Hi!

Here's the next chapter...

It's not fluff...but it's not really angsty either?

Vote and Comment!

Even if it's the stupidest things.

Like the fact that you can't stand on a staircase backwards...

Think about it...

AKD

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"And don't forget that the rental car is going to be picked up in the evening," Mark said, luggage around him as he talked to his family, "The guy's name is Alex. He shouldn't need anything else other than the car keys, but just in case, here are photocopies of my license and the insurance that I took out for the car. There is some money in there just in case but I paid off everything already, so-"

"Mark," His dad said, stopping Mark by putting his hand softly on his forearm, "We got it."

"I know but-" Mark said, the clear plastic folder in his hand, filled with documents.

"We're going to be alright," Dave said, knowing that Mark needed to hear that more than anything, "You're just a flight away."

Mark loosened up, letting out a breath. "Are you sure you can't come back with us?"

"We'll come to visit you soon, son," His dad reassured.

Mark looked around at his luggage, taking a mental check if everything he needed was with him, before turning to Donghyuck, "Do you have everything?"

Donghyuck looked inside his handbag - passport, check. Phone, check. Charger, check. Presents...

"Oh, I think I left Jaemin's presents in your room." He said.

"Go get them," Mark said, "I'll wait in the taxi."

Donghyuck nodded, leaving the family alone and going up the stairs. Mark's eyes didn't leave his back until after Donghyuck went into his room.

"I like him," Mark's dad said, breaking the silence.

"What?" Mark said, tearing his eyes away from the stairs to look at his father.

"He's good for you," Dave continued, "He's genuine."

"I like him too," Jisung said with a smile, "He actually makes an effort to get to know the rest of us and he isn't fake about it either."

"He's really nice Mark," His dad said, "After everything that happened wi-"

"Dad," Mark said, his tone firm.

"I'm just saying that I thought that you would never trust anyone again but I'm happy that you opened up your heart again," Dave said, putting a hand on Mark's shoulder, "You're happy again and that's all that matters."

"I'll start loading these into the taxi," Mark said, voice slightly shaky.

---- ---- ---- ----

"I swear I put it here on the table," Donghyuck said, looking at the study table in Mark's room for the presents.

He tried to recall his steps and remembered that Mark moved them when Donghyuck was helping him prepare for his best man's speech.

"The drawer!" Donghyuck exclaimed to himself excitedly as he walked to the bedside drawer and took out the two presents, putting them in his handbag before turning around to walk out of the room.

"Donghyuck," He heard just as he turned around.

"Oh!" Donghyuck said, hand flying to his chest in surprise, "You scared me."

"I'm sorry, that was not my intention," Mark's grandmother said, closing the door discreetly behind her.

"Is there something I can do for you, Nan?" Donghyuck asked, cautiously, looking at her closing the door.

A tense awkwardness settled down in the room.

"Come, sit next to me," Mark's grandmother said, sitting on the bed and patting the space next to her.

Donghyuck hesitated for a second but sat next to the older lady anyway.

"Listen, Donghyuck," Nan started, turning her upper body and taking Donghyuck's soft hands into her wrinkly ones, "I am incredibly protective over this family, especially Mark and everything that happened with him. Losing his mother and having to grow up so fast really did take a toll of him. He was so happy before and then...Anyway, what I wanted to say was that I'm glad that you're just as protective over him as I am."

"Excuse me?" Donghyuck blurted out, without thinking.

"You are and I'm sure of it. I saw the way you were looking at him and how he was looking at you during the wedding and the reception." Nan said, "The both of you have something special and I'm sure of it. After everything that happened the last time, I just wanted to make sure this wasn't a recipe for disaster and that love hasn't blinded him. The thing with Mark is that when he falls, he falls hard and that infatuation just blinds him to all faults, even if it was staring him right in the face. I just didn't want him to get his heart crushed like the last time."

"The last time?" Donghyuck asked.

"Oh, he hasn't told you..." Mark's grandmother trailed off, realizing that she made a mistake, "It isn't my place to tell but I'm sure he will tell you when the time is right."

Donghyuck tried to not pry, knowing that it wasn't a good idea, so he simply nodded. "I'll take good care of him, Nan. Don't worry."

"I know you will," The older lady said with a satisfied smile, "I saw the way you two were last night at the reception and it just reminded me of me and my late husband. To be young and in love..."

Donghyuck shifted on the bed uncomfortably but kept the act up anyway. "I hope you can come and visit us soon. I know Mark would love to have you."

"As long as he has you, I don't have to worry anymore," Nan said. "Come here, darling."

Donghyuck leaned forward into Nan's hug, holding her tight as if she were his own grandmother.

"Take good care of yourself, darling," Nan said, "If you ever need anything, we're right here for you."

