The Cold Curse | MarkHyuck

Chapter 31:

"... Hey, have you seen Hae-"
"He's training with Jeno, what do you expect?"

Renjun scoffed, causing Mark to roll his eyes off of his bitchy attitude. It was literally just the start of a bright, sunny day and he already acts like everyone pisses him off. Chenle shook his head, sipping his cup of tea.

Mark was wondering where Haechan was training at.

"Well, where-"
"If you're wondering where, he's at that one deserted vacant lot just ten steps behind this house."
"... You measured that?"
"No but Jaemin did."
"... Oh? Alright..."

Mark really found Jaemin a bit weird but he really spreads happy energy to everyone so he doesn't regret meeting him. Mark fixes himself a bit before heading outside to meet up with Haechan, Jeno, and possibly Jaemin. Renjun and Chenle sipped their cups of tea, eyeing Mark.

"... What are you staring at?"
"Your undying love for Haechan, what else?"

Renjun answers sarcastically, causing Mark to roll his eyes and just sigh. Chenle laughs... while drinking his tea which caused him to basically choke, causing Renjun to help him breathe. Mark rushes to Chenle, helping him first before he goes to Haechan.

"I told you not to laugh when you're LITERALLY DRINKING-"
"MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT TO MARK, RENJUN."
"WHAT CAN YOU DO? I'M BORN LIKE THIS."

Mark shook his head at the both of them, finding their friendship amusing. After Chenle stopped choking and could finally breathe, Mark waved a goodbye and made his way to Haechan's training. Chenle cleared his throat before spending time with Renjun once again...

Spending time with Renjun is most likely just being quiet, drinking something, and small talk which is... actually very relaxing.

Besides, Renjun needed to relax and stop being stressed all the time in order for his golden aura to be restored.

"... You know this is actually very relaxing, Renjun..."
"Please... I promise you I'm not this boring. My golden aura just went out and I really just had to... rest."
"Alright..."

Chenle smiled as he thought of a great idea.

"When you get healed from that, let's get noisy."
"... Fine. I promise... We'll get noisy, Chenle."

~

"You're doing great, Haechan! Make it faster and punch harder!"

Jeno encourages and cheers over Haechan, causing Haechan to punch him so hard that Jeno falls on the ground. Both Haechan and Mark panicked, rushing to Jeno and helping him get up immediately. Jeno still gave them a smile despite the pain because he knew Haechan really gave his very best to "defeat" him.

Mark stared at Haechan, still amazed and surprised with his quick improvement... and it's a big improvement.

"You're... You're really great earlier. You're pretty strong..."
"... I- Well, thanks!"

Haechan said, smiling at Mark awkwardly.

"... Well... uh... actually, you make me weak so that's probably why you're so surprised-"
"Haechan?! That's inappropriate!"

Mark was panicking and Haechan loved it when he's the one who makes Mark flustered. Most of the time, Haechan was the one being flustered. Jaemin claps at the back like he congratulates them for flirting publicly.

"Well, you two NUTMEGS finally flirted in front of everyone."
"... Is that supposed to be an achievement, Jaemin?"
"Absolutely! Everyone's supposed to LIKE EACH OTHER in my household... well... except for Mrs. Areum and Chenle because Chenle is... Chenle is my kid-"
"Jaemin. The point?"
"Yeah. Anyways, congratulations! Feel free to act like this around us because... I'm honestly tired of you two being awkward around us and around each other."
"... Alright."

Haechan gives Jaemin a smile as he fixes himself, changing his clothes at a private spot. Haechan didn't even notice that Mark was just behind him. Haechan turned around, seeing Mark who looked like he had seen a ghost.

"Ah!- Mark! What are you doing?!"
"Well, I didn't know that you're going to change here!"
"Well, what am I supposed to do here then? Piss?! Mark, that's DISGUSTING."
"..."
"... Mark?"
"... Well-"
"NO."

~

"Hey, Chenle. Watch for Mrs. Areum."
"... Why?"
"I feel exhausted. I need to rest."
"... Alright."

Chenle gave him a smile as Renjun went to his shared room with Chenle, lying down on the bed as soon as he entered. Renjun felt dizzy since his whole body is still being continuously drained everyday. That's why he most likely doesn't do anything and just discusses possible plans because he literally can't or else he'll basically collapse into a very deep sleep...

The thing is that who knows if he'll wake up ever again?

Renjun didn't want to think about it but he's been around for so many decades with yearly distributed missions at his assigned place. Being an elf isn't just being nice to people and loving rainbows, it also includes protecting a portion of the people of this planet which is a very big responsibility for him. Renjun knew that he does his job very well and he's not a "lazy elf" throughout the years but...

What if he just... disappears?

Renjun didn't want to disappear yet but when he really thinks about his disappearance, it always made sense because this was the most intense mission he ever had and that he was getting weaker. Renjun wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

He just couldn't say goodbye yet to the last group of people he's been with.

Jaemin, Haechan, Jeno, Areum, Mark, and especially Chenle. Those people were the most memorable ones and he just wanted to spend more time with them before he goes. That's why Renjun wanted to keep them safe, so that he doesn't watch them die because he didn't protect them completely.

He doesn't want to fail this mission because it's possible that this is his last one.

Renjun would rather die in peace that everyone was saved in his last mission than watching them die because he didn't exert his effort. In his room, he started crying rather than sleeping the afternoon away. Both ways will always cause sad thoughts but one of them will always open a happy ending.

Chenle walks by to see Renjun, crying to himself.

"Renjun? Is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine, Chenle..."

Renjun says with tears streaming down from his eyes, looking at Chenle with happiness. Chenle wondered what was wrong since he couldn't figure out why Renjun was crying all by himself. Chenle wouldn't know about it since he's still young in elf years.

"... Renjun?"
"... Everything will be fine. Take care, Chenle."