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Two years ago...
"Okay guys, water break. I want you all back in action for three o'clock though!" The director barked above the chatter, and the crew dispersed into the wings and backstage or else their cars to catch up with each other and grab a snack. Mrs. Kwan massaged her temples and wandered over to Mark who sat down on a stray seat away from the setup of a dining hall. It was well structured, she believed, and this whole film's budget wasn't small to say the least.
"Hey, how're holding up?" She enquired wearily and passed him a bottle of water as per usual while she too sipped from hers.
"Fine. It feels like this day will never end though. Am I being dramatic?" The actor wondered aloud as the plastic crackled between his fingers and his gaze narrowed ever so slightly.
"Not at all. It's all nearly over, anyway. Just the last push, y'know?" The brunette female then shifted her sights from Mark to the costar perched by the wall of the set. He was on his phone, but very clearly not interested in it. "Hmmm," her voice resonated softly, "Have you been talking to Jeno lately?"
"A bit. He's not as bad as I thought he was."
"I guessed as much. Why don't you go over and keep him company? He looks bored out of his mind, the poor thing."
"I don't know what you're trying to do," the younger arched his brow, "but I don't like it."
"Who said I was trying to do anything?"
"If you're attempting to set me up with him, don't bother. He likes my boyfriend."
"And?"
"And he's clearly not interested in anything else."
"You're so annoying, Mark," she groaned lengthily and placed her water down on a small desk to the side. "Didn't that boy of yours who dresses as a girl like Jaemin as well to begin with?"
"Chenle isn't Jeno. They're not even similar, and Le was more than happy to extend his horizons. Jeno is just...the way he is."
"Fine. But if this film ends and your crush withers away as you never see him again, don't come crying to me."
The ravenette gritted his teeth and rubbed his make-up-caked face from irritation and exhaustion. His hazy, mahogany irises darted from one corner of the room to another, at a loss for what to do. "I don't want to get rejected. It feels like shit."
"Uh huh? And haven't we all been there at some stage? Go talk to him, you moron. Even if it's not about that, just chat. He's on his own because of his forward personality."
"I'm not taming him," the other scoffed and stood up all the same. "He's not a wild fox or something."
And yet you're walking to him, she smiled faintly, chuckling to herself once alone and sitting down on the chair that her actor had left behind.
Mark swallowed thickly even when he was aware that he was the higher up here. Strolling casually over to one of the most gorgeous men he'd ever met had his nerves tangled on the inside, and the younger's admiration towards him meant almost nothing when compared to the other kind of 'love' in the equation.
His feet stopped once he reached the taller adult, and their eyes met as Jeno shifted his gaze from his phone. "Oh. Hi," he smiled softly, "You look tired. Looking after yourself?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I could say the same for you," the older mumbled quietly and slid down along the wall to sit against it. Jeno blinked once before deciding to follow suit and shuffled down until their shoulders were touching and their warmth was shared somewhat. "This film feels like it's lasted an eternity..."
"That's only because you're not accustomed to this genre. You're feeling awkward and stressed, and that's perfectly natural," the taller hummed. His sights danced over the bustle of the studio and his hands remained clasped around his legs pulled to his chest.
A small silence settled over them, but it wasn't uncomfortable in any way. In fact, the pair had grown used to the quietness as neither ever knew what to say. They just...left it this way sometimes rather happily. Although today, Jeno did have a question he'd been withholding for about a week.
"So..." he found himself uttering without thinking, "You have a boyfriend, don't you?"
"Yeah, you met him. And actually, there's more than o—"
"What's he like? Jaemin, that is."
Great, now I have to describe how perfect Nana is and watch him fall even more starstruck. I really am hopeless, the older actor inwardly cried, but he kept up a brave face and thought of every detail of his lover that he adored — which was pretty much everything. "Well, he's quite a handful, really. A little bossy at times, tends to move to the beat of his own drum...says crazy things you'd rather he wouldn't. But those make him fun, exciting, interesting. I remember when I met him at the Sapphire Dome, he instantly had me under some kind of spell. He smiles a certain way and tunes his voice accordingly to make himself everything you could possibly want."
"That's a host for you. How do you know he's not unfaithful?"
"You...you sort of have to get to know him to understand. He's sensitive and a crybaby...always yelling at me when I have to go, or clinging to me when we're together. But he's strong too, in a way that inspires me. He'd move Heaven and Hell to make us happy, and I don't know how he does it sometimes."
"'Us'?"
"Mhm...'us'. Jeno, do you...like him? Well, I suppose find him attractive, as you've not really gotten to know him."
