toxic | nct dream

47. what friends are for

• • •

"So what if they have history?" Donghyuck cut into the story. "Jisung said she's interested. If she was really committed to this Chenle guy, she wouldn't have even looked in his direction much less almost kiss him."

"That's actually not a terrible point," Chae joined in, fully sunk into her boyfriend's arms. "I don't think Jeno and I even look at other people anymore."

"Right?" She quickly pulled away, giving the man a pointed look.

"Only you," he replied with a smile and patted her head gently.

Jaemin finally decided to rejoin the conversation. "I don't see what's the issue here. Chenle seems like an idiot who couldn't figure out which girl he liked. If he fumbles someone like Xia, isn't that his fault not Jisung's?"

"Yeah, and he's also the idiot that bought a Porsche and three Rolexes on that trip alone," Mark counter argued, holding a serious look.

This revelation caused much of an uproar in that small loft.

"He bought a car for the trip?!" Jeno asked, incredulous.

"No, he had it shipped home afterwards." Mark replied, frustrated that his argument was being misconstrued. "I don't know. The point is that he operates on whole other plane than the rest of us. And maybe Jisung doesn't want to be messing around with people like that."

"I don't think a few hook-ups are really going to change anything. Let the boy have his fun, and when the time comes they'll both move on like nothing happened."

Mark could only shake his head at Jaemin's thought process. There were a numerous amount of times when he just couldn't understand him or his values.

But he always said things with such conviction that made others feel like they made sense.

"I love her." Jisung said aloud in a timid manner.

The whole room glanced over at him in subtle shock. An uncanny feeling sweeping through the air.

"I love Liang Xia." This time said with more strength and certainty.

Mark gave the boy a sympathetic look.

"Jisun—" he wasn't able to finish.

"I've never met anyone like her in my life. She's perfect." Jisung spoke while staring at the ceiling, head lulled back onto the couch.

The group of friends internally groaned and gave each other looks. A shared experience of deja vu.

Jisung's voice was hoarse, and constantly sounded like he was on the verge of an emotional collapse.

"She was there, in my arms, and it felt like I was floating. Like I could reach for the sky and she'd be there. Like everything was how it was supposed to be. And then she walked away, disappeared. Now she won't even look at me."

The drunk rambling of their friend silenced the rest of the group. He was the youngest, and they all had a soft spot for him even when he seemed so misguided.