then again, ends mean new beginnings ; nct markhyuck

7/?

It had been almost an hour and a half. Mark's half-finished coffee ran cold, and so did Donghyuck's; however, while they talked, Mark really left his coffee ignored, while Donghyuck kept staring at his and stirring it. He couldn't help but notice how it had a similar shade as Mark's eyes.

At some point, he softly smiled to himself as the thought popped up. He then looked back up at Mark after, staring deep into his dark brown irises as he listened to him talk about what he had been up to these years.

Truth be told, he heard his voice while talked, but he wasn't actually listening. He never did, because he always found himself so lost in the warmth of his coffee-shaded eyes and comforting voice.

"I miss them, honestly," Mark said with a sigh and a sad smile as he looked down to his coffee, scrunching his nose as he realized that it was cold.

Donghyuck was reeled back to reality the moment Mark broke eye contact, suddenly feeling humiliation crawl up his cheeks. He cleared his throat then said, "They miss you, too."

"Yeah?" Mark raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. There were times where we would suddenly be silent, then someone would break the silence by saying 'I miss Mark'. After that, everyone would talk about you like..." He swallowed a lump in his throat and tried to laugh. "...like you died or something."

Mark chuckled. "Oh? Cute."

Donghyuck simply hummed in response.

"Did you?"

Donghyuck raised an eyebrow at Mark, confused. "Did I what?"

"Miss me," Mark said, barely audible as if he didn't want Donghyuck to hear it. "Did you miss me?"

Donghyuck fell silent.

How was he supposed to tell him that he had nights where he would suddenly cry because of how cold it felt without him around? How was he supposed to admit that his world felt silent and empty after his voice disappeared from his daily life? How was he supposed to admit that he, in fact, did miss him to a point of physical pain?

He scoffed. "Stupid question. Next."

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

Mark laughed. Donghyuck stared at him while he did; the way his eyes crinkled every time he smiles or grins, and the way his laugh always echoed back and forth into his ears like a song he would never want to forget—every detail, every feeling was all too familiar, even when he hadn't seen or felt them for five years. Seeing or feeling them were an addiction, and he was getting back into it after years of withdrawals.

"Well, if you insist," Mark said. He fell into thoughtful silence for a while, as if he was actually thinking about another question to ask. He looked at Donghyuck, that sad glimmer in his eyes surfacing once again.

"Did you... actually try to fulfill the promise I made you do?"

Donghyuck felt his heart stop. His blood ran cold. Everything fell into a void of silence.

He expected this. He expected that he would bring this up, but why was hurt surfacing on his heart like a fresh wound he had earned only a minute ago?

"That's another stupid question," Donghyuck muttered, averting his eyes. He almost choked on his own words.

"You have to answer at least one of them, Hyuck. Two questions answered is better, but I'm only asking for one."

He weighed in his choices, then heaved a sigh. Lowering his pride, he breathed out a mumble, "Yeah, I missed you."

I missed you a lot. You have no idea.

Donghyuck looked back up at Mark, who was smiling. Yes, he was smiling, but...he seemed unsatisfied, like he was wishing that Donghyuck would answer the second question instead.

Donghyuck bit the inside of his cheeks.

Might as well give him what he wants.

"And no," Donghyuck said, voice slightly shaky from nervousness and embarrassment. "I didn't. Well, actually, I tried. I...uh, really did."

He checked Mark's expression again, watching it change to satisfaction and endearment.

Mark chuckled again, putting down his finally empty cup.

"Don't worry about breaking it," He said with a smile. "I broke it right after you left."

Surprised, Donghyuck looked at Mark with wide eyes.

Was he saying that he...didn't turn away after Donghyuck left him in the court as he was told to do so?

Leaving someone was painful enough...but watching someone leave you was another level.

Donghyuck felt his heart wrenching at the thought.

"Hey," Mark called, snapping Donghyuck out of his thoughts again. Donghyuck looked at him and watched him stare at the sky through the glass walls of the coffee shop. "It's getting late. I think we should go on ahead."

"Oh, right." Donghyuck nodded in agreement. "Where will you be staying, though?"

"For now, I'll be staying at a hotel," Mark answered as he stood up from his chair. "I still need to look for an apartment to stay in."

"Wait, an apartment?" Donghyuck repeated, shocked. "You...You're staying? Here? In Korea?"

Mark shone a smile at Donghyuck. "Yeah, for good."

Absentmindedly, Donghyuck's lips curved into the widest smile. Mark chuckled at him.

"Come on, idiot. I'll walk you home."