**********************

Jeno was 10 when he first saw Mark.

The latter had just transferred to their school. It was uncommon for someone to change schools at that time of year. Jeno thought it was weird that Mark did.

“Have you heard?” one of his best friends, Donghyuck, asked rather eagerly as he approached their group’s usual table at the cafeteria during lunch time.

All five heads perk at the sudden question. “About?” it was Jaemin who asked back.

“About the new transfer student,” Donghyuck answered as he sat down beside Jisung, their youngest, who scooted over.

Donghyuck wouldn’t stop blabbering on about the new kid. Only Jeno listened to him though, the others were doing whatever it was they were up to, uninterested unlike Jeno was. Apparently from what Donghyuck had shared, the transferee came from Canada and was a grade older than Jeno. How Donghyuck managed to find all of that out in one morning made Jeno curious.

“That’s him!” Donghyuck exclaimed excitedly, while pointing at something from a distance. “Over there!” Jeno turned his head around and it was then when Jeno first saw him, when his eyes first laid upon the other as he entered the room and dashingly crossed the area to head to the lunch queue.

***************************

Jeno was 11 when he first met Mark.

“Hi, I’m Lee Minhyung. But you can call me Mark,” he introduced, a hand extended towards Jeno, offering a friendly handshake. The older had just joined the school’s dance club which Jeno was already a member of. Mark was introduced to the rest of the crew earlier on that day and Jeno wasn’t an exception.

Jeno was quick to accept the gesture. Moments like those rarely happen after all. Though they went to the same school, they were in different years; the chances of Jeno ever meeting Mark was as slim as a thread. And Jeno would take every opportunity that he could. “I’m Jeno,” he replied, accompanied with a smile that was far wider than his usual ones. Well, at least Jaemin said so when they both went back to class.

**************************

Jeno was 12 when Mark first officially became part of their gang.

“Mark-hyung is really nice,” Jisung told Jeno one day, eyes searching for the older male who was busy playing go-cart against Donghyuck and Chenle, all three sprawled on Jeno’s living room floor, attention focused on their controllers and on the television infront of them.

“He’s okay,” Jaemin said dismissively while Renjun only managed a small nod from his seat, too engrossed on the book he was reading to utter a reply. They were outside, setting up the picnic blanket and gently placing the food Jeno’s mother had prepared for them on up of the cloth.

Jeno couldn’t help but smile at how endearing Jisung’s words were. He could still remember how they barely knew Mark a few months ago but now his presence had a big effect on the entire group. Despite their , Mark fitted well with them for some odd reason, like he was meant to be in their small circle of friends from the very beginning. Donghyuck was the most welcoming one since he knew Mark first. He made sure that the older would get along with everyone. And well, Mark was very likable so didn’t take so long before the others, especially Jisung, warmed up to him.

“Yeah, he is,” Jeno found himself saying, his eyes curled happily at the thought of Mark. The expression was full of fond. And Jisung was too young to notice or understand what it meant.

*******************************

Jeno was 13 when he first went to Mark’s house for a sleepover.

They had set up tents at Mark’s backyard, to sleep outdoors for a change.

“Do you want hot chocolate?” Mark offered shortly after noticing how the younger’s hand slightly trembled as a sudden gist of cold January wind came and dishevelled their hair, Chenle’s high pitched laugh echoed through the night. Mark went inside the kitchen to stir the younger something to drink.

“Thank you, hyung.” Jeno said as he took the cup from him, loving how warm it felt against his palms.

“Anytime.” Mark smiled at him and Jeno couldn’t help but smile back.

******************************

Jeno was 14 when he first went to a catch a movie with Mark, alone.

They had agreed to spend their Saturday together. But apparently, all their friends had bailed out on them at the very last time. What remained were the both of them.

“How about we do this again next time?” Mark said in the middle of movie, just as cars exploded on the screen and the booming roar of cries could be heard from the speakers at the side of the theater. “Just us. I kinda like it.”

“Yeah, me too.” Jeno wanted that very much.

************************************

Jeno was 15 when he first made a promise to Mark.

It was one cold Sunday night; it was just the both of them again, at the rooftop of Mark’s house. Mark invited him over, for another sleepover maybe but Jeno wasn't convinced. Mark didn’t invite the others, it was only him and Mark. Hope blossomed in the pit of Jeno's stomach though he willed them away just the same. But who could blame Jeno?

Why was it only him then?

They talked for hours whilst admiring the starry sky, talking about nothing and everything at the same time, in hushed voices and small giggles.

“Promise me you won’t forget me, okay?” Mark suddenly said, staring at afar, his shaky breath turned to smoke against the air and Jeno noted how magical it looked. "You know, I'll really miss you."

And Jeno would so too but he didn't say it out load. He opened his mouth but only to reluctantly close it again, unable to counter Mark's previous statement. So he shook his head instead then pointed out, “Hyung, you’re going to High School, not across the globe.”

“I know, but still.”

Jeno chuckled. “Stop being overly dramatic, hyung.” 

But Mark was serious. The look Mark gave him as he turned was overwhelming, Jeno's throat tightened at the sight and it wasn’t a good sign. Jeno sighed in defeat. “Fine, I promise.”

“Let’s swear on it.” Mark then hooked his pinky finger, locking them with Jeno’s before Jeno even had time to react. The feeling of