"NO! You don't have to do that. I told you don't ever act like our father 'cause you're not and you will never be! I will find our real dad soon."

Mark just stands there infront of the door, watching his brother hang up his phone. He tries to process what he just heard, but he can't seem to do so. His mind is full of questions that it might explode any second now.

When Taeyong finally turns around, he sees him standing there with a confused look. "Mark," he finally speaks.

"What..." He sucks a breath, his eyes can't seem to look at his brother. "What was that?"

"Mark, I didn't want you to know like this." Taeyong slowly approaches him, but he takes a step back. "Miller... he's not our real father."

He hears it but still can't let the words sink in his mind. He refuses to believe it. For 18 years, he was led to believe that he's living with their real father. And now, this truth is suddenly distorted.

"I swear Mark, I was going to tell you, but only when we're finally free from him... when I'm sure that he won't be able to do anything to us," Taeyong continues to explain.

Shaking his head, he furrows his brows at his brother. "Did you really? I don't think you have any plan on telling me this."

Taeyong heaves a sigh. "Mark, you know that I won't ever want to hurt you like this. You're the only one I have."

He tilts his head up in an attempt to prevent the tears from falling from the corner of his eyes.

"Mark, please... listen to me."

But he doesn't. Instead, he turns his back at him and shuts the door behind him without looking at his brother.

****

"What's up with you and your brother? You're not fighting, are you?" Mark gets startled when he hears his friend ask him.

He turns to Lucas and forces a smile. "No, we're good," he lies. He doesn't really want anyone to know about his problem right now and he doesn't have the capacity to explain because he himself can't understand what's happening.

"Then why are you sleeping here instead of your cabin?" Lucas continues to question him.

"Why? Are you kicking me out now?" He tries to laugh it off to divert his friend's attention.

Lucas chuckles. "Well if I'm not such a good friend, I would've done that already. You know the bed is meant for one person only, right?"

He stifles a laugh. "I'm sorry, man. I'll sleep in another cabin tomorrow."

"Hey, I'm kidding." Lucas punches his arm lightly. "By the way, did you know that Jungwoo's interested on Chelsie?"

He gulps down upon hearing that. "Jungwoo?"

Lucas nods, chuckling. "He was like, 'I remember I bumped into her before. But the prince is into her so I have no choice but to back off, right?'" He mimics their friend's voice.

He doesn't answer him. He's not even surprised anymore that another guy falls for her. But just like Jungwoo, no one dares to compete with Jeno. He's a prince after all.

When Lucas nudges him by the elbow, his thoughts get cut off. "So what are you gonna do about it?"

He frowns at him in question. "What do you mean?"

Lucas stifles a laugh. "Don't deny it, man. I know you like her, as well."

He chokes in the air. "What?"

Lucas bursts into laughter. "Goodluck suppressing your feelings!" He finally stands up and taps his back before stepping inside the cabin.

Now he is left there sitting on the front steps, thinking about what his friend said. But right now, he has to push that thought aside and think about the most important thing - his real father.

****

Mark isn't planning on doing any activity the next day, but his friends convinced him to go to music production class except for Hendery who went to percussion class as he plays drums.

Taeyong has sent him about 30 messages and 20 voicemails and he hasn't opened any of it. He doesn't want to get angry at his brother but he can't help it. If he told him the truth from the start, it probably wouldn't hurt him this much.

He scribbles some notes on his paper and attempt to create beats from the synth and keyboard infront of him. But he just can't focus and he can't think of anything. He just endures the next hour playing random beats without any sense of direction.

When the session is finally over, he tells his friends that he wants to be alone so he walks out of the room and just keeps on walking until he sees Taeyong from a distance. He doesn't see him yet as he is talking with Yuta and Hansol on the bench. Before his brother can see him, he quickly turns around and suddenly sees Chelsie far ahead.

It doesn't take a second for her to notice him so when she smiles at him, he doesn't have any choice but to acknowledge her. "Mark, where are you going?" She asks as soon as she reaches him.

He scratches the back of his head. "Uh... not really sure. Where are your friends?"

Her shoulders slump down. "They're preparing something for the music night on the last day. It's a competition and they really want to win."

