Mark Lee had never been one to stand out. He was the quiet guy in the back of the classroom, the type to blend in with the crowd, quietly observing rather than making waves. He had his group of friends—Jeno and Renjun—but even with them, Mark tended to stay on the sidelines. He wasn't exactly shy, but he liked to keep things low-key. The less attention, the better.
That is, until he met Haechan.
It wasn't anything dramatic. It wasn't love at first sight, or a moment where their eyes met across a crowded hallway. It was just a slow, gradual thing.
Haechan was the opposite of Mark in every way. He was loud, always smiling, always full of energy. He could make anyone laugh with his ridiculous jokes, and somehow, he was always the center of attention without even trying. It had started when they were assigned as lab partners in biology class. Haechan had made a ridiculous comment about the way Mark had arranged his notes, and instead of being annoyed, Mark had actually laughed.
From then on, the two had become inseparable. Haechan had a way of drawing Mark out, making him laugh when he thought he was too tired to smile, or convincing him to do things he would normally shy away from. Whether it was running down the hall during lunch to avoid the teacher who was always on his case, or sneaking into the gym late at night to practice their basketball shots, Mark couldn't help but enjoy himself when he was with Haechan.
It was a friendship that felt easy, like it was meant to be. But as time passed, Mark began to notice something more—something in the way Haechan looked at him when they shared inside jokes, something in the small, lingering touches, the way Haechan's laughter felt so different when it was just the two of them. Mark tried to push it away, because he wasn't sure if Haechan felt the same way. And even if he did, Mark wasn't sure he was ready for whatever came next.
One evening, as the sun was setting, the two of them found themselves sitting on the bleachers of the school's outdoor sports field. The sky was painted with streaks of pink and purple, the light turning everything into a dreamy, almost unreal picture. The air was warm, a light breeze making the day feel perfect.
"Hey, Mark," Haechan said, his voice quieter than usual. Mark turned to him, surprised to hear the change in tone.
"Yeah?" Mark answered, feeling a flicker of nerves. It wasn't often that Haechan was so serious.
Haechan shifted a little, looking out at the horizon, but there was something in his gaze that Mark couldn't quite place. "Do you ever wonder about things? Like, how everything seems to just... fall into place when you least expect it?"
Mark raised an eyebrow, feeling the weight of Haechan's words. "What do you mean?"
"I mean us," Haechan said with a small, almost hesitant smile, his eyes flicking over to meet Mark's. "You and me. How we've become friends, how we're always hanging out together. I don't know... I guess it just feels right, y'know?"
Mark felt his heart beat faster. He had always been content with their friendship, but hearing Haechan speak like that made him feel exposed, vulnerable. There was a part of him that had wanted to admit his feelings, but he didn't know how, or if he even should.
