Love Contract / Mark Lee

Chapter Seven

"Oh Mark? Uh, Areum isn't here right now." Jeno said, opening the door wider to let Mark in. Jeno was at Areum's apartment dropping off her groceries.

"Oh. I'm not really here to see her. I'm here to see you." He said, sitting on the couch. Jeno raised his eyebrows.

"How'd you know I'll be here?" He said, walking to the fridge. He got a bottle of water for both of them.

"She talks about you a lot. Your her wing man. I figured you might be here." He said.

"Well. What did you want to talk about?"

"Areum." Mark said. Jeno nodded.

"What about her?"

"She's been a bit off lately. One day she's really nice to me and the next her personality switches." He said. Jeno sighed.

"And I saw a bottle of pills in her bag. Either she's sick, or is a secret drug dealer." He said. Jeno chuckled.

"Well, I can tell you she's not a drug dealer, even though sometimes she's really suspicious. But I can't tell you why she has the pills. When she's comfortable she'll tell you." He said. Mark sighed.

"That's the thing. She's not opening up to me. Every time I feel like we're getting closer, she pushes away." He said.

"Well that's because she's afraid of falling in love. She's doesn't believe in falling in love by an arranged marriage." Jeno replied. Mark furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why?" He asked.

"That I can't tell you either. Because it relates with the pills. It's a lot. She's been through a lot. So just give her some time." He said. Mark nodded.

The door opened and Areum came in with bags of fabric and scissors and a sewing machine.

"Mark? What are you doing here?" She said. He got up to help her with her stuff. She smiled at him.

"Thanks. But why are you here?" She asked again. Mark stuttered, struggling to find an answer.

"I asked him to come help me with your groceries because I knew you would forget to buy them again." Jeno lied. Mark nodded.

"Uh ok. Well as much as I would like to hang out. I have to work on my project" she said. Mark smiled and headed for the door.

"Of course. I'll see you later then." He said waving goodbye.

"Oh wait! Can you tell Haechan I said hi. He hasn't been over much anymore." She said. He nodded and closed the door.

"Jeno What was he doing here? I know he did not help you with my groceries." She said, folding her hands. He furrowed his eyebrows.

"I've known you for 19 years. You don't think I know when your lying?" She said. He sighed.

"He's worried about you. Ever since he found your pills, which I'm concerned because you've never told me about that." He said. She purses her lips.

"I didn't think it was important but go on." She said.

"I know you don't know him well yet. But just be nice to him. He's trying his best." He said. She scoffed.

"His best to do what?"

"He didn't want to get married either! And he's trying hard to go with it. And whenever he feels like your getting closer, you shut him out. He hates this arrangement just as much as you do. I love you Areum, but it's kind of annoying. The world doesn't revolve around you." He said. She pursed her lips.

"Th-that's what you think of me then. Selfish, self absorbed? And since when were you on his side?!" She said, crossing her arms.

"Just try to work with him. He needs to know he's not in it alone. And maybe start off by just being nice to him consistently. You can't blame your disorder on that." He said, crossing his arms.