Dear Mark

Sorry, Jackson

We all took Youngjae's car to a sketchy but very reasonably priced and popular karaoke bar downtown. BamBam, Yugyeom, Youngjae, and I all headed down the narrow hall towards our room. I saw a few couples making out through the tiny door windows and one guy totally knocked out on the couch with a single hand still grasping onto a bottle of soju. We made it to our room and Youngjae, as usual, picked the first song to start us off.
Youngjae picked up the microphone and tapped it a few times, then started speaking in English.
"Hello, yes. This is Youngjae time. This is Youngjae karaoke. Now, I am gonna sing. Yes, I am gonna sing this song. Nnnnnnnnnow."
We all clapped like maniacs and picked up the tambourines. No doubt were we Youngjae's biggest fans.
We all basically started to go insane within the first two songs and were already glistening a little with sweat. I ordered a few cokes since Yugyeom and BamBam were not quite of age yet and we didn't want them to also K.O on the floor. BamBam's favorite picks were always the girl group songs (EXID, SNSD, Red Velvet...) which never failed to turn us all purple with laughter. While doing EXID's "Up and Down" he pulled something in his hip and dramatically collapsed onto the couch and rested for a few songs.
Yugyeom started to really feel the beat. Like, really feel it. I had to pick him off the ground a few times and slap his hand off his crotch.
The room started to get steamy and we were all sweating down our backs. Yugyeom already drank 5 cans of Coke and Youngjae was trying to serenade me with some ballad song and I think I almost fell for him right there.
After four hours, we were all basically dead. I don't know when BamBam and Yugyeom passed out but
BamBam was resting his head on Yugyeoms lap with drool rolling down his mouth. Youngjae was sweaty but wide awake playing some games on his phone. I took off my sweater long ago and only has a black tank top on.
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom really quick. Watch the kids, Kay?"
Youngjae gave me an "OK" with his hand and I walked out the room.
I made my way down the hall towards the restroom feeling refreshed and happy. It was already 1 am and it didn't look like anyone else was here. ( Which was a relief because if I had left the room an hour earlier I would've heard a lot of unnecessary and uncomfortable moaning from the other karaoke rooms...)
"Hey... JinYoung... Hey, HEY!"
I stopped in my tracks and turned around
Jinyoung? Wait, that voice sounds familiar....
As I was about to peak through the doors window a sweaty and very flushed Mark opened the door nearly breaking my nose.
He was holding his sweatshirt close to his chest breathing rapidly and obviously very confused by my presence.
"J-Jackson....?"
That was the first time he said my name.
If it were any other time, I would be ecstatic with joy. But the way his expression looked.. Made me feel very worried.
"Mark...? Why are you... I mean what's going on?"
Mark looked back into the room worriedly and closed the door.
"Just come out with me for a sec."
-
I went to go buy us a few sport drinks and I sat with Mark outside of the karaoke bar at a nearby bench. It  was silent, awkward, and pitch black. The only thing giving us light was the neon illuminating lights of the karaoke sign. My shoulders and arms were a little cold with nothing but jeans and a tank top on but my face felt sunburnt knowing that Mark wanted to maybe talk about something.
"I'm sorry."
I almost chocked on my drink and I quickly whipped my mouth.
"You...You're what?"
Mark flushed a little and scratched his head.
"Don't make me say it again."
I felt a very large smile pull at my mouth but tried my best to keep a straight face.
"Don't worry about it."
"I-I really mean it. I don't know you but I gave you a really bad impression of me. You just caught me at a very bad time yesterday, today.. and, and just now."
I gave him a reassuring smile and nodded my head.
"I know you're really not like that."
He smiled back at me and looked down at his Gatorade, taking a sip.
"But I do want to know... Were you with anyone in that room?" Mark glanced at me for a second and pursed his lips.
"I was with Jinyoung. You might not know this, but we are childhood friends. He's.. Been taking care of me for awhile now, but I don't want him to anymore. I don't want to be a burden."
Damn, childhood friends? I knew they were close but not that close.
I found myself very curious, as always, about their relationship but couldn't find the right words to express what I was thinking.
"I see... And just now, you and him in that room-- Are, are you guys--- is maybe the reason that-- Are you single?"
Way to go, Jackson.
Mark looked at me dumbfounded with wide eyes. He started to chuckle and laugh contagiously.
"Jesus, what the hell are you saying???"
My face turned completely red and before I could explain myself my phone went off.
"E-excuse me.... Hello?"
"Jackson Wang, where the heck are you? Does a piss take half an hour? The kids are waking up and want their mother. Hurry hurry."
"Yes yes wife, I'll be there in a minute."
I closed my phone and sighed.
"Wife?" Mark questioned, cocking his head to the side.
"Youngjae."
"Ah."
"I should get going..."
"Yeah me too..." Mark started to stand up and he threw his jacket at me.
"What's this?" I asked, holding up the army green jacket by the sleeve.
"You've been shivering this whole time, tough guy." He smirked at my confused expression and walked back into the karaoke bar.
"What the heck, I should be the one giving you my jacket."
I tried putting it on but only managed to get my head through.
"It doesn't even fit!"