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The NCIT Technician’s newsroom was a commotion of clacking keyboards, hushed discussions, and Jaemin’s boisterous laughter cutting through the air. With the spring semester just around the corner, everyone on the staff was at the edge of their seat waiting to see what senior they would be assigned for the Technician’s annual senior spotlights— a highlight piece focusing on influential 4th year students from the university.
Renjun sat at his desk, meticulously editing a piece from Yangyang about the school’s winter music festival. He tried to ignore the way Donghyuck’s voice grated on his nerves as the editor-in-chief passed out senior spotlight assignments. He was hoping to get a senior from his graphic design program, maybe Yeri from his fashion history class, or Yeonjun from his sewing class, but with his luck, Donghyuck and Jaemin would not be giving him that much piece of mind.
"Renjun," Donghyuck called out, bracing his hands on Renjun’s desk and smirking in that infuriatingly smug way. "You’re doing Mark Lee."
Renjun's pen jerked, a long streak of red ink blotting up the page. Sorry, Yangyang. He stared at Donghyuck, disbelief etched on his face. “I’m sorry, what?”
"You heard me." Donghyuck leaned against the desk, twirling a lock of hair around his finger, relishing Renjun’s horror. "Mark Lee. Captain of the basketball team. Senior. All-star athlete. Your spotlight."
Renjun groaned, dropping his head onto his folded arms. “Why me?”
“Because you’re the best writer we’ve got,” Jaemin smiled toothily, not even trying to sound sincere. "And this will make for a killer feature. You’re welcome."
"Oh, come on. Can’t someone else do it? Yangyang loves sports. Or Jisung!" Renjun turned to the newest writer to join the staff, who froze mid-typing.
"Please don’t drag me into this…" Jisung muttered, looking anywhere but at Renjun. Usually it was a bit easier to bat his eyelashes and have the younger at his mercy, but interviewing Mark Lee meant more interactions with the basketball team, and seeing the basketball team meant more of vice captain Chenle Zhong. Renjun didn’t exactly know what was going on between Chenle and Jisung, but whatever it was had Jisung trembling like a baby deer learning to walk at the mere mention of the athlete’s name.
Donghyuck crossed his arms. “Stop complaining and just write the piece. You’re an art student, Renjun, you need to let go of your biases and expand your horizons a little. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even like Mark once you get to know him a little.”
Renjun scoffed. "Unlikely."
So, maybe Renjun was being a bit over dramatic.
Sure, maybe Mark Lee was a great guy, who saved kittens in his spare time and tutored high school students. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, he was still an athlete. Renjun was tired of them getting everything served to them on a silver platter, just for bouncing or kicking a ball around. While his department begged for funding (woes of being an art student), they wouldn’t even have to ask twice to receive more funding for any of the sports teams. Not to mention how pretentious they all looked, flaunting down the halls in their jerseys like everyone worshipped them. It made Renjun shudder just thinking about it.
But, Donghyuck and Jaemin’s decision was final. As much as Renjun didn’t want to associate in any way with an athlete, there was no way he would get his way with the two editors-in-chief. All he could do was open his email and draft a message to the senior with a sigh.
——
Renjun carried his cup of earl grey in one hand, tote bag in the other, as he rushed towards the library. It was finally the first day of interviews with Mark; he definitely needed the caffeine to power through this.
He pushed through the doors of the library and began making his way to the study tables on the first floor, checking his phone. They had agreed to meet at 4PM and it was already 3:57. If Mark was late, Renjun would never forgive him.
“Psst, Renjun! Over here!”
Renjun’s thoughts were momentarily disrupted by the most awful attempt at whispering he had ever heard. Glancing to where the noise was coming from, he locked eyes with a waving Mark Lee. Renjun smiled sheepishly at the glaring librarian and trudged his way over to the older boy’s table.
Ok, in all honestly Mark wasn’t the most awful thing to look at. He was boyishly handsome, soft brown bangs falling into his eyes, and a lopsided grin covering his face. But, Renjun wasn’t going to let a cute boy change his opinion just like that, he shook his head with a sigh and took a seat across from Mark, placing a hand out in front of him.
“Good afternoon, Mark-sunbaenim. As you already know from our emails, I’m Renjun from the Technician. I know you might not be used to it, but I’d like to keep things professional between us. Let’s work together.” Renjun grit his teeth as he hoped what looked like a smile was plastered on his face.