"I don't go for taken boys."
"Hypothetically, let's say he's single. Would you?"
"Mark..."
"Don't make it weird, I'm not trying to lure you into a trap here," the ravenette beamed genuinely. "I really want to know."
Jeno tilted his head and looked back out to the crew for a moment, following a woman struggling to carry a boom mic towards the corner of the set. "Um...yeah, I would. He's visually my type, and by the sounds of it...my type in general. I'm so sick of pleasers and needy people."
Mark glanced down to his knees and grazed his tongue over his lower lip nervously. "And do you like...believe in sharing? Imagine sharing someone."
"Psh, ew. No. Who's mine is mine, and I would belong to one person alone. That's what's natural...why would someone share the one they love? It doesn't make sense."
Wow, a very hard 'no', the older grimaced to himself and played with his fingers absentmindedly to alleviate his stress. His heart was cracking into small shards and words like those sometimes reminded him that he wasn't like everyone else. That he and Jaemin were a rare breed and that most people dedicated their love to one sole being and gave it their all.
At times...he wondered why he couldn't be the same.
"I suppose I just like to think of things like that. You know...people who have the capacity to love many."
"They sound disloyal to me."
"That's not even close. You've never encountered polyamory?"
"Poly-what?"
Mark swallowed the lump in his throat and chose to drop that topic right there. He didn't want the rest of his time with Jeno to be uncomfortable, and if that meant dodging his sexual orientation as a conversation...then so be it. He'd deal with that.
The cast all got back into character after another five minutes of meaningless chatter and banter. This was the last haul of the day, and luckily the break reenergised the majority of the staff. Both actors took their positions as instructed by their near-hoarse director, and the work went on.
It wasn't until the clock struck six in the evening that everyone was finally released from the metaphorical chains of theatre. Two boys walked in with expressed permission passes from the entrance and a few of the crew glanced up to eye them carefully while others were well-acquainted with their presences.
"Oh, Nana, Hyuck," Mark grinned excitedly and jogged over to find himself engulfed in a double hug. They squeezed him liked he'd been absent for months, and pressed kisses to his cheeks to make up for the time lost to work hours.
"Ready to go home?" Donghyuck asked with a twinkle to his honey-flecked brown eyes. "We'll all be home tonight..." his index finger slowly edged upwards from the oldest's chest to his collar which was then lightly gripped.
"Why don't you yell at him for public displays of sexual tension?" Jaemin hissed. "It's always my fault."
"Boys, let's not argue and do...whatever this is here. Home time—"
"Oh! It's that Jeno boy," the blonde cooed happily and waved over at the erotic actor with a gleeful smile. He was naturally friendly, but the line between his social attitude and his flirting was a slim one. "Hi!"
"Hey," the raven-haired male murmured as he too joined the small gathering. "Jaemin. And..."
"I'm Donghyuck. You must be the actor Mark's mentioned before, yeah?" The young honey-blonde narrowed his eyes — the only member still suspicious of anyone attracting his man.
"That...is probably me," Jeno nodded slowly and bowed to be respectful. "So, are you a friend or something?"
"Uh, friend? Good Sir, you are speaking to his—"
"Yes, he is. Best friend, actually," Mark hurried and mentally slapped himself for it. Why did he do that? Why was he desperate to keep up a relationship that was doomed to crumble soon anyway? The look on Donghyuck's face was terrifying as well...a mixture of enraged and hurt.
"I...I am?" He whispered. "Y-Yeah. That's me...the friend."
"Oh, then I'm their main character," Jaemin chuckled. "Their stories revolve around my life."
Jeno wasn't sure where the odd atmosphere between his colleague and the small blonde had come from, but something did send alarm bells to his brain. The conversation of 'sharing' flicked over his ignorant mind...and he chose to ignore it all. Not only that, but Jaemin was rather distracting in a pair of skinny jeans and a massive hoodie that he doubted belonged to him.
"So we're gonna go," the oldest suddenly urged, pushing the two arrivals forward and awkwardly smiling to the tallest before heading off towards the door. "See you, Jeno."
"Oh, of course. See you tomorrow."
But the young man didn't miss the 'you're sleeping on the couch tonight' comment passed only metres from him. And again, something didn't sound right about those three.
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I promise I didn't die ;-;
Honestly I've gotten back into gaming recently and I've been taking breaks and doing assignments and blah blah blah. I'm sorry I sort of left you guys high and dry there, I'll try to keep on top of it.
Thanks for your patience, and I love you all!
-lily