What if...? || Markhyuck

-89-

writing this chapter seemed like an eternity. now, looking at the word count of the translation, i know why. this is officially the longest chapter ever written. seriously, take your time and enjoy reading.

[february 2022]

[seth]

In many ways, today was stressful, frustrating and just plain shit for me from the very beginning of the day. I was standing outside the bar where we all were about to met up - just forty minutes before the agreed time. The cold was getting to me but waiting around in my apartment or car was even worse. Kevin arrived first, followed by Sam. Nobody knew what was going on between them, actually. They were supposed to be together but Kevin was openly sleeping with other guys. They still lived together and were probably having sex. I tried not to interfere, though, as long as their relationship didn't affect our band.

"Just you?" Sam asked immediately, quickly looking around the area.

"Just me," I confirmed. A taxi pulled up outside the bar and Rob and Pete got out. I took a deep breath.

"Stressed out?" Kevin asked mockingly, seeing the state I was in.

"And you wouldn't be?" I brushed him off rather unpleasantly. The very idea of ​​meeting Donghyuck was stressful. The last time we saw each other was at the club at that blonde's birthday party and the meeting ended rather unpleasantly. Today, he was supposed to come with that mafia loser. I wasn't sure how I would handle it, even if I agreed to it.

"I really don't know" Kevin just shrugged. We greeted the guys, they started talking to each other and I kept looking around. As if I wanted to see him and was afraid of it at the same time.

"He's alone, so maybe you have nothing to worry about" at some point Rob muttered under breath, nudging me with elbow. I looked in the direction he was glancing over.

Donghyuck was slowly walking towards us, smoking a cigarette and typing something on the phone. He looked amazing and wildly inadequate at the same time. His black hair fell slightly into eyes, leather jacket was a bit too big, t-shirt with some strange print was also hanging a bit and jeans with holes on the knees and sneakers did not match the snow that covered the road nor the sub-zero temperature at all. Finally, Hyuck looked in our direction. He waved from a distance.

"Hi guys," he said calmly, entering our circle. "Hi," repeated uncertainly with a smile, looking directly at me in warm manner so specific to him.

"Hi," I replied in a whisper and returned the look. I swear that nothing could stop my heart from racing. Hope always dies last, however unrealistic my desires were to fulfill at the moment.

"Why are you alone?" Sam cut in with nosy question in our exchange of glances. And it could have been so beautiful. I sighed deeply with irritation. Kevin just patted me on the back in understanding. After all, he had these nosy remarks and comments every day.

"Mark will be late" Donghyuck explained his partner's absence. "He was on a business trip for a week now and just coming back... We wanted to come together but the accident on the highway ruined the plans" he shrugged with a weak smile.

"And where was he?" Rob started, although it seemed that he wasn't very interested. Generally, from the very beginning of being in the band, he wasn't very interested in our private lives. He existed to play concerts, always in his own world. I was shocked that he came today. He didn't really spend time with us outside of so-called work.