KABILANG BUHAY | markhyuck

two

“Love, panoorin mo ‘ko.”

Mark immediately has his eyes locked on his boyfriend when he heard him called. Hawak nito ang gitarang bigay niya noong birthday nito. An acoustic guitar with stickers of watermelon and pizzas. It also has a drawing of a badly-shaped heart na inambag lang ni Mark sa design using a permanent marker.

His boyfriend’s smiling while looking at the guitar he’s holding. Kinakapa ang chords na ilang linggo na niyang inaaral. He looks excited. Maybe all his practices paid off already and he’s now ready to brag it on his mentor.

He strummed a C-chord. Perfectly putting pressure on the strings and pulling it off. Mark smiled widely, completely neglecting his songwriting notebook.

The boy tried another chord but Mark saw that one finger is not on the right place so he stood up and went to sit beside him.

“Dito mo ilagay,” he said with a smile.

His boyfriend strummed again and it sounded beautiful. He even tried to play with it to create a nice sound. Mark only cooed proudly.

“Try playing G, mahal.”

Agad na tinulungan ni Mark ang kamay nito at itinuro kung saan ba dapat ilagay ang bawat daliri.

Malapad na ngiti ang ibinigay sa kanya ng boyfriend nang maayos nitong nagawa ang itinuro ni Mark.

That smile. It’s the only smile Mark would fucking die for. Ngiti ng isang Lee Donghyuck.

“You’re improving, love. Kapag natuto ka na ng tuluyan, wala na akong kayang gawin na hindi mo kaya. You’re better than me at all things aside from playing guitar. Akin ka ba talaga?”

Ngumiwi si Donghyuck sa tanong ng boyfriend, “Ang OA ha. Hindi ka lang marunong magluto eh.”

Mark laughed at that. Donghyuck rolled his eyes and proceeded on playing again. There are times that he would play the guitar wrong but what’s the use of being in a relationship with Mark if he won’t learn how to play it easily? Syempre to the rescue lagi si Mark sa kanya.

“Tama na, sa isang araw na lang ulit,” Mark told him.

Donghyuck pouted. Of course he will pout. Hindi na ata mawawala sa isang Lee Donghyuck ang pagiging cute. Madalas pa niyang nagagamit ‘yon para mapasunod si Mark sa mga gusto niya.

“Love, you’re pressing the strings too lightly. Alam kong masakit na ang mga daliri mo.”

Mark pulled the guitar away from his boyfriend and scanned the calloused tip of his fingers. It’s starting to have little wounds. Namumula na ito sa diin ng pagkakalapat sa matatalas na string ng gitara.
Mark can feel the sting of those wounds. He had been there. Noong mga panahong kasing nipis pa ng balat ng mga daliri ni Hyuck ang daliri niya.

He lightly touched it and saw Hyuck flinched.

“see? Nasasaktan ka na eh,” Mark said with worry in his voice.

Hyuck stuck his tongue out, which made Mark pull him closer. He hugged him tight and kissed the crown of his hair.

“Luh, ang clingy. Nakakainis.”

They both burst out laughing, Donghyuck changing his position between Mark’s arms to hug the older back and kiss him on his neck.

“Love, promise me you won’t be sad for too long.”

Mark clung to his boyfriend more while closing his eyes, dwelling on Hyuck’s warmth and feeling the most of it.

“Hyuck naman, please, stop bringing that up.”

Donghyuck pulled away and looked at Mark’s closed eyes. There are tears on the corners of it already. He quickly kissed the tears away.

When Mark still not moved a single muscle, he carded his fingers on the strands of his boyfriend’s hair. He massaged his scalp and nape and kissed him all over his face.

Donghyuck ended up hugging him again, tightly this time. He leaned his head on Mark’s shoulder and faced away from his boyfriend’s neck.

“I’m sorry,” he said with a pout.

That’s when Mark sigh. He put an arm around Hyuck’s waist and let his other hand play on the younger’s hair.

“Just… just don’t talk about it again.”

“Minhyung, we don’t have a lot of time—”

Mark tighten his hug and sighed once again.

“I know, I know. But please, mahal. Hindi ko pa kaya.”

With that, he felt warm liquid spreading on his shirt around the shoulder area where Hyuck leans. And then there are small cries and hiccups.

“H-hindi naman kita iiwan eh.”

Sana nga. Sana nga hindi mo ‘ko iwan.