“Haha, I know who you are, don’t worry! And yeah, same here. Looking forward to working with ya!” Mark took Renjun’s hand and shook it enthusiastically. Maybe he hadn’t heard Renjun’s slight dig at him or maybe he was just ignoring it. Whatever.
Renjun reached into his bag, sliding out his laptop and notepad. He had already started taking notes on Mark. The bullet points on his notepad read: senior, basketball captain, and crossed out underneath, dumbass.
"So," Mark began, breaking the awkward silence, "what do you need to know about me?"
Renjun tapped his pen against the paper. "Start with your major. Then, I guess your basketball career. Achievements, memorable games, that sort of thing."
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Not a fan of sports, huh?"
"Not particularly," Renjun said flatly, not even bothering to look up.
Mark chuckled, the sound soft and a little teasing. "Well, I’ll try not to take it personally."
Renjun’s pen stilled. He glanced up, eyes narrowing. "Don’t."
Mark’s easy smile faltered slightly, replaced by a curious tilt of his head. "Sorry, did I like, do something to offend you?"
Renjun opened his mouth to deny it, then closed it again. He focused back on his notepad, taking a deep breath in to restrain himself. "Just answer the question."
Mark studied him for a moment but shrugged. “Well I’m a senior studying Business—“
Of course he was a business major. Renjun could barely stop himself from rolling his eyes.
“But I’m double majoring in Computer Science as well! Guess you could say I’m a whiz on the courts and in the lab, haha.” Mark wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
Huh. That was a bit surprising; Renjun knew most athletes at NCIT were a part of the business school, the less strenuous course load allowing for more time in the gym, but having two majors — one of them being a notoriously difficult program — and having the time for basketball? That was dedication.
Renjun shook his head, realizing Mark was finally talking about his team, and rushed to scribble down more notes.
——
“Yo~, how was it finally talking to Mark?” Yangyang called out as Renjun closed the door to their shared apartment juggling bags of takeout in his hands. The interview had lasted a few hours before Mark had to head to practice and Renjun had to meet Yangyang for dinner anyways.
“It was… fine. I guess.” Renjun mumbled as he took his seat at the dining table. “I can’t explain it, but he’s just so…” He struggled to find the right description. “Annoying.” Renjun finished, shoveling a forkful of noodles in his mouth.
“Don’t you think you’re maybe being a bit harsh? You hardly know the guy!” Yangyang chewed thoughtfully. “I mean, most of the guys on the team are chill as fuck.”
“Come on, Yangyang, you’re just saying that because your boyfriend’s on the team. Hendery’s nice and all, but have you seen the way Mark looks? It’s like… it’s like he wants me to bend down and kiss his shoes or something!” Renjun exclaimed.
“Haha, Renjun seriously dude, you gotta chill out. I literally see Mark volunteering at the animal shelter all the time whenever I take photos for the weekly coverage. He’s like, a good guy! I seriously don’t think there’s a bad bone in his body.”
Renjun rolled his eyes. Here he goes. It was like no one could mention Mark’s name without bringing up how amazing he is. Time to pull out his last resort.
“Well, what if you talk to Donghyuck for me and ask to swap spotlights? You’ll have a much better time with Mark, and you can see Hendery! Please, Yangyang…” Renjun jut out his lip and batted his eyelashes. Yangyang usually gave into his puppy eyes.
“Dude, Donghyuck would not do that, and no offense, but I kinda don’t want to,” Yangyang trailed off. “Plus Ten-hyung says he’ll give me a point of extra credit in my chem lab he TA’s every time I write something nice about him!”
Renjun sighed and sank down in his seat in defeat. Well, at least one of them was having a good time.
——
The second senior spotlight meeting was a disaster. Mark was late, and by the time he arrived, Renjun was visibly fuming.
“Sorry,” Mark said, breathless as he slid into the seat across from Renjun. "Practice ran late—"
"Of course it did," Renjun snapped, slamming his pen down. "Because basketball is just so much more important than anything else, right? If you were going to be late, you could’ve, I don’t know, texted me."
Mark blinked, taken aback. "Woah Renjun, what’s your problem with me?"
"My problem," Renjun began, his voice rising, "is that you and the rest of the team act like you run this school. Do you even realize how hard the rest of us work? The art department, the newspaper, everyone who isn’t on the court?”
Mark’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Hey, that’s not fair—”
"Fair? You don’t even know the meaning of that word." Renjun grabbed his bag and stormed out, leaving Mark sitting alone, stunned.
——
To say Renjun was angry was an understatement. He was livid. How dare Mark not respect his time when Renjun was taking precious time out of his own day to work on an article about him? Renjun left about a week’s worth of radio silence in his text chat with Mark before finally scheduling another meeting.
