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Having Mark back in her life felt weird to Mari. Especially when he tried to be funny and send her tons of unfunny memes on LINE. She was currently sitting in her and Jisung's dressing room as today was finally the day they would perform the special stage they had been practicing so long for.

Jisung was sitting on a couch on the other side of the room, playing on his phone, while Mari got her makeup done. "Pucker up, Mari!" Hong Jisung spoke and held up the lipstick that he was going to apply on to Mari's lips. While he was doing so he looked at the Idol.

"You seem more relaxed lately. Even when Juyeon told you that your comeback was going to get delayed due to the bullshit Subin did, you didn't freak out." The stylist said and Mari nodded. "Why would I freak out? First of all, it's a bummer that he punished Subin that hard and secondly, my comeback can wait. I don't feel rushed to write a new song. I like promoting 'X' still." Mari spoke and smiled at her stylist that closed the lipstick and looked at the Idol.

Mari wore denim pants, tight but not tight enough so she wouldn't be able to move; and a loose shirt with an NBA print. Her hair was tight into a high ponytail and her makeup concept was that of a girl-crush. Jisung was dressed similarly in the pants and an NBA tee. His hair was quiffed up and both Idols had on matching Nike's. They were ready to impress their fans on the stage.

Mari decided to sit down with Jisung when a knock interrupted her. "Yes?" She called and looked at Jisung since she didn't expect anyone to visit them. When the door opened and Mark Lee entered, calling both of their names, Mari's heart did a tiny jump and she looked at him with big eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Mari asked since Jisung seemed completely unfazed by his Hyungs appearance. "I came to wish both of you good luck on your performance! It's surely going to look great." Mark looked at Mari, a grin playing on his lips. Mari cocked an eyebrow and smiled.

"Thank you, Mark. That really means a lot to us." - "Well to me not, but thanks Hyung." Jisung didn't look away from his phone so Mark eyed Mari. "Are you nervous?" He asked in English and Mari whistled. "Oho, I have the privilege to speak English to you?" She asked, automatically answering in English, her Canadian accent making Mark feel warm inside.

"Oh, come on. You should know that I always speak English to those who come from English speaking countries. Like, I always mostly speak English to Johnny-hyung." Mark pouted and crossed his arms. Mari thought it looked cute. "I see, I see." - "So, are you nervous?"

Mari thought about Mark's question for a bit. She wasn't sure if she was nervous. It would be the very first time she would collaborate with another artist and would prepare a dancing only stage. But she didn't feel nervous.

"Jisung and I prepared a lot for this stage. And since this was his biggest dream, I don't really want to ruin it for him. You know?" She asked and looked at Mark. "Wow, you really changed. When did you become so confident and professional?"

"I got trained by 2PM's Taecyeon. That's all I'm saying for this." - "Ah, right. You're the very first Idol in his company." Mari nodded. "By now he has two other female trainees. One is a producer and the other a main vocal. But our company doesn't know what to do with those girls yet so they practice and practice and practice. They're really talented." Mari smiled. "They're like younger sisters to me, you know?" Mari asked and tilted her head.

"Wow, I really missed a lot of your life, huh?" Mark asked and Mari nodded. "Do you remember Richard Donalds?" Mari asked and sat down comfortably next to Mark. Jisung looked at them from time to time. "Yes? He was super sleazy and just ew. I remember how he stuck his boogers everywhere in the boys washing room." Mark shivered. "He had a glow up when you moved away and asked me out for homecoming the year before I moved back to Seoul."

"That dude was your prom date?" Mark gasped and Mari nodded. "Richard wasn't the only one asking me out though." - "Who else?" Mari smiled at how angry Mark seemed about the fact that other guys were interested in Mari. "Who else?" - "Simon and Mikey as well." 

"Wow, I can't believe them! They always said you are the unprettiest girl in our class and then they were all over you?" - "The unprettiest?" Now it was on Mari to gasp. "Was that really all you guys talked about in the dressing room before P.E.?" The eighteen-year-old asked and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"You girls weren't any better! Remember the day we went to the Global Audition?" Mari nodded. "You were texting Rebekkah on the bus and the two of you were judging us boys by visuals. Do you remember where Rebekkah ranked me as?" Mark said and Mari scratched her nape.

"I really can't remember where Bekkah ranked you as, but I remember I ranked you as second!"

Mark wanted to say something, but the fact that his Mari had ranked him second when her best friend had ranked Mark as the least handsome boy of their whole class was making him feel warm inside. But then he looked at her. "Why second tho?"

"Timothy Walters was the most handsome boy back then. Sadly puberty made him look like his Dad so if you wouldn't have moved away, you'd be the most handsome boy. Because looking at you now, you won over all these guys."

Mari smiled and Mark chuckled. "These good old times. Do you still have contact with some of these kids?" Mark asked and Mari nodded. "Compared to you, I didn't forget about my best friends." She winked and turned to Jisung. "Ready to perform?"