Riley intently eyed the bouquet of flowers that stood proud and tall up front the café door's, for a moment she contemplated on whether to sue or just be thankful, don't get her wrong she loved her godfather very much it's not really that common now a days to have one so she really treasures every single one of them. On the other hand he didn't really have to send the flowers, much less use the phrase 'From all of us in JYP Nation' not to mention the extra flowers that catches attention with the name 'From Got7' with the extra words ' with Love.' Sure this was fine, this was more than fine, this means attraction of people, teenagers specifically, teens who are huge fans, this was totally great for business, yup she's definitely suing all right.
"Why I out to" She whispered her teeth clenched she took a deep breath pushing the doors open the place was already fully packed with people, huh one could only guess why "Riley thank God you're here" Kate said letting out a sigh of relief "Is everything okay?" Riley asked her teeth still clenched thus her words came out as of a robot
"Am, not exactly" Kate said a worried expression painted her face "There's too much people and we are short in hands." Kate said pointing towards the counter with five baristas juggling like twenty orders from different customers Riley could only sigh nodding to Kate as she disappeared from the back.
She looked around the room that was supposedly the employee's locker room she stood in front of one of the lockers letting out another sigh opening the locker. Putting on the apron tying it up making sure it won't got loose, letting her hair sway left to right taking it all in one hand tying it up onto a neat ponytail, her glasses on she stretched her neck sideways, back and front, closing her eyes to take a deep breath. She walked out of the room the place was even more packed from earlier the whole place was a mess and the baristas were already flunking at so many things she let out a sigh stepping in.
"We are so sorry for the inconvenience ma'am we will have your order ready as soon as possible." The girl at the counter said the customers were flooding the place and some were already losing their temper from the long wait some from the mistakes that the baristas were making. One spilled the coffee while giving it to the customer, the other one spilled it before it was even completed, the other one got an order wrong, and everything was a mess already.
"Kate you know what to do" Riley said nodding at the other girl as a signal "Okay" Kate nodded back a smile on her face, it's been so long since they last did this it felt kind of exciting for both parts "We are so sorry for the inconvenience for everyone, if we many ask for your cooperation you're orders will be served immediately by our staff, now if everyone would please create a single neat line so we can take your orders and get them to you right away thank you." Riley said she had shooed away the other girl at the counter to help out with the drinks that needed to be made and everything else
"If I may take your order ma'am" She smiled brightly easing up the tension from all the ruckus "Finally, one iced mocha late, two hot caramel macchiato that would be a venti, and three tuna sandwiches" Riley nodded punching the order's one by one time went by like that for a few hours before the crowed finally died down Riley and Kate let out a sigh of relief giving each other a knowing smile "It's been forever huh" Kate said a chuckled escaped her lips with Riley nodding along with a smile
The kids were actually quite surprised on how fast the two worked it was like seeing a whole new level of coffee making and customer service, the two let the kids work on the remaining customers while they sat down discussing the staffing. Both agreed that they needed more staff for this branch, running through some other things regarding the opening and the other things that needed to be checked before Riley leave everything in Kate's hands.
