Falling for Jackson Wang | MARKSON

Chapter 20 | Friends

After a solid 5 hours of sleep, I summarised my situation.
My ex-bully, who was my ex-bestfriend, is now my boyfriend.
But the whole thing is a joke, it's a bet. 6 months together and he wins.
More than 6 months and he loses.
He needs to fall in love with me. I can't let him break up with me. I have 4 weeks.
I'm not leaving him, I'm staying with him.
This should be easy.

But it isn't.
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It's been a while since I talked to MONSTA X, so I decided to call them before school this morning.

"Hello?" Hyungwon answered, his voice soft.

I miss him.

"Hey! It's Mark." I greeted, pulling on my shoes.
"Mark! Hey! How are you?" Hyungwon answered, surprised.
"I'm alright. How have you been?" I smiled.
"Is that Mark?" I heard, a faint whisper in the background of Hyungwon's call.
"No, it's not." Hyungwon answered, but it was too late.

I heard a crackle, some movement and a loud bang.

"Hey MaRK!" Minhyuk screamed.
"Hello Minhyukkie." I laughed.
"I miss you."
"I miss you too."
"I can't wait until you come home. We have heaps of stuff planned, you're going to love it."
"About tha-"
"We have heaps of sleepovers and food and everything." Minhyuk spoke, his voice rushed with excitement.
"Minhyuk, I have something to tell you..."
"What is it? Is it about Jackson?"
"Yes... sort of."
"You can tell me." Minhyuk whispered, his voice low.

Minhyuk may be a loud, outgoing person. But he has a serious side, too.

"I've got another 4 weeks to win the bet, Minhyuk."
"Yes, and...?"
"I'm supposed to come home in 3 weeks."
"So what?"
"Are you stupid? Minhyuk, I'm not coming home."

Silence.

"Oh." Minhyuk sighed.
"I'm staying for another 6 months."
"Why?"
"Stop playing dumb." I groaned, laying down onto my bed.

Can he be any more stupid?

"I'm just asking, why?" He croaked, I can tell he was disappointed.
"I need to win the bet, remember?" I spoke slowly, like you would talk to a small child.
"Why? Why can't you just let him have his victory and come home?"
"Because, I've put too much effort into this, Minhyuk!"
"What about us? Can't you just let this go?"
"No, I can't. You don't know what I'm going through, okay?"
"I know, but you're pushing everyone away. It's not good for you."
"I'm not pushing anyone away. They're pushing me away."
"What about your friends? Have you been talking to them?"
"They're not my friends anymor-"
"That's what I'm saying! You're pushing them awa-"
"You don't understand. How can you understand?!"
"I'm just trying to-"
"Can you just, shut up? I know what I'm doing."
"Okay. Alright."  Minhyuk sighed.

Silence. The air was thick. I can't take this anymore.

"I need to go, bye." I lied, hanging up before he could say anything back.

I need some time away from them... a long time.

With one final swipe. I blocked MONSTA X.

All of them.

"I'm leaving now, Mark." Mum walked in, and I sat up, a sad smile on my face.
"I'll miss you." I sighed, running to give her a hug.
"You can always ring me."
"I love you." I whispered, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too, stay safe." She chuckled, kissing my forehead and giving me one last embrace before I walked down the stairs with her.
"Take care, mum." Giving her a final wave, I watched as she got into the car with my father, a big smile on her face.