Hello Dear Readers!

Here is another 'a' update. So there will be a 'b' part of Chapter 24 coming up very shortly!

I want to thank you all again for all of the GREAT comments you left! It's almost like having a chat with friends about the story!  ^_^

Hope you like this installment.

Chapter 24a

JinYoung sat for a long while unable to move. He couldn't have possibly heard right.

MiRa . . . pregnant . . . no . . . please . . . no . . .

He closed his eyes tightly and lay back on the bed. Mark's bed. The bed in which he'd been sleeping enfolded in his love's arms every night.

He rolled over onto his stomach and reached out to grab Mark's pillow. He buried his face into the pillow, inhaling deeply, willing himself to recall everything about Mark at once, because he could feel it happening . . . the thing that had plagued him every day and every night since he'd come . . . Mark . . . Mark was slipping away. He couldn't have him. . . he would never be able to have him again . . .

How can I tell him? He doesn't even know what happened. I didn't have the courage to tell him before, and now . . .

JinYoung couldn't lose him again. He just couldn't.

As he lay on the bed hugging Mark's pillow he decided, firmly and resolutely.

It can't be over. It will never be over between us . . .

Then he picked up his phone and made a call.

Mark had gone in early because JunHong had called in. He'd left JinYoung a note telling him where he'd gone and actually spent much of the morning expecting JinYoung to stop in to see him. After hours had passed and he hadn't appeared, Mark just smiled to himself as he thought 'he must be sleeping late'. But when he went into the office near the end of the shift to place an order with a supplier, he noticed that he had a message on his phone. It had come in hours before.

It was from JinYoung.

"Mark, I have to go back. Something's come up that I have to deal with myself. I'll come back as soon as I can. I might not be in touch for the next day or two, but I will soon. I love you, Mark. I miss you already. I'll come back to you. I promise. I love you."

There the recording ended. Mark saved the message.

Then he called JinYoung. He didn't pick up, so Mark left a message for him.

"Please let me take you to the airport. I just need to see you one last time before you leave. Please just wait for me. I'll get someone to cover the end of this shift for me and then I'll be right there. I love you, JinYoung."

But JinYoung texted back. Almost immediately.

"I'm already on the flight. I'm sorry, Mark. I'll come back to you soon. I love you with all my heart."

He knew this day would come.

At least he had his voice saved in a message. If JinYoung was going to be away, Mark had to know that he could hear his voice whenever he needed to. He felt an ache when he thought of not being able to see JinYoung, and not knowing for how long, not even knowing when he would hear his voice again.

The thing that worried him though, was not the fact that JinYoung had to leave: they'd both known that he would have to go back sometime, even if it was just to arrange to sell the property and move his things to Seoul. The thing that worried him was the sound of desperation behind JinYoung's voice; a desperation that he was obviously trying to conceal. Mark wondered why. If there was something wrong at Escape that only he could handle, surely it wouldn't warrant that tone in his voice.

Maybe something had happened to JinYoung's parents . . . but why wouldn't he tell me? I hope he doesn't think he can't talk to me about them . . . I don't want that to be our life now, one where he feels he has to keep things from me . . .

And why would he not be in touch for a day or two? He can't call? He won't even be able to send a text? Why?

Mark had a sinking feeling, but he refused to give in to it. Instead, he shrugged it off and decided to trust JinYoung. They had become so close recently, he would surely realize, if he didn't already, that he could tell Mark anything: it didn't matter if it had to do with Escape or with his family, Mark would always listen and try to support him. He didn't want JinYoung to ever feel like he had to choose again between the people he loved. Mark would never put him in that position.

He couldn't help but wonder if something had happened to JinYoung's parents. Surely he would tell Mark if something as serious as that had happened.

Wouldn't he?

*                                 *                                 *                                 *                                 *

Everybody was having fun.

After having sent out a few texts, HimChan's flat was full. He'd decided to have a spur-of-the-moment get-together. He was actually surprised at how many people could come at such short notice.

So, nobody has a life?

He'd decided to invite everybody over after what had taken place this morning.

He'd been on his way out when he saw Mark's face as he held his cell phone in his hand. He had entered the office as Mark had received a text. His face changed from eager to decimated.

Whatever was in that text, couldn't have been good.

So HimChan, being the friend he was, after giving Mark a few moments, then plastered a believable upbeat look on his face and approached him.

 "So, here you are! You know, I must say, I'm impressed. I'm sort of always surprised when you come in at all, much less when it's not your shift. I half expect the phone to ring every morning with you on the line, phoning up with an excuse. If I had a boyfriend like JinYoung, I don't think I would have been in since he landed," HimChan said perching on the edge of his desk.

"Yeah . . . " said Mark still far away. Then he suddenly came back to himself, as though what HimChan said finally registered. " . . . if you had, you would have lost your job," he said trying his best to answer HimChan's humour.

"Yeah, but with someone like JinYoung I would have been content to live on love," HimChan smiled. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about that, do you? One of the perks of business ownership: the boss can't get fired," he kidded. But he could see that Mark was far away again.

