exasperated ；rensung

xxi

Jeno's house had never been this quiet before. Apart from the faint noise coming from the TV, there wasn't much to listen. But Jeno did. The serene sounds of all the calm breaths as they all slept peacefully. He just stayed there, all bundled up in the blanket as his cute boyfriend made his chest a pillow for himself.

However, the peace did not last long as his phone rang all of a sudden. Scared it might wake the others, he got out of his room to pick up the phone. It was an unsaved number but Jeno was familiar with it so he put the device against his ear without hesitation.

"Jeno, dear. I'm really sorry to trouble you at this time but do you know where that kid is? Is he with you?"

It was mark's mom.

"It's alright, auntie and no, he's not with us, I did ask him to join us but he refused and said he had somewhere to be. Is he not back yet?"

"No, that's why i called you. I'm really worried, he has even left his phone at home!"

Mark abandoning his mobile phone? how can that be? That guy is literally obsessed with the device. Jeno knew right away that something was wrong. So he comforted mark's mother and decided to search for him.

but he's wondering whether he should go by himself or wake the others? Seeing all of them sleeping so soundly, he didn't have the heart to but he knew that they will kill him if he didn't let them know, especially Renjun.

So he went with it. He woke them up and exactly what he suspected happened next. Renjun was not happy; from cursing mark for being 'lost' to losing his mind over not finding him, he was elicited all sorts of emotions.

But it got worse when young Jisung had something to share.

"Mark isn't the one to leave just like that, there must be something bothering him but what was it? Has anyone seen him acting differently or such?" Donghyuck imquired.

"He was fine when we were at college and yesterday he went over at Sicheng's house and then he said he had to leave earlier but then he was his usual self the next day?" Renjun told them.

'Mark was at our house?' Jisung thought.

Mark wasn't the only one bothered by the recent events. He was flabbergasted; and guilty, as he should be according to him. He was such a jerk to Mark back then. Broke up with him on a whim and left the country without any explanation. Any sane person would deem him at fault. He was, no doubt about that. But he did have a reason he had to rush everything, and he regrets every second not to tell Mark about it.

He had been blindly driving as of now. Where was he at the moment? He did not know but ge surely didn't want to face anyone. Not until he saw a silhouette on a deserted pathway. He didn't know what exactly was it that told him to go after them but he obliged and he was more than relieved for doing that.

Jisung had been in a dilemma because he was the one who knew about mark's state but should he tell them?

"um, actually I saw him at college today and he was probably not okay―"

Jisung lost his voice mid-sentence when he remembered the sight of Mark crying.

"What was he like, Jisung?" Jaemin started.

"He was crouching beside a wall and it looked like he was crying? I didn't see him up close but he didn't look in a good state."

"And you didn't tell us?!"

"I'mreally sorry, i forgot-"

"You forgot? Jisung how can you forget something like that?!" Renjun screamed at him.