Hello again!

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I finally figured out how to lead up to the next chapter (hint hint)....

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AKD

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"Lunch's ready!" Mark's dad announced, ushering everyone into the dining room.

Nana sat at the head of the table with Mark on her left and his dad on the right. Donghyuck sat in the middle of Jisung and Mark and opposite Jungwoo while YangYang sat next to Hendery.

"So, Donghyuck," Nana said, taking a serving of potato salad, "How long have you two been together?"

"A couple of months now," Donghyuck answered, looking at Mark who nodded.

"And where do you see this going?" She grilled further, "It must be serious seeing as how Mark brought you home."

Donghyuck looked at Mark with wide eyes.

"Nana..." Mark said, looking at his grandmother, "We just started dating. I don't think..."

"Mom, please," Mark's dad said to her, "Don't scare the guy off."

"Okay. Donghyuck, I apologize," She said to the younger boy.

"There's no need for that," Donghyuck said, embarrassed, "I understand how protective you are of Mark. I would do the same thing if I were you."

"Hendery, are you ready for tonight?" Mark asked, changing the subject and trying to steer the conversation towards the wedding rather than to Donghyuck.

"I'm more nervous for the reception tomorrow than tonight," Hendery confessed, taking a bite of his chicken, "Tonight is just family and close friends but everyone is going to be there tomorrow."

"How about you, YangYang, how are you feeling?" Donghyuck asked.

"I'm nervous," YangYang said with a nod, "But we're both excited."

"What about you, Mark?" Donghyuck turned to him.

"What about me?" Mark asked, confused.

"Your best man speech," Donghyuck said.

Mark's eyes suddenly went wide.

"You did remember to write the speech, didn't you, Mark?" Hendery asked, steel coating his words.

"Yes, I did," Mark lied.

"Enough wedding talk!" Jungwoo suddenly declared, "We're making Hendery nervous."

"Thank you, Jungwoo," Mark mumbled under his breath, taking a bite of his lunch.

"Back to the new couple," Mark's grandmother began, "When did you fir-"

"Donghyuck," Mark's dad butted in before Nana could say ask the couple anything more, "You should invite your parents for dinner one day. We would love to meet them."

"Dad-" Mark started to say but Donghyuck cut him off.

"They'd love to," Donghyuck said, a lump suddenly forming in his throat. He tried his best to swallow it.

"Are you close to your family, Donghyuck?" Nana asked.

"Umm," Donghyuck said, playing with his food, trying to think about how to phrase this.

It's been years yet he struggles with it each time.

"Nana, I don-" Mark wanted to say but Donghyuck put his hand over his, telling Mark that he could handle it.

"My mom took over as my manager after, umm, after," Donghyuck stuttered, darting his tongue out to wet his lips, a nervous tick, "My dad passed away a couple of years ago."

"I'm so sorry," Nana and Mark's dad said in unison.

"No, don't worry about it,"

"Is it just you and your mom now?" Nana asked, cautiously.

"Donghyuck, you don't-" Mark tried to say but Donghyuck ignored him.

"It's just us." Donghyuck told them, looking at his plate rather than at everyone else, wanting to avoid their sympathetic glances, "We're okay though."

"You're a strong man," Mark's dad commended.

"Thank you." Donghyuck said, clearing his throat, "Wow, I just brought the mood way down."

Hendery let out nervous laughter, wanting to lighten up the mood, "So, Donghyuck, I heard that you did your own stunts in 'Superhuman'? Even the helicopter one?"

"Yeah, I did!" Donghyuck said, pepping himself up, silently thanking Hendery, "It was so cool! They strapped me in and just pushed me out of the helicopter!"

"Did they really?!" Jisung asked, childlike excitement in his voice.

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Mark and Donghyuck had just entered his room after lunch. They were hand in hand as he closed the door behind them.

"I'm sorry," Were the first words out of Mark's mouth as he looked into Donghyuck's eyes.

"What for?" Donghyuck asked, cocking his head to one side.

"I know that your family is a touchy subject and I-" mark started to explain.

"Mark," Donghyuck said, voice soft, squeezing Mark's hand as reassurance, "There's nothing to be sorry for. I would've asked the same questions to my sons' boyfriend. Honestly, it's alright."

"I'm sorry," Mark said again.

"We have more pressing matters," Donghyuck said, hand still intertwined in Mark's.

"What?"

"Your best man speech," Donghyuck reminded him, "I bet you a smoothie and a cake that you haven't even started it yet."

"A smoothie and a cake?" Mark asked with an amused smirk.

"I'm craving a smoothie and a cake," Donghyuck said, shrugging his shoulders.

"No, I haven't started it yet," Mark said with a sigh.

"You owe me a smoothie and a cake"

"I still have those two chances," Mark realized, looking at Donghyuck with an almost evil smirk.

"Yeah you do but only till midnight," he reminded.

"I'm using one now." Mark declared.

"On what?" Donghyuck asked, suddenly realizing what he was saying, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"What?" Mark asked, feigning innocence.

"I don't even know Hendery!"

"I'm not going to make you write it alone!"

"So you're using one of your chances to make me help you write your best man's speech?"

"Yeah."

"Would've done that anyway," Donghyuck mumbled under his breath.

"Okay let's get to work!" Mark clapped his hands together, grabbing a pen and several pieces of paper.

"Do you know what you want to say?" Donghyuck asked Mark, crossing his legs on the bed.

"Not a clue."

"You're a great best man," Donghyuck mumbled, rolling his eyes. "Do you at least have an idea?"

"Aren't I just supposed to roast Hendery a little then lift him up and talk about how great the couple's love is?" Mark said more than asked.

"We only have 3 hours till the wedding, including the time it takes us to get ready! And that's all you have?"

"That's why I used my chance!" Mark told him, "See, I'm smart."

"Not smart enough to write a speech though."

"I'm not good at expressing my emotions," Mark told Donghyuck.

"You write songs for a living!"

"That's different!"

"How?!" Donghyuck demanded to know.

"It just is!"

Donghyuck rolled his eyes. "Fine. Let's get started."

"What do I do?" Mark asked, looking lost.

"What's your favorite memory of you and Hendery?"

"Funny or sentimental?"

"Funny first," Donghyuck said, taking the pen and paper from Mark, leaning back against the wall, ready to write.

Not Edited

Thursday, September 19, 2019

I have come up with a new plot for another story and I can't wait to write it!

I just need a ship now (preferably not NCT)...