Mark immediately dropped the call and rushed out of the apartment. He only grabbed his spare key and a jacket. However, he didn't have enough time to even wear it, he just had it in hand as he searched for a way to get to the hospital. He was breathing heavily with cold sweat dripping down from his forehead.

No thoughts and being worried was such an understatement. Mark couldn't seem to breathe properly after hearing the news. He was anxious the whole car ride to the hospital. Biting his nails, his breathing cycle matching his face-paced heartbeat, and tapping his foot— he can't seem to stay put.

This had never happened in the past before. Mark knew that during his birthday, he just celebrated the day with Donghyuck, but never spent the night together. Changing that event for his selfish needs couldn't have caused such a large consequence. He just wanted to spend and end his birthday with Donghyuck, how hard is that to wish for? How is life so against them being together?

"Donghyuck!"

Just when things were getting better between them.

Just when they were finding each other again.

"Lee Donghyuck!"

A group of people waiting by the lobby turned their heads towards the entrance after Mark caused a scene by aggressively pushing the glass door open and shouting a name the first thing he stepped foot inside the hospital. They then locked gazes with Mark who had agony visible in his eyes.

Jeno, being the one who called him, felt the need to check up on his friend. "Mark."

"Where's Donghyuck?!" Mark raged towards them, his voice cracking and showing a hint of pain in his tone.

"Mark, he's in the emergency room—" Jeno quickly held on to his friend's arm when he saw him take a step away.

"Let go of me!" Mark gave him a glare, warning him if he doesn't follow what he says. "I need to see him!"

Seeing that Jeno couldn't handle it alone, Jisung helped in managing the situation. "Mark, we're not allowed to be there. Why do you think we're waiting here in the first place?"

"I don't fucking care! Let go of— me!" Harshly pulling his arm back, Mark caused his friend to stumble.

However, just when he was about to run off to where his lover is, Jisung was quick to block his way, towering over him. "And then what? What are you going to do?"

"Move away, Jisung." Never in his years of baby-ing his youngest friend did Mark expect to use this tone towards him. "I'll use force if you continue to be stubborn."

"I'll be the one using force if you continue to act that way." Jisung threatened him back. He knew that there was no use in talking sense to him. Then again, he understood why the older male was being like this.

"Hey," Jeno had to get in between them, stressing out the fact that he had to deal with the two who still needed to work on their temper. "This is the worst place to start a fight."

"Guys, let's not cause any trouble." Renjun had enough watching them, afraid that if he let the three be then there might be violence happening inside a healthcare area. "All we can do right now is wait for the result of whatever is happening in the ER."

"Exactly." Jaemin was too frightened to butt into their conversation a while ago, but since one of them spoke about it, he finally mustered up the courage. "We don't want to have one of you get a broken limb and join Donghyuck in the emergency room."

Chenle, on the other hand, kept his mouth shut as he was already guilty as is.

It just took Mark's attention the moment he turned to face their direction. His glare was boring holes right through his soul. "Chenle."

Luckily, Jisung managed to stop him from getting closer to a certain someone with his fist clenched. He placed a hand on his chest and applied pressure just so the older male couldn't take another step forward. "I'm warning you, Mark."

"Get your hands off me." Mark asserted.

"Fucking hell!" Jeno forcefully pulled the two apart. Having everyone here was the worst idea he ever thought of. "The both of you, stop it!"

It was just a coincidence that they were all at the apartment, relaxing, before they received a phone call from Chenle. He wanted to go alone just to accompany Mark, but Jaemin insisted on tagging along because it's his friend that got rushed to the hospital. Renjun begged to join them because he was equally worried, and Jisung was already making his way to the hospital ahead because Chenle is there. Jeno thought that nothing could go wrong in having all of them there, that's why he didn't bother sending them home.

Jeno genuinely thought that the more they are, the more comfort they'd get with the situation. He was dead wrong about that thought.

Mark wanted to confront Chenle.

Jisung was about to throw hands.

Renjun held on to the person, that a certain someone wanted to blame, to ease him.

And Jaemin stood there not knowing what to do. Torn between worrying about his best friend in the emergency room and getting intimidated at the tension their circle is having.

"Mark, calm down, for fuck's sake." Jeno told him.

