𝟮𝟵: 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗬 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨
𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙆 𝙇𝙀𝙀'𝙎 𝙋𝙊𝙑

Just like every Thursday, the last class I had to attend was Chemistry with Donghyuck. Mr Jackson's class was located in the laboratory for experiments. It wasn't anything special though, we always did this. And every single time we did, Donghyuck and I were in groups and I did most of the work, though not this time. We were stationed by one of the many lab benches, wearing lab coats and protective glasses with various materials and tools essential for the experiment. I had no idea what type of experiment this was, but I trusted Donghyuck to know.

"Are you gonna fucking help me with this, or are you just gonna sit there and mope about probably something irrelevant?" Donghyuck hissed with annoyance. He cluelessly began pouring liquid into the beakers, just hoping that he wouldn't blow the lab up.

I was perched helplessly on one of the stools, my hand cupping my cheek. "Dude, I can't concentrate right now." I explained and scrunched my nose, the protective glasses I wore budged a bit. "I'm going crazy." I mumbled.

Donghyuck sneered and pore his eyes at me. "That's so fucking cringe."

My brows knitted as I looked at him who looked like he was about to vomit. "Huh?"

He rolled his eyes, very annoyed. "I know why 'you're going crazy' Mark." Donghyuck mocked and lifted his hands to his eye level, to make air quotes. "You know, you're my best friend and I guess I'm happy for you, but if I have to be really frank... I never wished for you and Gwen to work out."

I instantly sat upright from my seat and shot Donghyuck a bewildered look. "Huh?" I expressed. "Wait, this ain't about Gwen."

"It's not?" Donghyuck was curious about this, so he briefly took a look at me before proceeding with pouring more liquids into the different beakers. "Well, I mean everyone's talking about it Mark. By it, I mean you and Gwen, ever since she claimed to that you left with her after the party."

"What?" I nearly stifled. "What do you mean party? You mean the time I disappeared in Chenle's party?" I asked, hoping for a response but I didn't even let him answer and talked over his mouth. "I wasn't with her. I went out to take some of the bad guys down, you know that, I told you."

Donghyuck rolled his eyes. "I know." He said sharp. "This only means one thing: Gwen has obviously taking a liking for you."

That was obvious. Recently, Gwen had been trying to get me into these "study dates" with her, but I always refused because I had somebody else in mind to study with. Though, that didn't really work out well, so I eventually agreed on studying with Gwen. But each time I do, I was distracted.

"Why do you look like that?" Asked Donghyuck and set the beaker down. "I mean, I was kinda expecting you to be all happy... Consdering that your biggest crush is finally reciprocating."

"I don't know either Donghyuck." I looked over to Gwen, whom was stationed a few lab benches away with a friend. "Gwen is the last thing on my mind. I can only think of how distant Juliane has been, ever since the party. And it's making me go crazy. She's making me go crazy. It feels like I did something wrong."

Donghyuck's eyes flickered. There was a trace of surprise and perplexity in his tanned face. "All this time it wasn't about Gwen? It's about Jules?"

"I mean... Yeah."

"You could've just told me then. I knew something was going on between the two of you-"

"What? Wait, no nothings going on between me and Juliane. Well, not in the way you think." I said in defense, both my hands and head were shaking.

Donghyuck smirked. "Oh yeah? Then why does she have the power to clog your mind during one of your favorite classes?"

I paused. I sighed. "Well I thought Juliane and I were already getting along so well, but suddenly she's trying to distance herself from me."

The tanned boy clenched his jaw. There was no sign of patience in his face. "I thought you were supposed to be like a genius, Mark? You should already know that."

I gulped. "You're suggesting that she still likes me after all this time?"

The boy turned away and fixed his glasses. "I don't know, Mark. Why don't you go and ask her yourself? I've learned from past experiences that I would get my ass whooped for exposing other people's secret."

"So... Is that a yes?"

"No idiot! Stop asking me." Donghyuck hissed and connected his palm with my forehead, before giving it a swift push. "Help me out with this okay? I'm scared I might create some nuclear explosion."

Despite Donghyuck's desperation for assistance, I took a last moment to ponder to myself.

Does Juliane still like me?

It couldn't be. Especially not after what happened during our last phone call. She claimed she was with a friend.

And everybody knows that there was an underlying difference when they say "a friend" rather than "my friend".

But what about me? Why do I feel so bothered about this gradual closure with Juliane?