sungchan's brows only furrowed harder as he kept looking at donghyuck's desk. he checked the time and it was already lunchtime, yet, the male was still not here.

at first, he thought donghyuck was too busy with whatever he's doing or he was in a meeting with their ceo but it seems like that's not the case.

he averted his gaze towards johnny, that is sitting beside him, and tapped his shoulder, "hyung," he started, johnny just hums, indicating that he's listening, "have you seen donghyuck?"

johnny halts on his position once he heard the younger's question that made him instantly peel his eyes off the screen. "i haven't..." he trails his words off, shaking his head. ever since this morning, he doesn't remember interacting with the male that, now, made him think.

"me too?!" sungchan exclaims, detaching his back away from his chair. "i thought he was just in a meeting or something.."

a scream suddenly interrupted them that made the two flinch on their chair as they were to engrave in their thoughts.

"lunchtime!" doyoung screamed in their ears, as he slings his arms on both of their necks. "what are you two thinking so hard?"

"hyung, have you seen donghyuck?" sungchan asks the older making the stand up and think.

he tilts his head before slowly shaking his head, "now thinking about it... i haven't seen him since this morning..." he voiced his thoughts out.

"i think, it's safe to assume that he's absent for today—or he's called in sick." johnny told, before shutting his computer.

"i agree." sungchan nodded at the older's statement before doing the same and springing himself from his seat, now intending to make his way out of their office and towards the elevator.

while the three made their way on the first floor, and to the cafeteria, doyoung butts himself in between the two giants, "should we give him a call?" he asked the two.

by now they have already occupied their seat and tables. "oh, i don't have his number, do you have it?" johnny quickly added.

that's probably a dumb suggestion because he, too, doesn't haven't donghyuck's phone number. doyoung rubbed his nape and released an awkward laugh before saying, "i don't..."

just then, they suddenly heard a phone call ring, which made their heads turn in the direction. they saw sungchan holding out his phone while waiting for someone to pick up his call.

after a few seconds, the other person on the line finally answered, "h-hello?"

all of them heard a hoarse sleepy voice on the phone. "donghyuck?" sungchan greeted, putting the call on speaker.

the two just looked at the younger with their brows furrowed, confused. "you have donghyuck's number?" johnny and doyoung unintentionally said in unison.

"oh? is that doyoung and johnny hyung?" donghyuck suddenly asks, after hearing another voice from the other line.

"oh yeah," sungchan breathes out a small laugh, "they're want to know why you're not here today." 

doyoung looked at the younger in disbelief before lightly slapping his shoulders, "hey! you were the one who—"

"o-oh?" they heard donghyuck hum, "i caught a cold and my head has been hurting like hell, but i'll call mr. lee later." he finished

"i see, i see." sungchan replied while nodding with his words.

"make sure to rest donghyuck," johnny suddenly butts in, speaking closely to the phone, "we'll hang up now."

"oh, we will?" sungchan looked at the taller confused, but before he can receive a reply, johnny immediately ended the call.

"i know you miss donghyuck, but at least let the boy rest." johnny pats the younger on his shoulders, "anyway, what's for lunch?"

———

brushing his fingers through his hair, a sigh immediately left his lips after taking his eyes off his secretary's table.

"he should be here hours ago," he mumbles to himself in frustration as he looked down at his wristwatch to check the time, "where is he?"

he's been having a hard time focusing on his work solely because he's been thinking too hard about donghyuck.

he hasn't seen the male ever since this morning. he thought maybe he was just late? and maybe he'll show up sooner or later? but no. he's still not here, and it's driving him crazy.

just then, he heard footsteps and loud chit-chat outside his office. he glanced out the small window and saw johnny, doyoung and sungchan. seems like they just finished lunch and are about to go to their office.

without thinking twice, he lifts himself from his chair and immediately approaches the door before the three can go any further.

opening his door, the sight of the three immediately greeted him.

the sight of their ceo standing not too far away in front of them caught them off guard. without knowing what to do, they just gave him a bow and were about to walk away when they heard the superior clear his throat.

"excuse me?" mark started, still standing just in front of his door, "have you guys seen donghyuck?" mark asked, awkwardly rubbing his neck.

"oh, donghyuck?" johnny started.

"i gave him a call earlier and he told us he's currently sick and his head is aching..." sungchan told, "but he also said he'll inform you sooner mr. lee!"

