Slopes

t h i r t y

<^>

After much convincing, Mark was able to get Donghyuck to stop doing his work in the Crash Room (because Jesus Christ Donghyuck this isn't a study space) and instead go to the local public library. It wasn't horribly far from the resort and Mark promised to accompany him there. Considering the stubborn asshole that was Lee Donghyuck, that promise was probably the one thing that convinced him to agree. However, that didn't stop his stupidly obnoxious (and lovely) boyfriend, who Mark is sure was only put on this earth to torture him, from complaining the entire bus ride there and forcing Mark to carry his bag for him as they entered the library. But he got his work done, so Mark deemed it a victory.

"Mrs. Cheng's study guide makes me want to...commit vehicular manslaughter or something," Donghyuck said as he stretched. A pdf was on his laptop screen and a textbook sat to his left, open on a page about the Japanese occupation of Korea.

Mark, who was sitting across from him and was reading a book that Jungwoo had recommended to him, looked up. "History is important though, Sunshine."

"So is my mental stability, hyung," Donghyuck replied with disdain. "Plus we've been here for hours."

Mark snorted but went back to his book. "And how much of that time did you actually spend studying?"

"Babe I swear to god if you don't let me work–"

"You're the one who can't go 10 minutes without talking," Mark muttered in a teasing manner. Donghyuck glowered at him but knew he was right and went back to studying.

"Oh, by the way, babe," Donghyuck said after a few minutes of silence. "My friends want to interrogate you."

Mark furrowed his brow. "They want to what-me?"

"Interrogate you. Dipshit, I know you aren't hard of hearing," Donghyuck said. He stood up and packed away his things before giving his boyfriend a kiss on the forehead.

"Your lovey-doveyness cannot hide the threat that you just put in that sentence. Why do they want to question me?" Mark asked, grasping Donghyuck's hand and watching him smile warmly.

"Just want to make sure you're good for me. Don't worry, you'll be fine. Now come on, we need to get going. You still owe me a date and I feel like watching that new American film She Said. It's playing in the theatre downtown. I checked."

Mark knew better than to question his boyfriend any further, and followed him out of the library. He kissed his knuckles as they got on the bus, the silence a comfortable buzz between them as the chilly afternoon air flowed through the open windows.

"I love you," Mark said out of the blue. It was the first time he'd said it to Donghyuck, and normally the boy would poke fun at him for such a monumental thing happening, but he only smiled back and kissed Mark's cheek.

"I love you too, hyung."

<^>

Hayoon was even more terrifying to Mark than the last time he saw her. Now with a baby on her hip (it's been months and still no one has elaborated on how that is her baby– Mark is getting worried) and a glare in her eye, he was near faint. It only got worse when she was flanked by Jaemin and Jeno, plus two random dudes who Mark knows he's never met before.