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Starlit pathways and confetti-covered grass, the early summer night sparkles with the abundance of gold and glitter in the air.
It twinkles. It glistens. It chimes. It smells like smoke and a hint of something sweet—the mixture more intoxicating than the bubbling purple drink someone placed in Jeno’s hand.
Devastatingly though, certainly not more than the boy at the center of everyone’s attention.
A whirlwind of blacks and golds and silvers, Lee Donghyuck is the night sky painted by billions of shining stars with his sequined shirt and his eyes and cheeks littered with glitter tears.
Absolutely blinding, as if he doesn’t already shine just as much without all the clothes and the makeup. With them, he’s a giant spotlight dazzling everyone in his wake as he twirls and flutters around the room, as he gets passed on to eager arm after eager arm, all trying and failing to even get a tiny piece of him.
Donghyuck with that soft, placating smile of his, reminding everyone that he’s not theirs to keep—only to look at and if they are lucky enough, get to momentarily touch.
It’s kind of unfair really, no one actually ever stands a chance.
Because Lee Donghyuck is myth come to life.
He’s the muse of every author’s making, the one they could only wish to write about, pouring their imagination and desires into a bundle of words describing someone not meant to be actually real, the one movies can only ever dare to show glimpses of scene after scene.
Surely, no one described as that beautiful can ever exist in real life—but here is a twinkling and spinning living proof of it.
A perfect main character.
Donghyuck is a book everyone is willing to own and to read, his pages all made out of stardust.
With all the gleaming purple strobe lights, the gold-silver party streamers, and the closely dancing bodies—Jeno, not really one to be fond of parties, observes from where he’s seated at somewhere hidden and tucked away from everyone else, almost out in the open air of the gardens, a spot the countless wandering lights are unable to reach.
Comfortably leaning his back against the soft plush couch, the neon balloons piled on the spot next to him as his only companion, he takes another sip of his drink knowing he’s got the best seat to watch all of Donghyuck’s chapters unfold tonight.
The first chapter goes to Jisung.
Jeno watches with a small smile on his face as he spots Jisung silently gathering up the courage to come up to Donghyuck, blushing and shyly offering his hand to him when he does manage to.
Smile slowly widening, he watches Donghyuck give Jisung a stunning smile as accepts his hand willingly even after having just been repeatedly twirled by someone else, not even giving himself time to catch his breath, the pretty faint blush on his cheeks a telltale sign that he’s already had a few to drink.
Glowing under the blinking lights, Donghyuck lets himself be swayed by Jisung through a crappy pop song, the both of them adorably giggling over it, oblivious that they’re gathering a few jealous eyes following their every glide across the room—mostly subjected towards Jisung and how he can make Donghyuck laugh like that.
Jisung looks at Donghyuck like he’s the best thing to ever happen to him.
“He’s my first love, hyung,” Jisung confessed to him a few months ago when he asked Jeno if he wanted to join him for a bike ride along the river.
Jeno wasn’t even surprised by the confession, not in the very least.
Everyone already knows it, even Donghyuck himself.
First loves.
It’s the softest, most delicate thing ever—the fragility found in the first steps, first leaps, first jumps, and first falls.
Jisung loves Donghyuck like the first flutter of eyelashes in the mornings, loves him like a baby’s breath, loves him innocent and naive.
It’s the type of love that’s young—for the first person you first hand your heart over.
And Donghyuck held Jisung’s like it’s the most delicate thing in the world.
Because Donghyuck loves Jisung soft and true.
Jeno and everyone else close to them got to witness this—for with hands so soft as he caressed Jisung’s face, words so true as he said with a genuine smile on his face, “but I’m not going to be your true and last love, Jisung-ah.”
And that Jisung knows.
Because as the music changes into something more mellow, Chenle steps into their view and gives both of them a smile that rivals the tiny sun that’s seen slowly rising in the distant horizon.
Jeno fondly watches Jisung give Chenle a soft kiss on the cheek as he gently hands him Donghyuck’s hand.
