that one stained shirt | mark lee ✓

lay your head down

We had left around one-thirty in the morning.

Mark took hold of me and literally dragged me out of there before another drinking game broke out. I giggled all the way to the car. I don't even remember what was so funny, but Mark couldn't stop smiling. He waited till I fastened up my seatbelt and joined the main road.

"Wait, where is Sarah?" I realized suddenly and turned to him in concern. "We must go-"

"She's alright. The boys promised to take her home. Her and Haechan, of course, I don't recall the last time he was this wild."

Oh yeah, that man could barely walk.

We drove through night Seoul, and I asked Mark to open a window. It was a very fine weather outside. A few stars dwelled over the Han River and the air was still warm. A Bruno Mars song played on the radio, and I hummed to the rhythm.

"Do you sing?" Mark asked me curiously and I shook my head. The last time I sang in front of someone was in primary school. Then Johnny decided to be an idol and my interests went elsewhere. "That's a shame, you have a nice voice."

"Thank you."

"No need to, pretty. It matches your personality."

That caught my attention. "How?" I asked and crossed my legs so I could face him better.

He chuckled. "I can tell it's a strong one. A confident one. A one with feelings. You're just like it, or at least, that's what I think. You have gone into this act because you wanted to help me as much as yourself. You live through how you feel. You laugh when you feel like it, you joke around, but you also keep quiet when you're uncomfortable. It's all written on your face, Jess."

I was quiet for a second. My breath hitched and I stayed silent for a second.

"That's how you see me?" I asked quietly and he nodded while keeping his eyes on the road.

"Yes. That's what I like about you."

I blamed the alcohol when my chest tightened and tears threatened to roll from my eyes. No one has ever said anything like this to me, not even Sarah. She loved me, I knew it, and she would always talk good about me, but this was different. He noticed me.

I had to look straight in front of me to not break down. That's what I like about you.

And then I noticed we were not driving to my apartment. "Where are you taking me?" I almost choked out. "My home is-"

"You're staying with me, Jess. I wanted to make sure nothing happened to you, even at yours."

Stop being so kind, Mark. I scolded in my head and let out a deep sigh.

"I won't," he answered and I realized I must have said it out loud. "You're my girlfriend after all."

☆

Mark's place was much bigger than I had imagined. Truth be told, I couldn't make much in the dark, but by the time we spent walking, I assumed it must have been at least two times larger than my apartment.

He led me into his bedroom and sat me down on his bed. I asked him not to turn any lights on.

"Here," he handed me a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. "You can take a shower and change into something comfortable."

"The dress is comfortable."

"I don't doubt that, but you will not sleep in my bed with it on."

"Then without it?" I asked before I could stop myself. Mark froze and I realized how bad that had sounded. "Sorry, my bad, I didn't-"