𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨𝐰 || 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐨

Chapter 9 : Bad With Words

When the new college year comes in, their teammates look at them a bit suspicious. Yuta even had the audacity to ask a few cheeky questions which Mark vehemently ignored for the sake of his own pride.

And just like that, the routine is back.

Mark settles his belonging on a bench and looks into his bag for his energizer drink —only to be snatched right away.

“Thank you, I’m freaking thirsty.”

Mark observes how Jeno drowns his drink and he would protest but Jeno's hair is a bit disheveled and he looks breathless. Jeno still has a few marks of bed-sheets on his face and Mark can’t avoid sniggering into his palm.

Jeno quirks a brow at him. “What’s so funny?”

Mark is saved thanks to their coach as Chanyeol calls for the team to gather up — but Jeno doesn’t miss the opportunity to slap Mark’s butt as a retaliation as they walk up to the court.

They’re divided into two teams to play a practice game. Mark is positioned in the attack line as Jeno gets ready to serve. The ball passes with a sharp shot and the libero from the opposite team is caught off guard, sending it off court. Mark looks over his shoulder and gives him a proud smile which Jeno returns with taking his nonexistent-longhair off his shoulder. Mark chuckles as he focuses on the opponent team again.

The session goes harder than what they’ve expected. They’re still a bit stiff from the summer although they have been playing for almost most of it, but it’s not the same with a whole team. Still, Mark feels like he missed having a real game and enjoys the practice.

Unfortunately, their strength starts to fade as the game goes on. Mark laps for a very high set and after the jump, he lands on the heel of his foot and slips, knocking his knee against the floor. Mark screams when the pain reaches his whole body. He barely can move but manages to bring his bad leg to his chest like a protection reflex.

His teammates hurriedly crowd him.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” Taeyong worriedly asks.

Jeno manages to make his way and bents over Mark, touching his shoulder and inspecting his afflicted face. Mark flinches away with gritted teeth, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“We need to take him to the infirmary.” The coach informs, squatted down next to the suffering player.

“I’ll carry him.” Jeno offers as he calls for Taeyong’s and Jaehyun’s help.

They try not to make a harsh move as they settle Mark on Jeno's back, positioning his arms under Mark’s thighs protecting him from slipping. Jeno notices Mark circling his arms around his neck as he buries his face on Jeno's shoulder, trying to hide his teary eyes —Mark has always been difficult with showing his feelings to others.

Jeno senses a wet spot growing on his shoulder but doesn’t mention it, instead he grabs Mark more securely as he makes their way to the infirmary.

Mark exhales as he suppresses a sob, fingers tight around his bruised knee.

“Has it been giving you a headache for a while?” The nurse asks, taking off the blue gloves and tossing them into the bin after inspecting Mark’s knee.

“I—It has been fine for a while, but it’s not fully healed.”

And the truth finally comes out. Mark made a bad move at the beginning of his senior year and end up injuring his knee, the doctor said it wasn't that serious, but it would hurt from time to time. Mark couldn’t admit it when the scholarship arrived because then he could have lost it. His knee has been behaving well anyway so mentioning it didn’t look like a big deal. Still, he knows it was wrong, it was crucial information.

The nurse nods as she clicks the back of a pen and starts writing down. Jeno is stiff next to Mark, just listening to the unveiling conversation.

“I’m not going to lie to you,” She straightens and looks at him with pity as it’s her job to give the bad news. “It doesn’t look good,” She points out, and Mark feels tears filling up his eyes again. “But it’s better if you get that scanned.”

Bringing his arm up, Mark hides his eyes behind his forearm as tears start dripping again. Bottom lip caught between trembling teeth as his chin quivers. His head is filled with thoughts of having to quit the team and losing his scholarship, the one that he has been fighting for for years. It’s too soon to give up on his dream of becoming a professional player.

Jeno hesitantly grabs his other hand, it’s sweaty and shaky but he doesn’t mind. Mark doesn’t pull away either and they set on a comfortable silence as they wait for the ambulance. At some point, Mark ends up leaning on the other’s shoulder as Jeno caresses his back, trying to distract him from his agony.

Mark has dry tears on his face when the ambulance arrives and gets in with Jeno's help. He steps out of the ambulance and Mark looks at him with glistering eyes and wet eyelashes as if he wants to say something but the words are stuck on his throat.

Jeno smiles lightly at him as if understanding whatever he’s trying to convey.

They’re still bad with words.

A/n : Let's say that I shared some of my personal experience through Mark here😞