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Markhyuck were at it again and it was sickening. Renjun didn't know why he thought being in the same room with the couple was a sensible thing to do. Not only were they being gross, but they didn't even believe it. They still claimed they hated each other. Granted, over the years the hate has changed from, "I'm going to leave the company" to "I hate you", while smiling at each other, but they were still adamant that they hated each other, and that their fights were real, even if not serious. In reality, the duo did fight, but it was just a way to touch hands or see each other blush. It was mostly Mark who ended up blushing at whatever dumb thing Haechan decided to do, but there were surprising moments in which Haechan was the one to blush, much to Mark's joy and Renjun's dismay. Seeing Haechan blush went against everything Renjun knew about the boy. Haechan was the confident one, the one who tries to kiss nearly every member, unfazed by the result. Which was why it is so off-putting now for Renjun to see what was in front of him.
Mark was idly playing the guitar, paying no attention to the notes played, while Haechan sang softly. Renjun had earlier attempted to harmonise with Haechan but was completely ignored. What was the point in singing if there was no one to appreciate it? In the end, Renjun gave up and slumped against the wall, waiting for Jeno or Jaemin to walk in and save him. Renjun paused. Thinking about it, he realised the two J's would be just as awful. They were almost as repulsive as Markhyuck and he would remain staring at the floor awkwardly. The best option would have been to visit the WayV dorm to play with their zoo of pets and catch up with Yangyang. Hindsight is a beautiful thing.
The notes of Haechan and Mark singing their famous billionaire cover brought Renjun back to the present, but he wished it hadn't. The scene in front of him was nauseating. Of course this song would turn them into lovesick idiots, with their eyes visibly shining. Renjun inwardly laughed as he remembered when they first sang the song as young teens, dancing and singing like they were the coolest people in the building. The laugh then turned into a groan as he recalled that even then they were nauseatingly whipped for each other. To think, all this time had passed of them being unwaveringly in love, yet they failed to do anything about it. It was such a waste. If they had more braincells they could be planning their wedding soon, where they could have sang Billionaire on the day. They're sappy like that. Renjun also knew that they would be the only ones performing, as Haechan would likely refuse to hire a band, as his voice, and Marks, was the only one which needed to be heard. Perhaps he'd ask his members to join in with instruments, as it sounded like the kind of thing Haechan would force them to do. Renjun blinked, halting his train of thought. It was almost as if he was...fantasising about his friends' own wedding. Renjun decided to claim that the romantic stench around him had caused him to become delusional. It was completely Markhyuck's fault.
"You guys are too much", Renjun finally exclaimed, clenching his eyes shut.
The couple looked at him, at the exact same time. Renjun shuddered. Creepy...
"What do you mean? We're just singing," Mark cluelessly asked, voice higher than usual and seagull brows furrowed. Mark's density was too much to handle.
Sighing once again, Renjun said, "Both of you are exhausting. How is it possible to be this dense?" and swiftly walked out of the room, door slamming shut, not knowing where he was going to go.
---
All music stopped after Renjun left, with Mark and Haechan stuck in bewilderment. The members had been doing this more and more recently. They felt like they only saw them when doing promotions, performances or practices. Of course they were concerned, but what was odd was that they did not particularly care, like some weird part of them liked being left alone. There was just something special about the two of them alone together.
In truth, Haechan did realise what made those times special, and he probably had for a while. He knew he liked to tease Mark, enjoying making him blush, but he'd always assumed that it was the same for everyone else. Haechan liked getting under people's skin. It was fun to see their reactions. He had used this fact to reason that there was nothing special about Mark, other than reacting very strongly to things. However, the more Haechan thought about it, the less he could deny it. He liked seeing Mark blush because he liked the thought that he made that happen, made Mark flustered and cute. There was just something special he could not describe. He got to see Mark unravelled in a way no one else would and that felt significant. It helped when they were alone because he could make Mark blush with no judgement from others, and Mark wasn't so closed off. That was all Haechan would see though, and refused to admit the whole truth. He didn't think about why they had such a special bond or why, when he looked at Mark, he saw his best friend, but also someone extremely important to him. He didn't ask why he felt they had such a connection with each other. Yes, Haechan would feel a squishy sensation in his stomach, which was simultaneously uncomfortable and comforting but. Yes, he thought Mark was adorable when he giggled, or ranted about random stuff which to anyone else would be insignificant but it he refused to think anything of it.
