6. I’m Sorry!

 

 

“Jackson….” Mark said surprised to see Jackson sitting at his homes couch. They stared at each other and Mark can see sadness and hurt in Jackson’s eyes. The younger is wearing his casual outfit that Mark is relief over, if he is wearing his school uniform, his mother definitely going to ask many question that he can’t even answer.

 

 

“Oh, Mark you’re home, why are you still standing there like a statue? Come and greet Jackson…” His mother said while coming out of the kitchen with some fruit. Mark nodded his head and went to sit beside Jackson and it is an awkward atmosphere. Mrs. Tuan felt the atmosphere and asked Mark to take Jackson to the room to play or talk since it been long time they last played together

 

 

Both of them are now in Mark’s room, Jackson sitting at Mark’s bed while the elder sitting at the floor. It was silent between them, both of them just sat there quietly, until Mark broke the silent

 

 

“I’m sorry….” Mark muttered quietly, but it was loud enough for Jackson to hear

 

 

“What did you say?” Jackson choose to pretend that he didn’t hear the elder

 

 

“I’m sorry….” Mark said it again, this time a bit louder

 

 

“I can’t hear you….” Jackson said, pretending he didn’t hear again

 

 

“I know you hear me, you bastard…” Mark said a bit irritated since he knew that Jackson hear him, but just pretending that he didn’t and making him say it many times

 

 

“Oh, so I am the bastard now? Who was the bastard that kicked, punched me and stole all my lunch money?” Jackson fights back, he felt betrayed when his bestfriend just ignored him and didn’t help him, when he always stands up for Mark when he got bullied at school in LA

 

 

“I wasn’t the one who kicked you, punch you and stole your money…. and I said sorry okay…” Mark turned around too look at Jackson and said

 

 

“Yeah, you weren’t the one who did it, but you were the one who just ignored me getting bullied and even was one of the gang member that kicked me, punch me and stole my money, my lunch money. I starved whole day that I need to go home early for I was to hungry, how can you betray me like that? I’m your bestfriend…. not just bestfreind, I’m also your boyfriend, how could you….” Jackson shouted dramatically at Mark

 

 

“First, I didn’t have a choice, it is a long story and I’m sorry, secondly yes you’re my bestfriend and EX-boyfriend…. and lastly… can you stop shouting? Mom will hear you….” Mark listed up and let out a sigh

 

 

“I’m always this loudly and you know it, plus you’re the one who will get in trouble for being a bully, not me so don’t quiet me down. I had plenty of time so you should start with you “long story” before I go out and tell mama Tuan for what you did….” Jackson shouted again and Mark let out a sigh, knowing that he need to tell his bestfriend the truth

 

“Ok, ok, I will tell you…” Mark started and told Jackson the whole story, from finding the chatting site on the internet to being a part of the bully gang and being Jinyoung’s boyfriend. Mark stared at Jackson after finishing his story and the younger stared back shocked with his mouth open

 

 

“What a ridiculous choice of yours, you choose to trust a random guy from the internet?” Jackson asked after hearing the whole story from Mark

 

 

“I don’t have a choice… I don’t want to get bullied again….” Mark told the truth, he doesn’t want to get bullied again, being bullied is the worst

 

 

“You don’t want to get bullied again, but you choose to be the bully? Mark, I know that you had a hard time in LA because of those ing bully who bullied you, but…. but how can you be the bully now when you totally know how it felt for being bullied?” Jackson said, disappointed at his bestfriend

 

 

“Do you really think I had it fun when I see those student being bullied? I know how it felt, that’s why I don’t want to feel those feeling again…. feeling like a loser, being punched every day, getting water on you…. losing all your lunch moneys, the worst is that you can’t do anything about it…. it’s like hell….” Mark said, with full of sadness, flashback of how his school life was is LA, it felt like hell. He buried his face into his knees, hiding his tears and made Jackson let out a sigh

 

 

“You know how it felt and I know that you’re not having fun seeing them being bullied, but to become a bully is not a solution Mark…” Jackson sat beside his bestfriend and rubbed Mark’s back and said

 

 

