𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 ; 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐜𝐤

𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

The small apartment was suffused with an awkward tension as Mark took a seat on the worn-out sofa, his eyes never leaving Donghyuck. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken questions and emotions. Donghyuck paced the room, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words.

"Mark, there's a lot you don't know about me," Donghyuck began, his voice low and uncertain. "I've been keeping things from you to protect you, but I can't do that anymore. You deserve to know the truth."

Mark leaned forward, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "What are you talking about, Donghyuck? What's going on?"

Donghyuck took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I'm involved in something dangerous. I'm part of a gang, and right now, we're in trouble. There's a rival gang, the Black Dragons, and their leader is threatening me. He said if I don't pay up, he'll come after you."

Mark's eyes widened in shock. "A gang? Donghyuck, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you to get involved," Donghyuck replied, his voice breaking. "I wanted to keep you safe. But now, everything's falling apart, and I don't know how to fix it."

Mark stood up, closing the distance between them. "You should have trusted me. We could have faced this together."

Donghyuck's heart ached at the sincerity in Mark's voice. "I know. I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to get hurt."

Mark reached out, gently placing a hand on Donghyuck's arm. "We'll figure this out. You don't have to go through this alone."

Donghyuck looked up, meeting Mark's gaze. The concern and affection in Mark's eyes overwhelmed him, and before he knew it, he was leaning in. The moment felt surreal, their faces inches apart, and then their lips brushed together in a tentative, accidental kiss.

For a brief, heart-stopping second, everything else faded away. The kiss was soft, filled with unspoken emotions and the shared connection they both felt but hadn't fully acknowledged until now. It was a moment of vulnerability and honesty, a fleeting escape from the chaos surrounding them.

But as quickly as it happened, reality crashed back in. Donghyuck pulled away abruptly, his eyes wide with regret. "Mark, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."

Mark's face flushed with confusion and a hint of disappointment. "Donghyuck, it's okay. We—"

"No," Donghyuck interrupted, stepping back. "You need to go. This was a mistake. I can't drag you into this mess."

Mark's expression shifted to one of hurt. "Donghyuck, please. We can work through this."

Donghyuck shook his head, his heart heavy with regret. "No, Mark. It's too dangerous. I need to protect you, even if that means pushing you away."

Mark hesitated, his eyes searching Donghyuck's for a sign that he might change his mind. But Donghyuck's resolve was firm, the fear of losing Mark to the dangers of his world too great to ignore.

"Alright," Mark said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness. "But I'm not giving up on you. If you ever need me, I'll be here."

Donghyuck watched as Mark left the apartment, his heart breaking with each step Mark took away from him. He closed the door, leaning against it as the weight of his decisions settled over him. The kiss, though accidental, had stirred feelings he couldn't ignore, but he knew the danger was too real to allow himself the luxury of those emotions.

Donghyuck sank onto the sofa, running his hands through his hair in frustration. The image of Mark's hurt expression haunted him, but he reminded himself it was for the best. He couldn't afford any distractions now, not with Jaebum's threat looming over them.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Jeno's number, needing to refocus on their plan. "Jeno, it's me. We need to move fast. I'll meet you at the warehouse in an hour."

As he prepared to leave, Donghyuck glanced around his apartment, feeling the crushing loneliness settle in. He couldn't let his guard down, not now. Protecting Mark meant keeping him at a distance, even if it tore Donghyuck apart inside.

With a heavy heart, Donghyuck stepped out into the night, the cool air a stark reminder of the harsh reality he faced. He had to be strong, for himself, for his gang, and most importantly, for Mark. There was no room for mistakes, and no turning back.