Mark on the other hand was pretty clueless about everything. He didn't understand why his members behaved so strangely, let alone why he wasn't particularly fussed about them being away. He did wonder why his best friend mattered so much to him, but he had quickly dismissed it because, of course he mattered to him, even if he was incredibly annoying. He loves all his members. Sure, they both had a special connection but that was just them being close. He always said he hated Haechan but that rarely was real, apart from when he would take a joke too far, and even then, Haechan would eventually apologise. He didn't need to think of it any further than this because he didn't have time. He needed to focus on work. Plus, he felt everything for Haechan so easily, he didn't even think of questioning it.
For Mark, Renjun's exit was therefore not questionable. It was just his friend being weird, nothing related to Mark or Haechan. Haechan however knew the truth. Renjun was a reminder of the things Haechan was already thinking and of what it meant. He loved so many attributes of Mark he loved, it was impossible to dismiss, especially when singing Billionaire together made Haechan feel so warm. And now, as he glanced at the Canadian, the fact his heart felt like it was glowing felt too big to ignore. Mark had continued playing random notes on the guitar, so it was clear to Haechan that he was as oblivious as ever. With that in mind, he simply asked what song they should play next, avoiding the topic of any songs they'd sang together.
For a little while, the atmosphere stayed pleasant, away from any strange feelings, until they reached Puzzle piece. This was a song dear to the both of them, and it would often leave them on the verge of tears. Obviously all their members teared up thinking of the song, but Haechan would remember feeling not only like a piece of their puzzle was missing but like that piece had been violently ripped out of him. When Mark thought of the song, he would also want to cry, again thinking about all the members he missed, but at that time he always thought of Haechan the most, despite them being in 127 together still. The previous atmosphere coupled with the thought of how important Haechan was to him made Mark pay attention to him in that second. Haechan looked like he was in his own world, experiencing the music coming from his mouth, just focusing on that, and it made Mark feel warm which was such a distracting feeling that he stopped strumming. He only realised this when Haechan stopped singing, instead, giving Mark a look, silently questioning what had just happened. Mark gave no answer as his mouth became dry.
"Your...singing. It's different," Mark blurted, dumbly. Haechan laughed lightly in response, a little confused as to where Mark was going, but he knew that he just needed time to construct his thoughts. Any other time he would take a jab at Mark's awkwardness but he felt like he had to wait for what was being said.
Mark eventually explained, "I sometimes forget how beautiful your voice is. I guess I hear it so often it sounds the same, but right now it feels..." He couldn't end the sentence. He didn't even know what he was feeling. All he knew was that his voice was really nice to hear, and the look in his eyes in that moment was enrapturing. Mark finally added, "Right now, I feel like I could listen to you all day and not get bored. I would somehow always be entranced." The surprisingly articulate Mark ended as he continued, "You should start singing everywhere you go", while giggling a little. He liked that idea, seeing Haechan's face permanently like this, followed by the honey tones of his voice.
Right then, the single most adorable thing Mark would ever experience in his life happened. Haechan, the ever-confident pain in the ass, actually blushed. Not just that. He fully curled into himself at the compliment, hiding behind a tiny pillow which hardly covered his face. How could this troublesome boy do such a cute thing, and why was so heart wrenching? Mark was starting to understand the kick Haechan gets out of making people blush, and he wished to do it again.
"Oh my God, you're adorable?" Mark asked, as if it were a question, but it did feel like a question. Since when had he ever been adorable? Surely he wouldn't have missed a face like that before. At this point though, Mark felt he couldn't be too surprised. Today felt like a whole bunch of weird feelings. Haechan only blinked in response to Mark, and it gave Mark even more time to think, or, more accurately, have thoughts crash his mind. Friends didn't call their friends adorable in the way Mark just did. Friends who hate each other don't find it cute when they make the other flustered, they simply laugh in their face. Friends definitely wouldn't be entranced by the other's presence. Mark gulped. He had to accept the truth.
Mark, always panicked and confused, knew what he should do, and moved confidently towards Haechan. Their faces were now so close to each other, yet so far away, close enough to see every detail of each others' lips but too far away to see how it would feel to touch the other and Mark wasn't afraid. They were both waiting for the other to move closer and touch.
Soft was the first sensation they felt, followed by a sweet feeling of warmth. Finally their mouths had met and it felt so surprisingly comforting, so right. There was something that felt so cliche about it. They felt made for each other, puzzle pieces just like their song. It was home. They pulled away shortly after, but they both knew they wanted to do it again. It was a strange sort of addictive. It was somehow nothing like and exactly like how they imagined, and it felt so easy. So they went forward again, to kiss another time, to feel that pure feeling of love in one kiss, but this time the door creaked open.
"If you guys behave I'll-"
Renjun stopped as he stared at the idiots he called friends.
"Forget it" he sighed before swiftly turning and retreated from the room, vowing never to be in their presence again. However, a smile couldn't help painting itself on his face. They finally did it huh?