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1
Renjun would like to say that he is a man that doesn’t need love in his life. He doesn’t need another man to take care of him (yeah you read that right he is gay). But his friends know better that he is just still heartbroken over a certain tall man who goes by the name Lucas.
Lucas came into his life bringing butterflies, putting it all in his stomach. Renjun finds it weird but to say it is unwelcomed is a lie. He loves all the feelings Lucas gave him. All the little gestures and little things Lucas did for him sent tingling feelings inside his stomach.
And Renjun believes that true love is the feelings he felt when he was still with Lucas. After Lucas left, he doesn’t think there would be another person who makes him feel that way.
Oh boy how wrong he is.
***
Mark Lee is the guy that you wished you could be or the guy you want to be with. There is nothing in between. Despite being one of the most popular guy in college, Mark is rather humble and not a snobby kind of a popular guy
Renjun of course has heard about him or should he say they are two acquaintances that sometimes exchange greetings when they see each other? Being a friend with one of the members of that clan alone is enough to make Renjun known among the university hot stuff.
Sometimes it is Jaehyun Jung that would greet him in the hallway, another day it would be Haechan Lee. Mark Lee is the one that constantly greets him every time they meet. The way his lips curved upwards when he saw the smaller male is immediate. Maybe they talk once or twice and Renjun already hears a few whispers of some jealous asses but he doesn’t care though. It wasn’t him that wanted all the attention was he not?
“About the party at Mark’s this Friday, is Renjun coming along with you, baby?”
“.. well, I don’t know yet. I did ask Renjun but you know how he always left a question unanswered every damn time.” Jaemin pouts as he snuggles closer to his boyfriend of 2 years now.
Renjun rolls his eyes as he sticks his tongue out at the couple who is seated across from him.
“Maybe both of you could leave me the hell alone. Stop being lovey dovey and let me eat in peace, assholes.”
“Just tell us you are jealous and go.” Jeno pulls his boyfriend closer by his waist before feeding the younger in his arms as Jaemin this time, replies the blonde male across him by sticking his tongue out.
Renjun groans before turning his head left and right to see the audience that this campus sweetheart has gathered ever since they sat across from him. Well, Renjun hated the unnecessary attention they have been receiving but what are the odds when your best friends are dating each other and the both of them are college heartthrob.
His eyes lay on a figure that has both hands in his pocket, who probably is or probably not staring straight at him. Renjun can’t deny that the guy is really attractive. Of course, he is attractive. This is Mark Lee that we are talking about.
He ain’t wrong when Mark waves his way, flashing the most beautiful smiles towards him.
Oh that smile. No wonder almost half of the NeoU population is head over heels for Mark Lee. Suddenly there is this feeling of butterflies in his stomach and the last time he felt this way is when he is still with Lucas.
His anxiousness is like alerting him that there is danger coming for his heart in the form of Mark Lee. There is no way, he is falling for him just because of that smile ain’t he? Before he could overthink even more, he just smiles, nodding his head to the latter before shifting his attention back to his food.
Renjun is now keen on finishing his food as soon as possible.
2
The sounds of the music blasting throughout the mansion are insane. If this was his neighbourhood, they probably would be reported to the higher up. Luckily Mark lives in a neighbourhood in which one house is far from another. The perks of being rich, he thought.
Renjun makes his way through the crowd, finding himself a spot with a much lesser human. Fortunately, the kitchen is less hectic. He found himself sitting on one of the stools. Leaning his back against the kitchen counter. He sighs.
It is funny when he realised that he came with Jaemin and Jeno but ended up alone just after 30 minutes arriving.
He did expect this when the two begged him to come and he doesn’t even know why he agreed. Maybe with a promise of treating him to lunch for 2 weeks straight that made him agree or was it just the thought of seeing the pretty face that has been on his mind lately?
“Hey, were you alone or is it just you being ditched by the two?”
Well, talking about the ‘devil’.
Renjun turned his head to look at the latter, smiling before he replied, “You know I know, Mark.”
Chuckling, Mark shakes his head before taking his seat beside the younger. God knows how Renjun’s heart skips a beat. It is not like Renjun like him. It is just his heart that has been acting really weird lately.
“Yeah. I know. Nevermind, let them be. I’ll accompany you tonight tho.”
Mark said with a smile plastered on his handsome face before standing on his heels, making his way towards the fridge. Renjun's heart skips a beat. Has the older man always been this handsome, he thought.
“..Renjun?”
“Ah yes, why?”
“I was asking if you wanted a beer or anything else to drink.” he softly asked with head popping out from behind the fridge door.
“Water is fine, Mark. I don’t think I want beers to fuck up my brain even more tonight. I need to stay sober to bring those two home.”
“I’m betting my whole life, they are sleeping over tonight and they are going at ‘it’ now.” Emphasizing the word ‘it’, Mark chuckles, reaching out his hand to give Renjun his water.
Upon reaching his hand to take the bottle from the older, Renjun looks up as he flashes the older his smiles, before mouthing a small thank you.
