"-Well, I have to leave" Haechan says.
"Already?" Jisung responds. "It's barely 6 PM"
"I have to see Johnny and study English with him we'll see each other on monday"
The other two nod and said their friend goodbye. Donghyuck goes to get his bike and heads towards his neighbors' house. He doesn't know why, but he has a certain feeling as he goes there – as if something is different, and something bad is about to happen.
He can't pinpoint why, but it makes him a bit tense. He even slips off his bike momentarily and quickly plants his leg to catch himself. He lets out a sigh, he felt so good and relaxed with his two friends that now he's in a daze. He doesn't know if he will be able to concentrate during his lesson.
Once he arrives, he checks the time. He's a bit early, as usual, so he opens the door. He's greeted by his friends father, and he greets him back. But what surprises him is that he doesn't see Jeno. Well, it's not impossible, considering the other boy often goes to his girlfriend's place.
But usually, when he knows Haechan is coming, he is there. Donghyuck exchanges a few words with the mother of the two boys. Johnny finally arrives and smiles at the younger boy. Donghyuck quickly notices that the other seems troubled, but he prefer to says nothing, knowing that if Johnny wants to talk about it, he will.
The lesson goes on smoothly as usual, Johnny goes over the mistakes Donghyuck makes, correcting his pronunciation.
Suddenly, Donghyuck hears footsteps on the stairs. He sees Jeno, followed by another man.
For a few seconds, Donghyuck thinks he's hallucinating. He's never seen someone that beautiful and handsome. He feels his heart skip a beat. But Donghyuck is a professional at hiding his feelings, so he doesn't show anything. The beautiful man's gaze meets Donghyuck's, and he seems to stop in his tracks, furrowing his eyebrow.
"Who's this?" Mark asks.
The room becomes a bit quieter. Johnny has always appeared strong in front of his family and in front of Donghyuck. So, he's the first to speak up.
"This is Donghyuck, our new neighbor, he come there two years ago" Johnny says.
"Jia, are you really letting this kind of person into our home?" Mark says. "Did you see him ?"
"What's your problem?" Donghyuck responds. "What do you have against me?"
Mark turns his head in surprise towards the boy; it's the first time any of the children here seems to speak Korean so well. Unfortunately for Donghyuck, Mark recognizes his accent, recognizes the words, and the way he talks like someone living in the North.
He approaches the young boy, and the others become a bit anxious about what's happening, glancing at Jia. She's the only one who understands what they're saying, which doesn't reassure them when she looks stressed and calls out Mark's name.
"My problem?" Mark asks before fake laughing. "You're from the North and I can see it."
"Yeah, and so what? I don't see—"
Haechan doesn't have time to finish his sentence; Mark spits on his face, shocking everyone with his behavior. Donghyuck quickly wipes his cheek with his sleeve, staring the man in the eyes.
Mark sees hatred, disgust, and anger in his eyes. It makes him smile. He places his hand on the boy's chin and squeezes. Donghyuck tries to struggle, trying to push his hand away, but Mark is quite strong.
Johnny tries to separate the two. Mark finally releases the boy, when he doesn't find it funny anymore.
"And you seem a bit effeminate. Don't get close to my brothers," Mark mutters.
"Minhyung, stop," his mother pleads. "You've just come back; do you want to go back to prison so soon?"
"Seeing you, I understand why they never told me they had another brother," Mark gives the boy a nasty look before heading towards the door, going outside to smoke.
Jeno quickly brings a tissue to wipe Haechan, apologizing profusely. Donghyuck returns to his place, wanting to continue the lesson as if nothing had happened.
When Mark passes through the living room again, everyone tries to ignore him; he glances at what the boy is studying. He sees it's English and goes back to his room as if nothing happened.
"I'm really sorry for what happened, Donghyuck," Johnny says. "I want to tell you that he's not always like this, but unfortunately, that's Mark, he's always like this."
"I've seen worse than him, don't worry, it's not a little boy like him that can scare me" Donghyuck says.
