The next morning, David had secretly ordered everything Mark wanted. He got him a phone, a tablet, a pair of AirPods—and even added a laptop Mark hadn't asked for.
One of the guards downstairs received the package, brought it up to David's room, and knocked on the door.
"Come in," David said calmly.
The guard entered, dropped the package near the table, gave a small, respectful nod, and quietly left.
Mark glanced at the box, curiosity written all over his face. Before he could ask, David spoke.
"It's for you, Mark."
"For me?" Mark stood up quickly and hurried over to the package. He began unboxing it, and when he saw what was inside, he shouted, "Oh my God!" The excitement on his face was pure and innocent like a child.
Without thinking twice, he rushed to David, who was lying on the bed, and threw his arms around him, completely forgetting David had an injured hand.
"Ah—my hand, careful," David winced.
"I'm sorry!" Mark pulled back, eyes wide. "I just wanted to show my appreciation. Thank you, David."
"Do you like them?" David asked with a faint smile.
"God, I love it," Mark said, grinning from ear to ear.
He returned to the package and started unboxing everything one by one. As he worked through it, he said, "I didn't know you'd get all this for me so quickly."
"I'll do everything for you," David replied. "I mean it."
Mark paused for a moment, then walked back over to him and gave him another hug. "Thank you so much."
Later, he and David were getting ready to have breakfast. Mark, too excited to wait, rushed ahead like an overjoyed child. He practically ran past David and made his way to the dining table first, unable to contain his excitement.
As soon as he arrived, he waved his new phone in front of Dnie with a wide grin. "Look!" he said eagerly. David got me a phone.
Dnie laughed. "Let me guess—you suddenly wanted a phone because you ran into your female classmate, right?"
Without hesitation, Mark nodded. "Yes."
Tony, sitting nearby, chuckled. "So you're still thinking of chasing a girl, huh?"
"Why not?" David's voice came from behind—he had just entered and had been quietly listening to the conversation.
Tony turned, eyes wide. "Are you crazy? If you're still planning to chase a girl, then what is David to you?"
There was a pause. Mark glanced at David briefly, then looked away. "David... he's just David."
Tony narrowed his eyes. He was asking on purpose—trying to get David to hear what Mark truly felt. That no matter what David did for him, it meant nothing.
Mark ignored the tension in the room and turned back to Dnie. "Can you put your number in here?"
Tony raised an eyebrow and muttered with a smirk, "Oh, David... did you hear your boy?"
Mark didn't seem to care. He said everything honestly, without guilt or hesitation—just how he felt.
David's eyes darkened as he gave Tony a sharp, warning glare. Then he looked at Mark and said coldly, "Sit down and eat."
After breakfast, Mark rushed upstairs to his room, eager to set up his social apps on his new phone. Tony also went off to his room, while Dnie lingered behind, wanting to say something.
Before she could speak, David cut in.
"I heard everything," he said quietly. "You don't need to remind me."
Dnie sighed. "What will you do if he chooses someone else, David? Someone who's not you?"
David looked down for a moment, his voice low. "I don't know… but I won't let that happen."
Dnie stepped closer. "Then let me tell you one thing, just one word of advice—let go now. Feel the pain while it's still bearable, before your feelings grow stronger than this. David replied. They are always stronger." I'm not giving up, Dnie.
She paused, her tone softening. "I love him too… but don't try to control him. Let's watch him decide on his own. Because the truth might be what ends it between you two."
David's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"No matter how much he grows to love you, if Mark ever finds out about the past… don't you think it could destroy both of you?"
David stayed silent, the weight of her words sinking in.
Then he asked, more seriously this time, "Do you think I stand a chance?"
Dnie looked at him, her voice firm. "If you want me to answer as your sister, then yes, of course. But if you want me to be completely honest… I don't think you stand any chance."
She held his gaze.
"Unless… he chooses you himself."
"I'm a sister to both of you," Dnie said softly. "You might be my biological brother, and Mark is not, but the truth is, I love you both. I'm not taking sides, David."
Her voice trembled slightly as she continued, "I just don't want either of you to get hurt… or feel betrayed."
She stood up and walked over to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Brother," she said, her voice calm but firm, "let's just watch him. From now on… let's just watch what he decides on."
David didn't respond right away. But the way his eyes lowered said enough—he heard her. He felt it.
But how could he watch Mark laugh, dream, run freely again—and possibly fall for someone else?
David's jaw tightened. His chest felt heavy, not with anger, but with something deeper. Helplessness. Fear. He had never wanted to possess Mark—he only wanted to be chosen by him. Freely. Genuinely.
But Dnie was right.
If Mark ever found out the truth... about what I did—what I kept from him… would he still look at me the same way? Would he ever forgive me?
David dragged a hand through his hair and let out a long breath. The silence between him and Dnie lingered like a shadow.
Upstairs…
Mark had kicked off his slippers the moment he entered his room, bouncing onto the bed with the energy of someone who'd just won the lottery.
He pulled out his new phone, smiling like a fool as he tapped around, installing his social apps, syncing his account, and exploring every corner of it like a child with his first toy.
He glanced at the other devices on his desk—the tablet, the AirPods, the laptop he never even asked for.
"David, you did all this… for me?" he murmured aloud, though no one was around to hear.
He paused, fingers hovering over the screen, heart beating a little too fast.
Why are you always so kind? Even when I push you away? Even when I don't understand what you want from me…
Mark lay back on the bed, the phone resting on his chest.
For a moment, he closed his eyes. Does he actually love me?
He shook the thought off quickly. He couldn't afford to overthink. Not now, when his heart was already confused.
He created his accounts one after the other, setting up each profile with care. Then he brought out the small card Lainai had given him at the mall. Holding it for a moment, he smiled—then dialed the number.
The phone rang a few times.
"Hello? Who is this?" a familiar voice answered. "It's me… Mark."
There was a brief pause, then her voice lit up with surprise and joy.
"Mark," Is that you? I've been expecting your call! I almost thought you wouldn't reach out to me."
Mark chuckled softly. "Why not? I promised I would."
They fell into an easy conversation, voices overlapping with laughter and warm memories. They spoke long enough to forget the time—sharing stories, filling in gaps, and asking questions about everything they'd missed.
Before hanging up, they exchanged all their social media usernames.
It didn't take long—soon they were chatting non-stop, Lainai sending old photos from school, and joking about classmates and embarrassing memories.
The connection felt instant, familiar.
Mark leaned back, his phone glowing in his hand, a smile still tugging at his lips.
For the first time in a long time, something about the past didn't hurt—it felt safe.