With his drink now half-empty, Jeno watches Chenle’s chapter reveal itself.
Delicate hands placed on either side of Donghyuck’s hips and Donghyuck’s hands wrapped around his shoulders, Chenle gently sways both of their bodies to the beat of the song.
He leans in close to whisper something to Donghyuck’s ear that it earns him and everyone else in the room who couldn’t keep their eyes away from Donghyuck, including Jeno himself, the most gorgeous smile anyone has ever seen.
Chenle himself looks a little stunned, a little proud of himself, and a little bit in love with Donghyuck.
It’s the type of love that has formed over the years—of joined hands and of trust, of respect and of admiration, of one-call-aways and of i’ll-always-be-there-for-yous.
“God, I love you,” Jeno hears Chenle say every time Donghyuck does something nice for him.
Donghyuck and how he ditched his classes for the rest of the day just to take care of a sick Chenle who lives all alone. Donghyuck and how he never misses any of Chenle’s basketball matches, always bringing with him big and nicely decorated signs and banners to show his support—his cheers always heard the loudest. Donghyuck and how he’s always the first person Chenle comes to whenever he and Jisung have their fights, big or small, and goes home to him with a humble heart ready to admit faults and say and accept sorrys.
Donghyuck loves Chenle big and warm—all big hugs and warm embraces, big kisses and warm cheeks, big gestures and warm belly flutters.
It’s the love of true friendship—for the person you can say with all your heart and without any doubts, the one that got you just as you got them.
It’s the friendship that can pull you out of any places, the darkest or even the brightest, because sometimes the brightest ones are the saddest too.
Jeno watches it all translate in the way they are taking turns spinning each other, the way the smiles on their faces illuminate the whole room and the way they hold each other like they don’t plan on letting go anytime soon.
But then Renjun comes and stops them mid-spin, breaking where their hands are joined only to fit his in theirs and spins all of them once again, the three of them leaving a flutter of sparkles in their wake.
Rose-colored cheeks and dizzy, Chenle breaks free from the both of them and brings Donghyuck’s hand that he was previously holding into Renjun’s now empty other one where his previously was.
He gives both of them a sweet smile as he beelines his way over to Jisung who’s watching him, spreading his arms wide for Chenle to fit himself into.
Renjun’s chapter in Donghyuck’s book starts the same way as it always does—with a look of affection passing between them.
Renjun doesn’t spin them again, doesn’t even attempt to sweep Donghyuck off of his feet like everyone who has the privilege of dancing with him is itching to do.
Instead, he softly drags Donghyuck away from the center of the dance floor and into a vacant couch slightly away from all the prying eyes, although Jeno still has a perfect view of them from where he’s sitting.
Jeno sees Renjun grabbing an unopened bottle of water from the drinks table before uncapping it and handing it over to Donghyuck who gives him a grateful smile as he takes a sip of it. Patiently watching Donghyuck drink from it, Renjun takes the spot next to him, accepting the bottle back when Donghyuck hands it over to him.
They stay there for a while with Renjun’s arm wrapped around Donghyuck’s shoulders, letting him rest his head on the crook of his neck as they watch people dance in front of them, hand occasionally running through Donghyuck’s carefully styled locks.
Jeno watches Renjun shake his head and turn everyone who dares to ask Donghyuck to give them a dance down—lips mouthing later, if later even comes.
He’s letting him rest, Jeno observes, like he always does.
Because with all the desperate hands waiting at their chance to rip and claw at Donghyuck, they would all have to go through Renjun first.
And it’s the type of love that calms the tides of the seas.
Renjun loves Donghyuck moon-wide and Donghyuck loves him like how the sun loves the moon—like a brother.
“You’re my brother from another mother,” Donghyuck affectionately sighs and Renjun only smiles as he continues putting makeup on his face, making him extra pretty and shining for all the world to see.
It’s the familiar type of love—for the family that’s chosen, for the love that you grow up with, the one that runs deep, and the one that’s thicker than blood.
Donghyuck and Renjun’s bond is something that is safe—something you come home to when the world gets too much.
