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Rolling a cigarette in his hands, the black-haired male took a puff out of it, his eyes scanning the traffic ahead. It seemed as if an accident had taken place, his eyes vaguely glancing at the ambulance and police cars nearby. Laying back in the driver’s seat the male knew he wouldn’t be escaping the wrath of his boss anytime soon. He’s supposed to return by twelve but by the looks of it, he would not make it out of the place soon.
He knew smoking cigarettes inside a car would get him into trouble but the male couldn't care less. His boss Johnny who’s very much near to firing him from his job as a part-time taxi driver and his personal life colliding with his studies itself was stressful for him. But was Mark about to let go of his habits? No.
A knock on the glass brought him back to reality as he hesitantly took the cigarette out of his hand and got outside, in order to crush it under his heels. He was met by a male, age-similar to him looking at him with hopeful eyes.
“Hey... uh... can I get in?”
Mark blinked twice before nodding slowly, gesturing to the male to enter the car. Once he was done he got back inside, slamming the door loud enough to startle the other. Mark wanted to speak out, to tell off the stranger that it was too loud for his liking. Yet he couldn’t as he found himself in a position where he didn’t have the rights to. Rolling his eyes, he nibbled on the tip of the cigarette, a deep sigh echoing in the background.
“Is the traffic going to end anytime soon?” the stranger started as Mark looked at him through the front view mirror, before shrugging.
“Probably not,”
The other hummed and leaned back as Mark turned his gaze forward, his eyes drifting through the cars that were ahead of them. Mark sank in, the tension thick in the air as neither the passenger nor him dared to speak. As if it was an unspoken rule, one that required them to be quiet, the males sat there silent.
“Mom?” He could hear the passenger answering the call. Mark had taken a quick nap, didn’t know how long it was as he rubbed his face furiously.
“Where are you Hyuck?” she sounded worried and by the looks of it, Hyuck did, as well.
“Stuck in a traffic jam,”
“Where are Jeno and Renjun?” the female asked further, as he could see Hyuck rubbing his temple, biting his lip nervously.
“Mom…”
“Hyuck… did you pick any fight with them?”
Judging by the voice Mark assumed that Jeno and Renjun might be close friends of the male. For what reason was he listening to their conversation like a creep, no one knows?
“It’s not that... I left the dorms early for this week. Am I not allowed to visit you anymore?”
Frustration could be heard in his voice as Mark double-checked the other to make sure he was okay. He could understand Hyuck. He had been in his place once. Not until he got kicked out of his house after he was outed by his alleged best friend.
“That’s not what I mean-”
“I have to end the call. Bye, mom. See you at home,”
Hyuck ended the call with a groan passing away from his lips, his phone thrown towards the other end of the seat earning the attention of Mark once again.
“It looks like you’re stressed” Though he didn’t want to snoop into the other’s business Mark found himself whispering those words as Donghyuck shot up from his seat. As soon as he noticed the change in the stranger’s posture, Mark regretted his whole being for saying that out.
“So?” The passenger was annoyed as Mark raised his hands in defeat, passing a pack of cigarettes to the other.
“Want to try one? It can help you with stress,”
Donghyuck eyed the driver and the pack of cigarettes back and forth before rejecting the other politely.
“Sorry, I don’t smoke. But thank you for the offer,”
Mark nodded before retrieving the pack, his hands flying back to the pack of smokes, a small smile spreading on his lips. Lighting a cigarette, he fell back to the seat, his eyes closing on their own. For now, having a beautiful stranger, and being stuck in a traffic jam while smoking cigarettes seemed to be a dream.
Donghyuck, who obviously was bothered by the actions of the other, rolled the windows down so as to let the smoke spread out. He wasn’t fond of smoking and due to his current situation, he couldn’t certainly go against the male who might kick him out considering it was the only taxi available, and that too at that hour.
Nevertheless, he tried his luck to stop the other from smoking further.
“Hey… could you like… not smoke?”
