( ⛅️ )

❛ you must be kidding, mark.
that's— that's just crazy. ❜

—

"did you hear the news? hyejin broke up with mark!"

"seriously? that's so embarrassing. isn't he supposed to be the playboy?"

"well, the playboy got played. hyejin's with someone new already."

"who is it? they have to be hot if hyejin broke up with the ace to get with him."

"it's lucas wong! you know, the volleyball captain."

"i guess he's not the ace anymore, now is he?"

mark angrily slammed his locker shut as whispers of gossip filled the hallway. the words he heard stung.

he couldn't believe it. he — mark lee, the playboy — had been played.

still, as much as she had hurt him, he couldn't help but want her back.

his mind trailed back to his conversation yesterday with chenle. the thought of a fake relationship did seem desperate as chenle had said. it made him look helpless. it made him appear weak. it made him seem foolish.

but would anyone really know that it was fake?

it would be quite suspicious if mark suddenly started dating miyong, as everyone knew that she was just his best friend. but did he really care?

it was all just going to be fake. all pretend. nothing real.

he would do anything to win back his title, to win back his pride, and to win back hyejin.

( ⛅️ )

"bye mi, gotta go. i have woodworking next, and the woodshop is all the way on the other side of the school." seyeon waved to miyong as she shuffled down the hall, getting lost in the multitudes of people.

miyong sighed and grabbed her books from her locker, closing it shut with a small click. it was only the first block of the day, and she had another boring and long day of school ahead of her.

the first bell rang, and students began rushing down the hallways to get to their classes.

miyong shrugged, she knew the second bell rang ten minutes after, which meant she still had a decent amount of time.

her eyes scanned through the crowd, until she spotted a familiar dash of blonde hair.

mark wore a plain white tee under a washed-out jean jacket, along with a pair of black jeans, complete a pair of dirty white runners. she mentally reminded herself to make sure he cleaned his shoes later.

'fashion icon as always,' miyong thought to herself, smiling.

mark had his backpack slung over his right shoulder loosely, papers sticking out. his hair was messy, he had light circles under his eyes, and his face was expressionless. it was clear that he hadn't had a good night's sleep.

he swiftly ran a hand through his blonde-dyed hair, messing it up even more than it already was.

lifting his head up to look around, a small smile appeared on his face as he spotted miyong.

"hey hair freak, you okay?" miyong asked playfully patting mark on the head, as he walked over to her. he couldn't help but feel better under her touch.

"yeah... i'm alright. you?" mark asked straightening his posture.

"could be better, but i'm alive so that's always good," she shrugged smiling. "oh yeah, what was it you wanted to talk to me about again?"

"right." mark said clearing his throat. he rubbed the nape of his neck and whispered, "i need a favour."

"oh, sure. what is it?"

for some reason, a chill went down miyong's spine hearing his raspy whisper, it was oddly addicting. she swallowed harshly, waiting for him to continue.

mark stepped forward slowly until his face hovered directly above miyong's ear.

"date me."

miyong stopped dead in her tracks. "what?"

mark's face was inches from hers, his lips resting right by her ear.

miyong's heart began hammering intensely in her chest, faster than ever before. the adrenaline in her veins flowed through her body. she definitely did not expect this.

"date me, be my girlfriend— fake girlfriend, that is." his eyes gazed into hers, bearing a playful gleam.

"wh— what? i don't get it." she laughed nervously, thinking that it was all some sort of joke.

"you heard me, mimi. i need you to fake date me... i came up with a plan to win hyejin back, and this is part of the plan." he whispered once again into her ear, smirking slightly at how flustered he had made her.

"hm right. hyejin. fake date." miyong laughed, scolding herself for thinking otherwise. "but— but you must be kidding, mark. that's— that's just crazy." she muttered under her breath, refusing to look into his eyes.

"would i ever lie to you?" mark asked, raising an eyebrow. he placed a hand on the locker behind miyong, cornering her. he was hoping to intimidate her with his actions, and sure enough he did.

"but— but why me?" miyong laughed awkwardly, taking a step back, pressing her back against the lockers. 'bad move miyong, bad move!' she chastised herself, as mark only came closer. "and why are you telling me this here?" she whisper-screamed, frantically looking around at the people scattered throughout the hallway.

"because you're the only one i trust with this kind of stuff, and it's the only time i get to see you today besides lunch. plus we'll make a deal, and i'll let you have anything you want." mark smiled.

closing her eyes, miyong put away her emotions replacing her unsettled expression, with a blank stare. she didn't want mark seeing her this way.

