As Mark stepped through the doorframe, the inquisitive expressions of unfamiliar students greeted him. Uncomfortable with the new attention, Mark quickly searched for an empty seat. Eyes locked on target, Mark briskly made his way to the back of the room.
About halfway there, Mark realized there was a slumped figure, already occupying half of the table meant for two, head resting on top of their folded arms. He stopped and scanned the room once again for an empty seat, not wanting to make it awkward for the stranger or himself.
After failing to find another seat, Mark resumed his journey to the table in the back. He looked at the figure more closely this time. She had long brown hair that fell past her shoulders in small waves. Her eyes were closed, displaying her dark lashes that rested on top of her lash-line. Earbuds in her ear, she laid her head on the desk, resting.
“Pretty,” Mark thought.
...
Light, cautious taps on your shoulder caused you to jolt up from your resting position. Sensing a new presence, you turned your attention to your right, as you curiously removed your earbuds from your ear.
In front of you stood a decently tall, lean man with dark cropped hair, covered by a dark navy baseball cap. Fiddling with his backpack straps, he had an apologetic expression on his face. “Hey, sorry to bother you, but do you mind if I sit there?” pointing to the empty space next to you. “There aren’t any other available seats.”
Slightly flustered by the sudden request, your eyes widened. “No problem, I don’t mind,” you quickly replied. “Let me move my things real quick.”
After you removed your backpack from the chair, Mark dropped his bag over the edge of the table and sat down. “Thanks.”
“Hey, I’m Mark by the way,” he said quietly as he extended a hand toward you with a lopsided smile on his face.
Giving him a small smile in return, you gently shook his hand. “Hi Mark, I’m Y/n.”
Your introductions were cut short after the professor entered the lecture room and began introducing the himself, and the course topics.
As the lecture progressed, you noticed how fidgety your new seatmate was, twirling his pens between his fingers, or occasionally tapping his fingers on the desk to a light beat. You found his antics to be pretty charming.
Halfway through the lecture, the professor decided to hold a short break.
As you were writing down the last few points from the presentation, Mark turned to you. “So, what major are you in?”
“Biology.” you replied, as you fiddled with the pen in your hands.
“Really? What’s a bio major doing in a basic class like this?”
“I saved this class to take with a friend, but she bailed on me,” you said with a light laugh.
“Whaaat, how did that happen?”
“Her schedule got messed up, so she switched out last minute.”
Curious as to why he went silent, you turned to look at Mark.
With wide eyes, he said, “I think she’s the person who opened up a spot for me in this class.”
“Really? That’d be kind of funny,” you replied with a laugh.
“What? Noo I feel bad! You could have enjoyed this class with your friend.”
“It couldn’t be helped. Plus, I got to meet you,” you said with a smile.
Before he could reply, the professor resumed his lecture and started up his presentation once again.
...
Mark was glad the professor had stolen your attention from him after that exchange because Mark could feel his face and ears heat up.
“How could she say that so easily?” he thought.
It was hard for Mark to focus on taking notes because he was constantly fighting the urge to steal glances at his pretty seatmate.
Mark internally groaned as he held is face in his hands.
“Why am I acting like this?” he wondered. “It’s not like I haven’t dated anyone before.”
Author’s Note: ughh ever since I saw those teasers I had to write something about biker mark (lowkey doesn’t make sense but I'm putting it out there anyway haha)
Revving up into the vice principal’s spot was not the vice principal herself but none other than Mark Lee, the school ‘bad boy’. The familiar sound of the engine turning off set a silence over the student body. Not a word could be heard as he took off his helmet, his hair disheveled in the best way. Stepping off and making his way to the gates, people make a path as if a celebrity were passing. You stood dazed, like always. The others, having the same fate. You watched like any other day. It was a routine, Mark would come on his bike every school morning and every time you just stared and watched in awe. There was this special feeling you got from him. It was an aura that you were drawn to. You had seen him a few times outside of the school gates, but never could go up and introduce yourself. You had tried many times but could never make it past taking the first step. You weren’t the most outgoing student, but not a total social outcast either. You didn’t even have a class with him, so there would be no subtle way of approaching him. Shaking off the thoughts, you head past the school gates and into the school.
The day goes on and you’re nearing the end of the school. It's after lunch so you’re getting more tired than ever, wishing the bell would just ring. Your Physics class was never too loud and was on the quieter side which was great for when you were tired or had a headache, something you got frequently. With finishing the last question on the assignment, you decide to take a small nap. There were only about 20 minutes left till class ended. So it wouldn’t be such a big deal if you did. Resting your head between your arms and closing your eyes, you were getting sleepier by the second. Then it got quiet. Lifting your head and moving your eyes to the front of the class you could see what was causing the silence. It was Mark, standing with a school administrator.