The night is getting late but the both of them enjoy just sitting there talking about the most random things. Renjun can’t deny that talking to Mark is fun. Mark is an attentive listener and good at words.
Laughter and giggles were shared between the two as the night deepens. If Renjun heard Mark say “You are so beautiful, Renjun-ah” a few times in between their conversation, he just knows that the older one is getting drunk from the beer.
And maybe Renjun blamed the butterflies he felt in his stomach for the amount of water he drank.
3
“Have you seen the way Mark looks at you or are you just blind?” Jaemin questioned the older as he comfortably took his place in the middle of the bed.
“What do you mean the way Mark looks at me. He looks at literally everyone. I mean that is what our eyes do though? To look at others, no?”
Jaemin sighs before throwing the small pillow towards the older who has taken his place at the end of the bed and a phone in his hand.
“You are just denying that. Admit it, you too, conscious of those lingering stares.”
Jaemin knew Renjun too well that he didn’t need to tell him anything, the latter already knew what he was thinking.
“Oh come on, Renjun. Don’t play dumb. You know you like him too.” Jaemin just knows that Renjun is going to deny it.
“Shut up, I am not.” Rolling his eyes, Renjun shifted his attention back to his phone.
Na Jaemin is not a Na Jaemin if he didn’t interfere with Renjun’s life (he said, he did that just because he love and care for him as a best friend)
Rolling over to the end of the bed, Jaemin snatched the older’s phone. “Ooh, the two of you now have each other's number? Ooooh? Earring? What did you guys do at the party that he had your earrings? Wow, dumb of me to ask that question earlier when you guys are one step ahead. Oh my god. I’m gonna tell Jeno.”
“Shut up, you snake. We are just friends. That earring probably fell when I was scratching my ears last night. What the fuck. And for your information, we hang out in the kitchen only.” Rolling his eyes at the younger, Renjun snatches back his phone before putting it in his pocket.
“Oh kitchen? Sexyy..”
Oh how Renjun wanted to sew his best friend's lips so he wouldn’t talk nonsense ever again.
“You are so annoying, Jaemin I swear-”
Before he could finish, his phone rings, indicating there is indeed an incoming call. Fishing out his phone from his pocket, Renjun answered the call.
“Oh hey, hello. You are here? Alright then. I’ll go down.”
Jaemin shoots him the “Who is it” look as Renjun just rolls his eyes before ending the call.
“You, stay here and don’t move. Wait for me here.”
With that, the younger male bolt downstairs leaving a confused Jaemin on the bed.
***
“Hey, you are here.” the taller male flashed him the smiles that strangely made Renjun’s heart beat faster.
Renjun smiles but before he can reply, the older male continues, “Here, your pretty earring.”
“Ah yes. Thank you so much for this, Mark. Actually, you can give it back on Monday though.” Renjun sheepishly smiles before looking up to the older.
“I mean, I was passing by your area so yeah. I decided just to stop by.” The taller smiles and again it did something to Renjun.
“Hey, just say that you wanted to see him cause you missed him, that is fine, Markgeollie.”
Renjun knows that voice very well. Na Jaemin really can’t shut his mouth for his own good. He turned to look at the younger who was leaning against the door of his house with a smirk on his face.
Renjun swears he really wants to slap the smirk out of his face right at this moment but he can’t. Be damn, Jaemin and his mouth, he internally cursed as he bore his murderous gaze towards his best friend.
Turning back to the older male, he awkwardly grins, “I’m sorry for Jaemin, he is annoying not gonna lie.”
“It is okay though Renjun, maybe he is right.”
To say he is surprised is an understatement but he just shrugged it off as he nervously laughed.
“Well, you hang out with him so often that you are becoming a tease like him.”
If Renjun saw how Mark’s cheeks turned slightly red, he decided that maybe the weather is too hot for him and maybe Renjun too, blamed the weather for the butterflies he felt inside.
4
Renjun is glad that the library is not really packed today as he finds himself seated at the far corner. It is his comfort place, he often told Jaemin.
The peace and silence surrounding him suddenly interrupted with a hushed voice asking him a question he very much expected.
“I heard that the Mark Lee came to your house just to give back your earrings. What happened?” Renjun looks up from the book he is reading, eyes fixated on the male with a beauty mark under his eyes across him.
“Nothing happened, Lee Jeno. Whatever extra things you heard from your big mouth boyfriend are not real by the way.” Renjun replied briefly before shifting his attention back to the book right in front of him.
“Ooh but I heard some little birdie saying there is something going on with the both of you.” The gorgeous male across him said. The sly smirks that Jeno flashed at him went unnoticed as he lifted his head just to meet Mark Lee’s eyes who was sitting two tables away from him.
He was about to wave his hand when the older suddenly stood on his feet walking towards his direction.
Jeno, realizing his friend’s attention is no longer on him, turns to look at the object or rather person of Renjun’s attention before smirking as Mark stands at the end of their table
“Ooh, here comes Romeo. What can I help you with, captain?” Jeno, who already knew the older motives, asked teasingly.
