𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 ; 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐜𝐤

𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞

The air in the café was heavy with unspoken words as Mark and Donghyuck sat together, their hands clasped across the table. The honesty of their conversation had brought a strange sense of relief, but also a new layer of complexity to their lives. As they parted ways, Mark felt a mixture of determination and dread about the conversation he needed to have with Jenna.

Later that evening, Mark returned to Jenna's apartment, his mind still reeling from the day's events. Jenna greeted him with a warm smile, but Mark could see the worry in her eyes. He knew he couldn't put this off any longer.

"Jenna, we need to talk," Mark said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

Jenna's smile faltered, and she nodded, leading him to the couch. "Okay, what's going on?"

Mark took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I need to be honest with you. These past few weeks have been really confusing for me, and I've realized that I have feelings for someone else."

Jenna's eyes widened, and she looked away, a pained expression crossing her face. "Is it Donghyuck?"

Mark's heart skipped a beat. "How did you—?"

Jenna sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I could tell, Mark. The way you look at him, the way you talk about him... I've seen it coming."

Mark felt a pang of guilt. "Jenna, I never wanted to hurt you. You mean so much to me, but I can't ignore these feelings."

Jenna nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "I know, Mark. And I need to be honest with you too."

Mark's heart raced. "What do you mean?"

Jenna took a deep breath, wiping her eyes. "I've been hiding something from you. I didn't know how to tell you because I didn't want to hurt you either."

Mark frowned, confusion and concern mixing in his mind. "What is it, Jenna?"

Jenna looked him straight in the eye, her voice trembling. "I'm a lesbian, Mark. I've known for a while, but I was scared to admit it. I didn't want to lose you as a friend, and I didn't want to face the truth myself."

Mark stared at her, shock rendering him momentarily speechless. "You're... you're a lesbian?"

Jenna nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry, Mark. I care about you so much, but I've been living a lie. I thought maybe if I could make this work with you, I could ignore who I really am. But I can't do that anymore."

Mark's initial shock gave way to understanding and empathy. He reached out and took Jenna's hands in his, his heart aching for her. "Jenna, you don't have to apologize. I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't be yourself. We both deserve to be with people who make us happy and who we can be honest with."

Jenna nodded, squeezing his hands. "I'm so relieved to hear you say that, Mark. I've been so scared of losing you."

Mark shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "You're not losing me, Jenna. We might not be right for each other as a couple, but that doesn't mean we can't still be friends. We've been through so much together, and I don't want to lose that."

Jenna smiled through her tears, a weight visibly lifting from her shoulders. "Thank you, Mark. That means so much to me."

They sat together, the tension between them melting away as they talked about their feelings and their hopes for the future. The conversation was difficult, but it brought them closer in a way they hadn't been before. They both knew that their relationship would change, but it would be built on honesty and mutual respect.

As the evening wore on, Mark felt a sense of peace he hadn't felt in weeks. He had faced his feelings, and now he knew Jenna had done the same. They were both free to be who they truly were, and to find the happiness they deserved.

When Mark finally left Jenna's apartment, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He needed to talk to Donghyuck again, to share what had happened and to figure out what came next for them. But for now, he felt a sense of closure and hope. The future was uncertain, but he knew he wouldn't face it alone.