Johnny doesn't know if he's reassured or worried for the younger boy. He thinks it might be one of the first times Haechan has referenced his past. He continues his lesson as if nothing happened.
Haechan eventually goes back home. Once in his room, he opens the windows to air the room. But his eyes fall on a bedroom, usually this room is always in the dark and the curtains are closed. He sees Mark passing by, so he quickly understands that this is the other's room.
He may feel a kind of hatred for this man who did not hesitate to spit on him because he comes from the north. He is not stupid he knows that many people from the south hate him. Mark maybe did grow up in the south so that's why he was unhappy with him.
When they left the north and landed in the south, people looked at him badly, insulted them, ignored them. But that's not a reason.
Mark walks around shirtless in his room, he sees that the other has slightly tied his hair to the back. Donghyuck quickly closes the window and the curtain, he can sense a warm feeling taking his stomach after seeing the other like that.
He is really captivated by the beauty of the other, an idea passes through his head, he comes to take his phone and looks for the other on instagram. He sees that the other has post several pictures on his account.
Most are publications are Mark at the gym or with friends he may have made in prison. It goes back to the old publications, Donghyuck looks at the dates and it was four years ago, before he went to prison.
In one of the photos, he recognizes Jaemin sitting on his laps, they are kinda hugging, Jaemin's back bending and they both looks younger. Mark has his hand resting on Jaemin's low back holding him firmly. He scrolls to look at the other pictures in the post. This time Jaemin kisses the boy's neck and cheeks, and Mark have a smile looking somehow happy.
The other photos are quite similar, Donghyuck understands that Mark has a huge presence in the past of his friends.
He looks at the comments and recognizes the accounts of his friends.
'Chenle: My eyes! Stop being so cross and in love
Jaemin: You're jealous haha '
'Renjun: Jaemin the only one who can tame Mark 🥺
Mark: Tame? maybe'
'Jeno: I wish you'd stop flirting with my friends thanks
Mark: I wish you won't comment on my posts thank'
Donghyuck scrolling and arrives to the last one, he sees a picture and there is all of them on it: Renjun, Jeno, Chenle, Jisung, Mark and Jaemin. They're very young on it, maybe 14 or 15? They are all smiling, they seemed to get along very well, they all hug each other.
This only makes Dongyuck even more curious. What could possibly have happened? Why now they all act like they no longer know each other ? Who or what destroyed their friendship? Why did Mark become like that when he seemed so nice and cute at that age ?
Too many questions scramble in his head.
Maybe he could ask Jaemin, after all Jaemin seemed to have a special relationship with Mark, it was surely him who knew him best. Donghyuck continues to watch the posts and sees that Jaemin is the only one who continues to follow him.
Maybe the two are still in touch ? Maybe they're even still together since Mark didn't delete their pictures together.
But if Mark loves men, why did he accuse him of being effeminate? This man has only been there for a few hours and he is already disturbing Donghyuck to the highest point. He does not know what to do or how to find an answer.
Tomorrow his job doesn't start before 6 pm, he will go to Jaemin before, to ask him some questions.
'Haechan: Jaemin are you busy tomorrow?
Jaemin: Tomorrow? Not really I just have to walk my dog
Haechan: We can meet each other then! We'll go for a walk together I miss Malo
Jaemin: Yeah! I will try to use my Korean a bit I'm afraid I'll end up forgetting everything'
Haechan smiles at himself, Jaemin may have be the sweetest person he know. But know Donghyuck wants some answer to hos questions. He has been here for 2 years but no one wants to tell him that big fight that took place between them.
Donghyuck goes down to eat with his family, as usual his father does not talk much, exhausted by his day at the factory. He eats well and then goes to sit in front of the TV, his mother smiles at Haechan. He also gives her a smile.
"-Tomorrow night I will not eat here" says Donghyuck
"Do not put yourself in danger," replied his mother, "I leave you the keys under the doormat as usual."
Haechan nods, then finishes his meal. Washes his plate and then goes to wash before bed. He must be in shape for tomorrow.