"Hey there, pretty."

Slamming the locker close, it echoed down the hallway outside. Donghyuck got stares coming from it, but he didn't care. Neither did he worry when the guy who greeted him flinched from his place. "Don't 'Hey there' me, Mark Lee."

"Okay, chill." Raising both his hands to defend him, Mark took a step back in case he'd get hit. "Pretty feisty in the morning."

Donghyuck rolled his eyes in annoyance at the guy who was playing with his words. "Leave me alone. I didn't have enough sleep last night."

With the younger one beginning to walk down the hallway, Mark followed from behind, trying to catch up with him. "You shouldn't lash it on me, I didn't do anything wrong."

"Mark Lee!"

"What?!" The said male had his lips pouted, looking like he was being scolded by a parent. "I wasn't the one getting freaky outside."

"Getting freaky— Hey!" Taking this chance to hit him, Donghyuck clicked his tongue in irritation while doing so. "You gave in!"

"Why wouldn't I? You are irresistible." Mark shrugged his shoulders, admitting that he'd fold whenever it comes to his own lover. He didn't mind if they'd actually make out outside the apartment. "Anyway, we didn't know that Jisung was hanging out with Chenle at your apartment."

"That sly dolphin didn't even tell me." Donghyuck complained. Good for Jaemin because he knew that guy will be out with other two companions. But for Chenle, the kid only told him that he's with Jisung. He didn't know they'd be at the apartment.

Imagine the mess he'd go through if he did bring Mark inside the apartment and got caught there.

Not to mention, it had to be the two troublemakers, Chenle and Jisung. They are a perfect pair for a reason.

"He couldn't keep his mouth shut and had to tell Jaemin about it when he got home." Donghyuck whined, dragging his feet as he was walking. "I spent the whole night trying to explain to them about us."

"Tell me about it. Jeno got home, wondering why Jisung is sleeping on his bed." Looks like Mark also struggled last night being interviewed. "I had to tell Jeno about it first or else Jisung would make up stories if he'd get ahead of me."

Having the same experiences made the two burst out laughing from their places. Donghyuck totally forgot about how upset he was in not having enough sleep at night, and Mark decided to move on from having to answer a lot of questions not just from his housemate, but also from his other friend who spent the night at their apartment.

"How much of us did you tell them?" Donghyuck asked, giving a break from laughing his ass out.

"Just the getting to know part." Mark told him.

"Getting to know each other, but almost made out outside the apartment." Donghyuck said in full sarcasm. "Cool story, Bro."

That made Mark elbow him softly, eyeing him because of that joke. "What did you tell them?"

"That we're married." Once again, Donghyuck was in a playful mood to joke around. "Kidding! I told them we're friends that's getting there."

"Friends that are about to make out. Believable." Mark nodded his head, being sarcastic about it because the latter's answer was no better than his. "I mean, we're probably in our friends with benefits trope."

"Mark Lee!" Donghyuck couldn't help but laugh at his witty statement. "I told them that you're comforting me from my break-up with Lucas."

"I'm a rebound in your story?" Mark gasped in disbelief. "I should have told Jeno and Jisung that you're obsessed with me then!"

"Stop!" Donghyuck didn't know why the older one was being funny this early. If the purpose was to lift his mood up then it's working so well. He can't stop laughing at what their conversation is about.

Well, little did he know that it's really what Mark's purpose is. They might not share the same humor, but he always tries to match Donghyuck's type of jokes. He was more than relieved to see his partner bringing back that bright personality. Being gloomy and upset doesn't suit Donghyuck that well.

Calming himself down, Donghyuck noticed the other staring at him with eyes full of affection. He couldn't help but also feel warm and loved at that stare. "Good morning, by the way, Love."

"Good morning, Sunshine." Mark replied, finally succeeding in making him smile.

"Good morning, everyone—" Jaemin arrived on the scene, stopping his tracks upon seeing the two together. "The good suddenly disappeared."

"Quite a nice day, don't you think?" Chenle followed along with a bright grin on his face, immediately frowning upon seeing who they bumped into in the hallway. "I hope it rains and thunder strikes at you."

"If it isn't the rebound." Jaemin remarked with an attitude, looking at the guy that's with his friend, his eyes scanning from top to bottom.

"And calling each other Love." Chenle scoffed at the nickname that ick-ed him. He probably is just bitter that he isn't called in any endearment. "Acting like they're already married. Wake up, you two!"

And not long after, the others also passed by the hallways and saw the group standing there, with two of them judging at the couple that were just smiling and being whipped for one another.

"Hey!" Jeno joined in being judgmental upon seeing who his friend is hanging out with first thing in the morning. "Oh, it's the friend that he's getting to know with."

"Good morning, Le." Meanwhile, Jisung was only interested in one person in the circle. However, he felt the need to greet the others. "Good morning Chenle and non-Chenle."

With them all gathered, another one came into the picture as his purpose was only to go to the office and pass a paperwork. He stumbled into the group that gathered together coincidentally.

Renjun was the only one who's able to acknowledge the two's presence without pointing out their issues. "Good morning, Donghyuck, Mark."

Looking at each other with knowing smiles, Mark and Donghyuck flexed in front of everyone that they were holding hands. They may or may have not done it on purpose out of spite. Whatever the audience's reaction was, they were glad that they could finally show each other off.

"Excuse me! I'm passing by with someone obsessed with me." Mark exclaimed, still in the mood to play along with their situation.

Donghyuck laughed as was being dragged away from their circle. "He's a rebound!"

