paper edge

shut up (it's 2 am)

Maybe if Mark closed his eyes, his college would burn to the ground and he wouldn't have class.

Maybe if Mark didn't hate school so much, he would be in English class right now, learning something his dad wanted him to. The only reason he came to this hell hole was because Jackson promised to follow along. 

He kinda forgot how much school sucked. 

"Hey, look on the bright side." Jackson leaned against Mark's side, earning an amused grin. "At least we can choose if we want to go or not. And, and..." Jackson paused, smiling expectantly at the older boy. He sighed.

"And what, Jackson?" The eighteen-year-old played along, making Jackson bubble with joy. He never does this. "Think about all the girls."

A groan. 

"You know I could care less about girls." Mark pursed his lips, eyes laced with disappointment and annoyance.

"Yes, yes, I know, Mark Tuan is the gayest eighteen-year-old you'll find besides Jackson motherfucking Wang but hear me out. Girls start treating you like girls once you're gay right? Well-"

"I'm not completely gay you dimwit." Mark sighed exasperatedly. 

"Yeah and neither am I but do they have to know that?"

"I don't want a new female friend."

"You're no fun."

"I'm never fun."

"You suck, Tuan."

"Likewise, Wang."

Jackson really wishes alarm clocks didn't exist. He also really wishes that he could've somehow convinced Mark to become some Kpop idol or something because at the moment, Jackson would rather be in South Korea, training his ass off for a job he might not even get. College was awful. Mark reminded him of that first thing in the morning at 8:45 am.

"Get up."

"No good morning kiss Tuan?"Jackson teasingly puckered his lips, eyes half-closed but even then, he could see the glare Mark's eyes shone upon him and the blush that threatened to tell away all his secrets. 

"Shut the fuck up Jackson."

It was a long morning. Long story short? They both ended up playing Mario Kart until they realized they were late for their morning classes and had to shower together. To say it was awkward was an understatement. Mark was never used to any sort of affection before Jackson rolled around, hugging and teasingly trying to kiss him whenever he wanted. It was like PDA but one hundred percent grosser in Mark's opinion. Mark never returned the gestures. Jackson never expected him to. It was how they worked. 

"Jackson?"

"Yeah, Mark?"

"How old am I?"

"Eighteen and a half."

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen." Jackson repeated wistfully, staring at the blank ceiling. There were bits of sticker pieces left on them, a 'gift' from past students. They were black, blue, pink, purple, orange, silver and any other colour you could pick off from the top of your head. Reminded them of star speckles. Jackson turned his body around to look at the older boy, even if he knew he wouldn't do the same. 

"Mark?"

No response. Jackson didn't rush him. This always happened. Mark would ask him peculiar questions he wouldn't understand until later on. And so he let his best friend be consumed by the darkness, blinking every so often so he'd come back into vision.

"What are we even going to do with our lives after college?"

The question made Jackson's breath hitched. He had done it. Mark had finally fucking done it. Threw Jackson a question he couldn't answer. How the hell was he supposed to respond? There was no guaranteed answer and he knew Mark would call him out. So what did Jackson do?

"Go the fuck to sleep bitch. It's late and we don't have enough energy drinks to bullshit us through the day."