mark and donghyuck walked hand and hand to the back parking lot that people without sm entertainment id cards couldn't get to. donghyuck was confused considering mark didn't own a car. yet, the older male pulled out a pair of kepys from his pocket and pressed it, causing a classic bmw to light up and beep in response.

   what surprised donghyuck even more was the way mark continued to lead them and opened the passenger's side door for donghyuck. then he walked around the car and seated himself at the driver's seat. "hyung," donghyuck finally called after mark fastened his seatbelt and inserted the key.

   the ravenette turned his head towards donghyuck, waiting for him to continue. "last time i checked," donghyuck began, turning off the engine before facing mark, "you don't have a license." mark smiled which only made the uneasyness that donghyuck felt, grow. "i waiting to go back to canada to get my license, but i can drive perfectly fine. i promise," he started the engine once more and placed his hand on the gear stick.

   moments later, he felt another pair of fingers wrap around his hand that was still holding onto the gear stick. he and donghyuck met eyes, while donghyuck tilted his head to the side. "what if something happens?" he asked. mark chukled, resisting the urge to ruffle donghyuck's hair, "it won't, trust that it won't. and if we get in a car crash or something, sue me."

   donghyuck didn't feel that reassured, but mark smoothly pulled out of the lot and began driving on the main rode with hectic traffic and loud sounds. after a few minutes of silence, donghyuck brought it upon himself to initiate the conversation. "where are we going?" he asked, glancing at mark.

   if he said that having mark lee behind the steering wheel, driving them both to an unknown place with one hand wasn't hot, he would be lying. at the moment, all he could focus on was they way mark's fingers gripped the wheel, veins visible on his arm and hand. when the ravenette turned to donghyuck and brushed his hair back with one hand, donghyuck swore he almost fainted.

   "it's a surprise," mark smiled, eyes going back to the road infront of him. when they stopped at a traffic light, mark reached to the back seat, "i almost forgot," he pulled a small black gift bag out and handed it to donghyuck. "this is for you."

   the younger thanked him shyly, wondering if he should open it now or later. "you can look inside, just don't open it yet," mark said. donghyuck nodded, dipping his hand inside and pulling out a rectangle shaped jewelry box. "great, now you have me curious," he mumbled, tracing over the ribbon on top. mark chuckled but didn't respond.

   for the rest of the ride, donghyuck acted as the dj and played songs that fit the mood. together they hummed along until mark pulled up into a parking lot and turned off the engine. "this is it," he unbuckled his seatbelt, "wait here." donghyuck listened and watched as mark left the car and walked around to the other side, opening donghyuck's door for him.

   "wow, such a gentlemen," donghyuck teased, feeling lowkey flattered. "you aren't just doing this to win me over, are you?" he asked when mark intertwined their fingers again. "i don't know, is it working?" mark fired back. donghyuck was thoroughly impressed. not only had mark managed to keep the atmosphere from becoming awkward, but he continued to make donghyuck's heart pound in his chest faster than he thought possible.

   rather than answering directly, donghyuck hummed vaguely and mark led them towards the entrance of the building. "what is this place?" donghyuck asked after they entered and he looked around. "i wasn't sure whether you'd like it or not, but i decided to give it a shot anyway," he rubbed his nape nervously with the hand that wasn't in donghyuck's. "we're at build-a-bear," he finally explained.

   donghyuck gaped and couldn't help but find mark's pink cheeks cute. it was a sweet idea for their first date and donghyuck had secretly always wanted to go to one. "don't worry hyung, it's perfect," he beamed. his words helped mark to relax and he brought them to the front desk. unfortunately, as they were more in public, they had to stop holding hands, but that didn't stop the way the two would brush up against the other just so that their skin could touch. the secret love struck stares that they sent eachother were always missed by the other, but it didn't matter. 

   after purchasing a simple tour around the factory and a chance to build teddy bears, a guide brought them all over the factory, showing them how each and every teddy bear was made. when it was over, the guide asked if they'd like to make their own costum teddy bears or purchase an already made one. mark and donghyuck discussed it for a but before deciding to make their own.

   of course, then the guide went through the process of how they could choose what kind of teddy bears they wanted to make. once all the explaining ending, the guide left them with a bow and donghyuck and mark immediately grew closer to eachother now that they were mostly alone. 

