The Hindmost {Markson}

Chapter 35

(*Author's POV)

He never once answered his phone faster. He had finished changing when his phone buzzed and rang on the table. Turning it over to look at it, Mark's name was there and in what was like half a second he unlocked and answered the vibrating device answering the call.

"Hello??" Jackson answered eager to hear the voice of the caller.

"Hi." Mark was heard clearing his throat before speaking.

And as relieved and glad he was to finally be able to speak to the older Jackson was suddenly reminded of his frustrations over the month and longer. His worry and concern had little to escape him so once he had Mark on the line he could help but be upset.

"You call me now? Why didn't you answer any of my calls?? I've been trying to be ahold of you for forever. Do you know how much I've been out of my mind all this while?" Jackson spoke with little breath in between words.

"...I'm sorry." Mark replied contrasting Jackson's anger with a soft guilt. He didn't know what to expect when calling Jackson but he had anger on the list as a possible reaction, and it appears he was right.

"That's all? I didn't know what happened to you and all you say is sorry??" Jackson asked sounding less angry but frustrated.

"What...what am I supposed to say?" Mark asked trying to show how hard it was for him to even call in the first place.

"An explanation would be nice."

"...You don't know?" Mark's tone was drawn back.

If he thought about it now Jinyoung never said if Jackson new Mark liked him as well. He didn't really consider he'd be confessing when he called.

"...Know why you didn't respond?" Jackson quietly echoed Mark's question to himself.

Ah, it had slipped his mind. Of course, now thanks to Jinyoung and JB he did have a good idea as to why Mark had kept silent. How could he forget?

"..." Mark was silently waiting for Jackson to say something in return.

"...Well, I have an idea but I'd like to hear it from you first."

"Why must I? Did you not speak to Jinyoung?" Mark asked not wanting to readily spill his heart over the phone.

"Jinyoung? Did you speak to him too??"

"I did just a few hours ago. He um...informed me of things."

"So we're on the same page then right? He was right in knowing your sexuality and w-who you like?" Jackson questioned wondering why Jinyoung hadn't told him of this conversation he had with Mark.

"Yeah um so then...you know too??" Mark replied while nibbling on his lower lip.

"About you liking...me?" Jackson said 'me' in a low whisper scared should he still be talking about something different.

Mark felt his ears grow warm in embarrassment as the reality that his secret was found out by none other than Jackson himself hit him. He held back the urge to hit himself as some sort of deserved punishment for allowing such a slip in secrecy.

"Yeah." Mark also whispered just a tad louder.

"Oh okay good. Wait not good- well not that it's not good that you like me but it's just that I Uh- I'm glad you like me and I'm actually kind of umm- you know I'm not really good at this. I practiced this but I'm still not sure how to go about this. But I do know I need to reassure you there isn't any need to cut me off from your life and you needn't avoid me anymore. Doing that just makes things worse you know? And in knowing your feelings I've decided myself that I'm okay with it. That is uh you liking me. And I'm aware in what way it is and honestly like I said before but I hope you have patience with me. Because you know I can really be difficult and I'll find some sort of compromise if you feel so uncomfortable with the dating thing. Really cause I found that yours not being around kind of took a really scary toll on me like seriously. But with that, I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you could just maybe um stay with me. Oh wow, that sounded more romantic than I thought it would but aha you get the point. If you'd please not run away or ignore me I'd really appreciate it." Jackson rambled.