Bad Guy My Boss (ENG)

Chapter 12

78 missed calls

Mark sat staring at his phone screen, which had been notifying him of messages and missed calls for hours. Ever since he got off the plane and turned his phone back on, Vee had been calling him relentlessly. There were several times when Mark was about to give in and answer, but his self-control stopped him at the last second. Beneath his calm and collected exterior, a tumult of emotions lurked.

Although he hadn't read the messages directly, each letter had flashed before his eyes through the notifications on the screen. The more he read, the more a mix of feelings arose inside him. Desperation, longing, and worry collided in a tangle. Mark had to do something that went against his very nature. Was he being too cruel to himself?

[Mark... don't do this. We haven't figured things out yet.]

[I told you to leave!!!]

As Mark finished reading this message, Vee's beautiful, intense face appeared in his memory once again. He could guess that Vee must be frustrated. If these messages were spoken words, Vee would probably be frowning and growling at the same time.

The thought made Mark smile, but deep down, he couldn't really smile. It hurt and felt suffocating to know that he couldn't be by Vee's side anymore. Inside his mid-range hotel room, only the distant sound of waves could be heard. The balcony door was left open to let in the ocean breeze, and Mark took the opportunity to sit firmly in a chair on the balcony, his eyes sad and lost in the starless sky, with only the almost full moon for company.

[Mark, where are you?]

[I want to talk. Please answer.]

[Please... talk to me.]

His hand holding the phone was shaking while the other rubbed his knee uneasily.

[If you don't want to talk, at least answer my messages. Honey...I'm sorry. Please, can we talk?]

[It's okay if you don't want to work together. I won't force you. But please don't keep silent like that. Don't disappear. I can't stand to be away from you.]

[You can't deny what's between us. You mean a lot to me.]

[Come back to me.]

[I'm going crazy because of you. Please... let's talk. Don't disappear like that. Tell me what should I do?]

Mark sent this message as it approached 1am, but Vee kept texting persistently, to the point where his phone seemed on the verge of dying from the continuous notifications. Mark looked at the cell phone in his hand, hesitating...

At that very moment, Vee called back. His eyes, without glasses, were shaking as much as his hand. He usually strong resolve seemed to soften several degrees. Mark sighed deeply, ruffling his hair and rubbing his face several times to gather some strength. The incoming call was cut off before Vee called back again. After letting it ring and cut off more than ten times... Mark finally answered.

"Go to sleep." Mark spoke bluntly, without saying hello. His voice was cold and emotionless. He hoped the person on the other end would realize it was too late for conversation.

"Where are you?" Vee's voice was anxious, with a hint of joy that the other party could sense.

"...It's past one. Go to sleep." After saying that, Mark gestured to hang up.

"Please don't hang up." Vee pleaded, his voice cracking. "Answer me first, where are you? Why didn't you come home? Who are you with?" The questions came, but the tone wasn't aggressive, just full of concern that the listener could sense.