[ completed ] From A Distance || nayeon, mark, jinyoung

eleven.

"Go away!" A little girl screamed at the group of taller and bigger boys. Ever since she had pushed one of them down the other day, the boys had never leave her alone whenever they see her – whether it's in school or at the playground.

"Nayeonie." Another little boy hid behind Nayeon's small body, his eyes brimming with tears as he clutched onto her shirt tightly.

"Don't worry, Bambam." Nayeon patted his small hand gently, giving him a small smile of assurance. "It will be okay, they can't do anything to us."

Bambam nodded, holding onto Nayeon's shirt even tighter. Despite him trusting Nayeon's words, he knew that they were outnumbered. They should have waited for Mark and Jinyoung so they could walk to the playground together. He should have stopped Nayeon and not give in to her excitement.

Where are Mark and Jinyoung?

Bambam could feel himself tearing up more when one of the boys pushed Nayeon down. He ran to her side immediately, his tears falling finally when he noticed the scrape on Nayeon's arm.

"Yah!"

As if Mark and Jinyoung had both heard Bambam's silent prayer, they appeared. Jinyoung stood in front of them with his arms stretched out, putting on a mean face that a young boy could put on.

"Are you okay?" Mark helped Nayeon up, a look of worries on his face. But Nayeon merely gave him a small nod then fixed her full attention on Bambam.

"Don't cry, don't cry." She patted his cheek gently then made him look at her, her voice firm yet gentle. "They will laugh at you more. You're a strong boy, okay?"

Mark watched them from a side, glancing at the scratches and grazes on Nayeon's limbs. He shifted his gaze at Jinyoung's back then grabbed his hand, pulling him away before a fight could start.

"Bambam, grab Nayeonie." Mark instructed the younger as he pulled him along on his other side.

"Why!" Both Nayeon and Jinyoung exclaimed.

"Nayeonie's injured." Mark shouted back as he continued to run, pulling the others along with him. "We can't beat them, there's too many of them."

A flash of bright light blinded adult Mark's vision. He looked around at the brightness around him. Where is he? But before he could even think about it, the brightness faded away. This time, two male figures appeared.

It's Jinyoung and himself, in their high school uniform and the scene – Jinyoung's expression – is oddly familiar.

"Just you?" Mark straightened his body, which he was leaning against the panel on the second level of the playground. "Didn't Nayeon come with you?"

Jinyoung climbed up the staircase, which was now too small for him. Mark noticed how Jinyoung kept biting on his bottom lip, a sign that he's nervous over something and that got Mark's full attention.

"Is something wrong?"

"No." Jinyoung shook his head almost immediately. "Well, there is."

Mark raised an eyebrow, an indication for Jinyoung to continue.

"You know that feeling when you see someone and you become speechless?" Jinyoung started, leaning against the panel opposite of Mark. "No, I know what you're thinking and I don't mean it in a, they are so dumb that you're speechless kind of way."

"Then?"

"Let me elaborate." Jinyoung took in a deep breath then continued, "You don't only become speechless when you see them. You smile when they smile; you're sad when they're sad. You're mad when someone make them cry; you just-"