Different: A Markson Story

Chapter 16: Game-Changing Realization

Jackson and Mark were sharing snacks together on the couch as they sat in their dorm's TV room. The other five members went out with their manager to buy groceries. Jackson fed the last chip in the bag to Mark, before getting up to throw the bag away. He was wearing a sleeveless tank top, Mark didn't realize it at first, but he was staring at Jackson's toned and defined arms. They flexed with every slight move he made. "Ahem. See something you like?" Mark feeling flustered, turned away in embarrassment. 

"Or are you jealous?" Jackson said with a smirk.

"Gaga...Jackson...I--" Mark hesitated. 

The worried tone in his voice caused Jackson to suddenly rush back to the older's side, fearing that he had upset him. "Mark I'm sorry I didn't mean to tease y--"

"Jackson honestly," the older interrupted, "I was a little jealous of you."

 "Why Marky?"

"Gaga...you got a full ride to JYP, everything just seems to fall in place for you, you're just so lucky. It's hard for me not to be jealous." 

Jackson chuckled slightly. "Trust me, Mark, you have nothing to be jealous of. My life was a living hell before I came to JYP." 

"Why?" the younger probed. 

"Let me explain," Jackson answered.

Jackson began to explain the tough childhood he faced his entire life to Mark. Even as a child Jackson's parents constantly pushed him to the limit so he could succeed. By age 13 Jackson was one of the most accomplished fencers in China, and he had secured dozens and dozens of trophies and medals. Similarly, his parents pushed him to focus on his studies and get good grades. Jackson had tutoring every day after school and was barely allotted free time to do what he wanted or hang out with his friends. His parents wanted him to use his fencing to get a scholarship and become a doctor, but Jackson had other plans. Instead, he wanted to become a singer and perform on stage. Jackson knew his heart was in the music industry, not in the field of medicine. His parents, of course, were heavily against the idea, until Jackson got into JYP Academy. After secretly auditioning behind his parent's backs, and getting a full ride, it was only then that allowed their son to pursue his dream and sent him to South Korea.

Because of Jackson's tough parents and childhood, he also struggled with his love life. Jackson is bisexual but leans towards males. He realized it when he was 16. He never came out to his parents and didn't plan to, at least, until they caught him. When Jackson was 17, right before he left to go to JYP Academy, his parents caught him kissing another boy in his room. They were furious and berated the young Chinese male. They insisted he was just undergoing a phase as a part of his teenage years. That's why when Jackson got into JYP Academy he had to show his parents it was just a phase, or else they would've unenrolled him and sent him back to Hong Kong, therefore ending any chance of him reaching his dream.

One might wonder how his parents would stay on top of him while in another country. His parents had connections within the school. For example, Park Jimin, the daughter of a rich business connection the Wang family has, attends JYP Academy, and watched Jackson like a hawk. She constantly watched Jackson making sure he wasn't fooling around with any boys. It was this reason Jackson became that cool, bad boy that had tons of girls swooning over him. It was all to keep his parents satisfied and so he could achieve his dream. When Jimin would tell his parents this, they were beyond pleased. Jackson wasn't supposed to be a bad boy, but the rough treatment his parents gave him while growing up, along with the constant pressure they put on him made him a bad boy.

"So you see I really struggled...a lot. You shouldn't be jealous Mark." Mark stared at the older with soft eyes, he felt so bad for the younger. He felt even worse for judging Jackson, calling him a slacker, and a clown for the longest time. Jackson was trying to achieve his lifelong dream, just like he was. 

He wrapped his arms around Jackson, squeezing him tightly. "I'm sorry." 

"Sorry for what?" Jackson replied, placing his hand on top of Mark's arms. "I'm the only one who should apologize. I was so mean to you," he sweetly said. 

Mark shook his head. "I judged you and I had no idea of how hard things were on you. I'm sorry Gaga," Mark sadly stated. 

"Don't be. Without any of the things that happened I would've never come to Korea and been here right now." He pinched Mark's cheek. "And most importantly, I would've never met you."

Mark blushed, and admittedly loved Jackson's touch. Mark had butterflies in his stomach. He would've never thought a few months back that he would be feeling this way towards Jackson. Jackson Wang of all people. But, the more and more time he spent with Jackson, the more and more Mark realized...he liked him. He couldn't deny his feelings any longer. Mark liked Jackson and wanted nothing more than to call him his own. After hearing the story about Jackson's love life, he knew that he did have a chance with the Hong Kong boy. It was game-changing. Mark was head over heels for Jackson and he just hoped that he felt the same.

"Markiepooh I'm still hungry," Jackson suddenly cried out freeing Mark from his thoughts. The cuteness in his voice was adorable to Mark. "I'm gonna get something to eat Mark. I'll be back." Jackson removed himself from Mark's side and got up from the couch. "

No, let me get it!" Mark tried to sway the older as he also stood up. 

"No, I'll get us snacks!" 

"Jackson I got it!" The two boys struggled to the kitchen, trying to hold one another back, and shove each other out of the way in order to pass each other. 

"Gotcha!" Mark yelled out shoving Jackson while taking a step forward. Jackson began to fall due to his lack of balance, but grabbed Mark on his way down, causing the older to land on top of him, their faces only inches apart.

Instinctively Jackson's hands went to Mark's waist, while Mark's hands went between his and Jackson's chest, in order to catch the fall. Arguably Mark's hands were what stopped the two's lips from touching in the first place, giving space between the two. The two blushed but stared into each other's orbs, not saying a word. They both had soft expressions on their faces, and couldn't help but to take in one another. Though they were two different people, they both wanted the same thing. Both began to inch closer and closer to one another. Their lips were centimeters apart, they could feel each other's breath hitch. Their lips were just about to make contact until there was a knock and the door to the dorm swung open.

Suddenly, JB walked into the room and saw the Mark on top of Jackson. The two put on their acting skills to use and tried to play off the situation, acting as if they were roughhousing. "Why did you tackle me to the ground, you dimwit!" Mark said out loud, punching Jackson in the arm. 

"Ow! You started it!"

"Did not!" 

"Did too!... Oh! JB, when did you get in here?"

JB looked down at the scene in front of him speechless, not really sure what to say. "Um...we...I...we're back from the store," he said. 

"Oh that's good," Mark replied as he stood up with Jackson. The other members came barging in after running to the kitchen with food. "WE'RE BACK!" they all yelled. 

"Finally! Look now there's really gonna be good food to eat Marky," Jackson called out, pulling Mark by the wrist into the kitchen with the other members. 

"Let go! You're such a dummy!" Mark said laughing at the younger's antics. JB didn't follow, remaining in the TV room pondering on what he had just witnessed. Bambam snuck up behind him. "Those two are so weird. Just what's going on with them?" JB stood there speechless, pondering the same thing. Just what are those two?

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Hi, lovelies...I'm finally back with an update! Sorry for the long delay! I've been working a lot before I go back to school, and then I got sick :( But I'm almost 100% again, so no worries! I tried to make this chapter really good since I haven't updated in a while! Did you like it? I hope you anticipated and enjoyed it! I'm gonna try and update frequently and finish this story by the end of the month because I go back to school, am starting an internship and will still be working on top of that! So my free time will basically be going out the window! Please anticipate what's coming up! Love you allllll :)