"Hyung, did you understand what the professor was talking about today? It totally flew over my head. How am I supposed to write this essay?"

 

Mark looked up from his laptop at the complaints coming from Youngjae. Jaebum sat across from him, shaking his head with a laugh.

 

"I told you, Youngjae. You can't complain if you didn't even pay attention in class." Jaebum shot him a smirk, tapping away at his own keyboard.

 

"But hyuuuung! I was paying attention, just didn't get it." The younger defended, frowning at his most likely blank screen.

 

"Well blame that idiot brain of yours then, not me!" Jaebum chuckled, reveling in Youngjae's pouty face.

 

"Yah, will you two cut it out with the flirting? I'm trying to write an essay, here." Jackson stated teasingly, not missing out on the embarrassed expression the two boys sported.

 

"F-flirting!?"

 

"You're one to talk, Jackson."

 

 

Jackson and Jinyoung both turned their heads toward Mark, a bit surprised that the eldest of them had made such a snarky comment. Mark hid his blush behind his bangs as he pretended to continue working on his laptop, but he definitely could feel one particular gaze lingering on him longer than the others'.

 

"Hey just so we're clear, we weren't flirting." Jaebum stated firmly, his eyes refusing to look up from his laptop screen, though Mark could swear there were still faint traces of his blush coloring his cheeks.

 

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say Jaebum." Jackson smirked, turning to wink at his boyfriend who was sitting directly across from him. He reached for his hand across the table, giving it a loving squeeze.

 

Jinyoung smiled down at their hands before sending that same smile across the table at Jackson. Mark cringed a bit at the sight, an uneasy feeling his stomach. He couldn't help but frown, and he was momentarily thankful that no one was paying attention to him anymore. 

 

"Hyung!"

 

The five boys turned their heads upon hearing the voice. Mark recognized the boy heading toward them to be one of the sophomores that got yelled at by the RA outside of his dorm. When the boy made his way over to the table they were working at, Mark didn't miss the way Jackson pulled his hand away from Jinyoung's. Jinyoung didn't miss it either.

 

"Bambam..what are you doing here?" Jackson asked, looking up at the male who had just approached them.

 

"I just wanted to apologize. Sorry I roped you in to all that." Bambam laughed awkwardly, scratching his neck. Jackson stole a glance at his boyfriend, who had continued working on his laptop with an unreadable expression on his face, then looked back up at Bambam.

 

"It's totally fine. No worries." Jackson reassured, smiling.

 

"Good. Well, I'll text you later!" Bambam waved with a smile, running off to catch up with some friends.

 

"What was that all about, Jackson?" Youngjae asked curiously, taking note of how Jinyoung stayed silent.

 

"Oh, him and his friends were drinking at a party the other night and they needed a ride back to the dorms, so I went to pick them up. Then we ended up getting in trouble with the RA because they were completely hammered." Jackson stole a glance at Mark this time, who was looking right back at him. Mark didn't know the full story, but he knew that Jackson was with Bambam and his friends the morning after, and he wondered why Jackson failed to tell the group that little piece of information.

 

Mark closed his laptop, standing. "I'm gonna finish this up in my room." The atmosphere was turning uncomfortable with Jinyoung's growing silence and the blonde just wanted to be alone for a bit.

 

Just as Mark exited the library, he heard someone call his name from behind him. Turning, he saw Jackson jogging up to him.

 

"Hey, about yesterday. I spent the night in Bambam's room because it was really late and I was tired. The RA found the beer bottles in the morning, and that's why we were getting yelled at. Just-" Jackson paused, placing a hand on Mark's shoulder, "just don't tell Jinyoung about that, okay? I don't want him overthinking and getting jealous for no good reason."

 

 

Mark frowned, feeling disappointed in Jackson. He already felt anger toward him the night Jinyoung was crying, so why was he continuing to ruin Mark's image of him? "You want me to lie to my best friend?"

 

"No! Not lie. Just don't mention it around him." Jackson noticed the uncertain expression on Mark's face and quickly tried to justify himself. "Look, I just don't want Jinyoung to be upset. Okay?"

 

 

Mark hesitated, then nodded. "Okay." Jackson smiled with relief, patting Mark's shoulder with a quick thanks before turning to head back inside the library. Before he could reach the doors, however, Mark called back to him. "Just don't hurt him!"

 

Jackson shot Mark a look that blatantly said 'are you kidding, of course I won't'​ and headed back inside the building.

 

"If you do, I'll never forgive you." Mark mumbled to himself with a sigh, turning on his heel and heading back to his dorm.

 

---

 

"What are you doing eating all by yourself? You look pathetic." Jinyoung teased with a smirk, placing his plate of food across from where Mark was sitting. The blonde jumped a bit at the sudden appearance, his heart automatically skipping a beat when he recognized the voice.

 

"W-where's Jackson?" Mark sputtered out without thinking as Jinyoung sat down, picking up his fork.

 

"Jackson?" Something in Jinyoung's tone seemed different. "Why? Do you need him for something?"

 

Mark felt like an idiot for asking. "No..I was just wondering why he wasn't with you." The blonde ducked his head with embarrassment, dipping a French fry in the puddle of ketchup on his plate.

 

"Oh.." Jinyoung turned his attention to his food as well, skewering some lettuce with his fork.

 

Mark contemplated whether or not he should ask if anything happened between them. Jinyoung didn't really seem to enjoy the conversation shifting to his boyfriend, so Mark decided against it. "Did you finish your essay?"

 

"Yeah, about an hour ago." Jinyoung took another bite of salad, bringing a napkin up to his face when he got some dressing on his lip.

 

Mark chuckled softly, dipping another fry.

 

"What?" Jinyoung asked, looking up from his plate at the amused male.

 

"Leave it to Jinyoung to finish his essay before everyone else. When was it assigned? Like, 3 hours ago?" Mark smirked, popping the fry into his mouth.

 

Jinyoung grinned, reaching over to grab a French fry off of Mark's plate. "What can I say? I am the professor's favorite, after all."

 

"More like the professor's pet."

 

Jinyoung threw the fry at him and Mark couldn't help but laugh. Jinyoung pouted, but soon found himself laughing as well.

 

And then it was back. The irregular heartbeat, the sweaty palms, the butterflies. The memories of the night Jinyoung was crying...

 

Mark wasn't laughing anymore. He busied himself by squirting some more ketchup on his plate, even though he had plenty already. The atmosphere changed slightly, but if Jinyoung noticed, he didn't say anything.

 

"Hyung?"

 

"Hm?" Mark hummed without looking up from his food.

 

There was a pause. Mark was about to look up when he heard, "N-never mind." 

 

There was no way either could forget about that night.

 

---

 

A/n: Heyy! So I'm heading into a really busy time with school and other stuff so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update, but I won't abandon you guys!! I may update really really soon, I may not, but I hope you guys will stick by me either way! Thanks <3