<Mark angst anyone??>

<^>

Donghyuck chewed on the eraser-end of his pencil trying to figure out his current math problem. Exams had ended last week and he got high marks on each one, but math had always been a bit tough for him. And just his luck that they started learning Piecewise(s), which just got horribly ugly the deeper you went. What even was f(x)?

"You're...still here?" Mark said with a brow raised.

Donghyuck didn't even bat an eye at the sudden intrusion. He was used to Mark being as silent as a mouse and popping in out of nowhere. "It's not the first time I've stayed past midnight here Mark, I don't know why you seem surprised."

"Well yeah. But I don't think this is the best place to be doing homework." The older boy replies as he begins to take off his outer gear. "It doesn't look like you've practiced at all."

"That's because I haven't." Donghyuck sighed, finally putting his pencil down after finishing his final problem. He stretches, involuntarily letting out a high-pitched screech while doing so, practically making Mark jump out of his skin.

"Jesus are you okay?"

"Yeah. Sorry, old habit I guess." Donghyuck leans back into the Crash Room couch, unbuttoning his school blazer and closing his eyes as he rubbed his temples. "Damn, I've got a major headache." He pauses and lets out a long sigh. "I'm gonna murder my math teacher one of these days I swear to god."

Mark, who was now sitting next to him and untying his boot laces, nods. "What math are you in?"

"AP Cal."

"Oh shit." Mark's mouth opens wide in utter bewilderment. "I mean, I knew you were smart and all that but that's more like college stuff isn't it?"

Donghyuck shrugs. "I mean, yeah? I would rather take AP Statistics but they said I would need to do this first and get the credits."

Mark nods and stands to put his gear in his locker. "Okay. So why are you doing your homework here?"

Donghyuck's face hardens, eyes losing their light just a bit. "Just...didn't feel like being stuck at home." In truth, it was his birthday today. Normally that would make any kid want to stay home with their family and have all the attention on them. Receiving gifts and eating cake till their heart's content sounds perfect to anyone. But no, Donghyuck's birthdays weren't like that. Sure they were semi-fine now, considering he didn't celebrate them. But in the past, it was his least favorite day of the year, because it always reminded him and his parents that it was the day "a mistake was born", as they would so kindly put it.
Thankfully, his grandparents understood his resentment and knew it was best to leave him alone on his birthday, but they still gave him some spending money and bought him a chocolate cupcake with a singular candle. Generally, Jaemin, Jisung, and Hayoon would force him to go out to a cafè and celebrate, but that didn't happen today. Donghyuck had been avoiding his friends because that was the last thing he wanted right now.

Mark gave him a look, clearly confused in the change of tone. "Okay...Uhm," he coughs into his fist. "I think someone is texting you." Points to the multiple notifications popping up on Donghyuck's phone screen, making the younger boy sigh.

"Damn." He mutters under his breath, taking his phone into his hands.

Coward:
Lee donghyuck where the heccing hecc are you
Lee donghyuck
Donghyuck
Hyuckie
Bud
Bro
Babes
Ew no
...
BITCH ANSWER ME

Not_a_coward:
Na jaemin why the heccing hecc are you texting me at 1am

Coward:
THERE YOU ARE
I miss you ('• ω •') ♡

Not_a_coward:
Is that the whole reason you texted me ???

Coward:
*cough*

Not_a_coward:
You cant cough through text

Coward:
*COUGH*
As i was saying
No, that isn't the only reason
I was just texting you to check in and ask how you're feelin
So
How are you feeling?

Not_a_coward:
You know you should really just send it all in one large message rather than doing small multiple ones (눈_눈)
But im...well i could be better
Im just doing some math work rn

Coward:
You hate math wtf

Not_a_coward:
I never said i wanted to smh
But Mrs. Park would have my HEAD if i didn't get this done before next week
She goes on and on about me being her prodigy student and always gives me so much extra work
WE JUST FINISHED EXAMS WOMEN PLEASE CHILL

Coward:
Woah calm down Jemal
Dont pull out the 9
Ahahahhaahhahihatemyself

Not_a_coward:
Youre a little shit you know that?

Coward:
Mmm
So youve said
Well just...dont do anything stupid okay? Im heading to sleeB now so
Bye byeeeeee
I'll miss youuuuuu(づ￣ ³￣)づ
babyyyyyyy

Not_a_coward:
Miss you too-
Wait what(っಠ‿ಠ)っ

Would you like to block this user 'Coward'?

Yes☑ No☒

<^>

Mark sighs and leans his head back against the glass pane of the bus stop. His eyes looked upwards to the bright moon shining down on him, the face that so many people say they see frowning as if it could tell how sad Mark's heart was. It was a stupid reason really, crying because he was homesick. That happened to kids, not 19-year-old college students who chose this specifically to get away for a while.
Truly, positively, utterly stupid. He shouldn't be crying over this. Over the fact that he was 8,000 km [4970 mi] away from his home. His mom. His aunt. His..like, 1 friend.

"Hyung?"

Mark snapped his eyes open and immediately began to wipe away at the stray tears. But it was too late. Donghyuck already saw. And even if he didn't see the tear streaks, he could still hear the few sniffles and he could still see the bloodshot, tired eyes.

"Yeah." Mark responded quietly, not wanting to make eye contact. Not wanting to talk at all. The other boy seemed to get the message and just sat down beside him, his backpack now leaning against his feet.

The two of them didn't say anything, and they didn't look at each other. Donghyuck only offered Mark a pack of handkerchiefs to which Mark silently thanked him.
They didn't say anything when they both got on the bus. Or when Donghyuck dragged him to a midnight cafè and bought him some tea. Or when Donghyuck walked him back to his apartment before leaving himself.

They didn't talk. They didn't need to. Mark didn't need to explain himself, for Donghyuck already understood. He understood perfectly. Just how much someone can miss something they purposefully left behind. All he said was a small "night hyung" before turning and walking away, back to his own house. And by the time Mark thanked him, Donghyuck was too far away to hear. But he knew.

And he smiled.

<^>

<Hi hello yes I AM BACK LMAO HIIII how are you all??? I hope school is treating you well~ mine is shit but thats okayyy>