Mark Tuan
1920 Words
Yoo Ae's POV
"Ya' ready?"
I almost forgot how to breathe and swallow hearing Mark oppa's low baritone sexy voice with a very cool English accent. C'mon guys, spazz with me!
"You wearing that?" he asked. He was pointing out my outfit for today -- a periwinkle flowy knee-length dress paired with white doll shoes.
I smiled awkwardly. "Uh-huh?" I answered. I gasp in realization. So maybe, it's not really a date that I imagined. He just changed the term to make it more flowery and I didn't even get it. We are going skateboarding! Why didn't I even think of that? Tsk. Tsk. Yoo Ae! "Ah.. oppa. Mianhaeyo. I'll go change. Give me five minutes."
He shook his head and chuckle a little. "No. That's okay" He replied with his sexy English again. Then he changed it to Korean. "You are beautiful no matter what you wear."
Awww! Mark Oppa's just so sweet. He would be a perfect boyfriend. Compared to that JB who doesn't even know to appreciate beauty. Hmpf! Wait. I shouldn't think of that guy right now. My date will be ruined.
He smiled. "Let's go?"
I found myself staring at Mark Oppa's shiny red Lexus RC. Even his car looks as handsome as him. HAHA. Jaebum oppa doesn't look as handsome as his car. His car is more handsome than him. HAHAHAHA. Wait. I said stop mentioning that name brain!
Mark Oppa opened the door of his car's passenger seat and gestured his hand for me to enter. Such a gentleman.. Jaebum op--- I SAID STOP BRAIN!
Why am I so distressed about that guy today? Why?!
FLASHBACK
My phone rang at 6am this morning. I was still sleepy but I managed to answer it without looking at the caller ID. "yoboseyo?" I said sleepily.
"Ya!!! Kim Yoo Ae!!!"
My senses were all awaken and my eardrums almost gave in hearing his loud scream.
"Haist! Why are you screaming so early in the morning? What's your problem?"
"So you're really going on a date with Mark Hyung?"
"You heard it right. So?" I answered irritatedly.
"Yah!!"
"MWO?!!"
"You cannot even walk----"
"I can walk. It has been five days, oppa!" I rolled my eyes. "Keut." (End)
I was about to end the call but i heard him say, "Don't assume that hyung likes you. He doesn't like you."
I replied in a sarcastic tone. "Ne, Im Jae Bum-sshi."
"Why did he even ask you for a date when he doesn't even like you?"
"Ne." I said. There is no point answering back.
"Hyung doesn't like flat chested and no curve girls, you know."
I stood up from bed hearing what he said. "Ara! Ara! I'm ugly, flat chested, no curves, and Mark oppa doesn't like me. I get your point." still in sarcastic tone.
"Don't even dare to wear something racy coz no matter what you do, you won't look sexy and---"
"Are you done insulting me?" I cut him. "Can't you just be happy for me that finally someone asked me for a date?"
He didn't answer. I guess I made him speechless with what I said.
"Geuneo." (end) and ended the call with my anger.
I sighed deeply. Did he just call just to say those? Huh! Such a jerk!
END OF FLASHBACK
"Yoo Ae.."
I faced Mark oppa. "Yes?"
He smiled. "I, actually, didn't plan anything."
"Eh?"
"I mean.." It took him seconds before he continued what he was saying. Then he showed me an embarrassed face. "This date."
"Ah..." I just replied without thinking. I also don't know what to reply. I haven't gone out with a guy I like before so I'm not an expert with situations like this. And are there even unplanned dates? THAT. I dunno.
"Anyway. Instead, would you like to go somewhere right now?"
"Eh?" I know. I'm acting stupid. It's not like I haven't heard his question.
He laughed and messed my hair. "Mianhae. I should have made a plan."
and there was silence. We are just seating inside the car staring at the window.
Think.
Think.
Think.
Yoo Ae, think.
"Oppa." He turned to look at me. "There's a place I haven't visited for a while. Can we go there?"
"Yoo Ae Noona!"
"Yoo Ae Eonnie!"
The little boys and girls shouted my name in unison. Some ran to embrace me, and those who are in their wheelchairs just shouted and had big smiles on their faces.
"Yeodora! Were you all doing well?"
"Ne!" They all answered in unison as well.
We are in a Daycare for children with special needs where I usually visit and volunteer here in our neighborhood when I have time.
The head nurse together with Hyeri and Bomi, who are also volunteers, approached me.
"Yoo Ae, oraenmaniya." said Nurse Yoon. The head nurse who always welcomes me everytime I go here.
I smiled. "Ne. I was busy with school."
"Yoo Ae-ah. Nugu?" asked Bomi. She's referring to Mark oppa who was standing behind me.
Mark oppa went near and bowed. "Annyeonghaseyo. Mark imnida."
"Is he your boyfriend?" Hyeri added.
I shook my head. "Aniyo."
"Jinjja?" said Hyeri. "Then we have a chance, Bomi!" plus evil laugh.
Both Hyeri and Bomi were giggling when Nurse Yoon hit their heads to stop. The children laughed at the scene.
