visions of gideon || johnmark

F i f t e e n - Worship

French
Italian
German

Johnny was doing some work for professor Lee, he seemed like he was focusing really hard and didn't look up as Mark approached him. Mark didn't know how to break the silence so he then kicked a volleyball that was lying under the nearby lime trees towards Johnny. The ball hit Johnny which made unfocus from his work. "I waited for you last night." Mark said sounding a little peevish. Johnny threw the ball back to him. "Why didn't you come into town?" Mark stopped the ball.

"Dunno."

"We had a nice time. You would have too. Did you rest at least? Jungwoo said you went swimming."

"I was okay. Restless, I guess." Johnny went back to staring at the page he was writing and started mouthing the syllables. Mark kicked the ball again.

"Are you headed into town this morning?"

"Later, maybe."

"I was going to head into town myself." Mark was eagerly waiting for Johnny to ask to go with him.

"Umm. I see."

"A book I ordered finally arrived." From inside his studio, professor Lee watched the two boys talking on the lawn.

"I'll pick it up if you want me to." The conversation continued awkwardly.

"I was hoping we'd go together.." Mark admitted.

"You mean like the other day?"

"I don't think we'll ever do anything like that ever again but yes, like the other day... That day belongs to a different time warp. We should leave sleeping dogs-" Johnny listened, looking straight into Mark's face. "That voice of wisdom is your most winning trait. Do you like me that much, Mark?" Mark scoffed. "Do I like you? Do I like you, Johnny? I worship you." Johnny's face softened. He was touched by Mark's forthright and brave avowal.

"I'll go with you.. but no speeches."

"No speeches, not a word." Mark zipped his lips with his fingers. "What do you say we grab our bikes in half an hour?" Johnny asked as he gathered his things.

[~▪-▪~]

Mark and Johnny walked their bikes along the streets of Crema. Mark stopped and gave a book that he had bought to Johnny, he opened it and read what Mark had written. "Between forever and never... For you in silence, somewhere in Italy in the mid-eighties... this is the best present I've received all year." Johnny smiled. "I'm glad then. I just wanted to- no speeches. Ever." Mark looked at the floor zipping his lips again. Johnny laughed ruffling the younger's hair as he mounted on his bike.

In years to come, if the book was still in Johnny's possesion, Mark wanted him to ache. Or, even better, if someone else opened the book and were to ask, "Who was in silence somewhere in Italy in the mid-eighties?" He wanted Johnny to feel sorrow or a fierce regret or even pity would be fine. He just wanted him to feel something.

"Let's go."

[~▪-▪~]

The Lees sat around the table and had a drink at sundown. They were joined by Johnny whose slick backed hair glistened in the sun after his late afternoon shower. He made himself a light drink before easing back into his chair with a sigh of content. His 'star' look beamed all over his features. "Our movie star." Mrs. Lee joked as Johnny smiled.

"I'll miss this, Mrs. L"

"And we'll certainly miss you."

"You must think of this as your second home- or third, or fourth, whatever. The welcome mat will definitely be out. Isn't that true?" Professor Lee asked Mark who had just strolled in. "Any time..." He answered cautiously. "How's the work going?" Professor Lee turned back to his assistant.

"Oh, it's going."

"Planning to go to town tonight?"

"Not tonight.. maybe tomorrow."

"No poker either?" Johnny smiled and shook his head.

[~▪-▪~]

Later, after dinner.

Jungwoo was cleaning up the kitchen. Mark came down the steps, restless, he went straight to the fridge and scooped up some ice cream into a bowl. He went outside, eating as he walked. Mark stood in the garden with the bowl of ice cream and looked up at Johnny's window. There was a faint glow, it was like one of a desk lamp. A red bathing suit was drying.

From outside, Mark could hear the sound of a loud telenovela playing from the televison that his parents watched. He walked into the room and sat down with his parents to watch TV. He was restless and uncharacteristically idle. Mark half watched the telenovela that blasted on the TV, he lit up a cigarette.

"Not in here!" Mrs. Lee said, engrossed. Mark got up and went into his father's study, he walked straight to the desk and dialed Yeri's number on the telephone. "Are you still sick?" Yeri asked through the phone, her voice sounded flat. "It was nothing. Do you want to go out? I can come on my bike and pick you up. We can go to-"

"Yeah. I'll come."