Chapter Four: Love Blooming in the Hot Pot
I could hardly contain his excitement. Tonight was the night. I was going on a date with Mark Lee from NCT, the same Mark Lee I had met at an NCT concert just a few days ago. I had spent hours getting ready, ensuring I looked perfect for their date. I kept telling myself not to stutter; if I could do it with Mathew, I could do it here, too. As I approached the cozy hot pot restaurant where we were meeting, I spotted Mark waiting outside, looking effortlessly handsome in a simple yet stylish outfit.
"Hey, Ryan," Mark greeted me with a shy smile, his eyes twinkling under the soft streetlights.
"Hi, Mark," I replied, feeling his heart skip a beat. "You look great."
Mark blushed slightly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Thanks. You too."
We walked inside and were seated at a private booth, the warm, inviting aroma of the hot pot broth filling the air. As we settled in, Mark's initial shyness was palpable. He kept his eyes mostly on the table, occasionally glancing up at Ryan with a soft, almost timid smile.
"So, have you had hot pot before?" Mark asked, his voice gentle and careful.
"Yeah, I love it," I replied, trying to ease the nervous tension. "What about you?"
Mark nodded, his fingers playing with the edge of the menu. "I have. It's one of my favorites. It's great for dates because it's interactive, you know?"
I smiled, finding Mark's nervousness endearing. "Yeah, it's perfect."
They began selecting ingredients, the conversation flowing more easily as they discussed their favorite foods and the best combinations for the hot pot. Mark was shocked when he found out I don't like my broth spicy and love having chicken wings, he decided to get them to try. As the broth started to boil, Mark's initial shyness began to melt away. He started to relax, his genuine personality shining through.
"I have to admit, I was pretty nervous about this date," Mark confessed, his eyes meeting mine with a hint of vulnerability.
"Really? Why?" I asked, genuinely curious and remembering to keep it cool.
Mark chuckled softly, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down Ryan's spine. "Well, it's not every day I get to go on a date with someone I met at a concert. Plus, you're really nice, and I didn't want to mess it up."
Ryan's heart swelled at Mark's words. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm having a great time."
Mark's smile widened, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I'm glad to hear that."
As we cooked and ate, Mark started sharing stories from his life as an idol. He talked about the ups and downs, the hard work, and the incredible moments he had experienced. I listened intently, fascinated by Mark's world.
"And then there was this one time," Mark said, laughing, "we were on stage, and I completely blanked out on my part. I just stood there, looking like a deer in headlights. The members teased me about it for weeks!"
Ryan couldn't help but laugh along with him. "I can't imagine how stressful that must have been."
"It was, but it was also kind of funny in hindsight," Mark admitted, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Do you have any embarrassing stories Ryan?" Mark asks
"Uhh, nothing really comes to mind", I say, trying to play it off. All of a sudden, I hear some familiar voices
"Ryan??" I turn around to see my three friends Jess, Jerween, and Emily are walking past and notice me
"Oh my god, hey guys, what are you doing here?" I am shocked to see my friends and immediately get nervous as I remember who is opposite me.
"Is that Mark Lee? What the hell?" one of them ask
"Yeah, um, Mark these are my friends Jess, Jerween, and Emily, and guys this is Mark" I introduce them
"Hey guys, we were just talking about embarrassing stories, and Ryan tells me he doesn't have any", Mark says. I jump with fright as I know I played it off earlier and my friends have many stories. Just as I start to panic, they laugh
"There's no way, Ryan has many stories. My personal favourite was when we went ice skating and Ryan fell flat on his back at the entrance of the rink, the best part is it was the smaller ice rink which is for kids," Jerween says while giggling.
"Nah, it has to be when he was on my bed and let out a big ass cough sneeze. The snot was so big it reached his mouth" Jess starts laughing and hitting her knee ", but you know it is honestly more funny than embarrassing"
"No, guys, the best are all the little ones in high school, like buying prescription glasses with no lens just to be quirky, or when he was doing a vlog and got a fruit salad and juice for lunch when he actually ate meatball subs", Emily says while laughing.
"Guys, we get it," I say, trying to give them a hint to leave. I'm totally embarrassed now.
"Okay then, we will be off" Emily says
"Bye you guys, have fun" Jerween says
"Yeah, you guys too, it was nice to meet you" Mark says as they leave
When I look up from my bowl of food, I can feel how hot my cheeks are with blush. I want to die right now. The embarrassment is overflowing.
"Your friends seem fun" Mark says
"Yeah.. not when they dog me" I say laughing
"It's okay, I knew you were trying to play it cool earlier which is why I bought it up" Mark gets worried quickly "I hope that was okay"
"OMG no, you are fine, literally, it's just embarrassing for me" I look into his eyes reassuringly. "Don't worry, and it's better they tell you now than later"
We both break out into a fit of laughter
"So why does your friend Jess not make eye contact?"
As the evening went on, Mark's playful side started to emerge. He made jokes, teased me lightly, and even showed off a few silly dance moves when they talked about their favourite songs. I found myself falling more and more for Mark's charming, multifaceted personality.
"You're really fun to be around, Mark," I said, smiling warmly.
Mark's cheeks flushed again, but this time it was a happy blush. "Thanks, Ryan. I feel really comfortable with you."
We finished our meal, both of us full and content. The cool night air was refreshing as we stepped outside. Mark turned to me, his expression soft and sincere.
"I had a really great time tonight," Mark said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Me too," I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest.
There is a moment of silence, and then Mark took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine. "Can I kiss you?"
My breath hitched, and I nodded. "Yes."
Mark leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a gentle, tender kiss. The kiss is sweet and full of promise, a perfect ending to a perfect night. When we pulled apart, Mark's eyes were shining with happiness.
"Thank you, Ryan," he said softly. "For everything."
I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Thank you, Mark."
As we parted ways, I couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning of something truly special. I can't wait to see where it will lead. I know that kiss will be on my mind tonight.