Because just as much as Donghyuck glows and twinkles and shimmers and radiates under the eyes of many, he will always come home to a love not made out of harsh lights and fancy appearances.
Hazy lights and purple drinks, Jeno loses track of time, but his heart still warms as he watches Renjun fix Donghyuck’s hair, chuckling at what the other is saying—when something, someone, blocks his view of them.
It’s a familiar back, one that Jeno knows like the back of his hand—watching as Jaemin offers his hand out for Donghyuck to take.
Renjun doesn’t say no this time, allowing Jaemin to softly pull Donghyuck up into standing and dragging him back to the dance floor.
It’s a sensual song that’s playing this time, the lights changing from purple to red.
Jaemin’s chapter opens up hot and fiery.
Flashing crimson, like the desire that always reflects in his eyes whenever he looks at Donghyuck.
Scalding and burning.
Jeno looks as Jaemin pulls Donghyuck closer to him—like he couldn’t get quite enough, burying his face on his neck, his lips grazing the glinting skin there.
He’s still looking as Jaemin rocks both of their bodies into a dance of tight hands and hushed breathing and Donghyuck flushes red from all the intensity, gasping as Jaemin spins him around before dipping him so low and pulling him back close to him once again.
It’s all hazy and blurry and scarlet and everyone around them couldn’t help but have that same desire reflect on their faces, the air around them thick with it.
Because Jaemin loves Donghyuck bright red.
“You make me feel all hot and bothered,” Jaemin whispers to Donghyuck’s ear every chance he can get, the words always sounding like a joke, but the obvious want on his face clearly isn’t.
It’s the passionate type of love—for the person made of nights spent sneaking away, of stolen kisses, of stolen glances, and of mouths exploring bare skin.
Donghyuck loves Jaemin like how a moth is attracted to a flame, like Icarus to the sun, like Narcissus to his reflection.
And Jaemin loves him the same.
But that is all that it’ll ever be.
Nothing more and nothing less.
Jeno finishes his drink just as Jaemin looks in his direction, head still buried within Donghyuck’s neck, hands still tight on Donghyuck’s hips—looking directly in his eyes like he knows all along where to find him.
He stands and fixes his shirt on his way, briefly stopping his steps to decline someone wanting to pass him a drink, and clears his throat once he finally reaches the two.
Jaemin looks at Jeno all intense gazes as he untangles himself away from Donghyuck, but not before leaving a chaste kiss on the back of his hand. He goes without saying anything, leaving behind him a trail of something spicy and dark—Jeno’s favorite perfume.
The song now changes into something slow and sweet and Jeno lets his chapter start by asking for Donghyuck’s hand just like all the others.
Nothing too special—because a dance with him already is.
Soft, delicate hands fitting over his, Donghyuck gives himself for Jeno to gently sway, hip to hip, beating heart to beating heart.
It lingers, this moment.
And Jeno wills his heart to stop its obvious pounding, but when Donghyuck looks up to him from under thick lashes and a smile that could only compare to a sudden burst of fireworks in a dark sky, illuminating and radiant, Jeno gets reminded of honest confessions and even honest answers.
“I love you,” Donghyuck delicately says to him. “But I’m not in love with you.”
Jeno can still clearly remember that moment, when he thought he knew what love was before he even really experienced what it really is.
Because Jeno loves Donghyuck with a love that’s not meant to be.
It’s the type of love that’s in passing—for the person who breaks your heart, intentionally or unintentionally, just for you to find out how true it can really be.
It was a love worth trying, worth learning, and worth letting go of.
Donghyuck loves Jeno like a book that’s missing pages and Jeno loves him like a lesson.
It was learned, it was memorable, it was something that’s put behind them for the friendship that is so much more than the heartache.
“It’s almost your birthday,” he whispers to Donghyuck, lips grazing his ear. Donghyuck absentmindedly hums, hugging Jeno a little bit tighter before whispering, “I’m happy for you,” said like a gift, like it’s the other way around.
