Half-Blood | NCT DREAM

Chapter 11

"Mind your own business." Haerin snapped at the poor boy who was looking at her from the side of his eyes. He immediately bowed his head, mumbling a quick apology.

It had been a few days since Dasom had left for her quest and she had already missed the girl.

Dasom was right about being paired up with Mark a lot, especially with Jeno and Jaemin gone. Haerin found herself catching up in terms of fighting very quickly, and the jealousy that Jaemin had mentioned became more and more apparent.

Haerin's cold side began showing, and campers started avoiding her soon after. Haerin didn't really mind though. The other head counsellors still talked to her and Haerin didn't feel the need to be surrounded by people to be happy.

Haerin couldn't help but think back to Mark. Is this how he felt when he was claimed?

Before she could think about it even more, the line for food moved and she was soon beside the male at her usual place at the dinner table.

"I wonder who's going to be captain now that Jeno's gone." Chenle said, munching on his food.

"They should be back soon, though." Jisung pointed out. "Dasom likes to finish her quests quickly."

"But then again, Jaemin's there and we all know him." Chenle said, Haechan nodding in agreement.

"Just eat." Mark said, making heads turn. Mark rarely spoke during mealtimes so it definitely caught the attention of the boys quickly. "They'll come back when they come back and if they don't come back in time, Taeyong will pick someone."

The boys slowly nodded, switching their conversation topic to their plans for their lessons for them remainder of this week.

Haerin noticed that Mark seemed stressed as he ate, but didn't want to ask about it now since he still seemed a little big angry from his sudden outburst.

Haerin was beginning to understand why Mark was so quiet and intimidating all the time. If he had experienced anything like what she had, she would be like that too.

Haerin sighed, focusing on her meal for the night. She noticed Mark's eyes shift to her for a brief second before he did the same, quietly eating his dinner.

...

Haerin was surprised when the door opened without her even knocking. "How did you know I was here?"

"Just a hunch." Mark said, widening the door. "Come on in, it's cold out."

Haerin stepped inside Zeus's cabin, the bright lights blinding her. She was not used to it at all, with her cabin being the complete opposite.

"Sorry." Mark said, dimming the lights. "Forgot."

"It's fine." Haerin said as they entered Mark's room. It seemed to be much more organized that it was the last time she was there, but perhaps it was because Mark was already in his sleepwear for the night, consisting of a grey hoodie and red plaid pyjama pants.

"Hungry?" Mark asked. Haerin shook her head. "I'll be right back. Make yourself at home."

Haerin sat on Mark's bed as Mark left the room. He soon returned with a bowl of cereal in his hands.

"Cereal? At night?" Haerin asked as Mark settled in his desk chair.

"Yeah, you should try it some time." Mark told her. "Cereal is the bed nighttime snack."

Haerin couldn't help but smile. "Whatever you say, Mark."

"Anyways, why did you come here?" Mark asked, mixing his cereal. "I thought you liked being alone in your cabin."

"I do." Haerin answered. "But the past few days..."

"It's been hard, hasn't it?" Mark asked. "Without Dasom being here?"

Haerin nodded. "Yeah it is."

"The same thing happened to me." Mark told her, setting his bowl down on the table. "Johnny and I were really close when I first came here. He would always stick up and look out for me. He went on a quest with Taeyong and Jaehyun once, and I've never felt more alone. The other campers made me feel like a freak too, staring down my back when I trained."

"I kind of understand why you're... you know." Haerin said, hoping that she wasn't coming off as offensive.

"Cold? Intimidating? Scary?" Mark said with a smile.

"You said it, not me." Haerin said, smiling back.

"Don't worry, I've been hear long enough to know how the others see me." Mark told her, picking up his bowl again. "You'll get used to it eventually."

"Honestly, I thought I was fitting in, for once in my life." Haerin said, hugging her legs and resting her head on her knees. "And I was, up until Hades claimed me."

"Just ignore the younger campers." Mark said. "They're honestly annoying and can't get over the fact that you're a stronger fighter than them."

"Why are you being nice to me?" Haerin suddenly asked. "I didn't do anything to earn your trust or anything."

"The head counsellors aren't dumb, Haerin. We know you can't be a good fighter without working hard, no matter who your god parent is. Also, I'm not that shallow." Mark said, clearly offended. "I can tell that you're a good person, and that's enough for you to gain my trust."

"I'm sorry." Haerin said. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Mark shook his head, adjusting his glasses. "You have every right to be insecure. I would be too if my closest friend was gone and everyone around me was giving me judgemental looks all the time."

Haerin nodded, holding her legs tighter. "Thanks Mark, that means a lot."

"No problem." Mark said, putting his empty bowl down before grabbing his guitar. "But am I really that scary? You seem so intimidated when we're training."

"Well," Haerin began, standing up. "If I looked like this while training you, wouldn't you be shaking too?"

Haerin did her best impressed of Mark, breathing heavily and glaring at him.

She watched as Mark bit his lip before throwing his head back, laughing. Haerin couldn't help but giggle with him.

"Touché." Mark said, tuning the instrument now in his hands. "I'll try to be nicer tomorrow."

"Good luck." Haerin said, sitting back down in the bed. "It'll be a challenge."

"Guess I'll just have to prove you wrong." Mark said with a grin. Haerin watched as Mark played a chord.

Mark must have noticed her amazed reaction as he glanced over at her. "You don't listen to music a lot, do you?"

Haerin shook her head. "No, it made it hard for me to focus on schoolwork, especially with being dyslexic."

"I'm dyslexic too." Mark confessed. "Can't read words for the life of me. But ancient greek seems to be fine."

Something about Mark made Haerin feel comfortable around him as she sat on his bed, watching him play his guitar, singing to himself. In his room, alone in his cabin, Mark was much different, a lot more approachable and friendly.

Mark stopped, placing his guitar down. Haerin instantly perked up.

"You're really good at music. If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were one of Apollo's children." Haerin told him.

"Do I really seem as annoying as Haechan?" Mark asked. It took a while for Haerin to realize it was a joke.

"Mark, I think you can compete with Jeno for that no jam title." Haerin said, giggling to herself as Mark shook his head.

"The boys keep saying that too." Mark told her. "But Haerin?"

"Yeah?"

"Feel free to come by any time you want."

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Hehe haerins being cold to everyone else but now they're warming up to each other