"Am I disturbing you guys?" A familiar voice asked Riley didn't even need to look at the person to know his identity "What do you want?" Riled snapped throwing glares at the older boy "I actually went by for some coffee honest" Mark said his hands up in the air in total surrender
"I'm not serving you any" Riley hissed rolling her eyes on the boy "Ouch why so mean?" He said of course he knew the reason why she was mad it's not that she was mad at him okay she was mad at him "Oh, come on Lily lighten up" Mark said he had taken his sit right next to the girl
"I still don't get that nickname" Kate randomly blurted out blinking at the two it was true though it wasn't only her that wondered where on earth the nickname originated from but no one really bothered asking "Lily, Riley you just have to take out the Li out of Riley to make it Lily" Mark explained which made it even more confusing truly only Mark and Riley were the only once that really got it, it was as if it they had always had their own language apart from all of their friends
"Oh yeah when's you're flight?" Mark asked randomly grabbing the girl's coffee taking a sip out of it "Why?" Riley asked eyebrows raised Mark wasn't really the type to ask those questions the first time he asked she let it slide thinking that he was just really curious but now she's just suspicious "Just asking" Mark replied with a shrug still drinking the girls coffee he was actually trying to avoid the girls gaze knowing her well enough that she would have figured out that he was planning something
"Do you really want me out of Korea that bad Tuan?" She blinked yanking off the boys hands of her drink taking a sip from it, it was as if they had totally forgotten about Kate who was just sitting her quite amused with the two "No I'm just curious" Mark said stealing the girl's coffee once more "Yeah, you can fool anyone else not me Yieun" She said totally giving up on her coffee that the older boy was now hogging all to himself
"No I'm serious" Mark said blinking innocently he was seriously not giving in of course he has something up his sleeves yup Riley was right of course the boy won't just ask stuff like that not unless he was planning something weird "Yeah, right" She shook her head still unconvinced of course eyeing the boy with a knowing look
-oOo-
"You're what?" Mark bolted up from the couch yup he was at her place again or their place can't really call it her place since the boy mostly uses it when she's not around so yeah 'their' place "What?" She eyes him with a questioning look "Are you serious?" The boy asked he was leaning on the kitchen counter watching the girl flip the pan over placing the food on the plate "Yes Mark I am, it would take about a month or two for everything to settle down, besides thanks to the stunt your CEO and your group pulled the café is going to be packed for days and Kate can't handle training everyone with the amount of people that will be pooling in thanks to you guys." Riley said placing the plated down on the table with Mark following right behind her
"So you're really staying for a month?" Mark asked his face all bright and jolly in a funny way "Yes, two even If I don't settled things without a month, again thanks to someone" She chuckled taking her sit as the boy took his as well "Awesome" Mark said a big grin plastered in his face he wasn't going to hide the fact that he was really happy about the news it's been ages since they last saw each other and the boy whole heartedly wanted to spend some time with the girl "Why is this so awesome for you?" Riley questioned it wasn't like she wasn't just as excited of course she was it's been so long since she was in Korea, and it's been forever since she last spend some time with Mark like the past few days but it wasn't like she will be able too she knew the boy had schedules and things he needed to do at work but the thought of being closer to the boy and being able to call him and tell him to come over cause his like thirty minutes away from her sounded a lot better than being ten thousand miles away from each other with an ocean in between and even if they do call it's not really the same.
"Like you said it's been seven years since we last saw each other I think a month or even two of spending some time with each other could the least make up for half of the seven years we were apart." Mark said it was a heartfelt message he wanted to send out to the girl he'd be lying to himself if he told himself that he didn't miss the girl in those seven years let alone think about her "It's not like we're going to have some quality time like before Yieun, things have changed now it's not like how it was seven years ago you know that." Riley said it was true she had also missed the boy in those seven years but it was also true that things have changed for the last seven years he wasn't just Tuan Yieun anymore he was Got7's Mark now and it would be the last thing she'd want to get the boy in trouble.
Mark looked at the girl he knew she was right but he wished that she wasn't, did he regret coming to Korea, did he regret being an idol, course not he loves his job he loves what he does, he loves his career his friends his members but if there's one thing that he did regret it leaving her behind "I know, but we can make it seem like nothing has changed" Mark said he was still in denial about the whole situation "You know that's impossible Mark" Riley said with a sigh escaping her lips they had never talked about something so serious during dinner they had always made it a thing to talk about serious stuff when their watching something or actually sitting down to talk about things this was the first time they've even done this and it felt new to the both of them.
