𝟲𝟯: 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗢𝗡
𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧

The atmosphere within my bedroom was overflowing with mere coziness and excitement. My friends and I were preparing for a pre-graduation party, which would take place in my mansion downstairs. Surprisingly, I agreed on throwing this party, although it was actually and entirely Taeil's idea. He said he wanted me to celebrate the finishing of all my final exams, but I knew he'd be the one enjoying it more with Taeyong down there. I could already hear them welcoming people in.

But could you believe, after everything that happened, we all still managed to catch up with school and finished all final exams?

"Could you please stop flexing your muscles, Donghyuck? You're distracting me." Naomi complained. She was attempting to fully concentrate on drawing a perfect line on the outer corner of her eye with an eyeliner stick, but Donghyuck whom stood behind her and flexed on the mirror added to her frustration.

Donghyuck smirked. He placed a cocky expression his face and opposed to Naomi's order. "Oh? Am I distracting you? Well, it's not my fault I'm that good looking-"

"No!" Naomi exclaimed, huffing out loud and swiveling her head to glare her boyfriend down. "Just let me do my eyeliner in peace. Please!" She begged, before frustratedly turning back to the mirror and redrew her eyeliner, presumably for the 5th time now.

Donghyuck sneered. "Oh? Well, it's not my fault you're shitty at drawing your eyeliner."

Donghyuck teasingly though cautiously shoved Naomi's head forward, causing her eyeliner's ink to proceed all the way up to her temple. Of course this wasn't good. And when Naomi slowly stood up from my make up table's chair and pivoted to connect her blazing eyes with Donghyuck, he shrieked out of fear. The next thing I recalled was them galloping around my room, screaming each other's name.

Meanwhile, Mark and I were perched on the ground next to each other, just right in front of my standing mirror. In contrast to the two, Mark and I were actually peaceful and collected. I was nonchalantly contouring my cheekbones, and Mark sat there watching with intrigue in his wide doe eyes.

"Are you contouring your cheekbones?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

I chuckled and looked at his face to see one of his most defined features, his cheekbones. "You wouldn't know."

Mark smiled, his head tilting. "You don't really need make up. You look perfectly beautiful." He paused himself, his eyes lingering each inch of my face with admiration. "But I get why you do it though. You don't really do it for other peoples' approval. Though I must say, I admire the art of it~ It looks absolutely beautiful."

I could feel my cheeks flush. I attempted to stay collected and proceeded looking at myself in the mirror with a grin. "Thanks Mark~"

It was crazy to think of how Mark and I had been together for about three months now, yet he still managed to make me shy and flush. And vice versa.

There was a continuation of the commotions at the background caused by Donghyuck and Naomi. And they didn't seem to stop.

"Babe, you drew a line on my shirt!" Donghyuck shrieked in distress and firmly gripped onto his white sateen shirt, his gaze shifting from it and to Naomi.

Naomi, feeling a bit guilty, stared at the ink being engulf by his shirt. "Ah shit. I didn't mean to! You started it! Shit, okay we can't stress right now." Naomi took a deep breath, her fingers softly massaging her temples with gentleness and ease. It was clear to see that those two were in distress, considering that the party had already begun and they stood there like disasters.

"Fine." Donghyuck mumbled, now being dragged by Naomi out of the room to find a solution. "But when we do get to have our nervous breakdowns, I go first." Was the last thing I heard from Donghyuck, before the door of my bedroom could shut close.

Both Mark and I felt a wash of relief to hear the silence in the room. It was nice and peaceful.

"Those two are something else." I mumbled with a small chuckle.

I reached out for the lipstick that hid in my pouch. I was about to pull the lid off but I felt Mark's warm hand fold around mine, slowly pulling it down. I knew what he wanted: He had this tendency of admiring in silence for a moment, before leaning for a soft kiss.

Mark cupped my cheek, his fingers gently caressing my face as he pulled me in for a soft and passionate kiss. We shared a gentle yet intimate moment, both of us feeling the connection of our lips on each other's skin. Our eyes closed and our breathing slowed as the kiss became deeper and more passionate. It was like we were swept into our own world of love and desire. Mark and I were in a bubble, with only our emotions and each other to fill it.

I could feel his hands slowly slither around my waist, his body pressing closer to mine.

