MIDNIGHT SINGER ⋮ markhyuck

4̟

"Can I take a photo of you?"

Donghyuck turned his head so fast that Mark got scared he would snap his neck.

"I'm sorry, but no photos," Donghyuck giggled. "I'm not photogenic at all."

Although Donghyuck didn't put it straight, Mark knew that this boy was avoiding taking photos because he didn't know where they would go. What if Mark would put them all over the internet? Well, Mark wasn't sure if Donghyuck knew what the internet was...

"I just wanted to make sure that... I'm not crazy for seeing you," Mark awkwardly laughed.

"Trust me, you're not. Everyone can see me but I want you to be the only one discovering me," Donghyuck walked closer to Mark and placed his palm on the human's shoulder. "That's why I sing only to you."

Only then did Mark notice that they were almost the same height. The siren boy was a bit smaller but it made him look cuter.

"Okay, I'll respect your privacy," Mark nodded, remembering that the last time he wanted to take a picture, Donghyuck ran away.

"Thanks. You're the only one I can trust," Donghyuck tilted his head, the hand of his brushing Mark's shoulder and slowly pulling away.

That night Mark found Donghyuck dancing again. He was on the sand just like the previous day but a little bit further. Mark guessed that Donghyuck couldn't be too distant from the sea for some reason. That was why the boy only walked on the sand that the sea could reach, in other words, on the sand that was wet. He also seemed to move in a horizontal line, again, his path was made because of the sea.

Mark wanted to test it out so badly. He wanted to know why Donghyuck was going to the other side, instead of going closer to the beach house, Mark lived in. So the human walked together with Donghyuck down the beach a little bit but only on the dry part. Donghyuck didn't seem to notice anything.

"Come here," Mark grabbed Donghyuck's wrist and pulled the boy to his side.

The siren looked up at Mark in confusion but was still smiling. However, his smile quickly disappeared when he stepped on the dry part of the sand. His eyes widened, Donghyuck stared at Mark in horror. He began walking backward but Mark still held onto him.

"Mark, let go," Donghyuck begged. "I can't step on the line yet."

"What line?" Mark furrowed his eyebrows.

"You can't see it. It's the line humans drew for the sirens to stop coming to the island."

Mark let go of Donghyuck's wrist only because the boy looked in pain. Lucky for Mark, there were no visible signs of injury on Donghyuck's body. Thank God, Mark would feel bad. He just wanted to check it out, not hurt the boy.

"So, you're like a vampire."

"Not really, it's just that I can't step over the line unless... uh, never mind."

"Unless what?" Mark got curious. "Please, tell me."

"Maybe later," Donghyuck giggled and pulled away. "Shall I sing again?"

Mark nodded. It was his favorite part.

〜

"Mark, you're getting lazy," Byeol commented when her boyfriend was still in bed when it was already midday. "We should be out at this hour."

"I think I just need more sleep."

"More? You had all night to sleep."

"Mhm, but we walked a lot yesterday. I didn't get to recover yet."