❛ ↺ gong cha

@p. joy "It's your treat today, yes?" The small woman teased the man walking beside her in English. The male, obviously mixed, rolled his eyes at the teasing before giving Wendy a nod. The two continued to converse in English as they made their way to their favorite spot for bubble tea drinks. Growing up the way she did, Wendy was wired to be way more aware of her surrounding and she had noticed this lady following them since five blocks ago. Maybe she was just being paranoid so she didn't mention it to her friend at all, preferring to keep a lowkey profile, just in case. She also was being mindful of her friend's occupation.

@k. chungha mark blinks at her response, “for my next film, of course. i can’t let that opportunity slide.” he couldn’t help but give a warm smile with his answer. the way how his childhood friend pulls that small spec of glee is something that he is unable to figure out. she continues to radiate that same persona, somehow without failure. he knows that there has been plenty of pressure on her future career—he gets jealous actually. “text me—no, cal me when you find out where it is. you’re the only reason why i like chocolate now,” he emits a small chuckle.

after handing back the device, mark takes another sip from his beverage and reaches for his phone to glance at the youtube notification. “i’m counting on you. don’t forget to text me your review on it,” he nods at her comment of dedication. “lil old mark? how many nicknames do you have?” an eyebrow lifts from the amusement. he doesn’t recall 80% of the nicknames that he received from chungha. “alright, i’ll give it a shot. don’t be surprised when you meet them, they’re a rowdy bunch.” he gives a thumbs up as a form of a promise, then taking another gulp of the drink. he’s almost done with it. “you have an extra ticket? for free? you sure about that? and yeah, i’m going to be performing something. we aren’t too sure yet though.”

@t. mark "recruit me? for what?" she tilted her head curiously, her smile widening once she saw his lips upturn. she could tell that something was different about him, but she didn't know whether or not to ask him about it. sure, she knew him when they were kids and felt like she still knew him better than most did, but she didn't know how he felt. "i can't remember where i got them from but i just remember them tasting good...i wonder if i could still find the same brand if i looked."

"yay! i'll def be a loyal subscriber, don't you worry." she beamed at him, scrolling through the various titles to take note of what to watch later. he'd always been talented, so she was excited to see what he came up with. "aw! you'll have to introduce me soon. I have to meet the girl that made lil old mark fall for her." she lightly teased, interested in seeing just how much her old childhood friend has changed over the years. although he looked and sounded the same, she could tell something was definitely different. to be fair, she was different too, just in another way. "i don't know that many people here so it'd be nice making more friends, thats for sure." she said with a shrug, sipping from the cold drink. "you'll have to come to one of my shows someday, i'll give you an extra ticket. are you performing in the student showcase that's coming up?"

@k. chungha mark scoffs once again, "yeah, yeah. i better not see it as the headline on the daily solace." her eyes continue to shine with the same bright persona. chungha remained the same, always outgoing and happy—something that she should be having with a career like hers. for mark, his traits completely switched off. anyone who know him well enough notices the upsetting change, but mark does it for a reason. of course, it is still a secret. "i'm super talented? then i hope i'm super talented enough to recruit you," his lips slowly curl into a smile and reveals his famous sharp canines. he realizes that he should—at least—look less gloomy in front of his childhood friend. "if you really got that from 7/11, i really don't know what to say." the smile blooms into a small laugh.

he reaches his hand out to take her phone once again. he loads his channel on the app and clicks subscribe, "i did all the steps for you—" and he couldn't forget the notification button. "yes, a girlfriend. her name is nahee," he nods alongside his response. "i'm sure you know her. she's a sweet girl, and somehow likes me." he emits another laugh, "my idiotic roommates? you want to meet them? that's awfully funny, but i mean they bring enough chaos to lift your slow acting life. i know, for sure, that they did with mine."

@t. mark chungha couldn't help the loud laugh that escaped her lips after seeing the boy grow shy. "sorry, i promise i won't tell anyone that knows you that story." she teased, unable to help herself. "that's great!!" she knew how much mark looked up to his father, eyebrows furrowing after hearing his slightly dejected tone. "yeah but, i know you're super talented, you'll make it!" she smiled widely at him, hoping that her good mood would rub off on him. it was weird seeing him grown up and more--serious? if that was what it was...she had always known him as the carefree and happy-go lucky kid that she confided all her secrets to and now it was like something had happened to him that dimmed that light she always saw in him. "oh god i wish i remember...honestly they were probably just from the 7/11 store."

