Chapter 34.

When everything around us changed, we felt okay.
No learning curve could ever bend us too far out of shape.

  “Jaehyun?!” Mark gasped and Jaehyun looked at Mark’s mother Jenny only to turn towards his father.

  “You stayed quiet on purpose!”

  “Well it was Jenny’s idea.” His father chuckled and Jaehyun couldn’t believe they were joking around and leaving Mark and Jaehyun hanging like this. Jenny laughed at the sight of her son’s wide eyes, Mark was pointing at Jaehyun mouth opening and closing as he put the pieces together and Jaehyun was glaring at his father who introduced them. “Well we have all met already, but Jenny this is my son Jaehyun and Jaehyun this is Jenny and her son Mark.”

  “I know that.” Jaehyun muttered sourly and then noticed his father step closer to Jenny, putting a hand on her lower back and letting Mark walk inside. Mark turned around to start at their parents.

  “When will you be home?” He asked and his mother smiled.

  “11 pm, okay, Mark?” Her voice was kind and cheerful. Jaehyun couldn’t help but think she was perfect for his father. It was still a bittersweet feeling as he watched them leave, waving goodbye with Mark before walking stand there in the hallway.

  “So this is where you live?” Mark piped up, looking around and Jaehyun nodded before introducing Mark to his apartment.

  “My room is in there, bathroom here. It’s rather small.”

Mark grinned. “My mom’s apartment is also small, don’t worry.” He grinned. “It fits you.” He then said and Jaehyun smiled, walking into the kitchen to get them soda.

  “Why don’t we watch a movie?” He asked and took seat on the couch with Mark. The younger smiled.

  “Can I choose?” He asked and Jaehyun shrugged.

  “Why not?”

Then Mark excitedly grabbed the remote and went into Netflix, scrolling through a list of movies. “There’s this movie called Lucy that I haven’t watched yet.”

  “How about Guardians of the Galaxy?” Jaehyun suggested and pointed at it.

Mark gawped. “It’s on Netflix?!” He asked and then chose it. “Comedy and sci-fi. Just my style.” He said and leaned back in the couch. The two watched the movie load and then Jaehyun eyed Mark who had also grown silent.

  “So… brothers huh?” Jaehyun asked and Mark laughed awkwardly before humming.

  “I was a little bit afraid when my mom said that you would be older than me, and then I was like; it’s just Jaehyun…. Like mom he’s already my brother.” Mark chuckled and Jaehyun laughed and ruffled Mark’s hair.

  “Nothing new.” He said and then the two watched the movie. Jaehyun couldn’t help but love how hard Mark laughed and he found himself smiling to himself. This wasn’t as bad as he had thought it would be.

Jaehyun waited for Ten, Johnny and Taeyong to react when he told them it was Mark’s mother that was his father’s new date. Taeyong was gawping at him, Johnny burst out laughing and Ten’s nose scrunched up in disbelief, looking disoriented. “You’re telling me Mark is going to be your step brother or something?”

  “Well they aren’t exactly married but… if it goes well, I guess?” Jaehyun said and Taeyong pushed Johnny away who was still laughing. Taeyong frowned at the taller.

  “Will you stop?” He asked Johnny who was leaning again Taeyong as he laughed.

  “IT’S MARK!” Johnny laughed. Then he suddenly stopped laughing. “Oh my god we’re going to be one big family.” He gasped.

Ten blinked. “Then I can just as well count Mark as my new little brother as well. That little .”

Taeyong laughed but then silenced himself by covering his mouth. Jaehyun watched the three gossip about it and he chuckled. Then his hand flew to his stomach and he quickly slipped out of the room, trying to be silent as he went into the bathroom, closing the door hurriedly.

Jaehyun washed his face and tried to catch his breath, focusing on everything else but the pain. “Let’s order pizza!” Johnny’s voice sounded and Jaehyun dapped at his face with a towel.

  “Sure!” He called but his voice didn’t sound as steady as he wanted it to. He glanced at the reflection of him in his mirror. Was he allergic to something? Maybe his stomach didn’t like spicy food anymore? “Just nothing spicy for me!” He then called and went outside. Taeyong glanced at him and he felt the other caress his back.

