MARK STILL SEEMS TO BE HAVING INNER COMPLICATIONS WITH HIS RELATIONSHIP...

Mark looked up from his task of editing some photos when heard his name being called. He turned to see a smiling Yugyeom standing at the mouth of his cubicle holding a lunchbox. “Annyeong Mark-hyung,” he greeted brightly, his bangs tickling his eyelashes. “What are you doing here Yugyeom-ah?” the elder asked curiously, “Don’t you have class?” Yugyeom shook his head as he moved a stack of folders over so he could sit on Mark’s desk, “My afternoon class was cancelled so I thought we could have lunch together,” he explained, his innocent smile growing wider.

Mark gave an appreciative smile back, “That sounds fine, but there’s only one lunchbox,” he noted while pointing at the food in his boyfriend’s lap, “Will this be enough for the two of us?” “I only brought food for you hyung, I already ate. I know how you forget to eat sometimes,” Yugyeom told him. Mark laughed and shook his head at the younger, “You should’ve just said that, ‘have lunch together’ is misleading,” he lightly scolded.

Before the younger could apologize, one of Mark’s co-workers poked his head into his cubicle, “Hey Tuan, I had no idea you were babysitting your kid brother today,” he told him as he playfully ruffled Yugyeom’s hair. Mark cringed at that, the second people saw them together they automatically assumed Yugyeom was his little brother. Yugyeom may have been a little bigger than Mark, but he still had the face of boy. The fact that Yugyeom had a book bag on right now only added to his boyish image.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t even know you had a brother,” the co-worker added as an afterthought. “I don’t,” Mark mumbled as he smacked his co-worker’s hand away from Yugyeom’s head, “He’s my boyfriend.” He couldn’t believe how easily that slipped from his lips. He wasn’t one to broadcast his relationship status, especially when his boyfriend was 4 years younger than him and still in school…and still a teenager. Yugyeom must have been surprised too because his ears had suddenly become flushed and his eyes had lowered.

“Really?” his co-worker asked incredulously, “I had no idea you were cradle-robber! What is this kid like 16 years old?” Mark cringed again, a wall immediately forming. This was the reason Mark kept quiet about Yugyeom, the shocked looks on people’s faces made him feel like some sort of e. “I’m 19,” Yugyeom told the man politely, “That means I’m legal and am free to date Mark-hyung.” Though he spoke with respect, Yugyeom’s tone held a hint of annoyance. Situations like this couldn’t have been easy for him either, constantly being mistaken for a kid must get very irritating.

It made Mark feel a little more at ease to know that he wasn’t the only one affected by people’s reactions to their relationship. Feeling the thick tension fill up the small space the employee quickly said, “Um well yes, it was nice to meet you but I have to go.” The couple watched him hastily take his exit, the -eating grin on his face only meant one thing: he was going to tell everyone about Mark’s teenaged boyfriend.

Mark sighed and rested his head on his keyboard, “Great, another reason for them to judge me,” he mumbled as his forehead pressed into various keys. Yugyeom’s face fell when he saw how upset his boyfriend was, “I never should’ve come here,” he said guiltily, “I’m sorry hyung.” Mark lifted his head and looked at his boyfriend with a small smile, “No I’m happy you came here. Don’t be sorry because some people can’t understand our relationship, what we’re doing isn’t wrong,” he comforted, though he didn’t completely believe his own words. Yugyeom’s smile returned as he nodded, instantly happy again. That was all it took.

Mark placed a hand on the younger’s thigh and asked, “What’s in the lunchbox?” “Kimchi, dumplings, and spicy pork. I got it from Jaebum-hyung and Jinyoung-hyung’s restaurant,” the teen excitedly said while patting the box. Mark forced a smile and nodded, he’d just seen a couple of his co-workers walk past his space and look in with curious eyes. It bothered him, he didn’t want anyone in his business, but he would ignore it for now. He stood up from his seat and grabbed his denim jacket, “It’s a little cramped in here, let’s go outside,” he suggested. Yugyeom nodded, but before he could get up, a pair of lips on his had distracted him.

Mark couldn’t stop himself from kissing his boyfriend, it made him uncomfortable as hell, but he felt it was completely necessary. He cradled the back of the younger’s neck and softly kissed him for a few seconds more. He needed to show Yugyeom and everyone else that the younger’s age didn’t bother him, even if it was only an act. He pulled away and ran fingers through the blushing student’s hair, “Thanks for bringing me lunch,” he said. Yugyeom swallowed and nodded. Led by the hand, Yugyeom silently followed behind his boyfriend, a giddy smile covering his face.