SIX
🧬

"Taeyong?" Doyoung called, he stepped into the awfully quiet dorm.

No response.

Doyoung looked around, everything was perfect. It was as if he had walked into a newly furnished house.

"Taeyong?" Doyoung called once again after he had enough if looking around. He went to his bedroom to see Taeyong sleeping on the floor.

"Why is he sleeping on the floor?" Doyoung wondered. A light emitting from Taeyong's wrist caught his eye,

It was a battery life. Apparently, he was "charging,".

"He must've been tired," Doyoung grabbed a blanket and placed it over Taeyong.

He stared at him for a while, it was strange but not as strange as seeing how perfect Taeyong was.

Doyoung shook his head, it was creepy to just stare at someone while they slept.

"Rest well," Doyoung whispered with a soft smile as he adjusted the blanket over Taeyong's shoulder.

Taeyong opened his eyes immediately which scared at life out of Doyoung.

"Good afternoon.." Taeyong said while rubbing his eyes.

"I'm sorry if I woke you up," Doyoung apologised quickly as his racing heartbeat settled.

"No, it is alright. I did not have much to do after cleaning so I decided to replenish my energy," Taeyong explained, sitting up from the floor.

"Why have you returned early from your studies?" Taeyong asked.

"Huh? Nothing much, it's lunch break so I decided to check up on you," Doyoung replied, sitting cross-legged from Taeyong.

Taeyong formed a soft smile on his face, "It makes me happy to know that you are concerned about me," He spoke hesitantly, hoping he had used "happy" correctly.

A strange feeling nested upon Doyoung's heart when he heard Taeyong say happy. Happy? Because of him?

Doyoung looked at the floor, making eye contact with Taeyong was suddenly difficult for him. "It's not a big deal, don't make it seem to be,"

Taeyong only nodded, taking note of Doyoung's words. "Shall I go make you lunch?" He asked, pulling off the blanket and standing up.

"No, no, no! It's okay! I'm going to go back to uni in a bit," Doyoung replied, hurrying to his feet to stop Taeyong.

"Oh, I see.." Taeyong nodded and sat onto the ground again with his knees to his chest.

Doyoung stared at him for a bit before he sat next to him, "It's okay if you sleep on the bed, you don't owe me your life so don't treat me as royalty."

Taeyong nodded again. He was terrible at communicating but again, he had just begun breathing 12 hours ago.

"Are you going to return me to Johnny tonight?" Taeyong asked, not being able to hide the disappointment in his voice.

Doyoung considered it but he thought it was unfair. Taeyong has just been cooped up in their dorm for the whole day, it wasn't any different than being in a tube.

"Nah, stick around for another day maybe." Doyoung paused and looked at Taeyong, "Unless you want to go back?"

"No!" Taeyong quickly disagreed but calmed down when he saw the surprise in Doyoung.

"I would like to stay just for another day," Taeyong promised himself he would return tomorrow because he couldn't possibly worry Johnny any further.

"That's cool. I like being around you anyways," Doyoung said, smiling to himself softly.

Taeyong hid his face from Doyoung as he grinned brightly. Hearing those words had made his day,

But Doyoung thought he upset Taeyong because he had his his face for so long. "Did I say something wrong?" He asked,

Taeyong's head shot up immediately, "No! Of course not. You've made me very happy but you said it was creepy when I smiled at you," Taeyong explained,

Doyoung clucked his tongue, wondering how silly Taeyong could get. "That was because you were staring at us,"

"Am I not suppose to stare at you while smiling?"
"Not for a long time especially when we just met, that's creepy."
"Oh, I understand."

Another silence sat upon them for a while but it wasn't awkwardness. It was more of a comforting silence where you don't do anything but enjoy each other's company.

"Do you wanna watch a movie?" Doyoung asked, standing up and searching for his projector before Taeyong could even answer.

"Do you not have classes to attend to?" Taeyong asked, following Doyoung around the room as he looked for the projector.

"Eh, it's just one day. How bad can it be?" Doyoung asked, pulling the projector out of his drawer.

"Well, you may miss out on a few topics. Eventually, pile up more work-"

Doyoung placed a finger on Taeyong's lip, "Do you want to watch a movie or not?" He asked,

Taeyong wanted to answer but he looked at Doyoung's finger on his lips. It made his heart race. He wasn't able to detect any physical problems so why was his heart beating so hard?

Doyoung realised he actions and drew his hand away, "Sorry, that was weird," He said,

"Do not be sorry. You have not done any harm," Taeyong replied before he pointed at the projector from Doyoung's hands.

"Would you like to watch a movie?" Taeyong asked, changing the subject before Doyoung could.

Doyoung had a soft smile on his face, "Sure, I don't see why not!"

They set up the projector in front of a plain wall and ordered takeout (even if Taeyong was completely against it, saying it was a waste of money because he could cook. Eventually, Doyoung convinced him by telling him it's the best way to enjoy a movie)

They sat on the bed next to each other, wrapped in a blanket. They dimmed the lights and watched the movie.

Taeyong watched attentively, taking notes and studying the human behaviour. He thought it would help.

But he lost track of that soon, too busy fanboying with Doyoung.

"Wait, is she going to confess?" Taeyong asked but received no answer from Doyoung who was anticipating the scene.

