#maybe angst

"You must be the human exchange student, right?" A demon approached you, his smile akin to a predator noticing an interesting prey. "I'm Dyrin. Nice to meet you, little lamb." His hand was extended out in greeting, as if he expected you to shake it.

So you did. Not because you wanted to, but because you likely didn't have a choice.

'Little lamb, huh.'

Dyrin laughed at your expression, which only caused you to furrow your brows further. "Oh, little lamb, don't look so bitter. It's not like I'm trying to weasel anything out of our precious exchange student, hm?"

Was he a flirt? Did he usually act like this?

"Well? Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" The demon smirked, hand not letting go of yours as he pulled you closer, "Or would you rather I call you 'little lamb' instead?"

LUCIFER

Did you really think the Avatar of Pride―the one who keeps an eye on everything―would let you wander around alone? If anything, he'd be watching from a distance, ready to intervene if anything happened.

Lo and behold, something did.

He watched as that lower demon―Dyrin―put his hands on MC. His MC. The demon of pride didn't waste another second, making his swift way towards the two by the courtyard.

"Am I disrupting something?" Lucifer questioned, his eyes narrowed on the demon. He turned his gaze towards MC, who now stared at him with a grateful expression. "Was he bothering you, dear?"

"Oh no, not at all, Lord Lucifer." Dyrin let the human go as if they were burning coal, face pressed into a polite but cunning smile, "I just so happened to bump into the human. It's quite dangerous leaving them all alone, you see. Who knows what could've happened."

Lucifer Morningstar glared at the demon, his tone warning, "I was asking them, Dyrin." He paused before adjusting his tie, "Besides, are you implying that I am not providing sufficient care or safety for them?"

"Oh, no, sir. Never in my darkest dreams."

Lucifer would never admit he was jealous. Not in public, Heavens―Hell no, but when he and MC are alone again―in his room―he'll find himself acting more relaxed. He'll find the urge to make MC remember and never forget.

Never forget just who had captured their heart.

MAMMON

Just who was this demon, acting all clammy with the human? Mammon certainly didn't recognize them, and he remembers those who are at least a little important.

He thinks. Maybe.

The Avatar of Greed had left the human for just a moment―one moment―and they had already run off and gotten roped up into some nasty fucker's bullshit.

And said nasty fucker was holding their hand―wait a minute...

"Oi, the hell is this?!" Mammon called out, marching over to the two while pulling MC away from the creep. "Hands offa them, dammit―you don't getta touch 'em or call 'em that, got it?"

Dyrin just nodded, looking amused if anything. "Of course, sir. It is now engraved into my memory."

He glared at him, "It'd better be."

As the secondborn dragged MC away, he failed to notice the way the human looked at him―with such a fond expression. "Thank you, Mammon," they smiled.

The Avatar of Greed looked at the human he was dragging away, a faint blush dusting his face before he turned his head. "W-Whatever! Ya better not run off like that again, ya hear me?!" MC is his, not anyone else's, dammit!

MC nodded, mouth curling into a grin, "I heard you loud and clear, Mams."

LEVIATHAN

The one time he went outside voluntarily. The one time the General of Hell's Navy actually went out to touch grass. The one time, and he was greeted with this.

...He was going to buy a limited-edition figurine of Ruri-chan, but that wasn't important.

MC, his Player Two, was currently talking to a lower demon who was holding their hand. Wasn't he their boyfriend? Was Leviathan missing something?

Then he saw the guy pull them closer, and something in him burned with envy. How dare he touch― but what if MC got tired of him already? What if this was their way of showing their thoughts? Was everything a lie?

Leviathan would pull MC away wordlessly, though he wouldn't look them in the eyes. MC would notice―they always did―and the human would have to reassure him.

Perhaps later that night, they would chill in his room, hanging out. Cuddling in his bathtub bed. And the Avatar of Envy would remind himself that their precious Player Two would never leave.

MC would fall asleep first. They always did―mortal minds needed adequate rest, after all. Leviathan would then stare at the human in his arms, brushing away the strands of hair that fell on their face.

What's a multiplayer game without two people?

SATAN

Books, books, books. Books were his love. Books were his life. Books (and cats, of course) were one of the only things that consistently kept him interested in anything throughout the centuries.

Until MC, of course.

Ancient texts and historical documents aside, the demon of wrath was calmly (very calm, very calm) making his way through the courtyard for some student library business, a pile of documents in his arms.

And on his way, Satan passed by two figures on the side. You and this lower-ranked demon, whom he recognized from a student meeting two months ago. Dyrin, he presumed.

