«Just an Annoyance» Lee Donghyuck//Haechan

35: Me Too

August 10, last year, my birthday.

"Damn. Nobody even bothered to stay the night." Mark cleans up the mess in his living room.

"I mean, to be fair, Literally everyone has plans tomorrow." I help Mark clean up the mess.

"Still. They couldn't even help." He laughs. "They're lucky my parents and brother won't see this. I never thought those guys could be so messy."

"Tell me again why you didn't go with them?" I stand up straight and look at him.

"I couldn't miss your birthday. I mean come on! We're August buddies! So is Jaemin, but... who knows with him." Mark holds the garbage bag in front of me to throw the last of the garbage away.

"Mark, it's literally your family you never see." I laugh and take the garbage from him. "I'll take it."

"Whatever." He laughs, turns off the living room light, and walks to the kitchen, the only room with the light on.

I walk outside and throw the garbage away in the garbage bin. I walk back inside and meet Mark in the kitchen.

I grab a glass of water and sit on one of the bar stools. Mark stands across from me and ruffles his hair.

He looks at the clock and sees the time. "Happy not birthday." He smiles.

"Thanks." I sigh and take a drink.

"What?" He tilts his head. "Sad that you have to wait another year?"

I smile. "No."

"Cause I mean, we could just steal Jaemin's birthday for you, and you can have another." He leans on the counter. I just put the glass down with a frown. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head. "Nothing. It's dumb."

"Okay, now you have to tell me." He gets a glass of water for himself.

"Literally it's so dumb. It's midnight and I'm just every other girl in her feels." I pick up the glass and take another drink.

"In your feels about what?" He takes a drink and sits on a barstool. There's one between us and he puts his feet on that one. I turn so I'm facing him.

"I'm 17 now. I've had those middle school, immature, dumb relationships that last like a day. But I wish I had an actual one. One where I got to be stupid and annoying around them without them reacting, but also one where we could just have our cute times where we could kiss and have a good time. Ya know?"

"Yea." He nods his head. "I mean, I'm 18 now and I still haven't had that either. I get it."

"Like, there's so many girls and guys in our school, younger and older than us, that are in relationships that are so cute and perfect. They're out with other couples, going to parties, having sex, working, and still keeping up with their school work. All I can manage to do is hang out with you guys and somewhat keep up with my school work." I laugh bitterly.

"Same." Mark nods. "It's weird thinking that now that I'm a senior, there's people in your grade and below already having all these experiences, and I haven't had any either."