LOVE BET || Mark Tuan 【EDITING】

2.3 [EDITED]

Cecilia stayed at the hospital another day for further check ups.
She left the hospital one afternoon, "I brought something so you can get changed," Sky was afraid to face Cecilia because she knew what had happened when they were younger but she never wanted to bring back those painful moments and at the same time she didn't know what to say: it felt like she was stepping in a mined land.

"You don't need to be so careful around me, I'm not angry with any of you, I can't say that something is not worrying me but I'm not blaming any of you," Cecilia snapped her best friend back to planet Earth.

Tears welled in Sky's eyes, "Hm," she nodded, "I-I'm sorry," she said, voice broken by the sadness.
Cecilia hugged Sky tightly, "Shut up you stupid scaredy-cat," she smiled.

Since it was lunch time they decided to stop by some Japanese restaurant and get something to eat.
"One katsu-don with a Diet Coke," Cecilia ordered, "Hey I do not need extra calories," she defended understanding Sky's questioning look.
They laughed and Sky ordered the same.
They talked as they ate, "So, Mark asked you to dance that night, and did something else happen?" Sky asked, curiosity killed the cat.
"Nothing, not that I remember or he told me," Cecilia scooped up the last spoonful of rice and pork cutlet and stuffed her mouth.
Sky looked rather unamused and let down by the answer, she thought that finally Mark confessed or something but that little coward did not, well it might not have been the best move in such a delicate situation so he might have also been excused, but he dragged this whole thing for way too long.
Sky made a mental note to remind herself to talk to that boy and get him moving before her hair turns white.

"Do you want to go somewhere this afternoon or you want to rest?" Sky asked after sipping her cold Diet Coke, "Umh actually Mark asked if we could meet this afternoon"
"Oh, maybe—" Sky nudged her friend mockingly, Cecilia shook her head, "I doubt it" she replied trying to convince herself, but maybe somewhere deep in her heart she had that little bit of hope.

In the afternoon, near dinner time, Mark stopped his car in front of her house and waited for Cecilia, this time for sure, he was going to do it. He was going to confess and nothing could have stopped him.
Well he told himself the same thing over and over the last few times he tried- how many times was it anymore?
He chuckled, bu his train of thoughts was interrupted by the slam of a front door.
He turned into the direction of the sound and found Cecilia trotting her way to his car.
"Sorry did you wait a lot?" She asked sitting on the passenger side, Mark shook his head "Just got here", he smiled and waited for her to buckle her seatbelt.

Dammit, I could have buckled it for her!
He thought but now was too late, she was ready to departure.

Once again he drove to Namsan tower, this time the drive was a lot longer, you know big cities traffic jam.

"Next time let's take a bus" Cecilia said coming out of the car, finally fresh air filled her lungs after more than an hour in the car with the Ac on. "Yeah, let's do that next time" Mark agreed, his hip hurt from being seated for too long.

He took her hand and guided her to a park nearby, the sun was setting and people were sitting on benches, eating and enjoying the scenery from the top of the city.
They walked a little to a more secluded area, where not much people were around.
"So you just wanted to take me here again?" Cecilia rose an eyebrow in a questioning look, "Yeah but not only that" Mark was getting there, he wanted to build the atmosphere but he started to get cold feet again.
"I also wanted to eat here, we couldn't do that last time!" He said nervously.
"Okay, sure, let's do that" Cecilia agreed and walked back t the path where they just came from.

How can he be so stupid? Mark facepalmed himself in his mind, if he could slap himself really hard right now, he'd definitely do it.

They ordered the food, he insisted in paying, they ate and watched the reddish sky turning into some shade of dark blue, purple, orange and red before the sky was pitch dark with little shining dots here and there.
It was definitely pretty chilly, but Cecilia came prepared and wore her coat: she had just been dismissed from the hospital and getting sick again was not in her plans.

They almost didn't talk the entire time as the music in the background, played by the little hotdog's truck, filled the air.
Some Halloween's decoration made their appearance in the streets, the 31st was still 2 weeks away, but it seemed as if everyday was the 31st.
The clock struck 8pm and Mark still hasn't done what he planned to.
Couples walked past them every single second, and I mean it: it seemed as if every young couple of Seoul city was in Namsan tower that evening, making fun of Mark and Cecilia.

From an outsider point of view, the two could definitely pass as an item, as a couple: he flirted with her, they held hands, but nothing was official, they could be very close friends or just very platonic lovers.
"Mark it's getting late and I promised Jaebum I'd be home earlier" Cecilia said breaking the silence.
Mark snapped out of his trance and nodded, he patted his legs and got up, walking towards the car, Cecilia followed suit.

The ambience left her kind of numb, in a dreamy state.
The drive back was much easier and faster.
He stepped on the engine and 40 minutes later they were in front of her house.
Cecilia stayed in the car a little longer, her hand on the car handle, Mark looked outside, music still playing in the background.
When she was sure that Mark had nothing more to say, she opened the door and stepped outside; Mark slapped himself this time around, "Cecilia!" He half shouted though he was just outside of her car and she still hadn't closed the door.
She peeked inside though the lowered window after she slammed the door and hummed.
"Wait a second!" He stepped outside too and walked to the other side of the car, where Cecilia was standing.

Screw everything! He thought and slammed his lips on her. It wasn't forced, nothing of it was forced.
Both of them knew very well what the other felt, it was very clear from how they acted around each other that they were attracted to each other but none of the two wanted to take the first step.
So they met in the middle ground, none of them said anything.
Just his lips on hers and hers on his, nothing else, both eyes shut.
When he pulled away she remained there, longing for the lost warmth of the lover's lips.
"I meant to tell you this long ago, but I couldn't bring myself to tell you, so what I mean is that I really like you," he blushed, Cecilia was sure that in all that darkness, the boy standing in front of her was blushing.
A rush of heat possessed her cheeks too, "I like you too, I really really like you too" she replied sweetly and hugged Mark, sinking into Mark's chest.

The boy was at least a head taller than her, so he clasped his hands behind her back and rested his chin on her head, the smell of her shampoo filled his nostrils.

"Now I really need to go or y brother is going to kill me and then you," Cecilia smiled looking up at his boyfriend's chin before he looked down, "Alright". He let go of her and watched her as she ran to her front door, one last glance back from her and she disappeared inside her living room.
Mark smiled idiotically, what doesn't love do?

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Words count: 1384
Published:
Edited: 27th December 2020