Chapter Text
A loud thunk resonates through the entryway as the box falls from Mark’s palms and makes contact with the floor. He stands there, mouth agape, eyes widening as he looks through a shimmering pink lens. He couldn’t believe it – standing before him, tall and handsome, was an equally as pink man flashing him the most charming smile.
The man abruptly claps his hands together, a cheer gleaming behind the pink specs he adorns. “So, about that dating life..”
Mark’s face drains of all its color.
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“Oo how about that couch?” The figure slides smoothly into view, obscuring Mark’s vision in hearts and sparkles wherever the man seems to go. Mark has the urge to swat them away despite knowing deep down this is all just a figment of his dark and twisted imagination. His imagination must be anything but, to have conjured up this nightmare.
“Jaemin, I’m not dating the couch.”
Mark could have easily taken the glasses off, set them back into the package, and forgot this had ever happened. However he was just fired from his job this morning and he figures if he’s going to crash out, this is at least one way to go about it, going along with this whole thing in the first place.
“And why not? I’m sure there’s a comforting presence in there, why don’t we have a look?” Jaemin says with an ease akin to a real estate agent giving a tour of a beautiful three story homestead. Despite, well, this being Mark’s house.
“I’m not giving it a look.”
“It’s easy! Just squint your eyes and focus real hard and then voila! Another beautiful specimen to pursue.”
Mark raises his brows and squints like the sun is blaring in his eyes at the couch. He holds this gaze until a ringing sound comes from his back pocket, startling him until recognition calms his nerves. He slides his phone out and picks up the call, the tired voice he was using with Jaemin eases into a more excited tone as he hears his friend on the other end. “..Alright be right there.” Mark hangs up and begins his trek upstairs.
“Wait, wait hold on. What are you doing?” Jaemin frantically tries to jump in front of the hurried Mark, failing to grab his attention as he’s already in his bedroom.
Mark grabs his backpack and tosses it onto his bed, he throws his closet doors open and rummages through until a basketball rolls out. With a smile on his face he picks it up and starts putting it into his bag, all the while a stressed Jaemin is sputtering his words, “Wait, you can’t leave just yet! If you do then–”
Without realizing it, Mark’s gaze lingers on his backpack, a blabbering Jaemin disappearing in the blink of an eye and in his place sitting on his bed is another handsome stranger.
Well, ‘stranger’ is one way to put the backpack he’s been carrying around since his college days. His old reliable, one strap knotted together after ripping apart and little lego spiderman keychain dangling from the keyring holder. He’s cried on that backpack, he’s used it as a pillow during classes. He’s taken it with him on vacation to carry his belongings. Sitting cross-legged on his bed in all flesh and blood is an old friend.
That friend beams a smile his way, eyes curving into crescents, as if reading his mind that he’s come to the realization that he’s been with him through thick and thin. He sets down the basketball.