String to my heart ♪ Mark Lee

♪ 38

I’m pretending to be numb with a smile on my face
I try not to think of the shadow called “you”

♪

"Mark... What are you doing here?"

Mason asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Mark hesitated. He hadn't expected anyone else to be here. He thought he could talk to Hannah alone, without an audience, but now it seemed like the whole family was present.

"I... I need to talk to Hannah. Is she here?"

Mason's expression turned guarded, but he stepped aside to let Mark in. As Mark entered the apartment, he immediately noticed the atmosphere.

Parker was sitting on the couch, playing on his phone, while Hannah's parents were seated nearby, engaged in a quiet conversation. They all looked up as Mark walked in, their expressions shifting from mild curiosity to surprise.

Hannah was standing by the kitchen counter, her back turned to the door. She froze at the sound of Mark's voice, her shoulders tensing visibly.

Slowly, she turned around to face him, her eyes widening in shock as she realized who had just walked into her apartment.

"Mark?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, her surprise palpable.

Mark's gaze was intense, his usual warm demeanor replaced by something more serious, more determined.

"Yeah, it's me. Can we talk?"

Hannah glanced around the room, her anxiety evident as she noticed her family's eyes on them. Mason cleared his throat, sensing the tension.

"Maybe we should give them some space, you both can talk in Hannah's room." he suggested, glancing at their parents.

Hannah's mother exchanged a concerned look with her father, but they both nodded. Noticing the idol's tensed state and how he was partly wet by the rain.

"Don't catch a cold." Hannah's mom said motioning to Mark which didn't really go into his ears.

Once they were alone in her room, Mark took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

"Why have you been avoiding me, Hannah?"

Hannah looked away, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"I'm not avoiding you, Mark. I've just been... busy."

"Busy?" Mark repeated, frustration creeping into his voice.

"You won't even look at me. Did I do something wrong?"

Hannah shook her head, her throat tightening with emotion.
"No, Mark, you didn't do anything wrong. It's not you... it's me." Hannah whispered the last words to herself.

Mark frowned, taking a step closer.
"Then tell me what's going on. I can't help if you don't let me in."

Hannah felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she blinked them away, determined not to break down.

"I just... I thought it would be better if I kept my distance. I didn't want to ruin things for you."

"Ruin things? Hannah, you're not ruining anything." Mark's voice softened, the frustration giving way to concern.

"I can handle whatever this is, but I can't handle losing you like this man."

"Mark you don't understand this..." Hannah's voice was raw with emotions which she held together.

"That's why I want to talk about it Hannah." Mark said, his eyes pleading in desperation.
"Mark please... I'm not in a state to talk right now..." Hannah said, her words sounding harsh but it was suffocating her.
"Just tell me what did I do? I want to improve myself you know..." Mark said.