Pairing: Mark Lee x Reader.
Summary: Together forever, the dream duo– but people grow up. Things change. But maybe, things are only precious because they end– not because they live forever.
“Goodbye was too permanent. And even if you both knew it was the end, you didn’t have to admit it.”
Genre: slowburn, fluff then angst.
The smell of sunscreen and the sticky feeling of watermelon on your cheeks. Surely the start of a forever friendship. A girl and a boy, sitting on the old dock by their homes. Meeting every afternoon, jumping off the old rope swing, and sugary lemonade pumping through their adolescent veins.
A friendship was born that summer… how fitting that it would end there, too.
“Don’t worry, Lee lee! I can make it better.” You rushed up to the collapsed boy, your pigtails flying. You were six years old.
Kneeling by the boy, you ripped open the paper package that you had run home to retrieve. With as much care as a six year old could possess, you stuck the adhesive to his knee. The Band-Aid didn’t even cover the full scrape that the boy had acquired from biking—but the neon pink tape had worked in ceasing the cries of the boy.
“That’s better, right?” You had smiled at him, holding your hand out to walk him home. For the rest of the day, you lounged by him at his house. Retrieving ice, Neosporin, and dinosaur cookies to boost your friend’s morale.
“I’ll always pick you up when you fall, Y/N. It’s only fair, since you helped me out now.” The six year old had promised, a solemn look on his baby-like face.
“I can’t believe you dragged me here,” he groaned, shuffling uncomfortably in the starched button-up his mom had chosen.
“Well, I can’t believe my mom helped the school set up this stupid dance,” you argued, your arms crossing.
The two of you felt out of place in the stuffy gym where a Valentine’s Dance was being held. Both of you were crouched at the side of the gym, refusing to dance. You let out a forced laugh.
“I, also, can’t believe we’re wearing this clownwear.” You wrinkled your nose at the pressed clothing, missing your beach shorts and tank top. You could tell he felt the same.
“Want to change?” he challenged, lips turning into a coy grin.
“I thought you’d never ask. But what will we change into?” You asked, in mock-pondering as a matching grin spread across your face.
“Guess we’ll just have to borrow some stuff from the theater department.” Mark shrugged, an evil tint in his eyes.
Whatever your mothers were expecting when they picked you up, was not a Cleopatra and Yogi Bear outfit. But, then again, what’d they expect of you two at a Valentine’s Party.
Another summer—fresh out of middle school. Another afternoon on the docks, and another day spent together.
“Yeah?” The doe-eyed boy responded, his lips quirking into an impish grin.
“We’ll stay friends in high school, right?” you asked, gnawing on your bottom lip. Your fingers lightly traced over the sloppily carved initials on the dock.
There was a silence shared between you both, before you felt a hand grab yours. His hand didn’t fit yours perfectly—like all the movies claimed, it was calloused, and clammy. But you didn’t mention any of that, because in his eyes you could see his hesitation.
You interlaced your fingers between his.
“Of course. We’re Mark and Y/N—the dream duo, remember?” He reassured, his other hand raised in a gun as to emphasize dream.
Nodding, you squeezed his hand. But he wasn’t done talking.
“Look Y/N, you’re the best friend I could ask for. And you make me a better person. You make me happy and I’d be awful dumb to let you go…” He trailed off, making you glance at him.
The sun had painted a rosy color across his cheeks, a haze congregated in his eyes—revealing his thoughts which had traveled planets away.
Taking your chance, you laid your head against his shoulder. And for a while, you stayed like that—just watching the sunset and allowing the mosquitos full access to your skin.
“Hey, Y/N.” He finally spoke, kicking his legs lightly in the water. The moonlight illuminated his face—making his hair take on a silvery tint, and his eyes glisten.
“There’s another reason we have to stay close,” He began, a coy smile slipping onto his face.
“We have too much blackmail on each other.” He laughed, helping you up while dodging your light punch.
A bottled drink was dangled in front of your face, the condensation dripping onto the filled pages of your chemistry notes.
Glancing up, you found your best friend. Mark stood there, his eyebrows raised. His other hand was stuffed into the pocket of his hoodie.
“Come on Y/N, you’ve been studying since you got home. It’s already 12. We’re worried,” he coaxed, allowing himself to sink beside you on your bed.
“Why are you even here?” You mumbled, clearing sleep out of your eyes—nevertheless, gratefully taking the offered beverage.
“Your mom was worried, and she was talking to my mom earlier about it. So, I decided to invite myself over.” He readjusted himself, laying down and hogging your blanket.
He moved to grab your laptop, but you shook your head.
“I’m sorry, dude. I’ve got to pass this test, and I still don’t understand this unit.” You raked your hair back, chewing on the end of your pen as you tried to make sense of the equations in front of you.
“Only two months till summer,” he groaned, before sitting up. He leaned over your shoulder, and you could feel his breath on your neck. It made you feel even drowsier. But Mark proved once again to be your hero.
And so he sat by you for a full three hours; he explained every concept as best as he could and you took notes on his impromptu-lecture.
The night ended with both of you passing out on your books.
But when you aced the test, he felt that was worth the stiffness in his back.
You set down the box of tissues, gingerly. Taking his lack of response as permission to sit beside him, you emptied the rest of your pack.
Chocolate, ice cream, and a blanket.
“You didn’t have to come.” He spoke, his voice hoarse. His fingers picked at the wood splinters beneath his feet.
“I wanted to. You shouldn’t be alone right now.” You replied, looking out upon the setting sun. The image proved to be a familiar one— just you and him on this dock. But this time, there was something else. There was heartbreak.
“It’s not pity. It’s called being a friend.”
You stood, “if you don’t want me here, I’ll leave. But take the blanket, I don’t want you to get sick.” Wearily, you sighed and turned to walk home.
“I’m sorry, Y/N” he whispered, “I just seem to mess up everything nowadays.” He choked out. And with that statement, the dam broke.
Tears freely streamed down his face, and in an instant you were back by his side.
You wrapped your arm around his shoulder, smoothing out his sweater.
“Mark. Listen to me, you did nothing wrong. She just didn’t see you how you saw her,” you said, your voice quivering.
At this point you weren’t sure if you were still talking about his heartbreak or not.
Maybe in one universe you and Mark would end up together.
Maybe in one universe you’d stay friends past high school.
But it wasn’t this universe. You both had your lives ahead of you, and you both had chosen different universities in different areas.
And maybe, one day, you’d meet again. But you doubted it. Mark would find someone, and he’d find the jem he deserved.
And with that in mind, you spoke again.
“Mark. She wasn’t the one, but you’ll find her one day— I know you will.”
He nodded, not trusting his voice. You didn’t trust yours either. So you both sat in silence, passing an ice cream carton between you two.
The day had come—the day where you finally kissed childhood away. You had gotten your diploma and you college acceptance letters. It was time to send away the fond childish antics you’d enjoyed for so many years—and sadly, this included the boy who had dug his way into your heart. You’d have to say goodbye to Mark Lee.
He would be going to a music college in Seoul, and you’d be moving the opposite direction. Life had finally separated the two of you. As much as you both had promised to keep in touch, you knew it was goodbye. And he knew it, too.
So, you met on the dock, the epicenter of all your best childhood memories. You faced each other, eyes misty and breaths baited.
“See you, Lee.” You managed to smile. This was it. Mark Lee and Y/N L/N, together forever but together no more. An end to childhood fun, an end to a friendship that you thought would last forever. This was the end—you couldn’t even say goodbye.
Goodbye was too permanent. And even if you both knew it was the end, you didn’t have to admit it.
So you settled for a “see you” then a hug— and with nothing else to say, you left.
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