Hyuck: “You’re joking… right?”
Mark: “I’ve never been more serious in my life, Donghyuck.”
Hyuck: “You’re telling me… you love me more than watermelon.”
Mark: “Yes, Donghyuck.”
Hyuck: “I’m… touched. Mark, I love you too.”

They hugged, laughter muffled against each other’s shoulders.

Hyuck: “That was the worst confession ever… but since it’s from you, it’s actually kind of perfect.”

He slid his arms around Mark’s neck, eyes sparkling before he leaned in. Mark smiled into the kiss, hands finding the younger’s slim waist, pulling him closer, deeper.

Hyuck: “You’re leaving in three years… then I’ll be alone. I won’t see you at every break.”
Mark: “Don’t worry. We’ll be together forever. If anything tries to break us apart, we’ll find our way back. Our love’s… timeless.”
Hyuck: “Promise?”
Mark: “I can’t promise anything. Promises… they break. Let’s leave it up to God.”
Hyuck: “What a wise man you are, Minhyung.”
Mark: “What can I say? You bring out the best in me.”
Hyuck: “So cheesy. Good thing I like cheese.”

---

- Monday -

Four dates in three days — yes, four. Twice in one day. And somehow, it still didn’t feel like enough. Their love had grown richer, slower, steadier. It wasn’t just sparks now — it was a steady flame, warm enough to live in.
People didn’t whisper about them anymore. They just assumed they were married.

Jaemin: “You’re a lucky guy, Donghyuck.”
Hyuck: “I am, aren’t I?” he said, his eyes trailing after the principal, who nearly tripped over himself walking into the office.
Jeno: “Very.” He giggled when Mark dropped a folder, caught in the tractor beam of the music teacher’s smile.
Jaemin: “He’s so whipped.”
Taeyong: “Tell me about it. He asked me to ‘keep an eye on him’ while he had class… while he had class.”
Jaehyun: “Leave the poor guy alone. He finally found someone he actually loves.”
Jeno: “His long-lost love, at that—”
Hyuck: “Jeno, yo—” Hyuck’s glare was sharp.
Jaemin: “Long-lost love? Did I hear that right?”
Taeyong: “Wait… tanned skin. Cute smile. High voice. Big round eyes. He’s the one Mark wrote that song about!”
Hyuck: “He wrote a song about me?”
Jaemin: “You and Mark were already together?”
Jaehyun: “Mark wrote a song?”
Jeno: “Hyuck went to this school too. Met Mark in his first year of high school. Me and Mark were third-years—”
Jaemin: “You skipped a class?”
Jeno: “’Cause I’m that smart.”
Jaehyun: “Wait, you went here too?”

Mark’s voice crackled through the intercom:
“Attention teachers. We’ll be having a field trip. Please make groups for your classes. Jeno, you’ve got 4B. Jaehyun, 2A. Taeyong, 3A. Johnny, 1B. Jaemin, you take 5A. Donghyuck, 5B.”

Taeyong: “2B is left then?”
Jeno: “4A too.”
Mark: “I’ll take care of 4A. Doyoung’s got 2B. That covers everyone.”
Hyuck: “3B!!” he yelled suddenly. All eyes turned.
Mark: smiling softly “Thank you, Hyuck, but we don’t have a 3B. Not enough applicants that year.”

The meeting wrapped, everyone shuffling out, chattering about buses and schedules.

But Hyuck lingered. He knew why this trip had been planned — and his heart swelled.
Sliding his arms around Mark’s waist, he rested his chin on his shoulder.

Hyuck: “You really are a hopeless romantic.”
Mark: “So you figured it out?” He turned in Hyuck’s arms, pulling him close by the waist.
Hyuck: “Of course. That trip… was one of my favorite memories with you.” His hands trailed up to Mark’s neck, his gaze locking in. “I miss moments like that.”

The kiss that followed was slow, deep, deliberate — not the impatient heat of youth, but the kind that carried years of history and the weight of a thousand unspoken vows. Their breathing synced, hearts pounding in perfect unison.

Mark: “I can’t wait to show you just how much you mean to me, Hyuckie.”
Hyuck: “Can’t wait, Minhyung.” He sealed it with one last, lingering kiss — the kind that said we made it this far, and we’re not stopping now.