7 - The Light Leaves

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Mark did not leave Jaemin alone, as previously established by their agreement.

Instead, the boy trailed behind Jaemin with endless questions and endless comments. They ranged from the contents of the stores to where exactly they were to where or when the other spirits would show up. Jaemin didn't have answers to any of these, but he'd rather not let Mark know that he was in the dark as well. So he just told the spirit to be quiet.

It was strange.

That Jaemin's watch hadn't buzzed yet and, for a moment, Jaemin worried it was broken. Then he realized that perhaps, just perhaps, because one spirit hadn't left yet, no other spirits would come until Mark left.

He couldn't decide how to feel about that. If he was happy because he could get a break, or if he was sad because he couldn't help the other spirits.

There were other negative connotations that could go with this as well. If there would be a back up of spirits; if he would get into trouble for keeping Mark in the mall with him (although this raised the question of if he was working under a boss of sorts).

It was curious really, how much Jaemin realized he didn't know the more he thought about it. Perhaps the constant work was to keep him docile. Perhaps.

"Look Jaemin!" Mark's cheerful voice slid between his frayed thoughts and pulled him back to the present. "There's a Whale!"

Jaemin felt startled as he turned to look up, smiling as he saw the belly of the giant Whale swimming through space above them, just as they were. Then he turned to Mark, just to remark on the rarity of seeing the Whale.

But something stopped him - stopped the words in his throat.

Mark's eyes twinkled in amazement and his finger was outstretched above him, his face devoid of any stress or wrinkles and filled to the brim with child-like wonder. He turned to Jaemin then, closing his eyes completely as he smiled at the guide.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yes."

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