“I know and I’m sorry…” Mark said between his sob, he knows that Jackson is disappointed at him and feeling betrayed

 

 

“So…. what are you going to do know? Are you still going to stay in that gang…” Jackson asked with a soft tone this time and it made the elder look up

 

 

“I don’t know, I can’t just leave them, they not going to let me live then… and I… I….” Mark said and started to stutter

 

 

“You started to get use to the school life with them right? You like to be with those one who’s powerful and not living like a loser… am I right?” Jackson asked and Mark looked away from the younger’s stare. To be honest, if you ask Mark, Jackson is the one who knew him the most, he can never lie to the other

 

 

“I never felt like that before Jackson, being one of the popular guy in school, being the one everyone is scared of and not the loser everyone is ignoring or bullying… and…. and it was them who made it possible for me…. I don’t know anymore, Jackson, I’m scared of going back to the life I had in LA… I don’t want to live like hell again….” Mark said it full of sadness and tears rolling down his cheek, Jackson couldn’t stand his bestfriend crying and hugged the elder right away

 

 

“It’s okay, just stay in the gang, but please don’t end up being the bully…. don’t end up being the one who punch people and steal other student’s money…. if you end up like that… trust me, I won’t stand back and I will definitely drag you out of that gang, you hear me…” Jackson said, more like a command and it made Mark chuckle, flashback of their old time, playing together and Jackson command him like a mother

 

 

“I promise I won’t…. and I missed you Jackson…” Mark said with a small smile on his face

 

 

“I missed you to man….” Jackson said and hugged his bestfriend and Mark hugged the younger back. They broke the hug and both of them began to laugh, suddenly feeling awkward of the hug

 

 

“But, what about your boyfriend? Are you serious with him?” Jackson asked with a serious tone, he really don’t want Mark to date a bully

 

 

“Of course not, I admit Jinyoung is handsome and attractive, but definitely not my type. You know that I don’t like bullies, I just don’t want to be bullied, that’s why I’m with them or else, never I will date Jinyoung…. I just couldn’t say no, since he’s the leader of the gang…” Mark said and Jackson just nodded his head for understanding, but Jackson had a feeling that Mark is hiding something, some feeling that maybe self-Mark didn’t know himself.  

 

 

“Ok, but…. have you guys done it?” Jackson asked curiously

 

 

“Done what?” Mark asked dumbfounded, not understanding

 

 

“ of course, dah….” Jackson said and rolled his eyes, how can the elder not understanding what he tried to say

 

 

“Of course not….” Mark quickly denied with blushing face, it’s not that this is the first time he had talk with Jackson, they even had plenty of times back in LA, Jackson was his first and so are Mark to Jackson

 

 

“Absolutely not or not yet? I don’t really like the idea of you “dating” a bully, but you know men has his needs soooo…. I won’t be mad if you choose to have with him….” Jackson said and it made Mark hit him hardly on the arm

 

 

“Ouch…. You promised me that you won’t punch and bully people….” Jackson said while he rubbing his arm

 

 

“I promised that I won’t punch other people, but it is except you, beside bullying is over time and you asked for it…. Even I had my needs, I won’t just sleep with Jinyoung, he is not worth to be my partner…. I only sleep with the one I love and I don’t love him….” Mark said casually like it is common sense that you only sleep with the one you love

 

 

“Oh…. So you’re saying that you love me? That’s why we had ?” Jackson said dramatically, like he is touched for being loved by Mark

 

 

“Can you shut the up Wang Jackson?” Mark said and rolled his eyes for Jackson’s dramatically response

 

 

“Whatever… but doesn’t he push you? You guys had been together for a while now, don’t he had his needs?” Jackson asked with a more serious tone this time

 

 

“He said he won’t push me and wait until I get ready….” Mark responded with a more serious tone as well

 

 

“From one view, he’s a good guy…for not pushing you….” Jackson said and had sudden a different view and impression of Jinyoung

 

 

“Yeah…” Mark muttered “He his good to me at least…” Mark thought and a sudden smile landed on his face without himself knowing

 

 

“What are smiling at?” Jackson asked after seeing the elder smiling like an idiot

