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The first time they met, they were at the tender age of 10 and 11 respectively.
It was only childish, for the confidence that led them to meet; that used to paint all over Lee Donghyuck’s face, had never survived through his teenage years.
Before they started dating, it was Donghyuck who first expressed his great love interest in Mark, the boy who infamously breaks hearts kindly.
He still remembers how he shamelessly confessed his little heart out to the older boy during grade school, telling him how much he likes the boy he had barely even known. With his chest puffed and his chin held high, 10-year-old Lee Donghyuck described how Mark was the most beautiful, smartest, kindest, most respectful… and the list went on until he was interrupted by Mark’s friends, 2 years his seniors, who were on a laughing fit.
Well, 20 years old Donghyuck now doesn’t blame them though. It must have been hilarious for a junior to boldly confront his big fat crush on a senior like Mark. The popular top 1 student and school star player - the ace in both his entire grade and the captain of his jenior basketball team in the name of Mark Lee was everyone’s perfect boy. Perfect enough for everyone to crush on, to the point that it could even be called a routine for Mark to receive endless bold confessions on a daily basis, regardless of his admirers’ age.
But of course, like the kind, patient and understanding person everyone came to know of, Mark Lee had only ruffled his hair as he softly said, “Thank you, that’s really sweet of you, and I hope that we will both grow up to be the same person you have described 11-year-old me as.”
And although Donghyuck was old enough to read and understand the situation as a rejection, he only grew bolder each day. Now that he had made his presence (more like existence) known, he would boldly appear in front of his crush at random times to either steal a hug, gift a cookie, greet with a wave, or merely just meeting eyes. He would also occasionally slot in a letter of appreciation (That’s what Renjun calls it because “love letters” sounded too cringy to him) into Mark’s blue Jansport backpack whenever he takes the long way to the toilet, just to coincidentally walk past Mark’s empty classroom during their recess period.
(They were 2 grades apart, as Mark skipped a grade before. But Donghyuck doesn’t make up an excuse when a teacher catches the 5 grader on the 4th floor)
The thing is, even though Mark had never shown a single hint of interest in the boy who’s a year younger than him, Donghyuck’s just been grateful for the fact that Mark had never once rejected his advances before, although obviously, also never really accepting either. However, one day and out of nowhere, it seemed like the universe was finally on Donghyuck’s side. It was on the most random of all days when he had somehow won the attention of his unrequited crush, specifically when the older had intervened in his problems, personally dealing with his first ever bully situation in grade 7.
Although by then, Donghyuck had already grown up and come to his senses, putting an end to being an overly overwhelming and creepy stalker, having learned to set a boundary. Out of the many things he had done, he had only stuck to his “Letter of Appreciation” routine from then on. The only difference is that Donghyuck had found a better way to deliver his letter, which is by dropping it off the senior’s locker instead of sneaking up to his class and risking detention from Mr. Suh.
The first time Donghyuck experienced being bullied was in the computer lab, while he was trying to fix a bug on his computer which he had given up soon after. He had shifted from his usual spot in the lab to sit at the furthest back on the right corner, not suspecting of anything even when he realised the computer wasn’t shut down from before.
After completing his lab work, his teacher had dismissed the class just in time as he clicked on the “shut down” button and packed his bags. But just as he was about to leave, a fierce voice fills the room, shocking him further as the owner of the voice pushes him out of the computer lab. Only then did he realise, the shouting was directed to him.
Donghyuck was sure that the world was not on his side when he realises the computer lab is located on the ground floor and his class period ended during the senior’s recess time.
“Who allowed you to touch my computer when I was using it?” Donghyuck was pushed towards the main foyer where everyone started gathering to see what the ruckus was all about.
“I- I… I didn’t know you were using it… I swear-” another push, and Donghyuck was tossed over towards the floor.
“I had my work undone in there. You should’ve known! Just admit you wanted to sabotage my work!”
The loud yelling only frightened Donghyuck, who isn’t sure of what to respond or act on. Was he at fault? He wasn’t sure. He knows he shouldn’t have switched seats without seeking permission from his teacher - but that didn’t matter at that time. “It was only a switch of places anyway!” he had told Renjun before, which was proven wrong right then. It did matter.
“I’m s-so sorry… I-I… I’m really s-sorry…” was all Donghyuck could muster when the bigger and slightly taller student bent down to pull him by the collar, lifting him up with ease.
