Loveswept // Mark Tuan //

Ch. 3

Mark

Kim Yerin. I kept thinking about that girl, Yerin. The first time I had seen her was when we had to meet the principal of the school. I remembered her in the garden with her headphones on. Her image was stuck in my head because amidst all those kids trying to act cool in the school, all those boys trying to hit up on girls, all those girls who never got tired of gossips, she was the only one who looked peaceful on her own.

I remember my first day in the school, the time when she walked in the class, afraid of Miss Jung's wrath for being late. How her dark brown eyes roamed the whole class except me. How she took short, quick steps on her way to her seat. How her long, black hair swayed when she turned to look at me. How shy she looked when I asked her to have lunch with me. How she-

"Ay Mark hyung!" I received a pillow on my face. I sat up from my bed to see Jackson standing near the edge of my bed. "Have you gone deaf, hyung? I called you three times but you didn't even turn your head," Jackson rebuked.

"Mianhae, I was just thinking about something." I straightened my hair, before sighing and lying back down on my bed. "What were you thinking about?"

"Yer-" I paused, debating if I should tell Jackson about how I keep thinking about Yerin or not. Well, Jackson was my roommate and probably the only person who could read my mind easily. But if I had told Jackson about my thoughts, then he wouldn't have let go of any chance to tease me. So, I held back.

"I was just thinking about the new school,"

"New school or.. new girl?" Jackson's eyes grew mischievous. Jackson had always been able to read me easily. After knowing each other for so many years, I think I'm as exposed to him as an open book.

I sighed and turned my head away from him and looked out of the window. Dark grey clouds floated above in the bluish purple sky. The white moon radiated pale light, clouds passing through it. Cool breeze hit the trees, making them sway in movement. "You like that girl, huh?"

I turned my head back at Jackson, "What? Why will I like Yerin? I just met her today." I scoffed at Jackson, trying to brush off the idea of liking Yerin from my mind. "I never mentioned Yerin," Jackson smirked at me. I turned fully towards him while I raised my head and rested it on my right hand.

"You just asked me about the new girl," I stared at him, trying to be serious. "There are thousands of girls in that school. And you have met a lot of girls today. When did I mention Yerin? I just said 'that girl'."

I fell back on my back while a sigh of tiredness escaped my mouth. Yes, why did Yerin's picture come into my mind when Jackson mentioned about me liking that girl? Why did I say Yerin's name when Jackson never even mentioned her? What is wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking about Kim Yerin and her cute little actions? Why did I had the urge to stay with her all the time in school? What the hell?

"You are still thinking about her," Jackson's snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at Jackson, "How did you know?" Jackson simply shrugged as he sat up on his bed. "You know what? Don't do anything stupid now."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused by his unexpected advice. "Yerin is a no more than a stranger to you, Mark hyung. You just met her once. So, I meant that don't do anything stupid. Are you getting my point?"

"Wait Jackson. You think I'm in love with her? Are you crazy? Pabo," I scoffed at Jackson as I looked up at the ceiling. It was dumb of him to assume that I have fallen for a girl I just met once. Is that even possible? I admit she is beautiful, innocent as a child. But, I didn't know her enough to love her, trust her, make her mine. Jackson's words seemed senseless to me. But, who knew they would make so much sense one day.

"Be careful. You might get eaten by your own words," Jackson smirked at me as he laid back down on his own bed. I ignored him and stared at the ceiling, slowly drifting into a deep sleep.

-//-
6 days later

I walked along with Youngjae in the lobby of the school. Jaebum and the others were in the front of us. "Hyung, we had homework in maths today. And I didn't do it," Youngjae laughed it off like it was nothing. I shook my head at him, "Maths homeworks are fun, Youngjae ah. You should have done it."

"Haha. I would prefer sitting and staring at a blank wall rather than doing maths. Fun it seems," Youngjae mocked. I shook my head once and let him go this time.

We walked up on the staircase. "Yereobun, let's meet in the lunch break," Jaebum said once we were at the first floor. From there, we all had to split up for our classes. Jaebum was with Yugyeom and Youngjae while Jinyoung and Jackson were together. Bambam was alone, just like me.

We all waved and hi-fied, before walking in the direction of our classes. I thought about her. Yerin. And suddenly, I was jogging to my class.

My eyes searched for her in almost an instant as I entered the classroom. And then I saw her, leaned back in her chair near the open window, looking out. Her black hair danced softly in the cool breeze and her long, goddess like fingers played with a black pen. For a moment, she turned gracefully and her eyes met mine. And it took my breath away.

But, Yerin looked pale. Eyes a mix of red and white and brown staring in mine. She looked away. I walked quickly to my seat beside her. She was still looking out of the window when I placed my bag near the seat and sat.

"Yerin ssi," I called out to her, a sense of worry settling in me. Why, I don't know. The feeling began to grow when she didn't respond to me. I placed my hand slightly on her shoulder. But pulled it back shortly when she flinched.

Yerin turned her head towards me, looking lost, "Neh?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. I couldn't help but stare at her. She was still as pretty as the day before. But her eyes were red with puffy bags underneath them. And her rosy lips had slight cracks on the skin. I couldn't speak upon seeing her this way. She looked so put together and bloomy the day before. But, the next day she looked broken and weak.

"Are you ok?" I managed to somehow get my voice out. "Ah, yes. I'm fine," She gave me a weak smile before getting up and walking out of the classroom. For some reason, my heart didn't believe her words. I stood up too, before quickly jogging out of the class to follow her.

Teenagers filled the hallway. Laughing, chattering, busy in their social lives. Tip toeing, I tried to look for the girl in white t shirt and black harem pants. I found her turning left from Yugyeom's class, which was 3 classes away from mine. I quickly followed her, pushing through the flow of students coming by.

I turned left, just as Yerin had done. There was a long staircase. Without any other thought, I ran up them. There was a door at the top. I had never seen this door before, never heard about it. I didn't know what was behind it. But all those thoughts faded as I remembered Yerin. Her pale face. Her weak, lost eyes. I had to make sure she was okay.

I pushed open the door and cool breeze hit my face all of a sudden. I shivered in the breeze. I looked around. There was no ceiling, only the blue-gray sky above. Terrace.

I spotted her standing on the left, her back facing me. Yerin's black hair danced in the cold wind. Her hands grabbed the roof edge. I was panting from all the running.

Taking slow steps, I approached her. She seemed unaware of my presence, lost in her own world. I put my hand gently on her shoulder. Yerin turned around and met my eyes. A tear rolled down her left eye, making me suck a breath.