The following day, as well, Mark had not showed up near Jinyoung's class the whole morning. Jinyoung could not keep his mind on the lectures when his mind was constantly wandering to Mark.
Jaebum and Jackson were aware that their friend was zoning out the whole time, but said nothing.
At the canteen, Youngjae was with them and Jaebum was totally distracted, trying to please him.
"How was your trip, Youngjae? Did you have fun?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah. It was wonderful. And I've made some new friends as well. What about you, hyungs? I mean, I know Jinyoung hyung couldn't enjoy it. What about you, Jaebum hyung and Jackson hyung?"
"It could've been fantastic. But we hadn't enjoyed it at all once we knew Jinyoung'd been lost. We all searched for them, while also exploring the forest like a trip. But the other students, we couldn't rush them. So it wasn't a thorough search until the last two days," Jaebum explained.
"He was worried about not only Jinyoung but you as well, Youngjae. He was fussing like what if it'd happened to you, too."
Jaebum flushed but Youngjae smiled, turning to him, "That's why you called me that night, hyung? I thought you were so concerned for Jinyoung hyung that you wanted to talk to someone."
Youngjae seemed obviously satisfied while Jaebum was appreciating Jackson, though he gave him a brief glare for exposing him like that.
Jinyoung looked at them, mildly interested; Jaebum and Youngjae clearly liking each other and Jackson, enhancing their relationship, everything was just like before. This scene was familiar to Jinyoung but the only difference was himself.
He could not bring his mind to participate in any conversation and felt like he was so far away from them although he was sitting with them.
"It must have been hard for Jinyoung hyung," Youngjae said, "How did it go, hyung? I guess you must be so friendly now with the other two, you were with then. You know, when people go through something together, they feel stronger bond between themselves. It was Mark hyung and Yumi noona, right?"
"You know them, Youngjae?" Jackson asked.
"Not really. But everyone knows who were in that predicament together."
"Friendly or not, he hasn't even met them since we were back here," Jaebum said.
Jinyoung remained silent, letting them assume whatever they wanted. And he could not talk about Mark, so indifferently.
Youngjae, at last, changed the subject and started to talk about random things. Jaebum was the one who was the most interested in everything Youngjae said. Soon Youngjae and Jaebum were absorbed in their own conversation, while Jackson still kept his eyes on Jinyoung and tried to figure out, on his own, what was wrong with his friend.
After lunch, they were back to their own classes. Jinyoung wanted to go to the Botany department just like the previous day but his friends would question him, then. He did not want to make up another lie again.
After all the classes were finished, however, Jinyoung got himself ready to leave fast and go to Mark's class.
"I'll go ahead, guys," Jinyoung announced.
Without waiting for their reply, he hurried out of the class. In the corridor, however, his arm was grabbed and he found Jackson beside him.
"What's the matter?" Jinyoung asked.
"That's what I've to ask you, Jinyoung. Come, you need to talk to me about what is bothering you."
"I can't," Jinyoung said, "I've somewhere to go."
"Where?"
Jinyoung again lost his words, not knowing what to answer. Jackson noticed his hesitation and said, "You're confiding everything to yourself only, these days, Jinyoung. We're friends and Jaebum and I, we're always here for you. But you wouldn't talk to us. Not this time, Jinyoung. I won't leave you alone until you tell me what exactly is distracting you."
Jackson took him, by arm, to some quiet place, away from the class. There, Jackson stood, facing Jinyoung, and said, "Now talk, Jinyoung. If it's a problem, I'll help you solve it. Anything. You can talk to me, Jinyoung."
Jinyoung kept his eyes downward and refused to let out any words. Half his mind was still desperate to see Mark, though it was no more possible to go to him now.
"You don't want to?" Jackson asked, "Let me guess then. Did anything happen in the forest? You've been acting strange since we found you back. Is it anything related to those two students, Yumi and Mark?"
"I don't want to talk about it yet, Jackson. It's complicated."
"But it's true that it's something related to them?" Jackson asked, "Wait, was it about Yumi? Oh my gosh, you and her-"
"It's not about her," Jinyoung said.
"What. About Mark then? What happened?"
Jinyoung knew it was no use hiding it anymore. He would have felt more encouraged to talk about it if everything was not that puzzling between him and Mark. He braced himself to let out what he had discovered about himself, recently.
"I'm gay, Jackson."
Jinyoung watched Jackson, who looked shocked and then incredulous. Then he seemed to be processing the information before coming to understand everything.
"So you and Mark? That's why you never confessed to those girls? That's the information you were holding back yourself from telling us?"
"I knew you'd accept me alright. You don't have any problem with Jaebum being gay. But the thing is I haven't met Mark since we were back here. We made out in the forest but he never told me that he had feelings for me. I don't know what to think of this whole situation, anymore. I don't know what I'm to him. He was absent yesterday. So I was going to him a while ago."
"I'm sorry, Jinyoung, I kept you back," Jackson said.
"No, I should be the one who's sorry to you guys. For not talking about this earlier. I wasn't ready and I was so desperate to see him first."
"Okay, Jinyoung, whatever. Talk to him. I'm sure it'll go alright. Just know that we're here for you."
Jinyoung nodded. Jackson gave him a brief hug afterwards, and they stayed there for a few more minutes, before walking away to the dorm.
