Relationships.8

"Hey, baby Good morning. How's Shanghai? I miss seeing your pretty face when I wake up."

That was the message Mark woke up to. He turned his phone off and proceeded to his bathroom to wash his face and do his daily morning routine. After having eaten breakfast Mark looked at his phone again and gave out a deep long sigh. He clicked on the contact name and started typing.

"Hi Love. Good morning I just woke up. Shanghai's good I'm leaving for Seoul in about three more days after that I'm going back to the states. I miss seeing you too, but don't get too sad we can FaceTime when our times match."

Mark pressed sent and set his phone on silent. He dressed himself as he felt the need for fresh air. He walked down the street and came across a very familiar house. The one he had slept in many times and also the one that had many precious memories in. He felt the need to go and knock on the door, but he decided against it.

Mark walked down the street to Mrs.Yangs restaurant. He walked in and he was immediately hit with the smell of delicious food. He walked back to the kitchen and looked for Mrs.Yang, when he found her he slowly walked towards her and covered her eyes. Instantly Mark was hit in his stomach and slapped across the face. Once Mrs.Yang looked down and saw who it was she felt guilt build-up at the pit of her stomach.

She tried to approach Mark who flinched at the sudden moment. She gave him and worried look and he smiled at her.

"Mark I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you and I just got scared and reacted."

"Don't worry Mrs.Yang

"Mark I'm so sorry, please forgive me."

Mrs.Yang extended her hand out to Mark who happily took it and got up.

"So what are you doing here?"

" I was home, but I was bored and didn't have anything to do so I thought I might help you around?"

"Oh Mark that's so sweet of you."

"It's nothing Mrs.Yang. You've done so much for me that this is the least I can do."

Mark helped around for the rest of the day. He went around and got orders, cleaned, cooked, waited food. Everything that he could help with.

It was the end of the day and Mark was cleaning one of the last tables and was going to wash the few dishes that were left. He was beyond tire, he never expected being a waiter to be so much work.

"Mark sweetie after you clean that table, sit down I'm going to give you some food."

Before mark could answer Mrs.Yang rushed to the kitchen and started preparing a meal. Mark cleaned the last bit of food off the table and swept it up. Once he was done he sat down waiting for Mrs.Yang to come back. He looked down at his phone and noticed the notifications on it.

- 6 missed calls from Babe💜- 10 messages from Babe💜- 2 messages from Jae🤪😒- Instagram

He sighed and opened the messages from Jaebum and smiled at the others' messages.

You hoe when are you going to get here?

You know it's rude to ignore your elders.

Mark rolled his eyes at the others' messages and started typing. Before he could hit send he saw Mrs.Yang struggling with all the food from the corner of his eye. He set his phone down and walked towards the lady and helped her plate the food at the table.

"Thank you mark. You're such a sweetheart."

"No problem Mrs.Yang. Now come on let's dig in. I'm starving."

They both started eating and made small talk while eating. They started talking about the food and how amazing Mrs.Yang cooking skills were to how Mark had been living the past 10 years in The United States.

"So Mark are you dating anyone?"

Mark semi chocked on his rice at the unexpected question. He rushed and grabbed the cup of water in front of him to soothe the pain a bit. He looked in front of him and noticed Mrs.Yang in shock. He awkwardly smiled at her and she just stared back at him.

"Mark honey. I'm sorry for startling you with my question. I was just curious as you are a very sweet young man, but you don't seem to be dating anyone. You know I have a granddaughter who's about the same age as you she's single as well."

Mark turned beet red at Mrs.Yang's remark. He scratched the back of his neck as he looked away towards the window beside him.

"Mrs.Yang, I'm already with someone. He's sweet and caring, we've been dating for about 2 years now."

"Oh. I see what's your sexuality?"

"I'm pansexual, but I lean more towards guys."

"that's sweet, but I hope you don't mind me asking who is he?"

"His name is Jinyoung. He's Korean, we've actually known each other since childhood, but back then my heart belonged to someone else. After moving back to the US we met again in college. At first we were just friends, but then he started courting me and then we ended dating."

"I remember who your heart belonged to; it was that loud boy Jackson."

Mark softly giggled at the adjective Mrs.Yang used to reference to Jackson. He looked down at his plate and lightly sighed. Memories of his childhood playing through his head.

"Yeah it did. It's a shame I had to leave. We lost contact over the years and now I don't know where he is and how he's been."

Mrs.Yang looked pitifully at Mark and extended her hand to reach his. She placed her small wrinkled hand on top of Mark's.

"Mark Honey looked at me."

Mark looked up and noticed the beauty of Mrs.Yang. Although she wasn't as young as she was when Mark was a young boy, she was even more beautiful now.

"I know that you have a boyfriend, but there's something about you and Jackson that I saw. Even now as you speak of him, you smile without even knowing and you seem sad as well. I know it's not my place to interfere, but sweetie you don't seem to be happy in the relationship you're in right now."

Mark felt his eyes fill with tears; a feeling he was very used to. He felt Mrs.Yang reach towards his face and wipe them off. He sniffled and looked at Mrs.Yang.

"I- I don't know what to say. Yo-you're right, I miss J-Jackson and it h-hurts because I was never given a choice to stay or leave. When I got to the US I-I cried every night wondering how he was. My f-f-father never allowed me to have contact with anyone from here and I never knew why. I-I was and sometimes still am scared that I'll never find my true happiness. Right now my r-relationship with Jinyoung is on the edge. He c-cheated on me with someone and it's been a thing that's been going on for almost a month now. I was going to break up with him, but then my job sent me on a business trip which I'm supposed to be leaving for in three days, but I just don't want to face my reality right now. I saw Jackson's childhood home and I wanted to knock, but I'm too much of a coward to do so."

Mark wiped the tears that had fallen on the table. He was grateful the restaurant was closed and that people couldn't look in the place. Mrs.Yang looked at Mark and her heart felt heavy for the two boys who dreaded so much for each other, but for some reason life never allowed them to be together.

"Mark, I have to tell you something, Jackson is not here. He's in South Korea."

Mark looked at Mrs.Yang with wide eyes.

"What?! Since when?!"

"I don't recall clearly, but I think it was about two weeks ago. I don't know where in South Korea he left to, he only said he was chasing his dreams."

Mark couldn't believe what his ears were hearing. Jackson, the person who his heart belonged to was in a whole different country again. He looked down at the bracelet on his wrist and smiled he promised Jackson he was going to find him if they drifted apart and he was going to keep his promise.