Lunch break was the only time that Donghyuck gets to see all of his friends.

Thus, they were gathered in one table with their respective partners and Donghyuck now being able to sit in between Jisung and Chenle this time around. Was Jisung bothered by it? He wanted to be, but he knew how to put his attitude in place. Not only him, but everyone at the table noticed how down their friend is. They were nudging each other to take initiative in asking what was wrong.

But only Renjun had the guts to ask. "How did your Valentine's go?"

"Did you finish the book you were talking about last week?" Jaemin followed, bringing up a hobby that he knew his friend loved.

"Or watch the documentaries that you have in your list?" Another hobby was brought up by Jeno.

Jisung joined in asking as he passed the napkin to the male beside him who's eating messily. "Le and I were just at a movie theater. We were waiting for you to catch up."

Being mentioned, Chenle also nodded his head to agree with that. Though, even if they actually forgot during the moment that they asked their friend out to join their date, they still wouldn't mind if he did catch up with them. "The romance film we watched was fully booked, but the horror one had seats left."

With the question that they all decided to avoid, Lucas was the one who had to question it. "You didn't go to Doyoung's booth?"

Even if they were low-key curious about it, they had to give Lucas a look for bravely asking what they have been thinking ever since they all gathered at this table for their lunch break.

Renjun clicked his tongue and elbowed his boyfriend lightly for not being able to read the room. "Don't mind him, Donghyuck. He wasn't oriented on what to say."

"What do you mean?" Lucas whined as he could tell that they were judging him for that question he asked. "You guys kept on talking about it while we were making our way here—"

Chenle, who's sitting on the other side of this loud friend of theirs, quickly slapped a hand to cover up his mouth to stop him. He then whispered a threat to him. "Hey, have some red light on your words. You should be able to tell that Donghyuck doesn't want to talk about it."

But Donghyuck is thinking about it.

He honestly wanted to tell them about how his day went, but he didn't know where to start and how to say it to them.

Odd enough, it didn't hurt as much as he expected it to. Probably, just at that specific time, he felt his heart break into pieces, but once he was able to gather his composure, he immediately moved on from it. He expected to cry the whole night about it, but he was unexpectedly okay.

It's as if he already accepted the fact that the guy he has been liking for quite a while is already in a relationship. It honestly did hurt, he caught them kissing for God's sake.

But why did it hurt more that he had to leave Mark there just so he can sort out his feelings?

"Mark Lee?"

Mark Lee? That name caused Donghyuck to snap out from his thoughts and look up to see where his friends were facing.

There he was, the guy that he was thinking about, breathing heavily and looking disheveled as if he ran around the whole campus.

Which Mark actually did, thus explaining him catching his breath and having to unbutton his uniform from the neck area to get some air. "I have... I have been looking everywhere for you."

Mark and Donghyuck? This wasn't part of their bingo card. Everyone at the table turned their heads towards their friend who looked clueless as ever. They were waiting patiently for a response coming from him, hoping that this situation was going to be explained.

"Wh... Why?" Donghyuck stuttered, his heart beating fast as if it wanted to go out from his chest.

Instead of answering, Mark threw an impulsive question towards the male's friends. "How much do I have to pay if I rent Donghyuck?"

Safe to say, Donghyuck's friends weren't happy to hear that.

Jeno, being the most protective amongst them, had to react first. "Excuse you? He's not a thing for you to just rent him!"

Jaemin had to hold him down before his boyfriend would result to violence. However, he was equally pissed at that kind of greeting. "And who are you to say that?"

"I've heard of him being an asshole." Chenle scoffed, having to drink his water to calm himself down. "Never knew he'd make a career out of it."

"Hold me back before I pounce at him!" Renjun exclaimed, motioning his body to stand up.

But Lucas was quick to glue his boyfriend down to his seat, holding him by his waist. "Let's just pretend he's air."

The most sane among them was just Jisung, even if he did get taken aback by that. Though, he had to ask permission. "Donghyuck, do you want us to fight this dude?"

