then again, ends mean new beginnings ; nct markhyuck

9/?

The walk to his apartment felt longer than usual.

Donghyuck noticed this because it felt as if his feet were sore from walking. Was it because he was on vacation for a few weeks and he hadn't walked this far for some time? No, it was a different kind of sore—like the world was weighing down on him and his feet were drilling into the cement because of how heavy it was.

After the short and cold conversation about Mark's ex-engagement, silence filled the gaps between them, which ironically made the situation feel emptier than usual.

He stole a glance of Mark. The atmosphere was dimming, so he couldn't see a clear look of the other man, but he didn't seem so bothered by anything.

Or maybe he was, and Donghyuck just couldn't see it because of how he was focused on staring at his features. He was so pale that he still shone like a pearl under the night, unlike Donghyuck who could blend in the dark slightly easier. His doe eyes reflected the orange street lights and the silver moonlight. Chilled air escaped his pouting lips, swirling and disappearing after a second.

Mark still looked as charming as before. Donghyuck was still as in love with him as before.

Upon observing him, Donghyuck noticed that Mark's lips were moving as if he was rapping. It took him to realize that he, in fact, was.

Donghyuck's lips curved into a smile. Mark was rapping to one of their old songs, and it warmed his heart to know that he still remembers the lyrics to it.

"I saw an angel," Donghyuck started to sing under his breath after Mark finished his rap, catching the older by surprise. His voice was deeper than it was when they first sang it, but it was still as beautiful as it was before, if not more.

Donghyuck looked at Mark as he sang, smiling sheepishly as he does so. Mark smiled back, and suddenly started swaying a little to the sides, snapping his fingers to beat.

After he finishes the first chorus, Donghyuck kept his eyes on Mark, seeing if he will start rapping his own lines. Mark did, though he stuttered at the start like he was trying to remember his lines. It made Donghyuck laugh, but he mocked his swaying dance to encourage him to continue rapping.

The way Mark rapped seemed as if the man didn't take a break from it for five years; it was so natural, like all of the words flowed through his tongue smoothly. That's one of the things Donghyuck used to love about him the most: his rapping skills and his talking skills and...well, his voice in general.

It was the voice that always took him to a peaceful sleep.

Unfortunately, it was also the voice that he would hear in his nightmare—his nightmare which consisted of replays of the last time they saw each other.

Donghyuck didn't want to think about that then, though. The moment was amazing and he wasn't going to let his emotions take it away.

After Mark rapped, Donghyuck sang the next lines and Mark tried harmonizing with him as a joke.

As they sang, Donghyuck made sure that he was looking at Mark while he sang "I'll be your morning star, and you are my angel" to let him know somehow that he thinks of him every time he hears the song.

His heart fluttered when the other didn't look away.