Work Text:
Mark rested his head against the window, his reflection distorted by the raindrops streaming down the glass. The city below bustled with life, neon lights flickering in the distance, but Mark felt completely detached. His phone buzzed in his lap, a text notification lighting up the screen.
Jack: Still on for tonight?
He stared at the message, his chest tightening. It was a simple question, but it carried so much weight. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, debating whether to reply.
“Mark?”
He flinched, nearly dropping the phone as Vee’s voice broke the silence. Turning, he saw his boyfriend standing in the doorway, a warm smile on his face. Vee’s hair was damp, droplets clinging to his neck from the shower.
“You okay?” Vee asked, concern flickering in his eyes. “You’ve been quiet all day.”
Mark forced a smile. “Yeah, just tired.”
Vee walked over, leaning down to press a kiss to Mark’s forehead. “Why don’t we go to bed early tonight? We could watch a movie or something.”
The suggestion made Mark’s stomach twist. He wanted to say yes, to bury himself in the comfort of Vee’s arms and forget about everything else. But the text sat unanswered on his phone, a reminder of the secret life he’d been leading.
“I have a few things to finish for school,” Mark lied, avoiding Vee’s gaze. “Maybe later.”
Vee nodded, his expression softening. “Okay. Don’t stay up too late.”
As Vee left the room, Mark’s facade crumbled. He unlocked his phone and typed out a reply.
Mark: Yeah, I’ll be there.
———————————
It had been an ordinary afternoon when Mark first saw Jack. Vee had dragged him to a party hosted by a mutual friend, insisting they needed a night out to unwind. Mark wasn’t much for parties—he hated the noise, the crowds, the forced small talk—but Vee had been insistent.
“Just one drink,” Vee had said, grinning as he pulled Mark into the packed living room. “Then we can leave.”
Mark had rolled his eyes but stayed close, clutching a half-empty beer as he surveyed the room. That was when he noticed him—Jack, leaning casually against the bar, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd with a detached air.
Their gazes met briefly, and Mark felt something he couldn’t quite explain. Jack didn’t look away immediately, his lips curving into a subtle smirk before he turned back to his drink.
Mark told himself it was nothing. Just a moment of curiosity, nothing more. But as the night wore on, he found his eyes drifting back to Jack, drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
They didn’t speak that night. Mark stayed by Vee’s side, their fingers intertwined, but Jack’s presence lingered in the back of his mind long after they left the party.
————————————
It was weeks later when they crossed paths again. Mark was killing time at a café, scrolling aimlessly through his phone, when a voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Is that seat taken?”
Looking up, Mark’s breath caught. It was Jack, holding a coffee cup in one hand and gesturing to the empty chair across from him.
“No, go ahead,” Mark said, his voice quieter than he intended.
Jack slid into the seat, his movements fluid and confident. “Mark, right?”
Mark blinked, startled. “Yeah… How do you know my name?”
Jack’s smirk returned, this time tinged with amusement. “You were at that party a few weeks ago. Vee introduced you.”
“Oh.” Mark felt his cheeks warm, suddenly hyper-aware of Jack’s presence.
They fell into easy conversation, Jack’s charm disarming Mark almost instantly. He was funny, quick-witted, and surprisingly insightful, drawing Mark out of his usual guarded shell. By the time they parted ways, Mark found himself smiling—a genuine, unguarded smile he hadn’t worn in weeks.
When Jack handed him a napkin with his number scribbled on it, Mark hesitated for only a moment before slipping it into his pocket.
—————————————
The first text was innocent.
Mark: Hey, it’s Mark. From the café.
Jack’s reply came quickly.
Jack: Didn’t think you’d actually text. Glad you did.
One text turned into another, and then another. Soon, they were meeting regularly—coffee here, drinks there. Mark told himself it was harmless. Jack was just a friend, someone to talk to when things with Vee felt overwhelming.
But Jack wasn’t content with being just a friend.
“You’re not very good at pretending,” Jack said one evening as they sat in his car, the city lights blurring outside the window.
Mark frowned. “Pretending what?”
“That you don’t want this.”
Jack leaned closer, his hand brushing lightly against Mark’s knee. Mark froze, his heart pounding in his chest.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, but his voice wavered.
Jack’s smirk softened into something more sincere. “Yes, you do.”
Before Mark could respond, Jack closed the distance between them, capturing his lips in a kiss.
