start somewhere; markhyuck ✓

fifteen

tuesday, july 23rd, 5:00 pm. corner store parking lot.

donghyuck arrives and mark gleams. there's a pang of guilt mixed with love. mark runs over to the younger wrapping him up in a hug.

"i'm so happy you came," mark whispers, "thank you."

donghyuck doesn't answer, he's so still, he's still so scared. what if mark's teammate comes and beats him up? donghyuck cant fathom it.

they sit down and intertwine their hands. in the summer heat, mark didn't bring a jacket, they didn't have anything to hide anymore. donghyuck feels as if his emotions are on mark's sleeve.

"how have you been?" mark asks, hesitant, "oh and," he hands donghyuck the red bull with a crooked smile. donghyuck loves him so much.

"i've been... alive," donghyuck replies truthfully, there's no use in lying anymore, "renjun told me about you and your football team, i'm sorry."

"don't be sorry, it's not your fault," mark comforts donghyuck, "what they say doesn't matter to me."

donghyuck knows mark is just putting up a front, trying to keep himself safe. he's trying to keep donghyuck safe.

"when I was that party last night everything just seemed right, no one was ashamed of me, i got to hear someone looking for their boyfriend," donghyuck whines, "i want that to be me. instead i'm here, all alone and scared to even be who i am." he leans his head on mark's shoulder.

"donghyuck, that can be you. in a month you'll be off to university, that will be your new home," mark reassures him, tracing circles in his palm, "if you want to completely reinvent yourself you can."

donghyuck has tears welling up as he thinks of the future, how in his a few months he can be so unapologetically "donghyuck."

"what about you?"

"if you want, i'll be with you the entire step of the way."

the two sit in silence for a while, they play with each other's hands and donghyuck feels at peace. donghyuck thinks about all the time spent worrying about his safety but this is the time he feels the safest.

in his head, donghyuck is planning on the home he will be living in. it's small and quiet. maybe donghyuck will get a cat in the future, he was always more of a cat person. rather than thinking of the future though, donghyuck focuses on the present.

"i missed you too," donghyuck breaks the silence. he can feel mark smile from above him. as much as mark wants to say "i love you" he feels like there is still so much healing needed.

_________

donghyuck goes to all of mark's football games. despite not knowing anything about sports, donghyuck thinks mark's pretty good.

they think they're kind of dating? it's slow and complicated.

on donghyuck's couch, mark plays with his hair.

"you know, the night of the prom, i didn't go," mark admits, "i didn't want to. my date didn't even like me that much, i only wanted to go to prom with you."

"let's have our own prom."

donghyuck dims his light and puts on a slow song. he calls it the gays only prom.

"so, may i have this dance?" donghyuck asks holding out his hand.

they dance around the house, moving through the living room, dining room and kitchen. mark twirls donghyuck and the younger almost knocks over the coffee machine. they both laugh. someone looking from outside might be confused to see two boys dancing in the hallway. donghyuck doesn't care about the people outside though.

"this is better than any prom i could've ever gone to," mark places a small kiss on donghyuck's lips, "thank you."

"i love you."

"i love you too."

they look like an old married couple.