n o t m u c h t o l o o k a t :: II

The walk to the nearby playground was relatively short. At least it seemed to be. Hyukjae shoved his ear buds into his ears as soon as he arrived, sitting on the abandoned swing. "Aish …. I can't go back home now…" he thought out loud, kicking at the sand beneath his feet. That was when they came; the tears he had been holding in for so long; the tears that threatened to return every time his parents yelled at him; the tears that bordered on returning every time someone made fun of him or pushed him into the lockers. They spilled out of the eyes that he hated so much and hit the ground below him. Hyukjae placed his face in his hands and let the tears overtake him as he cursed silently.

It wasn't long before another person slowly approached the playground. He frowned, much like a child when he saw the sight before him. Normally when he came here, he was met with no one but the empty swings. Shrugging, he strode over to the swings, a slight bounce in his step.

Before saying anything, the stranger examined the scene in front of hi. "Annyeong," he said quietly, bowing slightly. Hyukjae looked up, startled. Wiping at his eyes, he returned a shaky greeting, "A – Annyeonghasaeyo…" He nodded curtly and returned his gaze to the ground. The stranger cocked his head before saying, "I'm Lee Donghae," he smiled and held out a hand. Hyukjae stared at him for a moment before deciding to shake Donghae's hand. "I'm Lee Hyukjae."