Chapter Text
Lee Donghyuck’s day officially started with a piercing scream.
“Noooo! No school!”
Chenle, Donghyuck’s little brother, burst into tears the moment he tried to wake him up. Donghyuck was a little flustered because this was his first day of school and he’d expected everything to go smoothly.
But who was he kidding? Life has its own twists and turns.
“Didi,” Donghyuck gently coaxed as he tried to get Chenle into the bathroom. “Let’s take a bath first, yeah?”
“Gege, no! No school!”
Chenle recoiled and almost kicked Donghyuck in the face. Donghyuck didn’t see any other option and in the end, he went with force, ignoring his little brother’s endless screams and pleas. It took him almost 30 minutes to get Chenle ready for school and by the time Donghyuck dropped him off at kindergarten, the last bus that morning had already left. His new school was a 20 minutes’ walk from Chenle’s kindergarten but now that Donghyuck was already late, he didn’t have a choice but to run.
Donghyuck couldn’t believe that he was late. He’s never been late in his life before. He was always on time. He arrived at school right when the bell rang loudly through the hallway. He ran straight to the throng of people, easily blending in because of his small figure. He needed to find the teacher's room first because he still didn’t know where his classes were.
Donghyuck kept walking straight, his mind chanting for him to go faster. He didn’t really pay attention to his surroundings and when he took a right turn, he gasped loudly when his body collided with a bigger figure. His forehead collided with a very sharp jaw, sending him flying to the ground and landing flat on his butt. His hands immediately flew to his forehead because the collision was hard enough to make him a little bit dizzy. There were gasps and murmurs around him but Donghyuck was too preoccupied with the impact of the accident to realize it.
“Fuck.”
A string of profanities made Donghyuck look up and his eyes widened when he saw that the guy before him was bleeding. He sprang to his feet, the apology already on the tip of his tongue, but when the guy glared at him, Donghyuck was taken aback and unconsciously froze in place.
“What is wrong with you?” the guy spat at him, his voice harsh as he wiped his bleeding nose with the back of his hand. Blood smeared from his nose to his mouth and down to his jaw.
Donghyuck visibly winced at the sight.
“Where the hell were you looking at?!”
Donghyuck’s throat got thick and he flinched at the tone. Being yelled at and mistreated was something he’d experienced before but it didn’t mean that he’d grown used to it. It was a public space, people were watching, and he was just a new student. It was his first day and he’d already run into trouble.
None of this was part of his plan. His initial plan was to get into the new school undetected, do his best to maintain his scholarship, graduate without as much as a hitch, and leave everything behind.
Donghyuck blinked rapidly and straightened his back, forcing himself to maintain his composure as he properly took in the sight of the guy before him. The guy before him was only slightly taller than Donghyuck but his frame was bigger. His shoulder was broad, his face sharp, and his eyes were so intense and fierce. Everything about him was prominent and he looked at Donghyuck like he wanted to strangle him. He looked completely pissed and it was understandable. But there was something about him that made Donghyuck immediately know that the latter wasn’t someone he should have messed with.
“I’m sorry!”
Donghyuck reached out, wanting to help even though he wasn’t sure what he could offer. The guy clicked his tongue in irritation, clearly unimpressed by the gesture, and didn’t spare Donghyuck another glance. When he walked past him, he purposely bumped his shoulder against him so hard it made him stumble backward, almost falling again, but a hand caught his wrist and steadied him.
Donghyuck looked up and only then did he realize that the guy wasn’t alone. There were two guys with him. Donghyuck gaped at the guy who caught his wrist. He was also slightly taller than Donghyuck and the first thing that came to his mind was that he looked like he was straight out of a manga book. He was beautiful, his figure and his face were the kind you saw on the cover of Bazaar magazine. His eyes were round and big, looking straight into Donghyuck’s eyes. His light brown hair softened his elegant appearance. He looked unbelievably stunning and graceful.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice was so much gentler than the first guy. Donghyuck lowered his eyes to read his name tag; Lee Taeyong.
“Y-yes,” Donghyuck answered, suddenly feeling nervous under his gaze. “I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry for earlier,” Taeyong sincerely said. “He isn’t usually like that. He’s just in a very bad mood this morning.”
Donghyuck recalled what had just happened and a spark of irritation prickled across his skin. He admitted it was his fault for not paying attention to his surroundings but the guy had been rude too, slamming into his shoulders without so much as an apology. Donghyuck had to stop himself from touching them, even though they still throbbed from the impact.
Donghyuck didn’t know how to respond to the question so he could only nod at Taeyong.
“You’re new here?”
Donghyuck nodded again. “Yes.”
