2:59pm
"Mark hyung!" DJ runs to Mark and hugs the older male.
"Dong Joon! I missed you!" Mark lifts the little boy into his arms.
The other boys and girls soon crowd Mark as the announcement of his return reaches everyone.
The joy on their faces from simply seeing Mark is magnificent. Mark smiles at the kids and hugs them tightly.
He plays with them, jokes with them, and he even takes a nap with them.
Mark and I spend the entire day at the adoption center. Cooking for the kids, helping the supervisors clean messy rooms and just entertaining the 200 foster children.
As the day wanes and night approaches, Mark writes something on a piece of paper. We're standing in the main lobby.
The children have all gone to sleep and the supervisors' are depleted of all their energy.
"What's that for?" I stare over his shoulder.
"My goodbye letter." Mark smiles as he continues to write.
"Mark..." I stare at the smiling beauty before me.
"Jackson." Mark finishes writing and he pins the letter on the bulletin board that the children look at every day.
"I won't be back to say goodbye. I want to do it now." Mark turns to me with a smile.
He walks around the adoption center he's been going to for years. He stares at the door.
"I've watched all of these children walk in here. With pasts similar to yours. I wanted to make them happy, make them forget the pain they were put through, make them feel worthy."
His heart was sweet and blessed before I even met him.
"You did it."
Mark turns around.
"I did do it. I did it for you too. But..." Mark twists the diamond ring on his finger.
"I'm practically tearing you all apart."
"Ma-"
"I am, Jackson." Mark's eyes pierce through mine.
"I'm leaving them after I've made them so happy. I'm leaving you after I've made you so happy. I'll feel terribly guilty if I make you or them sad again." Mark looks down at the ground.
"As long as you're no longer in pain, we'll be happy."
"You mean it?" Mark looks at me with his sad eyes.
"I mean it. When you leave us, it'll hurt. But for sure, we'll realize how you're resting in peace. At least, that's how I see it."
Mark hugs me.
"Thank you."
"I'll keep them happy." I kiss his forehead.
"Oooohh. Mark hyung and Jackson hyung are sharing cooties!"
Mark and I turn to Dong Joon as he stands with his usual friends.
"Are y'all leaving?" Sana hugs the same teddy bear from Christmas in her arms.
"Yes. We are." Mark bends to their level.
"Come back again!" The kids cling onto our clothes.
"I'll try to." Mark smiles at the kids.
"Yay!" The children hug Mark and Sana even kisses his cheek. Mark beams with joy as he's showered with love.
The kids don't understand that this is their last time with their favorite hyung.
Tonight is the last night that the children at the adoption center, get to see their beloved Mark.