Suddenly the door connecting the office to front-of-house swung open. JongUp walked in while pulling his apron over his head with a smile on his face. But when he saw Mark and HimChan there, the smile slipped from his face, then almost immediately apologetic, as if he'd interrupted something he announced, "sorry, I just need to clock out," he said, walking over to hang up his apron. Then doing his best not to look at either Mark or HimChan, he finished his checking-out procedure and slipped on his leather jacket and scarf. "Sorry I interrupted."

"You didn't interrup . . . "

But before HimChan could finish speaking, JongUp was already out the door.

"Where did his smile go? He's always smiling. Well, at the customers. Not at me," HimChan mentioned with a wry smile.

But it seemed he was talking to himself. Mark, deep in thought, didn't respond.

"Mark?"

"Hmm?"

"We're friends, right?"

Mark looked up at HimChan from where he was sitting.

"Yes."

HimChan then got down from the desk and squatted beside him and from that position, looked up at him. HimChan from this angle was totally irresistible. A fact he well knew and therefore used with caution.

"Then tell me, what's wrong," he asked, his eyes shining up at Mark's

Mark looked into HimChan's eyes and sighed.

"So you're trying the 'little kitty out in the rain offensive' on me?"

HimChan just blinked. Adorably.

"It's nothing, really . . ." Mark said.

"Your face is telling me something else. Come on, what's up?"

He sighed again. When it came to Kim HimChan, he had no defences. He knew that sooner rather than later, HimChan would get it out of him, so there was no use in resisting.

"It's JinYoung . . . " he began.

*                                 *                                 *                                 *                                 *

After they'd finished talking, and Mark had gone back out to the front, HimChan gave his texting fingers a workout. The texts went something like this: 'Party at mine. Tonight. Bring snacks and drinks. It's for Mark, so no excuses. 7pm.'

"Do you want me to stay and take your shift? It's not a problem," HimChan offered.

"No," Mark smiled sadly, "it's better if I work . . . really."

After he'd changed, and before he left Mark to work his second shift, he hooked his arm through his and said, "If you have plans for tonight, cancel them. You're coming over, and . . .  ah, ah, ah . . . I am not taking 'no for an answer. Come as soon as you get off work so we'll have time to eat before the others show up."

"Others? Show . . . ?"

"See you then," HimChan winked. Then he turned and walked out.

*                                 *                                 *                                 *                                 *

Now they were playing 'Truth or Dare'. Again.

I've really got to look up some new games . . . HimChan thought. But, all in all, the 'Let's-Cheer-Up-Mark Party' was going well. It had started out a bit hairy as Mark had to answer questions about why JinYoung wasn't there, but after that, everything had gone well. Everyone he'd invited had shown up.

Well, almost everyone.

It seemed he wasn't able to come.

But, no matter. HimChan just smiled the crooked smile of disappointment when the text came in.

He really must hate me . . . he couldn't help but think.

No, he's just busy . . . he just couldn't this time; there'll be another time . . . he comforted himself saying.

And now here they were playing the notorious party game. And it was JaeBum's turn.

"Dare," he declared.

JoKwon was the one meting out the dare and he was merciless.

"Kiss a person sitting next to you for 10 seconds. On the lips," he ordered.

JaeBum was sat between Jia on one side and . . . YoungJae on the other.

He didn't know what to do. He knew what he wanted to do, but on the lips? For ten seconds? If he chose YoungJae, wouldn't he feel uncomfortable? They had to work together after all. Wouldn't he feel awkward? But then, he was friends with Jia. Wouldn't she feel awkward? But that was what this game was about: awkwardness.

Even worse than all these concerns was the chief one: how could he, JaeBum, handle it?

The last two times he'd kissed YoungJae had haunted and plagued him long after. The time on the last day before he drove away he replayed in his mind for years. And the last time, when he'd declared his feelings to—what he thought was—an oblivious YoungJae . . . he'd thought about it every day since. All that and those hadn't even been kisses on the lips. Although he'd wanted to for so long, he didn't want the first time he kissed YoungJae—if he ever kissed YoungJae—to be here . . .  as part of a game. His feelings were too strong for that. And it was too important. Too special. It just wouldn't feel right doing it this way.

"You're holding up the game," Jackson shouted out. "Get kissing."

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" his friends chanted.

What could he do?

I'm sorry . . . he thought.

And then JaeBum turned and planted a 10-second kiss on the person sitting next to him to the sound of a collective *gasp*.

*                                 *                                 *                                 *                                 *

"Did you enjoy yourself," HimChan asked as he arranged Mark's scarf around his neck.

"Yes . . . I enjoyed myself," Mark admitted with a reluctant smile.

"Good. That makes the thought of emptying all this trash in the morning easier to cope with." Then, taking Mark's hands into his, he added kindly, "he'll call."

In one swift movement, Mark let go of HimChan's hands and pulled him into a hug. Then he whispered in his ear, "thank you, HimChan."

And HimChan answered back smiling, "no need to thank me. That's what I'm here for."

*                                 *                                 *                                 *                                 *

They stood out in the cold in front of his door.

"Thank you for dropping me off. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea or something, Hyung?"

"I don't want you to go to any trouble for me."

"It's no trouble."

"If it's really no trouble . . . .then . . . okay," JaeBum smiled as he followed YoungJae into his apartment.

24b coming soon...

.gif not mine