, smiling when he sees his big brother in front of him. “why do you never tell me when you’re awake?” he says gently to the baby before picking him up and turning him to face dejun. as soon as he does the baby’s eyes open wide and stare at the new face before him. “do you want to hold him?”

✨ shattered

donghyuck blinks, pulling at the ripped bit of his jeans and suddenly avoiding solji’s gaze. he knows that those who care about him won’t judge him for his disorder but it’s still a terrifying thing to have to explain to someone, especially when sometimes he can’t even understand it himself. he has stories from johnny and jaemin, even yuta and sicheng, but most of the times he’s at a loss for his own behavior. it’s only recently started to get better and even out. 

“noona,” he starts softly. “have you ever heard of bipolar disorder?” his eyes find hers again, searching for some kindness or understanding before he continues. 

“it’s like sometimes... my brain goes really crazy and i can’t sleep right and i have way too much energy. it feels... like a drug and it’s made me reckless sometimes. i can’t even remember what i do when i get like that most of the time.” he pauses collecting his thoughts. “the higher i go up, the harder i crash down. it feels just like i’ve been hit with a ton of bricks. the depression is so bad that i can’t get out of bed for some days at a time.” 

his voice gets quiet and he looks elsewhere as his chin falls. “who would give someone like that a chance to... be an idol?” he wonders aloud.