Chapter Text
all's well that ends well to end up with you
swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover
— lover; taylor swift
Mark could have never saw this coming. And by this, he could mean quite a few things and all of them happen to include Vee. The way they went from being at each other’s throats metaphorically to physically or the way Mark happened to fall for such an egregious asshole. Vee had been a walking red flag when they first started.
But the biggest thing he didn’t see coming was how utterly clingy Vee is. Ever since they got together, or well, even after they hooked up, Vee was always touching him. Whether it be a hand on his shoulder or their thighs pressed together.
It shocked Mark at first because Vee didn’t want anyone to know about them. Mark had been his dirty little secret (at least up until the last day of orientation when he confessed that he liked Mark to Yiwaa). And it hurt Mark, it felt like a knife to the chest every time Vee would throw an arm around his shoulders and tug him close, then in the next moment act like Mark meant absolutely nothing to him. Mark would shrug out from under him when the killing blow came and put distance between them, causing Vee to pout. And Mark to inevitably give in.
But now that everything is clear between them and they’re officially together, Mark doesn’t exactly hate it anymore.
He puts on a damn good show around their friends, though. He’ll grumble and smack Vee’s touchy hands away. But Mark always ends up having to turn his head to hide his smile from Vee when he eventually (and predictably) gives in.
Today’s no different.
“TEERAK! I MISSED YOU!” Mark jumps, hearing Vee’s voice just as he’s thinking of him. As if he has managed to conjure him by thought alone.
He looks up from his homework, because the voice sounds too real, too close to just be his imagination. And there Vee is, sauntering towards the table Mark and his friends are sitting at, a wide grin on his face. It’s the smile Vee always wears these days, especially around Mark.
Behind him trail Yiwaa, Bar, Lee, Tee, and Nuea.
Mark can’t help but smile back at Vee, even as he rolls his eyes at the ridiculousness. He hollers back, trying to sound annoyed but failing spectacularly, “You just saw me at home this morning!”
“It wasn’t enough for the hours we spent apart!” James wolf-whistles. Fuse and Kamphan join in. Mark feels himself blushing. He tries to scowl, but the smile overtaking his face makes it impossible.
“Awwww,” Fuse immediately starts teasing when Vee reaches the table, poking at Mark’s dimples. Vee smacks Fuse’s hand away, cursing him for touching Mark. Mark sticks his tongue out at Vee then shoves Fuse’s shoulder roughly causing him to fall off the bench. He scrambles up, looking offended, and ‘coincidentally’ makes room for Vee to sit next to Mark instead.
Like Vee needs any help to do that, he would’ve pushed his way to Mark’s side regardless. It’s like Mark has a magnet embedded in his side that only attracts Vee.
And here he goes, no pretense, and absolutely no subtlety, throwing his arms around Mark’s shoulders and immediately tucking Mark into this side. Mark elbows him in the stomach, lightly, and he’s sure it doesn’t hurt. He hardly uses any force, but Vee’s dramatic ass makes an oomph sound, using his free hand to clutch his stomach.
“That’s how you treat your boyfriend, Nong Mark?” Bar asks with a laugh. Mark doesn’t bother responding.
“Ouch, baby,” Vee says, immediately gaining Mark’s attention with the way his mouth is brushing against the shell of Mark’s ear. Mark has to physically stop himself from reacting to the sensation. Vee didn’t even attempt to say it quietly— the whole table hears the term of endearment and awws at them.
Mark flushes and with clenched teeth says, “Fuck off.” There’s very little heat behind his words. No one takes it seriously.
“Aw, my baby is so cute.” Vee pokes his dimple with the hand that’s been resting on Mark’s shoulder. Mark grumbles, trying to get away from Vee’s hands. He has to turn his head away from the group so they don’t see his megawatt smile.
He doesn’t hate this, not at all. It’s the complete opposite, really. Mark just doesn’t like the attention from others that comes with public displays. And Vee knows the truth, they’ve talked about it before. Ever since that last misunderstanding between them, they never let anything go unsaid.
So, no, Mark isn’t afraid of Vee getting upset by his continuous objections. He just hates being stared at by strangers.
Once the group finds something else to discuss, something engineering related or maybe about an upcoming party, he relaxes in Vee’s arms. He pushes himself even closer and he’s practically half on top of Vee’s lap. Mark doesn’t have to look to know Vee’s smiling.
He isn’t even trying to follow the conversation, he’s too focused on the way Vee’s other hand is caressing his thigh draped across Vee’s lap. He suddenly really wants to leave. But he knows their friends will realize why if they take one look at them. So he just leans into Vee as close as he can get.
When Vee speaks again his mouth is still against Mark’s ear, but it’s a gentle whisper, “I missed you today, my love We were apart for too long.” Mark can’t repress his shiver this time. Vee huffs a laugh into his ear. Mark is scrambling as quick as he can off the bench to walk away but Vee grabs a hold of his hand, tangling their fingers together. He tugs gently trying to get Mark to sit back down.
“Vee,” Mark whines, when he doesn’t let go despite Mark’s protest. “You already told me that.” He knows all the attention is on them once again, but he can’t help the pleading tone that escapes him.
“Stay for a bit and then we’ll go.” Mark practically stomps his feet like a toddler, pouting in Vee’s direction. Vee doesn’t relent, just tugs his hand again and Mark sits back down, letting Vee hang all over him again.
“Mark, are you sick?” James asks.
“No?” Mark answers it as a question, confused as to why he’s suddenly being asked that question. He’s perfectly fine, he doesn’t even look sick.
“You never give in that easily. To anyone,” James remarks, then turns to Vee. “How did you do that? I need to know.”
Vee is about to respond, but Mark can see the mischievous look in his eye and slams a hand over his mouth before he can make a dirty comment. Something about how good he is with his tongue. Mark knows him too well.
“Don’t ask him that,” Mark answers instead, dropping his hand from Vee’s mouth when he licks him. Mark grimaces and wipes his hand off using Vee’s shirt. James looks thoroughly disgusted, giving up on the questioning, but it doesn’t stop the rest from joining in on teasing them.
“I thought Vee was the whipped one, but it goes both ways,” Yiwaa says, smirking at Mark. He hates his seniors. Why did he ever befriend any of them?
“Vee is infinitely more whipped though,” Nuea argues.
“We already knew that, Nuea. He practically worships the very ground Mark walks on.”
Vee doesn’t even look slightly embarrassed. In fact, he’s beaming. He’s so damn shameless. He looks so proud of himself and Mark finds himself smiling along too.
“Well, I’m not about to make the mistake of treating him any less than he’s worth again. I will always worship Mark,” Vee says, proud and smug, smacking a kiss on Mark’s cheek, then to his hair.
“So romantic!” Lee and Tee holler at the same time.
Everyone squeals and awws so loudly that people at other tables turn to look at them. Mark blushes and turns to hide his face in Vee’s shoulder, but his smile doesn’t falter. Vee hugs him close, pressing more kisses into his hair.