Mark didn’t pull away.
————————————
Mark was supposed to end things after that first kiss. He had sat in his car for what felt like hours afterward, staring blankly at the steering wheel, trying to convince himself it was a mistake he’d never repeat. Vee didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve someone who couldn’t even look him in the eye without feeling the weight of guilt settle in his chest.
But as the days passed, he found himself drawn back to Jack. It wasn’t just the thrill of the forbidden—though that was undeniably part of it. There was something about Jack’s presence that felt magnetic, a pull that Mark couldn’t resist. Jack was confident in ways that Mark wasn’t, unflinchingly honest in his intentions, and unapologetic about what he wanted. And for reasons Mark couldn’t understand, what Jack wanted was him.
“You seem distracted.”
Jack’s voice pulled Mark out of his thoughts as they sat in the dim corner of a bar, their usual haunt for late-night meetings. Jack was nursing a whiskey, his sharp eyes studying Mark carefully.
Mark stirred his drink absentmindedly, avoiding Jack’s gaze. “It’s nothing.”
Jack tilted his head, unconvinced. “You’ve been distant lately. Regretting this?”
Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”
“You’re here,” Jack said simply. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You can lie to yourself all you want, but you keep coming back to me.”
Mark opened his mouth to protest but found himself unable to deny it. Jack was right—he had plenty of opportunities to walk away, but he never did. And that terrified him.
Jack reached out, his fingers brushing against Mark’s wrist. “You don’t have to decide anything right now. Just… let yourself feel it.”
————————————
Mark thought about Vee constantly during those stolen moments with Jack. Every time he felt Jack’s hands on him, every time their lips met, he couldn’t help but picture Vee’s face. He started noticing the small things more—the way Vee would cook his favorite meals without being asked, the way he’d pull Mark into his arms at night and press a soft kiss to his temple. Vee’s love for him was unwavering, and Mark hated himself for how easily he was betraying it.
One night, as Vee slept beside him, Mark lay awake staring at the ceiling. The memory of Jack’s kiss lingered on his lips, but so did the memory of Ploy’s tear-streaked face when Vee had ended things with her. Mark had always told himself that Vee’s affair with him was justified, that their love was meant to be. But now, he couldn’t help but wonder if Ploy had felt the same way he did now—small, insignificant, and utterly replaceable.
———————————
The next time he met Jack, Mark’s guilt was written all over his face. Jack noticed immediately.
“You’re overthinking again,” Jack said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “What is it this time?”
Mark shook his head, his voice low. “I don’t know how to do this anymore. I feel like I’m… destroying everything.”
Jack’s smirk faded, replaced by something softer. “You’re allowed to want something for yourself, you know. It doesn’t make you a bad person.”
Mark laughed bitterly. “Doesn’t it? I’m lying to him. To Vee. Every time I look at him, I feel like I’m ripping him apart without him even knowing it.”
Jack reached across the table, his hand covering Mark’s. “You’re not the only one who feels this way, you know. I’m in this too.”
Mark froze, staring at him. It was the first time Jack had admitted any vulnerability, and it caught him off guard. But it didn’t make things easier. If anything, it made them worse.
————————————
It was raining the night Mark decided to end things. He stood outside Jack’s apartment, drenched from head to toe, his heart pounding as he knocked on the door. When Jack opened it, his expression shifted from surprise to concern.
“Mark? What are you doing here? You’re soaked—get inside.”
Mark stepped into the apartment, the warmth a stark contrast to the cold storm outside. Jack handed him a towel, watching him carefully.
“I can’t do this anymore,” Mark said, his voice trembling. “I can’t keep lying to him.”
Jack’s jaw tightened. “So this is it, then?”
Mark nodded, unable to meet his gaze. “I love him, Jack. I can’t… I can’t lose him.”
Jack’s eyes flashed with something Mark couldn’t quite place—anger, maybe, or hurt. “And what about me? You think this hasn’t been hard for me too?”
Mark looked up, startled. “Jack—”
“You don’t get to just walk away like this,” Jack interrupted, his voice rising. “You don’t get to use me as your escape and then run back to him when it gets too hard.”
Tears pricked at Mark’s eyes as he stepped back. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Jack’s laugh was bitter, hollow. “Well, you did.”
Mark didn’t know what else to say. He turned and walked out the door, the rain masking the tears streaming down his face.
