𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 ; 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐜𝐤

𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞

The days following the confrontation in Donghyuck's room were some of the hardest Mark had ever faced. The warmth and easy camaraderie he had shared with Donghyuck now seemed like a distant memory, replaced by a wall of silence and cold stares. Mark tried to reach out multiple times, but Donghyuck's response was always the same: a cold shoulder, averted eyes, or a dismissive remark.

The tension weighed heavily on Mark's mind. He couldn't stop thinking about Donghyuck and the pain in his eyes that night. Mark knew he had crossed a line, but he desperately wanted to make things right. Yet, every attempt he made seemed to push Donghyuck further away.

It was a rainy afternoon when Mark decided he couldn't take it any longer. He had to talk to Donghyuck, to explain himself, and to try to repair the damage he had caused. He sent Donghyuck a message, asking if they could meet and talk things through. Hours passed with no reply, and Mark's hope waned.

That evening, unable to sit still any longer, Mark found himself outside Jenna's house once again. He hesitated at the door, the rain soaking through his clothes, before finally summoning the courage to knock. Jenna answered, her face lighting up with a smile that quickly faded when she saw the look on Mark's face.

"Hey, Mark. What's going on?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.

"I need to talk to Donghyuck," Mark said, his voice steady but pleading. "Please, Jenna. I just need a chance to explain myself."

Jenna sighed, her eyes softening with understanding. "He's in his room. I'll let him know you're here, but I can't promise he'll want to see you."

Mark nodded, grateful for her help. He stood in the hallway, his heart pounding, as Jenna went to talk to Donghyuck. Moments later, she returned, her expression uncertain.

"He said you can come up," she said. "But Mark, he's still really upset."

Mark thanked her and made his way upstairs, his nerves fraying with each step. He paused outside Donghyuck's door, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly. There was a moment of silence before Donghyuck's voice called out, "Come in."

Mark pushed the door open, stepping inside to find Donghyuck sitting at his desk, his back to the door. The room felt cold and unwelcoming, a stark contrast to the warmth they had once shared.

"Donghyuck," Mark began, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to invade your privacy. I was just... curious and worried."

Donghyuck turned slowly, his expression hard. "You had no right to go through my stuff, Mark. That was a complete betrayal of trust."

Mark took a step forward, his eyes pleading. "I know, and I'm really sorry. I just wanted to understand you better. I care about you, and I hate that I hurt you."

Donghyuck's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and pain. "Care about me? If you cared, you would've respected my privacy. You wouldn't have snooped around like that."

Mark felt a lump form in his throat. "I made a mistake, and I'm trying to make it right. Please, Donghyuck, just give me a chance to explain."

Donghyuck shook his head, his expression guarded. "I can't just forget what you did, Mark. You crossed a line, and it's not that easy to forgive."

Mark's heart ached at the coldness in Donghyuck's voice. "I understand that, and I don't expect you to forgive me right away. But can we at least talk about it? Can we try to fix this?"

Donghyuck sighed, his anger giving way to exhaustion. "Why, Mark? Why did you feel the need to go through my stuff?"

Mark took a deep breath, his voice softening. "Because I care about you. I saw those things and got scared. I wanted to understand what you were involved in, and I didn't know how to ask you about it."

Donghyuck's eyes softened for a moment before hardening again. "You should've trusted me enough to ask instead of snooping around."

Mark nodded, his eyes filled with regret. "You're right. I should've trusted you. I'm sorry I didn't. Please, Donghyuck, I want to make this right. I want to be here for you, but I need you to talk to me."

For a long moment, silence hung between them. Donghyuck's eyes flickered with conflicting emotions, his guard slowly lowering. "It's going to take time, Mark. I can't just forgive and forget."

Mark nodded, relief washing over him. "I understand. I'll give you all the time you need. Just... don't shut me out completely."

Donghyuck looked at him, a hint of the old warmth returning to his gaze. "Alright. We'll see how it goes. But you have to respect my boundaries from now on."

Mark smiled weakly, feeling a glimmer of hope. "I promise. Thank you, Donghyuck."

As Mark left the room, he felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. The road to rebuilding their trust would be long and difficult, but he was willing to do whatever it took. Donghyuck's world was more complicated than he had ever imagined, but Mark knew that he wanted to be a part of it, despite the challenges.

The rain continued to fall as Mark made his way home, each step feeling a little lighter. The night had ended with a fragile truce, and though the future was uncertain, Mark was determined to face it with courage and patience.