Mark's ears were ringing in silence. He was in denial of what he had heard, there is just no way. If he were to base it in the past, then it would be right that he and Donghyuck still don't know each other that well around this time. They were complete strangers.

Mark didn't want to accept that.

"Your..." He then traced off from his words, not knowing what to say. If he were to admit and tell Donghyuck that he's his husband, would that change the future?

Was he really stuck in the past?

What the actual fuck? It was just when it had sinked in. Mark didn't want to accept it, he wanted to still gaslight himself that his own husband is with him on this. Going back in time was impossible itself, how is it more impossible that he's alone?

"Oh, right!" Making a fist and hitting it at the palm of his other hand, Donghyuck looked like he had an idea who he was talking to.

It gave Mark hope.

Only to crush it with how innocently Donghyuck answered, "You're the Vice President."

Standing there with thoughts in a faze, Mark had his eyes just simply staring at the boy in front of him. He never knew how much he missed him until he woke up this morning not having Donghyuck by his side. Though he was looking at the younger self of his husband, nothing really has changed. He still had the same smile, still talkative as ever, and the confidence he had was still oozing.

It feels like a dream. The problem is, Mark has no clue what is.

Is the dream the one that they got married? Or is it the one now, traveling back in time and being the only one who knows about it?

This is all too much for him to handle, all in just one morning. The day hasn't even ended yet.

"May I ask why you dragged me here?" Still clueless, Donghyuck showed a polite smile nonetheless.

Only then that Mark got back to his senses, but was still having a hard time to find the right words to say. He was still in the stage of denial. "Birthday..."

Does this mean he has to start over again in getting to know him?

Donghyuck let out a chuckle, having his cheeks flushed at how their student leader went to this extent just to greet him on his birthday. Quite suspicious though, but he never bothered to ask. "You could have just greeted me at the cafeteria. Thank you, anyway."

Even with his laugh filling up the area, Mark's silence was louder. Donghyuck noticed the guy's behavior and it made things more awkward between them.

But with his prayers heard, a familiar voice was heard by the corner behind the building that he was dragged in.

"Babe?"

"Lucas!" Donghyuck shouted back, letting his boyfriend know that he was there. Turning back to Mark, he flashed him one last smile before excusing himself. "I should go, my boyfriend is looking for me."

Mark had no choice but to nod his head and gestured his hand for the other male to walk away. His eyes followed him and settled upon seeing Donghyuck meeting up with his boyfriend, all clingy and glued to him. Something inside Mark was boiling in jealousy after seeing that.

He wouldn't be feeling this way if he just didn't know that Donghyuck was going to be his husband in the future.

It felt like he was being cheated on, but at the same time, it wasn't.

Because they were strangers, whether he liked it or not.

🕙

"And here I thought you actually had a change of heart and started to like the meals here." Jeno began to rant after ordering his food and bringing his tray with him towards their table. "Yet, you weren't even here when I arrived after getting Jisung."

"I'm here now, aren't I?" Mark retorted, pissed at the sight he was seeing at a certain table not far from theirs.

Well, who won't even notice them? They were loud, and they even caused a scene a while ago to celebrate a birthday. Obviously, eyes were going to fall towards their direction. However, Mark was not just staring— glaring was probably the perfect word to describe it. Biting down the apple, that he had ordered as his meal, harshly and pouring all his anger towards the fruit.

Both his friends gave him looks, concerned and worried at how he was fighting that harmless fruit.

"Talk about anger management." Jisung, another friend of the two, scoffed. The statement earned a nudge coming from Jeno.

"Where were you even? And why were you taking that student with you?" Jeno tried to take his friend's mind off from what was bothering him. Thinking that the question had nothing to do with whatever was distracting him. "Do you have any beef with him?"

Little of not knowing that it was everything that Mark was thinking of. Most especially, he was thinking as to what kind of situation he was in. If this were a dream then he would have woken up by now. Was seeing Lucas with Donghyuck together not enough of a nightmare for him? He still can't fathom at the possibility that he was living in his past. Or perhaps, was he given an ability to know the future? If so, how did it all feel so real?

This does not feel like a dream at all.

It was confusing, he had no idea where to start— or what to do to begin with.

