Irony of Revenge

Chapter 12

It was Jieun's idea that all four of them should meet at her house and make some food when they all were free.

Now they were inside her kitchen, sweating over making pancake. Jieun and Hyebin could manage everything neatly but it was not a very easy task for Mark and Jinyoung.

Hyebin was handling the prawns at the far end of the kitchen island. Mark was beside her, slicing the scallions with great care. Jinyoung stole glances at him and smiled at how serious Mark looked, trying not to mess them up.

Jieun was preparing the batter, with the measured movements. Jinyoung had just got the egg ready and given it to Jieun, and was now moving on to rinsing the pan.

When all the ingredients were ready, Hyebin and Jieun took over the whole thing and for about next fifteen minutes, their attention was solely on heating, watching and flipping over what would soon be pancake.

Jinyoung was leaning against the kitchen counter and watching the two girls being busy, with their backs facing him. In mere seconds, Mark was beside him and his presence near him stirred Jinyoung's heart.

Mark was just in a T-shirt, his jacket having long been taken off. Although he looked a little spent, his eyes were bright as he looked at Jinyoung. His hand reached for Jinyoung's, which was on the kitchen counter, and interwined their fingers.

At the touch of Mark's warm hand, everything was blocked out in Jinyoung's mind except the sensation of their skin contact. But in the back of his mind, he was wondering what would happen if their girlfriends, by chance, turned around to them. What kind of excuse would they invent or would they even care if they were found out?

But after a few seconds, Mark let go of his hand and they just stood there side by side without any words.

A good many minutes had passed when Jieun turned around to them, announcing that everything was ready.

The pancakes were sliced into triangle-shaped pieces and they were brought to the living-room. Jieun followed the other three with the soft drinks in her hands.

It was already two in the afternoon and this making-pancake process had taken them about an hour. When they were seated on the couches in the living-room, as expected, Mark and Jinyoung had to sit facing each other and beside their own girlfriends. It was hard to ignore each other's presence and give their attention to their girlfriends instead.

Jieun brought a slice of pancake to Jinyoung's mouth and he took a bite of it.

"How's it?"

"Great," he said briefly, before taking a sidelong glance at Mark, who was watching him. And that was when he took notice of Hyebin's hand intimately laid on Mark's thigh. It took his mood down even though he had already expected to see such things.

Jieun kept feeding him even more than she fed herself. Hyebin had her head on Mark's shoulder, while eating the pancakes leisurely. There were not many words exchanged between four of them and Jinyoung found it strange.

When Jieun gave him another slice of pancake, he rejected it and wearily leaned back against the back of the couch. He casted a glance at Mark and Hyebin and then closed his eyes.

He wished he had just remained like that because when he opened his eyes again, he witnessed Hyebin giving Mark a short peck on the lips. Mark's eyes met his immediately afterwards and Jinyoung saw him hiss.

Jieun was chuckling, watching Hyebin and Mark, and her laughter pissed Jinyoung off. Was that something amusing? Maybe, it was for her. Jinyoung felt his throat getting dry and both anger and irritation stirred in him.

He stood up to leave the room and be away for a while until his mind was calmed down. Jieun looked up at him and asked, "Where're you going?"

"Kitchen. I want a glass of water."

She nodded and watched him leave. He went straight to the fridge in the kitchen and took out a water bottle, before drinking the water from it, not bothering to take a glass.

"Jinyoung."

He turned around to find Mark standing behind him. Jinyoung was quite surprised as he had heard no footsteps, or maybe, it was just that he had not paid attention to anything.

"What're you doing here?"

"I also want water. Or at least, that was what I said to them," Mark paused, "I'm sorry."

"Why? Because you let Hyebin kiss you? I'm not angry with you, you know, even though the situation itself angers me."

"I know. I also couldn't bear seeing you together with Jieun. Why're we torturing ourselves?"

Mark tilted his head and took a quick glance at the entrance to the kitchen. Then he turned back to Jinyoung and pulled him by the waist, before letting his lips hungrily meet Jinyoung's.

All of Jinyoung's frustration vanished into nothing and a soft groan was let out when Mark's tongue clumsily slid into his mouth. He wished that small voice in his head which was reminding him of where they were and what situation they were in, would shut up, to let him enjoy the moment.

As if Mark was also feeling the same, he pulled away from Jinyoung too soon and they just looked at each other without any words. Mark's thumbs were slowly caressing Jinyoung's cheeks and his eyes remained steady on Jinyoung.

"Whatever happens, just know that all I want is you. I'm not going to choose anyone but you. I don't want you to have any doubts," Mark said, barely above a whisper, "I want to be with you only."

"I believe you. I've never had doubts. But I can't help feeling that I'm sharing you with someone. It's true anyway. I should stop fussing."

"You're not the only one who feels so, Jinyoung. The time will come when we can be for each other only. But now, let's go back, before they get suspicious."

Mark held Jinyoung's hand, as they walked out of the kitchen, and let go of it only when they approached the living-room.