5:48pm
"I'm excited!" Mark bounces excitedly in his seat.
"You don't have to be that excited." I chuckle at his hyperness.
"What do you mean? I get to meet your other friends. I'm happy!" Mark cheers in the car.
The company that my boss worked for is throwing a celebratory party for the success of launching their business. It's a dinner to thank the workers who put so much time and effort into building the large building.
Mark insisted on coming when the invitation in the mail said that you can bring another person. I don't mind.
More time together. More memories.
We arrive at the restaurant. It's a fancy restaurant with classy manners and fine dining. Mark and I scrunch our noses up because we are anything but classy.
"What are manners?" Mark mocks the fancy plate setting on the table.
"Don't know. Never heard of it." I play along with him.
"Jackson!" Namjoon's large hands slam onto my shoulders.
"Why are always so aggressive?" Jinyoung shakes his head in dismay.
"Hey guys." I smile at my two friends.
"Hey." Jinyoung greets me then his eyes drift to Mark. "Oh! You must be Mark."
"What?" Mark looks at me, shocked. "You tell them about me?!"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" I smile.
"I'm Jinyoung." Jinyoung holds his hand out for Mark to shake.
"Mark." Mark shakes it.
"I'm Namjoon!" Namjoon holds out his hand.
"Mark!" Mark yells right back at Namjoon and shakes his hand. This earns a laugh from all four of us.
I end up meeting Namjoon's fiance and a close friend of Jinyoung. Mark has fun talking to all the new faces.
He's as friendly as ever.
Mark and Namjoon's fiance get along real well. So well, they wander off to talk about god knows what. Jinyoung's friend goes off somewhere too, leaving the three coworkers behind.
Jinyoung starts to laugh dryly as we sit in silence.
"He's great, Jackson." Jinyoung looks into my eyes.
"Isn't he?" I swirl my straw in my glass of water.
"Damn man." Namjoon rubs his hand across his face. "You sure he's sick?"
"I mean...he has so much energy. Such a good personality. I never would've thought he'd be so lively if...you know..."
"If he were dying?" I finish for Namjoon.
Namjoon nods his head sadly.
"I hope the best for you two." Jinyoung prays silently.
I hope the best for us too.
"Nice meeting you, Mark!" Namjoon's fiance, Elena, waves her hand.
"Same to you!" Mark waves back to her.
Namjoon and I exchange uneasy glances. I hope Mark and Elena don't get too close.
That's crushing. You meet someone you really like and the next thing you know...they're gone.
I say my farewells to Namjoon and Jinyoung. Mark and I head to the car.
"She was a super nice woman." Mark speaks referring to Elena. "She wants to meet up for lunch one day."
"You gonna go?" I ask as we enter the car.
"Should I?" Mark looks at me worried.
"Do what your heart wants." I squeeze his thigh.
"Thank you, Jackson."
I won't stop his happiness.
He decides to meet Elena for lunch later in the week.
Mark enjoyed talking to Elena and he enjoyed hanging out with someone besides me. Even though he said being with me makes him the happiness.
Being with someone else can be refreshing.
I'm glad he made a new friend.
But...unfortunately for Elena.
That lunch would be the last she ever saw him.