The next time they met, Mark arrived on time, carrying a cup of Renjun’s favorite earl grey tea. He set it down in front of him without a word, his expression a mixture of apology and determination.
Renjun hesitated, staring at the drink before cautiously picking it up. “What’s this?”
“A peace offering,” Mark said, his voice quieter than usual. “I really didn’t mean to upset you last time. I get that basketball isn’t your thing, but... I do respect what you do. A lot. And I promise I’ll never let that happen again.”
Renjun blinked, caught off guard. He wrapped his hands around the warm cup, the edges of his frustration softening. “…Thanks.”
Mark leaned forward slightly, his tone earnest with a hopeful smile on his face. “I don’t think we’re all that different, you know. We both care a lot about what we do. Maybe... we could like, try to get along?”
Renjun glanced up, meeting Mark’s gaze. He took a sip of his drink, made exactly the way he liked it, cheeks feeling uncomfortably warm. "I’ll think about it."
——
By the time the spring sports festival rolled around, things had thawed between the two. After their heart to heart, Renjun couldn’t deny the growing ease with Mark’s presence. Yangyang might’ve been right, maybe Renjun was just a bit blinded by his hatred for athletes.
It was finally time for him to see Mark on the court and see the rest of the team in action. Renjun and Jisung were tasked with taking photos for their spotlights, the two sat at the front of the bleachers, setting up their equipment. Jisung’s assigned senior was Jungwoo, another player on the basketball team, however, every so often the team’s vice captain Chenle passed by to talk to the coach, Jisung would jump behind Renjun, as if attempting to hide his four inch taller body. Renjun kept forgetting to ask about the two of them.
As the game commenced, Renjun watched from the sidelines, camera in hand, as Mark led the team on the court. It was late in the game, the score neck and neck, when Mark glanced over at him. He winked, a confident grin spreading across his face, before sinking the winning basket.
Renjun nearly dropped the camera.
——
Their next meeting was supposed to be at a café — Renjun wanted to return the favor for the drink Mark had gotten him weeks before — but a sudden downpour forced a change in plans. Instead, Renjun (after bribing Hendery to distract Yangyang for the evening) invited Mark to his apartment, and Mark showed up with a bag of snacks and another cup of Renjun’s favorite tea.
The senior spotlight article was almost finished, Renjun simply wanted Mark’s opinion on what he wanted included. They worked side by side, sifting through photos and finalizing the last few pieces. The atmosphere was relaxed, a quiet camaraderie settling between them.
"Thanks for putting up with me," Renjun said suddenly, not looking up from his laptop.
Mark chuckled, stretching his arms behind his back. “You’re not so bad when you’re not yelling at me.”
Renjun rolled his eyes but smiled.
As the evening wore on, the space between them seemed to shrink. Their shoulders brushed as they leaned over the laptop, and when Mark turned to say something, Renjun found himself leaning closer.
He hadn’t realized Mark had stopped talking until he met the other’s softened gaze, Mark’s eyes darting to Renjun’s lips.
The kiss happened before either of them could think too hard about it. Soft and tentative at first, but it quickly deepened, their hands tangling as they pulled each other closer, laptop abandoned on the coffee table.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and wide-eyed, Mark grinned. "So... does this mean you don’t hate me anymore?"
Renjun laughed, his cheeks flushing, one hand around Mark’s neck and the other fisting the material of his shirt. “Shut up, Mark.”
Mark leaned in again, and Renjun didn’t protest.
——
Mark slouched in the corner of the locker room, sweat-soaked towel draped around his neck as he sipped water and scrolled through his phone. His teammates were in various states of post-practice exhaustion, some sprawled on benches, others still shooting hoops.
Chenle plopped down beside him, peering over his shoulder while nudging him with his elbow. “You’ve been smiling at your phone for ten minutes straight. Who’s got you acting all soft, Lee?”
Mark glanced up, hiding his phone in his chest, his face instantly heating. “What? No one.”
“Yeah, right.” Jimin snorted from across the room, ripping his jersey off and shoving his towel into his locker. “It’s probably that guy from the newspaper. What’s his name? Renjun?”
Mark froze, his grip tightening around his bottle.
“Oooh, it is Renjun, isn’t it?” Chenle grinned mischievously. “What’s going on there? You guys have been spending a lot of time together lately.”
