The Target

Chapter 6 : The Doubts

Scene: Angel's bedroom. The next morning.

Mark and Angel are laying in bed. Mark's just woke up with a huge grin on his face. He looks next to him and sees Angel still sound asleep. She's laying on her stomach with the sheet down to her waist and her whole back exposed.

He gently moves some of the hair covering her face with his fingertips. She makes a sound like a satisfied cat purring. He slowly caresses her shoulders. Then he sees something familiar on Angel's back, something he's thought about more than once. She has a tattoo of the target with two darts with heart shaped flights.

Mark: (disbelieving, thinking) No way! That was Angel in Batanes?

Angel: (waking up) Ummmmm, good morning...

Mark: (big grin) Good Morning.

They are now facing each other.

Mark: Just noticed your tattoo. Does it have a meaning?

Angel: Nope. I just picked it out of a book. My siblings and I went out drinking one night, we were smashed and decided it was a great idea to go to a tattoo parlor. Don't you think it's cute?

Mark: Cuter than a basket of puppies.

Angel: Hi Hi Hi. (Face changes, alarmed) Oh darn! What time is it? I'm gonna be late for work! I have a meeting first thing in the morning!

Angel jumps out of bed quickly and starts to pull some clothes on.

Mark: (watching the whirlwind that was Angel getting dressed) Aww, let's take the day off. Come back to bed..

Angel: I wish! But I can't miss work today.

Mark: You know what I wish? I wish I was still at Batanes, ever been there?

Either Angel didn't hear or she ignored Mark's question.

Angel: (she blows Mark a kiss) Help yourself to whatever you find in the kitchen. I'll make you breakfast next time. Lock the door behind you!

She leaves Mark with a perplexed expression on his face but she doesn't appear to notice it.

Scene: Atis Corp. Mr. Alva's office. Mark knocks on the door.

Mark: Mr. Alva, can I talk to you for a sec?

Mr. Alva: (uneasy) Uh Mark.. sure, sure Uh...What can I do for you?

Mark: (sitting down) Well, we haven't had a chance to talk since the Celebration Cruise. What happened to you?

Mark points at the bruises that Mr. Alva has on his face.

Mr. Alva: Uh.. fine.. fine..Just fell down some stairs.. clumsy me, he he..

Mark: (looking Alva directly in the eye) Oh, okay. I thought I saw a couple of guys beating you up and threatening you. Man, I must have been wasted!

Mr. Alva: Ahem.. yes. Yes you were! That was shameful behavior, Mark. I didn't expect that from you!

Mark: Sorry about that sir. I have some uh, personal problems. Actually.. sir, that's really why I came to see you today.

Mr. Alva: Oh? What's on your mind?

Mark: Well, uh, sir, I need an advance and a raise.

Mr. Alva: I'm afraid that's out of the question. We do not give advances at Atis and your raises are on a set schedule.

Mark: (full on acting) Sir, I'm desperate. I have a bit of a .. gambling bug... I borrowed money against my grandparents house without them knowing and now it is going to get foreclosed by the bank. They are old and sick and very attached to that home.