Chapter Text
“Are you going to the game today?” Jaemin asked Mark one afternoon. School ended in about an hour and Mark was planning on attending the student council meeting and then heading straight to the library, but Jaemin obviously had other plans for him.
“Nah, I have a meeting.”
“Skip it! This is like, the biggest game of the season! It’s against the UCT Wolves!” Jaemin hung onto Mark’s arm, whining incessantly and dragging out each word like a child would. The Wolves were their rivals, and every game against them always brought out the entire schools population..except for Mark of course.
“I can't skip the meeting, its a council meeting and I’m the student council president.” Mark rolled his eyes before turning and flicking Jaemin on the forehead, “And you should be there too, Mr. treasurer.”
“Come on Mark! Live a little! Be spontaneous!”
Jaemin didn't show up to the council meeting and the whole time, Mark couldn't help but wonder what exactly was so fun about watching boys run around in tights and shoulder pads. He had never been to a game before since they always clashed with his meetings, but he did have school spirit and he would've loved to see the school beat their rivals.
As he stared at Jaemin’s empty chair he made a decision...a spontaneous decision.
“Um, I’ll be right back. I have to go to the bathroom!” Mark cleared his throat and got up to leave. No one really cared, but Mark felt a little thrill as he walked down the empty hallways to the field.
The entire school seemed to be there and the bleachers were completely full. Thankfully, Jaemin as standing on the sidelines, so Mark didn't have to go wading through the crowd to find a place to sit.
“Well well well! Look what the cat dragged in!” Jaemin gasped when Mark came up behind him. Mark simply rolled his eyes and playfully elbowed Jaemin. The boy was wearing a jersey-- the jersey of the captain of the football team, Jisung. Sometimes Mark envied their relationship, they were so cute and just...made for each other and sometimes Mark wished he had that. Sometimes he wished he could wear his boyfriend’s jersey.
But most of the time he thought that Jaemin and Jisung were disgusting cheesy.
“Why do you get to stand on the sidelines?” Mark inquired as he rolled onto his toes and looked around the field.
“Student council privileges,” Jaemin grinned, “You would know that if you came to a game or two.”
“Whatever,” Mark mumbled before turning back to the game. It was at times like these that Mark wished he paid attention to the Sunday night football that his father insisted on watching each week, because he had no idea what was happening on the field.
“What’s the score?”
“Well its nil-nil right now and overtime ends in five minutes,” Jaemin explained with a furrow in his brow.
“Oh. What happens after that?”
“Well then the game ends and no one wins. And we have to win. God, it would be so embarrassing if we lost after that prank they pulled.” Jaemin cursed, cocking his hip as he looked intently at the game.
Oh yeah, the prank. Last week, the Wolves plastic-wrapped the entire football team’s cars, and the jocks were pissed.
In the end, they didn't win, but neither did the other team, so at least it was a draw. Jisung and the rest of the team retreated to the sidelines, shoulders hunched in frustration.
“Aw, babe, it’ll be okay! You’ll win next time!” Jaemin rushed to comfort his sulking boyfriend.
“Ehhh, I’m not so sure about that.” A voice came from behind them. It was Lee Donghyuck, captain of the Wolves football team.
“Donghyuck, what are you doing here?” Jaemin asked, eyes narrowed as he protectively wrapped his arms around Jisung.
“You know me? Gee, well I guess my reputation precedes me.” Donghyuck quirked an eyebrow, making Jaemin tightened his grip on Jisung. Their captain groaned, pushing Jaemin’s arms off and taking a step towards Donghyuck. Mark kinda felt like he was watching an old western standoff since the tension between the two was so thick, he probably couldn't cut through it with a knife.
“What do you want?” Jisung spat, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Hey hey! I’ve come in peace!” Donghyuck held up his arms, feigning innocence. Mark could see the mischief blatantly dancing in his eyes, “My team just wanted to apologise for the prank we pulled.”
“I wouldn't apologise, I would suggest you sleep with one eye open instead.” Jaemin glared, earning a bark of laughter from their rivals captian.
“Okay, okay, I can see I’m not wanted here!” Donghyuck giggled, “See you later, Sung.”
“Don't call me that.”
Donghyuck rolled his eyes before turning his attention to Mark and Jaemin.
“You too, Mark and Jaemin.”