"i don't have anything in mind right now... and i don't want anything... plus who said i was agreeing to this deal?" she replied, crossing her arms in hopes of suppressing the butterflies in her stomach.

mark stifled a laugh. "i'm not taking no as an answer, park miyong," he smirked, leaning in closer. "could you really turn down an offer from mark lee?"

miyong swallowed roughly, her lungs seemed to fail her as she tried to inhale calmly through her nose. her hands began to feel numb as she gripped them together in front of her.

through it all, her face remained blank as she was quite good at hiding her emotions.

by now a crowd of people had gathered around the two of them. whispers of confusion flew across the room, some even had their cameras out ready to film if anything happened.

people sure were interested, as news of hyejin and mark's breakup had just been announced the day before. seeing as he was having a moment with another girl, especially his best friend since childhood, was definitely a surprise.

"fine," miyong sighed, hoping that agreeing meant he would quit, and that people would stop watching. "you've got yourself a deal. but i swear if you do anything stupid— i'll staple you to a wall where the sun doesn't shine in a deep dark alleyway— a place where no one will hear your wretched cries for help... got it?" she said huffing sarcastically in annoyance, though deep down inside all she wanted to do was scream.

"great. noted. do not let miyong near any staplers," mark chuckled, beaming happily, "i'll call you when i need you and—"

"woah, woah, woah, who said you were the one in charge?" miyong tilted her head assertively, trying hard to ignore the huge knot that was twisting in her stomach. "you know me mark lee," she continued, raising an eyebrow, "it's not easy to change my mind. or tell me what to do."

he smiled dauntingly. "i did. and you know full well that i'm an exception. as your best friend, i know how to change your mind when i want to and how i want to..."

"...and i say that this relationship begins..."

"right now."

in a flash, mark's hand slid down from the locker onto miyong's waist, pulling her in and planting a sweet kiss on her lips.

miyong felt like she would implode. the kiss took her by surprise, making her gasp. the feeling on his warm lips moving in sync with hers made her mind spin and body freeze. though she didn't hesitate for a second to kiss back.

the crowd around them gasped in surprise.

"mark lee and park miyong?"

"what there's no way! the best friends?"

"i don't believe it! that's not real, right?"

"i don't understand how he moved on so fast!"

"only a day after he broke up with hyejin? that's a new record."

"why her?"

"mark." miyong breathed gently, as he kept kissing her. "what are you doing?" her heart felt like it would thump out of her rib cage at any second.

"letting everyone know that you're mine now." mark whispered back, still not breaking away. "showing my girlfriend off to everyone." a chill shot down miyong spine as his words made her flustered.

to him, she tasted like a light airy summer's day, filled with the ocean breeze. a hint of fresh watermelon could along with the lightest tint of candy. his favourite combination.

"who knew you were actually... such a bad kisser," miyong laughed breathlessly as they pulled apart slowly. clearly that was lie, as the butterflies in her stomach erupted once again.

"your ears are red, mi." mark whispered in her ear, making her flush ever harder, "you suck at lying you know."

"no i— i swear i just— you're— you're unbelievable, mark lee." miyong shot back rolling her eyes, her heart still racing at an impeccable speed.

the second bell suddenly rang, signalling that classes had begun and that they were late.

slowly the crowd began shuffling away to their classes, leaving mark and miyong alone by the lockers.

"guess i'll see you at lunch, girlfriend." mark teased, his hand still resting on miyong's waist, caressing it slightly out of habit.

he planted one last sweet kiss on her forehead before turning on his heel and walking away to his next class, leaving a dumbstruck miyong standing alone.

"what have i gotten myself into?"

( ⛅️ )

a/n !

hi omg things are finally starting to happen 🥴 are you excited because i'm excited

first thing: i'm SO SO SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN OVER A WEEK. i had this huge presentation at school that we had a month and a half to work on and of course, being the procrastinator i am, i left it all to do this week. i got 100% though, which i'm really happy about.

second thing: SOUR. sour is one of the best written albums i've ever listened to no cap. the only other artist's album i've ever streamed so much as sour is any taylor swift album, and that's only because i've been listening to her practically since i was born. it's so hard to choose my favourite songs on sour, but if i had to choose my top 3, they would be 1 step forward, 3 steps back, deja vu, and enough for you. it's a complete no skip album for me though i love all the songs so much !