{ chapter t w e l v e }

“Five minutes, boys!” The stage director yelled as he passed by STORM’s dressing room. “Get ready to get your show started!”

Both Mark and Jackson were pumped up, grinning widely to everyone. They were enthralled to meet their fans again, especially after the scandal which recently tainted them. They were thankful to those who kept on supporting and believing in them, especially to those who were rational enough to not harass Heo Youngji.

“Yah,” Mark called out as he was getting his eye make-up done next to Jackson who was busy debating with the stylist regarding the hairstyle. “Has Youngji-ssi texted you yet?”

Jackson’s head immediately turned towards Mark’s direction. “That idiot? Texting me?” He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t even have her number.”

The elder of the two’s eyes widened. “Really?!”

“Uh-huh,” the younger rapper answered as the stylist mussed his hair. He gave Mark a side-eye before training his eyes back to the mirror in front of him, checking his looks. “Aren’t you and Jr. hyung the ones who were supposed to know her number? You guys seem so close.” He huffed before picking up his phone and scrolling.

“Well, I thought you had her number. I was about to ask it from yo–”

“WHAT?” Jackson shouted, making the rest of the room eye him weirdly. He coughed in an attempt to compose himself before fixing his posture. “Why were you even going to ask for that idiot’s number?”

Mark faked a cough in order to disguise the laughter bubbling up on him. Jackson can be so obvious sometimes, he mused in his head before shrugging. “Nothing, she’s nice. And has a pretty laugh.” He smiled at the younger, feigning ignorance.

To Mark’s surprise, Jackson turned to the hairstylist without replying to him. “Noona, can you ask Seunghoon hyung to get an appointment to the ophthalmologist? Mark seems to have a problem with his eyes,” he solemnly stated.

The elder half of the duo chuckled. “What’s wrong with you, dimsum?” Jackson seriously turned to him. “This is a serious issue! The next thing I know, you’d be tripping over stage lights and whatnots, man.”

“C’mon, stop overreacting Jackson.” Mark stated before thanking the make-up stylist. “It’s true, Youngji-ssi has a pretty laugh.”

“Man, that idiot’s mouth’s diameter when she laughs is five inches. Are you really telling me that?”

Mark bubbled with laughter. “That’s her unique trait, you know.”

“Fine, lie to yourself.” The younger shook his head. “How did we even get to this topic, anyway?”

“I’m just worried for Youngji-ssi. I want to know if she came so she could just stay here in backstage with us. It’s dangerous for her to be out there with all the people.” He worriedly stated, just as the director came back to yell “One minute, standby everyone!!!”

Jackson couldn’t help the worry that bloomed in his chest as Mark’s words sunk in. The venue for their fan meeting holds 15,000 capacity, and their tickets were sold out. It would be difficult to find the idiot in that vast sea of people.

“Don’t worry,” Mark suddenly quipped, clapping Jackson’s back. “I texted Jr. and told him to take care of Youngji-ssi if he sees her. Let’s go, we have a show to run, mandu.”

The younger nodded. “Cheer up, Wang. Youngji-ssi will be fine.”

“I’m not–”

“Ten seconds, get ready, MarkSon!”

Mark shot him a smile as they rose up from the lift, hearing the voices of 15,000 fans screaming “MARKSON! MARKSON! MARKSON STORM!”

Instantly, the two boys’ ears were filled with the thunderous screams of their names; their eyes feasting on the gigantic tarpaulins and banners in a sea of camera flashes. They put on their best smile before beginning to sing their newest single, the crowd giddy and rowdy as they jive their whole bodies with the song.

“Are you enjoying, 빗방울?!” Mark asked before pointing the microphone to the audience’s way. The excited fans instantly answered back an enthusiastic “Yes!” while elatedly cheering for the two rappers.

“We’re really glad you guys are here,” Jackson seriously said, a smile playing on his lips. “Two years, wow,” he turned to Mark with a huge grin on his face. “Can you believe it, Mark? It’s already two years with our 빗방울!” He exclaimed, which made the fans cheer louder.

Mark chuckled before nodding his head. “Yeah, time does fly when you’re having fun, I guess.” He responded before sending a heart-stopping smile to the audience which would surely trend at top spot on Naver. “Apart from being here, Jackson and I are happy that you shared this special day with us. To every single one of you, our 빗방울, we’re grateful. We haven’t been here for long, but because of you guys, every day is an adventure which we always look forward to.”

The audience replied with a touched “awwww”. Camera flashes were nonstop as the rapper duo continued smiling to their fans. Jackson cleared his throat before speaking. “빗방울, we really don’t know how to thank you. You’ve been with us through each ups and downs, and wow, to think that we already lasted for 730 days is amazing in itself. I hope that we’ll still have more time together, regardless of what may happen in the future. 빗방울 and STORM, hwaiting!” He finished with a cheer which made the fans respond with a cheer of their own.

--

The two-year anniversary event of STORM finished without a single hitch. All the fans were euphoric to spend the day with the boys, and the same feeling was with the duo. They had exhausted themselves to the bone to practice and prepare for the event, but it proved to be worth it because of the happy smiles painted on their fans’ faces when they left the venue.

“That was an amazing event!” Jr. praised as he walked in the dressing room where both Mark and Jackson were sprawled on the sofa, perspiring but still smiling with their tired faces. Jr. sat on the couch opposite them before remembering something. “Oh right, Mark!” He called out. “I tried looking for Youngji-ssi earlier, but it seems like she didn’t come?” His eyebrows met at the statement. “I was at the balcony with my binoculars and all but she wasn’t around.”

Jackson harshly turned his head. “That idiot didn’t come?!” He parroted in disbelief. He was actually expecting her to be around, even though he was sure that the blind idiot would just gush over Mark.

Jr. nodded his head. “I was about to call her, but I realized that I don’t have her number. Do you guys have her number?”

Both boys shook their heads, seemingly deep in thought. Even Mark had expected Youngji to come to the fan event, since she already promised them. Somehow though, he could understand why the girl wouldn’t risk being seen at the event. However, the elder half of STORM was sure that Jackson won’t be able to accept it easily.

They have wrapped up their show and were currently inside the company van on the way to the dorms, but Jackson was still quiet. If he was his normal dorky self, he would be overly excited by this time, scrolling through their hashtags on social media and updating his own Instagram account. He would usually be making jokes and lighting up the mood despite of being tired himself after the show, but he was being uncharacteristically quiet today.

Mark cleared his throat before glancing at . “You okay, mandu?” He inquired, but it seems as if the younger wasn’t even able to hear him. The latter’s eyes were focused on the scenery outside, his mind lost in thought.

“Jackson!” The elder shouted, making the other flinch. “What?”

“I called you. Is there something wrong?” Mark questioned. “You’ve been quiet since we left the place.”

Jackson shook his head, sighing. “Nothing.”

“That sigh is definitely something, mandu. C’mon, tell me what’s bothering you.” The elder insisted.

The younger of the two briefly glanced at him before looking out the window once more. “I’m just thinking about that idiot.”

“Oooh,” Mark reacted. “You’re worried ‘cause she wasn’t there earlier?”

Jackson instantly turned his head. “I’M NOT WORRIED!”

“Whoa chill!” Mark laughed. “If you say you’re not, then you’re not. What’s your problem, then?”

“Nothing, okay? I’m just thinking that she should’ve seen me performing live so she’d realize that I’m the better bias between us two,” he pouted. The elder half of STORM did his best not to laugh out loud at ’s childish behavior.

“What, you want to be Youngji-ssi’s bias now?” He teased, earning himself a glare from the other.

“I DON’T! Shut up, Tuan!”