Donghyuck laughed, his arm slung around the tired Jaemin, "C'mon man. It wasn't that bad!" They had just left school for the day, their sneakers hitting the concrete sidewalk as they walked to their homes. It was a hot day, summer quickly approaching and both boys couldn't wait to get to their houses.
Jaemin scoffed, "It was that bad." He rolled his eyes, shoved Donghyuck's arm from his heavy shoulders, crossing his arms in frustration, "It was so hard! I studied so much for this test and I'm worried I won't pass."
Donghyuck pouted, trying to empathize with his friend, "I'm sure you did fine.. Plus you aced the class so you're for sure going to pass either way!" His hopeful and energetic energy brightened Jaemin just slightly. Donghyuck had been on top of it lately, showing up to school ready and on time, and even studying well.
Jaemin ignored his words, "Anyways, how do you think you did? I know you've been studying a lot too.." Jaemin watched the other smile brightly, not looking even the slightest bit worried.
"I thought it was easy!" Jaemin rolled his eyes once again, annoyed that even the friend who didn't care for school felt the test was easy. Maybe he was just being hard on himself, Jaemin thought.
Jaemin eyed his friend as they quietly walked down the sidewalk, Donghyuck a step or two ahead with even an extra pep in his step. They had been testing for hours, and somehow the normally tired after school boy was now high energy, and practically bouncing with each step. It was odd for him to be so, ready. To be so energetic.
Just as Jaemin was about to question him, Donghyuck turned back to him, his hands gripping onto the straps of his book bag, "I'm gonna run home, I'm starving!" The wide smile on his face shined brightly, even making Jaemin want to smile back at him.
"Alright. I'll see you-" Before Jaemin could even finish, the other was dashing away, running down the side walk.
Donghyuck shouted as he ran, "See ya!" His form quickly disappearing from Jaemin's sight as he ran to his house.
°°°
Donghyuck quickly pressed the buttons on the video game controller in his hands, trying his hardest not to die. He sighed loudly, throwing the controller down as he was eliminated from the game. He laid his head back on the pillow, the video game sounding loudly in the background as he lounged on his bed.
Donghyuck felt, well, good. For once. He wasn't worried about his school work, he had been studying hard for his finals and only had one test left. Since having the fateful conversation with Mark, Donghyuck felt like his life was aligning. School was finishing up, he had completed all of his work, and even studied until he got everything correct. He felt energized, and ready for anything. He couldn't help but to think maybe getting the conversation off his chest was freeing, that had to be the reason for all this.
And, unbelievably Mark didn't pop into his mind as often. He studied well, slept well, and even rested well without the thought of the blue eyed demon arising. Of course, he still thought about the demon, and their intense conversation from time to time, but it was much easier to push away now.
Donghyuck sighed, a smile forming on his lips, content and comfortable. He found himself living more in the moment, more energized, and confident. He just couldn't help how great he felt, and it was really showing in his day to day life.
Donghyuck stood from his plush bed, standing before the body mirror in his room, eyeing his own half naked body. His top half was naked, just a pair of basketball shorts covering his lower half, and a pair of socks. He smiled smugly at the lines slowly forming on his flat stomach, his finger pushing hard as it ran down the center, envisioning his future abs. He flexed a few times, laughing to himself for a moment before turning back to his bed, freezing in his spot at the new figure sat on his bed.
"Mark, what are you doing here?" He gasped, shocked at the sight of the unwelcome demon who sat on the edge of his bed, his colored eyes glowing and watching the mortal's every move. Donghyuck felt a chill run down his spine, knowing the demon had watched him before he knew he had joined him in the room. He quickly tucked his hands into the pockets of his shorts, mindfully aware that he was standing before the demon half naked.
Mark sighed, his eyes rolling before looking down at the floor of Donghyuck's bedroom, "Did you know time moves faster here than in Hell?" The question caught Donghyuck off guard, his head tilting to the side just slightly as he took in the question. He couldn't help but to notice how raw the demon's voice sounded today, as if he was exhausted or had been talking for hours.
"Of course.. W-Why are you here? Why are you askin-" Donghyuck couldn't continue to ask the demon questions before he was cut off. Donghyuck didn't leave on good terms after their conversation, so his question was confusing for the human.