  “What is it?” He asked Jaehyun and the taller shrugged.

  “Probably nothing.” He assured the other and then they gathered around Johnny’s laptop as they ordered food.

Jaehyun’s father and Mark’s mother were doing well. Mark came over the next weekend as well to hang out and Jaehyun helped him with his homework while their parents were on a date. The next day, Saturday Johnny threw a party and as he had promised, Jaemin and Mark could come too. Jaehyun met with Taeyong and the two went to the party where everything had started. Jaehyun eyed the window and Taeyong took his hand in his.

  “It would’ve been better if I had just fallen out of the window.” Taeyong joked. “Then Yuta could have that picture to laugh at.”

Jaehyun laughed and felt Taeyong tug him closer as they walked through the snow. “I wonder how that had turned out.” He mused and they were greeted by music. Johnny came into the hallway. “Aye!” He called and Jaehyun and Taeyong copied his greeting with silly laughs following and they got off their heavy coats, joining Ten in the living room. Mark and Jaemin drank soda with Taeyong being the one to make sure they didn’t drink any alcohol. Jaehyun didn’t drink too much so that his stomach wouldn’t hurt.

  “When did you have your first crush?” Jaemin asked Ten and Yuta chuckled.

  “So innocent.”

Jaehyun smiled and agreed, hitting Yuta’s shoulder and the other smiled at him. Ten glanced at Jaehyun and Jaehyun was reminded of the two young boys that searched comfort in each other. Holding on too tightly with the adults trying to force them apart. Jaehyun sighed. They had really parted lately, acting like friends should and not being too dependent on each other.

  “When I was 11.” He mused and Jaehyun tried to remember Ten at that time. Was there any boys that he liked when he was 11? Jaehyun looked at Ten who avoided his eye and Jaehyun blinked. Oh…

Ten cleared his throat. “Okay my turn. Taeyong.” He said and Taeyong looked up from Mark’s phone, the younger had been showing him something. Taeyong thought to himself.

  “Truth.”

Hansol groaned. “Ugh, you’re being so boring today.” Taeyong just shrugged while Ten thought of a question.

  “What is one of your biggest fears?” He asked and Jaehyun blinked.

Taeyong hummed to himself as he thought. “A cold dark room.” He said. “Like both darkness and the cold on the same time.”

  “I guess winter isn’t your favorite season then.” Hansol suggested.

Taeyong chuckled. “As long as the room isn’t small it’s okay.” He said and the other boys nodded. Taeyong gave the question to Hansol. Hansol bravely raised his chest before smiling.

  “Dare.” He said and Yuta laughed. Taeyong glanced at Yuta before smirking.

  “I dare you… to either kiss Yuta on the mouth or kiss Johnny on the mouth.” He said and Jaehyun burst into laughter at Hansol’s expression. Johnny raised a fist.

  “If you as much as come close.” He warned the other and Hansol groaned.

  “You’ll have to empty a whole bottle if you chicken out.” Ten pointed out and Hansol glared at him.

  “I am not a chicken!” He said before walking around the sofa table. Mark and Jaemin gasped and Jaehyun raised his brows as Yuta looked up at Hansol with wide eyes. Hansol took Yuta’s face in his hands and Yuta released a series of protests before their lips met and in a short kiss. Hansol quickly went back to his seat in a chair and Johnny and Ten pointed at them.

  “Oooooh!”

Taeyong grinned. “Love is in the air.” He sang and Jaehyun sang along. Yuta slapped Jaehyun’s thigh and threatened to choke Taeyong. The boys just laughed and Jaehyun enjoyed this party.

Later around 1 am, Jaehyun watched Taeyong and Ten have a dance off and he chuckled, walking outside into the cool air to catch his breath. He had those moments when he drank alcohol or just when he was at a party. He needed one moment to himself and then he was good. He watched his breath look like a ghost in the cold air and he was about to turn back around to walk inside when he heard voices. He looked up from the ground and saw Mark and Jaemin talk together not far from him.