"We can't keep pretending that everything is the same as before when we clearly both know that it's not" Riley said her voice was flat and serious she only trying to get the boy to admit their situation as much as she wanted to pretend as well she knew it would only make things a lot worst if they keep pretending "We can't take back the seven years we've missed out on each other's lives but we can always make the best of what we have now" Riley said trying to sooth the boy's mood she knew he was trying and she was glad that he was but the boy also needed to accept the facts that lay before them
"Mark have you seen Riley?" Kate asked panting she has been running the school grounds looking for her best friend who was missing in action once again "No, I haven't why?" Mark asked brows raised he wasn't quite sure why the girl was asking him "She skipped morning classes?" Kate asked which got Mark even more confused how the heck was he suppose too know it wasn't like they were on the same class his their senior for crying out laud
"Kate how am I suppose too know that aren't you guys in the same section their year?" Mark questioned he had his eye on his phone "No I'm with Alex and Chris, she's in your class" Kate said gaining the older boy's attention tearing his eyes of his phone shifting his gaze to the younger girl "What, that's highly impossible you guys are a year's junior how would she get in my class?" Mark questioned now things made sense if the girl was in his class it would only be natural that the other girl would be looking for her from Mark
"Didn't she tell you we skipped a grade from last year's finals" Kate said informing the boy of what was going on wait skipped a grade then that mean's she is in his class but the thing was he hasn't seen the girl all morning which means "The little twerp skipped her morning classes" Mark said standing up from his chair walking out the classroom leaving Kate wondering "Gee thanks for the help Tuan" Kate yelled after him but he didn't even bother turning back anymore
-oOo-
He stood from a far of course she would be here, a smile on his face shaking his head as he approached the sleeping girl, sitting right next to her he reached out to fix her hair, smiling to himself. Pulling out his own phone from his pocket, slipping in his earphones in one ear, laying his head down on one arm face facing the girl, closing his eyes as he drifted off to his own dream land, reses was almost over the bell will be ringing any minute but he wasn't caring. An few hours later Riley stirred up from her sleep her eyes fluttering open only to find Mark's sleeping face right next to hers a smile plastered on her face reaching out her hand to fix the boys hair that blocked his face a familiar song started playing in her ears and as if on cue raindrops started falling from the window. She looked at her watch they had skip their afternoon classes, it wasn't really new, they had always went up there whenever they didn't feel like going to their classes it was their very own place, a place only the two of them knew about.
"Mark wake up classes are almost over" She said shaking the boy by the shoulder the older one letting out a groan his eyes fluttered open blinking a few as his vision cleared out "You skipped the day's class why even bother coming to school?" Mark asked reaching out for the girl's hair fixing it for her "You know my mom would kill me if I didn't go to school today" She chuckled mirroring the boy doing the exact same thing he did reaching out for his hair fixing it for him as well
"You didn't tell me you skipped a grade, let alone being in the same class as me" He said standing from the chair grabbing his bag swinging it on his shoulder "You were bound to found out anyways" She said with a shrug heading out of the room first followed by the boy "Well what are we going to do?" Mark asked he knew that the girl knew what he was implying "Oh my goodness since when were you a scaredy-cat about skipping Markie?" She teased running ahead of the boy
"Watch it" Mark yelled out pulling the girl by the arm with the car almost hitting her, their fellow student apologizing before heading of ahead on his bike "You okay?" Mark asked eyeing the girl from head to toe inspecting for any bruises "I'm fine Yieun you pulling me just in time" She smiled assuring the boy that she was alright "Seriously you're so clumsy whatever am I going to do with you" Mark said a sigh escaping his lips
"Hey, I'm fine okay" She said cupping his face she could see worry in his eyes "Hey look at me, I'm fine thanks to you okay" She said her hands on his cheeks forcing the boy to look her in the eye "What are you going to do when I'm not around?" Mark asked his face let out no emotions he was just blank his questioned confused the girl and so did his expression
"What are you talking about or course you'll always be around I won't let you leave me here all by myself." She said tilting her head on the side she didn't quite get where the boy was heading with this "Lily we're seniors now can't you act more like a senior than a junior, I know for a fact that you are a junior in reality but you skipped a grade and that also means taking up responsibilities, you're not a junior anymore you have to stop acting like one" Mark said confusing the girl even more where was all of this coming from one moment he was all smiles and gentle the next thing you know his wrecking your brains with confusion is he PMSing or something