Ah, such a shame, he was a competent one.

"Anything the matter over here?" His free hand was firmly placed at MC's waist as Satan inserted himself into the conversation with a composed smile. "I couldn't help but notice the sudden... familiarity you show to the exchange student, Dyrin."

"Familiarity?" Dyrin echoed, their expression of realization paired with the caution of someone realizing they were fucked, "Ah, my apologies, Lord Satan, that was not my intention." He let go of MC's hand, matching Satan with a polite smile of his own.

"I see," Satan adjusted the pile of texts, gesturing for MC to follow him, "The exchange student and I have some... important business to attend to at the student library... You are aware that loitering around the hallways violates school expectations?"

Dyrin nods, moving away from the two. "Yes, sir. I'll be... off."

"And if you dare attempt something like this again, I will personally make sure you are declared missing by the end of the week."

Dyrin looked relieved that Satan gave him the benefit of the doubt, rushing off without a second glance. The Avatar of Wrath could only smile down at MC.

He doesn't get a second chance.

ASMODEUS

"MC, love, there you are―" Asmodeus's words died out before they reached the two as he took in the scene in front of him. Oh, how romantic it looked; MC and someone else who was not him. How... romantic.

Utterly repulsive.

To think that other people admired and loved the human exchange student, Asmodeus didn't find that hard to believe. His human was the most caring one he knew of, after all.

But to see other demons attempt to lay their hands on them? To seduce them when he was blatantly clear on how MC was his? Scum. The kinds worse than Mammon, because at least his elder brother knew when to actually back off.

However, Asmodeus has connections. He had connections everywhere. And the demon of lust was not a social butterfly for nothing.

"MC, sweetheart, I was looking for you~!" The influencer rushed over with a large smile, his usual flair for dramatics blooming as he wrapped his arm around MC's shoulders from behind, "I sent you a message a while ago, and you didn't respond... Is everything alright?"

"You did?" MC pulled away from Dyrin's grasp, fishing for their phone, "Sorry I missed that, Asmo, did something happen?"

The demon just waved a hand, "Oh, nothing too big of a deal, dear. Though, who is this guy? Did you make a new friend while I was gone?" His eyes bore holes into the offender's skull. "How scandalous~."

The lower demon shook his head, "Nothing, sir. I was just heading off. Have a... great day."

"Hm, you do you then~!" The Avatar of Lust didn't tell Dyrin to call him 'Asmo' like he usually did. Just smiled at the guy a tad more politely. A tad more aggressively.

He knew Dyrin. Asmodeus knew everyone.

The other guy never stood a chance.

BEELZEBUB

MC had told him, while walking back from class, that they were going to take a walk outside for some fresh air. They had asked Beel if he wanted to join them.

The demon had agreed to join them, though he had stopped, only for a moment, to get some snacks from a nearby vending machine. When he turned around, the human was gone.

"MC?" No, no, no, he couldn't have lost the human―his human― so quickly, right? What if someone took them while he wasn't looking? A part of him wanted to ask Belphie to help him search, but the younger demon was currently busy with whatever work Lucifer had piled onto him.

...Shit.

After a while, he found MC in the courtyard, with another demon getting in their personal space. The human looked uncomfortable, while the lower demon (Dyrin, perhaps?) pulled them towards himself.

Beelzebub, who was standing behind the demon, tilted his head.

"MC?"

Dyrin, who recognized the voice and turned around with a pale face, immediately let MC go, his face paling immediately as he backed up a little. "Ah, uh, Lord Beelzebub. I'll be, uh, going now."

"Wait. Not yet."

Dyrin stopped, his smile freezing, as he turned around slowly with a small "Y-yes, sir."

If this demon had hurt what was his... If he had tried to take them away...

Then the Avatar of Gluttony would be glad to make him pay.

BELPHEGOR

Belphegor was there. He had fallen asleep on one of the benches in the courtyard, snoring softly when the scene had occurred. MC's presence always did wonders to help him stay awake.

Except that the picture he woke up to was not the best―far from it.

"How thoughtful," Belphie rolled his eyes and sat up, glaring at the lower-ranking demon, "Attempting to do such a lowly thing. Definitely the peak of demonic society, right?"

Dyrin had obviously not expected Belphie to be just sleeping there, stammering out a half-assed, "Lord Belphegor! I was just―"

"Save it. Let them go, Dyrin." The youngest of the seven brothers yawned. "Can't believe you're dumb enough to target them. My human exchange student? Really?" He stood up, walking towards the two. Dyrin immediately dropped MC's hand, already backing up.