"Wait!" Donghyuck had to quickly think of any damage control. He knew his friends would actually throw hands if the situation called for it.

"Let me rent Donghyuck." Mark just didn't care if he got ganged up.

"Oh, it's on!" Both Renjun and Jeno said in chorus as they were the ones who had the strong urge to start a fight.

With everyone standing up to calm them down and hold them back, Donghyuck immediately rushed in front of Mark to defend him. The commotion they caused made people around their table turn to look at them, anticipating a fight happening inside school grounds.

"It's an inside joke!" Donghyuck let out an awkward laugh, trying to ease the tension between them.

"I'm not joking though?" With the right intention, but wrong execution, Mark told him and sounded genuine.

"It's a joke!" Donghyuck had to widen his eyes and give him a look to warn him. "It just means he wants to talk to me."

"Yeah, but I also want to ask you out—" Mark was cut off when he felt his hand being held by the other male who defended him from his friends.

And all of a sudden, Mark ate the words he wanted to say, only feeling his heart beating in an uncontrollable manner.

"Excuse us, I'll be knocking some sense into him." Donghyuck said, dragging along the male who's here to confuse his friends.

Not minutes after, the both of them left the cafeteria to settle their business where Donghyuck won't have his friends settling for violence. He might have to think of a proper explanation for them. Even if he did want to shrug this off and hope that his friends won't ask him about it, he knew how stubborn his circle is and they won't stop bothering him until he gets to explain how he ended up in a situation where he got linked to Mark.

Stopping by an empty hallway, Donghyuck lets go of the male's hand, heaving out a sigh to show his frustration.

It was then he turned around to face the older one. "What is wrong with you?!"

Right, what is wrong with Mark Lee? Why is he just looking at him instead of talking? He began to admire how flustered Donghyuck's cheeks were, how uneven he was breathing from the stress he got from the cafeteria, how his plum lips were parted, and how his glasses began to fog.

What is wrong with Mark? Why is he feeling butterflies inside his stomach even when Donghyuck is doing nothing but stand?

"Are you sick?" Donghyuck brought his hand up to the male's forehead to check for his temperature. "Oh, wait, is it because of the cake? I wasn't hungry anymore that's why—"

"I want to rent you again." Taking his hand and lacing their fingers together, Mark cut him off with what he has been repeating for a while.

Donghyuck looked at him with a puzzled expression. "You are mental."

"Donghyuck, I'm serious." Mark was having a hard time trying to properly articulate his sentence. "I get it now. It's Johnny all along. I know he's the one you wanted to have as your boyfriend. That's why you were desperate to be first in line."

Groaning, Donghyuck wanted to forget about that. "Mark, it's over now. Let's just move on."

"I can't move on. Not when the day ended with you getting hurt." Mark tightened his grip onto the younger one's hand. "I'll help you."

"What? Johnny already has a boyfriend! I may be desperate at times, but I will never wish to break a couple up." Donghyuck stated, twisting his wrist in hopes to get his hand back. "Let go!"

"I couldn't sleep right thinking about you. How you are doing and how you are coping with things." Well, looks like Mark is more bothered about the situation than the person who's in the situation itself.

Because Donghyuck surprisingly was able to get enough sleep. "Mark, it's okay, I'm okay."

That wasn't enough reassurance for Mark. He still felt guilty for some reason. "If I guessed it earlier then I wouldn't have brought you to the bakery. It was not my intention to hurt you."

"I'm not that hurt. I can handle this myself." Donghyuck stated, still making an attempt to get himself away from him. "Mark, lunch break is going to end and I still haven't finished my meal."

"Let me rent you for the whole afternoon." Mark was persistent.

However, he could have worded it out differently. Anyone hearing this would definitely misunderstand.

"Let me make you smile. Let's end the four hours on a happy note." This time, Mark was able to deliver his intention.

Since it's the thought that counts, Donghyuck decided to give in for just this once. He has no clue as to why Mark is making a big deal on how he feels, especially in being sad. Donghyuck, himself, is not even letting his world revolve around that certain scene that broke him. Yet, Mark is here being the most affected.

