For the next couple days Daehyun avoided speaking to Youngjae. He felt ashamed for telling him what happened to him. What he found himself doing was simply telling Youngjae that he was studying hard for an upcoming test. He didn’t know what else to do; he just wanted some time to think about everything.

Youngjae only wanted to help, he was doing the best he could but there wasn’t much a friend living several miles away could do. It wasn’t Youngjae’s fault yet Daehyun got the impression that Youngjae took hold of his burden and was determine to share it with him.

Not long after Daehyun had told Youngjae he was flooded with support that it was almost enough to bring him to tears. Not once had he ever told anyone about his situation but was overwhelmed by the fact that someone living so distant from him would care about him so much. But Daehyun felt ashamed that he had resorted to this, he felt as if he was doing nothing except for ask for attention. He didn’t want attention, he hated attention but still he couldn’t help but think that.

He didn’t mean it for that to happen. Daehyun had felt Youngjae’s concern seep out of him and radiate through the screen. He needed time to think about what Youngjae had said and wanted to give him time as well. He hardly thought that this was the kind of thing someone living in Seoul wanted to hear about, he probably had his own troubles as well.

But he couldn’t avoid him forever; he was already feeling empty without his daily chats with Youngjae. So despite the sick feeling bubbling through his stomach, he logged on and immediately his eyes fell upon Youngjae’s icon. He was online but he didn’t initiate the conversation.

Usually he was the one to start it but this time, nothing. Youngjae probably moved on from him. Youngjae had probably found another person online to talk to. He didn’t want to talk to Daehyun anymore, he was damaged goods and no one wanted damaged goods.

Oh how Daehyun was wrong.

YJ:
> DAEHYUNNNNNNNN
> OMFG YOURE ONLINE AGAIN
> ITS BEEN AGES
> I MISS TALKING TO YOU LIKE CRAZY

DH:
> Hey
> i miss talking to you too

YJ:
> how have you been?
> feels like years since we last talked LOL

DH:
> LOL its just been a couple days
> and yeah ive been good
> nothing exciting happened so meh

YJ:
> how was the test youve been studying hard for?

Daehyun read the reply and had a nagging feeling that Youngjae knew he had been lied to. Immediately feeling guilty, Daehyun had to fix this.

DH:
> i didnt have a test

YJ:
> yeah i kinda guessed that LOL

DH:
> sorry i lied but i needed some time away from the computer and everything
> to sort myself out

YJ:
> no, i mean i know you didnt study for a test coz i know youre too lazy
> you just cram everything in last min
> like me LOL
> but if you needed time you should have just told me upfront
> i understand that you need time and stuff
> just kinda worried me thats all

DH:
> sorry

YJ:
> LOL no dont be
> i just want to know that im here if you need me
> even if you just want to rant or something
> ill read through all your crap and not complain once
> you can send me a bloody 10000 word essay about idk the current government system and id read every single word

DH:
> … i dont know what to say

YJ:
> you dont have to say anything
> just know that im here

DH:
> no i mean
> why would i write a 10000 word essay about the government?
> is that even possible?
> who would even write so much crap in the first place?
> i dont even take up politics

YJ:
> LOL DAEHYUN PLZ
> IM TRYING TO BE ALL SUPPORTIVE AND THE ONLY THING YOU GET OUT OF IT IS THE ESSAY PART?
> LMFAO
> TYPICAL

DH:
> typical?
> HEY LOL
> im just saying why would i even write an essay like that in the first place LOL

YJ:
> LOL whatevs man
> you know what i mean
> how was school anyway?
> learn anything new?

DH:
> LOL who do you think i am?
> course i didnt learn anything

YJ:
> OTL