"Baby, say ahh..."

Mark sat on his seat with a sight that burned his eyes. It was Lucas feeding Donghyuck like he would to a baby, the scene reeking of public display of affection. Finding out that his husband still has his Ex's number was something, but going back in time and having to see them act all sweet was another type of jealousy. Something that Mark, deep inside, wanted to act all violent.

But being suspended because of violence was the last thing he wanted to have. His future still lies on the flow of his past.

"He has hands, for God's sake." Commenting about it was the only way to hold himself back from going mad.

"Mark, are you even listening?"

Obviously, he was not, but for the sake of not being put under hot seat as to what was distracting him, Mark diverted his eyes towards his friend who was sitting right in front of him. "Jaemin... and?"

Mark only heard one name from the lengthy rant that his friend was giving him. That was all he needed to know that this conversation was about that person. Jeno then let out a sigh of discomfort, not because no one was paying attention to him, but because of what he could remember from the short interaction he had with this certain person.

"I can't seem to get it off my head." Jeno started his story again.

"Why, what happened?" Munching on his burger aggressively, Mark glanced back at the couple he once was looking at a while ago.

"I remember I was looking for you, you never told me that you were at the library that time." And because Jeno was too busy with explaining, he didn't catch his friend not listening to him. "This guy was in my way. I was too upset to act decently. I pushed him."

Nodding his head, Mark was just agreeing to whatever his friend was talking about.

"Look, I'm still very interested in Renjun." Jeno said, putting a disclaimer before his friend would assume another possibility. "But I don't know why that Jaemin guy keeps on bothering me inside my head."

It was then that the mention of two names caused Mark to freeze from his place.
Finally, his full attention was now on Jeno.

"You met Jaemin?" Mark was so busy with figuring out how to fix this situation with Donghyuck that he had no idea what was going on with his friends' life. He thought that as long as he won't change anything then nothing will be ruined.

Though, it completely went out of his head that small details like not being there to where he is supposed to be is also considered as a change.

"Didn't you just hear me? I bumped into him." Jeno told him. He then had his forehead creased in curiosity, "Why do you keep on looking behind me? Is there anything more interesting than hearing about—"

"Jeno," Mark called him urgently, panicking more about this small change. "That probably wasn't Jaemin."

Chuckling, Jeno continued to eat his meal before correcting his friend. "That's his name, Na Jaemin."

"What does he look like?" Mark wanted to make sure he's not panicking over nothing.

Jeno shrugged his shoulders, cheeks all puffed as he stuffed his mouth with food. "He has a cute smile, his hair looks soft, and he's around my height." He then traced off from his thoughts upon describing him, "Did I mention that he's cute?"

This is supposed to be the time where Mark should start to be concerned and worried, but another problem caught his attention that made him stray away from his friend's interaction with a certain someone.

It was Lucas kissing Donghyuck's cheeks, the latter being a blushing mess as it happened.

Jeno saw how his friend's mood changed from looking troubled to looking like he went through all stages of heartbreak. "What happened to you?"

"No... Nothing." Mark stuttered, doing his best to collect his sanity before the other would interrogate him for how he's acting.

That was the most obvious lie Jeno has heard. "What's going on behind me anyway?"

Seeing that his friend had already turned his head around, Mark began to scan his eyes around the cafeteria for an alibi. He would get another long nag coming from Jeno if he finds out that he was looking at that couple he warned him about.

With luck on Mark's side, his alibi was right behind Lucas and Donghyuck.

"Mark," It seems like Jeno is now starting, "How many times should I tell you? You have to quit. Their relationship is far from being broken. The only thing that's going to be broken at the end of the day is you, you're hurting yourself."

Finishing his burger up with an innocent expression, Mark was quick to oppose the male's assumption. "What are you talking about? I'm looking at Ko Eun."

Ko Eun was alone at the table behind the couple which Mark initially had sent daggers with his eyes.

It took Jeno a while to process it inside his head, but found it making sense. "Hey, tell me honestly, what's going on between you and Ko Eun? You asked her out for lunch once."

Mark internally screamed at how, either way, he's still going to be questioned. If Jeno finds out that he's meddling with Lucas and Donghyuck's relationship, his friend is still going to talk nonstop about it. If he lies and say that Ko Eun is that one on his mind, he's still going to be asked about it. Mark should have just stayed silent and stayed stubborn in not talking about it.

"Just... things." Mark was stuck on what to tell him.

But Jeno misunderstood it as him being too shy to open up with his relationship.
Boy, was he dead wrong about it.

"Ko Eunji!"

His friend shouting that name caught Mark off guard. Eyes inside the cafeteria were now settled on them. This was one of the rare occasions that Mark prayed that Jisung would suddenly come and save his ass. However, that's going to be impossible since that guy is busy with a certain Chinese student. Jeno really is going to be the death of him.

"Mark Lee likes you." Jeno proudly stated, catching everyone's attention.

Everyone loves the drama, which is why it became loud as soon as that was announced. They all hollered in excitement, pushing one another as they felt the feels, and even cheered for the two.

