My brother on the multimedia. Okay no Imma stop.

Chapter 30

"I'm so proud of you." Taeyong faked a cry while patting his brother's shoulders. "After a year of being a headass, you're finally graduating."

Mark rolled his eyes but laughed afterwards, "Such a drama queen, hyung. I'm just graduating from high school, not college."

"Oh shut up..." Taeyong playfully hit his brother's shoulder. "Just go to your seat. Get lost."

Mark laughed at how his brother reacted.

Taeyong sighed as his eyes scanned he hall. Students were with their parents. He sighed when he suddenly thought of their mom. "Eomma, you're proud of Minhyungie too, right?" He whispered. "I'm sure you know what he's thinking.. guide him, eomma... you know what's best for him after all."

"Taeyong-ah." Irene sat beside him. "Who are you talking too?" She asked.

The boy shook his head, "I suddenly thought of mom...I kinda asked her to guide that guy over there." Taeyong pointed at Mark using his lips.

Irene nodded, "I almost cried when I saw Yeri earlier too... I was so proud of her..."

"Where is her mom— oh, right..." Taeyong wanted to swallow his tongue for asking. He knew that the girl never wanted to talk about her mom.

Yeri's mom is also in the place where Mark and Taeyong's mom is, while her dad is in Australia.

Irene sighed, "It's fine. Oh, by the way... she's asking me to tell you this. She asked me if you could be the one to give her medals?" She asked. "Is it okay if she will also put a ribbon to you? You stood up like her father, after all."

The guy felt touched. He looked at Yeri who also happened to be looking at him. He smiled and faced Irene, "It's fine with me, noona."

"By the way, where are the others?" Irene asked.

"They're at the audience area, since they aren't parents." Taeyong answered.

"And you?"

"Mark."

"Oh right, I forgot."

Irene laughed. "Thank you, Taeyong-ah."

"For what, noona?" He asked.

"For being Yeri's father— basically, they guys' father. Well, not biologically, but thank you for taking care of them." She smiled.

"As if I have a choice with the guys." He rolled his eyes. "They irritate me most of the time but I guess they're like my alter-ego." He laughed.

Irene agreed with what he said, "I hope Mark would like our little surprise..."

"I hope so too, noona..." Taeyong nodded.

***

"Yah." Yeri sat beside Mark since the seat beside him was still empty. "You seem silent."

"Well I have no one to talk to?" Mark rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I kinda asked Taeyong-oppa if I could hang the ribbon on him. Y'know, the ribbon for fathers?" Yeri sighed. "Is it okay with you?"

"What happened to uncle?" Mark asked.

She pouted, "His flight got delayed. That's why he couldn't make it. I think he'll arrive tomorrow." She sighed.

"Why my brother though?" Mark asked.

"Because he's the one I know who's a father to all of us, even if he isn't the eldest." She sighed. "Irene unnie will still be the one to hand me my diploma, though." She said. "I'll just give the ribbon to Taeyong-oppa and he'll be the one to give me my medals."

Mark nodded. "I agree with you, though... hyung... he's like my father even if he's only four years older than me.."

"But why didn't you choose Jaehyun-hyung though?" Mark asked.

The girl rolled her eyes, "Do I look like Eunmi to you— oops. Sorry." She suddenly wanted to burry herself alive.

"Just get lost, Yeri-yah." Mark snorted.

She sighed, "You'll see each other soon, I'm certain." She patted Mark's back before going back to her seat.

And Mark wouldn't admit it, but at the bottom of his heart, there's a teeny, tiny, hope that maybe, maybe they'll see each other again and smile like they used to.

***

The graduation ceremony started, but Mark couldn't care less. He was already holding his diploma— a guarantee that he passed this stage (hell, Mark wanted to say), and that's all he could ask for.

"Before we end the ceremony, we would like to hear it from our very own performers..." The host said and the audience gave them a warm of applause.

A spotlight was shining directly to Jaemin, who was playing the piano.

"Jaemin-ah? What the heck is he doing there?" He whispered to himself when Jaemin started to play the piano.

Then it hit him.

The melody started to play and memories started to flow like a river inside his head.

Another spotlight lighted.

"kkumil geoya
gieok sok moseub geudaero
nae nunape nega meomchwo isseo"

This is probably a dream
Just like my memories
You're right in front of me

He suddenly remembered how he begged Jaehyun, Taeil and Doyoung to sing for him.

"HYUUUUNGGGG!!! JUST THIS ONE, PLEASE!! I SUCK AT SINGING!" Mark pleased the three who were throwing weird looks at him.

"No is a no, Mark." Jaehyun said, cringing at Mark's kicked puppy face.

"PLEASE I'LL TREAT YOU DINNER!!! I PROMISE!"

