TIME: Mark Tuan edition

Chapter 24

"I- I-" he sighs and squeezes his eyes shut before opening them again. He takes a deep breath and grabs my hand. He places it over his heart and I can feel the rapid thumps of his heart. I stare at my hand in amazement. Why is he like that? Is this healthy? Is he sick? Is there something wrong with him. "Chris."

I look up at him and see his expression had changed but I didn't know what to. His hold on my hand loosened and my hand dropped.

The sound of the doorbell brought us out of our state and I quickly ran over to the door to find Mark's parents along with a sleeping Miguel.

"I'm so sorry," I apologize.

"Don't worry. We had a lot of fun. You've raised a charming child," Dorine tells me. I smile and thank her as I lead them inside. "Oh, Mark! You're here!"

"Right here," I tell Raymond. He places my sleeping child in the small bed and tucks him in. I thank him and he gives me a hug telling me it was nothing.

"Why are you always here?" Raymond asks his son. They had moved to the side Mark was sitting. Mark sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and nervously chuckled. I observed his weird reaction. I sat in my seat previously and didn't say anything.

"I was just talking to, Chris," he tells them. I face in the direction of the three and Mark faces forward.

"You're basically attached to her. Ever since the two of you met it was always Mark who followed you," Raymond tells us. I chuckle and glance at Mark. He just blushes and looks down.

"That's not true," Mark mumbles. I don't remember much but is that really what happened?

"It is! It was so adorable. The two of you were inseparable. You guys got along so well. The two of us and Chris' parents were shocked at how well the two of you got along. You were seated next to each other the first day you met and since then have always been together," Dorine tells us. I smile at the memory of meeting Mark.

"I remember, Chris, your dad didn't like you hanging out with Mark at first. Later on he encouraged for our two families to hang out more. The two of you are what brought our families so close." Raymond and Dorine smile at the memory. I glance over at Mark, but he doesn't have much of an expression on his face.

"I remember that, but I don't remember it being Mark who followed me around. I thought we both just naturally came together and hung out?" I question. Mark still doesn't react.

"Trust me it's true! After school you would run to your parents and Mark would follow instead of running to us! We didn't know where he was until your mother brought him to us. The first time he did that we freaked out and left an awkward situation between us and your parents," Dorine smiled and sat down on the bed as she recalled the scene. "You guys were so cute. You use to bicker but also get along so well. You guys never had a lasting fight. I mean it's still like that. You guys are still inseparable and Mark is still following you around."

"He's not following me. I'm the one who came here," I point out.

"But he's the one in your room," she chuckles along with her husband.

"Don't you guys have to get back?" Mark interrupts.

"Mark," I say surprised.

"What?" He asks acting oblivious. I roll my eyes at him and smile apologetically.

"I guess that's our cue to go. Don't worry about it, Chris. Keep him in line while we are away. Feel better and don't forget to take your medicine," Raymond reminds me. I stand up and hug them and walk them to the door. When they leave I shut the door and glare at Mark.

He's laid onto the bed acting like he didn't do anything. I trudge over to him and shove his back.

"Mark that was rude," I say angrily. He shrugs me off and lays on his back. I brush away the hair from his forehead and mumble, "What's going on with you?"

"I don't know. Let's just sleep," he mumbles back. I sigh and nod and leave to get ready for bed. When I come back he's in the same position as before.

"Aren't you going to change?" I ask him in a soft voice.

"Oh, right." He gets up and makes his way to his room and returns in a muscle shirt and shorts. I'm laying on the right as he lays on the left. We're both face up not sleeping. Neither of us sleep like this. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I'm not tired yet." I turn my head to face him and he does the same. "I think I slept too much."

"Well you were asleep for most of the day." We speak in soft voices as we lay there.

"I did get smacked in the face with a door," I say in a playful tone.

"Sorry about that." He ends with a yawn and I chuckle at him.

"Go to sleep," I tell him. I turn and face him as he turns towards me. I pat his side as he positions himself to sleep.

"Don't stay up too long," he tells me. I smile and nod as I continuously pat and rub his side to help him fall asleep. "Goodnight, Chris."

"Goodnight, Mark." He closes his eyes and I watch as his breathing slows down and he falls asleep.

It's good to be hanging out with Mark again after all these years. It's different than the past but nothing stays the same. Ever since I started seeing Mark our bond has grown stronger. I thought it would have been hard especially being in different countries and me having Miguel, but it's not. All of my worries of the past have been proven wrong.

I'm so thankful that I met him that day in the studio. I'm happy that he debuted and is living his dream. He went from having no idea of his future to living a big life. I'm proud of him along with his other friends and family.

I look at his brown hair. The brown hair that falls over his forehead. I look at his eyebrows. The eyebrows that have been kept clean for looks. I look at his eyes that are closed peacefully as he sleeps. The eyes that look at me with care. I look at his nose. The nose that scrunch as he makes a face. I look at his lips that are slightly parted. The lips that emit a voice I find calming and comforting. I look at his hands that are tucked slightly under his head. The hands that hold so much care, but can provide good protection. I look at his ears. The ears that have been pierced after he left.

I smile too myself as my eyes begin to drop. I cuddle into the blanket and let sleep come over me once again.

Tonight I look at him at rest. Tomorrow I'll look at him in action.