After returning to the table, Mark behaved as if nothing unusual had happened.
Lucas leaned closer, curiosity in his eyes.
"Are you okay? What happened? Why did you suddenly walk off without saying a word."
Mark gave a casual smile.
"Oh, nothing serious. Just had some personal work, so I went to the washroom," he said smoothly taking his seat again.
The group returned to their drinks, laughter rising as conversations drifted toward life, careers, and everything happening these days.
That's when Mark noticed something .Eren hadn't touched a single drink.
"Eren," Mark asked, voice laced with fake warmth, "why aren't you drinking anything? Don't you drink at all?"
Before Eren could respond, Yuna chuckled and cut in, "Mark leave it. You don't know our Eren he's really strict about this stuff. He never ignores his father's words."
Lucus chuckled at that, but Eren gave no reaction. His thoughts were somewhere else entirely, his expression distant, detached.
Mark frowned. Since Eren didn't answer, he leaned forward, ready to try again. But suddenly, Eren stood from his seat.
"I'll be back," Eren said simply.
Yuna's brows furrowed with concern.
"What happened Is something wrong."
Eren shook his head.
"No. Just some work came up," he said, already walking away.
Moments later, Mark also rose.
"Uh, listen, I need to take a call. I'll be right back," he excused himself quickly following in the same direction.
Andrew smirked.
"Well, isn't that strange One after the other, both had something urgent to do?" he teased.
Lucas leaned toward Yuna.
"Hey, did Mark and Eren know each other before today?"
Yuna shook his head.
"No, this is the first time they've met. But if they do end up close, that wouldn't be bad. At least Eren won't stay single forever," he joked, making the others laugh.
Meanwhile Eren had followed Kael.
He found him near the rest room corridor, sitting in the corner, eyes swollen and red, shoulders trembling. Tears clung to his lashes. For a moment, Eren froze, feeling something strange in his chest. He didn't know why he had come after Kael, and even now, he wanted to turn back.
But before he could leave, Kael suddenly turned around.
Eren stopped dead in his tracks.
Kael's eyes widened in shock, then panic. He quickly tried to move away, avoiding Eren's gaze. But in that instant, Eren stepped forward and caught his hand.
Kael stiffened, confused and startled.
Eren's voice was calm, almost soft.
"Your shirt button is open. You can't go outside like this."
For a moment, Kael just stared at him, stunned. Then his cheeks flushed crimson, his eyes dropping to the floor. Embarrassment spread across his face until it turned bright red.
And from the shadows, Mark saw everything.
His teeth clenched, fury burning in his chest as he whispered to himself, "I knew it. He's nothing but a slut. If I don't turn his life into hell, then my name isn't Mark."