2 weeks before Mark's graduation and he still haven't told his friends that he was leaving Korea. And here he was now, stucked in the phone with his mom in the other line.   "Are you sure you're fine alone during graduation, Yi-en?" His mother said in her not usual tone. It was as if his mom was worried like her life depended on it. Well, since when did his mom not worry about him anyway?   "I'm totally fine." Mark said for the nth time in annoyance.   "Don't give me that tone, you punk." His mom said. "Wait, I'll give the call to your dad." Mark replied with a hum while leaning on the wall to rest.   "Son, why do you keep on saying that to your mom?" His dad asked the same.   Mark shook his head unbelievably. Just how can his parents be so persistent? "I told you dad. I handle myself. You all don't need to worry."   "Whatever you say, we will book a flight to Korea in a week. We'll be there during your graduation." His father, Raymond, sternly said. He can totally imagine his mother's eyes lighting up. Mark just sat there with his mouth agape. He sighed deeply for the last time.   "Okay." Mark gave in easily like that. He knew that he can't say no to his father. He can never. His father was always the strict type, but not so strict type. And whenever his father said something, he always obliged to it. It was also his father who sent him to college in Korea, thinking that it was the only way to stop his playboy habits and it actually worked.   His father smiled. "Good. I'll hand the phone to your mom now. Take care." He heard his siblings shouted across about how they were excited to come in Korea.   "Yi-en, take care of yourself. I love you." His mom said sweetly.   "I know that you're too excited, mom. I can imagine you grinning right now." Mark chuckled causing his mother the same. "I love you too. I'll hang up now."    Jackson spotted Mark at the corner with his phone in his ears. Apparently, Jackson's eyes went wider as he heard the last statement that Mark had said. He gasped quietly while covering his mouth like he saw his brother reading a magazine.   Mark put his phone in his pocket and he was surprised when he saw Jackson. Looking at Jackson's expression, he was left confused.   "What are you doing there, dude? It's bad to eavesdrop, you know." Mark said.   "You!" Jackson said as he pointed at his friend with an ugly smug plastered on his face like he was accusing Mark of something. "You're going out with someone?! That's why you don't want to be with Jinyoung anymore?" Jackson said while hissing as his words felt like poisons.   Mark cracked a fat laughter. "It was my mom, you ." He said between his laughter.    Jackson was embarrassed. "O-Oh, Right!" He laughed awkwardly.   "But why was Aunt calling?" Yes, he calls Mark's mother Aunt because he had been close to the Tuans the moment he became Mark's best friend.   "They said that they're gonna come in my graduation." Mark said.   "It's in two weeks, right? I'm still stuck with another year." Jackson groaned.   Mark smiled. "Actually, mom and dad had been calling me nonstop." Maybe it's time to tell his friend that he would come back to LA.   "Are they still worried thinking that you haven't stopped playing with girls?" Jackson smirked. "Someone's being babied."   "Not that! er." Mark slapped Jackson's muscled arms and continued. "Actually, I'm going back to LA."   Jackson laughed causing Mark to be dumbfounded. "Of course, you're going back to LA this summer! You do that every year to have a family bonding. What's new, Mark." He slapped his friend playfully.   "Not that. I mean I'm going to stay in LA for good. I plan to work there too." Mark said leaving Jackson with his mouth agape.   "I didn't know you'd be such a coward." Jackson simply stated.   "What are you implying?" Mark asked annoyed.    "It's so obvious that you're running away from Jinyoung." Jackson said. "You can do better than this, Mark."    "What's so wrong if I go back in LA when in the first place I literally lived there?" Jackson was getting in his nerves.   "Chill. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing." Jackson patted Mark's shoulder.   "Then what do you mean?"   "I'm telling you to clear things out with Jinyoung. You guys hadn't had a proper break up. I mean, if you want him, take him. If not, tell him. That guy, although he was the one who suggested the break up, he was still hurting, Mark. Suffering more than you." Jackson said while looking at his friend intently making sure that he can totally convey his words to Mark. Mark was somehow annoyed that he Jackson tells him something like this. Jackson had never been this serious and mature.   "I.. How many times have you been pushing me to make up with Jinyoung?" Mark questioned.   "As long as you two would make up. As lovers or friends or even acquaintances, I don't care. I just want you both to be happy." Jackson smiled cheekily. "So sort things out properly like an adult. Man up, dude! Don't run away from your problems."   Jackson was right. His break up with Jinyoung was not clean and it hurt him like . Up until now, he loved Jinyoung. He promised himself that he would totally get Jinyoung again if things had been sorted out and cleared. And to make this easier, Jae was the one who made things clear. But he was not so confident to himself if he can assure to not hurt Jinyoung again. He was a certified retired player. He doesn't trust himself on this. He was afraid to hurt his precious gem.   "Don't ing hesitate, Mark! You need to do it. Before it's too late." Jackson said as he slapped his friend's back.   "I know! But I don't know how to." Mark replied a bit annoyed.   "Let's make a bet then." Jackson smirked.   "Not with this again." Mark sighed.   "Come on, don't be a killjoy."   "Fine. What's this about?" Mark asked anyway.   "I take it that Jinyoung would accept your apology and you take the option of Jinyoung won't accept your apology." Jackson smirked.   "What happens then?" Mark asked. "Aren't you too unfair to decide this all by yourself?" Mark asked.   "It's not unfair. I'm the one who proposed the bet anyway. If you win, you're free to go and if I'm the one who will win, you'll stay here in Korea." Jackson grinned from ear ro ear.   "What the ?" Mark said.   "You accepted the bet already. There's no turning back!" Jackson cooed like a school girl in front of Mark.   "Deal. Who says that you'll win this bet anyway?" Mark smirked.   "Oh and didn't I tell you not to mess up your apology and don't tell harsh words to Jinyoungie? Let's add that." Jackson said as he waved goodbye to the elder. "Don't you dare play dirty!" He shouted.   "I never played dirty! And I never planned to spat harsh words from the start!" Mark said as he attempted to throw his backpack to the running Jackson. Jackson seriously knew how to find ways to make him st