Chapter 29

                                    

                                          
There's been tension in Yuta's apartment since last night. I've actively avoided both Mark and Yuta - but it's gone both ways, they've not even looked at me - and breakfast was super awkward. Johnny and Jimin, who had both slept through our fight, had asked what was going on but we had just shrugged and told them it was nothing.
The situation is kind of weird if I'm being honest. I can't keep ignoring them like I do since I'm literally in need of Yuta to go back, like I want. But I suppose, us ignoring each other is working well in their favour.
I'm flat spread out on my bed, my arms and legs stretched out over the mattress in a star shape. I've been staring up at the ceiling for minutes, studying it as if it is an experiment and I'm its scientist. In the top right corner there's a black dot that I haven't noticed before. The lamp over me is a large sphere of frosted glass, embedding the room in a dim light. I wish I could have some of it, my day not nearly as bright as I need it to be.
"Can I come in?".
I never noticed the door open and lift my head just enough to see Mark in the doorway. His face expresses none of the anger I've felt from him all day.
Sitting up, I nod at him. "Sure.".
He reluctantly walks in, closes the door behind him. After some time of standing beside my bed, I motion for him to sit down, which he does hesitantly.
"What's up?" I ask him, genuinely interested in what he has to say.
He scratches his neck sheepishly and looks at me. Those puppy eyes.
I'm not even sure if he's here to apologise or demand I do so. It doesn't matter, I'd do anything for those eyes.
"How are you doing?" he asks me, catching me somewhat off guard. I'd expected his tone to be colder, him to start telling me I'm in the wrong - not ask me how I'm doing.
How am I doing? How is he doing, should be the question. I've definitely not treated him the way he deserves these past weeks.
"I'm- I-". I can't even answer the question, emotion rushing through me.
Mark's eyes soften further. 
"I don't want it to be like this between us. You're my closest friend, and I can't go another minute with you being mad at me. 
"But you don't understand how much it hurts me to see you like this. It feels like I'm losing you, and I know that going into this I might, but- Can't you see what this does to you?".
Mark's voice is shaking when he's stopping for breath. If I didn't know better, I'd say his eyes were teary.
"I never meant to hurt you, but I will not apologise for stopping you from going back again. You may not agree with me on this, but the time travel idea was a bad one, and I regret ever proposing it. 
"I'm sorry for the damage I caused you. The damage I caused us. I'm sorry for..."
I interrupt Mark's monologue by wrapping my arms around him in a hug. At first, he stiffens, but not even a second later I can feel him relaxing in my arms. I hug him tighter. He brings his arms up and hugs me back.
"I'm sorry," he whispers.
I just shake my head against his shoulder. "No, I'm sorry. For everything."