“Do you want apples or oranges?” Jinyoung rummaged the gigantic bag of everything-Mark-needs-to-survive-his-stay-in-the-hospital, furrowing his eyebrows as he tried to pick out the best fruits of the lot.

“Apples will do!” Mark smiled as he sat up on the creaky hospital bed to see what Jinyoung was busy with. The boy scurried along the narrow space between the table and the door of the ward, dramatically tossing the white foam wraps of the apples into the air and holding the rosy fruits against the white lights to scrutinise each and every corner for dents, foraging for the best apple.

“Do you want them peeled? Sliced? Or would you rather eat it as it is?” Jinyoung asked as though it was a severe and important question. Before Mark could open his mouth to reply, the raven-haired boy spoke again. “I should peel and slice them. I can’t have you poisoned by the insecticide and getting a headache from biting this hard apple. I mean, just look at it…”

Mark laughed. Jinyoung was acting like an overly worried mother and it heartened him. It only showed the immense concern Jinyoung had for him. A smile crept up his face when he saw Jinyoung fumble as he made a rather slipshod, albeit sincere, attempt to peel the apple. When the plate of apples arrived at the hospital bed, they looked more like irregularly shaped morsels severed by the knife.

“These are apples?” Mark teased as he chuckled, receiving a pout from Jinyoung in return. He couldn’t help but gulp and turn pink when he caught himself staring at the latter’s moist lips, bottom lip jutting out obscenely. In an attempt to divert his attention, Mark hastily grabbed a piece of apple and shoved it into his mouth, then coughed as he choked on the piece of fruit, spluttering the contents in his mouth onto the bed sheets.

“Why did you do that?!” Jinyoung chided, half shouting as he could not contain his worry. While rubbing Mark’s back in slow circles to soothe his coughing fit, his other hand pulled a tissue from the box and wiped Mark’s lips, before proceeding to clean up the mess he made. “Why do you keep worrying me?”

Mark bit his bottom lip as he tried to stifle his giggles. Cocking his head to the side to look straight into Jinyoung’s eyes, he grinned playfully as he said in a sing-song tone, “sorry Jinyoungie~” That worked. His smile became brighter as he watched Jinyoung’s frown disappear into an eye smile.

Jinyoung sighed as he looked at the redhead in defeat. With his fiery hair tousled in an adorable mess and his face beaming, Mark was cuter than a plush toy, and squishier than one. Before he knew it, he was pinching Mark’s cheeks and smiling like an idiot. “So cute,” he whispered.

Upon hearing that, Mark’s cheeks became a colour rival to the apple peels abandoned on the tabletop. Cuter, Jinyoung thought, laughing inwardly. He picked up another piece of apple and beckoned for Mark to open his mouth.

“What are you doing, Jinyoung?”

“Feeding you, since you apparently don’t know how to eat on your own.” Jinyoung stated as he pushed the piece of apple slowly into Mark’s mouth, fingers brushing lightly against his lips in the process. Mark did not resist. Wet and crisp as he bit into it, it broke between his teeth with a soft crunch. Icy sweetness filled his mouth as the lingering sound drifted around his ears. Either this apple was the tastiest one on Earth, or the fact that Jinyoung was feeding him sent him to cloud nine.

“OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH I smell love in the air!” A familiar voice rang from the door, disrupting the silence between Mark and Jinyoung. Bambam guffawed as he ran into the room, stopping with a jerk in front of the bed when he saw Jinyoung shield Mark with his arms. “Awww, why can’t I hug my favourite hyung?”

“Because Jinyoung won’t allow it.” A tall figure sauntered in with a bouquet of sunflowers, smiling at Mark and Jinyoung. “Get well soon, Mark hyung! And Bambam, stop invading their privacy!”

Mark laughed and received the flowers with gratitude, thanking Yugyeom while scooting closer to Jinyoung naturally. “Thanks for coming, though I’m really fine.”

“You’re not fine! You need rest, Mark.” Jinyoung protested as he pushed the amused redhead lightly against the pillow and tucked him under the blankets. He then turned to the maknaes who were sniggering amongst themselves. “Shhhh you guys, keep quiet.”

“BABY MARK! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” A loud voice hollered from the hallway, followed by scampering footsteps towards the ward. Jinyoung gritted his teeth in annoyance. It could only be one person – Jackson freaking Wang. He burst through the door, then strutted in confidently, holding his hands up in a bumptious manner – at least to Jinyoung, it seemed – before flashing his killer smile to Mark. “I brought you homemade soup! You like soup, right? Mark?”

