Open Book {Mark Lee Series}

Chapter 1

            Clara scanned the items behind the glass counter at the coffee shop. There were pieces of cake, bread, and bagels lined up neatly in rows. "Mm, what to choose?" she thought as a young man stepped in line beside her to inspect the offerings. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his sleek, black hair and signature arched eyebrows. She tried to pretend like she wasn't checking him out. She was sure that the last thing Mark Lee wanted was to spend his days off warding off crazed fans.

She giggled unwittingly at the thought of what she would do if she were a sasaeng. She imagined she would wait until he left the coffee shop and then dig in the garbage for his leftovers. Clara was way to classy to do something like that, but the very thought of it had brought a giggle to her lips.

Mark looked at her quizzically. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Oh, my gosh! I didn't realize I actually laughed out loud. Sometimes I giggle and don't even know it," Clara explained.

"That's OK," Mark replied. "But, still, what's so funny?" he persisted.

Clara ducked her head behind her long, black curls, but remained silent.

"Cat got your tongue?" Mark questioned, giving out a little giggle of his own.

Clara smiled but said nothing. Mark shrugged, about to give up on talking to this gorgeous stranger, but something in him couldn't let it go.

"So, what looks good to you?" he asked, waving his arm toward the food counter.

"Well, anything that involves bread is good for me," she answered, biting her dark red lip.

Mark punched her playfully. "Twinsies!" he yelled. "I love bread too! And bagels! I'm not picky," he declared. "The only thing I hate is ketchup!" he concluded, defying her to find fault in his evaluation of the condiment in question.

"Right?!" Clara confirmed. "Ketchup is evil! It originated in the very pit of Hell, and it's been foisted on us ever since!"

"Wow!" Mark marveled. "I've never met someone who felt as strongly about ketchup as I do. I feel like we really have something here between us," he ventured, half in jest.

At that moment, the line began to move, and Clara took a step away from Mark. He stepped to his right as well, closing the gap between them again. So, his attempt at a pick-up line hung in the air between them as Clara stepped up to the register and ordered a bagel to go. Mark raised his hand to the cashier and said, "Add one more to that. It's on me."

"No, I couldn't possibly," Clara protested.

"I insist," Mark continued. "My only request is that you sit down with me, and we can eat our bagels together."

Clara glanced about nervously. Was Mark Lee of NCT actually buying her a bagel and asking to spend time with her? She felt as if she had entered some kind of alternate reality. Both Mark and the cashier were waiting for her reply. So, she nodded her head shyly and stepped aside to let Mark pay.

When they sat down at a table, Mark handed her a bagel wrapped in a napkin. "So, I'm Mark Lee," he said, extending his hand to her.

Clara giggled again. "I know who you are," she laughed, taking his hand tentatively.

"Oh, well, I don't like to assume that people know me," he said humbly. "Especially, someone foreign."

"Oh, so, you can tell I'm not from here," Clara joked. "What gave it away?"