The next time he came face-to-face with Mark was five months later in the lobby room of the Dusit Thani on the island of Guam. He had just released his fourth single, a collaboration with the owner of his new label, Gucci Mane, and was finally getting the recognition he had strived so long for, when Jaebum had called him. His former group leader informed him that the wedding was to take place on the island he had always wanted to visit and they were all meeting there a week before the ceremony to catch up. The rings he was sent the month before were sitting idle in a box at the bottom of his closet where he had put them the moment he got them. Two weeks later, Jaebum called him again. They moved the wedding day up. Something about wanting to stay in Guam a little longer. Jaebum wanted him out there as soon as he could.
That night, after he had gotten off the phone with Jaebum, he dug the velvet box that held the matching white-gold rings. One of the rings was a simple band adorned with a single black diamond sitting beside a clear diamond, while the other was more carefully designed. It was designed to like a rope of black diamonds and clear diamonds were twisting around each other like the infinity sign. The flat surface on the inside was beautifully engraved too like the engagement ring Jackson knew Mark still wore.
"내 사랑은 무한하다." My love is infinite.
No matter how many times he saw it he still huffed a laugh. He had to give it to Jaebum. The man was whipped and he couldn't even blame his best friend. He knew the feeling all too well. Hell, he was still trying to get over Mark himself. He didn't know how long he had looked at the rings for, but as soon as he realized what he was doing, he threw the rings into the bag he always carried with him and packed a small luggage before calling his manager. He was on the first flight out of Atlanta and a little over a day later he was stepping out of the arrival area and into the blistering sunlight spilling unto the virgin soil of Tamuning, Guam.
The island was small and simple in comparison to Atlanta's winding roads or Beijing's many backstreet alleyways, so he didn't have any problems finding his way to Dusit Thani Resort. Upon check-in, he turned to look out the bay windows facing the ocean when he noticed Mark's thin frame standing by the glass doing the same. Smiling to himself despite how nervous he actually felt, he snuck up on the elder and covered his eyes.
"Guess who," he whispered into Mark's ear, and was stunned when he felt a shiver run through the elder under his fingers.
"Jia Er," Mark cried, turning around, flinging his long thin arms around him. The same wolfish grin he pictured every night for the past five months was splayed out across Mark's face and his heart went stumbling again. "Oh my god! You came!"
"Of course, I did. I told you I would," he smiled, pulling back to hold Mark at arms-length. He eyed the elder closely and noticed then that Mark had lost some weight.
"Hey, you! Get your hands off my fiancé!" he heard a voice call out and he made a grab for Mark's hand.
"Hell no, Jae! Mark is too pretty. I just might steal him away from you after all," he replied, forcing a teasing tone into his voice as he turned to face Jaebum. The blush that spread across Mark's face was adorable to say the least.
"I'll fight you," Jaebum said fiercely as he reached for Mark's other hand.
Mark reached for Jaebum's hand and just like a little over a year ago, Mark released his hand and took Jaebum's, leaving his side. Awkwardly, he stood there as the couple shared a kiss, whisper something to each other and he looked back out to the ocean. Others around them would think he was giving them some privacy, but really he was protecting his own heart that was beating furiously in his chest.
"When did you come in?" Jaebum had asked, snapping him out of his reverie, but before he could answer an employee approached them. She bowed to him as she handed him a keycard while simultaneously conveying a warm welcome and wishing he would enjoy his stay at the hotel.
YOU ARE READING
Secret Love
Hayran Kurgu"Jackson, do you even love me?" Mark had asked, his eyes determined but beginning to well with tears crowding at his waterline. The question had come as somewhat of a surprise. He had opened his mouth to answer the elder, but nothing had come out. I...