Jeno and Jisung then flinched from their seats when Mark just hit his head with the half-bitten apple that he had on his hand. The sudden action had their jaws dropped, embarrassed at how the people that were seated close to their table were sparing glances at them.

"I just failed my math quiz, and now I'm sitting with a crazy person." Jisung mumbled, hiding his face under the hoodie that he was wearing. He already had enough embarrassment. "Spare me a day, God."

Jeno clicked his tongue and went to start eating his meal with a hand covering half of his face. "If that was a sensitive topic then you could have said so, damn. What kind of self-sabotage is this?" Equally felt the embarrassment of how Mark was overreacting.

Mark ignored the two who sunk from their seats because of the whispers that were about them, and giggles they got from what he did. His eyes were only locked towards a certain person who, coincidentally, was also looking towards their direction.

It may have caught Donghyuck's attention when Mark hit himself with an apple.

It was humiliating, but Mark was more focused on the butterflies he was feeling inside his stomach when they locked gazes.

Until he could see Donghyuck giving him a visible smile of innocence before turning back to his friends.

Biting the insides of his cheeks, Mark was determined to get the truth out of him. He wasn't convinced enough that Donghyuck had no clue on what was going on. Something was off that made him think that he traveled through time alongside with him. He can't pinpoint as to what it is, but he's going to find out the truth eventually.

How is he going to do that without disrupting this timeline and having to possibly change the future?

Meanwhile, at the other table, "Where did he take you?" Chenle, being the nosy person he is, leaned in to hear some tea coming from his friend. "How did you guys meet?"

"What?" Being the one to pull away from the staring contest he had with a certain someone, Donghyuck raised a brow in a curious manner towards the youngest in their table. "I don't even know. We just went behind the back of the building. I have no idea why he did that."

"Come on, there's no way he'll pull you away like that if you guys don't have anything going on between each other." Jaemin explained, also wanting to know about the situation that had just happened. "No offense, Lucas. It might just be a harmless secret friendship that they have. We just really want to know."

Donghyuck's gaze fell towards his boyfriend beside him, frowning at the thought of how hurt he might be at the questions his friends were throwing at him. "Guys, stop. How about you go and ask him instead? I really don't know him that way. It even surprised me." He said, stopping his friends from asking further. "He just greeted me with a happy birthday, that's all. Now, stop being insensitive."

Lucas now had a smile on his face when he felt a hand meeting his', comforting and reassuring him. He then also butted to the conversation, "I'm also sure Donghyuck didn't want to go, but what can he even do if he's being dragged? Anyway, I followed them and I can attest that there's nothing going on. I was listening to their conversation."

Eyes widened, Donghyuck almost stopped breathing upon asking, "You... heard us?"

"Yeah," Lucas nodded with a laugh, "From the part when he greeted you. He was so awkward. If he wanted to say something then he could have just said it right here. Why take you away and bring you to a place where it's only the two of you?"

Being able to breathe properly, Donghyuck's eyes moved towards the cake that was in front him. It took him a while of calming down before agreeing with what his boyfriend said. "Right, I also don't know what his intentions were."

Squinting his eyes out of doubt, Chenle was not satisfied with the answer. Not like he wanted the couple to fight— he just wanted some drama in his life. "That's weird, that's suspicious."

Jaemin then went to side with the Chinese, "I second the motion." In a comedic manner, he was acting as if they were at the court trying to prove something guilty. "There's something going on, I can feel it."

"How casual can you guys get? I have my boyfriend here, have some decency." Donghyuck defended, sounding like he was disappointed at them. "I'm pretty sure you two would also not like hearing someone talk about that with your lover around."

It did hurt Lucas. However, hanging out with his boyfriend's group of friends, he knew they meant no harm in whatever they were trying to prove. He was already used to them being this nosy and forcing something that really isn't there. They were kind of dramatic themselves. Though, it did hurt him nonetheless. Lucas was more than thankful that Donghyuck was there to save the day.

More things to love about him.

"Apologize, now." Donghyuck demanded, but also made sure he didn't sound as aggressive as he should as they were still his friends. "Jaemin, Chenle."

Pouting his lips, Chenle was the first to give in. He was considering that it's his friend's birthday so might as well bother him another time. "I'm sorry, Lucas."