"we just told him to rest for a little bit, so i think he's still asleep." doyoung added.

mark shoots the three a small smile before nodding his head, "thank you for the information." he simply blurts. the three bowed at him again and finally made their way to their office.

when no one is finally in the same hallway as mark, he walked back inside his office with his lips pursed.

"sungchan has donghyuck's number?" he mindlessly said to himself.

what does he need donghyuck's number for? for their late-night calls? they're probably texting each other every night. and most importantly, why did he tell sungchan about his condition first before him, wasn't he the ceo here?

he shook those thoughts away before walking back to his chair. "what am i thinking?" mark scolds himself, "donghyuck is sick, and this is the first thing that came into my head? get a grip mark."

he can't even focus on his work with the thought of donghyuck not being around him, what more if the younger is sick?

was it because he got so drenched in the rain last night? mark thought to himself. numerous questions flew around mark's head on what could be the cause of donghyuck's sickness, making it harder for him to focus on what he's doing.

for the whole time, mark did nothing but stare at his phone, waiting until a call rings.

minutes turned into hours yet he didn't receive anything.

he was hoping that donghyuck will at least give him a text or call to inform him about his condition but still, nothing. this went on until the sun sets, and the moon replaced the sun.

for the last time, he checked his phone and clicked his tongue. fuck it.

he's leaving early. he can always do this work tomorrow or the other day or maybe even on the other, other day because his number one priority right now is donghyuck.

as he spring himself up from his seat, he grabbed his coat together with his phone and car key, before making his way out of his office.

———

donghyuck's phone ringing is what made him flinch from his bed.

releasing a small frustrated groan, he searched for his phone on his side table with all his strength left. he didn't bother checking on who was calling, simply because he couldn't be bothered.

"are you still sick?" a deep voice asked from the other line.

"very." donghyuck's mindlessly answers, eyes still closed, just waiting for the call to end even though it just started.

"can you open your door?"

he can't even lift himself up from his bed and this person still wanted to open his door for him? "i'm lazy." the younger whines before he sniffs.

"please?" he pleaded again, "it's cold out here."

rubbing his eyes, he finally snapped into consciousness after hearing the familiar voice from the other line. "w-who's this?" he asked, with his eyes widen and a frown.

"mark..." the older shyly replies as he rubbed his nape. he waited for a few moments for donghyuck to speak but he didn't hear any. "h-hello? donghyuck?"

he detached his phone off his ear to get a clear view of his phone and that's when he realized, donghyuck had already hung up the call.

"did i shock him?" mark asked himself, "or he just didn't want to see me?" he placed his phone back in his pocket and was about to turn his heel away from donghyuck's apartment not when he heard the door click.

he turned his head back and he finally saw the younger standing by his door, only having his head poked out.

"m-mark?" the younger asked in a small voice, obviously not expecting his ceo to be at his doorstep.

"hello?" mark's lips formed into a small smile and tilts his head. "can i come in?"

"of course!" donghyuck instantly opened his door, welcoming the older in. he awkwardly played with his fingers when he finally realized how messy his apartment was.

well, let's see. the moment he woke up this morning—he didn't wake up this morning. it was already afternoon when he woke up. sungchan's call was the one that served as an alarm for him and notify him that he had a day ahead of him, yet he was sick. the ache in his head disturbed him, so he did nothing but lay on his bed not until mark showed up outside his apartment.

donghyuck tailed behind mark as the older make his way to his kitchen. this wasn't the first time that he let mark inside his place. maybe being here for the second time made things less awkward?

the older placed the paper bag full of medicine on the counter before looking back at the younger, "have you had your medicine?" he asked.

donghyuck shook his head as a no. "i don't know what medicine to take." he admits while playing with the hem of his shirt.

"your head hurts, right?" mark asked, his hands busy opening the paper bag. he then received a nod from the younger, "i bought some medicines for headaches."

donghyuck saw the older pull out a box of pills from the paper bag, so he extended his hand out expecting that mark will give it to him, but instead, he just swats his hand away from the younger.

"have you eaten something, yet?" mark asked, and donghyuck shook his head a no, "ever since this morning?" and once again, donghyuck shook his head as a no. this is the first time today that he left his bed, so no, he hadn't eaten anything... "donghyuck, it's already eight pm." 

"mark, my head has been hurting so bad!" donghyuck whines, "please, let me have it..."