I laughed in between our kiss, carefully pushing him away. "Come on, Mark Lee. What about we do this after the party? If you continue, I won't be able to resist it." I whispered, pinching his cheek and drew away from him, now focusing on the mirror before me.

While I grabbed the lipstick again, I heard Mark whining in the background. "Aww dude. Come on~ I can't be going down there with blue balls-"

Before Mark could even finish his sentence, he was stopped immediately when I squeezed his cheeks together to silence him. "Well, too bad. You gotta start controlling yourself bugboy." I teased, squishing his cheeks even more before pulling away with a mocking laugh.

Mark laughed with. He sat there, still staring at me with one of his hand resting on my leg. "You know... Sometimes I hate myself for not initiating at least a friendship with you in Freshman year." He smiled weakly. "Those 3 and a half years, I wasted because I was avoiding you."

I couldn't agree more with Mark. I surmised I was also partly to blame, considering I had liked him ever since and did nothing about it. It did annoy and upset me to think that Mark and I could've been something in the very beginning, and spent the rest of the high school years together. But there wasn't much to do about that.

"That doesn't matter now." I looked at Mark, letting him see the catchlights in my eyes. "What matters is we're together now. I couldn't ask for anything else."

Mark nodded, agreeing to my words. He reached out for my hands and firmly squeezed it with gentleness and care. "I fucking swear Juliane, you have no idea how much I appreciate having you. And I don't care if I keep reminding you this, because I want you to hear it over and over again." Mark grinned, his face so full of love and affection. "I love you."

Eight letters and three words, were enough to make me the happiest woman in earth.

I held onto him too firmly, not wanting to let go. "I love you too."

Like always, moments like these made me want to stay in forever and never let it stop, because it was that precious. But of course I couldn't get everything I wanted, and I had accepted that.

Our attention, most certainly Mark, was caught by my television that had been turned on since the morning. Mark squinted his eyes, sharpening his ears when they were announcing news - "Breaking news: There seem to be massive rhino, though not entirely. It appears like an individual is suited in this tough, rhinoceros-like armor and horns. Currently, he is shooting and bringing casualties in the streets of Manhattan! The police are scrambling to contain the situation and direct traffic away from the area. The rhino's path is unpredictable, and civilians are advised to avoid the street at all costs. Please stay safe and follow the updates that will follow this breaking news."

Mark looked at me. "I'm so sorry." He said, guilt streaming in his voice so clearly.

I knew why he was sorry. He always apologized, when he had to leave me for the city. It never angered me, nor made me upset, it only concerned but I came to learn to accept this if I wanted to be with Mark. So I always assured him that it was nothing to feel sorry about.

It was what people like him do: With great power, comes great responsibilities.

Mark had already thrown off his clothes, and like always, he was suited in his spandex beneath his normal attire. When I stood up from the ground, I drew closer to him, preparing a farewell. I grabbed his cheek and leaned in for a quick peck. "Be careful okay? Please? And come in one piece."

Mark tittered at my words and nodded. "Of course. I'll be back." He gave me one last peck on the forehead, and with that, he rushed out of the balcony and flicked his wrist toward the open, and soon vanished in thin air.

Worried, I stayed in my stance and watched the night sky absentmindedly. It was always something I did whenever Mark had to leave to be Spiderman. The not knowing if he would come back alive or not always shuddered my bones, the thought never failing to make frighten me.

But I trusted Mark. I trusted him to come back.

I thought I could enjoy the peaceful silence, but somebody spoke up, somebody I expected the last because ever since the incident, he hadn't spoken a word to me.

Venom, the Symbiote.

"Umm... Can I ask you a favor?"

I swore I felt my heart pound out of my chest. Who wouldn't, when you suddenly hear the most baritone and creepiest voice speak in your head? I thought I was going crazy for a second. I had been trying to speak to him ever since incident, but he never answered. Apparently today, he would.

"Venom?" I uttered. "What... Why the hell are you only talking to me now?" I asked. There was a tone of annoyance and concern laced in my voice. It was evident to hear. "Fucking hell... I even thought you left or something, and I just didn't realize."

"You know I never left. You can still feel the power and strength I've given you. I know."

"Yeah... Well, I'm just surprised you're finally speaking to me. It's been almost 3 months."

"I know. I'm sorry for my silence, and I appreciate your small talks and touching speeches to me or what not... But I'm done grieving, so I'm here to talk to you."