"What has gotten into you, what's the problem?" Riley asked her eyes filled with confusion he face displayed an unexplainable expression "You, you're my problem you're to clumsy and absentminded" Mark said his voice was high and rough seriously what has gotten into him "So it never bother's you before" Riley said stating the obvious she wasn't really getting the point to all of it
"Well its bothers me now!" Mark yelled out he had never yelled at her before she was quiet shock she wasn't quite sure how to respond to the boy cause she wasn't really sure what was he mad about in the first place "Mark what's wrong with you you're not acting like yourself" Riley questioned she was honestly starting to get scared she didn't like this Mark she hated this Mark she was fighting herself she was trying her best to not show it to him
Mark stared at the girl he was starting to regret his words he didn't really wanted it to come out that way he was just frustrated, he had known the girl for ages and he had stuck by her side since they were in diapers. He didn't quite know how to say it to her but seeing her like this because of him it stabbed him straight through the heart of course he saw it he knew she was trying to hide it from him but of course he saw it. The hurt in her eyes the fear he hated himself he didn't want to show her this side of him he knew well enough that this side of him scared the girl to bits but the situation is not really helping, yelling at her would be the last thing he'd want to do but he just couldn't help it he was worried for her.
"I'm sorry" He said pulling the girl into his arms his eyes closed shut he regret it she was scared of him and he knew it he hatted himself for scaring her like this "What has gotten in you, I want my Yieun back, give me my Yieun back" She said she was already crying hitting him he wasn't caring if he got hurt he knew he had caused this hugging her tight "I'm here, I'm sorry" He whispered he didn't like seeing her cry much less him being the reason for her tears
"Hey, what you thinking about" Riley asked plumping herself down the bed Mark seem to have been lost in his thoughts he didn't even notice the girl's presence when she entered the room "Huh, nothing" Mark blinking snapping away from his thoughts flashing a small smile "When are you free?" The girl asked totally ignoring Mark's weird reply running the comb down her hair "I'm actually free for the month, well not really all that free but I won't be that busy" Mark said watching the girl struggling to comb her hair a small chuckled escaped his lips standing up from bed taking the brush from her hand making the girl sit down on the bed helping her comb her hair
"Why, no promotions, tours, fan signing, varieties none at all" She asked letting the boy fix her hair for her "We just wrapped up the promotions and the tour so far no variety's as a group Jackson and Bambam has a lot scheduled though and Youngjae is flying for New York soon for a collaboration Jinyoung and Jaebum is having a comeback so yeah not that much schedule for me and Yugyeom, though I'm not really sure what that kid is up too now a days God knows what's his plans in life for the next two months or so" Mark said summing up the whole groups activities for the next few months
"Youngjae, New York?" She questioned looking up to the older male as if asking for a more elaborated explanation "Yeah a collab with you know who" Mark chuckled placing down the comb in front of the mirror before plumping back down on the bed "Really, he must be excited about it" Riled smiled being a huge Got7 fan herself she knew the group all too well or might she say she knew Youngjae all too well you could have guessed by now that the girl loved the boy she was a big fan of the boy in which Mark had to admit he was quite jealous of when he found out that his best friend's favorite member was Choi Youngjae and not him
"Hey how come you never came to our concert's whenever we were in LA?" Mark asked clearing his throat trying to change the topic "Gosh stop being jealous Tuan you're my best friend for crying out loud" Riled said shaking her head laughing at the boys expression he wasn't really quite good in hiding his felling not from her at least "Just answer my question" Mark said rolling his eyes still in denial about the truth that the girl could obviously see
"I was busy" Riley reasoned of course it wasn't as true as it was yes she was busy but let's be realistic their concerts always take place during the night time if she was going to reason out it's because of the café Mark would totally mock her for that "Right" Mark said course he was unconvinced of the girl's plain replied he knew for a facts that the girl would have always made time for him "I was" Riled said pushing it through she wasn't about to give in
