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Warning: Please, in any circumstances, do not throw your laptop/phone/table/or bed O_O KEEP CALM AND LOVE MARKEI! Love you guys! xx

[Rei]

Mark and I ended up not going to the trip to Seoul, again. Instead, we spent the day together. Surprise? Yeah! We decided on a picnic of our own by the waterfall near his pack.

Miyu almost pulled all her hair out in frustration when I canceled on her. But, listen to this! When Mark told her that he’ll spend the day with me, that girl went back to her cheerful-self. I guess, she just wanted to see me happy.

After she heard what happened to me and my grandmother and the things I found out, she was hell-bent on taking me to the trip trying to make me forget and breathe freely for a day. I think I understand from where she’s coming from.

However, she also needs to remember that I’m not that easily persuaded by going out of town just to make myself happy. When you grow up in the environment surrounded with secrets, threats, and all that death-is-your-best-friend thing. You don’t get influenced or excited by a mere invitation to the city, it takes more than that. Nevertheless, I am grateful for her trying, I’ll remember that.

Remember when I secretly hoped to meet Senior Tuan? Yeah… Well, I met him. Before we headed out to our picnic, Mark took me in the house to grabbed the picnic basket in courtesy of his mom, along the way we cross path with the man.

“Dad, this is Rei.” Mark introduced us. “Rei, this is David Tuan, the former Alpha and my father.”

For a split second, my eyes widened. This man is the dean of the college I once studied at. What a small world? I gave him a small smile, shaking his hand “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“What are we? In the army?” The man joked, his smile reaches his eyes. “Around here, we hug.” And so, he pulled me in a fatherly embrace.

Only when we let go that I realized I was holding my breath. He reminded me of my father’s bear hug, which I missed dearly.

“So, this is the Rei everyone talks so highly about.” The smile remained on his face, and the next thing he said nearly made me burst into tears. “You’ve grown so much.” He paused as he examined my feature “Wow! You look just like your mother.”

“You know my parents?” I spoke softly as I was seemingly being caught off guard.

Both Mark’s parents nodded their head with a gentle yet sad smile on their face. “They are the nicest people we’ve come across and to become acquainted with. Your grandparents are no different, they might be hard-headed couple, but they’re very considerate and generous. Speaking of which, how’s your grandfather? I’ve seen your grandmother around, she looks well.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat before answering, “My grandfather – passed away 3 years ago,” Suddenly, the room turned pin-dropping silent.

The Tuan’s couple looked genuinely surprised at the news, so was Mark. “We are so sorry. I know this is overdue, but you have our deepest condolence.” Mark’s mother, Lin, said.

I could only nod my head weakly with a tight lip, I can’t say that it’s all right, because it’s not. So, it’s best that I keep my mouth shut.

Sensing the awkward air in the room, Mark quickly broke it off and bid our adieu, and head off to our little journey. We embark on the trip by foot. Mark said that there are more than one waterfalls in this town. This place is sure full of surprises, and wonder that I am yet to discover.

To say that this picnic was to work on our relationship is exaggerating. I mean, for me, it’s either this or sit at home and continue to sulk over my grandmother’s betrayal.

5 minutes into the walk, we arrived. Even though considering that this entire town is his, which basically says that this is his playground. So, he knows every nook and cranny of this place.

Spreading out the picnic cover on the floor of the forest, the stream glimmered like crystal under this late August sun. The weather was still warm, but not too warm where you can’t breathe at all, it was just nice.

“Do you want to swim first or eat? Or eat and then swim?” He asked, knees on the cover whilst his feet were still on the dirt.

Cocking an eyebrow at him “Really, Tuan? It’s like the common rule before swimming. If you eat, you need to wait an hour before going into the water.”

“I knew that,” He chuckled “That’s why I asked, smartass!”

Teasingly narrowing my eyes at him before rolling them away in annoyance. “I don’t know.” Casually shrugging my shoulder “What do you want to do fi