MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 7 2016
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"Y/n. Y/n, you there? We're gonna be late. Come on."
I wake up to the shake of a hand on my shoulder.
"Ugh... What time is it?" I groan, still not opening my eyes and clutching the pillow beside me.
"Almost 8, Y/n. Get up," The voice tries to convince me. Despite their effort, I remain unmoving on the fabric I lay on.
I hear another voice join in and listen as they conversate in front of me.
"Well, how do you usually get her to wake up?" The first one asks.
"I don't. She usually wakes up on her own and is never late." The second voice answers.
"She must be tired from last night." And at the third voice joining in the conversation, I jolt awake - From what I just discovered is the couch.
My face flushes red at the view of Mark and the memory of last night. It was his hand that pulled me into sempiternal last night, and his shoulder that I fell asleep on when everyone came over to my place after the festival.
I hold my hand to my head, feeling a headache as the images of last night come back to me.
"You alright, Y/n? Maybe you should stay home today-"
"No! I'm fine, I swear." I jump off the sofa to the cold floor, causing me to lose my balance, and grab ahold of the nearest person to me.
"Thanks," I mumble. My eyes shift onto the glass coffee table and the 4 glasses that sit on top of it.
I look up to the three people who stand beside me. Taehyung, Jaemin, Mark. Mark. They are all fully dressed and ready, while I'm still in the clothes I wore to the festival last night.
I sigh and part my hair with my fingers. "You all can go ahead. I'll meet up with you guys later on."
The three throw glances at each other before Taehyung speaks up, "Are you sure about that, Y/n? We'd gladly wait for you."
I begin cleaning up the living room, sorting everything into place, "Really sweet of you guys, but I'm sure." I ensure them, carrying glasses into the sink.
And after a few 'No,' 's and 'Are you sure' 's, they all bid their goodbyes and leave me to my troubles for the day.
Mark's eyes meet mine as he walks out. He mouths me a quick 'See you later,' and gives me a smile before closing the door shut.
Once I hear a click from the door, I sink into the floor on my knees, covering my face with my hands in sorrow. 'There is no way I can make it to my first lecture in time.'
LAST NIGHT, 1 AM
"Y/n, do you mind if I use your bathroom?"
We were all spread out in my living room, watching whatever movie we could find after the festival. The tv flashed colors of all kinds against our faces in the dark.
"Not at all. It's the first door in my bedroom." I directed him, bringing my ceramic mug to my lips and taking another sip of my tea.
Mark nodded and left out of our eyesight as he entered my room.
He closed the door behind him and stopped in his tracks as he looked around my bedroom.
Giving in to his curiosity, Mark walked over to my study table, where I had all my things laid out. He brought his fingers over my essay papers and paintings, feeling as the pigments graced the blank canvas in bright colors.
And suddenly, a dash of thunder jolted down, causing Mark to snap out of his thoughts.
"Mark...? Whatchu' doing over there?" I questioned him as I closed the door behind me. "You were taking a while. I thought you must've gotten lost in my... small bedroom... What are you doing, Mark?"
Mark ignored my question. "You wrote these?" He asked, not holding my paintings anymore but now the notes of song lyrics I had torn from my book.
I shifted my glance all around the room, avoiding his stare. "They're just these stupid songs I wrote. Nothing important."
Mark's face lighted up, "What are you talking about? These lyrics are-"
"Concerning?" I shot him a look.
"-Beautiful, Y/n. I was going to say beautiful." He corrected. I felt my face heat up at his words.
"Do you mind telling me what some of these songs are about?" He voiced, sitting down and getting comfortable in my desk chair.
I crossed my arms over my chest and averted my gaze from his, "Do you hear Taehyung calling us-"
"Y/n..." He pleaded, giving me puppy-dog eyes.
I sighed and sat on the edge of my bed, "Cheezus, fine."
He responded to me with a 'Yes!' in victory, and I can't help but smile to myself.
The night progressed with him asking me meanings on specific lyrics and me replying to them shortly. Although his annoyingness was enough to break and swoon me, I was sure enough to not let anything too personal slip out.
"What about this? Oh my god, yes. Say oh my god ye-" He falsely sung the lyrics.
I snatched the paper out of his hands, cutting him off. "This was honestly the first song I ever wrote. I actually really like it, no matter how judgy you sound singing it." I marked, glaring at him.
He lifted both hands in the air in surrender, "I wasn't judging," He stated, grinning. My eyes rolled at him.
He searched through the rest of the papers when his eyes widened. "Oh- This song sounds interesting."
My stomach turned in panic. I've written a lot of interesting songs in my day. I just don't know which one he's talking about.
"There is an indentation in the shape of you. Made your mark on me, a golden tattoo-"
"Yah!" I shouted at him, my face turning red.
Mark just gave me a long laugh in response. My embarrassment, clearly amusing to him.
After he asked me a few more questions and was satisfied with my answers, we managed to switch the conversation to our lives outside of tonight.
We talked about our families. Told each other childhood stories, bad love experiences.
Mark's gaze turned to the framed photo of My family and me on my bedside table. He stood up from the chair he was sitting on and walked over to the picture.
He held the photo in his hands, "I still can't believe these people are related to you." He admitted, talking about Namjoon, Yoongi, Minho, and Ji-Eun.
I shoved a pillow to my face as I lay down. "I'm guessing you hear that a lot." He laughed out, sensing my annoyance.
I blew a raspberry, "It's hard sometimes, you know?"
He sat down beside me on the bed and played with my hair in his fingers, "Because they're still you're family? I get how brothers can be annoying at times. I mean, I don't have any brothers, but I do have NCT-"
I removed the pillow from my face and stared at the ceiling, "Not that," I told him.
He focused his eyes on my face, "Then why?"
I stayed quiet. Not wanting to speak any longer. Not wanting to meet another person who'll just respond with another apology.
"Look at me, Y/n." I gulped as my eyes met his. "You don't... have to be so closed around me." He said assuringly.
I furrowed my eyebrows. 'Closed? We just met yesterday.' But at the same time, it's not like he was a stranger to me at the moment. It was me, struggling to open up to another person, as always.
I opened my mouth, but no words would come out. Still hesitant to speak.
"What are you guys- Oh," Jaemin cut himself off as he walked into my room and saw Mark and me talking.
"...Are you guys gonna get back here? I'm pretty sure Taehyung fell asleep already." He continued, looking back at Taehyung, who was resting his head on the coffee table.
Mark and I looked at each other, hesitant to leave each other's company. I sat up and searched for the clock in my room. 2.20 AM.
"Oh- Yeah. Let's go, Mark." I smiled at him before heading out the door. Oh, thank God.
Mark sighed and took his place on the couch beside me, Jaemin following not far behind him.
The movie we were watching was long over by now. Jaemin had chosen a different film when Mark and I weren't in the room.
And sooner or later, my eyes dropped just as my head did on his shoulder. Accident or not. I want to believe that the guy beside me is someone I can trust, even if I'll regret it later on.
-end of chapter 9
(A/n: sorry if there r a few mistakes! I dont even wanna double check because of how long it took me to write this. have a good day yall!
Song 1 mentioned: Vivid by HeeJin Loona (stan Loona hello)
Song 2 mentioned: Dress by Taylor Swift (my lifeline))