The Close Strangers

s i x t e e n

Mark stops the car once they arrive in front of Arin's house.

He unfastens his seatbelt before getting off the car, along with Arin.

"Thanks, Mark," She says as she looks up to the taller guy in front of her.

Yerim is waiting in the car and she's been so quiet through the whole way right after Mark dropped the others off. She probably had no idea what to talk about since Arin and Mark were drowned in their own conversation.

Mark noticed it all and he tried to help her follow their conversation, but she really just didn't seem comfortable.

Mark nods as he gestures Arin to come into her house, so he could leave.

Strangely, Arin keeps standing in there, looking like she wants to say something else.

"Do you have something else to talk about?" Mark asks her while tilting his head.

Mark knows Arin for quite a long time, so he notices her expressions at some point without that girl needs to explain it.

Arin nods slowly as she looks down.

"Mark, actually..." She looks afraid and doubtful, causing Mark to feel worried somehow.

"Is there anything wrong?" He asks.

"No, everything is fine," Arin responds after she shakes her head, "But, Mark, I actually have something to say."

"What's that? Just tell me."

On one side, he wants to know since Arin looks really uncomfortable right now. On the other side, he feels guilty to make Yerim waiting in the car when it's almost midnight.

"But, I want you to promise," She says while looking up to Mark, causing him to get his attention all to her again, "Promise me you will listen until I'm done."

Mark nods without a doubt at all, as if he already knows what Arin is going to talk about.

The girl in front of him takes a deep breath, looking like she's gathering her courage.

"Mark, I don't know whether you notice this or not," She says, "But since we've been friends for quite a long time, I guess you've at least wondered about this once."

Mark chuckles as he tries to guess, "What's this all about, hm? Do you want to tell me that you farted at least twenty times a day? Or you have mistaken your lecturer as security again?"

Arin hits his arm right away, "It's not like that at all!" She complains loudly.

"This is a sensitive topic," She adds, "And I'm being so serious right now."

Mark has no idea how fast Arin's heart is beating right now and how Yerim is watching them from the car, wondering about what's really going on in here.

"Okay, just go tell me straight to the point," He responds, "It's late, you know? I gotta sleep," He makes a pillow with his hands before tilting his head to the side, pretending to sleep with his hands as the pillow.

"Mark Lee," Arin calls him, kind of sounds like a warning but also sounds desperate.

"I..."

Mark raises his eyebrows, meanwhile, Arin already looking down again. He doesn't say anything since he will end up diverting the conversation unconsciously again.

"I'm sorryㅡ" She suddenly apologizes, "ㅡbecause I like you."

She looks up, reaching out her hand to hold Mark's arm, causing the guy to freeze in surprise.