TAUGHT

Nine

"I'm really sorry, I'm late. What's your order?"

"It's okay, sir… Uh, I'd go with the medium rare steak." Renjun pointed at the menu and smiled to me kindly. I nodded at him anyway and choose a dish for myself.

"Things came up." I sigh and remove the coat away from my body. "Did they serve you any appetizers?"

He lifted the small plate and giggled. "I thought you noticed."

"I'm really sorry, did you waiting for too long?" I asked, totally guilty about it.

He nodded which made me feel very bad. "But it's okay."

"I'm really—"

"It's really fine." He giggled and then suddenly held my hand. "Sir—"

"Here's your order." I flinched away and chuckle in awkwardness. The food was finally presented which had me in shock because of how quickly they prepared it.

I look around, only to find out we're the only ones in the resto. It's almost 8:30, which means we only have 15 minutes left to stay here and they'll finally close.

"Where are your parents, by the way?" I clear my throat and try to initiate a conversation.

He shrugged and took a hold of his fork. "They're busy… as always."

"It could've been nice if we ate with them tonight, but I wouldn't mind this as well." I snicker. While trying to converse with him though, my mind hasn't left my apartment and where Donghyuck is. We had a fight before I went out and he must've already took a cab home.

"Y-Yeah."

"You done?"

He nodded and wiped his lips gracefully. He put the napkin down finally, and smiled to me.

"Thank you for this, sir—"

"Mark. I'm fine with Mark."

"But—"

"I don't mind. Besides, I'm not your tutor anymore."

I'll have another student to teach after my sessions with him. To be honest, he's really good. But his parents are just too strict to leave him be and study alone. Unlike Donghyuck, who got me as a tutor because his parents believed he's really dumb in which he's not.

"It's already late, let me take you home." I offered and was quick to walk my path out. I don't know but I feel like I just need to go home.

"Thank you for coming, sweet couple—"

I choked on my spit as I saw Renjun tripped on his way out. Luckily, I've caught him and stabilized him as soon as I laid hands on him.

"We're not a couple actually…" I chuckle and still thanked the receptionist who was kind enough to let us in despite them closing in a minute.

I guide Renjun to my car and opened the door for him before turning and placing myself on the driver's seat.

"Mark."

"Yeah…"

"Nothing. I'm just not used to calling you by your name."

"Then call me hyung." I laugh. "I'm a lot older than you."

"Seven years isn't that much, besides, I'm already twenty." He huffed and paused the moment I look at him in confusion, in which I faked because I clearly knew what he meant.

That there's nothing wrong between our age gap because he's twenty an adult, and I'm just twenty-seven, which has something to do with relationships—specifically, romance.