Mark playfully punched the younger male before replying, “You are so annoying, dude. I am here not for you. Anyways, can I talk to you Renjun? I won’t take much of your time. 5 minutes? Please?”
Renjun, who is unconsciously fidgeting, looked up to the older man who smiled sweetly.
“Um sure? Where do you want to talk Mark?” he replied earnestly.
“Here is good enough though, just that someone should know his cue and leave right about now.” he glances towards the male sitting on his right.
“Ugh fine. I am leaving, lovebirds. Take all the time you want to romance.” Jeno left but not before Renjun was able to pinch his arms and a small yelped was heard.
Mark chuckles as he sits at Jeno’s previous seat across from the smaller male.
“So, what is it Mark Lee?”
“Aww you calling my name like that makes me feel we are so distant.” Clutching his chest, Mark flashed a hurt look.
Shaking his head, Renjun chuckles, “You are silly. Come on, tell me what is it, Mark?”
The smile on Mark's face feels like it can brighten the whole universe. He wasn’t exaggerating when there are walking proofs in the university who think the same way as him. Mark Lee is not a popular guy without reasons. They said his blinding smiles is one of the reasons why and he understood his fanboys and fangirls when they said that.
“I wanted to invite you to our finals match.” Mark finally said. Renjun raised his eyebrows curiously. Him? The lazy and rather stay indoors him?
“Umm it is this weekend ain’t it?” Still, he asked. Mark eagerly nodded.
Before Renjun could continue, Mark speaks up, “I know you are not up for that, Renjun. I mean I know you are a homebody who would rather stay at home. But, I- you know,”
Mark stutter and Renjun still find it endearing.
“Chill, slowly tell me.”
“Let me just get this straight to the point then.” Mark reaches out his hand to hold the smaller’s in his. To say Renjun is surprised is an understatement. His head turned left and right to make sure that no one is watching them but of course it is just wishful thinking.
It is like everyone is watching them more accurately watching Mark but it does things to him when Mark’s attention is fully on him.
“I wished for you to be my boyfriend, Renjun-ah. I’ll give you time to think and if you agree, you can come to our finals match and I’ll take that as a yes.” Voice ever so gentle with his thumb rubbing circles on the smaller hand, his eyes sparkle with hope as he looks straight towards Renjun.
It wasn’t butterflies no more, it was the whole zoo that Mark put in his stomach.
+1
The day of the match came by quickly. Renjun knows that their college is going to win the match. The perks of having Jeno Lee and Mark Lee in the team.
He has been staying low among the crowd of people that are watching the match, trying not to gain so much attention. He is here to surprise his soon-to-be boyfriend or should he finally say boyfriend now that he is here?
He found himself slipping into the player’s locker with Jaemin. Luckily the locker is empty now that all of the players are already out on their way to the nearest restaurant for celebratory dinner. Actually this is all Jeno and Jaemin plan to prank Mark saying that Renjun rejects him. Hence, Renjun is not coming to the match and it is also the reason why he needs to stay low throughout the match not to gain attention especially from Mark Lee.
He was hiding behind one of the player’s locker which is a few steps away from Mark’s. He can see from here how Jaemin showers Jeno with congratulatory kisses. Mark, who is sitting on one of the benches, looks rather solemn.
Cute, he thought.
Jaemin who turned to him cautiously gave him signals that they are going to leave and it is time to surprise Mark with his appearance and he nodded as he watch Jeno and Jaemin disappear behind the door.
Clearing his throat, he gets out of his hiding place, walking towards the older male on the bench.
“Hey, boyfriend. You were so cool, congratulations for the win.” Renjun smiles sheepishly, eyes staring at the older male who renders speechless. For a second, he looks so confused.
But it doesn’t last long as the older one approaches him, a big grin on Mark’s face with hand on his shoulder as he speaks, “Hey, you are here.”
Nodding his head earnestly, Renjun smiles reached his eyes. He is not able to verbally answer as Mark takes him into his arms before pulling back as fast, staring straight at the shorter male in his hold.
“I thought you wouldn’t come.” Mark said as he brushes away the bangs on his forehead before tucking it back behind his ear.
“I came. I watched the whole match, silly. I was trying very hard to stay low so that you won’t notice me.”
“Don’t tell me this is Jeno and Jaemin's plan all along? And you agreed to it?” Renjun doesn’t have to answer that question and Mark already knows by the way Renjun laughs.
“I can’t believe you, but I’ll let it slide since I am very happy now you are in my arms, boyfriend.” Renjun can feel the tightening of the older's arm around his waist before tiptoeing and pecking his now boyfriend’s lips.
“God you are so cute. I like you so much, baby.”
This time it is Mark who leans closer before capturing the younger’s lip in between his. The kiss is rather slow and sweet and before it could get all heated, Mark himself pulls away as he puts their forehead together.
“Me too, Markeu.” Renjun finally replied, smiling sheepishly.
Renjun understood it wasn’t the water and it wasn’t the weather that caused the butterflies in his stomach. He is now acknowledging it is because of Mark Lee and he is not going to deny it anymore.
Mark Lee brings him butterflies and Mark Lee too, brings him peace.