⟪⟪Lovers Under Cover ⟫⟫

Chapter 10

On Friday, Mark had his football practice. As usual, Jacob had come to watch his practice, but Mark had planned something unusual for them tonight. Something that he had always wanted− to take Jacob on a date.

Mark played exceptionally well that evening impressing the coach. After his practice was over, he came running towards Jacob and met him halfway as he too came running towards him.

"Do you have some time?" Mark asked.
"Yeah, like usual, we can hang out by the park at the back of our school."
"I haven't taken you out on a proper date."
Jacob blushed at Mark's words.

"You're blushing! Aha! Tomorrow at 11, we'll start with a brunch date, how does that sound?" Mark asked.
"Perfect, anything about you or with you sounds perfect to me. Now look who's the one blushing." Jacob teased him. Mark quickly pulled him into a tight hug. After a few moments, they slightly separated and kissed on the lips, slow but full of passion.

"Let's go to the park behind the school." Jacob asked. Their fingers entwined and stayed like that all the way to the park. Sometimes, Mark would gently squeeze his hand. He held him tightly yet gently as if afraid of breaking the sweet boy— the boy he had wanted before he knew he wanted.

Since kindergarten he had felt a need to be close to his boy, to protect him, to hug him, to show him love, to be with him. It was in middle school he realised he wasn't into girls and in high school he knew he wanted that boy as something more than his friend.

At the park, they separated their hands and smiled looking at each other. Both knew what they were hinting at. They raced to the farthest bench in the park. Of course, Mark won for his athletic build.

Jacob was centimetres away winning away from winning so they wrestled for who could sit first on the bench. Jacob somehow managed to sit first on the bench and Mark landed himself on Jacob's lap. They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds and then they burst out laughing.

That evening was special. They talked about nothing, they joked, they smiled, they laughed, they spent the evening like any other practice evenings. But that was their first evening as boyfriends.

Now, both were laughing hysterically, when suddenly Mark said "I love you." Jacob took it light-heartedly at first, but when he saw the sincerity in his eyes, he calmed down and stared at him. "I love you too. I forever did, I do now and will continue to," Jacob took Mark's hand and gently kissed the back of the palm as he spoke almost in a whisper as if afraid to break the blissful echo of the three words spoken by Mark in his ears.

Mark kissed Jacob's forehead gently and placed his hand over Jacob's which then rested on the bench.

"Jay, wanna have some ice-cream? There's a parlour nearby!" Mark, suddenly asked excitedly. "Who says no to ice-cream!"

"Let's go then." Jacob and Mark rode Mark's bike to the Ice-cream parlour. Jacob was the pillion rider. He wrapped his hands around Mark's waist to which Mark couldn't help but smile to himself.

"Go in and order us the ice-creams. There's a lot of people inside; I will join you soon," Mark told Jacob as he parked the bike.

Jacob cheerfully agreed and skipped to the shop. Mark watched him disappear into the crowd of the shop, with a smile on his face.

He had seen a little girl selling fresh lavenders on the way. He knew just how much Jacob loved lavenders. He walked to the girl and bought 5 stalks of lavender.

As soon as he walked back into the ice-cream parlour, he heard Karl's voice, "Mark is too nice to act. That's why. He just wants to end the friendship nicely." "You didn't learn intern your lesson even after being suspended, huh?" Jacob questioned back but was interrupted "Mark already did. So, he and Jacob are now dating," Mark said appearing beside Jacob. He wrapped his arm around Jacob's waist, gave him the flowers and kissed him on the right cheek.

"Yes, we are boyfriends," Mark declared to a shocked Karl. Karl was stupefied by the declaration.

"Now get the fuck out here," Mark gritted out at Karl. Karl stomped his left foot in frustration, fisting his hands and stormed out of the place. His friends followed him out of the shop.

Jacob hugged Mark and then went to the counter, Mark closely followed behind.

"You two are brave and sweet," the old lady, behind the counter, complimented them, making both of them blush tomato red.

"What do you want, sirs?"
"One cookie dough for him and blue-berry for me."
"Cup on cone?"
"Cup"
"Ok here are your ice-creams."

"Have a good night," the boys waved the old lady.

They were having ice-creams by Mark's bike.
"Let me feed you?" Jacob asked for Mark's permission
"First if you let me," Mark conditioned.
Mark scooped up the blueberry ice-cream with his spoon and fed Jacob. Jacob smiled shyly while savouring the ice-cream. Then he did the same to Mark and Mark of kissed him on the cheek for a thank you.

"Hey, wanna stay over at mine?" Jacob suddenly asked
"If you have no problem."
"Then you're coming."

Mark called his parents to let them know he was staying at a friend's house. When Jacob told his parents his friend Mark was staying over, Mrs Stein gave a is suspicious eye at the word 'friend' but she let Mark stay over.

After dinner with Stein family, Mark went to Jacob's room. Both the boys stripped to their boxers, and they made the bed together. Jacob laid down while Mark was brushing his teeth with a new toothbrush provided by Jacob's mother.

Mark entered the room and practically jumped on Jacob attacking him with kisses which turned into tickles. Jacob writhed under him like a worm cut in two.

Finally, when Jacob managed to push him off, Mark almost fell down the bed, but Jacob caught him. The bed was larger than normal single bed but small not big enough to fit two people comfortably. Jacob's mother had sent extra pillow and comforter and had suggested Jacob sleeping on the sofa in his room.

Now both lay on their back gasping for air. Soon Jacob was about to go and make himself comfortable on the sofa but Mark called out, "Hey, sleep here. I'll sleep there if you have a problem."
"No, you don't have to sleep on the sofa."
"Neither you have to. We'll fit." Jacob smiled and gave in.
Jacob turned the lights off before getting up on bed and Mark covered themselves with a light comforter. Jacob took out his story book from his bedside table and began reading silently. "What are you reading?" Mark asked and scooted closer to Jacob to see what he was reading.

Jacob put an arm over Mark and started rubbing gentle patterns on his back. After reading for half an hour or so, Jacob closed the book with a yawn and looked over at Mark who was snoring softly. In the dim light his features looked softer than ever. Jacob smiled and laid down beside his sleeping beauty.