hyung | markhyuck

8

— Chapter Eight —

It was comeback time. Finally. All seven members had been waiting, anticipating and finally the day came around. None of them slept much the night before but it didn't matter.

They didn't talk much in the morning at the dorm. They would do a lot of talking later so they all saved their energy. Donghyuck kept an eye out for Jisung who looked exhausted. He had been practicing a lot yesterday and Donghyuck didn't want him to overwork and strain his healing muscles.

Despite their several comebacks they had already in their five years of career, Donghyuck was still a little nervous. Not nervous to the point where he was trembling and his stomach was rebelling but definitely nervous to the point where breathing was a little harder than usual and sweat formed a little too fast on his forehead.

"Donghyuck? Are you alright?" Mark's voice sounded as soothing as ever. Donghyuck looked up at the man who was crouching down to talk to him. He looked so good in make-up and stage outfit. Donghyuck nodded slowly, his eyes not meeting Mark's but instead scanning his body, his broad shoulders and nicely styled hair.

"Okay, great. Please tell me if you feel too nervous." Mark said and petted Donghyuck's thigh before rising back to his feet. Donghyuck didn't say anything, not because he was nervous but because Mark's touch suddenly made his stomach feel all weird. Not in a bad way, just weird. Donghyuck could not describe it differently than butterflies flying around in his lower stomach area and he took a deep breath.

What was wrong with him? He had never felt like this before a comeback. Was this a new, different type of nervousness or was he feeling sick. He listened into his body but everything was fine, just this small but warm feeling caused by Mark's hand that still lingered in his stomach.

Donghyuck shook his head, trying his best to not pay any mind to what the fuck was happening with his body. Instead he let the stylist touch up his hair one last time before they went out to perform. Afterwards they would have an interview with Jaejae that would get broadcasted after the music video came out. Donghyuck liked Jaejae, she always made all the members comfortable and out of all the interviewers she was maybe his favourite.

And so they got on stage a few minutes later. The performance went great and so did the interview with Jaejae, just like Donghyuck had predicted. They laughed about the A-cut and Z-cut photos together, joked around. Donghyuck was having fun.

Promotions, as stressful as they were, had to be one of Donghyuck's favourite parts of being an idol. Meeting all those new people was great for his extroverted self and in variety shows was where he could really shine and bring out his funny side that was loved by the members and by the fans equally. He had seen Nctzens talk about it before, talk about how much they loved him joking around and teasing the members so he made sure to do just that.

But with the promotions came the rather unwelcomed side effects. All seven members were exhausted at all times, Mark especially. It got to a point where it was even worse than before and Donghyuck was getting worried. He noticed how Mark would sigh quietly to himself and how he never ate much despite burning hundreds of calories just by the performances each day. But whenever a member would ask the leader, he would assure them that everything was alright. They all seemed to believe him except for Jeno and Donghyuck himself.

Jeno knew more about leading the Dreamies and the weight on Mark's shoulders so Donghyuck let him talk with Mark but later Jeno approached him and asked for Donghyuck to talk with Mark once more. Maybe because Donghyuck's and Mark's bond was deeper than Jeno and Mark's which was already pretty deep.

And so, weeks after that conversation in the bathroom, Donghyuck was now alone with Mark again, this time in the older's room in the dorms. Jeno had already left for the Dreamies' dorm and on the tenth floor were currently only Yuta and Jaehyun next to Mark and Donghyuck of course.