"so... you really just want me to speak, huh?," donghyuck waited for a response but got nothing in return. "you could at least stop staring at me with your beady eyes," he added with a pout.
"you're cute so i'll forgive you," donghuck picked up the teddy bear and gave it a warm hug. "did i just hear you talking to that thing?" jaehyun walked in the room without bothering to knock and set his bag down on his bed.
the younger blushed. "mark hyung told me to talk to him," he defended. "mark gave that to you?" jaehyun raised his brows. the brunette nodded and pet the teddy bear.
"that explains why you're so attatched to it. you just got it yesterday and you won't stop hugging it," jaehyun chuckled. "what is that supposed to mean?" donghyuck asked in confusion. "nothing," jaehyun smirked.
"we have early schedules tomorrow. i'm gonna go to bed," jaehyun left to the bathroom to shower and do his skin care routine. meanwhile, donghyuck changed into comfortable clothes to sleep in and laid under the covers.
his phone glowed next to him as a notification popped up. mark sent a text saying, 'you up?' donghyuck quickly unlocked his phone and replied saying that he was still awake. 'that was a trick question, go to sleep' donghyuck read.
he smiled as his finger hovered over the call button. he would like to have some company as he waited for jaehyun to return so he could turn out the lights. he pressed the button and waited for mark to pick up.
"melt," donghyuck greeted as mark answered. "i just told you to go to sleep. why are you still up?" mark asked. the younger smiled, "jaehyun-hyung went to take a shower and i'm waiting for him to turn off the lights."
mark hummed in response. "why did you call?" mark asked another question. "i wanted to hear your voice," donghyuck replied honestly. "oh, okay. how have you been today?" mark asked.
donghyuck played dumb and responded. "the dance teacher said i did well on the dance and...," he heard mark sigh in frustration over the line, "my vocal lesson went pretty well too. hmm... what else?" a smile crept onto his face as he teased.
"you know what i mean, donghyuck. do feel better than yesterday at least?" mark asked. donghyuck enjoyed the feeling of getting mark worked up. he decided that he had tease enough and answered the older's question.
"yeah, i feel better. the teddy bear is working," he chuckled. mark felt relieved to hear that. "he doesn't beat your company though," donghyuck said truthfully. "glad to hear. i would hate to have my spotlight stolen by a plushie toy," mark smiled though the brunette couldn't see it. the call fell silent as donghyuck listened to the sounds of the older's breathing.
"have you ever been in love?" donghyuck asked. his hands covered his mouth immediately as he realized what he just asked. he hadn't meant to say it out loud, it just slipped out. he cringed as he heard the sound of mark letting out a short gasp. "wait! sorry, i didn't mean to say it. you don't have to ans-," donghyuck got cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"it's fine, i don't mind," mark reassured him. there was slight pause before mark spoke again. "i haven't been lucky enough to fall in love yet," he stopped and thought for a second, "but i think i might soon."
donghyuck was confused and wanted to ask about what he meant. he didn't get a chance to before the bathroom door opened and jaehyun walked in with damp hair. "oh, jaehyun hyung is back," donghyuck alerted mark.
"okay then. sleep well donghyuck-ah," mark hung up leaving the younger with butterflies in his stomach.
"you were just on the phone with mark, right?" jaehyun questioned as he settled in the bed. donghyuck nodded but furrowed his brows, "how did you know? you could barely hear his voice over there, my volume was pretty low."
jaehyun smiled, showing his deep dimples, "no one else calls you donghyuck."
---
donghyuck sat in the dance room calming his breath as his chest heaved up and down heavily. "one more time?" mark asked as everyone shook their heads. they had been practicing for their comeback dance for six hours. the comeback was coming up soon and they wanted everything to be perfect.
all the songs were recorded, the visual shots and teaser photos had been taken too. they learned all the dances on the album too. the music video shoot would be the next day so they were perfecting the dance so that they could be absolutely in sync.
"maybe we should do it one more time," jeno stood up and took a big gulp of water. "i don't want to," chenle whined as he laid on the ground dramatically. "cute," jaemin stared at the maknae fondly. "i guess we can do it just one more time," jisung stood up too. donghyuck gave in with a groan and agreed, followed by renjun, jaemin, and lastly, chenle.
the music started and they danced following the rythym of the song and keeping up with the tempo. "almost there!" mark called during the dance break. sweat poured down their faces as they gave it their all.
finally, the music stopped along with their movements. all seven of them collapsed on the floor, catching their breath.
"yo, dream!"
"let's do it, fighting!"
donghyuck smiled. though all the practice was tiresome and took a lot of hard work, he didn't regret it at all. the room consisted of nothing but the sounds of their tired breathing. donghyuck rolled over until he was at renjun's side.
his arms latched around the older's waist as he hugged him. "let go of me," renjun grunted out, trying to pry donghyuck's arms from around his waist. "no," donghyuck replied sharply, burrying his head in the other's neck.