"It w-wasn't―"

Belphegor walked closer, unfazed by Dyrin's hasty attempts to back away, "Don't fucking lie to me. Now, if you know what's best for you, you're gonna scram and never approach them again. Got it?"

Dyrin nodded.

"Enjoy your nightmares."

And as Dyrin walked off briskly with a barely-concealed look of terror, Belphie essentially dragged MC back to the bench, lying down with his body half-draped over them.

"B-Belphie?" They looked down at him in surprise before smiling, "Thank you. That was nice."

"...Don't mention it." MC laughed.

Mark laughs, the sound comforting and familiar. “Yikes. I’m just saying, you’ve been staring at that screen for, like, two hours. Are you actually working, or just writing your name in different fonts?”

You roll your eyes, finally glancing over at him. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of slacking off, Mr. Communications Major.”

“Hey, excuse you,” Mark says, sitting up a little. “I’m a communications major with a business minor. Very serious stuff.”

“Right,” you deadpan. “I’m sure the world is just desperate for your next paper on influencer marketing.”

He grins, leaning back again. “You know it.”

The conversation feels like a warm blanket, familiar and comforting. You’ve been best friends with Mark since third grade, and moments like this remind you why. No matter what life throws your way, he’s always been there—ready with a joke, a smile, or a friday-night movie marathon.

Still, lately, things have felt off… different. You hesitate, tapping your fingers on the edge of your laptop.

“Mark?”

“Hmm?” he says, not looking up from the YouTube video he’s somehow roped into his “studying.”

“You know Jaemin, right? From my educational psych class?”

Mark pauses the video, his brow furrowing slightly. “Yeah, I know him. Why?”

“Well…” you trail off, suddenly not sure if you should tell him. “He asked me out yesterday.”

Mark doesn’t react immediately, his face carefully neutral. “Oh. What’d you say?”

“I said yes.”

Mark’s jaw tightens imperceptibly before he nods, forcing a smile. “That’s cool. Jaemin’s… cool.”

“You really think so?”

“Yeah, sure,” he says, a little too quickly. “He’s nice. And, you know, he’s on the soccer team. Everyone loves a soccer guy.”

You tilt your head, watching him cautiously. “You’re being weird.”

“I’m not being weird,” Mark argues, shifting his position to cover his fidgeting. “I’m happy for you, Y/N. Really, I am.”

You squint at him, unconvinced, but let it go. “Cool.”

The rest of the evening passes in a strange kind of silence. Mark cracks a few jokes here and there, but the usual ease between you feels just a little strained.

Later that night, as you lie in bed staring at the ceiling, the soft whirring of your fan lulling you into a tired state, you can’t shake the feeling that something has shifted. But what—and why—you can’t quite figure out.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

A month later, you and Mark find yourselves in your favorite spot off-campus, a cozy little café that’s been your special place since freshman year. You’re sitting by the window, sipping a caramel latte and doodling on a napkin while Mark devours a bagel like it’s his last meal.

“I’m just saying,” he says between bites, crumbs and seeds scattering all over the table, “professors shouldn’t assign group projects if they know people like Yuta exist.”

“Not this again,” you groan, half-laughing. “What did he do this time?”

“What didn’t he do?” Mark gestures dramatically. “He wrote a single sentence and called it his ‘contribution.’ I’m carrying this guy through college, Y/N.”

“Maybe he’s just shy,” you suggest, smiling at your best friend’s complaints.

Mark shakes his head, pointing at you with a crumb-covered finger. “No, no. Shy people at least pretend to help. Yuta just disappears.”

You laugh, the sound bright against the low hum of the café. Moments like this remind you why Mark is your favorite person.

Which makes your next suggestion seem obvious—at least to you.

“You know,” you say, swirling your spoon in your cup, “you should hang out with Jaemin.”

Mark freezes mid-chew, his eyes widening slightly. “What?”

“You and Jaemin,” you repeat. “I feel like you’d get along. You’re both funny and laid-back, and you like soccer.”

“I don’t like soccer,” Mark says flatly.

“You played soccer in high school,” you counter.

“Because my mom made me,” he argues, setting his muffin down. “And no offense, but I don’t think me and Jaemin would get along.”

“How do you know?” you challenge, leaning forward. “You’ve never hung out with him. He’s really nice, Mark.”

Mark’s expression shifts, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. “I’m sure he is,” he says carefully. “But… why are you so set on this?”

“Because you’re my best friend,” you say simply. “And he’s… my boyfriend. It would just be nice if you guys were friends, too.”

Mark looks at you for a long moment, his jaw tightening slightly before he nods. “Okay,” he says finally. “If it’s that important to you, I’ll hang out with him.”