“I promise to do your work for you! H-here… Y-you can take my thumb drive… I’m s-sorry…” and as Donghyuck squinted his eyes the moment he saw a fist angled in line of his chin, the grip on his collar suddenly disappears, causing him to fall back to the ground. But the hard impact never came, as he fell onto a broad shoulder instead, an arm holding him in place.
"What do you think you're doing? Violence in the middle of the school foyer?" he heard the familiar voice say sternly behind him.
“I’ve had Mr. Suh contact your parents. But for now, detention,” was what the same stern voice said as Mr. Suh pulled the bully away, further from Donghyuck by the shoulder in a tight grip. Donghyuck guesses it must’ve been the teacher who stopped the fist from possibly breaking his jaw.
The teacher who’s probably approximately 100 heads taller than Donghyuck shoots him a warm smile as he apologised on behalf of his husband - Donghyuck’s Computing teacher.
“Ten had a stomachache so he wasn’t present when this happened. I’m sorry, Donghyuck, but don’t worry. I’ve called your mom as well. I’ll explain what just happened later, and you can go get some rest before she arrives. Your recess is almost-” when the school bell rang, Mr Suh looks up to the ceiling as he mouths, “Ah…”
“Yep, there it is. Mark, bring Donghyuck to…”
Wait. Mark?
Donghyuck snaps his head back to look at the owner of the shoulder that rescued him from the fall earlier, stunned to see the face of the person he has been admiring ever since he was 10. Donghyuck lets his mouth fall slightly, unable to believe the situation at hand. It was only when the said boy shook his body a little that he finally woke up from his reverie, noticing that he was staring all along, now with the other staring right back at him as well.
“Uhm… I could use some help if you’re able to- Ugh!” the senior jerks their bodies upwards to hold Donghyuck properly in place, “If you’re able to stand… on your own,” it came off as a whisper as if not to embarrass the younger in the middle of a crowding hall, and it took Donghyuck a while to understand what the other boy meant before belatedly growing embarrassed, finally stumbling onto his own two feet as he pushed himself away from the assuring arm wrapped around him.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. Yes, Mr. Suh, I understand! Thank you so much Sunbae-nim. Thank you so much Mr. Suh,” he bows as he thanks his senior and teacher, wincing as he met eyes with the bully - his classmate, flinching a little while lowering his gaze as he felt intimidated.
Mark might have taken notice of it as he pulled Donghyuck back into his grasp, standing tall as he moved forward to block the younger away from his classmate’s line of sight.
Mr Suh misses the exchange between the 3 students as he only laughs, doubtfully asking if Donghyuck had even listened to anything he said when he was busy burning a hole through Mark's handsome face with his eyes. (Mr. Suh gave him a knowing look and at that moment, Donghyuck knew that he had caught on)
"Anyway as I said, Mark- Bring Donghyuck some food and wait in my office after you’re done. I’ll be at the detention room,” that’s when the tallest teacher of their school had made his way up to his office with the bully held hostage under his death grip, and all the students slowly dispersing to get back to their schedules.
If Donghyuck noticed some threatening eyes from what he recognised to be Mark’s admirers by the side of his eyes, he pretended to look past them.
“Here, let’s go,” Mark held his clammy hand as he led them to the canteen. The younger had retracted at first, embarrassed by his sweaty hands but his crush only gave him a smile before taking it back into his. The older got Donghyuck some buns and a can of warm milk. They ate in silence before heading to Johnny’s office.
“Mar-” Donghyuck clears his throat before noticing his mistake, “Sunbae-nim.”
Mark looks at him with a raised eyebrow, then tries to lower the sound of his laughter before nodding his head, “Yes, Donghyuck?”
The blush that tainted Donghyuck’s cheeks were burning by the unexpected acknowledgement as it was shocking for the younger that his crush could remember his name, although it was true that he had been drowning the said crush’s locker with countless "Letters of Appreciation" the past few years.
He shakes his head to bring himself back to reality as he hurriedly explained to the older that he’d be fine waiting for his mother on his own and that he didn’t want to trouble the senior any further. He must’ve had a lot on his plate anyway - head of the student council on top of all that. Waiting here with Donghyuck only made the younger felt like he required unnecessary babysitting.
“You surely didn’t listen to what my brother told me to do earlier, huh. Too busy staring?”
And by then, if Donghyuck’s cheeks could grow hotter, he was sure he’s on a high fever. “No- No, I did listen to your br- Wait wha- Your brother?”