"haechan i swear to go if you don't let go of me," he warned, still trying to move away from the brunette. "ah, why are you so cute," donghyuck laughed in response.
renjun's lips were pushed into a pout as he glared at the younger. "maybe we should all go back to the dorm and take showers," mark's voice was heard. his voice was sharp and clipped. the tone of his voice was familiar but only used when he was upset.
the dreamies exchanged nervous glances but eventually shrugged it off, figuring that mark was just tired. after all, he had been meeting up with super m and discussing ideas with their lyricist more and more recenlty.
"sure," chenle got up and pulled jisung up who was next to him. one by one, everyone stood up and collected their things before leaving the dance room and locking the door behind them. The seven walked towards the elevator talking mindlessly while mark follwed in the back.
the elevator ride was slightly awkward with no one speaking. everyone seemed to take great intrest in the elevator music or the tiled design of the walls. "see you guys later," everyone but mark and donghyuck left the elevator, waving.
donghyuck felt even more awkward when the elevator doors shut closed and he was left in silence with mark. he risked a glance at the male next to him and saw mark's lips drawn in a tight line. he was curious as to why he was in a bad mood and was tempted to ask, but didn't.
the ride ended and they walked out to the 127 dorms. together, they walked through the dorm lounge recieving curious glances from jaehyun and johnny. donghyuck shrugged his should as response to their raised brows and they gave him a small smile.
it was extremely unlike mark to be in a sour mood. they walked past donghyuck's dorm but he followed mark all the way to his room. "mark hyung, you aren't angry are you?" he asked nervously, surprised that he suddenly had the courage to ask. "i'm fine, just tired," mark stated quickly. donghyuck was no where near convinced. "you don't seem fine," he knew it was a bad idea to push the topic but he couldn't help it.
"if i said i'm fine, i'm fine, okay?" mark lashed out, voice rising. "i'm only trying to look out for you, why are you in such a sour mood?" donghyuck threw back, angrily.
"leave me alone, haechan," donghyuck didn't like how mark called him that. mark almost never called him that when they were off cameras. "i-i'm sorry, i was just worried about you," donghyuck bit back what he truly wanted to say.
his voice sounded delicated as his eyes watered. he turned his back to the ravenette and began walking towards him room. "wait," mark said, voice calmer than before. donghyuck didn't turn around, not willing to look him in the eye and risk his tears to fall.
"it's been a long day and i just need some alone time. i'm sorry," mark said sincerely. donghyuck nodded his head and walked off without another word.
---
mark sat in his room, regretting his harsh words after his brief shower. it took him five minutes to get up and walk to the younger's room. he knocked on the door, but got no response. slowly, he opened the door and heard the shower water running along with muffled sounds.
he pressed his ear to the door and his heart shattered at the sound of the younger's crying. taking his bottom lip in between his teeth, he knew that a proper apology needed to be said. at their current state, he didn't know how to approach the younger.
if it were another timeline and he was another person, he would've waited for the younger to et out of the shower before embracing his in a hug, whispering comforting words in his ear. unfortunately, mark didn't have enough confidence to do that and figured that donghyuck wouldn't want to see him anyway.
he left the bedroom, closing the door gently behind him. he sat on the couch in the lounge before another figure approached him. "mark-ssi, are you okay?" one of the staff that had come in to check on everyone, asked.
mark recognized that she was one of the new staff people. she was older than mark by a couple years but treated him well. "yeah, i just have a lot of stuff on my plate right now," he replied. she nodded and tried to lift the mood with a few jokes. mark found himself laughing and felt slightly better already.
---
donghyuck finished his shower and left the room to get some iced water from the kitchen. he hoped that his eyes weren't too red from crying so that no one would notice. he poured himself a glass of ice cold water and set it on the counter before hearing one of his favorite sounds; mark's laughter.
his eyes followed the sound and his heart strings tugged when he saw him with a bright smile, laughing. his heart dropped when he saw who was next to him, making him laugh. it was the newest staff member. his blood turned cold as he recognized her to be a staff member who was pretty close to mark.
she was tall, pretty, and had the most beautiful pale skin. donghyuck grew insecure as he stared at her. she had everything he didn't. he looked at the tan skin on his arm and suddenly wished he had agreed to lee sooman when he offered to bleach donghyuck's skin.
he took the water in hand, and quickly walked back to his bedroom. he set the water on his nightstand and sat in the bed, pulling the comforter over his legs, and picking up the teddy bear. "i have a confession to make...," he began nervously. it was something he had yet to confess to himself as well, and by saying it, he would be confirming the thought which had been swarming in his head for the past few days.
"i think i like mark— no, i know i like mark... more than a friend."
the bathroom door which had already been opened a crack opened wider, revealing a shirtless jaehyun with wide eyes. "haechan what the fuck?"
-----
word count: 2061
thanks for reading! we got a sneak peek at jealous mark ;) how do you feel about haechan's confession? i feel like this story is a bit rushed but feel free to tell me what you think. also i'm curious as to who you're nct 127 bias is. mine is definitely hyuck but please let me know in the comments.
beatbox was such a succes, i'm in love. the chenji harmony part TT. everywhere i go, bring the beatbox 🎶
✎ ---- dreaminghyuck⤾