What if...? || Markhyuck

-87-

[january 2022]

[minhyung]

Containers...

To get here, Hyuck borrowed Ted's car. Then we drove around on the back roads, parked at one of the bars and then took a taxi to the coast. For me, the game is not worth the candle and fun itself not worth the hassle. Just a million precautions with a really high level of risk. I didn't even want to imagine what Marco would do if he found out where we stood with both of our feet. Despite everything, Donghyuck was truly happy at the prospect of going somewhere other than work, apartment, shopping and the cemetery. Of course, I understood that. I just didn't necessarily want to be a part of it. And since I would never let him go there on his own, this boy's activity automatically became mine.

This time we also went through all verification procedures - whether we had any weapons, sharp objects or other accessories that could kill someone. It wasn't a professional verification with a metal detector, so if someone wanted to, they would bring it all. Including my man who always had a small knife in the sole of his shoe. Has he ever had to use it here or anywhere else? I have no idea and I don't want to have any.

We sat down at the bar. Despite the overwhelming crowds, there were three bar stools available, so I assumed they were simply assigned to us in advance. Donghyuck introduced me to the bartender, Zack. He seemed like a nice, calm guy. Tall, well-built brunet, green eyes, tattooed hands. A black, well-fitting t-shirt left no doubt that he found time in life to go to the gym. People at the bar often glanced at him out of the corner of their eye and women flirted unabashedly, even though he had a wedding ring on finger. I wondered what his partner thought about working in a place like this. Do they have children, as he seemed relatively young, in early thirties? If so, how does one reconcile being a parent with working at night in a club full of thugs, junkies and drug addicts?

"If you feel really bad here, let me know, Hyungie" Donghyuck pulled me out of my world of thoughts about Zack with this request. I looked at him with a gentle smile and nodded in agreement. He knew I wouldn't do it. "I'm serious, Lee Minhyung," repeated, grabbing my chin. I knew he was. Hyuck didn't mince words. I never wanted to be a ruiner of good fun, which he had little in his life anyway, that's all.

"I know, bee," I laughed, seeing boy's determined face. I grabbed Hyuck by front pants pockets and pulled closer to me so he stood between my legs. "You look too good to go home," I said in his ear, because a whisper had no use with the music here. I felt Donghyuck sigh heavily. He placed hands at my waist and looked into my eyes. But with great peace and a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth.

"You're obscenely seducing me," boy announced with amusement and without hesitation he leaned in to kiss me. Hyuck reminded me how self-conscious I am about showing and receiving affection in public places. Although here, absolutely everyone didn't give a damn what other people were doing. Everyone functioned in a separate microuniverses, a bubble made of music, light and stimulants disconnected from the rest of the world. And Donghyuck didn't care what people thought of him. Maybe it was here that he learned it, or maybe he brought this manner with him here already.

"As I should," I replied in line with how I internally experience my feelings for Hyuck every day. Donghyuck looked flawless, yet paradoxically completely ordinary. I didn't understand myself, why exactly he impressed me more than usual. Classic black pants, black ankle boots, dark gray Nirvana tank top with thick shoulder straps. He sometimes walked around the apartment dressed like that on days off. Still, my brain perceived it differently today. It focused more on the bare parts of the skin, its sun-kissed shade and smell. On a slim body, slender fingers, messy hair. A little bit of everything, randomly.