Chapter Text
"Don't wait for me. I'm not going home tonight." Mark said on the other line.
Again?
Donghyuck heard those lines more than he sees Mark in the past weeks.
"Why?" Donghyuck asked even if he knows the answer already.
"Work." Tipid namang sagot ni Mark.
Donghyuck bit his lower lip and nodded his head like he already expected it.
"O-Okay. Take care." Donghyuck reminds him.
Hindi naman na sumagot pa si Mark at agad na niyang pinatay ang tawag.
Donghyuck's shoulder drops and slumps himself on their bed.
It's been a month since they got married pero madalang siyang makita ni Donghyuck sa loob ng bahay nila dahil madalas siyang nasa trabaho.
He understands naman since kaka assign lang sa kanya as CEO but sometimes he thinks that Mark is doing it on purpose just to avoid him.
Nakatitig lang si Donghyuck sa kisame habang pinaglalaruan ang wedding ring na nakasuot sa daliri niya.
Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na buntong hininga saka siya tumagilid at kinuha ang isang unan sa gilid para mayakap niya.
He looks sadly at the empty space beside him. The space where Mark is supposed to be.
Hindi na niya alam kung kailan ang huling beses na nakatabi niya si Mark sa iisang kama, and it's starting to get foggy on his mind.
Dahil madalas na nasa trabaho si Mark, bilang lang sa mga daliri niya kung ilang beses silang nagkatabing matulog sa kama nila.
And even if they're beside each other at times, Donghyuck still longs for him because Mark never looks at him.
When Donghyuck approaches, Mark steps backward and the younger silently breaks everytime it happens.
The older blatantly shows how he doesn't want to be near Donghyuck.
Kahit naman hindi niya sabihin, ramdam ni Donghyuck na ayaw nito sa kanya.
What would he expect about their set up anyway?
It's not like they married for love.
Kasal lang sila sa papel.
When Donghyuck was young, isa sa mga pangarap niya sa buhay ay ang makasal sa taong mahal niya at mahal siya.
Natupad naman ang pangarap niya.
He married the man he loves but the only problem is he doesn't love him back.
Mark only agreed to marry him because of business and nothing else.
He felt like a loser now for believing that Mark will eventually love him when the older clearly doesn't want to be with him.
Bumibigat na ang talukap ng mata ni Donghyuck kaya mahigpit niyang niyakap ang unan saka siya tuluyang pumikit.
He stayed in that position until he drifts himself off to sleep.
Nagising siya nang maaga kinabukasan.
A familiar scent welcomes him when he inhales.
It smells like Mark's perfume.
'Umuwi ba siya kagabi?' Donghyuck mentally asked himself.
"He probably went home last night while I'm in deep sleep." He whispered to himself.
Donghyuck pouts his lips and forced himself to get up and take a shower.
Mabilis lang din naman siyang natapos at agad nang nagpalit ng damit saka siya bumaba sa kusina para maghanda ng breakfast niya.
Pagbaba niya sa hagdan, naabutan naman niya ang helper nilang naglilinis sa living room nila.
"Good morning, sir!" masiglang bati ng helper nila.
"Good morning, ate. Kanina pa po kayo dito?" Tanong ni Donghyuck.
Saglit na tumigil sa ginagawa ang helper nila para sumagot.
"Ay hindi po. Halos kakarating ko lang din po. Naabutan ko pa nga po si sir Mark na papalabas e." Saad niya.
Donghyuck's eyes widens.
He really went home last night. That also explains the perfume he smells earlier.
"Akala ko hindi siya uuwi kagabi..." Donghyuck mumbled in a small voice.
'I should've woke up earlier para napaghanda ko pa siya ng pagkain niya.' He thought.
Donghyuck heaves a deep sigh at saka siya naglakad papunta sa kusina para maghanda ng breakfast niya.
"Sir, ako na po magluluto ng breakfast niyo." Their helper offers.
"Hindi na po ate, kaya ko na po." Donghyuck politely declines and smiled at her.
