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"No, Hyuck!" Mark squealed, sprinting down the hall away from the younger, "I swear, if you bring that anywhere near me!"
"You'll do what?" The other called while laughing hysterically, chasing him and catching up fast. Donghyuck happened to have an ancient sandwich in his hand, found in the darkest depths of a cupboard, probably forgotten about months, if not years ago.
"Just don't put it near me. It smells like ass."
The younger couldn't help but chuckle, pushing for one final sprint before tackling the boy against a wall, both collapsing onto the ground in hysterics.
"Ew, ew, ew," Mark whined, smacking the rancid snack away and watching as it rolled across the stone floor. "Sandwiches shouldn't do that....."
Donghyuck shrugged, still giggling lightly and crawling off the older to lie down. "Jeez, I didn't realise having someone around for the holidays could be so fun...."
"Fun? Fun? Dude, you tried to kill me!"
"It was an old sandwich, Mark. Not a grenade. You're so dramatic sometimes...."
They lay by each other for about five minutes, talking about nothing special or important....rather glad to have each other around, actually.
Their conversation from two days ago had settled any problems.....and Donghyuck was sleeping at night again. Luckily, his body was too exhausted to pull any funny business, though Mark was ready to deal with it when the time arose.
Somehow, a level of trust had now been established. It was that kind of feeling two people, who had seen too much and know too much about each other, had. An understanding, if you will.
"I can't believe everyone's going to be coming back tomorrow," Mark muttered softly, staring up at the ceiling listlessly. "The whole week has sort of disappeared."
"Mmm. They're usually much slower....y'know, when I'm alone."
"Do you get lonely?"
"Yeah. That and bored, to be honest. My parents genuinely cannot spare a goddamn week for me...."
Mark felt a pinch of sympathy for him. He himself hated being alone, and knew all about the feeling due to insomnia. Instead of wasting their time together fighting, he started wish that they could've sorted this all out sooner.....so that this fun could've lasted longer.
"Remember those stories we all used to tell each other when we were younger.....about the attic?"
Donghyuck glanced over at him with a confused pout, "Kinda. Why?"
"I've never been up there before. I was always too scared by the stories...."
"It's also locked, you moron. I can remember when we all dared Renjun to go up. That was.....interesting."
"He was caught, wasn't he?"
"Yes, though I am curious to hear why you're suddenly bringing all this up?" The younger narrowed his eyes. "If my amazing intelligence isn't wrong, which it never is, I think you want to go up."
"It's our last day alone together. Let's break a rule."
Donghyuck stared intently at him for a moment, eyes trailing over the ravenette and trying to spot things he had never noticed before. Mark was a little different now, and it appeared that the brunette just never saw this before since he was too busy being annoying.
He's grown up, hasn't he? Were his initial thoughts, though he had to remember that he himself was older now too. They weren't kids anymore.
"Let's do it."
The older smiled warmly, sitting up and attempting to stand. His whole personality seemed to 'shine' more, which was pleasing.....and Hyuck couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for putting him down for so long.
As the pair childishly ran through the halls once more, they kept the attic in mind along with all the ghost stories that revolved around it. Mark liked to think that those silly ideas still circulated through the junior years, never truly dying.
"Over here!" Donghyuck called, coming to a grinding halt underneath the panel in the roof above them. Funnily enough, there wasn't a clunky gold lock with a silver chain tied to its handle anymore. Though the pole that usually rested in the corner of the hall, designed to pull the internal ladder down, was gone.
"How do we get up?" Mark enquired, placing his hands on his waist and tilting his head to stare up at it.
"I may have an idea, since both of us aren't the tallest boys in the world."
The older stared at him quizzically for brief minute before sighing, "This isn't what I think it is, is it?"
"I love how we think in sync. Now, lift me up," the younger ordered playfully, standing to stay right in front of Mark and hoping for him to agree.
"I'm not particularly strong though-"
"Psh, I saw your chest the other day, Dumbass. Perhaps you aren't as much of a Sissyboy as I assumed," the brunette smirked teasingly.
"Then am I free of that nickname?"
"Of course not. Now, lift me up."
Mark huffed, though reluctantly leaned down slightly to pick the other up into his arms. Donghyuck latched around him at first, trying to find balance, then proceeded to crawl up along his torso to sit on his shoulders. "See? I'm not that heavy."
"Just hurry up," the older blushed furiously, glad beyond belief that Donghyuck had no way of seeing his inexplicably flushed cheeks. His hands were consequently holding onto the other's thighs, attempting to hold him steady as Hyuck reached up to pop the attic panel open. Thankfully, teachers didn't bother emerging from their section of the school during the holidays, leaving whoever hadn't gone home to their own devises.
"My arms are too short," the youngest complained, trying to lift his waist more to stretch further. Mark, however, was suffering the effects of his movements, such as Donghyuck's front wrapped around his neck.
"Don't do anything risky-"
"Oh, got it!" The brunette cheered, shuffling again to move higher, feeling the older hold his legs firmly, then hitching up to grip the edge of the attic entrance.
"Drop the ladder," the ravenette sighed tiredly, releasing him and stepping back as the wooden contraption flew down to the ground.
"Teamwork at its best," Donghyuck hummed as his crawled inside and disappeared.
What am I supposed to do with him? Mark wondered with a slight shake of his head. His hands guided the way as he climbed the ladder cautiously. He was almost there when two different arms emerged from the darkness, grabbed his forearms, and yanked him inside.
"Welcome," Hyuck giggled, flicking on the dim and flickering lightbulb hanging from the low ceiling. Mark looked around at the precarious space, noting that everything could collapse at any second. "No quick movements-"
His suggestion was completely ignored as the younger shoved him playfully and crawled across the room to take a look at some of the items covered by white sheets. His shirt slid up his back from his position, and the older had to inwardly psyche himself up for this.
He's finally agreeing to be your friend. Stop wanting him like that!
