22 - not leaving

"Mark is here"

"what?" Jieun stood up almost immediately. Her eyes went back and forth from the door to her friend, not believing in the situation.

Jake was quite the jokester, so she wasn't sure if he was being serious right now.

"he's outside, at the door" Jake repeated his sentence, standing up and proceeding to pack his things. "What the actual fuck Jake?? You can't be serious right now!" Jieun pulled him by the sleeves making him turn his gaze to her.

Her eyes were wide. Full of anger, confusion and frustration. At this point, she wasn't even sad anymore. She was just pissed and tired. All the partying had drained her all energy and all those cries had worn her out.

"I called him while we were in the car" He shrugged, pulling his sleeve away from her grip, "too bad you were busy crying"

"you fucking bastard?" She pushed him slightly, causing him to stumble a little "The last thing I needed was to see him! GOD! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU JAKE?" She yelled her hands on her head, in awe of the situation.

Jake knew that she didn't mean any of the words that she said. She was mad at him and she had every right to be. But he had to do it.

"and I thought we were friends...." Jieun pushed him. "I AM your friend Jieun, which is why I'm doing you a favour"

"You need to fix it Jieun, this stupid mess that both of you are tangled up in. Whatever you're feeling or you're having with Mark." He sighed, "you need to get your shit right and confront what you're feeling."

He made his way to the door, one final look at her devastated state, "You'll thank me later"

"No" Jieun croaked, her voice breaking, "don't leave me, Jake! PLEASE JAKE-" Jieun yelped, her last hope for help but Jake had already twisted the doorknob and left the girl all alone in her apartment.

Someone needed to do it. Someone needed to bring reality back to her. This slump and phase of hers, that she keeps on avoiding and walking away from. It is absolutely ridiculous. It's obviously eating her up, and it's not getting any better.

Her gaze watch as he left the place. Jieun kneeled on the floor. Feeling cold and alone. She laid there for a solid one minute, trying to gather her thoughts.

She heaved a sigh before getting up and dragging herself, crawling her way and laying down on the couch. It didn't matter if she looked like a homeless hobo right now, all she needed was some peace and quiet.

Unfortunately, her best friend and her only warmth, Finn, was sent to her parents. She had dropped him off in hopes that she doesn't get distracted from her finals. She needed time to work on herself and had no time to take care of him. But to her surprise, her parents were quick to welcome the cat. She sobbed a little, missing her family and the feline.

On the other side of the apartment, the boy stood in front of the door. Hearing all their screams he was contemplating if it was the right time to enter. But before he could gather his thoughts, Jake had stepped out of the apartment, seeing Mark already by her doorstep.

Mark was a mess, not sure if it was from all the partying or the fight he had with Jieun at the drink bar. His hair was dishevelled and he reeks of alcohol. But you know, as they say, drunk thoughts are sober words, Jake hopes that he could really speak what's on his mind to Jieun right now. Whether or not Mark really has feelings for her, or was he just playing with her.

Jake was tired of seeing her friend being in this state. This conflict of theirs needed to end.

Initially, when Jake had made the call, he wasn't sure if Mark would even show up. But taken back Mark, on the other hand, received the call and immediately picked it up within seconds, worried if something had happened to Jieun.

At first, Mark was hesitant about coming over. He wasn't sure if Jieun wanted to see him again after bailing out on him so many times. Some parts of him wanted to leave things there and act like nothing ever happened before. Maybe it was the alcohol but his own feet had brought him to the front of Jieun's apartment.

He was looking for a sign, and when Jake called, he knew he had to come and get it right. Whether or not will he confront his own feelings or they end up not seeing each other ever again. One thing that needed to be done was to clear the air.

The tension between the two and all these unresolved feelings needed to end now.

Looking over at Mark, Jake heaved a sigh, "I don't know if I should thank you for coming" Jake muttered, but Mark did not even bother to make eye contact with him, "but if there's anyone who could fix this mess, it's you"

"This is your last chance, you either or you get it right and tell her how you really feel, or you fuck it up and never see her again," Jake said, his voice sounding like he was threatening Mark.

Mark looked him in the eye. Jake sighed and patted his back before leaving him at the door.

Mark gathered a deep breath before knocking on the door. Before Jieun could even answer the boy had welcomed himself. Stepping into the apartment that he was once so familiar with. The view of the girl upon him broke him.

There Jieun laid senseless on the sofa. Her eyes closed, with tears flowing continuously. Her breathing was loud and uneven with a few hiccups in between. Her cheeks flushed red from the crying and fighting. Her hair was a mess and her make up wasn't any better. She was still in her party dress, which he found her so beautiful in.

