So I told y'all I'd be taking a breather cuz of the prev chapter but a close friend of mine kinda forced me to update a new chapter so I can kinda end things (for a while) on a good note 😅 So here it is. Mark and Jinyoung's venture into a possible friendship? As usual, comments and criticisms are very much welcome 💚

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The ride to school was quiet. My lovable sidekick missing from my passenger seat. Wonpil had left the previous day, heading to Jeju with his parents because of his dad's work relocation. Of course, I sent him off at the airport.

"You be good now." I said as I hugged him.

"Since when have I ever been good?" He rebutted, chuckling. "I'll miss you." 

"This isn't goodbye." I said. Wonpil was, is, a part of my life. He is the best friend that everyone wished they met in their lives. The kind of friend that, even after not meeting for years, could talk as if it was just yesterday. The type who you could share all your secrets to yet never judge you for it. So it was natural that when he flew off that day, a little part of me died and followed him.

Now, I was driving to school. The sky rumbling as droplets of rain hit my windscreen. As I have expected, with Wonpil gone, there was nothing to keep my emotions at bay. I felt alone. For the first time in my life, I truly felt alone. I didn't have anyone at home to confide in and my one confidante was across the country. 

But still, I wouldn't cry. I let the sky cry for me.

I parked in front of my high school, looking at the building that I was just a few days ago sneaking into with Wonpil. The first day of senior year and I felt like . Senior year was supposed to be the best time of your high school life. It didn't seem to start so hot for me though.

I pulled my hood up, getting out of Little Red. The cold drizzle hit my face, feeling like pins against my skin. I stuck my hands into my pockets, trudging over to the entrance of Yongsan International School of Seoul. I watched as students waved hi to each other. Getting reacquainted after a long summer, settling into their cliques, chatting away as they walked down the hallways. 

With eyes downcast, I dragged myself to my locker. I couldn't look at anyone. I couldn't see the sympathy in their eyes. Apparently, my misfortunes had spread all across school. Gossips turned to whispers as I walked past groups of kids, all not making it too discreet that they were talking about me. I dared myself to look up, just once, only to have my gaze land on the concerned looks of students. I sighed, returning my eyes to the floor.

I went for the first few periods, sitting at the back of the class each time. Even the teachers who walked in gave me those looks. I didn't need their pity; all it did was remind me that my life, everything that meant anything to me, was gone. No one came to talk to me though, knowing better than to disturb me now, which was fine by me. That is, until one person had the nerve to break that unspoken rule.

I was at my locker, grabbing my books for the next class when he approached me. 

"Park." I heard beside me. Now wasn't the time I wanted to deal with Mark. He already had the nerve to talk to me today when everyone else just left me alone, as I wanted. I was pretty sure this had to do with the message I left him on his locker.

"Not today Mark." I spat, feeling irritation boiling up in me at his voice, stuffing books into my backpack.

"Hey c'mon. I just wanted to talk." He said, looking at me as he leaned against the locker.

"I said not today Mark. I'm not in the mood to deal with you today." I slammed my locker shut for added effect. I turned away from him and started to walk away when I felt a hand grab my shoulder.

"Jinyoung..." Was all he managed to say before I turned abruptly. The irritation turning into full-blown anger; anger at him, at the student body, at the school staff and at the world. I grabbed the front of his shirt, pushing him back and smashing him into the side of the lockers. He looked shocked for a short-while before his expression relaxed.

"Don't you understand Hangul? I said I'm not in the mood!" I shouted at him. "What? Want to make my life more miserable than it already is? Want to kick me while I'm down? My mom is dead and my best friend has moved away. But of course that's not enough is it? Want to call me a and tell me that I don't deserve to live anyway? Hit me till I don't even want to get up anymore? Is that it?" I could feel my hands curling into fists, my nails digging painfully into my palm. "I want to hit you so bad right now, you know that?" 

"Then do it." He said, looking at me in the eyes. His eyes set in determination. His words knocked me out of my rage. Yes, I was still fuming but I could keep my anger in check.

"I'm not like you." I spat, releasing his shirt.

"Oh don't act all high and mighty. You know you want to do it. I'm giving you the chance and you're turning it down." He said, his voice rising as his temper rose.

"Hitting you will not bring them back!" I shouted, closing the distance between us.

"No it won't, but that doesn't mean you can't vent your frustration." He said, bumping his chest into me, knocking me back a step. "Just hit me."

"No!"

"Coward!" He screamed. I lost it, grabbing his shirt, pushing him into the locker. My right fist came up, ready to strike him across the jaw. The blow would surely knock his head back into the lockers. Adrenaline and anger coursed through my veins, fueling my arm as I sent it hurtling to his face. The sound of metal clanging rang across the hallway. I looked into Mark's brown orbs, glancing at my fist implanted into the locker, mere inches from his face. Yeah I didn't hit him, but I sure hell was close to it. 

I dropped my right fist down. Seeing the dent I made in the locker, my left hand still clutching his shirt. Everyone in the hallway was looking at us now, mostly shocked faces everywhere. No one had ever seen me lose my cool before, even when Mark taunted me, I never lost it like that. I felt a tear escape my eye and roll down my cheek. The emotional outbreak opened the flood gates. I felt everything crashing into me; sadness, anger and frustration. They filled me up to a point I thought I was going to burst. 