Doyoung nodded briefly, not taking his eyes off the movie at all.

The two squealed, hearing the sweet words of the protagonist as she confessed her love to the male.

And the scene wraps up with a kiss causing the two boys to squeal again.

"I never thought watching one scene would bring so much satisfaction," Taeyong beamed as he took another piece of pizza. (Yes, he liked the takeout)

"Of course, it's what the audience has been anticipating," Doyoung scoffed before he helped himself with more popcorn.

Doyoung had always envied these scenes. He had always wondered if he could ever possibly hear these words from someone.

His family relationship crumbled into dust when he came out 2 years ago. His support system consisted of his brother, Johnny and Kun.

He frowned, thinking about the terrible things he had to hear on that very day as he was thrown out of the house.

Taeyong noticed the gloomy look on Doyoung's face. "Is there something bothering you?" Taeyong asked, placing a hand on Doyoung's (as he learnt from the movie).

"Nah, it's some sad shit. It's going to ruin the mood," Doyoung replied, smiling at Taeyong to reassure him.

"It is better to talk about your feelings. Studies show-"

"I came out to my parents 2 years ago," Doyoung decided to tell Taeyong before he could continue.

Doyoung waited for Taeyong to say something. He thought he was disgusted.

"From where?" Taeyong asked which made Doyoung burst into laughter.

Taeyong didn't understand what was so funny about his question. "Did I say something strange?" He asked,

Doyoung calmed down and nodded. "I meant I came out as a gay to my parents. Not from a place,"

"Sorry, I must have sounded silly,"
"Yeah, you did."

"What did they think of it?" Taeyong asked, he didn't know why but he felt a strange feeling. As if he had been through this before.

Doyoung sighed, "They threw me out of the house, told me to stay anywhere but near them. They said that I will never find love," He continued,

Taeyong felt a sharp pierce through his heart. There were a few pieces of memories that began to clear from the fog,

10 years ago.
Inaudible yelling.
A woman, a crying child. She hit him.
Papers. She was signing them.
Another child, slightly older, yelled at the woman.
The woman only slapped him, yelling inaudible words.
Then more people joined in, yelling at each other.
The older took the crying child out from the house and ran away.
Swing set. He comforted the crying one.

"Taeyong, are you okay?" Doyoung asked, surprised to see tears emerging from his eyes.

"What?" Taeyong snapped out of his trance, his tears running down his cheeks now.

"Taeyong, what's wrong?" Doyoung asked, concerned to see Taeyong crying.

"I.. remembered something," Taeyong replied. He felt a teardrop on his hand then realised he had been crying.

"What is it? Do you want to talk about it?" Doyoung asked, leaning in closer to Taeyong.

"I wish I could but I have very little details that brings me unbearable pain," Taeyong answered, not being able to stop his flow of tears.

"I don't understand." Taeyong added as he continued to wipe his tears.

"Disgrace! From now on, you do not bear the surname, Lee! You are a child undeserving of love!"

The words had only made Taeyong's heart break, "My heart hurts," He said to Doyoung.

"I keep remembering things that being pain even if I do not wish to recall." Taeyong said,

Doyoung frowned and patted Taeyong's back, "That's just how sadness works,"

"I want to make it stop." Taeyong said, feeling frustrated when his tears couldn't stop flowing.

"It doesn't work like that but.." Doyoung pulled Taeyong into a hug.
"It'll be better if you let it all out," He caressed Taeyong's hair

Taeyong hugged back, letting all his tears fall.

"He really does give warm hugs," Doyoung thought as he embraced Taeyong, comforting him as he sobbed.

Soon, Taeyong calmed down but he rested his head on Doyoung's shoulder. "Sadness is terrible," He concluded.

"Well, that's just how life is. Life is terrible," Doyoung said, still patting Taeyong's back.

"But it doesn't have to be, right?" Taeyong asked, looking at Doyoung for confirmation.

"Yeah, I guess so," Doyoung replied with a soft smile. He started playing another movie but he had no clue what was happening.

"We should just be happy." Taeyong concluded, watching the movie.

"You'll find love one day. I know so," Taeyong said, pulling the blanket over his shoulder.

"You think so?"
"I know so," Taeyong replied as he let out a soft yawn,

Doyoung grinned, it was something about hearing it from Taeyong that truly reassured him.

"So-" Doyoung looked over at his shoulder to see Taeyong asleep already.

"Sadness is exhausting too," Doyoung said, picking up another slice of pizza and enjoying the movie.

+ epilogue

"Where on earth did he go?!" Kun thought, storming towards their dorm.

He was worried sick all day when he couldn't find Doyoung. The younger even had the audacity to ignore his messages!

He opened the door, surprised to see the place as clean as when they first stepped into the dorm.

"What on earth?" Kun slipped his shoes off and walked into the house, in awe at the cleanliness.

But he couldn't forget- "Kim Doyoung! Where are you?" Kun said, walking around the apartment until he reached Doyoung's room.

He spotted Doyoung and Taeyong together, leaning on each other as they slept soundly.

"Did he really skip uni just to watch a movie with him?" Kun asked himself. He let out a sigh, picking up all the leftovers from the two.

He smiled softly when he saw them resting together, "Taeyong is going to learn a really interesting emotion soon,"

🧬

no one asked but I'm dotae's whore