Mark hesitated, not sure how much he wanted to share. But this was his team, and he trusted them. Plus, they’d figure out eventually. “He’s writing a senior spotlight about me,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Renjun’s... cool. We get along.”
“Cool?” Hendery raised an eyebrow, smiling teasingly. “That’s it? Just cool?”
“Alright, fine,” Mark admitted, running a hand through his hair. “I like him, okay? He’s smart, passionate, …really cute. Kinda snarky, but like, in a good way. It’s... refreshing.”
Jimin snickered. “Snarky? That’s one way to put it. Doesn’t he hate sports? Pretty sure he thinks we’re all dumb jocks.”
Mark frowned. “He doesn’t hate sports. He just... has his opinions. And he’s not wrong about some things.”
“Whatever, man,” Jimin rolled his eyes. “If he’s giving you attitude, I wouldn’t waste my time. You could do better.”
Mark shot him a sharp look. “That’s not fair dude. You don’t even know him.”
But before the argument could escalate, the soft creak of the door opening caught their attention.
Mark turned to see Renjun standing there, his expression carefully blank but his eyes betraying hurt. He held his notebook tightly against his chest. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said stiffly. “I was just looking for you, Mark. Guess I found you.”
Mark stood abruptly, panic flashing through him. “Renjun, wait—”
“It’s fine.” Renjun turned on his heel, disappearing before Mark could stop him.
——
Mark caught up with Renjun just outside the gym. Rain threatened to fall from the dark clouds overhead, and the tension in the air felt just as heavy.
“Renjun!” Mark shouted, jogging faster to close the distance.
Renjun stopped but didn’t turn around. “What do you want, Mark?”
“Look, I’m sorry about what Jimin said—”
“Is that how you really feel?” Renjun interrupted, spinning to face him. His voice was sharp, but his hands trembled as he clutched his notebook. “That I’m just some stuck-up art kid who doesn’t know anything and thinks I’m better than you?”
Mark shook his head frantically. “No! Of course not. Renjun, you know that’s not true.”
“Do I?” Renjun’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I overheard everything, Mark. All of it. You think I don’t try to understand you or your world, but do you even try to understand mine?”
Mark stepped closer, his voice softening. “Renjun, I know I haven’t been perfect, but I swear I don’t see you that way. What Jimin said was out of line, and I should’ve shut it down faster. That was my fault.”
Renjun stayed silent, his jaw tight.
Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re amazing, okay? The way you see the world, the way you fight for what you believe in—it’s incredible. I... I care about you, Renjun. A lot.”
Renjun blinked, startled by the sincerity in Mark’s voice. His defenses wavered, and Mark seized the opportunity to step closer.
“Please,” Mark murmured holding his arms out. “Let me fix this.”
Renjun hesitated for a long moment, then let out a shaky breath collapsing into Mark’s embrace. “You’re such an idiot,” he muttered.
Mark smiled, relief flooding him. “Yeah, I am. But I’m your idiot, right?”
Renjun rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. “We’ll see.”
Mark reached out, gently cupping Renjun’s face with one hand. “Is this okay?”
Renjun nodded, and Mark closed the distance between them, pressing their lips together in a kiss that was equal parts apology and promise.
Renjun’s hands found their way to Mark’s shoulders, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. Mark wrapped his arms around Renjun’s waist, holding him firmly but gently, like he was afraid to let go.
The rain finally began to fall, but neither of them seemed to notice.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless.
“You’re lucky I like you,” Renjun muttered, his cheeks flushed.
Mark grinned, leaning his forehead against Renjun’s. “Yeah, I am.”
And then he kissed him again.
Mark’s hands slid down from Renjun’s waist to settle on his hips, pulling him closer as their kisses grew deeper. The rain soaked through their clothes, but neither of them cared. The tension between them—the arguments, misunderstandings, and stubborn walls they had built—dissolved in the heat of the moment.
“Let’s... go somewhere dry,” Renjun murmured against Mark’s lips, his voice breathy and hesitant.
Mark pulled back slightly, his eyes searching Renjun’s face for any sign of doubt. “Are you sure?”
Renjun nodded, his cheeks flushed but his gaze steady. “Yeah.”
——
They barely made it through the door of Renjun’s room before Mark pushed him gently against the wall, capturing his lips in another fervent kiss. Renjun’s hands tangled in Mark’s damp hair, pulling him closer as their breaths mingled.
The world outside faded, leaving only the quiet intimacy of the moment. Mark’s touch was reverent, his fingers tracing Renjun’s jawline before sliding down his neck. Renjun’s skin burned under his touch, his heart pounding in his chest.