Hindi na rin nagpumilit pa ang helper nila at nagpatuloy nalang sa kanyang ginagawa.
Malaking tulong din na may na-hire silang stay-out helper na araw-araw pumupunta sa bahay nila para maglinis kahit hindi naman ganoon kakalat dahil si Donghyuck lang naman halos ang nasa bahay.
Nagtimpla lang si Donghyuck ng kape niya at saka siya gumawa ng french toast dahil yun naman usually yung agahan niya.
Sa isang buwan na kasal sila ni Mark, madalang din silang magsabay kumain.
Donghyuck felt so lonely most of the time kasi may asawa nga siya pero parang hindi niya naman ramdam.
Umupo na siya agad sa mesa at bago siya magsimulang kumain, inaya niya namang kumain muna yung helper nila na agad naman siyang tinanggihan dahil nakakain na daw ito bago pumunta sa bahay nila.
Ngumiti naman si Donghyuck sa kanya at bahagya siyang tumango saka siya nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
Nung matapos si Donghyuck kumain, umakyat na siya agad sa kwarto nila.
When he entered their room, nilapitan niya agad ang cellphone niyang nakapatong sa bedside table at kinuha ito. Naalala niya namang hindi niya pa ito nacheck mula kaninang paggising niya.
There's a message from his mom since last night and 2 missed calls from Renjun 30 minutes ago.
He unlocks his phone to read his mom's message first.
Mom:
How are you, Hyuckie?
We miss you already.
By the way, we're going to have dinner on your house tomorrow. Wag ka na magluto ha? I'll bring foods, so dont worry. See you!
Donghyuck smiled upon reading his mom's message.
Agad naman siyang magtipa ng irereply niya.
Hyuck:
Hi mom! I miss you and dad, too.
See you later!
He purposely did not answer the "How are you" part dahil kung sasabihin niyang nalulungkot siya araw-araw baka mag-alala lang ang mommy niya.
'Pero makakauwi kaya si Mark mamaya?' He thought.
"I should ask him." Bulong niya sa sarili.
He immediately taps Mark's contact and type a message.
Hyuck:
Good morning, Mark.
My mom said they're going to have dinner later dito sa bahay. Itatanong ko lang sana kung makakauwi ka ba?
But it's fine if you're busy.
I'll just tell them nalang.
He exited their message thread and he's about to call Renjun back when he suddenly received a response from Mark so he taps the message immediately.
Mark:
I'll be there.
Donghyuck only stared at his message.
Him and short replies.
Hindi na sumagot pa si Donghyuck sa mensahe ni Mark at nagpunta na agad sa contacts para tawagan si Renjun.
Nakatatlong ring muna ang tawag bago sumagot si Renjun.
"Hi!" Renjun beams on the other line.
"Hello! So... Why did you call earlier?" Donghyuck directly asked.
"Well, itatanong ko nga sana kung may isasama ka ba bukas? You can bring Mark if you want." Ani Renjun.
Kumunot naman ang noo ni Donghyuck dahil sa sinabi ni Renjun.
"Huh? Anong meron bukas?" He asked confused.
"What? You don't remember?!" Renjun sounds really offended.
Mas lumalim ang kunot ng noo ni Donghyuck dahil wala siyang idea kung anong sinasabi ni Renjun sa kanya.
"I really don't." He said carefully.
Narinig niya naman ang malalim na buntong-hininga ni Renjun sa kabilang linya.
"Bukas na yung opening ng Art Gallery! I already told you this last week, remember?" Renjun reminded him.
Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Donghyuck dahil nawala sa isip niya.
"Is it tomorrow? I'm sorry, nakalimutan ko." Donghyuck said apologetically.
"Kung hindi pa kita nakausap ngayon hindi mo na maalala." Bakas sa boses ni Renjun ang pagtatampo.
"I'm really sorry, Renj. Ang dami ko lang talagang iniisip lately." Donghyuck apologizes.
"Nah, it's okay. Just make sure to attend tomorrow ha? Magtatampo talaga ako sa'yo for real kung wala ka." Renjun warned.