“I do like soup, thanks Jackson!” Mark smiled at the boy clad in black. Jackson seemed different out of the campsite; he was less bossy, less aggressive, less cocky – okay, maybe still cocky but in a good way – and younger, friendlier, somewhat vulnerable. Mark noticed how his back was slightly slouched and how his knuckles clenched as he looked around uncertainly. It was so unlike Jackson.

Jinyoung, however, did not like how Mark was looking at Jackson. He mumbled, bitterly and loud enough for Jackson to hear, “he likes soup but not soup you made…” Jackson knitted his eyebrows together, and was about to retort when the door opened with a click. It was JB and Youngjae, standing shoulder to shoulder on the narrow walkway, fists clenched and gaze fixated on the floor. The atmosphere was so tense it suffocated everyone in the room.

Mark cleared his throat and faked a smile. “JB, Youngjae! Thanks for coming to see me. Take a seat!” The two who were frozen like statues previously muttered “you’re welcome”s and then proceeded to sit at the far ends of the room. They never spoke a word since.

The maknaes, clueless to the situation, began to bombard Mark with questions. “Mark hyung! So what happened to you that night? I heard you got kidnapped!” Bambam piped, eyes filled with curiosity.

“He didn’t get kidnapped you idiot!” Yugyeom rolled his eyes, then said haughtily. “He tripped and fell when he ran out on that rainy night. Right, Mark hyung?”

Mark shook his head and laughed softly, and Jinyoung threw a pillow at the maknaes’ heads.

~~~~~

“Let’s eat somewhere else, the queue is too long!” Yugyeom complained and Jackson nodded his head vigorously in agreement. Bambam, however, whined like a baby and stubbornly squeezed into the queue, ignoring the others’ looks of disapproval. “But it’s what I’ve been craving for sooooo long! The queue won’t take long, I promise!”

Somehow, the older ones could not – or didn’t bother to – resist the younger’s demands. Soon, the five of them were part of the queue to the restaurant, all waiting patiently while Yugyeom sulked. “I swear, Bambam, if the food is not nice, I will kill you,” he warned. Bambam argued back instantaneously. In no time at all, all conversations ceased and only the maknaes’ aimless bickering sustained.

Jinyoung had insisted to stay behind in the hospital with Mark, and the maknaes suggested for the rest of them to have lunch together, persuading everyone, including Jackson who originally wanted to accompany Mark. Now, the two childish boys were engaging in a pointless debate about whose taste buds were finer and more exceptional, leaving Jackson alone in between the awkward pair – JB and Youngjae.

Jackson had no clue what happened to them. He only noticed how they hardly spoke to each other, showing no signs of friendship despite spending several nights together in the same tent. When the group pulled back to shore after the exhausting kayak expedition, JB had walked off without a sound, leaving Youngjae alone to wash the kayak. He skipped dinner and turned in early that night.

“I need the washroom.” JB finally spoke, entering the restaurant to search for the washroom as soon as Jackson nodded his head to acknowledge. As he disappeared through the glass doors, Youngjae let out an audible sigh.

“What happened between you two?” Jackson blurted, clasping his mouth with both hands immediately. It didn’t seem like a right question to ask.

“It’s all my fault…” Youngjae confessed as he looked at his feet, guilt written all over his face.

“What did you do? Nothing could possibly be that bad.”

“It is bad. And it’s a long story, hyung. It’s just –”

“May I have your orders please?” The waitress interrupted, looking expectantly at the boys as she impatiently tapped her pen against the clipboard she was holding. Bambam began to order his meal, pointing excitedly at the menu and Yugyeom succumbed to curiosity and went over, eventually ordering more than Bambam. Jackson selected a simple set meal, and then dragged Youngjae over for him to do the same.

“Okay…” the waitress drawled as she scribbled down their orders, “anything else?” She adjusted her skirt, prepared to rush off to the kitchen.

“Could you wait for a little while? We have a friend in the washroom.” Jackson asked, attacking her with his doe eyes and fluttering eyelashes. She was, however, unfazed and only gestured to the long queue behind them. “Sorry, sir. That order will have to wait for later.”

“A Korean stew set please,” Youngjae murmured, a little too softly.

“Sorry, sir? I didn’t catch that.”

“A Korean stew set.” He reiterated, louder this time round, but with a shaky voice.

The waitress nodded and led the boys to an empty table in the restaurant. Youngjae stared straight ahead, ignoring the questioning glances Jackson, Bambam and Yugyeom were shooting him.

