THE LITTLE COPY ⋮ markhyuck

Chapter 𝟮𝟲

No matter how many times Donghyuck pressed the doorbell, no sound on the other side could prove the other's presence in the apartment. He heard no footsteps.

Maybe he wasn't home? Donghyuck wanted to laugh. Where else could it be? At his doctor's? This seemed more believable, so Donghyuck returned to his car and waited for a while, at least two hours, expecting to see Mark coming home.

It didn't happen.

Losing patience, as in a few more hours he'd have to pick Dongchan, he exited his car and went to the building once again. Although he didn't want to call Mark—this reminded him of their intimate times—he did, and even a couple of times. When he thought about giving up, he called when he stood right behind the door.

At first, he didn't hear anything, but after a few seconds, he began hearing sounds from the other side. Pulling his phone away from his ear, Donghyuck pressed it to the door, instantly catching the sound of a buzzing phone, which seemed to be muted and put on a surface that made it louder.

"Are you here for Mr. Lee?"

Donghyuck flinched and stepped away from the door. He looked over his shoulder, noticing a woman in her late thirties. She got a plastic bag full of something Donghyuck guessed was medicine. But... Who was she?

"I came looking for Teacher Lee, yeah," Donghyuck said, suddenly getting nervous. "He... Well, he didn't show up yesterday, and we, parents, got worried."

"He's sick right now," she said, smiling apologetically. "He won't come to work for at least two more days."

She then passed by the man and went to the door, pulling out a key. Donghyuck found himself in a foolish situation. He didn't know what to do. Should he leave or get in and evaluate Mark's condition himself?

"How is he?" he asked before he could stop himself. "Is it that bad? How did it happen?"

The woman was about to open the door, but then she stopped and turned at Donghyuck. She scanned him up and down, making the man feel as if he got seen through. Donghyuck cursed in his head. Why did he have to ask her about him so desperately?

"Is your name Donghyuck by any chance?" she asked, looking up at him and narrowing her eyes.

"Yes, that's my name," Donghyuck replied in confusion. Why does it matter, though?

She opened the door wider than she planned before, "Come in."

Donghyuck was still confused, but wasted no time and followed her inside. Just as he closed the door, he instantly locked his eyes at how lonely the apartment looked. He knew everything about it screamed of a single man, but now it also made it obvious that the owner was unwell.

The shabby curtains weren't even opened, which drowned the living room and the kitchen in the dim light of the morning. Donghyuck spotted Mark's suitcase on the floor with colorful notebooks lined up against the wall. A few papers were scattered on the floor, which made the woman click her tongue. She went there and picked them up with care, then carried them to the room Donghyuck knew Mark called his office.

She returned shortly and went to the kitchen, which was surprisingly clean. No piles of dirty dishes, just a few bowls. Donghyuck stood in the middle of the apartment and appeared quite awkwardly. Instinctively, he looked at the bedroom door that was half closed. He got a sudden desire to peek inside...

"How much time do you have?" the woman asked, startling the man.

Donghyuck whipped his head to her, noticing that she started boiling water.

"At least five hours," he replied, in a hushed tone.

"Your kid is a first grader, right?" the woman smiled, looking away from the pot.