“How do you know my name?” Mark’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, internally cursing himself for the way his voice came out just a bit too high and nervous.
“You're the student council president right?” Donghyuck grinned when Mark nodded, “I saw you on your school's website and I couldn't help but doing a little digging when I saw how cute you were.”
Mark blinked, bewildered by the compliment.
“Cute?”
“Yeah. Like a little sheep.” Donghyuck smirked before, throwing Mark a wink. He waved goodbye and ran back to the Wolves side of the field, not daring to look back and be subject to Jaemin’s wrath.
“God that kid is annoying.” Jaemin seethed, “Don't listen to him, he’s just toying with you.”
Mark didn't answer, he just suppressed his beating heart and listened to Jaemin as he ranted about how much he hated the Wolves.
The whole time Mark’s thoughts were racing, thinking about that one word that slipped through Donghyuck’s lips.
Cute.
***
Mark liked to think that he didn't spend the rest of the day mulling over Donghyuck’s words but between you and me...he did just that.
Look, not many people waltzed into Mark’s life and called him cute, so of course, he was caught off guard by it. And maybe the only reason he couldn't get the stupid jock off his mind was because he was a bit starved for attention since no one typically went for the geeky student council president and maybe he was a little bit happy to get some attention, but he definitely wouldn't admit that.
He felt like the nerdy girl in a highschool chick flick that falls in love with the jock and becomes beautiful and popular, but Mark wasn't a girl, or in a chick flick and he definitely wasn't in love.
That's it, enough about love, this isn't love I’m not in love. I’m not even gonna say… the L word. I’m not in L word. Wait, isn't that the name of a lesbian tv show? Ah frick… okay okay, I’ll just say I'm not in l*ve.
Shaking his head, Mark banished all thoughts of l*ve from his mind and went back to doing his work.
However, this day seemed deadset on giving Mark high blood pressure because before he could even get one math problem done the door rang. Groaning, he got up and trudged downstairs to see just who was barging in on his l*ve induced crisis, only to find that the source of his dilemma was standing right in front of him.
Lee Donghyuck.
“What are you doing here?” Mark reeled back in surprise.
“I gotta ask you something,” Donghyuck simply answered.
“Why do you know where I live?” Mark blinked in confusion, taking one cautious step back into the foyer.
“I have my ways,” the jock shrugged, “And I really needed to ask you something.”
“I have a phone! You could've texted me!”
“Are you offering me your number?” Donghyuck’s blank expression morphed into a sly smirk.
Mark rolled his eyes, stepping fully into his house before pushing the door closed.
“Wait no! I was bein’ serious when I said I had to ask you something!” Donghyuck wedged his foot in the door before Mark could slam it closed. In a moment of temporary weakness, Mark gave in, opening the door with a sigh.
“What is it?”
“Okay hear me out,” Donghyuck started, and Mark knew he was in for an adventure.
“The boys on my team were making fun of me for not having a boyfriend or girlfriend, and since I’m the captain and all, I couldn't have them teasing me so…” Donghyuck trailed off.
“So?”
“So, I said you were my boyfriend.” Donghyuck finished with a proud, but hesitant look on his face.
Mark blinked once, and then twice, before moving to slam the door shut again.
“No, I’m bein’ serious!”
“Why me?” Mark frantically asked, a little louder than he had expected to, “We’re from rival schools! I’m not even a jock or anyone cool!”
Donghyuck breathed out a laugh before leaning against one of the columns on Mark’s porch.
“Because You're cute.”
You’re cute.
This time, Mark refused to let the compliment phase him.
“And I would really appreciate it if you could play along.”
“You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?” Mark scoffed, not believing what he was hearing.
“Yeahhhhhhhh.” Donghyuck started to look hopeful, “Look, I’ll do whatever you want in return, just please, help me out?”
This was Mark rival, this was the person Mark was supposed to hate...but the idea of having a jock at his beck and call sounded very nice.
Come on, Mark! live a little! Be spontaneous!
“Fine. But when I say jump you say?” Mark gave Donghyuck a dead serious look.
“How high?” Donghyuck’s face melted into a grin, “God, Mark thank you so much.”
“Whatever.”
“So...I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven?” Donghyuck’s grin morphed back into that greasy smirk, though this time the jock was biting his lower lip in anticipation, “I mean a fake couple has to fake date, right?”