  “Why don’t you like Eunhye?” Mark asked. “She keeps on saying that you are being mean to her.”

Jaemin laughed. “Well she’s annoying.” He just argued and Mark gawped at him.

  “That’s not you.” He said. “You’re not mean.”

Jaemin sniffled. “You don’t know me.” He snapped and Mark grabbed Jaemin’s shoulder before he could walk away from him.

  “I know you.” He said. “How can you say that I don’t? You’re my best friend.”

  “Stop limiting yourself.” Jaemin pleaded taking Mark’s hand to push it off his arm but he ended up holding onto it. Mark looked down at their hands and suddenly his eyes widened. Jaemin just smiled, sniffling again and Mark looked at his best friend. Jaemin stepped closer, tentatively reached out a hand to let his fingertips rest on Mark’s jaw and he closed the distance between them. Jaehyun covered his own mouth and watched Mark’s wide eyes flutter closed. Jaehyun backed off, wanting to leave the two alone when Mark suddenly pushed Jaemin off himself.

  “I can’t.” He gasped and Jaemin cried stepping away from Mark who walked towards the door. Jaehyun backed inside and quickly ran into the room. He needed to make sure Mark wouldn’t know he had seen it. So he saw Ten in front of him and ran for him; sweeping Ten off his feet by carrying him and Ten screamed while Johnny told Jaehyun not to steal his boyfriend. Taeyong laughed and reached out for Ten. Jaehyun gave him Ten who wrapped his arms around Taeyong’s neck.

He laughed when Johnny stood. “Put him down!” He said and got up. Taeyong ran into the kitchen with Ten and Johnny chased him. Hansol got up to take Ten from Taeyong running around the dinner table with Johnny tailing him. Ten just laughed.

No one noticed Mark fleeing into the bathroom, and Jaehyun sighed, leaving the boys to joke around before knocking on the bathroom door. “Mark?” He called out and heard the door unlock. He opened it and saw Mark sit right beside the entrance, knees tugged up under his chin. Jaehyun looked inside the living room and leaned further out of the door to see the door leading into the garden and wondered if Jaemin was still outside. He closed the door to the bathroom, sitting down in front of Mark who locked the door.

  “Do you want to talk?” Jaehyun asked, watching Mark’s round eyes stare at the ground, tears falling from them and landing on Mark’s knees, seeping into the fabric of his jeans. Mark sniffled, wiping his eyes before looking down again. Jaehyun waited patiently for the other to speak.

  “Jaemin likes me.” He said in a small voice. Jaehyun sighed, then he thought to himself and was reminded of all the times there was signs of Jaemin liking Mark. Like his reaction to Mark getting a girlfriend and just… the two had always seemed to have some sort of connection.

Jaehyun looked at the other. “Do you like Jaemin?” He asked and Mark closed his eyes.

  “I don’t know.” He cried and pressed his palms to his eyes. “Why did he kiss me?” He then cried and Jaehyun slid over to floor to sit beside Mark, wrapping an arm around him and Mark leaned into the touch. “This complicates everything!”

Jaehyun chuckled. He remembered those things, life was so simple and suddenly everything was so complicated. You were used to just react to things but now you knew what impact your reactions could have and you thought more about things. Life seemed too harsh when you reached the age of 15. Suddenly the world wasn’t simple and life seemed as this aching pain, like a dull headache. Not enough to break you but enough to annoy you and frustrate you. Wonder why teenagers are moody and depressed?

Jaehyun ruffled up Mark’s hair. “Life is complicated he said.” He looked at Mark for a moment. “Follow your heart, do what you feel is right. Life is too short for you to plan everything you do and to avoid what you want.” Jaehyun flattened Mark’s hair again, caressing the other’s head.

  “But what do I want?”

Jaehyun stopped himself from chuckling. “Don’t avoid Jaemin. He’s your best friend. You need to talk.”

  “But if I don’t like him back?”

  “You don’t?”

Mark gripped his hair. “I don’t know!”

Jaehyun shook the other a little. “Don’t think. Feel.” He said and then looked up at the light that lit up the small bathroom. “How do you feel with Eunhye?”