"I mean, it's incredibly slower in Hell." Mark stood from his place, his words slow and precise. Each word he spoke seemed to come out with intention, different than when they had spoken last. Donghyuck had to take a moment to think of just how long it had been since there conversation. Maybe a week?
Mark stared back at Donghyuck, as if waiting for his response, "I know that." The silence was loud, a complete opposite of their last interaction that was full of yelling and threats.
Mark took a step towards the mortal, causing Donghyuck to take a step back as well, "Donghyuck, there's something we need to talk about."
Donghyuck scoffed almost immediately, not taking the serious nature of the demon's words seriously, "About what? About our last little conversation? Are you ready to tell me about how you've been watching me and my friends?" Donghyuck crossed his arms across his bare chest, eyeing Mark from across the room. He watched the way Mark rolled his beautiful eyes once more, landing back on him.
Mark sighed, his eyes flickering around Donghyuck's face for a moment before turning his back to the human, his hand rubbed his neck as if he was nervous. Donghyuck still paid no mind to this, merely watching him with his chin up, confidently. He really hoped the demon was here to apologize, to clear up the lies he told last time, and to tell Donghyuck he was right all along.
Mark sat back in the place on the bed where he was before, his elbows resting on his knees before his eyes were landing back on Donghyuck, "You want the truth? Yeah, I was watching you guys. I watched you guys from the day you two mortals came to Hell for the first time." Mark spit at him, his voice like venom, "I couldn't believe Jeno had brought humans to Hell who weren't his own Souls." Mark looked at his hands, Donghyuck shocked for a moment that the demon actually confessed to his true intentions.
Donghyuck didn't get a moment to speak for the demon continued, "There is a rule that Sins aren't to bring humans to Hell that aren't their own Souls. Sure, I guess it's a rule that's been broken before. Many times.. But still!" Mark sighed, looking back to the human, "I expected better of Jeno, to teach and set a good example for Renjun as a new demon. But he didn't even teach him such a basic rule." Donghyuck didn't speak, he knew there was more to come from Mark. And frankly, he didn't want to interrupt and break his train of thought. He wanted as much information as he could, although it took him a few moments to piece together everything, he didn't dare to interrupt Mark in fear of him stopping his explanation.
Mark continued, "I planned to rat the 'loving couple' out to Taeyong, for breaking rules." The familiar name rang loudly in Donghyuck's ears, and his stomach feeling heavy like a bag of sand all of a sudden. He knew exactly who the famous Taeyong was. He had heard from his best friend about the man, he was well aware of the man. Man, more like Satan. Chills ran down Donghyuck's spine as he realized just how serious the situation was, that Mark planned to get his best friends in trouble for bringing him to Hell. Donghyuck felt particularly guilty.
Donghyuck wanted to speak up to defend his friends, and he was about to, before Mark spoke again, this time much quieter, and his head slipping down and his eyes pointed to the floor, "Until my feelings changed."
The evening crickets outside Donghyuck's window chirped loudly filling the empty quietness of the room, both of them not sure what to say next. Donghyuck's mind raced as he pieced together each word Mark spoke. So quickly did he go from confusion, to anger, back to confusion, and back. Until now, where he was just left confused.
Donghyuck tucked his hands back into his pockets, his chest once again visible to the other but he didn't mind, "What changed?" He didn't yell, or even talk loudly to the demon he didn't particularly like. It was clear Mark had a lot on his mind, and frankly, Donghyuck was just happy to be told the truth. There was no need to yell, or have any attitude.
Mark chuckled dryly at the question, his head never once rising to look back at the other, "The day in the forest. When you all were swimming." The memories flashed before Donghyuck's eyes, the crystal blue waters shining around him as he jumped into the waterfall below, his friend's beautiful smiles, and of course, the chase. When Mark had spotted Donghyuck, and when the human bravely ran after him until he disappeared from sight.
Donghyuck didn't say anything, Mark continuing, "You intrigued me. Up until that moment, I was watching you all to collect evidence to provide to Taeyong. And then, this human ran after me." He chuckled once again before finally looking up, his blue eyes shining at Donghyuck, just like they did that day at the water. Donghyuck tried his hardest to keep up, his eyebrows seemingly permanently screwed together.
Mark stood once again, "I've had thousands of human souls to please me, to use to empower myself. And never once have I had one who've stood up to me, or made me feel the way you have. I'm the sin of pride, I embody it, so how could a mere, petty human make me feel like I had been ripped of my own pride?"