It's Always You | MarkHyuck | Currently Updating

#14: Stay with you.

Chapter Fourteen: "Stay with you."

Things were different.

After their talk of closure, Mark and Haechan felt more at ease in each other's company but it had been a whole week and there was an unshakable awkwardness between them.

They could be engaged in a casual chat and suddenly their words would fade away, their eyes taking over the conversation but neither of them understanding themselves let alone each other. Even when they slept on the same bed at night, Haechan no longer cuddled up to Mark and Mark did not hold him either.

It was like they just could not go back to normal.

Haechan was going crazy. Mark was good at hiding the weirdness and acting like it was all rosy but Haechan was the exact opposite. He hated any type of awkwardness and more so if it was with Mark. 

Having multiple people in NCT who were born in 2000, Haechan had many same-age friends and yet Mark was the one he called his best friend - his soulmate.

He could not take that they were being so distant.

That day, Mark bit his lip as he sat down next to Haechan on the bed. "I have something to say."

"Yeah?" Haechan probed him, curious as to what it could possibly be that Mark looked so nervous to share it. One thing for sure, it was not going to make him happy.

"You know we are preparing for a SuperM comeback, we've selected the song and schedules are being set for the preparations," Mark started explaining. "Taeyong hyung thinks it would be too many coordination issues since we all live separately so he wants me back at the dorm."

Haechan's face fell.

They were already acting so detached. If Mark left, they were bound to grow distant permanently.

Letting out a breath, Haechan wondered how he should react. Should he stop him like a child needing attention? Should he be the mature adult and just let him go? How did Mark want him to react anyway?

"But I said no."

Haechan's head turned so quick, he heard a light snap. "What?"

Mark smiled slightly at the obvious relief on Haechan's face as he repeated, "I said no." 

"But how?"

"Even if I moved, they'd have to travel from 127 dorm to WayV and our dorm is on the way. It would not make much of difference." Mark shrugged. "I just told him that and he did not argue. He was just making a suggestion anyway so he did not push it."

Haechan nodded, biting back his smile and failing miserably. "That's good."

"Yeah," Mark nodded, his smile dropping as he turned serious. "But there's a reason I'm telling you this."

Haechan knew it would come up. Or else why would Mark tell him that when there was no change actually happening?

"I said no because I wanted to stay here. Stay with you. We're not ourselves now, our friendship is off and I know I'm at fault for that."

"It isn't." Haechan mumbled, recalling both their 'kiss' episodes. "It happened and I understand it more than anyone, you know that. It isn't your fault."

"But it will be if I let things stay this way." Mark stated anyway. "I'll give you space if you need but let's work on this together. A way back to us again."

The way Mark said it, it was like regaining hope for Haechan. If Mark was willing to put in the effort, and Haechan knew he will too, they will eventually go back to each other. After all, they were like two puzzle pieces who fit together.