"Mark!"

Removing his attention from the book that he is reading, Mark scanned the room to look for the owner of the voice who called his name. It was until he saw a female figure by the doorway of their classroom. "Ko Eun."

It's not that she had plans to flirt with him, but Ko Eun genuinely found comfort with his company. She was also slowly coming out of her shell as days went by, getting the courage to approach him first. "Are you busy?"

A smile made its way to Mark's face, shaking his head as an answer. "Just studying, why?"

Timidly getting inside the room, Ko Eun took the seat right next to him. "Later, what are you going to do?"

Mark made a pondering expression, being playful with her. "I'm not quite sure yet, but I think the Sports Coordinator is busy for our upcoming Sports Fest, so, I might be the one to check the attendance for... soccer?" He told her, "Wanted to check for basketball, but the Secretary got ahead of me and took that. Someone else was also assigned for volleyball."

Ko Eun showed her excitement by clasping her hands together, "What a coincidence!" She flashed him a bright smile, "I was going to ask you out to watch the practice later."

"Ask me out?" Mark repeated that phrase with a teasing expression.

Being a blushing mess, Ko Eun frantically waved her hands in front of her to quickly correct herself from being misunderstood. "It's not like that!"

Mark was having fun. Even if there were no feelings attached, he genuinely also did like her company. He could see her as a friend that's fun to be with. "What is it, then?"

Out of frustration and being flustered, Ko Eun clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes as she leaned back on the chair with arms folded across her chest. "Nevermind, I'll ask someone else to go with me."

"Hey!" He laughed at her reaction, giving her a soft punch by the arm to tell her that it was just all for giggles. "I'm just joking around. What's the occasion?"

"My cousin is joining tryouts. Sports Fest is just around the corner and he wanted to play." Ko Eun explained to him.

As the two of them were having a conversation, a group of students came inside the room one by one. Next period was going to start but the two were still talking. Of course, the students inside the room noticed it and quietly teased them. Some were gossiping, and there were the minorities who minded their own business.

It was then Jeno arrived not minutes after that and took the two's attention. "Oh? Ko Eun, you're here."

"I'm sorry, is this supposed to be your seat, Jeno?" Ko Eun stood up and was about to leave but the student, who just arrived, took hold of her arm to stop her.

"It's okay, you still have a few minutes left before the next period starts." Jeno said, grinning at how he's going to take this opportunity to kid around with his friend. "Stay, we don't want Mark to cry if you leave."

That took said person aback, making him throw a not-so-hard punch towards his friend's chest. "Fuck off, Jeno!"

"See? I'm the one he wants to leave." Jeno made a pained expression, not knowing that most of the students' attention inside the room was on them. Only then did Jeno hear laughs and hollers coming from his classmates did he know that they had a crowd.

Jeno might like be an annoying brother that Mark never asked for, but Ko Eun found him funny. "It's okay, Jeno, I still have to walk back to my room." She then turned to Mark with a smile, "I'll get going."

Mark didn't want more commotion from whatever he's going to say. He nodded his head subtly before giving his friend a glare. Not long after, he watched her make her way out of the room, getting his full attention when she reached by the doorway, showing a certain someone who's walking past their room.

Donghyuck.

He didn't want to be dramatic, but he did quickly stand up with his body having a mind of his own. With how fast he jolted up, the chair fell back which caused everyone, including those who were passersby outside, to stop whatever they were doing and look at Mark who tensed up from his place.

Donghyuck and Mark locked gazes. One was surprised, and the other showed an expression of longingness that he couldn't explain it through words.

But even if Mark's eyes were on him, his mouth mentioned another name. "Ko Eun, I'll go out with you."

It was a mess. Students were overreacting and screaming, Ko Eun feeling the heat from her cheeks at how the guy made it sound like it can be taken to a different context, and Donghyuck showing a frown on his lips and his eyes that were once surprised to now gloomy and uneasy.

🕙

Dismissals came in just a blink of an eye.
However, for Mark, it felt like forever. His day was filled with gossip about him dating this girl from another class. He would be teased even during class, whenever his classmates would get a chance to do so. Not to mention, Jeno won't stop bugging him. As much as he wants to get mad at his friend and scold him, he basically can't (and shouldn't) because it was part of the occurrence that happened to him in the past.

People talking about him and Ko Eun.

Him realizing his feelings for Donghyuck.

Donghyuck and Lucas breaking up.