————————————
When Mark returned home that night, Vee was waiting for him, his brow furrowed with concern.
“Where have you been?” Vee asked, his tone gentle but tinged with worry.
Mark hesitated, his mind racing for an excuse. But something inside him broke, and the words tumbled out before he could stop them.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I’ve been lying to you.”
Vee’s expression softened, his worry giving way to confusion. “Mark, what are you talking about?”
Mark looked down, unable to meet his eyes. “I made a mistake. I don’t deserve you.”
Vee stepped closer, his hands resting on Mark’s shoulders. “Hey, whatever it is, we’ll get through it. Just talk to me.”
Mark’s breath hitched as he looked up, tears pooling in his eyes. “I hurt you. I didn’t mean to, but I did.”
Vee pulled him into a tight embrace, his voice steady as he whispered, “We’ll figure it out. I’m not going anywhere.”
Mark clung to him, the weight of his guilt threatening to crush him. He didn’t know if Vee would forgive him when he found out the truth, but in that moment, he vowed to never take Vee’s love for granted again.
————————————
The days that followed felt like walking on broken glass. Mark tried to act normal, but the heaviness in his chest never left. He thought about telling Vee everything, about laying it all bare and letting the chips fall where they may. But every time he opened his mouth to speak, the words stuck in his throat.
Instead, he overcompensated. He became more attentive, more affectionate, trying to make up for his betrayal without confessing to it. Vee noticed, of course.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Vee asked one evening as they sat on the couch, a movie playing in the background. Mark had been unusually quiet, his head resting on Vee’s shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Mark murmured, though his voice lacked conviction.
Vee frowned, turning to face him. “You’ve been so… different lately. Distant, then overly sweet. Did I do something wrong?”
Mark’s heart ached at the uncertainty in Vee’s voice. He reached out, cupping Vee’s face in his hands. “No. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re perfect, Vee.”
Vee smiled faintly but didn’t look convinced. “Then what’s going on? You can tell me, you know. Whatever it is.”
Mark hesitated, the truth clawing at the back of his throat. He wanted to say it, to lay it all out and beg for forgiveness. But the fear of losing Vee was too strong. Instead, he leaned in and kissed him, hoping to convey what he couldn’t say in words.
———————————
Late at night, when Vee was asleep beside him, Mark lay awake, consumed by thoughts of Jack. The memories felt like ghosts haunting him—Jack’s smirk, his laugh, the way he’d look at Mark like he was the only person in the world.
Mark couldn’t help but think about the parallels. He remembered the nights when Vee would leave Ploy’s bed to come to him, the guilt that Vee carried but justified in the name of love. Back then, Mark had convinced himself that their love was worth the pain it caused others. But now, standing on the other side of betrayal, he wasn’t so sure.
“Is this what it felt like for her?” Mark whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. “Is this what it feels like to be second?”
He thought about Ploy’s tearful face, the hurt in her eyes when Vee ended things with her. He’d never truly considered her pain before, but now it was all he could think about.
———————————
Mark had always tried to justify the pain he and Vee had caused Ploy. Whenever the guilt would creep in, he’d convince himself that what they had was different—that their love was worth the heartbreak it left in its wake. He used to tell himself that Ploy and Vee weren’t meant to be, that Vee had only stayed with her out of obligation until Mark came along and made him realize what true love felt like.
But now, sitting in the quiet of their apartment while Vee slept peacefully beside him, Mark couldn’t stop thinking about Ploy. He’d been in her place now—blindsided by betrayal, made to feel like an afterthought in someone else’s story. He hated himself for how easy it had been to dismiss her pain back then, to believe that her tears were just an inconvenient obstacle to his own happiness.
One particular memory of Ploy haunted him more than the others. It was the day Vee had finally told her the truth, ending their relationship to be with Mark. Vee had come back to Mark’s apartment that night, his face pale and drawn, his shoulders slumped under the weight of what he’d done.
Mark had been waiting for him, eager to comfort Vee, to reassure him that they’d made the right choice. But when Vee stepped inside, his expression stopped Mark in his tracks.
“She cried,” Vee had said quietly, his voice hollow. “She begged me not to leave.”
Mark hadn’t known what to say. He’d reached out to take Vee’s hand, but Vee had pulled away, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
“She said she could change, that she’d do anything to make me stay. And for a second…” Vee’s voice broke. “For a second, I almost stayed.”