You beam, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. “Thanks, Mark. It means a lot.”

He forces a smile, but as he takes another bite of his muffin, you notice the way his shoulders tense.

And for the second time that week, you can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Mark adjusts his hoodie for the third time as he steps into the campus rec center, wondering how mad you’d be if he flaked on Jaemin. He spots him right away, standing by the basketball court with a bright smile on his face, spinning a ball on his finger effortlessly.

“Mark!” Jaemin calls, waving enthusiastically.

Mark forces a grin and waves back, shoving his hands into his pockets as he approaches.

“Hey,” he says.

“Glad you made it,” Jaemin says, tossing the ball to him. “You play, right?”

“Uh, not really,” Mark admits, catching the ball awkwardly.

Jaemin chuckles, his tone warm and friendly. “No worries. We’ll just shoot around. Nothing serious.”

They step onto the court, and Jaemin immediately starts talking, filling the space with his easy energy. He’s exactly how Y/N described—friendly, funny, and genuinely likable.

“So, Y/N told me you guys have been friends forever,” Jaemin says, making a shot effortlessly.

“Yeah,” Mark replies, dribbling the ball and taking a shot. It bounces off the backboard, and he winces. “We grew up together.”

“That’s awesome,” Jaemin says, running after the ball. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a friendship like that. She talks about you all the time, you know.”

Mark swallows hard, his throat tightening at the thought. “Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah,” Jaemin continues, passing the ball back to him. “She says you’re, like, the best person she knows. Always there for her.”

Mark forces a smile, the comment accentuating the already heavy weight on his chest. “She’s pretty great herself,” he says, taking another shot. This one goes in, and Jaemin claps excitedly.

“She really is.” Jaemin says, smiling softly.

As they continue playing, Mark starts to feel a strange mix of guilt and admiration. Jaemin is genuinely a good guy—there’s no doubt about it, and he obviously cares about Y/N. But every time Jaemin mentions her, Mark feels like he’s been punched in the gut.

“So,” Jaemin says after a while of playing, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. “What do you think of me?”

Mark nearly chokes on his water. “What?”

“Come on,” Jaemin says, laughing. “I know you probably weren’t super excited about this. Y/N might’ve had to twist your arm a bit. So, what’s the verdict?”

Mark hesitates, running a hand through his hair. “You’re… a good guy,” he says finally.

Jaemin raises an eyebrow, grinning. “That’s it?”

Mark shrugs, forcing his hands to stay placed firmly on the ball, needing something to ground himself before he shouts his feelings to the world. “Y/N thinks so, and she’s usually right about people.”

Jaemin chuckles, his expression softening. “She’s something else, huh?”

Mark nods, his throat tightening again. “Yeah. She is.”

Jaemin leans back against the wall, tossing the ball between his hands. “I don’t know what I did to deserve her, honestly. She’s just… amazing.”

Mark doesn’t respond, forcing a smile, his chest aching at how easily Jaemin says the words Mark’s been too afraid to even think about out loud.

“Anyway,” Jaemin says, breaking the silence. “Thanks for hanging out. I know you probably had better things to do.”

“Yeah, no problem,” Mark replies, his voice quieter now.

As they step back onto the court to finish their game, Mark tries to focus on the sound of the ball hitting the floor, anything to distract himself from the guilt gnawing at him. Jaemin is exactly as Y/N said—perfect. And yet, Mark can’t shake the heavy, unspoken truth weighing on his chest.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The Friday after Mark and Jaemin’s basketball game, Mark sat on your couch, scrolling aimlessly through his phone while you organized your notes at the dining table. It was a typical evening—quiet and uneventful—but something felt off. Mark had been acting strange ever since his hangout with Jaemin, and you couldn’t shake the feeling that he was lying to you about something.

“Hey,” you called, your voice cutting through the silence. “You’ve been weird lately. Is something wrong?”

Mark didn’t even glance up. “I’m fine,” he said curtly.

You frowned but decided not to push. Instead, you tried to lighten the mood. “So, Jaemin was telling me about this soccer game next weekend, maybe all three of us could —”

“Do you talk about anything but Jaemin?” Mark snapped, his voice slicing through you sentence like a blade.

You froze, staring at him in confusion. “What?”

“You’re always talking about him,” Mark continued, setting his phone down with more force than necessary. “Jaemin this, Jaemin that. Do you even realize how much you talk about him?”

Your confusion quickly turned to anger. “Mark, what’s your problem? You’re the one who’s been acting all weird, and now you’re getting mad at me for talking about my boyfriend?”