~~~~~

JB patted his damp hands on his jeans as he stepped out of the washroom. He took his time to walk to the queue but saw none of his friends there. They must’ve gotten seats already, he thought. Sweeping his straight bangs aside, he scanned the restaurant to look for the other boys in the dimly lit environment.

He couldn’t miss it – Youngjae’s light blonde hair amidst the dark-haired crowd. Or was it already instinctual for him to sense Youngjae’s presence? He shook his head vigorously to snap out of his thoughts, taking a deep breath before heading to the table at the corner of the restaurant.

“JB hyung, you’re back!” Yugyeom squealed, obviously already in a better mood than before. He pulled the remaining empty chair out and dragged JB down, causing him to collapse onto the chair with a loud thud.

JB gulped and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The setting of the table was way too atmospheric for him, too romantic. Embroidered tablecloth covering the table made of antique rose wood, expensive cutlery reflecting the mellow lights from the intricate overhead lamps with a sparkle, a jar of wine-red rose petals… Also, a dainty candle sitting in a sophisticated candleholder, flames flickering between him and the boy sitting opposite him – Youngjae.

What kind of restaurant is this? JB frowned, silently cursing Bambam for officially staging his most awkward day ever. His facial expression, or lack thereof, would have implied his coldness and nonchalance towards Youngjae. But behind that mask he struggled so much to put on, millions of thoughts and questions drowned him. Does he feel as awkward as I do now? Or does he not care any longer? Is he truly sorry for what he had done?

Can we ever be together again?

The disagreement between his mind and reality disturbed him greatly. While he was on the verge of exploding from the noise wrecking in his mind, the perpetual silence between him and Youngjae made his blood turn cold.

It didn’t help that a piano piece was playing in the background, for that piece could very well be played by Youngjae, his fingers limber as they dance across the keys, alighting first on ivory then gliding to ebony. He would be singing alongside the pearly tones created with his touch, tilting his head slightly as he gazes at JB, burning his cheeks.

The waitress approached the table, serving their food. While the other side of the table dug in promptly, doing no justice to the chef’s effort by rapidly stuffing the food down their throats without tasting, JB stared at the bowl in front of him, unmoving.

He had ordered the exact same dish on their first date, smiling as the piping hot stew was served because stew was his absolute favourite. It always warmed him down to his toes, making him satisfied and happy. Youngjae wanted a mouthful to know how it tasted, and so, JB gingerly scooped some and blew for it to cool down, before feeding the younger. As his lips clamped around the spoon, he started to choke at the spiciness and his nose watered involuntarily, making a mess on his face. JB had used a tissue to clean Youngjae up, and they laughed it off.

JB stole a peek at Youngjae when the stew fogged up his black-rimmed glasses, heart pounding as though it was their first date again. The blonde appeared to be in deep focus, his small eyes squinting as he picked out the cucumbers from his salad with his fork. JB clenched his teeth to stifle a smile. Youngjae never changed. He loved salads, but every time JB took him out for one, he would have to finish the cucumbers for the younger, to “save” him from the “Evil of all foods”. Nobody was “saving” him now.

JB felt a pang of guilt as he watched the younger. Youngjae was still Youngjae. He remembered JB’s favourite dish and his hate for cucumbers was still as strong as before. The way he shifted in his seat when the food arrived, the way he held his fork cutely with his fist completely clenched around it, and the way his nostrils flared into the shape of a heart as he chewed on his food contentedly. He didn’t change one bit.

Youngjae constantly stole glances at JB, hoping that they would make eye contact, fall in love all over again, and miraculously revive their relationship. But JB had not looked straight into Youngjae’s eyes since they broke up, though that was his favourite thing to do when they were together – gaze into his eyes and steal his soul.

Youngjae couldn’t take his eyes off JB’s hand; he missed his strong yet gentle touch. But JB had not patted Youngjae’s head since they broke up, though he did that every now and then when they were together, to show his affection for the younger.

Youngjae tried, every single time JB seemed to be looking in his direction, to smile at him, hoping his smile would be contagious. But JB had not smiled, nor had he laughed, since they broke up, though that was the light and sound of their relationship when they were together.  