Mark grimaced. “Nothing.”

  “What?” Jaehyun sat up and looked at the younger.

Mark groaned. “She’s cute and nice, but I don’t have the butterflies in my stomach. I don’t really feel anything.”

  “And with Jaemin.”

Mark sighed. “I’ve never thought of that. I’ve never thought about my feelings and what they could mean. All I know is that with Jaemin… I want to spend time with Jaemin, I feel comfortable with him and he’s a cool friend.” Mark silenced, thinking to himself. “Love is such an odd thing; I don’t think I’m ready for it yet.”

Jaehyun nodded. “You’ll know when you are. But risk a little. Don’t play it safe. Safe is boring. Unless you’re think about not wearing a seatbelt, that’s a different thing.”

Mark laughed. “You sound like my mom.” He joked and Jaehyun chuckled.

  “Then your mom is cool.” The two laughed.

They continued their game again and Jaemin’s eyes were a little red but he blamed it on the cold air outside. Mark sat down beside Jaehyun and Jaemin looked at the other before taking a seat beside Hansol.

Jaehyun had just asked Yuta to either dance to a Girl’s Day song or kiss the top of Hansol’s head and Yuta danced to the Girl’s Day song which made Johnny laugh so hard he spilled some of his drink on Ten. The two were trying to wipe off the soju that had spilled on Ten’s sleeve and thigh. Yuta sat down a little out of breath. “Truth or dare, Jaemin.” He asked with a grin and Jaemin shrugged, seeming a little down but he tried to seem more positive when he noticed the worried frown on Taeyong’s face.

  “Truth.” He then said and Yuta scratched his forehead.

  “Ah!” He gasped when he knew what to say. “Tell me a fact about yourself, any fact really.” Yuta smiled and Jaehyun thought it was an innocent question. Ten was muttering about Johnny needing to control his long arms, when Jaemin answered.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m gay.” Jaemin said casually and Jaehyun felt his own jaw drop. Everybody did. Ten who had taken away Johnny’s drink in annoyance dropped it onto the floor in shock, and Johnny didn’t even notice that it had fallen. Taeyong leaned over to give Jaemin a light shake of his shoulder.

  “That’s cool.” He said but Jaehyun was looking at Mark who was staring at Jaemin with wide eyes. Jaemin looked at Mark, almost daring him to say anything. Mark gave him a small smile to reassure him that it was okay, but he quickly dropped his gaze to his hands. Jaemin’s eyes lit up when Mark smiled at him.

  “Thanks.” Jaemin replied to Taeyong. Johnny looked at Ten.

  “Everybody’s gay.” He gasped and Ten looked over at Jaehyun.

  “1 gay.” He said in awe and Johnny pointed at Taeyong.

  “2 gay.”

Ten pointed at Jaemin. “He’s also gay.”

Johnny looked at Hansol. “Definitely gay.”

  “Probably bi.” Ten shrugged at Yuta.

  “But not as gay as I.” Johnny sang. Ten laughed.

  “And with me we have the last gay.”

And then they started a song that sounded like: “Gay gay gay, everybody around us is gay.”

Taeyong was gasping for air because he was laughing so much and Mark and Jaemin were also laughing, their eyes gleaming. Jaehyun shook his head at his silly friends. This was a nice party.

A/N:

To ya'll who thought Jaemin had something for Mark and visa versa, yes yes, I've had this planned for such a long- while you don't even know.
Mark is unsure of his feelings as any normal smol teenager would be. (And I'm sorry for silly Johnten but drunk Johnten would be golden)

I only have chapter 35 and 36 ready because I need to write something important that I have planned and I haven't gotten the time to sit down and write. 
Not this weekend but the next is going to be empty for me so I can do whatever I want. I'll definitely write that weekend! 

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always thank you for commenting and reading <3

(Also I decided to take the rated mark off of this story because it only has two chapters with that I've marked rated. So now let's see if some new people join Jaehyun's journey through life. (Also when will this end? It's so long ;A; It's my second longest story)

Love,
Emma <3