The Third Party // { markson } ✅ COMPLETED ✅

Chapter 8

Huffing, Jackson dragged his exhausted body across the gym and sat right next to his smiling girlfriend. He tiredly smiled at her and accepted the towel she reached out for him.

"Hey." Jackson greeted once he had wiped the majority of his sweat out of his face and placed a kiss on her cheek.

She smiled sweetly making her eyes crinkle. "Hi. You've been working hard lately." She pointed out worriedly, her eyes scanning his face as if she was waiting for an emotion to show and portray what exactly Jackson was thinking when he decided to tire himself out even more during practice.

Jackson wasn't surprised at the very least to know that Youngji would notice. Even he is aware that he's abusing his body just to let his mind off of his argument with Mark. He needed something to divert his attention because thinking about his best friend is making him restless. Three days and still no Mark loitering around the campus. To be completely honest, Jackson had a hard time sleeping these past few days. His appetite had lessened a bit and his mood had changed drastically. Although, he still smile and laugh sometimes, there are still moments where he finds himself alone and miserable.

"Yeah," he whispered as he hangs the towel around his neck while gripping both its ends. "There's a big competition coming up and coach wanted all of us to be on our best shape." He said, cringing a little bit at his ability to lie smoothly in front of his girlfriend. He wasn't entirely lying though because there's really a fencing competition next month which is in a few weeks but the coach hasn't really told them to train rigorously to the point of exhausting their bodies. And since he couldn't find the guiltiness at the very center of his chest, he deemed it safe to speak between his teeth.

"Really? Good luck!" She beamed and unconsciously held onto Jackson's arm. "I know you'll do better than the rest of players. You're the best fencer I've ever seen."

Chuckling, Jackson playfully pinches her nose. "You're only saying that because I'm your boyfriend."

"No, I'm not!" She pouted and Jackson leaned down to kiss it away. "I know a good player when I see one and you're just on the top of your potential."

Jackson smiled softly at that. The way she said it was just too comforting, too assuring and he wouldn't have it any other way. He loved how supportive she is even though being held up with practice is one of the major reasons on why they can't see each other that often. She's always been so caring, asking how he was coping with the new exercise regimen that their coach had introduced two days ago, if he was taking good care of himself, and she'd bring a healthy snack for him during practice break.

His mind drifted off to the times where he would see Mark instead of Youngji sitting at the corner of the bleachers. He knew how Mark loved to sit on that particular spot. He once asked him why he chose that part of the bleachers and Mark smiled at him, reasoning out that it was the best place where he could see Jackson play at all angles. Jackson's heart swelled with so much happiness when Mark said that and he holds that specific information with him whenever he plays─may it be a practice or an official match─knowing for a fact that Mark would always, always be watching him from that side. And whenever he wins a game, his eyes would automatically fall on Mark's jumping figure by the corner and he'd always hold the medal to Mark's direction as if he was saying that his win was for Mark and for nobody else.

"You okay?"

He woke up from his trance when he felt a gentle tap on his arm. He looked down and saw Youngji staring at him with concern. "I'm okay. Just tired." He said, wiping Youngji's bangs away from her eyes so he could see those honest orbs staring straight at him.

Smiling, she patted his head and smoothen the hair that was sticking in different directions. "Once you get home, rest for a little bit before you take a bath, okay? You don't have classes after practice, right?" Jackson shakes his head. "Then, go home and sleep."