| 12 (1/2)

. . twelve . .   “Would it be okay if I stopped at home?” Donghae suddenly asks as they wait for the lights to turn green. It’s almost peak hour, and the traffic has already slowed down.

Hyukjae straightens on his seat, his eyes looking a little tired. Car rides always made him feel sleepy, and the fact, and remembering a certain incident from his past makes him suddenly bite down his lips. He doesn’t want to think about that now. Clearing his throat, he tilts his head slightly towards the brunet.

“It’s along the way, so why not...”

Donghae gives the older guy a look, but a honk makes him steer his gaze back to the road. The light has already turned green, and he accelerates the car forward. He only needs some more clothes, and some stuff to bring to work with him. He realizes he should probably equip himself for a longer stay. He wasn’t very keen on the idea of driving back and forth between work, Hyukjae’s house and his own every day. He could just as well bring everything he needed to last a while.

The car finally turns to his house’s driveway, and he kills the engine.

“I’ll try to be fast, okay? You can wait in the car,” Donghae mutters as he’s halfway out the door, but he passes one last glance towards Hyukjae. It doesn’t seem like he’s against it.

“Sure,” Hyukjae replies, “Just don’t take all day.” The man yawns, crossing his arms around his chest.

Donghae rolls his eyes, pointing a finger at Hyukjae. “Five minutes.”

“One… Two… Thr--,” Hyukjae starts counting, and with a huff Donghae leaves towards the house.

The front door shuts quietly after him when he enters his home, but as he absent-mindedly kicks off his shoes, a familiar voice greets him.

“Donghae, is it you?”

It’s his mother, and the said young man furrows his brows and steps further down the hallway until he peeks into the white kitchen.

“You’re home?” Donghae asks. “I thought you were at work or something.” He really thought his mother wouldn’t be at home at that time, and somehow facing her frightens the brunet a little. He’s already been staying at Hyukjae’s for few days, and they’ve yet to discuss about it.

“No, dear,” she rises from the kitchen chair, walking towards her son with a notepad on her hand and reading glasses over her nose. “I thought I said I had early lectures this week and a few meetings.”

“Oh.” Donghae shakes his head and scratches the back of his neck. He’s been so occupied with other things that it must’ve slipped his mind.

“Are you staying?” the woman asks nonchalantly, but with a hint curiosity in her voice.

“Um, no,” Donghae mutters, wondering what he should be telling her. “I’m here just to snatch some clothes and stuff. Then we’ll be going...”

“We?” She leans against the kitchen counter, placing the pad down on it.

Donghae stutters, but he shuts his mouth for a moment. “Hyukjae and Jaemin are waiting in the car. ”

“Okay,” she says, and Donghae tries desperately to guess what she could be thinking.

“So I’m trying to be quick.”

“Mm-m.”

Donghae hates the fact that she knows exactly how to push his buttons and make him talk even when he doesn’t want to.

“I’m going to stay at his place for—for a few days. Help him around.”

“She’s staying?”

“Um, yeah.”

“I’m glad to notice you’re back being friends again,” she mumbles as she goes to sit back at the table. A cup of coffee lays before her, and papers are spread over the wooden table. The way she talks annoys Donghae to no end, just because she’s probably the only one able to see right through him.

“I wouldn’t call us friends yet,” Donghae protests, giving his mother a look.

She rolls her eyes.

“Give him a break, Donghae. He’s going through a lot, by the looks of it.” She shifts some papers on her hands.

Donghae bites down his tongue, knowing deep down that his mother was right.

“At least he’s trying,” she continues softly, but when she crosses her leg over her other knee, Donghae sees a lecture coming. “Have you even tried to give him a chance? I know you’re stubborn, just like your father. But this is a big change for anyone. Have you asked how Hyukjae feels?”

“I’m not his therapist,” Donghae grunts.

“No, you are not. But he might need someone to talk to. After all this time, it’s you he came to ask for help.”

Donghae feels his fingernails tugging against the skin of his palms. He knows he hasn’t given Hyukjae a chance. He knows he should, and he actually feels a little ashamed because of it. But admitting that he could be wrong isn’t easy for him.

“I think I should get going, they’re waiting,” he grunts at last.

“I’m just saying you could give it a try,” she sighs, “He could surprise you.”

“Yeah, right.” Donghae mutters, leaving the kitchen without another word. He climbs the stairs to the second floor, his head feeling heavy inside. Hyukjae isn’t completely a bad person, he’s sees it. The way he acts with his daughter has already surprised him.

Grabbing a bag from his closet, he starts to go through his clothes, trying to decide which he would need during the week. But his mother’s words keep nagging at him. Hyukjae had said it himself; Donghae was the only decent person in his life. When they were still in school, Hyukjae had a ton of friends. And as far as Donghae knew, back then he was still getting along with his parents, somewhat. Was Hyukjae really so…alone now? Why is he doing this, if he’s so against it? And is he, really? So far he’s only thought that he would help Hyukjae for some time, and after that he would just get back to his normal life. Did he really want that? He tries to shake off the thoughts from his head, and ends up throwing whatever first meeting his eyes into the bag.

Few minutes later he rushes back downstairs.

“Mom, I’m going.”

The woman smiles as she sees him. Donghae walks to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“If you need anything, just call me alright? I love you.”

“Um, could you do me—or rather Hyukjae—a favor? The clothes Donghwa’s been wheeling here like crazy—could you check if there’s anything Jaemin’s size? I could come pick something up tomorrow. I bet her mother isn’t going to be very cooperative if Hyukjae goes back there...” Donghae rumbles as he puts on his shoes in the hallway and then takes another peek into the kitchen. His mother nods, leaning against her palm.

“Thanks mom. Love you,” he hollers and the door shuts after him again. The woman shakes her head with a smile before getting back to her notepad.

When Donghae gets outside, it’s raining again. The drops drum against his car, when he grabs his Hyundai’s door and opens it. He halts on his feet when he realizes the two are fast asleep inside.   Donghae parks his car at the same spot as before. The neighborhood seems rather calm, and the rain has probably gotten people to stay inside. The car stops humming, and the silense sets. They’ve arrived but both Hyukjae and his daughter are still asleep, and he doesn’t know what to do. For a while he stares outside, looking at the gray apartment buildings and a small playground between.