One kiss.

That’s all it took for Mark to completely realize his feelings for the younger. 

It all started while they were still trainees. Jinyoung had always been the type to embrace and use skin ship as an advantage, so Mark never found it unusual. It was not until they finally debuted that Mark started to experience weird feelings and thoughts about the dark haired male— something that he hadn’t felt since his days back in America.

Whenever Jinyoung’s warm arms would wrap around his waist, he would feel some weird shock hit his stomach, or whenever Jinyoung would rest his head on his shoulder, the red head swore his heart stopped beating for a moment. It was even the smallest actions that drove the red head crazy, and he wasn’t sure if it was good or bad. He had be inhumane to the other’s gestures before, so why not is he reacting like this? 

Sometimes Mark would return the favour by giving Jinyoung a peck on the cheek, or hug him a bit longer than usual to see if the other would have any reaction— and nothing. He couldn’t read Jinyoung at all, like he could with his other members. He was like a opaque window that kept those on the outside unable to see what was on the inside. This frustrated the hell out of Mark, but he kept it to himself nonetheless. He was still in denial— but in denial of what?

It wasn’t until the night of their first comeback stage that Mark finally realized what he had been hiding from for so long.

“You like him, don’t you?” Jackson suddenly asked, as he peered up from his laptop screen to stare at the now brown headed boy. 

“Of course I do, he’s a great friend.” Mark replied simply, while scrolling through his instagram on his phone.

“Not like that— I meant as in more than a friend. I see how you look at him lately, and that’s not the look that you would simply give just ‘a friend’.”

“I don’t like him like that, Jacks.” 

“Yes you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Why do you keep denying it?”

“Because I’m scared.” 

Mark didn’t even realize what he had said until he lifted his head from his phone, catching a glimpse of Jackson’s reaction in the corner of his eye. In that moment, he swore his heart stopped beating in his chest, and he felt his throat becoming dry as seconds went by. That wasn’t what he was supposed to say, not even close to what he was supposed to say.

“Scared of what?” The other asked with peering eyes. Jackson knew him best, and he knew that once something spills out of the older’s mouth, there was no turning back because that was on his mind from the very beginning of the conversation. 

“I’m just… he doesn’t see me that way, okay?” Mark answered in an almost silent— yet hesitant tone. The denial had all been because he knew that Jinyoung would never reciprocate his feelings, he knew that quite well. 

“And did he say he didn’t like you?” Jackson questioned.

“No…”

“Then how would you know he doesn’t feel the same way? Damnit Mark, I thought you were smarter than that.”

Mark fell silent. Jackson was right— he was never right, but this time, he was. Mark wasn’t quite sure how Jinyoung really felt about him, maybe there was a chance he actually did li—

Before Mark could even finish off his thoughts, a knock at their door jolted Mark up from his bed and out of his thoughts, as a head came peeping through their door. It was Jinyoung. The same innocent, small petite face that Mark came to adore so much.

“Hey, I was wondering if you guys wanted to—“ Jinyoung started, but was rapidly interrupted by Jackson.

“Jinyoung! Hey, buddy— I was about to go grab something to eat with the others, so why don’t you come in and keep Mark company?” Jackson beamed, after shooting a glare at Mark, he came over to pat Jinyoung’s head, before pushing him towards the brown head, and slammed the door closed once he was out of the room. 

Mark awkwardly placed his phone aside, as he heaved himself up so that he was sitting up properly, and slightly shifted over a bit to make room for the younger male to sit on his bed. Jinyoung furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, but sat down beside Mark nonetheless, resting his arms on his knees. 

There was dead silence between the both of them. Usually Jinyoung would be the one to pick up a conversation and keep the mood lifted, but today it was different. It seemed like something was bothering the younger. 

“Is something bothering you?” Mark asked, his eyes glancing over at Jinyoung. Jinyoung shifted around a bit in his spot, but refused to make eye contact with Mark. Something was definitely wrong.

Jinyoung heaved out a heavy sigh, as his head dropped low, hands folding over each other. “Listen, Mark.. I don’t think I can keep pretending that there aren’t any feelings between us.” The male started, catching Mark off guard. Was he about to reject him so easily? “Truth is, I like you. If it wasn’t obvious enough. I tried showing you signals here and there, but it seems like you never caught on. I like you. A lot. And I know you probably don’t feel the same way, but—“ 

Before Jinyoung could even finish his sentence, he was cut off abruptly with a pair of soft, warm— yet sweet lips over his. He blinked rapidly in confusion, before moving his hands up to rest on the back of Mark’s neck, slowly responding to the kiss— yet surely. The two stayed still for a moment before Mark pulled away, his cheeks flushed as he gazed at Jinyoung with softened eyes. 

“I like you too, Jinyoung.” 

“You do?”

“I always have.”