Mark was taken aback by the request but paid heed and threw it away making the other relieved. Though he was annoyed, Mark wasn’t that of a dick to not comply especially when his actions could lead to him getting fired? It has happened before and he for sure wouldn’t want to repeat the history.
Donghyuck on the contrary seemed to be surprised as a small smile spread on his face. Who knew it was easy to make a request?
“I’m going to take a nap,” was all Mark said as he eyed the male who seemed to be sleepy as well. Seriously, how worse could a nap get? A broke university student like him deserves some rest and Mark knew better than to let this slide away. Knowing how these situations worked he knew another nap wouldn’t hurt.
Having woken up from a nap because of a terrible headache, Mark found himself in the familiar streets of Dallas, a shiver running down his spine at the sight of emptiness filling the whole place. Blinking his eyes the male got out of his car, an icy breeze covered his body, his eyes scanning a designer studio which for some odd reason, had lights on. For some reason, the silhouette looked familiar.
Moving closer Mark found himself staring at the beauty the person was emitting as his lips turned into a curve, his eyes sparkling with admiration and adoration. However, his smile turned into a small frown as he saw another silhouette walking beside the male.
“You know staring at me wouldn’t help us progress” the male playfully said, twirling a strand of his hair as the other pulled him closer making Mark furious. Who was he and why was he touching him like that?
“And? You like this,” the voice, strangely familiar to Mark, remarked, gesturing to his body as Donghyuck, whom Mark recognized as one of the silhouettes, laughed.
“You’re being awfully cocky,” Donghyuck whispered, moving closer as the male smirked, pulling the other in by his waist.
“And it turns you on,”
Donghyuck’s giggles boomed through the air, soon turning into voices that Mark wished he didn’t hear. Stumbling on his path, the male tried to get away, his feet giving up on their own, a strange sensation overtaking his entire body.
Within a fraction of seconds, Mark was lying on the ground, scars covering his arms and his clothes torn off. Scrambling on his knees he got up, walking down the streets but this time with strangers surrounding him. In the middle of them was a car familiar to the one he drove and a male he wished wouldn’t see in a vulnerable position.
His first instinct was to push away the males cause Donghyuck was his and only his. Having seen him in a position so vulnerable was obviously something Mark couldn’t bear to see and he jumped into action, throwing punches the whole path. He was taken aback a bit when he saw the humans didn’t even move an inch creeping him even more.
“Why aren’t they budging?” mumbling to himself the male tried to punch them even more only for his efforts to go down the drain.
A small giggle was heard in the background as Mark turned back only to come in face to face with his beloved. He looked different. The signs of distress no longer present on his face as he pulled him in closer leaving no space between them. Mark’s breath hitched as Donghyuck smirked, dragging his fingers down the throat of the other.
“Donghyuck-”
“You know what you have in common with them? The carnal hunger…,”
Mark’s brows furrowed. What was he hinting at? Why was he trying to suffocate him? Did he do something wrong?
“You don’t know what you’ve got yourself into lee minhyung,”
“What-”
“Hush!”
Once Donghyuck’s lips met his own, it didn’t feel exciting. Mark could feel the grasp of the other on his throat loosening, his breath being erratic. He didn’t feel any electricity shooting through his body but fear engulfed him. His lover’s grasp on his waist tightened as seconds passed by and it didn’t put a good taste in his mouth. He tried to push away but the hold on him became tighter as seconds passed by.
Mark started to feel dizzy, tasting iron in his mouth, and soon had his vision blacked out.
“Where am I…” squinting his eyes Mark got up, waiting for his vision to adjust to the darkened surroundings. As he tried to move his arms, he realized that something was holding him back.
“What the-”
“What did I tell you about swearing, Mark?” came a voice as Mark gasped recognizing the voice. He hated the fact that the other’s voice was sickeningly sweet.
“Donghyuck-”
“It’s Lee Haechan for you,”
Mark gritted his teeth trying to free himself, earning a chuckle from the other.
