☦︎︎ 𝙉𝘾𝙏 𝙊𝙉𝙀𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙏𝙎 ☦︎︎

MARKHYUCK - DREAM BOY

"You have to leave now."

"Why?! Why do I have to?!" Mark questioned. The boy smiled at him and lightly held his hand onto his shoulder.

Mark woke up with a gasp before coming to his senses. Another dream. Another dream with that boy. The mystery boy who he couldn't recall in his real life. Who was this boy, and why was Mark so desperate to see him again?

Another day passes and it's Mark's favourite time of the day again - nighttime. As he gets into bed he falls asleep with the boy on his mind, desperate to see him again tonight.

As he opens his eyes he does a reality check. He holds out one hand and tries to individually count his fingers but he can't do it. His eyes widen when he realises he's in a dream. A lucid dream.

He strolls along the beach until he comes to a bench that overlooks the tropical and picturesque sea. As he takes a seat, he relaxes into the back of the bench and closes his eyes, enjoying the warmth against his skin.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?"

That voice, Mark knew it instantly. He turned to the right to see that mystery boy smiling next to him.

He gestures to the bench, "may I?"

Mark moves over and lets the boy sit down. Lucid dreaming felt almost like real life and Mark can't help but wonder if maybe this wasn't a dream. He moves his hand over to the boy's and feels him, he really feels him! So maybe this wasn't a dream after all...

"Having fun?" the boy says raising an eyebrow and looking at Mark.

"I- I can really feel you!" he says, astonished at this new power.

"This is a dream, you know?"

"Huh?" Mark takes his hand off the boy and looks at him properly.

"This," the boy gestures around him, "it's in your head." The boy pokes Mark on the head. When his finger makes contact with his forehead Mark almost feels a rush of electricity through his body.

"This is really a dream?" says Mark, rubbing the part where the boy touched.

The boy nodded and began to walk towards the sea. Mark instinctively follows.

"You know, Mark, this whole place can be anything you wanted. This is a lucid dream, you know?"

"Really? I have the power to do that?"

The boy turns around and looks at Mark. Mark holds hands with the boy and looks him in the eyes. "You have the power to do anything you want."

"Well... then I want to talk to you!"

The boy raises an eyebrow before smiling, "as you wish, let's talk."

Almost by magic, the two are inside a small diner. They each had a large milkshake and were seated at a booth by the window, overlooking the same beach they were just on.

"What is it you wanted to ask?" asks the boy, taking a sip through his straw.

"What's your name?"

The boy stops drinking and turns his head around the diner, looking at everyone, before turning back to Mark. "That's a difficult question to answer, Mark."

"Why is it?!" Mark asks impatiently.

"You see, I'm a figment of your imagination. Everything happening right now is invented by you, even this conversation we're having right now. You are the maker of everyone and everything, including me."

The boy leans over and takes a sip out of Mark's drink, bringing his face close to his, before continuing.

"I assume you want to know my real name?"

Mark nods.

"I'm sorry, that's not something I can give to you. All my responses are made by you, and so I cannot say my name. Because I don't know it. I have no free will inside of here, Mark."

Mark grabs the stranger's hands and runs out of the diner until they are by the sea. They sit together and watch the sun go down, the sky painted beautiful hues of red and orange and yellow.

"I've heard everyone in a dream is someone in real life though, do you not know your real name?"

"Donghyuck."

Mark's eyes widen, "is your name Donghyuck?"

The boy continues looking out upon the horizon, "I don't know. Whether that's just my name in here or outside, I somehow feel compelled to say it."

Mark looks at the boy, his skin sparkling under the orange sky.

"Donghyuck, I love you. I hope I don't have to leave you again."

The boy turns to Mark and plants a small kiss on his forehead - the same place he poked earlier. Mark feels his heart exploding at the touch and he looks at the boy with longing eyes.

"Mark, didn't you read that you shouldn't get too attached to a dream figure?"

"Yes, I did. But I don't care anymore. I've been seeing you for years in here, it's a bit too late to say don't get attached."

Donghyuck smiles sweetly and lays his head on Mark's lap. "Well, in that case, I love you too, Mark."

"You- you do?!"

The boy sits up and nods.

"Does- does the real version of you dream about me? Or is it just me that dreams about you?"

The boy stands up and holds a hand out for Mark. "Both? Or...none? How am I to know? Find the real me and you'll know."

Mark takes his hand and stands with him.

"Mark, even if the real me doesn't know you, you always have me in here. I love you, Mark."

"I love you too, Donghyuck."

Donghyuck peers out to sea and watches as the last fractions of the sun dip over the horizon, "it seems as if it's time for you to leave, Mark."

"So soon?! But when will I see you again?"

Donghyuck walks over to Mark and smiles.

"Bye-bye," he plants a small kiss on his lips before tapping Mark on the shoulder.

Mark jolts awake with a deep breath and looks around his room.

"So it was just a dream..." he scratches his head.

"His name... why can't I remember it? I'm sure he said it... Well, whoever you are, I must find you out here. You already have my heart in there, and I'm prepared to do anything to find you. I love you."