Tears welled up in Donghyuck's eyes but he had to blink them back.

He couldn't remember the last time his mother hugged him like this. His mother and father were the only family that he had. His father wasn't here and his mother was so distant that she didn't even act like a mother anymore.

"Thank you," Donghyuck managed to get out through the lump in his throat.

"Have a safe flight and don't forget to tell us when you arrive safely," Nan said, pulling back from the hug, pretending not to notice the tears in Donghyuck's eyes.

"Thank you, Nan," Donghyuck said, sincerely, "For everything."

---- ---- ---- ----

Donghyuck and Mark were at the airport waiting for their flight to board sitting in an awkward silence, neither one knowing what to say.

"Are we going to talk about it?" Mark said, clearing his throat.

"Talk about what?" Donghyuck asked, not looking up from his phone.

"You know what," Mark told him.

"No, I really don't," Donghyuck said, acting dumb.

"The kiss last night." Mark sighed.

"There's nothing to talk about," Donghyuck said.

"Really?" Mark said in disbelief, his eyebrows cocked up, "So the fact that I kissed you and you kissed back meant absolutely nothing?"

"Look, Mark," Donghyuck said, turning his phone off and looking at Mark, "There's nothing to talk about. We got caught up in the heat of the moment. Wedding's tend to do that to people."

"So yesterday meant nothing to you?"

"It meant nothing to the both of us," Donghyuck said, "We're both professionals and last night we just had one too many to drink and got caught up in the whole fairytale production that are weddings!"

"Alright then," Mark said, a twang of disappointment in his heart.

Donghyuck tried not to let the disappointment and hurt show on his features. He knew that nothing could happen between them, mainly because this production and facade between the both of them wasn't just a week-long or month long.

The contract said it had to go on for years and Donghyuck knew that if anything happened....it would only make things complicated between them.

More complicated than it was now.

Donghyuck couldn't live with the tension and awkwardness if anything went south.

---- ---- ---- ----

"Please don't go!" Renjun said, grabbing Donghyuck's wrist to stop him from exiting his front door.

"I can't do this right now..." Donghyuck said, tears pricking his eyes, but holding them back.

"Please," Renjun begged, voice shaky, "Let's talk about this."

Donghyuck didn't say anything and barely even looked at Renjun's big, brown, pleading eyes.

"Not now," Donghyuck said pointedly, snatching his wrist back from Renjun.

"I can't lose you.." Renjun said softly.

"Then you shouldn't have kissed me!" Donghyuck practically screamed, head whipping to glare at him, "You shouldn't have done that knowing that I was with WinWin."

"You're not together yet," Renjun said.

"But I like him and he likes me."

"And I like you!" Renjun said.

"You're supposed to be my best friend..." Donghyuck said, voice barely over a whisper.

"I can't be just your best friend anymore," Renjun said, shaking his head.

"Don't do this to me, please," Donghyuck begged.

"You have to choose," Renjun said, stepping back, "It's me or him."

"Cut!" The director yelled, "That was perfect!"

"Hey!" Renjun said to Donghyuck, "That was really good. You were amazing!"

"Thanks, Huang," Donghyuck said with a small smile, his mind occupied.

"Donghyuck," The director called out, making Donghyuck walk towards him.

"Yes?"

"Get ready for your next scene with Sicheng," The director told him with a smile, "It's scene 45. Be on standby and someone will call you when the scene is ready."

"Alright," Donghyuck said with a small smile, walking off set and towards the trailers when someone stopped him.

"Hey! That was a really good scene."

"Thanks, Sicheng," Donghyuck said with a small smile.

"You would think that after your Hollywood crush of years, Renjun, compliments you, you would be more excited..." Sicheng said.

Donghyuck didn't reply, trying to gather his thoughts.

"What's wrong?" Sicheng asked, "Donghyuck, you can tell me anything."

"Did you ever do a scene that just...is so connected to your real life?"

"No?" Sicheng said.

"Right..." Donghyuck replied, breathing out shakily.

"But I have done scenes where something the character I was playing said something and it stuck with me." Sicheng offered.

"Thanks, Sicheng," Donghyuck said half-heartedly.

"Is this about Mark?" He asked.

"No." Donghyuck lied.

"So this is not about the wedding over the weekend?"

"Look, Sicheng, I jus-" Donghyuck started to say but got cut off.

"Okay, fine." Sicheng said, holding his hands up in surrender, "Do you at least want to grab a drink after the shoot and get your mind off things? I promise I won't make you talk about it."

"Yes, please," Donghyuck said, relief in his voice.

Not Edited

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Quote of the day:

"You're not ugly. You're just not your type."

- A girl I overheard in the bathroom talking to her friend