Mark stood abruptly, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Forget it. Just forget I said anything.”

“No,” you shot back, standing too. “You don’t get to yell at me and then walk away. What’s going on with you?”

“I said forget it, Y/N!” Mark shouted, his voice louder than you'd ever heard it before.

You took a step back, a pang hurt flashing across your face. “Fine. If you don’t want to talk to me, then don’t.”

For a moment, Mark’s expression softened, guilt and regret flickering in his eyes. But he quickly hardened again, grabbing his jacket. “You know what? I won’t.” Without another word, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

You stood frozen in place, your chest tight and tears pricking your eyes. You'd argued before, sure, but this time felt different—more real. You sank onto the couch, mind racing with questions you didn’t have answers to.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

During the days following the argument, you tried to go about life as normal, but Mark’s absence hung over you like a dark cloud. You couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. Jaemin was the first to notice.

The two of you were sitting on a park bench after grabbing coffee, the late afternoon sun casting warm light over the pond in front of them. Your barely touched your drink, gaze distant as you stared at the ducks paddling by.

“You’ve been quiet lately,” Jaemin said gently, voice soft, as if he was afraid of what he was about to say.

“I’m fine,” you replied automatically, though your voice lacked any sense of genuineness.

Jaemin tilted his head, studying you with a soft, understanding look. “You don’t have to pretend with me, you know.”

You sighed, shoulders slumping. “Mark and I had a fight. He’s been acting so weird, and I don’t know why. It’s like he’s mad at me for something, but he won’t tell me what.”

Jaemin hesitated, his expression thoughtful. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you don’t have feelings for Mark?”

Your head snapped up, your eyes wide in surprise, looking at her boyfriend, shocked. “What? No. Of course I don’t. He’s my best friend.”

Jaemin didn’t say anything right away, his gaze steady but kind. “Listen,” he began carefully, “you’re a great girl. Really. But... I think you might care about him more than you realize.”

You shook your head, a pit of dread bubbling in your stomach. “Jaemin, I—I like you. I do.”

“I know,” he said softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “But not the way you like him. And that’s okay.”

Tears stung your eyes as guilt washed over you. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to do this to you,” you whispered.

“Don’t be,” Jaemin said, placing a reassuring hand over yours. “You can’t help how you feel. And honestly? I think you should talk to him. Figure it out.”

You sniffled, giving him a small, watery smile. “You’re too nice, you know that?”

Jaemin laughed, leaning back against the bench. “I know.”

Despite the weight of their conversation, you felt a strange sense of clarity. You didn’t know what you were going to say to Mark, but for the first time, you knew you had to try.

You left the park bench with a renewed sense of purpose and a goal, to talk to Mark.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Jaemin was lying on your bed, legs stretched out as you paced back and forth. You had been trying to contact Mark for days—texts, calls, voicemails—but every attempt was met with silence. And it was driving you crazy.

“I don’t get it,” you mumbled, frustration and sadness evident in your voice. “He’s never acted like this before. We’ve argued before and we always made up, but now... now he’s avoiding me like I’m some kind of plague.”

Jaemin watched you, a quiet understanding in his gaze. He could tell how much it was bothering you, even though you were trying your very best to hide it.

“You’re not giving up, are you?” Jaemin asked, leaning forward slightly.

You stopped mid-pace, looking at him with a mixture of exhaustion and annoyance. “I don’t have a choice, Jaemin. He clearly doesn’t want to talk to me. Maybe I messed up, maybe I pushed him too far, but he’s not responding.”

Jaemin shook his head, his smile soft but firm. “Don’t give up on him, Y/N. You love him, and he clearly feels something similar for you. Maybe he just needs a little push.”

You sigh, sitting down beside him on the bed. “I just don’t know what else to do. It’s not like I haven’t tried.”

Jaemin paused for a second, a glint of mischief creeping into his eyes. “Well, what if I told you I had a plan to make him face you?”

You raise an eyebrow, skeptical but curious. “What?”

He grinned, clearly proud of himself. “I do. But you’re gonna have to trust me on this one.”

You frowned but nodded, trusting Jaemin more than anyone else. “Alright, what’s the plan?”

Jaemin leaned in, his voice lowering to a whisper as he began to lay out the details of his plan. He knew it was a little underhanded, but if it meant fixing things with Mark and you, he was willing to take the risk.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

A few days later, Mark was hanging out with his friends Haechan and Chenle at their usual café. He had been avoiding you, and it wasn’t because he wanted to. The guilt gnawed at him every time he saw your name pop up on his phone, but he didn’t know how to fix things. Every time he thought about talking to you, he freaked out, not knowing if he could handle being rejected by you.

