Zero

Part 5

Mark blinks and slowly puts down the fry he was about to shove into his mouth. " A date?" Sana's face flushes and her eyebrows knit together. Mark quickly realizes that she might take this comment as a rejection. "Erm, yeah sure. I have free time. Let me know when." Sana's facial expressions immediately relaxes. She offers him a warm smile, white teeth shimmering. "Okay, cool. I was worried...I don't know... It might be weird." Mark shakes his head and eats another fry. "Why would it be weird?" Sana pauses, obviously trying to find the best way to respond to him. "I mean... You and y/n and all..."  Mark let's out a fake laugh. He tries to make it sound as authentic as possible, but he has little faith in his ability.

"It is totally fine. That was over a year ago anyways." Mark pauses, realizing this is the perfect opportunity to get information out of Sana. "Is...y/n dating right now?" Sana snickers and shrugs. "I don't think I'd call it dating, but she is definitely fucking Jaebeom." Mark suddenly loses his appetite and pushes his plate forward. He knew deep in his gut that it was true. It was just hearing it from someone else that stung.

He didn't want to envision another man kissing you, touching you, or being inside of you. The thought made him feel physically ill. "Well, that's good then, right? She won't mind." Sana bats her eyelashes at Mark. He nods, swallowing. "Yeah, I think she'll be cool with it too."

************************************

The next time Mark sees you is inside your tiny little business office. He didn't have to sign a contract or anything since your brand wasn't THAT big yet. However, you did call him earlier in the week. Things needed to be discussed in regards to the photoshoot. Mark knew he couldn't drag his heels around anymore. He had to see you. Face to face.

He knocks lightly on the glass door, and you quickly appear. You don't look very pleased to see him. "Oh hey, Mark. Nice for you to visit-considering you won't answer my texts."

It was true. He wasn't. He couldn't bring himself to talk to you. Of course, when you called him he didn't really have much of a choice. So he enters the office, shrugging sheepishly. "Sorry, I've been busy." You let out a loud snort.  "Apparently not so busy that you can't date my interns."

So you knew already. About the date he had with Sana. It was only one measly date. It didn't make sense that you were being snotty about it. It wasn't like Mark slept with her or anything. "Y/N, I thought you wanted to talk about the photoshoot." You roll your eyes and slowly sit behind your desk. "Right, that."

You quickly gloss over the guidelines for the upcoming shoot. You don't spare Mark a single glance as you do so. When it came to business, you were professional (Excluding your sexual relationship with your business partner of course.)

You sigh, indicating you are done talking. Mark relaxes back into his chair, enjoying the moment of silence. He steals a glance at you, but you are gazing at your manicured nails. He is startled when you say his name. "Mark?" He immediately sits up right again. It is so quiet in the room you could hear a pin drop. "Why do you have to date my intern?"

Sana. The conversation had come around again. You were probably irritated that he went on a date with your intern. Again, unfair. Mark exhales, trying to contain his annoyance. "Because I can? Y/N, you can't control what I do." You scoff, putting your hands down. "I know that, Mark. I'm not trying to control you." The tone of your voice makes Mark even more angry. So condescending.

"Really, Y/N? I think you are. I think you're just used to me being at your beck and call. Maybe I'm tired of being fucking used by you." You blink, pain etching your features. He knows he hurt you, but he doesn't care. You have no idea how much you've tortured him every single day. The worst part was, he could never tell you. That information would probably just break your heart.

"Mark, I've never used you.. Y-you're my best friend." Mark's jaw tightens. Friend. The word makes him scoff. "Just leave me alone, Y/N. Stop trying to meddle with my life." Mark rises out of his chair and puts his jacket back on.

You immediately stand up, walking around your desk to stand before him. "Mark, you can't just leave like this." Mark let's out a dark laugh. "Really? Just watch me."

He lets the door slam loudly behind him. He leans up against the wall next to the staircase, he can hear your sobs. His heart tells him to run back in and soothe you, but he can't. That is what old Mark would've done. He needed to break this cycle. As much as he hated to admit, maybe to break the cycle- he needed to break your heart too.