Mark watched as Youngjae getting ready to leave the house that morning.

            “What?” Youngjae said when he felt Mark was watching his every move.

            “Um…let’s go and have dinner with my family tonight…”

Youngjae stopped his track and looked at Mark.

            “Dinner with your family?” he said.

            “Yeah…don’t you think it’s time that I formally introduce you to my family? And I was thinking about visiting your parents…”

            “Isn’t that a little too soon? We need time to think about this.”

            “Babe, we’ve been going out for almost two years now…most of our friends knew about us...don’t you think it’s about time we let our parents know?”

            “I dunno Mark… I think it’s not the right time…”

            “Why not?”

            “I’m not ready yet…I need more time to prepare myself…and about my parents…they’re with my sister in Canada…”

            “We could always fly there…”

            “I know…but my schedule won’t allow me to do that anytime I want…look, can we do this later? I’m already late for my shoot…”

            “So you’re not coming with me tonight?”

            “You know that I can’t…”

Mark sighed as he watched Youngjae left.

That night…

           “So Mark, are you seeing anyone right now?”

Mark stopped eating and looked at his father at the end of the table. He glanced over at Tammy in front of him and his sister just shrugged of her shoulder.

            “Dad…”

            “I’m just asking son…” Mr. Tuan said, staring at Mark.

            “Your dad and I had been discussing…if you’re not seeing anyone, maybe we could set you up with a son of a friend…one your dad’s business’ associates…” Mrs. Tuan added.

            “Mom…please…no blind dates or what so ever…I’m not interested…” Mark said, slowly losing appetite.

            “You’re not getting any younger Mark…” his mom said.

            “Mom, we’re not living in the 50s anymore where people get married during young age…”

            “I know but at least you could go out and meet a decent guy…”

            “I’m seeing someone right now…”

Mark saw Tammy staring at him.

            “You are? Who is he? Is he any good? What does he do for living? Not that really matter as long as he didn’t do anything illegal…”

            “Mom, mom…please…one question at a time…you’re shooting bullets at me…” Mark shook his head.

            “Sorry, sorry…I just get so excited…my son is actually not living as a hermit after all.” she beamed, looking at her smiling husband. “Right honey?”

            “Yeah…” his dad nodded.

            “I’ll bring him to see you soon ok? But right now…no questions…”

Later...by the pool side…

            “So you’re bringing Youngjae over?”

Mark turned around and saw his sister walking over.

            “Isn’t that what you always wanted?” Mark said.

            “You sounded like I was the bad guy…” Tammy sat down next to Mark, dipping her legs into the water. “What makes you change your mind?”

            “No particular reason…I just thought it’s time…”

            “If you say so…”

**************************

Youngjae opened his luggage and started shoving his clothes and belongings inside it haphazardly…he need to do this as soon as he can…at least before Mark came home. Small barking outside his room disturbed him. He went out and saw Coco standing in front of his door, wagging its tail. Youngjae took the dog food from the cabinet near the door and pour some of it into Coco’s dish. The white Maltese happily gobbled down the treats.

            “Eat your heart Coco ya, this is the last time I’m giving it to you…” he rubbed Coco behind the ears before retreating back to the room, finishing his work.

Two huge luggage’s are in the middle of the living room and Youngjae took a final look around. He took a piece of paper from the study table and started to scribble down words on it. He took the paper and went into the kitchen, sticking it onto the fridge’s door.

*Time to leave…for good.*

A few hours later…

             “Youngjae I’m home…” Mark said as he walked into the apartment.

Small barking greeted him. A white fluffy dog waging its tail sniffing Mark’s feet seeking for attention.

            “Coco ya…” Mark picked up the little dog into his arms, scratching behind its ears, receiving another happy barking from her.

Mark looked around and the house seemed empty.

            “Coco ya…let’s go find your daddy…” Mark put the dog down and head towards the master bedroom.

He opened the door and it’s empty. Youngjae wasn’t there.

*That’s weird…* he checked the bathroom and its empty.

Was he playing another round of hide and seek? Mark opened the closet and small gasp escaped him. Youngjae’s side of the closet was empty. Not a single thing was left behind. All of his belonging was gone.

There was a sense of uneasiness building inside Mark’s stomach.

*What is going on?* he took out his phone and dialed Youngjae’s number.

            “The number you have dialed is current unavailable…please…” Mark hung up before the automatic operator could say another word.

*Youngjae ah…* he went frantic and jogged to every room in the apartment.

He walked into the kitchen and saw something stuck on the metallic fridge door. He took a closer look and it was a piece of paper. His eyes darted towards the words on the paper.

Dear Mark…

Sorry for doing this…but I had to leave. This is the end of us. I love you Mark, I truly do…but there’s something in this world that out of our control no matter what we did.

I’m leaving Coco to you since I know she’s more attached to you than me…she always does, since the first time we brought her home. I know you will take a good care of her. Don’t find me anymore.

Youngjae.

The letter fell out of Mark’s grips. Coco’s barking brought him back from his thought. He picked up the white bundle of fur and hugged her close.

            “Why?”

Mark put Coco down and grabbed his car key. Determined to get his answers, he went out with one destination in mind.

***********************************

            “So, you finally did it.” Junhyuk said as he and Youngjae were heading down the parking lot at the basement of the agency.

            “Where’s my luggage?”

            “In the van…”

            “Let’s go back to the penthouse tonight…”

            “I hope you don’t regret this hyung…”

            “You don’t have to worry about that…I want my phone number change by tomorrow…”

            “Afraid that Mark hyung will find you?”

            “I just want to start fresh…”

They were walking towards the van when they heard a car coming. Youngjae stopped when he saw Mark’s black SUV.

            “He’s here…”

Mark got out of the car and went towards Youngjae.

            “Mark hyung…” Junhyuk said, clearly surprised to see him there.

            “I need to talk to your brother…” Mark said looking at Youngjae.

            “There’s nothing to talk about…” Youngjae opened the van’s door but before he got in, Mark pulled his hand.

            “Let’s talk!”

            “I said there’s nothing to talk about!” Youngjae pulled back his hand away from Mark’s grip.

            “Why?” that’s the only question that could came out from Mark’s mouth.

            “Because it’s time…things happened. I just think that there’s no love left between us.”

            “Is that it?”

            “Yea…what else do you want to hear?” Youngjae crossed his arms looking at Mark.

            “Youngjae ah…can we talk about this? Is that something that I did? What’s wrong?”

            “Just leave me alone Mark, let’s do this like a civilized adult…I don’t think I can be with you anymore…you’re not what I’m looking for in a guy…”

            “The two years we spent together meant nothing you?”

            “It meant something…just for a little while…I just realized that we’re never truly belong together…look Mark, don’t make this harder than it already is…let’s just have a clean break like normal people do, ok?”

            “Youngjae…baby…”

            “Just stop! There’s nothing you can say or do would change my mind…let’s go Jun…I’m tired and I need rest…” Youngjae got into the van and close the door.

            “Mark hyung…I’m sorry…”

Junhyuk bowed and went to the driver seat.

Mark just stood there watching Youngjae’s van disappeared in front of his eyes.

Youngjae left Mark...

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BBYONG!!