Isak was -is still- awestruck by the Mark. For as long as he can remember, the foggy, iridescent patch that runs across the fingers on his left hand has fascinated him. The Mark works as a window. It shows you your soulmate's world. Only, it's one of those pointless, warped windows that people like to put by doors. It's frustrating. A lot of the time, Isak just wishes it would clear up, show him his soulmate's face so his heart will stop breaking every time it's not them.

Now, though, it's pretty. Soft purple and red. Like his soulmate is at an interestingly lit party. Or they're modelling. That would be cool. A model. Isak spreads his fingers apart, then closes them. Looks at his white ceiling between the swirling colours. His fingers go dark for a moment, they're probably holding something. Or someone. Isak doesn't entertain the thought for long. He's hooked up with people. Lots of people, he doesn't get to be jealous of someone that he doesn't know.

There's a knock at his door and Isak considers ignoring it, but Eskild's certainly seen his shoes in the doorway and can see the light on from under his door. Sighing, he stands and pulls on a pair of shorts before answering it.

"Yeah?" Eskild pushes in, wrinkling his nose a little.

"It's dinnertime."

"I'm not really hungry." Isak watches Eskild pick up his clothes from the floor. He remembers his mom doing similar things when he was younger.

Eskild hums. "Your doctor told you to eat at regular times. And proper meals." She did tell him that.

"I've got stuff to do. You know, pass my exams so I can get that 9 to 5 I've always dreamed about."

"Well, I haven't made anything yet. So if we cook together, you'll probably have some sort of appetite. And then you can use all that energy to get your cubicle degree." Isak doesn't see a way out of it. And he really should be eating better, so he follows Eskild out, only sort of tuning out his story about his hot co-worker.

.

Cooking with Eskild is really just chop this and stir that. And Isak you'll burn it, let me do it instead. Sometimes Isak wonders if Eskild knows he plays up the can't cook thing. Just to be babied a little, because Eskild seems to enjoy it. And Isak is lazy enough to burn water, but that's another story. He sits on the counter after he's washed most of the utensils and scrolls through Instagram while Eskild turns on some music. Noora bursts in with her girlfriend of the week, with wine and a 6-pack to make up for missing their cooking tradition.

Elise (?) isn't the nicest. Definitely not one of Isak's favourites, but she seems to be making Noora happy, so Isak tries not to make his dislike apparent.

"We were just at this great little restaurant earlier today. What was it called, babe?" Elise tears her eyes from Isak, smug look still on her face, to face Noora.

"Aymara, Noor." Noora continues on, Elise offering bits of information every now and then. Isak is a creature of habit and no amount of praise Noora gives will ever convince him to try out Peruvian food when he could just get a kebab.

Dinner is rather quiet on Isak's end, but it usually is whenever other people are over. Linn joined them to grab a plate briefly, before slinking back to her room. Isak tries not to wince when Else (he'll try to remember that if she's still around in a week) makes a comment about Linn's lack of social etiquette. She'd done well, he thinks. She smiled and said hi before leaving. It seems like Eskild's not a big fan either, lips growing into a tighter line the more she speaks.

Isak finds himself staring back at his hand, tracing the blurred face shape that appears.

"You believe in that soulmate shit?" Isak startles and looks up, wide-eyed. Noora bites her lip, a wrinkle forming between her brows.

"I don't see how you can't believe in it. The evidence is pretty clear." Else chuckles darkly.

"Not everyone has a mark. Have you considered that? What evidence do the Markless have?" Noora starts to speak, but Isak cuts her off.

"I think it's a little ignorant to suggest that because only two percent of the population do not experience the Mark, they invalidate the entire soulmate system." He doesn't know why Else seems to get under his skin the way she does. Isak does his best to keep calm, though.

"So what? The Markless don't have souls? They don't get 'the one,' because they're born without a Mark?"

"Not at all. Soulmate is a colloquial term. They're only called that because they're a genetically predetermined perfect match for you. There is so little research into the actual soul itself, so to assume a Markless doesn't have a soul is a serious stretch. We don't even know if the soul is real. And just because someone has a mate, it doesn't mean they're 'the one.' Love and relationships don't depend solely on genetics." Else stands up suddenly.

"Your roommate really sucks, Noor. I'm going home." She storms out, leaving Noora to chase after her.

"Sorry guys. She's Markless, you know. It's just a...she's sensitive about it."

Isak looks back at his hand and it's dark.

.

Instagram is really boring after a certain hour. He's refreshed the page a million times and seen the same fifty videos in different order on his explore page at least twice. Still, he can't sleep, and real words won't come to mind, so he's not about to finish his paper.

Isak taps the home tab once more, and he's happy to see a couple more updates in his feed. Jonas posted a video of him goofing around with his American cousins. They say a lot of things in Spanglish so the context flies over his head a bit, but he giggles quietly as one of them eats shit trying to do a keg stand. He comments a couple of emojis on it and scrolls down. He smiles into his pillow a little when he sees a post from his favourite account. Ebn0297 is just pure talent. He's an Instagram model turned vlogger, with a wicked sense of humour. It's a black and white picture of him smiling down at his hands. The caption is achingly sweet, and Isak will never admit it, but he imagines the words being said to him. He clicks his phone off and sticks his foot out from under the covers. Isak tries to sleep.

.

I got distracted at work because of you. I looked down and saw earth. I saw beauty and colours I didn't know existed. I still can't see you properly, but I know you're all the good things. The best things.