The athletes for the recent game that was held outside school grounds were being called to the office to hold a small awarding celebration, even though they were already all acknowledged during the morning assembly. Giving out medals and proper gratitude happened inside the office where their school director was the one who did so. For Donghyuck, it was a win-win situation since he was dozing off during class. Jaemin on the other hand was getting impatient to go back to his class because he needed to catch up with the lessons they were having.

Ko Eun was also called to be a representative in giving out the medals and also taking pictures for the awarding. She assisted the players one by one in wearing their medals, also congratulated them each one.

"Here," Stopping in front of Donghyuck, Ko Eun gave him her most genuine smile. "Congratulations, Donghyuck. Thank you for representing our school."

"Hey..." Donghyuck began to get shy at how that sounded like he did a big favor for the school when all he did was play the sport he loved. "You're flattering me."

"By the way, how's your sprain?" Since he was last in line, Ko Eun stayed longer and had a short conversation while the others were busy preparing for the group picture.

"It's nothing serious." Not wanting to sound insensitive, Donghyuck decided not to bring up the part that Mark took care of him during the weekend that passed by. "It's getting better now."

"Glad to know." Also getting to her position, she was asked to also take part in the first picture before the group would get a solo photo. While standing beside him, Ko Eun once more had to congratulate him with double meaning. "Congratulations for winning."

That caught Donghyuck off guard, making him look surprised in the picture that was taken. He wasn't able to ask what it meant other than winning the championships for soccer as the girl beside him quickly walked away. Donghyuck had his eyes following her, talking to the teachers and excusing herself to go back to class since her job here was done. A part of him felt guilty at the situation she was in. Donghyuck honestly wouldn't also know what to do if he'd be in Ko Eun's place. What he does know is how badly it might hurt.

However, he can't be too selfless. Ko Eun might have feelings for Mark, but Donghyuck gave his everything to the same person. His love for Mark is nothing comparable to Ko Eun's small crush towards him.

As mean as it will sound, she'll eventually move on from it.

"Oh, Ko Eun?"

Walking out of the office, Ko Eun mentally cursed at how she just had to bump into the person she least wanted to see.

Forcing out a smile, she knew she had to stay decent for the sake that there would be no issues caused between them. "Mark! Donghyuck and the team are finishing up. They will come out any minute from now."

Mark may not be good at reading people, but it doesn't take an Einstein to know how a rejection will hurt and affect someone. Not to mention, she also made an effort to express her feelings to him. Letters, small gestures, and her time. Mark felt like a dick for leading her on earlier in coming back to the past, only because he could see Donghyuck doing the same with Lucas. He can't help but feel bad at how he used her at some point in time. Meanwhile, all she did was let him feel how genuine her feelings are for him.

"I'll take my leave now." Excusing herself politely, Ko Eun passed right next to him and chanted inside her head not to ever look back.

But Mark just had to make it hard for her. "How are you lately?"

Ko Eun was purposely distancing herself after the confession. For once, she wanted to be selfish and think of herself this time around. She knew she wouldn't be able to give Mark the friendship that he wanted, not now when the wound from the rejection is still too fresh.

"I'll be able to move on from it, Mark." She turned around to face him, giving him a bitter smile. "It will take time, but I will move on."

Mark wanted to apologize, but about what? His love for Donghyuck was nothing to be sorry about. He genuinely loves him and not a pinch of regret is in that. The only thing he felt bad for was having to reject someone as nice as Ko Eun.

And in every universe, he'll always choose Donghyuck over anyone else.

"I'll get going." Ko Eun saw that there were no words left to exchange, doing the favor in leaving the scene first.

Not being able to do anything, Mark just watched her walk away with heavy steps. He had a frown of guilt plastered on his face, but he somehow can't completely feel too sorry. All he did was also love, just not at the same person who's now going through it. Sometimes in life, you really just have to go through a lot of shit. Mark just hoped that she'll be able to bounce back from the rejection and realize that life is more than wanting to have him in it.

As if Mark was heard from the heavens above, a certain transfer student was seen down the hallway, having Ko Eun to bump into him as she kept on looking down and not being aware of her surroundings.

"Damn, she bagged that man?" Donghyuck got out of the office and startled his lover who's spacing out. "Tall and handsome. He has dimples too? Jesus."

The compliment made Mark give him a glare. "Lee Donghyuck."

"What? I was only describing what I saw." Deep down, he was somewhat threatened by the government name. Knowing that he was irresistible, Donghyuck showed his signature smile. "Love, come on, you're at the top of my list."

