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Mark has always been a quiet kid. One of many talents, on top of that very ambitious. Leaving home at a very young age was a brand new experience for him, forcing him to brace himself and become more straightforward and mature. He was raised well, always polite, making sure everyone was included in all group activities, so when he entered SM it was almost destined for him to become a great leader in the future.
Trainee Mark was a hardworking boy. He always made sure to do his best, whatever task he has taken on. He was, and is greatly admired for it. The beginnings were tough. New environment, new people - everything was so overwhelmingly exciting. He believed he was destined for great things and he was determined to prove it to everyone and himself. Mark was ready to defeat any obstacle on his way to become the best version of himself.
Speaking of which.
Lee Donghyuck. A small boy with a round face, big brown eyes, high-pitched angelic voice and a loud - really loud - mischievous presence. He easily brightened up every room he walked into. Donghyuck was exceptionally affectionate with everyone around. At the very beginning of his trainee days, he already managed to befriend a few fellow trainees whom after that he became inseparable with. So, Donghyuck was not easy to miss. Which was a fact. It doesn’t come as a surprise that he also managed to catch Mark’s attention. Their first meeting is a moment the boy will never forget - a giggly Donghyuck greeting him happily. It’s because from that very moment, it all went downhill.
Donghyuck’s presence was never annoying. Not to most people, at least. His positivity was quite contagious. Yet, Mark - as a future leader - wasn’t as amused. He tried not to push it and ignore the nagging thoughts but as a deep thinker, it was practically impossible to quiet them down. It was hard for him to focus, which made him think Donghyuck must have been doing it on purpose.
That was it at first - that loud presence of his.
As time passed, the words had escalated into actions. Physical affection was new for Mark. It’s not like he disliked it - he thought that would be stupid. Ungrateful. It was new. Donghyuck’s touch was new. The boy was very open about, yet so gentle. From the outside, it looked suffocating. But whenever Mark’s body met Donghyuck’s, he couldn’t help but feel flustered. It was cruel, Mark thought. He knew Donghyuck had been playing tricks on his mind. He couldn’t believe anyone - especially Donghyuck - could be true with such actions. The case was clear then - he hated Mark. And the boy couldn’t count the number of sleepless nights he spent on wondering what was it that was wrong with him. Why would anyone as sweet, as beautiful as Donghyuck despise him so much? It felt as if no matter what he did and how hard he tried, nothing was enough to make it stop. To make Donghyuck like him. And little Mark didn’t understand why it was so important to him that the other boy liked him. What was the point of his uncountable worries he’s held in his heart?
The teasing wouldn’t stop. And to be completely fair, Mark felt quite humiliated. The constant bugging made him feel like drowning. Every single giggle, coming out of Donghyuck’s mouth, echoing in the practice room, was like the most beautiful yet deadly sound. Because despite the pain, Mark loved hearing it. Even if it was a form of self-destruction, he was ready to make a sacrifice for the boy who shined like the sun and laughed as the most beautiful song, quietly playing on the radio in the kitchen, surrounded by the dim refrigerator light.
So when one day, as normal as every other, the routine repeated itself, Mark would let it go. Ignore Donghyuck, mouthing the same old thing, asking him to stop. What was different about that time was the tension. The closeness between the two and the way their bodies were pressed together, Donghyuck’s breath on Mark’s face, as he could feel his heartbeat fasten, followed by a peck on the lips and the oh, so familiar giggle fading in the distance.
Naturally, Donghyuck got in trouble for his little prank on the older boy. Which was the least of Mark’s concern, really. That day he thought, Donghyuck must really hate his guys. At last, he became more distant, deciding to prioritise himself for once. No more letting Donghyuck, or anyone else for that matter, get into his head.
A knock on Mark’s dorm door made him sigh to himself, turn in his bed and fix his blanket - the thought of letting anyone inside not crossing his mind. The door opened anyway, revealing a familiar face of a boy with a bear-like appearance. It felt different, the way he stood alone next to the door, looking smaller than ever, in the quiet of the room, a barely visible smile on his face. They looked at each other, neither saying a word, as if they could communicate with their eyes only.
"It was my first, you know?" Mark finally managed to spit out, looking right back into Donghyuck’s sparkling eyes. "Isn’t it stupid?" He gulped. "How despite it all, I’m still glad it was you? I still wanted it to be you, this whole time?" Mark let out a shaky breath.
"I don’t hate you, Mark." was Donghyuck’s response. "Quite the opposite, actually." The boy came up to his bed carefully, looking into his eyes, as if looking for consent to sit down, getting a nod in response.
"You did all those things, Donghyuck. You kept pushing my boundaries, teasing and humiliating me. I thought-" Donghyuck grabbed his hand and began gently stroking it with his thumb.
"You got it all wrong, Mark." Donghyuck’s lips formed into a soft smile. "I’ve liked you since forever. I mean it. I thought you knew." He explained. The words twisted in Mark’s stomach like a knife. How was he supposed to know? When his brain kept creating the worst possible scenarios? How could he know, when all this time, all he felt was guilt and humiliation? A singular tear fell down Mark’s pinkish cheek. "I’m sorry." Donghyuck cried. "I never meant to confuse you like that. I’ve just- I’ve never-" he sniffed.
"Me neither, Hyuck. You’re- you’re the first one. The only one." Mark explained, looking deeply into the boy’s eyes. Donghyuck’s heart fluttered at the sight.
"I’d like to be your one and only. One day, I mean. When we’re older." He smiled. "If you’d let me. If you’d have me." Donghyuck brushed away a piece of Mark’s hair off his face.
"I would. I will." Mark answered.
And they knew they’d be alright. They knew it would be Mark and Donghyuck against the world, until the very end.