Mark walks out of the store and into the mall with a kind of confidence that Donghyuck can tell is built on either toxic masculinity or legitimate happiness. Happiness is foreign, though, and the small smile on Mark's face always aches with emptiness, so it's certainly the former. Donghyuck groans and jumps to sit on the counter.

_

"Do you even play games, Hyuckie?" Chenle asks.

"Life is a game," Donghyuck says with a smile.

"Don't-" comes Taeyong's weak protest.

"And I'm losing," Donghyuck finishes.

"You're so angsty," Chenle says with a giggle. "Lighten up, yeah?"

_

he loved the pain even if he was loath to admit it