“Mark,” Renjun whispered, his voice trembling but laced with need.
Mark paused, looking at him with a mix of affection and desire. “If you want me to stop—”
“I don’t,” Renjun interrupted, his hands slipping under Mark’s shirt, encircling his abs. “I want this. I want you.”
Mark nodded, his lips brushing against Renjun’s temple before he pulled him toward the bed. They tumbled onto the mattress, their movements a little awkward but filled with an unspoken tenderness.
As they shed their wet clothes, the vulnerability of the moment hit them both. Mark’s hands roamed over Renjun’s body, his touch gentle yet firm as he memorized every curve and angle. Renjun shivered under his touch, his own fingers tracing patterns across Mark’s defined chest.
Their lips met again, this time slower, deeper, as they gave themselves over to the moment. Mark whispered soft reassurances, his voice a low murmur against Renjun’s skin.
“Tell me if I’m going too fast,” Mark said, his breath warm against Renjun’s neck.
“You’re perfect,” Renjun replied, his voice barely audible but filled with conviction.
Mark chuckled, pressing small kisses to Renjun’s neck that slowly turned into gentle bites. Once he pulled away, the younger’s neck was littered in marks.
“M-Mark… wait.” Renjun trembled, his face was flushed. “I need you in me. Please.”
Mark groaned, Renjun’s sweet pleading only arousing him more. “I got you baby. Do you have lube and condoms?” He whispered, pressing a kiss below Renjun’s ear.
“Mm, in the bedside drawer.” Renjun breathed out as he rutted upwards against Mark’s thigh.
The older grabbed both items, quickly uncapping the lube and warming it in his fingers before turning back to Renjun.
“I’m gonna finger you baby, tell me if it hurts.”
Renjun nodded, as Mark circled one finger around the smaller’s rim. He honestly couldn’t believe this was happening, just a few weeks prior the younger could barely even speak more than a sentence to him, and now here they are. He finally slipped a finger past Renjun’s rim, reveling at how tight the younger felt beneath him. The soft pants and groans from the other only further egging him on as he added more fingers.
“M-Mark, I’m ready. Please, I need you.” Renjun ground himself back down onto Mark, eyes dark with want. The older’s fingers were much thicker than Renjun’s own, the stretch burning in the best way. He needed more.
Mark started to reach for a condom, until a strong grip around his wrist stopped him in his tracks. He met Renjun’s flushed gaze, the younger’s lips trembling in embarrassment.
“U-Um, I’m clean so... We can do it raw, if you want.” Renjun murmured.
Mark’s jaw almost dropped open in shock. Renjun had anticipated this. He went to get tested in hopes they’d have sex soon. He cheers mentally, thanking his past self for doing the exact same thing.
“I-If you’re sure. I mean, I’m clean too but— …haha, Junnie, you want me so bad~” Mark crooned teasingly, watching Renjun’s face heat up as he lubed up his cock.
“Shut up. You want me so bad. Just fuck me already..” Renjun pouted.
Didn’t have to tell Mark twice. Mark lined his cock up to Renjun’s hole, teasing his head at the rim before slowly pushing inside with a grunt. Fuck, the heat and pressure felt amazing, he had to hold himself from releasing immediately, and he wasn’t even all the way inside. He brushed Renjun’s bangs out of his eyes, watching the younger’s face tighten up at the intrusion, his breath picking up.
“Breathe baby, let me know when I can keep going.” Mark said as he pressed a kiss to Renjun’s forehead.
“You’re fine. I-I can take it. Just… fuck me like you mean it, hyung.”
Now it’s not like Mark was a pervert of anything (obviously..). But something about Renjun calling him hyung for the first time… Yeah, that kind of did it for him.
“Fuck, you are just so… cute.” Mark grunted, taking Renjun’s hands into his own as he fully pushed his length inside, fucking into Renjun with a steady rhythm. The smaller underneath him mewled, tiny moans and pants escaping his mouth with every thrust. Their connection felt raw, intimate, and electric, the culmination of all the tension that had built between them over weeks of unspoken emotions.
Mark wrapped a hand around Renjun’s cock, his hand covering the whole length.
“A-Ah, hyung! Wait- I’m gonna cum..” Renjun squirmed, drool leaking from his mouth as he babbled, tightening his legs around Mark’s waist. He let out a moan as he released, white ropes of cum covering both their stomachs.
