Odyssey

there's only you for me to hold

University came and Lee Haechan went into business like every other student that had no passion. Or so, that was what he told himself and everyone around him. He had music to turn to and he loved singing but he was realistic—he wasn't going to make a career out of it.

From Donghyuck, he became Haechan and he identified with a name that he had created for himself.

He had met a friend who he could call his best friend by the name of Mark Lee. They met at freshman orientation and Haechan remembered him by the side with him trying to remove the back of his name tag so he could stick it to his shirt.

Mark Lee was a music major and Haechan envied him for it. He showed it and told Mark every opportunity he got. The things I would do to study music, Mark. Mark would smile and shake his head.

"Music does not have to be learned, Donghyuck," Mark said to him.

Haechan was a popular student back in SMU and he distanced himself away from his father and his shady church business. Haechan no longer wore church robes but leather jackets and ripped jeans. He saved up enough money to buy a ride and he adored it. He spent most of his time smoking, playing on the drums and heading home to review his papers one day before exams.

Haechan had always been very bright person and he passed his exams with flying colors. For subjects that he couldn't get a hang of because he was busy playing around, he could cheat his way through. He was street smart when he needed to be and he found nothing wrong with that.

Haechan shared a dorm with Mark.

They both got along so well. Mark covered for Haechan smoking and Haechan helped Mark on his music projects. He enjoyed Mark's projects more than his own.

One thing irked Haechan, however, and that was the fact that Mark Lee was an enigma to him. Haechan was very open to Mark on how he hated his family. How his father was a pastor—a fake one, he would say and that his mother had left when he was young.

He knew nothing of Mark Lee and all he knew was that his parents were overseas. Mark did not tell him which country and he could tell that Mark was uncomfortable so Haechan did not pry. He did pay attention to the hints; the way Mark would speak English to his parents. The fact that he had a brother who called him every night like clockwork.

Despite Mark's sparkly eyes and friendly demeanor, he was a very private person.

Haechan was scrolling through his phone one day when another article popped up and Haechan sighed. Another article about Matthew Lee—he had just recently opened up an agency a month before Haechan was enrolled into SMU. Haechan enjoyed his music and he was Korean.

Another pride for his country, he guessed.

He was a Korean-born Canadian producer and he had shot to fame a few years ago from a demo he had created in his bedroom. He scrolled down and tilted his head at Matthew's picture. Handsome man, Haechan found himself thinking.