• cards | nct 2018 •

thirty three || loose ends

hyeji pov

instead of returning to my dorm, i chose to stay outside of the operating theatre where johnny is.

it reminded me of the day mark was admitted into the theatre, only for him to pass on and for me to rewind time and save him again.

i sighed, sinking deeper into the chair i sat on as i waited, eyes glued to be white tiles.

"hyeji?" a surprised voice made me look up.

the person i wanted to see the least was before me. i found myself to be unable to look at him in the eye.

"hey, mark...why are you here?" i forced a smile, taeil's words running through my mind.

"is it true...that the house of lee is responsible for the fire that caused the death of mark's parents?"

"yeah, it's true."

"i went back to my dorm for a little, and was just about to head to the office when i saw you here," he explains.

"...and i thought we needed to talk too."

he adds, and i instantly knew what he was talking about. the two of us were supposed to be enemies.

i nodded thoughtfully and he steps forward, taking a seat beside me.

i gulped, unsure of how to bring up the matter.

"i'm sorry." i blurted, saying the first thing that comes to mind.

when he didn't reply me, i sneaked a glance at him and he had a wistful smile on his lips.

"for what? my parents? you did nothing wrong." he leans back onto the seat.

"but my family—"

"hyeji," mark's tone was firm. "you saved my life that time, do you remember that?"

"yeah."

"i haven't really thanked you for that. perhaps...you could take what i did today as thanks," he lets out a soft chuckle.

"you see, hyeji, now we don't owe each other anymore. so there is no reason to be apologetic for anything...and let's not let our identities interfere with our current bond."

he says.

my lips curved into a small smile as i recalled how he was the first to save me out from those bullies' grasp...and then i did, the other day.

i guess that's our relationship, huh?

"okay, i get it."

and with my agreement, mark stood up from his seat and gingerly caressed my hair.

"that's good. see you around, then."

he turns on his heels and walks off, as i watched his retreating figure move further away.

but then i was immediately distracted by the sound of the emergency room doors sliding open.

i turned back around, for me to face kun in a doctor's coat, who was visually exhausted.

"kun! how did it go?"