ELEVEN
🧬

"I'm so glad it's the weekend~" Doyoung said, grabbing the cup of coffee Taeyong made for him.

"You won't be attending university today?" Taeyong asked, sipping on his own cup.

"Yep, it's the weekend!" Doyoung replied happily,

"Aren't we suppose to return him by tonight?" Kun asked, only remembering the promise because of that.

"Well, that's a choice that Taeyong should make but.." Doyoung looked over at Taeyong, pausing before he continued.

"For today, we'll probably go somewhere," Doyoung decided with a shrug. He smiled when he looked over to see a happy Taeyong.

Kun didn't like that smile that Doyoung had. It was concerning.

"Where are we going to go?" Taeyong asked happily but Kun was the complete opposite.

"Are you sure it's okay if we just take him out to public? What if we bump into Johnny?" Kun asked, getting in between their plans before they could discuss.

"Kun, it's not the first time you've talked to me! Once I decide on something, there's nothing changing my mind," Doyoung replied.

It wasn't an actual answer to Kun's question but that was only because he didn't know what to do if that situation occurred.

"Look, we'll be fine, okay? Trust me!" Doyoung said, picking up his cup and heading towards the kitchen.

Kun looked at Taeyong who was sitting there, staring into the cup of coffee.

Kun followed Doyoung into the kitchen, Kun watched him wash the cup. There was just something off about.. him.

"Doyoung, what has gotten into you?" Kun leaned in and whispered,

Doyoung placed the mug down and looked at Kun with concern, "You know what, I have no idea, I've been so reckless lately,"

Kun raised his brow, he didn't expect Doyoung to give in so easily. Especially when he was the type to put up a strong facade.

"What.. are you saying?" Kun asked, looking at Taeyong to make sure he wasn't listening.

"Kun, can we pretend this conversation never happened?" Doyoung asked, continuing to wash the mug then placing it away.

"What?"
"No off topic questions,"
"Why can't you just answer my question?"
"Because I don't want to."

"Look, I'll return him by tonight. For now, can I just actually show him around?" Doyoung asked, motioning over at Taeyong who was staring at Kun's pet goldfish.

Kun sighed, "Fine but only both of you are going," He said, walking out of the kitchen before Doyoung could disagree.

"Wait- Why?!" Doyoung asked, startling Taeyong who was doing nothing actually.

"I think I might just be a third wheel between you two again.."
"I have a test to study for! Just get out of here!" Kun said, walking into his room and locking the door.

"How did it go?" Taeyong asked, slowly approaching Doyoung.

"Uhm, looks like we're going to be the ones having fun today," Doyoung replied, not expecting an outburst of joy from Taeyong.

"Let's go! Let's go!"

🧬

Taeyong couldn't sit still in the car. He pointed out everything and anything, everything was amazing to him.

Everything excited him, he insisted on going almost every shop he spotted and Doyoung (somehow not being able to say no) had to agree.

"That's another dollar out of my pocket," Doyoung mumbled to himself, internally sobbing while Taeyong enjoyed his sweet potato.

"Have you never been anywhere before?" Doyoung asked,

"I do not recall much about my life before so everything is new to me," Taeyong replied, offering a bite for Doyoung.

Doyoung, without much thought, just bit into it. His actions would probably sink into him later on,

"Though.." Taeyong paused and looked around him, trying to spot anyone suspicious. "I feel like we're being watched,"

Doyoung didn't take those words seriously, maybe Taeyong wasn't used to being surrounded by lots of people. "Don't worry, it's nothing much."

Taeyong wasn't convinced, he still seemed worried.

Doyoung sighed, "Don't we have somewhere to be?" Doyoung asked, trying to get Taeyong's mind off his worries.

"Yup! Let's go!" Taeyong replied, continuing to walk down the street with joy.

Doyoung looked behind them, he made sure that it was just Taeyong who was worried.

