So, I've decided to call you guys lovelees (got the pun? my last name is 'lee' lmao😂)

Enjoy the Christmas eve with your loved ones, guys! I might update again later midnight!

Chapter 6

"Escape the maze by solving the riddle." Eunmi read the instruction that was shown on the screen.

She was busy playing her phone, while her partner was busy playing the guitar. The two were still inside the music hall, still thinking about the song they will perform.

Eunmi was trying hard to kill time, while Mark was busy studying the notes that were in the song.

"Yah, stop that for a while." Mark said, calling Eunmi's attention.

Eunmi sighed and scooted closer to Mark. "What is it?" She put her phone in her pocket.

"gieoghae bogdoeseo tteo deulda
gati honnadeon uri dul
beolseo myeon seodo wae geurido
jeulgeo wot neunji arasseo"

I remember when we were yelled
at for talking in the halls
I don't know why it was so fun
even when we were being punished

Mark started to sing the first verse and Eunmi started to wonder when did he knew the song.

Eunmi watched er as he sang and Mark was looking at the strings.

"geunal ihuro (Yeah Yeah)
urin neul (Yeah Yeah)
ssang dungi byeoljari cheoreom
neon na naneun neoyeosseo"

After that day (yeah yeah)
we always (yeah yeah)
Stuck together like the Astro twins,
you were me and I was you

It was Eunmi's turn to sing, and as if Mark was struck by lightning, his head immediately turned at Eunmi's direction when she started singing.

"joreob hagi jeonnal manhi uldeon neo
namjarago kkug chamdeon neo
hago shipeotdeon mal motago
tteugeo wot deon geu yeoreum cheoreom annyeong"

You cried so much on the day before graduation
You held it in firmly since you're a guy
We couldn't say what we wanted,
Just like that hot summer, goodbye

Mark unknowingly smiled before the chorus started and fortunately, Eunmi got her senses back when Mark smiled at her.

"chingu raneun ireum
eoneusae miwojin ireum
gamchu deon gamjeongeun

jigeumdo apeun bimirui gieogil ppun
uri sain jeongrihal su eobtneun sajin
bomyeon gaseum arin Story, I'm sorry
yeoreuma ijen Goodbye Yay-Yeah"

The friend label
is a label that I got to hate
The feelings I've hidden still remain
as a painful secret memory
The photos that can't define
our relationship is a heartbreaking story
I'm sorry, summer, now goodbye, yeah

'Dang, we aren't even friends.' Eunmi wanted to say, but didn't had the chance sine the two were too engrossed in the song.

Eunmi started to panic as the rap part was the next one. She could only sing, not rap!

She looked at Mark as if signaling something, and Mark just looked at her in confusion.

"What do I say
We didn't have to play no games
I should've took that chance
I should've asked for u to stay
And it gets me down
the unsaid words that still remain
shijag hajido anhgo kkeutna beorin iyagi"

What do I say,
we didn't have to play no games
I should've took that chance,
I should've asked for you to stay
And it gets me down
the unsaid words that still remain
The story ended without even starting

Eunmi felt awestruck upon hearing Mark rap. She didn't know that her partner could rap.

She noticed that Mark was busy with the strings again, so she took the opportunity to take videos like before.

She took photos of him and Mark secretly and she giggled when the last photo she took looked like she was poking Mark's cheeks even though they weren't seated that close to each other.

"chugje majimag nal neoui noraedo
areunhan yeoreum badado
hamkke raseo sojung haetdeon mam
neujeo ganeun bam haneul cheoreom annyeong"

Your song on the last day of the school festival,
the flickering summer sea.
Our feelings that were precious because we were together
Like the deepening night sky, goodbye

Mark looked at his partner who was giggling in her seat. Little did he know that their picture was already her phone's background wallpaper.

"chingu raneun ireum
eoneusae miwojin ireum
gamchu deon gamjeongeun
jigeumdo apeun bimirui gieogil ppun
uri sain jeongrihal su eobtneun sajin
bomyeon gaseum arin Story, I'm sorry
yeoreuma ijen Goodbye"

The friend label
is a label that I got to hate
The feelings I've hidden still remain
as a painful secret memory
The photos that can't define
our relationship is a heartbreaking story
I'm sorry, summer, now goodbye, yeah

Eunmi looked at him straight in the eye. She wonders why this person in front of him was hiding things. She wonders why of all people, she's stuck with him.

Mark looked at the person who also happened to be looking at him. He was the first one to look away, afraid that he might make things awkward for the two of them. Afraid that she would end up like his old partner, Seo Jiyeon.

