Chapter 12

"Me? I-I'm apologizing... b-because you were mad because of that... right?" Mark asked.

She sighed, "I wasn't mad... I was just upset because you yelled at me."

Mark looked away. "I-I..."

She placed her hand on top of his. "Tell me, be honest. Why?"

Mark sighed, "I didn't want to tell you because you might get mad at me... and you were... and I'm sorry..."

"I SWEAR TO—"

"Chenle!!! quiet!!"

Mark face-palmed when he heard the voices of his friends. He stood up and move the curtains aside to give them a stern look. They were startled and ran away.

"Who were there?" She asked.

"Them. All of them." He answered.

She laughed, "What do they want?"

He sat on her bed and looked at her, "They want us to be friends again."

"Were we even friends in the first place?" She laughed. "I was just kidding."

She sighed, "Going back... I want you to be honest... What are we?"

Mark looked at her and held her hand. He scooted closer so that her head would rest on his shoulder. "For now, let's just be like this..." He smiled and placed his chin on the top of her head.

***

"Miss Kim told me that you should rest." Mark said the next day.

She was still seated beside Lucas, and since the latter wasn't in school yet, Mark took the opportunity to seat at Lucas' chair first.

"Huh? What does that mean?" She asked.

"She told me that someone should replace you for the fair opening program." Mark sighed.

"What?" Her eyes widened. That would be the first time she would be performing as the female lead vocalist after Seo Jiyeon. "But why?"

"Unfortunately, she knew that you fainted. And she called me to say that someone's gonna be replacing you for the opening, but not as the female lead vocalist." He explained. "I suddenly don't want to perform anymore." He pouted.

She laughed. "You should perform. Everyone's counting on you." She held his hand.

"But I want to perform with you..." He said.

"I want to perform with you too, but it was Miss Kim who said it already." She gave him a sad smile.

***

"When will your rehearsals start?" Eunmi asked once it was lunch time.

"Later, why?" Mark said.

She shook her head, "I just want to know." She shrugged.

Everyone around them looked so confused. Why were the two so close all of a sudden.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Mark asked his brother who was looking at them.

"Jaehyun-oppa, are you alright?" She asked Jaehyun who was staring at them amusedly.

The two who were called out snapped to reality and continued eating.

***

"This just sucks." Mark said.

"What, exactly?" Eunmi asked.

"I can't walk you home." He sighed.

She laughed, "It's fine. You have to go and practice. I have my hopes up, okay? Don't disappoint me!" She said, challenging him.

The boy laughed and ruffled her hair, "Why would I?"

"I have to go now. Go straight home after rehearsals, okay?" She smiled.

Mark nodded, "Arasseo. Call me if you arrive."

Eunmi nodded. "I will."

Mark hugged her, "You should go now."

"Bye~" She waved while running away from him.

Mark laughed at her and waved back.

***

Mark's eyes traveled towards his phone which was flashing. He looked at the screen to see who was calling.

"Hm? You home?"

"Yeah. How's practice?"

"Horrible. You aren't here, that's why."

"Can you not?!" She laughed. "What if your partner hears you?"

"Do I care?" He joked.

"Mark!" She warned.

He laughed, "Just kidding. She went to the restroom for a while."

"Have to go now. Still have homeworks."

"Mhm... bye, Eunmi-yah."

"Bye, Mark~"

He smiled and put his phone inside his pocket.

"Ah, you've been smiling for the nth time today. You seem to be in a good mood." His partner said, sitting beside him.

He shook his head while laughing, "Just inspired... Anyways, let's continue, Sihyun-ssi?"

She nodded, but the teasing look never left her face. "She's your girlfriend, am I right?" She nudged him.

He laughed, "Ani... she's not my girlfriend... well, not yet...."

***

"Yah, wake up!" Jaehyun said, opening the light in her room. "What is this? Why are you sleeping? I thought you were doing your homework?"

He saw his sister's head resting on the table while holding a pen.

She groaned and stretched her arms, "What time is it?" She yawned.

"It's 8:30. Go downstairs, we'll eat dinner." He said, turning his head towards his sister before he close the door. "Fast."

Eunmi stood up and stretched her arms and legs before deciding to go downstairs to eat with her brother.

"Yah, can you be honest with me." Jaehyun said once she sat down. "What's with you and Mark? Are you two dating?"

She looked at his brother and raised a brow, "Nah, we aren't... yet..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, as for now, we promised each other to focus on our studies and be friends for the mean time... well, basically, we're friends, but also he other way around?"

Jaehyun nodded, "Since when did you become comfortable around him?"

"At the clinic..." She started. "He apologized and told me things... things that I should know to prevent further fights, I guess?" She laughed.

"I can't believe he managed to change over a short period of time..." He sighed. "It's all because of you, dear sis." He looked at her who was chewing her food. "At first, you hate each other's guts, and now..."

"I don't know if I should cry because of what you said or not..."

"I hope he takes good care of you." He said. "I'll kill him if he won't."

"Oppa!"

—tbc.
short update bc my mind is occupied and i can't think straight. sorry guys, good night!