“Man, you’ve been really quiet lately,” Haechan said, nudging Mark’s shoulder. “What’s up with you?”

Mark shrugged, not meeting either of their gazes. “Just… tired, I guess.”

Chenle raised an eyebrow. “Tired? Dude, you’re literally doing nothing. Just hiding out at home all day.”

“Yeah,” Haechan added, “and avoiding Y/N. Come on, what’s going on between you two?”

Mark stiffened, his heart skipping a beat at the mention of your name. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, his phone buzzed. A new message from Jaemin.

Hey, man. I need you to do me a favor.

Mark hesitated for a moment before replying, his fingers hovering over the keys. What’s up?

I need you to meet me at the park in 30 minutes. Trust me, it’s important.

Mark frowned, sensing something was off, but he couldn’t figure out what. Okay, fine. I’ll be there.

He shoved his phone back into his pocket, barely noticing Haechan and Chenle’s knowing smiles.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

When Mark arrived at the park, he found Jaemin leaning against a bench, looking unusually serious.

“Why’d you need me to meet you?” Mark asked, crossing his arms and trying to hide his nervousness.

Jaemin smiled mischievously for a split second, but then he stood up straighter, his tone firm. “I’m going to help you fix things with Y/N.”

Mark blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Jaemin exhaled deeply, looking Mark in the eye. “Y/N’s been acting weird. Because you’re avoiding her. And I get it, man. I really do. But you’re hurting her by not talking to her. And she doesn’t deserve that.”

Mark felt a pang in his chest, guilt flooding his mind. “I know, but it’s complicated…”

“Complicated or not,” Jaemin interrupted, “you can’t just leave things like this. You’re her best friend, Mark. You mean everything to her.”

Mark’s throat tightened, his hands trembling slightly. “Why do you care? She’s your girlfriend.”

Jaemin’s expression hardened slightly. “Actually, she’s not. You’d know that if you answered her calls.”

Mark’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “What?”

Jaemin sighed, “Listen man, I like her, I do, but she doesn’t feel the same. We broke up. And now I’ve been trying to help her contact you. You’re hurting her a lot by ignoring her like this.”

Mark groaned, feeling a sense of disbelief that your ex-boyfriend was currently trying to convince him to confess his feelings to you.

Jaemin ignores the clear shock on Mark’s face, pulling out his phone and smirking. “I’ve been talking to Haechan and Chenle. They’re on board with this. We’ve already arranged it. You two are meeting up, whether you like it or not.”

Mark’s eyes widened as he realized Jaemin had masterminded the whole thing. “You… you told them?”

Jaemin gave him a pointed look. “I did. And you’re gonna thank me later.”

Before Mark could protest any further, he heard your voice from behind him. “I’m here.”

Mark turned around, his heart pounding in his chest as he saw you standing there, looking as nervous as he felt.

Jaemin stepped back, a sly grin on his face. “You two figure it out. I’ll leave you to it.”

As Jaemin walked away, Mark stood there, unsure of how to approach the situation. He wanted to run, but Jaemin’s words echoed in his head: You can’t just leave things like this.

You looked at him, eyes filled with uncertainty, and Mark’s heart sank seeing your disheveled state. He had to fix this. And he was going to try, no matter how scared he was.

Mark stood frozen for a moment, staring at you as you approached. His heart hammered in his chest, and all he could think was how easy it would be to turn around and walk away. To just disappear before this moment could get any more uncomfortable. But as much as he wanted to run, he couldn’t. Not when you had been so patient, so understanding—he owed you this conversation.

“Mark,” You called out softly, your voice hesitant but steady.

He exhaled, pushing the thought of escape aside, and turned to face you. You looked just as uncertain as he felt, and it made the guilt rise within him all over again.

You silently walked to a nearby bench, and Mark sat down first, his hands gripping the edge of the seat as if it could anchor him to reality. You sat beside him, her posture stiff, like you were preparing for some awful outcome.

After a long pause, you broke the silence. “Why have you been avoiding me?” you asked, voice a little softer than he expected, clearly you were nervous.

Mark felt his stomach drop, a wave of regret crashing over him. “Y/N, I…” He ran a hand through his hair, avoiding her gaze. “I’m sorry. I don’t even know why I said that. I just… I was confused. I’ve been confused for a while.”

You frowned, clearly still unsure of where this was going. “Confused about what?”

“I—” He cut himself off, trying to find the right words. He didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to risk ruining their friendship, but there was no other way around it. “I’ve been in love with you, Y/N. For a long time now. And I didn’t know how to deal with it. So, I tried to ignore it.”

