Supernerd! MARK

02 | just Mark

Mark parts his lips, as though shocked at my roommate's response. "Uh, I-"

"We're sorry. We're really, really, sorry." I offer him a smile, though I'm sure it comes off as more of a grimace. I grab my roommate by the arm forcefully, causing her to wince. "We'll be off now! You go do your... thing."

"Yeah..." Mark nodded slowly. "Yeah. Thanks, Yena."

"Yeah!" I chirp a bit too over-enthusiastically before dragging Chaerin away, my other hand over her lips to muffle out her whining.

It was only then do I realise one thing.

Thanks, Yena.

"Thanks, Yena?!" I blurt, coming to a halt. Chaerin too stops her complaining, looking at me in confusion as though to ask why I had stopped so suddenly.

I whip my head around to where we just were, seeing Mark Lee's already-retreating figure from the notice board, walking towards the opposite direction.

"How does he know my name?"

"Pfft," I hear Chaerin from beside me. "Dude was standing behind us this entire time! I wouldn't be surprised if he knows the brand of the pen you use."

Right. Right! Of course. There was no way he would remember me from pre-school, right? He probably just saw me writing my name down. That's all.

I keep my eyes on his back just as he disappears round the bend, and I feel Chaerin's eyes on me.

"Babe, you're being weird, you know that? Why are you suddenly so smitten with Lee Mark?"

"Smitten?" I sputter, though that probably isn't the best thing to do when trying to convince your best friend otherwise. "I'm not!"

"Whatever," Chaerin mutters, and I'm glad she let it go. "God, I swear that boy has an iron grip or something." She brings a hand up to soothe her arm. "Also, that whole phone-catching thing? Talk about fast reflexes. Are we sure he's the same guy who got his face slammed by a football just last week?"

I chuckle at the memory. "Maybe he's superhuman or something, like that Spider-Man dude," I joke.

"A supernerd is more likely. C'mon, we're late."

🕸️

The results of our electives are out, and I'm glad I got into the one I signed up for despite having written in my name at the very last minute. I guess not many people are that fond of psychology.

I skim through my timetable and note that my classes would be held every Friday from noon to 3pm. Seems manageable, considering I don't have any classes on Fridays. I'll just have to move down my shift at the donut shop.

"So no more movie nights?" Sera had asked.

Chaerin tsked before flicking our youngest roommate in the forehead, telling her to stop being dramatic, which is ironic, because if there's anyone who has a flair for dramatics, it's her.

Because Sera is a year younger, she wouldn't have to take on the extra module— lucky her. According to her, however, she would rather have something to do than be alone at home now that her roommates and boyfriend would be unavailable on Fridays.

We spend the rest of the week winding down at home after classes, and before I know it, Friday comes around.

I step into the School of Human Sciences, trying not to let the unfamiliar environment intimidate me. I feel like I should have just signed up for the same module as Chaerin or Jaemin, though I know I'm most likely to fail in trying to study something I have no interest in.

I check my phone once more, double-checking the location of the auditorium. If I'm right, it should be the first one to my left.

I walk towards it, pushing the double doors open to see that there are already a few students settled in their seats, the projector flashing PSYCHOLOGY 101 on the screen with the professor standing on the podium, waiting for the other students to arrive. Seems right.

I go to the middle section before settling in a random seat towards the right, nearer to the stairs that would lead me to the doors.

I fiddle with my stationery for a while, not really knowing what to do. Scanning the auditorium, I realise that some of the students have already acquainted with one another, and I curse my introverted self for finding something as simple as turning to the person next to me to greet them hello so difficult.

Feedback from a microphone could be heard, and I realise that it's finally 12pm.

"Good afternoon, class. Welcome to Psychology 101. I'm Professor Qian. We'll be starting off with attendance so when I call your name, just give me a shout so I know you're here. Ahn Boyoung?"

Ah, I think to myself. Role-calling is, quite literally, my biggest enemy. Just the thought of having to speak up in a room full of people I don't know is enough to send my body into jitters.

Just as I am in the middle of deciding whether a present or a here would be the better option, I hear my name being called out. I settle with a not-so-loud here, Professor Qian nodding and giving me a warm smile as he moves down the list.

I heave a sigh of relief, mentally patting myself on the back. At least my voice didn't crack this time.

The first lesson starts off easy, it always does, and as Professor Qian drones on about the module outline and what to expect from Psychology 101, I find myself jotting down notes and dates to remember— I don't want to risk missing out on important stuff.

Just as Professor Qian is about to begin on the syllabus, the double doors swing open, the sound echoing in the pin-drop silence of the auditorium. I don't bother to look up, desperate to finish scribbling my notes before he would move on to the next slide.

"And who do we have here?" Professor Qian asks, shuffling his papers on the podium to retrieve what I assume was the roll-call sheet. "Lee Minhyung?"

"Yes, sir. Um, just Mark."

I stop writing, finally lifting my head to see the familiar boy with wide eyes.

"Okay, Just Mark. I don't usually accept tardiness, but seeing as it's the first day, I'll let it slide. Take a seat."

Mark bows gratefully before he lifts his head to scan the auditorium, presumably to find an empty seat. At this, I look back down at my notes— the last thing I want is to make eye contact with him, especially not after the embarrassing incident that had happened with Chaerin just a week prior.

Some movement in front of me causes me to realise that Mark had chosen to settle in the same section as me, only a few rows in front.

I sure have been crossing paths with Mark Lee a lot recently, I think to myself, and I'm not sure if it's just some twisted play of fate or if I'm only now just noticing him when he's been here all along.

—

Thoughts on Chaerin? I had a lot of fun writing her character so I wanna know what you guys think!

See you guys next weekkk :-)