The Bends » Mark Lee

Seven

„I think Mark is really cute."

Hana's comment was lingering in the air and everyone was quiet. All of the girls in her class were looking at Hana was if she said something weird. „Are we speaking about Mark Lee?" Minyoung asked and Hana gulped, nodding slowly. „Mark Lee? Cute?" Minyoung repeated and Hana nodded.

„He is a child," Minyoung said and a few girls agreed to her. „He hasn't got his manly face yet. He looks like a baby. Seriously, Hana!" Minyoung hissed and Hana looked down. „He's not ugly though, Minyoung," Mina said and Hana looked up, smiling at the musician with a relieved expression on her face. Minyoung rolled her eyes. „He is not as manly as other boys though," Minyoung said but then chuckled. "I shouldn't judge though," Minyoung said and looked at Mina with a knowing expression.

Everyone in their class knew of the issues because of the girls dating a junior, which will make Minyoung transfer schools after the school trip. Fun fact: Minyoung was the ex-girlfriend of the junior, Mina was now dating. But that's another story.

„Mark has yet to evolve into a man." Soonbok nodded and Seolla agreed. „I mean his shoulders are slowly getting more broad. Of course, he is not as broad as Yoogeun and Somin yet but that can change." Seolla said. „He is not eighteen yet. And I bet when he blooms he will be seriously handsome." Seolla winked towards Hana before adding a sentence that made Hana blush like a maniac.

„Good choice, Hana Coghlan!"

Hana had slept really well last night, with dreams about Mark Lee riding on a black horse, saving her from the dragon that was her life. She had sighed when she had woken up. The get-together with the girls last night was mind-opening to Hana.

She had finally accepted that she found Mark cute. And the other girls thought she and Mark looked good together. Devil Lee Minyoung even said she rooted for them; calling them „baby faced couple" already.

Hana woke up with a smile. She was the first of the girls to wake up so she took her time in the bathroom; doing her skin routine and putting on a brightening face mask. After she was done with her face and hair she went to get dressed and then headed into the breakfast room.

Mr. Lim and some other students were already eating so Hana decided to sit with her teacher not to disturb the other people.

„Good Morning, Hana!" Mr. Lim greeted and Hana bowed politely while eating her breakfast soup. „Today we're discovering the woods." Mr. Lim said and Hana nodded when her eyes caught Mark who just entered the breakfast room. His hair was dripping and he furrowed his brows before deciding on a soup. He looked around and found Hana, winking towards her direction before sitting with some of the basketball club guys.

Hana gulped and quickly ate her soup so she wouldn't be distracted by Mark's features anymore. After she finished eating she hurried to get into the room where the other girls were already waking up.

Hana threw herself into the bed and screamed into her pillows making her roommates laugh in joy at the lovesick girl.

An hour later the class was walking through the woods of the National Park, Mr. Lim explaining something in front when Hana stopped walking to look at some pretty flowers. Mark was watching her from a distance and smiled at her way of taking a Selca with the flower. „Can I help you?" Mark asked and Hana flinched.

„Oh! You scared me!" Hana stuttered and almost dropped her cellphone. Mark laughed. „Sorry, but you looked so cu- funny!" He commented and Hana pouted. „I can take a picture of you with the flowers?" He asked and Hana nodded with pink cheeks handing him the phone.

Mark chuckled when he saw the funny picture of Hana and her siblings as the lock screen. But then he quickly took Hana's picture. „How does it look?" Hana asked, leaning over Mark's shoulder monitoring the picture. „Ah!" She smiled. „It's cute- Wait, where are the others?"

Hana looked around and now Mark looked up as well. It was quiet around them and they couldn't see their classmates nor their teacher. „T-They probably went this way." Mark stuttered and naturally gave Hana his hand. She took it and followed Mark through the wood.

The two teenagers stayed on the path but as time passed and the sky was slowly turning darker Hana started worrying. Her breathing started coming irregular and sounding wheezing.

„Are you okay?" Mark asks careful, helping Hana to sit down on a rock. Hana couldn't answer she started patting her chest, wheezing a little bit and pointing to her bag pack. Mark reacted immediately and searched for her inhaler. After getting her medicine she felt much better.

„I'm sorry," Hana said and looked into the sky that was already dark. „I'm just worried. What if Mr. Lim didn't realize we got lost and moves on without us?" She asked but Mark shook his head. „Don't worry. They won't leave without us." Mark said and sat down next to Hana, taking her hand. „I promise you I find a way out of here-"

„Is there someone?" 

Mark got interrupted by a deep voice from a Park Ranger who just came from behind a tree. Hana started crying when seeing the Ranger. Mark patted her shoulder and the Ranger asked them some questions, Hana wasn't able to answer.

Mark answered all the question and the Ranger took them back to the Meetup point in front of the Park where Mr. Lim picked up the two teenagers.

On their way back to the youth hostel Hana suddenly realized that she indeed had a crush on Mark. She carefully looked at him and bit her lip, seeing how tired the Canadian lad looked like. Hana quietly sighed and looked out of the window of the taxi that was taking them back to the hostel.