Soojung POV
It's been two days after I pissed off Mr. Jerk and I'm very relieved that he hasn't done anything to me. I am really tired and I haven't been feeling well since I got bumped by their car.
I remembered the cappuccino Mark gave me. I don't want to admit it but somehow, it made me happy. It really did.
Finally, I'm home... I was surprised that our landlady was waiting outside our house.
"Annyeonghaseyo.", I greeted her.
"Soojung-sshi, mianhe but you have to leave the house tonight."
"Mwo? I don't understand ahjumma. I paid for the rent and the next payment is still due next week."
"Your father did not tell you? Somebody wanted to rent the place. I told him that somebody is still renting it so he talked to your father. Your father agreed to leave in exchange for the rent you paid for the month. The guy paid twice the amount to your him." I can't believe this. My father is really making my life miserable.
"But...I did not know..." I am almost in tears. Where will I live now? I do not have money to rent a new house. I was supposed to cry. I should have but my tears do not feel like pouring.
"Mianhe, Soojung-sshi but the new renter wants you out by tonight. Your father already left with a woman. Only your things are inside."
I just nodded. What am I supposed to do? I'm just high school! I went into the house. I've stayed here as long as I could remember. Even though the memories I've had weren't happy, the house still matters to me. I managed to gather up my belongings and bade my goodbye to the landlady.
"I know your father ran with the money. Mianhe, I was not able to do something about it. Please accept this. Take care, Soojung-sshi." the landlady said as she gave me some money. I hugged her and left.
I went to the nearby convenience store. I remembered I haven't eaten anything since morning. As I was about to buy myself ramen, the world seemed to have suddenly turned. My vision was blurry and what came next was darkness.
Third Person POV
Soojung woke up in a well-lit and elegant room. The last thing she remembered was she was supposed to eat ramen in a convenience store but that place was far from it. She stood up and saw her things neatly piled in the corner. That was when she remembered, she doesn't have a place to go.
Just then, the door opened and a handsomely familiar face came into her view.
"Soojung-sshi, I'm glad you're up. Please go back to the bed. The doctor said it's just fever and you just need rest and food.", Mark said as he placed the tray he was holding on the table.
"Uh... Wha- What happened? How did I get here?"
"I went to the store to eat ramen. I found you just before you lost your consciousness. I brought you here."
"Ka- Kamsahamnida.", the girl said and Mark just nodded.
"Never mind going back to bed. Come here and eat."
Soojung hesitated as she slowly went near Mark. She sat down on the chair just in front of him and began to eat. She ate heartily and Mark was just watching her.
"Soojung-sshi. I'm Mark Tuan. Sorry for the late introduction."
"I know. You already introduced yourself. And you gave me the coffee. I clearly remember."
"Good. I thought you forgot about me. Go on, continue eating.", Mark said with a smile.
Soojung finished her meal and thanked Mark all over again for his help.
"May I ask something?", Mark began as soon as she finished.
"Go on."
"Did you run away from home?" Mark said eyeing her things.
"Uh...ne. Something like that."
"Wae? Where are your parents?"
When Mark saw that Soojung hesitated in answering his questions, he did not push any further.
"Mian.", Mark said.
"Aniyo, it's okay. My mother left my father and I when I was 5. Just today, appa allowed somebody else to rent our house in exchange for money. He got the money and left me to figure things out by myself." she sighed after explaining things to Mark. Somehow, she felt that saying it to someone else lessened the burden she felt.
"And by figuring things out, you mean you do not have a place to stay anymore."
"Ne."
"Then stay here."
"Mwo?"
"Stay here. I own the place, well basically, just one-fourth of it. My friends and I spent our savings to make this place. Don't worry, I'll talk to them.", Mark said in his usual sweet and calming smile.
"You mean, Jungkook, Luhan and... uh... Mr. Jerk?"
"Hahahaha... Myungsoo, his name is Myungsoo. Ne, the four of us own the place. We call this HQ, short for headquarters. We usually stay here when we do nothing. Don't worry, they're really kind... even that Mr. Jerk."
Soojung can't help but laugh at the fact Mark is calling his friend a jerk. She was laughing her heart out when she noticed that Mark was just staring at her.
"Wae?"
"Nothing. It's just that when you laugh...you are very pretty."
She felt her heart beat faster. Not knowing what to do, she just stared at Mark. After the staring contest, Mark broke the awkward moment.
"Sorry. uh... You can stay here for the night. I'll talk to the guys tomorrow. Go to sleep now. I'll be right outside when you need me. Good night, Soojung-sshi." Mark stood up and motioned to leave but Soojung grabbed his wrist. He was surprised at the girl's sudden action.
"Why are you doing this? Am I that pitiful to you?" she asked frankly.
Mark lowered his head to level hers and looked directly to her eyes.
"Aniyo. I'm doing this because I want to be your friend. I want to see you laugh and smile. I want to hear you say other words than Kamsahamnida. I want to know you better...and I want you to let me. Good night, Soojung-sshi.", he smiled as he pat her head and headed for the door.
"Soojung.", Mark stopped in his tracks hearing her talk. "Don't call me Soojung-sshi. Just call me Soojung. It is how you should address your friends, Mark."
And with that, Mark left the room with a wide smile on his face. He finally succeeded in making friends with the girl he liked since he was 12.
