One Breath (OffGun)

8. It Can't Be Together

Mark POV

It's crazy!
What was that??

I sit on my bed. I can't believe what that girl told to me before.
What did I do so I deserve her scold on my face.
No, she's not angry or spit curse words, which I know that she can do that. She just speak with cold tone to me. Her eyes like daggers from ice.

And that daggers hit my heart so many times.

But actually, I still don't get what she  talked about forest and dark room. She just said that Neil saw, and Neil heard. And after that, Neil in the past, suddenly comeback.

Neil in the past

Neil, who Ara afraid of to appear.

Flashback

"Phi Mark. Do you know that winter and summer can't be together, right? Ice and fire can't be together, right?"

I just look at her. I don't know what she talk about.

She just release a deep sigh, than come closer. Hes eyes staring at me. Right to my eyes. Then she speak with her low tone. Very low for bubbly girl like Ara.

"Phi, Neil saw what you did in the dark room. Neil heard what you said in the forest. So, congratulation Phi. You bring old Neil back. Old Neil, which one I try so hard to leave him behind. Almost. But I'm afraid, if you can't handle it, he will be loose. Forever."

Then she leave.

"Oh yeah, Phi Mark," she suddenly stop and look at me. She smile a bit.
"And he saw you at the mountain, too. Right at dusk. The time which Neil love the most and the place where Neil always go for. The moment he saw you there, slowly turn him like Neil you know now. Just remember that's all."

Then she leave for real.

End of flashback

Then here I am. Try to think what's goin' on today. Try to think what's goin' on in the forest and that dark room.

Shit! I need caffein.

Then I go to the kitchen. I make some hot coffee. Usually, Neil made that to me every time he's here. His coffee so warm. Right temperature for my tongue.
Sometimes I can taste slight vanilla, sometimes cinnamon,  sometimes other spices. His coffee makes me relax from all my anxieties in a day.

And it reminds me, that Neil never come to my apartment again after that party. I never see his face again after that night.

But..... Neil didn't come to that party. He refused to come because he don't like being in crowded place. No... He just CAN'T be in crowded place. So, I went there with Finn, Fang, and some junior, since that party held as an closing event for end the day of competition.

They made dark room in the corner off the hall, so we could see all pictures there. Not really dark. Lil' bit dim. Because, actually, they would share all pictures at the award's day. So, let's called this sneak and peek.

I went there with Finn and Fang, to checked the pictures taken by my club. And I don't know how, Finn missing. I couldn't find him there. So I decided to continue with Fang. But I didn't mention her for thruth. She went along, so I let her walked beside me.

I felt she grabbed my arms, leaned towards me while she talked about every pictures there. And I let her did that, since that meaningless to me.

Until we stopped in front of one picture which I didn't know belong to who. But I can't put away my attention. Even in the dim light, I still can see the picture clearly. I feel like suck by that B/W picture.

I felt Fang hugged my waist. She leaned her head on my shoulder. Without I realized, I put my arm on her shoulder. Not hugged her. Just put on there.

And now I remember.........

What I saw next behind me ....
It's just ........