⟪⟪Lovers Under Cover ⟫⟫

Chapter 9

Thursday, and Ashley and Nancy informed Mark that they had met Jacob the previous day but he was too tired so he might not be in a state to attend school. So, Ashley hadn't waited for Jacob. Mark replied with a shy smile that he had responded to his text.
"Don't tell me you two sext," Nancy teased his brother.
"NO, it was just a goodnight text," Mark almost took out his phone to show them when they heard another voice, heavily panting while trying to say something.

"They-they are on Jacob. Mark. Courtyard." It was Sandra.
"You ok?" Mark rushed to her followed by the girls.
"I'm fine, asshole. But Jacob might not be. He's in the courtyard."

Just as if on cue, Jacob showed up in a white oversized hoodie with graphics of lavender flower on the front and lavender colour sweat pants. Behind him followed Karl and his gang.

Mark ran to Jacob and put an arm around his shoulders.

"Hey Jay. You've not been here for two days."
"No shit, Sherlock," Jacob rolled his eyes unamused.

Jacob walked away from Mark, kept his books in his locker and went to his class. Mark was shocked by this behaviour of Jacob. Jacob isn't the type of boy to ignore someone. He wasn't even someone, he was his Mark.

Mark took a mental note to talk to him about it later. He hurried to Economics. At least today, he'll get to sit beside his boyfriend in Economics.

Mark walked into the classroom but did not see Jacob anywhere. He sat down on an empty bench. Sandra came in, gave him a tight smile and sat down behind him knowing the empty seat beside him was reserved for Jacob.

Jacob soon walked into the class and without even looking at Mark he went straight to the back of the class, shocking both Mark and Sandra. Sandra looked at the classroom door once, to make sure teacher wasn't coming. Then she walked up to Jacob. Jacob physically retracted from her and spat, "What the fuck do you need? You have something more for to say to me for being myself?"

"I'm sorry how I treated you for that. Hey, sit beside Mark," Sandra apologised sincerely.

"That's your sit," Jacob stated.

"Now you got it, right, fag. An asshole like you don't sit beside the captain of the football team." It was Karl's scornful voice.

"What if the captain of the football team loves him?"

"Mark, NO." Jacob protested loudly.

"Oh, you must be joking Mark. Don't tell me you like that fag. Good joke." Karl laughed.

"Mr Jones, you're coming to the Principal's office after class with me." It was the voice of their Economics teacher, Mrs Kross.

"Everyone, take your sit. Jacob, if you need some time, you're excused. No one wants to be treated like worthless. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. But this is not the language you understand. Any indiscipline or bullying will have similar consequences. So, think before you dare."

Jacob asked for teacher's permission once again before leaving the classroom. Mark raised his hand to get teacher's attention.

"Yes, Mr Chantlet?"
"Jacob's my friend, can I please be excused for a minute. I might be able to comfort him."
"Oh, in that case, you're excused."

Mark rushed after Jacob and caught up to him just before he was about to enter the school boys' bathroom. Jacob didn't meet his gaze.

"Jacob, look up at me."

Jacob looked at him for a moment in the eyes and then again downed his line of vision. Mark hugged him tight. Jacob winced as if in pain. Mark cocked his eyebrows in suspicion but quickly smiled when Jacob hugged him back and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "I love you," Mark whispered. "Love you too."

Mark took his soft hands and walked back to classroom together. The day was filled with sweetness. Sandra was their new friend.

Karl was suspended for bullying. Sandra told Mark to spend some time with Jacob instead of with her doing the boring project work, but promised to share her work to Mark on drive.

So now, Mark was sitting beside Jacob in Jacob's bedroom. Their backs rested on the pillows against the headboard of Jacob's bed. A comforter covered them to their waists. Mark was playing FIFA 23 while Jacob watched him play. Jacob bend down and tried to reach for the glass of water on the bedside-table when "Oww." Jacob screamed in pain. Mark missed the goal, but there he was shutting the PC. "What happened, Jay?"

"Nothing. Just my back..."
"Oh let me give you a message. Take your tee off."

"NO."

"It's ok, I know what to do during this type of injury."

"No, my whole-body aches. I'll give you a whole-body message then."

"No. It's not needed."

"Oh, really?" Mark hovered over Jacob, with his knees beside either side of Jacob's legs to support himself. And began tickling him. Jacob screamed and winced as if more in pain than as an effect of those tickles. By accident, Jacob's tee lifted revealing a bluish-purple bruise to Mark. Mark gasped and stopped tickling suddenly. Jacob stopped writhing under him. "Who did this to you?"

"Oh this?" Jacob tried to laugh, "Clumsy me bumped into something."

"Oh, where?"

"Table corner."

"Another lie. That's clearly hit marks. Who hit you? Karl?"

"No." Jacob pulled down his t-shirt.

"Take off your t-shirt right now. Let me see. These looks old."

Jacob was about to protest but Mark said again, "Jacob, do it. No excuses."

Jacob silently agreed. Mark helped him take off his t-shirt and sweats, revealing many more similar bruises.

"Can we come in?" Ashley knocked at the door.

"Yes, come in." replied Jacob.

Both the girls gasped in unison. "Jay" "Who did this?" the girls said at the same time.

"Do you guys know about who did this?"

"No, if we knew we would have told you right away."

"We didn't see him after you called him to the back of the school on Monday. After that he went to school today."

"Wait, hold up, on Monday, you say? But I was busy with the project on that day."

"But Karl said..."

"I shouldn't have asked. There's no doubt he and his friends did this to him. I'll go to his house tomorrow."

"He already got his punishment, Mark. You don't need to go to his house. Leave it." Jacob tried to calm down Mark who was beyond angry with Karl.

"But he hurt you like this."

"Ok, lets enjoy this moment."

The girls stayed for a few minutes and then left to give the boys some privacy. As soon as the girls left, Jacob got over Mark and started passionately kissing. They never took it further.

They didn't want to rush in their relationship. It wasn't a competition nor a race, it was a teamwork to build a structure with a solid, strong base. They let their sweet love bloom. Just like too little is bad, too much isn't healthy either. They didn't want to ruin what they had and live the rest of their lives in contemplation.

Both lay silently on the bed, Mark rubbing patterns on Jacob's bare back and thighs. Both were drunk in their own world of thoughts. It was a moment of bliss. Mark held him tighter as if he would slip away. Jacob without hesitance came closer to Mark until their bodies were pressed together. Mark left a gentle kiss on Jacob's forehead. The kiss was soft like a feather but lingered like a stain.

Soon itwas time for Mark to leave. Even though they didn't want to stay separate, theyknew they had to. Mark had to leave. He couldn't stay for the night yet.