SECOND HOUR.

He couldn't believe it. Donghyuck found it unreal that he actually lasted an hour with Mark.

To make it more confusing, he actually enjoyed his company.

Despite Mark winning every single game they played at the arcade, what mattered more for Donghyuck was how he enjoyed every single minute with him. Also, Mark didn't win every single game. Donghyuck also got perfect on a dance machine, beating Mark's score for always hitting the right steps. Nonetheless, winning wasn't important for any of them. They both enjoyed each other's company and that's what they want to focus on.

"And then you had a perfect shot!" Donghyuck began to blabber, still not moving on from the first game they tried out. "I still find it so cool. How are you so good at it?"

"I often played with my friends at the arcade before." Mark told him, unknowingly, was holding the younger one's hand as they began to walk down the street. "You've met those guys at the booth, right? Especially Johnny and Yuta, we always come here."

The mention of a certain name made Donghyuck smile with his cheeks turning bright red. "I guess they're fun to be with."

"Quite a handful, but you can say that. There's never a boring moment with them." Turning to the male beside him, Mark squeezed his hand to get his attention as he noticed that the other was spacing out with that foolish smile on his face. "What about you?"

"Me?" With his attention taken, Donghyuck tilted his head to the side upon hearing that incomplete question.

Nodding his head, Mark expounded. "What about you and your friends?"

"Oh... Well." Donghyuck didn't know how to explain it to him. Unlike the other one, his friends had their own personal life to take care of.

Noticing that he wasn't talking, Mark tried to ease the tension between them and tried to make their topic more comfortable. "You're with Jaemin's gang, right?"

That made Donghyuck let out a soft laugh. "You're making it sound like we're a sketchy group."

"Should I be worried? There's probably a gun pointing at me right now." Mark began to joke around, loving to hear the other laugh.

Which Donghyuck couldn't stop. It went to the point that tears were falling down from his eyes. "You read too many books!"

He may not look like it because of the reputation he built with the friends that recently graduated, but Mark does love to read. Even though he spends most of his time causing trouble with the others, lately, he was able to finally find time for himself and get back to reading.

"Mark?" Donghyuck brought his free hand up and snapped his fingers in front of his date's face.

The said male wasn't even spacing out, he just admired the fact that there mayhaps be something the both of them can relate to. "I do."

Why did it sound like Donghyuck got a response from proposing?

"I do love to read, actually." Mark continued, chuckling at the sight of the younger one looking confused. "Sunshine, don't make it too obvious that you're already thinking of our wedding."

"Shut up!" Nudging him harshly, Donghyuck took his hand back and folded his arms across his chest. "I also love books."

"Would you love it if I made a story about us then?" Mark teased him.

His statement earned a light punch by the arm. "So annoying!"

"Well, that wasn't a 'no', Sunshine." If there's something Mark loved in teasing him, it's how expressive male's eyes are.

"No!" Donghyuck immediately gave out the answer. Later on, as they kept on walking to God knows where, he began to open up on the question about his friends. "I don't mind if they can't hang out with me. I just spend my alone time reading."

That took Mark's conscience. He couldn't say that he was clueless about Donghyuck's group, they were quite popular around the school. His friends are. Aside from people knowing them through sports and other activities in school, they were quite known for having their one true pair.

Jaemin, part of journalism, dating Jeno, a football player. They were known for showing a lot of affection everywhere and anywhere. There was never a day that you won't see them cling to one another.

Chenle, the basketball captain, is dating Jisung, a dancer. Those two would always put on a show whenever a dance competition comes up. Chenle was the biggest supporter Jisung ever had. Literally the biggest supporter. Chenle once rented an LED screen only to cheer for Jisung during a competition.

As for Renjun and Lucas, they were quite an unexpected couple. Who would have thought that an overall achiever, the school's pride and joy in academic competitions, Huang Renjun asking the school's troublemaker out.

"And there's me." Donghyuck uttered out, as if continuing the narration Mark had inside his head. "Just Lee Donghyuck."

Just Lee Donghyuck?

"But hey, I'm really not bothered by it." That was an honest opinion that Donghyuck has towards his situation. "Even if they have their own partners, that doesn't make them less of a friend to me. They still make me feel included."

"Don't you feel... lonely?" Mark had to ask.