Mark buried his head down in embarrassment, wanting to just disappear in thin air right at this moment. He wanted to stand up and leave— but it seems like someone got ahead of him. Raising his head up, Mark's eyes followed the familiar figure that made an exit from this chaotic situation. Not a moment after, his eyes trailed to the table where he used an alibi towards Jeno. The girl, who was sitting there alone, was looking down shyly. Everyone was cheering for her and she didn't know how to grasp that attention.

"Hey, Mark, where are you going?" Jeno asked, a big smile still evident at how he genuinely got to help his friend out.

Honestly, Mark had no idea where to go.

Whether to Ko Eun or to Donghyuck who walked away from the scene.

Mark just let his feet drag him to wherever and that was to exit the cafeteria.

Donghyuck, on the other hand, had no clue why he did that. He didn't want to look obvious, but he was uncomfortable being there. He didn't even get to excuse himself from his boyfriend, he just left as he could feel his heart thumping in an uncomfortable manner. Donghyuck could feel his chest tightening and his eyes holding back the tears that accumulated the moment people were shouting inside the cafeteria.

He already had a fixed goal to change his future. Donghyuck wanted to be treated better, he knew he deserved better.

But he didn't need someone else, he wanted Mark.

Donghyuck wanted Mark to be better for him. For them to change for the better.

"I hate him so much." Deep inside, Donghyuck couldn't hate him. He could only say it, but couldn't feel the hatred that he keeps on insinuating. Donghyuck just wanted to be loved. He just hated the fact that he was hard to love.

"Donghyuck."

And he just had to follow him. Donghyuck let out a bitter laugh, feeling confused and broken. He continued to walk to God knows where, "What do you want, Mark?"

"Let's talk." Mark quickened his pace, catching up to the other. "Let me explain."

Not stopping his tracks, Donghyuck turned left and found himself in a hallway full of lockers. He took a few more steps in finding his', embracing the minutes of silence before this person, who was following him, had to break it.

"Please, Donghyuck." Mark said, begging.

Donghyuck felt a hand grabbing his wrist, stopping his tracks, but his back was still facing him. He refused to look at him, he knew that was his weakness.

One look and he's going to break into pieces. "Mark, what is there to talk about?"

"About what happened a while ago." No matter how much Mark wanted to deny the fact that he wanted them to be fixed, he can't help but keep on coming back to Donghyuck whenever something happens. He always gets the urge to explain, to clear his side of misunderstanding whenever he knew it would hurt the other.

Donghyuck gathered all the courage he had and finally turned to face Mark with a smile on his face. Acting like he wasn't about to cry just a second ago. "About what happened? Silly, what's wrong with confessing to Ko Eun? Also, don't forget to give credits to Jeno, he helped you man up."

"I wasn't..." But Mark couldn't get the words out of his mouth. He didn't know where to start explaining. "Are you okay?"

"Me? Couldn't be any better!" A lie, but Donghyuck had to.

Forgetting the fact that Mark can see right through him. "Why did you leave the cafeteria?"

Pointing a finger at the locker he is standing right in front of, Donghyuck still kept the smile on his face. "I was about to return to you the pants you let me borrow during soccer practice."

Mark then remembered, he had to tell him the truth about it. "Donghyuck, it wasn't Lucas who told you to wear it—"

"I know." Donghyuck didn't let him finish. "But it's okay, you have your reason."

Mark stayed silent as he stood there watching the other open his locker and get what he needed to return. While Donghyuck was busy, Mark couldn't explain what he was feeling right now. As selfish as it sounds, he would feel better if the other would be crying and blaming him for how hurt he is. He would be reassured if Donghyuck would just tell him to stop whatever he planned to do with Ko Eun.

Mark was selfish to want Donghyuck to cry to him. He wanted to be the one to comfort him afterwards. He wanted it that way.

But it hurt him more to see that the other was smiling even after what had happened at the cafeteria.

"Here, thank you." Donghyuck handed him the paper bag.

Mark had to ask about it, "Were you not hurt when Jeno said that I like Ko Eun?"

Hurt? It's an understatement. Donghyuck shook his head, keeping his facade of looking like he didn't mind at all. "You saw me and Lucas at the cafeteria, right? Wouldn't it be selfish for me to be against you and Ko Eun?"

"I want you to be selfish." Mark stated, "I want you to want me."

Everything stopped for Donghyuck the moment he heard that. The two of them locked gazes, staring at each other and finding comfort in the silence that was surrounding them. This was getting dangerous for the both of them. Anyone can just appear out of nowhere and see them like this.

Donghyuck can't afford that from happening, he knew he needed to leave before he falls back into Mark's arms. "Didn't we want this in the first place?" He told him, "Don't you want to change things?"

Mark wanted that badly... before.
But now, the only thing he wanted to change was them. He wanted them to be better together. He wanted their relationship to have a second chance.

Seeing that there were no more words that could be exchanged, Donghyuck took this as a sign to leave. But as soon as he was able to pass by him, Mark stopped him by holding his hand.

"Do you hate me this much?"

Donghyuck could only reply with, "Mark, I really do wish I hated you." Before taking his hand back and leaving the other there to think about what he had just said.

— to be continued