Mark slowed his thrusts, cooing as he began to pull out, brushing tears from Renjun’s eyes. “You did so good for me Junnie, let me clean you up—“
“Wait,” Renjun grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. “…you didn’t finish yet.”
“It’s fine baby, I can take care of it in a little bit, just let me—“ Mark was cut off by Renjun squirming back down on his cock, trying to push Mark’s length back inside him.
“No… Finish inside me. I-…I want you to breed me. Fill me up, Mark-hyung.” Renjun blinked up at him, teary-eyed and face flushed. Who was Mark to deny his baby?
He pushed back fully inside him in seconds, with full intent to keep Renjun bred and happy. Mark finally released after a few minutes, collapsing onto the smaller, the two catching their breaths in tandem.
They lay tangled together, their breaths slowing as the storm outside finally began to calm.
Mark brushed a strand of hair from Renjun’s face, his thumb gently tracing his cheek. “Are you okay?”
Renjun turned his head to press a soft kiss to Mark’s palm. “More than okay.”
Mark smiled, pulling him closer until their foreheads touched. “Good.”
They stayed like that for a long while, wrapped in each other’s warmth as the world outside faded away.
——
The morning the NCIT’s technician dropped their senior spotlight edition, the school was buzzing with excitement. Copies of the newspaper were getting snatched up faster than ever as students flipped eagerly to find their favorite seniors.
Renjun sat in the newsroom, pretending to focus on editing a piece from Jisung. In reality, he was stealing glances at the small stack of freshly printed papers on Donghyuck’s desk.
“You could just grab one, you know,” Donghyuck teased, leaning against the doorway with a knowing smirk. “You’ve been staring at it for five minutes.”
Renjun scowled, but the tips of his ears turned red. “I’m just making sure it looks okay.”
“Uh-huh,” Donghyuck drawled. “By the way, Mark was here earlier. He grabbed a copy and couldn’t stop smiling. Grinning from ear to ear even.”
Renjun froze. “Oh. He... did?”
“Yup.” Donghyuck grinned mischievously. “You sure you’re just writing about him, Renjun? That piece felt very personal.”
“Shut up, Donghyuck.” Renjun finally grabbed a copy from the desk and stormed out of the newsroom, ignoring his editor-in-chief’s laughter trailing behind him.
——
Mark found him later that afternoon, sitting at their usual table in the library. Renjun had the paper open in front of him, the headline of his feature staring back:
“Mark Lee: A Leader On and Off the Court”
Renjun jumped slightly when Mark dropped into the seat across from him, his usual bright smile in place.
“Hey,” Mark greeted, pulling a copy of the paper from his bag and setting it on the table. The corner of the page with Renjun’s feature was dog-eared. “I read it.”
Renjun looked away, tucking a piece of hair behind his ear, suddenly self-conscious. “Oh. What did you think?”
“I loved it,” Mark said without hesitation. “You made me sound way cooler than I actually am.”
Renjun rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched into a small smile. “I just wrote the truth, hyung.”
Mark reached across the table, his hand brushing against Renjun’s and tapping against his pinky. “It means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me.”
Renjun’s breath caught, and he glanced around to make sure no one was watching. “You’re so cheesy.”
Mark grinned, leaning closer. “You like it. You like me~”
Renjun didn’t reply, but the way his cheeks turned pink gave him away.
——
By the end of the day, Renjun’s feature had become the talk of the school. Teachers praised its thoughtful perspective, students gushed about how it captured Mark’s character, and the basketball team couldn’t stop teasing their captain about it.
“Renjun really went all out, huh” Chenle teased during practice. “You must’ve made quite the impression.”
Mark smirked, shooting a perfect three-pointer. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
Later that evening, Mark found himself standing outside Renjun’s apartment, a bouquet of daffodils in hand. When Renjun opened the door, he looked surprised but pleased.
“What’s this?” Renjun asked, eyeing the flowers.
“A thank-you,” Mark said, his smile soft. “For the article. And... for giving me a chance.”
Renjun’s gaze softened as he took the bouquet. “You’re such a dork.”
“And you’re stuck with me now,” Mark teased, stepping closer.
Renjun rolled his eyes but didn’t stop Mark from leaning in to kiss him. This time, it was slow and lingering, a silent promise of everything they’d built together.
When they pulled apart, Renjun rested his forehead against Mark’s. “You know this means Donghyuck will never let me live it down, right?”
Mark chuckled, his arms wrapping around Renjun’s waist. “Totally worth it.”
Renjun huffed a laugh, but his smile didn’t fade. For once, he didn’t mind being in the spotlight.