So much for excusing himself from class and having to wait in congratulating him here at the office. Mark rolled his eyes and began to walk in the opposite direction so as not to disturb a certain pair.

Donghyuck tailed from behind, being apologetic. "Love, you're my standard! You know that!"

"Yeah, right." Though he might be playing along, Mark slightly got jealous seeing his own man drooling over someone else.

Quick with his pace, Donghyuck blocked the other from walking away. Mark stared down at him with the same emotionless gaze, while the younger one still had the adorable smile on his face. It would be the biggest lie if Mark says that he didn't find it cute. However, he was keeping his cool and showed that this is how things will end if Donghyuck provokes him.

But it looks like Donghyuck knew so well how to swoon him. "Five minutes?"

"Sunshine, we have classes." Mark gulped at the idea, completely throwing away his jealousy agenda.

"We do," Tracing his finger down to the male's polo, Donghyuck played with one of the buttons to tempt him. "But didn't you skip the first period to congratulate me?"

Whatever reason that was, Mark was convinced.

"Make that twenty minutes." Mark said as he dragged Donghyuck along to where they could get their privacy.

🕙

"Getting to make out with him, but not being allowed to sit at their table." Jeno ate the fries that he ordered for lunch break, giving his friend beside him a look. "Talk about friends with no benefits."

"Fuck yourself, Jeno." Mark grumbled, pissed and annoyed that he was being pushed away the moment their 12 o'clock break came. It was as if they didn't eat each other's faces in the council room before the second period started.

"Donghyuck probably told you that, huh?" Judging him, Jeno eyed the male beside him from top to bottom. Though his friend didn't admit to it, it was already obvious that something happened before their first class in the morning ended. "It really do be like that sometimes."

Mark excused himself longer than the usual time a student will spend at the restroom. Jeno first thought that his friend must have released the bomb (shitting), but was taken aback when he saw how disheveled and a mess Mark was when he got back to their class. It was as if he went to a war, a war with someone else's lips. That sight of him immediately gave Jeno an answer as to why he was taking too long outside. In fact, he didn't have to ask him about it because he knew Mark would just deny and deem himself as pure and innocent.

There's definitely nothing pure and innocent about how swollen his lips were— and a red bruise on his neck.

"I don't get it." Jisung, the youngest of them, arrived at their table with his tray for lunch. "I thought we all decided to sit at one table already?"

Both Mark and Jeno looked at him. They thought he just got here at the cafeteria because they were dismissed late, but it seems like he was also going through the same problem as them.

"You got kicked out too?" Jeno nodded his head to validate what the younger one was feeling.

Ruffling his hair in frustration, Jisung began to complain and throw tantrums. "Why am I not allowed there? The love of my life is—"

"Shh..." Jeno hushes him up before he goes rubbing on their faces that he's already in a relationship with someone. "Jaemin and Renjun kicked me out too. You're not special."

Jisung raised a brow, diverting his attention to his other friend, who's silent but upset, sitting across from him. "You too?"

Mark dropped his chopsticks, startling two of his friends who were waiting for him to speak. "What's the occasion? Did one of you piss them off?"

"Hey, the audacity to put the blame on us." Nonetheless, Jeno pondered on his seat in case he did do something wrong. "I guess Jaemin is mad at me for giving him a picture of Renjun? If that's the case, why is Renjun able to sit with them!"

Stopping from eating his meal, Jisung gave him a look at how that sounded strange. "Why would he get mad that you gave him Renjun's picture?"

"He wanted my baby picture as well." Jeno shrugged his shoulders, not putting too much meaning to that. It couldn't be that much of a big deal to the point that they were not allowed to sit with them at the same table. "How about you?"

Thinking about it, Jisung found nothing worthy for them to be kicked out. "He was craving for macaroons. Where the fuck do I buy those while I'm having my classes?"

After staring at each other for quite a while, both Jeno and Jisung now had their heads turned to Mark who's also thinking deeply in his seat. They waited patiently for him to answer his own question which the two of them were being accused of.

"I might have bit his lips while making out." Mark uttered, wondering if that was the reason why they were kicked out.

Jeno and Jisung groaned in annoyance and in disgust at how that had to be what Mark could say and couldn't think of anything else more reasonable.

"TMI, Dude." Jeno gagged after knowing that, just proving him right about what he assumed this morning, during classes.

"On school grounds even." Jisung stared at his lunch tray before pushing it away. It ick-ed him to have a thought that they were probably doing it anywhere.

