𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 | 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗹𝗲𝗲

𝔦 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔱𝔢𝔩𝔩

"yo mark" johnny said as they were the boys were eating breakfast after the girls quickly left without eating, because they all woke up late. as the rest of the boys quietly listened to the others talk. this was always a normal conversation when the girls weren't around as they checked into each other to make sure that everyone was okay.

"when are you gonna confess to hana?" johnny questioned as all the boys suddenly brought their eyes to johnny's forwardness as he sipped his coffee and mark had kimchi fried rice stuffed in his mouth.

"uh i d-don't know." mark replied honestly as he drank his whole up of water trying to avoid everyone's eyes.

"you should do it eventually. i feel like hana is waiting for you to take initiative." yuta suggested as he continued to grab more food to his plate.

"i'm just trying to find the right time honestly. it's my first time with all these feelings and emotions you know yuta-oppa?" mark said as he stared at yuta while toying with his hair and tucking the strains in the beanie.

"don't keep her waiting too long, girls tend to overthink if no progress is made mark." taeyong advised knowing it would work out. all the boys knew that, they all speak about it when mark and hana hang out separately, watch movies, mark's small gestures to her, the flirty presence that comes out of hana when she's with mark. they could see it all, it was just like a firework slowly ticking as everyone anticipates.

"why did you already confess to irene-noona that's why you would know and are suggesting for me to confess soon?" mark teased sarcastically knowing that he liked the speed he was going with hana, but he couldn't help but take into consideration taeyong's advice.

"yeah, we're not official. we're just kinda seeing how things will go over time. you should talk it out so you and her are on the same page. you too haechan." taeyong said as he pointed his utensils to the younger emphasizing that they should do it soon.

"i want to do it ty track, but i'm scared that my playful persona might make soyeon think i'm not serious or mature enough? i'll see over time." haechan sighed feeling his insecurities arise thinking about the girl.

"i think despite your constant joking and playful manner, she likes it. i would always catch her staring at you at the corner of her eye when you're around. she would be straightforward if she didn't like the way you guys are going. she acts like you basically, you should be fine haechan." taeil explained as doyoung agreed unexpectedly.

"maybe, we shouldn't call any relationships like boyfriend or girlfriend though." mark said honestly knowing how things can go.

"i kinda agree with mark. i'm glad seeing you all happy but i don't like the idea of you all getting in a relationship and it affects our work connections as well. since, the girls are a part of nct, it's dangerous." jungwoo spoke softly not trying to offend anyone but bring the truth of being in the spotlight to view.

"the scandals aren't fun, i would know that first-hand. but in the end, sooman loves those girls and we all know it. he would respect the girls with whatever. it'll probably make him mad, but you know how much sooman cares for us behind the scenes. his mean exterior and decisions is all that the outside sees. we'll respect whatever you guys choose to do." jaehyun agreed to jungwoo as the boys collectively continued thinking about what is to come, the good and bad possibilities. the truth was, everyone was scared.

~

"we only have like ten minutes before choreographer-nim and manger-nim come back in, but basically taeyong confessed yesterday." irene said quietly as the girls began giggling and slapping the oldest out of shock.

"oh my gosh! so what are you guys now?" soyeon curiously asked as everyone leaned in.

"well, we're on the same page. we aren't in a relationship which we both agreed on, but we know we're more than friends and that we both like each other, we're kinda just playing it safe for now until we know where we both want for each other." irene explained as yeri grabbed everyone's shoulder to announce something as well.

"i'm sorry i haven't told you guys because i was in so much shock when it happened, but like last week when johnny and i went out for a drive-in movie.. i confessed." yeri said before pulling her hoodie over her head trying to hide from embarrassment.

"wow who would've thought yeri was the type to make the first move! anyway, how did johnny react?" hana asked giving her signature bright smile.

"thank god, the windows were tinted-" yeri continued with her story.

"did you guys do it?" irene panicked as the girls gasped at the thought of yeri doing the naughty deed before getting married.

"NO! he kissed me and told me he felt the same, but just like irene, i asked him where we were at but we both agreed that it's not the best time to date, but we're aware of one another's affection." yeri said as everyone left out a breath that yeri didn't realize they were holding.

"how's things going with you and haechan?" yeri pointed to soyeon.

"we're taking our time. i enjoy it, because in comparison to you and irene unni, haechan and i are very playful and light-natured. if anything, we love each other's company, but sometimes it's hard to differentiate from one another's flirty manner or actual flirting, you know?" soyeon opened up at the thought of the boy that she loved being with and her need and want to be by him always grew unknowingly.

"ah, understandable. as long as you have open, comfortable communication with him, i'm sure things will turn out okay. don't overthink." hana reassured hoping to help soyeon feel better about the confusion she has.

"hana, what about you and mark?" soyeon mentioned as she digested the advice hana gave her earlier.

"well, i mean i guess we're all somewhat in a similar situation, my only worry is that mark sometimes confuses me." hana said with honest worry in her voice.

"in what way?" irene questioned.

"well, mark is a naturally very nice guy, i love that about him. but sometimes, i get worried that he's overly taking care of me, that he's neglecting like his actual feelings. like for example, we left the dorms without eating right? he sent money to my card and left a message saying: don't forget to buy the girls and you something! it just worries me because, i feel like he's doing so much for me, and i'm not matching up his energy, you know? but i do intend to, it's just everytime i want to really go out of my way like he does, i chicken out." hana said as she kept zipping and unzipping her jacket on top of her sports bra.

"well, i think you get anxious about how he might react, but in all honesty, i think he goes out of his way because he loves you." irene said and before yeri and soyeon could put in their input, the choreographer and their manager came back in the room. the girls quietly ended the conversation as their manager noticed hana's phone had a notification ringtone play on the couch beside her.

"hana your phone got a notif." manager-nim said as hana glanced at the girls and they internally sent messages to each other through their facial features. hana's gut was telling her it might be mark, and she felt a quick need to go check her suspicions. her phone screen read:

mark: i'm missing you a lot more than usual hana :(

hana: i'm sorry i had to leave so abruptly, i ended up waking you up and i feel bad. did you eat?

mark: i did, did you?

hana: the girls and i will grab food during our longer break

mark: okay, i'll leave you to it, you got this hana :)

hana felt herself subconsciously typing something and before she could do anything about it she sent it and quickly ran back to practice.

hana: thank you mark, i really appreciate it. i love you bye <3

a/n: i hope you liked this longer chapter!! how do you think of the plot of the story? too slow? too quick? feel free to be honest <3