Villain kids

22

Donghyuck pulled away from the kiss.

It had felt amazing-like fireworks stitched into his bloodstream-but his expression wasn't pleased.

His lips parted just enough to speak. Quiet. Sharp.

Hyuck: "Mark. You have a boyfriend."

That was all he said before turning on his heel and walking away, fast and frustrated. The breeze caught the edge of his jacket like it, too, wanted to flee.

Mark shot up immediately, panic catching in his throat. He ran after Donghyuck, caught his bicep gently, and turned him around with care.

Mark: "I'm sorry, Donghyuck. I know it seems wrong. I didn't bring you here just to kiss you-I swear. I wanted to connect. To bond. I don't know what came over me. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad or uncomfortable..."

Donghyuck paused, looking at him like he was still deciding whether to bolt or breathe. Finally, he sat back down on the picnic blanket, cross-legged on a purple cushion, arms crossed like a storm cloud in human form.

Hyuck: "Do you even love him?"

His voice was dead serious. His stare? Like a stubborn toddler demanding the universe bend to him.

Mark (without hesitation): "I don't."

Silence swallowed the air between them.

Mark let out a breath. Then, more quietly:

Mark: "I wanted today to be about you. But I've just been rambling about me."

He gave a sheepish little laugh-but it died quickly when Donghyuck didn't smile.

Mark (sighing): "Okay. So... the thing is, I never really had a say in my relationship with Jungwoo. My mom's best friends with Aurora-Sleeping Beauty. They've known each other forever. So naturally, growing up, Jungwoo and I were always around each other. Playdates. Celebrations. Vacations. Constant."

Mark: "When I turned 18, my parents sat me down and told me: I had to be crowned. And I had to find a partner. Not someday. Now. They said it was essential that the future king had someone to rule beside."

His tone turned bitter.

Mark: "I told them love doesn't work like that. You can't force it. But they weren't asking. They gave me a deadline. And since I barely had time to breathe-between coronation planning and political training-they arranged it themselves."

He exhaled hard, the weight of it all slumping his shoulders.

Mark: "Jungwoo's a good person. He always tries to cheer me up, get me to take breaks, be silly. He's a great friend. But I've never seen him as anything more. Not once. When I look at him, I don't see a partner. I see the little boy who offered me melted chocolate the first time we met-his whole face sticky, smiling like a cartoon. He's goofy. Loyal. Someone I care about deeply."

Mark (softly): "But he's not the person I want to spend my best or worst days with."

He finally looked up.

And Donghyuck... wasn't angry.

His eyes were shimmering. Almost tearful. And when he spoke, his voice had gentled.

Hyuck: "Mark... I'm really grateful you brought me and the others here. You have no idea."

He looked away for a second, blinking fast.

Hyuck: "These past few days have been weird. But in a good weird. I've learned so much. On the Isle, you don't get to be kind. Not even for a second. Kindness makes you weak. An outcast among outcasts."

He hugged his arms tighter around himself.

Hyuck: "I've known Jeno my whole life. Literally. He's like... air. He's always there. And even though he looks like he could rip a tree out of the ground, he's the most understanding person I've ever met. When I need to unload, he listens. Gives it to me straight. No judgment. No nonsense."

Donghyuck took a shaky breath, eyes distant now, voice low.

Hyuck: "I always tell him I'm tired of being my mother's son."

The air grew heavier at that.

Hyuck: "She's the most feared villain alive. Magic so strong she could erase someone with a glance. And people expect me to live up to that. But I'm not her. I'm not even close. Still, I keep trying to prove myself. Like... if I'm scary enough, maybe she'll finally care."

His voice cracked.

Hyuck: "But she only talks to me when she needs something. I don't know what she was like as a kid. I don't know who she was before the curses and the cruelty."

He glanced up at Mark again.

Hyuck (softly): "And I think I'm supposed to be like her. But I also really, really don't want to be."

Mark was quiet for a moment.

Then he tilted his head.

Mark: "Wait. You don't know anything about her? About what she was like before?"

Hyuck squinted at him suspiciously.

Hyuck: "What are you getting at?"

Mark: "Every parent here has a story. A past. The villains, the royals-everyone. Your mom, Maleficent... she wasn't always feared. She used to be-is-a fairy."

Donghyuck's breath hitched. His heart thudded hard against his ribs.

He wasn't ready to hear that.

But maybe it was time he did.