String to my heart ♪ Mark Lee

♪ 37

Think I got it bad if I'm honest
Thought that I was good turns out I'm a little far from it, yeah, yeah
Can't even leave the apartment
'Cause everything red's a cold reminder of you

♪

Hannah sat cross-legged on the living room floor, nestled between her brothers, Mason and Parker. The soft hum of the TV filled the room, but her mind wandered elsewhere.

As Parker absentmindedly flipped through channels, she suddenly felt a knot form in her stomach. The date on the calendar had triggered something, she remembered today was the NCT 127's first stage for "Walk."

Without thinking, her fingers found the remote, and she navigated to the music channel. Mason noticed her sudden interest but didn't comment, knowing better than to interrupt her thoughts.

The screen flickered as the video started, and there was Mark, performing with an intensity that made her chest tighten.

The camera zoomed in on the members as they flawlessly switched positions, their synchronized movements and voices seamlessly blending with the beat.

The audience was captivated and the arena seemed to be filled by the cheers, but Hannah barely registered any of it.

Her eyes followed the familiar members but mainly glued to Mark, but her mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts that blurred the performance in front of her.

The cheers, the music, everything faded into a distant hum as she tried to push away the emotions she wasn't ready to face.

Parker, unaware of the significance, mumbled something about switching to anime, but Mason gently nudged him, shaking his head.

Hannah's eyes stayed glued to the screen, memories flooding back, how they had worked late nights, perfecting the track, and how proud yet nervous Mark had been before that performance.

Her heart raced, and she wondered if he still thought about that day as much as she did.

But she didn't know that he did.

The performance concluded, and Hannah's gaze remained fixed on Mark, her worry evident. Mason, with his keen observational skills, noticed her intense focus and the concern etched on her face.

"You have a crush on Mark and it's obvious now..." Mason said as Hannah nodded absentmindedly, the next video of Mark's fancam playing up on its own.

"She does, she told me too..." Parker said nodding as he upended the bag of chips and let the remaining crusts fall on his mouth.

Mason gave him a weirded look which was reciprocated by Parker with a "What?" following by.

It was late at night, and the apartment was quiet, save for the occasional creaks of the building settling.

The warm glow of the screen reflected in her eyes as she clicked on yet another fancam of Mark’s latest performance. It had become a habit, one she hadn't even realized she had developed.

She watched as Mark moved across the stage with effortless charisma, his energy palpable even through the screen.

Her eyes followed his every move, lingering a bit too long on his smile, the way his eyes seemed to light up when he performed. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips.

“She’s definitely got a crush on him,” Parker muttered under his breath, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Mason sighed, a mix of amusement and concern in his eyes. He knew how complicated feelings could get, especially with someone as high-profile as Mark.

But as he watched Hannah, completely unaware of the world around her, he decided to let it slide for now. It was clear to him that whatever she felt for Mark wasn’t just a passing admiration.

“Let’s leave her be,” Mason finally said softly, nudging Parker away. As they walked down the hallway, Mason couldn’t help but feel a twinge of protectiveness over his little sister, knowing all too well how these things could get messy.

But for now, he’d let her have this moment, hoping it would all work out for the best in the end.

♪

Mark said nothing as he stepped out of the car, his face unreadable as the door shut behind him. The usual chatter among the members died down, replaced by a brief silence as they watched him head away from the dorm entrance.

The sky was a dull gray, and the first few drops of rain had begun to fall, lightly tapping against the pavement. Mark pulled up his hood, the fabric barely shielding him from the increasing drizzle, but he didn't seem to notice.

Without a word, he disappeared, leaving the members exchanging puzzled glances, unsure of what had just happened. The rain began to pick up, matching the heaviness in the air, but Mark was already out of sight, lost in his own thoughts.

He pulled his hands deeper into his pockets, feeling the cold seeping through the fabric as he started his walk towards Hannah's apartment.

The streets were mostly empty, the usual bustle of the city subdued by the drizzle. His shoes splashed against the puddles forming in the cracks of the pavement, the rhythmic sound accompanying the faint hum of passing cars. Mark's mind was elsewhere.

He crossed the road, glancing up at the apartment buildings that loomed ahead. The rain began to pick up slightly, making the air smell of wet concrete and earth. Mark's thoughts drifted to Hannah's smile, the way it had been rare lately, almost forced. He wondered if this visit would help, or if he was just making things worse.

The walk wasn't long, but with each step, the cold seemed to seep deeper into his bones. His breath came out in faint puffs of mist, mingling with the rain that had started to soak through his jacket. Mark quickened his pace, his heart picking up speed as he got closer to Hannah's building.

Finally, he reached the familiar entrance. He paused for a moment, looking up at the windows that he knew led to Hannah's apartment. The rain had plastered his hair to his forehead, droplets trickling down the back of his neck. Mark took a deep breath, shaking off the water before heading inside.

He wasn't sure what he would say, but he knew he had to see her. Something in his gut told him that this conversation would be different, more important than the others.

Mark steeled himself for whatever lay ahead, hoping that this time, he could break through the walls that seemed to have built up between them.

Mark stood outside Hannah’s apartment door, his heart pounding in his chest. He had rehearsed what he wanted to say a thousand times in his head, but now, as he stood on the threshold, all his words seemed to escape him.

For weeks, he had tried to understand why Hannah was avoiding him. They used to be close, laughing together, talking about music, sharing their worries.

Taking a deep breath, Mark knocked on the door. The sound echoed in the quiet hallway, and for a moment, he considered turning around and leaving.

But then, the door opened, and there stood Mason, Hannah's older brother. The surprise was evident in his eyes as he recognized the younger idol who slightly looked up at him.

"Mark..."