Welcoming Committee - Markson

198 - F

Mark approached the table with an uncharacteristic energy to his walk. Yugyeom was sitting with some of his other friends, kids in his grade, so Mark was relieved to have a lunch without the usual heavy atmosphere.

It wasn't that he didn't feel bad for the boy - he did - it's just that with both Yugyeom and BamBam refusing to make a move, the situation was having a negative impact on all of them, and Mark was looking forward to having a break from that.

Also, since Yugyeom was gone, BamBam would be joining them, and Mark was happy, as he hadn't seen his friend in quite a while.

However, as soon as he grew closer, he wasn't sure he could say he preferred the current topic any better than Yugyeom complaining about BamBam.

As he grew closer, he could clearly see Jackson, smiling and responding to everything people were saying, and a secretive smile grew to his lips.

Soon, he promised himself, as he began to pick up certain parts of their conversations.

"Who do you think Mark looks the best with?"

"Me obviously." Jackson was confident, and Mark couldn't help but laugh to himself. 

"But what about me? We could be cute."

"Mark wouldn't be with you."

A true, albeit arrogant statement.

"Ouch. But what if I meant you?" BamBam joked.

"Well, we're both pretty handsome, we'd look good," Jackson grinned, letting out a high pitched laugh and pushing his shoulder into BamBam's.

Mark was jealous. He wouldn't say a word, but it was clear to him. Here he was, going through nothing short of an existential breakdown, because he liked a boy, he wanted to be with a boy, and Jackson was entertaining the idea that he and BamBam would be a good looking couple.

Mark wasn't happy, to put it lightly.

Mark slams his tray down between Jaebum and Jinyoung, making his presence known a little more forcefully than he intended. Still, he wouldn't take it back, even if he could.

Jackson immediately reaches out with a smile, laying his hand on top of Mark's.

Not wanting to cause a huge scene, but too hurt to play along with Jackson, Mark casually pulls his hand away, stuffing it into his pocket.

"Mark, you okay?" Jackson asks, but Mark pretends he isn't listening, and instead turns to Jinyoung.

"Hey, I'm going to find Yugyeom, he didn't look so good this morning. Throw my tray away, will you?"

Jinyoung let's out an annoyed sigh, but he nods, and Mark taps his arm once in thanks, before turning and strolling out of the cafeteria, towards the 'gardens', where he recalls seeing a few of Yugyeom's friends earlier. On the way, his blood stops boiling, shifting into a familiar emptiness, as if black matter was flowing through his veins.

What was that about, Jackson wonders.

"Do you think I should help him? I think I saw Yugyeom headed to the science wing," Jackson starts to stand up.

Jinyoung let's out another sigh, not bothered enough to explain to the dimwit Jackson that joking about relationships wasn't the best idea when he was involved with Mark. However, he had enough energy to advise against Jackson running after Mark, who would need more than a few hours alone before he felt up to talking without ruining any chances at ever staying friends with Jackson.

Honestly, he didn't know why nobody else paid such close attention to these things. After all, he knew how to handle everyone perfectly, and he didn't even care that much about their moods. "No, leave him be, he's got it."