"Baby Oh No Oh Oh honjat mariraseo mianhae
Oh sashireun neol saranghae Yeah
sumgigo itdeon oraen bimildeul
charari deulkyeot damyeon neoreul pume anajul tende"

Baby oh no oh oh I'm sorry that this is a monologue.
Oh, actually, I love you, yeah
If only our long-time hidden secrets were revealed.
I would hold you in my arms

Eunmi's heart was beating so fast, and her palms were sweaty. She was starting to feel things she shouldn't.

No.. no.... it can't be...

"chingu raneun ireum
eoneusae miwojin ireum
gamchu deon gamjeongeun
jigeumdo apeun bimirui gieogil ppun
uri sain jeongrihal su eobtneun sajin
bomyeon gaseum arin Story, I'm sorry
yeoreuma ijen Goodbye Yay-Yeah

chingu raneun ireum
eoneusae miwojin ireum
bomyeon gaseum arin Story, I'm
sorry yeoreuma ijen Goodbye Yay-Yeah"

The friend label
is a label that I got to hate
The feelings I've hid still remain
as a painful secret memory
The photos that can't define
our relationship is a heartbreaking story
I'm sorry, summer, now goodbye, yeah

The friend label
is a label that I got to hate
A heartbreaking story, I'm
sorry, summer, now goodbye, yeah

With the last strum, Mark looked at her.

She awkwardly coughed and stood up, "I-I... I have t-to.. go—"

"Huh?"

"M-Mark, I-I have to go..." She grabbed her bag and started to step away, but Mark was too quick to grab her hand.

"Let's go together." Mark smiled.

"H-Huh?" Eunmi's eyes went wide. Jaehyun might see us!

"Let's go home together, we're just neighbors." He said.

"H-Huh? I-Is it... okay t-to you? I-I mean... y-you don't have to—"

"Eunmi." Mark cut her off by calling her name. "It's fine." She smiled.

Eunmi looked away her cheeks started to become red. "O-Okay..."

Mark smiled and placed his guitar on the stand. He swung his bag on his shoulder and headed towards Eunmi, who was looking at him.

"Is there something on my face?" Mark asked.

Eunmi shook his head frantically. What's wrong with you, Mark Lee? Why are you like this? Why is my heart like this? Why am I feeling things I shouldn't feel?

Mark laughed at her and ruffled her hair, "Why do you look so nervous?"

Eunmi's cheeks grew hot and Mark chuckled at her, "Aigoo~ Mwoya? Do you like me now?"

Eunmi scoffed, "Y-Yah! What are you saying?!" He playfully hit Mark's shoulder.

Mark chuckled and opened the door of the music hall, letting Eunmi out first.

***

The walk was quiet, and the two just enjoyed their time alone. Even if they weren't really in a relationship.

The backs of their hands were subtly brushing against each other's and Mark had the urge to hold her hand, but he chose to place them in his pockets otherwise.

Eunmi was enjoying the time. She's walking with the person who she finds annoying— well, that was before— before she started to have these feelings which confuses her.

'I really wonder why you're quiet. One moment, you forget about my existence, and one moment you'll make me feel like I'm the only one here. What's with you, Lee? What's with you that makes me go like this? I might go insane, and I might go crazy if you knew...'

She looked at Mark whose eyes were focused on the road.

Mark looked at her and stopped for a while, "Is anything wrong?"

Eunmi shook her head without breaking her stare at Mark, "E-Everything's fine..." She said, looking down.

"Are you sure?" Mark asked.

She nodded, "Yeah, j-just a headache..."

"We better get going, then. So that you could rest." He said, worriedly.

"O-Okay.."

****

The two were standing in front of the Jung residence. Mark walked her until their house even if Mark's house would be the first one to be in view from their school.

"Go inside and get some rest." Mark said, ushering Eunmi to go inside.

"What about you?" She asked.

"I'll be fine. My house is just next door." He said.

Little do they know, Eunmi's brother was watching them through the window, observing their every move.

Eunmi nodded, "I'll get going..."

The door opened, "Eunmi-yah, come here already." Jaehyun said.

The two looked at the person who was standing by the door. "Oh, Jaehyun-hyung."

"Have your dinner here, if you want, Mark. Call Taeyong-hyung too." Jaehyun offered.

Eunmi already went inside, "Good night, Minhyung-ah. Thanks for walking me home." She smiled and went upstairs.

It took Mark few seconds to respond to what she said. "Oh, g-good night...."

—tbc.
Song: Goodbye Summer (f(x) ft. EXO's D.O.)