You fidgeted with the ring on your finger. The couple ring that Mark gave you several years ago, before you left to pursue your graduate study. Now you both were in Korea as Mark had his GOT7 comeback. He's been asking your permission to announce your relationship publicly, but you still haven't made up your mind. You were worried that the fans would be outraged. It's Mark that we're talking about. After Jackson made his relationship public, the hot spot went to Mark, obviously. With Jackson, the fans didn't have any choice since he announced his wedding, making the fans accepted the fact that the wild and sexy Jackson Wang was finally taken. The fans were divided though. They knew Mark has been saying about getting married and having a family of his own for several times, so some of them would understand when he announced to be in a relationship with someone. He was old enough to be in a relationship with someone anyway. But some were not. They didn't want the visual of the group to be taken. By a mere mortal, more over.
"Mae?" You heard Mark calling for you when he entered your apartment.
"In the kitchen," you shouted back without shifting your gaze from the stove as you watched the soup in front of you carefully. It was about to boil anytime soon and you didn't want it to spill all over the place. You yelped a bit when Mark backhugged you suddenly. He really did have light feet. You barely heard him walking over to you. You grunted and swatted his hands when he laughed at your shocked face.
"Hmm.. It smells delicious. Wait, you haven't eaten yet?" He raised his arm to check the watch on his wrist, and frowned when he realized how late that was. He sent you glaring gaze while you transferred the pot to the kitchen islend, proceeding to grab two bowls and two plates and settled it on the kitchen island as well.
"It was hectic in the hospital today," you handed him a plate and a bowl before scooping some rice to your plate and helped yourself with some side dishes. Mark silently ate his food and you knew his silence meant he didn't like what he saw. "Don't worry, I ate some protein bars at the hospital. How's the practice?" you tried to shift the conversation.
"The choreography is damn hard. Yugyeom really made the footwork complicated. And Jaebeom is getting old. He kept making mistakes. His big body doesn't help either. He should lose some weight," he grunted. "Bambam and Jackson didn't help either with them playing around much, teasing him around. It's more like a playground rather than a practice," he muttered.
"Sounds like you're glad to see them finally," you chuckled.
"Anyway, have you think about what I've been asking you?" he collected the dirty dishes and brought them to the sink and started to wash the dishes.
"Yeah. I don't know. I don't think I'm ready to face the fans," you admitted.
"But I don't want to date you secretly anymore," he complained. He hated having to cover up everytime he picked you up at the hospital or just went for a coffee or a late night stroll. You could replay what he's been telling you, that he was proud of you and couldn't wait to show you to the world. He sighed.
"Hey, the weather forecast said it might snow tonight," Mark rushed to your side when you just came out of the bathroom.
"Ugh, I hate cold," you complained but looking at his excited face, you couldn't help but to agree for a late night stroll.
"Don't worry, I'll warm you up," he smiled teasingly, putting a beanie on your head and wrapping a scarf around your neck. He put several hot packs in your pocket before bundling up himself.
"Wait, you're not wearing any mask?" you stopped him when you saw he was going to go out without any cover. He shrugged.
"I can just pull my scarf up," he pulled your hands. "Come on, let's just go." You were relieved when you saw the park near your apartment was empty. You sat on the swing and he slowly pushed you on the swing for several minutes. He pulled you to walk again to the nearest convenience store for a late night snacks when you heard some whisperings. Next thing you knew, some girls rushed in front of you both, hesitating a bit before asking.
"Are you two dating?" those girls looked at you both with hopeful eyes.
Mark was surprised for a bit before grabbing your hand in his, "Yeah, we are." You looked at him with wide eyes as you heard him casually admitted that. Both girls squealed in joy when they heard his answer.
"Omoooo.. Congratulations oppa and unnie!!" they jumped up and down in joy, making Mark chuckled at the sight. "Can we take picture with you both?" they asked and Mark, being Mark, couldn't turn down the request.
"Sure," he said, grabbing you by the shoulder to pull you closer to him and the two girls squatted a bit in front of you so the camera captured the four of you. "Uhm guys, can you blur her face if you posted it online?" he remembered to ask them, "She's working in a public setting, so it might cause some trouble in her workplace if people found out about her."
They both nodded, "Of course, oppa. Don't worry.. You two look good together," they said their goodbye before leaving you two.
"See... They like you. You don't have anything to worry about," Mark said when both girls were out of sight.
You sighed, "Okay fineeee.... Just announce it," you gave up and he gave you light kisses on your cheeks when you finally agreed at his request.
