Birds chirped loudly beyond the glass window. Dongwoon flinched at light hitting his eyelids. With a soft groan, he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and stretching. A yawn bubbled up from his throat, groggy and unaware.

“You’re here?”

Dongwoon jerked up, relief and disbelief flooding his tired, achy body. “Mir?” he croaked, feeling abruptly lame as he watched the lovely boy sitting up in bed. Morning rays illuminated his face, taking away the sickly green hue and replacing it with pure white and faint shadows. There was a subdued liveliness in his eyes, and a strained ghostly smile on his pale lips.

Yet there was still something so absolutely breathtaking.

“Hmm?” Mir mumbled closing his eyes and tumbling back onto the pillow.

Panic shot through the visitor’s heart and he leaned over Mir, running his hand across the ashen features. “Are you okay?” he asked urgently, “do you need anything? Should I get the doctor? Are you thirsty?” Dongwoon frowned when he saw the drowsy boy chuckle. “This isn’t a laughing matter.” The sternness quickly faded though, as he joined in the quiet laughter, “…but it’s nice to hear your voice.”

“Mmhmm,” he murmured, rolling his head so he faced Dongwoon. Slowly, those precious pupils showed themselves again, “What happened yesterday?”

Dongwoon shook his head, “It’s over now. I promise it’s over.”

“You always take care of me,” he whispered, “You’re my best friend, I think.” Mir bit his bottom lip, tears liquefying his puppy dog eyes.

The chestnut haired boy pressed his thumb against the strained lip, forcing Mir to stop biting. “Even gnawing on lips is making me nervous,” he explained exasperatedly, “you really scared us, Mir…”

“This is the last time,” he promised softly, “I won’t do it again. I won’t do it again…I—”

“Mir?!”

They turned their attention to the noisily opened door to see a flustered, disheveled Joon stumbling in. His eyes were frantically searching the doctor’s office until they finally found Dongwoon and then Mir.

“Oh thank god,” he collapsed against the edge of the bed, head bowed, “I got a call two days ago saying you had been put under suicide watch and I couldn’t do anything until the storm let up. I drove all night and all day to get here and I swear I was about to go crazy from worry,” he rambled into the blankets, words half muffled.

Dr. Choi stepped out of his office then, looking rather irritable. “Now that Mir’s legal guardian is here, I’d like to kindly ask that you go home and rest up properly Dongwoon.”

“Guardian?” Dongwoon repeated, reluctantly standing up to leave.

Joon smiled sheepishly, straightening his posture. “It was a whole mess last night to prevent Mir from getting his social worker involved,” he said, “I meant to tell you, Mir.”

“It’s okay,” the boy sighed, pulling the blankets higher up around his face.

“I’ll be going then,” Dongwoon trailed off, stubbornly unmoving. He even had the nerve to reach out for Mir’s fingers which peeked out from between the covers.

The latter peered up, extending his hand towards Dongwoon. “Dongwoon?” he questioned.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said smiling slightly, “recover fast.”

Mir flashed a tired, toothy grin, “Yeah…I will.”

Joon followed Dongwoon out the door, stopping the younger male halfway down the hall and out of earshot of the infirmary.

“What’s up, hyung?” he asked.

“Thank you for taking care of him,” Joon’s words flooded out, drenched with sincerity and misery all at the same time. He squeezed the young boy’s shoulder, eyes shining with immeasurable gratitude. “I don’t know…I don’t know what I would’ve done if he really…yes.”

Dongwoon shivered at the thought, and quickly offered up a comforting smile. “Don’t worry hyung. Mir is fine now and I’ll make sure of it from now on.” He noted the surprise on Joon’s face. “A while ago you told me that Taemin wasn’t good for Mir. Well, I finally understand. I won’t let Mir go anymore.”

Joon stifled a laugh, hand sliding off the youth’s shoulder. “How can you say such embarrassing things with a straight face?” His was approving nonetheless, arms crossing loosely over chest. “Does Mir know about your plans?”

“No, but I’ll be telling him when he’s released from the Watch,” he affirmed, “and it’s not embarrassing, hyung. I always talk like this.” He blinked a few times, confused by Joon’s flush. “Is there something wrong with expressing myself colorfully?”

“No, no,” he said quickly, unable to help a teasing grin, “it’s much better than someone who doesn’t tell Mir those gushy things.”

Dongwoon nearly danced down the road, humming to himself. It was dorky, and surely a bit more than over the top but he couldn’t help himself. There were endless possibilities with the coming day.

The first order of business was talking to Kikwang. It was time to give that up. Dongwoon would admit he loved spending time with the other boy, but loving someone and loving the times you’re together are two completely different things.