"Oh," is the only thing that comes to his mind.

"Are you preparing anything? I actually haven't thought of anything yet," she admits.

He shakes his head. He's not even aware of that music competition. And honestly, it's the least of his worries now. "No, not really. It's not compulsory, right?"

She stifles a laugh. "No. You don't really need the cash prize."

He just smiles. It's funny how seeing her suddenly makes his worries go away for a moment.

"I'm actually gonna go canoeing. Do you wanna come with?" She suddenly asks, catching him off guard. "If you're not going anywhere."

He looks at her, unsure what to respond. He's not used to saying no especially when it comes to his friends, but she looks so eager and he doesn't want to turn her down. "Sounds fun," he finally answers.

He lets her lead the way to a part of the camp where the canoes are. There are a few people on the lake canoeing already. He hasn't really tried it before so he's a bit worried. "Have you done this before?" He asks her.

She has already put on her life vest when she answers him, "Jeno took me here yesterday."

He's surprised that she's suddenly calling the prince by his first name now. "Oh. You should be the one rowing then," he teases.

She laughs, handing him a life vest. "I'm not strong enough. And you're the guy here."

He puts on his life vest and helps her push the canoe towards the water. He's about to offer his hand but she already hops in it so he follows suit. When he starts rowing, he realizes how difficult it is but he holds it in as he doesn't want to appear weak infront of her.

"Are you..." she suddenly speaks. "...and your brother alright?"

His gaze turn to hers and she's looking at him, waiting for his response. He doesn't realize that everyone around them noticed this. "Uh... you know, we've just had an argument. But that's normal for siblings, right?"

She nods. "I used to argue with Traze a lot. But after..." she pauses, looking away and trying to hide her emotion. "After she got hospitalized, I realized I need to value our relationship as sisters."

He doesn't fail to notice the sadness in her voice as she says this. "I see. Anyway, you and Jeno have gotten pretty close now, haven't you?" He says, trying to lighten up the mood.

She turns back to him, pressing her lips. "Yeah, I guess so. We've been acting as messengers for my sister and his brother. I'm rooting for Prince Jaehyun for my sister. I think he likes her."

He nods, but doesn't answer back.

She shakes her head, waving her hands up to her face. "Oh, sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this. I know you don't really care."

He lets out a chuckle. "No, you're alright. I like hearing your thoughts," he blurts out, causing her to look at him. The way she stares at him indicate that she's stunned to hear him say that. Even he can't believe he just said that out loud.

It is in that moment where he feels something stuck in his gut that his body suddenly stiffens and his throat dries up. If he doesn't do or say anything, she might feel weirded out.

"Uh... I think it's going to rain any minute," she finally speaks, raising her hand to feel any droplets falling from the sky.

He awkwardly looks up at the sky and forces a smile. "Right. You better help me row then."

They haven't even reached the land when thin droplets of rain starts to pour down. He quickly stirs the paddle until they finally reach the ground. He helps Chelsie hop out of the canoe, takes off his jacket and offers it to her.

She doesn't take it and questions him. "What will you use?"

"I don't mind getting wet," he reasons out.

She snaps her head at him. "But you might get sick."

"I don't get sick often."

"Me either," she answers back.

He frowns at her. "Are you usually this stubborn?"

She chuckles, shaking her head. "Not when I'm with someone who is more stubborn than I am."

The rain pours heavier now so he finally moves closer to her and holds his coat jacket over their heads. "Is this much better then?" He asks, turning to her.

"I've always wondered why this gesture looks romantic in movies," she says, letting out a chuckle. He can only see the top of her head now, but when she suddenly looks up to face him, he almost drops the jacket from his grip.

"I don't think it's the gesture itself. It's who you are with in that exact moment that makes it romantic, isn't it?" He mentally slaps himself the minute he said that. He doesn't know what has gotten into him, but he instantly regrets it. He shouldn't even be there right now with her.

He clears his throat to bring his senses back and to avoid saying anything more stupid to her. "You ready to run?" He asks her to which he responds with a nod.

When they finally reach Chelsie's cabin, they're both drenched already. Before she can step inside, he manages to say, "Thank you for today, Chels." You have no idea how you just made my day.