KAIROSCLEROSIS || lee mark

chapter 15

eventually, tuesday evening came around, and it was time for mark and ellie to meet up in the band-room.

just as mark had expected, the girl was not talking more than what was absolutely necessary, sometimes even ignoring his question (in case they were nothing music-related, that is).

"we've been here for two hours now, enough for today, right?"

mark nodded, making an attempt to put his guitar back in its case, but he was interrupted by ellie's hand.

"leave it here, there's no point in carrying it all the way here everytime we practice." she retreated her hand, looking away from him. "i- i mean, you can take it back if you're gonna need it for something, i don't care."

he smiled, taking the instrument back out of its case, placing it on a free guitar stand.

the two teens then exited the room, locking the door.

mark knew well enough that the way to the girls' dorm was the opposite of the route he would take, but he wasn't going to let the opportunity offered to him slide.

"let me buy you a drink." he spoke up, just as she wanted to turn her back to him. "as a thanks for helping me with the songs."

sighing, she shook her head. "i should head back to the dorm. besides, it's you helping us, and not the other way around."

"please~" mark nudged her shoulder.

ellie rolled her eyes, giving in. "fine." she muttered.

triumphantly, the boy grinned, starting to walk towards the vending machine that he knew was just around the corner, ellie following right after him.

you see, if you study at a boarding school, you'll learn to lower your standards for late night snacks, since NSOE students in their fourth year were not allowed to leave campus after 22:30.

"choose something." he told her, taking out his wallet.

without thinking much, ellie pressed a random number, a coke bottle dropping out of it's place once mark threw in the coins.

since ellie still somewhat had her manners, she quickly mutteres a 'thanks', wanting nothing more than to get away from the awkward exchange.

"i'll be off now."

but mark wasn't going to let that happen.

"it's dark. you're not walking home by yourself at this hour."

elle suppressed the urge to groan in annoyance.

"it's okay, it's not like it would be the first time."

"i don't care. i'm coming with you."

her annoyance only grew, but she was very well aware that she could not do anything to stop him.

the walk back to her house was silent, to her luck — and to mark's dismay.

ellie also hadn't touched her coke yet. she had planned to give it to dahye — who was probably still up watching tv — anyway.

thinking about it, she'd have to make sure that dahye didn't catch sight of mark, or else ellie would never hear the end of it.

she hadn't even told her best friend what she was doing that evening when going out, instead telling her that she was meeting with her brother.

that little demon had just started his first year at NSOE. dahye knew him quite well, so ellie was actually surprised that she had belived her excuse.

because, truthfully, byungho did not try to contact her even once in the two weeks that had passed of the school year.

all of a sudden, mark's steps came to a halt.

"why are you so cold towards me? are you like this with everyone?"

ellie hadn't even realised that they had already reached her dorm-building.

"h-huh?" she stammered.

but mark just stood there, not saying anything, with a firm and demanding expression.

"i've told you before, i don't need new friends, so i don't see the point in being nice to you." it was a harsh thing to say, yes, but that really was the way she felt.

mark couldn't say that he was particularly hurt by her words, he expected an answer like that.

and suddenly, a weird but shockingly credible thought entered his mind.

"oh... wait— you aren't thinking that i'm trying to hit on you or something though, are you? i'm not like that, i know you have a boyfriend."

as soon as the words left his mouth, regret overcame him. how could he say such a thing to her face?

ellie blinked in confusion, obviously very startled. and not in a positive way, if i may add.

she abruptly turned around, disappearing into the building before mark could even say anything else.

"no- wait, i didn't mean to-" but there was no point. she was gone.

'this was fuck up number what exactly now...?'

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a bit of a shorter chapter this week ://

but how r y'all doing?

haha ngl i miss my old audience a lot, but it's my own fault for disappearing for so long