It was a warm spring evening when Jackson first fell in love. There was no ringing of bells, no roses, no butterflies, no moonlight. But there was setting sun though. The setting sun and Mark. 

         Jackson had never fallen in love before. Not when Youngji left a couple's t-shirt in his locker, not when the cute American fencer scrawled his number on Jackson's palm and neither when he kissed Bambam under the cherry blossom. But there was something about Mark and his concerned look when he came running towards Jackson to treat his wound which he had decided to overlook in favour of taking the firewood into the house. Jackson had been chopping wood for the fireplace like any other day. Having finished, he collected the wood in his arms to carry them in. A sharp pointed wood pierced through his forearm and he threw them all due to reflex. He started bleeding from the cut but since it did not hurt much he decided to treat it later. So he collected the scattered firewood and started walking towards his home but a shrill "hey" stopped him on his tracks. When he turned towards the direction of the voice, he saw a very worried Mark, with his hair all shriveled, running towards him. 

"You're  bleeding." Mark said. Jackson remained silent. After few seconds he looked at his forearm and yes, he was indeed bleeding.  "Ye...s..." he muttered. 

"Let me help, okay?" Mark said and just like that, Jackson placed the firewood aside, sat on the ground and let Mark help him. Mark had brought a band aid but no cotton. He had nothing to clean the blood that had started to clot, so he pulled the sleeve of his yellow jumper and slowly rubbed it against Jackson's arm. It stung and Jackson flinched so Mark started to blow air through his mouth over the cut to soothe the pain. Finally, after cleaning it all, he put the band aid and smiled at Jackson, "There. You can continue now. " With that, he turned around and ran back home. 

            Jackson was at loss for words. He was immensely moved by Mark's simple action. It felt so honest, innocent and peaceful.He was so mesmerized by the way Mark took care of him that he kinda forgot to talk. And Jackson loved to talk. He was always a chatterbox. He talked so much that others would get tired seeing him. But Mark made him look stupid, staring at him with adoration when he was busy cleaning his hand, yet Jackson remained silent. It was not like him to keep quiet at all. He would say things at people's face. If he liked you, he would just mention it coolly. But Mark did something to him he didn't understand. So although Jackson was left speechless, he fell in love. 

              Mark had been peeking again( and no, he was not disappointed to see Jackson in tank top) when he saw what happened. He immediately ran towards the first aid box and took a band aid but they had run out of cotton. It was so fast that he forgot that had been taking a nap a while ago and he must look all dishveled. Although he would try to look nice, fixing his hair and clothes when he was ever around Jackson, he knew he had to do something that he just ran. So it was on impulse he ran to help Jackson. After he was done, he ran home beacuse he felt he just made a fool out of himself. Jackson didn't even thank him and though they had started to exchange hellos and heys after the winter incident, to run out to treat one's neighbour's little cut seemed quite inappropriate as he thought about it.  Mark felt that now he has pushed Jackson far, far away and the very little chances of frienship from the person he loved now seemed like drowning in the Han river. So, to say Mark was shocked when Jackson showed up at his door that night with chocolate cookies basket with a note stuck on it is an understatement. Jackson just uttered a soft "thank you ", placed the basket on Mark's hand and left. Mark stood at the door for like two minutes staring towards the direction Jackson had gone. Only after that he shut the door, ran towards his room, placed the basket on the table, fell on his bed, put the pillow over his mouth and screamed with all his might. He felt like a crazy school girl who had just been Eskimo kissed by her boyfriend. He felt all giggly and his heart, his stomach and all the possible organs were fluttering.  Then he remembered the note.  It read, 

"Hey! I wonder why we are not yet friends. Maybe we could hang out sometime?" 

And at the end, there was his phone number, neatly arranged, followed by a wink smiley. 

           Jackson on the other hand was mentally punching himself for he felt completely stupid. He didn't know where he got the courage to write the note but he did. He felt like he totally blew up his chances with Mark, if there was any at all. He felt like a moron and he kept scolding himself. Mark might have been just a kind boy but no, Jackson had to assume he was interested. He cursed himself while burying his head under the blanket on his bed when he heard the message tone of his phone. He grabbed it with great hope and it indeed showed a message from Mark. It read, 

" Hey there! Being friends sounds like a great idea. Let's meet up. Just tell me the time and place and I'll be there." 

            To say that Jackson was happy is an understatement. He grinned at his phone screen like a maniac even when it locked and went black. He felt like a crazy school girl who had been  asked to prom by her three years long crush. He could now expect the distance between him and Mark to disappear. He hoped to keep Mark near for a long, long time.

           So yeah, Mark and Jackson were no longer 'not friends'. They were neighbours who appreciated each other. 

           And it hit Jackson like a thousand bricks and spears when he fell in love with Mark Tuan. 

Author's note: Chapter two! Hope you all like it. Please do comment if I should continue or not.

Plus I'm soexcited about the new album. I can't wait!!