String to my heart ♪ Mark Lee

♪ 57

Let the beat in your heart ring out, row with all your strength, hurry up
Take a deep breath (Yeah), don't stop

♪

It started off with messages.

At first Mark brushed it off thinking she might've been busy. Composing, writing or maybe working on another SM project which wasn't unusual for the staff in SM and likewise Hannah's schedules were unpredictable and it wasn't like she hadn't gone silent for a few hours before this.

But this time it wasn't just the delay, it was the tone.

The replies were short, not cold but... lacking.

Hannah 🎧

Yo
You have work today?

No

I wanted to see you before next schedules
I'll be there by 6 pm

Okay

Mark stared at that one for a long moment, thumb hovering over the short responses of "No" and "Okay", she had never replied like that before, not even when she was half asleep or struggling with deadlines.

Even during those times she would say things like "Of course my man" or "Even though I'm at work I'll sneak out just for you" with a wink.

But now every message felt like a door being shut and he was left stranded not knowing what to do.

Still for his own solace he reasoned it with maybe she is tired, maybe something came up, maybe she needed space and just didn't know how to ask for it.

But maybe they were getting louder than the truth.

Their conversations felt more like an exchange of updates rather than the connection and when he flew back to Korea on 17th, something about the way she hadn't even asked when he'd land back hit harder than he wanted to admit.

He told himself that he wouldn't overthink, he'd see her and it'll be alright.

♪

They sat watching a movie, the light of the screen illuminating their faces in the darkness of the room. Her laughter didn't linger as it used to, didn't poke him during cheesy scenes as she used to. Instead, she leaned on him craving for something which Mark couldn't quite pinpoint.

"Well Mark,"
"Yeah?" Mark looked at her but she had her gaze focused on the laptop.
"I'm heading to Australia on the 25th."

"Really? Why the sudden plan?" Mark asked, curious.
"There's a gathering where I'm supposed to be at, so yeah." Mark nodded.

As they continued to watch, Mark's face lit up on a particular scene.
"You know what? My mum was exactly like this, when dad tried to impress her she behaved all cool and nonchalant but she was all giddy behind his back." He laughed softly.

Beside him, Hannah's expression shifted so subtly that he might have missed it if he wasn't looking at her. Her lips parted as if she was about to say something but instead her eyes dropped to her lap and the light in them dimmed.

"I'll be right back," she said quietly already rising from the couch when Mark gave a questioning look.
"Washroom."

Mark nodded and motioned her to go.