“You’ve been my stalker for a year now and you still haven’t found out that Joh- I mean, Mr. Suh is my brother?”
“3 years...”
“Oh, wow. Even more so, how did you not know?”
“Because I am not a stalker!”
“Really? You aren't?”
“Look, there is a difference between stalking and admiring!”
"So you've been admiring me for the past 2 years?"
”I said 3 years!”
”Wow, 3 years is a long time..”
"And I thought we have both established that since I was in grade 5!"
"You’re right, that we have. So you still like me? Because I'm smart and kind and funny and-"
"Hey, I never said you were funny!"
"So you don't think I'm funny?"
Their bicker-filled conversation came to an abrupt end when a middle-aged lady, dressed in a floral dress with her hair tied up to a messy bun barged in and yelled Donghyuck’s name dramatically. Donghyuck only grunts in embarrassment as he called out “Mom!” to acknowledge her.
After dramatically making sure her son had no broken bones and bruises on his body only did she allow Mark to lead them to the detention room that was located beside Mr. Suh’s office. They met the bully and his father, who had already arrived earlier, and exchanged greetings before the father forces the son to apologise, who reluctantly bows as he mumbles a nearly inaudible “sorry” to Donghyuck, which he accepts, facial expression scrunched in a way he's telling the father that it’s alright.
In a way, Donghyuck felt like he needed to thank his classmate for bullying him that day. Weird, he knows, but it was all thanks to him that Mark began to talk to Donghyuck, often asking if the same boy had been bullying him lately because he had once coincidentally caught the same student yell at Donghyuck in an empty classroom just a little after the first incident. As the dutiful prefect Mark was, he stepped in to hold the boy back and gave him a few words of warning before escorting Donghyuck out.
Donghyuck had assured Mark that he was fine every time the latter asked, and Mark would doubtfully nod as he warns his junior to inform him of anything similar that may occur again.
That day, Donghyuck’s heart fluttered, and it was a new feeling. He finally understood what his seat mate, Jeno, meant by “I feel butterflies in my stomach!” every time he squealed to Donghyuck after talking to Jaemin from class 7B now. Before, it sounded like a dumb metaphor that didn’t even make sense. "Who would even feel butterflies in their stomach? That’s so stupid Jeno!" was what he responded then.
Now, Donghyuck had experienced the same for one too many times before for him to even deny. He made sure to apologise to Jeno, but the latter only responded with his signature eye smile as he pestered Donghyuck to tell him everything about Mark Lee.
(The bully hadn’t even done any work, purposely making Donghyuck his bait when the latter had innocently switched his seat, just so he could put the blame on the naive boy for his untouched lab work. Mark had given the bully’s father the evidence to his son’s past milder offensive records, total demerit points and even the suspicious behaviour displayed through the Compter Lab’s CCTV recording that he had requested his brother-in-law to retrieve. Mark was sure that the reason behind the second bullying was due to the suspension letter he had received the day before.)
It was much to the younger’s surprise for he had never expected such events to ever happen, but he hopes that it was safe to assume, that a friendship was birthed during his midterms.
It happened one random day after school, when Donghyuck had bumped into Mark in the library. The moment he noticed the older’s presence, he sneakily made his way to grab a seat by the same table that Mark had occupied, trying his best to self-study for his (very tough) English test once settled down. Although it was truly by sheer luck and coincidence that the older had stayed after school to revise as well, it was however intentional of Donghyuck to pick the very same study spot as his (not so subtle) crush.
“If you’re going to sit on the same table, at least be confident and take the seat next to mine before one of your rivals snatch this golden opportunity.”
Mark had said it so nonchalantly without looking up from his exercise book, focusing on the complicated math question that Donghyuck knows is tough, but probably just a piece of cake for Mark Lee. He pretended to not hear the older, trying to play it off as coincidence until the unconvincing behaviour had prompted Mark to shoot his head up, raising an eyebrow as he pointed his head towards the chair beside him. He went back to focusing on his Math work as Donghyuck slowly packs his stuff to shift on the opposite side of the 6 seated table.
By the time Donghyuck walked over to put his belongings down, another girl beat him to it and pulls the middle seat first. The way the legs of the chair hit the floor loudly proves that the student had only rushed over after seeing the boy walk towards the seat. But Donghyuck didn’t argue. He never argues.