   "what animal do you want to get?" donghyuck asked mark. the tan male had already decided that he wanted a simple teddy bear design, but he was curious as to what mark would choose. "i want a bear," he said, looking at the different options for the tones of fur. "really?" donghyuck raised a brow, unable to hide his surprised voice. "yep," mark nodded, grinning at donghyuck momentarily before ruffling the younger's hair.

   it took a while, but eventually mark decided on white fur, and donghyuck a baby pink color. the stuffings of their bears were chosen as the basic fillings that most other got. as they waited for their bears to be costumized, they returned to the car for privacy. when the both of them were seated, mark found his hand on donghyuck's thigh. neither of them spoke about it, and neither of them made an effort to move. 

   "i'm having a lot of fun today," donghyuck admitted, giving mark credit for his logical planning. "as long as you enjoy it, i'm happy," mark said smoothly, sending a flurry of butterflies to errupt in donghyuck's stomach. "since when did you become mr. smooth?" donghyuck asked, curious to how mark would respond this time. "since you came around," mark replied cheesily.

   for another ten minutes, they chilled in the car. a light and playful banter was continuously thrown back and forth as laughter filled the air. "i think we should go back in now," donghyuck said, checking the time on his phone. "you're probably right," mark agreed, stepping out of the car and once again, opening the door for the younger.

   they entered and walked back to the front desk. the woman immediately recognized them and alerted them that their bears were finished and all that was left was to record messages. "i'll record a message for you," mark suggested. donghyuck loved the idea as he was quick to add to it, "i'll record your message then."

   to be as secretive from eachother as possible, they took turns recording messages while making sure that the other couldn't hear. fortunately, mark and donghyuck came to an agreement to only listen to the messages after their date was over and they were alone in their dorm rooms. "i'll be too shy to listen to it infront of you or have you listen to it infront of me," donghyuck had said.

   now, with their two bears in the back seat mark started the car again. "are we going somewhere else?" donghyuck asked. "you aren't sick of me already, are you?" mark looked over his shoulder at donghyuck. "no," the brunette played with his fingers, "i don't want today to end." "it doesn't have to," mark kept his eyes on the road just so that he wouldn't kiss donghyuck's plush lips out of impulse.

   "where are we going this time?" donghyuck figured that mark would keep it a secret and was unphazed when he did so. "you'll see," he replied. the car ride to their next destination was more comfortable than their ride to build-a-bear. any awkwardness that they had before completely vanished into thin air.

   mark put the car in park as once again, they were in a parking lot. at this point, donghyuck was used to it when mark opened his door and gently pulled him outside. "i hope you're hungry," mark laughed as they enetered the restaurant. 

   it was big and classy. the furniture was all in a sleek design and the silver wear along with the menu seemed high class. donghyuck looked down at his clothes, wondering if he was too casually dressed. the older noticed and lowered his lips to donghyuck's ear, "don't worry, you look perfect."

   luckily for donghyuck, mark turned to the waitor and he missed the way the shorter's cheeks heated up. mark asked for a table for two outdoors and the waitor quickly brought them to one. their table was on the balcony with a perfect view of han river. "i didn't realize it had gotten so late in the day," donghyuck announced when they were left in solitude and the waitor had gone. "we were at build-a-bear for a while," mark shrugged, looking at the river in the distance.

   with one last look, mark tore his eyes away from the river and took a menu. "does anything look good to you?" he asked donghyuck. the sun kissed male nodded his head, "everything does." mark laughed and set the menu down, resting in his chair to admire the view infront of him; donghyuck.

   everything about donghyuck was just perfect. whether it was his unique tan skin, or every single mole on his body, mark loved it. besides that, mark loved his cute nose, kissable lips, and innocent eyes. there just wasn't a feature about donghyuck that mark didn't admire to no end.

   "what?" donghyuck looked up from his menu, realizing that mark had been staring at him. "aren't you going to order?" mark shook his head, "i'll get whatever you get." "i guess i'd better decided well," donghyuck giggled. he placed a finger on his bottom lip and tapped it as if to think hard, "should i order something with a lot of ketchup?" mark shot him a glare but both of them knew there was affection hidden behind it.

   donghyuck ended up ordering pasta which mark automatically got as well. the appetizer of salad came first, pasta and soup coming afterwards. mark and donghyuck sipped on their champagne while eating, talking casually for the most part along with stealing glances at eachother. all the food was eaten quickly and before either of them knew it, they were sitting back in their chairs, groaning about how the food was so good that they ate too much. 

   mark briefly excused himself to grab something from the car, and when he returned the sun was at the edge of the horizon, beginning to set. the sky was orange and pink with clouds littering the sky. "hyung! isn't it pretty," donghyuck exclaimed, holding onto mark's arm and bringing him towards the edge of the balcony. 

