( ⛅️ )

❛ i just need a little help
from her, that's all. ❜

—

"hey man. wanna talk about it?" chenle asked walking up to mark's locker in the change room.

the guys had just finished their afternoon basketball practice, and the only ones left in the change room were mark and chenle.

"yeah sure." mark shrugged.

"so what's the issue here?" chenle questioned, leaning against the lockers beside mark.

"i— i just thought what we had... was real." mark shook his head, slamming his locker shut.

he pressed his back against the lockers and slowly slid down to the floor into a sitting position.

"she— she was my world." he sighed, running a hand through his dyed hair. damaged hair freak. he smiled on the inside recalling the nickname miyong would frequently call him. he wondered where she was today, he hadn't seen her since second period when they had biology together.

"so... are you going to try and win her back?" chenle asked, sliding down beside mark.

mark froze. he hadn't thought about that yet. did he want her back? he didn't think it was even an option until chenle brought it up.

"i don't know..." mark furrowed his brows, mind spinning.

the two sat in silence as mark continued to ponder.

"you know what?" mark finally spoke, standing up determined. "yeah... i think i will."

chenle stood up and nodded. "go with whatever makes you happy man."

both boys slung their gym bags over their shoulders, and made their way out of the school. as tuesday was practice day, it was the only day mark didn't walk home with miyong. instead, he walked with chenle.

as they strolled down the street, mark began thinking.

"you got any ideas?... on how i can win her back?" he asked the younger boy as they walked side by side.

"uhhh... maybe you could... invite her out to hang out... as a friend?" chenle suggested.

"she'd think i'm not over her — which i'm not — but she doesn't have to know that." mark remarked, looking off into the distance.

"you could... wait in front of her door each morning and drive her to school?" chenle suggested once more.

"she's already got a new boyfriend for that." mark said rolling his eyes, muttering sourly.

"speaking about that, who actually is her new boyfriend?" chenle asked curiously.

everyone knew that mark was the campus ace, so who was it that had stolen his crown?

"it's... lucas. lucas wong." mark bitterly uttered.

he could see why hyejin would like someone like lucas. he was tall, extremely good-looking, and an athletics ace— just like mark. lucas was captain of the volleyball team, which had a rivalry against the basketball team. this wasn't looking so good for mark.

"oh. that sucks, man. i'm sorry." chenle sighed, patting mark's shoulder comfortingly.

"forget about it. i'll win her back from him." mark replied, a fire burning in his eyes.

"hmm..." chenle rubbed his chin and pondered. "oh! you know jungwoo, right?"

"yeah, he's in my chem class. he's pretty cool... why?" mark answered.

"well, he told me that he won back his girlfriend last year by making some deal with one of his friends. to fake date or something," chenle shrugged. "he said it made her realize how much she actually missed him."

mark raised an eyebrow.

chenle laughed shaking his head, "that's probably a dumb idea though, i couldn't see you doing this with anyone. it just sounds too desp—"

"it's perfect."

"—erate." chenle finished, a surprised expression plastered on his face. "wait what? really?"

"yeah... i'll need to find someone that'll be willing to do it... someone who's good at acting... someone who won't get attached..." mark stopped in his tracks, grabbing chenle's shoulder and turning him around.

"miyong." mark shook chenle's shoulders.

"huh?" chenle asked, "what about miyong?"

"i'll ask miyong to fake date me."

"you'll what?!"

"miyong. i'll ask miyong to fake date me." mark repeated smiling, "we're already around each other all the time, i'm sure she wouldn't mind helping me out." he clapped his hands together, "plus she's great at acting, you saw her in the school play last year, right?"

"wait... that's not what i meant... at all." chenle said, his wide eyes filled with concern. "she's your best friend, you can't just do that to her."

"do what? don't worry, lele. i mean, it's not like we're actually going to catch feelings or something. we've been best friends since forever— nothing will change that. i just need a little help from her, that's all." mark reassured him.

chenle grimaced. besides mark and seyeon, chenle was closest to miyong. he had always had a gut feeling that mark meant more to miyong than she let on. and his gut feelings never lied.

he didn't want miyong to be heartbroken by her very own best friend, yet he didn't want mark to feel heartbroken over hyejin either.

he was sure in a dilemma.

"i— i don't know mark..." the younger boy said exhaling. "miyong's different you know. you can't just date her and then drop her as you do with other girls, she's not like everyone else."

"i won't. i swear. i promise." mark replied. "she's my best friend, i would never want to hurt her. she means the world to me." mark smiled, "plus, i'll make a deal with her. who's know what crazy things she'll make me do in order to agree to it."

"i— i guess you're right..." chenle said uneasily. he was worried about what would happen to his friends. he hoped this wouldn't change anything between them.

"...but you have to promise me one thing, okay?" he asked abruptly.

mark nodded.

"i don't want to see either you, or miyong, hurt at the end of whatever this is. real or not, this is a commitment you're making."

mark grinned. "of course. i'll ask her when i see her tomorrow, thanks for your help man." he bumped chenle's shoulder. "and don't worry this will be easy."

chenle sighed. "anytime, man. anytime."

he sure hoped mark was right.

( ⛅️ )

TEXT MESSAGES
mark 🌱 | miyong 🪐

mark 🌱
hey you here?

miyong 🪐
yeah what's up?

mark 🌱
hyejin broke up with me
at lunch today. i thought
i should tell you

you're the only one
who understands

miyong 🪐
oh my word i'm so
sorry mark

i know how much she
meant to you

mark 🌱
it's fine

though i have something
to talk to you about tmr

i'll try and catch you
before first block?

miyong 🪐
sure i'll see you there

mark 🌱
goodnight mimi
sleep soon okay?

miyong 🪐
goodnight damaged
hair freak, i will

mark 🌱
will you ever stop
calling me that ??

miyong 🪐
in your dreams hair freak
read

( ⛅️ )

a/n !

what's a nickname people call you ?