Timeless - Mark Tuan

Chapter 16

Mark

Everything's going the way it should be. My family's business is doing well, my friends and I are inseparable, I even got the girl I've wanted since middle school. What else is there to ask for? 

Well, until we had to move to Korea, that is. Everything just turned upside down after that. My friends from the States don't contact me that often anymore. My girlfriend broke up with me. What's worse ... my parents wanted me to get close to a girl who I barely knew. There business is doing really well, alright. But, my life just went to hell and back. 

I met some new friends - Jackson, JB, Yugyeom. They're the closest. There are others I would consider drinking buddies. They're the only ones making me sane nowadays. I go out with them almost every single night, splurging the money my parents give me. I got houses in different cities, I got cars, I got girls, and everything money can buy. Still, I wanted to go back home. But, with nothing left for me in the US, I had no choice but stay here and do as my parents wish me to do. 

So, I met this girl after my parents have bribed me for three long years. Her name's Casey Qin. She's half Chinese, half Korean. And her parents are tycoons in both countries. I can't say she's not beautiful, but she's not my type. She's too bratty for my style. She knows she's pretty and wealthy and she uses that so she can get whatever she wants. I hate those kinds of girls if you know what I mean. 

Well, I wouldn't say I'm different. I'm not. I take advantage of what I have and do as I please, too. But, that's me ... I don't think I can handle another me, more so live with her for the rest of my fuckin' life. 

I try and please her as best I could, just to make my parents stop nagging me. I take her to dates, shopping, traveling and whatever bullshit she likes. But, that's just it. My friends know I mess around. I meet up other girls, party and drink 'til I'm drunk when I'm not with her. I started to think I'm her driver that runs to her whenever she needs someone to take her places. And I really hated it. 

Nothing about her satisfies me. Nothing makes me want her. Not even her beauty could move me. 

But, one day, it's as if a non-existent bond just appears between us. I don't know what or how or why. Suddenly ... so suddenly ... I felt like I wanted to do everything for her. I suddenly wanted to be the man she'd be proud of. I had the urge to be with her everyday. And so I did. 

My parents and hers took advantage of that time and set up the wedding date as early as possible. I didn't even hesitate to agree. 

My friends were surprised when I told them. They thought I would never let my parents dictate what I do. They said I might have been drugged or something. Just to make them happy, I still join them in their night galas, but not that often. 

Then one night I saw this girl and everything went topsy-turvy. 

Even from afar, she caught my attention instantly. As soon as I locked eyes with her, I felt something deep inside me emerge. It's like it's been caged up inside for the longest time and it spread so fast, filling me in to the tip of my fingers. I couldn't really explain it. But, I felt like a lightning bolt just hit me and my body was full of this inexplicable electricity running every which way. 

The way she looked at me, how she parted her lips to say something, the manner she swayed her hands and lifts them to fix her hair ... a creepy familiar feeling crawled through my veins. It seemed like I've looked at those eyes before, as if I've kissed those lips and held those hands. 

As fast as everything happened, she disappeared in front of me. 

I couldn't stop thinking about her that night. Even when I laid on the bed beside Casey, the girl's face was all I saw. Her voice was all I heard.