Your breath hitched, and you turned your head to look at him, your wide eyes betraying her mask of calmness. “What?”

“I didn’t want to ruin our friendship,” he continued, voice thick with anxiety. “I was afraid that if I told you, you’d never want to talk to me again. And I’ve… I’ve been avoiding you ever since, because I thought if I just stayed away, it would be easier.”

You shook your head slowly, eyes glistening as you processed his words. “Mark… you’re my best friend. You should have told me.”

“I know. I should have,” he muttered, feeling even more ashamed. “I messed up. And then I lashed out at you, and that was stupid.”

You sigh deeply, and then, surprisingly, smile softly at him. “It’s okay, Mark. I get it now. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize it, but I was just too scared to admit how I felt.”

Mark’s eyes widened. “Wait, what do you mean?”

“I mean,” you continued, your voice trembling a little, “I’m in love with you, too. I just didn’t want to mess things up, either. I didn’t want to lose our friendship.”

Mark’s heart skipped a beat. He blinked at you, his mind racing to process your confession. “You… you love me?”

You nodded slowly. “Yeah. And I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. I’m sorry I acted the way I did and I’m sorry for always bringing up Jaemin around you, I just—”

Mark could feel the weight of it all crashing down on him. His chest tightened, and the guilt that had been gnawing at him for weeks was replaced by a rush of clarity. He couldn’t let this moment slip away, not after everything the two of you had been through.

Before you could say another word, Mark reached out, cupping your face gently with his hand. He leaned in and kissed you, his lips pressing against yours with a softness that made your heart race.

Your eyes widened in surprise, and you pulled back slightly, voice shaky. “Oh my god.”

Mark chuckled softly, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t wait any longer.”

You blinked, still processing everything. “I… I didn’t expect that.”

Mark smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, I wasn’t planning on it either. But I guess it was time for me to stop being an idiot.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “You’re not an idiot, Mark. You’re just… well, maybe a little bit. But I’m glad we’re talking about this now.”

He nodded, his smile growing wider. “Me too. And, uh, I guess we can’t just go back to how things were, right?”

You grinned, your eyes twinkling. “Yeah, I don’t think we can. But I’m okay with that.”

Mark took a deep breath, feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “So, what now?”

You thought for a moment before shrugging. “I think we should just… figure it out. We already know each other so well, so maybe it’ll be easy.”

Mark grinned, feeling a warmth spread through him. “Yeah, I think we can make it work.”

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

AUTHOR'S NOTE 𝟅𝟈 omg another fic we cheered. thank u to the like 20 people who like my writing i really appreciate it. lmk if you have any requests pls

You were pretty new to the circus , you arrived 2 weeks before Pomni. You kinda... Didnt really connect to anyone wich made your experience even more dreadfull. Ragatha does try to be there for you but you already feel like she seems to have way more baggage than she can carry so you kinda avoided her cause you felt kinda sad around her though you're sure she's very sweet.

One day the Candy Canyon adventure started, it didnt stand out much to you until you and Gummigoo fell right under the map and... Well you know what happend. You helped him while he was having his existancial crisis and offered him to join you to the Circus and thankfully Caine said yes !... You kinda developped a crush on him while doing so. He was the first person that made you feel kinda seen in the circus so naturally you two would stay together most of the time.

You didnt really wanna confess to him , not for now at least as he was still processing alot and putting your feelings on the table while he is very vulnerable is probably not a good idea. And when you think about it you were kinda vulnerable as well.

Anyway fast forwarding to episode 4 Caine looked up in the suggestion box and found Gangle's idea of working in a fast food , while Gummigoo kinda knew what a fast food is he never went to one , heck he doesnt even know how he has that information wich when he realized it kinda distressed him but he quickly calmed down himselt when the adventure started.

You and everyone else entered the portal made by Caine to enter Spudsy. While walking through the portal everyone got their uniform and not gonna lie , seeing him in the Spudsy uniform... You tought he was kinda attractive. THERE I SAID IT FORK FOUND IN KITCHEN I KNOW. You two were at the cash register (Pomni was doing the waitress ) , he kinda had a hard time understanding how it works but you tought it was cute. You kinda had to watch over him at first to be sure he doesnt get in trouble with Gangle

"You're supposed to ask them if they want the bill Gummigoo and print it if they do"

"Can you show me where I can do that on the screen?"

