Timeless - Mark Tuan

Chapter 39

It is as if time has completely stopped and all the systems in my body quit functioning. The air I suck in can't seem to go down my lungs and my chest is starting to ache. 

He's here. It's him. It really is him. I don't have to turn my head to the side to confirm it. 

His very familiar yet foreign scent cascades to my nostrils, as if it's the only thing I can breathe. His emanation flows out from his body and touches my skin, making me tingle all over. I can hear his ragged breathing and feel his irregular heartbeat. 

Could he know me? Would he .... 

I see Mae in front of me, saying something that wouldn't register in my head. My brain is busy getting into the boy's head. 

He does. He does recognize me. Just like me, he's seen me in his dreams, too. 

I mentally shake myself awake and turn my head slowly, realizing that the guy earlier, JB, and Mae are already gone, leaving the boy standing by the table beside me. "Hi!" I force my mouth to open and spit out the very simple word. 

His face is what I've always seen it to be. Looking at him, physically standing there and looking back at me ... it's like I'm back in one of my dreams. I can't believe I've really found him. Is he even real? 

I can sense he's having the same thoughts as me. He's even more stumped than I am as he stutters an awkward "Hi". 

My muscles relax a bit and I stop myself from giggling aloud at his thoughts. 

I playfully tilt my head to the side, "So? Are you just gonna stand there all night?" I smile, motioning at the empty chair in front of me. He still doesn't move. 

What's the matter? 

I get in his thoughts again, scanning his memory for some reason for him to hesitate. There's a girl?

"What?" I ask, feeling a bit nervous now. "You're not engaged are you?" My frowning lips mirror the anxiety I'm feeling inside as I wait nervously for his answer. 

"N ... no ..."

A sigh of relief escapes me. 

He starts moving, having a hard time getting to the chair though. "Of course not." He continues. His eyes look straight into mine and I concentrate on digging deeper into him so as to control myself from touching him. "Have I ..." He stutters still. 

"Seen me before?" I continue for him. I giggle freely now, amused at how confused his brain is at this moment. "Maybe ... Maybe not." I say, a bit reluctant as I see some differences in his dreams and mine. "If you're the Mark I know, then you must've. Not in this time though."

He gets even more baffled. But, he nods. "I've seen you." He says. I know he's pertaining to his dreams. 

"I know." 

He looks at me again. He gets up and takes the seat beside me. "I'm not kidding. I've dreamed about you."

"I know." I say again, laughing a bit. I'm sure he doesn't believe me. He might not even know I'm a witch, too. 

"You know?" 

"Yes." I regret turning to face him the instant I do it as I realize how close he is. I push myself to speak out. "I've dreamed of you, too."

I'm not sure if it's excitement I'm feeling, or fear, or arousal even. My organs go on turmoil and I have to rivet my attention to controlling them as they're causing my body to heat up and I feel the flare creeping up to my eyes. I bite my lip to stop them from trembling and look away.