then again, ends mean new beginnings ; nct markhyuck

1/?

sequel of even heaven has its ends ; nct markhyuck

"Hey, Jisung. It's Donghyuck hyung. I'm on the train on the way back to Seoul. I'll be dropping my stuff back at my apartment and I'll be free for the rest of the day. How about you? How are you? If you're free, I'll come by so we could hang out. Ask Jeno and Jaemin if they could come with us. Thanks. See you soon. Happy holidays."

Click.

Donghyuck looked up from his phone screen to the train window. He watched as the train left the station, speed starting slow and gradually increasing.

He had spent his short holiday vacation with his family back in Jeju Island, which he adored every moment of. Now, he was on the train back to Seoul to go back to work as an idol.

Of course, rather than being sad for his departure from home, he was rather excited to see his second family—his co-members—again, despite being with them during a celebration before their separation.

Donghyuck smiled softly to himself. Another year, another set of memories to look back to. A lot of ups and downs occured, but that's just how life goes, is it not?

He looked back to his phone, unlocking it and directing himself to his photo gallery. He spent minutes—almost an entire hour, in fact—scrolling through his photos and trying to recall the stories behind each one. It was funny to him—time was progressing yet he felt like he was going back in time.

After while of scrolling and snickering to himself, Donghyuck came to a realization that he had reached the pictures of him with his co-members from approximately five years ago—selfies and stolen pictures during pre-comeback, pre-performance, and post-performance times, each one making his heart swell with warmth.

On the moment he switched to another photo to look at, however, he felt his heart stop and drop onto the railings, crushed repeatedly by the wheels of the train.

It was a picture of Donghyuck closely positioned and smiling with...him.

Donghyuck swiped and switched photos again—

and again—

and again—

and again—

—but the deeper he got into his photo gallery, the more photos of him showed up, and the more memories of him surfaced.

All of the sudden, all he could see was him.

A lump formed in Donghyuck's throat. An abundance of emotions washed over him in waves—emotions that were felt long ago but still felt way too familiar to be forgotten, much similar to a healing would scratched back open by accident.

Donghyuck locked his phone and heaved a heavy sigh as he looked back to the train window, watching everything pass by swiftly like a chilly December breeze.

It's been five years, huh?

It felt like it was just yesterday when he turned away from him.

Promise me that you'll listen to me.

He smiled sadly, wondering how he would react if he ever finds out that he rebelled against him again.

To his defense, he tried.

He really did.