A Beautiful Butterfly

Chapter 14

It was still a bit too early for the class to start and from his seat, Jinyoung stared at the empty spot where Mark usually sat. He still could not get over the fact that he had just spent the two holidays with Mark.

He replayed and replayed everything they had done together in his head until he took notice of someone standing before his desk.

"What're you smiling about? Wanna share?" Mark asked, putting his hands on the desk and towering over Jinyoung.

"N-Nothing," Jinyoung said, sitting up properly and trying not to look like one who had been fantasising about someone or having daydreams.

"I'm sure it wasn't nothing," Mark smiled teasingly, "Well, I came to say I really enjoyed the trip. I was just boasting about it to Jaebum and Jackson. You know, our weekend was more exciting than theirs."

Jaebum was in his seat, his attention on the phone and Jackson was talking with a classmate. Both of them did not seem to have any idea of what conversation Jinyoung and Mark were having.

"So what should do this weekend?" Mark continued and his words surprised Jinyoung. Pleasantly. Did Mark still want to spend another weekend with him? He had not even been friends with Mark for long - that is, if they were friends now. But Mark wanted to hang out with him, instead of Jackson and Jaebum.

They could not come up with any idea, however, as the class went quiet and the lecturer entered. Mark said, "We'll continue in the afternoon," and then rushed back to his seat.

"Forgot to mention to you, Mark. Guess who we met at the bar. Seoah!" The toilet resounded with Jackson's voice, which sounded clearly excited. "And she was asking about you, Mark. Like really asking. Why weren't you with us? How were you doing? And most important of all, were you seeing someone already? Man, I think she's now regretting rejecting you."

Jinyoung could not pull open the door as he listened to those words. His hand stilled on the doorknob and the stall was his hiding place. He had had not idea Mark liked someone. And it was a girl!

"A pity I'm not interested in her anymore. I'm not her standard, as she said. Let it be just like that."

"Mark, you sound so bitter! Why not give her another chance? I think she actually cares for you. Like she met us and all she wanted to talk about was you!"

With every word he heard, Jinyoung grew anxious. The soothing sound of the water steadily running into the sink could not calm him down. He prayed Jackson would not tempt Mark any more. That Mark would hold firmly onto that he did not like her anymore. All he wanted was only those two things.

He was not at all ready yet to see Mark with someone. Felt like he would never be. Now that, he and Mark, they had been happy with each other. Yeah, even just as friends.

Wonpil kept encouraging him that Mark would like him someday, judging from how he treated Jinyoung. But it was utter nonsense - something totally impossible, Jinyoung would always say. But in the back of his mind, just in the back of his mind, he had hoped Wonpil could be right. Because he could himself feel Mark's care for him. if Mark was with someone, all of this - his hope, fantasy, daydreams, everything - would come to an end. He loathed the thought. Despised the idea.

"Well, she missed her chance. Tell her I've already moved on."

"You sure?" came Jaebum's voice, along with the sound of a stall door being closed and then the sound of the water running from the tap again.

"What were you doing, taking too long there?" Jackson said, "We came to check on you. Mark, are you going in?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"Then let's go."

"What you were saying, you did..."

Jaebum's voice slowly faded away and the toilet was all silent again. Jinyoung slumped against the door, with no desire to move. Let Mark choose what he wanted. Why were they convincing him? But Mark was not someone who would be swayed by such kind of persuasion. How Mark stood up for him, despite his friends' attempts to stop him, Jinyoung could still remember. No, Mark would not waver. No, he would not date her just because she was now showing interest in him. No, Mark was not such kind of person.

In the afternoon, Mark was with Jinyoung as he had promised. When Mark had first approached him, Jinyoung had been a little tense. How could he not when he had known something about Mark that was still haunting him?

But seeing Mark as jolly as ever, Jinyoung could finally breathe normally. Why should he worry about something that had not happened yet or would probably never happen?

"What about a spa? We can go to sauna, have massages and swim in an indoor pool," Mark suggested, not seeming to have noticed the change of mood in Jinyoung.

"Anything's fine. I... I don't know many places here."

"Oh, I've another idea! How about we go and sing at a karaoke bar? That'll be a totally new experience for you. Besides, you can sing very well. Just grab the mic and that'll be a world of pleasure to me," Mark said, in enthusiasm.

Jinyoung blushed, "I think spa is better." As much as Mark had high impression of him, he did not want to embarrass himself in front of Mark. And he would with his limited knowledge of songs.

"Why? Why don't you want to sing? Your voice calms me every time you sing. I'm not exaggerating. It has that kind of impact on me."

Jinyoung felt his heart flipping furiously; if Mark talked to him like that everyday, he would have a real hard time to conceal his feelings. If only Mark was also aware of what kind of impact he had on him.

"I don't think I'm that good," Jinyoung insisted.

"I beg to differ. We've two options at the moment. I'll think of more interesting places. But I must go now," Mark said, as they were now near the car park. "See you."

With a wave, Mark finally turned around and made his way to the car. Jinyoung smiled contently and with his heart still beating fast, continued his way to the dorm.