The eldest of the four sighed, "Let's go." He smiled at Mark.

"Taeil-hyung jinjja? You'll help me?" He asked.

The older nodded. "Yeah."

"THANK YOU GUYS!! THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!" He hugged the three and went to the university's recording studio.

Mark closed his eyes.

It was like yesterday...

"isanghaji
geu oraen shigan dwiedo
nae shimjangeun geunareul banbokhae"

It's strange
Even after a long time
My heart keeps repeating that day

Jaehyun sang the verse, which shocked Mark. So that's the reason why I couldn't find any of you guys earlier.

His heart was beating so fast.

"du nuneul gameumyeon
gieogeun eoneusae
uril dashi geugoseuro deryeoga"

When I close my eyes
My memories take me
To that place again

He wondered why Taeil sung that part instead of Doyoung, and he's also wondering why he cares.

He doesn't care that they're singing his song. Even if he wrote that for her. Nope he doesn't care at all.

Another spotlight lighted, and in that moment he knew that his heart sank.

"oneureun kkok malhaeya hal tende
soril nael suga eopseo
soneul ppeodeo neol jabeuryeo haedo
mamdaero andwae

sueopshi yeonseubhan
ajik neol saranghae
kkeutkkeutnae hajil mothae
neol bonaemyeon an doel tende"

I should definitely tell you today
But I can't make a sound
I try to hold out my hand to touch you
But I can't

I endlessly practiced these words
I still love you
But in the end, I couldn't say it
I shouldn't let you go

His inspiration in writing the song was standing— singing, rather, at the stage.

She was smiling brightly, as if nothing happened. As if she didn't ignore all of them for a couple of months. As if she didn't leave without saying goodbye.

She's smiling as if everything was okay.

But it's really not.

The crowd cheered. Their female vocalist was back.

She smiled at the crowd and locked eyes with Mark whose face was void of any emotion.

"i hyeonshil gateun kkumeseo kkae
agmong gateun harureul tto samkyeo"

I'm waking up from this dream that's like reality
Swallowing up another day that's like a nightmare

It hit him.

Every memory hit him.

"But which is real?
nega eopneun nae sesange
naege jueojin geon neol kkumkkuneun geotppun

du nuneul gameumyeon
gieogeun eoneusae
uril dashi geugoseuro deryeoga"

But which is real?
In my world without you
The only thing I have is to dream of you

When I close my eyes
My memories take me
To that place again

Jaehyun and Taeil sang the verse and looked at Eunmi, who was shining brightly on the stage.

Her hair was tied up to a bun, but she wasn't weaeing any make up. She was wearing a light pink dress up to her knees. It has been a long time but to him, she's still perfect.

He shrugged the thought off and looked down.

"oneureun kkok magaya hal tende
nuneul pihal su eopseo
bareul dollyeo domangchiryeo haedo
mamdaero andwae

sueopshi doesaegin
ije geumanhaja
kkeutkkeutnae makjil mothae
neol bonaemyeon an doel tende"

I should definitely stop today
But I can't avoid your eyes
I try to turn around and run away
But I can't

I endlessly told myself
Let's stop this now
But in the end, I can't stop
I shouldn't let you go

Doyoung and Eunmi sang the chorus part.

A tear escaped his eye. He wiped it which caught the attention of his seat mate.

"Mark, are you okay?" His seat mate, Lee Hyunsik, asked.

Mark just nodded, although he was crying.

"i agmongi (oh no no no)
i gieogi
nal goerobhin daedo
myeot beoni banbokdoeeodo
neol dashi mannal su itneun
i kkumeuro deureoga"

This nightmare (oh no no no)
This memory
Even if it tortures me
Even if it keeps repeating
I'm going back to this dream
Where I can meet you

Eunmi and Taeil sang the high note which made the crowd clap even louder.

His tears were flowing out of his eyes continuously.

"oneulmankeumeun
geunyang nagal su eopseo
shiganeul meomchwo
gieogeul dollyeo

sueopshi kkumkkwotteon
dashi shijakhaja
kkeutkkeutnae haejundamyeon
i kkumeseo nan sal tende"

At least for today
I can't just go
I'm stopping time
I'm turning back the memories

I endlessly dreamed
Of you saying, let's start again
In the end, if you say that to me
I would live in this dream

He stared at the person who was singing on the stage. He was never interested in music. Well, he did at one point— but not until she left.

He didn't want to listen, but a part of him was telling him to do so. His eyes was stuck on the stage. He wanted to close his ears and sleep. Not that song.

He stood up, grabbed his bag and rushed outside, leaving his friends dumbfounded.

He didn't had the chance to hear the last two lines of the song.

