ORPHANS: NCT DREAM

38 | mark's arms

AERI

i was running, tears blurring my way away which made me run freely, and i was fearless not to bump into someone or fall.

but am i not already falling apart?

my legs were shaking, my body was shaking and i had no energy.

till i suddenly bumped into someone, my legs couldn't take it anymore and i fell, luckily the boy in front of me catched me, grabbing arms and pulling me strongly up together.

"hey, hey aeri~" mark cupped my face, he wiped off the tears that blurred the view away. "aeri." he spoke again, and finally, i see the vision (lol) properly.

his face made me brightened up, his face was a cure to me.

"mark..." i spoke. "did you tell him goodbye?" he asked curiously, patting and rubbing my hair.

"no mark...i am afraid." i said, looking down at my shaking hands. "and i would rather not, im too afraid i am scared mark." i said, i was so frightened.

"it's okay." mark supported, and pulled me into a warm embrace.

hugs could never be long enough for me. in mark's arms i was safe and my worries disappeared, like rain on summer earth. in that embrace i was cocooned better than any butterfly-to-be. i felt his soft skin, and the gentle squeeze on his own. i bathed in his warmth, and the smell of freshly laundered clothes. no matter when the end came it was too soon, and i would launch a campaign for more.

"i love him mark, it's so complicated and stupid of me to actually like him. i promised to never like him, as someone else. i adore him..." i cried. "but i don't want to, but i also want to!" i screamed, i am such a confusing person.

"it's okay aeri, you can never control your feelings for someone. it's okay...." he paused, and i felt his hugs loosened a bit.

"you're not the only one."

...

there i stood with my brother, at the gate and finally i could step out of this orphanage, and know the world.

the technology, new people, school, the food and different kinds of things.

it's amazing.

but.

i turned around, and saw only 6 boys standing waving bye at me. chenle was crying, along with jaemin. jeno who was grabbing renjun tightly on the arms, teary eyes and shaking body. mark who was flowing his tears, pursing his lips and waving bye at me.

i couldn't.

i quickly ran back to them, and we circled into a group hug. hugging everyone, letting the tears flow and burst out emotions out. we heard each other's loud sobs, that was never heard from the last 10 years of us together.

taeil smiled, was sad but happy at the same time.

"yah, go on, you must be excited." renjun chuckled, wiping his tears away and breaking the hug that i wish could last forever.

"i will."

they smiled at me.

i looked at mark. "thank you." i looked at renjun. "thank you."

"thank you jeno."

"thank you jaemin."

"thank you jisung."

"thank you chenle."

i smiled weakly at myself. "thank you hyuck."

"i love you guys all, i really do." i said, smiling with teeth shown but the tears still fell down. "we love you too." they said in sync, still sobs.

i was about to walk back to taeil, but then looked at mark. "tell hyuck i love him, i love him a lot."

mark nodded, smiling.

"goodbye guys, goodbye family."

note: huhuhuhuhuhuhuh.