Taeyong smiled and his cold look instantly melted. He looked effortlessly ethereal when he smiled like that. Donghyuck gawked at him with mouth slightly opened.
“Welcome to Deorham,” Taeyong lowered his eyes to read his name tag, still smiling. “Donghyuck.”
Donghyuck stammered and blushed. “Thank you,”
“Baby, we need to go now.”
Another guy, even taller and leaner, but muscular with dark straight hair, came from behind Taeyong. He had one arm around Taeyong’s waist in a possessive manner and Donghyuck could immediately tell that they were a couple. The guy had very soft features, but his eyes were sharp, and he didn’t smile. His lips pressed into a thin line, clearly displeased by the intervention. It didn’t match well with his features and it actually made him look formidable and unapproachable. He looked at Donghyuck with calculating eyes and Donghyuck quickly averted his gaze.
“Once again, I apologize on his behalf. Hope you have a nice day, Donghyuck.”
The taller guy, Jung Jaehyun, practically dragged Taeyong to move forward, leaving Donghyuck alone in the hallway. Donghyuck stood there for a moment, still disoriented from what had happened.
A few moments later, he let out a squeal as realization finally hit him.
“I’m late!”
Fortunately, even though Donghyuck was late, the teacher was kind enough and let him off the hook because it was his first day. She led Donghyuck to his new class and gave him a brief explanation about the school system. The classroom was quite big and as soon as Donghyuck stepped into it, all eyes were on him, openly scanning him from head to toe. He tried to stand straight and offered a small smile though it appeared awkward. After he introduced himself he could feel their calculating and judging eyes as he walked to his chair and sat next to a friendly and cheerful-looking guy. His name was Liu Yangyang and people in school called him Yangyang.
Yangyang was the only one who smiled broadly at Donghyuck and the latter could feel his sincerity. He started the conversation first, his personality was easily shown through the way he spoke and behaved. He was rather loud and his choices of words were bold and unfiltered. After what he’d gone through earlier, Donghyuck was grateful by the bright presence around him and it was safe to say he could make friends on his first day.
When the bell rang, Yangyang asked him to go to the cafeteria together. He wanted to introduce Donghyuck to his friends and show him around after that. After lining up for their food, Yangyang walked him to the table where his friends sat and he introduced them one by one.
“Welcome to Deorham!”
Na Jaemin had a blinding smile and his eyes turned into a perfect crescent when he smiled. He reminded Donghyuck of the first glowing rays of sunrise. The air surrounding him was vibrant, brilliant, and immense.
Donghyuck was a little bit overwhelmed but he smiled back at him.
“Thank you, Jaemin. It’s really nice to meet you all.”
Jaemin waved his hand. “Just Nana is fine. And it’s really nice to meet you too, Donghyuck!”
“It might seem a lot but you will get used to his energy soon,” Renjun absentmindedly added without looking at Donghyuck, stuffing the warm red-bean dumpling into his mouth.
Renjun was petite, with soft features that didn’t quite match his fierce, strong presence. He didn’t smile as much as Jaemin but he welcomed Donghyuck warmly. From the way Renjun kept reminding Yangyang to sit properly and not make a sound while munching his food, Donghyuck got the impression that Renjun was the one who kept the group in check.
“He’s loud loud.”
Jaemin dramatically gasped. “I did not ask for the slander!”
Renjun finally looked up from his plate. He looked at Donghyuck and said, “See? I told you.”
Jeno let out a small laugh and Donghyuck’s first impression of him was that Jeno was really handsome. Every part of him was sharp; his gaze, his nose, and especially his jaw. Jeno deliberately didn’t join the conversation but he offered Donghyuck a warm, kind smile. He was the quietest in the group and his eyes turned into a crescent whenever he smiled or laughed.
A few moments later, suddenly the cafeteria became noisy and there were loud gasps and murmurs. Donghyuck looked up and immediately recognized Jaehyun and Taeyong because their appearances were strikingly different so it was hard not to notice them. They walked side by side with Jaehyun’s hand wrapped possessively and protectively around Taeyong’s waist. He still didn’t smile and Donghyuck began to think that maybe it was his default exterior. They walked over the big table at the corner, away from the other tables and it was still vacant.
Another pair behind Jaehyun and Taeyong walked in the same direction. Both were tall and lean and they were bickering loudly while walking. The one with honey blond hair kicked the other’s leg and ran when the other chased him. Behind them, there was another pair. One of the two was very tall and muscular like Jaehyun. He was more boyish than the others and his hair looked so smooth and silky, framing his perfectly sculpted jawline. He had one arm around the shorter one, leaning so close to him. The other guy was the shortest, lean and petit with sharp features. His hair was black, he had a very pointed nose and eyes like a black cat. It was clear that the two of them were also a couple just like Taeyong and Jaehyun. They even looked more intimate without personal space. It was to the point that Donghyuck felt like he shouldn’t be looking at them for too long.
