Good Things Happen When You Need Them The Most

The band and I just finished practicing for the day. We were heading to Sarah's house for dinner. Her mom cooked up something for us. 

We were all in my car. Both John and Daniel were singing along to a Maroon 5 song. Sarah is up in the front seat texting somebody on her phone.

"Who's that?" I asked her.

"Hmmm...." she was blushing.

"Oh My God! Don't tell me that's a guy."

"Then, I won't tell you." She giggled.

"Yah, Sarah! C'mon. Tell me." I was curious.

"Ok," she came closer to me so the guys at the back won't hear. "He's a sunbae from another company."

My eyes grew bigger. "And how did you meet him?" 

I didn't know she had time to go out secretly with another idol.

"You've been busy and I haven't," she said matter-of-factly.

That's true. If I wasn't practicing with them, I was working on the songs at home or busying my mind with the thoughts of Mark. I just realized we haven't had a girl talk lately. 

"So, does this 'sunbae' have a name?" I whispered.

"Minhyuk, from BTOB," seriously?

"What?" I gaped.

"Sshhh...." she tried to shush me.

"What are you two hiding?" John leaned forward and looked at both of us.

"Nothing," Sarah straightened on her seat.

"Kris?" John eyed me.

I just shrugged.

Buzzz....I felt my phone vibrate from my bag. 

"Sarah, can you get me my phone?"

"Should I read the message for you?" She said as she unlocked it. (She knows my passcode).

"Yes, please," I told her. 

"It's from Junior." 

"Hmmm?" 

"Delete the message," John said from behind me.

"Give it to me." I grabbed the phone with my free hand and hid it under my legs. "I'll just read it later."

John frowned at me. It's obvious now how he hates GOT7. I just sneered at him through the rearview mirror.

I parked my car in an empty space in the parking lot of Sarah's apartment. 

"Let's go," Sarah said.

I let them out the car first so I could read the message. 

'Can we have dinner tonight? Call me when you're free. - Jr.'

 Hmmmm...should I?

"Hey, guys," I called out to them, "something came up. I have to go."

"What? Why? Where are you going? Are you meeting that Junior?" John looked pissed.

"Sarah, tell your mom I'll make it up to her." 

I revved the car and sped out the parking lot to avoid anymore questions from them.

I stopped the car at the side of the road and called Junior.

"Hello? Kris?" he said from the other line.

"Yes." 

"So, can we meet up for dinner?"

"Yeah sure."

"Where are you? Let's meet halfway." 

"I'll text you the name of the restaurant and the address. I'll meet you there." 

I sent him the details. I pressed 'send' and drove my car to the restaurant.

"I'm sorry, Kris," Junior entered and was clearly out of breath. "Have you waited long?"

"Not really, I just got here myself."

"Let's order first?" 

"Sure!"

We ate in silence. Only talking to compliment the food and ask each other how the food was. 

"So,?" I said, half asking.

"How are you doing?" Was his first question.

"What do you mean?"

"How's life?"

"What?" What a funny question.

"You're doing fine, right?" He asked me, his eyes were searching mine. I don't know how to react.

"Ye...ah....," I said slowly. "I guess I am. Still doing the same old things."

"Ok, Uhmmmm...." he hesitated. "I have to ask you for a huge favor."

"What is it?" 

"It's about Mark." I knew it. What does he want me to do? 

"What about him?" 

"You're his friend, right?" 

"Junior," I moved closer to him, "just go straight to the point, will you?"

"Okay, okay. Mark is in deep pain right now."

So, he knows, too.

"I guessed so," I bowed my head. I know how deep that pain is.

"You know?" he was surprised.

"Well, kinda..." I felt sorry that I didn't do anything even though I knew.

"So, you know? About Angela?" 

"Yes, well...."

"Are you ok with that?" What does he mean?

"Huh?"

"I mean, knowing that Mark had a girlfriend."

I was caught off-guard. Why would he think I'm not ok with it? Does he think I have feelings for Mark?

Just as if he read my mind, he said, "I just thought there was something going on between the two of you."

What?

"Did he tell you that?" Another surprise. We were just colleagues...just friends.

"No," he was waving his hands in front of him. "Not really. I just thought that...well..with the way you look at each other...I just thought...." he breathed in. "Never mind."

"Just to clear it, we're not an item, ok?"

"Ok," he said.

"So, what do you want me to do about him?" I went back to our original conversation.

"I was going to ask you to help me comfort him a little." He looked at me as if pleading. "You know, he hasn't been himself lately. He skips meals, which is really odd cause he loves eating. He doesn't join us when we go out. He acts strange towards other people. It's like he's pushing everybody away."

I know that feeling. I've been there. And to hear Mark going through the same thing I had was scary.

"Junior," I leaned forward, "I would want to do anything as a friend."

His face lit up.

"But," I stopped.

"But, what?" His lit up face became hopeless again.

"I can't."

"Why not?" He looks so miserable. "Have you seen him lately? Have you seen how thin he became? He's even thinking of leaving the group, for Christ's sake."

I felt guilty.

"Please, Kris. I beg you. You're my last hope. I don't know what else I can do for him. Please." He's almost at the brink of crying.

"I...."

"Please...I'd do whatever you want. Just, please..."

"Junior, I...."

The tears his been holding just came rolling down his cheeks. 