"yeah...no." she said sarcastically, laughing at the end of her sentence. her eyebrows shot up after hearing that he had a youtube and she pulled out her phone immediately. "omg you have to show me it. also oooooh a girlfriend??? who is it? you have to introduce me to these idiotic roommates, i need more friends here. all my time is spent just locked up rehearsing."

@k. chungha when he hears her comment, he glares at her in return and nudges her foot back. “hey, we don’t talk about that in public. i wouldn’t want people overhearing,” he mumbles behind his cup, taking a loud slurp to hide away his slight embarrassment and clearing his throat loudly afterwards.

“yeah, my dad’s footsteps.” he nods his head and rests his chin on top of his palm. “it’s hard when your dad is a famous director,” he mumbles. it is likely that he’ll never gain the popularity that his father built. every person that takes interest in movies know who he is, and the expectations are too high for mark. he tries to not compare himself with his parent since mark is a dancer and all, and film hasn’t always been the biggest passion in his life. he quickly shrugs his negative thoughts away—he’s here to be with chungha, not think about his father. “those chocolates were good. i do not know where you got them from. you have to tell me,” he chuckles lightly and gives a slight grin. “i’ll ask him, and hopefully he answers me this time.”

he rolls his eyes at her nickname. he heard that too many times when they were younger. he hated it, and he still does now. “please don’t call me that. refer to me as tall y mark instead,” he smirks and leans back against his chair. “i started dancing and made a channel for it. i’m dating someone, which is probably a surprise. i also got a dog, and a bunch of idiotic roommates. my dad doesn’t answer my texts like 80% of the time. nothing new honestly.”

@t. mark "never, i'll always remember you as the skinny little boy who i gave my lollipop to because you cried when you dropped yours." she nudged him with her foot teasingly, taking another sip and chewing on the squishy tapoica balls as she listened to him catch her up on his life.

"following in your dads footsteps, huh? and i know! that's so crazy but i'm either just rehearsing or in my dorm, so i guess it makes sense..." she smiled fondly at the thought of mark following his father's path, since the both of them were so naturally talented in the film making industry. she let out a laugh when he talked about his dad, affectionately thinking back to when they were kids and how he felt like a father figure to her since she had grown up without one. "when he's not busy, us three should go out for dinner sometime to catch up! and that's because i always gave him chocolates when i saw him and you always stole them from his office." she nodded pointedly, before breaking out in another laugh.

"nah, don't worry about it! probably my mistake not telling everyone about it too." she snorts after seeing his name, shaking her head goodnaturedly. "tall y mark? mmmhm okay markey poo~" she coos out the nickname, knowing that he used to hate when she called him that. "any other updates on your life? girls, friends, i don't know...tell me everything."

@k. chungha mark scoffs at her tease, taking the drink from the barista and settling back down on his seat. if it wasn’t for his sudden growth spurt during his high school years, he wouldn’t know what he’ll do as a plain midget. it seems like chunghae hasn’t grown that much either, but she is a female so it isn’t a surprise. “good five years... that was long ago, chungha. give it up,” he challenges with a smirk while shaking his beverage.

“yeah, i’m double majoring in film and dance. somehow, we never met. dance and performing arts are legit under the same department building.” he finds it extremely odd since he is sure that he knows most of the students that share the same department building as he does. he guesses chungha is one of the few that he has never seen. “i’ll tell him. i’m sure he’ll text me back immediately when he knows that you’re with me,” he lets out a small sigh and rolls his head back. “for some reason, he likes you more than me.” a small chuckle leaves his lips as he observes the drink in his rough hands.

his eyebrow perks up in confusion. he takes out his smartphone to scroll through the many contacts to find chungha’s name. of course she would change it, she’s a literal actress. he laughs awkwardly at his mistake before placing his phone down and taking the female’s phone with his other hand. ”, sorry. i didn’t think that...” he mumbles, dialing down his number in one of his contacts and making his name as ‘tall y mark’. he slides her device back to her. “there you go, keep that in check and don’t change it.”

