Supernerd! MARK

25 | push and pull

I open the door to my bedroom to reveal my two roommates. Upon seeing me, Chaerin instantly gasps while Sera has her hands clasped together, wringing her fingers.

"So...?" I ask hesitantly, and Chaerin lets out a shrill screech that causes me to wince.

"Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! See, I keep telling you to switch up your clothes but you never listen. Look at the potential!"

"Chae, I can barely walk," I groan as I awkwardly make my way out of my room, the tight material of Chaerin's dress already riding up my thigh at the slightest movement.

"That's the point. In a dress like this you're just supposed to stand there and look pretty! In this case, stand there and look pretty for Lee Mark."

I roll my eyes as I flop on the couch. Today is the day of our sting operation at Black On Black, and I had to resort to telling my two roommates that I'll be going on a... date, with Mark instead— which clearly, is super far from the truth. My role as bait also means that I'll have to look interesting enough for our target to even spare me a glance, which is why tonight I find myself in an outfit I'd never see myself wearing, ever.

"If you're going to a club, you have to look the part," Haechan had said. "You're pretty, but you need to be smoking hot for Lee Taeyong to notice you."

I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not.

Obviously, I feel bad for having to lie to my friends yet again, but it was the only reason I could think of to get them off my back. And now that they're fully convinced that Mark and I like each other, it would be easier for me to be out late with no questions asked.

"Stand up, you're gonna ruin your hair," Chaerin scolds me, and I begrudgingly follow her words.

Chaerin had jumped at the offer of dressing me up for our 'date', saying something along the lines of: the moment I've been waiting for is finally here!

Unfortunately, her idea of a date-appropriate outfit happens to be a tight spaghetti-strap little black dress that clings on to me like a second skin. I couldn't even manage to convince her to compromise in letting me do my own hair and makeup, and now I find myself in a ridiculously striking red lip with waves falling past my back instead of my usual pin-drop hairdo.

If you can't already tell, I'm uncomfortable.

My phone buzzes on the coffee table, and I pick it up before Chaerin could beat me to it. It's Mark, telling me that he's already here.

For some reason, my heart stutters.

It's not even a real date! I tell myself, but I still can't help but ponder on how Mark would react. I look ridiculous— what if he laughs at me?

"He couldn't even come up here to pick you up at our doorstep like a real gentleman?" Chaerin scoffs, peeking at my phone screen from behind me.

Sera nudges her. "Probably because he knew you were going to interrogate him if he did. Give him a break, Chaerin!"

Not wanting to be caught up in the middle of their catfight, I put on my heels (which is also under Chaerin's command) before standing up straight, dusting my dress. "Okay. How do I look?"

"Perfect! Mark sunbae is going to drool. And then he's going to realise how lucky he is to have such a hot girlfriend!" Yena claps her hands excitedly.

Despite the heat creeping up my cheeks, I keep my composure. "Again, not girlfriend. But thanks. See you guys."

"Hope you wore your pretty panties!" Chaerin yells from our door as I walk towards the elevator, and I cringe at both her words and her volume.