Chapter Text
Mark sighed as he lugged up the groceries. The elevator had conveniently decided to stop working.
Today was shaping up to horrible day and it wasn’t even noon yet. First off he had woken up late, which had pushed back his whole schedule. Secondly, Jackson had cancelled on their lunch for some date with Jinyoung. Mark was really looking forward to that restaurant but he didn’t want to eat alone, Of course, the phone conversation hadn’t been complete without his best friend bugging him about making a move on his ridiculously hot neighbour, Im Jaebum.
After their drunk make out session, Mark had been looking forward to seeing Jaebum, and maybe asking him out for coffee but then the younger man had started to actively avoid him.
Mark would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little hurt by Jaebum’s actions. The idea that Jaebum was avoiding him because he regretted their encounter plagued Mark day and night. Then, Jackson had confided in him that Jaebum was just embarrassed, and he was definitely interested.
Even so Mark wasn’t a really assertive guy, and even if he was Jaebum didn’t really give him much of a chance to talk to him. And though he didn’t like to admit, even with Jackson’s reassurance, he wasn’t sure Jaebum was interested in him. He was usually good at reading people but Jaebum was total mystery, which was part of his charm.
He sighed putting the down the groceries, to get his keys. As he opened his door, he came face to face with the image of Jaebum crawling around on his living room floor in nothing but a tight white t shirt (not that Mark noticed the way it clung to his toned body.) and boxers.
Mark gaped, unable to believe the scene in front of his eyes.
Hearing the creak of the door, Jaebum’s head shot up. “I’m not a burglar.” He exclaimed even before turning around. His eyes widened when he noticed Mark. He immediately stood up “Hyung, I can explain.” He said, cheeks dusted with red.
This flustered and embarrassed Jaebum was a far cry from the cool collected image the boy usually gave out. And Mark found that incredibly cute. (it also helped that in this situation he had the upper hand.)
He raised an eyebrow, gesturing for the younger man to go on.
Jaebum took a deep breath, cheeks flushed “My cat, Nora, she was jumping from balcony to balcony but then she got into your apartment because the balcony door was open. And she’s gotten into a phase of tearing up things so I came to get her.” He explained. As if on cue, Nora rushed out of his kitchen and leaped into Jaebum’s arms while the younger breathed a sigh of relief.
Mark nodded slowly. That was a really weird story, but believable. He had seen Jaebum’s cat jump longer distances and he also knew he had a penchant for leaving his balcony door open.
Mark’s thoughts were broken “I’m sorry, I promise I’ll make it up to you hyung.” The younger promised, bowing low.
Even though it was nothing to be proud of, the uncertainty and doubt in Jaebum’s eyes gave Mark a surge of confidence. “There is one way you can make it up to me.” He said, his eyes twinkling.
Jaebum looked up hopefully (Mark wanted to coo about how cute the younger was but he resisted the temptation.)
Mark continued, too far gone to chicken out now “You can let me take you out for coffee someday, say tomorrow evening?” he suggested, a small smirk tugging on the side of his lips.
Jaebum looked at him absolutely flabbergasted for a minute before nodding with a bright smile (that made Mark’s knees go weak.)
Jackson had often warned him that if he left his balcony door open, some day a burglar would come in, and it seemed that the day had finally arrived. But since, the burglar was Im Jaebum, Mark found out that he really didn’t mind.