If he were to choose, it would be Mir always and forever. There was no one else he would spend eternity with – not that they would live for an eternity, but the romantic sentiment was the important part. Now there was a chance for them. All Dongwoon had to do was break things off with Kikwang and then both of them would be free.

Me: Hey, can we meet up?

Kikwang: Sure! Where are you?

Me: Let’s meet at the Tech Shop

Kikwang: Okay, I’ll be there in 2 minutes!

Dongwoon put his phone back in pocket, jogging towards the Tech Shop. There was no real meaning behind the location. It was just conveniently close and quiet. No one else went in there except for the Tech Crew and most of them were away on trips or just, away.

That’s why it would be a perfect place to break things off. If Kikwang got emotional then no one would be around to see and Dongwoon wouldn’t be accused of heartlessness. See? He was protecting the other boy’s feelings rather kindly.

A moment after Dongwoon entered the Tech Shop, so did Kikwang. He allowed the latter to kiss his lips before pushing him away. There was so much adrenaline pumping through Dongwoon’s veins that he couldn’t help the giddiness that entered his voice when he said, “Let’s break up.”

Kikwang’s face fell.

“This is a good thing,” Dongwoon stated, gently rubbing the crestfallen boy’s arms, “you’re free. You can do whatever you like with whoever you like. There’s still so much left to our senior year and it’s just not right for you to waste it on someone who’s as half-assed as me. I can’t give you utter devotion so I’m not worth it, Kikwang.”

“You…do you hear yourself?”

Only then did Dongwoon realized how absolutely stuck his face was in a smile. He released the other person, trying to cover his awkwardly revealing grin. This was a serious conversation. Why was he unable to stop smiling?

Oh right, because Mir was single.

Now the damn smile really wouldn’t go away. Dongwoon wasn’t the only one to notice though. His boyfriend was watching him through saucer-like eyes, disbelief carving his features. “You at lying,” he stated softly, “you seriously at lying… Why are you breaking up with me?”

“Because I already told you,” he answered, hoping the roundabout words would be sufficient. They weren’t.

Kikwang crossed his arms. “Hell no,” he snapped, “we’ve been perfectly happy! What did I do? Is it something I told you? Are you upset because I’m not good enough in bed?”

Dongwoon blushed, and shook his head in surrender. “N-No nothing like that!” he assured. “You’re fine in bed and you didn’t say anything and you didn’t do anything either…it’s just…well, I mean, Mir is single again—”

“—you’ve been using me?”

He flinched at the word choice. Using was a really strong verb. Had he really been using Kikwang? No, of course not…some part of Dongwoon had surely fallen for the boy, but that flimsy sort of attraction couldn’t hold its own against the way he felt for Mir. They were on completely different levels.

Kikwang shook his head, jaw slackening, “No…I don’t believe you.”

Dongwoon wanted to say that technically he hadn’t said anything yet, but there was no chance.

“We’re not breaking up.”

“H-Huh?” he staggered, losing his balance for a moment.

“You heard me,” Kikwang shrugged, “did you expect me to just let you go?”

“Well…I didn’t really think it was up for debate?” Dongwoon said carefully.

The other male stepped forward, running his hand across the tall boy’s cheek. “It took two people to start this, it’ll take two people to end it. You’re not allowed to just throw me away once you don’t need me, Woonie.”

“Kikwang…,” he tried to say more, but again, he was cut off by a finger to his lips.

“I’ll make you fall in love with me,” he ground out, removing his hand and kissing the dumbfounded boy, “for real, before I’ll even consider breaking up with you. Got that?” He made Dongwoon lower and lift his head once, smiling at the complete picture of confusion. “Good boy. Then I’ll call you later. ” He sauntered past, not once looking back to see what Dongwoon thought of the declaration.

***

Mir felt a warm hand around his and smiled. “You’re back already…?” he mumbled, slowly opening his eyes, “Dong…”

“No…not him.” Taemin breathed, standing over the stunned boy. His face was contorted in despair as he kneeled down beside Mir’s bed.

“T…Taemin?” he sat up, eyes following every line of the miserable person. It felt like it wasn’t real. There was no way it was real. Why would he show his face? Mir tried to shake away the phantom but it wouldn’t disappear, not even a little bit.

Mir looked over to see the doctor’s personal office light on but Joon was nowhere to be found. Wasn’t he supposed to be watching over him when the doctor wasn’t?

There was a slight squeezing pressure around his hand and he turned his attention back to the apparently real Taemin.

Sad, dark eyes peered back at Mir. “…Please take me back.”

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If you'll believe it, all of this was supposed to be 2 chapters...i dont know what happened but enjoy lol