He shook his head, "Don't worry, Doyoung. Don't be weird. You're not weird."

He stared at Taeyong who was probably going to get even more food if they didn't leave. Doyoung was sure he's going to go bankrupt this month.

Doyoung caught up with Taeyong and took his hand, "Taeyong, I have a place to show you,"

Taeyong looked at Doyoung's hand in his then back up at his face. "My heart is racing again," He spoke out loud,

"What?" Doyoung realised what he had done and withdrew his hand immediately, "I'm sorry!"

What Doyoung wasn't able to notice was how Taeyong used, "again,"

"Doyoung, are you okay? Your heartbeat is accelerating beyond average, your temperature is also rising," Taeyong asked, stepping closer to Doyoung.

"I-I'm fine! Don't worry!" Doyoung stepped away from Taeyong, using his hands to hide his red cheeks.

"What has gotten into you?!" Doyoung tried to calm his thumping heart.

Taeyong tilted his head, trying to figure out what Doyoung was hiding but he guessed that maybe he didn't want to talk about it.

"Do you want to tell me where we're going?" Taeyong asked,

"Yes! Come on!" Doyoung nearly took Taeyong's hand again but he reminded himself not to.

Taeyong saw the hesitance and that's when he recalled a scene from the movie they watched together.

Taeyong held Doyoung's hand, "Shall we get going?" He asked, swinging their hands as they walked.

"Huh? Yeah, of course!"

+ after a short drive

"It's the beach!" Taeyong pointed out from the car, getting overly excited again.

"Yep," Doyoung pulled the car over and stepped out, "It's the bi- beach, yeah, beach,"

Taeyong got out and ran down the hill of sand, "Ocean!" He yelled and pointed out,

Taeyong continued to run until he tripped over and fell onto the sand. Doyoung laughed the hardest among the two,

Taeyong got up and tripped over again. Finally, he rushed to his feet and then he ran towards the ocean.

Doyoung followed behind Taeyong much more carefully than he did.

Taeyong stood by the edge of the water, running away from it as if it was a monster every time it reached for the sand.

Doyoung watched Taeyong quietly. It warmed his heart more than anything to see him so happy.

"Doyoung! Come here!" Taeyong waved his hand aggressively, emphasising him to hurry.

"Yes?" Doyoung stood next to Taeyong who held a tiny shell in his hand.

"Baby crab is in there," Taeyong said softly, trying not to frighten the crab.

"It's actually a sand-bubbler crab," Taeyong added, getting over-excited again when it began to crawl out.

Doyoung cringed. He wasn't the best of friends with animals.

Taeyong noticed his discomfort and put the crab onto the sand. "You know.." He began,

He pushed Doyoung into the ocean, laughing when he saw the male off guard and falling into the water.

"Taeyong! This is betrayal!" Doyoung exclaimed, folding his arms angrily as he sat in the seawater.

Taeyong actually thought he was upset so he hurried to his aid.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!" Taeyong reached out to Doyoung to help him out,

Doyoung took his hand and pulled him into the water. "Are you serious?! Did you think I was mad? " Doyoung teased,

"Ah, you're too cruel!" Taeyong laughed, he never remembered what was the last time he had laughed so much.

"It was your idea to pull me in first!" Doyoung splashed the water at Taeyong's face,

"Ah, the seawater hurts my eyes," Taeyong sat there unable to open his eyes after the saltwater made contact with it,

"Oh, follow me! We might need to wash your eyes," Doyoung took Taeyong's hand, this time he didn't feel nervous.

He took Taeyong's hand without ever wanting to let go and there was something that told him Taeyong didn't want to either.

Kun watched the both of them from a distance, "I've never seen Doyoung talk or even laugh like that," He frowned.

He looked down at his phone, he stared at the contact name. "Should I tell him?"

"Before it gets any worse?" Kun looked up at the two again then back at the contact name;

Johnny Seo.

🧬