never not ✧ mark lee

53

"That seems kinda cruel, didn't you debut when you were 16?" Dasom said to Mark. "Four years and they wanted you to quit?"

"It was cruel," Haru nodded. "The fans also hated the idea of Mark leaving. When he had their last show with them, all the members were understandably upset, considering they all literally grew up together. Then 2019 happened, and the remaining six had their concerts. But the last day was awful, because by then Renjun, Jeno, Hyuck, and Jaemin were all 20, so they all thought that would be the end for them."

"They were all a mess including Jisung and Chenle, unsure about their futures in NCT since Hyuck was the only one part of a fixed unit," Mark continued. "But I guess our company saw how much nobody wanted NCT Dream to split up, so they decided to get rid of the graduation concept, and they decided to revamp the group, giving them one more comeback last year before bringing me back to Dream for our 2020 brand album."

"Wow, from what I can tell, you guys are the overall most loved unit," Dasom commented. "It would've been sucky as hell if they just completely changed the Dream lineup. I'm glad they didn't."

"So are we," Donghyuck agreed. "At least Mark and I have each other in 127, but the rest had no idea what their futures would be like."

"Must've been really hard emotionally," Dasom smiled comfortingly. "But it all worked out in the end. You guys are so young too so you even have a lot of time before you have to enlist. Your future is looking real bright."

"But it's a little fucked that they gave up their childhoods to train at SM, right?" Haru asked her.

"Well, yeah I guess," Dasom considered, looking across her at the two boys. "But I feel like none of you regret it."

"Absolutely not," Donghyuck declared with no hesitation.

"I would do if all over again," Mark agreed. "Wouldn't trade these kids for the world, they're my family."

It was heartwarming to hear the way Mark and Donghyuck talked about their colleagues. You wouldn't see that kind of bond in another profession.

"If Chenle was here he would say otherwise," Haru laughed.

"It's all an act," Donghyuck chuckled. "He loves us."

"How long have you known them?" Dasom asked Haru.

"Oh, I've known Hyuck since we were in elementary school," she replied. "Of course, I saw less and less of him once he became a trainee, but over time he introduced me to the rest of the guys. I think I've known Mark and the rest for about five years now?"

Dasom bit her lip. It was great that Haru had become such good friends with Mark and the others, but she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, wishing she'd known Mark for that long. She'd only known him for less than a year now.

"It kinda feels like we've known each other for as long as that too, right Des?" Mark said to her, smiling as if he was reading her mind.

"Yeah, it kinda does," Dasom smiled back at him.

When they were done paying the bill for the food and drinks, they left the pizzeria in pairs, since Donghyuck and Haru were arguing over god knows what. Mark and Dasom walked with a little distance between themselves and the other two.

"She totally likes him," Dasom observed, thinking about Haru's body language and behaviour towards Donghyuck that she'd witnessed every time she'd seen them interact.

"Yep, definitely," Mark instantly agreed. "But Donghyuck is completely oblivious. He just laughs in our faces every time one of us tries to tell him."

"Let me guess," Dasom said. "It's one of those 'ew she's like my sister' things with him?"