Chapter 10
When the boys had arrived at a restaurant of their liking, they walked in. All of them chittering among each other, talking about their findings of today.
Jaebum and Youngjae seemed to be blending in well. They chatted with Jackson and BamBam, who were walking up front. Mark was a bit sceptic about it, they were probably getting close to him now so they could interrogate him later. But that was the least of Mark's concern right now, it really being how not to make it too awkward between Jackson and him.
Of course they had a good talk a few weeks ago but it just took Mark a while to adjust to his new friends. Jackson knew this and tried not to let his feelings take over too much, Mark needs time and Jackson is willing to give it to him.
If it wasn't for that Jackson would have been a bit more clingy to Mark already. He usually does that to his friends, especially Jinyoung as they lived together.
Though somewhere this felt different for Jackson. He didn't really want to admit it as he didn't know what this feeling exactly was, but it was there and sometimes it kept bugging Jackson. It came up by just looking at Mark or even slightly touching him. Like with the hug earlier today, it was there.
Once entering the restaurant, they gave their coats to the waitress and were brought to a table in the middle of the restaurant. It was beautiful inside as so Mark thought.
In the middle of the restaurant was a big round table, the table was set with a dark red table cloth. There were big chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling shining a yellow light through the restaurant. Most of the restaurant was made from expensively looking dark wood, the only exception being the black shining tiles laying the floor.
On the table there was beautiful silver wear and white plates which almost light up the place, the wine glasses standing next to them made of crystal and glinted next to them as light from the chandeliers shined upon them. In the middle of the table stood a beautiful bouquet filled with dark Dahlias.

It looked beautiful and the boys felt relaxed. It had been months since Mark went out for dinner and this place was definitely the most beautiful he has ever been. His mouth agape while looking around and up to the ceiling.
"It looks beautiful here Jackson." Mark says astonished.
"I know right, it's one of my favorite places."
"Do you come here often?"
"Mark hyung, not to be rude but that sounds like a pick-up line." Yugyeom budges in.
"Maybe it was, who knew." BamBam teases with him.
"Yah! I'm trying to be genuinely interested here." Mark defends himself.
"Interested in his d-" BamBam replies before being cut off by Jinyoung's hand on his mouth.
"Okay guys enough of this teasing. Let's sit down first." Jinyoung says, mentioning them to sit down.
Jackson lead Mark to sit down first, taking a seat next to him. His hand on his waist and slowly making him sit down in the dark chair.
Mark felt his face heat up slightly by the action. He was still embarrassed what happened just seconds before and this gesture wasn't helping at all. Jackson sat down next to him.
"To answer your question, I don't. I used to, but I still love the place. I came here once with my parents when I had just moved here, after that I just came here regularly to remind me of them. It kind of became a second home when I had just moved. Now I sometimes come here and remember those times, they're comforting especially when I don't feel well."
Mark just nodded, not really bothering to say another word. He didn't want the boys to jump to conclusions again and attack him.
They ordered and the dinner was moving smoothly. Mark still felt some tension, waiting for Jaebum and Youngjae to start interrogating Jackson.
He eventually thought they gave up but by the time their dessert came around it all started. Mark saw the look that Jaebum was giving him and Jackson, he didn't like it one bit and he was trying to ignore it.
For the first time during the dinner Mark spoke up to Jackson. All the others were chatting among each other and laughing occasionally.
"Hey Jackson, want a bite of my dessert?" he asked, turning his gaze to the younger.
The younger, who was eating his ice cream looked at him, then at his dessert which was a crème brûlée.
"Sure." He replied, the dessert looked delicious so why not.
Mark grabbed his spoon and took a little out of the bowl the French dessert was in and pointed it towards Jackson. Jackson turned around and put his hand on Mark's thigh for support, while leaning in. Mark didn't see that one coming at all and he was utterly shocked but fed Jackson anyway.
Jackson leaned back once he had the dessert in his mouth.
"Hmm, it's delicious." He said and licked his lips after.
"Excuse me, are you doing alright over there?" Jaebum's voice spoke up loudly. The others breaking off their conversation and looking into the direction Jaebum was looking at.
'Damn it, I knew it wasn't a good idea.' Mark thought, looking down at his dessert, mindlessly taking a spoonful of it and shoving it into his mouth.
