#2 Acting
Mark was known as the hard working student. He always did what he was told, never questioned anything, and was known as “THE SMART ONE” in the hallways. In a way, he was the typical nerd: always hanging out in the library, failing to shoot a ball through a hoop, sticking his nose in a five-inch thick book. He was deemed the one to be the smartest. Except that it was all an act.
Outside school, Mark was actually quite fit. He could play basketball, football, soccer, and rugby quite well. He avoided the library at all cost and only did his homework after eating dinner. That was Mark’s “real world.” Until that one fateful (unpleasantness) day when he met the school’s new “flower boy.”
He had a thick curvy body, luscious red lips, large round eyes (the size of cherries) and silky black hair that was naturally messy. He had caught Mark’s eyes. Everything about him attracted Mark. The way he smiled, his laughter. The moles on his neck or the pink hue that always dust his cheeks. It was like watching a prince.
It had been at least a month of deep stalking that Mark decided to drop his goody-two-shoes act and become the real person he really was. That glorious afternoon, he went to the salon and did his hair a bright yellow (blonde), wavy and parted from the middle. He dropped his glasses and wore contacts. He dropped his neat, clean, tucked in outfits for a loose white t-shirt, ripped blue jeans and timberland. His backpack went from a old fashioned flip-up to a loose string bag that only had the main necessities Mark needed. Starting Monday, Mark “THE SMART ONE” was now Mark “THE HOT SMART ONE.”
**cut to Monday morning**
Everyone’s jaws dropped. The actual real life Mark was there, walking down the school, but no-one knew that. Only Mark did. While walking pass everyone, the young boy noticed that many people were drooling, eyes “popping” and a couple panties seem to have pee trails. Mark, of course, ignored them in favor of finding the new boy and asking him out.
Three periods passed before lunch. Now was the moment. Bravely (after giving himself a pep talk) he walked into the lunch and stood directly over the new boy. Donghyuck. “Can I talk to you?” Mark asked, keeping his facial expressions from drifting off. “Well, you see, whatever you’re telling me, It should be here because I promised my friends to eat lunch with them.” Donghyuck said with the sweetest voice in the history. To everyone it was just his natural voice. To Mark, it was a cover up. He only knew. Donghyuck was acting. Mark furrowed his eyebrows, trying to comprehend Donghyuck until he was snapped out of his concentration. Mark could’ve sworn his face showed annoyance, but that soon fell away as a sweet smile appeared. “Yes?” the boy said. “Will you go out with me?” Mark asked. This was what he wanted to ask, but now all he wanted to do was to figure out the boy’s acting skills and wonder about its beauty. “I’m sorry but no.” Donghyuck’s face was filled with surprised for at least ten seconds before a sad smile was plastered on his face. Mark saw. “Then meet me on the rooftop after school. I want to ask you another question.” With that, Mark left, reading to go to the library and read up about facial controlling.
**cut to the rooftop after school**
Like Mark said, Donghyuck was up on the rooftop after school. The said boy searched around for Mark but then caught large shoulders near the greenhouse. In the small see-through building was Mark, leaning back on the large palm plants reading a science book. Donghyuck looked on in disgust, but his outer face expression was that of curiosity. Mark noticed after lifting his head up. “They say that only one in a zillion people have the talent to mask their face from what they actually feel about the things they see around them.” Mark blurted. “I suspect you’re one of them?” he questioned.
Donghyuck was taken aback. His face was surprised, but his mind was running with ideas. “You can drop the act. I’m sure you’re surprised.” A second blast of surprise hit the said boy. “How did you notice?” a voice a bit deeper, angry, and filled with venom was spit at Mark. The boy laughed, enjoying the dark side of Donghyuck. “Because I act at school everyday. Not emotion wise, but outer appearance of the body. I just decided to drop it because I was in love with you.”
Donghyuck dropped all his act all together. No one had ever did anything as big as that for him, nor admit their feelings for him directly. He was at lost for words. “It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone. All I want is for you to give me a chance.” Mark said. Donghyuck felt relaxed after hearing that. He felt he could trust Mark. “How do I know you’re not lying?” Mark giggled, and showed pictures of his disguise (acting) of “THE SMART ONE.” Donghyuck was genuinely surprised. “You look like a rotten potato from the 18th century.” Mark full out bellowed. “I-I know.” He managed to say from his laughing fit. Donghuck felt his cheeks go warm.
Mark knew Donghyuck now trusts him. “So. Since we both know about each other, how bout we start talking?” he suggested. The boy took some time to think. “Fine.” He felt relieved, happy, excited, and scared for the future. Mark could expose him, and he would have to move schools again because of his real identity. He would have to run away again, but Donghyuck chose to stay and trust in Mark.
He extended his hand. “Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Haechan.” Mark smirked. “I am Lee Minhyung.”
Disclaimer: There is no real actual study about controlled facial expressions. Like deep controlling. I just made it up.