With the couple moving along, the group that was left behind had their jaws dropped— well, except for Renjun who only saw the situation as quite adorable. He may not understand their antics, but he admired how they were able to click and match each other's foolishness.

"Come on. Classes are going to start." Renjun reminded them, making them snap out from their trance.

"I never knew Donghyuck would be infected that badly." Jeno commented, shivering at the thought that he might be the next victim since he's living with Mark.

"May I not act that way once I fall in love, Amen." Jaemin had his hands clasped in prayer, inheriting Jeno's humor from always hanging out with him.

Renjun laughed at the two that were overreacting. "Hey, I'm going to bet everything that you two are worse than them."

Chenle had his gaze following the couple that was walking away with happy steps. The idea inside his head made him squint his eyes, finding the situation suspicious. "Wait, what if they are married? It might actually make sense."

As for Jisung, again, he was only interested in only talking to this specific person despite the commotion going on. "Le, do you want to have lunch together?"

🕙

And so they did, Chenle and Jisung did get to spend their lunch break together. Because they were together, their friends also tagged along. Well,  minus a specific couple who weren't seen anywhere. Even so, they were enjoying each other's company during their break. If possible, they'd like to have another lunch together, or spend time together as a whole.

"Chenle, ahh..." Jisung then fed the male beside him with the biscuit that he recently bought and found it quite tasty.

"Renjun adopted what?" Not minding how extra sweet the latter beside him is, Chenle ate the biscuit that was handed to him before interrogating the three that were sitting across them.

"Cats." Jaemin said with heart eyes. He admired the purpose for adopting. "And he named it after me and Jeno."

"Nono and Nana." Even Jeno looked as whipped as the male beside him. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Beautiful? It's a cultural reset, the oxygen that we breathe, a lifestyle, an art!" Jaemin did more than agree, he made it a fact.

With Chenle scrunching his nose in disgust at how the two were acting, Jisung beside him was only focused on one goal. "Le, here, again."

Chenle ate another piece of biscuit. "Renjun, are you seeing this?"

The Chinese student that was being mentioned laughed with a nod. "This is the same Jaemin and Jeno who reacted negatively to Mark and Donghyuck being sweet."

"In our defense, Donghyuck and Mark were being too much." Jaemin said, trying to prove them wrong upon being compared.

Jeno agreed and supported his statement. "What we are doing is normal."

"Normal my ass." Even Jisung was disturbed by how Jeno is acting so differently lately. However, his attention went to another question that he had in mind. "Where's Mark and Donghyuck?"

Speaking of the two, they were having alone time at the rooftop. That was the main reason why no one could find them even if they looked at every corner of the campus. Mark took the advantage that he was part of the council to get the key to the rooftop since it's mainly locked. The moment their break began, Mark ran towards Donghyuck's room and took him away with him. He knew their friends would trap them and bombard them again with questions during lunch break. Mark was quick to think ahead and avoid them first.

Other than that, he also wanted Donghyuck's company.

"Have you seen their faces?" Still not moving on from it, Donghyuck let out a laugh upon remembering how confused and baffled their friends are.

Meanwhile, Mark was just admiring the beauty in front of him.

Lee Donghyuck, that's Mark's standard of beauty.

"It's so calm here." Feeling the wind touch his skin, Donghyuck leaned towards the railings to get in the moment, facing the field that was seen at the top of the building. "I didn't know I would need peace after the chaos."

Wherever they may be, for as long as Donghyuck is with him, Mark would always be at peace.

"Hey, Love." Donghyuck let out a nervous chuckle, getting flustered the moment he realized that the guy he's with is just staring at him. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Beauty." Mark spaced out, answering it subconsciously. "That's what you have."

"That's such an old line!" Donghyuck elbowed the other. "Gosh, you need to focus."

"I am focusing," Also leaning towards the railings, Mark hasn't ripped his eyes on the male beside him. "On the man I married."

"Cheesy, Mark Lee." But undeniably, it made Donghyuck smile. He didn't know if it's what his partner said, or the situation that they have now. Whatever it is, he loves the feeling he's having. It's as if he was contented already and didn't want anymore or it'll ruin the moment. Too much of something can ruin it. "I hope this will last forever."

"We can't stop the phases we should go through, Love." Mark told him, knowing what the younger one wanted. "But let's go through it together."

"I know... But I already like this." Closing his eyes,  Donghyuck tried to feel the moment in hopes for it to last long for him.

"I like every moment with you." Mark then walked towards him, standing behind the younger one as he held the railings on both of his sides to support himself. "Every worse and every better moment."

Cliché. Donghyuck rolled his eyes playfully, turning around to face the male who's expectedly staring down at him. He can't seem to wipe the smile on his face, feeling the entire zoo inside his stomach.

His smile only made Mark fall more in love. "Is this the part where we kiss?"

"Love, that's not part of the script." Donghyuck said, but also sneakily stared down at his partner's lips.

"Fuck the script." Breathing heavily, Mark could only think of one thing. "I badly want to kiss you right now."

"You're right." Bringing his hands up, Donghyuck cupped the male's face as he leaned forward. "Fuck the script."

And that's how they both ended up closing the gap between them, Mark gluing his body as close as possible while pinning his partner on the railings. Donghyuck initiated the kiss as the other followed his movements. They were finally able to enjoy their intimacy without having anyone ruin it.

"I love you, Donghyuck." Mark whispered in between their kisses.

Donghyuck's lips curved up despite it being devoured by the other. "I love you more than you can imagine, Mark."

It seems like they found themselves falling in love again.

— to be continued