Family Friend

Chapter 7

-Next Day-

-3rd POV-

"Fuck," the bleached blond male cursed, seeing the news online. Somehow a picture of him and Marcey holding hands spread like wildfire. News of his 'girlfriend' was everywhere and it would only be limited time until JYP-nim would call him for an explaination. Of course he'd tell the truth, but he'd also bring something more serious up.

"Mark-hyung," a soft voice called out, entering the latters room. "How do you think this happened?"

Looking up, the older was met with a worried Youngjae, and he sighed. "No clue. Either paparazzi or a fan. Has Marce come out yet?" With a shake of the youngers head, Mark sighed in defeat. "I'll be right back."

"Mark-hyung, do you think that's a smart idea?" Youngjae stopped the other, holding him by his arm, stopping him from going any farther. "Think about it. She's here for some unknown reason, she's an introvert and awkward, imagine how she feels with all this news. Especially with the publicity, she might feel worried about whatever it is back at home. She probably just needs space right now."

"No," Mark eventually sighed. "It's not a smart idea, but I need to do this. We're lucky they didn't see her face and only saw mine. I need to talk to her."

With that last statement, Mark quickly escaped the youngers grasp and walked down the hall towards Marcey's room. Knocking on the door softly, he spoke up only recieving nothing in return.

"Marce?" Curiously, he tried the doorknob, shocked to see it unlocked. Quickly, he entered the room to see it empty, and glanced around until he came across an open window.

-1st POV-

"Marce?" Hearing Mark's voice, I sighed, leaning back against the exterior of the house, sitting on the roof. Taking a drag from my cigarette, I closed my eyes as I took in the addicting drug.

"What is it?" I questioned, hearing him climbing through the window. "You shouldn't be near a cigarette, won't be good for your career."

"Doesn't matter," he responded curtly, watching as I took another drag, flicking the ashes a second later. "You shouldn't be smoking anyway."

"I don't do it often," I responded, shrugging softly. "Not anymore at least. Only have the urge when I'm stressed or worried."

"Still," he sighed, leaning back beside me.

We sat in silence. Smoke drifting up into the slowly sarkening sky. Thoughts bombarded my mind as I imagined the pictures all over the internet. It had been trending on Twitter shortly, and it was all over the popular page on Instagram, let's not even start on Tumblr. This is what happens when you're living with a celebrity who happens to be caring.

"I'm sorry," Mark stated eventually, watching as I put the cancer stick out. "I really am. I never wanted to get you into this mess, let alone be mistaken as my girlfriend. I really hope that you ignored all the comments though. I read a bunch, they even hurt me. I'd rather you not take them seriously, I don't want to see any more marks on you. It hurts me even more to see that."

"You don't have to apologize," I started, cutting him off. Sadly, I smiled towards him, and pulled at my sweater sleeves. "It's too late. Not like you commented anything, so you don't have to apologize. If anything, I'm just happy that some people were supportive over something that's not real. I understand the others though. They look up to you, and are hurt that you're giving attention to someone that's not them, your fans. You mean a lot to them, so those comments are understandable."

"No, they're not," Mark stated firmly. "Even if a relationship happened, they don't have the right to say anything about you like that. I care about you, and if they cared at all about me, they'd accept you with ease. Not telling you everything they did. You don't deserve that. Especially when they don't know anything about you."

"Mark," I sighed. "Don't, just, don't. I'd rather your family come first, then your group, then fans, and I be last. There's no reason to worry."

"There's plenty reason to worry," he exclaimed. "You're hurt, both emotionally, and physically. Because of all those lies they said, you saw yourself wrong. That's plenty reason to worry. You're hurting, Marcey, and I don't want to see this. I already told you this when Kieren first arrived, and I really don't think I need to repeat it, but you're important. JB, Junior, and the others would be hurt if they knew you're still hurting yourself. I'm hurt too."

"In all honesty," I began, my vision slowly blurring. "That doesn't help. Words are words, both real and fake, there's no proof you're telling the truth. You could be saying this, and then start laughing once you leave this room. Words are exactly that, words."

"Mar-"

"Mark!" The familiar voice of Mr. Tuan came from inside. "Mark! Come here for a second!"

Conflicted, I saw him hesitate to leave me, and I sadly smiled. Staring into his eyes, I saw the battle with his conscious, and shooed him off to his dad. Seeing him hesitate once again, I shoved him softly until he climbed back inside and left the room. Once I knew he was gone, I sighed, closing my eyes and holding tears in as I climbed back inside, shutting the window and climbing into the warm bed.

-3rd POV-

"Yeah dad?" Mark questioned, walking downstairs to his parents. Motioning him into the same room where he learned of Marcey's scars, they shut the door and took a seat on the couch against the wall.

"What's happening?" Mrs. Tuan stated. "Why are you and Marcey everywhere?"

"Well, we went to the mall yesterday," He started, and told his parents the entire story. Listening intently, they understand the happening, before growing confused on one detail.

"Why didn't you let her hand go?" Mr. Tuan questioned his son.

"In all honesty," Mark sighed. "I didn't want to."

-----

"Mark-hyung," a voice called out once he had walked out of the room. Looking towards the voice, he saw the maknae standing there. "We wanted to talk to you."

------

As the two entered Mark's bedroom, the others sat in a circle. Kieren had left yesterday, and Marcey refused to have her over so she could have some space. However, the guys wanted to both confess, and question the oldest.

"Hyung, we were following you guys around the mall," BamBam quickly admitted. "We wanted you and Marcey to be alone, without us."

"We've been like that a lot," Mark stated, confused with the sudden confession.

"Also, we took pictures of you guys holding hands," Junior sighed. "But we promise we didn't post them." Quickly adding the fact at Marks sudden change. He was completely emotionless at the moment, and it worried the other members.

"I know you guys wouldn't do something like that, don't worry," Mark responded shortly after. "Is there something else?"

"Yeah," JB began. "How come you didn't let go of Marcey's hand?"

"I didn't want to," Mark shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "Though, I know it shouldn't, it felt right. I just couldn't let myself let go of her."

"Hyung," Jackson spoke up suddenly. "Do you happen to.. like Marcey?"

Caught off gaurd, Mark stayed silent. He didn't know how to respond, nor what to think. He was so conflicted. He knows what he should and shouldn't do, however that all seems to fly out the window when the younger's around. He doesn't necessarily dislike the feeling, more of scared of unknown territory. Of course, it wouldn't be difficult if he wasn't famous, but he is and there's a lot of obstacles. He wasn't positive if he was prepared to take them on. Not only that, but she lived in America, not South Korea like he did.

"I think," he sighed. "I think I do honestly."

Finally admitting it to himself, he smiled softly, and chuckled as the members cheered. However, a sudden event shocked all of them. The fact that Youngjae, and Jaebum kissed, with no hesitation at all. Immediate silence covered everyone as the 2 members pulled apart, obviously terrified and embarressed.

"Jackson-hyung," Yugyeom spoke up. "You owe me money."