forever in our hearts ||markyong||

memory two

When Taeyong turned thirteen, he started high school. He was excited, of course, but also knew that by moving out he'd have to leave Mark behind. The day he broke the news to the younger, was a sunny one. They were sitting on the floor of Marks room, Taeyong holding the other gently. 

 With a deep sigh, he turned to look at the raven haired boy and mumbled his news to the younger. 'Surprisingly' Mark didn't hear what he had said and forced him to repeat it. After their peals of laughter, due to Mark's begging and the slight tugs Taeyong felt on his sleeve, died, the atmosphere changed. It was like the news dragged all of the lights out.

 The night turned into quiet hugs and cuddles, without words. Neither of them had anything to say, it was gonna be the longest time they had ever been separated for.  

For the next few days, Mark went through all of their memories together. You know what they say about images flashing in your eyes just before death? Well, Mark felt like something in him was dying. As if he was choking without his own oxygen.

He woke up every morning only to remember that his morning moment with Taeyong wasn't gonna happen. His routines had been bent to match the rhythm of his best friend.

While dancing, he closed his eyes, imagining the older moving next to him. Sometimes he'd even think he felt a light touch on his arm, which of course made his eyes snap open, just for the reality to hit him in the face.

Every day he tried to call, he tried to message, but he got the answers days or weeks later. The answers slowly stopped appearing as happy and bright but instead turned lifeless and emotionless. Mark knew it wasn't his fault. His beloved hyung was getting tired.

Taeyong didn't come back even for the summers, he was busy. And only a few people around him knew how much he hated it. Every time he heard of Mark, his realization of how much he was by the younger missed grew. He tried to help it by only posting pictures of him hugging Yuta, the sweet boy on his class. They even dated for a moment, not because of love for each other though.

Yuta loved a slightly younger kid but tried his best to stop. The ballet dancer had no interest in him, at least that was the case if you asked the Japanese. Taeyong, on the other hand, tried to make Mark hate him. It hurt every cell of his body, but just the thought of making Mark feel even slightly better made him do it. 

Taeyong's grades were great. From the start to the end he was the best in all his classes. After three years it didn't help him at all though. He was desperate to see his friend, who, just to spoil it for you, never started hating him. Mark was too smart. He saw the lack of emotion in his eyes, no matter how many pictures and shocked comments he went through.

In the end, Taeyong graduated and Mark was the first one to give him a bouquet of flowers, with the brightest grin adorning his face. And right at that moment, Taeyong swore he was the happiest boy alive. 

The happiness didn't end even when it was Mark's turn to study. All thanks to Taeyong's decision of not going to college yet. He'd go three years later and spend that spare time working in a cafe near Mark's high school dorms, at the same time earning money for his future studies. 

And oh boy, let me tell you that their years passed by quicker than they imagined. Mark spent his evenings studying with Taeyong serving him coffee and smiles. Their nights filled with waves of laughter and gentle hugs. Mark was such a frequent customer that the owner of the cafe hired him for weekends. Everyone loved the newest member of their barista family.

The owner wasn't too old, but definitely acted like that. The fatherly actions of Leeteuk, as they knew him, were often the reason behind the smiles. He took good care of them and listened to all the worries Taeyong had, and every once in a while Mark's too.

Leeteuk saw something neither of them understood. At nights he prayed for Mark's girlfriends to not break down once the realization would down on the boy. He prayed Taeyong would never think he had fucked up and make bad decisions. 

Because he, unlike anyone else, was there on the day they both got their letters from the college they applied to together. Both papers held a similar message; accepted. And the cafe owner smiled, because for him it was clear that this was the real beginning of their story. Things would change, for sure, but the two would hold hands through it all. 

||heyy! this took longer than supposed but here it is; the last chapter like this. From now on, Ill try to write the chapters about certain periods of time, or as the chapter names imply: memories.