Work Text:
Listen while reading Enchanted - Taylor Swift
2015
Your fingers glided across the desk, sliding a folded note into Mark’s hand as he passed by. It was a routine you both perfected, a secret language carved from shared classes and stolen moments in the hallways. He grinned, his eyes crinkling in a way that sent a flurry of butterflies through you, and casually slipped the note into his pocket before the teacher noticed.
The bell rang, and you rushed to the cafeteria, your heart racing. He was already there, leaning against the table where your group always sat, spinning his phone in his hand.
“Quick with the remarks today, huh?” he teased as you approached.
“Quick with the wit,” you shot back, smirking.
“You should write that down for next time.”
“And give you the satisfaction? Never.”
Conversations with him were effortless, like a melody that hummed in your chest long after the words faded. Every laugh felt like sunlight filtering through your day. You didn’t need to say it; he made you feel alive, and that was enough.
That night, you lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The words you couldn’t speak swirled in your head, mingling with the sound of his laughter, the way he brushed his hair out of his eyes.
You just knew… you are in love with him.
2016
Mark’s bedroom was dimly lit, a soft glow from the streetlamp outside casting shadows on the walls. He sat across from you, his hands fidgeting with the bracelet you’d given him a few months ago.
“I debut in a month,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I know.”
The silence stretched between you, heavy with unspoken fears and unshed tears.
“Mark,” you started, your voice cracking, “you have to focus on your dreams. This... us... it’s not fair to either of us.”
His head snapped up, eyes wide and pleading. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you deserve the world, Mark. And I... I don’t want to hold you back.” You swallowed the lump in your throat, fighting the tears threatening to spill. “Please don’t have somebody waiting on you.”
His jaw clenched as he fought back his emotions.
"You think I can just forget about you?"
You didn’t answer. Instead, you walked away, feeling the weight of what you’d just lost press down on your chest.
2024
“Floor tickets!” your best friend squealed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “We’re going to be so close!”
You forced a smile, your heart thudding in your chest. It had been eight years since you’d last seen him. Eight years since you let him go.
The arena was electric, fans screaming as the lights dimmed and the first chords of the opening song echoed. When Mark appeared, your breath caught. He was older now, more refined, but his smile—the one that had enchanted you so many years ago—was the same.
You thought you’d moved on. But seeing him up there, performing with every ounce of his being, you realized that some parts of your heart would always belong to him. Song after song, you let yourself get lost in the music, clapping and cheering along with the crowd. But during a quieter moment, as the members spread out across the stage, Mark’s gaze swept across the audience.
And then it happened. His eyes landed on you.
You froze, the world around you blurring as his expression shifted. His lips parted slightly, his steps faltering as he stared at you as though you were a ghost from his past. Slowly, he raised a hand, offering a small, almost shy wave.
You managed to lift your hand in return, the moment so brief yet so charged with unspoken emotions that it left you reeling.
During the fan interaction segment, the members took turns speaking. When it was Mark’s turn, he walked to the edge of the stage, microphone in hand.
“I just wanted to say... tonight’s really special for me,” he began, his voice trembling slightly. “Not just because of all of you amazing fans, but because an old friend from school is here."
The crowd erupted in murmurs, but his eyes found yours again, and for a moment, it felt like you were the only two people in the room.
He smiled, soft and bittersweet. "Thank you for always supporting me. For believing in my dreams. For letting me go forward."
His gaze lingered, his eyes glistening under the stage lights. And though he didn’t say it, you could see it in the way his expression shifted, the faintest plea written in the lines of his face.
Please don’t be in love with someone else.
You felt tears sting your eyes as the weight of the moment settled over you.
As the concert ended, your friend was still buzzing with excitement, recounting every moment. But your mind was elsewhere, stuck in the past and the weight of his words.
You knew it as well as he did. Despite the connection you still felt, despite the lingering what-ifs, you lived in two very different worlds now. Yet, as you walked out of the arena, a part of you couldn’t help but hope that this wasn’t the end of your story.
You whispered into the night, as if he could hear you.
“It was enchanting to meet you, Mark.”