"We're fine, why are you asking?" Jackson answers, oblivious to what was going on.
"You just seem, you know, kind of close to our friend over there."
"He was just feeding me a bite of his dessert, I don't see what's weird about that."
"Well basing on Mark's face and the whole situation, it just looks a bit couple like." Jaebum said empathizing on the last two words.
Jackson laughed. "Oh Jaebum hyung, you're funny. I mean of course you see it as a couple thing, you've probably done it to Youngjae before but come on, he's just feeding me a bite of his dessert because I obviously kept looking at it, curious as to how it tasted. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't see how that's so couple like?"
Jackson wasn't mad at all though. He just found it funny how Jaebum tried to make something so innocent so big.
The rest of the evening was smooth and Jaebum eventually said sorry for his behavior. His boyfriend also scolding him for pointing out something like that. Jaebum just really wanted some evidence of the two having some sort of feelings for each other.
Then back to reality, it has been a few months since the dinner. Holidays have passed and everyone got back in their same old routines.
Though not everything was the same one of those things being the boys' dynamic with each other. They had grown much closer over the past few months. They often hung out with each other when they didn't have anything to do.
Often they had movie nights and occasionally they went out somewhere. They were acting like they had known each other for years. They joked around with each other, they all got along really well and sometimes even the most unexpected pairs went out to do something together.
Like that one time Jaebum and Yugyeom went to the movies together. No one saw that one coming, not even their boyfriends but it just meant that even them got along really well.
The dynamic between Mark and Jackson had changed aswell. Mark had grown really comfortable with Jackson.
The two got clingy with each other. Hand holding in public became a thing and the two didn't even mind. Cuddling had also become a routine, every time they watched a movie they snuggled next to each other, preferably underneath a fluffy blanket. Hugging was a thing that happened too, at the most random times.
They were really touchy feely and as usual the boys teased them about it. It used to really get to them but now they really didn't care anymore because they were too comfortable to even stop with it. They were almost always by the other's side and they didn't even mind it, nor did they care what other's thought of them.
Today they were on a trip to the zoo. All of them were there, but they eventually split up as they all wanted to see something else. Of course Mark and Jackson ended up together, aswell as Jaebum, Youngjae, Jinyoung and Yugyeom and BamBam.
Mark and Jackson were headed towards the lions as Jackson wanted to see them badly. It was kind of a chilly day outside. They were wearing scarfs loosely around their necks and they were holding hands when walking.
They look at the animals they passed while walking, so they saw the giraffes. They stopped a few minutes when looking at them, pointing out two who were swinging their necks weirdly. They both laughed as they imitated the movements the animals were making, also joking they were doing some kind of yoga.
Someone tapped Mark's shoulder, he jumped at the sudden touch and cut his laughing immediately. In front of him was a man with a microphone in his hand and a camera crew behind him.
"Can I help you?" Mark asked.
"You might. We're doing dares for my YouTube channel. Do you want to do one?"
"Oh my god Mark, yes we should!"
Mark looked to his side, he wasn't really into these type of things. But the way Jackson looks at him pleadingly made that he couldn't say no.
"Okay, yeah sure."
The guy took a bowl from his bag. "Take one out."
Mark signed Jackson to take one and so he did. He let Mark's hand go as he opens the tiny folded paper with both of his hands.
Mark misses the warmth on his hand and actually wants it back as quickly as possible so he hopes this all is over soon.
Jackson's face dropped as he saw the paper. He begins to shake slightly as he gathers the courage to read the paper out loud.
"Get kissed on your face by the person you are doing this dare with." He reads.
Jackson turns silent and puts his head down in embarrassment. They both have given their friends like a peck on the cheek before as a joke. Or they did it to thank the other, but never have they done something like this.
Mark is in shock as he hears the words leave Jackson's mouth. He has to kiss him on his face? A wave of embarrassment hit him and he becomes silent, looking down aswell. He hopes to escape this now because he definitely didn't want this now.
The guy laughs at their reaction "Come on, it's just a peck. You guys have probably done it before since you're a couple."
It shocks both Mark and Jackson. They try to get out of the situation saying that they're not a couple but the reporter disagrees. "Why else would they be holding on to each other like that earlier?" was his argument. Both Mark and Jackson couldn't explain it, they had no words.
