elixir. dongjun

i

within the span of a few days, donghun feels as though overdosing on his anxiety pills is the only way to stop the taunting.

even if he couldn't hear the words of the people teasing him, and shoving him into lockers, he didn't care anymore. everyone thought it was so funny to tease the deaf boy. so what, he couldn't hear their dirty words anyway.

he wants to tell someone, but nobody in the school speaks sign language. he'd have to communicate through a notepad, and he feels as though he couldn't express his feelings enough through a pen and a thin sheet of lined paper.

donghun's eyes gaze over his math work. he dislikes it very much, but he knows, from past experience, that his mom will punish him if he doesn't give acceptable grades.

he looks at the problem he hasn't yet started.

solve the system of equations using the elimination method.

3x-3y=15 2x-2y=10

donghun easily goes through the process of solving a system with the elimination method. algebra was an easy class for him, but he didn't like having the homework to do constantly.

he solves quickly and writes down the answer he has gotten.

0=0

infinite solutions.

there were infinite solutions to the bully problems at school. he could just try and communicate with a teacher. he could confront them with actions instead of words. he could just move back to his private school.

donghun sighs and hangs his head down. his chin rests on his chest as he thinks. he grips his pencil tightly in his hand, his thumb rubbing over the eraser of the pencil.

he feels a light tap on his shoulder. he looks up from his thoughts to see mrs. tchai standing near his side.

you okay? she firmly signs.

it was nice that mrs. tchai learned how to ask "you okay?" in sign language just for donghun.

donghun nods, and flashes her a quick smile. she smiles back, and when mrs. tchai finally walks away, his lips fall again.

he sighs and leans back down to continue his work.

【☆】

lunch, the only place donghun can get away from everyone and have some time alone to himself.

he sits outside, the summery breeze blowing against him. he could feel the summer coming when it was the only march. he was excited for summer to come, so he could be alone again like every summer and not have to deal with other students.

donghun's thoughts are pushed away when he sees his friend walking toward him with two bottles of water and vending machine snacks hugged to his chest. he smiles.

when the blonde sits down next to him on the bench, donghun greets him after he hands him a water bottle and a bag of crisps.

hey junhee, he signs.

hello, donghun junhee signs back.

so how are you?

i'm fine, just waiting for summer to come already.

so i'm not the only one?

donghun watches as junhee chuckles. he wanted to be able to hear junhee's laugh and voice. he believes they're very beautiful, as much as junhee was.