"Geurae." (Yes) Nurse Yoon said. "Do as you always do, Yoo Ae." and he stared at Mark then to me with meaningful smile. "With your friend.."
I wasn't expecting to see a different Mark Tuan here.
A Mark Tuan who laughs so hard playing with the kids.
A Mark Tuan who smiles brightly while talking with them.
A Mark Tuan who even distorts his voice and does childish actions to tell a bedtime story.
For being one of the rarely few who have seen this state of him, I am very lucky! You know the feeling of sasaeng fans who have discovered something about the idol they are stalking? I feel that way --- No. I feel more than that. It's nice to see a Mark Tuan with a very genuine smile.
OHMYGASH! SHOOT.
He just saw me staring at him.
Embarrassing! Shall I hide now? Aigoo~~ eotteokhae??!
Just when I was about to make an excuse for staring at him -- like maybe asking him if he's not hungry -- he smiled at me.
Magical.
I can't help but smile back.
It was already dark when we decided to leave.
We had a dinner with Hyeri and Bomi at a nearby noodle restaurant that they recommended.
I discovered that Mark oppa can't eat spicy food. Well, of course, he is Chinese and he's from the States so I ordered a bowl of Seafood Kalguksu for him, while I ordered my favorite Golbaengi Muchim (Spicy Sea Snail Mixed with noodles).
Hyeri and Bomi were so noisy interviewing Mark Oppa. Asking him this and that. Mark oppa would give them short answers like he always does. I dunno, but, I am the one who feels bad.
I mean, what I know is, Mark oppa isn't a talker. The situation must have been hard for him.
What to do?
thinking...
thinking..
thinking..
AH!
Seeing that Mark oppa is finished with his food, and I don't care if I'm not yet done with mine. "Bomi eonnie, Hyeri eonnie... Mark Oppa and I have to go somewhere. Right, oppa?"
Mark Oppa looked at me. I know he was shocked with my sudden statement. Thank God oppa always wears a poker face that it wasn't obvious that he doesn't know what I am talking about.
Bomi. "Where? We'll come with you!" and giggles.
Hyeri nods with Bomi's statement.
These two. Their fangirl feels are just more than mine. They would even come to my house just to see my brother. I would tell them to back off since my brother's really young, but they would tell me they don't care coz Yunhanam (Young handsome guy) is the trend nowadays. And you know what Yugyeom told them? Huh! You won't believe it. He told them to call him "Oppa." I can't take this anymore!
"School work."I stated. "I told you we're classmates. We have a lot of stuff to do for school." I even sighed and acted tired to make it more effective.
Hyeri eonnie turned to Mark who still has a poker face. "Jinjjayo, oppa?"
"Jinjja? Jinjja? Jinjja?" asked Bomi who already dropped her speech coz they are the same age.
Why doesn't this girl believe me?
Oppa, c'mon! Say yes! I'm just trying to rescue you from these two nosy and noisy beings. I stared at oppa giving him a hint while the two are not looking at me.
He nodded. "Sorry. We need to go." He gave them a smile without showing his teeth and stood up. "Let's go, Ae!"
But i guess what I did was a wrong move.
We are now sitting side by side beside Han River (you know the place where people jog during the day). We bought drinks before coming there. Not a beer, okay? But it would have been better if we bought beer. I might have the guts to oopen my mouth and kill the deafening silence between us. Why?
He is back to his old self.
The Mark Tuan who doesn't talk.
The Mark Tuan who has very deep thoughts that you cannot decipher what.
The Mark Tuan who's eyes are staring in a far away place that you won't know where.
The mysterious Mark Tuan...
What is he thinking about?
Just when I thought I would never know what's running inside his head, he suddenly spoke some words that I thought I would never hear from him.
"Ae.."
"Hmm?"
"What would you do if the one you love keeps on avoiding you?" he asked looking at the sky.
i looked at him. Confused on why he would ask me such question. I answered, "Then I would try to know the reason why he is avoiding me." My answered made me smile. My answer reminded me of my fight with Jaebum oppa a week ago. Hey wait! Why did I think of that? Yes, he was avoiding me but I don't like him!
"But what if you already know why that person is avoiding you?"
"Hmmm... then make a way to apologize perhaps or.. a way to make that person stop avoiding you." I replied without thinking.
He turned to me, and even though the only light in that area was from the lamp 2 meters away and the light coming from the moon, I clearly saw his eyes.. his lonely eyes.
"And what if that person told you to stop..and that things won't go back to the way they used to be?"
Looking straight at his eyes I replied, "Then I would set that person free."
He smiled at me. A forced smile. Then he looked back at the sky again. The sky with very few stars like it is also as lonely as him.
He was silent again.
But this time...
The silence isn't deafening.
It is extremely loud.
Shouting his emptiness.
Screaming desolation.
And the only thing I could do...
is hold his hand and say, "Who is that girl? Do you want me to punch her?"
He was poker face for a couple of seconds.
I bit my lower lip and covered my mouth in shame. Kim Yoo Ae, what a childish thing did you say?!
But then, he suddenly burst out laughing.
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- Writer
