No.5

Mark walked down the street towards the store he had not visited since his teenage years. He opened the door and the ding noise was heard throughout the place.

"Welcome to Bamboo."

"Hello Mrs.Yang."

At the sound of a very similar voice Mrs.Yang looked up and saw a beautiful child she had not seen in a while. The lady rushed and embraced Mark in her arms. Mark softly giggled and took in the cherry blossom smell Mrs.yang always had.

"Oh, Mark it's so good to see you again. Oh look at you so tall and grown. You grew up to be a very beautiful man."

Mark blushed at the old lady's compliment. He bowed to her and she patted his head. She offered him to sit down. Mark listened to her and sat at a table close to a window.

"What do you want to eat sweetie? It's on the house and take your time. I closed the restaurant for you."

Mark made a surprised expression and his eyes looked like they could come out of his sockets. Mrs.Yang laughed softly at Mark's reaction. She patted him on his shoulder and smiled at him.

"Don't worry. I don't usually open until 12 pm; it's only 11 am. Now come on you need to eat. You look so skinny."

Mark smiled at Mrs.Yang.

"Okay I'll have some shengjianbao with Tang Cu Rou and white rice."

"Okay give me a minute to get it ready for you."

Mrs. Yang left to make Mark's food and he sat there looking out the window. The city looked different from when he had left which was 10 years ago. He looked at the new shops and restaurants that had been constructed and opened on what once was a piece of deserted land. Mark's phone dinged letting him know he had a new message. Mark looked down at the contact and smiled once he saw who the text was from.

The school was back from their camping trip and they were all getting off the bus. They bid their goodbyes to their friends and started making their way towards their waiting parents. Jackson helped mark with his luggage while the other was talking with Jinyoung.

Jackson didn't really like that Mark was laughing so much at whatever Jinyoung was saying, but he decided to brush it off as he was the one sleeping with him that night and not Jinyoung.

Jackson walked away from the two and kept on walking towards the car in which his mom was waiting for him. He put the things inside the car trunk and got in the backseat both waiting for Mark.

Mark was talking to Jinyoung, but he felt weird as if he was cheating on Jackson in a kind of way. He also felt weird because he could feel the holes Jackson was digging into his back.

Mark didn't really know what Jinyoung was saying except something he heard about Jaebum sleep talking. He tried laughing and giggling to make it seem as if he was interested, but if he was being honest with himself he wanted to go home and fall sleep into Jackson's arms.

"I liked this camping trip. Did you enjoy it? I mean you did have to sleep with Jackson after all."

Mark was giggling, but once heard what Jinyoung said a frown was on formed on his face. He thought back to the first night of their trip; he turned tomato red at the memory of that special night. He softly smiled until Jinyoung called his name.

"Mark? Hey, Mark are you okay?"

Jinyoung pressed his hand on Mark's should getting the boy out of his trance. Mark looked up at Jinyoung and smile.

"Yeah I really liked it. Especially since I got to be sleeping partners with Jackson. He's very sweet and caring and always puts others before himself and not to mention he's really funny and makes me smiled and laugh all the time."

Jinyoung tried smiling but failed as a big disgust expression was all over his face.

"That's great. Hey umm, M-Mark I wanted to ask you something before you headed home."

Mark looked puzzling at Jinyoung

"Sure what is it?"

"I Umm, well Ummm."

Mark felt really confused, but nonetheless waited for the other to continue. Jinyoung cleared his throat and took out a necklace he had bought for Mark. He got down on one knee and Mark's eyes widened in surprise.

"Mark I've liked since the minute I saw. You're an amazing and sweet caring person that deserves all the love and happiness in the world. You're so beautiful when you smile and you make my heart skip eight beats at once when you're next to me. You make me feel like I can be a better person than who I am. You're always there for me and you hold me when I cry. So I wanted to ask you Mark Tuan if you would be my boyfriend?"

Mark let out a sigh of relief. He pressed his hands on his knees as if he was catching his breath. He stood up and straight and helped Jinyoung get up. He smiled at the said boy and gave him a hug.

"Jinyoung I like you, but not as a lover. You're sweet and very kind to me, but I don't have the same emotions for you as you for me. I like someone else Jinyoung. I'm sorry I'm not the one for you, but I hope you find them soon. Although we might not be lovers don't be a stranger okay? I don't want this to end our friendship. I cherish you and wish you only the best. You know I'm always here for you whenever you need me."

Mark let go of Jinyoung and turned to leave before he did though. Jinyoung grabbed his wrist making him stop walking. Jinyoung was trying to hold back the tears forming in his eyes. While having his head looking down at the floor; Jinyoung asked.

"Is it Jackson?"

"Is Jackson what?"

"Is Jackson the person you like?"

Mark looked ahead and saw a handsome boy waiting for him and smiling. Mark smiled back and felt his heart feel weird.

"Yeah it is."

With that Jinyoung let go and mark walked towards Jackson who was holding the door wide open for him. They both got in the car sitting next to each other. Jackson was feeling hella nervous; his knee kept on bouncing and he kept on rubbing his hands on his jeans trying to get the sweat off of it.

Mark was nervous as well. He was playing around with the bracelet on his arm. Trying to look out the window to distract him from the boy sitting next to him. When the car went over a bump their knees rubbed against one another. Making the two feel even more nervous.

They got to Jackson's house and took their luggage inside the two made their way inside the house and got ready for bed. Mark taking a shower while Jackson was unpacking his things. Once mark was done he changed into an oversized hoodie and some short. He walked out and Jackson walked in and took a shower mark pulled his phone to charge it and wrapped himself in Jackson's blankets.

Once Jackson stepped out of the bathroom; he walked out to his room towards his closet and changed into some sweatpants. He walked towards his bed and wrapped himself in his bedsheets facing the opposite direction of Mark.

"Will you hold me?" Asked Mark

Jackson turned around and extended his arms out and Mark snuggled up to them. Jackson wrapped his arms around Mark who was inhaling the smell of Jackson. Jackson pressed a kiss against Mark's fluffy soft hair.

Mark lifted his head up and pressed a kiss against Jackson's lips. He pressed another, but before he could pull away Jackson held his face with his left hand keeping him in place. The two made out for a bit. They let go and catch their breaths falling asleep.

Hello guys, author-nim here I just wanted to say thank you for reading my book. I really appreciate it. Also, Mrs.Yang is an actual person and I love her very much. She's like my grandmother to me and in case you're wondering how? I'm half Chinese and it's a long story, but just know that I love here and she's amazing. Again thanks for reading my book and I might update tomorrow so watch out😉.