four

“Where’s Y/N?”

Mark asked a random employee as she’s printing some documents. He had been tramping around the floor and you’re nowhere to be found. He’s sure that you had sent no resignation to the HR room, this was just another episode of you irritating him. And you’re currently in this building, on this very eleventh floor. He saw your blazer hanging on your chair outside his office.

“Huh?“ The employee glared at Mark in astonishment, “She’s inside the pantry.” With that Mark stomped on his feet again, frustration echoes in his steps.

He wanted to burn down the whole building at the sight inside the pantry. You, and Lee Haechan, his fucking best friend was sitting at a cafe table.

What the hell are they laughing about?

Mark truly doubted that you had an ability to express joy. You’re a decent human being, not a lively tree, not a robot. Those thing could not get under his skin. But since when delight was installed in your system?

An invisible hammer hit his head as you leaned in closer to Haechan, showing him something on your phone and giggling. Mark swore to god, he never once, since he lived with you, opened your mouth wider than a small gap and your teeth flashed white. Even when you put on a fake smile or laughed at someone’s boring joke, your eyes didn’t shining like they were right now.

It’s truthful that you did have emotional moment despite the constant coolness bubble wrapped around you but you just did not show them in front of Mark. To your friends and family, you’re a different person from who you were with him. You treated him like how you treated a stranger. But a random sixty-two woman deserved your politeness and attention, he did not.

His hands hurt as they clenched into fists, his knuckles white and his eyes saw red. His heart pounding so fast and so loud that he heard every beat in his ears. His jaw locked, his teeth gritted tight. It’s like he witnessed his wife cheating on him yet he totally had no right to confront her. It’s not cheating when you’re not together, when you’re not a romantic relationship. He did not love you, you did not love him. The string between you and him only tied by laws and papers.

The whole floor fell into a depressing atmosphere when Mark returned into his office but not before announcing that everyone was going to work overtime. He’s not a good boss. He never said he was. He’s an asshole to his employees, high-demand, ruthless and the type of boss that would yell at you into next week when he inspected one spelling mistake in a twenty-eight page report. A total jerk. Good thing, you had made him mad.

When you treaded back to your desk, there was a severe silence. The high-spirited energy fifteen minutes ago had miraculously vanished. Not that you cared though, you only made an appearance here to finish your job and get paid. Technically you didn’t have to work really hard, Mark only kept you here to exasperate you because he didn’t have other chances to see your face. All you did were organizing his schedule, checking his inboxes and printing some papers that you definitely had no idea what they’re about. You took a hiatus on car racing, there’s no income and you didn’t want to spend his money. He would think you’re financially relying on him.

Contrasting from the enjoyable peace, there’s a silent volcano eruption inside Mark’s office. And it was going to burst out when there were abrupt knocks on his door. The person outside didn’t wait for a respond before they pushed the door opened. There’s two people dared to bang into his office like that and you never found him unless he asked you to.

“What the **** is going on out there?”

Haechan strolled in and pulled out the swivel chair opposite Mark to sit down. He’s a talkative and energetic person, he walked in and out his office often, of course he couldn’t stand the weird serenity.

“What are you and her?” Mark asked out of the blue, completely baffled his friend by the vague question.

“Her who?”

“My wife.”

He never indicated you as his wife to other people, no matter if they knew or not. Mark’s piercing gaze locked on Haechan, like a flame burning his into his skeleton.

“She’s my ex.” The younger boy muttered casually.

Mark thought he knew you well. He knew nothing. Exactly nothing.

You had a one-year relationship with Haechan. Technically you were lovers but he’s more like a partner, a faithful companion to you rather than a boyfriend. That’s why you decided to maintain your friendship with him after breaking up, he’s a good friend that you willingly kept in touch with. And how come Mark did not know about it? He was in Canada and neither of you or Haechan was the type of person who talked about their ex to other people whether the relationship ended in good term or bad term.

Puzzlement coated a fog in Mark’s eyes. His spine stiffened and his jaw clenched. His lips slightly opened but he could not utter a word out loud, he didn’t know what to say. If he had not witnessed that today, how longer would he look like a fool? Haechan, on the other hand seemed to be clueless about the situation as his eyes was locked on the sight of the city outside the window wall.

“Since when?” He typed on the keyboard again in attempt to ease the complicated feeling burdened in his chest.

“College, in sophomore year. My classmate was a car racer and a friend with her. That’s how we got together.” Haechan summarized, his eyes narrowed at his best friend, “Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. You can go, I’m busy.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***