Intricate: The Beginning of Us| MARKNOMINHYUCK(bxbxbxb)

24: Eating you up

Jaemin

I bob my leg up and down, the pencil between my fingers on my right-hand following, doing the same, as I chew onto my bottom lip nervously. I watch Mark-Hyung as he talks to another student who is receiving his words and smiles. It's not so hard to admit that I'm a little jealous of that boy. Not because they're flirting, but because he has Mark's attention. Damn, that sounds so needy.

I sigh, stopping my previous actions just to slump on my chair. 

It's been a week since we last talked. I've been watching him wistfully in class every day but he hasn't batted an eye my way. It's what I deserve though, right?

I basically rejected him, after all. Even if I really liked him.

My mind stayed on Mark for a few more seconds before I straighten up and looked down at my worksheet. I have to stop sulking. It was never going to happen, anyway.

I read the first question on my worksheet—a work problem. God, you have no idea how much I hate those. I prefer problems with formulas a whole lot more. They always go a certain way, unlike word problems where you have to think into it and it took time to decipher how it needed to go.

I look around the classroom, noting that Mark was still helping that kid. I raise my hand at the assurance, looking directly at Mrs. Kim who was a few desks in front helping one of my classmates. "Yes, Jaemin?" She asks, straightening up as soon as she saw me with my hand up.

"I have a question." Or rather one hundred. 

"Mark, please go help Jaemin," she says and I swear I felt my heart drop. Not in a good way.

"I would prefer if you helped me, Mrs. Kim," I tell her, looking at her pleadingly. 

She glances between Mark and me suspiciously. "I'm helping Soobin right now and Mark has been helping you a lot lately which has resulted in great grades, Jaemin. I think it's best if he's the one to assist you." She moves her gaze to Mark. "Mark, help Jaemin and I'll go to Seungmin in a moment."

Mark knew better than to talk back so instead, he gave my teacher a tight-lipped smile and a nod before he made his way over to me. He takes the chair from the unoccupied desk beside me and sits right next to me. He didn't waste a moment and immediately began to explain the lesson to me. He didn't even take a second to catch his breath. He just wanted to get it over with, I could tell. I felt nervous and my eyes were tearing up, unable to pay attention to a word of what he was saying. 

"Mark-Hyung," I say lowly as for no one else to hear. He takes a sharp breath, stopping his words. His eyes remain on the piece of paper and mine on his side profile. We both stay quiet for a while. He was waiting for me to speak and I was waiting for my mind to process what I needed to say. "I do like you, a lot," I confess, my voice wavering slightly. I look around the classroom. Thankfully, everyone was minding their own business and the atmosphere was loud enough for no one to care about us two who were all the way in the back in the left corner of the room. "C- could we maybe talk?" I question, looking at him hopefully.

Honestly, if he agrees, I have no idea what I would say. Should I tell him the truth? What would he think of me if I did? 

He stays quiet for some time, his eyes stubbornly remaining focused on the sheet of paper. Actually, I was thankful for that, I have a feeling my emotions wouldn't do too well if he was looking at me directly in the eye. Then, he just continued the lesson.

I swallow the lump in my throat and finally begin to listen. I don't regret the decision of telling him what I did on Monday. Maybe I just wish that he would have taken it better.

But, now I knew what I wanted. I would tell him my feelings and let him decide whether or not he wanted to still be with me, even if we weren't really together before. That's what Renjun told me I should do and I agreed with him after some hesitance. 

I just hope he at least wants to remain friends...

-----

Mark

I never thought I would be this grateful from hearing the school bells. I instantly shoot up from the chair I was sitting on and walked to get my bag before walking out of the classroom without looking back. I would have to say sorry to Mrs. Kim tomorrow but I didn't care at the moment. I just... I just need to get out.

My legs took me where they wanted to go but I was glad when I realized that place was Donghyuck's classroom. I spot him through the open door and we instantly made eye contact. I have the feeling that the look on my face gave something away because as soon as he saw me he frowned and took his backpack and walked away from his friends without a word. 

"Um," he starts, looking confused. He looks cute and I almost laugh but I decide against it and simply smile at him. 

"I'll walk you?" I ask to which he hesitantly nods.

When we were out of school we walked slowly, taking the time of the world. My hands were in my pockets and my gaze was on the concrete. I could feel Donghyuck's eyes on me which is what made me finally speak. "Last week... I- I think Jaemin rejected me." I didn't even know if I was wording it right because in a way he was rejecting me but also, maybe he was rather being considerate. Was I the one in the wrong here?

"What?!" He exclaims in shock. I expected it so I just shrug rather than flinching at the sudden tone of his voice. "What- what do you mean by that? Like, why did you say 'I think'?"

"Because I told him I liked him but he responded by saying that it was complicated. B- but I don't how or why. It's been frustrating. My mind keeps going back and thinking of all the possibilities but I just can't come up with an answer." I glance at him. "He asked me today to talk but I couldn't. I feel like an idiot."

Donghyuck stops his steps abruptly and I follow to do the same. "You have to talk to him," he says with some determination, his face showing as if he understood exactly what was going on. "Ask him directly if you're that curious, if it's eating you up." He gives me a small smile and I just stared at it for a couple of seconds before returning it.

"You really think it's the best thing to do?"

"I know so." But he answered it after a few seconds. 

But also, I trust him. 

So I knew exactly what to do. 

A/N: Was my first day of school today 😭😭 expect some slacking 🤧