They met on Saturday, and because it was extra hot, they went to Sina Smoothies and took advantage of shopping mall air conditioning.

Donghyuck picked his usual strawberry concoction. Mark took a couple minutes to peruse the menu, finally opting for a matcha green tea and banana smoothie, half unsure if that would be an odd mash-up of flavors.

"Anyway" Donghyuck began, "How did your interviews go?"

"As well as they could have. I should be hearing back from them within the next couple of weeks" Mark took another delicate sip. He looked away from Donghyuck for a second to eye a gray blazer in a window display.

They passed a few more shops, lapsing into silence, window-shopping without really looking, enjoying their smoothies.

Mark tilted his head to surreptitiously eye Donghyuck. Donghyuck gnashed his straw between his teeth when he was not drinking, head currently turned away from Mark, attention on some of the shops across from them.

Mark's eyes lingered on the back of Donghyuck's neck, then on his ruffled, brown locks of hair. He suddenly thought about how that was the third time they have met in person, though it was the first time that was on purpose. He then thought about how he had never been to the mall this often within one month.

Snickering made Mark drift out of his thoughts. Donghyuck's shoulders quivered with his subdued laugh. He turned his head back in Mark's direction, flashing a wide smile.

"Hey, Mark, it's your store" Donghyuck said and pointed with his free hand.

Mark peered around him, only to immediately roll his eyes when he saw it was 'Maker's Mark' the whiskey shop. Why did he even look?

"I can't believe you…" Mark began with a huff.

"But there's only one Mark's whiskey I'd wanna drink" Donghyuck cut in.

Mark wondered what his face looked like right then, perhaps the driest expression he had ever donned, because Donghyuck threw his head back and laughed raucously. He even drew the attention of a few customers.

Mark mentally brushed off Donghyuck's last statement. He sighed, "That was a really bad joke, you know"

"Do you wanna have sex?"

Mark was suddenly glad he had not been drinking his smoothie in that moment, because he was pretty sure he almost choked on his own spit.

He felt like he had just been hit by something. The suddenness of the question. Or that might just be the blast of heat washing over his face. Donghyuck was really being straightforward, or should I say gayforward?

Now, he was pretty sure a full minute had passed with him simply staring at Donghyuck. Staring at Donghyuck in the middle of the goddamn mall.

Thank god Donghyuck had said that in a low voice this time. But also, god damn that warm, soft voice of his, even with his eyes sparkling playfully and one corner of his mouth twitching up with mirth.

Okay, maybe it had been more than a minute, because Donghyuck was wiggling a bit, rubbing at the back of his head, blinking quickly at the prolonged silence between them.

"Uh, or, well if you're uncomfortable with that, we can just hang out. No pressure" Donghyuck said.

Not that Mark felt pressured. There was nothing intimidating about the boy he'd wanked off to in front of him with a smoothie in one hand.

Damnit, say something, Mark thought, because he knew he was still staring. Donghyuck scratched at the back of his head again, then scratched his nose. His eyes lowered, then flicked back up to focus on Mark again.

"Really, though, Mark. I enjoy your company…"

Mark nodded. It was probably the tiniest, barely readable bob of his head for a split second, but Donghyuck spotted it.

Donghyuck's face lighten up a little again, though this time, with slight amusement.

"What part are you saying yes to?"

Mark nodded again. His eyes were drawn to the people milling around them, very aware and self-conscious once more of the very public place they were in. He sighed and lifted a hand to Donghyuck's elbow, wanting to discuss this elsewhere.

"Let's get out of here"

Donghyuck was more than happy to loop his arm with Mark's and drag him out to the parking lot to find his car.