The admission had cut Mark deeply, though he’d tried not to show it. “But you didn’t,” he had said, his voice trembling. “You chose me.”
Vee had nodded, but the guilt in his eyes was unmistakable. “I did. But it doesn’t mean I don’t feel like a monster for what I’ve done.”
At the time, Mark had been so consumed with relief that Vee had chosen him that he hadn’t allowed himself to fully process the weight of Ploy’s pain. But now, years later, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He wondered what Ploy must have felt as she watched the person she loved slip through her fingers, leaving her for someone else.
And then he wondered if that’s how Vee would feel if he ever found out about Jack.
———————————
One day, as Mark was walking through a mall, he saw someone who looked like Ploy. His heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he froze, unsure of what he’d do if it really was her. But as the woman turned, he realized it wasn’t Ploy—it was just someone who bore a faint resemblance.
Still, the encounter left him shaken. Memories of Ploy came rushing back—her laughter, her kindness, the way she used to dote on Vee. Mark had been so focused on his own happiness back then that he’d never stopped to think about how much she’d lost when Vee chose him.
The irony wasn’t lost on him. Back then, he’d been the one Vee was willing to risk everything for, the one who made Vee feel alive in a way Ploy never could. But now, with Jack, Mark had become the very thing he used to resent—the person who came between two people who loved each other.
For the first time, Mark truly understood what it meant to be in Ploy’s shoes. He felt her heartbreak in his own chest, her tears in his own eyes. And it was unbearable.
———————————
Mark hadn’t seen or heard from Jack since their last meeting. He’d deleted Jack’s number, blocked him on every platform, and tried to focus on repairing his relationship with Vee. But Jack’s absence felt like a wound that wouldn’t heal.
One evening, while walking home from work, Mark passed by the café where he and Jack had shared so many conversations. He hesitated at the door, his heart pounding in his chest. Against his better judgment, he stepped inside.
The café was almost empty, save for a few patrons scattered at tables. Mark scanned the room, half-expecting to see Jack sitting in their usual spot. But the seat was empty, and the realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
He ordered a coffee and sat down, staring at the empty chair across from him. Memories flooded his mind—Jack’s laugh, the way he’d tease Mark about his choice of drink, the way he’d look at him like he saw every secret Mark tried to hide.
Mark pulled out his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen. He could unblock Jack, send him a message, tell him he was sorry. But he knew it wouldn’t change anything. He’d made his choice, and now he had to live with it.
————————————
As the weeks passed, Vee began to pick up on the cracks in Mark’s facade. He didn’t press Mark for answers, but his behavior changed. He became quieter, more reserved, as if he was waiting for Mark to open up on his own.
One evening, as they were sitting together on the couch, Vee finally spoke up.
“Mark, are you happy with me?”
The question caught Mark off guard. “Of course I am. Why would you even ask that?”
Vee sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Because you’ve been different lately. Distant, distracted. I feel like I’m losing you, and I don’t even know why.”
Mark felt a lump form in his throat. He wanted to reassure Vee, to tell him everything was fine. But the guilt was too heavy, and the words came out wrong.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I never meant to hurt you.”
Vee’s brow furrowed. “Hurt me? Mark, what are you talking about?”
Mark looked down, unable to meet Vee’s gaze. “I’ve just… I’ve made mistakes. And I’m trying to fix them.”
Vee reached out, taking Mark’s hand in his own. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it. I just need you to be honest with me.”
Mark nodded, tears pooling in his eyes. “I will. I promise.”
———————————
Mark never saw Jack again. He deleted their messages, erased every photo, and tried to move forward. But the memories lingered, a reminder of the line he’d crossed and the damage he’d done.
With Vee, Mark began to rebuild. He focused on being present, on showing Vee how much he loved him. He knew he couldn’t undo the past, but he hoped he could make amends in the future.
Some nights, when he was alone with his thoughts, he’d think about Jack. He wondered if Jack hated him, if he’d moved on, if he ever thought about what they’d shared. But Mark knew better than to dwell on it. Jack was part of a chapter in his life that he needed to close, no matter how much it hurt.
And so, Mark chose to stay. To fight for the love he’d almost lost. To face the consequences of his actions and try, piece by piece, to put himself back together.
Because in the end, love wasn’t just about passion or desire. It was about commitment, about staying even when it was hard, about choosing each other every day.
And for Mark, that choice was Vee.