breathing ¦ mark lee

ch ; 14

─── ･જ⁀➴ 14 જ⁀➴･ ───

Pacing Worries

Yeojung found herself lingering outside Mark's house, wrestling with the decision of whether to pay him a visit. It had been weeks since their heart-to-heart at the restaurant, and she hadn't seen him since then. She wanted to give him space, but at the same time, she couldn't shake off her worry for him.

As she paced back and forth, uncertainty gnawed at her. "Should I go in?" she murmured to herself, her brow furrowed in contemplation. "Maybe he needs more time."

Lost in her thoughts, Yeojung didn't notice Mark's mother, Sekyung, observing her from the kitchen window. Concerned, Sekyung decided to step outside and see what was keeping Yeojung lingering at the gate.

"Yeojung-ah, what are you doing here?" Sekyung called out, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and warmth.

Startled, Yeojung quickly straightened up, flashing a nervous smile. "Oh, hello, Ahjumma," she greeted, trying to appear casual.

Sekyung arched an eyebrow, sensing Yeojung's unease. "What brings you here, dear?"

Yeojung hesitated, her mind racing for a plausible excuse. "Um, I was just passing by," she replied vaguely, not wanting to reveal her true reason for being there.

Sekyung's lips twitched with amusement. "Hmm...you're here for my son, aren't you?" she teased gently.

Caught off guard, Yeojung's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "What? No, no," she stammered, her attempt at denial falling flat.

Sekyung chuckled knowingly, seeing through Yeojung's facade. "It's okay, Yeojung-ah. You can come in if you'd like," she offered kindly, opening the gate to welcome her.

Grateful for Sekyung's understanding, Yeojung nodded sheepishly. "Thank you, Ahjumma."

As they walked towards the house together, Yeojung couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment knowing that Mark wasn't home. Sekyung noticed her expression and gently explained, "He's out with his step-sister, Han Yi. Mark's been feeling quite stressed lately, so I thought it would be good for him to spend some time with her."

Yeojung nodded, her heart swelling with warmth at the thought of Mark bonding with his young step-sister. Despite the challenges he had faced, it was reassuring to know that he had a supportive family by his side.

Yeojung smiled weakly, relieved to hear that Mark was spending time with his family. "That's good to hear," she said, trying to hide her disappointment. "I'm glad he's getting some time to relax."

Sekyung nodded, her expression softening. "He's been through a lot lately," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "But he's a resilient young man. He'll bounce back, I'm sure of it."

Yeojung nodded in agreement, though her mind was still clouded with worry for Mark. She wanted to be there for him, to offer him the same support and comfort that he had given her. But she knew she had to respect his space, to give him the time he needed to heal.

As she bid Sekyung farewell and made her way back home, Yeojung couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in her heart. She knew she had to find a way to reach out to Mark, to let him know that she was there for him whenever he was ready to talk.

The following day, Yeojung decided to leave a note for Mark at his house. She carefully penned down her thoughts, expressing her concern for him and her willingness to lend a listening ear whenever he needed it. With a hopeful heart, she slipped the note through the mail slot and prayed that it would reach Mark's hands.

Days passed, and Yeojung found herself constantly checking her phone, hoping for a message from Mark. But as the days turned into weeks, her hope began to wane. She wondered if she had overstepped her boundaries, if she had pushed Mark away with her persistence.

But deep down, Yeojung refused to give up on her friend. She knew that Mark was going through a difficult time, and she was determined to stand by him no matter what. So she continued to wait, holding onto the belief that one day, Mark would reach out to her and let her back into his life.

-

Continued.