Luckily, Donghyuck wasn't in the mood to attend his afternoon classes. "Fine."

He already had his heart broken, it probably wouldn't hurt to have it fixed temporarily.

🌈

"And if we get caught?"

"We might, but we won't get in trouble."

"How are you so confident?"

Helping with the bags full of chips and snacks, Mark opened an empty functional room that he used to hang out with his circle of friends before they had to leave for college. "Johnny's name is quite big around here. I'll just reason him out."

Donghyuck's jaw dropped at the revelation. He never knew the person he liked before had some kind of connection. Johnny was down to earth and was quite a troublemaker. He didn't look like someone with a big name.

But what caught Donghyuck's attention more was Mark taking advantage of that. "Nepotism."

A laugh was heard from Mark before closing the doors and locking it to prevent anyone from coming inside. "Exactly what I always say to him."

The room was quite dark and all Donghyuck could hear was a rustling noise and footsteps coming from the guy he is together with. Well, he hoped and prayed that those sounds were coming from Mark and not from a ghost. "Hey... Where are you?"

And just at a perfect timing, the room lit up with string lights hanging around. It showed the interior of the room, and Donghyuck was in awe at how cozy the place was. This looked like a place to play or to rest after a long day of classes. There was a pillow fort at one corner, a sofa and bean bag on the other half of the room. The ambiance was completed with the string lights that served to brighten the place. He never knew such a room existed inside the campus.

"When did you do this?" Donghyuck asked, walking around in amazement.

"Oh, it has been like this ever since. There's supposed to be a small fridge but it broke down days before they graduated." Mark explained, getting himself comfortable down the pillow fort. "I usually hang out here with those guys you met at the booth."

So that explains the privilege they had to have this extra room be renovated like this. "And ever since then, it has always been like this?"

"Well, I guess I did have to quickly clean the dust and make this fort when you went out to buy snacks for us." Mark told him with a sheepish smile.

Donghyuck chuckled before settling himself down right next to him at the fort. "It's pretty, Mark."

"Like you." Mark had to say his thoughts out loud.

Donghyuck was doubting he heard it right, but there was no other noise that could cover it up and make it unclear for him. "Like me?"

Fuck it. Mark wanted to find an alibi, but whatever. "More than beautiful, Donghyuck. It's perfect."

"We're still talking about the room, are we?" Donghyuck had to make sure. He didn't want to assume and embarrass himself afterwards.

"No, I'm talking about you." Turning to him, Mark gave him a small smile. "You're perfect, Sunshine."

Looking away, Donghyuck could feel his cheeks heat up. He couldn't blame it on how hot the room was when the air conditioner was turned on. "You don't have to say that."

"What do you mean?" Mark was confused. All he did was give him a compliment that came from his heart.

"I know you're trying to make it up for the four hours yesterday, but you don't have to exaggerate things." Fumbling with his fingers, Donghyuck stared down as he didn't have the courage to look at the male straight in the eyes. "We can just talk and I'll be okay with that."

"But I'm not exaggerating." Mark told him.

"Then why would you say those things to me?" Beautiful? Pretty? And to top it off, Perfect? That sounded too much for Donghyuck.

"Because that's how I look at you." It wasn't a direct answer, but that was all Mark could think of.

"Mark, can I ask you something?" Donghyuck wanted to know if this was worth the risk. If not, at least he got to know as early as now.

Mark nodded his head with a giggle. "You're asking one right now."

Lightly nudging him, Donghyuck gave him a look of annoyance. However, seconds after, his lips curved up to a smile as he finally found their tension quite comfortable. "Why are you doing this?"

Mark should have already expected that this question would be asked. It's never casual to do this much after having an arranged date for four hours. Not to mention, that date wasn't that serious as they were being set up out of a misunderstanding.

However, nothing would come out of his mouth. He had a lot to say in mind, but no words rolled out from his tongue.

"Why did you want to end our date on a happy note?" Donghyuck followed with another question.

"Because it bothered me also." Mark finally got the words out. "It bothered me to know that all this time, you're thinking of someone else."

