THE N-CITY SERIES

Love, Mark

The car ride was short and Haechan parked in front of my house. I could see that Jaehyun was already asleep and the lights in my parents' room were already off. Haechan looked back and I saw his eyes on Mark, a mix of pity and sadness. Why did I feel like I was kept in the dark? I breathed a sigh, about to leave the car when Haechan called after me.

"What are you doing? Take Mark with you."

"What?" I frowned at him; Mark's knocked-out body in the back seat. "Aren't you sending him home?"

"You crazy? His parents are such light sleepers and they'll know he was drinking. It's not the first time he crashed over at your house," he said, motioning to Mark before lifting his phone to his ear. "Uh, yeah. Hyung, we're here."

Who was he talking to?

It didn't take long until I saw my brother leave the front door, Jaehyun in his hoodie and sweats. He ruffled his hair, walking to the car to peer into it. He turned to Haechan and there was a knowing look on his face, Haechan nodding when Jaehyun grabbed Mark. He then threw Mark over his shoulder, my best friend showing no signs of waking up.

"Come on now," Jaehyun told me before tapping the hood of the car. "Thanks, Haechan."

Jaehyun closed the door and Haechan zoomed away. Jaehyun was quiet and Mark mumbled under his breath, my brother carrying him into the house. He didn't seem to ask why Mark was at this state and I came to the conclusion that he wasn't curious. We tried to be as quiet we could, both of us walking up the creaking stairs when Jaehyun told me that he'll put Mark in his room.

I nodded, my brother lunging Mark's limp body into his room and I could hear a grunt as Jaehyun threw him onto his bed. I entered my room and I could hear Jaehyun shuffling around in his room and I decided to take a shower. My mind was filled with thoughts of concern. I wanted to kill anyone who hurt him and to see him at this state made my heart worry.

I brushed my hair, Jaehyun coming into my room. I looked up to see that he was going to sleep with me, my brother falling back onto my bed. I tapped on my moisturizer and climbed into bed, Jaehyun reaching up to put off the lights and we were plunged into darkness.

The room was so quiet, we would be able to hear a pin drop, Jaehyun finally speaking out into the silence.

"Aren't you going to miss him?" Jaehyun asked and I frowned. "When Mark goes to Canada. Aren't you going to miss him?"

What kind of question was that? It was also the first time Jaehyun was trying to initiate a conversation with me about feelings. I nodded, telling him I would.

"But he's only going for a year," I answered, Jaehyun sighing.

"A lot can happen in a year," Jaehyun replied. "My ex went for an exchange program and it didn't work out."

"That's different, Jaehyun. That was your ex. Mark is a friend. It wouldn't matter."

"Wouldn't it?" he asked me back and I nodded softly. "You sure?"

His question made my mind reel and I thought about the possibility of Mark coming back differently. But that wasn't possible, he was Mark. He was my Mark Lee. A smile painted my lips as I thought of him, memories of us from when we were little drawing out pictures in my head.

Mark Lee.

"You really don't know, don't you?" Jaehyun asked.

"What?"

"I guess you don't," Jaehyun muttered. "Go to sleep. You'll have to take care of a hung-over Mark tomorrow."

And with that, he turned to the side and fell asleep.