"Don't you ever call me a coward again." I hissed through clenched teeth. "If I was a real coward, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you today." I let go of his shirt and stormed off, leaving awestruck students behind me. I wasn't going to class, not in the state that I was in. I headed to the second floor, the gate to the roof open seeing that school was back in. I walked out to the roof, which was devoid of human life, probably because it was just raining earlier. 

I walked over to the wall with our initials on it. Our wall. I looked at the letters carved into the concrete. I brought my right hand up, tracing the letter, only to notice blood trailing down my finger. I inspected my knuckle, which apparently split when I punched the locker. The blood had started to dry so I ignored it; I was feeling so much worse pain than that. Another tear escaped my eyes as I looked at our little work of vandalism. 

"I miss you already Wonpil." I muttered, feeling another tear flow down my face. I didn't want to keep it in anymore. It was too exhausting. I leaned against the wall and slid to the ground, leaning my elbows on bent knees, letting the tears fall. I closed my eyes, feeling the cool breeze on my skin, the tear tracks colder than the rest. I felt a presence appear next to me but I didn't open my eyes. Whoever it was slid down beside me but didn't say anything. I opened my eyes and saw Mark sitting beside me. "You really don't get 'not now' do you?"

He didn't say anything. He just continued looking at his hand, playing with his fingers. I shook my head, closing my eyes once again. I heard the school bell go off, hoping that he would get up and leave, but he didn't. We sat there in complete silence for ten minutes, just enjoying the cool air. "Sorry." He finally said. I finally managed to stop crying and I opened one red eye, glancing at him.

"For? Last I checked, I was the one who almost broke your jaw." I said. He chuckled, smiling.

"Yeah and I guess, thanks for that. But I am sorry, for everything."

"It's not your fault. Life's just a ." I replied.

"No, not that either... Ugh I mean... For all the I put you through. I'm sorry about that." He apologized, constantly playing around with his fingers. Was he nervous about this? Mark Tuan and nervous didn't go in the same sentence.

"Yeah, you should be." I smirked, trying to calm him down a little.

"Yeah, I didn't mean anything I ever did to you. I just...I don't know... I just felt the need to tease you." He quipped, which I had to raise my eyebrow to. "Sounds stupid I know but yeah."

"You sure it's not cause you're an ignorant homophobe?" I smirked.

"No!!! C'mon, we're in the 21st century. I just liked to see you squirm."

"Sadistic bastard." I muttered. He laughed looking at me with those brown eyes. Brown eyes that I've never seen looking at me with kindness before. I wasn't going to lie, Mark was good looking, the hottest guy in school to be exact. His brown hair styled to perfection gave him an almost innocent, boyish look. We stayed there for a while. Not saying anything, the sound of students could be heard from the nearby field. The air was humid from the rain, the smell of freshly cut grass mixed with the cologne that Mark was wearing. It was all very peaceful.

"I really am sorry you know... And I was kinda hoping we could start off anew. Forget everything that has happened between us. Friends?" He asked after the silence, sticking his hand out. 

"Why should I trust you? For all I know this could be another one of your ploys to make my life hell." I said.

"I understand that but I'm serious. No this time. I'm being honest, I swear." He said, not putting down his outstretched hand. I stared at him for a while before spitting in my hand and shaking his. He tried pulling his hand away but I kept my grip on his, his face twisting in disgust. 

"That's for everything. But fine, friends... For now. But I'm watching you. If this is a joke, you're gonna wish I knocked you out just now." I said, letting go of his hands. He pulled it away before wiping it on my sweatshirt. 

"By the way, thanks for the message on my locker. Now everyone thinks I got screwed by some Hyunbin dude." He said, thumping me on the head. I played innocent, pretending to not know what he was talking about. "And for the record, I would do the ing, not the other way around. Can't say the same for you though." 

"Oh you want to get into my life now? Slow down tiger, I don't go for bi-curious guys." I teased, lightly tapping his cheek.

"Oh don't play dumb. I know you want me." He smirked.

"Don't flatter yourself Mark. Personality is more important than a hot bod."

"So you're admitting I have a hot bod then." He stated.

"I never... You ... Ugh you're infuriating." I said, crossing my arms across my chest. He pushed himself off the wall, kneeling in front of me. "What are you doing?" 

In a swift action, he pinned my arms beside my head and straddled me, an evil grin on his face, pinning me against the wall. He bent his head close to mine, his breath tickling the skin on my neck. I stared at him in disbelief as he ran his face so close to mine, my hairs stood on end. He never actually touched me yet I felt myself getting . I felt myself growing in my jeans at his proximity, his breath dancing across my skin. He stopped his lips inches from mine, looking at me straight in the eye. I stared back, unsure of what was happening. 

Mark was straight; he had a girlfriend. Or was what I said about him being bi-curious true. I was a little scared of what was going to happen next, his eyes boring into mine. I was fully hard now, straining against my jeans. I stared into his eyes, trying to figure out what was swimming in his mind, before the side of his lips curled up in a smile. "See, you want me alright." He laughed letting go of me and climbing off, returning to his spot beside me.

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. Glaring at him, laughing in his spot. "I wasn't ." I tried although my blush probably betrayed me.

"Yeah sure you weren't." he said, putting an arm around my shoulder. It was odd having Mark acting so chummy with me. The only time we ever had any physical contact was when he was either pinning me to the ground, putting me in a headlock or twisting my arm behind my back. Not to say that I