"Do you honestly think I'd buy that?" Mark questioned of course the girl knew he wouldn't he knew her all too well to believe her lies "Tickets are expensive you know" She reasoned it wasn't that she was trying to cover up for not going she ment not to go it wasn't lie she didn't want to see the boy whenever he was in town sure she did and thinking about now she as well questioned herself what really was her reason behind it all "Really, 'I was busy' 'Tickets are expensive you know' seriously" Mark laughed at the girl's weird yet funny excuses
"Just drop it Tuan" She shook her head rolling her eyes on him a smile on her face she was quite determined to dissolve the topic at hand "Okay, okay I get it dropping the topic" Mark laughed hands up in the air in surrender "But seriously you should comb your hair, oh my goodness like how old are you, you still don't know how to do that" Mark laughed shaking he head it had always been a regular thing for his to see he couldn't quite pin it but the girl had this habit of not coming her hair after she showers at night she just doesn't and the only time she actually does is if the boy begs her to or if he actually does it for her he didn't quite get it but he had to admit it was kind of cute for him to see
"Riley you have to eat something" Alex said Kate and Chris was still in line for lunch and Riley had always somehow brought lunch to school but it's been two weeks since Riley ate something properly at first when Riley had given her, her packed lunch saying that she didn't have an appetite to eat since she was not feeling so well Alex had bought it but the following day the same cycle repeated only she gave it to Kate with the exact same excuse of course they'd find out eventually what was really going on it wasn't like it was a secret anyways.
It had been two weeks since Mark had left for Korea and it had also been two weeks since Riley had a proper meal let alone any meal at all even her mother couldn't get her to eat, it was like the past was repeating itself before their eyes. The only time they had seen Riley like this was three years ago when her brother died she didn't want to eat anything the doctors said she was going through depression all she would do is cry her eyes out tire herself out and end up falling asleep. Even since Mark had left Riley hasn't been eating properly all she eats is a small bite of bread and a glass of milk it pained her friends to see her like this but they also knew what was causing it all they wanted to help her but they all knew that there was only one person left who could snap her out of it and he wasn't around anymore. The worst part is that that same person is causing all of these things he had always been there for her she wasn't used to being away from him but all of a sudden he just left her hanging in tin air just like that, without a goodbye even the girl had to find out from Joey about Mark's departure. It pained her why did he have to leave and even if he really wanted to go he could have told her but no he just disappeared one moment he was there hugging her tightly in his arms and the next moment he was gone he had left her without a single word, why, why Yieun?
-oOo-
Looking at the sleeping boy beside her the old days flashing back inside her head he had changed so much ever since he had left for Korea yet like this, seeing him like this in this state it felt like not a single thing had changed at all he was still her Yieun but that's just it he isn't anymore. Holding in the tears that threaten to fall things weren't the same and she hated it, but what she hated the most at that moment was that seeing the boy like this seeing him sleep like this seeing his gentle face that innocence that was painted on his face as he slept soundly seeing him like this it made it hurt even more. Everything from seven years ago everything was coming back and she hated it, she hated this moment this is not it this is not that plan this wasn't suppose too be happening she had promised herself not to let this happen but Mark was making it impossible. She was in the verge of breaking down again, it hasn't even been that long since she arrived in Korea but the boy had already managed to dig everything up from the very time he had left her. She hated the fact that she was breaking down she hated it but what she hated the most was that the boy had already broken down the wall she built in those seven years.
Seven years of building a wall around her heart a wall that she built because of his departure a wall she built as a defense for herself seven years, it took her seven damn long years to build it that high up and he mange to break it down the moment he held her in his arms again. She hated it she hated herself she had promised not to but why, why does he have this effect on her no matter how much she tried she hated it that the boy had already broken her once more just by his mare touch. It took her seven years to get use too it seven long years to get use to the fact that he wasn't by her side anymore she needed seven years to put herself together to arrange the broken pieces to accept the changes, it took seven years to stand up again, seven years to let him go and all he needed was a mere second to break her again.