JB’s heart clenched at the thought that maybe, they could have had a second chance. Maybe, they could have forgiven each other, hugged and made up. Maybe, they would still be lovers.

But maybe is indefinite.

~~~~~

Mark winced when he heard the irritating buzzing sound at his ear for the fourth time, slapping his own ear to chase the culprit. The windows must have been slightly ajar, and as night fell, mosquitoes found their way into the ward and threw a party, much to Mark’s annoyance.

“Jinyoung ah, can you help to check if the windows are closed? There are mosquitoes attacking me urghhh!” He complained, pouting at Jinyoung, who was busy preparing extra blankets for both Mark and himself to stay the night. In a flash, Jinyoung was at the window, shutting them properly as he mumbled something about poor hospital facilities under his breath.

“Are they still around?” he asked aggressively, holding his fists out in a hawkish stance, ready to fight the mosquitoes. Mark laughed and shrugged his shoulders, “I’m not sure, they’re gone for now at least.”

Jinyoung could not take any chances, whipping out insect repellent from his big bag of necessities, then sprayed abundant amounts of it on the bed, being careful not to spray it on the redhead. Mark smiled at Jinyoung’s actions. “Thanks so much, Jinyoungie, for taking care of me.”

Jinyoung sat down on the bed beside Mark, tucking him under the thick but soft blanket he specially brought for him. “Don’t mention it, I like doing stuff like this and besides, it’s you, Mark. I’ll take care of you anytime, anywhere. Forever.”

Mark pursed his lips, looking at Jinyoung in disbelief. “Next time, when you get a girlfriend, you probably won’t take care of me anymore…” He muttered, his voice with a tinge of jealousy.

“Says who?” Jinyoung quipped.

“Says Mark Tuan. It’s true, isn’t it?” 

“It’s not,” Jinyoung assured. “I will still take care of you.”

Mark cried a little inside, noticing how Jinyoung unwittingly agreed that he would get a girlfriend someday. Mark dreaded the coming of that day, as he would no longer get to spend hours with Jinyoung, and Jinyoung would not be his.

~~~~~

“Nonsense, she’ll get jealous if you do!” Mark retorted. Jinyoung couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. Mark was definitely getting bolder, now able to interrogate him about his future love life, not that he ever expected one.

It must have had happened in the midst of all the drama of the camping trip and eventually, him spending his entire day worrying for Mark’s state of health. He felt it, the tremendous fear that Mark would give up on his own body and leave Jinyoung, and the great relief when the doctor assured him that he just needed some rest and a day of observation in the hospital. Mark was steadily climbing up the positions, stealing the first place in Jinyoung’s heart, without him knowing.

He didn’t need a girlfriend. All he needed was Mark.

“Trust me, he won’t be jealous.” Jinyoung affirmed, looking into Mark’s eyes steadily.

The redhead flushed at their eye contact, then blinked several times, showing a confused expression. “He?”

Oops, got caught. Jinyoung slapped himself mentally and pretended not to hear Mark’s question. “It’s getting late. Be good, and go to sleep.” He placed his palms against Mark’s eyes, causing him to close his eyes, and shivered as his eyelashes brushed against his hand. Mark must have been exhausted, as his breathing evened quickly and he fell asleep in no time.

Jinyoung lied on one arm, his other arm reaching out to pat Mark’s back gently, in slow rhythm. The mere knowledge that Mark was safe and beside him calmed him, coaxing him into deep slumber.

In the moonlight, a boy stepped back, sighed, and closed the door to the ward as quietly as he could before briskly walking away with his head hung down.

♥♥♥

Hi lovely readers! I'm back after crying over my bad results for the recent tests (hahaha nah I didn't cry). Sorry for the late update! There's a lot more 2jae in this chapter but I believe there are many 2jae shippers out there so yay. Do enjoy the chapter and let me know your thoughts about it ^~^ It's titled Hopeless Love, inspired by 15& Jimin's recent single (it's so amazing!!). If you've read the lyrics for the song, I guess it'll be easier to relate as the feelings portrayed in this chapter are similar. :)

AND GOT7 IS COMING TO SINGAPORE AND I BOUGHT TICKETS TO THE FANMEET AND I'M GOING WITH MY FRIEND (oh-jaebum  -->  do check out her fics too, she's a great writer!) AND WE ARE SO EXCITED AND I THINK I'M GONNA DIE SEEING THEM IRL HELP.