And Mark takes the opportunity to be with Donghyuck. Though, he doubts that the last part would be easy to do all over again. If possible that the two would break up, Donghyuck is going to avoid him for sure with full knowledge about the future.

Slamming his head to his locker, Mark groaned in frustration as he had a current problem to take care of. "Why did I have to say it like that?"

It was only a simple invite to watch soccer practice together.

Mark just had to fuck it up and go overboard. His mind, at that time, was going to places, he got distracted by the fact that he saw his husband. Well, technically, future husband. But the point is, he was still bothered by their last conversation. He badly wanted to find time and clear things up with Donghyuck, but the latter has been avoiding him for quite some time now. That was why Mark reacted like that a while ago. It may be an overreaction, but it was the closest he got to seeing him.

But he couldn't understand why he had to cause a scene and act like Ko Eun actually asked him out.

Was it to get back at Donghyuck for always rubbing his face with the fact that he's in a perfect relationship with Lucas?

"Mark, let's go?" Too busy with his thoughts, he didn't notice Ko Eun arriving.

He didn't want to use her. Mark admits that what he did was wrong and it was because of how selfish he was. "I'm sorry about a while ago."

"They were the ones who misunderstood it." Ko Eun told him, reassuring that the situation didn't do her any harm.

As the two of them were walking towards the field, a comfortable silence followed them. From time to time they would exchange words, but they weren't bothered by simply just having each other's company. Though, for Mark, it may not be a big deal, but for Ko Eun, it never fails to make her feel butterflies. She already got the hint that there's a possibility of him not liking her, but she just likes to live the idea that maybe, just a small percentage, there might be a chance.

Little did she know that there was no small percentage, that she was going to have her heart tear into pieces in the end.

"Donghyuck!"

With eyes following the two figures that just arrived at the field, Donghyuck couldn't help but stare for so long as they found their way to their seats.

He was in the middle of practice, but his mind was elsewhere, so was his attention.

"Hyuck, focus." Jaemin bumped into him, bringing some sense to the other.

He is trying to focus. Donghyuck was doing his very best to keep his mind in the game, but it was also such a big distraction to have those two around giggling and laughing as if they were in their own world. Even when he would force his attention in the field, his eyes would divert by the bleachers from time to time.

"Donghyuck, pass!"

"Wait, so which one is your cousin there?"

"There, that one with 27 in his jersey."

And when Mark was scanning the area to find that person, his eyes locked with Donghyuck who was being too obvious in stealing glances. Mark expected to find hatred in the other's eyes, but instead, he could see how hopeless they looked. Donghyuck was the first one to look away and get back on track.

Rather than finding Ko Eun's cousin, Mark only had his attention on Donghyuck. He was in awe at the sight of him being good at playing soccer. He may have forgotten about how athletic his husband is. The latter never really joined any extracurricular organizations or activities during college, neither did Mark join in being a student leader. The both of them focused on their studies, and also with each other. It was only now that Mark realized how much of a waste of talent it is for Donghyuck to give up being an athlete.

"Oh no!" Ko Eun gasped on her seat, covering her mouth in shock.

Mark snapped out of his thoughts, "What happened?"

He followed the direction where Ko Eun was pointing and without any time to lose, he immediately stood up from his place and went down the bleachers quickly, skipping some steps. All the players left their positions and ran towards the one who stumbled down on the ground, scraping his knee during the process.

"Donghyuck, fuck!" Worrying badly, Jaemin rushed towards his friend who's injured. He was the one passed the ball to him, but he had no idea that Donghyuck would get lost in his focus and he wouldn't see where he'd be running to. "I'm sorry! I thought you would be able to—"

"Excuse me! Move!"

A way was made when someone kept on pushing the players that were gathered around.

"Jaemin, it's okay. It was my fault." With elbows propped, Donghyuck grunted in pain. But he soon had a puzzled expression when he saw someone else in the crowd. "Mark?"

"I'll bring you to the clinic." Jaemin was disregarded to the side when Mark positioned himself to carry the injured player.

"It's just a scratch— Hey!" Donghyuck's face turned bright red when he was being lifted up to be carried. As much as he wanted to move, the wound was still fresh and it stings.

"Jaemin, continue your practice." Mark ordered, not turning around nor planning to repeat himself. "I'll take care of him."

Oh, Donghyuck has a lot of explaining to do.