So he cowers and brings his extended arms back to rest his books on his chest before he could've placed anything down, and turned around to walk out of the library. It wasn't that he had anywhere else to go, but he felt embarrassed and didn’t want to show it, even much so by taking back the seat he had occupied from earlier.
As he turned around, his eyes follow the 2 other girls whom have just arrived and he assumes to be the girl's friends move around the table to sit opposite Mark, but not before smirking at him while whispering, “better luck next time, kiddo.”
Before he could ignore and leave, he felt a tight grip on his wrist. It made him turn around, only to see its owner still focusing on the equation he had been working on since earlier.
“Tsk, look. Now I have to redo this question, Hyuck-ah,” the senior finally looked up to meet his eyes, a small pout hanging on his face as Donghyuck stared with his lips slightly agape. He kept quiet although he felt like squealing over the simple nickname his crush has just given him.
(Donghyuck’s friends have always called him by the same nickname, but the feeling’s different when coming from the mouth of his very own crush.)
“Uhh…” he gently moves his wrist in hopes to escape as he senses the girls’ unwanted attention, all having similarly twisted frowns hanging on their faces. But he was only responded with an even tighter grip, pulling him towards the owner of the hand who has already stood up.
“It’s distracting here, right?” It was a question, but Mark doesn’t wait for his answer before he proposes to study elsewhere. Somewhere he never dreamed of ever visiting before.
“Let’s just go to my house, I think my brother’s home too. You could even ask him questions for your English test next week.”
Before Donghyuck could even digest the situation and provide an answer, Mark was already packing up - quickly, but still too slow for his sanity as he felt the sharp stares of disbelief and pure hatred of the 3 girls who stood tall in front of them. He had his gaze stuck on the table that he finds very interesting at the moment until Mark brings his hand back to circle Donghyuck’s wrist, the other loosely slinging his backpack over a shoulder.
He watches as Mark briefly gives one of the girls a sweet smile before speaking, catching the younger off guard by the unexpected exchange of words that caused his heart to do a backflip.
“I guess luck has always been on this kiddo’s side,” Mark even chuckles lightly, as if he had not just humiliated the girl who seemed to be in Mark’s grade.
Donghyuck felt a tug on his wrist and his legs brought him to follow the older as he listened to him playfully scold, “I told you your opportunity was gonna be stolen, yet you didn’t hurry up!”
The walk to Mark's home was filled with smiles and giggles as the older created an easygoing atmosphere for him. He was grateful for Mark had started a conversation, bickering a little here and there as he continued to subtly tease Donghyuck for being so shy around him, ironically the total opposite of the 10-year-old he had once known of.
He had also told Donghyuck that he texted his mother to inform her of his whereabouts, assuring him that he has nothing to worry. If Donghyuck was curious as to why Mark had his mother's phone number saved, he doesn't dare question. It didn’t actually cross his mind to tell his mother either, too caught up with calming his racing heart.
Mark hadn't released the grip on the younger's wrist since exiting the library and Donghyuck doesn't mind at all, even if it was an awkward position. But somewhere along the way, Mark had slipped his hand to tightly hold onto Donghyuck's smaller one when crossing one of the bigger streets. The gesture was probably simple to many - it could've passed as just a safety measure for Mark is currently his guardian, (although only a year older, his mother had put her trust in this very stranger) but the way his heart skyrocketed says otherwise.
That day, Donghyuck visited the very beautifully furnished home that belongs to the family of his very own crush of 4 years, unexpectedly meeting Mark’s family which he thinks had flustered Mark as well, if his widened eyes and blushed cheeks indicated anything.
He was warmly greeted by Mark’s parents, who Mark himself never expected to be home on a weekday afternoon. Even Mark’s younger brother Andy, whom Mark had already explained on their way over to have been adopted, easily warmed up to Donghyuck as his mere approach wasn't as scary as this "Jungwoo hyung" that the 7-year-old seemed to fear, as he repeatedly insisted he never wants to meet him again. Donghyuck doesn't know who that was, but he giggles as he promises to never bring "Jungwoo hyung" over.
As been informed by his sunbae earlier, Mr. Suh (Johnny hyung when out of school) was home as well. The teacher was oddly delighted to see Donghyuck, for a reason he doesn’t know of, and he had gladly revised with Donghyuck when Mark had requested him to do so.