Grieving? Even a Symbiote was capable of feeling such emotions. It must've been so hard for him to see Jaehyun fall into his demise like that, especially after everything they've been through.

Wait... Can he hear me? Can he hear my thoughts right now?

"Yeah I can. There's no point of you thinking to yourself, just talk to me."

"Oh- Oh yeah sure. Sorry." I said awkwardly. "Okay, we shall talk then. Are you ready to leave my body?"

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I know it's been rough for you, and I'm sorry you had to lose your friend like that. And I'm so sorry. I tried my best to prevent that from happening, but I failed. I'm sorry." I said, I could feel my throat aching when I tried my very best to prevent any tears from spilling. "But now that you've grieved, I'm assuming you're ready to leave. Right?"

"Juliane... I'm not leaving." He said, so sure of it. "I'm staying with you, and you know why."

My eyes widened, hoping I wasn't thinking of what he was thinking of. "Venom... You don't mean that I'm... gonna take over Jaehyun's position, do you?"

"That's exactly what I mean. And you're doing it, period."

"What? Wait, that's a lot to ask for. I'm not fit for this role. Not at all! I'm not even experienced. I don't know how things works. It's too much."

"You don't have to know what to do. Do you really think Jaehyun had any experience when I latched to him? Do you think Mark knew how to fight, before he got bitten? No. With such gift, it's enough to start taking action because with great power comes great responsibilities. You'll learn Juliane."

"Do you know how scary this sounds? I can't possibly..."

"Jaehyun trusted you. He trusted you with me, Juliane. I trust you too."

"I know you can do this. You have a kind and strong heart. That's the main traits I search for when I'm seeking for my host, and you have it Juliane."

That was plenty to make me reconsider my doubts. But still, the thought of it was extremely frightening, so I stayed in my stance even the small nudge of encouragement Venom gave me.

"Look, I can read your thoughts Juliane. I know you've been carrying this guilt about the entire incident with Jaehyun. You feel responsible for his death, and you shouldn't feel like that. That was his choice. It was Jaehyun's choice."

"Tell me." I cut off, my jaw clenching. "Tell me Venom... Was there actually a possible way for him to survive that? For the both of us to survive that."

"No, there wasn't. And it was all because of that Trapper. It was nobody's fault. You tried your hard Juliane, and that was enough. Even Jaehyun felt guilty for making you chase Mr. Stacy to get the weapon back. He wished that he could've told you to just leave him when you had the time, but we both knew you wouldn't. Because you have a hero's heart."

"The more time we spent together in that crumbling conference room, the weaker I grew because of the fire. Jaehyun thought of one solution, and that was to sacrifice himself. He didn't just do it for you, he did it for Mark too. He couldn't possibly show his face to Mark while carrying your dead body. He wouldn't let that happen. And besides, Jaehyun thought you had more people in life that would care about your death. He had no one. You have many: Your parents, your brother, your friends, and Mark. Jaehyun didn't have any. So he had to do what he had to."

I felt numb in my body. It was as if pain took over me. It was just painful. It was painful to relive that incident, but also hear what Jaehyun was thinking of during it. My eyes were opened to more aspects about that incident.

"And you know, that son of a bitch liked you. He actually liked you. You could say he was head over heels for you." Venom laughed, and even I couldn't see him, I could imagine him shaking his head simultaneously. "It was entertaining to experience."

Jaehyun liked me? I mean, he did reveal that he had always been keeping an eye on me even before the entire Foreman case.

"Is this the favor you wanted to ask for, Venom? To do what Jaehyun trusted me with?

"Oh no, I wanted to ask you if I could leave your body from time to time whenever you have your lovey dovey moments with Mark. It feels weird. You know? Haha. But yeah, the other too, is a favor I wanted to ask you."

I could hear Venom laughing awkwardly at the favor he asked for, but my attention was instantly caught by the television behind me. It was still the same channel, with the same news being introduced to the viewers. Though this time, the news reporter was talking about Spiderman's appearance in the scene, as well as the struggle he was facing.

I looked back to the view of my balcony. I took a deep breath, my heart thumping hard and fast. I could sense Venom knew what I was thinking of, and suddenly, my body was both filled with thrill and doubt.

"Venom... mask."

"Copy."