"the medicine will not work if you haven't eaten something." mark notes. he walked closer to donghyuck before lifting him from the floor, grabbing him from his under thighs.

donghyuck lets out a surprised yelp as his arms instantly wrapped around mark's neck. "what are you doing?!" he exclaimed but immediately got his answer when he felt the older place him down on the counter. "y-you can't just d-do that!"

"i understand your head is killing you right now, but you have to eat something, hm?" mark said, drawing circles at donghyuck thighs. he turned around and his eyes wanders around the kitchen, "what do you have here?"

"a ramen." donghyuck replied, pointing at one of the cabinets.

mark opened it and saw the cups of ramen inside. "you can just add water and put them inside the microwave." the younger said and mark did as what told.

while waiting for the ramen, donghyuck calls for the older. "mark.." the older just hums, signaling that he's listening, "how did you know i'm sick?"

"i asked doyoung and johnny," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "especially sungchan, he knew about your condition before me." he finished and the younger didn't fail to notice the change of his tone, but decided to not question it any further.

"i-i swear i was planning on informing you sooner!" donghyuck defended himself. "i apologize, this is probably so unprofessional... oh gosh, i didn't even say anything." donghyuck said the last words in a small voice but mark managed to hear this.

"i understand your situation  donghyuck, it's fine." the older immediately told, turning around to face him, "but next time if this happened again, inform me as soon as possible, okay?"

donghyuck only nodded, avoiding the older's gaze on him. he appreciates the older being so understanding.

after minutes of waiting, the ramen is finally ready to take out of the microwave. mark placed the hot cup on a plate so he can carry it toward the younger.

grabbing some chopsticks, he opened the cup before stirring the noodles. once it's finally ready to eat, donghyuck was about to take the chopsticks off of mark's hands but instead, the older just walked in between his legs and brought the chopsticks near the younger's mouth for him to eat the ramen.

the younger hesitated at first but opened his mouth either way as he was already starving just by looking at it.

mark scooped another portion of the ramen but his arms were stopped by donghyuck's hands.

"this is odd..." the younger said, avoiding eye contact with the older.

mark tilts his head at the statement, "what is?" he asked in confusion.

"this." donghyuck simply blurts, "my ceo feeding me ramen."

first, donghyuck forgot to inform mark about his condition, second, he came to his apartment—still in his work clothes—to bring him medicine, served him food, and the next thing you know, mark is feeding him while standing in between his legs.

"w-well... i just wanted to take care of my secretary, b-because..." mark paused before quickly looking around to think, "because at the end of the week we'll finally going to launch our product, and i need him that day..."

donghyuck breathes out a chuckle and looked down, "by going to his apartment and feeding him yourself, yeah..."

"i-i'm sorry..." mark quickly blurts, dropping the chopsticks down inside the cup. this also made the younger look up confused, "are you... uncomfortable?" he hesitantly asks.

"w-what?! no, of course not! why would i be uncomfortable?" the younger started blabbering, "it's just that... i was surprised and—"

the older breathes out a laugh, which caused the younger to halt. "okay, i get it." the older shoots him a smile, "but please let me know if i'm making you uncomfortable, so i can stop myself immediately."

maybe donghyuck will do what mark said or maybe not. he doesn't feel uncomfortable around mark at all, to say the least... he likes the feeling of mark taking care of him or simply being around him.

but brushing all those thoughts away, donghyuck finally snatched the cup of ramen from mark's hands and begins to eat it by himself.

"after you finish your food, take you medicine immediately, hm?" mark noted, placing the pills next to the younger.

he's oddly nice, donghyuck thought to himself while gulping down the noddles. very understanding too... was he always like this?

the younger lets out a quiet  chuckle, "did you seriously left your work early just for this?" he questioned while looking down on the pills.

"i-i can't help it, donghyuck..." mark's hands unconsciously made their way back on the latter's thighs, rubbing it up and down, "i was worried for the whole day—b-because why did you even let yourself get drenched in the rain that night?!"

"because! i was upset..." donghyuck instantly added, "you could've just left me there—"

 "no, i won't." mark cutts the younger off. the hands that are innocently rubbing donghyuk's thighs earlier are now making their way up and mark seems like he's not aware about it. he was too busy scolding the younger. "please don't do that again, it's bad for you. i don't want you to get sick again—"

doghyuck's hands grips on the older's arms, at the same time trying to avoid eye contact with the older, "m-mark, your hands..."