"Sometimes. I also get jealous seeing them all sweet. I also want someone to pamper me and be clingy with me." Donghyuck could only laugh at the imagination he had. He then fixed his glasses before continuing. "But who would want to date me?"

With his mouth having a world of its own, Mark answered. "I would."

It definitely caught Donghyuck off guard.

But seeing how shocked the younger was made Mark snap back to his senses. "I would also want to ask the same question. Who would want to date you?"

That somehow hurt Donghyuck. "Hey—"

"You can't even shoot." Mark followed it with a joke to lighten up the mood.

"Drop that already!" Donghyuck whined, starting to get embarrassed. He then pouted as he looked away, still bothered by what the other had told him. "Can you at least make it worth my money?"

Mark knew he was referring to them going on a date for four hours. For a minute there, he almost forgot that he was just being rented and he's actually not out on a date.

"That's quite a favor from someone who also ruined someone else's date." Mark told him, beginning to be bitter at the realization he had.

"Mark, I didn't do it on purpose. Someone bumped into me and you just happened to be there and caught my drink." Donghyuck explained even if the situation obviously showed it. "What do you want me to do just to make you move on from it?"

Taking his hand again and interlocking their fingers, Mark looked him straight in the eyes. "Make me feel what it's like to date you."

🌈

With the two spotting an amusement park, they decided to spend their hour there and actually have fun. Booths left and right, snack bars at every corner, and a rollercoaster that Donghyuck almost died from riding. It wasn't even an exaggeration. He's already seated at a bench with his body looking like his soul has separated from it. He sat there, lifeless, and rethinking his decisions. It was because of Mark begging and giving him those undeniably adorable puppy eyes that Donghyuck decided to ride the roller coaster with him.

Speaking of the devil, Mark finally arrived bringing a bottle of water with him and ice cream on the other hand.

"Here. Are you okay?" Sitting next to him, Mark began to eat the ice cream that he bought for himself.

"Do I look like I am?" Donghyuck rolled his eyes at how the other had to question that when he had a teasing smile plastered on his face as he was eating ice cream.

"If you couldn't handle the ride then you could have told me!" Mark told him, insisting that he was innocent and shouldn't be blamed.

"If you weren't being too goddamn cute then—" It was only then that Donghyuck shut his mouth up the moment he realized the words he chose to use.

Unfortunately, Mark heard it already. It boosted his ego. "Love, you think I'm cute?"

"You're hearing things." Looking away, Donghyuck wanted to just let himself be eaten by the floor.

"Oh, I heard it loud and clear, alright." Not bothering to stop teasing him anytime soon, Mark scooted closer to make the latter look at him. "Hey, Love."

"Stop calling me names!" Annoyed, Donghyuck snapped his head towards him, making his glasses slide down to the tip of his nose. "Do you not remember my name? Should I introduce myself to you again?"

Chuckling, Mark fixed his glasses despite the other looking like an angry puppy. "Sunshine, didn't you tell me to make your money worth it? You rented this boyfriend package yourself."

"Ye... Yeah! But stop..." Stop giving him hopes, that's what Donghyuck wanted to say. "I didn't even mean to rent you."

That was enough for Mark to pause in his place. The goofy smile he had slowly turned to a frown, and his eyes widened in curiosity. "Who was it supposed to be?"

Taeyong? But Mark doubts that Donghyuck knew the people in his friends' college.

Yuta? If it were him then Donghyuck wouldn't have bothered going to their booth. That dude was openly swooning over someone else.

Mark could have sworn that he's next in the list.

Is Mark disappointed that it wasn't him? Did he even want to be the person that Donghyuck wanted to date with during Valentine's day? Yes. That was Mark's answer to that.

"It's..." As Donghyuck was about to tell him who he initially thought was available a while ago at the booth, he noticed the older one being a messy eater. "Mark, you have ice cream on your face."

Donghyuck lifted his hand up and used his index finger to wipe the ice cream on the male's face. However, just as he was about to brush his hand on his shirt, Mark quickly took hold of his wrist.

Being a blushing mess was the next thing that happened to Donghyuck.

Because Mark licked the ice cream that was on his finger.

"Mark Lee, what the actual fuck?!" Donghyuck had the urge to run away and just scream. What on earth was happening? His heart wouldn't stop beating fast. He was overthinking that he might be palpitating. "Let go!"

On the other hand, Mark was persistent.

Something inside sparked him to prove how much of a boyfriend material he is to Donghyuck.

— to be continued