CHAPTER NINE | SWEET LITTLE LIES

I can shake it off, chloroform peace and rest
But you know all I ever wanted was a friend

• • •

"Need a walk home, Dallia?" The blue-haired boy questioned softly as he turned to face her, watching her pack her stuff diligently.

Dallia glanced at him, "No, thank you." She shook her head, rejecting his offer right away.

Now this is where most girls get annoyed with her, the fact that she could just easily turn down one of the most handsome boys in their school was sickening for them. Most have dreamed to even talk to the famous Na Jaemin; the angel-like boy who was always there for Chae Dallia.

They couldn't find the worth in her – the worth to be noticed or talked to at all. But despite their irritations, all they could do was just sit from afar and mumble words under their breaths.

After all, most of the school's population never dared to mess with Dallia. Not only because of the eerie vibe they'll always pick up from her, but also because of Jaemin himself.

Although the girl had rejected his offer again, he still ended up walking her home like always. Stood beside her, he mostly kept silent, albeit, he did open up a few conversations but Dallia would always find away in shutting those little exchanges of words abruptly.

"I saw you had new stitches... I thought we talked about this already?" Jaemin brought up, looking down at Dallia.

She gazed up at him, her face expressionless as she did. Lips pursed, Dallia shook her head, "You don't understand, Jaemin."

"No. I do understand, Dallia. You just won't listen." He said sternly before grabbing her right hand, examining the new stitches she added making them both stop.

Dallia squinted her eyes at him before retracting her hand, holding it dearly with her other hand, feeling the threads against her palm. She walked away, Jaemin quickly trailing behind her.

"I won't listen?" She knits her eyebrows together in all perplexity.

Jaemin took a deep breath, holding her with a firm grip by her shoulders. "We've known each other for what? Around three years now? You know what I'm talking about."

Dallia brushed off his hands, feigning a smile towards the boy. "Why you look at that?" She points behind him and he glanced back, seeing the Chae's house. Squinting his eyes, noticing someone peaking from her bedroom window.

Jaemin craned his head back at Dallia, curiosity easily filling him. "Dallia, do you have any visitors? Your brother... or just someone?"

The girl shook her head, "No."

"Hmm... no one visited you the past few days?"

"No."

Jaemin hummed profusely, "Well... okay then. I'll see you tomorrow!" Dallia nodded curtly, heading quickly inside their house.

Once she reached her bedroom, she finds Mark standing by her window, peering out through her curtains.

"It's you." She uttered out, dropping her bag by the end of her bed.

Mark faces her with his arms akimbo, "Who was that? Your boyfriend?" His statement came off as sarcastic, usually he'd be curious or uninterested at all but this was different. He was more suspicious than curious.

"No. He's not my friend." She replied, taking off her jacket and throwing it simply on her bed.

Mark raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging up the corner of his lips, "Not your friend? Wow- and here I thought you befriend everybody."

"I don't like him." She confessed honestly, no denial nor sarcasm laced in her tone.

"For real?" He asked making her nod shortly as her response. "Why not?"

"He always tries to take my friends away."

"Friends- you mean those fucking dead pets?" Mark scrunched his face, pointing a finger up at the attic door on her ceiling. "Sheesh, I mean who wouldn't?" He mumbled inaudible for her.

"Yes. My friends. Who else?" Dallia uttered, as if pointing out the obvious.

"Does he have a name?"

"Na Jaemin."

"Ahh, so it is him." Mark chuckled dryly, eyes showing pure bitterness as he spoke.

Dallia shot a wary look towards his direction, "What do you mean? You know Jaemin?"

Mark scoffed out, "Tsk, why wouldn't I know him?" He questioned, voice filtered slight hatred towards the boy.

"Is he not your friend too?"

"Lia, you should stay away from him. He'll just trick you." Mark professed, something in him ticking off as he thought about it. He had no idea why Jaemin suddenly popped out of nowhere and the fact that he had ties with Dallia made him mad.

Mark wanted to make sure no one else other than Papa knew about his current mission. He didn't want any disturbance or improbity happening again.

"Trick me? I- What do you mean? I know I dislike him...but why should I stay away from him?" She asked out of interest, narrowing eyes at Mark who looked away, not wanting to lock any eye contact with her.

The urge to know more sparked inside Dallia, fueling an old blaze. How he managed to get her indulged, despite the fact she didn't want anything to do with Jaemin, it just seemed like Mark had more background to what he had been saying.

An unreadable expression spread across Mark's face, with Dallia's lack of empathy – she was unable to distinguish what his eyes held, though such questions were answered brought by the sudden change of atmosphere.

Heavy-hearted, the sense of agony somewhere alongside firing rage. It was like a maze of Mark's emotions.

"Because," he began with, "angels like him will only lead you to a life full of lies."

• • •
um, sir
wtf do you mean by that 👀

r y'all really gonna blame mark for pretending hmmm