17. Stalker

⚜ Mark

I let my gaze wander around the familiar juice shop. The fresh colors, the wooden stairs and the huge crystal crown. The familiar smell, low chattering from the people and the table where i sat on my first day in this country. It was crazy how much that had happened since i came to Korea, both good and bad stuff. And it all had begun in this local...

I couldn't help wondering what would have happened if i never even entered it. Would i still end up with them? Jr, Jackson and Bambam...

...Maybe they never would have fought and would still be living happily all together?

I walked up to the desk while looking around for Jackson, searching behind the desk and between the tables. Seemingly, he wasn't in at the moment. Had he gone home early?

"What would you like to order?", the girl behind the desk asked while giving me a quite stressed look.

It took me a few seconds to understand her mood. The juice shop was filled with people at this time, of course i looked like an idiot just standing there with my mind somewhere else.

"I'll take a mango-star special..."

...

Placed on one of the solo chairs by the window with my recieved drink, i started playing a game on my phone to kill time. That's when i suddenly felt an unsettling feeling going down my spine.

It feels like i'm being watched...

I turned around hastily but didn't really see anything or anyone worth noticing. Everything looked normal.

Wierd...

⚜ Jr

The house was dead quiet as i entered it and i found myself wondering if Bambam had gone to sleep already.

Judging from the state the kitchen was in, it looked like he hadn't eaten anything all day; something i really hoped to be wrong about. Bambam could be real grumpy on an empty stomach. It was one of those things that Jackson usually was good at handling... I sighed and moved my feet towards Bambam's room.

I had to at least check on him.

The lights in his room were out and a chilly wind passed through it as he seemed to had forgotten to close his window. As for his bed, it was empty and the same with his bathroom. He was nowhere to be seen.

I closed the window carefully while thinking about it. He had probably just been longing for some fresh air?

I shrugged it off, because although i did feel a bit worried, Bambam was more or less an adult that could take care of himself.

Or should be able to anyways.

...

In my own room, i put on my reading glasses and sat myself down by the desk with my laptop. Opening yet another mail from my father that had gotten really eager to contact me as often as possible since our meeting.

Honestly, it did feel a bit like he was using me and my dutiful feeling towards my family. I had to think about my decision carefully for a bit longer...

My phone rang and i picked it up with a bright smile on my face after seeing who it was.

"I know all about your running away plans...", i started but stopped instantly when i heard Mark's heavy breathing.

"Jr... I-I'm scared... I think someone's following me..."

"... Where are you?", i stood up and started walking towards the door, glancing briefly on the clock on the wall on my way.

Eight already.

"I'm on my way to the bus station... He's been following me from the juice shop..."

"Are you sure?"

"I saw him... He's wearing green shoes and has a black scarf wired around his neck and face..."

I grabbed my jacket in the hall and swore quietly for myself as i searched for my lost car keys while feeling my stress rise.

"Stay on the main street with lots of people until you reach the nearest convenience store... Go in and I'll pick you up from there.", i instructed with my phone squeezed in between my head and shoulder.

"O-Okay."

"Then.."

"DOn't hang up!"

...

Something inside of me broke at the sound of his desperate voice... He really was scared. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down, if i got worked up as well then Mark would most likely be affected negatively. Aware of that, i smiled a calming smile as i sat myself down in my car and started it.

"I won't so do as i say."

"Okay..."

"I'm on my way to you."

"... Thank you."

⚜ Mark

Standing in between the ramen shelf and the magazines, i squeezed the phone tighter in my hand.

"Where are you now...?", i asked Jr, wanting to hear his voice.

The man with the green shoes had placed himself under a roof at the opposite side of the street.

"Not too far a away... Just five minutes or so.", Jr answered.

"Right...", i studied the man who had been following me as close as i could from where i was.

He looked to be a pretty average length, around 170-180? His bodytype was unknown since he was wearing a pretty bulky black jacket and it sure didn't help that it blended into the shadows a bit. His hair was in the darker color shades, and it was hard to tell exactly what color. Not very much more could be seen as his face was partly covered by the scarf.

"I'm parking my car now, i'll be inside in just a minute.", i heard Jr say through the phone and the sound of the car door closing followed.

"Okay, i love y...", i stopped and panicked with a face blushing red after realizing my mistake.

What was i about to say? It just came naturally... We hadn't said those words to each other yet...

"Hm?", Jr's teaseful voice asked.

"N-Nothing! Just hurry up... I want to go home."

He chuckled and i almost dropped my phone as i locked eyes with him through the glass door leading into the store. Jr put his phone down and flashed me a wide smile that didn't help calming the heat taking over my body.

He walked up to me and a moment after, i was wrapped into his safe arms, resting my head against him. Breathing in his fragrance while feeling a wave of relief pass through me... Although i was still slightly embarrased.

"... So about what you said..."

"Is the person with green shoes still outside?", i tried to switch topics.

Jr looked out the window.

"It's empty.", he said.

I turned to look as well and he really wasn't lying. The person had left, which could mean two things. One, he knew who Jr was and left when he saw him coming. Two, he had somehow managed to spot us interract through the window and left real fast...

I wiggled myself out of Jr grip, suddenly realizing what we were doing out in public. Jr seemed to have realized as well and he scratched his neck with a sorry smile.

"Let's go home...", he said.

"Yeah..."

My gaze wandered up his back and neck as he walked out the store a few steps before me. I wanted to touch it, it looked inviting, manly. My man.

I love him?

I do...

⚜ Jr

I puffed up my reading glasses as i sat by the desk in my bedroom once again, this time with Mark laying lazily in the bed talking to his mother through the phone.

I smiled, he practically lived in my room these days. It felt good. After getting Bambam's approval, i really couldn't wait until we moved in together.

That way, i could protect him. That stalker though... Could it be my father that sent him? It wouldn't surprise me but if i brought it up, it would be like revealing that i was in a relationship with a boy.

"I love you too, mom.", Mark said into the phone before he hung up.

I felt sulky. I also wanted to hear those words... Love.

"Hey Mark, come here.", i rolled my chair back a tad as he came over.

"What is it? Did Bambam contact you?"

"I'll show you the apartments, so sit down.", i said and clicked up the links that i'd saved earlier.

Mark looked around him in the space missing nearby chairs until his eyes stuck on my lap. He looked at me and then at my lap again. I could see his cheeks slowly turning red and his face lit up in a forced awkward smile.

I smiled innocently and patted on my lap.

"Sit down?", i said.

"... You're not gonna do anything dirty are you?"

I bit my lip provactively and tilted my head to purposely show off my jawline.

"Do you want me to?", i asked

He sat down on my lap carefully.

"M-Maybe."

He's too cute.

__________________________

This is the last arc of this fanfiction. I won't be starting any new conflicts. Instead, i'll now start moving towards the end and tie the ones i started up instead.

Thank you for following the story this far and for reading! ~ ;u;