"Hey, I'm back." Mark announced as he entered his dorm. He was just returning from his morning Biology class in the early afternoon due to getting some coffee in order to take his mind off Jinyoung and energize him to do some homework.
He did finish some assignments, but his mind wandered between Jinyoung and Jackson and how he still felt guilty for what he's done to them and their friendship. He tried to ignore the feeling, but that was nearly impossible at this point.
Jackson perked up at Mark's return; he was just putting on a shirt, those abs of his peaking out slightly under the fabric as it down his torso. Mark shamelessly stared.
"Still as cute as ever." the younger complemented, flashing a charming smile behind the comment.
Mark flushed despite knowing that Jackson was just trying to put on an act to make it seem like he was okay when he really wasn't. "Stop it... are you okay?"
Jackson shrugged as he bent over his desk and shoved a pen into his bag. "I'm fine. Just getting ready for class."
"Okay. No tests, right?"
"No. I mean, a quiz is coming up. I have no idea what we're learning now though. So I'll probably fail."
Jackson let out a small sigh, pausing for a few moments as he blankly gazed off. He probably was thinking of Jinyoung, since normally before tests and quizzes Jackson would drop by his dorm for a quick study review.
Mark knew this, since he's become so interested in Jackson's whereabouts. Not like a stalker of course, but more so in a worried 'call me when you're coming back' kind of way, especially when he was with Jinyoung.
But, now that Jackson could no longer rely on Jinyoung, Mark could start taking that place, and Jackson would appreciate him for putting time and effort into tutoring him. Just like he did with Jinyoung. "Don't think like that. We'll review together."
Jackson looked over at the elder, brows raised slightly in surprise since normally Mark would have never so generously offered to give up even a second of his time for him.
A small smile tugged at Jackson's lips, his head slowly nodding.
"Sure." He replied before slinging his school bag onto his back and heading for the door. "Later Mark."
Mark waved, the sadness in Jackson's eyes still visible despite his warm expression. "Bye..."
Mark groaned as soon as the door creaked shut. He still felt bad. He went through all of this trouble just to get Jinyoung out of their lives, only to feel awful for doing it. Seeing Jackson sad sucked. Seeing Jinyoung sad sucked too, which annoyed the hell out of Mark.
He should be celebrating that he'd gotten his roommate safely away from the underclassman thief that tried to hog him, but instead he felt like shit about it.
The two were genuine friends. Mark knew that, but he didn't want to acknowledge it. He's tried to find evidence of Jinyoung using Jackson, or secretly hating him, or having some sort of ulterior motives; but over time he's only found an obnoxiously sweet and caring personality that drove him insane.
He hated how perfect that guy was. And he especially hated how much Jackson adored him in all his perfection.
Jinyoung must have something that Mark didn't have, that's at least what he felt. And he spent quite a long time looking in the mirror while Jackson was in class, trying to figure out what it was he was missing. Was it the body? The brains? The personality?
Mark wondered... was he just ugly?
It hurt him a bit to think that way, but it also hurt to see Jackson so smitten by someone else. Someone who he met not long ago. Someone who clicked with Jackson almost instantly. Someone that wasn't him.