“I warned you, Mark, I did. And I did it because I loved you but look where it got you,” he remarked, holding on to the older male’s jaw as Mark closed his eyes.
“I thought we were over this!” yelled Mark as the other shook his head slightly, that annoying smirk still present on his face.
“You obviously are not,”
“I am!”
Mark was adamant
“You dream of me every night, baby. Your subconscious mind yearns for me and why? Why try to deny it? Deny me?”
“I don-”
“You do! Even when you’re sleeping beside a guy all you could think of is me and me alone. Admit it, Mark! I got you all messed up! I got you yearning for me and me alone,”
“No!”
“No matter how much you deny it I know you still yearn for me, babe,”
“You’re being awfully cocky!”
“And you like it,”
With a wicked smile plastered on his lips, Donghyuck crawled all the way to the top of the web, clutching the rope tight.
“What are you-”
“If you think you could run away from me, you’re dead wrong Lee,”
Donghyuck has officially broken the rope initiating their fall to death.
“NO!” Screaming loud the male got up on the bed, sweat running down his face. The male beside him stirred loudly before waking up as well, rubbing Mark’s back.
“Love?” he asked groggily as Mark scooted closer to him, his eyes shut tight and his fist clutching the other’s shirt tightly.
“Jae…”
Jae, as Mark liked to call Jaehyun, rubbed his hands in a circular motion to calm him down. When Mark was having troubles regarding his personal life, as if an angel was sent from above, Jaehyun entered his life. He knew Mark had severe problems in his last relationship due to which he suffered from episodes from time to time yet he accepted him for who he was.
“It’s okay I’m here. He won’t get you,”
“But he-”
“Relax. He won’t get you okay? We’re far away from his sight.” Jaehyun tried to calm down the other as Mark sighed. Scrambling on his feet he switched on the lights to drink some water.
“Hey… do you want me to contact them? To check his status?” Jaehyun asked hesitantly as Mark shook his head slightly. He didn’t want to associate himself with the other anymore.
“Are you feeling better now?” he asked, tilting his head as Mark smiled a bit.
“Well then, let me get my baby to sleep,”
“Aren’t you going to sleep?” Mark asked, looking at the taller man who shook his head sideways.
“Not until you sleep,”
“But,”
“No buts,”
Mark smiled to himself, thankful to have received someone like Jaehyun to be his partner for the rest of his life. His past with Donghyuck wasn’t something he was pleased about and it certainly wasn’t something he liked to talk about. He’s still going through the aftereffects of being in a relationship with the other for a year and it’s still a miracle how he got with Jaehyun.
Jaehyun accepted him for who he was and that was enough for the younger.
“Mark, I’m heading to the office,” Mark, who was laying on the couch watching his favorite show, was startled as he hopped up grabbing his lover’s arm. Jaehyun paused as he turned back to the shorter.
“This late?”
Jaehyun’s eyes fell on the clock which displayed the time, five minutes to eight. But his profession didn’t as he had an office to manage handed over to him by his dad.
“You know how my work is, love. Mr. Lee said it was an urgent matter so I can’t leave it out, baby.”
Though Mark was disappointed because he was looking forward to spending time with Jaehyun he still nodded, a small smile spreading on his face. Kissing the other goodbye he went to the door to send the other off as a letter caught his notice.
“A letter?”
Waving goodbye to the other he closed the door before jumping back to the couch, his eyes glued to the screen, long forgetting the letter that was clutched in his hands. An hour might’ve passed when he finally remembered it.
Once he tore open it, his smile turned into a frown as he read the content. Covering his mouth afterward the male looked around before hurrying off to a room, shaking and his eyes frantically searching for his phone. Once he got the device, he dialed Jaehyun's number and the male immediately answered.
“Jae… he… he…”
“Baby what’s wrong?”
“a… a letter from… him… I'm afraid…”
Jaehyun sighed, rubbing his temple.
“I’m coming. Don’t get out of your room even when you hear any sort of noise. I’ll call you once I get there.”
