Alchemy // DoJae

•part five•

Doyoung's POV

"Why is she here?" Winwin asks, glaring at the empty space next to me, where Dahye was sitting a minute ago. She went to the bathroom just now. It's just me, her, Yuta and Winwin at a café after school, near the building.

"I couldn't explain to her that you two wanted us to have a private conversation." I shrug, smiling innocently. I understand it's annoying to them, but I just can't tell her no.

"Anyway, I think Kun is onto me and Winwin, I don't know what to do." Yuta says, concern can be read in his eyes.

"Don't be that obvious, maybe." I suggest, rolling my eyes at both of them.

"We're not obvious..." Winwin frowns at me.

"Guys. Maybe if you stop making out in the bathroom or literally every single empty classroom and even give each other dirty looks in front of the others, maybe they won't think you're together. And Yuta, your hickey is so obvious I can't even begin to explain." I roll my eyes annoyedly at them.

"Yeah, his hickey is so obvious, who did it?" Dahye sits back down next to me, curious to know what we were talking about. I flash a smile at her and she does too but awaits an answer.

Yuta doesn't know how to respond at first so Winwin does it instead. "He was drunk last night and fucked some chick. I guess she was a real catch." Yuta seems uncomfortable by his words but quickly covers it up by trying to seem smug.

"Yeah." He approves and Dahye nods nonchalantly. I almost want to give a sad laugh at his attempt.

"So, guys, I know you're not into that stuff, but since I'm a part of the club that organizes the event, there will be a charity taking place in the school at the end of the year. There will be homemade food, cards, handcrafted decorations and small presents that we'll be selling and the profits will go to a charity we haven't picked yet. There will be a dance too, just to make things more festive around Christmas, will any of you be willing to work a stand?" Dahye explains while I look at her in awe. She really is a great person, wow.

"I could." I say, smiling at her and she excitedly giggles.

"I knew you'd want to help! I'll give you the details later." Her smile never leaves her face and neither does mine.

Yuta and Winwin on the other hand don't look interested at all. "Ya, we'll pass." Winwin says, rolling his eyes at Yuta, who nods at him sympathetically.

She shrugs at them. "I'm not obligating anyone, it's volunteer work."

With that Yuta just stands up, followed by Winwin.
"Well, it was nice having a talk with you two, but we'll be going now. Have a good time together." He mumbles, trying to at least sound a bit interested but it doesn't really work and they both exit quickly, as if running away from us.

"Oh, look, it's just us now." She grins nicely and takes a sip from her lemonade.

"Indeed." I nod, and grin as well. "So tell me more about that charity event and what I should do."

<>~<>~<>

"Yes, I'll have the, um, venti Americano with six extra shots of espresso." I see the pained expression on the Starbucks employee's face as she hears Jaemin's order and mentally facepalm myself at how impossible that kid is. When he pays and proceeds to go to the other end of the café, waiting for his ridiculous order to be ready, it's my turn.

"I'm sorry for the trouble my friend might've caused. I'll have a venti Caramel Macchiato, please." She nods sympathetically and I pay, then go to Jaemin. He's happily sipping on his coffee, scrolling through some social media on his phone.

"Jisung, Chenle and Renjun are at some arts and crafts store on the upper floor, are we going to get them or wait for them here, because I swear, these guys have the stamina of a professional runner and I'm tired as hell." He says, putting his phone away.

"I'm not letting them go around without me. You know how much chaos they cause." I shrug as I take my coffee and drag Jaemin out of the cafe.

"But they're with Renjun, he's a junior like me!" Jaemin protests, clearly he took great liking in the hipster atmosphere at Starbucks.

"That's even worse, you know Jisung and Renjun always fight..." I roll my eyes as we make our way to the second floor of the mall we're at.

"Sometimes I feel like you're our mom." Jaemin whines, seemingly annoyed at me for choosing to spend time with the other boys and not just with him.
Me and Jaemin are friends, that's true, but we also are in a small group of friends and we sometimes hang out together. Jaemin and Renjun are juniors.  Chenle and Jisung I know because Chenle is my neighbor and he and Jisung are basically inseparable. Chenle is a sophomore and Jisung is a freshman. I'm the oldest, so I'm basically like their parent. I say I'm more of a dad, but Jaemin insists I'm like a mother to them.

I see Jisung's ash blond hair and immediately recognize the three boys, laughing and walking out of the store Jaemin told me they were at.
"Hey, boys." I ruffle Chenle's hair because he's the closest to me and they all wave at me and Jaemin.

"Can I have some?" Jisung asks Jaemin, pointing at his coffee, which Jaemin immediately lifts up so he can't reach it. Which is stupid because Jisung is basically taller than him.

"Absolutely not! I don't need y'all little shits being even more energetic than you already are, I'm tired and we've been here for only an hour." He states and I smack his head.

"Don't curse in front of children." I warn and he smiles innocently while Chenle and Jisung are laughing.