facade [ jaebum got7 ]

chapter 4

You apply a dark coat of lipstick to pair with your simple black party dress. You pray your outfit fits the occasion and swear to yourself you won't space out again during the middle of a conversation. The time reads 8:56 and you pace your room, those familiar nerves creeping up into your stomach.

"Mum" you say as the door to your room opens. You see the disappointing look swipe over her face as she takes notice of your clothes. "Don't worry, I won't be out late" you speak nonchalantly.

You're 21 and both your mother and father have such a tight grip on your childhood. It becomes so suffocating and almost unbearable. It becomes the root of your anxiety, they've always kept you hidden from things and experiences that would help you learn and grow but that's not what they allowed, you always struggled in social situations and felt like such an outsider.

"Good" she plainly speaks, turning around and walking away. They've always been good parents when it came to giving love and affection, but that did end when they noticed you started to mature. As your thoughts plunge into a deep hole, you hear your text tone and realise Mark is waiting outside.

Grabbing your things, you run out the door and jump straight into his car before the cold air could consume and freeze you.

"Wow it's cold" you shiver, sitting down in the passenger seat

"What's that?" Mark's eyebrows furrow as you follow his line of sight to your legs. You had totally forgotten about the unwashed, exposed scrapes on your knees from earlier today, you weren't badly hurt or bleeding but it was enough to notice. His hand leans over and he places a delicate finger on your one knee moving it a little into the car light so he can get a better look. "You didn't clean yourself up, did you?" His eyes search yours for answers.

"I was in a rush, it's okay though, it doesn't hurt" I try to reassure him but his expression remains the same.

"Lets go inside and you can clean up and put something on them" he blurts, and your eyes widen in shock.

"Noo" you refuse immediately, your parents are inside and you do not want to see how that'll go down, "I'm okay! I really am"

A distressed look washes over his face and you feel bad. You try to reassure him but he doesn't give in at all.

"Okay" he turns around to face the steering wheel and drives off, his sudden change in mood was so strange but you brush it off. You decide not to say anything and remain quiet the rest of the way. "Lets go"

You peer out the window in confusion, you're in an apartment building carpark. Your heart begins to beat and you start to worry, you haven't been anywhere private with Mark before, it had always been public places.

"Where are we" you ask plainly

"My home" he gets out of the car, walks around to your door and opens it sweetly. "Don't worry, we'll just clean you up and than get going"

"O-oh" with much hesitation, you hop out of the car and follow him up the staircase to his apartment. He brings you in and sits you down on a stool, all while treating you with utter care. Leaving you alone he walks away, coming back with a couple bandaids, a wet cloth and some ointment.

"Mark, I'm really fine, It's nothing you don't have to go through all this trouble for me" you say as he starts cleaning up your wounds.

"But I want to go through all this trouble for you, I don't mind" he looks up at you and you look away, unable to handle the sweet look plastered all over his face. He quickly finishes up and and stands, towering over you. "I like you, y/n. I think I really do" he blurts out and you freeze.

You've never had someone confess to you before and you don't know how to react. Of course you like him as well, the past few weeks have been amazing, you clicked almost immediately and have bonded over so much. You feel like you've found someone who can understand you but you can't quite explain how you feel. It's all a blur, suddenly you can't imagine how life would be without him. Without your usual texts, the jokes, the laughs, the long phone calls. Everything has become so comfortable as if he's always been there but the butterflies still appear everytime he says your name, or when he hugs you, looks at you, laughs with you. You feel overwhelmed, in such a short amount of time, you've grown a dependence on him and fear starts to grapple at your mind. You haven't depended on someone in so long, you've never left your heart in the bare hands of someone else.

You snap out of your thoughts and peer up into his deep eyes filled with sincerity. His lips part slowly and he reaches a hand, up your neck, to your cheek. He rubs the pad of his thumb against your cheekbone and a smile slowly appears on his face.

"You're beautiful" he whispers, barely audible and you look down just as you feel a blush creeping up into your cheeks. "Lets go" his hand drops and falls into yours. He pulls you out of his apartment and you walk down to his car together, fingers intertwined.

A comfortable silence takes over the whole ride, as you stare out the window admiring the sceneries of the dark night lit up with billions of dazzling lights from building after building. The whole while, your hand remains linked with Marks and you feel immense happiness bubbling up inside of you.

Soon, the car comes to a halt and he gets out first, once again opening your door for you. Looking up, you recognise your location. Club Kryptonite. The sign reads in bold, cursive neon green writing. This club was high class and you've never thought you'd ever be able allowed inside. This club only ever allowed people with high status or tons of cash in. You begin who is Mark, and what does he do. That was one of the only things the both of you hadn't discussed and now your curiosity won't let keep you quiet.

"Wow Mark, this place..." you trail off

"Lets go inside" he says with a slight smirk on his face. He grabs your hand and leads you in, the guards don't look twice or bother to ask for ID and drop your jaw in shock. Immediately as you step inside, you feel the steamy, thick air and booms of the music consume you. Everything is pitch black apart from the red blue and green laser lights bouncing around the club and a few hanging lights over the bar. Mark pulls you deep into the crowd until you can see nothing but his hand holding onto yours. Suddenly you can breathe again and you realise he's dragged you into a small vip room.

You brush off your clothes feeling gross from sliding between everyone's sweating bodies and finally look up at the room. It's still dark but slightly quieter. Mark gives you a smile,

"These are a few of my friends" he says, and you turn to face where his arm is pointing. You hadn't even realised the others in the small room until now. You scan them and give them a small smile.

"H-hi I'm y/n" you say timidly.

"Hey I'm Jackson, this is Bambam, Yugyeom and Youngjae" he says with a big smile, he seems friendly and you immediaty feel at ease. You look up at Mark for some kind of indication, feeling awkward just standing there but he walks over and sits down next to one of them immediately engulfed in conversation.

"Come sit" Jackson speaks out and you smile and sit down beside him.

"What the fuck" you hear a deep, raspy voice yell out and everyone's attention lands on a man walking into the room while throwing a girl off him. He groans in anger and cusses at her, making her turn around and leave with a pouty face.

"Jaebum getting all the girls" one of the boys say as the strange, new man walks in with his head down, flopping down in the spare space next to you.

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hi! JAEBUM IS HERE AND WILL BE MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE PRESENT! I PROMISE!!

also, how's the story so far!? is anyone enjoying it 🥺🥺