 

 

“Nothing…. mhm…but don’t worry Jackson, as long as Jinyoung and his gang don’t see you at school, you won’t be bullied…” Mark said and now looking at the younger

 

 

“We go to the same school and same class, isn’t it a bit hard for him to not see me in school?” Jackson looked back at the elder and said

 

 

“I know, but Jinyoung and his gang only bully other student at the free time in school, when we had classes and lectors, he won’t do anything……” Mark said, he had been with the gang for a while now, so he knew when the others would bully other students and not

 

 

“But still, it’s not that easy to avoid him every time, like today, he waited for me outside of the building… how am I supposed to avoid him?” Jackson said and let out a sigh, knowing that he will be bullied the rest of his school life. To be honest he can fight back, but he doesn’t want to fight in front of Mark, he scared of Mark will get in trouble now that he is one of the gang

 

 

“No worries, I will contact you every time they are after you, just always had your phone beside you so you get my messages, not like today, ignoring my call and messages…” Mark said, he really wants to save his bestfriend, but he couldn’t think of other solutions than helping Jackson to avoid Jinyoung and the gang

 

 

“I had my phone on silent so I didn’t hear…but fine, I will listen to you my buddy…” Jackson said and put his arm around the elder shoulder and smiled. Mark returned the smile and they changed the conversation to talking about their old time in LA

 

 

Jackson slept over that night, it was Friday and weekend the next morning so Jinyoung won’t come and get him anyway. They talked about everything and it felt like going back to the old times in LA. Having sleepovers and talking about bull, but even they are talking about bull it was still fun and memorable. The next morning Mark’s phone started to ring and it woke the elder up, Mark saw Jackson stirred from his sleep beside him on the bed so he quickly finds his phone and answered it so he won’t wake Jackson up.

 

 

“Hello…” Mark said after answering the phone without looking at who was the one who called

 

 

“Hey baby, look out of your window….” The other said from the other line and Mark knew it right away that it was Jinyoung 

 

 

Mark looked at his phone to conforms that it was Jinyoung who called and went to the window, he looked out and saw Jinyoung leaning on his car waving to him

 

 

“What are you doing here? It’s weekend…” Mark asked on the phone and he can hear the younger’s chuckle

 

 

“Babo, we’re going to a date…” Jinyoung said with confident, like it is obviously and just common sense

 

 

“We are?” Mark asked confused, he didn’t remember had planned any date with Jinyoung today

 

 

“Of course babe, hurry up and come down and don’t make wait too long…” Jinyoung said and hang up the phone

 

 

Mark looked at Jackson who is still sleeping soundly on the bed and let out a big sigh. The elder went over to the younger and nudged the other to wake him up, Jackson stirred from his sleep and rubbed his eyes and looked at Mark sleepily. Why wouldn’t him, it’s 7am and they didn’t fall asleep before 3am so basically they didn’t sleep more than 4 hours.

 

 

“Jackson I have to leave first, Jinyoung is here to get me… I’m sorry….” Mark said and apologised, he felt sorry for Jackson, he actually promised the younger that they would hang out on the weekend

 

 

“What’s time is it?” Jackson asked with one of his eyes closed, he’s still sleepy

 

 

“7am…” Mark said after looking at the clock on his phone

 

 

“Oh, ok…whatever…. I will go home later…. I just need my beauty sleep now…bye….” Jackson said and closed his eyes again and it made Mark let out a little chuckle, knowing how much Jackson likes to sleep

 

 

“Sorry buddy…I promise I will make up for it later…” Mark muttered and went to change and get ready for meeting Jinyoung

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Tuan is still asleep so he just went outside without having to explain anything, he will just ask Jackson to make an excuse for him. Mark ran out of his apartment building and saw Jinyoung handsomely leaning on his white Ferrari waiting for him and the elder quickly ran to his boyfriend

 

 

“Did you buy a new car?” Mark asked curiously, Jinyoung always came and get him with his black Ferrari, but today it was a white one.

 

 

“Yeah…. but now give me a kiss…” Jinyoung said and Mark just smiled, before giving him a small peck on the lips