Calling over to the teacher the administrator talked privately with them out of the classroom while Mark looked for an open seat. The seat in front of yours was empty so he went and sat there. Mark sat down with papers in his hands and put on his headphones. He was eerily quiet but his clothes were quite loud. He scribbled words on to pages of what you assumed was classwork and bobbed his head lightly to the music playing on his headphones. The teacher had returned back into the classroom and the class resumed back to normal. Now with your drive to sleep gone and with your head still in your hands, you thought of the reason he was in your class, your gaze still on his back. Did he get in trouble? Would he have this class for the rest of the year? Maybe this was your chance, you thought. You could face your hesitations and finally talk to him. When you seem to have made up your mind, getting ready to tap his shoulder, the bell rings signaling the end of the day. Mark gets up and is the first to exit the classroom leaving you with your finger in the air.
Hurrying to grab your things and placing your assignment in the box on the way out you search the halls for the black-haired boy. Finding his red bandana in the crowd, you maneuvered your way closer. Nearing Mark you were getting ready for what you were going to say, when suddenly an influx of students from the classroom next you come into the hallways, blocking your view of Mark. You wait for the crowd to dissipate and make your way to the end of the hallway, but alas Mark is nowhere in sight. You sigh bringing your fingers to your forehead rubbing in circles to offset the incoming headache. Accepting defeat once again you turn around, eyes still closed to gather your things at your locker before heading home. Taking one step, you bump into a sturdy chest causing you to open your eyes. You lookup. What meets yours are big brown eyes, eyes that belonged to none other than Mark. Gulping, you take a step back. Mark looks at you straight in the eye and gives a slight smirk. Ready to give an apology, he stops you in your tracks. “So... what were you doing following me?”
(a/n: I just noticed I wrote this as highschool setting but I'm too lazy to change to college oops)
Mark did not like this feeling. Since the moment he opened his eyes this morning at 9am, he felt like something was off—like he was forgetting something...
“Mark, what’s up with your face?”
Snapping out of his thoughts, Mark looked up to see his friends staring at him curiously. “My bad, I just keep feeling like I’m forgetting something” Mark replied.
“Did you lock your door this morning?” asked Taeil.
“Yup.”
“Is it your brother’s birthday today?” asked Jungwoo.
“Nope.”
“You forgot to give me a kiss” Haechan said, pointing at his cheek teasingly.
“Shut up, Haechan.”
Mark’s friends snickered around him. With a lazy grin on his face, Mark decided to try and forget whatever was bothering him as he ate his lunch.
As the large group of boys were strolling down the street after eating, Taeyong turned to face the group.
“Oh yeah, how was registration for you guys?”
A chorus of good’s and fine’s were given as a reply.
Mark froze. His eyes widened as he made a sudden realization. “Oh. My. God.”
Haechan bursted out in laughter as he hit Johnny, tears forming in his eyes.
Half with sympathetic expressions and half laughing, Mark’s group of friends looked back at their poor friend. Sinking down to his knees, Mark groaned as he put his face in his hands.
“I can’t believe he forgot!” Haechan exclaimed as he clutched his torso in laughter.
Mark stood up with a grim expression. “Dude I needed to sign up for a required course too! It’s the last general ed class I have left,” Mark pouted.
With that, the group slowly started to make their way down the street once again, laughing among themselves as Mark miserably lagged behind.
Doyoung slowed to Mark’s pace and put his arm over Marks slumped shoulders in efforts to comfort him. “What was the required course you needed to register for?” he asked.
“Hbs01.”
Doyoung’s eyes widened. “Wait, I think my brother might be the TA for that course this year!”
“Gong-myung hyung?!”
“Yeah,” Doyoung chuckled. “I’ll ask him later if there’s anything he can do.”
“Holy shit, you’re the best Doyoung.”
Doyoung smirked.
“I know.”
10:47pm
Mark was deep in worrying thoughts as he lay in bed, arms crossed underneath his head when he heard his phone’s ringtone.
“Call from Gong-hyung”
Quickly, Mark answered.
“So someone asked me to benevolently grant you my help?”
"Hyungg, please help mee,” Mark pleaded.
"You just had to miss registration for a class that fills up like hbs01 didn’t you?”
Mark groaned. “Don’t make me feel even worse.”
“The class is packed to the max right now. But I’ll let you know if anyone drops in the first few days.”
"Yes!” Mark pumped his fist in the air, “You’re the best! I love you!”
"Shut the hell up.”
Grinning to himself, Mark set his phone down after ending the call. Sighing, he hoped to himself that he would be able to take this class.