***
Fake dating Donghyuck was easy.
All he had to do was wear his jersey sometimes, go to some parties and go out on “dates” with him every once in a while. It also definitely had its perks-- a free ride to school (since Donghyuck could drive), free food, and all the clout that came with having a “boyfriend” to flex his teenage hormones with. His friends weren't the biggest fans of Donghyuck, especially Jaemin. The treasurer was suspicious of their sudden relationship but didn't question it, though he did call Donghyuck a series of profanities, that Mark couldn't repeat, whenever the jock was brought up into conversation.
It was also easy because Mark was definitely not in l*ve with Donghyuck.
Or maybe that's what he tried to convince himself. His horribly repressed emotions told him otherwise but he didn't listen.
“You alright?” Donghyuck asked once they pulled up to the school. There was another football game, Lions against Wolves. And it was the first game since their “relationship” had begun and Mark was nervous for what his classmates might think if they caught on to their...relations, “You’ve been quiet for the whole car ride.”
“Yeah just thinking about how my school is gonna tear me apart if they find out about this relationship,” Mark said as he got out of the car, half-joking half-serious. He knew that his school really cared about school spirit and they definitely hated the Wolves. They definitely wouldn't take well to (albeit fake) relationship, but Mark didn't really care. He liked having Donghyuck as his own personal butler.
“Aw, babe don't worry about it.” Donghyuck breathed out a laugh as he walked around the car and put his arm around Mark’s shoulders.
“Don't call me babe.” Mark frowned, though he made no move to remove Donghyuck’s arm.
“Mark-” Jaemin called out, stopping short when he caught sight of Donghyuck next to him. His happy, smiling face quickly morphed into one of disgust as he walked forward and gripped Mark's arm, pulling him away from Donghyuck.
“Glad to know you still feel the same way about me.” Donghyuck grinned, cocking his hip to one side as he regarded the two.
Jaemin ignored Donghyuck’s comment in favour of turning to Mark and saying, “Come on, let's go support the winning side,” before dragging Mark over to the benches.
“God, I don't know how you stand him,” Jaemin said once they were sat by the sidelines, watching the game unfold.
“He’s not that bad,” Mark replied, unsure of why he was defending the jock in the first place. He didn't like Donghyuck, but he didn't like hearing Jaemin rip into him like that.
“Whatever,” Jaemin sighed, “I just don't want to see you get hurt...okay? Promise me you won't let him hurt you?”
Pang! Mark’s heart dropped. He hated lying to his best friend, but he couldn't bring himself to tell Jaemin that their relationship was all a lie.
“I promise.”
“I’ll rip his dick off for you.”
“Jaemin, please don't.”
The treasurer grinned and the two laughed, breaking the weird tension that had formed between them.
This time, Mark actually kind of understood what was going on in the game since Donghyuck had spent so much time ranting to him about his plays. He knew when the game was coming to a close and he knew that the Lions weren't going to win. Jaemin was biting his lip, cursing in frustration as the opposite team kept scoring, but Mark found himself silently rooting for the Wolves.
It was the last play, the Wolves had possession of the ball, and Jaemin looked like he was about to have an aneurysm. Mark could feel the anticipation thrumming in his chest as he watched Donghyuck run across the field with the ball in his hands.
Touchdown!
Mark jumped up, a bright smile on his face as the Wolves rejoiced. Mark’s team had lost and he should've been on their side, sulking and grumbling about their loss but instead, he found himself running towards the opposing team's side.
Donghyuck turned around, surprise flashing in his eyes once he caught sight of Mark running toward him. The team around him was celebrating, cheering and relishing in their win, but Donghyuck didn't really care. Instead, he was meeting Mark halfway, enveloping him in a tight embrace.
And then he leaned down, slotting their lips together.
They had kissed before, many times during the course of their fake relationship, but this time was different. As Donghyuck kissed Mark on the field, the entire student body watching, Mark’s stomach bottomed out and his heart rate picked up.
“What's the matter?” Donghyuck asked once they parted, chest still heaving up and down, a teasing smile on his cherry lips, “You look dazzled. Are you in love with me or something?”
L*ve…
Oh shit. Houston we have a problem. Abort mission. Shit.