The six of them sat together as if they were the Knights of Round Table. Donghyuck couldn’t help but to gape at them, mouth slightly opened. All of them looked like they could be in college instead of high school. They looked so different from other students and all of them looked devastatingly stunning. Just like Taeyong, the rest of their faces were the kind that showed up on pages of a reputable fashion magazine.
“Who are they?” Donghyuck asked, turning his attention back to his new group of friends.
Jaemin let out an exasperated sigh as if he was about to do some heavy exercise. Like it physically exhausted him to do the explanation he was about to do.
“This is actually very silly but they have a title here. People call them the Brat Pack,”
Donghyuck blinked, dumbfounded. “The what?”
“The Brat Pack,” Renjun repeated with the same regard as Jaemin. “It’s cliché, I know. The students here call them that.”
“Do you mean they’re like the ones who rule this school?”
“Kind of,” Jeno said. “They’re a bunch of rich and spoiled kids.”
“But they’re actually not that bad,” Yangyang said, munching his sandwich messily. Donghyuck shook his head as he handed him a tissue. Yangyang, completely unbothered by his own antics, beamed at him and chirped a loud ‘thank you’ which earned him mortified looks from Renjun and Jaemin, making them embarrassed on his behalf.
“That’s because you’re the only one who actually talks to them,” Jeno said. He sounded bored and Donghyuck got the impression that he didn’t like them that much.
“So, who are they?”
Donghyuck repeated the question, glancing at their table from time to time. Jaemin let out a deep sigh before explaining.
“The first one who came was Lee Taeyong and Jung Jaehyun. They’re the couple goals here. A lot of students look up to them. Taeyong hyung looks cold outside but he is actually soft and warm. He’s also very polite, proper, and smiles a lot. Jaehyun hyung is the exact opposite. His face might look soft and friendly but he’s the quiet one. Everyone here knows that only Taeyong hyung can soften him so don’t feel bad if he doesn’t smile or acknowledge your presence. That’s just how he is. And there’s this unspoken rule that you don’t mess with Taeyong hyung because Jaehyun hyung will never hesitate to destroy anyone or everything that hurts his boyfriend. You see, he is a very possessive and protective type.”
Donghyuck shivered as he remembered his first encounter with them this morning and now it made more sense. Somehow just by looking at them and how they gravitated around each other, it wasn’t hard to guess that.
“That sounds scary.”
“It is,” Jaemin nodded as he put a few slices of meat into Jeno’s bowl who silently received them. “But he’s only at his worst when it involves Taeyong hyung. He’s actually nice and fun to be around with.”
“Those two who bicker a lot are Kim Doyoung and Nakamoto Yuta. Doyoung hyung is the president of the Student Council. He’s the most social one. If you don’t see him with them you will think he’s just a normal student like us. But he is very strict about the rules so make sure to follow them. Meanwhile Yuta hyung is the captain of the football team. He’s actually one of our sports talents and the face of our school. He is the Casanova. The one who breaks many hearts.”
Donghyuck glanced at their table again.
The Brat Pack, he mused.
The name actually suited them. The young rich kids you couldn’t quite keep straight. They were what kids wanted to see and what kids wanted to be.
Donghyuck couldn’t seem to look away and when Taeyong unexpectedly caught him, he gave him a small nod as if acknowledging Donghyuck and a soft smile that made his eyes sparkling. Donghyuck blushed and hesitantly smiled back. Jaehyun caught that small interaction and turned his head to Donghyuck, his gaze immediately hardened. Donghyuck nervously swallowed and quickly looked away.
“The last one was Johnny Seo and Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul,” Jaemin continued, and he nailed Ten’s name pronunciation so perfectly that Donghyuck had to blink twice to process it. “They’re together and grossly in love. I’m telling you their public display of affection is no joke. It’s not surprising to see them making out in the hallway, locker room, or bathroom. And we’re all used to seeing Ten hyung all over Johnny hyung.”
Donghyuck couldn’t help but wince slightly. He couldn’t even bring himself to imagine what kind of public display of affection they’d like to parade because his love life was basically zero and he wasn’t even sure of the concept of love. His sole focus had been surviving another day and his mind had no room for romance, even a harmless crush was not an option for him. So the concept was still foreign to him.
“All of them are seniors?”
“Yes,” Renjun answered. “This year is their last year here.”
Jaemin was about to say something but then he caught sight at the entrance of the cafeteria and his eyes narrowed, huffing in exasperation.
“And that is Mark Lee,” Jaemin motioned to the new presence that had just entered the scene. “This is very stupid but people like to call him the leader.”
