Wednesday || MarkHyuck

Five

"I'm sorry for last time." Haechan said, swinging his leg back and forward slowly. It was a Wednesday night. A calm night. The usual sounds of the water stream below them, the leaves brushing against each other, and the distant sound of cars from the highway that was not far from the bridge.

"Don't be." Mark said softly after a few seconds of quietness. He took a quick glance at the boy, and noticed how his focus was on the water below them. How the water was going down the stream quickly. He also saw how the boy was shivering slightly. He took off his jacket, and gave it to him.

Haechan looked at it for a good five seconds, before looking up to Mark. He brought his shaky hands to the jacket, and pushed it back to Mark. "You keep it. I don't want you to get cold. I'm perfectly fine." Haechan whispered. He looked Mark in the eyes, showing him a weak smile.

"Are you sure? You seem pretty cold." Mark said, still holding the jacket out to him. But Haechan shook his head, turning his attention back to the water below them.

"I'm fine." Haechan said. Then it got quiet. Mark put the jacket on the group beside Haechan, just in case the younger changed his mind. He wasn't going to force him to put it on. He then looked straight ahead of them, where all he could see was trees, the water, and the dark sky.

"I noticed you had some cuts on your face last time," Haechan spoke softly. He didn't turn to look to Mark, just kept staring down. "I didn't say anything at the time. But now I'm curious."

Mark let out a sigh, but didn't say anything. He just continued to stare in front of him. "It's nothing. I just got into a small fight. That's all." Mark told the younger, who only hummed in response. Mark was thankful he didn't ask questions. He was too tired to explain.

The two sat there is silence for the next hour. Which disappointed Mark. He liked hearing about Haechan's week, how he would tell him about the people in his life, or how he would talk about his favourite childhood memory. He liked how he would smile when he talked about the guy he liked, or how he would laugh when Mark would tell his terrible jokes. But today seemed different. He wasn't like his usual self when they were together. He always looked forward to these days.

"I have to go now. I have to be up early tomorrow." Haechan spoke up, which made Mark look up to the boy who was getting up from his spot.

"Okay, I'll see you next week." Mark said softly, before watching Haechan leave the bridge. He looked down the to jacket, which looked like it wasn't touched once. He let out a sigh, putting it back on because it sure was cold tonight. He decided to stay there for another hour, not having anywhere to be at that moment.

~

"That will be 7 dollars." Mark told the woman, who was digging in her purse, before pulling out her wallet, giving Mark a 10 dollar bill. He took it, went to the cash register and opened it. He gave her the change, then the bag. He watched as the lady left, before sitting down on the stool by the wall.

It was a Wednesday, and his shift was coming to an end. Which made Mark happy. After a long week, he finally got to hang out with Haechan. He missed him. He hoped the boy was going to be much more talkative this time.

After the clock hit 11pm, the employee who would take his place cane walking in. Mark smiled and left to go to the back to get his things. Before he left, he went to one of the snack aisles. He took a look at all of the varieties of snacks, he decided on some potato chips, two strawberry bread, and a bag of trolli gummy worms. He then went to the drinks section, grabbing two sprites. He then payed for everything, and left.

On his way there, he felt happy. For some odd reason, he felt happy when he thought of Haechan.

After the bus ride, he went to the bridge, only to find it empty. Which was normal, because Haechan would usually come a few minutes after 12pm. So he sat down on their usual spot on the bridge, placing the bag next to him. He sat down, and waited for the boy.
Today wasn't cold, which made Mark glad. He wasn't feeling like putting up with the cold.

After what seemed like hours, Mark checked his phone, looking at the time. It read 12:34am. He let out a sigh, putting it back in his pocket, and waited some more. Normally, he would've just left. But he didn't feel like it today. He genuinely wanted to see the boy, and not like before, when he only came because this was the only place he felt calm.

He waited, and waited, but there was still no sign of the boy. He checked his phone, hoping the boy would have texted him, but no. He dropped his phone on the pavement, and looked to the white plastic bag which contained the snacks he had bought to share with the boy.

"Is he not coming?" Mark whispered to himself. He decided to wait a tiny bit more, hoping the boy would show up.

But as time went on, Haechan never stopped by. It was already 2 am, which is when they would leave. Mark finally decided to leave, knowing the boy would come.

He didn't know why, but he felt hurt.

~

It's been a week, and Mark stood on the side walk, wondering if he should go to the bridge, or go back to Renjun's. He was scared that if he went there, Haechan wouldn't come. But he was also scared that if he didn't go, Haechan would be waiting there for him. He didn't want that to happen.

After a long thought, Mark continued his way to the bridge. If the boy didn't come, he would just leave and not wait there like last time. A part of him hoped that the boy would show up. Another part of him was worried. He could always just call him, or even go to his house to check on him, but he didn't want to seem weird.

After he made it to the bridge, no one was there. He decided to stay for 10 minutes, knowing how the other would come few minutes after Mark would. He sat on the ledge, letting his legs fall over the edge.

Mark dug in his pocket, and pulled out a familiar small box that contained his stress relievers. He opened the box, then stared at the white death sticks. His mind was telling him no, resisting the urge to light one up. But his body was screaming for them, wanting to inhale the toxic smoke. His breathing suddenly started to speed up, hands getting slightly shaky.

Fuck it.

Mark took out one stick, fished out his lighter from his pocket, then quickly lit it up. He put it in between his lips, then inhaled the toxic smoke. He exhaled slowly, feeling better. He felt relaxed, and free. Sure, these could kill him, but that's there to live for anyway?

After 15 minuets passed, and his cigarette was gone, he decided to get up from the spot, and make his way back to Renjun's place. He knew the other boy wasn't coming.

On his way back, all he could think about was what he did wrong.

Did I do something wrong?