"Noona… Noona? It’s 8.30… wake up..!!"

You felt an irritatingly persistent tap on your back that you wanted to ignore.
It stopped … for a few seconds.

Just then , a warm breath came close and spoke into your ear and you recognised it to be Yugyeom’s.

"Wake up." It sounded almost robotic. "You’re late for work."

Shocking yourself to your senses, your eyes opened and feet moved in fluster as you kicked off the sheets and dashed to the bath.

Yugyeom rolled off your bed and landed on the floor from the sudden movement. “AHHHH! ” Wincing in pain, he pouted and sat with feet outstretched and hands by his side. “You didn’t even see me?!”

You already knew he was gonna be that way so you carried on ignoring him while rushing to get ready for work. Speed brushing and race bathing.

Today was the first day after the holiday break so it was important to look good and fresh.

"Noonaaaaaaa….. aren’t you gonna hug me before you go?" Yugyeom the big baby needed alot of affection on a daily basis. He outstretched his arms and followed you around the house waiting for his turn after the hair dryer.

"Yah! Stop acting like a baby. Dont you realise you’re a 1.8m grown man now?" You swiped his arm away with the back of your palm and sprayed a few spurts of perfume on yourself.

He obviously didn’t care and threw himself on you from the back, hugging your waist like a bear that fell in love with a tree. “Mmmmmmmmm my noona smells soooo nice.” he rested his chin on your shoulder in contentment.

You laughed and ruffled his hair, pulling away from his tight lock. “Hajima, please save these for your girlfriend.”

"Wae??? Sarangheyo Noona!!" He wanted to throw himself on you again but you quickly dodged and grabbed your bag and headed to the door.

"Love you too sweetheart! Bye!" You hurriedly shut the door and saw him waving away from the window like a kid bidding goodbye to his mum at school.

"Gosh. He’s mad." You laughed to yourself and waved back briefly before jogging to the bus stop around the corner. You were running late and needed to race against every second.
Just then you saw a car parked at the bend and heard a honk.

It was Mark, your ever dashing and reliable co worker that shared the same workspace with you.

"Hey! what are you doing here? " you asked smiling through the window.

"Get in you silly! I’m here to pick you up of course!" He stretched a long arm and opened the door from his seat and you quickly got in.

"How come you didn’t tell me you were here?" You asked in between pants.

"Well… sometimes it’s better to act on the fly. Besides I don’t know how you’re gonna fly to work at this time, really." With a swift and sharp turn he was on his way to the office with you in tow.

"It’s such a welcomed surprise but I’m sure you didn’t do it for nothing. C’mon spill it, what’s the deal here?" You asked and fastened your seat belt, and checking out your hair from the side mirror.

"Oh hey hey, I’m not like that strange guy who stalks you for fun! Why do I need a reason to swing by to head to work together? It’s not like you don’t take lifts from me." Mark animatedly said, referring to the times you had to beg him to drive you home when you were too lazy to get home yourself.

"What stalker? Oh you meant Jaebum the one you nearly fought with at the eatery? Haha gee, Mark I never knew you were such an over protective sorta guy." You rolled your eyes in disbelief at the incident some weeks back where Mark and Jackson were about to have a meal with you and JB followed you causing Mark to mistake him for a psycho stalker.

"Wwwhat? Over-what??? you obviously are too full of yourself. I’d be glad if you didn’t cause a fight yourself, else I’d be the one that needs some protecting. Anyways, is he still bugging you?" In total seriousness he turned to you with raised brows in search for an answer.

For that moment you felt that Mark seemed different. You couldn’t put your finger to it but he just became a little more concerned and was it his tone? He just seemed to be in good spirits. Plus, he seemed to look more radiant.

“He’s a friend… I kinda lost touch with until recently… but it’s a little complicated…” you shrugged not sure how to put it.

"You like him?" Mark asked.

That hit home because you had to admit you felt a little attracted to JB and it didn’t help that he was really actively trying to persue you. Your hesitant response gave Mark his answer.

"It’s not what you think…" you finally answered looking down at your hands.

"How do you know what I think?" It was the classic lead up line like all teenage dramas which the next scene would lead to a confession of some sort. "I think that he’s a snob. Correct me if I’m wrong."

Relieved that it didn’t get awkward, you laughed. “Well yea I guess it is a little like that. But he’s only that way to guys tho.”

"Nah he’s definitely up to no good imo. If he ever appears again you call me aight? "
Mark arrived at the main entrance of the office and unlocked the doors.

"I’ll bring your bag up for ya!" You stepped out and grabbed his coat and bag and made your way up First.

As you entered the crowded lift, a strong, manly scent filled the air. It was the kind that made you feel instantly attracted to it and you began scanning around to see who It might be. At the corner you realised Jackson was there as well, waiting for you to notice him. He shot you a bright smile and seemed like he had something to say. Reaching your level both of you exited and his face literally had a radiant glow beneath the smile. You never realised Jackson was actually very very good looking up close and had the smile to kill.

"Mandy! How was your weekend? You look lovely today" said Jackson.

"Oh hey, it was Okay.. you look good yourself too, and a new haircut? Haha it’s cute." You didn’t hesitate to compliment him.

"Really???" Instinctively he smiled and his eyes were buried in his cheeks. You couldn’t help but laugh cos he looked even cuter whenever he did that.

Seeing that you were holding alot more stuff than he was he wanted to help you with it.