Thinking of someone else? As far as Donghyuck is concerned, he only had his attention on Mark and no one else during their date. It was only then at the bakery that he caught that scene that his emotions were everywhere.

"Congrats, I guess." A bitter laugh was heard from Mark. "At least you were right with one thing on your resumé."

Donghyuck raised a brow, not catching up with him.

"You made me realize that I want more than four hours to be with you." Mark bit his lower lip, feeling nervous at the confession he made.

"Why would you feel that way to someone who ruined your date?" Donghyuck had to ask. It's not that he's purposefully being clueless at the latter's emotions, but he was having a hard time processing how true it is.

"Believe me, Sunshine, I did want to ruin our date to get back at you for ruining mine." With a laugh, Mark could only think how ridiculously petty he was for planning that in mind. "But all of a sudden, something inside me didn't want to wipe that precious smile off your face."

That caused Donghyuck to once again feel the heat on his cheeks and sparks on his insides. "Mark."

"Before you say anything, I'm not exaggerating." He cuts him off before the younger one would conclude that he might be saying nonsense. "I'm not making things up nor am I saying this for the sake of making you smile. This is all that I felt while being with you."

"It's just four hours, Mark. How could you feel so much within four hours?" Donghyuck questioned.

"You're right. It's just four hours." Mark had to agree that he caught feelings fast, but he couldn't help it. It just happened. "But that four hours got me thinking the whole night."

At least Donghyuck now knows that he's not the only one.

"Within the four hours, it made me see how pretty your smile is. Makes me want to just keep you smiling. The four hours made me realize that it's too short. I want to spend more time with you." Pausing for a while, Mark hesitated to continue, but managed to gather the courage to do so. "The end of four hours made me want to be Johnny."

That took Donghyuck aback. "You want to be Johnny?"

"If I'd be Johnny, would you be happier? Would you stay with me longer?" Lowering his head, Mark took a deep breath in. "Would you like me?"

"Funny." Donghyuck began, "Because I felt all those with Mark Lee."

That's what's been bothering Donghyuck ever since he got home after concluding their date. Whatever Mark was talking about, Donghyuck felt the same way. That was the answer as to why he wasn't too bummed out about knowing the person he liked was in a relationship. Someone else made him smile, someone else made him laugh, someone else made him feel things that no one else could, and that someone is Mark Lee himself.

"You don't have to be Johnny." Donghyuck told him. "Being yourself is enough to make me feel different. More than wanting beyond four hours, more than wanting to stay with you longer, and more than liking you."

Looking at each other, the both of them were relieved that they felt the same way. The whole night they were overthinking about it, thinking that it was just one sided. After all, four hours isn't that long to get to know each other.

However, for Donghyuck and Mark, it was enough to catch feelings for one another.

"Don't... Don't get any closer." Donghyuck stuttered, leaning back with his hands propped behind him.

"Sunshine..." Mark let out a soft laugh, finding the latter being flustered quite adorable. "I was just going to get the chips behind you."

"Fuck you." Quietly uttering that out, Donghyuck playfully pushed him away and laid down on the fort that the two of them have been sitting on for quite a while now.

"We still have three hours left." Still being a laughing mess, Mark was able to get their snacks nonetheless. "Enough time to talk about each other."

Humming in agreement, Donghyuck took time to think about what they were supposed to talk about. "Where do you want to begin?"

"What's your favorite flower?" Mark started it off with that.

That cracked Donghyuck to laughter. He tried to curl himself sitting back up to give him a judgmental expression. "Sunflowers— Ahh!" But failed to do so.

Donghyuck then had to throw his arms over Mark's shoulders to prevent his back from being slammed down. Taken aback by the sudden weight, Mark had to drop the bags of chips and have a hand slide down to hold the guy on his waist and the other hand on the ground to support them from falling.

"Nice... Catch?" Donghyuck awkwardly uttered out a joke.

Mark smirked at him, thinking that it was done on purpose for him to make a move. "You know... Kissing is also part of getting to know each other."

— last chapter