“Mark, are you okay?” Jackson asked with a frown marring his face. Jackson doesn’t know why, but no matter how hard he tries to read Mark, he just can’t figure the lad out.

But Jackson knew better than to pry. Although he is, technically, Mark’s best friend and roommate, he knows that he has to respect a person’s privacy.

Then again, Mark’s too intriguing for Jackson to leave him alone.

Mark looked up from the book that he was reading and offered Jackson a small smile, as though it was a reassurance that he was fine.

“Do you want to eat lunch out with the others?” Jackson asked a different question this time, scooting closer to the other male. Mark shook his head, replying that he’d be eating instant noodles for lunch.

“But Mark-,” Jackson started, when his head was hit by a really thick book.

“Stop bothering him, you idiot.”

Jackson let out a loud whine as he averted his gaze to the door, where an annoyed Jinyoung stood. Mark chuckled and shook his head again and got up to his feet.

“Thanks, Jinyoung,” Mark mumbled, a smile threatening to show on his face.

Jackson frowned when Mark thanked Jinyoung for throwing what seemed like a thesaurus at his head. “Hey, I was only asking him questions!” He exclaimed defensively.

“Obviously questions that made him uncomfortable,” Jinyoung replied smartly and rolled his eyes. “Come on, Mark, I made instant noodles and kimbap. You can eat that.”

There was a glint of something that flashed in Mark’s eyes, but it dissipated as quickly as it appeared. A smile appeared and he walked over to Jinyoung, wrapping his arm around the other’s shoulder.

“Thanks, man.”

Jinyoung grinned back in return, and of course, he didn’t miss the look of confusion on Jackson’s face.

“So tell me, what’s up Mark?” It was Jinyoung’s time to question Mark. He watched the other eat his noodles in silence, wondering what goes on in Mark’s mind. Jackson wasn’t the only one curious about him – so was Jinyoung – although he doesn’t really show it.

“I’m having trouble with my assignment,” Mark confessed, setting his chopsticks down.

“What assignment?”

“Acting. I mean, this is my first year and there’s this script that everyone got and the assignment was to get your emotions across and I-”

Silence.

Jinyoung laughed softly after he had covered Mark’s mouth with his palm. “Was that what you’ve been sulking over the whole morning? You worried Jaebum to death, you idiot.”