"I just think I'm not the one he needs, Junior. You're a good friend. You've done your part. It's time for him to help himself. Nothing and nobody could help him more than himself."

"I know, but can't you at least try? As a friend?"

How can I resist this guy spilling tears for his dear friend. 

"Ok, I'll try to call him." I conceded. "But, I can't promise you anything."

"That's ok, Kris. I owe you a lot."

"No, Junior. You don't owe me anything. Mark must be lucky to have you."

____________________________________________________________________________

                                                                      MARK

My phone had been going off all night last night. I ignored all of them. I didn't even want to see who it was. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen to get a drink of water. 

I felt ashamed of myself for doing what I did the other night. I felt sorry to my friends for embarrassing them. I just hope it won't reach the media.

"Hyung," it was Youngjae, "have you checked your phone?"

"No," I don't want to. "Why should I?"

He handed me his phone. On the screen was me running out of the club. My face was pixelated but I know that's me. 'An idol sexually assaulted a girl at the club' the headline read. 

Shit!

I ran in the room and got my phone. I checked my missed calls - from JYP and from our manager. Shit!

I checked my messages - also from them. 

'You gotta clear this up, Mark.' One of the messages read.

"You should call them now." Youngjae pointed out.

"Hyung-nim," I said over the phone.

"Where are you? Come here at the office, NOW." He shouted.

"Yes, hyung-nim."

I quickly took a shower and changed.

"Would you want me to go with you?" JB asked as I was heading out the door.

"No, thanks, man. It's my fault, I should take responsibility." 

"Just call us after you talk with him."

"Yeah."

Shit, shit, shit. Would he kick me out?

I don't think that would be bad. I would just accept whatever punishment he gives me.

I sat across from him in his office. Our manager was sitting beside him.

"What is this?" He showed me the same news article Youngjae just showed me.

"I'm sorry," was all I could say.

"Sorry? Sorry? It's good she didn't sue you for it." He looked at our manager. "And you, where were you when this was happening? Don't I pay you to watch over these guys? How can this happen?"

"I was with Yugyeom and Bambam. I took them to the radio station where they had their interview." Our manager was explaining.

"Mark," he looked at me again, "I don't want this happening anymore. You're lucky the ladies weren't sure if it was you. I already denied this to the press. Try to be more careful next time." His voice softened. "I know that you are having a hard time missing your family. I know that you're pressured. But, please, watch what you do. I treat you all like my sons. I don't want you ending up your career just for a small mistake."

"Yes, hyung-nim."

"Take the rest of the day off. Stay away from alcohol for now."

"Yes, hyung-nim."

So, he's giving me another chance. What for? 

What do these people see in me that they put their trust in me so much? First, Kris. She trusted me to help her with her music. She trusted me when she was scared. Junior. He thinks I have everything I need. He trusts that I would overcome this problem sooner or later. JYP. He trusts me enough to give me another chance.

I feel more burdened now. 

I went out the building with our manager.

"I'm sorry, hyung. I didn't mean to put you in trouble."

"That's ok. Just try to be careful next time. C'mon, I'll drive you back to the dorm."

"That's ok, hyung. I just need to go somewhere first."

"Ok. Take your time."

I actually didn't have anywhere to go. I just wanted to save the guys' questions for later. I'm not in the mood to answer their questions.

I took a taxi and went to a cafe at the outskirts of the city. It's a cafe the group would usually go to. It's hidden from the public, it is overlooking a lake, and it's nice and cozy. It's the perfect place for me to think without disturbances.

I ordered a cup of coffee and sat at the corner. 

"So, is everything prepared tonight for her birthday?" I overheard the guys at the other table talking.

"I don't think she's gonna be surprised, she knows us too well." The other guy said.

"That's ok. Let's just surprise her with the list of guests."

"So, have you called all of them?"

"Yup, but not all would come. They have schedules."

"So, who are coming?"

He gave him names of about  10 guys.

"Did you call Mark?" Mark? There should be a lot of Marks, but in Korea, there are limited people with English names.

"Should we call him?"

"I think Kris would like that, but..." I took a peek at the two. Jun and Yonghwa.

"but...no...."

"why not?"

"She's already forgotten about him. Let's not light the spark again."

"Ok."

What? 

They stood up and I covered my face with the menu so they couldn't see me. They walked past me without even noticing. 

Phew!

So, it's her birthday today. Why didn't I know that? 

What do they mean she's forgotten about me? Ouch! 

And what spark?

I pulled out my phone from my pocket. 

Should I call her and wish her a happy birthday?

Just when I was about to press call, a text message came in.

'How've you been?' It's from her. 

How can all these coincidences happen at the same time?

So, she hasn't completely forgotten about me then. Why does that make me happy?

'Good. You?' 

Was that all I can say?

'Ok, I guess.'

What should I say? 

'Wanna join me for coffee?' I pressed 'send'. 

Shit! That's just too lame. 

'Sure. Now?'

'Yeah, why not?'

'Ok. Where are you? I'll just meet you there'

I texted her my location. 

Woah. I looked at myself in the mirror in the bathroom of the cafe. You look like shit, Mark.

I didn't bother to look good when I got out of the dorm. I didn't know I was gonna meet her today. 

I felt giddy, a bit excited, and happy. 

For the first time in weeks, I was happy.