Mark and Jackson have been mistaken for a couple before because of their clinginess but they always get out of the scene by saying that they're just best friends who are clingy with each other.
Usually people would just believe them and continue on like they were before but this time there was no way of getting out of this.
There was a huge pressure felt by both of the boys. They couldn't run away from this, it had to happen.
Mark decides to be bold. He grabs Jackson's chin, placing his thumb on it and the rest of his fingers under his chin. Jackson looks up, flushed red, wanting to look down again.
But Mark doesn't let him. Mark moves forward, inching closer to Jackson's face. Jackson can feel his breath against his face and Jackson wants to look down again but he can't.
"I'm making this quick okay? Don't budge." Mark whispers loud enough for only Jackson to hear.
He moves Jackson's head slightly so he has enough space to kiss him on his cheek. He steps closer, leaning in, closing his eyes focusing on his task to get this over quickly. His plump lips almost touching Jackson's burning red cheek.
And just as he's about to kiss his cheek. "Yo Jackson hyung!" BamBam's voice calls. Jackson turns his head as reaction to his name being called, forgetting about what was happening.
The effect being that Mark presses his lips against Jackson's cheek, but not only that his lips landed slightly on Jackson's lips aswell. As soon as Mark notices he backs away in embarrassment.
Why do these things always happen when he's being bold?
Jackson also realizes what just happened and his face only gets more red. They quickly part from each other as BamBam and the others walk closer.
"What's happening here?" Jaebum asks, smirk lacing his face. Finally he had found evidence of his friend liking the other.
"N-nothing. It was just this.. dare." Jackson tries to answer as normal as possible.
The young guy turns to them, happy they all got this on camera as it'll get loads of views.
"We're doing couple dares and we asked your friends to do one too." He explains.
The boys look back and forward between the reporter and the so called couple before bursting into laughter.
"You know they're not a real couple right?" Jinyoung asks, laughing.
"What?" The reporter says.
"We tried to explain that to you Mister but you wouldn't believe us. We kind of felt forced to do it because you didn't believe it." Mark responds, voice getting softer at the end of the sentence and looking down slowly.
Only then the realization hit the reporter. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't notice, I thought you guys were just trying to not get it on camera because you were embarrassed. We can arrange not to air the footage if you want to?" He apologizes.
Mark and Jackson look at each other, neither of them saying a thing.
"I.. I guess-" Mark replies.
The boys notice how hard and difficult is for both of them, the look on their faces says it all. They're staring down at the ground with their faces slightly flushed. They look awkward.
"I think they'd appreciate that." Jinyoung tells the interviewer, not wanting them to make a stupid mistake and letting it air anyways.
Mark and Jackson look up and nod towards the reporter, letting him know they agree with what their friend said.
"I'm so sorry for this all. We'll get going and enjoy your day at this wonderful zoo. We won't air the footage." He bows and so does the camera crew. Before they can say another word to them they take off.
"And if you do we'll sue you!" Jinyoung calls at them while looking at them heading off.
"Come on guys, let's get some food and enjoy the rest of the day." Jaebum says and starts walking.
The rest follows him. Youngjae and Jinyoung by his side, behind them Yugyeom and BamBam and lastly Mark and Jackson.
"I'm sorry about taking the dare. I didn't know it was a couple thing." Jackson apologizes, head down, fidgeting with the end of his jacket.
Mark looks at him as he speaks his words. He wraps an arm around the other's waist and pulls him close. Jackson notices the touch and puts his head on Mark's shoulder, looking for comfort.
"It's okay, I didn't know either. Let's just forget about it and go back to where we were okay?" Mark says whilst laying his head on Jackson's.
He feels a hand sneak around his waist and the head underneath his rises, looking Mark in the eyes.
"Okay. Thank you Mark." Jackson replies, his hand trailing off to Mark's hand and grabbing it tightly. The warmth Mark searched for earlier came back and the comfort between the two grows again, like nothing happened.
"Nothing to thank me for Jackson."
---------------------------------------------
A/N: Hello! Yes, another update from me! I was too excited for this chapter so yeah, here you go! I hope you all enjoyed ❤
~Jacksonsidiot 💕
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top