13. Your smile

⚜ Mark

I want to confess.

I lifted my head from his shoulder and earned a wondering look from Jr.

"Jr!", i said a little to loud and cursed at myself for not being able to control my nervousity.

He chuckled.

"I'm right here, not in the other side of the house", he said teasingly.

"Ah... I know i just...", i said, "Wait!"

I turned around and tried to calm my nerves as good as i could, breathing slowly with my hand on my chest. My heart was beating rapidly inside of there. I turned around again and stretched my back a little to gain confidence. Jr gave me an entertained look and lifted his eyebrows as if asking me if i wanted to give it another try now.

...

"You know... I just..."

"Yeah?"

"... Can you please stop looking at me...?", i asked and looked down with my face burning hot.

This was so embarrasing, but Jr happily followed my order and closed his eyes.

"Is it fine now?", he asked.

I studied his face and carefully lifted my hand to wave in front of it a few times. He really wasn't looking, right? ... So handsome. His skin looked so nice and his lips so soft... I sucked on my own lips slightly while gathering courage. Just say it.

...

"I like you Jr...", i said.

Silence.

My face got even warmer, so much that i thought that i would die and i fiddled nervously with my hands.

The fluttering feeling in my stomach was overwhelming and a slight feeling of panic buzzed in the back of my head.

...

He opened his eyes and looked at me blankly for a few seconds. Shit, i should say something, right?

"Ah, so... I just wanted to tell you that. I'll be leaving now...", i said and stood up from the bed.

I walked towards the door with Jr still in some kind of shock behind me. Secretly, i hoped for him to stop me.

"Ah... Mark...", he said.

... Thank god.

I stopped and slowly turned around to look at him. Jr still looked shocked and a bit out of it but he scratched his neck and then gave me a shy look.

"I like you too.... a lot.", he said.

It was different. Different, from what i had expected. His voice felt so pure, so clear when saying it. I liked it. Jr finally smiled softly towards me.

"Let's spend the night together.", he said.

"I-I'm nervous..."

"Me too... my heart is beating so fast.", he admitted with a small laugh while covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

I smiled.

So i wasn't the only one.

⚜ Jr

I wired yet another knitted scarf around Mark's neck as we stood in the hallway. I felt a bit nervous, as it was our first day as a couple.

"I don't need two of them.", Mark quietly protested.

"You never know.", i said with a smile and then reached towards the front door, "Let's go, i'll take you to your new job on my way."

He nodded and went before me out the door opening. I glanced back into the house for a second, neither Jackson or Bambam had been seen this morning. It was odd since they usually went up way earlier than me and Mark did. How big of a fight had they gotten into yesterday?

"We're leaving!", i shouted into the house before i walked out and closed the door after me.

Strange.

I parked the car outside of the small white building before us, it was located behind two much taller newbuild buildings and was not very easily spotted from the street. Mark watched the building with curious eyes as he stepped out of the car.

"This is?", he asked.

I walked up behind him and gave him a light backhug. He got flustered by it as it wasn't something he had expected me to do. At least not here.

"What are you doing... What is someone sees?", he asked in a nervous voice and glanced around the empty backstreet.

I teasingly blew a soft wind into his ear.

"It's just a hug dummy. You better get used to it.", i said.

"D-Dummy?"

I let go and took his hand in mine.

"Let's go, this is where you'll work.", i said.

I saw him glance insecurely at the sign beside the door as we passed it.

Whitebird studios- Model acency -

Only a few steps into the hallway, we were met by Choi Youngjae. Judging from his fast reaction, he had probably been waiting for us. The place smelled as nice as always and looked somewhat like a spa with fresh interior shifting in green, white and gold. Youngjae was wearing a black hat, a grey sweater over a blue striped shirt and black pants. His hair was a mix of silver and dark brown. He stood a few metres in front of us with a friendly smile on his face.

"Welcome, is this the guy? The new employee?", he asked, going straight to the point.

"Ah, yes.", i said and let go of Mark's hand so that Mark could greet him properly, "This is Mark Tuan, he is fluent in both Korean and English."

Mark took a step forwards and bowed politely towards Youngjae who reached out his hand towards him in a handshake.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Choi Youngjae, i'll be your mentor and superior while you're working here."

"Nice to meet you, thank you for this opportunity.", Mark answered and shook his hand.

I smiled. He'll be fine. Also, Youngjae had taken such good care of me all of the times i had modelled. I wasn't a contracted model but he still had been kind enough to contact me whenever they needed someone quickly. He was someone i trusted and now he had even helped with getting this job for Mark on my request.

"Well then, i'm leaving. Good luck.", i said and ruffled Mark's hair briefly before i walked towards my car again.

Seeing Mark smile his angelic smile and silently mouth "Thank you" towards me before i left made me warm inside and i crossed the parking lot with a smile on my lips.

He gave me strength.

I glanced at the time displayed at the small screen in the car, twenty minuter until i was supposed to meet father. I felt so nervous. Actually, i hadn't gotten much sleep that night. It was because of Mark but also because of my worried thoughts keeping me awake.

What could my father possibly have to say to me after all this time?

He hadn't been spying on me, right? No, Mark and i had barely been out in public together during the time we had known each other. Then, was it Yugyeom? Had he, after catching the sparks between Mark and me rushed to my father instantly? Not likely, but i, if anyone knew how childish and stubborn Yugyeom could be.

What could it be?...

I started the car and took off towards my family home with an unsettling feeling in my mind.

I didn't know this at the time but... I would soon be forced to face one of the biggest decisions of my life.

Fifteen minutes left...

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Thanks for reading and giving it so much love! ~ waah, Choi Youngjaeeee. >u<