You approached his register , you kinda had to get close to him in order to do so since the cash registers werent that big , you could feel him looking at you attentively it made you feel nervous but in an exciting way ! You also felt his shoulder almost touching yours while doing so wich made you kinda go crazy in your mind, you tried to look as natural as possible cause you didnt wanna him to find out about your feelings but you were filled with glee at the mere tought of being able to help him and him looking at you.. You smiled a little bit as it was impossible of fully containing it.

"There."

"Righto , thank you mate."

He smiled at you and you returned the smile , why wouldnt you after all?

"It's nothing"

You went back to your own register cause you unfortunately had to.

Gummigoo was doing just fine talking to costumers though , he isnt a shy person or anything like that so it was easy for him but he kinda felt bad for everyone since they're all NPCs just like him.

Every thing went fine until Max and Chad entered the fast food. He was very happy too see them as he geniunely didnt expect that but he was also distraught because he left them behind and they dont know that once they leave their existance is likely over untill their next appearance even if it was for their own well-being

"Y/N ,The lads are here"

"Oh.. are you gonna be fine talking to them?"

"They're my lads.. Even if it pains me to leave them here I cant just avoid them , they should be happy while they can"

Max and Chad went to Gummigoo's register cause of course they would

"Boss ! We looked for you every where !"

"We didnt know you got a job , doesnt seem like something you would do"

"Well l'ets say my hands are tieds and it isnt as bad as I tought"

"When will you Come back to us boss?"

"... Dont worry lads , I'll come back soon just trust me with this. So I'm guessing my lads want 6 hash-brown they'll split between 'em?"

"You got it right on the money boss !"

"With how easily you can read minds I'm sure you'll be out of here in no time !"

"I'm sure I will"

You felt BAD for him... Obviously he seemed happy to see his lads they're very close after all but seeing him lied to them it made you feel bad. You wish they could be reunited and even if he hides it to his lads you can tell he's hurting. Max and Chad went to their seat and Gummigoo sighed heavily... You decided that since you had no costumer it was fine if you chatted a bit , it's not even like you're getting paid for this

"You sure you're gonna be okay after this?'

He smiles at you weakly , he was clearly sad but he still wanna show you that he can take this

"I'm alright mate , thanks for worrying"

You decided to not press upon , it was probably for the better to push it aside until you two have an alone time together

"You must love them a lot"

"They're my lads , of course I do"

A few minutes later Pomni served Max and Chad wich meant they were going to leave soon... This made Gummigoo anxiously waiting for them to dissapear , he didnt want that yet so when they were starting to leave Gummigoo rushed to the entrance. His lads turned around but he didnt know what to say... You saw his mouth moving but you were too far to make out what Gummigoo was saying. Part of you was kinda hopping he could love you at least as much as love his lads.

He went back to the cash register , he was smiling , while there was definitly some sadness to it it also felt geniune.. Like he made peace with the situation at least partially

"What did you say- If you dont mind answering"

"No worries mate. I just told em... "Thanks for eating at Spudsy's""

You leave a bit of a silence before answering on a quiet yet happy tone

"I'm glad you did."

You responded with a smile... It was nice seeing him happy you would trade that sight for nothing and you damn hope you'll be able to make him smile every day... Gosh you're so corny... But you dont mind , if being corne frels this good you'll be corny every day of the year especially if it make that aussie Gator happy

Your shift was finally over ! It was night now. You and Gummigoo clocked out at the same time fortunately and you quickly understood why , Caine didnt make a car for him

"Do... Do you think he hates me?"

"Wether or not he does it's really starting to piss me off. You matter a lot to me. So even if he hates you or if everyone did , wich they dont , you got me"

Caine was always kinda passive agressive toward Gummigoo in his adventures for some reason , he doesnt even have his own room for example , you offered to Gummigoo to sleep in yours but he told you that he's okay with sleeping outside , and thats not it , he deliberately ommit him every time he can and that really annoy you. Gummigoo chuckled at your words

"You're gonne make me blush mate !"

Oh. You kinda didnt realize what you were saying you felt so pissed at Caine and you were so focused on wanting Gummigoo to feel loved and appreciated that you didnt think of how it would come across as. I mean hey if it did come across as romantic he wouldnt be wrong but you still felt embarassed now you were the one blushing

"Oh sorry that's not what I-"

"It's alright mate I got it"

You hope he doesnt.. Or hope he does and reciprocate. You walked to your car with you two having a bit of a bashfull smile , you were still embarassed of what just happend but you felt oddly cheerfull. You two fastened your seatbelt and while you were driving under the beautiful night sky Gummigoo said on a gentle tone as if embarassed to admit it but still wanting you to feel as loved and appreciated as you make him feel

"You matter a lot to me too"