At the Crossroads

Chapter 10

Last night, Jinyoung had stayed up pretty late because of the recording. He had not informed his teammates about this. If he could, he would have phoned them before leaving for the hotel. But it was too early that he suspected none of them was up yet.

Only after his morning cleaning routine had been done, he could sneak into the staff room and called Jaebum.

"Jinyoung. I was waiting for your call. What's new?"

"It's about the recording," Jinyoung said, "I checked that. Unfortunately, there was nothing much."

Jinyoung recounted what he had heard and also explained to Jaebum who Junghee was.

"So, what we've got is only his love life? Anyway, I'll record that information too. What's your next move?"

"I don't know. To keep the voice recorder in his room is, at the moment, impossible. Someone else already cleaned the room."

A loud knock boomed out. Jinyoung jumped in surprise and almost lost his grasp on the phone.

"Jinyoung?"

"I'll call you back later, okay?" Jinyoung ended the call and put the phone into his locker before hurrying to the door. He imagined the manager outside the door, ready to scold him for his minute-long absence.

But who he found there, was actually Youngjae, beaming as soon as they were face-to-face. He pulled Jinyoung out of the room.

"I was searching for you, hyung," Youngjae said.

"For what?" Everyday someone was always searching for him.

"What else? Mr. Tuan wants you."

Jinyoung could have choked if he were eating something. "What...what did you say?"

Youngjae laughed, realising what he had just said. "Sorry, hyung. I mean Mr. Tuan has ordered an apple juice and as usual, asked for your service."

"This kid, what were you thinking?" Jinyoung poked Youngjae's head with his finger accusingly and Youngjae laughed sheepishly.

What was Mark planning this time? Jinyoung brooded over what was coming next, as he dragged his feet out of the elevator and to Mark's room.

After a knock at the door, he entered the room and what he saw transfixed him on the spot. Mark was on the bed, lying on the stomach, and was only in shorts. And he was not alone. On his left and right and at his feet were three females and their hands were all over Mark's body. They seemed clearly enjoying themselves.

It was just that Mark was having a massage. Jinyoung felt suddenly hot; to how many degrees the room temperature had been increased?

"Mr. Tuan. Your apple juice is here." He wanted to leave the room already. The heat was kind of uncomfortable.

Mark tilted his head and looked at Jinyoung. "Stay there for a while. You can drink that juice if you want to."

Stay here? What was he supposed to do here? To watch the scene in front of him? He placed the juice, with the saucer underneath, on the table and stood by it.

"Your name's beautiful, Sora. Just like you," Mark said, eliciting a giggle from the girl named Sora, who was moving her hands on Mark's left arm.

Mark's eyes were, however, on Jinyoung, who was trying to look at anywhere but them.

Jinyoung guessed the girls were from the spa on the second floor. It was supposed to be a massage but why did they look like they were flirting? Was it Mark Tuan's habit to flirt with anyone?

"It feels so good," Mark said, "Your hands are delicate. At this rate, I might get turned on soon."

The girl at Mark's feet giggled; her hands were moving up Mark's ankles to the calves. "That'll be a problem, Mr. Tuan."

How come his eyes were over them again? Jinyoung caught a glimpse of Mark's smug smile before he hung his head low, fixing his eyes on the floor. Why did he have to be here?

"Okay, okay, enough. It was good. This is the best massage I've had in a while. Especially your hands know how to please someone."

Jinyoung looked at Mark tilting Sora's chin, making her flustered and then grabbing his pouch to tip them.

"Thank you, Mr. Tuan. It was a pleasure. We'll see you soon?"

"Soon." Mark smirked at Jinyoung.

The girls left. Mark was in the sitting position and his eyes lingered on Jinyoung.

"What's wrong? Are you perhaps jealous?"

"No," Jinyoung denied. "I was just thinking why I'm here."

Mark's intent eyes were scanning Jinyoung's face for any sign of a lie. When he did not find any, he looked away.

"Can I leave?"

"Come here," Mark ordered.

Jinyoung tentatively approached him, wishing Mark had put on a T-shirt or something. He did not know what to expect.

"Give me a massage." Mark lay down again on his stomach.

"Didn't you just have one? It's only been minutes since."

Mark made no reply and Jinyoung knew what that meant. "I don't know how. I've never given anyone a massage."

"Glad to know. Practise here then."

"The spa is just on the second floor." Jinyoung refused to give in.

"What's difficult about massaging? Move your hands on my body. That's all it needs."

Just give him what he wanted. Jinyoung knelt on the bed and touched Mark's back. He hesitantly moved his hands aross it and put the pressure on them. Was that even a massage? He pressed and kneaded Mark's muscles. After the back, the arms. Then the shoulders, the neck and down to the waist. He repeated that pattern.

"Is my upper body the only thing you can see?" Mark said, "My butt and thighs are waiting for you."

Jinyoung skipped the butt part and moved to the thighs and calves. He was relieved Mark did not say anything.

Mark abruptly sat up a while later, causing Jinyoung to stop his hands. "Does my butt look so precious you can't touch it?"

"It's just that I don't want to."

"You're really testing me, aren't you?" Mark yanked Jinyoung and made him lie down on the bed, before hovering over him. Jinyoung was startled and when he thought of struggling, his hands were already locked above his head.

"I-I already gave you a massage. Please let me go," Jinyoung pleaded.

Mark's free hand unbuttoned Jinyoung's shirt and he inhaled and devoured the bare chest. Jinyoung wriggled underneath, his skin getting red. Mark had to let go of Jinyoung's hands to press down his shoulders. His lips travelled upward to the throat and bit the skin.

"No!" Jinyoung's lifeless hands punched Mark's stomach. Mark's teeth deepened and Jinyoung let out a cry. Mark finally pulled away and there was a thread of saliva between his lips and Jinyoung's throat.

Jinyoung covered the bitten and sucked area with his hand and pushed Mark off. Mark was laughing, like everything he saw was entertaining him.

Jinyoung checked himself in the dresser mirror; his hair was a heap of mess, his skin abused and most importantly there was a mark on his throat.

He glared at Mark through the mirror and buttoned his shirt, his collar fortunately sealing the mark. He tried to smooth down the crumpled shirt and fixed his hair.

"I'm leaving," Jinyoung announced. He was going to force his way out even if Mark stopped him. But Mark did not move.

"Hey, one thing," Mark said. Jinyoung gulped down the apple juice and placed the glass on the saucer. "Don't try to cover it."

Jinyoung ignored him and left the room, shutting out Mark's laughter.