"Jaemin?" Donghyuck stared at his other friend who was avoiding his eyes.

It didn't take the said male long to do what was needed to be done. Jaemin let out a sigh, bitter at the relationship they are having. "Sorry, I was just curious because I haven't really seen Donghyuck interact with the Vice president of the student government, ever."

"And I never ever did, not until now when I was pulled away." Explaining his side with pure honesty, Donghyuck faced his boyfriend and gave him a peck on the forehead so he wouldn't have to overthink about the situation. "Lucas, there's nothing, okay? This will be the last that it will ever happen. I won't let him drag me again, or let him talk to me unless it's something important."

"I know, I trust you." Lucas placed his hand on top of his boyfriend's, giving him a smile before kissing the back of his hand. "I love you."

The sweetness that was oozing at their table made both Chenle and Jaemin act as if they were about to puke, faking a gag.

"This is giving me diabetes." Chenle commented. He was simply mad at how single he still was, and probably also envied how his friend was in an almost perfect relationship.

Even Jaemin can't deny the fact that both of them complete each other like puzzle pieces. "Why bother having a boyfriend? We're going to die anyway."

🕙

The day ended on a happy note and Donghyuck can't seem to take off the smile on his face. It went so perfect, probably the best birthday he ever had. However, as much as he wanted to go home together with both of his friends, as the three of them share one apartment together, he felt the need to be alone for a while. He promised not to go home late, and he's just going to call Lucas if something happens to him.

He needed time to think and process what just happened today.

From the surprise that his friends did, to his classes going smoothly— Donghyuck wished it would always be like this.

"Right, I still have to stop by at a convenience store and buy banana milk for Jaemin." Donghyuck mumbled to himself, turning around and walking the opposite way.

He was about to go home after walking for quite a while and successfully having an alone time to sort out his thoughts, but he remembered his friend asking him to buy something before he returns home.

Donghyuck was in the mood, he didn't mind even going out to buy groceries during this hour. Too busy recalling how his day went, he wasn't conscious of his surroundings. A kid came running towards his direction and he wasn't able to step aside just in time.

Making him bump the kid whose height barely even reached his hips.

"Oh my—" Just as Donghyuck crouched down to help the kid stand back up, the kid began to sob loudly. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to."

Great, Just when his day was getting better and better.

"Here, let me help you get up." However, a subconscious instinct somehow knew what to do when a child would cry. It was as if he was already used to this kind of situation. "I was on my way towards that store, are you a big fan of lollipops?"

A certain kind of candy made the kid gradually stop crying, sniffling as he wiped his tears with his small hands. He first went to take a look at this guy that was talking to him. The kid took a while before his guts was telling him that he was safe. However, he was raised well enough that he's not lowering his guard. "Papa told me not to accept candies from strangers."

With a smile, this certain 'stranger', that the kid thought of as, then reached out his hand. "I'm Donghyuck, nice to meet you. Where are your parents?"

"I'm Chiro!" With tears and sobs finally stopping, the child yelled out enthusiastically, quick to open up to the stranger. He then lifted his arm up and pointed towards the direction where his parents were talking. "Papa, and Dada!"

Holding back the urge to coo at how adorable the kid is, Donghyuck ruffled the kid's hair before standing up. "I'll buy you a lollipop and introduce myself to your parents, okay?" He said, making sure that he should be trusted. He didn't want the kid to think that all strangers are nice just because of this incident. "You shouldn't run off far away from them next time."

Donghyuck still promised him a lollipop, but he first guided the kid to his parents. As what he said, he then introduced himself to them before asking to wait for a while because he was going to buy something for a short moment. He included a pack of chocolate alongside a bag of lollipops, giving it to the kid whom he bumped to by accident.

"Thank you, Mister!"

He watched them slowly walk towards their car after having a short conversation. Donghyuck let out a chuckle when he saw Chiro sticking his face to the window and waving his hand at him happily, making the student do the same. A few minutes after, the car drove off until it wasn't seen anymore by a corner.

Donghyuck stood there, staring into space.

He then had his brows meeting in a confused manner. "That's strange."

Why did one of the parents a while ago look a lot like his son?

— to be continued