"Don't worry, pupunta ako." Donghyuck assured.
"Dapat lang! Tsaka may surprise ako sa'yo bukas kaya wag kang mawawala." Aniya.
"Really?! I'll look forward to that!" Donghyuck beams in excitement.
"You should." Sagot naman ni Renjun. "By the way, pwede kang magdala ng kasama ha? You can bring Mark if you want." Renjun suggests.
Donghyuck scrunches his nose upon hearing it.
Imposible kasing makasama si Mark sa sobrang busy niya but even if he's not, Donghyuck doubts if Mark still wants to accompany him.
"I'll go alone, Renj. Busy si Mark sa company." Saad naman ni Donghyuck.
"Oh, okay! Sayang naman. But that's fine as long as you're there. See you tomorrow, Hyuckie!" Renjun said cheerfully.
"See you, Renj!" Donghyuck replied.
Pagkatapos nilang mag-usap ni Renjun, sakto namang kumatok ang helper sa kwarto nila. Donghyuck immediately gets up to where he's sitting from to open the door.
Nagpaalam lang ang helper nila na uuwi na siya since tapos naman na siyang maglinis at babalik nalang ulit bukas ng maaga.
"Sige ate, salamat po ulit." Donghyuck said genuinely.
Naglakad na silang dalawa pababa at hinatid lang siya ni Donghyuck hanggang sa labas ng pintuan nila.
Nung bumalik na siya ulit sa loob, doon niya naramdaman na mag-isa na naman ulit siya.
He's slowly getting used to the feeling and it scares him sometimes.
Mabilis lang lumipas ang mga oras. Donghyuck spent his entire day sitting on the veranda while reading the book he purchased last week. He even almost forgot to eat lunch because he lost track of time pero mabuti nalang at nakakain din lang siya. Pagkatapos niyang mananghalian, tinuloy niya lang ulit ang pagbabasa hanggang sa matapos niya iyon.
Papalubog na ang araw nung mapagdesisyunan niyang pumasok na sa kanilang kwarto at saka binalik ang libro sa shelf.
Kinuha niya naman ang cellphone niyang hindi niya pa pala nachecheck mula kanina.
There's a notification message from his mom kaya binuksan niya ito para basahin.
Mom:
We'll arrive later at 7.
It was sent 18 minutes ago.
Nagtipa naman agad ng reply si Donghyuck.
Hyuck:
Okay, mom. We'll wait.
Donghyuck doesn't know kung anong oras makakauwi si Mark pero nasabi niya kasing makakarating siya kaya hindi na nag-abala pa si Donghyuck na i-message siya.
Mag-aalis sais na rin ng hapon kaya nagpasya na siyang maligo.
Mabilis lang din naman siyang natapos sa pagligo at agad siyang pumasok sa walk in closet nila para makapagpalit na ng damit.
He checks himself on the mirror first before going out.
Paglabas niya sa walk in closet nila, nagtungo naman agad siya sa vanity chair para umupo at patuyuin ang buhok niya.
After he's done drying his hair, he immediately proceeds in applying some cream on his face. He focuses on himself in the mirror while gently patting the supple skin on his face.
After that, he gets his lipbalm and starts applying it on his lips.
Habang abala siya sa ginagawa, hindi niya namamalayang bumukas ang pinto sa kwarto nila.
Mark suddenly entered the room.
Donghyuck halted his movement as he watches Mark on the mirror. Nagtama naman ang tingin nilang dalawa sa salamin pero naunang nag-iwas ng tingin si Donghyuck at ipinagpatuloy nalang ang ginagawa.
"You're early." Panimula ni Donghyuck.
Saglit namang natigilan si Mark bago magsalita.
Mark just hums in response bago niya hinubad ang coat na suot niya.
Sunod niya namang tinanggal yung neck tie niya pagkatapos nun ay isa-isa niya namang tinanggal sa pagkakabutones ang suot niyang long sleeve polo pero hindi niya ito tuluyang hinuhubad sa katawan niya.