"Hey-" "go home, Mark." Jieun said, her voice muffled by her breathing. "You don't belong here" She breathed, "I don't wanna see you" She said softly, her tone weak as if she had been crying for days. Mark stood there in silence watching the girl. "Are you just gonna stand there and watch-"

"Why do you always push me away when I'm trying to explain myself?" Mark yelled looking at her. He was angry, annoyed, irritated. Tired of Jieun constantly leaving him and pushing him away.

His words made Jieun perked up, opening her eyes and her gaze immediately darting over to him. "Because there's Byeol waiting for you at home" She voiced out trying her best not to scream. Mark rolled his eyes, stepping closer to her figure.

"I don't even like Byeol! She's just a friend Jieun!" Mark disputed, raising his voice. "But she likes you! you dumbass!" Jieun cried, her voice so pitchy, breaking at any moment.

Mark stood in awe of the news. He knew Byeol had liked him back then when they were still dating, but now that they're through, the news shock him.

Ever since Byeol had left, Mark just couldn't get himself to see Byeol in that way ever again. He even finds it hard to fall for someone, that is until Jieun came along.

But all that didn't matter right now, the one he want is right in front of him. And there's no way he's letting her leave him ever again.

Seeing how quiet he was, Jieun let out a chuckle, mocking him. Laughing at how he was reacting to the news. "God, Mark you're such a dick, one moment you're here crying over me the next you're gonna be all up in Byeol"

"Bet you're thinking of ways to fuck her right now huh?" She arched a brow, toying with him.

Jieun went up to him. Now eye level with Mark. Mark's eyes follow and watch as every move she makes, unsure what she's gonna do next.

"Just leave" She said softly as she pushed him with all the strength she had left. "OH MY GOD!!! FOR FUCK SAKE JIEUN!!" Mark yelled, his eyes twitching. Jieun almost flinched at how loud his voice was.

This was the first time she had seen how angry he was. His neck was red and you could almost see his veins popping out of it. "Byeol and I broke up years ago! She's my friend, and heck I'd never see her that way!"

"Yeah right! as if I'd believe you..." Jieun muttered. "God, you don't think I get jealous when Jay or Jake calls you babe or princess?? YOU GUYS AREN'T EVEN DATING!! you're just friends! Yet here you are being a brat about me and Byeol!!" Mark clenched his jaw, pouring out all his frustration.

"Me? being a brat? Fuck You, Mark! You have no right to be jealous... Jay and Jake are my best friends!! and if you know me, you very well that I don't see them that way!!" Jieun defended.

Mark's jaw dropped at her comment, disbelief in what she said. "Are you even listening to yourself right now?!" He scoffed, "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He paused and took a deep breath, "What in that do you NOT UNDERSTAND???!" He shouted.

"You two broke up because she had to leave for her studies!! God damn it Mark!" Jieun reputed, pushing him away once again. "and now that she's back it'll only make sense if you guys get back together" She sighed, hands resting on his chest. "What the fuck?" Mark knitted her brows, just how stubborn can this girl be?

"Why can't you just let me explain myself?!" Mark yelled and grabbed her hand by the wrist. Jieun tried to free herself but she was far too weak compared to Mark. Mark's grip was insane, Jieun struggled but eventually gave up.

"What is there to even explain Mark? Just leave! and let go of ME!" Jieun pleaded. "No, I'm not letting go. I'm not leaving you, I'm not letting you leave" He muttered, Jieun stayed crying.

"We're gonna sit here and talk it out, I'm not gonna let you be a coward and walk away!" He looked at her, "Don't you think of fucking leaving me anymore!" He said, hands still holding tight on her wrist, "Stop walking away!"

Then the atmosphere went cold, Jieun's soft cries muffled and echoed through the whole apartment. Mark watched as she wiped her tears, but it was no use, once that first tear broke free, the rest followed like an unbroken stream.

"fuck, why do we always argue like this?" Mark cried, his voice was on the verge of breaking. Feeling his neck tighten as the moment passes by. Jieun shook her head, a little hiccup escaping from her mouth. "Because you're a dick head, and I fucking hate you-" She cried.

"Hate me huh?" Mark spat and Jieun nodded. "which is why you should go home, I don't want to see-"

There she goes again, pushing him away, all the god damn time.

"CAN YOU NOT BE SO SELFISH FOR ONCE?" Mark yelled, anger filling his veins. Jieun stared at him. Her eyes were bloodshot red and her eyelids puffy. "Me? How am I selfish Mark? Are we for real right now?!"

"YOU'RE FUCKING HURTING ME JIEUN!!" He croaked, tears falling down. "Would it even hurt for you to pause and look at me for a second?" He sobbed.

Jieun looked at him. Mark couldn't hold in the heartbreak any longer. Jieun felt his hands trembling as he grasps her hands. Hot tears streamed down his face, flowing continuously. He squeezed shut his eyes, in hopes that the tears would stop. But it didn't.