Initially, Donghyuck had insisted he could revise on his own, but Mark had teasingly accused the younger of coming over just to stalk him (although it was Mark himself who proposed the idea), and that was all it took for Donghyuck to agree.
He doesn’t regret his decision though, for he is incredibly thankful now that he finally understands the differences between past, present and simple tense.
(Johnny teases Donghyuck about his little crush on his brother throughout the personal tutoring sesh, only whispering softly so that Mark who’s seated on the other corner wouldn’t notice. At the end of the private lesson, he told Donghyuck that his family and himself, even Ten, would welcome him over anytime. Donghyuck had shyly said thank you, although unsure of why Mark’s family seemed so warm towards him when it was his first time meeting them.)
It became a habit now, for them to meet after class at the library despite their midterms are over. Although after that one time Donghyuck never stepped foot into the Lee's house again, Johnny still often came over to the library to help his now favourite student with his revision. Even when it wasn’t English, the teacher was glad to help the student with Science and Math. And that was when Donghyuck knows, this family is blessed with brains.
During times when Johnny fails to make it, Mark would put his full attention on the younger, guiding him through his work instead of the latter's own. Donghyuck had felt bad for most of the times the older had offered so, but Mark easily brushes it off by boasting, "This is easy, you will know it when you're in my grade." Although he was sure he wouldn't find this as easy as Mark thinks it is even in 2 years time, he doesn't admit it as he already felt a little too less intelligent compared to probably 80% of the students from his grade.
Through all the study dates together (Donghyuck doesn’t know what else to call it, but Renjun insisted that he just wants to call it that way), Mark and Donghyuck had grown much closer through conversations involving their personal lives.
The younger had soon learnt that the senior and Mr. Suh shares the same mother, but different father, which explains their different surnames. However, that never stopped them from being close to one another. After all, they still share the same blood as their mother.
Mark had also revealed that his father is pretty much closer to his older brother than himself, and he didn’t seem surprised that it shocked the younger at all. Mark explained that Johnny’s father had left his family since his brother was very young, but old enough to briefly remember some memories of him. Hence if anyone, his brother might hate his biological father deep inside rather than his current one.
“Johnny says that dad is his one and only father. Well, his biological one basically abandoned his own family for dirty money so I understa- Wait, have I been saying too much?” but just by the look in Donghyuck’s eyes, Mark must have known that no, he hadn’t been boring him with his random life stories.
The senior bashfully turns his attention back to his lunch box, cheeks lightly covered in a slight blush that Donghyuck wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been staring.
Oh. I was staring.
That was when Donghyuck realised that he must have caught the older off-guard, but he doesn’t forget how Mark had uncharacteristically blushed at the usual attention Donghyuck has been showering him for the past 4 years, although he doesn't say anything, just in case he was only imagining things.
“Sunbae-”
“Are you going to keep calling me sunbae forever?”
Donghyuck gulps, “Markeu-ssi?” he tilts his head adorably and Mark mirrors his actions, obviously teasing, and Donghyuck swears that he's going to combust into thin air if his crush keeps up with his teasing. It was undeniably heart-fluttering.
“Hyung. Hyung is fine," his now hyung says after laughing and cringing at his own actions from before.
“Hyung,” Donghyuck says, as if he is testing out how it would feel like to call his crush in a more informal and personal manner. Mark only smiles, bringing his hand up to ruffle the younger’s hair.
“That’s more like it.”
And Donghyuck totally forgets that the reason he called out for Mark was to show the latter the gift he had carefully made for him and his family.
They were self-made candles that he had done, all scented differently as he was unsure of their preferences. It was nothing fancy, just from something he likes to do, also one of the few things he could afford to get for his crush.
Making candles is one of Donghyuck's few hobbies that he’s usually ashamed of, having deemed as weird and overly feminine by his elementary schoolmates. He knows that times have started to change for the better then but he still couldn’t help but hide certain things from even his friends out of pure habit and trauma.
It wasn’t until the time Renjun had accidentally found some makeup products in Donghyuck’s room, which caused him some panic, that he finally started to slowly be more open about himself as his best friend had encouraged him to not be afraid of who he is.
“You should be true to yourself. That’s one step into self-love, Hyuck-ah,” There were lots of crying involved as he explained his traumatic past to Renjun, but in return, the Chinese boy gave him a wide smile, accompanied by words of comfort and mature advice. He later felt guilty for doubting his own best friend, of all people.