"Allow me." He reached out for the coat in your hands and realised it was a men’s coat. "Oh?" He took a sniff and smelt a cologne.

"Ah. That’s Mark’s, he gave me a lift today. You’re really …. sharp, Jackson! I see you brought your brains to work today."

You teased him as he hung it over Mark’s chair.
"For a moment I thought…. you guys were living together…" his face giving you the classic worried expression of a little boy.

"Nah even if we did nothing’s gonna happen. We are too close for that." You brushed him away, while imagining Mark in your home and sharing a room with you in his boxers.
"Ahhh……." Jackson sounded relieved. "That’s great! Alright, time to work!" He gave you a wink and went to his desk.

In your imaginary Mark-wonderland he was cooking and cleaning the house in his overly exposing singlets with an out of bed hairdo, and sharing a bed with you. You imagined that he would be lying in bed listening to music with his eyes closed while you jumped on him to surprise him.

Wait a min. Were you picturing Mark as your boyfriend???
"Hey." Suddenly Mark was in your face and you once again got a shock from the sound and wobbled a little in your heels.

He held your arm and gave you a frown. “Just what are you doing exactly … standing at my desk holding my bag…?”

Embarrassed you smiled awkwardly and went to your seat to act busy.

The day went by with not much hiccups and you received a text from JB saying that he was flying for a week and what not. You were concerned yes but not to the point of worry. Besides, you were quite glad that he was going to be away and that meant no surprise visits from him.
However, there was JR that was at the back of your mind, always waiting for you and each time he called he was always sweet yet very daring in his approach. The last you spoke after the date, you told him you needed some time to sort things out and think about it but you enjoyed his company always.

As you packed up to leave, Jackson came over looking all tired.

"Hey, you look worn, was there so much to do?" You asked.

"Yeah but it’s okay I am done with it, I’m Jackson!" He exclaimed triumphantly.
He asked if you and Mark wanted to grab dinner together and you thought it would be nice. So you called Yugyeom to see if he was ok with that.

You: Gyeomie I’m having dinner with my colleagues tonight you ok?
Yugyeom: Oh yeah sure, which ones?
You: Seriously???? You’re like a dad!
Yugyeom: Or can I join you? I promise I’ll be good.

Holding the phone, you asked Mark and Jackson if your bro could come and they were more than happy.

You: OK I’ll pick you in 10mins at our place. Be nice Gyeomie. They’re just my colleagues alright.Yugyeom: Of course! I’ll know better than that Noona!

For some reason you felt more anxious about them meeting and regretted your decision immediately. Although he was acquainted with Mark, he was never fond of the guys that showed their advances towards you. You just hoped that he would hit it off with Jackson.
In the car, Mark grew quiet as he drove.

"What’s up Mark you okay?" You asked as you stared at his face.

"Yeah yeah don’t worry about me." He said and continued driving.

"That’s a lie. Cmon you know I see through you like a book. What’s bothering you?"

"It’s nothing… it’s just… nah its nothing much really." he shook his head and smiled at you trying to reassure you.

You kept quiet for awhile trying to think what it might be. Recollecting the incident last week when you were at his home, the images of a weak and sickly Mark lying in bed mumbling inaudible gibberish came to mind. You wondered if what you heard him mumbling was just his hallucination, or could it be that Mark was harbouring feelings for you which he didn’t express. Deep in thought, you didn’t hear Mark actually beginning to talk softly.

“…. i’m just disappointed that’s all… but it’s not a big deal anyway… there’s always tomorrow isn’t it?” he looked at you and realised you were staring blankly again.

“YAH! Did you hear what I just said?” he released a hand from the wheel and waved it in your face.

“UH? oh yeah I did, tomorrow right? Yeah what’s for tomorrow you said?” as innocently as you could, you simply smiled back.

Mark shook his head and sighed, “it’s okay I should have got used to it. Anyways it was better that you didn’t hear it.” He pulled up to your driveway only to see a waiting Yugyeom, waving at you and Mark.

“Hey Mark!” he said as he came in.

“Call him Mark Hyung, Yugyeom, he’s alot older than you.” Frowning at your little brother, you could already anticipate the kind of ‘friendly competition’ that was going to happen.

“Nah it’s cool Yugyeom-ah. I like it better this way.” Mark coolly let it slide.

“So, you both dating or something?” Right off the bat, your younger brother propped his elbows on the seats and put his face right between both of yours.

Instinctively you whacked him hard on the head causing him to roll back to the seat.
“Shut up and behave yourself! Or i’m never taking you with me again Kim Yugyeom.” You sternly told him off, to the shock of Mark.

“Woah, hey kid you okay back there? Gee… I’ve totally got the hots for your sis but from the looks of it I’d better stay away huh?” Mark joked around seeing that both of you were kinda tense with the topic.

“Hey you both, am I like your entertainment for the day? Quit it already before none of you gets dinner.” You shook your finger at Mark and Yugyeom, and laughed it off.

Yugyeom from the back, somehow could sense that the atmosphere was a little different, but he kept to himself and smiled knowingly. Just happy to be around you and your friends.
Approaching the dinner place, you spotted Jackson in the distance.

Yugyeom’s eyes brightened to see who this ‘Jackson’ guy was and to his surprise, “JACKSON?????????? THIS DUDE IS JACKSON????????”

- to be continued! please follow/subscribe/comment to let me know you are out there reading and enjoying okay? thank you!

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