FRIENDS! - nct

episode seven.

— THE ONE WHERE MARK MEETS MARI'S MOTHER
The next morning . . .

APT 127

Mark pounded his fist against the bathroom door. He was in a rush to get ready, as last night, he invited Hyejin over, the woman he found out to be Mari's mother, to his apartment to discuss their situation. "Donghyuck, what are you even doing in the bathroom!"

"Jacking off." The boy answered nonchalantly through the wood, making the older gasp aloud.

"Hyuck—"
"What? Wanna taste?"

"Dude. I need to get ready!"

At that moment, the tanned boy opened the door, a towel loosely hanging at his waist as steam poured out of the bathroom. "I used your expensive lotion." Donghyuck laughed, walking past the flustered boy to go to his room.

"Yah! I paid good money for that!"

. . .

APT 117

"YOU WHAT—" Jaemin screeched as Hwa Young instinctively covered his mouth from his volume.

"She kissed Mark. God, you're so fucking slow." Renjun groaned from the open kitchen, pouring himself another cup of coffee.

"So what now?" Jeno questioned, plopping down next to the girl.

"What do you mean?"

"With you and Jaehyun, idiot." Renjun deadpanned, sitting across from the group in their singular chair.

"He probably doesn't like me anymore." Hwa Young sulked, pouting her lips as she did.

"You guys just need to sit and talk. SOBER." Jaemin stated, patting her back in hopes of comforting her.

"He won't know how to help you if you don't let him in." Jeno scolded, knowing his roommate wouldn't do so if she wasn't urged to. The boys sat in silence waiting for her usual snarky remark or a joke about her situation, but it never came. Worriedly, they all turned to her.

Hwa Young sat with her head down, her long hair covering her face.

"Hwa?"

She lifted her head, her bottom lip quivering as beads of anxiety and fear ran down her flushed face. "I'm scared."

"Oh baby." Jaemin cooed, wrapping his arms protectively around her, enveloping the woman in his warmth. The other boys following suit, and joining in on the group hug.

Meanwhile in the 227 apartment. . .

"And so, you kissed a girl?" Ten asked incredulously, trying to piece together the events of last night, yet his hangover didn't help. "Ugh. You give me a headache." He whined, slapping Jaehyun's shoulder.

"Ow—"

"You're 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭." Taeyong chimed in, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Did he just speak in cursive?"

"I know I am." Jaehyun replied, letting his head lower in shame.

"Y'all really just—"

Ignoring Ten, the conversing pair stood up and began to walk to Taeyong's room to discuss further, forgetting the 3rd roommate.

"Okay fine! FINE! Be like that! I'm gonna go to the 127 dorm, where they actually care for my presence!"

. . .

Hyejin and Mark quietly sat at his kitchen table, a cup of cold coffee was held tightly in her hands. "I want to take Mari back."

"Girl, tell me I didn't hear that right!" Hwa Young yelled, barging into the kitchen from the bathroom with Jeno , Renjun and Donghyuck. The group of four had been eavesdropping since the woman stepped into the apartment.

"Hwa Young—"

"Who is gonna eat the crust of my sandwiches now!"

"This was what I was saying Minhyung," Hyejin stated, glaring at the girl in a judging manner. "Your life is too chaotic. Your lifestyle isn't fit for being a father. I don't want you to be in Mari's life, after hearing all of the stories of what had happened these past few days. I don't want to always worry about her being with her father."

"LADY. First of all, last time I checked, it takes two people to make a baby. And gosh, you can't just rip Mark out of Mari's life so suddenly. They've built a connection, you conceited selfish piece of—"

"Hwa Young, I think it's time for you to shut the hell up." Renjun muttered, clasping a hand over the girl's mouth as he pulled her away, afraid she'd jump Hyejin.

The three left the room again, leaving the two alone.

Mark sighed heavily, returning his eyes back to the woman he despised at the moment.

"Hyejin, Don't do this please. Mari, she's my everything. Come on, I'm her appa. I love her more than I love myself. You can't— "

"Do you even know how to change a diaper? Warm a bottle? Cook yourself dinner?"

"I'll learn. I'll learn for Mari. I'll do anything for my princess. Please, just think about it."

. . .

Meanwhile at the 117 apartment . . .

Jaemin shot back a cup of soju at the kitchen table. Mari, sat on her high chair, watched the boy with big eyes.

He lowered the glass, and raised his brow expectantly. "What? Wanna try?"