You woke up to the sound of your phone ringing. Groaning, you rolled to the edge of your bed and grabbed your vibrating phone off the nightstand.
Groggily opening your eyes, you squinted at the bright screen.
“Call from Yeon”
“What the hell,” you tiredly grumbled. You glanced at the time:
“7:57”
You shut your eyes in annoyance.
“Class isn’t until 9,” you thought.
With your eyes still closed, you answered the phone. “What do you want Yeon.”
“Geez, you sound awful.”
“What do you want?” you repeated.
“Uhm... you see... we kinda have a problem.”
“Bro what. do. you. want.”
“I’m not taking hbs01 with you anymore,” Yeon said quietly.
Your voice softened, “What? Why not?”.
“Admin fucked up my schedule, so my classes got switched up!”
“Fuck...” you said as you slowly sat up.
“I know,” Yeona replied. “This sucks!”
“It’s not your fault, Yeon,” you sighed. “I guess we can go one year without a class together.”
“Yeah, I’m bummed! But, you’ll be fine without me, right y/n? You’re a big girl now,” Yeona cooed, “have a great day at school! I love y– ”
You hung up the phone and tossed it to your side with a huff. You laid back down again with your eyes closed for a couple minutes before standing up to get ready for school.
8:38am
Thanks to Yeona’s call, you found your way to the lecture hall very early. Still, to your surprise, the room was already full. As you stepped through the door, you noticed the unique dual seating arrangements and the many different faces seated; mingling and chatting with one another, all the students seemed like they had been able to find a seat next to a familiar face. None of the said faces were recognizable to you though; you came to the conclusion that this class was full of underclassman.
“Goddamn overachievers,” you mumbled under your breath, “always gotta be super early and take all the seats”.
Scanning the room, you spotted one empty table towards the back. As you made your way to the table, you were bitterly thinking of how Yeona would’ve been able to be your seat partner if she hadn’t ditched you. With a sigh, you put your bag on the empty seat next to you and sat down.
8:40am
Mark frowned as he tossed and turned in his bed to the sound of his phone’s ringtone. Annoyed, he grabbed it and put the caller on speaker as he sprawled out on his mattress, stretching.
“MARK LEE GET THE HELL UP”
Alarmed, Mark opened his eyes and sat up to look at the caller ID.
“Gong-hyung?”
“I SIGNED YOU UP FOR HBS01 BECAUSE SOME KID DROPPED. GET YOUR ASS TO CLASS RIGHT NOW.”
“Oh shit.” Mark scrambled to stand up and ran to his bathroom to brush his teeth.
Gong-myung shouted directions through the phone as Mark threw some clothes on.
“Got it! Thanks again hyung!”
After ending the chaotic call, Mark grabbed an apple on his way out of his apartment. Running down to his apartment bike rack, Mark quickly unlocked his bike and rode down the street to the university campus. Gong-myung’s instructions rang repeatedly in his head like a chant:
“NORTHSIDE CAMPUS. BUILDING E. ROOM NUMBER 127.”
After making his stop at the uni bike rack, Mark ran to find his class. Hunched over catching his breath, Mark stood in front of a door that read, “Building E, Rm. 127″. Mark glanced at his wristwatch for the time,
“8:55am”
Proudly smiling to himself, Mark opened the lecture hall door.
Mark sniffled as you got up from the bed. “You don’t have to” he whined as he clung onto your arm. You had come down with the cold at the same time he did, his a bit worse. Mark had protested to your suggestions of making him some chicken soup but in the end you had won. “No it’s fine, I’ll be right back okay”. Making the soup would be no problem and it was something you made even when you weren’t sick. It was quiet in the kitchen, the only sounds were the boiling soup and your light sniffles. A few minutes pass and you hear a chair move. Turning back you see a red nosed Mark come in dragging his Toy Story blanket you had gifted him last christmas. He had sat down on one of the high chairs at the island. Putting his head on his arms he looked up at you through his long lashes. He looked so tired. You stare back and give him a loving smile. “You didn’t have to do this y’know. You’re just as sick as I am.” He held out one of his hands still keeping his head where it was. Reaching out, you grabbed it and rubbed the back of his hand gently with the pad of your thumb. “I know.” Leaning on the island you both stayed there in the comfortable silence. “Uh... what’s that smell?” Mark picks his head up looking around. “What?” You turn your head to the stove and see you had let the water boil over into the open flames. Rushing to the stove you turn off the heat as fast as you can while taking the pot off. “So much for a home cooked meal” you said chuckling. Taking a sponge you tried to clean the burnt pieces of veggies off the stove. The light padding of his feet could be heard as Mark came towards you. He had reached the stove enveloping you in the warmth of him and his toy story blanket.