The said male could only scoff in disbelief, not expecting to hear such a thing in this situation. "Calm down? Calm the fuck down?! Imagine the fear I felt, Jeno, when you told me that Donghyuck is rushed here. I just got to hear his voice, his laugh, and the next thing I know he got into an accident?!"

"You're not the only one shocked about it, Mark!" Jisung had to butt in, not wanting anyone to be further blamed on the situation. "Have you ever thought of how Chenle felt seeing it happen right in front of his eyes?"

"I'm... sorry."

They all turned towards the person who uttered an apology quietly.

"Le, there's nothing to apologize for." Jaemin told him, rubbing circles behind his friend's back as he noticed him gasping for air.

"Chenle." Leaving his friend there, Jisung strode towards the mentioned male and hoped that his presence would help in composing him down. "It's not your fault."

"Don't blame yourself with anything. No one ever wanted it to happen." Renjun joined along in reassuring him.

Jeno heaved out a sigh as he was the only one staying beside his friend who seemed to have guilt showing in his expression. "Mark, it happened unexpectedly. Jaemin was a crying mess when we came here, and Chenle was hyperventilating. Please, just please, control your temper."

However, no one can also blame Mark for how he is acting. He was scared, he was beyond afraid of the thought that he'll lose Donghyuck. This has never happened, it was a new occurrence to him, thus, not knowing what to do and how to react.

The thought of losing Donghyuck made him lose his sanity.

"Mark, I'm sorry." Chenle finally managed to gather all the courage to explain the situation. Though, he had to hold in the sobs that's clogging his throat. "Donghyuck asked me to accompany him in buying a gift for you. It all went as it should have. When I got out of the mall so we could go home together, I saw him chasing after a cat."

A cat?

"Sohee!"

"I thought I was going to lose you on your birthday, Sohee!"

It was the day he saved a child from an accident.

The situation is too similar to call it a coincidence. Donghyuck chasing after a cat, getting into an accident because of it, and everything happening on his birthday.

Did Mark catch the fate because he prevented it from happening to the child?

"And... And it happened too fast. I was calling him... But he... He just stood there and the car—"

Chenle wanted to join Jaemin and the others in going home as soon as the class ended. He knew that they were going to be a big bunch later at the apartment, and he was excited about it. However, Donghyuck got ahead in asking him a favor to accompany him in buying a gift for Mark. Chenle couldn't say no, especially when Jaemin took it as an opportunity to give him a list on the things he should buy for their big sleepover. With no choice, he tagged along and went to a mall with Donghyuck.

The two of them took separate ways upon getting inside the mall as Chenle went to the supermarket, and Donghyuck wanted to roam around for a gift. They both agreed to wait and meet outside after their business. With Donghyuck finding what he needed, Chenle had to get in line first in order to pay for the snacks.

When Chenle finally finished buying everything on the list, he immediately left the store while messaging Donghyuck about it. They agreed to meet outside, which is where Chenle was headed to. It didn't take him long to find the person he's looking for, seeing that he was busy playing with a cat. The sight warmed Chenle's heart, reminding himself how kindhearted his friend is despite being blunt with his words and having an attitude at times.

Chenle was snapped out from his thoughts when he saw both the cat and his friend running away.

He kept on calling his name. He planned to tease Donghyuck about being soft for a cat.

He shouted just so the other could hear.

Until the accident happened, Chenle could only whisper his friend's name in horror.

"Stop." Mark cuts him off, feeling his chest clench in pain as the explanation keeps on going. "Stop it!"

Jeno gave Jisung a glare to stop him when he noticed the youngest of them making a move. Instead, he was the one who insisted to calm his friend beside him. "Mark—"

"Fuck!" Mark aggressively shoved the male's hand that was trying to reach out to him for comfort, crouching down as he chanted out his frustration. "Fuck, fuck."

Out of worry, Jisung also ran to him, bending down to match his height. "Hey, what's wrong with you? Mark?"

Jeno did the same, his brows furrowed at how his friend was acting. "Mark, if it's about Donghyuck, we can just hope that everything will go well."

It's not about Donghyuck.

It's about him.

Mark fucked up.

🕙

Donghyuck fluttered his eyes open, feeling a weight on top of him. It was then when he adjusted to the brightness inside the room that he noticed a warm smile from a child, greeting him. "Chan?"

"Papa!"

— to be continued