Mark hummed as he rushed upstairs, closing the door and locking himself in the room. His suspicion about Donghyuck escaping had returned. Bringing his knees closer he sat on the floor, too afraid to glance at the window.
It might’ve been a joke, Mark thought, yet he couldn’t take chances as he knew how capable Donghyuck was and as someone who had been in a relationship with him for over three years he knew the male well enough. Plus the handwriting was way too similar for him to let it slide and think of it as a joke. If anything Donghyuck had proved to be unpredictable and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had managed to escape the asylum.
Mark started chanting prayers as he clutched his knees, his hands occasionally flying up high to wipe away the tears that were forming in his eyes. He tried to stay strong but this might be the aftermath after being in a toxic relationship. The Mark who fell in love with the brown-haired male at first sight back in his college days is quite different from the Mark who is clutching his knees praying to the almighty above to save him. He was afraid, both for the well-being of him and his lover.
Dear Min,
Have you forgotten me? I hope not, cause I have not forgotten you. I still remember the relief on your face when you saw me getting dragged by those men. I saw the hold you had on that man, Jaehyun I assume. It’s funny how you were clutching onto him as if you weren’t lying beside me the other day. Had it not been for your vicious plan I would still be out there with you laying on my arms. It’s so sad that we had to part ways. But worry not as I’m returning back and by the time you receive this letter I would be there with you. You must be wondering how I came to know your address. Well thanks to an attendee here who was kind enough to search you for me.
I know you always dream of me even when you’re sleeping beside another man. Good thing I’m here to take you away from him. Till I meet you in person stay safe min
Your hyuck
“I know you always dream of me even when you’re sleeping beside another man.”
“Good thing I’m here to take you away from him”
The words kept repeating in his head as Mark sighed, turning his head to one side. He just hoped Jaehyun would return soon. He really did.
Knowing Donghyuck he was afraid for both him and Jaehyun. The letter was clear evidence of the contempt he had for his lover and he hoped the latter would be safe.
Mark doesn't know how long it had been till his call with the other. By now he moved back to the bed, feeling his phone in his back pocket and his eyes glued to the door. He felt a vibration as he hesitantly opened his messages, relieved to find a text from Lucas.
Love <3
I’m here Mark
Open the door
Mark sighed a relief before jumping out of his bed and making his way to the door. Jaehyun is here and there is nothing he should be afraid of.
“Jaehyun-”
Or at least he thought.
Standing in front of the door was the very same person he dreaded as he looked down in mockery, his eyes scanning Mark before scoffing.
“Min, it’s me Hyuck! Didn’t you miss me?” despite him knocking the other off by a shovel he had managed to grab from their yard he still smiled, running his fingers through Mark’s hair affectionately. Mark blinked furious, his head bleeding and his eyes never leaving those off the male who had just struck him. It was filled with fear and contempt, just like hyuck had expected it to.
“Oh… you didn’t… too bad I thought we had something going on between us…”
Donghyuck spoke out as he entered the room, his eyes scanning the walls, his smile turning bitter as he saw the photos of Mark with Jaehyun.
“Is it… perhaps because of Jaehyun?” He asked mockingly before turning back and walking towards the older before grabbing his jaw forcefully making the other wince in pain. The blow must have been quite strong for the male to keep bleeding and it, in the sickest way possible, made Donghyuck happy.
“Do you want to know what his last words were?” leaning towards the other he whispered as he could feel Mark shudder.
“Don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on him. Quite heroic of him but too bad he pressed a nerve and it encouraged me to finish him off quick. It only took a few blows, you see.”
He moved back to observe the other. It was satisfying. A crying mark looking beautiful as he had imagined and his sick fantasies returning back. Too bad he had to be taken away from Mark.
“Now… What do I do with you darling? How should we finish this off? By shovel or by my hands?”
“Hyuck-”
“It’s haechan for you, love”
That was the last word as Mark jolted, coughing out blood and a small smile spreading on his face. He was happy, happy to finally get away from the pain and fear the other contributed.
“Goodbye… Haechan”