   "it is," he said breathlessly, but he wasn't staring at the sky. "it's absolutely stunning," he traced  his hand to donghyuck's chin and pulled the younger's face towards him. donghyuck burned a bright pink as they held an intense eyes contact. the distance between them was so dangerous, so electrifying. 

   although it was hard, mark pulled his hand away from donghyuck's face and brought the box from behind his back. it was the one he had gifted donghyuck earlier but told him he couldn't open it. "you can see it now," he said, passing the box to donghyuck. mark could sense the hesitation in the way his fingers lifted the lid off the box. mark had paid quite the pricely cost for the piece of jewelry, but the gasp and shiny eyes he saw from donghyuck made it all worth it. 

   after one quick look, donghyuck shut the box, pushing it toward mark. "i can't take this, it must've been so expensive," he said. mark shook his head, forcing it back in his hand. "please take it, it's the least i can do after playing with your feelings in the way i did." donghyuck didn't look sure but knew better than to go against mark. it had always been obvious that mark would spend however much money needed if it was for donghyuck, but the price had never been raised so high.

   yet, donghyuck removed the lid to the box again and stared down in awe. inside was a silver chain necklace with a small sun charm on in. the sun was designed beautifully, the very center being diamond.

   "are you sure you want to give me this?" donghyuck asked. it still felt so unreal for mark to gift him wit something as such. "i'm positive," mark nodded. seeing that donghyuck could only stare at it in disbeleif, mark carefull pulled it out of the box and held it up. "turn around so i can put it on you," he smiled. 

   the brunette listened well and turned around, soon feel the cold chain on his neck with the sun pendant on his chest. when mark finished, his touch lingered on donghyuck's shoulders before he gently turned him around. "it looks great on you," he complimented, secretly relieved that he picked a good necklace. donghyuck beamed, still amazed that mark would buy such a necklace for him. 

   "donghyuck," mark said, taking a deep breath as he took donghyuck's fingers in his own once more. "i'm really sorry for everything i said to you and did to you that day, i really mean it. i have no excuses and i know it may be hard for you to forgive me, but i still want to ask for your forgiveness." the feeling of donghyuck's eyes burning into his skin wasn't ignorable, but he remained looking down until donghyuck spoke.

   "it's okay," he smiled, causing mark to look at him in surprise, "you asked me out so i could forgive you, but i already did even before our date. maybe i'm too nice. i don't know, and honestly, i don't really care, but mark lee, you're forgiven."

   the two dorks grinned at eachother for a while, the setting sun making both of them look etheral to the other. "i have something else to confess," mark cleared his throat. this time, he was more nervous than before as he stared donghyuck straight in the eye. 

"i love you."

   the words were blurted out of his mouth before he could realize it or take them back. donghyuck stared at him in utter shock, and that's when mark's awkward rambling was set off. "i know it's probably too soon and you probably don't love me back, but i just had to get it off my chest. it took a while for me to realize how i felt about you, but once i did, i learned that it wasn't just something that would come for a moment and leave. it was more than that, it was love. like i said you probably don't love me too, but i wanted to say it before our date ended today and-" "god, you talk too much," donghyuck groaned, cupping mark's cheeks. "just shut up and kiss me."

   without another word, mark and donghyuck's lips met in an intense kiss. it was unlike anything they had ever experienced and even though it had only been a little over a week, they missed the feeling of the other's lips on their own.

   their lips molded into eachother, fitting into place perfeclty like puzzle pieces. the kiss was more expressive than the last one they shared where donghyuck impulsively confessed his feelings to mark. this one felt like fireworks and warm hugs all at once. with mark's hands on donghyuck's waist under his pastel yellow sweater, his skin was on fire.

   before the kiss could get anymore heated, they broke apart, foreheads resting against eachother's as they caught their breath. it was at that moment that donghyuck knew, and he figured that there was no better time to say it.

"i love you too, dumbass."

-----

word count: 2760

woah.. the longest chapter yet. btw i've never been to a build-a-bear in case it wasn't obvious so it's probably really wrong, but yeah. also i wanted to be original and i've never heard anyone go there during a date before.

also a really important question so please answer: should i include a smut scene in this book or no?

happy birthday to johnny's mom! oh, and mark (just jk)

i feel so sorry towards mark and the dreamies for having the concert get canceled but i hope mark can still enjoy his birthday

✎ ---- dreaminghyuck⤾