KABILANG BUHAY | markhyuck

three

Mark woke up late. Lagi naman actually. Because he’s always sleeping late too. Madalas siyang inaabot ng 3AM sa pagsusulat ng lyrics at pagre-revise ng mga naisulat na niya. He’s always inspired to write something. Kasi lagi niya ring nasa tabi ang inspirasyon niya.

Speaking of inspirasyon, kinapa ni Mark ang espasyo ng kama nila na paboritong parte ni Dochyuck. Medyo malamig na ang bedsheet at halatang mga ilang oras na noong bumangon ang katabi.

Napipilitan man ay iminulat din ni Mark ang mga mata para hanapin ang kanina’y katabing matulog.

He heard noises from their kitchen, probably his boyfriend cooking something again. Donghyuck loves cooking. He loves cooking for Mark to be exact. Because according to his boyfriend’s older brother, Johnny, hindi naman daw nagluluto sa bahay nila ang nakababatang kapatid. Kahit daw takure ay hindi mo ito mapapaghawak. Maybe Mark always get the special treatments. One of the reasons why he had a hard time gaining Johnny’s blessing.

Ang panganay na kapatid lang naman ni Donghyuck ang napakahirap i-please noong mga panahong nanliligaw pa siya. Johnny’s even more strict compared to their parents. Siguro dahil na rin sa nagkasama sila noon sa iisang banda. They were so close before he even met Donghyuck and on those times that he’s friends with Johnny, kinunkunsiti nila ang isa’t isa sa iba’t ibang kalokohan. Mark totally understand that Johnny would not approve him easily as Hyuckie’s boyfriend when they spent nights flirting with multiple girls years before.

But now? After four years of being in a relationship with Donghyuck? ‘Ni hindi na nga maalala ng dalawa ang mga kagaguhan nila noon. He even calls Johnny “Kuya” as if they’re legit brother-in-laws.

Johnny and him had a serious talk about Donghyuck one time. Christmas eve, when he went to their family house to fetch Hyuckie. Apparently, Donghyuck’s parents finally agreed to let their youngest son live with Mark under the same roof. They said he’s already old enough for them not to interfere on what makes him happy anymore.

But Johnny, he didn’t let Mark take his little brother away without the talk.

Tandang-tanda niya pa kung anong sinabi sa kanya ni Johnny. Kung ano ang sinabi niya kay Johnny.

“’wag na ‘wag mong sasaktan ang kapatid ko, Minhyung Lee. Hyuckie will forever be a baby in my eyes. Hindi mo alam kung gaano kahirap para sa’kin ang makitang aalis siya ng bahay na ‘to. You don’t know how much betrayed I feel na kaya ka niyang piliin over his own family.”

Mark wanted to laugh so bad back then but he knows Johnny was sincere with his words.

“He’s not choosing me over you. He’s only expanding this family. He’s letting me in. But I want you to know that I won’t just barge in this family if I will only hurt Donghyuck. I won’t even step a foot inside your house if my intentions are bad.”

Johnny scoffed and gave his back a pat.

“Prove yourself to us, Mark. Dahil hindi kita papapasukin sa pamilyang ‘to hangga’t ‘di mo napapatunayan na karapatdapat ka.”

Mark gave him a smile, a sincere one.

“I won’t do anything to prove myself to you or anyone else. Lahat ng ginawa, ginagawa at gagawin ko ay para kay Hyuckie. I won’t do the things I will do for me to prove myself. I’ll do it to keep Donghyuck. To make him feel appreciated and loved.”

Ibinalik ni Mark sa nakatatandang kapatid ni Donghyuck ang tapik sa likuran. They both looked at Donghyuck who called them for dinner.

Nang ibaling ni Johnny muli ang tingin kay Mark, binigyan niya lang ito ng isang ngiti.

“I love your brother so damn much, man. ‘Wag kang mag-alala.”

Mark took his guitar that is placed next to their bedroom door. Bitbit niya ito pababa sa salla at papuntang kusina. He walked with light steps. Probably the reason why Donghyuck didn’t notice him.

He eyed his boyfriend from his bed-hair to his socked feet. He doesn’t wear short shorts but he surely still looks gorgeous with the long tee and loose pants. Mark loves Donghyuck’s thighs the most but this morning-Donghyuck, this is the one that makes him hard and soft at the same time. Kung ano man ang tumigas at nanlambot sa kanya, sigurado siyang hindi magugustuhan ni Johnny.

He can already smell the food Donghyuck is cooking. God, he’ so lucky to have him as his boyfriend. Imagine, ang sarap na nga niya, ang sarap pa niyang magluto. Pakiramdam ni Mark, tingin pa lang, busog na siya.

Umupo siya sa isa sa mga upuan nila sa kusina. He crossed his legs on the chair and put the guitar on it. He’s wearing the sweat shorts Donghyuck loves to steal from him. The muscle on his calves looks odd but Hyuckie always tell him it looks okay.

He strummed softly on his guitar, getting Hyuckie’s attention. Donghyuck swiftly turned to look at him. His hair is a mess. His banngs is covering almost half of his face. But fuck, he’s still beautiful. Siya ‘yung tipong ang sarap sarap pa rin titigan kahit halatang may muta pa sa mata at oily pa ang mukha.

Mark smiled at him then started singing Justin Bieber’s Intentions. The song is perfect. Mark always find himself singing it everytime he stares unconsciously to his boyfriend for so long.

“gorgeous, make ‘em drop dead, you’re a killer.”

Donghyuck rolled his eyes and kicked Mark on his shin softly.

“Stay in the kitchen cookin’ up, got your own bread.”

The younger threw a garlic clove on his face when he saw him licked his lips while looking at his ass. Fucking Mark Lee, always horny early in the morning.

“Ang ingay mo, peste ka. Tumulong ka dito.”

Donghyuck stole the guitar from Mark and placed it on table before dragging the older in front of the stove.

“Fried egg, Minhyung. Sunnyside up. Ilang beses na kitang tinuruan ha. Kapag ‘yan hindi mo pa rin na-perfect, salamat na lang sa lahat.”

Napakamot na lang si Mark sa itaas ng batok. Kahit pa ilang beses ihampas si Donghyuck ang kawali sa mukha niya, pakiramdam niya hindi talaga siya makakaperfect ng ganoong klase ng pritong itlog. Scrambled egg nga pumapalpak pa siya kasi madalas niyang makalimutan ang seasoning sa sobrang panic.

“Mahal naman—”

Agad siyang pinandilatan ng mata ni Donghyuck kaya hindi na siya nakaangal pa.

As expected, dumikit na naman sa non-stick pan kuno ni Donghyuck ang nilulutong itlog ni Mark. At heto na naman si Donghyuck sa pagpalo sa braso at pagkurot sa tagiliran niya. Sabi nito sisirain niya lang daw ang kawaling binili pa ni Donghyuck sa O-shopping.

“Nakakagigil, Minhyung Lee. Hindi mo ba alam kung ano ang mantika? Nagtipid ka sa mantika eh mas mahal ‘yang pinaglulutuan mo kumpara sa isang litrong mantika.”

Itatanong niya sana kay Donghyuck kung bakit dumidikit ‘yung itlog sa mamahalin niyang non stick pan pero pinigilan niya na rin ang sarili para maiwasang lalong ma-bad shot sa boyfriend at hindi makakain hanggang hapunan.

“Itlog lang ‘to, Minhyung oh. Hindi ka talaga pwedeng pabayaang mag-isa eh.”

Kung narinig man ni Mark na hindi siya kayang ipagluto ng boyfriend niya habang buhay, pinili niya na lang magbingi-bingihan.