David was calling and she had not told him they had stepped out. Worse, Mark was not even beside her. Anxiety bubbled in her chest as she glanced at the bodyguard nearby, her mind scrambling for a quick excuse.
If David found out, especially from someone else… that would be a big problem.
She quickly turned to the guard. "Call your colleague. Tell him not to mention anything about the outing—understood?"
The guard nodded and stepped a few feet away to quietly relay the message. Once done, he returned just as Dnie answered the call.
"Hey, bro," the Dnie said casually.
David's voice came through, sharp and direct. "Why did you take so long to pick me up?"
"Sorry, I was handling something."
"Is Mark up? I've been trying to reach him but I can't. Can you put him on the phone?"
Dnie paused for a second. The street noise was noticeable in the background.
David picked up on it instantly. "Wait… where are you?"
Dnie didn't miss a beat. "Oh—we stepped out to get some groceries."
David's voice relaxed slightly. "Okay… put Mark on the phone."
"He went to use the restroom," Dnie said smoothly.
There was a break, and then David replied, "Alright. I'll call back later. Don't come back too late, and be safe."
With that, the call ended, leaving a tight knot in Dnie's chest.
Mark and Lainai walked inside together and found a cozy table by the window. A server arrived almost immediately. Mark gestured for her to order first, watching with quiet amusement as she confidently chose her favorite drink without hesitation.
He couldn't take his eyes off her.
The soft sunlight poured through the window, catching the waves in her hair. Her pastel dress complemented her gentle features, and the way she smiled made something stir in his chest.
She turned to him suddenly. "Mark! What's funny?"
"You," he said with a smirk. "You look so pretty, as always."
Lainai laughed, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
Their drinks arrived, and the atmosphere grew warmer. Conversation flowed easily—from casual chatter to shared memories and old-school jokes. Mark leaned in closer, completely engaged, his eyes never leaving her face.
Despite barely speaking back in school—mostly because Mark had always been too shy to approach her they found themselves getting along effortlessly now.
After a while, Mark checked the time. "I should go meet up with my sister. She'll be waiting."
"I'll walk with you," Lainai offered. "I'm heading back anyway."
When they arrived, Lainai gave Mark a gentle goodbye and nodded politely to Dnie and Mimi before walking away.
The moment she left, Dnie grinned and nudged Mark. "So… how was it?"
Mark smiled, clearly flustered. "It went well as you can see."
Dnie exchanged a knowing look with Mimi. "Oh really? You're smiling from ear to ear," Mimi teased. "You must really like her."
Mark leaned closer to Dnie and whispered, "Stop. It's not what you think."
Just then, Dnie's phone buzzed. Oh before I forget David called.
At the mention of his name, Mark's smile vanished. "Really? What did he say, he asked if you. What did you tell him?"
"I told him you went to meet your female classmates."
Mark looked at her in disbelief. "How could you say that?"
Dnie raised an eyebrow. "How is it my fault for telling the truth?"
He was about to start sulking when she rolled her eyes and said, "Relax. I didn't tell him that. I only said we stepped out for groceries. But he said he'd call back soon, so we need to leave before he does. We've been out too long already."
Mark let out a small breath, then pulled her into a quick hug. "Okay, let's go."
Mark took the lead, walking ahead. Dnie and Mimi followed behind with a small gap between them.
Dnie turned to Mimi. "Did you see it?"
"I did."
Dnie smiled. "We'll talk more when we get home."
By the time they arrived back at the house, the sun was already beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the estate. Mark walked ahead, unusually quiet, while Dnie and Mimi followed, keeping their voices low.
The cheerful mood from earlier had shifted into something more cautious, especially with the lingering thought of David's promised call.
As soon as they stepped inside, one of the guards approached Dnie. "Ma'am, Mr. David has called twice. He said to let him know the moment you return."
Dnie nodded. "Thank you."
Mark threw a glance at her, his jaw slightly tensed. "So, what now?"
Before she could answer, her phone vibrated. David.
She answered quickly. "Hey."
"Where are you?" His voice was calm but clipped.
"We just got home," she said lightly, trying not to sound guilty.
"Put Mark on the phone."
Her gaze flicked to Mark, who hesitated for a moment, then sighed and took the phone. "Hey…"
There was a pause. Why can't I reach you on the phone? I don't know, I will check.
"I called earlier," David said. "Where were you?"
"Mark swallowed. 'I went out with Dnie, and I also stopped by the restroom.'"
There was another pause. David's voice became lower. "And you didn't think to tell me?"
Mark shifted in place, suddenly aware of how warm the room felt. "I didn't mean to keep it from you. It was just a quick outing. Nothing serious."
David let out a low breath like he was trying to control something building inside. "Next time, let me know. I'm not mad. I just want to keep you safe."
Mark bit his lip. Safe, or under control?
"I understand," he replied softly.
"I'll be back soon. Three more days. Until then, stay home," David said firmly. Then, after a brief pause, his tone softened. "And get some rest."
The line went silent not abruptly, but with a quiet click that left Mark staring at the phone longer than necessary.
He handed it back to Dnie, saying nothing.
Dnie folded her arms. "You okay?"
Mark nodded, but his mind was still spinning. "He didn't say he was angry, but I could tell… he was holding it in."
Mimi raised an eyebrow. "Well, what do you expect? You're his favorite person, and you're out meeting another girl."
Dnie cut in gently, "Just be careful, Mark. David may seem calm now, but there's a version of him even I don't want to see."
Mark looked at her. "I know."
He walked toward his room, feeling the weight of the phone call more than he wanted to admit.
Three more days, he thought. What happens when he comes back and finds out everything I've been keeping from him?
He shrugged to himself. "David won't find out anyway—I trust Dnie." But he completely forgot about the bodyguards. Tony always had a way of getting information out of them.
He sighed and muttered, "Why am I even stressing? David and I aren't anything serious… we're just having fun. I can do whatever I want."
With that, he walked into his room and collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
He was confused and he hated it.