A whine came out of his mouth as an expression. It wasn't because of his injury, nor how much it hurt, but because of the scene that Mark had caused. Jaemin is going to put him under the spotlight the moment he gets home tonight and if Chenle hears about this, he's going to bombard him with questions that will last him the whole night to answer. Not to mention the other problem that was standing by the bleachers watching them, Mark is going to need a good explanation to give to Ko Eun.

The both of them were silent in making their way from the field to the clinic. It's not like Donghyuck was ignoring him like he usually does, but he honestly had no idea what on earth he should say first. Whereas Mark was so busy worrying about his husband's injury that he quickened his pace so they would arrive at the clinic as soon as possible and get it treated.

"The nurse is not here." Mark said, finding an empty bed to put the latter there. "Wait, I'll find the ointments."

"Mark." Donghyuck finally gathered his voice to speak, "It's just a scratch."

"And should I wait for it to get bigger?" Though the tone of his voice was aggressive, the intention of caring was still evident. "Should I only worry when you'll be brought to the hospital? Is that when I have the right to react?"

Donghyuck sat there with his mouth shut, finding that line very familiar to him. Mark has always been a caring person. He'd worry over small things. Those were one of the many traits that Donghyuck fell in love with. Even when sometimes it would be too much, he's always thankful that Mark was always there to remind him to always take care.

And the way that his heart is beating uncontrollably with how Mark is putting ointment on his knee, Donghyuck knows that he's going to fall for him again.

"You should be careful." Mark warned him, putting the ointment back to its package and placing it on the bed. He then crouched down and gave a light blow on the male's knee. It caught him off guard when he felt the latter's hand brushing his hair, but he let him be.

"Remember when Chan scraped his knee and you got mad?" Donghyuck began to reminisce about their memories. "That's what you also said."

"I wasn't mad, I was just worried." Mark told him, standing up in front of the injured player.

A genuine smile made its way to Donghyuck's lips. "I know, Mark... I know."

The smile reassured Mark in all the ways possible, it comforted him, and it made him feel warm. The two of them just stared at each other with the tension that they had in between. The moment was calm and it was full of affection despite not showing any actions. Donghyuck was more than grateful to have someone to take care of him and Mark was glad that they can still have a conversation even when they're not on good terms.

Mark hoped this was the perfect time to ask, "When you said you wish you hated me, what did that mean?"

Donghyuck should have expected that they'll be having this conversation one way or another. He was thinking that it would be their last time seeing each other, that Mark would stop chasing him and start minding his own business. "It is how it is said."

It got more complicated for Mark. "Then, you never really hated me?"

"I wanted to, trust me." Donghyuck began to explain, "Everytime we argue, I hate you. Every single time we don't get along with things, I hate you. Whenever you would blame me for things I would either didn't mean to do or did it by accident, I hated you for that."

"Then why would you confuse me by saying—"

"It's always what I would realize after everything, Mark." Donghyuck cuts him off before he would start to assume. "I would say I hate you, but I won't mean it."

Mark decided to stay silent and listen.

"I say I hate you, but at the end of the day you're still the man I decided to marry." Playing with his fingers, Donghyuck had to lower his head down as he felt a tinge of embarrassment in confessing. "You're still the man who accepted all my mistakes, the man who found my flaws perfect, the man who's always there for me, and the man who loved me. I can never hate you because of that."

Guilt began to eat Mark. All this time he actually thought they hated each other. He thought that his husband despised him. Not that Mark also felt the same, but when they first exchanged such insults, he felt the need to act like he also hated the latter. He didn't want to be miserably in love while his own lover loathed him.

"God," Laughing it out, Donghyuck took deep breaths in order to calm himself down and not get too emotional. This was such a random time to make a confession. "What am I even saying?"

"Say it again."

Donghyuck's eyes widened at what this guy replied after saying a lot. "What?"

"Say it again." Repeating, Mark went closer to him. "Say that you don't hate me."

"But I even explained it to you already. Did you not understand?" Donghyuck's breathing hitched when he felt a pressure on the bed. His heart was not helping as it kept on beating at a fast pace because of how Mark is getting close to him with his hands supporting him on the bed.

"I heard it loud and clear." Feeling each other's warm uneven breaths, Mark gathered all the courage he had to make a move. "I just want you to say it again after I kiss you."

Donghyuck had no idea what was going on inside his head, but he, for sure, didn't waste any second and was the one to bring Mark close until the gap between them became nonexistent.

They shared a kiss that neither of them can explain with words on how much they missed each other so badly.

— to be continued