"Oh yeah
kkaeji aneul tende"

Oh yeah
I wouldn't wake up

***

"EUNMI-YAH!!" Yeri immediately engulfed the person in a hug and cried on her shoulder. "YOU CRAZY WENCH, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT YOU WERE BACK!! YOU'RE SO SELFISH!!!" She cried even more when Eunmi laughed.

"Yah, can you stop crying? Look at your face, you look like a mess with that smudged eyeliner." She laughed, pointing at the other girl's eyes.

"EUNMI-NOONA!!!!" The maknaes immediately rushed towards her and engulfed her in a hug.

"Oh, Chenle-yah! Jisung-ah!" She laughed, ruffling their hair. "How are you two?" She asked.

"You're still short, noona." Jisung laughed and wiped the tear that managed to escape his eye.

"Yah!" Eunmi punched his chest lightly.

She noticed that everyone was there already.

"You son of a— WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US THAT YOU WERE COMING BACK?!" Wendy said, rushing towards her and gave her the tightest embrace she could give.

She laughed, "Surprise?"

"AND THE GUTS OF YOU TO IGNORE OUR CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES?!" Seulgi added, hugging her too.

"Do you guys know how hard it was for me to ignore your messages? I studied hard so that I could graduate early and that I could go back here immediately." She smiled. "Paid off."

"Yah, noona!!" Renjun rushed towards her and gave her a hug. "You're so unfair!" He pouted.

"Sorry." She laughed.

"What was the song you, Taeil-oppa, Jaehyun-oppa, and Doyoung-oppa sang?" Yeri asked.

She smiled. "It's called 'Timeless' Mark wrote it and gave it to me on my birthday..." She suddenly noticed that Mark wasn't there.

"Where's Minhyung?" She asked, eyes full of worry.

"He didn't come back?" Jaemin's eyes widened.

"What do you mean, Jaemin-ah?" Eunmi looked at him.

"He left earlier, noona. Even before the song ended." He answered.

"Ah, I saw Mark-hyung earlier." Chenle said. "He was at the washroom, and he looked like he cried a lot... he looked so devastated, noona..."

"W-What?"

Taeyong sighed, but his phone suddenly rang. All of them looked at him.

"To go where? Mark you've got to be kidding me...." Mark closed his eyes when he heard his hyung's voice.

"I'll go home later, hyung. Sorry."

Mark ended the call and watched the children run and play. He said that he had to go somewhere, but he was just at the park, still wearing his school uniform while holding his diploma.

He ran away without even finishing the ceremony.

***

"How are you guys?" She asked while eating.

They were currently eating outside, celebrating Lucas, Yeri and Mark's (although he wasn't there) graduation.

"We're all good, Eunmi-yah. What about you?" Taeyong asked. "We never heard anything from you."

She looked down, "I'm sorry... it was also hard for me... I'm sorry if I had to shut you guys out. I just had to focus..."

"We're all fine, and we're proud of you." Irene smiled. "But I guess someone isn't." She sighed.

Although she wouldn't say it, Eunmi knew who Irene is referring to.

"Taeyong-oppa, where is he?" She asked.

"He didn't say..." Taeyong replied.

She looked down, her guilt is eating her up. "I'm really sorry..."

"Yah, noona! Everything's fine!" Jeno tried to make her smile.

"I'm sure Mark-hyung just needed time to process everything out, noona." Renjun said and smiled at her. "Among all of us, he was the one who had it the worst..." He sighed.

"I need to see him... I need to talk to him."

"You could talk tomorrow, Eunmi-yah... we're neighbors after all." Taeyong said. "It's getting late. You also have to rest, you just arrived this morning, right?" He asked and she nodded.

"You and Jaehyun could come over our house for breakfast, okay?" Taeyong smiled at the younger. "For now, ear and don't think about him..."

"Eunmi-yah, I have a question.." Joy said. "You two... are still dating right?"

She slowly nodded although she was also uncertain.

The older girl sighed in relief while the others threw a worried look as Mark's words reverberated inside their heads.

"I'm no longer interested in music..."

"I'm over her... I'm over Eunmi..."

Jaehyun looked at his sister and patted her shoulder, "You might know something soon... no matter what it is, don't get too shocked okay?"

And Eunmi, although curious, nodded.

"Eunmi-yah..." Taeyong started. "No matter what my brother tells you, don't take it by heart, okay? Just... understand him... like you used to before... back when you two aren't dating..."

And in that moment, she knew that everything wasn't okay. It wasn't the way she expected it to be...

"I always understand him, oppa..." She smiled. "As long as I can... I will..."

—tbc.
Song: Timeless (NCT U)
Phew, this is the longest chapter I did so far...