Jeno can feel the sincerity within those words, can feel it seep through the tight space between them, can feel the relief and pride in his voice that Jeno still wonders whether he deserves.
And just like that, the song comes to an end as the clock strikes twelve.
Jeno lets Donghyuck go a little, watching him bask in all the happy birthday to yous thrown in his direction.
A few seconds passed.
Jeno patiently waits for it.
And then suddenly there it is, the gentle tap on his shoulder.
He smiles, stepping completely out of the way as Mark comes into view, throwing Jeno a small, grateful smile as he takes Donghyuck in his arms and as he whispers happy birthday baby to his ear.
The last chapter starts like this—with Donghyuck irradiant in Mark’s arms.
There’s no music, no sound, no one daring to speak, as all of them watch with bated breath the way Donghyuck visibly sparkles much more than he did the past few hours.
Eyes like the glowing sun and skin shining like the jewels mankind is yet to discover, no one can make him quite glisten the way that Mark Lee does.
It was just them—in a crowded room filled with other people, it was just them.
Jeno begins to walk away, the fond smile still on his face, to the direction of the two pairs of arms immediately wrapping themselves around him.
“Hi, love,” Jaemin immediately whispers in his ear, making the fond smile turn into a pout. He feels a tender kiss land on his lips not long after, courtesy of Renjun who wiggles himself between his and Jaemin’s bodies.
They all hear a loud chuckle from beside them—from Chenle—cozy and all smiles tucked within Jisung’s arms.
An instrumental of something classic and everlasting fills the background, not one fit in a room full of colorful lights and dust glitters and neon balloons—but so right for the couple that’s slow dancing in the center of the room.
And all of them watch love unfold in their very eyes—the kind that’s deep and vividly real.
Mark loves Donghyuck and Donghyuck loves Mark.
And if you ask Jeno, that’s all he can say for a love that shows what love is meant to be in every form, in every type and in every kind.
Mark loves Donghyuck in all ways—loves him like a first love, loves him like a friend, loves him like a brother, loves him passionately and loves him selflessly.
It’s the type of love that’s raw—for a person made of vows and homes and dreams and of growing old together.
The kind that starts and stops time, the kind that you really only find once, the kind that you could only ever dream of having until you finally have it.
And this type of love reflects to Donghyuck’s best chapter.
Donghyuck’s chapter starts with him just as he is.
Glowy and all bright as he says his thanks to everyone, as he continues to bounce and jump around with Mark’s arm wrapped around his waist to keep him steady, as he dazzles everyone in the room.
It’s the type of love that’s the most important—the one someone has for oneself.
Donghyuck wouldn’t shine, wouldn’t glisten, wouldn’t shimmer as bright as he is without him loving himself the way that he does.
And no one can ever compare to this, can ever come close to the faith he has in himself, what he is and what he is not, what his true worth is.
Donghyuck is the most beautiful when he’s himself.
He’s beautiful under the spotlight, when he’s confident and so sure of himself.
He’s even more beautiful without all the glitz and the glamour, when he’s scrubbed raw and bare and so comfortable in his own skin.
But with the best also comes the worst.
And Mark also loves him even at his lowest—loves him even when he’s being unreasonable, loves him even when he gets out of control, loves him even when he struggles to love himself.
Because there are different types of love and Lee Donghyuck deserves those and more—although that part is covered by Mark Lee.
Everyone watches as Mark hands him a pretty cake with a candle burning in its center and Donghyuck leans in with his eyes closed before softly blowing it.
Loud cheers and congratulations filled the air—no one even notices Mark stealing Donghyuck away from everyone.
But Jeno does. Jaemin, too. And so does Renjun, Chenle, and Jisung who knows of the box burning a hole through Mark’s pockets, of the ring inside that they all helped him pick out.
They all know of the drive Mark plans to make, to the place that’s privy only to them, a quiet place where Donghyuck continues to shine the brightest—if not more.
Home.
Because if Donghyuck is a book, then Mark is his sequel, the one that contains happy-ever-afters and a one-in-a-million type of love.