"You guys were pressuring me to say something!" Defending himself, Mark huffed as he crossed his arms across his chest. "If we didn't piss them off, then why would they kick us out?"

"Renjun mentioned something about Donghyuck planning a surprise." Jeno said, going back to eating his meal because his world didn't stop when Mark had to admit that he made out with someone.

Whereas for Jisung, he was still disgusted by it and decided to have juice for lunch. He'll just grab a sandwich later before afternoon classes will start. "Hey, isn't it going to be your birthday tomorrow?"

That made Jeno pause from eating. "Right!"

Everything eventually made sense for them the moment they remembered their friend's birthday. As for Mark, he was still processing it inside his head. "It's my birthday?"

"Bro really forgot when he was born." Jisung commented, sipping on his juice.

"Well, at least we know we did nothing wrong." Jeno heaved out a sigh of relief, but he was reminding himself to find one baby picture in his album and give it to Jaemin later. "Donghyuck is probably just planning a surprise for you."

"But why would you two be kicked out also?" Furrowing his brows, Mark had to ask.

"We are your friends, smartfuck." Jisung should commend himself for having patience in hanging out with idiots. "He might not want to risk us telling you about the surprise."

"Is your brain down your ass?" Jeno scooted away from him, concerned that his friend's stupidity might also be contagious.

No matter how ideal Mark is in anyone's eyes, no matter how many people look up to him for being an achiever and being part of the student council, and no matter how perfect he was in other people's point of view, Mark will always be humbled by his friends who doesn't know how to filter their words most of the time.

With the two of them shutting him up and also finding the reason why they had to be separated from the others, Mark began to look busy thinking about his plans for his special day tomorrow.

"Jeno, go sleep at Jaemin's tomorrow." He then said, breaking the minutes of silence in their table.

His friend almost choked on his food, having him grab his water and drink it immediately. Jeno elbowed him harshly for surprising him with that statement.

Jisung then spoke while the other was coughing. "Doesn't he live with Chenle and Donghyuck?"

"Exactly." Mark snapped his finger, ready to say out his plan. "I want alone time tomorrow."

"Hey! I pay the rent too!" Jeno raised his voice, causing the people at the nearby table to glance towards their direction. He sank to his seat as he began to mumble. "This asshole be making our apartment a motel."

"What?" Mark pointed his chopsticks to his friend sitting beside him.

Jisung panicked and raised both his hands, trying to stop the two from escalating their argument. "Woah, guys!"

"Hey, wash that brain of yours with holy water, yeah?" Clicking his tongue, Mark glanced down at the sushi that the male had on his tray before taking a piece of it. "I just want to spend my day with him. Watching movies, and ice creams."

Even though that wasn't believable, Jisung gave Jeno a look and managed to convince him with his eyes to let their friend off on his birthday. Their table already got enough attention, he didn't want to be called to the office and be the one to explain that his friends began to fight because the other one called their apartment a motel.

"I'll also spend the night and accompany Jeno." Jisung suggested. It was hitting two birds with one stone for him. He gets to stop the two from fighting by finding a solution, and at the same time he can be with Chenle tomorrow.

"Fine." Rolling his eyes, Jeno also snatched a pork from Mark's tray in exchange for his sushi a while ago. "I better come home with the apartment being clean and as good as new. I'm locking my room also."

Concern showing on his face, Jisung saw the smirk from Mark's face. Sure, they might not do anything but just watch movies and spend the special occasion together, but Jisung could tell that Mark was already planning on something just for the sake of annoying Jeno. He already made bets on Mark buying glue and spurting it on Jeno's bed for it to look something else in a different context.

Heaving out a sigh of distress, Jisung looked like a tired teen dad taking care of two giant kids.

Just as he was about to finish his juice, filling up his appetite from it, Jisung noticed a presence taking up the empty space beside him. Jeno stopped eating and at the same time, Mark also stared at who suddenly arrived at the table.

"Lucas?" Mark's tone was full of worry. "What are you doing here?"

Lucas lowered his head, looking like he was going to break down crying any second from now. "They also kicked me out of the table."

The three of them had an uncertain expression on their face, genuinely confused why he was kicked out. However, they pushed too much thinking to the side and decided to comfort the new addition to their table.

"Tough life, huh?" Jisung commented, patting the male's back as he is the one sitting beside him.

Jeno joined in, reaching a hand out for a handshake. "Welcome to the club."

— to be continued