"So, Mark, do you really not recognize me or are you just ignoring your childhood best friend?"
When her best friend moved to Korea to become an idol, their contact died down and they soon started living lives completely separate from one another...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Kenzie."
"Kenz."
"Babe."
Gyuri awoke to the soft whispers of Mark beside her. She blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust to the light before she saw Mark's adorable smile. She chuckled softly and brought a hand to his cheek.
"Hey cutie," she yawned.
Mark breathed out a soft chuckle and held her hand. His thumb stroked over the skin before he brought it to his lips and kissed it softly.
"Happy birthday," he whispered. Gyuri's smile grew at his words, grateful to wake up on her birthday with him next to her.
"Oh," she cooed, pulling the boy into her for a morning cuddle. "Thank you."
"So," Mark muttered as he placed his head on top of her chest. "How does twenty-four feel for you, then?"
"Cuddly," Gyuri smiled with her eyes closed. Mark chuckled, which Gyuri could feel due to the proximity of their bodies. She felt warm and safe this way, as if his body shielded her from any negativity, any bad stuff. She lived in a happy bubble of joy when she was with him.
Mark did not complain about starting their day like this. Besides, it was her day today, so he would do whatever she wanted him to. If that meant cuddling for hours on end, Mark certainly wouldn't mind.
However, Gyuri eventually sat up and stretched out her arms with a grand yawn. She looked down at Mark who lay beside her with a small smile playing his lips as he observed the girl.
"What are your plans today?" Mark asked her.
"I'll be at the clinic most of the day," Gyuri said. "I might see if Matt wants to do something, maybe go out for lunch or something. And then the party tonight," Gyuri smiled. "I'm excited."
Mark nodded. "Me too," he said.
"Let's have breakfast, yeah?" Mark asked as he slowly sat up as well. Gyuri nodded and got out of bed. Mark followed and the pair hoisted themselves into some comfortable loungewear before making their way to the kitchen.
"I figured you wouldn't appreciate a burned-down kitchen as a birthday present, so I decided to order some instead. I hope you don't mind," Mark smiled sheepishly. He held up a bag with various breakfast delicacies and Gyuri happily pressed her hands together.
Mark placed some plates on the table and the two indulged in a lovely breakfast together. The food was sweet, as was the silence between them. They shared eye contact every so often, sending each other small winks and smiles.