This was the first time she had seen him so broken before, and it was the first time Mark had shown someone this side of him. As cliche, as it sounds, Mark wasn't the type to cry or weep over something so easily. Growing up his parents had always thought him to suck it up or man up and only losers cry.

This was the second time he cried, let alone crying so vigorously. The first time was when he was in 7th grade, he had cried over his grade for maths. Heck, he didn't even cry when Byeol had to leave for Canada.

Jieun shook her head, "you deserve someone better Mark," Jieun said as she huffed through her tears, "You deserve someone who will-" "FOR HEAVEN SAKE SHUT UP JIEUN!!"

"I'm here trying to be patient with your fucking issues because I WANT YOU, I WANT ALL OF YOU, I WANT US TO BE THING!! AND WHY CAN'T YOU JUST UNDERSTAND THAT??" Mark shrieked.

Jieun stayed quiet. Shock at his words. "Is it so hard to tell you that?!" Mark knitted his brows, tears wetting his face.

"All those kisses, all those dates and nights we've spent together..." He paused and took a deep breath, trying his best not to break down crying the second time, "You've always hated it, but yet you did it all with me!"

"Stop lying to yourself Park Jieun! Stop being in denial! Why can't you accept the fact that I love you?!" He shot her a look. "I know you feel the same just as I do! STOP DENYING IT! Please... Jieun... please... "

"Mark...-" Jieun looked him in the eye.

"I love you Jieun"

Jieun stood there in awe. Her mind feeling fuzzy. She didn't know Mark would actually say it. The surge of feelings inside her made her burst out in tears, crying for the nth time. Jieun looked at Mark. His face says it all, he was serious and Jieun was scared.

"I am in love with you Jieun, I have loved you since the days we started hanging out-"

The words sunk down into her chest. He said it the third time, and she has yet returned her words. Jieun felt a lump in her throat, she struggled to speak.

"no... Mark... you can't- I just" Jieun shook her head as she stuttered, barely finishing her sentence. Her tears blurred her vision. "And why can't I?" Mark spat, he didn't bother if the girl in front of him was crying, because once again there she was pushing him away, even though deep down he knows she wants him just as much as he did.

"I-I" her breath hitched, with hiccups in between, "Because... I... I hate you, Mark Lee..." Jieun breathes her last breath before breaking down and falling into his embrace. Mark automatically opened his arms welcoming her. She cried as she buried her face in his chest.

Her tears immediately wetted his shirt, soaking up all her tears. "I hate how you make me feel things..." She cried as her hands formed in a fist and she hit his shoulder softly.

A small grin formed on his lips. Satisfied that she finally came in terms of her feelings. Even though she did not return his words, he was glad that he could have her back to him. It will take a while for him to get there, but he didn't mind as long as he know she will be the one at the end of his finish line.

His right hand wiped her tears away while his left went to caress her head, stroking her hair. It pained him to see her like this. All he could do was embrace her and let the torrent of her tears soak through his shirt. He could hear her silently screaming, suffocating with each breath she took holding onto her pride. Mark ran his fingers through her hair, time and time again, in an attempt to calm her.

The two stood there as Jieun's cries slowly fades, her breaths calming down as time passes. Then her breath hitches, Jieun's body tense up and before he knew it, she had pushed him away with both of her palms. "Ok," She muttered, "Now that you know how I feel... you can leave now..." Jieun stuttered.

Her tears had already dried up and her face was no longer as red as before, though her eyes were swelled up and her face had little red spots of resentment, Mark still finds her the most beautiful.

"are you for real?" Mark questioned, after confessing his love for the girl, there she goes avoiding him immediately.

In response to his question, Jieun looked him in the eye, her orbs diluted making her eyes round and big. She nodded her head cutely. The sight of the girl makes him burst out a chuckle, just how adorable can she get? it's gonna be such a long ass ride with this one.

"Not even a goodbye kiss?" Mark cocked his brow, getting more confident as time passes. Now that their feelings for each other had been confirmed, he knows very well how he can take advantage of her and how he can easily tower over her.

Mark made his way closer to her, a small smirk on his lips. Jieun watched him as he came closer to her, too shy to make a move.

Now, he is just a breath away from her. His hands went and caressed her cheek. Rubbing the spots where her tears had dried. While his other hands went to the back of her waist, pulling her close.

"you have no idea how long I've missed you" He whispered, before pulling her in for a kiss.

-

a/n: hello <3 two more chapters (25) and we're done with this story!

I apologize if this chapter is a mess and rushed, I typed it in a rush lol but enjoy///

I wanna thank everyone for 2k views !!! it's insane T__T

and as you've guessed the next chap will be an M rated one, and probably the last one!

tysm for your love and support !!

The next chapter might be late cause I'm having my finals ... please be patient with me lmaoo