Supernerd! MARK

36 | if you ever come back

I stare blankly at the television before me, Jaemin and Chaerin's bickering nothing but white noise in the background.

A knock echoes on the door, and I turn my head to see the face of a familiar man peeking in through the gap. It takes me a while to recognise him as Doyoung's partner, Jaehyun.

"Oh, Detective!" Sera is the first to stand up, giving the man a small bow before the other two follow suit. "Hello."

He returns the gesture as he steps in, eyes soon landing on me. "Miss Yena. I hope you're feeling better. I believe my colleague has informed you that I'd be paying you a visit today."

"He did, yes," I reply. "And I am feeling better, thank you."

He nods before turning to my roommates and Jaemin. "I need to have a few words with your friend here regarding the case. You guys mind stepping outside for a little bit?"

Jaehyun settles in the empty seat to my right once my friends shuffle out, taking out a notepad and pen.

He gives me a dimpled smile when he notices me staring, as though sensing how nervous I am.

He's not wrong. I'm not particularly eager to relive what was probably the most terrifying moment of my life, especially when I could still feel the stinging of my limbs and wounds which have yet to heal.

"Don't worry." He rests his stationery on the side table, folding his arms across his chest. "Take this as a normal chat. Between friends."

I nod as I cross my fingers, though I'm not thoroughly convinced. I know that Jaehyun knows too, only having said it to calm me down.

"Just for the sake of clarity, yes, we know of Spider-Man's real identity, and Seo Johnny's affiliation with him. Could you maybe start by telling me your relationship with them?"

I take in a deep breath. For a question so simple, I sure am having a hard time answering it.

"Spider-Man- Mark, is my boyfriend," I start, the words however sounding bitter in my mouth. "We, uh, got together not too long ago. Mr. Seo is just... well, I guess I got to know him through Mark."

Jaehyun nods, leaning against his chair as he crosses his arms. "When did you find out that Mark is Spider-Man? Before or after you got together?"

"Before. I think it was a few weeks? Maybe a month or two?"

"And so when that happened, he started bringing you to Seo Johnny?"

"It only happened when I got attacked that one night," I immediately say, not quite liking his accusing tone. "He brought me back to Mr. Seo's house only because I was injured. Mark didn't want me to be involved any further after that, but I was insistent."

"Okay." Jaehyun stares at me for a while, his lips pursed as though thinking of something. If he noticed how defensive I was, he didn't mention it. "You lodged a police report the first time you got ambushed. Why didn't you make one the second time?"

"Too many people were involved," I find myself mumbling. "Had I done that, it would have risked exposing Mark's identity, Mr. Seo— even Haechan."

Jaehyun gives me a lopsided smile. "You really care about that boy, do you?"

"I guess," I mutter, turning away to face the window.

It's already beginning to get cold, but somehow, the room I'm in feels even colder.

"He's doing fine, if that's what you're concerned about," Jaehyun says, snapping my attention back to him. "I know him and the SPD don't really see eye to eye, and that's exactly the reason why Detective Doyoung and I had pushed to be the ones handling this investigation," he pauses before leaning in slightly. "If I was really out to get Mark, the first thing I would've done is to sell his identity out to the media. Which I technically could— he's no longer a minor. But I didn't. He's a good kid."