@t. mark chungha rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out playfully at the now taller boy. "shut up, i was taller than you for a good five years of our lives and i remember i used to give you noogies when you annoyed me." she let out a playful laugh before plopping back down on the seat, taking a sip of the sweet drink in front of her.

"you go to solace?? so do i! i'm a performing arts/theater major." her eyes bulged in confusion and surprise when she realized they went to the same school. "how have we not run in to each other at all?" she let out a small chuckle at the sheer coincidence. who would have thought that her childhood best friend went to the same university as she did? and how had they never once run into one another? "thats good, tell your dad i miss him! i'm glad everything's good with him and business though." she watched him walk over to the counter with a grin, a rush of happiness surging through her as she proccessed everything.

"you sent out a text?" her eyebrows furrowed quickly pulling out her phone to check her text messages before showing him the screen. "i didn't get anything...oh! i changed my number a few months ago, so that's probably why. here, put in your number." she slid her phone over to him, laughing as she read what he had put his contact name as.

@k. chungha chungha approaches him with the excited embrace, and mark delivers by giving a tight hug that possibly squished her face onto his chest. mark doesn't have the most amazing memory, but he does remember chungha well. he recognizes her tough look from back then, and the long black hair—though, she currently has it dyed now. of course, he remembers her being taller than he was when both of them were kids. his fingers tap on chungha's back before letting go of his friend, "you just happened to not grow at all. to ." he gives a teasing grin while he watches her grab her incoming beverage.

he slumps on his chair slightly with one of his legs crossed over the other. it's been a while since he has had a good bond with someone, and somehow, the world manages to pair them up together after many years. his eyes remain in focus on her as she sits down who is extremely eager to see him once more. "i go to solace now. the university up the street from here," he uses his index finger to motion towards the direction of the college. "my dad is still in busan like always. he's perked up in there—trying to finish directing some person that's coming out in the summer." the barista calls for his order number, and mark slowly gets up from his chair. "it's been a hella lotta of years, huh? why didn't you get my text? i sent one two weeks ago."

@t. mark () no ur totally fine!!!

chungha's fingers tapped on the marble surface of the table as she waited for her drink, her eyes snapping up as a figure approached her. after realizing who it was, her eyes widened and her jaw basically dropped to the ground at the sound of a eerily familiar voice, whipping her head around to see probably her closest--and only childhood friend's face. "mark?? what are you doing here oh my god!" she rushed out of her chair to go and hug him, her eyes wide with disbelief as she took in his *way* taller frame.

"how long has it even been? and why are you taller than me this is a problem." she deadpanned, half joking but half serious, after realizing how tall he was. he had always been shorter than she was when they were younger, but it looks like he had a sudden growth spurt, with the way her neck craned up to look at him. she walked over to grab the drink she ordered before sitting back down at the table with him, excited to catch up with her long lost friend. "so whats happened with you? how are you, how's your dad, tell me everything."

@k. chungha [] i hope u dont mind me switching it to 3rdpov HAHAHAHA

mark misses drinking bubble tea. the only beverages that he orders is coffee at a local coffee shop, but somehow, mark has the craving for bubble tea. he quietly enters the place; the door bell jingles at his entrance and the barista at the cashier immediately glances up. she seems to be taking order from a blonde woman. he lines up behind the fellow customer and scrolls through his smartphone while he waits. when it is finally his turn, his vision focuses on the blonde woman for a split second, and then he realizes... it's chungha. he almost freaks out internally but externally he remains calm. he looks back up to the barista, "just a large normal green honey tea, less ice." the barista nods at his request and he pays with cash from his wallet.

his job right now is to greet his friend that he hasn't talked to in years. they have known each other since childhood, but it was mostly from business due to his father (who happens to be a director). he casually walks towards the chairs that chungha is occupying with his hands in his pockets, then he stands next to the seats. "chungha! you're here?"

/walking in, I pushed up my sunglasses onto the top of my blonde hair before making my way over to the counter, ordering myself my favorite drink, a treat for myself since I did well in class today/
Hi, can I get a medium matcha fresh milk with boba please?
/I hand the barista my debit card before going to sit at one of the cushy chairs and scrolling aimlessly on my phone, waiting for my drink/