(Donghyuck remembers to give Mark the gift later before they head home after another session of their library study date. He subconsciously had his head ducked down when he handed the gift to the older. He misses the smile on Mark’s face when the latter’s eyes land on the “Letter of Appreciation” that was delivered to him differently this time, looking up only when Mark was saying thank you as he offered to walk him home. If the handmade candles remind Mark of the cookies the younger used to give him until grade 6, he only smiles and reminisces. He always knew they were personally baked by the boy as well.)
It was during Mark’s high school graduation that Donghyuck asks for his phone number.
“After 6 years, you’re now only asking for my number? During my graduation ceremony?” The older teases, as usual, before typing a set of numbers of the younger's brand new smartphone.
“And yet after 6 years, you’re still not the least interested in me…”
“What was it that you said?”
Oh, Donghyuck wasn’t aware that he had said it out loud. He cleared his throat before thinking of an alternative, “I-I… I said I didn’t have a phone before!” his voice cracks a little at the end, but he was proud of himself for coming up with a proper excuse, which wasn’t a lie anyway.
Snatching the phone away from the older, he glares over when the latter laughs with his head thrown back, hand clutching on the graduate cap that obviously didn't fit as it was slipping out of his big head. (Donghyuck once asked if that was why Mark was so smart) But Donghyuck could only focus on the newest contact saved in his phone, mentally reading the set of numbers repeatedly as he hoped to memorise them by heart as soon as possible.
“Markie Hyung <3” it reads.
“Did you really name yourself Markie?” his eyes shift from his screen to look at the older in a mockingly playful scowl, only to flinch as he was greeted by an intense gaze that holds nothing but pure and genuine adoration, a soft smile hanging on the handsome face.
“W-What…” was all the younger could mutter, unable to grasp the sudden situation at hand as he desperately tries to think of something he could do to fill in the silence, which was ironically surrounded by the crowd's noises around them.
It was after a few beats when an even wider grin spreads over Mark's face. His eyes curl into crescents, looking as if a fond memory had just crossed his mind when he finally breaks the silence enveloping them.
“And yet after 6 years, you’re still hanging onto me, deep in your heart.”
It took Donghyuck a few seconds, but his eyes soon widen comically as he understood the reference; that Mark must have heard the words he never intended for him to hear.
Just as Donghyuck was thinking of a response, Mark beats him to it and cuts him some slack by shifting his attention to the way he's now invading the younger's personal space, trapping the small face between the large palms of his own. (Mark internally coos at the fact that they are almost of the same size as Donghyuck's small face)
With a wildly palpitating heart and a fluttering stomach, Donghyuck instinctively closed his eyes when the taller leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his forehead, only opening them when he feels the feather touch disappear. He doesn't protest as his face was tilted up by the same pair of gentle hands, especially not when he got to have a better look of the beautiful face that held an expression so transparent for him to read.
“And throughout these 6 years,” the older tucks the overgrown brown hair behind his ears as he continued, “you have taught me a new feeling I had never felt from a stranger or a friend before,” he pauses again to lean down, giving the younger an eskimo kiss that made the latter scrunch his nose in a soft smile before completing his sentence.
“Love.”
It was the same Mark Lee, the one whom 10-year-old Donghyuck has been crushing on up till that day, who was standing there right in front of him at 16, cradling his face and holding it so tenderly as if he was the most fragile thing to ever exist before whispering almost too quietly, “May I?”
And of course, who is Donghyuck to defy the Mark Lee? Luckily, his silent response was successfully delivered through a shy smile and the burning of his cheeks.
And that was where a new bond between them was bloomed as they shared their very first kiss together, in the middle of the graduation hall, in the eye of the public, and in the presence of Mark's whole family, not minding the loud cheers surrounding them as they parted from the chaste and innocent touch of lips.
Mark fondly caresses the reddened cheeks ever so gently as he leaned in once again to leave a lingering peck on a spot where Donghyuck knows a mole is placed. He flushes an even deeper red when Mark brings his head to the crook of his own neck and allows himself to simply enjoy as they wordlessly bask in each other’s embrace in midst of the chaotic background.
It was then when Donghyuck suddenly felt grateful that he was born shorter - or that Mark’s about a head or so taller. Just the right size, fitting perfectly into his very own personal safe space that is Mark’s arms, hiding away from the world he wishes to disappear from, together with his first and last.
PS: The cookies tasted bad but Mark still ate all of them (minus 1 to keep as a memory)