Timeless - Mark Tuan

Epilogue

"Hey." Mark glances over his shoulder, worried at how I'm shaking on the passenger seat. "It's gonna be ok. I won't leave your side." He chuckles, trying to ease my worries. He reaches his hand and takes mine that are icy cold on my lap. 

"Yeah, right!" I manage to let out through my teeth. "Jackson said you're mom's gonna kill me. How can that be fine? And Gillian's gonna be there."

"Jackson is overreacting, baby. C'mon." He squeezes my hand gently. 

My heart rate doubles as the car continues forward and the front gate of their house becomes visible. 

It's been a week since that night and we've stayed in my house to recover from all that's happened. Mae is back in her usual spirited self and is in the other car behind us with Jackson. Yesterday, Mark received a call from her angry mom, asking where the bloody hell he is and why he's out when he should still be on bed, regenerating himself. 

I'm even more nervous now than when we faced Lady Ealasaid. Because whatever happens, I couldn't go back to the past and change it. Mark and I promised each other not to. This time is already perfect. We don't want it any other way. 

Except this, of course. Never in my whole existence did I worry about this. Never have I concerned myself of Mark's parents because I was too focused on finding him. Never has it crossed my mind that this day would come. Only when that call came last night that reality hit me. 

The parents .... Gillian .... what would I tell them? What face would I show them when I'm the reason their son almost died? How would Gillian react when he sees the woman who seduced her husband in another lifetime? 

I don't realize the car has stopped moving and Mark is sitting beside me, watching me as I murmur questions after questions to myself. 

"Babe!" He snaps his fingers in front of me and I turn to look at him, my face ashen. Jackson and Mae are already outside and waiting for us to get out. 

I lower myself on the seat when I see the front door of the house opening. "Can we just come back next time?" I plead with the littlest voice I have, fearing that the people outside would hear me and notice my presence. "I don't think I'm ready." 

He gets out from the car before I could even stop him and trots towards my side, opening the door for me. He snatches my hand and pulls me out the car. 

A woman is now standing at the door, her eyes darting straight at me, ignoring Jackson's greetings. She crosses her arms in front of her and taps her foot on the granite floor. A man follows behind, looking over the woman's shoulder. Then Gillian. 

If only I could think of the mantra so I could disappear from here, but the words leave my head. 

"Mark!" The man runs past the woman and approaches us. I stand behind Mark as he faces his father and gives him a hug. "Annie?" His father gives me a warm smile, nodding his head slightly. 

I do the same. Words still are stuck deep down my throat and are too scared to come out. 

With my head bent, I let Mark pull me towards the house. Jackson catches up beside me, chuckling on his own. "So the mighty witch cowers." 

Shut up! I shout in his head, showing him an image of him hanging upside down from the Namsan tower. 

He chuckles again and runs beside Mark's mom, whispering something in her ear. 

We are lead straight to the spacious dining room where food is already served. I'm still shaking when I take the seat Mark pulls for me. My mouth only opens when I put food in my mouth. Everybody is chattering about what happened, how Mark has recovered, questions about Mae and how she's with me, but, I stay quiet. I can feel Mary's eyes on me from time to time, studying my every move. And it's making me even more conscious. I block my mind as I feel someone trying to get to my head, only to find out it's Mark.