"What time will your parents arrive?" Mark asked using his hard tone. Nilingon niya si Donghyuck at nahuli niya itong nakatingin na pala sa kanya sa salamin.
Donghyuck cheeks flushed and averts his gaze away in embarrassment like he just caught doing something shameful.
He cleared his throat before he speaks.
"They'll arrive at 7." Donghyuck answered.
"Okay, I'll take a bath first." Mark informed him and strides through the bathroom.
Saka lang naman nakahinga ng maluwag si Donghyuck nung nakapasok na si Mark sa banyo.
He didn't notice that he was holding his breathe since earlier.
Mark has that effect on him even though they only met each other once in a while, and he finds it so unfair because he's the only one who seems to be tongue tied everytime they meet or interact with each other.
Hindi alam ni Donghyuck kung ilang minuto na siyang nakatulala sa salamin.
The bathroom door suddenly creaks open and it revealed Mark who only covered with towel on his waist down his knees while his upper body remains exposed.
Pinilit ni Donghyuck ang sarili na huwag tumingin kaya bahagya siyang yumuko habang hinihintay si Mark na pumasok sa walk in closet at makapagpalit na.
Mark seems clueless about his effect on the younger though. Hindi niya man lang tinapunan ng tingin si Donghyuck paglabas niya at diretso lang ang lakad papasok sa walk in closet.
Tumayo na si Donghyuck mula sa kinauupuan niya at nagpasyang sa baba nalang maghintay.
Nagtungo siya agad sa living room pagbaba niya at doon muna umupo sa sofa.
It's just so ironic how Donghyuck longs for Mark everyday but when he got the chance to see him and be with him in the same space, he suddenly feels nervous and wants to hide from him.
He wears his feelings on his sleeve whenever he's around Mark.
He's been very obvious sometimes and he couldn't control it.
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay bumaba na rin si Mark na nakapagpalit na.
It's almost 7 in the evening kaya baka mamaya saglit dumating na rin ang parents ni Donghyuck.
The younger crosses his arms nervously when he saw Mark approaching on his direction from his peripheral view.
Nung malapit na si Mark sa pwesto niya ay saka naman tumunog ang doorbell nila.
It's probably Donghyuck's parents.
The younger gets up on his seat and unconsciously looks at Mark for brief second before he marches forward on the door.
"Wait." Mark suddenly said.
Nagtataka namang napalingon si Donghyuck sa kanya.
Mark walks closer to him and when they are already inches apart, he took Donghyuck's hand and clasped it together with his hand.
Donghyuck's eyes widen when he felt their hands intertwined together.
What?
Hindi naman nagsalita si Mark at nanatiling seryoso ang mukha niya bago siya nagsimulang maglakad palapit sa pinto habang hawak ang kamay ng nakababata.
Wala nang nagawa si Donghyuck kundi ang sumunod sa kanya kahit naguguluhan pa rin ito kung bakit biglang nag-initiate si Mark na hawakan ang kamay niya.
Mark opens the door and it revealed Donghyuck's parents outside. May mga dala din silang disposable container na marahil ang laman ay mga pagkain.
Bumaba naman ang tingin ng mommy niya sa kamay nilang magkahawak at saka pasimpleng ngumisi.
"Mom, Dad." Donghyuck mumbled in recognition.
Her parents look at him softly.
"We missed you." Donghyuck's mom said in her gentle voice while his dad smiled at him.
Naunang lumapit ang mommy niya para mayakap siya. Napabitaw naman sa pagkakasalikop ang kamay nila ni Mark para mayakap niya ng maayos ang mommy niya pagkatapos ay sumunod naman ang daddy niya. His parents also gave Mark a hug before they went straight to the kitchen.
Hinanda muna nila ang mga pagkain sa dining table bago sila umupo.
His mom keeps asking kung kumusta siya and Donghyuck assures everytime that he's doing fine even if he feels lonely most of the time.
Nagsimula na silang kumain.
Magkatabi si Mark at Donghyuck habang sa tapat naman nila ang parents ni Donghyuck na magkatabi rin.
