Summer - a mark tuan story (GOT7)

Chapter 1: We Are Young - GOT7

It all started back in July, or maybe August. I don't really remember, if I'm being honest. All I remember was being really embarrassed and out of place, but eating a lot — after all, the Tuans knew how to throw a nice cookout. 

    It was a hot Saturday, right in the beginning of summer. It was also my first day back home after months, I'd just arrived. Actually, I was entering the house when my mom announced we were actually going out. 

    "Leave your stuff in your bedroom", she said. I truly believe she forgets that I haven't lived here for the past four years and that room no longer belongs to me. "We're going out."

    "Out where?", I asked. My backpack was still in my back and I hadn't even taken off my shoes. 

    "Tuans' cookout", my dad answered, before kissing my forehead. He always did that when I arrived home. 

    "But I just got here, I could use a shower.."

    "Then you take your shower and meet us there."

    "But then I will get there alone, and I haven't seen the Tuans in ages…", I smirked, uncomfortably. "They probably don't even remember I exist." 

    "No, I told Ray you were coming home this summer.", my dad said, checking himself in the mirror. He was wearing a very Hawaiian buttoned shirt and a gray bermuda. Awful. "His son is also coming back."

    "Which one?"

    "Mark.", my mom said. 

    "Wait, wasn't he, like, super famous or something?"

    "He is super famous, but he's back home. That's why they're throwing the cookout. They're celebrating."

    Mark Tuan was 5 years older than me, which made us have little to no contact growing up. He was the cool kid and used to be friends with a bunch of stupid guys, but was always very kind. Around middle school, he graduated and went to Korea — and boom, less than 5 years later the whole world knows the guy. 

    I never really understood the appeal of k-pop idols, but his group was okay. I remember Googling him and seeing a bunch of music videos of him with different hair colors. He would also come home to visit sometimes and walk around with expensive sunglasses — I know that because we met once, when he was walking his small dog and I was going to the store to grab something to eat. He smiled, timidly, and said hi. 

    After showering really quickly, I chose a white T-shirt and black shorts, the ones I was wearing when I arrived. I put on my sneakers, once again, and put on a headband to put my hair behind.

    "You're going like this?", said my mom. We always had a lot of disagreements when it came to our personal styles. Mom was always wearing nice dresses, with floral and tropical patterns. She was also very big on accessories, with hats and gold earrings. 

    "Is it bad?", I asked, kinda insecure. She went upstairs really quickly and came back with a little gold earring — a small dot, pretty charming — and a matching gold, thin bracelet. 

    "Now you look more like the adult I know you are.", she laughed, grabbing me by the wrist to leave the house. My dad was already outside — and that was the moment I noticed they were matching patterns. I rolled my eyes, but smiled too. They were cute. My mom was also holding a basket. 

    "What's in the basket?" 

    "Some bread and jams I made."

    "You're making jam now?", I laughed.

    The Tuans lived down the street in a huge house with a beautiful pool. Growing up, I went there once or twice — always in the cookouts. I think Mark was there, but couldn't really remember.