Donghyuck turned around and he couldn’t believe his own eyes when he saw the very same guy he bumped into this morning was walking straight to the end of the table. He had both hands on his pocket and even though he was alone, his mere presence still managed to look so powerful and dominant. He walked with his chin high up in the air, eyes cold and stony, and lips pressed into a hard thin line. Donghyuck watched as the girls squealed when Mark walked past their tables, their cheeks blushing just by looking at his handsome face. Not that Donghyuck was complementing him. It was just a basic fact. Anyone with a good pair of eyes would say the same.
Mark approached his group of friends and sat in the middle where the only empty seat remained. He didn’t eat like the rest of his friends. He was engaged in what seemed like a serious conversation with Jaehyun, his eyebrows furrowed as he explained things to the latter without other excessive gestures.
“He is the leader?”
Donghyuck muttered under his breath, still couldn’t believe what he just heard.
“Yes. He’s actually the youngest. A junior like us but people believe he is the one who leads the group,” Jaemin’s nose wrinkled as he glanced at Mark. “He is not the leader and there is no hierarchy in their group. They’re just like us. Just more famous and with a reputation to uphold.”
“Mark is Jaehyun hyung’s younger brother,” Renjun added. “And before you ask, no, they’re not step-siblings. Their family has never disclosed why they have different surnames. They’re extremely private about it and people know better than to pry into it.”
Donghyuck could only nod as he took in all the information. He absolutely had no interest in knowing more than this but it still baffled him that this kind of thing, whatever it was, existed in the first place. He thought it was something that only existed in the romance dramas his uncle’s girlfriend used to force him to watch.
The hierarchy was simply outlandish.
“Taeyong hyung doesn’t seem like he can hurt a small bug but he’s very protective of them. There are rumors and stories but I don’t think you’re ready for that today.”
Jaemin explained and Donghyuck could only nod, still didn’t know how to react with the amount of information he’d just gathered.
Donghyuck secretly glanced at them and it just so happened that Mark looked up at the same time as Donghyuck. Their eyes locked and the scary look in Mark’s face returned. His frown deepened as he looked at Donghyuck, scowling at him. A chill ran down Donghyuck’s spine but he refused to look away. He remembered the way Mark had bumped into his shoulder and scowled back at him with equal force.
Mark hadn’t seemed to expect any reaction from Donghyuck and his expression faltered for a split second before he schooled it back into place. To Donghyuck’s surprise, Mark was the one who looked away and resumed his conversation with Jaehyun, his expression hardening.
Jaemin noticed their brief exchange and his hand immediately flew to his mouth, gasping loudly.
“Oh my god,” Jaemin looked at him with his wide, round eyes as if he’s looking at him for the first time. “You are the new kid.”
Donghyuck looked at him confusedly, still didn’t understand where this was going.
“Uh, I am?”
Renjun, Yangyang, and Jeno looked back and forth between Jaemin and Donghyuck before the realization finally hit them. When they did, their expression mirrored Jaemin’s.
“You mean you are the one who made Mark Lee bleed?” Renjun said, his jaw fell open.
Donghyuck’s eyes instantly widened. How could all of them know about that?
“Donghyuck,” Jeno, who had been quiet the whole time, finally drawled. There was a flicker of concern in his eyes, like he couldn’t believe that such fate had fallen upon him.
Donghyuck’s stomach immediately twisted. He’d learned that his guts were mostly right. Right now, he knew that whatever was coming his way wouldn’t be good.
Jaemin swallowed nervously. “As much as I hate to admit it, the Brat Pack is a big deal.”
“Yes?”
“All of the students keep talking about the new kid who made Mark’s nose bleed this morning. You have to know that Mark has his own fan club here and let’s just say that they aren’t very nice.”
Renjun’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “They are the worst.”
“They’re after you,” Jaemin finally broke the news to him. His expression was still one of disbelief, just like the rest of them. Even Yangyang grew very quiet. “I could never understand this one particular culture but the students here make it their mission not to let people mess with Mark. Most likely to get to his good side even though I never see Mark care. And after what happened this morning, you become their next target.”
As soon as the words sunk in Donghyuck, he could feel his blood run cold through his body. He sat there helplessly, staring down at his food, his appetite gone.
He was the next target.
Donghyuck wasn’t stupid and he knew exactly what it meant and he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His luck wasn’t always good but it wasn’t always bad either. Yet not even a full day had passed at his new school, it felt as though all his misfortune had gathered and struck him at once.
This wasn’t how Donghyuck imagined his first day would be. He never imagined that he would get involved with Mark Lee.
The leader of the Brat Pack.
The one who apparently ruled the school.
He was so screwed.