"How's your first month living together?" Donghyuck's dad asked while they're eating.
"You probably both had a hard time adjusting." his mom added.
"We were having a hard time at first po but we figured it out together eventually." Mark politely answered.
Donghyuck raises his eyebrow upon hearing Mark's answer.
"It seems that you're fully adjusted by now." Donghyuck's mom smirked. "Judging on how you hold each other's hand earlier." dagdag pa niya.
Donghyuck awkwardly smiled at nagpatuloy nalang sa pagkain.
"I'm glad that it was Mark who married our son. I'm sure Donghyuck is more happy staying here." his dad points out.
Donghyuck chews his food while staring blankly at his plate.
Naramdaman niya namang natigilan si Mark sa tabi niya dahil sa sinabi ng daddy niya.
"Am I right, son?" his dad asked.
Donghyuck smiled before he speaks. "Of course dad." tipid niyang sagot.
Lies.
The awkward air dominates them but it's only Mark and Donghyuck who can feel it.
Nagpatuloy na sila sa pagkain at maya't-maya ring nag-uusap.
The topic suddenly shifted to work and it's mostly Mark and his dad who contributes in the conversation while his mom listens and Donghyuck just pretended to be interested.
"You seem very busy in the company. Do you still have time for your husband?" his dad suddenly asked Mark.
Muntik nang masamid si Donghyuck nung marinig niya yung tanong.
He heard Mark chuckles beside him.
"After I fixed everything in the company, I'll surely have more time for Donghyuck, dad." Mark added.
Donghyuck pouts.
He doesn't know if he'll believe it, knowing Mark.
His dad only laughs and seems really contented about what he heard from his son-in-law.
Ilang sandali pa ang tinagal nila sa dining table bago sila natapos kumain.
Mabuti nalang at puro disposable ang nagamit nila kaya wala nang kailangang hugasan.
Lumipat na sila ngayon sa living room at doon tinuloy ang usapan.
Paminsan-minsan namang sumasagot si Donghyuck kapag tinatanong pero mostly tahimik lang siya at hinahayaan nalang si Mark ang magsalita at sumagot para sa kanilang dalawa.
His father is obviously so fond of him.
Alas otso na nang gabi nung mapagdesisyunan ng parents ni Donghyuck na umuwi na. Mark even insisted na doon na sila matulog at may isa pa namang main bed room aside from their room sa bahay nila but they nicely refused.
"Una na kami. We'll visit you again if we have time or you could also visit us." Nakangiting suhestiyon ng mommy ni Donghyuck.
"Sure, mom." Sagot naman ni Donghyuck at saka ngumiti.
His parents hug him again at saka din nila niyakap si Mark pagkatapos.
"Hatid na po namin kayo sa labas." Mark suggested.
Nauna nang maglakad ang mga magulang ni Donghyuck. The younger is about to follow them but he felt Mark holds his hand again.
Donghyuck didn't argue and just let Mark do whatever he wants.
Magkahawak na ulit ang kamay nilang dalawa habang hinahatid nila palabas ang parents ni Donghyuck.
Nung makasakay na ang parents ni Donghyuck sa kotse, the mirror of the car window slides down as they both bid their farewell again.
"Ingat po kayo." Saad ni Mark.
"Take care, mom, dad." Donghyuck reminds them.
Umandar na ang kotse nila at pinanood lang nila Mark at Donghyuck and pag-andar nito papalayo sa kanila.
Kasabay ng paglayo ng sasakyan mula sa kanilang tanaw ay ang pagbitaw naman ni Mark sa kamay ni Donghyuck na hawak niya.
Donghyuck bowed his head and looks at his hand na binitawan ni Mark.
'Did he just hold my hand because my parents were here?' Donghyuck anxiously thought.
"Let's now go inside. It's cold here." Mark stated firmly.
Mark didn't wait for Donghyuck to answer as he immediately heads inside, leaving Donghyuck standing alone in the the cold and dark night outside their home.