Paint, Flowers, and Dirty Laundry ✔️

nineteen

One week before the final test, all of the boys decided to study together in Jeno’s house, since it’s the nearest one from school. Donghyuck was about to refuse but he remembered his failure on the last Math test. So, he tagged along.

“…That’s how you do it,” Jaemin said, after teaching them all. He helped Donghyuck with Math, Chenle and Jisung with Physics, and Jeno with Chemistry. Mark just shook his head every time Chenle and Renjun faked coughs when Jaemin was helping out Jeno.

“Chenle, darling, do you need cough syrup?” Mark asked with a giant grin.

“No, Mark-hyung, thanks,” Chenle chuckled.

“Renjun!” Donghyuck called with an accidental voice crack at the end, “You’re good at Sociology, right? Can you please teach me about the last chapter?”

“Yeah, no problem,” Renjun shrugged and started to explain about conflicts.

Jeno stared up at Mark, who later caught his eyes and chuckled. He motioned Jeno to follow him to the kitchen. Jeno excused himself to Jaemin and followed his big brother to the kitchen.

“What’s wrong?” Jeno asked.

“Our parents decided to come back for this holiday,” Mark blurted out.

“Okay, what?” Jeno furrowed his eyebrows, “They’re finished with whatever they’re doing?”

“Yeah, seems like it,” Mark said.

Both of them stood in silence, not knowing what to say.

“Do you think it’s okay for me… to,” Mark gulped, “C-come out?”

Jeno stared at him for a long time, “I don’t know? My mother’s a little bit conventional, so I don’t know how she’ll react. How about your father?”

“He’s… very cold and distant, I don’t know about him that much,” Mark sighed, “Maybe it’s not the right time to do it.”

“You don’t have to do it. Come out, I mean.”

“And live closeted for my whole life?”

“No, just take your boyfriend to Hawaii, get married there, and come back here with wedding rings on both of your fingers. Like, aloha, we’re back, we’re married, and we’re gay.”

Mark really laughed at Jeno’s words. “That’s a good idea, thanks, Jeno. But he probably wouldn’t like Hawaii that much.”

“Wait, who are we talking about?” Jeno asked.

“Ah, still my ex-boyfriend,” Mark smiled sadly, “I can’t get over him, no matter how hard I try.”

“Then you should try to.”

“I can’t. I keep on seeing him… in my dreams, in the real life.”

“Do I know him?”

Mark laughed once again and patted Jeno’s cheek, “Open your eyes, Jeno.”